Category: English

The third year after I returned home, my family went bankrupt, and my parents were murdered. I fell from being a pampered heiress to working odd jobs just to survive. To uncover the truth behind my parents’ deaths, I married my ex-boyfriend’s father. In public, Julian Thorne was aloof and dangerously elegant, his eyes filled with endless sarcasm and mockery. “What? Couldn’t reel me in, so you decided to hook my dad instead? Planning to be my stepmom now?” But behind closed doors, his eyes would turn bloodshot as he gripped my waist, punishing me again and again. “Stepmom… scream for me… a million bucks for every gasp…” Three years after returning to the country, my family’s company unexpectedly went bankrupt, and both my parents died. I went from being the darling of our circle to a laughingstock. Burdened with debt, I had no choice but to work and simultaneously investigate the truth behind my parents’ murder. One evening, while serving drinks at a high-end club, a few luxury cars pulled up outside, and several rich young men stepped out. Among them, I instantly spotted him: Julian Thorne, my ex-boyfriend. He was wearing a black suit, his figure lean and tall. Rimless designer glasses framed his face, making him look exceptionally sophisticated and distant. My heart was in turmoil. Just then, Mr. Davis, the club manager, assigned me to deliver drinks to their room, and I absently accepted. The room number was 816. I knocked on the door, then pushed it open, carrying the tray of drinks inside. But the next second, I regretted it. The private room was thick with smoke, and neon lights flashed erratically. Julian sat in the main seat. Beneath his suit jacket, his white shirt was unbuttoned, creating an aura of forbidden allure. My body stiffened instantly. I lowered my head, praying he wouldn’t recognize me. “Well, well, isn’t that Miss Skylar? What are you doing in a place like this?” As soon as I set the drinks down, one of the men beside Julian called out to me, his tone laced with amusement. “Julian, you’ve just returned from abroad, so you might not know,” “This, right here, is our infamous Miss Skylar.” Another man grabbed Julian’s arm and began rattling off my entire family history, complete with all the juicy details. Julian lit a cigarette, glanced at me, and smirked. “Oh, really? That famous, huh?” I couldn’t bear to listen to their insulting words anymore. After placing the drinks, I turned to leave. But then, one of the rich guys abruptly shut the door. “Didn’t Miss Skylar used to love singing? How about a song for us?” I felt a surge of humiliation. I set the microphone aside, picked up a fresh one, and was about to sing. Suddenly, a low, sarcastic chuckle sounded in my ear. “Having a club girl sing? Don’t you worry about tainting the air with such vulgarity?”

I looked up. Julian was swirling his red wine, looking down on me, his eyes filled with searing sarcasm. He had a point. I’d dumped him without a second thought back then, so there was no reason for Julian not to hate me. As soon as he spoke, the others, sensing his displeasure, let me go. Stepping out of the room, my breathing was ragged. I gulped down several deep breaths. After that, whenever I worked, I refused any assignments for room 816. The night wore on, and finally, my shift ended. My rented apartment was nearby, so I walked to and from work every day. It was ten o’clock at night now, and the deserted streets were mostly empty. But strangely, a few honks suddenly blared from behind me. The next moment, a black Porsche Cayenne screeched to a halt right in front of me. Julian stepped out, effortlessly elegant, lit a cigarette, and leaned casually against the car. “After leaving me, you’ve become so pathetic?” “Why are you working in a club now?” His face held a teasing smirk, his words sharp as daggers, his tone aggressive. I ignored him, trying to walk around him. Julian took a deep drag from his cigarette, then grabbed my arm, slamming me against the car. His lips crushed mine. The taste of smoke exploded in my mouth. I fought back fiercely, biting into his lip until I tasted blood. Julian licked his lips, his smile a little wild. “What, you’ve turned into a club girl, and you can’t even handle a kiss?” I raised my hand to slap him, but he caught it, scooped me up with one arm, and shoved me into the car. Julian’s body pressed down on me, his presence overwhelming, angrily tearing at my clothes. “You’d rather be a club girl than stay with me, wouldn’t you?” I was terrified, struggling wildly and screaming. “You’re insane! Let me go!” Julian’s face darkened, his eyes blazing with pure possessiveness. “Save your energy. Later, each scream will be worth a million bucks.” He started to strip off his clothes, but then a police siren blared outside, stopping him cold.

I had called the police while he wasn’t paying attention. The officer asked for a resolution, and I smiled, saying we could settle it privately. But he had to pay me. Julian frowned, furious. Without a word, he threw a bank card at my face. He left with a parting shot: “You really are pathetic,” then walked away. Julian and I met abroad. We were both studying overseas as teenagers, and coincidentally, we were neighbors. At that time, we were in the prime of our youth, a handsome boy and a beautiful girl, and there was an instant spark between us. Once we were together, we became inseparable. Julian’s words weren’t so harsh back then; he was a gentle, attentive younger man. I remember once, some guy from my class abroad joked about me. Julian’s face turned menacing when he heard it. He lunged at the guy and beat him senseless. I couldn’t stop him. We ended up at the police station that day, too, but his gaze never left me. His brow furrowed slightly as he held my hand, murmuring cautiously, “Skylar, I’m sorry. I won’t be so reckless again, okay?” He loved me so much back then. He was like a completely different person from the mocking, arrogant man he was now. But I couldn’t blame him. My family had arranged a strategic alliance for me through marriage, forcing me to break up with him. So, for his sake and mine, I said cruel things to break up with him and then immediately blocked him on every social media platform. The very next day, I flew back home. But I truly didn’t know he was the heir to the Thorne empire then. Otherwise, if I had to marry for alliance anyway, why would I have looked elsewhere? Now, it was too late to say anything. I took the bank card to the bank; it held exactly a million dollars. After paying off my debts, there was still a portion left for my expenses. Now, I no longer wanted any connection with Julian. At best, he was an ex. So, I quit my job at the club. In the following days, I dedicated myself to investigating the truth behind my parents’ deaths. Finally, by piecing together scattered clues, I found a lead. The clues pointed to one company that had financial dealings with ours before the bankruptcy… Only Thorne Industries. Thorne Industries? I stared at the documents on my computer, lost in thought.

The next day, I packed my bags and attended a gala. Julian was also present at the event. But he wasn’t my target; his father was. During a lull in the party, I deliberately slipped into Mr. Thorne’s private lounge. Then, I hacked into his computer, hoping to unearth more clues. But just then, Mr. Thorne’s voice grew closer; he seemed to be returning. I panicked, frantically searching for a solution. Unexpectedly, the sounds from outside the door gradually faded away. I breathed a sigh of relief and copied the files onto a USB drive. I pushed the door open to leave, but suddenly, a hand gripped my waist, spun me around, and pulled me into an adjoining private room. Julian pinned my hands above my head with one hand and gripped my chin with the other. He slammed me against the wall, leaning close, a mocking smile on his face. “What? Couldn’t become my woman, so you’re trying to seduce my dad instead?” I gritted my teeth, retorting, seething with anger, “What, you said I was pathetic, didn’t you? So what if I am!” Julian’s smile was sharp and cruel, and his grip on my jaw tightened, as if he wanted to crush me. “Then I’ll show you what *more* pathetic things truly are.” He finished speaking and lunged at me, leaving me no chance to escape. I struggled desperately but was still overpowered. Just as things escalated, his phone rang. Julian ignored it, pressing the call, then continued. I was on the verge of tears. I thought Julian was a psycho. Didn’t *he* call me pathetic? So why was he trying to harass me now? But then, a rapid knocking suddenly echoed from the room door.

Julian’s fun was interrupted again. He opened the door, his face a mask of fury, clearly annoyed. The person opposite him was extremely anxious, speaking without preamble. “I just called you, but you didn’t answer. Mr. Thorne said there was trouble at the company.” “What kind of trouble?” “Corporate secrets were stolen. Mr. Thorne is furious.” I lay stunned on the bed, my heart leaping to my throat. Had they found out about my hacking? Would Julian still let me leave? I secretly pondered my options. Julian, I realized, had quietly walked over to my side. To escape and avoid detection, I deliberately tried to seduce him. I peeled back the sheets, exposing my leg: “What, weren’t you going to teach me how to be pathetic?” Julian frowned deeply. He yanked the blanket back over me. He pulled his discarded suit pants back on, then narrowed his eyes, giving me a chilling warning. “Skylar, I’m warning you, don’t do pathetic things like that, and don’t provoke me.” ??? Excuse me? Who was provoking whom? After Julian finished speaking, he pushed open the door and walked out. It seemed he hadn’t discovered anything. I could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Back home, I copied the contents of the USB drive onto my computer. Sure enough, I found a significant clue. It turned out that while Thorne Industries was cooperating with us, they were also secretly colluding with other corporations. This was likely the fundamental reason for my company’s bankruptcy. And the direct catalyst for my parents’ deaths. I would uncover the truth step by step, and take my revenge step by step. But to uncover it, I needed an entry point. Since it involved Thorne Industries… That entry point could only be *that* person.

Thorne Industries held a charity auction every year. Counting the days, this year’s charity auction was fast approaching. I found someone to get me a ticket to the auction and entered. The auction was filled with powerful figures, a world where reputation meant nothing, only profit. I seized the opportunity to find the event organizer and asked him to convey a message to Mr. Thorne. “Mr. Thorne, I’ve heard about Thorne Industries’ charity auction even in Thailand.” After that, I quietly sat in a secluded corner. Soon, someone came looking for me. Thorne Industries’ charity was merely a façade; in reality, it was deeply involved in illicit dealings in Thailand. Bodyguards escorted me into a private room. Pushing the door open, I found Mr. Thorne seated on the sofa, reading a newspaper. He looked up when he saw me. “Miss Skylar, to what do I owe this pleasure?” I replied casually: “No particular reason, I just want to make a deal with you.” He rustled his newspaper, sounding mildly interested: “I’m all ears.” Smart people don’t need many words. Especially a cunning old fox like him, who was about my father’s age. The scene shifted. I appeared in the auction hall, linked arms with Mr. Thorne. A murmur rippled through the crowd. Mr. Thorne led me to the center, took the microphone, and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, besides today’s charity auction, I also have some wonderful news to share with you all.” “That is, Miss Skylar and I are preparing to get married.” He finished speaking, looked at me, and patted my hand. I returned his smile. Everyone applauded, but the glances they cast my way were filled with disdain. Standing on stage, my eyes still found Julian. His face was composed, but a mask of ice, a vein throbbing wildly in his neck. Of course, any man would struggle when his ex-girlfriend was about to become his stepmother. I’m sorry, Julian, but your dad simply has more power than you. To uncover the truth, that entry point could only be your father. That evening, Mr. Thorne’s car dropped me off. As soon as I reached the stairwell, I sensed someone behind me. Before I could even scream for help, a hand clapped over my mouth, and I was dragged into the shadowy corner beneath the stairs.

In the dim light, I still saw the pure fury blazing in Julian’s eyes. This time, he was truly enraged. Julian slammed me against the wall, lunging at me with primal force. He didn’t say a word, roughly tearing at me. It hurt. I fought him like a maniac, but his hand clamped over my mouth, stifling my screams. Julian was a beast, leaving his marks all over me. I bit down on his tongue until I tasted blood. At a critical moment, I used my remaining strength to grab the stun gun from my bag and pressed it down hard. “Woo-wee! Woo-wee!” The stun gun blared, drawing the attention of nearby neighbors. I seized the chance to shove him away and scrambled away, terrified. Julian was truly insane. I hadn’t provoked *him*. Couldn’t I provoke his *father* instead? Lost in thought, I suddenly noticed the painting hanging in the living room. Julian had given it to me when we were young. I looked at the artwork, and memories flooded my mind. “Julian, would you paint something for me too, please?” Julian looked helpless, pulling my hand, a troubled expression on his face: “I’m terrible at painting.” Yet, in the end, the Julian who was “terrible at painting” stayed up for nights on end to paint that picture for me. I had always cherished it. Did I truly not love him? The answer no longer mattered. I wiped away my tears. Let the past stay in the past. The most important thing now was to uncover the truth. The next day, the Thorne family car came to pick me up. I was moving into the Thorne mansion. I glanced at the painting, hesitated, but ultimately didn’t take it with me. By the time I arrived at the Thorne mansion, it was already evening. A line of household staff greeted me at the entrance. I sighed, remembering how glorious my own family had once been. To think I was now becoming someone else’s stepmom—it truly was unimaginable. Mr. Thorne and I had a contractual marriage; we wouldn’t be living together. So, I asked a maid to show me to my bedroom. As soon as I entered the room, a woody scent drifted into my nostrils. The smell was strangely familiar. It smelled like Julian. Just then, the doorknob to the ensuite bathroom turned. I jumped, startled. When I saw who emerged, I instantly turned to open the door, wanting to escape. But the door was locked.

Julian stood there, wrapped in just a towel, his sculpted body clearly visible, his wet hair dripping onto his shoulders. My back pressed against the door, my heart pounding, I immediately spoke. “Julian, this is your home. I’m your stepmom. You can’t do anything reckless!” Julian sat on the sofa, his eyes cold and filled with scorn. “Be reckless with *you*? What makes you so confident?” ??? He’d tried several times and failed, and now he was asking me what gave me confidence? I composed myself. “Good. As long as you don’t have that intention.” Just as I let out a sigh of relief, Julian’s next words nearly scared me to death. “But what if *you*, Stepmom, actively seduce me? Would that still be me acting reckless?” No sooner had he spoken than Julian stood up and walked towards me, his towel barely clinging on. He infuriated me. Words tumbled out, sharp and cruel. “You were dumped by me, and you’re still so desperate? Have some dignity!” His heart seemed to be pricked. Julian stopped approaching me. His face returned to its usual cold indifference, an almost bone-chilling coldness. He took a step forward, unlocked the door, and his voice dropped low. “Get out. Don’t let me see you.” My heart twisted with a strange ache, but I quickly scurried out. If I hadn’t found out about Thorne Industries, Julian and I would never have crossed paths again. And now, I was someone else’s stepmom. According to our agreement, I handed the evidence of the illicit dealings in Thailand to Mr. Thorne. And we had obtained a fake marriage certificate. The wedding day was lively. Besides being lively, it was also incredibly awkward. Because not only were Mr. Thorne and I getting married, but his son, Julian, also decided to join in the festivities. Julian introduced the woman in his arms to everyone, then stared at me and said, “Chloe, this is our stepmom. Say hello, Stepmom.” The woman nestled in Julian’s arms, her smile saccharine. “Hello, Stepmom.” I was so angry my teeth nearly shattered, so I retorted: “Hello, son and daughter-in-law, you both look lovely.” Julian used the wedding as an opportunity to announce his relationship with Chloe and get married himself. A knot of emotion tightened in my chest, but I had no right to say anything. On the wedding night, to avoid suspicion, I purposely went to Mr. Thorne’s bedroom. Fortunately, he had company matters to attend to that night, so I was comfortable alone in the room. Before I went to sleep, the doorknob suddenly rattled. I tensed, calling out loudly: “Mr. Thorne? Is that you?”

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Five years into working at The Skyline Club, I found myself arrested and taken to the police station. Three days later, in the interrogation room, I saw Julian Vance, whom I hadn’t seen in five years. “Ms. Hayes, I’m Julian Vance, your attorney here to bail you out.” I looked up at the man before me. He wore a perfectly tailored, crisp Kiton suit, an Aurora diamond fountain pen clipped to his chest pocket. Golden-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his gaze swept over me from behind the lenses. Calm, professional. “Julian.” I froze. Subconsciously, I glanced down at myself. My smoky makeup was half-melted by the harsh fluorescent lights, cheap cosmetics streaking down my cheeks. My flimsy fishnet stockings were ripped with several large holes, and my bare feet were covered in tiny cuts. In that instant, an overwhelming wave of humiliation washed over me. That trembling “Julian” made him look at my disheveled face. His expression remained unchanged. “According to regulations, I need to confirm your basic information.” “Your name, place of birth, and ID number?” My throat constricted. “Julian, you know all of this, don’t you?” Julian’s gaze was devoid of warmth as he corrected me. “Ms. Hayes, here, I’m just your lawyer and client. Please call me ‘Mr. Vance.’” My face drained of all color. Julian took a document from his briefcase and slid it toward me. “Before we begin, you need to sign some necessary retainer papers.” His long fingers tapped the signature line on the document, his voice calm. “Sign after you’ve confirmed everything is accurate.” I took the heavy, expensive pen, my hand trembling. I scrawled my name, barely daring to look up at Julian. Julian retrieved the document, then opened my police report from three days ago and my past records. “Records show your first arrest for soliciting a man at The Skyline Club at age 22. As of now, this is your fourth time being summoned by the police for similar activities.” “Due to your prior record and the severe nature of the case, you could face 15 days or more in penalties.” Julian’s words were like a cold, sharp blade, relentlessly slicing through my already tattered pride. I lowered my eyes, my fingers clenched so tight they turned white. “Mr. Vance, are you here to help me or to judge me?” Hearing this, Julian closed the file, his tone still icy. “Sign the bail agreement, and I’ll process your release.” “Consider it the last time I, as your… ‘family friend,’ help you.” I looked at Julian’s placid face and was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming sense of helplessness and self-loathing. It was as if, in front of him, I would always be at a disadvantage, always so pathetic. I signed my name again in the blank space. Then, I watched Julian rise crisply, turning to leave without another word. The cramped interrogation room instantly fell silent, leaving me alone. Half an hour later, a female officer opened the door, unlocking the handcuffs on my wrists. “Don’t leave New York soon, and keep your phone on.” I nodded dazedly, following Julian out of the interrogation room. Outside, seeing Julian’s retreating back, I couldn’t help but remember five years ago. It was November 7th. I had learned that Julian was handling a transnational lawsuit in Sydney. I chased after him, sending him a message. 【Julian, I need to see you. Can we meet?】 Julian replied:【Okay.】 I quickly sent another:【I’ll wait for you on MacDougal Street.】 But I waited for six hours, from broad daylight until dusk. Instead, I saw Julian and a female colleague engrossed in conversation.

That female colleague wore a well-fitted camel coat, a distinctly men’s scarf covering most of her face. And Julian, usually so aloof, was gently smiling as he plucked a jacaranda blossom from her long hair. In that moment, I ran. It wasn’t until my flight back home was about to take off that I received Julian’s message. 【I’m here. Where are you?】 I didn’t reply. I deleted Julian’s chat. For the next five years, we never saw each other again. Until today… Just then, a familiar female voice interrupted my thoughts. “Julian, what took you so long? Mom’s waiting for us to come home for dinner.” I looked up to see a woman intimately linking arms with Julian, looking up at him and smiling. Julian showed no resistance to her touch. Perhaps sensing my gaze, the woman looked in my direction. Our eyes met, and I froze. It was my sister, Violet Hayes, who had disappeared for five years! Seeing Violet, elegantly dressed in designer brands, I rushed forward. “Sis, you’re back!” Violet frowned, looking at me. “How dare you still call me ‘Sis’?” “Working at The Skyline Club, did you ever think about Mom and me?” Hearing Violet’s words, I was confused. “Sis, what are you talking about?” “You ran off abroad alone. Five whole years. Did you know Mom got sick? If I hadn’t…” My words were cut short by Violet. “Are you going to say you worked in that kind of place because you were paying for Mom’s medical treatment?” “Can you stop spouting such blatant lies?” “When Dad had his car accident, and Mom fell ill, you ran off with a man! If I hadn’t been studying and working abroad, sending money back all these years—” The word “died” remained unsaid. I was stunned. “Sis, what are you saying?! I clearly—” Violet interrupted me again, her voice cold. “Julian and I are getting married soon. You don’t need to put on a show for us in front of him.” “I know you used to like him, but he’s your brother-in-law now.” “Don’t go after him again, understand?” With that, Violet linked arms with Julian and drove away. I watched them leave, rooted to the spot. I couldn’t understand how my sister, Violet Hayes, could tell such bold-faced lies. Five years ago, after Dad’s car accident and Mom falling ill, Violet secretly left the country. The few times she contacted me from abroad, it was always to say she was in trouble and needed money! Mom was hospitalized long-term, undergoing three major surgeries, and Violet never once showed concern… Just then, my cracked phone screen lit up with a call. It was the hospital. I quickly answered. A polite female voice came through the line. “Ms. Hayes, your mother’s hospital bills have been overdue for a week. Please settle them as soon as possible. Otherwise, the hospital can’t guarantee continued medical services.” I awkwardly promised. “I’ll pay it soon.” I hailed a taxi and went home. After showering and changing, I cooked chicken congee for Mom before rushing to the city hospital. After paying the overdue hospital bills, I went to the ward. I immediately saw my sister, Violet Hayes, there. I hurried forward. “Sis, why did you lie in front of Julian today?” Violet scoffed. “I’m your sister. It’s none of your business what I do.” “If you dare expose me, I’ll ruin you!”

With that, she grabbed her bag and left. I stood there, hearing Mom’s weak voice. “Autumn, don’t argue with your sister. It hasn’t been easy for her these past five years!” My wrist ached faintly from the handcuffs, the chafing a reminder of three days in custody. I suppressed the pain and looked at Mrs. Hayes. “Mom, haven’t you seen how she’s dressed now?” “Does that look like it ‘hasn’t been easy’?” “Do you know she’s about to marry Julian Vance?” Mrs. Hayes’s eyes darted away, clearly knowing everything. “Your sister getting to be with someone she loves makes me happy, dear.” But my chest felt heavy, as if stuffed with cotton. Mom clearly knew I had once loved Julian too. I couldn’t help but ask. “Mom, when Dad had his car accident and you fell ill, Sis took all the family’s money and left the country without a word. Don’t you blame her?” Mrs. Hayes shook her head, her voice low. “No, I don’t blame her. I never wanted your sister to stay and suffer.” I froze for a moment, then asked, my voice trembling. “What about me, then?” Mrs. Hayes remained silent, avoiding my gaze. Sometimes, silence is the answer. My heart felt like it was bleeding. I took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within, and spoke again. “Mom, now that Sis is back, let her take care of you from now on.” “No.” Mrs. Hayes refused without a second thought. “Your sister has never suffered hardship since she was little, nor has she taken care of anyone. Besides, she’s getting married soon. How can she take care of a sick person like me?” Sister can’t take care of her? But how can I? I had never felt so utterly disappointed. “Mom, I wasn’t born knowing how to take care of people either.” Mrs. Hayes didn’t respond, nor did she acknowledge my suggestion about Violet taking care of her. She just kept talking about how difficult things were for Violet. How much Violet had suffered struggling alone overseas. And that I should be more accommodating to Violet. I listened silently, offering no response. Only after Mom fell asleep did I leave. Just outside the hospital. The strong wind tousled my hair, and raindrops slapped my face like a series of harsh blows. By the time I took the bus back to my rented apartment complex, I was completely soaked. I trudged up to the top floor, breathless. As I took out my keys from my canvas bag, I looked up and saw Julian Vance’s tall figure standing at my door. His sharp suit and tie looked completely out of place in this run-down neighborhood. Seeing Julian again, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. “Julian, you…” Before I could finish, Julian cut in. “I found your address from your records. How did you end up like this?” I looked down at my soaked, cheap clothes, my throat dry. I feigned composure, my hand trembling as I unlocked the door, and replied. “Like what? I think I’m doing just fine.” Hearing this, Julian seemed annoyed. “Do you even know what ‘fine’ means?” “You and your sister are from the same parents. She worked hard abroad, got into Melbourne University, and earned her degree.” “And you? All these years, you’ve only caused trouble, just wasting yourself away.” Julian’s harsh reprimand felt like a series of slaps, making my face burn. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Julian, do you know that all the money my sister used for her studies abroad, I gave it to her?” In that moment, Julian was utterly disappointed. “You’re lying again. When Violet was abroad, I visited her regularly. “I know perfectly well whether she used your money or not.”

In that moment, I was speechless. I knew any further explanation would be useless. Julian wouldn’t believe me, so I simply stopped talking. Seeing that he still hadn’t left. I broke the silence. “Do you want to come in and sit down?” Then, I opened the door and stepped inside. Julian followed her in, scanning the room. The cramped room was sparsely furnished. Only a bed, an old table, and a chipped wardrobe. There was nowhere to sit. Suddenly, Julian’s eyes darkened. He immediately spotted the bedhead, covered with clippings of his photos from newspapers. I followed his gaze, realizing I had completely forgotten about them. I hurried to tear down the photos. “Don’t misunderstand. My place is so run-down, so I just used these newspaper clippings to cover the mold on the wall.” Julian didn’t expose my lie. I felt his gaze on me, like a knife slowly carving away at my self-esteem. “Do you have anything else? If not, I won’t keep you.” Julian pulled out a card and handed it to me. “There’s ten thousand in here, enough to live on for a while. Don’t do anything illegal again.” “Find a decent job.” I clenched my hand, my palm bleeding from my nails digging in. I pushed Julian’s hand away. “No thanks. I can earn my own money. I don’t need your help.” Julian looked at my stubbornness, a flicker of something unusual in his eyes. “This money is from your sister.” My heart seized. I couldn’t help but ask. “Julian, can I ask you something?” “Seven years ago, when I confessed to you, you said I was just a kid. But why are you now with my sister, who’s only two years older than me?” Julian was silent for a moment, then looked into my eyes, speaking each word distinctly. “Your sister is different from you.” With that one sentence, my heart utterly died. I stood there, stunned, unable to speak. I could only watch as Julian placed an invitation and the card on the table beside me. “Violet and I are getting married on September 30th.” “Your sister hopes you can dress appropriately and attend our wedding.” So Julian had come specifically to give me money, afraid I would embarrass them at the wedding. My emotions were a messy tangle. After Julian left, I walked to the table and tucked both the invitation and the card into a drawer. I wouldn’t go looking for humiliation. After doing everything. I lay on the bed, and an overwhelming wave of fatigue swept over me. I had a dream, of more than a decade ago, the first time I met Julian. Julian was wearing a dark overcoat, smiling as he asked me. “Little girl, what’s your name?” In that moment, my heart melted. I woke up the next morning. I was roused by the ringing of my phone. Still half-asleep, I grabbed the phone from my bedside table and answered. My sister Violet Hayes’s impatient voice came through the line. “Hello! What are you waiting for? Mom had an accident, the bed is all wet!” “I’m on my way.” I skipped breakfast, washed up quickly, and rushed to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward, I heard Violet’s sharp voice. “I told you already, we have no relationship anymore. Can you please stop bothering me?”

Mrs. Hayes’s face was pale. She struggled to sit up and tugged at Violet’s sleeve. “Violet, Mom missed you so much. Every night I dream of you.” “These five years you’ve been away, Mom could only look at your SnapChat, not daring to call you, afraid of disturbing you.” “Now that you’ve finally found your place, Mom is happy for you.” Violet’s face was full of impatience. “Everything I have today, don’t I owe it all to myself? What could you two do to help me?” Mrs. Hayes was speechless. After a long while, she couldn’t help but cautiously ask. “Is the wedding all ready? When will it be? Mom can help prepare…” Before she could finish, Violet cut her off, her eyes full of disdain. “How can you attend my wedding looking like this?” “You just lie in a hospital bed all day. What if you have an accident at the wedding? Do you want me to lose face in front of Julian’s family?” “Let me tell you, from now on, I only have one mother, and that’s Mrs. Vance.” Mrs. Vance, Julian Vance’s mother. I couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed the door open. “Sis, how can you talk to Mom like that?” “I’m your sister. It’s none of your business how I talk, is it?” Violet said, then slammed the door and left. I watched her retreating back, suppressing my anger, and was about to comfort Mrs. Hayes. But I met my mother’s gaze. “Autumn, don’t be so harsh on your sister.” “She was just spoiled as a child; her nature isn’t bad.” My fingertips clenched. “Mom, Sis is practically disowning you. Are you still going to defend her like this?” Mrs. Hayes didn’t answer, weakly saying. “Autumn, Mom has wet the blankets. Can you help Mom change them?” Seeing Mom’s head full of white hair, I still couldn’t bring myself to blame her further, and neatly changed the bedding. After everything was tidied, I left for work. That evening, at The Skyline Club. After finishing my makeup and changing into my red slip dress for work, I came out to find Liam Foster, the head manager, leaning against the dressing room door. Liam saw my pale face, his expression worried. “Feeling unwell?” I nodded. “Just came from the hospital, a bit tired.” A flicker of concern crossed Liam’s eyes. “If you’re tired, rest. Don’t aim to be number one here; aim to leave.” “You’ve earned a lot of money over the years. Why don’t you think more about yourself?” “Your sister is back now; it’s her turn to carry Mom’s burden.” Liam knew about my family situation and that my sister was back, so he couldn’t help but advise me. My heart warmed. “Yeah, I’ll try to think more about myself.” Liam then slipped me an anti-hangover pill. “Tonight, you’re assigned to The Platinum Suite. The clients there are high-profile individuals, so they shouldn’t cause trouble. But still, take this, just in case.” “Thank you.” Over the years, Liam had taken good care of me. I sincerely thanked him, then headed to The Platinum Suite. At the door of The Platinum Suite. I knocked and entered, immediately spotting Julian Vance sitting among a group of men. He wore a dark suit, his face under the golden-rimmed glasses looking cool and distinguished. My body stiffened. And Julian, at that moment, looked up, our eyes meeting. Then, a colleague next to him asked. “Julian, you know her?” All those with him were prominent lawyers, sharp-eyed enough to know everything with just a glance. Julian subtly shifted his gaze from me. “Not well.” Not well… My expression faltered slightly, then I quickly regained composure and walked inside.

Now, it was true, Julian Vance and I weren’t close. I suppressed the dull ache in my heart and spoke. “I’m Autumn Hayes, number 108. It’s an honor to be in The Platinum Suite to serve you all.” As soon as I finished speaking, the man sitting next to Julian waved me over. “Come here.” I walked over and sat between him and Julian. I recognized this man; his name was Carter Stone, Julian’s partner, and he often appeared in newspapers with him. Carter smiled and instructed. “Remember not to touch Mr. Vance. He’s very principled; he doesn’t let any other woman near him except his fiancée.” So, everyone knew Julian was only special to my sister. I nodded stiffly. “I understand.” The next moment, I heard Julian’s displeased voice. “Carter, mind your own business.” Carter shrugged. After a few rounds of drinks, the people in the suite were tipsy, and a group of prominent lawyers started playing spin the bottle. Carter picked up the bottle and spun it. The neck pointed at me. Carter, his face flushed from alcohol, eyed me up and down. “Autumn, have you ever been taken out overnight by a client?” My face instantly burned crimson. I fought hard not to look at Julian. “I choose dare, I’ll drink.” Then, I picked up the brandy on the table and downed it in one gulp. My stomach instantly felt like it was on fire, burning with pain. Carter spun the bottle again. It rotated once and again pointed at me. “Julian, do you want to ask Ms. Autumn a question?” Julian finally looked at me at that moment. His eyes were indifferent, as if I were merely a stranger. “I have nothing to ask.” “Then I’ll ask for you!” Carter seemed to be getting carried away and asked me again. “How much do you charge for an overnight stay with a client? How many men have you been with?” Without thinking, I picked up the glass, about to drink. But Carter snatched the glass from my hand. “You already drank once! You can’t drink again now! You have to answer.” Hearing this, I bit my lower lip hard. “Two thousand a night. Three men.” As I spoke, I saw Julian’s gaze shoot toward me, the anger in his eyes clear. I immediately lowered my head, not daring to look at Julian again. If he weren’t here, I could have handled any intrusive game question with ease. But today, I just couldn’t do it like before. Carter didn’t want to stop and spun the bottle again. It stopped, still pointing at me. “Oh, no, Autumn, it’s you again…” Before Carter could finish, Julian cut him off. “Enough! That’s it for tonight.” With that, he picked up his suit jacket and walked out of the suite without even a glance at me. Seeing Julian suddenly angry and leaving. Carter was somewhat surprised. He turned to me and asked. “What exactly is your relationship? This is the first time I’ve seen him like this.” My fingertips clenched slightly. “Just a hostess and a client.” Carter didn’t ask further and followed Julian out. The others in The Platinum Suite also dispersed. I was the last to leave the suite, my stomach churning for some reason. Tonight was the only time I hadn’t been harassed or forced to drink, yet it was the most humiliating. Julian must be so disappointed in me. Back in the main hall. Liam handed me a stack of cash wrapped in brown paper. “This is your commission for today, a total of one thousand.” He then asked. “How were the clients today? No one laid a hand on you, did they?” I took the money and shook my head. “Thanks for arranging it. The clients today didn’t lay a hand on me.”

After saying that, I was about to walk out. Liam couldn’t help but call out to me again. “Autumn.” I looked back, puzzled. “What is it?” Liam hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage. “If it’s possible, would you consider me?” I was startled, and before I could answer. Liam forced a light smile. “It’s fine, I just asked. It’s okay if you don’t want to.” As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar voice came from not far away. “Julian, look, Autumn has quite a few admirers.” I looked over and saw Julian and the others from The Platinum Suite also at the entrance. Carter Stone sneered and said to Julian. “That man is Liam Foster, the head manager of the club. Managers at places like this are quite promiscuous. If the girl agrees, she’ll have a hard time.” Julian followed their gaze and saw my face flushed, standing beside Liam. A strange anger welled up in his eyes. “Let’s go. It has nothing to do with us.” Julian’s car arrived. He didn’t spare me another glance, got in, and drove away. I stood not far away, my heart feeling like it had been hollowed out. Nothing to do with him… Just then, my phone suddenly rang. I answered. Mrs. Hayes’s weak voice came through. “Autumn, Mom has something to tell you.” “Okay.” I rushed to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward and saw Mrs. Hayes, I quickly asked. “Mom, what happened?” Mrs. Hayes saw me, a look of difficulty on her face as she spoke. “Mom needs you to kneel and swear that you will always take good care of your sister from now on.” “No matter what she does, you must forgive her, or you will die a horrible death!” I heard this and froze. I knew Mom had always favored my sister, but I never imagined she would ask me to swear such a deadly oath for her sake. “Mom, am I your real daughter?” I couldn’t help but ask. Seeing my reaction, Mrs. Hayes raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “You were born from my womb after ten months. If you’re not my daughter, whose daughter are you?” “Swear it now, or we’ll cut ties as mother and daughter!” Cut ties as mother and daughter! Hearing those words, my heart utterly died. “Okay, I swear! But once I take this oath, you will truly no longer be my mother.” Mrs. Hayes’s eyes were dull. She didn’t speak, just stared at me blankly. And I, numb, knelt on the floor, raising my index and middle fingers, enunciating each word. “I swear that I will take good care of my sister, Violet Hayes, and forgive her no matter what she does, or may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!” The moment my words fell, the tension in Mrs. Hayes’s heart finally eased. After a long while, Mrs. Hayes said again. “You can go now. I need to rest.” I slowly got up, turned, and left. I never imagined that this departure would be a permanent farewell. That evening, as I was working. Suddenly, a group of uniformed police officers walked up to me, showing their badges. “Autumn Hayes, we’ve received a report. You’re suspected of murdering your biological mother. Please come with us for questioning!” My mind reeled, my eyes wide with disbelief. “What are you saying?” “Your mother was found deceased at 7 AM this morning. You were the last person seen with her before she died.” “Your sister reported it. You can say whatever you need to at the station.” After being taken back to the New York City Police Department, my mind was a blur. It wasn’t until the interrogation. I learned that after I left, someone had pulled out Mom’s breathing tube and administered illegal drugs to her. My mind suddenly flashed back to Mom’s last words: No matter what Violet Hayes does, you must forgive her! I understood everything now. It had to be Violet… I quickly told the police. “Can you investigate my sister, Violet Hayes? This morning, I was called to the hospital by my sister.” “Also, can you help me find a lawyer? I want to see Mr. Julian Vance!” 10. The police, seeing that I didn’t seem to be lying, told me in a professional manner. “We will investigate all the leads you’ve provided.” That afternoon. The detention room door opened. “The person you wanted to see is here.” I was led to the visiting room. As soon as I entered, I saw Julian Vance in a dark suit, sitting behind the table. I quickly explained. “Julian, I didn’t hurt Mom. You have to believe me.” Julian looked at me, his eyes filled with disappointment. “The evidence is stacked against you now. How do you expect me to believe you?” I was stunned. “What evidence?” Julian placed his phone in front of me and played a video. It was a video of me in Mom’s hospital room. The video showed my mother and me arguing about something. I explained. “My mom made me promise to forgive my sister no matter what she did.” “At this point, are you going to blame everything on your sister?” Julian asked. I was stunned. I refused to give up, explaining again. “Julian, I’m really being framed! When I went to the hospital, Mom was perfectly fine…” Julian, seeing that I still wouldn’t admit it, said in a deep voice. “Autumn Hayes, do you have any conscience? You killed your own mother. It’s either the death penalty or life imprisonment!” Hearing his resolute voice, I couldn’t speak another word. Julian spoke each word distinctly. “If you confess now, you might get a reduced sentence.” My eyes instantly welled up. “Julian, how can I confess to something I didn’t do?” Julian stood up. “I’ll come back when you’ve thought it through.” With that, he turned and left. I watched his retreating back, at a loss. Just then, the officer said someone else wanted to see me. The person who walked in was Violet Hayes. As soon as I saw her, I immediately stood up. “What did you do to Mom? How did she die?” Violet looked at me, smiling sweetly. “What could I do? Wasn’t it you who couldn’t stand her, so you pulled her tubes and put her out of her misery?” “I should thank you. From now on, I have no burdens whatsoever.” Hearing this, my pupils contracted sharply. “You know this is murder, right? I’m going to tell the police!” Violet laughed. “Go ahead and tell them. My husband is the best gold-standard lawyer in the country! Do you think the police will believe you, or me?” “And I have something to show you.” Violet pulled out her phone. “This is what Mom left for you before she passed.” In the video, Mrs. Hayes’s face was ashen, speaking each word distinctly. “Autumn, Mom knows she’s been a burden to you all these years, which is why you wanted Mom to die.” “Mom doesn’t blame you.” Seeing this, my head buzzed. My fingertips dug into my nails, my palm bleeding. I never imagined that the first time I heard my mother’s instructions, it would be to frame me. “Mom… why would you do this to me? Am I not your daughter anymore?” Only despair remained. After Violet left, I stayed alone in the detention center, in agony. After a week of being dazed and confused. The officer told me that my case was so severe it had spread throughout New York City. No lawyer in New York City was willing to take my case; not even legal aid wanted to touch it. But Julian Vance came to see me again. Visiting room. As soon as I entered, before I even sat down, I heard Julian speak. “Have you thought it through? Are you willing to confess?” I looked at him, my face pale, repeating my previous answer. “How can I confess to something I didn’t do?” Hearing the same answer as last time, a flicker of annoyance crossed Julian’s eyes. “Autumn Hayes! You’re still unrepentant even now. Do you know how many people outside want you to get the death penalty?” I lowered my gaze and asked. “What about you?” 11. Julian unconsciously averted his gaze, falling silent. The room was quiet. What else was there to understand? I clung to a last shred of hope, asking Julian. “Julian, do you really not believe me at all?” Julian heard the hope in my voice and his gaze returned to my face. He couldn’t help but remember the little me, always trailing behind him, her voice soft and sweet. “Julian, when I grow up, I want to marry someone just like you.” “Julian, I like you so much. Let’s be together when I’m an adult, okay?” “Julian, don’t worry about your bar exam, I’ll take care of your mom…” Thinking of these things, a strange pang of pain pierced Julian’s heart. Seeing Julian fall silent again, I smiled bitterly. “I understand. It’s fine.” “But since no one is willing to take my case now, Julian, can you be my lawyer?” I could go to jail, but I didn’t want to go to jail with a bad name. Julian, however, refused without hesitation. “I won’t take the case of someone like you.” One sentence completely crushed my heart, stripping away my last hope. My clenched hands trembled slightly. Then, I heard Julian say. “Violet’s and my wedding has been postponed. I’m now Violet’s lawyer; she has filed a lawsuit against you.” Hearing this, I suddenly understood. So this was why Julian had come to see me, to make me confess. I felt as if I’d fallen into an ice cellar, lowering my eyes in self-mockery. “Only now do I understand, Julian, you truly don’t like me.” Julian didn’t answer me, but stood up. “I will personally ensure you’re sent to prison, for your sister.” After he left, I suddenly laughed. I didn’t understand why I was laughing. Perhaps it was for my twelve-year, unrequited love. I was led out of the visiting room by the officer, but at the door, I saw Liam Foster. Liam saw me, his eyes filled with worry. “Autumn, I know you’re innocent! You took care of your mother for six years; you couldn’t possibly murder her!” My eyes welled up. The Julian I had loved for over a decade didn’t believe me, but Liam, who I’d known for five years, firmly believed in me. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have the chance to start a new life with him. “Liam, thank you for believing me.” “But I’m sorry, I have to cancel our plan to eat tiramisu.” And the promise to date him was also cancelled. Liam’s eyes immediately reddened. “Don’t say that. When you get out, I’ll make it for you again.” I shook my head. “No, I’m actually quite alright now.” “The life I lived at The Skyline Club was worse than being in jail. At least in jail, I don’t have to entertain clients, and I don’t have to worry about not having money for Mom’s treatment.” Liam, however, wouldn’t give up. “I will find evidence to prove your innocence!” “Wait for me!” After he left, I was sent back to the detention room. Soon, the day of the trial arrived. I sat alone in the defendant’s dock, facing Violet Hayes, the plaintiff, and a sharply dressed Julian Vance. I just watched. Julian meticulously presented all the surveillance footage, videos, and other evidence, explaining each point to the judge. I felt as if I couldn’t hear anything. In my mind, there were only snippets of my past with Julian. His praise for my delicious breakfasts, his gratitude for me taking care of Mrs. Vance. And the way he rejected me. And now, the way he was desperately trying to convict me. “Does the defendant have anything else to say?” My eyes were red-rimmed as I looked at the video of my mother before her death, displayed behind Violet. I then looked at Julian across from me, the corners of my eyes red. My own mother used her death to frame me; how else could I argue? “I plead guilty.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299146”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #玄幻Fantasy

I was maliciously infected with a disease. In retaliation, I seduced Caleb Taylor, a wealthy heir. Four months later, Caleb became my boyfriend. On Christmas Eve, after a date, I deliberately lured Caleb to a hotel. The next day, Christmas Day, Caleb received a gift box. At the very bottom of the box was a greeting card, with a terrifying message: *Welcome to the world of the virus.* This was my special Christmas gift to Caleb. That Christmas night, someone knocked on my door. I opened it, and it was Caleb. He was panting heavily, his face etched with panic. I feigned concern and surprise. “What’s wrong, Caleb? We still have a while before we’re supposed to go out. Why are you here so early?” Caleb’s eyes were red-rimmed, his brows deeply furrowed. He bent down and hugged me in the entranceway. “Ava, I’m so scared.” He buried his face in my neck, and I gently patted his back, soothing him. “I’m here. What happened?” My tone and actions were tender, but a cold smile played on my lips. Caleb pulled me inside and showed me the Christmas gift box. He didn’t notice my eyes flicker when I saw it. He took out the card from the very bottom and held it out to me. “Look, I don’t know who sent this to me. Do you think… I really got infected?” Holding the card that had been in my hands just that morning, I narrowed my eyes. Turning to Caleb, I held his hand and calmly reassured him. “Don’t worry, it’s just a prank.” After over a year of manipulation and deception, Caleb truly prioritized me above all else. See? His first reaction to trouble wasn’t to go to his family, but to come straight to me. 3. This “prank” was so disturbing that Caleb told his family. When Chloe Taylor, Caleb’s sister, heard about it, her reaction was strange. “Bro, this kind of disease spreads in peculiar ways. Either you’ve been messing around, or… could it be Ava who infected you?” “What are you even saying?!” My heart jolted at Caleb’s sharp, furious retort that echoed through the phone and shocked me, sitting on the couch. Caleb’s brows were tightly furrowed as he snapped, “Don’t you dare accuse Ava! Not even as a joke!” A sigh of exasperation came from the other end of the line. “Fine, fine. Guess someone’s just jealous and trying to mess with you.” The moment Caleb hung up, he quickly shuffled over to me in his slippers. “Ava, you have to believe me. I’ve never cheated! Not before, not ever. I’ve always been faithful, I swear!” Of course, he hadn’t been messing around. I was the one who infected him. For several days, Caleb remained deeply uneasy. Even when I tried to get close, he pushed me away. Had he found out? No, that couldn’t be right. I couldn’t take it anymore and confronted him. “Caleb, what’s going on? Are you trying to cut me out of your life?” Caleb, still wearing a mask, tried to approach me, then instinctively pulled back. He mumbled an apology. “No, Ava, it’s not like that. I’m just afraid of ‘what if.’ If I really am infected, then… maybe we should break up.” I stepped closer, pressing him back, until he had nowhere left to retreat, pinned against the wall. I ripped off his mask. “First of all, this disease isn’t transmitted through saliva.” A muffled, weak voice responded, “I know. I just… I can’t shake this feeling. I don’t want you to be in any danger.” I tilted my head up and kissed his lips. “I don’t care. Even if you really have it, I don’t care.” *Hah. Of course, I don’t care.* *The sooner you’re infected, the sooner you can join me in hell!* 4. Two weeks later, Caleb went for a hospital check-up. Nothing. Four weeks later, another check-up. Still nothing. He hadn’t been infected. *What luck. He actually dodged it.* *What a pity.* I was tired of playing this game with him. It was my birthday that day. Caleb had arrived at my place early, cooked a huge meal, and was waiting for me to come home. When he saw I still wasn’t back, Caleb went into the bedroom to look out the window at the street below. I texted him back: *Just arrived at the gate.* In the time it took him to turn around, Caleb noticed the medical records and medication on the table. He picked them up to examine them. The more he read, the more horrified he became. His hands clutched the documents tightly, the veins on his trembling fists bulging. I walked into the bedroom, saw the scene, and instantly understood. “So, you found out.” Caleb sharply turned to me, staring intensely, his eyes bloodshot. “Why?” I gave a cold laugh. “Why what?” Caleb held up the medical records and rushed towards me. “Why did you hide your illness from me? Why did you send me that kind of gift box on Christmas? Why… did you trick me into going to that hotel?” The room fell eerily silent. Suddenly, I burst out laughing. I took a step forward, looking up to meet Caleb’s gaze. “You really are lucky, aren’t you? As for *why*… go ask your dear sister, Chloe Taylor!” “Go ask her if she remembers Anya Miller!” Caleb listened, his face filled with shock, then he abruptly turned and left. 5. Caleb sped down the road, screeched into a bar, and dragged Chloe out. Chloe, who had been in high spirits, was annoyed and about to curse him out. But seeing her usually gentle and cheerful brother’s grim face, she didn’t dare utter a sound. Caleb pulled Chloe to a quiet spot. Chloe, still bewildered, was about to ask what was going on. “Tell me, who is Anya Miller?” Chloe froze for a moment, then her face stiffened. “How do you know about her?” Caleb roared, “Don’t you dare try to change the subject! What exactly did you do to Anya Miller?!” Back in college, Anya Miller and I were in the same year, but different departments. Back then, my name was Anya Miller, not Ava. At that time, there was a senior who was very popular with the girls, and he and I grew quite close. I liked that senior, and Chloe liked him too. Chloe was spoiled and arrogant, a real princess with a terrible temper. No, she was worse than that. She was a truly nasty piece of work, enabled by endless pampering. Chloe gathered a few people to corner me outside my dorm. They threatened me, telling me to stay away from Daniel, or I’d regret it. I wasn’t going to back down. I was an orphan with no family. Why should my feelings be dictated by others? Surely, these people wouldn’t actually dare to do anything to me on campus, right? But I was wrong. I was too naive. Those people put dead mice in my bed, poured red ink all over my closet. My dorm room became a living hell for my roommates. They shoved me into a foul-smelling ditch, taking countless humiliating, ugly photos. They spread rumors around school that I was selling myself, that I was involved with shady characters off campus. Chloe herself never appeared during any of this. I went to the teachers, but they couldn’t do anything. I went to the school administration, only to be warned about my own conduct. Why? Why was I suffering, yet no one helped me? “Chloe Taylor’s family donated a whole building to the school. Can *you* do that?” “Oh, I forgot. You’re just a parentless orphan, aren’t you?” The terrifying faces of Chloe’s cronies were right in front of me, mocking, jeering, filled with pure malice. Yes, I couldn’t. I was a poor student, an orphan with no one to back me up. How could I ever fight against them? I distanced myself from Daniel. But Daniel found me. “Anya Miller, I like you. I don’t believe any of those rumors, they’re baseless, they’re just trying to slander you!” I looked at Daniel, exhausted. “Then, Daniel, can you help me? I’m scared, I’m really scared. I don’t know what to do anymore.” Daniel hugged me, his broad, warm hand gently patting my back. “I’ll help you. Don’t be afraid.” Isolated and helpless, with no one to turn to, I clung to the only lifeline I saw. Days passed, much calmer. I thought Chloe had seen Daniel protecting me and decided not to harm me further. Until that day… It was a departmental outing. I drank a little, which was unavoidable, and texted Daniel. When I went to the restroom, a hand suddenly clamped over my mouth from behind, dragging me into another private karaoke room. I struggled with all my might, but the person behind me was incredibly strong. I couldn’t move them. In that moment, I wished for just one person to appear, anyone, as long as they could save me. But there was no one. The hallway was empty. I watched, helpless, as the door slowly closed. The music in the room was deafening. No one would hear my cries for help. The person behind me blindfolded me, then roughly and savagely forced a debilitating drug down my throat that made my body go completely limp. I was violated. The next day, I took emergency contraception and rushed to the police station to report it. They found nothing. For three agonizing weeks, I felt like I was being tormented in hell, but they couldn’t find a single lead! Three weeks later, I started feeling nauseous, vomiting, and generally unwell. I went to the hospital, and the doctor told me I had been infected with a disease. When the results came back, the doctor’s somber tone and sympathetic gaze made me collapse in the hospital corridor. I felt a chill spread through my entire body. So many patients came and went around me, so many people, yet I felt completely alone. Like I was the only one abandoned by this world. When I saw those people on campus again, one of the girls leaned close to my ear and whispered, “That’s what happens when you cross Chloe Taylor.” I snapped my head towards her. “You guys? This is illegal! I’ll report you!” I thought no matter what, they wouldn’t do something this harmful and illegal. But I was too naive. She looked straight ahead, her breath on my ear like a viper’s hiss. “Go ahead and report us. It’s been so long, do you have a single piece of evidence?” It turned out that from beginning to end, Chloe Taylor had orchestrated everything. She had kept her hands clean, never once appearing herself. Simply because I hadn’t yielded to her wishes, she wanted to destroy me. 6. “SMACK!” A stark red handprint bloomed on Chloe’s face, the sound sharp and clear. Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Bro!” Caleb was dizzy with rage, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Don’t call me bro! How could you do something like that? How could you harm someone over such a petty thing?!” After composing himself, Caleb sat down, leaning his head on his hand, and questioned her, “When you called me, asking for my help, was it all a lie? Was it just to harm Anya Miller?” Chloe lowered her head, knowing she was in the wrong. Back then, Chloe, wanting to get back at me, knew that what she was doing was illegal and needed help destroying evidence. So, Chloe called Caleb, crying. “Bro, someone outside of school is bullying me! Can you find some people to help me deal with her?” Caleb, who was far away overseas at the time, had no idea how many terrible things his sister was doing behind his back. Always doting on his sister, Caleb only knew she was being bullied by bad people. Without a second thought, he found some guys to help. “Just make sure to keep things in proportion.” He never imagined *this* was the kind of help she needed. Caleb was incredulous. “You deliberately lied to me to destroy someone else’s life? Chloe! How spoiled have you become all these years? How can you lack even basic human decency and morals?!” “Hahahaha, so, I was the one who pushed her into hell with my own hands. I was the one who harmed her!” With a crash, the glass in Caleb’s hand shattered on the floor, splintering into pieces. 7. A hesitant, slow knock echoed at the door. I opened it, and it was Caleb again. He stepped inside, looking at me urgently. “Ava, I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I didn’t know Chloe wanted those people to do something like that. I’m truly sorry. It’s my fault, it’s Chloe’s fault. I’ll drag her here tomorrow to apologize to you. I’ll do anything you want!” I violently shook his hand off, sneering. “Apologize? If an apology could fix things, what about all the suffering I’ve endured for years? What about my prime years, now reduced to perhaps less than a decade of life?! My whole life has been ruined by your family!” Caleb’s eyes were red-rimmed. “Ava, whatever it takes to make you feel better, I’ll do it.” I took a step forward, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. “What makes you think you can atone for Chloe’s sins? Fine. Why don’t you try getting this disease yourself and see my pain?” Caleb choked on his words, stammering. “I… I…” “Hah, you can’t, can you? I knew it.” I turned away dismissively, unwilling to look at him any longer, and walked back into the house. My arm felt warm as Caleb grabbed it. “Ava, can you tell me? Did you genuinely like me when you first approached me, or was it…” Caleb’s eyes flickered, filled with hope. I only found it laughable. I lazily tilted my head, letting out a soft scoff. “Of course, I deliberately approached you. You didn’t really think you were charming enough to make me fall for you, did you?” The grip on my arm loosened. Caleb recoiled as if in pain, muttering, shaking his head. “So you planned to get close to me all along? Is that right?” “What else?” Caleb’s lips twitched slightly, his voice hoarse. “Then, did you… ever like me, even a little?” My expression remained unmoved. “No.” The hope in his eyes vanished, and his gaze dimmed. “Fine. Fine. So you’ve been acting this whole time, playing with my emotions!” Caleb left.

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On the operating table, I was covered in my own blood. Ten minutes after the anesthesia wore off, the cold scalpel was carving its third incision across my lower abdomen. My body seized with agony, tears blurring my vision as I desperately strained to look at him through the observation window. He was cradling my stepsister, Serena, a chilling smile on his face as he instructed the doctor, “Take the uterus and kidney together. No scars. They’re for Serena later.” I tried to scream, but a nurse clamped a hand over my mouth. “Ms. Hayes, don’t struggle. Mrs. Knight said your life was salvaged from that car accident five years ago because you shielded her daughter. Now it’s time to return what’s rightfully hers.” So, that ‘accident’ five years ago wasn’t him risking his life to save me. It was him who shoved me out of the car, hoping *I* would die in Serena’s place. So, these five years of marriage were nothing but a twisted game of cultivating my organs. The operating lights swam before my eyes, and my stepsister’s sickly sweet voice drifted into my ears: “Thank you for dying for me, sis. Next life, remember to stay far away from what’s mine.” I choked down my last breath. When I opened my eyes again, it was that rainy night five years ago – he was smiling, extending a hand to me: “Need a ride? I can drop you off.” This time, I simply raised my hand and slapped him.

I opened my eyes, the blinding operating lights searing into my pupils. My whole body ached as if someone had sliced me open, inch by agonizing inch. I tried to move, but my hands were strapped tightly to the operating table. The anesthesia had worn off. I could distinctly feel the cold scalpel carving its third incision across my lower abdomen. Tears blurred my vision, and I strained my head, desperately looking toward the observation window. Through the glass, I saw him. Julian Knight, my husband, stood there, his arm wrapped around a woman. That woman was my stepsister, Serena Hayes. He pointed at my body, saying something to the lead surgeon. His voice crackled through the intercom: “Take the uterus and kidney together. No scars. They’re for Serena later.” I froze. What was he saying? I tried to scream, but a nurse’s hand clamped over my mouth. The nurse looked at me coldly: “Ms. Hayes, don’t struggle. Mrs. Knight said your life was salvaged from that car accident because you shielded her daughter. Now it’s time to return what’s rightfully hers.” Return what’s rightfully hers? My mind roared, and the scene of that car accident five years ago suddenly flashed before me. It was a stormy night. My stepmother and I had argued, and she’d thrown me out of the house. Julian Knight’s car pulled up to the driveway. He smiled at me and said, “Need a ride? I can drop you off at school.” I got in. As the car drove to the outskirts, an out-of-control truck suddenly veered towards us. I remember him sharply turning the steering wheel and shoving me toward the passenger door. The door flew open on impact, and I was thrown out. Then, I remembered nothing. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, that memory erased. Julian Knight sat by my bed, gently holding my hand: “You took the brunt of the crash for Serena. She’s so grateful.” I thought it was an accident. I thought he had saved me. For five years, he had been meticulously devoted, showering me with care and concern. I thought it was love. It wasn’t. That car crash wasn’t an accident. He had pushed me out of the car himself. These five years of tenderness were nothing but a twisted game of cultivating my organs. The operating lights swam before my eyes, and Serena Hayes’ sickly sweet voice drifted into my ears. “Thank you for dying for me, sis. Next life, remember to stay far away from what’s mine.” I tried to speak, but only muffled whimpers escaped my throat. Julian Knight turned, his gaze passing through the glass to me. His eyes were terrifyingly calm, as if he were looking at an item about to be scrapped. I struggled desperately, the straps biting into my wrists. The lead surgeon picked up the scalpel, ready to continue cutting into my abdomen. I felt the icy touch of the blade against my skin. It hurt. It hurt so much. I wanted to beg, to scream for them to stop, but I couldn’t even make a sound. Large tears streamed down my face, splattering onto the white surgical sheet. Julian Knight remained expressionless behind the observation window. Serena Hayes leaned on his shoulder, smiling exquisitely. I closed my eyes, refusing to look at them anymore. The scalpel sliced into my body, inch by inch, and the scent of blood filled the air. I felt my life slowly draining away. My consciousness grew hazy, and the voices faded into the distance. In my final moments, I had only one thought. If I could do it again, I would never have gotten into his car. Then, everything went black.

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. My body was drenched in cold sweat, my heart pounding fiercely. I stared blankly at the scene before me—the entrance to the Hayes family villa. Rain poured down, cold and biting against my face. I was soaked, my phone screen shattered. A black Bentley pulled up, and the window slowly rolled down. Julian Knight smiled, extending his hand to me: “Need a ride? I can drop you off at school.” I froze. That face, this scene, those words. Exactly the same as five years ago. No, more accurately, exactly the same as just a moment ago. Hadn’t I just died on the operating table? Why was I back here? Julian Knight’s brow furrowed when he saw me unmoving. “Clara? What’s wrong?” I stared at him, countless images flashing through my mind. His cold eyes, directing doctors to harvest my organs. His intimate posture, holding Serena. The moment he pushed me out of the car on that rainy night. I took a step back, raised my hand, and slapped him without hesitation. “SMACK!” The crisp sound of the slap echoed loudly in the rainy night. Julian Knight froze, clutching his cheek, staring at me in disbelief. “You…” “Get lost.” My voice was icy. I turned and walked into the rain. His voice called out behind me: “Clara! Are you crazy?” I didn’t look back, walking straight into the villa. My stepmother stood in the living room, a sneer on her face when she saw me. “What, couldn’t bear to leave?” I ignored her, went straight upstairs, and returned to my room. Locking the door, I leaned against it, trembling. I had been reborn. I truly had. I was back to that rainy night five years ago, where it all began. I remembered the script of my previous life. Tonight, I would be kicked out by my stepmother after an argument, and Julian Knight would “just happen to pass by” to offer me a ride. The car would encounter an “accident” on the outskirts, and I would take the fatal impact meant for Serena, falling into a coma with severe injuries. I would wake up, having lost that memory, and Julian Knight would approach me as my “savior.” Over five years, he would slowly groom me into a perfect organ donor. But this time, I had rejected him. I walked to my desk, opened a drawer, and took out a USB drive. These were all the pieces of evidence I had gathered against Serena Hayes during my college years. In my past life, I was too naive, believing she truly was a charitable socialite. It wasn’t until my death that I understood she was glamorous on the surface but secretly controlled an underground organ trafficking network. The victims of those “car accidents” were all carefully selected matching donors. I was simply the perfect match found after Serena’s kidney failure. I opened my laptop, inserted the USB drive, and files filled the screen. A list of victims from seventeen “accidents.” Every person was sent to the Knight family’s private hospital after their “accident.” Their organs were removed, and they were then declared beyond saving. I gripped the mouse, a cold glint in my eyes. This life, I wouldn’t let them succeed. My phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat message from Julian Knight. “Clara, I was out of line earlier. Please don’t be angry. Can I still drive you back to school?” I looked at the message, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. In my previous life, he used this gentle facade to deceive me for five years. This life, I wouldn’t fall for it again. I replied: “No thanks. We’re not close.” After sending it, I pulled out the USB drive and hid it in my safe. Tomorrow, I had somewhere to go.

Three days later, I received a notification from the hospital. Serena Hayes had suffered acute kidney failure and was in critical condition. I stood in the hospital corridor, looking at the red light above the emergency room. Mrs. Knight sat on a bench, wiping away tears. She immediately stood up when she saw me. She grabbed my hand: “Clara, you’re finally here!” I pulled my hand back, expressionless: “Mrs. Knight, what can I do for you?” Mrs. Knight froze, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes, quickly replaced by a pleading look. “Clara, you and Serena are sisters. Can you save her?” I didn’t speak, just watched her quietly. “The doctors say your match is perfect. If you just donate a kidney…” Before she could finish, the emergency room door opened. Julian Knight walked out, his gaze complex as he looked at me. “Clara.” He walked towards me. I instinctively took a step back. He paused, softening his voice: “That slap the other night, I understand now.” I looked at him coldly: “You understand what?” “You’re mad I haven’t paid attention to you before, right?” He took a deep breath: “Clara, I know the Hayes family hasn’t treated you well, but Serena is innocent.” “I promise you, if you save her, I will compensate you.” I heard the probing in his words. In my previous life, I was manipulated after losing my memory. This life, my memory was intact, and they were trying a new strategy of emotional manipulation and tempting offers. I said, expressionless: “Mrs. Knight, I also want to save her, but donating a kidney is a major surgery. I need to think it through carefully.” “I’ll give you my answer in a week.” With that, I turned and left. Behind me, I heard Mrs. Knight’s hushed voice: “This girl isn’t easy to fool anymore. Should we use the old method?” Julian Knight was silent for a few seconds: “Wait a bit longer. Don’t tip them off.” I gripped my phone tightly. The recording was saved. Leaving the hospital, I hailed a cab and headed straight for the city police station. In the car, I reviewed the files on my USB drive. It was only after I died in my past life that I learned the Knight family and Hayes family had conspired to keep me as a backup organ supply for five years. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes had received millions of dollars in hush money from the Knights. My stepmother had even proactively offered to “deliver the goods anytime.” This life, I would make them pay the price. The taxi stopped in front of the police station. I got out and walked inside. The front desk officer looked up at me: “Hello, can I help you?” “I’d like to report an organ trafficking case.” My voice was calm, but it made the front desk officer pause. “Please wait a moment.” He picked up the phone and spoke in a low voice. Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in plain clothes walked out. “Follow me.” I followed him into an office. He sat down, gesturing for me to take a seat: “I’m Detective Miller, head of a special investigation unit assigned by the state.” I nodded, pulling the USB drive from my bag. “This contains a list of seventeen ‘accident’ victims Serena Hayes manipulated over five years.” Detective Miller took the USB drive, his brows furrowing. “Every person was sent to a private hospital after their ‘accident,’ and declared beyond saving after their organs were removed.” I paused: “The Knight family’s private hospital was the transplant facility. The Hayes family was responsible for identifying matching donors and staging the ‘accidents.’” Detective Miller plugged in the USB drive and quickly scanned the files, his expression growing more grim. “We’ve been tracking this case for two years, but we’ve always lacked core evidence.” He looked up at me: “Why do you have all this?” I calmly said: “Because I was supposed to be their next target.” Detective Miller narrowed his eyes: “You mean…” “I can cooperate with you to lure them out.” I opened my phone and played the recording I made at the hospital. Mrs. Knight’s voice clearly echoed: “Should we use the old method?” Detective Miller listened, silent for a long time. “What are your terms?” “Three.” I held up three fingers: “First, protection for my personal safety. Second, the arrest operation must happen before they perform any forced surgery. Third, afterwards, I want to completely disappear, change my name and identity, and leave this city.” Detective Miller looked at me, then finally nodded: “Agreed.”

By the time I left the police station, it was evening. The sky was darkening, and streetlights flickered on one by one. My phone vibrated. It was a call from Mr. Hayes. I answered, but didn’t speak. “Clara, where are you?” Mr. Hayes’ voice sounded anxious. “Out.” My answer was brief. “Come home quickly. I have something to tell you.” I hung up, a cold smile playing on my lips. Detective Miller was right; they were going to make their move early. I hailed a taxi and gave the address of the Hayes family villa. Outside the car window, the city lights sped by. I looked at my reflection in the glass, my eyes terrifyingly calm. In my previous life, it was tonight that Mr. Hayes called me home. Then I was drugged and sent to the Knight family’s private hospital. This life, I had already set the trap. The taxi stopped at the villa entrance. I paid and got out. The living room was brightly lit. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were both sitting on the sofa. I pushed the door open, and they immediately stood up. “Clara, you’re finally home.” Mr. Hayes walked towards me, a forced smile on his face. I looked at him, the man who, in my past life, sold his daughter for millions of dollars. “What do you want?” My voice was cold. “It’s about Serena. Her condition is very serious. The doctors say she needs surgery soon.” Mr. Hayes rubbed his hands: “You see, you and she are sisters. Can’t you…” “No.” I cut him off. Mr. Hayes froze: “Clara, how can you be so selfish? Serena is your sister!” “Sister?” I sneered: “What kind of sister is she to me? How many times have we seen each other since we were kids?” My stepmother stood up, pointing at me: “Clara Hayes, don’t be ungrateful!” “Ungrateful?” I looked at her: “Then let me ask you, that car accident five years ago, was it planned by you?” My stepmother’s face changed, and Mr. Hayes froze. “What are you talking about!” My stepmother shrieked. “Whether I am or not, you both know in your hearts.” I turned to go upstairs. Mr. Hayes grabbed my arm: “Clara, you’re not going anywhere tonight!” I pulled his hand away: “Let go of me.” “Your father had no choice.” Mr. Hayes sighed, his eyes suddenly turning cold. My heart tightened, and I instinctively tried to run. But my stepmother already had me in a hold from behind. “What are you doing!” I struggled desperately. Mr. Hayes pulled a syringe from his pocket, filled with a clear liquid. “Clara, don’t blame your father.” He walked over and grabbed my arm. The needle pierced my skin, and the cold liquid injected into my body. My vision began to blur, and my body grew weaker. “You…” I tried to speak, but my tongue wouldn’t obey. My stepmother released me, and I fell to the floor. Mr. Hayes picked up his phone: “Julian, she’s ready. Send the car.” I lay on the cold floor, my consciousness slowly fading. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hayes standing nearby, watching me expressionlessly. Like they were looking at a piece of cargo. Memories from my past life surged, despair and fury threatening to consume me. But quickly, I calmed down. Because I knew Detective Miller’s people were already outside. I had sent him my location before coming here. Moreover, I had a miniature recording device on me. At this moment, outside the operating room, a dozen police cars were silently approaching. I closed my eyes, awaiting the final moment. Julian Knight, this time, I won’t let you succeed. Half an hour later, I was carried into a black SUV. The car started, heading towards the Knight family’s private hospital. I felt the car stop, and someone carried me out. Blinding lights, the smell of disinfectant. I was placed on the operating table, my hands restrained. Julian Knight’s voice echoed in my ears. “I’m sorry, I can’t wait any longer.” I snapped my eyes open. The dazzling surgical lights shone directly into my pupils, and Julian Knight, dressed in surgical scrubs, stood beside me. His eyes were cold, as if he were looking at an item about to be processed. “Serena’s kidney failure is already in its late stages. Any more delay and it will be too late.” I tried to move my wrist, the strap cutting into my flesh. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll die on the operating table?” My voice was hoarse, but clear. Julian Knight paused: “You’re awake?” “Forced organ removal carries a rejection risk, no matter how perfect the match.” I scoffed. Mrs. Knight walked over, looking down at me. “Don’t worry. We’ve been cultivating you for five years. We know your body data better than you do.” She sneered: “And even if you die, your life should have ended five years ago anyway.”

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My boyfriend’s childhood friend turned obsessive. When she couldn’t have him, she went after my dad instead. Liam took me out for a candlelit dinner, and the next thing I knew, Chloe was jetting off to Paris on a private plane with my dad, on a massive shopping spree. She even had the nerve to sneer at me, “Satisfied with just a casual dinner? My man is way more generous than Liam Maxwell!” I nodded furiously, like a bobblehead. “Oh yeah, totally! Your man’s the most generous!” So generous, in fact, that my name is on his will. “Liam, are you *really* going to abandon me for this woman?” “I’ve been by your side for eleven years. Does that mean nothing compared to someone who saved your life?” “W-w-what? I’m the one who loves you most in this world! Can’t you just look at me?” I’m Anya Sharma, and this woman in front of me, wailing out her woes and pleading her case to my boyfriend, is his childhood friend, Chloe Reed. In Chloe’s words, childhood sweethearts just couldn’t compete with a ‘destined’ connection. Chloe blocked our path, crying nonstop. She acted as if Liam and I being together meant *she* was the one being abandoned. But heaven knows, that wasn’t the case at all. I’ve lost count of how many times Chloe has pulled this stunt. Not hundreds, but easily dozens. You couldn’t get rid of her; she was like a stubborn stain I couldn’t scrub off. They just happened to be in the same class from elementary school all the way through college, and she unilaterally decided to crown herself his ‘childhood sweetheart.’ Liam had assured me repeatedly that he barely knew her. And I’d even had someone look into it; this was clearly Chloe’s one-sided fantasy. Sure enough, Liam grabbed my hand, ready to leave, not even bothering to glance her way. As we walked past Chloe, I paused, looking at her. “Sister, seriously, if it’s really that bad, maybe we should find a hospital and get your head checked out?” It was a genuine suggestion, but she took it as a provocation, glaring at me fiercely. Her eyes seemed to accuse me of stealing her man. Hopeless. People who only want to live in their own delusional world can’t be reasoned with. What else could she do besides see a doctor? Just as we were about to leave, Chloe suddenly roared from behind us, “Liam Maxwell! This is your last chance! If you’re going to be heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Liam didn’t even turn his head. Sometimes, I actually felt sorry for my boyfriend. If it were any other woman, they probably would’ve cracked under Chloe’s harassment by now.

When I first met Liam, I was a freshman, and didn’t really know anyone at school. Chloe, along with some others, decided to corner me. “You’re forbidden from talking to Liam Maxwell ever again, or I’ll make you regret it!” Behind her were a few red-haired delinquents, who were apparently Chloe’s admirers. I immediately gave them a masterclass in self-defense. The result was a pile of bodies on the ground. Liam appeared out of nowhere to watch the show, even recording my fierce, take-no-prisoners attitude. “I was going to record this to call the police for you, but now it looks like I should be calling them for *them* instead.” With Liam’s video as evidence, I was just acting in self-defense. Chloe, as the ringleader, was detained for fifteen days. The school was going to expel her, but somehow, one of her relatives pulled some strings and got her off the hook. But I wasn’t intimidated. In fact, I should probably thank Chloe’s meddling. If she hadn’t cornered me that day, Liam and I might never have gotten to know each other better. After Liam and I officially started dating, Chloe nearly lost her mind when she found out. She charged at me, intending to fight, but I gave her a spectacular over-the-shoulder throw, which landed her in the hospital for a month. After that, she changed tactics, constantly emphasizing to Liam, “I’m the woman who loves you most!” I actually admired her persistence. She kept it up for a full five years. Midway, I did worry. Could a woman’s unwavering obsession really fail to stir even a flicker of emotion? When I asked Liam about it, he didn’t say a word. But the next day, he printed out a stack of advanced placement textbooks and practice exams and tossed them in front of Chloe. “Someone who claims to be a brilliant university student, but can’t even solve these basic problems, what makes you think a little bit of ‘love’ will impress me?” “I’d tell her that consistent effort leads to significant results, and all she’d ask is what we’re having for dinner.” Just thinking about Liam’s actions still makes me laugh. Indeed, if Chloe could somehow manage to be the top student in the entire school, Liam might actually be willing to discuss academics with her. Liam and I got together because I was annoyed he beat me in a debate, so I chased him to his dorm and debated him for three days straight. We were drawn to intellect, to sharp minds. What attracted us was the powerful soul of the other person, not some fleeting, superficial feeling. Chloe probably would never understand that.

But I truly never expected it! Why did Chloe suddenly parachute into my company? HR announced a new hire today, a “high-tech talent.” I was all geared up to have a lively discussion about technology with this newcomer, only to find Chloe’s smug face staring back at me. “High-tech talent”? She’d barely scraped by her college English exams, even after multiple tries, and struggled through basic university courses. And now she’d suddenly become the company’s tech expert? Even taken over the department manager position? She’d become my new boss. I’d worked my way up from intern for a year, only to become a team lead. I was on the verge of a promotion and a raise, and Chloe just swooped in and took it? “What?! Anya, didn’t they say the manager position was yours? How did an outsider just get parachuted in?” “When this last project finished, the higher-ups said Anya would be promoted…” “Shh! You don’t know? This woman has serious connections.” “What kind of connections? Spill!” “She seems to be connected to the big boss. I saw her getting out of his car yesterday…” “Oh my god…” “Shush! Keep your voice down, someone might hear.” From their whispers, I caught the crucial information. The big boss? My ridiculously wealthy, infuriating father? I couldn’t help but glance at Chloe on stage. She had her sights set on Liam Maxwell, surely her taste hadn’t changed so drastically that she’d go for my dad? It had to be a rumor. Chloe immediately spotted me sitting in the crowd and raised an eyebrow. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, she walked right up to me, a triumphant smirk on her face. “Anya Sharma, what a coincidence! Looks like you’ll be my subordinate now, huh?” “And here you were, calling yourself a top student, a modern woman. Honestly, you haven’t achieved much, have you?” At this point, it was clear to everyone that the new manager harbored hostility towards me. My familiar colleagues nervously watched. But I couldn’t care less. I threw a question right back at her. “I hear Manager Reed is a high-tech talent. So you must be able to answer some questions for me, right?” Chloe arrogantly tilted her chin. “Of course. Ask away.” I suppressed a smile and asked, “Manager Reed, who invented the C programming language?” “It was…” Chloe opened her mouth, then choked. She’d been cramming programming books for days, preparing for any unexpected questions. She never imagined I’d hit her with something so basic, yet so out of left field. Chloe’s face turned beet red, but not a single extra word came out of her mouth. Around us, faint snickers erupted, as if mocking her overconfidence. And why not? No one liked these “parachuted” hires. Why should everyone work late nights on projects, striving for promotions and raises? Only to have some talentless newbie, who couldn’t even name the inventor of C language, snatch it away? “Anya Sharma! You’re doing this on purpose! You’re just jealous I took your position, so you’re trying to make things difficult for me!” Chloe finally realized my intention and yelled it out. I didn’t bother to hide it, nodding openly. “Yep, I am. But you really didn’t know, did you?” “If you’re so smart, ask me a different question!” “If you can’t even answer that, there’s nothing else worth asking you.” Ultimately, the welcome meeting for Chloe ended with her storming out in a huff. After the meeting, my team members immediately swarmed around me, showering me with support. “Anya, that was epic! Don’t worry, we’ve got your back, always!” “Totally! Anya, you fly, we’ll carry your burdens, haha!” “Anya, take down that outsider! If it gets too rough, go solo, and we’ll follow you anywhere!” I quickly reassured them. No way! These were my best tech talents. Not one of them could quit. This was the empire I was building for the company’s future. I had originally joined under a false name, working my way up from intern. My dad probably didn’t even know I was “undercover” in his own company. But I was deeply touched to have such a loyal and supportive team. “Don’t worry. I won’t be the one leaving this company.” News of Chloe being a “parachuted” hire spread like wildfire. Other colleagues came to gloat, but before I could even open my mouth, my awesome team members had already shut them down. Having lost face in the meeting, Chloe naturally wanted to get her revenge privately. Sure enough, at noon, she ordered me to compile all the projects our team had ever handled and present them to her. She could have easily accessed the company archives herself. But Chloe insisted I compile them, and wanted hard copies. “Anya Sharma, have all the projects summarized for me before the end of the day. You can do that, right?” It was a direct order from my superior, so I had no choice but to comply. I had anticipated Chloe’s move, and thankfully, I have a habit of keeping my own copies of every completed project. So, five minutes later, I handed all the documents to Chloe. “That fast?! Anya Sharma, are you trying to fob me off with some random files?!” I looked at Chloe, amused. “Manager Reed, if you think I’m fobbing you off, why don’t you cross-reference each document? Then you’ll know if I’m bluffing or not.” That resulted in Chloe being forced to stay late and work overtime. And I got to happily leave for the day.

Liam was still at his company, working late. He started his own studio in his senior year of college, and now it had grown considerably, making his work exceptionally busy. I sent him a SnapChat message: “Going back to my dad’s tonight. Won’t be home.” I needed to go back and ask my dad if Chloe was his recommendation to the company. After arriving home, I first went to the living room to pay my respects to my mom’s memorial, then headed to my dad’s study. But he wasn’t there? “Mrs. Jenkins, where’s my dad?” “Miss Anya, Mr. Sterling hasn’t been home for a few days.” I called him, but his phone was off. I tried contacting my dad’s secretary, but his phone was off too? The next moment, I scrolled through Ins and saw Chloe’s post: “Was supposed to work late, but someone couldn’t bear to see me so tired. Taking a private jet to the next city for a French feast~” The photo showed the interior of a private jet. Just one look, and it seemed familiar. Very much like *our* family’s jet. I glanced at my mom’s memorial, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. My mom had passed away from massive blood loss during the birth of her second child. In all these years, my dad hadn’t remarried. Not because his love for my mom was so profound, but because he found remarriage too troublesome, and one daughter was enough for him. And to honor my mom, he even let me use her maiden name. My dad was a notorious playboy CEO. Since my mom’s passing, his gossip column mentions outnumbered even those of the usual tabloid fixtures. Initially, the paparazzi loved following him, but they eventually realized their scoops couldn’t keep up with his pace of changing girlfriends, so they just gave up. Could Chloe really be involved with my dad? The absurd thought sent a chill down my spine. No way, absolutely not. Chloe had been obsessed with Liam for so long, she couldn’t suddenly fall for my plump, easygoing father. Since my dad wasn’t home, staying in this huge mansion by myself was pretty boring. I had the driver take me back to the small place Liam and I shared. The moment I walked in, I bumped right into him. Liam smelled faintly of soap. He picked me up and settled me onto the couch. I didn’t move, just nestled in his arms. A sigh escaped me; if only time could stop. He brushed the stray hairs from my forehead and tucked them behind my ear. “Anya, you seem a little down today?” I thought for a moment, then decided to tell him about Chloe parachuting into our company. Liam didn’t know I was the daughter of the Sterling Group CEO. And we had a silent understanding not to delve into each other’s backgrounds. After all, if too many things got mixed into love, it wouldn’t be pure anymore. To my surprise, Liam then told me something even more shocking. “She called me today too. I didn’t pick up at first, so she called my company directly. She said she was going to get revenge on me. Looks like she really found herself a sugar daddy?” Liam spoke in a calm, flat tone, and I could tell he didn’t take Chloe’s threats seriously. Of course, he was fiercely independent and proud. I had always assumed Liam was a genius but from an ordinary family, so I couldn’t help but worry about him. “What if Chloe really hooked up with that Mr. Sterling, and whispers in his ear? Couldn’t that jeopardize your company?” Besides, this kind of thing wasn’t uncommon. Plenty of passionate young entrepreneurs try to make their mark in the cutthroat business world, but many eventually get acquired or monopolized. Liam patted my shoulder. “Relax. Don’t you trust me? She can try her best.” Liam was brimming with confidence, but I couldn’t bear to see the company he’d built with his own hands ruined by a woman like Chloe. Forget it. If it came to it, I’d just have to come clean with my dad. Thinking that, I felt a little lighter. The next day, both Chloe and my dad were indeed absent from the company. The excuse was a business trip, but everyone knew perfectly well that it was… Three days later, Chloe, arm-in-arm with my dad, made a grand entrance at the company. They got out of the same car, and my dad personally escorted her to her office door. I stood far off in the crowd. My dad was beaming like a blooming flower, and Chloe was playing the role of the demure, devoted girlfriend. So, this was their public debut?

First off, how did Chloe sweet-talk my dad into being so public? And how could *she* even stomach it? My dad was roughly her father’s age, almost fifty. After her display, Chloe immediately called me into her office to gloat. The moment I stepped in, I was nearly blinded by the diamond on Chloe’s finger, so huge it practically had its own zip code. She practically shoved her hand into my eye. “So, what do you think? Is my diamond ring big enough? I wonder how many years Liam Maxwell would have to slave away to afford just this one ring?” How was I supposed to tell her that Liam wouldn’t need to buy it? It was the kind of thing I used to toss around like a pebble when I was a kid. Though, my dad certainly was generous this time, a two-hundred-million-dollar ring, just like that. Oh, wait, I just noticed. It wasn’t just the ring. Chloe’s entire outfit had changed—high-end clothes, designer bags. Did my ridiculously wealthy, infuriating father actually like her? I couldn’t fathom why I was busting my ass working for him. “You’ve seen it, Mr. Sterling dotes on me. With just a word from me, Liam Maxwell’s company would disappear. Do you believe me?” I shook my head. “I don’t.” “Everyone knows Mr. Sterling is a playboy. He can dote on you today and fall for someone else tomorrow. Oh, and if you’re trying to cash in, you’d better do it fast, or you’ll have nowhere to cry when he dumps you~”

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My stepsister and I were kidnapped at the same time, but my boyfriend only paid the ransom for her. In that moment, close to death, I saw the soul of my mom, who had passed away years ago. “Those two – that scumbag and that manipulative witch – they’re playing Celeste for a fool, both for her feelings and her money! My poor daughter is surrounded by monsters who want to devour her!” My mom’s figure was faint, but she filled me with a sense of security. “I can’t believe so many people are coveting the inheritance I left behind. Damn Julian Vance and Blair! Not only did they deliberately hurt my daughter, but they also planned to ruin her reputation and make her an outcast!” “My dear, at tomorrow’s engagement banquet, you absolutely must not choose Julian Vance. Take a closer look at Asher Hayes. That boy genuinely likes you.” The next day at the banquet, my father had four heirs from the most influential families stand before me, asking me to choose one to marry. I chose Asher Hayes without a moment’s hesitation. I’ve always listened to my mom. If she said Julian Vance wanted to hurt me, then I’d just switch husbands.

My father was clearly taken aback by my choice. “Aren’t you dating Julian Vance? Why the sudden choice for Asher Hayes? Celeste, marriage isn’t a joke, you need to choose carefully.” I nodded. “Dad, I broke up with Julian Vance. I like Asher Hayes now.” My father gently patted my head. “Our family doesn’t need a strategic alliance through marriage. If you don’t like any of them, we can just cancel the engagement.” At the entrance, Julian Vance’s parents walked in, all smiles. “Mr. Richard, since we’ll be family soon, please guide us through ‘Project Pawa’ this time.” My dad is the wealthiest man in the state, and the group’s project partners depend on who I choose as his son-in-law. My dad gave them a cold glance and announced, “Don’t be ridiculous. My daughter’s fiancé is Asher Hayes.” Mr. Vance looked stunned. “What does this mean? Celeste, aren’t you my son’s girlfriend?” My mom, with her hands on her hips, practically yelled, “Nonsense! Julian Vance not only deceived my daughter but also publicly claimed Blair was his girlfriend, even going as far as to call Celeste the other woman! They trampled all over her reputation, and it was Asher Hayes who helped suppress those rumors!” My heart clenched painfully. My mind instantly cleared. No wonder when Julian Vance and I went to friend gatherings, they always looked like they were watching a show. Turns out, I was the joke. Blair and Julian Vance became “good friends” shortly after she moved into our house. I thought they were just close, but I never imagined they were already together. I glanced at Mr. Vance, and said flatly, “I only have one fiancé, and that’s Asher Hayes.” Mrs. Vance stomped her foot in anger. “Celeste, I treated you like a daughter-in-law, and yet you turned out to be such a hypocritical person.” My mom’s soul stood in front of me, gently comforting me. “Sweetheart, the Vance family conspired together to deceive you. Don’t let them make you angry.” “But I’m so happy you finally saw Julian Vance for who he really is.” Soon, everyone had arrived. Seated on either side of me were two handsome, stylish men: Julian Vance, Asher Hayes, and then Ryan and Leo. We all lived in the same villa complex, and being similar in age, we’d grown up together. After the meal, the elders left early, leaving just the four of us looking at each other awkwardly. But just as I was about to speak to Asher Hayes, his father called him away. The moment he left, Ryan put on a playful smirk. “Celeste, as the daughter of the state’s wealthiest man, you must be pretty pleased with yourself, getting to pick the most suitable husband from four powerful families.” Leo scoffed. “So what if she was born with a silver spoon? She’s still just a complete pushover, constantly chasing after Julian Vance like a lost puppy.” Julian Vance put on a facade of deep affection, looking at me. “Celeste, since you’ve chosen me, I will naturally fulfill my responsibilities and duties as a husband. Don’t worry, I’ll treat you well.” My mom stood by, sneering, and reached out to hit him. If only she wasn’t a soul, she couldn’t touch anything. “He truly is a manipulative liar! That kidnapping was orchestrated by him and Blair! They wanted to trick Celeste into giving up her newly inherited fortune, then release her dirt, and Blair would step over her to rise to the top.” Listening to my mom’s furious accusations, a wave of bitterness washed over me. If my mom hadn’t been unable to let go of me even after her death, I might not have been alive anymore. Julian Vance reached for a napkin to wipe my mouth, but I pulled away. “Don’t touch me.” Julian Vance’s face changed, but only for a moment before he regained his composure. “Celeste, are you still upset about the kidnapping? I already explained, it was an emergency, I had no choice but to ensure Blair’s safety first.” “Blair is your sister, I was doing it all for your own good.” Julian Vance had always been so gentle. He knew I had low blood sugar, so his pocket always had my favorite candies. He knew my stomach wasn’t good, so he’d have his housekeeper make me stomach-soothing porridge every day. I was touched by his thoughtfulness and fell hopelessly in love with him. He used to say: “Celeste, I love your star-bright eyes, I adore your beautiful face. Please allow me to protect you for a lifetime.” But time had passed, and he was no longer that gentle, considerate gentleman. His love was like a dazzling fireworks display, quickly blooming for someone else. Now, his devotion was entirely for Blair, yet he continued to feign sincerity for my inheritance. I shifted my gaze, and said coldly, “I don’t need it.” Julian Vance peeled a shrimp and placed it in my bowl. “At the Freshman Orientation Week in a few days, Blair wants to perform a piano piece. You’re about to start your company internship, there’s no need to waste time on this. I’ve already replaced your name with hers.” I looked up at him in disbelief, then quickly felt a sense of resignation. He was the Student Body President, and this Freshman Orientation Week was his to organize. He could do whatever he wanted. “Do what you want.” But what he didn’t know was… The school board had personally begged me to perform at the Freshman Orientation Week this year.

He had a smile on his face as he fed me a cherry tomato. But Julian Vance, I’m allergic to cherry tomatoes. How could he be so meticulous and yet forget that? “Come on, your birthday is next month. I’ll get you that ring you love. Oh, and when are you planning to try on wedding dresses?” I pushed his hand away, but I didn’t completely lose my temper with him. If he wanted to put on an act, I’d play along. Ryan suddenly frowned and asked, “Celeste, is this engagement banquet for you and Julian Vance?” I smirked, but didn’t answer directly. “On my birthday, I’ll have the groom’s suit and groomsmen’s suits ready for you guys. Remember to pick them up on time.” Since it was *my* grand wedding, I would personally confirm every detail. My father came to the private room to call me, and I stood up to leave. Leo, who had been silent for a while, scoffed. “Why even ask? Back when Julian Vance was bullied by the former Student Body President, she spent a month taking him down to get Julian Vance promoted. And for his birthday the past three years, wasn’t it always her who spent a fortune organizing them? Julian Vance, you really have a good fiancée.” “That’s enough.” Julian Vance’s voice was cold. “Blair is waiting for us. Don’t say anything out of line when we get there.” Hearing Blair’s name, I completely lost it. I thought my heart had turned to ash, but apparently, it could still ache. I had loved Julian Vance for three years. Every day, I felt like I was living for him. After my mom died, I was heartbroken and depressed for a long time. I once believed he was the prince who pulled me out of hell, but I never thought he’d become someone else’s knight. “Celeste.” Julian Vance called out to me. He roughly grabbed my arm, and said coldly, “I don’t want Blair to know about the Freshman Orientation Week. I’m afraid she’ll be upset.” “She’s always like that, so sweet and kind, always thinking of others even when she’s hurt.” The pampering in his tone was like a sharp knife twisting in my heart. “Julian Vance, why are you so confident that I’ll always love you?” His tone was slightly displeased. “I agreed to marry you, but don’t be unreasonable.” I shook off his hand, trembling. “Julian Vance, we’re over.” I hurried toward my father, but a cake cart suddenly rolled toward me. I instinctively dodged, but my foot was still run over, and my dress was covered in cream. “Oh dear, big sister, are you alright? It’s all my fault for being so clumsy, I can’t even push a cake cart properly.” My mom’s figure stood before me again, enraged, she yelled, “What clumsy? I think you did it on purpose! You just want to harm my daughter, not only to inherit her shares in the Richard family but also to covet my inheritance! Ugh, you shameless wretch!” Julian Vance rushed to Blair’s side and hugged her. “Are you alright? You’re not hurt, are you? It’s that awful cake cart, it’s got nothing to do with you. Don’t blame yourself.” He looked at me with extreme impatience. “Blair is already scared, why aren’t you apologizing to her?” Apologize? Why should I? “These two scumbags! They think my daughter has no one to back her up, do they? It’s infuriating!” Seeing my mom so upset, I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, and stood up. I slowly walked over to them, picked up the remaining cake, and smashed it onto them. In an instant, the hall had two new Santa Clauses. Julian Vance was furious, roaring, “Celeste, you have no manners!” I pushed the cart towards them again. “Manners? Those are for people, not for dogs.” Seeing them stunned, I clapped my hands and strode away. Once in the car, I told the driver to take me home. After hearing the whole story, my father asked if I needed him to handle it, but I shook my head. At the beginning of our relationship, Julian Vance would fret even if a single strand of my hair fell. He always had a handkerchief in his pocket. If there was a speck of dirt on my shoe, he would kneel down and wipe it for me. Now, he cared less and less about me. He even humiliated me for another woman. If I married him, my life would only become more miserable day by day.

While waiting for the family doctor, I was painting in my art studio. Halfway through, I heard sounds coming from the piano room next door. “Julian Vance, if Celeste found out you were the one who hired the kidnappers, I wonder if her heart would break.” After a moment of silence, Julian Vance let out a sound of desire. “So what? Everything she has is mine. I originally wanted to take the opportunity to make her hand over the inheritance, but she was so stubborn, she’d rather die than give in.” “But it doesn’t matter. Once I marry her and get the assets, I’ll be the richest man in the world!” Blair pouted coquettishly. “Hmph, then you’d be a two-time married man when you marry me.” My mom was very sad, her voice choked. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t died so early, my daughter wouldn’t have been manipulated by these wolves.” She then instantly brightened up. “But they’re going to be disappointed! My daughter chose Asher Hayes!” Their movements and sounds grew louder and louder. I felt like the entire second floor was tainted. “Excuse me, is Miss Celeste here?” He wore a white lab coat, an unfamiliar family doctor. “Dr. Miller was off today, feeling unwell, so I’m covering for him.” The man kept his head down, but his eyes were strange. Yet, as he approached me, he suddenly lunged. “Celeste, go to hell!” In his hand was a syringe, just a fraction of an inch from piercing my body. In that moment of life and death, I screamed, “Julian Vance, help me!” In a flash, I had ducked behind my easel. If Julian Vance could just grab him while he was unprepared, I could be saved. Blair let out a cry, “No, Julian Vance, I don’t want you to get hurt.” Julian Vance hesitated for a moment, and the man’s syringe plunged into my skin. I struggled frantically, only to find my body gradually losing control. My mom paced anxiously around me. “Oh no! This is one of the kidnapper’s accomplices! Because the Richard family rounded up their whole gang, he’s furious and wants revenge! Julian Vance, my daughter has been so good to you, can you really bear to watch her get hurt?” On the other side, Blair, traumatized, had fainted in Julian Vance’s arms. In his panic, he simply picked her up and carried her away. A chill ran through my heart. Three years of feelings, and yet I held no place in his heart. Perhaps I should have known the moment he paid the ransom for Blair. In a haze, I saw a man rush up and pull me into his arms. He called my name repeatedly, but I couldn’t hear anything anymore. Fortunately, the dose of the poison wasn’t much, and it didn’t cause me great harm. For the following time, I stayed home to recover, even missing the Freshman Orientation Week at school. I heard Blair made quite a splash. Many men pursued her, but Julian Vance shut them all down. The kidnapper from that day had already been caught and executed, but Asher Hayes was still worried. He stayed by my side when I slept, and left as soon as I woke up. On my birthday, my father painstakingly prepared the most exquisite and beautiful wedding dress in the world for me. When I appeared in full regalia before the four men, Julian Vance, Ryan, and Leo’s eyes were filled with awe. Only Asher Hayes lowered his head, not daring to meet my gaze. I called for the bodyguards and handed them the clothes I had prepared. But when they changed and reappeared, Julian Vance finally realized something was off. “Celeste, did you mix up Asher Hayes’s and my clothes?” I gave him a faint glance, and said softly, “No mistake. Because my groom is—” “The groom I’ve chosen, the man I’ll spend the rest of my life with, is Asher Hayes.” At these words, everyone present froze.

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The seventh day after my death, my “funeral” felt more like a wild party. My mother-in-law, Brenda, was in a garish red dress, prancing around my memorial picture, dancing a grotesque jig. My husband, Liam Miller, had his arms wrapped around his new flame, Amber Reed, kissing her openly and announcing their wedding for next month. He even picked up a glass of champagne, splashing it on my urn, and laughed. “Chloe Davis, you menace are finally gone! But don’t worry, your billions? I’ll spend them for you!” Even the guests chuckled, scoffing about how valuable my death had been. No one knew that at this very moment, I was watching everything through a surveillance feed. Until Mr. Sterling, the lawyer, publicly read my will: “All assets are to be bequeathed to my husband, Liam Miller, on the condition that…” “He must continuously kneel and wail at my grave for one hundred days, with the entire process live-streamed.” “If his tears are deemed insincere, or if the process is interrupted for even one second, all assets will be donated to charity.” Liam Miller’s smile instantly froze on his face. 0

After the lawyer finished reading the will, the entire funeral hall fell into a deathly silence. My mother-in-law, who had been dancing just a second ago, had her face contorted, stretching every wrinkle. Liam Miller’s hand, still clutching Amber Reed, forgot to let go. The champagne he had splashed on my urn was now dripping down its sides, sticky and disgusting. “Impossible!” Liam Miller was the first to shriek. “This is fake! How could Chloe Davis, that stupid woman, come up with such a malicious scheme?!” Amber Reed chimed in, her voice trembling, devoid of its previous sugary sweetness. “That’s right, Mr. Sterling, are you sure you haven’t made a mistake? Chloe was so kind, she… she would never…” Before she could finish, my mother-in-law shoved her aside. Brenda pointed an accusing finger at Liam Miller, yelling, “I told you! That woman wouldn’t let things go easily! Now look! All our money is gone!” Liam Miller impatiently shook her off. “Mom, shut up!” He turned to Mr. Sterling, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity. “Mr. Sterling, tell me, was she delirious before she died? One hundred days? Live-streamed? Isn’t this just a joke?” Mr. Sterling pulled a tablet from his briefcase and tapped open a video. It was me in the video, emaciated, almost unrecognizable, but my eyes were shockingly bright. “Hi, Liam Miller.” I waved at the camera, a brilliant smile on my face. “Surprised? Every single word of this will was written by me, in my right mind. I know you must be furious right now, thinking I’ve gone insane.” “You’re right, I have gone insane.” “Driven crazy, little by little, by you, by your mother, and by that delicate little mistress in your arms.” “One hundred days, in exchange for my billion-dollar fortune. Is that a deal you’re willing to take?” The video ended, and the entire hall erupted in chatter. Guests whispered to each other, their gazes shifting from envy to naked fascination. “One hundred days, kneeling and crying at a grave? And live-streamed? If Mr. Miller does this, where will he hide his face?” “But that’s a billion dollars! If he won’t do it, I would! I’d cry from the dawn of time until the world ended!” “But the will also said the tears had to be sincere. How do they even judge that?” Mr. Sterling spoke up at the opportune moment. “Regarding the sincerity evaluation, Ms. Chloe Davis, before her passing, commissioned a professional team to develop an emotional recognition system.” “The system will comprehensively assess the authenticity of the tears through various physiological indicators such as facial micro-expressions, heart rate, and tear composition. There will be a ‘sincerity score’ displayed on the live-stream interface; anything below 60% will invalidate the process.” At those words, even I wanted to applaud myself. Of course, it was me. Always so thorough. Liam Miller’s face had gone from white to green, then from green to black. He stared intently at my memorial picture, his eyes burning with boundless hatred. I could imagine his desire to scatter my ashes at that moment. But he couldn’t. Because he was greedy. He loved money more than he loved me, more than he loved himself. Amber Reed was still crying her fake tears beside him. “Liam, let’s not take her money, okay? I don’t want you to suffer this humiliation, it breaks my heart…” “What do you know?!” Liam Miller abruptly shook her off, roaring, “That’s not *her* money! That’s *mine*! It’s what I deserve!” His eyes bloodshot, he glared at my urn. After a long moment, he gritted out a few words, “Fine. I’ll kneel.” He turned to Mr. Sterling. “Today counts as day one.” With that, he dropped to his knees with a thud before my contemptuous black-and-white memorial picture. The absurd drama of the funeral hall had officially begun. And I, the sole director of this play, sat in the surveillance room of my out-of-town villa, sipping an ’82 Lafite, watching the screen with keen interest. Liam Miller was kneeling, but his back was ramrod straight, his face devoid of any sorrow, only humiliation and fury. He couldn’t squeeze out a single tear. In the live-stream, the online viewer count had already surpassed a million. Comments scrolled wildly. “LOL, is this a funeral or a stand-up comedy? Dude, your face is grumpier than my boss’s.” “Sincerity score: 0%. Confirmed, pure greed.” “Ex-hubby, if you really can’t cry, should I send you some onion essential oil?” Liam Miller watched the comments on his phone, his face growing darker and darker. Suddenly, he looked up, glaring intently at the surveillance camera directly above the funeral hall. His gaze pierced through the screen, as if he wanted to devour me whole. He mouthed each word to the camera, “Chloe. Davis. You. Just. Wait.” I chuckled softly, swirling the red wine in my glass. Wait then. This show had only just begun. 0

Liam Miller’s first day at the grave was a disaster, a true performance art failure. He couldn’t cry. Or rather, he had forgotten how to cry for me. He tried everything—pinching his thighs, thinking of sad things, even having his assistant tell him jokes. They say laughter to the extreme can also bring tears. The result? He laughed like a maniac in front of my grave, earning a barrage of “LOL”s in the comments, but his sincerity score remained stubbornly at “0%.” The next day, my mother-in-law, Brenda, showed up with a group of her friends, calling it “on-site coaching.” They gathered around my grave, blasting a mournful, wailing tune from an old, crackling speaker, letting out ear-splitting howls, trying to ‘inspire’ Liam. “Oh, my poor son—you suffer so much—” “That damned Chloe Davis—even in death, she tortures you—” Liam Miller’s head throbbed from their incessant noise, and he roared, his face livid, “Get out, all of you!” The live-stream audience was losing it, flooding the comments with “Comedy Award of the Year” for me. I sat in front of the monitor, watching it all with a blank expression. There was no sense of triumph in my heart, only a desolate coldness. I turned off the farce and brought up another encrypted video. It was of Liam Miller and me in the past. The video began in a cheap rental apartment in a college town. Liam Miller back then wore a faded T-shirt, his eyes clear, a faint dimple appearing when he smiled. His family was poor, but he would save half a month’s living expenses to buy me a limited-edition lipstick I liked. As a top student in the business school, I helped him plan his career, revise his resume, and even used my father’s connections to secure his first internship. He held me tightly then, his eyes shining like stars. “Chloe, you’re everything to me. When I make it big, I’ll make you the happiest woman in the world.” I believed him. The scene shifted to his company’s startup phase. I gave up the opportunity to study abroad and became his company’s first employee, juggling roles as finance, administration, and project manager, staying up countless nights with him. We ate instant noodles together in his tiny office, sketching out the company’s blueprint. Then, Amber Reed appeared. An ordinary college student he met on a business trip, innocent, delicate, her eyes filled with adoration for him. She supposedly helped him a great deal, though I never quite understood what she could have possibly done. She came to the company as an intern, knowing nothing, only blinking her innocent big eyes and timidly saying, “Liam, I don’t know how to do this. Can you teach me?” For the first time, Liam Miller made a demand of me for another woman. “Chloe, Amber is new; she doesn’t understand anything. Please guide her. She’s not like you, who had everything growing up; she’s very pitiful.” I tried to teach her, but she looked at me with a gaze mixed with jealousy and disdain. “Chloe, you’re so amazing, unlike me; I only know how to study. But it’s not good for girls to be too strong; it puts pressure on men. Liam often says he feels exhausted around you.” At that moment, I felt the chill of betrayal for the first time. I turned off the video, my chest aching. These memories, once my most precious treasures, were now daggers piercing my heart. Just then, on the screen, Liam Miller’s phone lit up. It was a text from Amber Reed. Using technical means, I synced the content to my screen. “Liam, I went back to our old place today to pack some things and accidentally found something of Chloe’s. I think… it might be her diary.” Liam Miller abruptly stood up from the ground, his expression agitated. A diary? What could Chloe Davis’s diary possibly contain? He almost immediately wanted to rush out of the cemetery, to find Amber, to snatch that diary. But the moment he took a step, the surveillance bracelet on his wrist blared a piercing alarm. “Warning! Warning! User is leaving the designated area, timer will be interrupted!” Mr. Sterling’s team appeared like ghosts, blocking his path with impassive faces. “Mr. Miller, please calm down. If you leave, the agreement is automatically voided.” Liam Miller’s feet were nailed to the spot. He looked back at my tombstone, then at his phone, his face etched with an unprecedented struggle and anxiety. I watched with cold eyes. Liam Miller, which would win out? Your greed or your curiosity? Just then, my assistant, Chris, knocked and entered, holding a delicate velvet box. “Ms. Davis, as you instructed, the item is ready.” I nodded, picked up the box, and offered a knowing smile to the camera. “Go, give this ‘surprise’ to my dear husband.” “Tell him, perhaps this can help him… find that lost ‘sincerity.’” 0

The small velvet box was delivered directly to Liam Miller. He took it suspiciously and opened it. Inside wasn’t some priceless treasure, but a very old, blue MP3 player, its casing chipped. It was the first birthday gift I ever gave him, bought with three months of my allowance. Liam Miller’s expression flickered for a moment. He probably remembered something, but that hint of nostalgia was quickly replaced by impatience. “What is this? What trick is Chloe Davis playing now?” He roughly pulled out the MP3, seeing an equally old pair of earbuds still attached. Annoyed, he put on the earbuds and pressed play. A somewhat noisy recording began to play. “Liam Miller, you broke loser, you think you can chase our college beauty queen? Take a look in the mirror!” “Yeah, look at his cheap clothes, it’s disgusting!” “Chloe, ignore him, let’s go!” It was the voice of my college roommate. Then, young Liam Miller’s clear, stubborn voice came on. “I don’t have money, but my heart for Chloe is real. Someday, I’ll give her a good life.” And then, my crisp voice, with a girl’s playful innocence, “You’re not allowed to bully him! I like him, whether he has money or not!” In the recording, young Liam Miller laughed, a pure, unblemished sound. On the surveillance screen, Liam Miller’s body stiffened. His hand unconsciously stroked the MP3 player, the aggression on his face fading, replaced by a complex tenderness he himself hadn’t realized. I watched him, my heart perfectly still. Liam Miller, you’re not missing me; you’re missing the you who had nothing back then, but felt like he had the whole world. And I was your whole world. Too bad your world grew too big later. Big enough to contain fame, desire, and another woman. The recording continued. Sweet memories flashed by, then the tone abruptly shifted. A shrill, affected female voice chimed in—it was Amber Reed. “Oh, Ms. Jenkins, don’t say that. Chloe didn’t mean it; she’s just… she just loves Liam so much that she sees everyone as a rival.” This was what Amber said at our company’s annual party, after “accidentally” spilling a glass of red wine on my white gown. At the time, as the CEO’s wife, wearing a custom-made dress, I was utterly humiliated by an intern. All eyes were on me. Before I could even speak, Liam Miller frowned and took my hand. He didn’t scold Amber; instead, he whispered to me, “Chloe, just let it go. She didn’t do it on purpose; don’t scare her. Go change your clothes quickly; don’t embarrass yourself here.” “Embarrass myself?” I looked at him, unable to believe those words came from his mouth. He called me an embarrassment to protect another woman. In the recording, my voice at the time was as cold as ice. “Liam Miller, say that again?” “Are you done making a scene?” His voice was full of annoyance. “It’s such a small thing; why do you have to make it so ugly? Amber has already apologized; what more do you want? Go home; stop causing trouble for me here!” The recording stopped there. I saw Liam Miller on the screen, his face pale. He looked as if he’d been slapped hard, not by me, but by himself. He finally remembered. Remembered how he had, step by step, trampled my love and respect underfoot. He took off the earbuds, staring blankly at my tombstone. His lips moved, but no words came out. The live-stream comments, for the first time, briefly went silent. Then, a wave of furious comments erupted. “Holy crap! These two scumbags! Is that recording real?” “Spilling wine then playing innocent, saying the other person ‘scared her’? The ‘sweet’ act is practically oozing out of the screen!” “Liam Miller is a渣男 (scumbag)! Saying that about his wife for a mistress? How humiliating that must have been for his wife!” “Sincerity score -10%! Even the system can’t stand it!” I smiled, looking at the negative number. This system certainly didn’t disappoint me. Liam Miller saw it too. The color completely drained from his face. He was starting to get scared. Not scared of losing the money, but scared of remembering what he had truly done to me. Just then, his phone rang again. Still Amber Reed. This time, she didn’t text; she made a video call directly. Liam Miller instinctively wanted to hang up, but his finger paused. He answered. Amber Reed’s tear-streaked face appeared on the screen. “Liam, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to call you. I… I just miss you so much. You must be having such a hard time out there alone, right?” “Don’t listen to what people online are saying, and don’t let… don’t let the things Chloe left behind affect you. She must hate you, that’s why she’s trying every way to make you suffer…” As she spoke, she looked at him with those “innocent” big eyes, full of “pity” and “understanding.” Liam Miller looked at her but said nothing. His gaze was very complex. Amber Reed, getting no response, bit her lip. Suddenly, she seemed to make a decision. She turned the camera to a table. On the table lay a shattered picture frame. Inside the frame was the only photo Liam Miller and I had together. 0

“Liam, please don’t be mad at me.” Amber Reed’s voice, laced with tears, came through the phone, sounding especially pitiful. “When I saw that picture, it reminded me of how Chloe used to treat me… I couldn’t control myself for a moment… I know I shouldn’t have, it’s your memory, but I was just so upset…” Her words precisely pierced Liam Miller’s most vulnerable nerve at that moment. That photo was taken on the day our company went public. I wore a simple white blouse, and he wore a suit. Behind us was the enormous red logo of the stock exchange. We smiled so brightly in the picture, our eyes full of hope for the future. And now, it was shattered. Shattered by the woman he had placed on a pedestal. I watched Liam Miller’s face on the surveillance screen; his muscles twitched, his jawline clenched tight. I thought he would explode, would yell at Amber. But he didn’t. He merely stared silently at the wreckage on the screen, his eyes slowly dimming, eventually settling into a dead calm. “I understand.” After a long moment, he uttered these few words, then immediately hung up the video call. No comfort, no accusation. It was a kind of calm more terrifying than anger. He slowly squatted down, placing the cheap MP3 back into the velvet box. Then, he looked up, turning his gaze back to my tombstone. This time, his eyes held no hatred, no resentment, only an endless void and regret. He finally seemed to understand that she hadn’t just shattered a picture frame. She had shattered everything he and I had ever shared. “Chloe… I’m sorry.” A single tear, without warning, rolled from his bloodshot eyes, hitting the dusty ground and leaving a dark mark. Then came a second, a third… He no longer suppressed it, no longer pretended. He broke down, weeping uncontrollably before my cold tombstone. His cries were heartbreaking, filled with endless remorse and pain. 【Live Stream】 “Holy crap! He’s crying! He’s actually crying!” “His cries, they break my heart… doesn’t sound like an act.” “Sincerity score! Look at the sincerity score!” I shifted my gaze to a corner of the live stream. The sincerity score, which had consistently displayed negative numbers or zero, was now skyrocketing like crazy. 10%… 30%… 50%… Finally, it stopped at 61%. Passed. Liam Miller, congratulations, you’ve finally shed your first sincere tear. But this is far from enough. What I want isn’t just your tears. I want you to spend the next ninety-plus days reliving, over and over, how you personally buried the love you once prided yourself on. As I coldly observed his breakdown, the doorbell of the villa suddenly rang. My personal assistant, Ms. Lee, came in and said, “Ms. Davis, a Mr. Price, who claims to be an old acquaintance of yours, wishes to see you.” Mr. Price? I paused, then realized. Daniel Price. The son of my father’s old friend, and my nominal “fiancé.” He was one of the few who knew about this fake death scheme. “Let him in.” Soon, a tall, well-built man in a black trench coat entered. He was handsome and had a composed demeanor. Seeing me safe and sound on the couch, his tense expression finally relaxed. “You really scared me to death,” he said, walking over to me with a helpless sigh. “Have you had enough? Come home with me.” “Not yet.” I shook my head, pointing at Liam Miller, who was crying his heart out on the screen. “The show has just begun.” Following my finger, his eyes instantly turned cold. “You put yourself through all this for *that*?” “No,” I corrected him. “It’s for myself. I need to reclaim what’s mine, like my dignity.” Daniel Price was silent for a moment, then stopped trying to persuade me. He simply took off his trench coat, draped it over me, and said softly, “Don’t watch anymore, it’s bad for your eyes. I’ll take you somewhere.” He took my hand and led me out of that suffocating surveillance room. Meanwhile, at the cemetery. Liam Miller’s cries gradually subsided. He seemed to have been drained of all his strength, slumping to the ground. Just then, a black Rolls-Royce slowly pulled up at the cemetery entrance. The car door opened, and a man in a perfectly tailored black suit stepped out, holding a black umbrella. He walked with steady steps, heading straight for my tombstone. His appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention in the live stream. “Who’s that guy? What an aura!” “Look at that car, those clothes, he must be rich and powerful!” “Is he here to mourn too? But… why does he look at Liam Miller like he’s a piece of trash?” The man ignored Liam Miller, who was still kneeling on the ground, and simply placed a bouquet of white calla lilies gently before my tombstone. His long fingers brushed over my name on the cold stone, a tender gesture. “Chloe.” He spoke, his voice deep and magnetic, filled with intense sorrow. “I’m too late.” 0 This man was Blake Vance. My college senior, and my former admirer. A genius who, after I chose Liam Miller, moved far away, founded his own tech company, and is now a rising star in the industry.

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Three days before my wedding, my fiancé eloped with my best friend. My best friend. Wearing my wedding dress. In my marital home. And she was “unlocking new positions” with my fiancé. I caught them red-handed, but she just shrugged it off, completely unfazed. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic, daughter-in-law,” Ashley purred, a smirk playing on her lips. “My boy was just nervous about his first wedding. I was simply giving him some pointers to make your married life… more satisfying.” Blake Blackwood, my fiancé, was equally dismissive. “Don’t be so jealous, Chloe. She’s just my buddy. If there was anything serious between us, you wouldn’t be the bride.” I let out a harsh, bitter laugh. “Seriously? You’d marry your ‘buddy’ then?” “Our marriage is a dynastic alliance, a mere formality for our parents’ sake,” Blake explained, as if I were too simple to grasp it. “You people from a lower background wouldn’t understand. Stop being so possessive. After we’re married, I’ll be with her on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for family appearances. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays will be all for you.” I felt like I was going to explode, my eyes burning with unshed tears. Was it just about an arranged marriage? How many other arranged marriages had I turned down for him? In fact, one of them was with his own older brother, Julian Blackwood—the Blackwood family’s designated heir!

That bed. So big. It made my blood boil. “You married her, and you still expect to marry me? Have you even read the marriage laws?” Blake picked up Ashley’s bra and tossed it to her. “Don’t sweat the small stuff, Chloe. Marrying Ashley was just a temporary solution. We’ll divorce eventually.” I laughed, a sharp, humorless sound. How dare he think that I, Chloe Hayes, the esteemed heiress of the Hayes family, would stoop to being his secret mistress? Right in front of me, Ashley stripped off the wedding dress, putting on her own lingerie. “Chloe, don’t you think this dress is a little small? Even without a bra, Blake had to squeeze me into it.” She emphasized her generous curves, and Blake’s eyes were practically glued to her. I struggled to keep calm, but tears welled up. “Blake, it’s over. We’re done.” Ashley jumped in, feigning indignation. “Chloe, you’re so ungrateful! My buddy is the son of one of the country’s wealthiest families. He’s doing you a huge favor by agreeing to marry you.” “He married me to shut his parents up. Do you honestly think a regular girl like you could ever catch the eye of someone from his family? He wouldn’t even dare introduce you to his parents, would he?” I looked at Blake, stunned. “But I… I’ve met your parents.” Ashley burst out laughing, looking at me as if I were an idiot. “Blake, your girlfriend is so gullible! She still doesn’t know those were just hired actors I found for you?” Blake didn’t show an ounce of embarrassment at being exposed, nor did he care about the tears streaming down my face. “Chloe, I love you, and I want to marry you. But I can’t introduce you to my circle. There’s just too big of a social gap between us.” Ashley saw me crying. “God, I hate it when girls cry all the time, acting like someone owes them something. You’ve certainly milked my buddy for all he’s worth over the years. He was so broke he had to live at my place for six months!” I wiped my tears away furiously. “Then let’s call off the wedding. I’m not interested in being your charity project.” Blake’s face turned cold. “You, a scholarship kid, dare to complain I’m poor? The invitations are already out! Your entire small town, from the oldest to the youngest, even your family dog, Duke, will be there to feast. Marry me or don’t, it’s your embarrassment, not mine.” Ashley grabbed Blake and pulled him away. “Forget her. I bet she’ll be back on her knees crying and begging you tonight. After all, she’s been with you for six years; she’s old news. Who’d be idiotic enough to pick up her sloppy seconds?” I wiped my tears, tossed the wedding dress into the trash, and calmly pulled out Julian Blackwood’s contact information. “This is Chloe Hayes. I’m getting married in three days. Can you attend as the groom?” My parents airlifted 66 crates of dowry and flew in on a private jet amidst their busy schedules to attend my wedding. Since they were already here, this wedding had to happen. The next day. I went to try on a new wedding dress and snapped a few photos for the wedding planning group chat. Julian Blackwood replied that the gown was one he’d designed, waiting for its true owner. Not long after my message, Blake’s Ferrari pulled up outside. Ashley jokingly leaped onto his back, and the two walked into the store, practically attached at the hip. Blake’s tone was mocking. “You say you won’t marry me, but you’re still trying on wedding dresses? And deliberately posting it in the wedding group chat.” Oh, I forgot he was in the group too. But he never said a word, acting like he wasn’t even the groom. “Chloe certainly knows how to pick ’em,” Ashley whispered to Blake, her voice loud enough for me to hear. “This dress is studded with real diamonds. It must be worth hundreds of thousands, even millions. Your poor sap of a buddy, your gold-digging fiancée is finding new ways to bleed you dry!” Blake looked displeased. “You already have a wedding dress, why are you trying on another one? Take it off!” “That one? I find it dirty.” The words were barely out of my mouth when Ashley spun around and slapped me across the face. “You manipulative bitch! How dare you call my dress dirty? If you don’t like it, don’t wear it! Just get married naked!” It was the first time in my life anyone had ever slapped me. My blood boiled, and I raised my hand to strike back. But Blake grabbed my arm. “She’s my buddy! You hit her, you hit me!” I stared at Blake, my heart feeling as if it had been ripped from my chest. He used to say those words to me. When I first came to the capital city for university, Blake was instantly smitten. He pursued me relentlessly, but I never agreed, until—I was being bullied by a group of rich kids, and he saved me, getting badly injured in the process. He’d said, “Chloe is my girlfriend! You hit her, you hit me!” That was the beginning of my love for him. Now, it was time for it to end. After all, to him, his girlfriend was less important than his best friend! I slapped him hard. “I’ll hit you too!” “You dare to hit me? I’ve spoiled you too much!” Blake tore at my wedding dress, his face contorted in a terrifying expression I’d never seen before. “You don’t deserve such an expensive dress. Who do you think you are, the Hayes heiress? If I hadn’t fallen for you, I could have married some wealthy socialite with an excellent family background, just like my brother!” I screamed, desperately clutching at the dress. “I am the Hayes heiress your brother is supposed to marry!” Blake froze, but Ashley burst into laughter. “The Hayes heiress is studying abroad! You should at least do your research if you’re going to impersonate someone!” I was furious but too weary to argue. My parents were high-ranking military officials, and my brother was a rising business magnate. They deliberately spread false rumors about my background to protect me from being targeted by bad people. “Slap!” Ashley’s laughter abruptly stopped. Because my brother, Ryan Hayes, suddenly appeared, a dark expression on his face, and slapped Ashley hard! “My sister is the Hayes heiress. Do you have a problem with that?”

I hadn’t expected my brother to show up. “Ryan, what are you doing here?” He looked at the slap mark on my face. “If I hadn’t come, my sister would have been bullied to death!” He didn’t notice Blake raising a decorative sculpture nearby, ready to smash it down! I gasped, but it was too late to stop him. I watched, helpless, as my brother fell, blood staining my wedding dress. I pushed Blake away like a madwoman. “He’s my brother!” Blake, ever so loyal to Ashley, shielded her behind him. “So what if he’s your brother? Ashley is my ride-or-die! She raced on a death-defying track to save my life once!” My blood ran cold. He was willing to hurt my family for a best friend! But what he didn’t know was that when he cheated during a race and almost died, I was the one who got on that treacherous speedway and won the round for him. I pulled out my phone to call the police, but Blake snatched it and smashed it to pieces. He looked at me as if I were insane. “Are you crazy? What’s the standing of my Blackwood family? So what if I hit your brother? No one died, why call the police? Are you really going to call the cops on your future husband?” I started crying, frantic, but my brother, struggling, tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, Chloe. Brother’s okay.” Our commotion alerted the store staff. They quickly came to help stop my brother’s bleeding, but they also knew Blake’s status and dared not intervene further. Ashley seemed incredibly wronged. “No one in the capital city dares to hit me, Ashley Jenkins! Your cheap relatives really have no idea who they’re messing with!” Blake pointed at my brother’s nose and cursed. “Hey, you country bumpkin, out of respect for you being Chloe’s older brother, just kowtow to my buddy and we’ll call it even.” I was so angry I almost laughed. My brother had lived his entire life, and no one had ever dared to speak to him like that. His ranches held enough cattle to trample Blake flat! As I laughed, tears started to fall. After a month of wedding planning, Blake clearly had no interest in understanding my family. So, he had no idea of the immense industrial empire my brother commanded. My brother wiped my tears, his gaze, in his peripheral vision, turning sinister as he looked at Blake. “Our entire family wouldn’t let a single tear fall from her eyes. Do you honestly think scum like you deserves to marry my sister?” My brother pulled out his phone to call the police. This time, Blake didn’t stop him, only staring at me coldly. “Chloe! Your brother is going to get me arrested! Do you still want to have this wedding? Don’t forget, you’re the one who proposed to me!” At the time, I had just graduated from grad school, and my family wanted me to marry early. To get rid of the endless stream of blind dates, I’d suggested getting married… But how was I to know that after he eagerly agreed, he would go and marry his best friend? Seeing my indifference, Blake kicked a table. “Whatever. Call the cops if you want. Do you really think the police department will actually defend poor people like you?” Soon, the police arrived. One look and I knew trouble was brewing. Leading the officers was Chad Mitchell, one of the rich kids who had bullied me before. Chad greeted Blake warmly. “Well, well? Isn’t this Blake Blackwood and his little darling? Blake nearly killed us trying to play hero back then!” After exchanging pleasantries, he didn’t even ask questions, immediately ordering my brother to be taken away. He claimed my brother had slapped Ashley, completely ignoring the blood gushing from my brother’s head! I tried to intervene, but Blake grabbed me. “Your brother called the police! Some country bumpkin from nowhere actually thinks he can sue us rich kids. If you still want to be Mrs. Blackwood, don’t you dare help him. It’s beneath you!” Watching my brother being forcibly pushed into the police car, I bit Blake hard in my desperation. He shoved me against the wall. Stars exploded before my eyes, and I vaguely saw Chad and Blake slinging arms around each other. “Keep your woman in line. Don’t let her come looking for trouble with me.” They were unsettlingly chummy! But I had no time to ponder it. Everything went black, and I passed out. No one noticed my shattered phone in the corner, conspicuously displaying a call from Julian Blackwood. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself locked in a basement. Ashley saw I was awake and grabbed my hair. “You little vixen! You’ve caused all this trouble, and Blake still insists on marrying you.” I struggled frantically, the handcuffs digging into my wrists, drawing blood. “Where’s Blake? Let that bastard come see me!” Ashley tossed a listening device at me. “He’s too busy for you. Listen for yourself. He’s having a blast at his bachelor party. He wants you to reflect on your behavior and remember your place. Don’t take his affection for granted.” After Ashley left, darkness enveloped me, and an suffocating,濒死的 feel settled in. Blake knew I had severe claustrophobia. He’d even gone out of his way to learn about it. He knew I might die, yet he cruelly locked me in this dark basement.

I forced myself to calm down. Ryan would come save me. Even though he was taken to the police station, once he notified his legal team, not even God himself could keep him there… Just then, Chad’s voice crackled through the listening device. “Blake, that guy you told me to lock up, isn’t he a lunatic? He claims to be some big shot, showing me his ID, demanding to contact his legal team.” Blake burst into laughter. “Hilarious! He’s probably some pathetic loser who’s been watching too many B-grade action flicks. Just hold him for 48 hours to make Ashley feel better.” Laughter erupted from the device. My whole body trembled with rage. Blake wasn’t just bullying me; he was going after my family! My brother was injured. What if something happened to him? I struggled to my feet, slamming my body against the heavy basement door… No matter how hard I crashed into it, drawing blood, the door didn’t budge an inch. Chad’s voice came again. “Aren’t you worried Chloe will get angry? You even staged that hero rescue with me when you were chasing her. I thought you were just playing around, but you ended up dating for six years and now you’re dead set on marrying her. I wonder what good fortune she accumulated in her past life.” Blake laughed smugly. “She was famously hard to get back then. If Ashley hadn’t told me to chase her, I wouldn’t have bothered with such a poor woman acting all high and mighty!” I collapsed against the door, sliding down, utterly powerless. So—even my initial feelings were a lie. I screamed and screamed in fury, but no one could hear me. Only their laughter echoed from the listening device. “After I got her, she was quiet, pretty, and not clingy, so I figured, why not just go with it? But now she’s so annoying, pressuring me to get married, to be more ambitious. She has no idea what her place is.” Someone else asked Blake, “So you’re still marrying her?” “Aside from being poor, she doesn’t have many flaws. The main thing is, she’s absolutely crazy about me. She knew I married Ashley, but she still went to try on wedding dresses the very next day. Don’t mind me locking her in the basement now; she’ll definitely show up for the wedding…” I curled up in the corner, feeling swallowed by the darkness, my breathing growing harder. Blake was so confident. I wasn’t desperate to get married. Why would I willingly let myself be trampled and marry him? For the past six years, Blake wore a mask, and I was engrossed in my studies. We were like a pseudo-intimate couple, never truly delving into each other’s lives. I didn’t know his intentions were so malicious, and he had no idea of my immense wealth. I gasped for breath in the basement, while he was having a wild bachelor party above me. My parents would arrive tomorrow. They would surely come to save my brother and me. And Julian Blackwood, we had agreed to marry. I couldn’t give up. I couldn’t sleep. The next day. I was incredibly weak. Until I heard my mother’s furious voice through the listening device. “Blake Blackwood! Who is this woman? And why is she lying in bed with you in her lingerie?” Blake yawned loudly. “Aunt and Uncle, you’re here early. She’s just my buddy. We’ve been practically attached at the hip since childhood.” Ashley scoffed. “Seriously, what’s the big deal? Men can go shirtless, why can’t women? Are you old fogies being sexist?” I felt the ground vibrate, probably my father angrily slamming his cane. He’d been in the military for years, terrifyingly powerful. “Where is my daughter!” Blake seemed at a loss for words, but Ashley quickly interjected. “She’s not here. She argued with my buddy yesterday. I don’t know how you raised your daughter, but she shamelessly wanted to buy a million-dollar wedding dress…” My mother sharply cut her off. “What’s wrong with a million-dollar wedding dress? My daughter deserves even a ten-million-dollar one!” Ashley laughed. “Like mother, like daughter. Blake, your Hayes family is really milking you for everything they can.” Through the listening device, my mother cursed loudly, but my father stopped her. He was a busy man and usually too lazy to bother with such trivial matters. “Since my daughter isn’t here, we’ll take our leave. I suppose we won’t be seeing each other again.” My father’s words meant he was rejecting the marriage. But I was here! I heard them turn to leave. I struggled to open my eyes, desperately banging on the wall. Just then, a dog barked through the listening device. The sound seemed to be getting closer… “Woof!” Right outside the door! Duke, the guard dog Blake had mentioned, had followed my scent and found me. He was a top military-trained dog! “Mom, Dad—” I cried out. The next second, my father kicked open the door. When the light from outside streamed in, I instinctively recoiled, like something that couldn’t bear the light. In the basement, I was clad only in my undergarments, chained by the neck with a dog leash, my wrists raw and bleeding from the handcuffs, my body bruised and discolored, my face deathly pale. I looked like I was at death’s door. In that moment, my parents’ eyes were blazing, filled with a murderous rage! Blake’s legs gave out, and he almost knelt. My father’s palpable fury pressed down on everyone in the room!

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The Protagonist Refused to be a Puppet After I lost my memory, I realized something was really off. My seemingly innocent brother secretly slipped into my bed in the middle of the night. My successful businessman uncle kept sending me clothes. My cold, sophisticated Professor Thorne gave me unsettlingly intimate instructions. And Jax, the infamous bad boy from the other side of the tracks, pinned me against the wall and whispered, “Eighty bucks for the night.” I figured there had to be some huge misunderstanding, so I gathered them all together, planning to set things straight. But to my shock, they just exchanged knowing smiles, looking at me like a lamb ready for slaughter. “All four of us? Playing *that* kind of game? How thrilling,” one of them purred. I paused for a beat, then slapped each of them across the face. “Thrilling *now*?” I woke up, and my memory was completely gone. All I remembered was my name, Anya. Everything else was a blank. I looked around. It was a cozy bedroom, tastefully decorated. On the nightstand, there was a photo. Tiny script at the bottom read: *To my dearest Mom, Dad, and little brother.* So, a family of four. Just as I put the photo down, I heard footsteps outside the door. My bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. “Sis, dinner’s ready!” It was a tall, lean teenager with a fair complexion and a bright, open smile. He grabbed my wrist with an alarming familiarity, pulling me out of the room. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!” This must be my brother. Liam. At the dinner table, the family felt so harmonious, so picture-perfect. I quietly ate my food, listening to them chat. “Liam will be a senior next year. It would be great if he could get into Anya’s college. You two could look out for each other.” Liam nodded dutifully, “I’ll definitely get in.” He then flashed me a smile. “You have to wait for me at school, sis.” He looked so innocent, just a typical teenager. But even then, something about his words felt off, and his eyes held a disturbing glint I couldn’t quite place.

Late that night, I lay in bed, drifting in and out of sleep. Suddenly, I heard faint rustling in the room, and a blurry figure moved past. I startled, sitting bolt upright, but a hand clamped firmly over my mouth. “Shhh, quiet. Don’t let Mom and Dad hear.” It was Liam. I was still wondering why he was in my room so late when he lunged at me, pressing me back onto the bed. I gasped. “What are you doing?” “Heh.” He gave a wicked smirk. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m doing *you*.” What kind of talk was that?! I pushed him away. “I’m your sister!” “Not just my sister. You’re *my* woman.” His words hit me like a shockwave. Without thinking, I kicked him squarely off the bed. “Get lost!” “Anya, what are you playing at? You’re just a slut who’d sleep with anyone—Ah!” He didn’t even finish his sentence before I delivered another kick. This one landed right in his crotch. I watched him curl up, howling in pain, then I flexed my ankle and clicked my tongue. “So small.”

Liam’s behavior last night made me realize that everything around me was definitely off. Even though I couldn’t remember anything right now, we were siblings. There was no way I was *that* kind of person. I walked out of my room, my expression heavy. Passing the bathroom, I ran into Liam brushing his teeth. I gave him a slow, wicked smile, my gaze dropping pointedly to the very spot I’d brutalized the night before. *Plink.* His toothbrush clattered to the floor. I feigned surprise. “What’s wrong, little brother? Why are you foaming at the mouth?” Liam’s face was pale. He took two steps back, seemingly intimidated, looking like he wanted to scream but didn’t dare. No fun. I turned and walked away, bored. It was the weekend, so Mom and Dad had already left for work, leaving just Liam and me at home. After breakfast, he plopped onto the couch and started playing video games. I looked at the unwashed dishes on the table, annoyed. “Liam, come wash the dishes!” But he didn’t even look up from his phone. He said, “Didn’t you always do the housework? You’ve always been the one doing the chores around here, haven’t you?” So, it turned out I used to be a free maid. I thought for a moment, then plopped down next to him. “Fine, let it all go to hell. No one’s doing anything.” He suddenly froze, staring at me with a strange expression. “Anya, you’re different. You never used to refuse me. You…” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you playing games? Trying to get my attention?” “Huh?” “Don’t act dumb. You want my attention, right? Don’t bother, I could never like you.” I looked at him like he was an idiot. Seriously, how could someone so utterly ordinary be so unbelievably arrogant? He went on, “But, even if I don’t like you, doing other stuff isn’t off the table. After all, you’re so desperate for a guy, aren’t you…” His hand, once again, snaked towards my collar. I grabbed his hand, twisted it, and he cried out in pain. I offered a slight smile. Some kids just need a good reality check… or another punch.

Before college started, I went to the hospital alone. The results came back normal. The doctor said I likely had temporary amnesia caused by an unknown reason. Just as I stepped out of the hospital, I heard a shout. “Anya!” I turned and saw a mature man in a sharp suit. I didn’t know who he was, so I stood there, unmoving. He walked closer to me and asked, “Why are you at the hospital alone? Are you feeling unwell?” I shook my head. “I’m fine.” He grabbed my wrist. “Then Uncle Marcus will take you home.” So, this was my Uncle Marcus, the CEO of Sterling Enterprises, the successful and promising man my parents always talked about. But the way he looked at me, with an uncomfortable invasiveness, made me frown and pull my hand away. “No thanks, I called a ride.” He froze. “Anya, are you still mad? What happened that day was my fault, and I apologize. But you have to believe me, you’re the only one for me. I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.” As he spoke, he put an arm around my shoulder. I shoved him away and stomped hard on his foot. “Uncle, aren’t you a bit old to be playing the innocent card?” He bent over, groaning in pain. I took the chance to put some distance between us. “I know you’re busy with work, but maybe take some time for skincare and hit the gym? Your crow’s feet are practically racing each other across your face!” Honestly, my uncle wasn’t a bad-looking guy. I just couldn’t understand why all these men seemed to have some secret, twisted connection with me. He winced, then managed a pained smile. “Anya, if it makes you feel better, you can hit me a few more times.” “You’re a glutton for punishment.” “I am.” His eyes were filled with a disturbing adoration. “You never used to hit me before. I never knew you could be so beautiful when you’re angry.” I scoffed. Seriously, who asks for that? I gave him another kick, then turned and walked away without looking back. Back home, I found a package. It was from Uncle Marcus, paid for three days ago. I unwrapped the high-end gift box, only to find a piece of intricate lingerie inside. At the same time, I got a message from him. He’d sent me three PayPal transfers: $5000, $2000, and $1000, saying it was my spending money. Attached was a lengthy, gushy confession. I didn’t even read it. I tapped my phone a few times. I accepted all three transfers, then immediately donated every single cent to a charity organization. I screenshotted the donation receipts and sent them to him. *Uncle Marcus, send more! Charity work needs your support.* As for the lingerie, I sent it right back to him with a note: *I think you’d look much sexier in it, Uncle Marcus.*

Before I knew it, it was the first day of classes. I packed my bags and headed back to college. When I pushed open my dorm room door, my three roommates, who were busy gossiping, suddenly stopped and all stared at me. Their eyes were filled with wariness. Clearly, we weren’t on good terms. I shrugged, gesturing for them to continue. I found the only empty bed and slowly started unpacking. The room was silent for a moment, then one of the girls spoke up. Chloe. “Let’s just talk. Why bother with *her*?” “Yeah, she’s so shameless anyway, she wouldn’t care what people say.” Maya chimed in. The other two looked awkward. “Come on, Brianna, don’t say that.” They must have been talking about me. Suddenly, I was curious. “Are you guys talking about me? Spill the tea.” “What are you playing at?” They looked surprised. “Everyone knows you confessed to Jax from the other school, got rejected, and then wouldn’t give up, practically begging him to sleep with you! Today, his school is playing our school in basketball, and everyone’s going to be laughing at you!” “Yeah, how could *we* be roommates with someone as shameless as you?” Brianna added. Their words dripped with contempt. I silently pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. Sure enough, I found Jax. But strangely, the chat history was empty. “We’re going to the basketball game now. Anya, I’m warning you, you better not go. No one’s going to care if you get booed to tears.” The three of them walked out of the dorm. I thought for a moment, then pulled my laptop out of my bag. I logged into SnapChat on my computer and clicked on my chat history with Jax again. Sure enough, there were some synced messages. They were few, but enough for me to realize that things weren’t at all as they described. Jax had been sending me flirtatious messages. From what I could see, *I* was the one being pressured. So, Jax must have deleted the chat history from my phone and then slandered me, claiming I’d seduced him. What a manipulative jerk! I put my laptop in my bag. I decided it was time to confront that scumbag at the basketball court.

I wasn’t very familiar with the college campus, so I twisted and turned until I reached the gym. Suddenly, an arm shot out from around a corner. He wrapped it around my waist, smoothly pinning me against the wall. A cocky, arrogant face was inches from mine. He grinned. “Anya, you actually dare to show up at the basketball game? “You’re that desperate to see me, huh?” I guessed he was Jax. So I said, “I’m here to watch how badly you lose.” “Then you’ll be disappointed. With your school’s basketball skills, there’s no way you’re beating me.” He was confident and arrogant. “Once I win the game, you’ll have to celebrate with me. “Don’t go back to your dorm tonight. Spend the night with me. Don’t worry, I won’t stiff you.” He held up a hand, showing eighty with his fingers. “Eighty bucks for the night, how about it? “That’s the kind of price you’d pay for a hooker, and a cheap one at that.” He smiled as he uttered those stinging words, his eyes looking at me like I was the lowest form of entertainment. I raised my hand and slapped him. “You hit me?” He looked utterly incredulous. “Anya, aren’t you scared I’ll make those photos public?” Oh, so he had something on me, huh? I smirked, then slapped him again. “That’s what you get.”

This university’s facilities were top-notch. The indoor basketball court was huge, and the bleachers were already full, even the aisles were packed. The game between the two schools had the students hyped, but the name I heard most often was Jax. Rumor had it his family had serious ties to the local underworld, and he was known as the infamous bad boy of the other school. “Excuse me, could you let me through?” I called out to a student blocking the way. He turned around and exclaimed in surprise: “Anya’s here!” At that shout, I instantly became the center of attention. “Anya actually showed up?! Hasn’t she humiliated herself enough? She’s utterly shameless.” “You don’t understand, that’s true love. Even after a thousand rejections, she still loves Jax like her first crush!” “First crush? The kind where she throws herself at him for sex?” There were plenty of whispers, but they also instinctively cleared a path for me. I walked down the steps as if deaf to their words, easily reaching the front row. Jax saw me too. He deliberately blew me a whistle, then silently mouthed two words. I could read his lips: “Eighty bucks.” He was still trying to humiliate me, utterly full of himself. So I mouthed four words back to him. “Your face is swollen.” That’s right, I’d slapped him twice, left and right, and now his face was slowly turning red and puffy. He clenched his jaw and glared at me. I raised an eyebrow. What are you looking at? You can’t even beat me. Jax was right, our school’s basketball team was pretty weak. I watched the score widen, surrounded by shouts of “Jax is so hot!” It wasn’t long before he secured the victory. Basking in the cheers of the students, he walked up to me. “Anya, why are you still bothering me?” The guys around him started booing and jeering, and everyone’s gaze was hostile. Rumors spread like wildfire, but trying to extinguish them is a losing battle. In their eyes, I was just a desperate, promiscuous girl. No one would listen to my explanation, at least not right now. So I stood up and challenged him: “Jax, do you dare to play me one-on-one? “Most baskets in a set time wins.” He froze for a second, then burst out laughing. “Are you serious? You, Anya, challenging *me*?” I nodded. He suddenly roared with laughter, and the crowd around him joined in. A delicate girl challenging a highly skilled male basketball player? Utterly delusional. I even heard someone say, “Is she trying to get Jax’s attention? Or maybe create some ‘accidental’ physical contact?” Ignoring their malice, I calmly repeated myself. “Do you dare to play me?” He looked at me with disdain. “Fine, but there has to be a stake, right? Otherwise, what’s the fun?” “What do you want to bet?” “If you lose, you have to dance for everyone. And it’ll be… a strip dance.” It was blatant humiliation, but under everyone’s watchful eyes, I calmly nodded. “Okay. What if *you* lose?” “Me lose?” He laughed. “What do you want me to do?” I pointed to the court. “If you lose, you’ll get on your hands and knees, bark like a dog, and crawl three laps around the court.” “Anya, are you out of your mind?!” He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so bold. But if he wanted to humiliate me, he needed to be prepared to be humiliated himself. I asked him one last time, “So, do you want to play?”

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Everyone knew that Julian Blackwood, the most prominent man in the city, had married a mute woman. For ten years of marriage, Julian never once acknowledged me as his wife. They all said: “Mr. Blackwood married you; you should be grateful.” I swallowed every mocking word, every scornful glance, simply because I loved him. But the day I found out I was pregnant, I saw him in bed with my half-sister. They pushed me to the brink, cornered me until I had nowhere left to go. I jumped from the high-rise— Yet, Julian’s eyes burned red. He bowed his proud head, begging me, desperate for me to return to him. Pushing open the bedroom door— The overwhelming smell of alcohol and clothes strewn everywhere screamed at me, reminding me just how intense things had been in here. My legs buckled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down my face. Tiffany Miller chuckled as she looked at me. Calmly, she put on her clothes, then sashayed towards me. “Aurora, clean this mess up. Don’t let Julian find out. If you dare utter a single word about what happened today…” Tiffany paused, touching the necklace around her neck, her eyes turning vicious. “I can’t guarantee your mother won’t ‘have an accident.’” I frantically grabbed Tiffany’s arm, my eyes pleading, signaling that I would obey her. Tiffany smirked, glaring at me. “Right. You’re mute. It’s not like you can say anything anyway.” Tiffany left, triumphant. I leaned against the door, sliding down to the floor, powerless. My hands fell limp, and the doctor’s report slipped from my grasp. “Congratulations, your baby is two weeks old.” The doctor had said, flipping through the report. I touched my belly, incredulous. A wave of immense joy washed over me. I’d always had trouble conceiving. I never thought I’d have a baby of my own. On the way home, my heart pounded with anxiety. I wondered if Julian would dislike this child because it was mine, if he would despise it as much as he despised me. But I never imagined I’d come home to find my half-sister and my husband sleeping together. I knew Julian didn’t love me. But he didn’t have to humiliate me like this. My heart felt like it was clutched by an invisible hand, squeezing the breath from me, threatening to suffocate me. Slowly, I cleaned the room, tears dripping onto the floor as I numbly wiped them away. I tore the pregnancy test report into tiny pieces and flushed them down the toilet. I walked to the bed. Julian lay there, eyes closed, brows furrowed. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, still hazy with drunkenness. Julian reached out, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me beneath him. He nuzzled his nose against my face, then whispered in my ear. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t push him away. My eyes stung, and I bit my lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. Then Julian called out, “Tiffany.” The name plunged me into an icy abyss. My blood froze, and my heart felt pierced by countless shards of glass. Raw and bleeding, tears traced paths down my cheeks, then disappeared into my hair. “Aurora.” Julian’s voice in the morning pulled me back from sleep to reality. He gripped my wrist tightly. Just waking up, he looked annoyed. His eyes were deep, his aura heavy. “Didn’t I tell you not to climb into my bed again?” Julian’s voice was arctic. I shook my head frantically, signing to him. “No, you pulled me in yesterday.” Julian’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Aurora, I’m not *that* desperate.” I froze for a moment, then lowered my head. Seeing me like that, Julian impatiently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. He turned, pulled out a checkbook from a drawer, signed a check, tore it off, and flung it at my face. The paper was light, but it struck my heart with brutal force. Julian glanced at me. “Aurora, don’t let this happen again.” My eyes were numb, and I forced out a bitter smile, tears welling up. The scars on my heart felt like they were being ripped open again. Just when they’d started to heal, they were raw and bleeding once more. “Julian Blackwood, I’m not doing this for money.” Tears streamed down my face as I signed.

Julian grabbed my hand, looking displeased. “Don’t play the innocent woman. Take it, just take it. What’s with all the signing first thing in the morning? It’s irritating.” I opened my mouth weakly, but no sound came out. My face was streaked with tears. Julian stood up, a clear look of disgust in his eyes. The door slammed shut with such force that my body trembled. Downstairs, everyone was already seated at the dining table. Mrs. Blackwood looked at me with disdain, her voice sharp and sarcastic. “My daughter-in-law is even lazier than I am.” I signed an apology to everyone. But not a single person looked at me, not even a glance. I sat down dejectedly, trying to make myself as small as possible. Suddenly, a bowl of hot soup splashed onto my hand. My hand trembled with pain, turning visibly red. “Oops, Aunt Aurora, I’m so sorry.” It was Julian’s niece, Stella. She apologized with her mouth, but her eyes held a sly glint. She winked at me, feigning innocence. “It doesn’t hurt, does it, Aunt Aurora? I thought you’d scream in pain.” I was about to raise my hand to protest. “It’s just a bowl of soup. How hot could it be? Just eat your breakfast. It’s disgusting first thing in the morning.” Mrs. Blackwood looked at me impatiently. I clenched my hands, then looked up at Julian. He was quietly eating, completely unconcerned by what was happening to me. I pressed my lips together, suppressing the bitter ache in my chest. “Don’t let it bother you, Aurora.” Lily Blackwood, Julian’s sister, gently applied medicine to my hand. Looking at this young girl who bore a striking resemblance to Julian, tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. Perhaps she had touched the softest part of my heart. It was a pity such a kind girl had a congenital heart condition. A pang of tenderness flashed in my eyes. She smiled at me, her eyes curving into crescent moons. In the Blackwood family, she was the only one who didn’t look down on me, the mute. “Hello, Mrs. Blackwood.” Tiffany beamed, her smile fawning, as she entered the Blackwood home. The two chatted merrily. Tiffany could talk easily with everyone in the family; she seemed more like a Blackwood daughter-in-law than I ever could. My heart felt like it was being pricked by a thousand tiny needles, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. Tiffany pulled me aside. She took out a bottle of pills. “Aurora, find a way to make Lily take these.” Tiffany’s expression was sinister. “No! She can’t take those randomly.” I frantically waved my hands, refusing. Tiffany touched the necklace around her neck. “It seems you don’t care much about your mother after all.” My body stiffened. Tiffany shoved the pills into my hand. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I bit my lip hard, a salty, metallic taste spreading in my mouth. But Lily still didn’t escape that night. I grabbed Tiffany, tears streaming down my face, signing my questions. “Why? I didn’t make her take them! Why?!” Tiffany smirked. “I knew a fool like you couldn’t do it.” She pushed me away violently, then walked off triumphantly. *Smack!* “Aurora, you truly have a cruel heart.” The pills were found in my room, making me undeniably the murderer of Lily Blackwood. Julian was silent, his eyes slightly red. If you looked closely, you could see his hands trembling slightly. Lily was his beloved sister, and now, because of me, he had lost her forever. I crawled to his feet, tears streaming down my face like a broken dam. I signed. “Julian, I’m sorry.” Julian’s eyes turned bloodshot, filled with a fierce rage. He grabbed my throat, his hands tightening.

My face turned crimson from lack of oxygen. My hands fell limp, and the light in my eyes seemed to dim, fading into nothingness in an instant. Tears fell uncontrollably, one by one. Julian’s eyes were dark and cold, the icy stare piercing my heart like an ice pick. It felt as if a sharp knife was twisting repeatedly in my chest. Each turn was enough to send me to hell. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Julian tossed me aside like trash. I gasped for air. “Aurora, I’ll give you one more chance. Just say you didn’t do it, and I’ll believe you.” A storm of hatred and despair raged in Julian’s eyes, but he suppressed it, burying it deep inside. I shook my head desperately. Tiffany touched her necklace, giving me a warning look. I wanted to tell the truth. But my mother’s life was in Tiffany’s hands. I couldn’t risk it. I sat there, stunned. I couldn’t forgive myself. A huge stone seemed to weigh down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Tiffany rushed over, hugging Julian’s arm. “Julian, the evidence is right in front of us. I never thought my sister would do such a thing.” She shot me a glance, her hand going to the necklace around her neck. Despair flashed in my eyes. The pain inside me was like darkness, slowly devouring me. I collapsed to the floor, like a lifeless puppet. Julian’s eyes grew colder and colder. His deep gaze was like a still, dead pool. “Aurora, you will pay the price for what you’ve done.” Lily Blackwood’s funeral lasted five days, and Julian made me kneel for all five days. During that time, I stayed there, kneeling. The scornful stares and pointing fingers of those around me slowly gnawed at my soul. Tiffany, assuming the air of a hostess, managed everything in the Blackwood household. Tiffany raised her hand and fiercely pinched my chin. “Aurora, Mrs. Blackwood, this position will soon be mine. You’ll end up like your mother, thrown out.” I glared at her, my eyes filled with hatred. Tiffany dug her nails into my flesh. “Aurora, you don’t know, do you? Lily thought of you even as she died, worried you’d be bullied. But I just watched her take her last breath.” I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, wildly flailing my hands. “Why? Why did you kill her?” Tiffany sneered, her eyes sinister. “Everyone who stands in the way of me becoming Mrs. Blackwood has to die.” Her hand went to her abdomen. “Aurora, I’m pregnant.” Tiffany raised an eyebrow, looking at me triumphantly. I clutched my chest. My heart felt pierced by countless shards of glass. I wanted to scream, but no sound would come out. In that moment, I wanted to die with Tiffany. Then my heart wouldn’t have to suffer so much, and Lily wouldn’t have died in vain. Hatred blinded me. I used all my strength to shove Tiffany. She hit her head on a table, bleeding profusely. “Aurora, what are you doing?!” Julian rushed in, his voice angry, his eyes sharp and filled with rage. Tiffany lay weakly in Julian’s arms. “Julian, my head hurts so much.” I laughed, laughing like a madwoman, the blood at the corner of my mouth making it even more terrifying. I opened my mouth, screaming soundlessly, my chest aching. My lower abdomen cramped, and I had to curl up. I felt something warm leaving my body. I reached out my hand, wanting to call out to Julian. But he just held Tiffany and walked away without a backward glance. Tiffany looked at me, a defiant smile on her face. I collapsed to the floor, completely losing consciousness. In a daze, I felt someone kick me hard. Then I heard Tiffany’s voice. “That slut was actually pregnant. Good thing the baby’s gone now; saves me the trouble.” A man’s voice immediately followed. “Evil woman, you don’t deserve to carry my child.” It was Julian’s voice. I wanted to open my eyes, but I could only see a blurry figure. I wanted to raise my hand, to beg him to save our child, because no matter what, Julian, it was *your* child. But all that waited for me was a long silence and Julian’s inaction. A bucket of cold water was thrown over me, chilling me to the bone. I jolted awake. I found myself naked, with a man lying next to me. A torrent of curses and blows rained down on me. The man knelt on the floor. “Grandma Blackwood, Mr. Blackwood, it’s not my fault! This woman seduced me first.” Julian’s face was livid. He kicked the man. Ignoring everyone, he scooped me up, shoved me into the bedroom, and roughly threw me onto the bed, breathing heavily. “Aurora, you’re utterly depraved!” “Depraved?” I managed a bitter laugh. The thought of my child filled me with hate. I wanted to escape this man, this murderer who had turned a blind eye, who had watched my child die. In my despair, a smile suddenly bloomed on my face. Under his cold gaze, I slowly made a gesture. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” 4. His expression froze, his eyes filled with shock. But soon, he sneered. “Divorce? Aurora, you’ve disgraced me completely. And now you have the nerve to ask for a divorce?” The pain in my abdomen had long since numbed me. I stared at him with resentment. “Julian, I don’t know anything. I woke up like this.” Julian’s eyes were full of scorn. “Aurora, do you really think I’ll believe that?” Julian restrained me, his eyes showing disappointment and hurt. “Aurora, why?” My heart was dead. I waved my hand. “Julian, you don’t love me. Let’s get a divorce.” He took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with ruthlessness. “Aurora, I won’t let you get rid of me. You’ll never think about divorce for the rest of your life. Not unless you die, or I die.” He threw me onto the floor. The bone-chilling cold enveloped me. Julian locked me up. From then on, I never saw him again. Until— Tiffany and Julian appeared together beside me. Tiffany leaned against Julian, looking frail, her swollen belly stabbing at my eyes. I thought of the child I had lost. My heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe. My eyes were vacant, but the look of profound grief vanished in an instant. Now, I carried too many burdens. Every night, I dreamt of my lost child and Lily. Guilt and self-reproach filled my heart. Tiffany smiled triumphantly, gently stroking her belly. “Aurora, Julian and I are together now.” I weakly raised my hand, signing. “Congratulations. You got what you wanted.” Tiffany pinched my arm, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Aurora, you and your mother have bad luck. Oh, by the way, your mother didn’t make it through last night. She died.” Tiffany yanked my mother’s necklace off her neck and threw it to the ground. The necklace shattered into pieces instantly. I pounced on it, carefully gathering the fragments in my hands. A storm instantly swept through my world, leaving behind nothing but ruins. I clutched the fragments tightly to my chest, crying hysterically. My eyes were bloodshot. In that moment, I wanted to die with Tiffany. I pushed her, making her stumble. I bit down hard on her wrist until I tasted blood in my mouth. Julian pushed me away forcefully. “Aurora, what are you doing?!” I laughed, like a lunatic, the blood around my mouth making it even more terrifying. Tiffany cried. “Julian, my sister must be…” Julian raised his hand. Several men in black appeared, restraining me. Julian gently stroked Tiffany’s cheek. “Take it out on her as you wish.” Slap after slap landed on my face. Soon, my face was swollen and unrecognizable, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. My ears buzzed. In a daze, I thought I saw my mother. I saw her smiling gently at me. I missed her so much. Tears flowed from the corners of my eyes. My whole body trembled with pain, but I could only cry silently. Tiffany and I were half-sisters. My mother and father had been married for over a decade, yet Tiffany was only a few months younger than me, which was laughable. My mother’s health deteriorated day by day, and my father divorced her, then turned around and married Tiffany’s mother. My mother was confined to a nursing home, and if I didn’t obey, her medication would be stopped at any moment. So, I had no choice but to listen to Tiffany. I had harmed everyone. My mind was in a haze. I crawled to Julian’s side, humbly grabbing his pant leg. I opened my mouth, wanting to beg him to let me go. But he kicked me away. His disgusted eyes pierced me. I thought of the time Julian’s eyes were injured. Perhaps that was the happiest time of my life. Back then, he would gently hold my hand and promise me—

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