Category: English

When Caleb Miller got the approval to transfer back to the city, the two family quota spots were already assigned—— His fifteen-year-old sister, Tess, and the city girl, Molly White. The only one left out was me, his fiancée. Caleb had no parents; his sister was his only blood relative and couldn’t be left behind. Molly was his mentor’s daughter, frail and sickly, unable to survive the harsh life in this rural town. “Nora, I can’t leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is just on paper, it’s fake.” “You’re tough and hardworking, waiting a few more years won’t hurt.” “Once I get established, I’ll come back for you.” He said the exact same thing in my past life. Until I saw him buying birth control with Molly at the pharmacy. This time, I won’t wait. I packed my bags and boarded the train heading south. 1 When the news of Caleb’s transfer came, I was tidying up the yard. The Mayor ran in like a gust of wind, the wrinkles on his face blooming into a smile. He waved the document in his hand. “Nora, your hard days are finally over. Caleb’s name is on the transfer list to the city university!” I didn’t have much education, but I knew what that document meant. It was a transfer order from Western University. Caleb was one of the few college graduates in our era and a rare talent, so the university offered him a generous package. Not only a high monthly salary, but also two spots for family dependents to move with him. This was a privilege no one else had. The Mayor was still earnestly counting for me. “Caleb can bring two family members, just enough to take you and Tess away from this dusty town!” Tess was Caleb’s sister, fifteen this year, the age for high school, and couldn’t be delayed any longer. And I was his fiancée, the one who had supported him through these three difficult years in the countryside. Of course, I should go as family. Suddenly, a fit of coughing interrupted the Mayor’s happy ramblings. “Sister Nora, is the medicine ready? It’s been two hours, I can’t stand the coughing anymore.” “Molly White, why are you at Nora’s house again? Their life is hard enough, and you’re just adding to the burden. Don’t you have a place at the hostel? You never do your own work…” Molly walked out of the back room, obviously just waking up. At this time of day, she should have been working, but ever since she practically moved into my house, Caleb did all her work for her, while the washing and cooking fell to me. 2 Molly was the daughter of Caleb’s mentor. After the mentor passed away, Caleb brought her into our lives. Caleb had said, “Professor White was my benefactor. Molly is frail and sickly, she can’t handle hardship. You are my fiancée, so naturally, you should help me take care of her.” She stayed for three years. She got sick every few days, and I brewed her medicine every time. Everyone thought this was my responsibility. Including my future sister-in-law, Tess. “Nora is a country girl anyway, isn’t it right for her to do some work? Should we let Sister Molly ruin her hands?” Tess had always looked down on me. Although Molly was afraid of the Mayor, the Mayor couldn’t control Tess. Spoiled rotten by Caleb, she made no secret of her disdain for me. That’s why the Mayor said my suffering was finally over. Once in the city, I wouldn’t have to serve Molly anymore, and Tess would live in the school dorms, so I wouldn’t have to put up with her temper. Just then, Caleb came back from work. Sensing the tension, he asked, “What’s wrong?” “I know I’m a burden, and it’s normal for Sister Nora to be unhappy, but Brother Caleb walked ten miles overnight to the town to get this medicine for me. I don’t want to waste his kindness…” Molly was a year older than me, but she had that pure, innocent face. Every time she followed Tess in calling me “Sister,” I felt sick. Her teary-eyed look worked every single time. “Nora, how many times have I told you, Molly’s illness can’t be delayed! How can you be so cruel!” His fierce look made it seem like I was a villain hurting his beloved wife. But the moment Molly tugged at his sleeve, he softened immediately. “Still have a fever?” He touched her forehead tenderly. Molly pretended to be shy, glanced at me fearfully, and muttered, “Sister Nora will be angry…” Caleb’s face changed instantly, and he snorted coldly at me, “What right does she have to be angry? She’s the one who forgot the medicine!” In front of me, Caleb was always calm and stoic. Even when he proposed, he was indifferent, making me look like an excited fool jumping around. Back then, I felt ashamed, thinking that’s just how intellectuals were—calm and composed. I wanted to be like him. But I was wrong. His restraint was only for me. Love and lack of love are very obvious. In my past life, I didn’t understand. I thought I just wasn’t good enough. But now I see it clearly. He doesn’t love me, so his emotions aren’t affected by me. He loves Molly, so chaos ensues when she’s involved. So in this life, I won’t be swayed anymore. I have my own path to walk. 3 When I returned from the Mayor’s house, Caleb was holding the document with a serious face. Tess was annoyed from waiting, “Nora, where did you go? The medicine isn’t ready, and dinner isn’t cooked.” Tess never called me sister-in-law, always excluding me emotionally, yet taking my service for granted. “I ate at the Mayor’s house. If you’re hungry, cook for yourselves.” “You!” Tess and Molly had never done a day of housework in their lives, let alone Caleb, a man who thought the kitchen was beneath him. But this time, Caleb said nothing. “Alright, alright… Nora, I have something to discuss with you.” Hesitant and slow. I didn’t want to waste time with him. “You mean the quota for moving to the city.” Caleb was stunned, not expecting me to say it directly. He laughed dryly, “So you already know.” Tess, impatient with her brother’s stalling, jumped in. “It’s better if you know. There are only two family spots for the transfer, just enough for me and Sister Molly.” She glanced at Molly proudly, as if claiming credit for putting me in my place. Molly smiled helplessly, “You child, you can’t keep a secret.” Then, as if realizing she said something wrong, she nervously grabbed Caleb’s wrist. Caleb responded by patting her hand gently to comfort her. “Nora, I made this decision. It has nothing to do with Molly.” I didn’t speak, just looked at him quietly. Caleb frowned, wanting to say something, but Molly squeezed his wrist. He fell silent for a moment, then spoke. “Tess is fifteen, she needs to go to high school. There’s no high school here. If she doesn’t go to the city, her life will be ruined.” Caleb’s parents were dead, Tess was his only blood relative, so he had to take her. I nodded. Caleb looked at me and continued. “Molly… Professor White was my benefactor. If he hadn’t sponsored my education, I wouldn’t have this opportunity at West University. Molly is weak and can’t survive the hard life here, so I must take her back.” He emphasized the word “must” heavily. As if warning me that there was no room for compromise. I was tired and wanted to sleep. “Is there anything else?” “Nora, you…” “Of course there is! In two days, my brother is going to apply for a marriage license with Sister Molly!” Tess couldn’t wait to see my shocked, angry, and desperate expression. Unfortunately for her, I felt nothing but calm. “Okay. You guys should get some rest.” I turned to go into my room. Caleb panicked slightly. He shook off Molly’s hand and blocked my path. “Are you angry? I can’t leave Molly alone. My marriage to her is fake.” “It’s the only way. Molly isn’t like you; you grew up in the country, you’re tough and can handle hardship. Waiting a few more years won’t hurt you.” “Once I’m settled, I’ll come back for you.” “I’ll come back to visit you every month.” I nodded again, “Okay. When are you leaving?” 4 In my previous life, although I was in pain, I believed his lies. I watched them happily leave for the city, looking like a perfect family of three. But I waited for half a year, and Caleb never came back. Everyone in the village said I was a fool, that Caleb would never return. I went to the city, anxious to find answers. When I finally saw Caleb again, there was no surprise on his face, only ugliness. “Why are you here?” He didn’t see my shoes worn through from walking because I couldn’t afford a ticket, nor my cracked, pale lips. Only blame. At that moment, Molly and a school doctor walked out. Only then did I realize we were at the university clinic. “Professor Chen, your wife is in poor health, it’s best not to get pregnant right now. Take these contraceptives. Come back if you need more.” Molly’s face was flushed, her fist gently hitting Caleb’s chest. “It’s all your fault…” I realized then that their marriage wasn’t fake at all. It was just an excuse to get rid of me. “Nora, this isn’t the countryside. If people know I, a university professor, have an illiterate country wife, I’ll be a laughingstock. Molly is educated and smart; she’s suitable to be my wife.” He knew I was illiterate from the start. I remembered the first day he came to work in the fields, he fainted. I took him home and nursed him back to health. Since then, he came to my house whenever he was hungry. He devoured my simple food, saying he’d never get tired of it. Everything happened naturally, and we got engaged. He moved from the crowded hostel to my house, escaping the snoring and smells of other men. Caleb was satisfied then. He said from then on he had a wife, a full stomach, and good sleep. Later, when Tess had nowhere to go, he brought her here too. Like him, my parents were dead, but I had land and wouldn’t starve. Raising three people was hard, but I had no regrets, thinking this is what family does. But I never expected Caleb despised me all along. He was with me just for food, a babysitter for Tess, and a stepping stone to be with Molly. I fainted on the spot. When I woke up, I was alone in the hospital. I tried to find him again, but unfamiliar with the city traffic, I was hit by a car and died. Fortunately, I was reborn. This time, I won’t ruin my life for them.

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When my biological parents found me, I had just climbed out of a mine. At that time, I was covered in coal dust, dirty and wretched. I could see that my biological parents looked at me with great disgust. Especially my biological father said: “Hire another car for her, don’t let her dirty the family car.” My biological mother endured her disgust and cared: “Child, you have been wronged these years. When you go home and wash up, Mom will love you well.” Then, they escaped into the car. Coming with them was also the adopted son of my biological parents, named Julian. He looked at me, then at his black Maybach, and finally sighed and said: “Get in my car.” “There is a bathroom at the mine, I can take a shower and change clothes before getting in the car.” I replied listlessly and went to take a shower. When I changed my clothes, I got into Julian’s Maybach and went back to my biological parents’ home. 1 After returning to the Gu family home, I didn’t see my biological parents, but saw someone similar in age to me, named Mia Gu, the fake daughter of this family, the one who was switched at birth with me. Mia stepped forward with a smile on her face, held my hand and said: “I should call you sister, right? Don’t worry, I won’t play the real and fake daughter game. We will be sisters in the future, let’s get along well!” As she spoke, she stuffed a fruit knife into my hand and pulled me to stab her. First meeting, Mia put a fruit knife in my hand and pulled me to stab her. Is this the Gu family’s alternative welcome ceremony? I am lazy, but strong, and didn’t let her succeed. She pulled hard, couldn’t pull it, looked at me again, blinked her clear eyes. Then, she wanted to continue pulling. I pointed to the phone hanging on my chest and cherished words like gold: “Recording life.” Mia was scared and immediately let go of my hand. At this time, Julian, who had parked the car, came in. Seeing me holding a fruit knife and Mia looking terrified, his face also became strange. I was too lazy to explain and casually put the fruit knife in Mia’s hand. “Brother, you’re back?” “I asked Sister Zhou to prepare lotus seed porridge for you, I’ll go get it for you now.” Mia’s face was full of ingratiation. “Not hungry.” Julian shook his head, then looked at me and asked: “Chloe Su, are you hungry?” “Too lazy to eat.” I walked to the sofa and collapsed directly on it. From my backpack, I took out the snacks I carried with me and stuffed them into my mouth looking half-dead. This is my life state, sit if I can, lie down if I can sit. “Sleepy?” Julian asked with concern. “Okay.” I continued to eat, took out my tablet again, typed code on the tablet with my left hand, swiped my phone to watch videos with my right hand, and stuffed snacks from time to time. Julian and Mia looked at me like looking at a monster. Especially Mia had walked over and said seemingly kindly: “Sister, you have suffered these years and haven’t learned the rules of wealthy families. If others know you are like this, it will make the Gu family lose face, but don’t worry, I will teach you social etiquette.” “Too lazy to learn.” I yawned and kindly reminded by the way: “The mine is very busy, are you sure you don’t go home to help?” In my opinion, biological parents should be visited, otherwise I wouldn’t have returned to the Gu family. So I think she should also want to see her biological parents. But Mia’s mouth twitched, and her eyes instantly turned red: “Sister, if you don’t like me in the Gu family, I’ll leave.” 2 “Whatever.” I saw it. She said she wouldn’t play the real and fake daughter game, but she still wanted to fight. But fight for what? Property? Then I’m not interested. I really wanted to tell her that I’m not interested in money. But I knew she definitely wouldn’t believe it because normal people wouldn’t believe it. I was too lazy to explain. Julian walked over, sat next to me and said: “Mom and Dad said they are going abroad for a few days. They will compensate you well when they come back. Hope you don’t think too much.” “Oh.” I nodded, in a state where my soul could float out of my skull at any time. Julian was also a little helpless, then looked at Mia and asked: “Is the room ready?” “Still preparing, but I value my sister very much, so there are many things to prepare.” “Brother, how about letting sister stay in the guest room today?” Mia said somewhat awkwardly. Julian frowned, seemingly seeing through Mia’s little thoughts: “Chloe just came back, how can she stay in the guest room? She is family, not a guest!” “I know, brother. In this family, only I am an outsider…” Mia said and actually cried. I saw Julian rolling his eyes. I wanted to roll my eyes too, but was too lazy to roll. “I can live anywhere, as long as there is a window for ventilation.” I said casually. Julian breathed a sigh of relief, seeming to rejoice that I, the real daughter, was not difficult to deal with: “Then choose any room you want, except for Mom and Dad’s, and tomorrow I will arrange your room personally.” Mia said aggrievedly: “Brother, I can also arrange a room for sister.” Julian ignored her at all, but said to me: “I have to go to the company for a meeting in the afternoon. Whatever it is, we can talk about it when I come back at night.” “Oh.” I responded and continued to lie like a corpse on the sofa. Julian shook his head, seeming a little helpless about my laziness. He left quickly. It seems his position in the company is very important. After he left, Mia said to me: “Sister, let me take you to a good room, you will definitely be satisfied.” “Okay.” I got up reluctantly. If I could strip naked and lie like a corpse in the living room, I would stay in the living room. I really was too lazy to move at all. As for Mia being attentive, I knew this dog thing would definitely play tricks, but I didn’t care. Sure enough, she sent me to a room on the second floor. This room was very clean, with a faint scent of orchid, and everything was arranged very regularly. It could be seen that the owner of this room had mysophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. And according to my current observation, the mysophobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder patient in this family should be Julian. Sure enough, I soon saw Julian’s photo on the desk. I looked at Mia helplessly, thinking you dog thing really think I’m stupid? Can’t tell this is Julian’s room? Mia acted as if she didn’t see it, smiled at me and said: “Sister, if you think this place is good, rest first.” “Okay.” I nodded. Although I knew she was pitting me, I was really too lazy to find another room. Really want to take a shower, then lie on the bed like a corpse. Mia couldn’t help laughing, then ran out immediately, afraid that I would change my mind. I went to take a shower, then lay like a corpse. After dark, I was woken up by Julian’s light cough. He was wearing a black haute couture suit, standing coldly in front of the bed, looking like he was waiting for my explanation. 3 Mia whispered beside him: “Brother, I can’t help it either. Sister insisted on staying in your room. I told her you have mysophobia, but sister just wouldn’t listen.” “Comfortable?” Julian held back for a long time and actually asked this word. And I thought he would be angry, after all, Mia provoked very hard. I rubbed my eyes and nodded seriously: “Comfortable, the incense helps sleep.” “Then you sleep here.” Julian looked at me surprisingly, seemingly not expecting that I knew incense helps sleep. Mia saw this and said aggrievedly: “Brother, you were unhappy when I entered your room before. Why can sister sleep in your room?” “Hungry?” Julian ignored her, but looked at me with a smile and asked. I nodded and added: “Don’t want to get out of bed.” “Okay, I’ll bring it up for you.” Julian nodded and turned away. Mia widened her eyes and gritted her teeth: “Why? He treats you so well just after you came back. He has mysophobia but allows you to sleep in his bed, even let you eat in his bed. Why?” I was too lazy to talk, took out my phone, and swiped videos. Mia felt like a clown, but didn’t leave, seemingly wanting to see how I eat in Julian’s bed. Not long after, Julian pushed a dining cart in. The dining cart had a small table board. After pulling it out, it could be used as a table. I just needed to sit up to eat. I sat up listlessly, rinsed my mouth first, then buried my head in eating. Julian went to the desk to handle company affairs with his computer, not looking at my side at all. Mia walked over and picked up the juice on the dining cart. I knew she wanted to harm me, most likely would splash the juice on the bed, and then accuse me of rudeness to Julian who had mysophobia. Although I didn’t know what Julian’s reaction would be, I was sure that if she played tricks, I would have to change rooms. I am lazy, I don’t want to move. So I picked up my phone and aimed it at her. Mia froze just as she was about to splash the juice, handed the juice to me with a smirk and said: “Sister, drink juice.” “Not drinking.” I looked at Julian’s side, he was also looking over. Accidental eye contact, I found his eyes were beautiful and deep as if they could gain insight into everything. “Mia Gu, you are about to take the college entrance exam, don’t you need to work on your homework?” Julian spoke. Mia’s mouth twitched, knowing he was driving her away, so she could only leave. After I finished eating, the nanny came in to clean up. Then I still typed code with my left hand and swiped my phone with my right. Unknowingly, I found that more than three hours had passed, and I was sleepy again. I planned to take a shower and then sleep. At this time, Julian also finished his work. He walked over, put a bottle of medicine on the bedside table and said: “Traditional Chinese medicine, for brain nourishment.” “Thank you, brother.” I looked at him suspiciously, wondering how he knew I needed brain nourishment? However, he had already left the room. I was too lazy to ask, took a shower, took the medicine, and fell asleep soon. In the next few days, I almost never left the room. Mia always wanted to find trouble, but had no chance. Julian handled official business in the room every day, but we hardly talked. Until this day, when I was still sleeping in bed, the quilt was suddenly pulled off. I woke up with a start and found that my biological parents were back. The one who pulled my quilt was my biological father. “How can you sleep here?” 4 Father Gu scolded angrily. “Sister, although brother is adopted, you should also pay attention to the impact!” “If people know that you, the real daughter of the Gu family, sleep in your brother’s room as soon as you come back, what will become of propriety?” “The face of the Gu family cannot be ruined like this!” Mia immediately added fuel to the fire. Mother Gu cried even more sorrowfully: “What a sin, how could my biological daughter be like this, I don’t want to live anymore.” Father Gu scolded: “You are at the age of studying, how come your brain is full of these improper thoughts, why don’t you get up?” I casually pulled the quilt back, covered myself again, and pressed on the phone again. Then, the lights in the room were turned off, and the projector was turned on. The projector played the surveillance of this room. From when Mia brought me in, until this moment. I was too lazy to speak, but didn’t want to be wronged. After Father Gu and Mother Gu glanced at Mia, their faces changed. But Father Gu said again: “Your sister brought you here because she wanted you to have a good environment, but you should also know to avoid suspicion!” Mother Gu sighed: “After all, grew up in the countryside, has no rules at all, and doesn’t understand consideration for others.” I figured it out, they didn’t care about right or wrong, just simply didn’t like me. But if they don’t like me, why did they beg to find me back? I was helpless but didn’t want to say more. Fortunately, Julian came back and relieved me. But when they left the room, I heard Father Gu say something unpleasant, roughly: “You have to be decent, you are going to marry for the Gu family in the future. If your reputation is ruined, it won’t be worth anything.” I saw Julian’s profile when he heard this, expressionless, as if he were already dead. Then, I was called down to eat again. At the dinner table, Father Gu and Mother Gu sandwiched Mia in the middle. They looked more like a family of three. Mia was also very likable and knew how to say things that made them happy. Father Gu and Mother Gu would look at me with disappointment, and then look at Mia with relief, as if comparing. Mia said suddenly again: “Sister, did you go to school in the countryside?” “Graduated.” I said漫不经心 (casually). Father Gu frowned: “You are the same age as Mia, she is only in the third year of high school, you graduated? What did you learn?” “Computer and welding.” I said truthfully. Father Gu slapped the table and said: “How can a child of my Gu family learn such unpresentable things like welding?” Mother Gu also quickly said: “Mia is now studying in the third year of high school in Su City No. 1 Middle School, and has hope of getting into Qinghua or Peking University. You go to muddle along for half a year too. Even if you can’t get into a good university, your father and I will donate a building so you can have a good school to muddle a diploma.” “But I have already graduated.” I wanted to tell them that I studied in the Junior Class of Harbin Institute of Technology, graduated long ago, and even started working. This time going home is visiting relatives, and I will go back to work soon. But my work unit has a very high confidentiality level, the kind that can’t even be mentioned. Plus I was lazy, I didn’t explain. Father Gu slapped the table again and scolded: “Still dare to talk back? I decided, you will go to report at No. 1 Middle School tomorrow!” Good guy, remolding me directly? And if I remember correctly, the year I graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology, I came to Su City No. 1 Middle School to guide work. I really want to see what expression the principal of No. 1 Middle School will have when he sees me going to study at his school.

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My wife called to say she had to work late on our anniversary, forcing me to cancel the carefully planned dinner reservation. I was about to leave when I heard a commotion—a guest causing trouble in one of the executive suites. I rushed up to the room, and the woman huddled behind the man, wrapped only in a hotel bath towel, was my wife, Scarlett Linwood. Caught red-handed, Scarlett still tried to spin a lie. “Honey, don’t jump to conclusions. The power went out at the office, and Finn and I had to rush over here to finish the pitch deck.” Before I could say a word, Finn Donovan, the new intern she’d been mentoring, stepped in front of her. “Oh, you must be Scarlett’s useless husband, right?” “What standing does a kept man have to speak? Don’t you know the only reason the Linwood Group avoided total collapse this quarter is because I brought in the Ashby Group investment?” “Get lost! You ruin this for me, and tomorrow I’ll have you bouncing checks at the unemployment office!” I gave a cold laugh, utterly unmoved. In Grand Harbor, no one dares tell Liam Ashford where he’ll be working tomorrow. 1 When I got Scarlett’s text saying she was “working late,” I had already been waiting in the hotel lobby for three hours. I’d booked the reservation for our anniversary a month ago, but once again, she stood me up. I sighed. Her company, the Linwood Group, was in a major growth phase, and I kept telling myself this was just part of the sacrifice. I was about to walk out when I heard the night manager frantically calling into his walkie-talkie. “Hurry! Guests are causing a scene in 1808! I hear it involves someone from the Linwood Group!” The Linwood Group? My feet froze. That was Scarlett’s company. I followed the manager into the elevator. The door to 1808 was wide open. A man in nothing but boxer briefs was yelling obscenities at a room service attendant. “You call this the best hotel in Grand Harbor? I paid eight hundred bucks for the Anniversary King Suite and there isn’t a complimentary condom? I’ll have your job!” My eyes drifted past him. The entire world snapped into slow motion. My wife, Scarlett, who was supposed to be working late, was plastered against the man’s back, clutching a towel, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural heat. “H-Honey?!” Seeing me, Scarlett’s face drained of all color. She fumbled, desperately pulling the towel tighter around herself. My gaze moved slowly from Scarlett’s panic-stricken face to the crumpled sheets, then to the clothes scattered on the floor. It felt like a sledgehammer had slammed into my chest, making every breath a painful, shallow gasp. “Is this what you meant by ‘working late’?” My voice was disturbingly calm. Scarlett’s lips trembled, her eyes darting everywhere but mine. “Liam, listen to me… The power went out at the office, and Finn and I absolutely had to come here to work on the presentation.” I instantly understood the man’s identity. The new intern, Finn Donovan, the one she’d been mentioning constantly lately. I couldn’t help but scoff. “Does your company policy require you to wear a bath towel when you’re ‘working late’?” Scarlett was about to try another excuse, but Finn stepped forward and casually slung his arm over her shoulder. “Scarlett, this is your loser husband, right? A kept man checking up on you? Why are you even scared of him?” Finn shot me a cocky middle finger. He was reveling in it. “Cut the crap, you leech. It’s not the first time your wife and I have been together. A little late for a dramatic confrontation, isn’t it?” My fists clenched instantly, knuckles white. Scarlett’s face went pale. She tugged Finn’s arm. “Stop talking!” Finn shook her off, his arrogance only mounting. He walked right up to me. “What? You don’t like that? A deadbeat who lives off his wife is going to make a scene?” He reached out and patted my cheek, a gesture loaded with pure contempt. “Do you know who saved the Linwood Group this quarter? Me! I pulled in the Ashby investment! Without me, the Linwoods would be bankrupt right now!” “And you—” He leaned in close, his smile vicious. “—you’re nothing but a pathetic pawn who doesn’t even know when his wife is getting plowed.” The last thread of my restraint snapped. My fist slammed into Finn’s face! He staggered back and collapsed onto the floor, blood instantly gushing from his nose. “Finn, are you okay!” Scarlett shrieked and scrambled to cradle him. Finn clutched his nose, staring up at me in disbelief. “You—a kept man—you actually hit me!” “Hit you?” I laughed, a cold, sharp sound. I grabbed a handful of his hair and smashed my fist into his face again. “I’m just getting started!” I kicked him hard in the stomach. He curled into a ball, his bravado replaced by wretched sobs. “Call the cops! I’m calling the cops! You’re going to jail!” Scarlett suddenly threw herself at me, grabbing my arm, her voice hysterical. “Liam, you have to apologize to Finn! Get down on your knees and apologize! Do it now!” I froze, slowly turning to look at the woman I had shared a bed with for five years. Her eyes were wide with pleading, but none of it was for me. When I didn’t move, Scarlett actually kicked me in the knee, trying to force me down. “Do you have any idea who he is! If you let him call the police, your life is over!” I laughed again, a different, more genuine laugh this time. I took out my phone. “Go ahead. Call them. Right now.” Scarlett stared at me, dumbfounded. Finn glowered, his face swollen. “You’ll regret this, Liam! Tomorrow, you’ll be flipping burgers at the unemployment office!” I looked down at the whimpering little pest. A cold smile curved my lips. In all of Grand Harbor, no one tells me where I’m going to be working tomorrow. … We were barely through the police station door when Finn, clutching his swollen nose, started pounding the desk, his voice haughty. “Officer, this man assaulted me without provocation! I demand a full medical check, jail time, and compensation!” He slapped a business card onto the table. “I’m a partner of the Ashby Group! You know what to do!” The officer looked at me with a frown. “Do you have anything to say?” I calmly adjusted my cufflink and pointed toward the ceiling. “He initiated the physical contact and the verbal abuse. The surveillance footage will be clear on that.” Finn’s face paled. He grabbed the hotel manager, who had come along, and hissed a threat. “You know who I am, right? Wipe the footage. Or your hotel is out of business tomorrow!” The manager nervously glanced at me. I gave him a subtle, almost imperceptible nod. He instantly understood. He feigned panic and agreed. “Donovan, sir, don’t worry! I’ll take care of it right away!” Ten minutes later, the officer played the full video. The monitor clearly showed Finn Donovan giving me the finger, repeatedly patting and striking my face, and spewing insults. “Mr. Donovan, the evidence shows you initiated the confrontation.” Finn’s face turned an ugly shade of green. He leaped up, hysterical. “The footage is fake! Do you know who I am? I’ll have all of you fired!” The officer’s voice was sharp. “Sit down! The evidence is clear. One more outburst and you’ll be charged with making a false report.” As I left the station, Finn’s eyes burned into me. “You wait, Liam!” I turned to walk away, but Scarlett blocked my path. I thought she might finally offer an explanation for the night’s absurdity. Instead, she rushed to Finn’s side, tenderly examining his wounds, and then turned on me with cold blame. “Liam, why did you hit him so hard! He’s just a kid!” I was too stunned to be angry. I laughed bitterly. “A kid? The kind of kid you take to a hotel suite and wear a towel for?” Scarlett stammered, then regained her composure, her voice ringing with self-righteousness. “Finn did this for the company! The Ashby investment depends entirely on him! What did you do? Aside from hitting people? I’m taking him to the hospital. You go home and reflect!” I grabbed her arm. My voice was ice. “Scarlett Linwood, we’re getting a divorce.” She flinched, then ripped her arm away, her voice spiraling into hysterics. “Divorce? Liam, are you serious? You lied to me too! You said you had a million-dollar salary, and you’re nothing but a glorified hotel clerk! I did this for the company! Can’t you be supportive for once?” I said nothing. I just turned and walked away. Behind me, her voice was raw with fury. “Liam, you will regret this!” Walking home, five years of memory flashed like a sped-up reel. Five years ago, Scarlett was the girl who stayed up late to make me coffee and hangover cures. On our wedding day, she promised me forever, blushing all the while. Now, she was ready to sleep with anyone for a quick buck. I pushed open the door. The air in our apartment was thick with familiarity. On the coffee table lay the anniversary gift I’d carefully wrapped. I knew I would never give it to her. That night, I lay on our king-size bed, staring at the ceiling until dawn. Scarlett never came home. When the sun finally rose, my mother-in-law’s shrill voice sliced through the silence of the phone call. “Liam! Do you have any decency? It’s your father-in-law’s 50th birthday party, and everyone is waiting for you! Where the hell are you? Get over here now!” She hung up. I took out the pre-printed divorce papers. I also received a text from my night manager. “Mr. Ashford, we found a woman’s expensive watch in 1808. Should I return it to Ms. Linwood?” I looked at our wedding photo on the wall and smiled. “No need. Along with everything else in that room…” “Burn it.” The Linwood estate was ablaze with light. My father-in-law, Robert Linwood’s, 50th birthday celebration was in full swing. The moment I stepped into the foyer, I heard Scarlett’s overly sweet voice. “Everyone, let me introduce you to Finn Donovan, the savior of the Linwood Group!” Finn was in a sharp suit. Even with the bruising on his face, he still carried himself with a smug arrogance. “And today, I’ve brought a very important guest!” The entrance doors opened, and a portly man in an expensive suit walked in. “Victor Ashby! Director of Acquisitions for the Ashby Group, and my direct mentor!” The room erupted in gasps. “Oh my god! It’s really the Ashby Group!” “Mr. Donovan is incredibly connected! He even managed to get an Ashby executive here!” My father-in-law, Robert, was shaking with excitement. He rushed over. “Mr. Ashby, what an honor! You grace us with your presence!” Victor Ashby nodded dismissively, his eyes scanning the room. “Finn told me there was a spectacle today, so I thought I’d drop by.” Finn immediately pointed at me, his voice carrying over the crowd. “Everyone, this is Scarlett’s gold-digging husband! Last night, he assaulted me, and now he has the audacity to crash the birthday party!” The guests started whispering, their eyes filled with scorn for me. Scarlett’s face shifted. She quickly moved to my side and hissed under her breath. “Who told you to come? Leave! Now, before you ruin everything!” I looked at her panicked expression and felt a cruel amusement. “What? Afraid I’ll spoil your fun?” I sneered and slammed the divorce papers onto the nearest table. “Don’t worry. I’m only here to finalize the divorce.” Scarlett’s face went white. She gripped my sleeve, trembling. “Honey, you’re doing this for real? I can explain what happened last night…” I pulled my arm away. “No need to explain, Scarlett. Don’t make me pity you any more than I already do.” Seeing his chance, Finn fanned the flames. “Oh, the deadbeat wants a divorce? Fine. But with Mr. Ashby here, it won’t be that simple!” Victor Ashby’s bloated figure shifted. He looked me up and down and gave a malicious smile. “You’ll kneel down. Right here, in front of everyone. You’ll knock your head on the floor three times, strip naked, and crawl out of here.” The room exploded with laughter. “Hahaha, that’s a brilliant idea, Mr. Ashby! What a show!” “The kept man deserves it!” “Go on! Don’t waste our time!” I scanned the room, looking at their ugly, greedy faces. Even my own in-laws, whom I had tried to respect, watched me with sheer disgust. “Don’t just stand there! Get on your knees as Mr. Ashby asked! If pleasing the Ashby Group is what it takes to save our company, then it’s your good fortune to help!” my mother-in-law yelled. Seeing I wasn’t moving, Finn assumed I was terrified and became even more aggressive. “Useless trash! Doesn’t even have the balls for this!” He gestured to the bouncers nearby. “He won’t do it himself, so let’s help him out. We can’t let Mr. Ashby’s trip be a waste!” A few large men moved toward me, ready to tear my clothes off. Just then, Scarlett’s executive assistant burst through the door, looking like she’d seen a ghost. “Mr. Linwood! Ms. Linwood! It’s a disaster!” The assistant was white-faced, clutching a stack of files. Her voice trembled. “The SEC just announced an investigation! They’re questioning our financials and freezing all our accounts! Every major partner is terminating their contracts immediately!” “What!” Scarlett shot up, her color draining entirely. “That’s impossible! Our books were fine—” She stopped midsentence, her gaze involuntarily flicking toward Finn. Finn seemed to realize something too. His face contorted, and he instantly jumped to clear himself. “It wasn’t me! The company accounts were always handled by Liam!” Every eye in the room swiveled to me. Scarlett froze, looking at me, wanting to speak, but finally saying nothing. My mother-in-law rushed forward, her sharp nails nearly scratching my face. “You snake! You’ve been working against us the whole time! We took you in all these years, and this is how you repay the Linwood family!” I watched them with cold derision. “You were afraid I’d ‘muscle in’ on your family business, so you never let me into the Linwood Group. Now that you’re in trouble, you remember me?” Scarlett grabbed my hand, tears welling up. “Honey, please. You have to find a way to save the Linwood Group.” I shook her hand off. “A way? Don’t you have your savior, Mr. Donovan, right here?” Finn’s face was shifting from green to white. Suddenly, he latched onto Victor Ashby’s arm like a drowning man. “Victor! Help the Linwoods! With the Ashby Group’s resources, this is nothing!” Victor Ashby frowned, sighing dramatically. “This is a tough one…” “Please, Mr. Ashby, we beg you! If you help, the Linwoods will do anything!” My high-minded father-in-law was pleading. Victor Ashby’s lecherous eyes raked over Scarlett. He lowered his voice. “I could help. If Ms. Linwood agrees to spend the next month as my exclusive companion, perhaps—” “We agree!” Robert Linwood didn’t hesitate for a second. My mother-in-law nodded vigorously. “Yes! Scarlett, for the company, you just have to endure this!” Scarlett looked like she’d been struck by lightning. She stared at her parents in disbelief, then turned her pleading eyes to Finn. To my surprise, Finn eagerly pushed her toward Victor. “Scarlett, it’s the only way! You’ve already slept with two men—what’s one more?” Victor Ashby grinned triumphantly and reached out for Scarlett. “Come on, Ms. Linwood. Let’s find a quiet room to discuss the details…” “CRASH!” I kicked over the nearby coffee table. The sound of shattering glass silenced everyone. “Victor Ashby, are you sure you want to touch my person?” I slowly rose to my full height, my eyes like sharp knives. Victor was visibly shaken by my intensity, stepping back half a pace, but quickly recovered and sneered. “What? The deadbeat trophy husband is playing the hero?” Just then, the front door of the villa was violently thrown open. A middle-aged man strode in, quickly scanning the room. The moment Victor saw him, his eyes widened with surprise and joy. “Brother! What are you doing here!” I raised my phone, interrupting Victor’s question. “Apologies, I’m the one who called him.”

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I was the leader of the all-female Raven Team, and we were pinned down, trapped in an encirclement during a high-risk humanitarian mission overseas. I urgently radioed the Operations Room, requesting immediate extraction. The order that came back—from the Commander, who also happened to be my ex-husband—was a punch to the gut: “Hold your position. Fight to the last man.” My voice was raw with desperation in the comms unit. “We’re being overrun! If we don’t pull back now, the whole team will be wiped out!” His reply was chillingly detached. “Didn’t you leave me standing alone at the altar three years ago, without so much as a backward glance, running off to that foreign hellhole?” “Now you get to find out if the grass you ran to was truly greener, or just a blood-soaked grave.” “Mark my words, Nova. Any retreat without my explicit order will be treated as treason.” I clenched my fists, a spasm of absolute despair, and directed my team to hold the line in a storm of gunfire. Every second felt like a year. It was an eternity before his voice returned. “I’ve seen enough. You are cleared for extraction.” A sudden, dizzying wave of relief washed over me, only to be immediately replaced by a plunge into a freezing black void as he delivered his next sentence: “Before you evacuate, Captain Reed, you will kneel before every civilian you rescued and publicly confess to your betrayal. One hundred loud, ringing kowtows. Not one less.” 1 “Ops, I require a confirmation of the last command!” The artillery was deafening, shrapnel screamed past my helmet. I was practically shouting into the microphone, my voice lost in the continuous roar of explosions. Behind me, the cries of the hundred-plus rescued civilians twisted around my heart like a garrote. Lexi, my second-in-command, a sharp young woman in her early twenties, pressed close, wiping blood and grime from her face. Her voice was a strained whisper of fear. “Captain, we’re down to the last belt for the heavy machine gun, less than thirty rounds per person for the rifles. We won’t survive the next wave…” It was then that the cold, clinical voice of Elias Barrett cut through the encrypted channel. “Command confirmed, Captain. Hold the position until the last man falls. This is the Commander’s final order.” Commander… The title felt like a bullet through my chest. Sitting in that secure, underground center thousands of miles away, in the highest seat of authority, was the man I had abandoned at the altar. Now, he watched us bleed out via satellite feed. There was no tremor of feeling in his voice. “Nova, what… what is he doing? Why?” Lexi’s face was ashen. “The hostages are secure. We should be getting the highest level of extraction support! Why is he leaving us to die…?” I didn’t answer. My gaze was locked on the horizon where the enemy vehicle lights were tearing open the night—a black tide pressing in. I gripped the comms, the stench of gunpowder and desperation in my hoarse voice. “Elias Barrett, I repeat. Civilians secured, we are nearly out of ammunition. Requesting immediate withdrawal!” Two seconds of dead silence, followed by a soft sigh—one that carried a faint, almost amused, note. “Request?” “Did you listen when I grabbed your sleeve and begged you to stay at our wedding five years ago? You walked away without looking back, Nova. Not even a single glance.” I slammed my fist into the scorched earth in front of me, the sharp pain in my knuckles barely registering beneath the boiling rage. This was not the time for settling old scores. The lives of my team, and the hundred-thirty-one terrified faces behind us, depended on my next move. “Elias, you need to be professional!” Every word was forced out through gritted teeth. “You are the Commander of this operation, not the man settling a personal vendetta! Do you not see the critical danger we’re in?!” “Professional?” His cold, quiet laugh resonated in the earpiece—a sound that made my marrow freeze. “I am perfectly professional, Captain Reed. I’m simply enjoying this foreign moon with you. See for yourself. What did this place, the one you sacrificed everything to run to, give you in return?” “If we don’t retreat, we’re all going to die!” My eyes were bloodshot. I screamed the words. “And so what if you do?” His voice was flat, cold as permafrost. “You threw away three years of our life together to come here. I imagine paying with your own life now… is something you’re perfectly willing to do.” The last thread of my control snapped. “Elias Barrett! You are a psycho!!” Tearing the radio from my ear, I smashed the handset into the mud. Lexi lunged forward, grabbing my arm, her voice tight with a suppressed sob. “Nova! Calm down! Please, Captain, calm down!” I took a deep, ragged breath, snatched the mud-caked radio, and resumed command. “All teams, report on ammo and casualty status.” “Team Alpha, contract to Bunker Two. Team Beta, set the last of the claymores on the southeast breach. Snipers, prioritize the enemy MGs and RPGs.” My team continued its desperate, disciplined resistance. But a support-less team trying to hold off an overwhelming assault was futile. Our ammunition was depleting fast. Every trigger pull was a grain of sand dropping faster in an hourglass. A medic’s choked voice broke into the internal channel. “Captain, the civilians… they’re breaking down. They’re asking if we’ve been abandoned. If we’re ever going to get out of here?” I glanced down at the two remaining magazines on my belt, my throat dry. I swallowed hard and replied hoarsely. “Tell them… we have not abandoned them. We will take them home. We just need to hold on a little longer.” Inhaling the mix of smoke and copper, I pressed the button for the encrypted comms channel again. This time, all fury was gone, replaced by a deep, weary submission—a sound I barely recognized. “Commander Barrett,” I used his rank. “I have never… begged anyone in my life.” “Please, consider this a plea. Do whatever you want to me. I’ll accept it. But let these one hundred-plus innocent lives survive.” The channel went dead silent, only the faint static hiss and the sound of his suppressed breathing. A ridiculous, fleeting thought crossed my mind—had I finally broken through? Had he hesitated? 2 Just as that fragile hope flickered to life, his voice returned. “Fine.” The word caused my heart to leap. Then, his tone shifted, the sound of a man relishing his madness. “You can withdraw your people. But before I give the official command, Captain Reed, you must go to all those you saved and kneel.” “You will confess, to their faces, how you betrayed and cheated on your husband.” “And then, you will perform one hundred kowtows. Every single one has to ring. I need to hear the impact.” “Do that, and I will be merciful and allow your extraction. What do you say?” “He’s murdering us! He’s using them to kill you!” Lexi screamed in rage beside me. “Nova! He never planned on letting us live! He’s forcing you to…” I raised a hand, stopping her. I understood perfectly. Elias knew me too well. He knew that honor and dignity were my last sacred boundaries. His goal was to utterly dismantle me, to reduce everything I fought for—in front of my team, the people I protected, and any possible recording—to dust. Five years ago, in front of all our loved ones, I had shattered his dignity and his dreams. Now, he intended to collect that debt a hundredfold, at the precipice of death. “Nova Reed, have you decided?” Elias’s voice cut in again. “Let me guess… how much ammo do you have left? Three minutes? Or will it be over in the next second?” The final wall of my sanity crumbled. I roared into the radio: “Elias Barrett! Do you know what you are doing?! This is murder! A court-martial is waiting for you!” The response was a brief, dismissive chuckle. “Yes. But only if someone manages to survive to testify against me.” A freezing clarity gripped my heart. I stood there, rooted, finally understanding his unspoken assurance. He was absolutely certain we wouldn’t walk out of this alive. “Nova, don’t listen! We can contact the High Command directly, bypass him!” Lexi pleaded. I shook my head slowly, an unbearable weariness settling over me. “It won’t work. This mission is classified. He’s the direct Commander. Our plea won’t get through unless a top-level override is issued.” “The only passable route for us to slow them down is here. If we retreat without air support, we become targets in the open desert.” “He calculated every move.” Lexi’s voice was a choked sob of despair. “So… there’s no other way? We just have to…” I pulled the last crumpled cigarette from my pocket and lit it with a shaky hand, the faint glow flickering in the cold night, much like the memory of that airport five years ago. I’d lit a similar cigarette then, too. With my gravely ill mother unconscious on a stretcher, I had turned from his tear-streaked face. “Nova, if you walk away now, I’ll never forgive you!” I thought the ashes of our three years together were the full price of that choice. I never imagined his five years of simmering hatred would be levied like this, staking the lives of a hundred strangers against me. “Captain! A civilian was hit in the arm by shrapnel, bleeding badly! We need to evacuate them immediately!” The medic’s tearful voice tore through the tense silence. It was the final straw. All calculation ceased. I took a deep drag on the cigarette, the last light in my eyes extinguished. “Lexi.” “Take over the command. Hold for three minutes. I’ll get us home.” Lexi grabbed my arm, her fingers digging through my armor plate. “Captain, no…” “That’s an order.” I shook her off, not looking back. Under the stunned, anguished, disbelieving stares of my team, I turned and walked, step by slow step, toward the terrified civilians huddled in the shadow of the bunker. 3 In the comms, Elias’s voice was suddenly there, trembling faintly with excitement. “Good.” “Start. Captain Reed. I’ve been looking forward to this.” I silently switched the radio to public broadcast volume. I knew what was coming. The civilians would be bewildered, then disgusted. My teammates would be shocked and humiliated. My name would be ruined, and the dignity I cherished would be annihilated by my own hands, in the full light of the war-torn landscape. But none of it mattered anymore. Any personal honor was dust compared to one hundred-thirty-one lives. I stood before the crowd, facing the bewildered, fear-filled, dependent faces. The noise and crying subsided. All eyes, confused, were fixed on me. “Fellow citizens,” my voice, amplified through the comms, was clear and steady. “I am the mission commander, Nova Reed.” After a brief pause, I spoke the words that would end my life as I knew it. “Five years ago, I betrayed my husband.” “At our wedding, in front of all our family and friends, I abandoned him, unilaterally breaking our vows and leaving.” “This was all my fault. I formally apologize for my actions.” The second the words were out, the silence broke into gasps and an audible wave of confusion and outrage. I didn’t look up. I didn’t look at a single face. I slowly, deliberately, bent my knees. Thud. The first kowtow. My forehead slammed against the hard, cold earth, the dull sound briefly louder than the distant cannon fire. Thud. The second. Dust mingled with the pain searing my brow bone. Thud. The third, the fourth, the fifth… My movements became faster, more mechanical, as if my body was no longer mine, but simply executing a brutal, cold program. The murmuring faded into silence. Perhaps they were too stunned by the desperate, self-destructive spectacle, or maybe they simply couldn’t grasp the meaning behind this madness. The only sounds were the distant artillery, the whine of incoming bullets, and the monotonous, sickening thudding of my head hitting the ground. Warm blood streamed from my forehead, blurring my vision and running into the corners of my eyes, tasting like rust. I didn’t stop. Thirty, forty, fifty… The world faded to muted color and sound, leaving only the bone-jarring impact that traveled through my skull, and the cold, numb heart in my chest. A century passed. Or maybe just a few moments. Finally, Elias’s voice returned to the comms. It was a voice of utter, languid satisfaction, with a strange, fleeting softness. “That’s enough.” “Considering your sincerity… I grant you permission to withdraw.” 4 A faint tapping of a keyboard could be heard through the channel. “Rendezvous will be in Sector E-7. Extraction route… take Route Three.” Route Three. The moment she heard the extraction order, Lexi was nearly in tears of relief. “We’re saved!” But I cut her off, my voice hoarse and cold. “Route Three is the emergency plan for ‘Catastrophic Failure’ or ‘Total Exposure.’” “That route is completely open ground, exposed for its entire length. Taking one hundred-plus slow-moving civilians down that route… is sending everyone to a firing squad in an open field.” I grabbed the comms, roaring with the last of my strength. “Elias Barrett! This isn’t an extraction route! This is a slaughter route! What is your purpose?!” “My purpose?” He chuckled, his tone light, as if discussing the weather. “The order and the route have been issued. Captain Reed, you are the legendary Raven Lead. Surely, getting a few people out of open ground is a basic skill? Whether you can bring them home… well, that’s your problem now.” He paused, then delivered the final, devastating line. “After all, you weren’t so concerned about the route when you left me alone five years ago.” Lexi was shaking with impotent fury. We faced two dead ends: bleed out on the position, or walk into the naked death trap of Route Three. “Captain, what… what do we do?” Lexi’s voice was strained to the breaking point. I didn’t answer immediately. Instead, I reached into the deepest pocket of my gear and pulled out the small, black satellite terminal used for absolute emergencies. My fingers flew across the cold keys, typing in a sequence of scarlet-lit code: Confirm, Send. Lexi saw the code flash on the screen and her face went white, her voice shattering. “That… that’s Raven Protocol 3-1-3… the highest level, All-Hands-Lost Pre-Code…” “Yes.” My voice was unnaturally calm. I tossed the terminal onto the ground, spun around, and faced the terrified, bewildered civilians and my bloodied, yet still standing, teammates. I drew a deep breath, forcing my voice to cut through the roar of the artillery. “Fellow citizens! Hear me!” “The statement I was forced to make was false and coerced!” “My ex-husband, Commander Elias Barrett, has abused his authority, maliciously vetoed all standard extraction plans, cut off all our support, and forced us onto a lethal retreat route!” “I have just sent the Raven Team’s Final Annihilation Code to High Command. This is our last report before we are wiped out!” “I, Nova Reed, and my team, will use our bodies as your final shield, drawing all fire, to rip open a path to safety!” “If none of us survive, remember his name.” “Elias Barrett.” “He is responsible for the deaths of us all.” The final charge signal was sounded. “All hands!” “Prepare to charge! Open the path for our people!”

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When Ethan Sterling once again allowed others to call his sister-in-law “Mrs. Sterling” under the guise of business, I didn’t lose my mind. I didn’t scream. I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I raised my champagne glass, smiling obediently as I echoed the compliments from the guests. “Yes, they really are a perfect match.” Ethan jerked his head up, unable to hide the shock in his eyes. “What did you call her?” I looked at his pale face and smiled lightly. “Mrs. Sterling.” 01 Ethan’s shock lasted only a second before his expression returned to its usual indifference. “Leah, do you have to talk like that?” He frowned, his tone impatient. “New Year’s Eve is the day after tomorrow. Bella and I are flying to New York to meet clients.” “Stay home and behave. Don’t try to ruin things. We are just…” He paused, as if waiting for me to explode. But I just nodded. “Mm. I know. You’re always together for work.” He narrowed his eyes, studying my calm face, trying to find a crack. “She’s also going to be the face of the new brand,” he added tentatively. “You know…” I curled my lips into an understanding smile. “I know. Helping Bella build her career was Ryan’s dying wish.” “As his older brother, it’s your duty to fulfill it.” He froze again. He looked like he wanted to say something. “Leah, you…” I smiled calmly. “Don’t worry.” “I won’t disturb you anymore.” 02 Ethan seemed to want to say more, but he was cut off by Bella’s sweet, coquettish voice. “Ethan, come here! It’s time to cut the cake—” On stage, Bella acted every bit the hostess. She waved at him openly. Under the spotlight, her skin was white as snow, a rose blooming in full glory. The next second, a photo of the two of them, intimate and close, appeared on the giant screen. Cheers erupted from the crowd. “What a match!” “The boss’s wife is gorgeous!!” The company annual gala was being held like their wedding reception. The company had expanded fast. Few people knew that I was the real Mrs. Sterling. A few old employees cast sympathetic glances my way. Ethan didn’t move. He just glanced at me lazily. He was waiting. Waiting for me to lose control like before, to scream, to smash the cake into Bella’s smug face. But I simply took out the gold-wrapped gift box I had prepared for a long time. I handed it to him. “A late gift for the IPO. Congratulations, Mr. Sterling.” He was clearly stunned, then the corners of his mouth hooked up in his usual lazy smile. “The IPO was ages ago. You just remembered?” He took the box, his fingers brushing against my skin. “Finally learned to be sensible.” Beneath the glittering gold wrapping, a divorce agreement lay quietly inside. Thinking about it now… We started with a gift, and we ended with a gift. A fitting conclusion. “Leah,” his voice softened suddenly, the warm light giving him a gentle façade. “Come up with me.” Was he making a peace offering? No, it was charity. Giving me a little sweetness in public to keep me leashed. I shook my head. “No thanks.” After all, last time, when I self-righteously stood by his side, I was ruthlessly shoved away by an employee who didn’t know me. “This is Vice President Bella’s spot. Who are you to steal the center stage?” Back then, Ethan acted like he hadn’t heard, indifferently letting me be embarrassed. Then he affectionately pulled Bella to his side. The past was unbearable to look back on. I shut down the memory immediately. His eyes turned cold instantly. He stepped closer, his lowered voice audible only to us. “Playing the magnanimous wife? What’s this new game?” His breath hit my forehead. “Half a month ago, who was kneeling on the floor begging me not to leave? Leah, who are you performing for?” I looked up, meeting his eyes clearly. “I’m not pretending.” I said. The tsunami in my heart had long since subsided. After all the pain, madness, and unwillingness evaporated… I had no reason to stay. 03 He turned and walked onto the stage, face tight, the spotlight chasing him. That tall figure suddenly overlapped with old memories. I had almost forgotten that he was once the man who held the whole world out to me. One evening without warning, the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and a petite figure stumbled, letting out a soft cry as she fell right into Ethan’s arms as he was leaving. He caught her almost instinctively. I still remember her tear-streaked face as she spoke words so absurd I couldn’t believe them. “Ethan… Ryan is gone…” “The things he promised… he didn’t get to do…” “He said… you would do them for him. Is it true?” In her hand, she clutched a long list of Ryan’s so-called “dying wishes.” Kissing by the lake in Seattle, a wedding on a cliff… Asking my husband to romance his dead brother’s girlfriend? But this ridiculous request made Ethan silent. His silence was like ice, spreading inch by inch across my chest. “You aren’t… really going to date for your brother, are you?” I asked hoarsely, my voice trembling. He met my eyes, the coldness on his face vanishing instantly as he hugged me gently. “What are you thinking?” “If I chase a girl for Ryan, who’s going to love my wife?” My suspended heart settled back into place. But later… He flew to Tibet with Bella on our anniversary for a “pilgrimage hike.” On New Year’s Eve, he went diving with her in the tropics. When I finally realized it… The simple silver band on his ring finger had been replaced by a priceless diamond ring matching Bella’s. Facing my breakdown and questioning, he said lightly, “Respect the dead.” “It’s just a list. Ryan owed her. I have to pay it back.” He started taking her everywhere in the name of work. Vice President title, million-dollar salary, always together. In that moment, I understood. There were no dying wishes. It was just a man’s premeditated change of heart, and another woman’s guilt-free plunder. And I became the most pathetic joke in this game. 04 Arguments, interrogations, screaming. I tore the upbringing I had accumulated over twenty years into shreds. Late at night, I screamed at my phone screen, “The list says a wedding! Are you going to marry her too?!” He didn’t answer. He only left me with longer silences and later returns. My final breakdown happened at his funding celebration party. The champagne tower refracted blinding light. Bella held his arm, accepting compliments about what a beautiful couple they made. I stared at them dead on. “Mistress.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it silenced the room instantly. The look Ethan turned on me was so cold it froze my blood. A week later, I received a termination letter from the university and a notification that my platform account was permanently banned. The professional image I had built over ten years was destroyed overnight. I rushed into his office like a madwoman, smashing the papers onto his desk. “Clarify it! Ethan, go explain to them—” He leaned back in his chair slowly, his gaze sweeping over my tear-stained face. Like he was appraising a defective product. “Look at yourself,” he smirked. “Do you look like a crazy person?” “Aren’t you a psychologist?” He leaned forward, articulating every word. “With this behavior, how can you counsel anyone else?” “I told you long ago, Bella is with me for work.” He picked up the termination letter with a sneer and tossed it lightly back at my feet. “You insisted on making a scene. Leah, you deserve this bitterness.”

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I was ranked second in our class. After my boyfriend—the Valedictorian—dumped me, I studied like a maniac, desperate to dethrone him. But just as I overtook him, the school’s icy, untouchable heartthrob—formerly ranked third—suddenly shot up the charts and locked down the number one spot. I was stuck as the eternal Salutatorian. Number two. Again. Just as I was about to give up and rot in despair, I heard a voice. It was a sobbing, desperate internal monologue coming from the cold-hearted genius himself. “Why did she stop studying? Is this a sign? Is she telling me to back off? Am I being delusional for thinking I could be her main man?” “If she doesn’t break up with him, I’d be willing to be the side piece forever. Even if being the ‘other man’ makes my heart bleed every time I ace a test just to get her attention.” “Noah from AP Calc has been studying so hard lately. Is he after her? That little weasel. Why does he think he can compete with me? I hate everyone in this school equally. Everyone is trying to steal her from me.” “Why hasn’t she kissed me yet? Isn’t the prize for first place… the girl in second place?” 1 “Are you… crying?” I stopped in my tracks, tilting my head to look at Ezra who was sitting in the corner seat. Ezra lifted his face—pale, exquisitely gloomy, and radiating an “I hate the world” energy. His dark gaze scraped over my face like a cold blade. “What?” His voice was frigid, void of any emotion. It certainly didn’t sound like the desperate, sobbing mess I thought I heard. I shook my head and tapped my temple. Get a grip, Riley. I wanted to beat Ezra so bad I was starting to hallucinate. I turned back to my desk, missing the way Ezra’s gaze instantly turned heavy and ravenous the moment my back was turned. It was a double desk. Class was about to start, but the seat next to me was empty. Carter wasn’t back yet; he was still buried in a textbook over at Chloe’s desk, explaining questions from the SAT prep guide. My heart sank, heavy and uncomfortable. Since the breakup, Carter kept his distance during everything but essential class time, terrified that Chloe might get jealous. A moment later, our homeroom teacher walked in to announce the seating chart shuffle. The class erupted into groans. I clenched my fists, biting my lip in frustration. At prestigious prep schools like ours, rankings are everything. Every two months, after the mock finals, we pick seats based on GPA. Number one picks first. Number one gets to choose their desk partner. Two months ago, Carter broke up with me. Since then, I’ve been grinding, trying to steal the Valedictorian spot from him. Part of me—the pathetic part—wasn’t just doing it for pride. I wanted to be close to him again. We had been desk partners for three years. We only had a few months of high school left. Call me desperate, call me stupid, but I couldn’t let go. But I never calculated for Ezra. The guy was usually comfortable at rank three. Suddenly, he went god-mode. He aced every quiz, every essay, every lab, locking down the top spot with a near-perfect GPA. I chased him until I tasted blood in my throat, but I couldn’t catch him. I gave up. Technically, Ezra should pick first. But Ezra didn’t move. He sat there, eyes downcast, face a mask of indifference. He always sat in that shadowy corner. He never cared. The teacher motioned for me to pick. My finger twitched. Suddenly, Carter stood up, cutting me off. “Mr. Harrison, I’m choosing to sit with Chloe. Sorry for speaking out of turn, but I was afraid some people wouldn’t have the dignity to move on.” Carter lifted his heavy eyelids to look at me, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Riley, if I didn’t speak up, you were going to pick me, weren’t you?” “Why bother? It’s pathetic. Clinging like this just makes you annoying.” Snickers rippled through the classroom. My face went drained of color. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. In my humiliation, I remembered the voice I heard earlier. Ezra’s inner voice. Broken, shattered, and weirdly resentful. “What’s the point of me picking a seat? She won’t even look at me. She refuses to acknowledge my legal status as her academic superior.” “She said it once… Number one and Number two are a match made in heaven. Why is she looking for some third-rate rebound?” “I don’t want to embarrass her. A true husband doesn’t take his anger out on his wife.” “Maybe I’m too greedy. Dreaming that she’d want to sit with me… she doesn’t know I love her. She’d just think I’m a psychopath.” I took a deep breath, steadied my shaking hands, and pointed a finger at the corner. “No. I choose Ezra.” The classroom fell into a weird silence. Everyone knew Ezra was antisocial. He came from old money—a family so powerful even the principal walked on eggshells around him. Ezra abruptly stood up. He grabbed his books with a cold, sharp movement and walked to the hallway. “Whatever.” His careless attitude made me question my sanity again. Maybe I did hallucinate the voice. Ezra couldn’t be that internal drama queen. But then I looked closer. Ezra was holding his textbook upside down. Five seconds later, he walked back in. His icy gaze raked over me from top to bottom. “Am I moving to you?” I noticed his knuckles were white from gripping his pants so hard he was about to rip the fabric. 2 Ezra and I became desk partners. Carter got his wish and sat with Chloe. Chloe’s smug look vanished the second she saw me sitting next to the school’s elusive prince. It was replaced by shock, then pure jealousy. I sat there, stunned and a little anxious. Wait. Did changing partners mean I was now involved in some weird drama with the school beauty too? I poked Ezra with my pen. Ezra’s obsidian eyes snapped toward me. His long, thick lashes trembled. I swear I saw a trace of sorrow in them, like a dog waiting too long for its owner. I was hit by how breathtakingly handsome he was. My heart skipped a beat. “Do you know Chloe?” I asked. Ezra’s eyes instantly went guarded. He shook his head, face blank. I sighed in relief. I didn’t want to fight over another guy. “Anything else?” Ezra asked, his voice polite but freezing cold. I shook my head and buried my face in a practice test. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ezra open the class roster. He squinted, sharply analyzing Chloe’s name and GPA statistics. Ezra’s voice—panic, confusion, frustration—filled my head again. “Why is she asking about her?” “Chloe is a girl. A girl who stole her ex-boyfriend. Why does Riley care?” “Chloe’s grades are trash. Her features are average. Her skin routine is lacking. Visually, she is zero threat to me.” “But Riley mentioned her. Is she hinting at something?” “I’m so stupid. I can’t read my wife’s mind at all. I’m a failure of a husband. Partners who can’t anticipate needs deserve to perish.” I listened to his internal monologue spiral into insanity. I was terrified he was going to do something drastic. I quickly put down my pen and patted his hand to calm him down. The moment my skin touched his, Ezra went rigid. His back snapped straight, and a stifled groan escaped his throat. His eyes lost focus. A sheen of sweat instantly broke out across his forehead. It felt like I hadn’t touched his hand, but a trigger on a bomb. I pulled back, startled. I didn’t know what to do, but looking at his flushed, damp face, I gulped. My gaze drifted lower. There was a suspicious shadow on his blue uniform trousers. I froze. Ezra sensed my shock. He tried to maintain composure, leveraging his height to stand up, forcing his voice to remain steady. “Excuse me. Bathroom.” But his retreat was frantic. He looked like he was shattering. I reached out to wipe a drop of sweat he’d left on my exam paper. It was still warm. 3 The moment Ezra left, Noah, the Academic Rep, pounced on my desk with a stack of papers. “Riley! Finally, I caught you alone.” Noah looked like he was about to cry tears of joy. I blinked, realizing that since the seat change, Ezra had been acting like a guard dog, fiercely patrolling his territory. Nobody dared approach. Noah raced against the clock to ask me questions. Just as I finished explaining the last calculus problem, Ezra appeared in the doorway. His gloomy eyes fixed silently on Noah. He had cleaned himself up. He looked elegant, composed again. His dark hair fell over his pale forehead. His collar was buttoned all the way up, hiding his collarbones. He looked like the picture of abstinence—a cold, distant moon. But his thoughts were feral. He was screaming internally, blinded by jealousy. “Noah definitely wants her. That scheming little rat. The moment I leave, he swoops in to seduce her.” “She’s teaching him math. I’m in hell. I’m in agony. Why does she give everyone a chance? I’m going to lose my mind.” “Everyone is trying so hard. I have so many rivals. I’m so mediocre compared to them.” “I have an ugly personality. I’m socially awkward. The only thing keeping my status is my GPA. No, even my GPA isn’t perfect. I didn’t get a 4.0 flat. I’m a failure. No wonder she’s looking for a side piece.” By the end, I could hear a suppressed sob in his mind. Noah felt Ezra’s death stare and practically sprinted back to his seat. Ezra slowly sat down. He stared silently at his stack of workbooks and started solving problems. As he worked, I heard the sound of broken sobbing in my head. 4 Ezra sat next to me every day, radiating despair. The forecast on his face was always ‘cloudy with a chance of doom.’ But he worked harder than ever, as if trying to defend his title as the “Main Boyfriend” (in his head). I didn’t understand why he linked being Valedictorian to being my husband, but seeing such a beautiful boy crying internally every day… Fine. I felt bad for him. I stopped slacking off. With finals approaching, I made Ezra my target. I chased his score. Every quiz, every test, our names were right next to each other. Eventually, the class got used to it. People started joking. “It used to be Carter at #1. Now it’s Ezra. It’s not like the Valedictorian changed, it’s like Riley changed boyfriends.” “Our eternal #2 only dates the guy at the top.” “Honestly, Carter has no taste. He downgraded to Chloe, and now he’s out of the top ten.” At this stage, scores were the only currency that mattered. Nobody cared that Ezra seemed deeply depressed; they just laughed at Carter. In the shadows, Carter’s face went dark. He stared at the ranking board, veins popping in his neck. The weather turned cold, and I caught a flu. I walked back to my desk coughing, only to find cold medicine and a thermos of hot water waiting for me. Ezra spoke concisely. “For you.” I smiled at him and downed the medicine. There was a little residue left in the cup. Ezra calmly took the cup and walked to the storage room to throw it out. I thought that was weird. The trash can by the back door was closer. I quietly followed him and cracked the storage room door open. Ezra was leaning against the wall. He held the cup with one hand, the other hidden behind some boxes. His head was bowed, staring at the lipstick stain on the rim. A trembling growl vibrated in his throat. His gaze was obsessive, greedy. He had unbuttoned two buttons of his shirt. He was breathing hard. He swallowed, then slowly extended his tongue to trace the rim where my lips had been. The moment his tongue touched the stain, his back muscles seized. His fingers tightened around the cup, the plastic crunching under the pressure. My eyes went wide. I gasped. Ezra snapped his head up. His eyes were red-rimmed and wild, staring at me like a dangerous wolf.

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My husband had initiated a delayed mail service with the post office right before his plane crash. So, for eight years after his death, I continued to receive handwritten letters he had penned long ago. In the first letter, he bequeathed his entire estate to my stepsister, Savannah. I went completely insane and smashed everything in our house. In the second letter, he asked Savannah to look after our daughter, unaware that I was being forced to kneel outside the hospital entrance, begging Savannah for Maisie’s medical funds. In the third letter, he mentioned arranging medical care for my mother, completely ignorant that Savannah had her committed to a state psychiatric hospital. It wasn’t until the day I received the ninety-ninth letter. I walked in on him and Savannah passionately kissing at her birthday party. Seeing me, my husband, Liam Harrington, did the unprecedented and actually deigned to offer an explanation. “Skylar, I just lost a game of Truth or Dare. I’ve only been faking my death for eight years, I never meant to deceive you.” I nodded, my voice flat. “Hmm, I understand. Please, continue.” Liam’s eyes flickered, clearly stunned by my composure. After all, the old me would go ballistic in front of a camera every time one of his letters arrived. Everyone called me a basket case, a disgrace to my billionaire husband’s legacy. But he didn’t know that I only had three days left to live. 1 A brief silence followed before the two caught on to the deeper strangeness of the situation. Liam looked up sharply, meeting my eyes, the raw desire in his gaze vanishing in a blink. He spoke, his expression complex. “It was just a lost bet, a penalty.” I didn’t know if he meant the forbidden kiss or the eight years of fake death. Either way, I was dying soon, and nothing mattered anymore. I nodded again, devoid of emotion. “Yes, I know. Go on.” The calm, collected mask Liam wore began to crack. “Skylar, do you have some kind of cuckold fetish? You want to stay and watch me kiss your sister?” Recalling the end-of-life agreement I’d signed that morning, I offered a soft rebuttal. “Sister? The woman who shares my father’s mistress’s blood? She’s a sister by technicality only. Does she deserve the title?” “As for fetishes, Liam, I certainly wouldn’t presume to compete with you.” Liam’s face visibly darkened. Truthfully, before I even pushed open the door to the private room, I’d heard their conversation. “Darling, it’s been eight years. Why don’t we just make this fake affair real?” Liam had looked down at the wedding ring on his finger, his tone full of confident arrogance. “Silly girl, what nonsense are you talking about? Forget eight years—Skylar would wait eighteen years for me.” I stood outside the door and smiled faintly. Eight years, eighteen years—I wouldn’t even survive eight more days. Turning away in a numb daze, I heard Liam chasing after me. “Skylar, have you and Maisie been well all these years?” He had no idea our daughter was in a persistent vegetative state after a brutal car accident that happened right after his “death.” And he didn’t know that I had spent the last eight years draining my own life force to keep her medical bills paid. I didn’t turn around. I gritted my teeth. “It’s none of your business.” Liam sighed, his voice laced with annoyance. “All these years, and you’re still so petty. I only lost a bet. Do you really need to give me such attitude?” “I’m back now. What is there left to be dramatic about? The make-up wedding I promised you is set for three days from now.” “Skylar, don’t be late.” My steps froze. When we first married, we were poor and never had a real wedding. After he got rich, every time Liam brought up planning one for me, Savannah would inevitably interrupt. I had pleaded, I had cried, but nothing had worked. Liam had sworn to me then that he would one day give me a spectacular, once-in-a-lifetime wedding. Now that the promise was finally being fulfilled, I no longer wanted it. Because my final, scheduled euthanasia was also set for three days from now. 2 Just as I was about to leave, Savannah’s falsely sweet voice echoed behind me. “Skylar, you’re here for this month’s stipend, aren’t you? I already wired the funds. Make sure you check it.” I glanced at my phone. She had transferred two hundred and fifty dollars. Ever since Liam’s plane crash eight years ago, Savannah had controlled our family’s finances. When Maisie was critically injured, I was beside myself with grief and panic, and my first instinct was to beg Savannah for money. But after hearing my desperate plea, Savannah had slowly and deliberately wired me the two hundred and fifty dollars. She had looked at my tear-streaked face and laughed, her body shaking. “Skylar, if that’s not enough, should I send you another two-fifty?” “Oh, well, what can I do? Your husband’s will named me as the sole inheritor.” “How about this? You get down on your knees and admit your mother was the mistress, and I might consider giving you a couple more dollars.” I had snapped, grabbing a steak knife and holding it to her throat, demanding the money. But after she transferred the funds, she immediately called the police. Not only did I have to return the money I was “extorting,” I ended up spending several days in a cell. After I was released, I had no choice but to swallow my pride, beg for loans, and take on huge debt. It was still insufficient. So, I started streaming—performing painful acts and selling my grief to scrape money together. When I finally went to the doctor for a check-up, they handed me a cancer diagnosis. “Ms. Reid, luckily, we found it early. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable.” My throat tightened. Because the money I had could only go to one of us: myself or my daughter. I chose Maisie without a second thought. “Oh, darling, it’s all my fault. Skylar has been completely destroying the Harrington family’s reputation all these years.” Savannah’s voice yanked me from the painful memory. A crowd had gathered around us. Someone threw a rotten egg at me and laughed. “Basket case! Are you live-streaming yourself eating fermented shark today, or are you doing your possession act?” “Ugh, I’m sick of that. I think the first time, when she showed up at the airline office and snapped at everyone like a stray dog, was funnier!” “Oh, and the second time, kneeling outside the hospital for alms—that was truly captivating!” As the crowd roared with laughter, Savannah pretended to rush over and comfort me, whispering into my ear. “Skylar, I still have backup copies of your pole-dancing video from that questionable club.” “But I feel like I haven’t seen enough. Can you perform again for your stream? Do it in front of Liam. Let him see just how desperate you are.” Then, she took out her phone and showed me a security video. In the clip, my mother, suffering from advanced Alzheimer’s, was huddled in a corner, crying hysterically over a pillow. “Wake up, baby! Please wake up! It’s my fault! I failed to protect you!” After a few broken sobs, my mother suddenly grabbed her hair and screamed hysterically. “Where am I? Who am I?” Tears sprang to my eyes without warning. I gritted my teeth. “Savannah, don’t push me. I will kill you.” Liam heard me and instantly moved, shielding Savannah behind him. “Skylar, what new tantrum is this? I’m home now. You need to—” Before he could finish, I glimpsed Savannah behind him, waving her phone at me. She mouthed the words: Strip. If you don’t, I’ll make your mother do it. In the security footage, a few male orderlies grabbed my mother’s hair and violently shoved her head into a basin of water. My breathing hitched. Forcing down the white-hot rage, I mechanically unbuttoned my coat in front of everyone. Then I began a stiff, unnatural dance for the camera. Liam’s look shifted instantly from disgust to utter shock. Countless phone lenses focused on me. Curious, greedy, and even pitying eyes scanned my body. As I reached the last layer of clothing, Liam finally lunged forward and delivered a brutal slap, his voice a furious snarl. “Skylar, you really are a lost cause! You’ll never change!” He threw his jacket at me in a crumpled heap, then turned and strode away. Just then, the hospital called. “Ms. Reid, you need to come and settle the bill immediately, or your daughter…” 3 I threw on my coat, rushing to the hospital like a maniac, only to find out that Maisie’s life-saving funds had just been withdrawn by Savannah. I drove straight to Liam’s company. As I reached his office door, Savannah blocked me. “Skylar, you’re so sneaky. Who knew you could transfer so much company public funds right under my nose!” I remembered the hospital, seeing Maisie’s breathing grow faint and shallow. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I forced myself to explain, fighting my anger. “Give me the money back! It’s my daughter’s life support!” It was the money I had earned through eight years of humiliating, soul-crushing live streams. But then, the company’s CFO brought out a security video. The footage showed a woman who looked exactly like me secretly opening the company safe. She brazenly stuffed all the cash inside her bag. But that woman was not me! Savannah smiled a strange, cold smile. “Skylar, didn’t you always call my mother a mistress when we were kids?” “You were so vicious back then, forcing my mother and me to live on the streets for years!” “And now? For money, there’s nothing you won’t do!” I bit down hard, denying it. “This money is what I earned!” Savannah scoffed. “You? If you admit you sold your body for it, I’ll return it.” I glared at her, eventually giving up and hammering on the office door. “Liam! Get out here!” The door opened from the inside. Liam looked annoyed. “Why aren’t you with Maisie? Talk to Savannah. I’m in a meeting!” Ignoring the glaring red lipstick smear on his collar, I rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Don’t leave! Savannah took Maisie’s medical funds. Maisie is…” Before I could finish, Liam yanked his arm free. “Skylar, why are you so obsessed with money? All you ever do is use our daughter to manipulate me!” The office door slammed shut. At the same time, the nurse sent me a video. “Ms. Reid, please come quickly. The child isn’t going to last much longer.” In the video, Maisie was already struggling to breathe and convulsing from lack of oxygen. Savannah clicked her tongue, a fake smile plastered on her face. “Aww, poor thing. Skylar, are you going to get down on your knees and beg me now?” I didn’t hesitate. I cast aside all my dignity and fell to my knees with a thud, steeling myself to plead. “Savannah, I was wrong before. Please, I’m begging you, have mercy and save my daughter.” Savannah looked triumphant, humming softly. “Finally admitting your mistakes? Hmm, I don’t think you sound sincere enough.” She extended one foot, her expression suggestive. “Oh, my shoes are dirty. If only someone could clean them for me.” I bit down so hard on the inside of my cheek I tasted blood. I rolled up my sleeve, ready to wipe her shoe clean. But Savannah leaned down and whispered, “My shoes are very expensive. Don’t get your filthy clothes on them. Lick them clean.” I trembled violently, my fists clenched, but eventually, I lowered my head. After I was done, I looked up, speaking each word distinctly. “Savannah. Can you please transfer the money to the hospital account now?” Savannah kicked me away, a look of utter contempt on her face. “Yes, yes, I know. You’re so annoying.” Just as she reached for her phone, it rang again. The nurse was crying when she spoke four devastating words to me. “The child is gone…” My body seized up. I ran to the hospital like a lunatic. By the time I arrived, Maisie’s tiny body was already covered by a sterile white sheet. The small life I had carried for nine months and fought so hard for had utterly stopped breathing. A deafening ringing filled my ears. I collapsed to the floor, weeping until my tears ran dry, then violently vomited a mouthful of blood before finally losing consciousness. When I woke up, I dialed Liam’s number. “Liam. Maisie is gone.” The man on the other end was silent for two seconds, then sighed. “Can you stop with the dramatics? Savannah gives you two hundred and fifty thousand dollars a month for support. Isn’t that enough?” Two hundred and fifty thousand? It appeared Liam was completely oblivious to the eight years of abuse Savannah had inflicted. Before I could speak, Savannah’s sickly sweet voice cooed into the phone. “Darling, can you come rub my back? Being pregnant is such a chore. I even need your help to shower.” My heart felt like it was being violently squeezed, the pain so intense I couldn’t breathe. The call ended abruptly. I don’t know how I managed to grit my teeth and arrange my daughter’s funeral. When she was cremated, I couldn’t even cry anymore. The attendant handed me the soft pink and blue urn I had personally chosen for Maisie, sighing a sympathetic “Take care of yourself.” I clutched the urn tightly and went home to pack my bags. As I dragged my suitcase out, Liam walked in the door. I didn’t look up, my voice flat and emotionless. “Liam. Maisie is dead. Let’s get a divorce.”

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We moved into our new home when my daughter, Lily, was just a year old. The woman downstairs, Mrs. Gable, warned me on the very first day. She had a nervous condition, she said, and I’d better keep my child in line. For five years, I covered our floors in soundproofing mats and lived our lives in silent mode. But every day, she’d take to the building’s group chat to tear me down, claiming my daughter’s noise was giving her a heart attack. The week I took Lily to visit my mother, she escalated, tagging everyone in the chat: “Listen to that! It’s her apartment again!! The crying is endless. Any more of this, and I’m calling the police!” I ignored her. Instead, I took the five years of evidence I had painstakingly collected and filed a lawsuit. On the day of the hearing, the judge asked my five-year-old daughter, “Little girl, do you cry every day at home?” Lily looked at me, then slowly raised her small hands and answered in sign language: “Your Honor, I can’t speak.” 1 My name is Kate, and I’m a freelance translator working from home. When our daughter, Lily, turned one, my husband Mark and I bought this apartment on the twelfth floor. The day we moved in, Mrs. Gable from 1101 was at our door. She was in her fifties, dressed in a tasteful dark dress, her hair pinned up meticulously. But there was a persistent irritation etched into the lines around her eyes. “You’re the new ones?” She looked me up and down, her gaze lingering on Lily for a moment. I smiled and offered her a small gift basket we’d picked up from a local market. “Yes, that’s us. It’s so nice to meet you, we’re looking forward to being neighbors.” “I wouldn’t go that far,” she said, her tone sinking as she took the basket. “But there’s something you need to understand. I have a nervous condition and a bad heart. I can’t tolerate any noise.” She pointed a sharp finger at her ceiling—our floor. “I get that you have a child, but you can’t let her run around. No loud noises. If you trigger one of my episodes, you’ll be sorry.” Her tone was not a request; it was a command. Holding Lily, I felt a knot form in my stomach. All I could do was stammer out a reply. “We’ll… we’ll be careful.” Only then did Mrs. Gable nod, satisfied, and turn to leave. Watching her walk away, I felt a sense of dread. Mark came over, his brow furrowed. “What’s her problem? Who talks to people like that?” “Let it go,” I said, trying to soothe him as much as myself. “It’s better to keep the peace. We’ll just have to be extra quiet.” For the sake of being “careful,” I lined our floors with the thickest, most expensive soundproofing mats I could find. When Lily started walking, the first thing I taught her was to tiptoe. I told her a sick grandma lived downstairs, and we were her guardian angels, sworn to protect her with our quiet. Lily, bless her heart, was a quick learner. She moved with the silent grace of a kitten. She never ran in the living room. Her toys were soft plushies and wooden blocks. Anything that made a sound or could roll across the floor was packed away. The television was never on; Mark and I got used to wearing headphones. Our home was forced into silent mode. I thought that would be enough. I thought we could finally have peace. I was wrong. Mrs. Gable’s complaints never stopped. At first, it was, “Kate, dear, were you moving furniture last night? There was a loud thud that sent my heart leaping into my throat.” I racked my brain. The night before, around seven, Lily had accidentally dropped a picture book. “Did your daughter have a ball in the house yesterday? I’m telling you, my blood pressure shot through the roof.” We didn’t even own a ball. I was about to explain, but Mrs. Gable wouldn’t hear it. She clutched her chest, looking like she might collapse at any moment. “Don’t even bother. I can’t listen to it. My body just can’t take the stress.” She wasn’t here to talk; she was here to accuse. The words died in my throat. Soon, she moved her campaign from my doorstep to the building’s group chat. “@Apartment 1201, can you please control your child? She’s been running around since five this morning. Does anyone else want to get some sleep?” She followed it with a photo of herself lying on the sofa, a bottle of heart pills artfully placed on the end table. I checked my phone. It was seven o’clock. I immediately replied in the chat: “Mrs. Gable, Lily was asleep until six. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” She replied instantly: “Mistaken? My ears are the only proof I need! The noise from your apartment is like an earthquake! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing. You’re bullying a poor old woman!” Other residents, oblivious to the truth, started chiming in. “Having kids upstairs can be tough. Let’s all try to be understanding.” “Yeah, Kate, an old woman’s health is important. Maybe just try to keep it down a bit.” “It is a little early for that much noise.” The wave of well-meaning but misguided advice left me speechless and cornered. From that day on, I stopped explaining. Instead, I started documenting. I set my phone camera to timestamp every photo. I recorded everything Lily did. When she woke up, when we left the apartment, when she was sitting quietly playing with blocks, when she went to bed. Whenever Mrs. Gable launched an attack in the group chat, I would send a short video as proof. The only sound in the videos was the soft tapping of my keyboard. When Mark returned from a business trip and saw me organizing my files, he put his hand over mine. “Kate, what are you doing? We’re living like criminals in our own home. I’m going down there to talk to her.” I stopped him, shaking my head. “It won’t do any good. It will only make her worse. She doesn’t want quiet. She wants attention, she wants to be the victim.” I pointed to the thick binder on the table, filled with printed chat logs and my daily photo records. “You can’t reason with someone like her.” Mark fell silent. He sighed and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry you have to go through this.” He was right. It was exhausting. But for my daughter, for the sake of a peaceful life, I thought it was a price worth paying. But some people are never satisfied. When Lily turned three, Mrs. Gable’s war escalated. She was no longer content with verbal assaults in the group chat. She began a physical one. Anytime she imagined a noise from upstairs—even if it was just me walking from the living room to the bedroom—she would grab a mop handle, or some other long pole, and violently jab it into her ceiling. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. The sound was a dull, heavy blow that made Lily flinch every time. More than once, the pounding jolted her awake from her nap. She wouldn’t cry out, just stare at me with wide, terrified eyes, her small body trembling. Who could stand to see their child tormented like this? In that instant, my rationality shattered. Shaking with rage, I stormed downstairs and hammered on the door of 1101. Mrs. Gable opened it, a look of smug satisfaction on her face when she saw it was me. “Well, look who it is! Perfect timing! I was just about to come up and give you a piece of my mind! Is your apartment ever quiet?” “Mrs. Gable, you’re banging on the ceiling! You’re terrifying my daughter! Can’t we just talk about this like adults?” My voice trembled with a mixture of anger and tears. She scoffed, planting her hands on her hips. “Banging? I’m giving you a warning! Your place sounds like a construction zone, and I’m not allowed to react? Let me tell you something. You keep making noise, and I’ll keep banging. Every single day. Let’s see who breaks first!” With that, she slammed the door in my face. I stood there, a ringing in my ears. Through the door, I could faintly hear her complaining to her husband, her voice dripping with triumph. “Can you believe the nerve of that woman from 1201? Coming down here to confront me! Can’t control her own kid, and she has the audacity to blame me!” I went back to our apartment and scooped up the still-trembling Lily, stroking her back gently. The tears I had been holding back finally fell. Tears for my terrified daughter, and tears for my own years of spineless tolerance. I whispered to her, and to myself. Don’t be afraid, baby. Mama will protect you. And this time, I mean it. I bought a decibel meter. I started consulting with legal aid. I digitized all my records, organizing everything meticulously. Every statement she made in the group chat was screenshotted and saved. Every time she pounded on the ceiling, I recorded it on my phone. I logged the date, the time, and what was actually happening in our apartment at that moment. I knew that one day, all of it would matter. Before I knew it, Lily was five. Five years is long enough to get used to anything. I was used to tiptoeing, to the perpetual silence of our home, to Mrs. Gable’s daily one-woman drama in the group chat. Every day, she’d perform her “imminent heart attack” routine, accusing us of imaginary crimes. Sometimes it was “running,” other times “moving furniture,” and once, bizarrely, “the sound of chopping meat in the middle of the night.” I had long since given up trying to defend myself. I just silently took my screenshots, saved them, and filed them away. In five years, my evidence folder had grown to fill three external hard drives. Mark, watching me grow more and more withdrawn, pleaded with me more than once. “Why don’t we just sell? We can find another place. A top-floor apartment, or a ground-floor one.” “If this continues,” he said, his voice laced with worry, “I’m afraid you’re going to have a breakdown.” I shook my head. “Why should we be the ones to leave? We’ve done nothing wrong.” I looked over at Lily, reading quietly in a corner. She was growing up. Unable to speak, her eyes were more expressive, more perceptive than those of other children. She was too quiet. Heartbreakingly so. I couldn’t back down. I couldn’t let her grow up thinking that the only response to bullying was to run and hide. Kindness has its limits. Patience has an expiration date. One Friday, I packed our bags. I was taking Lily to my mom’s for a week. Mark was conveniently away on business. The apartment would be empty. Before leaving, I gave him instructions for the smart home system. “Honey, while we’re gone, can you set the lights to turn on and off on our usual schedule?” Mark paused, then a look of understanding dawned on his face. “You’re planning to…” “It’s time to set a trap,” I finished for him. He looked at me, a flicker of concern in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by resolute support. “Okay. Whatever you need, I’m with you all the way.” With that, Lily and I slipped out of the building, unseen. The first day at my mom’s was quiet. The second day, Mrs. Gable fired her opening salvo in the group chat. “@Everyone, 1201 is at it again! Raising hell first thing in the morning! She’s going to be the death of me!” The time stamp was 7:30 AM. At that exact moment, Lily and I were taking a peaceful walk in the park near my mother’s house. I looked at my phone and said nothing. Someone in the group tried to placate her: “Take it easy, Mrs. Gable.” “Take it easy? How can I? You don’t live under her. You have no idea how loud it is! It’s unbearable!” The third day, the fourth. Mrs. Gable’s performance grew more and more elaborate. She started posting random audio clips of noise she’d found online. “Listen to this! This is what I recorded from my ceiling! A ball bouncing! Right over my head!” The audio was a mess of static and muffled thuds, its origin impossible to identify. On the fifth day, she reached her grand finale. At ten o’clock at night, she tagged everyone in the building. “Listen to that! It’s her apartment again!! That child… crying nonstop! Is this child abuse? If this keeps up, I’m calling the police!” My hand clenched around my phone, my knuckles turning white. My mother, seeing the look on my face, asked, “What is it?” I handed her the phone. Her face flushed with anger. “That wicked old hag! How dare she say that about Lily? Our Lily can’t even make a sound when she cries!” She was right. Mrs. Gable’s claim of “endless crying” was an impossibility. Due to a congenital condition with her vocal cords, Lily had never been able to make a vocal sound. I never wanted her to be treated differently or looked at with pity. So, outside of our immediate family, no one knew. I took a deep breath, forcing down the inferno of rage in my chest. I calmly screenshotted the message, saved it, and tagged it: “The Final Piece.” Then, I made a call. It was to the legal aid hotline I had consulted more times than I could count. “Hello,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m ready. I want to sue.”

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Upon graduation, Asher Sterling asked me for a final fling. Afterwards, he casually handed me a cigarette, joking: “In the future, when I look for a wife, I definitely won’t find a smoker.” My throat tightened as I asked him why. He said, “Chloe, I like them pure.” I was silent for a long time, then cut off all contact with him. When we met again, he had become my new boss. To avoid awkwardness, I voluntarily submitted my resignation, but he cornered me in his office. “It’s been five years. One more time?” I lowered my eyes. “No thanks. I have to pick up my kid from school.” 1 The air went still. Asher froze. I tried to stand up from his lap. But he pinned me down firmly, unable to move. The burning heat in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a crack in his usual calm demeanor. He gritted his teeth. “How old is the child?” I was silent, then answered softly after a moment. “Three.” Three, not four. We broke up five years ago. This child had nothing to do with him. Obviously, Asher knew this too. I tried to stand up again. This time, the large hand across my waist didn’t stop me. Pushing the door open, he spoke again, his voice tinged with suspicion. “I remember your HR file says ‘unmarried’.” My steps paused slightly. I steadied myself and looked back calmly: “Just got the certificate recently.” “Just got the certificate, and the kid is three?” I nodded, frankly. “Yeah. Premarital pregnancy.” Asher didn’t respond. His sharp gaze swept over the cheap ring on my hand, and he scoffed dismissively. I didn’t feel ashamed. I showed it to him openly. Almost poked his eye out. Sensing his impending anger, I fled quickly. Back home that evening, I let out a heavy sigh of relief. Sometimes, lies are the most useful tools for solving unknown troubles. I bought the ring yesterday at a dollar store. Cheap and effective. I thought it was enough to wipe out whatever lingering feelings Asher had for me. Sure enough, my resignation was approved the next day. HR specifically came down in the afternoon to notify me personally. I could leave within a week after handing over my work. Usually, resignations take a month. Mine took a week. It was self-evident whose idea this was. I nodded and started handing over my work to the intern. The new intern was very obedient and enthusiastic. At least while I was mentoring her, she never paid for her own breakfast or afternoon tea. Near the end of the day, Emily suddenly spoke shyly: “Chloe, can I leave a little early tonight? My boyfriend asked me out to dinner.” I was a bit troubled. Not that I couldn’t let her go, but I also needed to leave early tonight to pick up my daughter. Seeing my silence, she got anxious, clasping her hands together and pleading. I laughed and cried at the same time, having to agree: “Fine, go ahead.” She thanked me excitedly and started packing: “My boyfriend gets off work soon.” I was surprised: “He works here too?” Emily looked mysterious. “No, he’s…” Before she finished, a deep, magnetic voice interrupted. “Packed yet?” 2 My body stiffened for a second. If I had never heard this voice before, I probably would have looked up to gossip. But unfortunately, this voice had filled my nightmares for the past five years. In the dark nights where I needed pills to sleep, Asher’s words echoed repeatedly in my ears. “Chloe, you’re too good. I’ll corrupt you.” “Chloe, try smoking. Girls who smoke are cool. I want to see a different side of you.” Under his coaxing, I fell, and I learned. From sophomore year, I went from being Asher’s pursuer to his bedmate. Then, defeating numerous other girls, I successfully became his girlfriend for three years. The day he accepted my confession, the weather was terrible, the wind howling. At that time, he had just dropped off a senior girl after a date. His car was parked under the girls’ dorm. A pair of distinct, large hands lazily held a cigarette by the window, as if he were resting his eyes. The ash was blown away by the wind in mid-air. I went downstairs with a coat over my shoulders and knocked on his window, relying on the slight special treatment he gave me to confess. In that moment, the wind seemed to slow down deliberately, like a movie paused. I waited quietly for his answer. Asher turned to look at me, took out a cigarette, and handed it to my lips. His dark eyes were bottomless, carrying a fatal attraction. I took it in my mouth like I was possessed. My moist lips touched his fingers; he didn’t pull back. His playful expression turned into silent permission, only saying: “Good girl, not so good anymore.” Back then, I was drowning in his eyes, failing to understand the deep meaning behind those words. Until graduation day. That was the last time he asked me to a hotel, and the last time we met. After the pleasure, he skillfully handed me a cigarette. “In the future, when I look for a wife, I definitely won’t find a smoker.” Back then, suppressing the sob in my throat, I asked him why. Asher laughed, white smoke rising from his fingertips, his tone more serious than ever. “Chloe, I like them pure.” Tears swirled in my eyes, making me forget to breathe for a moment. Heh, pure. He said he liked them pure. But once, he also claimed I was too pure, too good, leaving him nowhere to start. Today, I finally understand what he meant back then. Because I wasn’t good anymore, all my actions fell into his category of “playable.” 3 I pulled myself out of the memories, my expression returning to calm. Emily turned back excitedly, grabbed her bag, and trotted over. Then she suddenly looked back at me. “Chloe, aren’t you rushing to pick up your daughter too? Let us give you a ride.” I was about to refuse when Asher walked straight over and picked up my bag from the desk. He turned and walked toward the parking lot, giving me no chance to say no. The atmosphere in the car was weirdly quiet, with only Emily talking intermittently. Asher tapped the steering wheel absentmindedly, responding to her lightly, but his eyes kept drifting toward me. Maybe afraid I felt awkward, Emily started chatting with me. “Chloe, you usually work late. Does your husband pick up the kid?” Suddenly hearing the word “husband,” I didn’t react for a moment and froze. Then I shook my head, making an excuse. “He’s out of town, doesn’t come home often.” She looked enlightened, then looked at the ring I bought at the dollar store a few days ago. “Is that your wedding ring? It looks a bit faded.” “Like cheap stuff from Temu for ten bucks.” “Oops, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t misunderstand.” Emily realized she misspoke and turned to apologize. But I still caught the disdain and inexplicable superiority hidden in her eyes. Right, compared to her Hermes, my cheap bag was obviously hell. I was about to speak when a laugh interrupted me. Asher reached out and patted her head, smiling dotingly. “Alright, you didn’t say anything wrong. No need to apologize.” Then, looking at me through the rearview mirror, he spoke as if chatting but deliberately meant for me to hear. “Poor people care about face. You speak so directly; aren’t you afraid someone will make trouble for you at work tomorrow?” He spoke to Emily, but the words were for me. A seemingly careless sentence revealed naked defense and a hint of warning to me. I pretended not to hear and looked out the window. In the three years with Asher, I heard similar words countless times. Saying I wasn’t good enough for him. I admit, the difference between Asher and me was too great. My family wasn’t poor, but at most middle class. But the Sterling family wasn’t just wealthy; they stood at the center of power. When we first got together, Asher told me clearly. “Chloe, you can be my girlfriend, but you can’t be my wife.” I knew. I always knew. So I kept my heart safe, never crossing the line. When feelings were strong, I also swayed uncontrollably. Try once, fight for it. What if I succeed? So near graduation, I asked Asher out. That day, he came early to pick me up. The car stopped in a quiet spot on campus. The driver got out and waited nearby. I was forced to turn around. The mottled shadows of plane trees outside the window shot into the car with the sunlight, blinding me. For an hour, Asher leaned lazily against the seat back, his white shirt slightly damp, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. The window was half open, cold wind pouring in, dispersing the white mist he exhaled. I looked at him and slowly asked that question. “Asher, do you love me?” I thought, rather than asking if he would marry me, I cared more about whether he had ever loved me. He looked at me, the playfulness in his eyes missing a bit of seriousness. “Almost graduation.” In that moment, I understood what he meant. Almost graduation, so it’s time to break up. 4 The car stopped at the preschool gate. I pushed the door open. My daughter, standing at the gate holding the teacher’s hand, saw me and waved happily. I walked up quickly, thanked the teacher, and looked down at my daughter. “Sorry, Mommy is late today.” “Did you wait long?” My daughter looked up, pointing a small hand. “Was it because of that uncle that you’re late?” I was surprised and looked back in the direction she pointed. Asher was standing behind me at some point. His previously casual expression now held a seriousness. And a trace of imperceptible joy?! I froze, instinctively tightening my grip on my daughter’s hand. He walked forward, slowly squatting in front of my daughter, looking at her cute, obedient face. Asher’s usually cold tone softened a bit. “How old are you? What’s your name?” I didn’t speak, nor did I stop this scene. Having been together for three years, I knew the man in front of me well enough. Unless he saw it with his own eyes, he wouldn’t believe what I said. I looked at my daughter gently, squeezing her small hand lightly, signaling her. My daughter understood immediately. “I’m Lily, three years old this year.” Phew! I breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the brows seven points similar to his own, the joy of being a father for the first time hadn’t even been expressed yet. It was doused by my daughter’s words. The words stuck in his throat, unable to make a sound for a long time. My daughter was premature, and due to my malnutrition, she was thinner than her peers. Moreover, for such a small child, it’s really hard to tell the exact age at a glance. After breaking up with Asher, I blocked him on all social platforms, and he tacitly didn’t follow me anymore. We were like two intertwined lines. Even if we had a brief entanglement, once pulled tight, we would return to our original positions. Staying in the same city for five years, it wasn’t that I hadn’t fantasized that at some moment, or intersection, that familiar car would pass me by again. But it didn’t. We ran on different tracks, with our own rhythms and destinations. So even under the same sky, we were worlds apart. Back home at night, my daughter tugged at my hem, looking confused. “Mommy, I’m clearly four. Why lie to people?” Yeah. Why teach a child to lie? Maybe because I didn’t want trouble. Not long after the last meeting, I found out I was pregnant. I thought about abortion. But lying on the operating table, I hesitated. The unwillingness lingered in my mind. I admit, I was unwilling. I thought, even if we weren’t together, having a child connected to his bloodline would be good. So I gave birth alone. But when I truly held that small pink ball in my arms. I suddenly rejoiced in my decision. This is my child. Half my blood flows in her. She belongs to no one. She should come and see this world. … After putting my daughter to sleep, I received a call from the HR director, notifying me not to come to work tomorrow. I frowned and asked, “Whose idea is this?” The other end hesitated for a moment, not intending to answer my question. I didn’t ask further. After all, a day early or a day late made no difference to me.

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My uncle and I started kindergarten together. On the first day, I cried loudly, screaming for my mom. My uncle, couldn’t take it anymore, fiercely shoved a lollipop into my mouth. “Stop crying. From now on, call me Mom.” I sniffled, licked the candy, and said, “Oh.” “Mom, I want more.” [The evil supporting character was so easily bribed with a lollipop as a kid?] [OMG, such a cute little dumpling! How did she grow up to be a heartbreaker?] Later, in my teenage years, my heart started fluttering, and I found myself a few handsome boyfriends. My uncle looked at them with disdain, finding fault with everything. “This one, dressed up like a peacock all day, looks like he’s afraid of hard work.” “That one looks spoiled rotten, can’t even open his eyes properly. Not marriage material.” “And that one looks fierce, like a domestic abuser!” I’ve always been a mama’s girl, so I asked my uncle, “Little Mom, who should I pick then?” My uncle stammered, suddenly blushing. 1 The evil supporting character lacks love. That’s why my parents left early. One went to India, the other to Congo. They said they were expanding into new markets. They came back less than twice a year, and each time they looked more like Godzilla. I am a righteous little flower fairy. I hate Godzilla. I don’t need parents. 2 Until I started kindergarten. The heroine’s beautiful mother carried her in. She gently adjusted the heroine’s collar, glowing like an angel. I was mesmerized. She bent down and patted the heroine’s head, “Be good, sweetie. Mommy will pick you up after school.” My parents must be this big flower fairy! I cried like a boiling kettle. What kind of life have I been living these past few years? I sincerely threw myself over, hugging the big flower fairy’s leg, “Mommy, I want a hug.” Other kids caught the contagion, “Mommy, wuuwuu, Mommy.” In the small classroom, a dozen kettles started boiling together. Toot-toot-toot, steam rising everywhere. It was spectacular. Miss Flower’s head was about to explode. She couldn’t help but urge the heroine’s mom to leave, “Mrs. Han, we understand your worry, but kindergarten is the first step in letting go.” Mrs. Han left. Bella cried her heart out. I chased after the big flower fairy relentlessly, screaming my lungs out, “Mommy, Mommy don’t go!” The whole class chased with me, “Mommy, Mommy.” Miss Flower scrambled to stop us. Bella couldn’t take it anymore. She rushed over and shoved me hard, “That’s my mom!” I cried even harder. The room was in chaos. Miss Flower had a headache and called the heroine’s dad to complain. [The evil supporting character definitely provoked the heroine on purpose. So scheming at such a young age.] [Crying so pitifully just to drive the heroine’s mom away.] [More than that, I think she wants to steal the heroine’s mom. Such a green tea bitch already.] I couldn’t read. I was illiterate. I cried even harder because the big flower fairy left. 3 My uncle couldn’t take it anymore. He was the child adopted by my grandparents. He always took care of me, but I never liked him. Ridiculous. How could the Queen of Fairyland be bossed around by a brat? I ignored him and kept crying. Lucas fiercely shoved a lollipop into my mouth, then gently wiped away my tears. “Stop crying. From now on, call me Mom.” Kindergarten was strict about snacks. One lollipop per person per day. Mmm, sweet. Wuuwuuwuu, sweet. In that moment, he radiated maternal glory in my eyes. I sniffled, licked the candy, “Oh.” “Mom, I want more.” My uncle clenched his own lollipop, peeled it carefully, cursing under his breath, “Just eat yours.” I stopped crying. [The evil supporting character was so easily bribed with a lollipop as a kid?] [OMG, such a cute little dumpling! How did she grow up to be a heartbreaker?] [So cute! Auntie wants to eat her up!] I took the lollipop and grinned at the heroine. “My mom gave it to me.” “Where’s your mom?” [As expected of the evil supporting character, terrifying at such a young age!] The heroine cried louder. 4 Two lollipops a day gave me cavities. I gaped in disbelief, “Foolish tooth decay, leave this king’s mouth at once!” [Didn’t expect the evil supporting character to have such innocent moments.] Since her defeat in kindergarten, Bella Han had it out for me. She mocked me, “Are you a three-year-old?” I wanted to scold back but accidentally touched my sore spot, howling in pain, “Mom!” Lucas charged over from the soccer field like the wind, “You’re bullying our Wanwan again.” Bella Han was dumbfounded, “Bad guy! Stop giving her lollipops! She has cavities!” Lucas froze, turned around, and examined my mouth carefully, heartbroken, “I didn’t take good care of you!” From that day on. No more lollipops for me! And “Mom” watched me brush my teeth. Bella Han deliberately waved a lollipop in front of me. “Do you want some?” “Lollipops are so yummy.” I stomped my foot, “Bella Han! You… hmph!” [Sure enough, the supporting character and heroine are born enemies.] [Cute, two little dumplings.] I hugged Lucas’s leg, “Mom, mom, mom, she’s tempting me, wuuwuuwuu.” “Don’t cry.” Lucas patted my head. And snatched three of Bella Han’s red flower stickers. I grinned, showing my teeth, and ran to show off in front of her. “Violet Qin, have some shame! You didn’t earn those.” “Hey, who told your mom not to come to kindergarten?” [Wait, was this the only time the heroine got hit as a kid?] [Yes, the heroine went back and insisted her mom attend kindergarten too.] 5 In elementary school, I taught myself the skill of dog training. With just a few chocolates, I got over half the class to volunteer as my dogs. But being my dog had requirements. No ugly ones, no bad tempers, no bad grades. For example, the one next to me with fair skin, a quiet voice, good looks, and little pear dimples when he smiles. He’s my Dog Number One! And that one, dark skin, runs fast, short hair. Dog Number Two. The blonde one with blue eyes, stutters a bit (supposedly a British accent, so tacky), but has a dazzling smile. Currently ranked third, often competing for second. Bella Han was unhappy, “Why do you have dogs and I don’t!” She tried everything. She looked down on others in class and couldn’t reach those outside. After trying, she gained three “bros.” Her: “Be my dog, I’ll give you chocolate.” Him: “You insult me!” [Heroine baby, stop struggling. You didn’t put points in this skill.] [The supporting character is naturally gifted. It’s the power of genes.] I could understand half the words on the bullet screen now. I lifted my chin, “That’s right, talent. I have talent.” “You are just ordinary humans without talent~” Oh no, the heroine cried again. After crying, she came to me, voice buzzing like a mosquito, “Share one with me.” “Share who?” I picked my ear. She shut her eyes tight, unwilling to admit defeat but desperate to play, “I mean share one with me.” “Share one what?” Bella Han gave up, “I mean, share one dog with me!” Dog~~~ Dog~~ Dog~ 5 Honestly, I was getting bored. But seeing Bella want it so bad, I gained a bit of interest, pretending to be reluctant. Until Bella offered me her limited edition Elsa doll. Who can refuse Elsa? I certainly can’t. But she had a demand: one of my top 3. News spread. Everyone was in danger—no, every dog was in danger. Today my deskmate brought milk, dimples showing, “Wanwan, for you.” I gave him a White Rabbit candy, “Good boy, little dog is sweet like candy.” Tomorrow Dark Skin helped me clean, sweeping the floor shiny, “Wanwan, I’m done.” I used my floral handkerchief to wipe his sweat, “So strong. Pat pat. Chocolate reward tomorrow.” Number Three got anxious, nuzzling into my arms, whining like a big golden retriever. My heart melted. “Don’t worry, I like you, like you, like you the most.” [The evil supporting character really knows how to play. Fishing for men like fishing for dogs.] [Easily turning them into simps.] [No wonder the original male lead liked the supporting character first. With her skills, who wouldn’t fall?] Unable to decide which one to abandon, I prepared to dump the pot on Lucas, who just returned from training camp. “Mom, which one should I pick?” The three puppies were well-behaved. They were gearing up for a fight, but behaved in front of Lucas. They shouted with me, “Mom.” Lucas got a shade darker. He just finished the training arranged by grandparents and skipped a grade, only to be hit by this news. “You mean, I was gone for two weeks, and you got three more dogs?” “Did you ask me before getting dogs!”

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