Category: English

At eight months pregnant, I went to Everett Ford’s office to deliver some documents. Feeling the sweltering 115-degree heat in the office, I was about to turn on the air conditioning when his female secretary stopped me. “I’m on my period and sensitive to cold. You can’t turn that on.” Worried that heatstroke might harm the baby in my belly, I turned on the AC without a word. That evening, when Everett came home, he immediately interrogated me: “Nina’s on her period. Do you have any idea that by turning on that AC, you caused her so much abdominal pain she ended up in the ICU?” “Everett, she’s just having her period. But I’m eight months pregnant. If I get heatstroke, I could miscarry.” Everett pulled his lips into a smile and nodded. “You’re right.” That night, Everett coaxed me to sleep as usual. But when I woke up, I found myself inside a freezer with glass walls on all sides. Outside the freezer, Everett had his arm around Nina Sutton’s waist as they both smiled at me. “Afraid of heatstroke? Today I’ll make sure you cool off properly!” My heart sank. I calmly pulled out my phone and took photos of them one by one. Then I made a call: “Dad, I don’t want any of these people to see tomorrow’s sunrise!”

When I hung up, the people watching outside first froze. Then they burst into thunderous laughter. “Lana, your dad was thrown into international waters to feed the sharks half a year ago. Have you been frozen stupid, or were you always this delusional?” “Exactly! Still thinking you’re the precious daughter of the West family? Even daydreams aren’t this ridiculous!” Hearing his lackeys mock me, triumph surged in Everett’s eyes. He gently draped his mink coat over Nina’s shoulders, pulled her close, and slowly walked up to the freezer. He extended his index finger and lightly tapped the glass in front of me before speaking slowly: “Lana, are you cold? Do you realize your mistake now?” A large red thermometer indicated that the freezer had been set to negative 58 degrees Fahrenheit. Wrapped only in the thin nightgown I’d worn to bed, I trembled violently from the cold. The skin touching the floor had turned blue-purple and numb, continuously sending sharp, piercing pain through my body. I stumbled toward Everett and Nina, slamming my fist against the glass. “Everett, what did I do wrong?! Isn’t it appropriate to turn on the AC when it’s 115 degrees? Pregnant women are naturally sensitive to heat. If I got heatstroke, both the baby and I could die!” The sudden anger triggered a cramping pain in my lower abdomen. I quickly covered my belly and crouched down, staring at Everett with bloodshot eyes. “Everett, let me out! You know how much I’ve suffered for this baby. I can’t lose him!” A flicker of unreadable emotion crossed Everett’s eyes. He knew better than anyone the heartache of having this child. An accident years ago had left Everett with fertility issues. For eight years, egg retrieval needles as long as my forearm had pierced my body over a thousand times before we finally conceived this child. For eight months, I’d been incredibly careful, preserving this pregnancy day by day. Once, just because a servant brought brown sugar water that wasn’t warm enough, he’d broken the person’s arm. Yet now, just because Nina had menstrual cramps, he’d locked me in a freezer without hesitation. Bitterness welled up inside me. Just as I was about to speak again, Nina yanked off the mink coat Everett had just draped over her. With a pitiful, tearful voice, she said: “Everett, let your wife out. With her delicate constitution, how can she endure this kind of torture? Not like me—I’m from a poor family. Even when I fainted from the freezing AC, I didn’t dare complain…”

Fainted from the cold? I’d only turned on the AC for half an hour. When I left Everett’s office, Nina was still laughing and making plans with her girlfriends to hit the bar that evening! Just as I was about to clarify, Everett’s expression instantly changed, his tone turning ice-cold: “Someone get in there and strip off her coat! She thinks she’s so delicate? Today I’ll make her experience what it’s like to be poor!” He bent down to pick up the coat, gently draping it over Nina while looking at me coldly: “When you admit your mistake, then you can come out! The doctor said my son is perfectly healthy. Don’t think you can use this as an excuse to avoid punishment!” With that, he scooped Nina up in his arms, his voice overflowing with tenderness and affection: “Nina, during your period you can’t let your feet get cold. Today, stay in my arms. Let’s see who dares say anything!” The moment Everett sat down with Nina in his arms, a group of men charged toward me with malicious grins. I clutched my nightgown tightly, shrinking into the corner. But no matter how much I struggled, I was no match for several men. “Riiip…” The thin nightgown tore in half. Instantly, the frigid air crept through every pore into every corner of my body. They gleefully stripped off my nightgown, and as they left, they flashed Everett knowing smiles. “Boss, you’ve got great taste! Your wife’s figure—curves in all the right places!” “Thanks for letting us take care of your wife!” Left in only my underwear, I curled up on myself. My skin, which had retained some warmth, stuck to the frozen floor. Any movement would tear away a layer of skin. Heart-wrenching pain shot from the torn flesh straight to my core. Blood seeped continuously from the wounds, starkly visible against the blindingly white freezer. Everett clearly noticed. He set Nina down and approached, about to speak as he looked at the blood slowly reaching his feet— But Nina ran up from behind, touching the traces of blood through the glass with a trembling voice: “Lana, just apologize. With all of Everett’s friends watching, if you don’t apologize, he can’t back down…” I stared hard at Nina. “Why should I apologize! That day you were clearly enjoying the AC too, and you were even making plans with your girlfriends to—” Hearing my words, Everett looked at Nina with a hint of barely perceptible doubt. But before I could finish, Nina slapped herself across the face and dropped to her knees with a “thud.” Grabbing Everett’s hand, she said in a trembling voice: “Everett! I just can’t bear to see her suffer like this. If she still won’t apologize, then I’ll kneel out here with her!” Seeing Nina kneel, the doubt in Everett’s eyes instantly vanished. He quickly bent down to help Nina up, then looked at me with utter disgust: “Lana, you’ve been spoiled rotten. All these years Nina has endured your treatment in silence. Now, even though this is clearly your fault, she’s willing to suffer alongside you for my sake. You don’t deserve it!” “Today I’m going to fix that entitled attitude of yours! If you don’t apologize, don’t even think about getting out!” With that, he waved to the people behind him: “Go! Bring in more ice blocks and surround her with them! Then pour water over everything so she sticks to that ice!” The moment Everett finished speaking—

A young woman stepped forward and tugged at his sleeve. “Boss, ice plus water will stick to skin like glue. Any movement will tear off chunks of flesh. She’s about to give birth—something could go seriously wrong…” Everett’s commanding gesture froze mid-air. As he hesitated in silence, a soft whimper came from behind. “Everett, forget it. My time in the ICU wasn’t as terrible as you think…” Nina’s words made Everett’s expression turn instantly severe. He lowered his suspended hand and said coldly: “Do exactly as I said!” The young woman tried to stop him again, but Everett waved her off. “This suffering is nothing compared to what Nina went through. I’ve already got an ambulance on standby outside. What could possibly go wrong?” Hearing Everett’s words, the young woman didn’t dare say more. With Everett’s order given, the group grabbed ice blocks and re-entered the freezer. They yanked me up by my hair and surrounded me tightly with ice, then poured a basin of cold water over my head. The next second, my skin felt glued to the ice blocks. Bone-chilling cold flowed through my pores into my marrow. I glanced at the time—I’d already been in this freezer for at least five hours. My limbs had long since turned dark purple. To protect the baby in my belly, I tried to shift position within this ice-confined space. But every tiny movement tore away a piece of flesh. Yet the movements in my belly were growing increasingly faint. Ignoring the stabbing pain from my torn skin, I moved my body, trying to keep my belly in the warmest possible position. The transparent ice blocks gradually became stained with my crimson blood. By the time I’d adjusted my position, the ice had turned completely blood-red. The people nearby who’d been laughing fell silent at such a gruesome scene. Through the scarlet haze, I roared at Everett outside the freezer: “Everett, if anything happens to this child, you—his biological father—will be his murderer! I’ll kneel before his spirit every day and pray that you die a miserable death!” Everett’s gaze wavered, no longer as resolute as before. He slowly approached, seemingly wanting to check my condition through the blurred blood. In the silence, a cry suddenly came from behind: “Boss! My dad says a plane with the West family’s private aviation signature just appeared on their exclusive route!” Everett’s face changed instantly. He slammed his fist against the glass and roared at me: “Lana, what are you playing at?! Are you planning to use your family to intimidate me for the rest of your life?!” Before I could respond, Nina came forward, constantly soothing Everett’s back while looking at me with accusation mixed with grievance: “Lana, if you don’t want to apologize, fine, but why torture Everett like this? You know how much he suffered when Old Mr. West was alive. Now that he’s dead and the West family fortune has been liquidated, what’s the point of this charade?” Nina then took Everett’s hand and said gently: “Let it go, Everett. Let her out. We don’t want anything to happen to the baby and become sinners. I don’t think she’s ever seen people like us as anything but beneath her…” Nina’s words intensified the fury in Everett’s eyes. He cursed, then barked at the people behind him: “Set the freezer to negative 148 degrees Fahrenheit! Now!”

Seeing Everett’s rage, the others didn’t dare say another word. They immediately set the freezer to negative 148 degrees. Instantly, a bone-piercing wind rushed through the vents and struck me. I was frozen to the point where I couldn’t speak coherently, my teeth chattering uncontrollably. In my fading consciousness, a sudden piercing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I forced myself to look down. Bright red blood flowed from beneath me like a small stream, releasing crimson steam in the freezing environment. Soon, the fresh blood melted the surrounding ice and seeped through the cracks. I finally realized what was happening. Clutching my belly, I screamed frantically at Everett outside the freezer: “Everett! Let me out now! The baby! Save my baby!” Everett had been glaring at me with anger until he saw the blood—now melting ice—flowing to his feet. He completely panicked. He grabbed the person beside him and roared like a madman: “Quick! Get the freezer key! Didn’t you ask the doctor before we put her in? Didn’t they say it would be fine?! How did this happen?!” The person handed the key to Everett. Everett’s hands shook so badly he dropped it. The key fell at Nina’s feet. Everett gripped Nina’s arm: “Nina, quick! Open the door! Get Lana out! Hurry!” Frightened by Everett’s state, Nina didn’t even bother putting on her shoes properly and ran toward the freezer door. She glanced at Everett, took the key with her back to him, and inserted it into the lock. The moment she turned around, I caught a glimpse of a smile filled with hatred and triumph in Nina’s eyes. Sure enough—”Snap!” A crisp sound rang out. Nina turned back and dropped to her knees toward Everett: “Everett, the key… the key broke…” Everett’s face turned deathly pale. He stumbled to the door and demanded harshly: “What happened?! How did the key break?! Get a locksmith here now!” By now, warm blood had covered the entire freezer floor. The pain had me moaning uncontrollably. “Everett! Lana still hasn’t admitted her mistake! You said you’d use this opportunity to fix her arrogant personality. So many friends are watching…” “And my suffering in the ICU—are we just letting that go? You promised you’d give me an explanation…” Hearing this, Everett stopped the person going for a locksmith. He turned around, pounding on the freezer door and shouting at me with a hint of pleading in his voice: “Lana, just apologize, okay? For our child’s sake, please?” “Once you admit your mistake, I’ll let you out immediately. You don’t want anything to happen to our baby, right? Please, Lana, what’s the harm in being a little flexible?” The massive blood loss was making my consciousness fade. I lay in the pool of blood, looking at Everett outside and said in a trembling voice: “Everett! Let me out! Or my dad will kill you…” Nina looked at me with a barely concealed savage smile, though her voice still carried a pitiful, tearful tone: “Lana, are you really confused? Mr. West died half a year ago. The West family collapsed half a year ago! Apologize quickly, or no one can save you!” The people outside also began mocking me: “Miss West, stop dreaming! Kill Boss? Your dad is probably still a tormented ghost in hell! And you think he can kill anyone?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356439”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

After the company’s video conference ended, my girlfriend, who was away on a business trip, forgot to turn off her camera. All the colleagues in the online meeting saw her having intense sex with her male assistant in the hotel. When she came back from her business trip, she shyly covered her lower abdomen and said to me: “Congratulations! You’re going to be a daddy.” His male assistant even shed tears of excitement. Everyone in the company watched the farce with cold eyes. They said they wanted to help me destroy this cheating woman together. After the company’s online meeting ended, as the meeting host, I was about to close the session when I discovered an intimate scene playing out in my girlfriend Bethany White’s video feed. Her male assistant rushed into the hotel room, pushed her onto the bed, tore off her clothes, and kissed her wildly. My hand gripping the mouse suddenly froze. My colleagues beside me were so shocked their jaws dropped. The atmosphere instantly solidified. At the same time, those sticky, disgusting moaning sounds continued without stopping. “Bethany, you’re so amazing, such a seductive little minx~ Tell me, who’s better—Leaf Newton or me?” “Of course it’s you, Jay Grant.” Bethany mocked: “Who would like an old stick-in-the-mud like Leaf? Ugh, I’ve been dating him for four years, and he’s never taken initiative in bed. He’s not a man at all! I’ve been sick of looking at that appetite-killing old face for ages!” I sat frozen in my seat, my hands and feet ice-cold. I sat motionless, listening to all the mockery and sneering. Anger rose higher and higher like a tide. Bethany and I had been dating since college. After graduation, we started a company with friends. Although we hadn’t met each other’s parents yet, we both considered each other to be life partners. Bethany came from an ordinary family. Her parents did odd jobs and had no money, but I thought she herself was excellent, ambitious, beautiful, and outstanding. Although my parents had some reservations, they still gave face to me and privately prepared a new house, new car, and double the bride price. They even had the wedding money ready, just waiting to finish this busy period and meet to set a date. But now, all of this was fake! And that man was exactly Bethany’s assistant, an intern who’d been with the company less than three months. “Bethany, when can I be with you openly and honestly?” “Watching you hold hands with Leaf and go out together, I’m so jealous!” Jay shamelessly held Bethany, his voice hoarse. “Where does it hurt? I’ll make it better.” The disgusting voices of the two made me want to vomit. They were even so eager they forgot to turn off the screen and camera. “Baby, once I swindle the double bride price from Leaf, won’t our future life be wonderful?” “Oh my, you’re so bad.” Jay giggled and playfully hit her. Bethany draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him: “Isn’t my badness what you love about me…” The two rolled together again with their moaning and groaning. The scene was disgusting and vulgar, the sound effects more lively than an amusement park. The meeting was deathly silent. After a moment. My closest colleague carefully asked me: “Leaf, are you okay?” Everyone pulled together a group chat and comforted me not to be sad. Others also indignantly cursed, saying Bethany was trash and embarrassed them. Everyone was either a classmate or friend of both Bethany and me. They had witnessed our past sweetness. But now they all despised her actions. Hearing their protective words, my heart was deeply moved. After thinking it over, I asked them to keep it secret for now and pretend not to know. Everyone advised me repeatedly. “Leaf, don’t do anything stupid!” “A cheating woman like Bethany isn’t worth sacrificing your whole life for!” One older colleague even came out with a golden phrase: “A cuckold is temporary, but a dog will never stop eating shit!” Afraid I’d gone love-brain stupid, they clamored to take me to dig wild vegetables. I shook my head, swallowing the surging pain. “Of course I won’t let that scum Bethany get her way.” “But just letting her off easy like this—I’m not willing!” What she took from me, she’ll spit it all back out!

Within two days, I used every means to investigate everything. Soon, the evidence piled up so high it could barely fit on my desk. I collapsed limply into my chair, my whole body trembling, my heart hurting like knife twists. Bethany had betrayed me long ago. Four years of dating. She said she wanted to save money for our future and never gave me any gifts. But she would accompany Jay to sweep through luxury stores in neighboring cities. There were private generous transfer records and gift payments starting at four figures. She went with him to see the World Cup that I’d been longing to watch. Even last month on our anniversary. She had barely finished dinner with me before immediately rushing off to book a presidential suite with Jay! Only I was stupidly kept in the dark! Coming back to my senses. I realized tears had long since soaked my cheeks. A man doesn’t shed tears easily. Only when he reaches the point of heartbreak. I suddenly remembered that just last week I was still enthusiastically discussing with people how to arrange the proposal scene. At the time, Bethany just smiled and didn’t respond. I thought she was shy and silent. But thinking about it now… She was probably laughing at how stupid and naive I was! Bethany’s disgusting behavior was far from over. Soon, colleagues sent me messages. I noticed they were all high-level people in the company. They said Bethany was lobbying, wanting to unite everyone to kick me out of the shareholders’ group. In the chat records, Bethany spoke in high-sounding terms, saying it was for my own good. “Leaf and I are about to get married. In the future, I’ll handle external affairs and he’ll handle internal matters. I feel guilty that Leaf is occupying a position without working.” “How about this—you all help me persuade Leaf to quit the shareholders’ meeting. As compensation, I’ll make him the company’s legal representative. He can still control everything big and small, and he’ll have security…” Several colleagues were disgusted to death. They pretended to agree and strung Bethany along, waiting for the moment of revelation to strike back with satisfaction. I laughed bitterly, my eyes full of resentment. Before her business trip, Bethany found someone to take out a loan of one hundred million in the company’s investment name, promising to return it within six months. But once it couldn’t be repaid… All the debt would fall on me, the unlucky legal representative! “This fucking wants to drive someone to a dead end!” “I’m getting goosebumps reading this. Bethany is a piece of shit!” “On behalf of all women, I expel Bethany! Son of a bitch!!” The small group messages instantly hit 99+. All of it was condemnation of Bethany and sympathy and comfort for me. They wished they could personally tear the cheating woman apart. I calmed the anger in my chest and slowly typed: “Bethany said she’s coming back the day after tomorrow.” The group erupted in excitement again. Someone shared they bought pepper spray, and someone else said they were preparing to buy a stun gun after work. The most outrageous old colleague said he’d picked out the cactus downstairs from the company. Ready to let Bethany feel the refreshing sensation of holes in her ass. And Bethany was quite good at disguising herself too. During the business trip, her daily greetings and care never stopped. If not for the accident during the online meeting, I would never have discovered her beastly heart beneath a human face. Afraid of alerting her, I endured the disgust and chatted with her. I didn’t even glance at those pie-in-the-sky promises. This person didn’t notice anything at all and even said she’d prepared a surprise for me. Soon. Bethany came back from her business trip. She wore a flowing white dress. In front of everyone in the company, she shyly covered her lower abdomen and looked at me affectionately. “Honey, I have good news for you—you’re going to be a daddy!” She was completely immersed in her self-directed performance. She didn’t notice my expressionless face at all. Or the suppressed disgust in the eyes of people around us. Instead, Jay, who had returned from the business trip with her, excitedly said how lucky I was. “Wow, I’m so jealous that Leaf can meet such a good woman like Bethany!” I smiled and held her hand. Then, in Bethany’s delighted expression, I turned and threw her into Jay’s arms. “If you like her, she’s yours. The person too.” “How does it feel to be a happy father?” In that instant. The whole place fell silent. From the corner of my eye, I saw everyone ready to strike. Only Bethany and Jay’s faces turned pale.

“Leaf, what… what are you saying…” Jay was completely stunned. After a long while, the voice squeezed out from his throat kept trembling. It sounded much better than his video calls. I laughed softly, hiding the coldness in my eyes: “You’re so envious, so I’m giving her to you.” “We’ve been good brothers. When have I not given you what you wanted?” When Jay first joined the company, he said he’d been scammed online and couldn’t afford to eat. I felt sorry for him and bought him meals, even vouched for him to get his salary in advance. Later, when he wanted to buy a laptop and new phone, he used the excuse of self-improvement but was troubled by lack of money. I gave him those too. I treated him like a good brother, but he backstabbed me and gave me a cuckold’s horns. What bullshit child! Bethany and I had never had sex at all. Only once, two months ago when we got drunk, we woke up lying in the same bed. Bethany looked very shy at the time, but I didn’t think much of it. After all, a man knows in his heart whether something happened or not. Plus, when drunk, it simply doesn’t work. But I never expected that not only did they scheme for my company and give me a cuckold’s horns. They also wanted me to acknowledge this bastard whose father is uncertain! Simply too much! A modern version of The Farmer and the Snake! Jay was already guilty. With me deliberately pointing this out, he was so scared he didn’t dare say a word. Bethany was obviously panicked too. Cold sweat streamed down her forehead as she laughed awkwardly: “Honey, don’t joke around. I only love you.” I curled my lips and smiled gently: “Look at you two getting so nervous. You didn’t really do something behind my back, did you?” Bethany immediately got anxious: “Leaf, how can you suspect me! I love you so much! Besides, I’m carrying your child!” Look at that. Tell a lie so many times, even the liar believes it. She must love my double bride price and company more! After enjoying their guilty, panicked expressions enough, I smiled: “Just kidding, teasing you two.” The two suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. They even secretly exchanged a smug glance. Probably proud of their superb acting skills. They didn’t see the uniform contempt and disdain from everyone around them. Then Bethany shyly covered her lower abdomen. Acting all affectionate, she wanted me to publicly kneel and propose. Under her hopeful expression. I didn’t hesitate to say: “No!” Bethany’s expression instantly cracked. A trace of anger surfaced on her face. But just as she was about to question me. The surrounding colleagues cut her off. “Bethany, this is wrong of you. If you want Leaf to marry you, you have to let him prepare, right?” “Exactly, exactly. This kind of forced palace behavior is so ugly, it really hurts your years of relationship!” The female colleagues formed a bride’s family army and roasted Bethany until she was utterly destroyed. “Bethany, are you really pregnant? But why does your belly look so big?” “You didn’t do something less than human and want Leaf to be the fool taking the fall, did you!” They mocked Bethany until her face turned blue and white. Really satisfying. I had long anticipated that Bethany would try to make me the backup plan. She had always been bossy with me. Every holiday she’d hint around, making me give her expensive gifts. Not giving them meant I didn’t love her. She also chatted ambiguously with other men in private. Don’t ask—they were just “good buddies.” But she never—she’d self-righteously say those were all excuses, and she had as many scheming thoughts as she had petty schemes. During our dating period, I thought it was just little woman behavior and didn’t think much of it. But now that I’m clear-headed… Ha. Get out! To cooperate with the performance, I “sighed miserably” and leaned on my male colleague’s shoulder. I had to lean—my mouth was about to split to my temples. And Bethany seemed to really believe it. She humbly tried to please me. She even found excuses for herself: “Honey, I just wanted to give our baby a home so badly that I didn’t consider your feelings.” Only then did I emerge from my “sadness”: “Then I’ll forgive you for now.” “But you wanted a five-carat pigeon egg engagement ring before. That depends on your future performance.” Ha, who can’t make empty promises! Bethany’s face twisted for an instant. But under the watchful eyes of other colleagues, she stiffly nodded. Behind her, Jay’s mouth was about to twist in anger. When leaving, I noticed a flash of resentment on Bethany’s face. Because today she failed to trick me into being a fool. But Bethany didn’t know. Everyone already knew about her little schemes. Even if she had been fully prepared today. She would have been picked on by colleagues for stepping into the company with her left foot first—an unlucky omen. Want me to propose? In her dreams! At this moment, my closest male colleague quietly tugged at my sleeve and told me with a laugh that everyone was amused. “Watching this idiot think she’s in control when she’s actually being played like a clown.” “I wonder if she’ll die of shame when the truth is revealed!” I gently smiled: “The good show is yet to come.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356440”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

My ten-year-old son joined the school’s extracurricular swimming club, but during practice, a classmate held his head down forcefully against the drain. When I saw the water turning red, I frantically pulled my son out. But his entire face had been disfigured by the powerful suction. He coughed up a pool of blood and stopped breathing. The ringleader, a boy, shouted that he was a minor and not bound by law. “So what? I’ve had it out for him for a while. With him dead, no one’s competing with me for first place.” His father contemptuously tossed me a card. “There’s a hundred thousand in here. That should be enough to buy your son’s worthless life.” I was grief-stricken and demanded justice, but my wife stopped me. “He’s just a child too. Just because your son is dead, does that mean someone else’s child should lose their freedom?” I exhausted myself running around, only managing to get the boy sent to juvenile detention—but that wasn’t the outcome I wanted. In the end, disheartened and broken, I swallowed an entire bottle of sleeping pills at my son’s grave. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I sent my son to swimming lessons. I immediately turned around and pulled him back home, but this time, a boy still died at the pool.

I’d left in such a hurry that my son’s clothes were still in the changing room. I told him to wait in the car while I went back to get them and inform the pool manager about the safety hazard. The moment I stepped into the swimming facility, I heard bursts of mocking laughter. “Look at him—he’s like a dead fish! Move! Why isn’t he moving? Hahaha…” Three boys were laughing shrilly. The tallest one, Derek, was stepping on something blue beneath the water. Seeing the same blue swimsuit my son wore and the faint red tinge spreading through the water made my heart seize with terror. If I wasn’t certain my son was in the car right now, I couldn’t bear to face this scene again. In my previous life, Derek had targeted my son because he’d beaten Derek in academic rankings. Derek wanted to crush him in extracurricular activities too, so he’d murdered him. But who was this boy? And why? I didn’t dare think too much. Saving him was urgent. I shouted sternly. “Stop! What are you doing?!” When Derek saw me, he raised an eyebrow and slowly stepped back half a pace. “Well, well. The old dog’s here to protect the little dog. No more fun.” The other two boys jumped away like startled rabbits, not daring to look at me. Due to the powerful suction, even though they’d released their feet, the boy’s face remained pressed tightly against the drain outlet, his limbs floating with the current. In my previous life, this was how my son had been. I’d plunged into the water to save him, but the suction was too strong—I couldn’t pull him free. By the time the staff arrived and shut off the system, it was already too late. My son had died in my arms. The blue swimsuit before me, the short-medium length hair, the body shape… I kept telling myself this wasn’t Ashton, that he was safe in the car right now. But my hands still trembled violently. With my experience from the previous life, I turned to the staff member nearby. “What are you standing there for? Can’t you see someone’s stuck on the drain down there? Call someone to shut off the water circulation!” The manager finally snapped out of it and hurriedly contacted the control room. A few minutes later, I pulled the boy’s limp body out of the water. His face was swollen and deformed—completely unrecognizable. He’d stopped breathing. His pulse was gone too. Derek stood to the side with his arms crossed, a faint smirk on his lips. “He said he could hold his breath for three minutes. We were just helping him practice.” “Helping him?” My eyes burned red as I slapped him across the face. “You call pressing him against the drain ‘helping him’?” Derek clutched his face and glared at me. “We were just playing around! How were we supposed to know he couldn’t take it!” “You actually dare hit me! Do you know who my mom is? Believe me, I can make your whole family pay!” I knew exactly who she was. That’s why I wanted to tear that indifferent face of his to shreds. I had no idea what kind of taste his mother had—marrying a worthless leech like Cameronas her live-in husband and raising such a monstrous child. “Playing? You call this playing? This is murder! Do you understand?!” The chubby boy beside them finally showed fear, his voice trembling. “Are we in…?” Before he could finish, Derek cut him off. “In what? You were pressing just as hard as anyone a minute ago.” The other boy had already started crying. “I… I want to go home…” I had no time for them. I laid the boy flat on the ground, performing CPR while instructing the staff to call an ambulance. “Call 911 now! Maybe we can still save him!” As I lifted the boy’s chin to give rescue breaths, I noticed a plum blossom-shaped birthmark behind his ear. Something flashed through my mind. The coach exhaled his last puff of smoke and walked in slowly with Derek’s father, Cameron, through a side door. Seeing the scene by the pool, they instantly panicked. “What… how did this happen?!” Derek immediately put on an innocent expression and ran over. “Dad, we were competing to see who could hold their breath longest. He said he could last three minutes. Who knew…” “This is outrageous!” The coach’s face went pale. “How many times have I told you—no one goes in the water without me there!” “Sorry. Won’t happen again. But that uncle can’t just hit people, right?” Derek lowered his head but curved his lips into a smirk aimed at me. Cameron, seeing the handprint on his son’s face, pointed at my nose and cursed. “What gives you the right to hit my son?” He glanced contemptuously at me and the boy on the ground. “The kid didn’t follow the rules. As his parent, you should’ve watched him better. When something like this happens, you can’t blame others, right?” In my previous life, the surveillance footage showed my son doing warm-ups by the pool when Derek pushed him in from behind. Then three of them dragged him to the drain and held him down. This boy’s ordeal must have been similar to what happened to my son, Ashton. I understood that bone-crushing pain of losing a child all too well. So regardless of who this boy was, he was innocent. Saving him was urgent. I didn’t want to waste words on Cameron. Without stopping my compressions, I glanced at the coach. “Coach, you’re also responsible for what happened here. You should notify the child’s parents first.”

The coach fumbled for his phone with shaking hands, stammering. “R-right, right… I’ll… I’ll call right now…” A few seconds later, he looked at the boy’s swollen, deformed face. “He… his face is so badly injured, I don’t even know which student this is.” I looked up, somewhat exasperated. “Can’t you check? How many students were supposed to come today? Eliminate the ones who called in sick and the ones present, and what’s left…” Derek cut in. “No need to check. I know who it is.” He walked over and crouched in front of me, looking at the boy’s face up close. His voice was soft but stabbed into my ears like needles. “This is Ashton, isn’t it? You don’t even recognize your own son?” “You were so worked up just now—I thought you knew. Or can’t you accept the truth?” I stared at him with wide eyes. So he thought this was Ashton, which is why he’d done this? Derek seemed very satisfied with my shocked expression. Seeing that my compressions hadn’t stopped, he continued. “Don’t waste your energy. Haven’t you noticed he hasn’t responded after twenty minutes of CPR?” “Because from the time he went underwater to when you pulled him out, it’s been over ten minutes. The golden rescue window has long passed.” Hearing this, all strength left my body. I collapsed onto the ground, trembling slightly. Was I still too late? In my previous life, I couldn’t save my own son. Now I couldn’t save this boy either. I stared hard at Derek. “Why would you do this? Aren’t you afraid of karma?!” “Oh my, you’re scaring me.” He patted his chest dramatically. “What karma? The law? But I’m only eleven years old. Under the law, anyone under fourteen can’t be held criminally responsible.” He was so close I could smell the orange shampoo in his hair. These words and this scent had become my eternal nightmare in my previous life. Looking at that face mixing malice with childish innocence, I finally couldn’t suppress the hatred that had been churning through two lifetimes. I grabbed his head and tried to push it toward the pool. “So vicious at such a young age—today I’ll let you taste…” Cameron struck my head hard with his car keys, the key chain carving a long bloody gash across my forehead. Seeing me release my grip, he pulled Derek behind him. “What the hell is wrong with you?!” “What’s done is done! Why are you taking it out on a child? My son is just a kid—what does he know about consequences? This was an accident!” “An accident?” I felt all the blood in my body rushing to my head. “Go check the surveillance yourself! Three people holding a child’s head and shoving it into the drain—you call that an accident?!” Cameron turned to glance at his guilty-looking son, then slowly pulled out a card. “So what do you want? Justice? Let me tell you—justice in this world depends on status and money!” He stepped forward, the card nearly poking my nose. “Do you know who my son is? His mother is the only daughter of HX Corporation’s CEO!” “And your son? Just some kid from an ordinary working-class family. Dead is dead. You expect us to pay with our lives?” He casually threw the card at my face. “There’s a hundred thousand in this card. Password is six eights. Take the money and shut your mouth. Give your son a proper funeral.” “If you dare say one word outside, if you dare call the police… I guarantee you and your wife won’t even find work sweeping streets in this city!” Derek poked his head out from behind his father and made a face at me. Not a trace of fear—only smugness. The coach came to his senses and, not wanting things to escalate, advised in a low voice. “Ashton’s father, look—this was an accident. Since the other party has decided to settle privately, why don’t we all take a step back?” Take a step back? I looked down at the bank card on the ground, then at the boy’s cold body, and found it absurd. A human life had been turned into a transaction, spoken of so casually. My gaze swept over the boy’s birthmark again, and I suddenly remembered who he was. Since my son from an ordinary family didn’t deserve their lives in return, let’s see how many lives they’d need to pay for this boy. Derek was still jabbering away. “Look on the bright side. Money in hand is real. Your son is dead—just have another one…” I slowly raised my head, my gaze moving to that face that didn’t know the meaning of consequences. “Your mother’s money won’t work this time.” He raised his chin. “Say whatever you want. I’m not going to get in trouble anyway. My dad said the juvenile protection law is my shield!” I gently wiped the blood from the boy’s face, my fingertip brushing over that plum blossom birthmark. Then I took off my jacket and covered him with it, wanting to give him a final measure of dignity. “A shield?” I pulled my lips into a smile. “Then you’d better pray that everyone in this world believes in the law.” Cameron frowned. “What do you mean?” I ignored him and sent out a message on my phone, then lowered my head and whispered in the boy’s ear. “Don’t be afraid. Your mother will be here soon.” Then I dialed the police. “What do you think you’re doing?!” Cameron sensed something was wrong and demanded harshly. “I’m telling you, this matter ends here today! If you dare…”

Before he could finish, Rachel burst in, panting. “Matthew, I heard something happened at the pool…” She saw me kneeling on the ground in a disheveled state, with a small body covered by clothing beside me. All color drained from her face. “What… what on earth happened?!” Her voice trembled as she stumbled forward. This scene was almost identical to my previous life. But I only felt it was ironic. In my previous life, when she saw our son’s disfigured state, she’d also looked like her heart was shattered and her world had collapsed. But when she learned the killer was the son of her company’s chairman’s only daughter, that pitiful bit of maternal love seemed so laughable when weighed against her own career prospects. Sure enough, the next second, her eyes landed on Cameron nearby, and her expression instantly filled with panic. He bowed slightly, his voice unable to hide his flattery and nervousness. “Why are you here too?” Cameron raised his chin proudly, glossing over what had happened. “Since the other party is Rachel’s son, our family is reasonable. Out of humanitarian concern, I can increase the compensation to two hundred thousand. That’s more than fair.” “But your husband is emotionally unstable and unreasonable, insisting on making a big deal out of this.” “Rachel, I called you here because I believe you’re a sensible person. You can’t destroy several children’s futures—and the adults’ careers—over an accident with someone who’s already dead, right?” Rachel’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. Then she turned to me, her face showing complex emotions. “Honey, listen to me…” I knew what she was going to say and cut her off coldly. “Shut up. You don’t get to decide this!” Rachel thought I was throwing a tantrum and her voice changed pitch in panic. “Honey, we can’t bring the dead back to life. We still have our own lives to live!” “The other party is just a child too. What bad intentions could he have? It was just playing that went too far.” She glanced at Cameron’s expression and moved closer to me with a pleading tone. “They’re willing to compensate us two hundred thousand. We can negotiate the exact amount later.” “Take the money, give Ashton a proper funeral, and then while we’re still young, I can have another child. Everything can start over…” Looking at this woman I’d shared a bed with for years, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Start over?” Despite my best efforts to control it, my voice still trembled. “Start over with money bought with our son’s life? I’m not as cold-blooded and cruel as you!” “And I told you—you don’t get to decide this!” Seeing I was about to dial again, Rachel actually snatched the phone from me. “Give it back!” I got up to grab it back, but she pushed me forcefully backward. My back slammed against the cold pool wall, the pain making my vision go dark. Rachel looked at me, struggle in her eyes, but ultimately threw the phone into the pool. “Can you stop making a scene! You just lost your son. Do you have to make someone else’s child lose their freedom and ruin their life over this?!” So in her heart, our son’s life wasn’t as important as someone else’s freedom. I took a deep breath and nodded calmly. “Fine. I won’t call the police.” My gaze swept over Cameron and Derek, who were both smiling like victors, and I continued. “Just don’t regret it later!” After all, calling the police might have saved their lives. Not calling means it just depends on how tough their luck is. My well-intentioned warning made Cameron think I was being provocative. He spoke with a threatening tone. “Rachel, looks like you don’t have much standing in your family. You can’t even make decisions about your own son?” “An emotionally unstable, unreasonable employee’s family member like this… makes it hard to trust that you can properly handle projects and manage your own team, doesn’t it?” Rachel’s face instantly turned deathly pale. Derek also adopted the tone of adults, speaking with sarcastic mockery. “Just now this uncle was whispering in Ashton’s ear saying ‘don’t be afraid, your mother will be here soon.’ But now she’s really here and he won’t listen to her?” He seemed to realize something and covered his mouth with an expression both innocent and malicious. “Oh my, could it be that uncle has more than just Ashton as his biological son? So uncle…” This sentence made the naturally suspicious Rachel, already threatened regarding her career, whip her head around to look at me. The emotions in her eyes were instantly replaced by shock, humiliation, and rage. “Matthew, is what he said true?!” “Why did you say I can’t decide about our son? Who are you waiting for?!” Looking at that face twisted by suspicion, I only felt absurd and desolate. “He was never our son in the first place. What right do you have to make decisions for him?” Rachel’s eyes widened. “Not our son—what does that mean?” A flash of confusion crossed Cameron’s face, followed by a light laugh. “This is the first time I’ve seen someone admit so righteously to being cuckolded.” He turned to Rachel, his tone exaggerated. “Don’t you get it? He’s saying this dead child isn’t yours!” “So whose son have you been raising all these years? Doesn’t that make you… a living cuckold who’s been raising someone else’s kid for over ten years?!” Cameron’s words made Rachel’s face go from white to red to blue. Feeling everyone’s eyes on her, she clenched her fists and stared at me hard. I knew she’d misunderstood and tried to explain. “Rachel, calm down. This boy…” Before I could finish, she lunged at me and wrapped her hands tightly around my throat. “Matthew! I’ll strangle you, you bastard!” “You had an affair? You had a child with another woman and brought it into our home?” “Is Ashton even my son?! Answer me!!” I instantly couldn’t breathe, sharp pain shooting through my throat. “Let… go!” The air in my lungs was rapidly squeezed out, my cheeks flushed red from congestion and oxygen deprivation. Oxygen grew scarcer and scarcer. Just when I thought I would really die at this woman’s hands— A woman, flanked by several black-suited bodyguards, strode in quickly. Her voice wasn’t loud but carried a chill. “Where is my son? What happened to him?”

Vivian’s appearance made Rachel’s hands around my throat suddenly freeze. The pressure on my neck loosened. I seized the opportunity to bite her hard, and she shoved me away violently. Ignoring the pain in my throat and the dizziness in my head, I called out hoarsely. “Vivian…” “Well!” Before I could finish, Cameron blocked Vivian’s path. He crossed his arms, chin lifted, his gaze sweeping over Vivian like a searchlight. Seeing her approaching middle age but wearing a low-key tailored suit, her face cold and stern—this only confirmed Cameron’s suspicion. This must be my mistress who couldn’t see the light of day. Looking at her bearing, she might even be some nouveau riche with a bit of money. He scoffed, his tone full of mockery. “No wonder you’re so tough. Your mistress is here.” He looked Vivian up and down, his tone frivolous. “Looks-wise… you do have some appeal. No wonder you’ve got Matthew wrapped around your finger. Poor Rachel—been a cuckold all these years.” Derek immediately jumped over and pointed at Vivian. “I remember now! After training ended last week, I saw her talking with this uncle at the pool entrance, all sneaky!” Father and son sang in harmony, completely unaware they were desperately testing the edge of death. Vivian was the legendary living King of Hell who straddled both the legal and illegal worlds, known for her ruthless methods. My only conversation with her was when her son wanted the link to my son’s swimsuit, which is how we’d become contacts. And at this moment, her only son lay at my feet, his face blue and purple and swollen, completely devoid of life. I hadn’t expected this blue swimsuit would make Derek mistake him for someone else. From the moment she appeared, Vivian’s gaze had been locked on that small body on the ground. She didn’t even raise an eyelid at Cameron and Derek’s noise and slander. It wasn’t until Derek pointed and shouted at her that she finally shifted her gaze from her son, turning to the bodyguard beside her. Cameron, who’d been pampered and tyrannical for years, had never been so ignored. Humiliated and enraged, he was about to raise his voice to continue his mockery when a bodyguard behind Vivian slapped him hard across the mouth. “You dare block our boss’s path? You have a death wish!” Cameron’s whole body jerked to the side from the blow, stumbling. “Dad!” Derek screamed and went to support him, barely keeping him from falling. Clutching his face, he finally snapped out of his shock and let out a shrill voice. “You… you dare hit me?!” “Do you know who I am?! I’m the husband of HX Corporation chairman’s only daughter! I’ll make you…” His shouting cut off abruptly. Because Vivian’s gaze had fallen on him. That look was like a butcher examining livestock for slaughter, like a predator locking onto prey beneath its claws. No anger, no rebuke. Just quietly watching. This one glance even stopped Rachel, who’d been about to rush forward and question her, in her tracks. Vivian finally walked toward me step by step. When her gaze caught the edge of blue pants belonging to the boy whose upper body was covered, her pupils contracted sharply. After a long moment, she raised her head to look at me and asked politely. “May I ask where my son is? Did he run off to play again?” I looked at her—this woman rumored to strike fear into everyone who heard her name. Right now, all color had drained from her face. Her fists were clenched so tight her knuckles were white and veins bulged, completely betraying her forced composure. She was afraid. Afraid to confirm that worst possibility. In my previous life, the heart-wrenching agony of losing my son pierced through time and space to strike me. My nose stung and my eyes uncontrollably reddened. I understood her. I understood too well—that desperate hope that your child had just wandered off mischievously, refusing to accept even the slightest hint of terrible news. But I had to personally shatter her last illusion.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356441”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

After I was kidnapped, the kidnappers put me up for rent online. Anyone could have me for just one dollar. If I didn’t service 100 customers each day, I would be tortured with electric shocks. In the rental house, filthy, disgusting men lined up from the third floor all the way down to the first. I struggled desperately, but could only watch in despair as that iron door opened and closed again and again. After one hundred days of living hell, my fiancé Derek finally found me, covered in scars. With red-rimmed eyes, he draped a pure white wedding dress over me and led me into the wedding hall without a trace of disgust. But then the big screen began playing videos of me being violated, one after another. I completely broke down. Before committing suicide, I held the share transfer agreement, wanting to give it to Derek. But in the living room, I overheard his conversation with the kidnapper. “Now that she is so obedient, you don’t need to worry about her bullying Lily anymore.” Derek chuckled softly. “Well done. Watching her grovel like that has really improved Lily’s appetite these past few days.” I staggered, trying to escape, but they discovered me and drowned me alive in the swimming pool. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was kidnapped. I secretly used Derek’s phone to send Lily a text message. “Darling, she’s not home today. Come over and let’s have some fun.”

“My greatest wish is to see you one last time before I die.” Hearing Derek’s weak, gasping voice on the phone, my blood boiled. I had actually been reborn! On the other end of the line, Derek kept rambling on, saying he wanted to buy me a birthday present but was hit by an out-of-control truck. He choked up, saying the surgery had less than a three percent success rate. I curved my lips into a smile, my voice full of concern. “Hang in there, I’ll come to the hospital right away!” But after hanging up, I didn’t rush out to hail a cab like I did in my previous life. Instead, I immediately dialed a number I hadn’t used in a long time, my eyes ice cold. In my previous life, Derek lied about being hit by a car and dying, tricking me into leaving the house. Worried about his safety, I—normally so cautious—rushed out in a panic. I didn’t even have time to wake the driver, just flagged down a random empty car on the street. But the moment I got into that car, the radiant princess of the elite circle disappeared forever. I became a cheap woman anyone could toy with for just one dollar. Soon, the person on the other end confirmed it was done. I immediately used the landline at home to call Lily, using a synthesized voice of Derek created by a hacker to talk to her. “You’re so naughty. I knew you’d come over tonight too. I’ve already showered and I’m waiting for you! Oh, just thinking about how you have to please that cheap slut every day makes my heart ache. Come over and rub it for me.” Hearing the sickeningly sweet moans on the other end, I smirked coldly and continued playing the recording. “No, you come here right now. That bitch isn’t home today. Tonight we’ll do it on her bed. That’ll be exciting enough.” Lily giggled shyly, saying she had a surprise for me tonight. After hanging up, I soon saw a figure sneaking out of the villa next door. Before I died in my previous life, I learned that Derek had actually bought Lily a villa right next door. Before I was kidnapped, the two of them would often drug me, shamelessly having their affair while I was unconscious. Derek, you’ve really helped me out this time. Below the window, Lily, wrapped in a fur coat, sneaked to the front gate. But I had changed the password, so no matter how many times she tried, it wouldn’t work. Stamping her feet in frustration, she was about to call Derek when an empty car pulled up from the darkness. “Miss, need a ride?” Seeing her alone and lingering at my door, driver Kevin couldn’t wait to knock her out with chloroform, tie her up like a dumpling, and drag her into the trunk. I breathed a long sigh of relief, but soon noticed on the company surveillance feed that Derek’s phone lit up. “Boss, we’ve got the goods.” Derek nodded with satisfaction and opened his phone. A clear photo of Lily’s face was transmitted over.

My heart skipped a beat as I stared intently at the surveillance feed. Derek casually opened the photo and was silent for two seconds. “Well done.” He snorted softly, his eyes full of disgust. “I’ve been fed up with her noble, cold act for ages. Now seeing her groveling like this is much more comfortable! This woman is so rigid. You’d better give her a real taste of suffering!” Only then did the weight lift from my chest. Lily had never gone bare-faced in front of Derek. But in the photo, the woman’s face was covered in blood, her hyaluronic acid-filled face swollen into a pig’s head from Kevin’s beating. She looked nothing like the little seductress who could make Derek’s heart flutter with just one glance. I sat back down in my chair and opened the surveillance feed of the rental house, watching Kevin push open Lily’s door with a vicious grin. Until the moment before I died in my previous life, I couldn’t understand why. I had given Derek everything—cars, houses, and the position of company CEO. To keep him from feeling inferior, I even resigned from the chairman position to focus on being his support. Why did he have someone humiliate me like that? And Lily—I rescued her from a seventy-year-old man in a mountain village, gave her a respectable job and a monthly salary of fifty thousand dollars. Yet after I escaped, she spread videos of me being violated all over the internet. Every time my mental state improved even slightly, she would release those beasts’ filthy, obscene comments about me from prison, making me hurt myself over and over again in agony. Only now do I finally understand—in some people’s eyes, not burning yourself to ashes to warm them is a crime! Derek deleted that ugly photo with a look of disgust. On the other side, Lily was pinned down by Kevin, crying and shouting that she wanted to see Derek. “Do you know I’m Derek’s woman! If you dare hurt me, he won’t let you get away with it!” Kevin laughed heartily, his greasy hands roaming all over Lily’s body. “So what if your husband knows? Even if he finds out, he’ll be thanking me instead!” Finding her too noisy, Kevin simply stuffed a filthy rag in Lily’s mouth. After stripping off her fur coat, he saw what was underneath. Kevin’s eyes lit up, and he slapped her ass hard. “I thought you were a traditional, conservative woman, but you’re so kinky in private!” Kevin took photos of Lily in her black stockings and leopard-print tail, then sent them to Derek. “Boss, you said your wife never lets you touch her, but who knew she plays so wild in private!” Seeing that slutty tail, Derek flew into a rage in his office. “Rachel Winters! Every day she won’t let me touch her, saying we have to wait until after marriage, but she dresses like this—who’s she trying to seduce! Since she’s so cheap, then you find people to satisfy her properly!” Kevin stood up with satisfaction. He opened the door and held up a QR code to the crowd of foul-smelling men. “One dollar per turn. You won’t lose out, you won’t be cheated.” In the office, Derek felt puzzled. Somehow, after seeing that photo, he had gotten aroused. He couldn’t wait to call Lily and rushed toward the villa. Tonight he would hold his beautiful woman and go until she begged for mercy, no matter how much she cried! In the filthy rental house, mixed with men’s heavy breathing, Lily’s phone lying to the side rang. The ringtone was Derek’s special tone. Lily’s lifeless eyes suddenly brightened, like grabbing a lifeline. She desperately spit out the rag in her mouth, her face full of hatred, speaking with certainty. “My husband installed a tracker on my phone. You’d better let me go right now! If I don’t answer his call, he’ll definitely find this place, and then none of you will escape—you’ll all be finished!”

Hearing this, the man immediately backed off. But Kevin pushed her forward, looking disdainful. “So what if there’s a tracker? Your husband will definitely not come looking for you!” “Why not? My husband loves me most!” Lily saw that Kevin didn’t seem to be bluffing, and her voice weakened a bit, but she stubbornly refused to believe it. Kevin kicked Lily to the ground, laughing until his face wrinkled. “Because your husband is the one who told us to do this!” Lily was stunned on the spot. She sat on the ground in disbelief, her face as white as paper. Kevin grew impatient and called everyone to join in. “Hurry up, I’ve got a quota to meet. The boss said we must service 100 customers a day!” The surveillance feed transmitted wave after wave of obscene laughter. The hellish days from my previous life surfaced in my mind again, and I had to take several deep breaths before switching screens. Downstairs at the company, Derek called Lily several times, all unanswered. He frowned, then smiled knowingly, his tone playful. “Just because I didn’t deal with you for one day, you’ve got quite the temper. I’ll make you cry and beg for mercy later!” Seeing this, I turned off the screen and immediately went downstairs. Derek, I’ve prepared a surprise for you too. Derek rushed into the villa eagerly and opened the bedroom, but didn’t see any trace of Lily. A flash of doubt crossed his mind. Turning around, he found the maid Kate trembling at the kitchen door. Derek’s face showed impatience. “Where’s Lily? Where did she go this late at night!” Kate’s tears flowed freely. “She went to find you, wanting to give you a surprise, but she was hit by a car and is being treated in the hospital now!” Derek’s legs went soft and he nearly couldn’t stand. After learning which hospital, he slammed the door and rushed out. “Nice acting.” I smiled slightly, emerging from behind Kate and withdrawing the knife I had pressed against her waist. On the other side, Derek arrived at my private hospital. As soon as the attending physician saw him, he informed him that Lily was hemorrhaging severely and the situation was critical—she was being resuscitated. The doctor frowned. “It’s just that the blood bank doesn’t have enough blood. I’m afraid the outlook is grim.” Derek immediately extended his wrist. “Take my blood. As long as it saves her, take as much as you need.” Those are your own words. I stood in the distance wearing a mask and nodded to the attending physician. Derek had a thousand milliliters of blood drawn, his face so pale he was on the verge of passing out. But it wasn’t enough. Compared to the harm he brought me, this was still far from enough. For three days straight, Derek had blood drawn at the hospital, but Lily still hadn’t come out of the ICU. On the third day, Derek, dragging his wobbling body, received an anxious call from the driver. “Boss, this woman can’t take much more. She keeps shouting that she wants to see you, and she hasn’t eaten or drunk anything for three days! If this continues, I’m afraid I won’t be able to complete your task!” A flash of ruthlessness crossed Derek’s eyes. It’s all Rachel Winters’ fault! If she hadn’t used money to tempt him, he and Lily would be a legitimate couple! If she would just die already, Lily wouldn’t have gotten into a car accident trying to see him! Thinking this, a cold smile appeared on Derek’s face. “Got it. I’ll come see her right now.”

Watching Derek storm over to settle accounts, I quickly switched the screen to the rental house. Outside the rental house, the queue had already stretched from the third floor down to the first. At the door, hearing familiar footsteps, Lily’s cloudy eyes showed a glimmer of joy. She crawled and rolled, trying to get to Derek’s feet, but Kevin anxiously kicked her away. “Get lost! What kind of trash are you to dirty our boss’s shoes!” At this moment, she was filthy all over, chained in the corner of the bed. Her whole body reeked with a terrible stench, her hair stuck to her face in clumps. Lily tried hard to speak, wanting to call Derek’s name. But after three days without a drop of water, no matter how hard she tried, she could only make ugly guttural sounds. Derek found her disgusting. He wrapped his hand in tissue and slapped her to the ground in disgust. “Rachel Winters, didn’t expect this, did you? You have this day too! From the day you agreed to marry me, you should have died! Those shares your parents left you should all be mine! Mine!” Lily resentfully covered her face. Seeing that Derek didn’t recognize her, she quickly brushed back her hair and spat on her own face, trying to wipe it. Wanting to clean up a bit so he would recognize her. Seeing this, I clenched my fists, nervously watching the screen. As a result, when Lily tried hard to put on a smile, Derek was so frightened he kicked her in the face. “So you’re a plastic surgery monster! Your nose collapsed, your chin’s crooked—an ugly freak like you actually wants to ruin my life? Let me tell you, in my eyes you’re not worth even one of Lily’s fingers!” With that, he vigorously wiped his hands with tissue and spat on Lily’s face. Lily was on the verge of tears but still wouldn’t give up. She bit her finger and wrote her name on the floor in blood. Seeing her awkwardly write out the character for “Lily,” she looked up hopefully. Derek took a deep breath, veins bulging on his forehead. “Lily is still lying in the hospital between life and death, and you bitch dare to curse her! Guards, cripple her hands!” Kevin stuffed a rag in Lily’s wailing mouth, picking up a hammer and smashing down while taking the opportunity to complain. “This slut even has someone saved as ‘Husband’ calling her. She probably already cheated on you!” The fury in Derek’s eyes intensified. “Where’s the phone? Let me see.” Kevin scratched his head. “She said the phone had a tracker or something. We were afraid of trouble, so we drove overnight and threw it in the river.” Derek nodded with satisfaction. “Thorough thinking. I’ll give you a bonus.” He had also put a tracker in Lily’s phone—it was a little game between them. But when did this Rachel Winters start finding men behind his back? His eyes turned cold as he spoke quietly. “Carve the words ‘cheap slut’ on her. Let her remember forever that she’ll never compare to Lily in this lifetime!” Before stepping out the door, Derek made sure to remind them: “Electrocute her until she’s brain-damaged, so she won’t be able to accuse me later.” At that moment, the light in Lily’s eyes completely died, leaving only deathly silence. Watching this scene on the surveillance feed, I excitedly opened several bottles of Romanée-Conti. In my previous life, just because I pointed out a few mistakes in Lily’s work. She held a grudge, and after I was kidnapped, she tearfully complained that I looked down on her. This provoked Derek into having Kevin carve all those company regulations onto my body, word for word. But now, Derek, I really look forward to the day the truth is revealed—what expression will you have? For the next three months, Derek never came to the rental house again. He kept vigil in the hospital corridor with a bruised face, rarely going to the company and not even shaving. But no matter what he said, the doctors wouldn’t let him in to provide care. When Derek got angry, he would give the driver more money, telling him to pay people to use that bitch even if it cost extra. And Lily had been beaten into submission. She no longer dared say she was Lily. She would kneel down as soon as she saw anyone and obediently unzip their pants. On the wedding day, the bride was nowhere to be seen. The guests whispered among themselves, growing restless. But Derek wasn’t anxious at all. He was still waiting. He wanted to do like in his previous life—let the bride’s absence become gossip headline news, then have me appear in my disheveled state before everyone’s eyes, becoming everyone’s laughingstock. He secretly called Kevin. “Put the wedding dress on her first. It’s fine, continue servicing customers. When I give you the signal, bring her over!” Derek suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. My cheerful voice sounded behind him. “Honey, who else do you want to put in a wedding dress?”

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My sister Jade is extremely appearance-obsessed. She hates anyone ugly. In my past life, she fell ill and desperately needed me to gain weight and donate bone marrow to save her. So I ate my way to gaining 30 pounds without hesitation. But after I saved her, she mocked me to her friends. “Ava looks like a fat pig. She’s disgusting!” She even turned my photos into memes for people online to mock, which drove me to depression. Until a murderer broke into the hospital. I begged her for help, but she said coldly: “Fat pig, being near you will just make me ugly too. You’re on your own!” And just like that, I died a brutal death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my family demanded I gain weight to save Jade. Looking at the frail girl in the hospital bed, I smiled and threw her words right back at her. “No way! Aren’t you appearance-obsessed? My bone marrow will only make you ugly. You’re on your own.” “Ava, are you deaf?” “Hurry up and gain weight to donate bone marrow to Jade! If anything happens to her, you’re dead!” My parents’ sinister voices rang in my ears. That’s when I realized I’d been reborn. In my past life. To save Jade, I forced myself to gain thirty pounds, transforming from a slender girl into a bloated mess. But instead of gratitude, I got her and her friends’ relentless mockery. She even deliberately led the murderer to my hospital room. “Ava, you’re so ugly and fat. You living just disgusts me. You might as well just die!” After saying this, the girl hid in the corner. She watched coldly as the murderer stabbed me to death. After I died, not one of them shed a tear. Instead, they cursed me for being unlucky. Thinking of all this. Rage surged through me, suffocating me! Coming back to my senses, I met my parents’ hypocritical eyes and smiled. “Mom, Dad, Jade is appearance-obsessed. She hates anything ugly. If you make me donate bone marrow, do you want her to become as ugly as me?” My mother, Rachel, froze for several seconds before shouting: “Appearance-obsessed? Ava, what nonsense are you making up!” “Jade is your real sister! Can you really bear to watch her die? You selfish, ungrateful brat! I raised you for nothing!” My father, David, also turned red with anger, grabbing my hair and ordering: “Jade is our precious daughter. You have to save her!” I shook off David’s hand. And asked bitterly: “She’s your precious daughter? Then what am I?” The last bit of warmth in my heart was extinguished like a candle in cold rain. After all, their favoritism toward my sister wasn’t new. Those painful memories from even further back suddenly flooded my mind. When I was little, I constantly suffered from constipation. My face would turn red from straining. My parents never bought me laxatives from the pharmacy. Instead, they caught slippery eels to use as a folk remedy. I felt sick to my stomach on the spot, but she just sneered with her hands on her hips: “Stop being so dramatic! Folk remedies work, and they save money!” But whenever my sister coughed twice, they’d immediately take her to see a doctor. Every winter, when the cotton needed picking from our fields. My parents gave my sister a warm cotton coat. But they tossed me a thin shirt and made me work in the fields. Jade had it so good. She never had to do any dirty or exhausting work. I closed my eyes slightly, forcing the tears back, and asked through gritted teeth: “Mom, Dad, why do I, your daughter, have to hide in the gutter like a thief, stealing glimpses of the love you give Jade?” My parents’ faces turned red and white. They said something that absolutely broke my heart. “Because Jade is younger and has a sweet face, while you have that birthmark on your face that’s disgusting to look at!” “No one will ever like you!” I laughed. This time, I finally laughed until tears came out. So this whole family had been influenced by my sister and become appearance-obsessed too! If that’s the case, I don’t need to care about family ties anymore! Just as the atmosphere reached its freezing point. Jade, lying in the hospital bed, spoke up. “Dad, Mom, stop forcing her.” My parents paused, looking at her in confusion: “What’s wrong with you? She can save your life!”

Jade looked at me with disgust. “I don’t want her bone marrow.” “I’m appearance-obsessed. I hate ugly things the most.” “Her bone marrow must carry ugly cells. What if it gets into my body and makes me ugly too?” At these words, my parents didn’t know what to do. After all, what Jade said carried enormous weight in their hearts. Rachel comforted Jade tenderly, then glared at me viciously. “It’s all your fault, you brat! You just had to talk nonsense and make Jade disgusted with you! Are you happy now?” I shrugged, looking innocent: “She’s the one who doesn’t want it. What does it have to do with me?” In the end, my parents had to give up forcing me to donate bone marrow and started searching everywhere for other matches. But bone marrow transplants aren’t easy. Finding a suitable match is like finding a needle in a haystack. Days passed, and Jade’s condition got worse and worse. She often rolled around in bed in pain, crying her heart out. My parents were frantic, spending hundreds of thousands but still couldn’t find a suitable match. Watching them run around in desperation, I only felt incredibly satisfied! But this wasn’t over yet! I needed to help push them to their breaking point even faster! Looking at Jade curled up in the hospital bed, I pretended to be concerned: “Jade, aren’t you appearance-obsessed?” “They say being in a good mood helps you recover faster. Looking at handsome guys might actually help your condition.” Jade struggled to lift her eyes. She frowned and asked: “You’re right! But where can I find good-looking people?” “That’s easy…” I curled my lips. The fish had taken the bait! In my past life, they could force me to sacrifice everything for Jade. This time, let them experience what it’s like to bankrupt themselves for their precious daughter. I continued: “Hire them.” “There are lots of professional male models now. They’re all handsome with great bodies. Having them keep you company will definitely help you recover faster!” Sure enough, my parents exchanged glances. And agreed without hesitation! The next day, I brought a group of handsome but expensive male models to the hospital. Seeing so many attractive people, Jade’s eyes instantly lit up. Meanwhile. To pay for the male models and continue Jade’s treatment. My parents worked construction during the day and ran a night market stall at night, working nonstop until their backs couldn’t straighten. They gritted their teeth and drained their savings to satisfy Jade. Every time I saw them come home covered in dust and exhaustion, I couldn’t stop smiling! I thought I could enjoy their misery for a few more days. But unexpectedly, they set their sights on me! “Ava! We’re out of money. Tomorrow you’re marrying John so we can use the marriage gift to save your sister!” John? My heart sank. That fat, ugly old man over fifty? “I won’t marry him!” I refused without hesitation. Rachel trembled with rage when I disagreed. She suddenly rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face. I turned my head away. My cheek immediately burned with pain. “You brat! It’s your honor to contribute to saving Jade!” “You have no right to refuse!” I covered my cheek, looking at her with icy eyes. David also said with a dark expression: “You money-losing brat! If you dare refuse to marry him, we’ll throw you out and disown you!” Jade in the hospital bed also spoke mockingly: “Ava, you’re so ugly, you should be with an ugly man. It’s a perfect match!” I laughed in anger. Did they really think I was some abused heroine who didn’t know the law? I decisively pulled out my phone, making a show of calling the police. “Forcing a minor to marry is illegal!” “Throwing me out is also abandonment!”

“Do you want to go to jail?” All three of them immediately changed their expressions and rushed to stop me. My parents, having no way to control me, could only slap their thighs and complain. “Oh my, what sins have I committed to have such a rebellious daughter who not only disobeys me but even wants to call the police on me!” Their voices were loud, attracting many patients. The uninformed patients started pointing at me and cursing me as an unfilial daughter. They even posted about me online for people to criticize! But I didn’t care. Looking at the family’s vicious faces. I pulled out my trump card. “I have a better solution.” I suddenly spoke, my gaze landing on Rachel. “I don’t have to marry, and we can still save my sister.” My parents glanced at me sideways. They pressed: “Stop being cryptic! What’s your solution? Hurry up and tell us!” I looked at Rachel meaningfully again. Rachel felt uncomfortable under my stare and couldn’t help but shiver. I smiled coldly. “The solution is to have Mom donate bone marrow!” After speaking, I looked at Jade with a sincere expression. “Mom is so beautiful, and Jade is appearance-obsessed, so she definitely won’t mind. Plus, between mother and daughter, bone marrow matching rates are higher, making the surgery more likely to succeed!” As soon as I finished speaking, Rachel’s expression went blank. Rachel kept backing away, waving her hands: “That won’t work! I’m not good-looking. Jade will definitely think I’m ugly!” “Mom, how could you not be good-looking?” I said with feigned surprise. “When you were young, you were the most beautiful woman around here. Even though you’re older now, you’re still charming.” “If you don’t believe me, I’ll get people to confirm it!” After speaking, I took out my phone and made several calls. Before long, a group of people came to the hospital room. These people were all neighbors from our community. I’d contacted them beforehand, given them some benefits, and asked them to say a few nice words. As soon as they entered the room, they surrounded my mother with endless praise. “You’re so beautiful. At your age, your skin is still so good, and you have such an elegant air.” “Yes, yes, I always thought you were a great beauty. You must have had lots of suitors when you were young, right?” Wave after wave of praise poured into Jade’s ears. Her previously dim eyes suddenly brightened. She stared at Mom with burning intensity, her face showing anticipation. “Mom, I want your bone marrow. I want to become as beautiful as you!” “You love me so much, you’ll definitely agree to donate to me, right?” Donating bone marrow requires gaining weight, eating excessively, turning yourself into a greasy fat person. And the surgery carries certain risks. You might go in and never come out! Thinking of this, Rachel’s face turned even paler. “Mom… Mom can’t do it. Mom’s health isn’t good. Donating bone marrow could be dangerous.” “I don’t care!” When Jade heard this. She immediately threw a tantrum, crying her heart out. “Mom, I want your bone marrow! If you don’t donate to me, I’ll kill myself right in front of you!” Just then, David suddenly spoke up. He looked at Rachel, a sinister expression flashing across his face. “Jade has spoken. Just donate.” “It’s all for our child. Making a sacrifice is only right.” I kept sneering inside. I knew exactly what David was planning. In my past life, I already knew he’d been having an affair with a mistress. He just hadn’t dared divorce because of Jade’s illness and because Rachel still had some assets from her family. I bet he was hoping Rachel would have complications so he could legitimately be with his mistress. Rachel’s eyes widened in disbelief: “You… how can you say that? I’m your wife!” David’s stern face was full of frost. He said coldly: “So what if you’re my wife? Jade is our daughter. She’s still so young. Her life is more important!” The man’s tone was firm, without any hesitation. I stood nearby and couldn’t help but sneer. It seemed this family would fall apart soon! Even the people around them chimed in: “Just agree. Saving your daughter is what matters.” “That’s right. You can’t be selfish and afraid of death. Jade is your daughter. What are you hesitating for?” Rachel was surrounded by everyone. She looked at David’s emotionless eyes, Then heard everyone’s incessant urging, and the color drained from her face until it was deathly pale. “No… I don’t want to…” The woman’s face was full of terror as she mumbled. “I don’t want to become fat, don’t want to donate bone marrow, I’m scared…” “Don’t force me… don’t force me…” Her thin body began to sway unsteadily. A few seconds later. The woman’s eyes closed, and she fainted straight away…

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After becoming a top-tier lawyer, my ex-boyfriend personally threw me into a club to work as a bunny girl. He made me kneel to open bottles, poured red wine over my head, and called it payback for his new lover. I clutched the money I’d sold myself for and begged him to leave my brother alone. He simply stuffed the bills down my top. “A slut like you is filthy all over.” Then the truth came out. The woman he cherished had only wanted his money all along. Later, panicked, he searched for me frantically in a burning building. But I was already holding another man’s hand. I walked up and slapped an astronomical check across his face. “Get out of our lives, Gavin.” Caroline POV My ex-boyfriend became a top-tier lawyer, and the first thing he did was try to send my brother to prison. A medical injury report slammed heavily onto the table. “Grade Two severe injury-that’s a felony. At least three years in prison.” The man’s voice was ice-cold and cutting. “Caroline, unless you publicly apologize to Ruby online and pay fifty thousand dollars in compensation, don’t even think about negotiating.” I stared at the old watch on Gavin’s wrist-the one I’d given him three years ago when I was still the family heir. Back then, he said he’d love me forever. Now, he was destroying me for that woman who faked a suicide attempt to frame me. “Mr. Gavin, the surveillance footage was edited. Sam threw the first punch…” “I only look at evidence.” Gavin cut me off, his tone dripping with disgust. “Tomorrow morning at nine, if I don’t see the money and apology letter, Jason can wait to be prosecuted.” With that, he turned and left. I stood frozen, ice flooding my veins. The police officer advised me to gather the money quickly, stating bluntly that Gavin was firm in his stance and his connections in the legal world ran too deep-a clean settlement would be nearly impossible. Fifty thousand dollars was an astronomical sum for me now. But for my brother, I had no choice. Walking out of the police station, I immediately dialed the club manager’s number. “I’ll take that VIP room tonight.” “Changed your mind?” The manager’s voice carried a hint of mockery. “VIP clients are high-status. Whatever happens, you take it. If you dare show attitude, even I can’t protect you.” “I understand.” I looked at the pitch-black night outside the window, my knuckles white as I gripped the phone. “As long as the money’s right, I’ll do whatever it takes.” Half an hour later, in the club’s dressing room. I changed into a bunny girl outfit that left almost nothing to the imagination. The woman in the mirror wore heavy makeup, but her eyes looked like stagnant water. The manager pushed the door open and looked me up and down, nodding with satisfaction. “Get in there. Be smart.” I tugged at the corner of my mouth, forcing out a smile I’d practiced countless times.

Caroline POV I pushed the drink cart into the private room. The laughter and conversation stopped abruptly. Everyone in the room was familiar. “Isn’t this our old school’s prom queen Caroline?” Ruby covered her mouth in mock surprise. “Why are you dressed like that? I thought I was seeing things.” A burst of laughter erupted around the room. “It really is Caroline! She was like a princess at school. How’d she end up selling drinks?” “That’s what they call karma. She used to be a princess, now she’s just trash.” I kept my head down, my fingers digging into the cart’s handle. I forced myself to maintain that stiff smile. “Bosses, would you like me to open some bottles?” “Open them, of course.” Ruby leaned lazily against the sofa, raising her hand to run her fingers through her hair. An enormous diamond ring on her ring finger glittered brilliantly under the lights. “Gavin specifically bid on this at the Sotheby’s auction to celebrate my foundation’s establishment.” Pride flickered in Ruby’s eyes. “A few million dollar trinket-I told him not to buy it, but he insisted.” “Gavin really spoils you rotten, Ruby.” “Exactly. Only someone with Ruby’s class could pull off wearing it.” I felt that gleam pierce my eyes painfully. I unconsciously touched the plain gold ring in my pocket. Years ago, in our rental apartment, Gavin had bought it with money from his part-time job and proposed to me. He’d said, “Caroline, I’ll definitely get you a bigger one someday.” “What are you spacing out for?” A male classmate pointed at several bottles of Louis XIII on the floor. “Open all of these. And remember, we want kneeling service.” I took a deep breath and slowly knelt down. My knees hit the marble floor with a sharp stab of pain. Just then, the private room door opened again. Gavin walked in. The air in the room seemed to freeze several degrees. I knelt on the floor, my line of sight level with his dress pants. My whole body stiffened. I even forgot to breathe. Gavin’s gaze swept lightly over me kneeling on the floor, not pausing for even a second, as if I were invisible. He walked over and sat beside Ruby, who immediately hooked her arm through his. “What took you so long?” “Had something to handle.” Gavin’s voice was gentle but distant. “Caroline’s opening bottles for us.” Ruby pointed at the floor. Gavin didn’t even turn his head. “As long as she doesn’t kill the mood.” The guy beside me, emboldened by alcohol, let his hand wander toward my waist. I instinctively dodged, and the decanter in my hand tilted. Red wine spilled out, spattering a few drops on the hem of Ruby’s white evening gown. “What are you doing!” Ruby shrieked, jumping to her feet. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…” I frantically tried to wipe it. Hearing the commotion, the manager burst in. Without asking questions, he slapped me across the face and pressed my head down, forcing me to apologize. “Apologize to Miss Ruby right now!” My face snapped to the side from the blow, my ears ringing. Before I could speak, I saw a slender hand reach over. Gavin held a handkerchief, his movements gentle as he wiped the wine stains from Ruby’s dress hem. Meanwhile, he didn’t spare a single glance at me kneeling on the floor with a swollen red cheek. “The dress is ruined, can’t wear it now.” Gavin said flatly, casually tossing the handkerchief in front of me. “Throw it away.” The handkerchief floated down lightly, landing beside my knee. I stared at that handkerchief, my eyes burning dry, unable to produce a single tear. I silently picked up the handkerchief and, still on my knees, moved inch by inch across the floor, wiping the wine stains from the carpet. The wine soaked through the hem of my uniform. No one told me to stop. Not until the party ended. I limped out the back door. In the dark alley, a tall figure blocked my path. Gavin leaned against his car, a cigarette between his fingers, the flame illuminating his cold, hard profile. “Fifty thousand dollars. Got it together yet?” Money-that was his opening line. I leaned against the wall, fighting through the pain in my knees. “Gavin, haven’t you ever suspected that what happened back then was Ruby putting on an act? And today, Sam was the one who started-” “Enough.” Gavin cut me off with disgust, throwing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it under his foot. “Caroline, three years and you still haven’t changed. Nothing but lies.” He stepped forward, staring into my eyes. “Your current situation is entirely your own doing.” With that, he opened his car door and drove off into the night. I stood there, watching his taillights disappear into the darkness. In front of this man, even my breathing was wrong. When I got back to the apartment, it was already two in the morning. Jason was still awake, watching me with dark, sinister eyes. “Jason, let me put medicine on your wounds…” I pulled out the ointment I’d bought. “Get lost!” Jason shoved me away, pointing at my revealing outfit, his voice shrill. “Where did you go dressed like that? To see Gavin again?” “I was working.” “Working? What job needs that?” Jason smashed the water glass on the table violently. “Caroline, you’re a spineless bootlicker groveling to our enemy! You got our parents killed, and now you want me dead too!” Shards of glass flew, one slicing cleanly across my calf. I looked at the broken pieces scattered on the floor. Silently, I crouched down and picked up the shards one by one, not offering a single word of defense.

Caroline POV In the club’s break room, a talk show played on TV. On screen, Ruby’s eyes brimmed with tears. “That bullying incident three years ago gave me severe depression. If Gavin hadn’t been by my side the whole time, I might have already…” She held up a doctor’s diagnosis, showing it to the camera. I sat in the corner eating a cold sandwich and glanced up at the screen. That date. Ruby had been partying all night at a karaoke bar and posted a nine-photo grid on Instagram. “Miss Ruby is beautiful inside and out. That person who bullied her deserves to die.” A coworker beside me sighed. “It’s fake.” I swallowed the dry bread and said flatly. “What’s your problem?” The coworker rolled her eyes. “She showed the diagnosis on camera. You’re just jealous of her good fortune.” I said nothing more. In this world where capital controls the narrative, truth is the cheapest commodity. All I could do was make money. Tonight’s private room hosted a billionaire. William was famously wealthy, generous with money, and known for playing rough. When I entered, Gavin was there too. He’d come to negotiate business, sitting across from William with a very humble posture. Seeing me enter, Gavin’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. I looked straight ahead and walked directly to William’s side, skillfully pouring drinks, my body brushing against him intentionally or not. “Master William, this glass is for you.” My voice was soft and seductive as I tilted my head back and downed a glass of hard liquor in one gulp. William watched me with interest, his gaze roaming over the exposed skin at my neckline. “That tolerance-you’ve practiced?” “As long as it makes Master William happy.” I smiled and reached to pour another drink. A hand suddenly cut in, pressing down on the bottle. Gavin’s face was like ice, his voice cold enough to shatter. “William, she’s not worthy of toasting you. Don’t let her dirty your glass.” William raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between me and Gavin, then he suddenly laughed. He pulled me into his embrace with one arm. With his other hand, he pulled out a thick stack of bills and stuffed them into my neckline. The green bills pressed against my skin with a temperature of humiliation. “I like the thorny ones.” William looked at Gavin provocatively. “Does Lawyer Gavin control this too? What, feeling protective?” Gavin stared at William’s hand on my waist, dark storms churning in his eyes. “Master William misunderstands.” He shot to his feet. “My fiancée doesn’t like me dining at the same table as this kind of person. Says it’s disgusting.” With that, he gave me one cold look. “Call it a night.” The gathering ended unpleasantly. I leaned against the wall, head down, organizing the bills in my neckline. Gavin emerged from the private room and saw this scene. His steps halted. “You’ve gotten quite practiced at earning this kind of money.” He walked up to me, his tone full of mockery. “You really are cheap to the bone. You’ll sell anything for money.” My hands paused while counting the bills. I raised my head and looked at him calmly. “I earn money through honest work. That’s cleaner than lying and framing people to climb up. And cleaner than certain blind, heartless people.” “Caroline!” Gavin’s expression changed dramatically as he grabbed my chin. “Still slandering Ruby? Seems yesterday’s lesson wasn’t enough.” He leaned closer, his eyes sinister. “Watch your mouth, or I’ll make sure you can’t stay in this city.” With that, he released me in disgust, pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his hands as if he’d touched something filthy. I watched his retreating back, clutching the bills tightly. Three thousand dollars total. Enough for Jason’s living expenses. Just then, my phone rang. I answered, and an anxious doctor’s voice came through. “Is this Jason’s family? Your brother’s right hand has tissue necrosis from a medication reaction. He needs surgery now.” A dull buzz filled my ears. “How much will it cost?” “Surgery and follow-up treatment will cost one hundred thousand dollars. If we don’t operate immediately, his right hand will be permanently damaged.” One hundred thousand. The money in my hands fluttered to the ground. The voice on the phone kept urging. “Family needs to come pay and sign as soon as possible. Any later and it’ll be too late!”

Caroline POV When Jason woke up, the anesthesia had just worn off. Seeing me sitting by the bed, hostility flooded those eyes so similar to mine. His uninjured left hand grabbed the pillow and hurled it at me. “Get out! Stop pretending to care!” The pillow hit me with little force, yet it made my chest tighten painfully. I didn’t dodge. I bent to pick up the pillow, trying to hold down his thrashing shoulders. “Don’t move. The bone was just set.” “Don’t tell me what to do!” Veins bulged in Jason’s neck. “Didn’t you go drink with those rich people? Why bother with a burden like me? Get lost!” My hand froze in midair, my eyes reddening. “Jason, do you think I want to?” I pressed down firmly on my brother’s shoulders, my voice trembling. “Why did you go to that place to be a drug trial subject? Do you know how dangerous those clinical trials are? Do you want to destroy yourself that badly?” Jason froze for a moment, then laughed coldly. “Destroy myself? I’m already worthless.” He turned his head away, refusing to look at me. “At least I’m better than some people. Selling smiles to enemies for money, no dignity left. Yeah, I’m rotten, but I don’t need someone who sells her body to manage me.” “You…” My face went deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from my body. “That’s enough!” Harry, who’d been standing at the door, rushed in and shoved Jason. “Jason, are you even human? Your sister almost died getting money for your surgery!” “Harry, shut up!” Jason yelled. “I won’t shut up!” Harry’s eyes were red as he pointed at me. “Caroline, don’t listen to his nonsense. This kid became a trial subject because he overheard you on the balcony that day talking about selling your blood plasma. He said he didn’t want you selling your life, wanted to share the burden.” Jason bit down hard, turning his head away as tears slid down his face. I leaned against the wall, covering my mouth to keep from crying out loud. We’d both been trying to give each other a way out, only to crash and burn. The misunderstanding was cleared, but reality hadn’t changed. A nurse pushed the door open and slapped an overdue payment notice on the table without expression. “Surgery still needs one hundred thousand. Pay by tomorrow or the surgery’s canceled.” I wiped my face and turned to leave the room. “Don’t go!” Jason called after me, his voice breaking. My steps paused. I didn’t look back. “Wait for me.” … The manager’s office. “Advance on salary? Impossible.” The manager crossed his legs. “You’ve been here how many days? Rules are rules.” I stood before the desk, spine straight. “I have an emergency.” “Who doesn’t have emergencies here?” The manager scoffed, flicking cigarette ash. “There is a big job tonight though. No one dares take it. If you’re willing to go all out, forget one hundred thousand-two hundred thousand is possible.” “What job?” “Gavin’s grandmother threw her ring into the ornamental pond. Whoever retrieves it gets a hundred thousand dollar tip.” Dead of winter. Temperature below freezing. A layer of broken ice floated on the pond’s surface. Without any hesitation, I took the liability waiver from the desk and signed my name. “I’ll take it.” … The central courtyard garden. Bitter wind howling. Gavin’s grandmother sat by a heater, holding hot tea. Gavin stood in the shadows, cigarette between his fingers, expression unreadable. Seeing me approach, Gavin’s grandmother’s eyes flashed with satisfaction. “Isn’t this that family’s precious daughter?” She pointed at the pond before her, voice shrill. “Years ago when I was a housekeeper at your house, I accidentally lost a brooch and your mother locked me in the basement all night. Today you get a taste of that.” I said nothing. I removed my shoes and socks, rolled up my pants. Those feet, once fair and delicate, were now covered with frostbite and scars. I took a deep breath and stepped into the bone-chilling ice water. The cold was like countless steel needles piercing my marrow. With each step, the broken ice on the surface sliced across my skin, leaving bloody marks. I gritted my teeth, bent over, and plunged my hands into the mud to search. Cold. Cold to the bone. In less than five minutes, both legs had lost all feeling. On the shore, Gavin’s grandmother pulled out her phone and started recording. Gavin remained in the shadows, motionless. Half an hour later, my fingers were frozen purple and stiff. Finally, my fingertips touched something hard. Trembling, I pulled it up. The ring. I dragged my nearly useless legs to shore, soaked to the bone. I held the ring out with both hands to Gavin’s grandmother. “Ma’am, I found the ring.” Gavin’s grandmother glanced at the mud-covered ring and waved her hand in disgust, knocking it away. “Disgusting. Who’d want that now?” The ring rolled across the ground with a crisp sound. I froze, teeth chattering. “Then… the tip…” “Tip?” Gavin’s grandmother acted like she’d heard the funniest joke. “You chose to go in there yourself. Did I force you? And you still want money?” I knelt on the ground, my whole body shaking uncontrollably. I raised my head, looking toward the man in the shadows. “Gavin…” Gavin crushed his cigarette and walked over. He looked down at my wretched state, pulled a check from his pocket, and let it flutter onto my face. “Buy some medicine. Stop embarrassing yourself here.” The check slid down. The amount was only twenty thousand. Not even close to what I needed. I picked up that check. My legs had lost all feeling. I collapsed completely to the ground. But I didn’t shed a single tear.

Caroline POV Hospital corridor. The lights shone on my face, unable to illuminate any trace of color. Gavin appeared at the end of the corridor with his assistant. “I can pay for Jason’s surgery.” Gavin stopped in front of me, tone businesslike. “And I can drop the criminal charges against him.” I raised my head, eyes filled with desolation. “What are the conditions?” This man never made a losing deal. Gavin pulled out a document and handed it to me. “Tomorrow night, Ruby is hosting a charity gala against cyberbullying. I want you to attend and publicly apologize.” I opened the document, my fingertips trembling. The agreement stated I must admit that I had slandered Ruby out of jealousy by claiming she faked her suicide attempt, and confess that I had bullied Ruby for an entire year. “I didn’t do those things.” I closed the document, voice hoarse. “Black can’t become white.” “Is that so?” Gavin laughed coldly, pulling out an injury assessment. “If Jason’s right hand doesn’t get surgery immediately and the nerves die, he’ll never pick up a paintbrush again for the rest of his life.” He paused, delivering another blow. “Also, Jason must appear on camera to apologize too.” My head snapped up, staring at him. “He just had surgery! You want to force someone who just came out of the operating room to apologize to a fraud?” “This is the justice you and he owe Ruby.” Gavin adjusted his cuffs, expression indifferent. “Besides, having a brother who just had surgery appear on camera makes the apology seem more sincere, doesn’t it?” In that instant, I felt utterly hopeless. I looked at this man I’d once loved so deeply. The one who used to warm my hands in his pockets during winter. The one who’d promised to protect me forever. That boy died three years ago. Standing before me now was just a demon in human skin. “Fine.” I took the pen and signed my name on the agreement. … Jason was wheeled into the operating room. I sat on the bench outside, waiting. While they operated, I opened an app to check flight prices. I was planning to leave this place. Go south to find a small coastal town where no one knew me, open a bed and breakfast. Leave everything here behind and start a new life. But I still needed to figure out how to resolve my brother’s case.

Caroline POV The wind on the rooftop was fierce, giving me a headache. I leaned against the railing, looking at the traffic below. “Caroline!” Harry ran up breathlessly, clutching a USB drive in his hand. “Got it!” He rushed over and pressed the drive into my palm. “I bribed the property manager at Sam’s apartment complex. This is the complete surveillance footage from that day!” My hand trembled, nearly dropping it. “Look!” Harry pulled out his phone and plugged in a card reader. The screen showed clear footage. Sam had been the one to surround Jason with his friends, pointing at my photo and calling me a whore. When Jason tried to leave, Sam pushed him to the ground and they kicked him while he was down. Jason only grabbed a brick in self-defense when he was cornered against the wall with no way out. This was self-defense, absolutely not intentional assault. I stared at the screen, tears finally streaming down my face. This was Jason’s innocence. His future. With this, Gavin’s accusations were worthless. … Just then, a news alert pushed to my phone screen. Ruby’s PR team had issued an announcement: “Tomorrow night’s charity gala will feature bully Caroline’s confession, serving as a warning about the dangers of cyberbullying.” Immediately after, Gavin reposted the tweet. Caption: “Justice may be delayed, but it will not be denied.” The comments exploded. “Ruby is too kind. That person should be in prison!” “Can’t wait to see that evil woman Caroline apologize tomorrow!” “Lawyer Gavin is so hot, what a devoted protector!” My hand shook. I closed the phone. … In the hospital room. When Jason learned I was going to apologize on livestream, he got so agitated he nearly pulled out his IV. “I’m not afraid of prison! You can’t go!” He banged his casted hand against the bed rail. “That bastard Gavin will ruin you for life! We don’t need him. Worst case, we all go down together!” “Jason.” I held him down, my expression gentle but resolute. “This is the last time.” I tucked the blanket around my brother, saying softly, “After tomorrow night, we leave this place. Head south. Never come back.” “But-” “Trust me.” I looked into my brother’s eyes. “I will never truly bow my head.” When I left the hospital, Lulu sent me an audio file and a technical analysis report. Lulu was my old college roommate, now an audio expert. Lulu: Caroline, the audio restoration is done. Listen to this. Then came an audio file and a technical analysis report. I put on my earphones and hit play. Three years ago, the muffled audio from Ruby’s suicide note became perfectly clear after enhancement. Ruby, supposedly slitting her wrists, spoke with eerie calm. “Adjust the blood pack. Make it look convincingly brutal. Gavin likes that.” Then the makeup artist: “Is this angle good, Miss Ruby?” “Perfect. Toss the blade far away. Don’t get caught.” I stood on the sidewalk hearing the recording. My whole body shook uncontrollably. Three years of buried injustice had found its release. Gavin. Ruby. You two will pay for this.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356444”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

New Year’s Eve. Brandon, my boyfriend of three years, invited me home to meet his parents. At dinner, he drugged my wine. “Skylar, the gangsters…they’ll chop my hands off if I don’t pay up. I had no way out! I had to give you to him.” “Don’t blame me. Blame your luck. You look just like his crush.” “It’s win-win. I pay my debts, you get a wealthy life.” Drugged and dazed, I was delivered by his family to gates I knew too well. The home of my uncle, Victor Thorne. Victor had always doted on Mom and me. The year my father laid a hand on her, Victor had him shipped to a remote African mine before sunset. I could barely imagine what Brandon was about to face… …… The tranquilizer hadn’t fully worn off. I lay slumped in the backseat of the car, unable to lift even a finger. The voices of Brandon, Frank, and Carol Miller reached me as a muffled drone, distant and indistinct. Brandon and I had been together since college, straight through graduation. Ours was a stable relationship, one that had never faced any real turbulence. Just before the holidays, he’d looked so sincere, saying he wanted to take me home to meet his parents, to talk about marriage. Thinking I needed to make a good impression on his family, I’d spent days meticulously preparing. I bought a new cashmere coat, got my hair done, and brought two expensive bottles of wine and a stack of gift boxes. But after just half a glass of water Carol poured for me, my vision started to blur. “Skylar, don’t blame me,” Brandon said, his face a mask of feigned grievance. “I was truly backed into a corner, with no way out.” “Five million! How was I supposed to pay that back? They’ll really chop off my hands!” I wanted to curse him, but my tongue wouldn’t obey, only choked, incoherent sounds escaped my throat. “Don’t feel so wronged, either,” he continued to ramble. “Mr. Thorne’s place isn’t some bad situation. He just likes your type.” “You’ll live a life of luxury with him, isn’t that better than being with me? I’m doing this for both of our sakes, a win-win, get it?” Win-win? You win my ass. The car sped through the darkness, the scenery outside the window a blur. I struggled to focus my eyes, trying to make out our direction. Until the car slowly decelerated, finally pulling up to a massive, intricately carved iron gate. This place, this gate, this estate… My heart leaped. My hazy mind felt like it had been doused with ice water, clearing slightly in an instant. No way. It couldn’t be. Brandon and his mom dragged me out of the car, one on each side, practically pulling me across the front lawn of the estate. My cashmere coat was disheveled and torn, my heels were long gone. Two straight-backed men stood by the door, watching us approach with expressionless faces. “Gentlemen, please inform Mr. Thorne. We truly couldn’t raise the money, so we came up with a new way to settle the debt.” Frank Miller bent at the waist, fawning over the men in black suits at the door. “We’ve brought Mr. Thorne a New Year’s gift. He’s definitely going to like it.” One of the men shined a flashlight beam across my face. The light stung my eyes, making me squint. “Her?” His voice was flat. “Yes, yes, exactly! My son’s girlfriend,” Carol quickly chimed in, forcefully pulling my face straight. “See? Doesn’t she look exactly like the woman Mr. Thorne commemorates every year? We specifically found out about that.” “And she’s a dancer, very graceful. She’ll be attentive to his needs!” My stomach lurched. The man was silent for a few seconds, then gestured to a subordinate nearby. “Go inform him.” He turned back to us. “Whether it works out or not, I can’t say. Just come inside and wait.” “Thank you, sir! Thank you!” Brandon nodded profusely, bowing repeatedly, as he dragged me towards the main house. By the time I was pulled into the parlor on the first floor, my legs had given out. I collapsed onto the cold floor. “Mr. Thorne is with a guest. Wait here,” the man said, then left. As soon as the door closed, Brandon immediately crouched in front of me, a mix of anxiety and calculation on his face. “Skylar, help me out, just this once.” He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. “When Mr. Thorne comes, just say you came willingly.” “Please, I won’t look down on you. I promise I’ll treat you well afterward!” I stared at him, unable to make a sound. “Don’t you dare stay silent!” Carol also leaned in, her nails digging into my arm. “If the Millers go down, you won’t have it easy either! Brandon’s your boyfriend, you should help him!” “Mom, don’t scare her,” Brandon faked a gentle reprimand, then turned back to me, softening his tone. “Skylar, I know you’re angry, but I really have no choice. Five million! They’ll kill me…” The tranquilizer was slowly wearing off. I could feel my limbs regaining sensation, and my tongue could move again. I took a deep breath, finally choking out a raspy sentence: “Get lost. I won’t.”

“What did you say?” Brandon’s face instantly darkened. He grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look up at him. “Skylar, I advise you to think carefully before you speak.” A sharp pain shot through my scalp, but I gritted my teeth. “I said, I won’t. This is a crime. I’m calling the police.” Smack! A stinging slap landed hard on my face. My vision went black, my ears rang, and I tasted blood. “You’re ungrateful!” Brandon snarled through gritted teeth. “What do you think you are? You’re just a dancer, it’s your good fortune to be able to pay off my debt!” Carol followed up with a kick. “Exactly! Who are you to act so pure? It’s an honor my son chose you!” “Not her face!” Frank warned from the side. “If you damage her face, we’re all screwed!” Brandon finally let go. I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for air. “Skylar, I’m asking you one last time,” he crouched down, pinching my chin. “Are you going to cooperate or not?” I stared at him, enunciating each word. “Absolutely not.” “Fine. Very well,” Brandon sneered, standing up and walking towards me. “Aren’t you a dancer? Aren’t you supposed to fulfill your mom’s legacy?” He lifted his foot and stomped down hard on my calf. “Ah!” The excruciating pain made me scream. “If this leg breaks, what dance will you do then?” He ground his foot down harder. “I heard your mom’s biggest wish before she died was to see you on an international stage. What a shame…” Fear instantly consumed me. Mom was one of the nation’s top dancers, but she passed away due to illness at the peak of her career. I had trained tirelessly in dance since childhood, all to honor her legacy. “No,” my voice began to tremble. “Don’t touch my leg…” “Now you’re scared?” Carol scoffed from the side. “Weren’t you tough a moment ago?” Brandon took his foot off, then crouched down again. “Then be a good girl and behave later.” “As long as you clear my debt, I’ll still marry you. We’ll go back to how things were.” I closed my eyes, tears streaming down my face against my will. “That’s more like it,” Carol said, satisfied. “Go clean her up. She’s a mess, how can she be presented like this?” Brandon roughly dragged me off the floor, pulling me towards the private bathroom attached to the parlor. “I can do it myself,” I tried to struggle. “Shut up!” He shoved me into the bathroom. “Your makeup’s ruined, you look like a ghost.” He grabbed my hair, forcing my face under the faucet. The cold water made me shiver violently, my makeup washing off in streaks. Brandon grabbed the hand soap from the sink and smeared it directly onto my face. I choked, coughing. “Mmph…Stop!” “Clean her up properly. Mr. Thorne will want to see this face.” “She really does look like her. Damn. I only chased you because your face looks just like Mr. Thorne’s woman.” My heart sank completely. So that was it. Three years of a relationship, just a calculated setup from the start. Brandon rinsed the foam from my face, then roughly wiped it dry with a towel. Then he started ripping my clothes. “What are you doing!” I screamed in horror, clutching my chest. “These clothes are too conservative. You need something sexier.” He pulled a low-cut black dress from his bag. “Put it on.” “No!” “You won’t?” Brandon’s eyes turned cold. “Then don’t blame me for helping you.” He violently tore open the buttons of my cashmere coat. I shrieked and struggled, but he slapped me again with the back of his hand. “Stay still!” The bathroom door suddenly rattled. Carol’s voice came through. “Brandon, hurry! Mr. Thorne’s men are here!” Brandon froze, glaring at me viciously. “You’re lucky.” He dragged me out of the bathroom, pushing me back onto the parlor carpet. The door opened. Several men in black suits walked in. The one at the front, in his early thirties, had a scar on his face and cold, dangerous eyes. “Mr. Thorne will be here any minute,” the man with the scar, Jax, said, glancing at me. “Cleaned up?” “Cleaned up, perfectly clean!” Frank quickly forced a smile. “Jax, sir, take a look. Doesn’t she look exactly like her?” Jax took a few steps closer, crouching down to examine my face carefully. My heart pounded. Was this Jax, the new guy under my uncle? Victor had only mentioned him once, saying he’d only been with him for about six months, known for being ruthless, but still unfamiliar with family matters. I was doomed. He didn’t recognize me at all.

Jax stared at my face for a full thirty seconds, his expression shifting from scrutiny to something ancient and unsettling. “Uncanny. Damn uncanny,” he muttered. He reached out, his rough finger grazing my cheek. “She’s practically identical to the woman in the photos.” My body went rigid. I managed to squeeze out a sound. “Are you Jax? I’m…” Smack! Another slap, harder than Brandon’s. My head snapped to the side, blood oozing from the corner of my mouth. “Who told you my name?” Jax grabbed a handful of my hair, forcing me to look at him. “You’re just merchandise for debt, trying to pull rank on your grandpappy?” “No, I really am…” “Shut up!” He clamped a hand around my neck. “Say one more word, and I’ll rip out your tongue.” Suffocation gripped me. I clawed at his hand, but it was to no avail. The Millers stood frozen nearby, barely daring to breathe, fawning over Jax. “Jax, sir, what about… Mr. Thorne?” Frank tentatively asked. “Mr. Thorne is upstairs handling some business. He sent me down to check first.” Jax released me and stood up. “But I don’t think this girl is very cooperative.” He pulled out a cigarette, lit it, took a drag, then crouched down and flicked the ash onto my face. “It’s your good fortune that you look like someone Mr. Thorne admired, but don’t think you can get away with anything just because of that face.” He pinched my chin. “Mr. Thorne hates it when people try to exploit his personal connections. You’d better know your place.” I coughed violently, tears streaming down my face. “I really am… I’m Victor’s niece, please believe me…” “Still spewing nonsense!” Jax roared in fury, kicking me hard in the stomach. I curled up in pain, felt like my organs were shifting. “Do you really think I wouldn’t know if Mr. Thorne had any siblings? Where would a niece come from?” Jax sneered. “What lies won’t you spin just to climb the ladder?” He gestured to a subordinate. “Bring the liquor.” A subordinate immediately handed him a bottle of vodka. Jax twisted off the cap, grabbed my chin, and started pouring it down my throat. The harsh liquor burned its way down my throat. I choked, my face flushing scarlet, alcohol streaming from my mouth, down my neck and soaking my clothes. “Drink it! Finish it!” Jax’s expression was distorted. “If Mr. Thorne comes and you dare to throw it up, I’ll throw you into the deepest, darkest pits of our operations and let every one of the guys have their fill!” He only released me after half the bottle was gone. I lay on the floor, dry-heaving, my throat burning. My vocal cords felt shredded, unable to form a complete sound. Brandon looked uneasy. “Jax, sir, if Mr. Thorne comes and she can’t speak…” “Better if she can’t speak,” Jax glanced at him. “Save her from talking nonsense.” He crouched down again, grabbing my right hand. “Pretty fingers, huh?” I stared at him in horror. “What a shame.” He sneered, then suddenly twisted with force. Crack! “AH!” My bloodcurdling scream echoed through the entire parlor. My index finger bent at an unnatural angle. The excruciating pain made my vision go black. “That’s just one,” Jax said, his tone light. “If you don’t behave, I’ll break all ten of your fingers.” I convulsed in pain, tears and snot blurring my face. “Mr. Thorne is here!” A subordinate at the door suddenly announced. Jax immediately stood up, straightened his suit, and adopted a respectful expression. The Millers also quickly stood at attention, heads bowed, not daring to look around. The door opened. A tall figure walked in, dressed in a black coat, with cold and severe eyes, radiating an aura that screamed ‘keep your distance’. It was my uncle, Victor. He scanned the parlor, his brows immediately furrowing. “What’s going on? It’s a mess.” Jax quickly stepped forward. “Mr. Thorne, these people came to settle a debt, and they brought a woman.” “I told you, don’t bring just anyone here,” Victor’s voice was icy. “Clean it up.” He said, then turned to leave. No! Don’t go! I used all my strength to push myself up, but my legs failed and I fell back to the floor, still unable to make a sound. My uncle’s footsteps didn’t falter. In desperation, I tore off the necklace my mother left me, the one around my neck. Then, with my working left hand, I threw it hard at Victor’s feet. The metal struck the marble floor with a sharp clink. Victor’s footsteps halted. He looked down, his gaze moving from the necklace on the floor to my bruised, tear-streaked face. His pupils constricted sharply.

Time seemed to stand still. Victor stood rooted to the spot, staring intently at the necklace on the floor. It was a gift he had personally designed for his sister, Celeste, on her twentieth birthday. He abruptly lifted his head, his gaze returning to my face. This time, he looked with agonizing care. The wisps of hair on my forehead, the tear-mole at the corner of my eye, my lips tightly pressed together from pain. And those eyes, even now, filled with agony and terror, still held a striking resemblance to his sister’s. “Skylar?” His voice was a shaky whisper, filled with disbelief. I wanted to nod, wanted to speak, but only a choked sob escaped me. Jax, still oblivious to the gravity of the situation, stepped forward with a laugh. “Mr. Thorne, this woman insisted on impersonating your niece. I’ve already punished her, you see…” “Punished?” Victor slowly turned his head, his eyes colder than ice. “What did you do to her?” Jax’s blood ran cold under that gaze. “J-just poured some liquor down her throat, broke a finger. A liar like her deserves…” “Kneel.” “What?” “I said, kneel!” Victor suddenly roared, his voice rattling the entire parlor. Jax’s knees buckled, and he crashed to the floor. The Millers all collapsed to their knees as well, trembling like leaves. Victor quickly walked to me, crouching down. His movements were so gentle, a complete contrast to before. “Skylar, is it really you?” He carefully brushed the hair from my face, his fingers trembling slightly as they touched my swollen cheek. I looked at him, tears streaming down my face. He finally recognized me. “Does it hurt?” His voice held a frantic edge I’d never heard before. “Where does it hurt?” I tried to speak, but only raspy gasps escaped my throat. Victor’s face instantly turned grim. He turned to look at Jax, who was still kneeling, and spoke each word distinctly. “You poured liquor down her throat?” “Mr. Thorne, I didn’t know she was…” Jax was already incoherent with fear. “I asked if you did!” Victor suddenly stood up, kicking Jax hard in the chest. Jax was sent flying backward, coughing up a mouthful of blood. “Lay a hand on my niece,” Victor’s voice was icy cold. “You’ve got some nerve.” He walked back to me, carefully scooping me into his arms. “It’s okay, Skylar, I’m here,” he soothed in a low voice. “Anyone who hurt you, I will make sure they pay.” My consciousness began to fade. The pain in my finger, the burning in my throat, all my injuries surged at once. But I still held on, grabbing Victor’s coat with my uninjured left hand, and weakly pointed towards the Millers. “They…” I managed to squeeze out two words. Victor followed my gaze. The sheer danger in his eyes was almost palpable. “Alright, I got it.” He carried me out, pausing at the threshold to address the guards. “Lock them up. Secure the room.” He glanced down at me, his voice dropping to a snap. “And get a doctor. Now.” The bodyguards moved. Cries and pleas for mercy from the Millers echoed from the parlor. “Mercy, Mr. Thorne! We didn’t know she was your niece!” “Brandon, beg her! Get Skylar to forgive us!” “Skylar! I was wrong. For our three years…” Their voices slowly faded into the distance. I sagged against Victor, all tension gone, and let the darkness claim me.

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Picking up my husband at the airport, I bumped into Brandon Harrison, my ex-fiancé who’d ghosted our wedding two years ago to go see elephants in Kenya with his adopted sister. I was wearing sunglasses, but he still spotted me instantly in the crowd. “Alexis , I’m back to marry you.” My eyes narrowed slightly. “You are…?” He gave a helpless chuckle. “Hey, sweetie, don’t be mad, I didn’t mean to ditch for so long. After Willow saw the elephants, she wanted photos, and she’s my only sister, so I had to spoil her.” “Two years of shooting and, boom, done! I rushed back to fulfill our engagement.” That’s when it clicked. This man was my ex-fiancé! But seriously, had no one bothered to tell him I married his uncle the same day he ran away? …… The airport was a madhouse. Brandon Harrison wheeled a luggage cart with one hand, a Chanel bag dangling from the other. Willow, her skin several shades darker, perched on the suitcase, letting Brandon push her along. Two years in Africa made them look like they’d spent two years digging coal. Absolutely sun-baked. Brandon used to be so fair, handsome, and in great shape. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have agreed to the arranged marriage. But now… Good thing he wasn’t my husband anymore. I took off my sunglasses, forcing a polite smile. “Oh, my apologies. Long time no see. You both have changed so much, I didn’t recognize you at first glance.” Willow, true to form, immediately spat. “Don’t pretend you didn’t recognize us! You’re obviously here to pick up Brandon!” “If Brandon and I hadn’t ditched our phones and gone completely off-grid after we left, you probably would’ve tracked us to Africa yourself!” “Honestly, I don’t know what Brandon sees in you. You’re just a pretty face with nothing else going for you.” Willow huffed, turning her head away dramatically. Brandon ruffled her hair, a helpless smile playing on his lips, and playfully poked her nose. “You can’t be so childish after Alexis and I get married.” “Otherwise, I won’t take you on your artistic journey to Africa next year.” After calming Willow down, he turned to me, explaining, “She’s just got a childish temper. You know her dad died protecting me in that car crash, and she lost her father because of it.” “Once we’re married, we’ll be a united front. I hope you can look out for her, treat her like your own sister.” Was he even listening to the BS coming out of his mouth? I rolled my eyes, a silent, elegant dismissal, and flashed the wedding ring on my finger. “Mr. Harrison Jr., thank you for bailing on me back then. It led me to a man a thousand times better than you.” “And please, don’t flatter yourself. I’m here to pick up my husband today.” Brandon froze. Then he narrowed his eyes at me for a long moment before raising an eyebrow and smiling. “Alexis , do you take me for a fool?” “The Harrison-Hayes merger was the talk of New York two years ago. Every socialite and dignitary was there. Everyone knows you’re my fiancée, Alexis.” “Okay, it was wrong of me to run away and embarrass you, but your reputation is trashed. Who else would possibly want you after this?” So that’s why he dared to run! He was convinced I’d be a “discarded woman,” that no one else would have me! He truly overestimated himself and underestimated me. To clean up his mess, Grandpa had to make some serious sacrifices, not just financially with company shares, but also by involving his own son, Devin. To soothe the Hayes family’s fury, Grandpa had personally offered to transfer the shares originally meant for Brandon, to me. Looks like Brandon had no idea. Of course. Spending two years off-grid for Willow, not even making a single call home, he wouldn’t know any of this. Still, I hope he can keep that smile on his face when he returns to the Harrison family estate tonight.

Brandon initially refused the arranged marriage, saying he’d rather die than yield. But then he saw me, fell instantly in love, and declared he’d marry no one else. He shamelessly pursued me for over half a year. Seeing that he kept himself out of trouble and wasn’t a playboy, I finally agreed. But before long, Brandon had Willow by his side, an adopted sister he spoiled like a princess. On our wedding day, he got a call from her. “Brandon, remember what you promised? To take me to Africa to see the elephants.” “I’m waiting for you at the airport. If you don’t come, I’ll jump from the top floor!” Brandon gave me an apologetic look, then, without hesitation, he let go of my hand, abandoned the guests, and sprinted away. I received two texts from him, then he became unreachable. “Willow’s dad saved my life. Willow is his only daughter, I can’t let anything happen to her!” “Don’t worry, I’ll be back after she sees the elephants. A week at most, then I’ll be back to finish our wedding, and we can go to the Maldives for our honeymoon.” Grandpa Harrison was furious. To give the Hayes family an explanation, Grandpa Harrison promised me: “Alexis, it’s entirely the Harrison family’s fault for raising such an irresponsible son. Tell me, what compensation do you want?” I pointed to Grandpa Harrison’s youngest son, and the current head of the Harrison empire, Devin Harrison. “Then give him to me. This wedding still needs a groom.” And just like that, I married Brandon Harrison’s uncle. Thinking of this, I checked the time. Devin’s flight should be arriving soon. I was about to text him when his message popped up: My love, flight delayed. Just boarded, might be super late. Don’t wait up for me, Mr. Davies can pick me up. Love you. Followed by a huge heart emoji. A soft smile touched my lips, and my brows smoothed out. Even my annoying ex-fiancé didn’t seem so irritating anymore. Brandon stood with his arms crossed, a knowing smirk playing on his face as he stared at my phone. “Oh, what’s this? Hired an actor? Saved as ‘My Love’? And ‘flight delayed’?” “Alexis, don’t joke around like that. You know I’ll get mad.” With that, he suddenly leaned in, reaching out to touch my hair. I quickly stepped back, leaving his hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. “I told you, I’m married. If you keep harassing me, you’ll be lucky if you only end up with a broken leg when you get home tonight.” Brandon burst out laughing, as if I’d said something hilarious. He pointed to my neck, raising an eyebrow. “That necklace you’re wearing, Grandpa said he’d pass it down to my wife. And you’re wearing it, yet trying to tell me you married someone else?” The necklace was indeed a gift from Grandpa Harrison, but it wasn’t meant for his wife. “I married…” Before I could finish, Willow cut me off. “Is it that necklace?” She hopped off the suitcase and pushed her way between Brandon and me. When she saw it was the necklace she’d been coveting, her eyes instantly welled up. She clung to Brandon’s arm, her voice dropping. “Brandon, I’ve liked this necklace for ages, and Grandpa never gave it to me. Now he just gives it to some outsider.” “Grandpa… doesn’t he see me as family? I’m just a driver’s daughter, unlike Alexis, who was lucky enough to be born rich. Even Grandpa prefers her.” Hearing that, Brandon’s face softened with apology again. He looked at me, a hint of awkwardness in his gaze. “Willow is young, and she’s had a tough life, so she’s always a bit insecure. Just let her have it.” “She likes this necklace, just give it to her. I’ll buy you a new one later, I promise it’ll be prettier and better quality than this one.”

I laughed. A bitter, angry laugh. “I suggest you get your head checked. If I’m not mistaken, Willow is twenty-five this year, a few months older than me, right?” “First, I hate man-children. Second, I hate manipulative parasites who steal from people. And she’s both.” My words stung Willow, and tears immediately streamed down her face. “Brandon will spoil me no matter how old I am, you’re just jealous!” “You’re not even married to Brandon yet, what right does an outsider have to Harrison family property? You’re the shameless one!” Willow was nominally an adopted daughter of the Harrison family, but in reality, she was more like a glorified housekeeper. Brandon had once campaigned to make Willow a true heiress, but Grandpa Harrison firmly refused, so he had to drop it. Because of this, he felt guilty towards Willow. Now, seeing her upset, he looked truly pained. He frowned. “Willow is different from you. She doesn’t have parents, she only has me. Grandpa refused to let her change her name, that’s why she has no sense of security…” I cut him off, offering a suggestion. “You want Willow to be recognized? Easy.” “If you marry her, I’ll gladly give her this necklace. Consider it a wedding gift from me.” I unclipped the necklace from my neck and extended it to Willow. Willow’s eyes widened in disbelief, then undisguised glee. She reached out to take it. “No!” Brandon snatched the necklace away, clutching it tightly in his fist. “What nonsense are you talking about? Willow is just… just my adopted sister. You’re the one I want to spend my life with!” “She’s family, but you’re my love. Don’t say things you don’t mean, or I’ll really get angry.” Staring into those supposedly loving eyes, I felt no emotion except disgust. Not wanting to waste another second, I turned and walked away. Ignoring whatever Brandon was still saying behind me. Stepping out of the airport, a discreet Maybach pulled up in front of me. The driver got out and opened the door. “Madam, Mr. Harrison instructed me to pick him up later. Shall I take you home first?” Devin had been away on a business trip for two weeks. Grandpa knew he was returning today and specifically requested dinner at the family estate tonight. Suddenly, someone pushed past me and quickly got into the car. Willow settled herself, then sneered. “Didn’t you say you were married? Why are you still hitching a ride in our family car? Go take your husband’s car!” Willow recognized the Maybach; it was Devin Harrison’s. Brandon evidently recognized it too, looking pleasantly surprised. After all, his uncle didn’t usually bother with such trivial matters. He sat next to Willow, buckled her seatbelt, then turned to me. “You can sit in front. Willow is used to sitting next to me. I’ll have the driver drop you off at the Hayes estate first.” “No need. I have my own car. Driver, please take them back to the estate. I have other plans.” I pulled out my car keys, pressed unlock, and a Lamborghini Veneno in the distance flashed its lights twice. Seeing me drive off in a supercar, Willow’s eyes glinted with jealousy. Brandon sighed. “She specifically came to pick me up, she must be upset I didn’t get in her car.” Then he asked the driver, “Did Uncle send you to pick me up?” The driver answered truthfully. “No, sir. I’m here to pick up Mr. Harrison.” The air hung heavy for two seconds before Brandon spoke. “…What a coincidence. So where is Uncle?” “Flight delayed.” I went to the spa, enjoyed a luxurious treatment, and only headed back to the estate when it was almost dinner time. The moment I stepped out of my car, I saw two figures kneeling stiffly, like wooden stakes, right at the front gate. Turns out, after the driver dropped them off, Grandpa Harrison, upon hearing it was Brandon and Willow, immediately slammed his cane to the ground and refused to let them in. “Get out! Why didn’t you just die in Africa? What are you back for?” Brandon gambled on Grandpa’s soft spot, dropping to his knees at the door. Willow, to accompany him, also knelt. Seeing me arrive, Brandon stood up and blocked my path. His previously dejected expression vanished, replaced by a smile. “I knew it, you couldn’t stay away.” “Did you hear Grandpa was punishing me and rushed over in a panic?” I grimaced and tried to walk around him. But he blocked me again, putting on a pretense of concern. “Don’t go in. Grandpa’s still fuming. I’m afraid he’ll take it out on you.” Willow had approached at some point. She pointed a finger at my nose, her voice accusatory. “Are you still holding a grudge about Brandon ditching the wedding for me?” “You’re the one stirring trouble, aren’t you? Grandpa usually dotes on Brandon, why would he refuse to let him in?” “You’re just here to gloat!” With that, she lunged at me, trying to grab me. I sidestepped, and she face-planted onto the ground. Willow landed hard, scraping her knee, and tears instantly flooded her eyes. Brandon pursed his lips, his smile fading. He immediately knelt to check Willow’s injury. Seeing she was fine, he skillfully scooped her up in a princess carry and consoled her for a long time until she finally started to smile through her tears. Only then did Brandon remember me. He sighed. “Alexis, you’re acting so unlike yourself.” “Willow never means what she says. If you’re going to marry me, you need to learn to be more tolerant of her.” “Just apologize to Willow this once. In the future, I hope you can change your attitude.” What? My vision swam. I sneered. “Should I also offer some compensation to soothe her wounded heart?” A flicker of greed flashed in Willow’s eyes. “I need a car for getting around. That one you drove today is barely acceptable.” A Lamborghini Veneno. Limited to 3 models worldwide, worth $23 million each. Willow really had some nerve. Brandon started making decisions for me again. “It’s rare for Willow to like something, so just give her the car. Consider it compensation for hurting her.” I stared at him, my voice flat. “You’re truly something.” “What?” Brandon didn’t catch on. “I said, you’re sick.” I shoved Brandon aside and walked straight into the house. “Stop right there!” Brandon realized he’d been played. His face was livid, and he threatened, his voice sharp. “Alexis , I’m telling you now, if you don’t apologize to Willow, you can forget about marrying me, forget about stepping foot into my family’s house!” CRASH— Suddenly, a cane came flying out, striking Brandon squarely on the head. From several feet away, Grandpa Harrison’s booming voice, surprisingly strong for his age, echoed clearly for everyone to hear. “You imbecile! Do you even know who that is?!”

Brandon winced in pain, about to lash out, but then he saw Grandpa Harrison approaching and immediately bit his tongue. “Grandpa, why are you hitting me? Willow’s completely terrified.” A profound silence fell. The butler, who was supporting Grandpa Harrison, and the maids behind him, all silently turned their gaze to me. Brandon, completely oblivious, spoke to the maids. “Quick, call a doctor to check Willow’s leg.” “You fool!” Grandpa Harrison was furious. He shook off the butler’s arm, picked up the cane from the ground, and struck Brandon’s shins several more times. Seeing the veins throbbing on Grandpa Harrison’s forehead, I worried he might suffer a heart attack and quickly intervened. “Dad, don’t get so worked up, it’s bad for your health.” Brandon’s mind went completely blank. He even let go of Willow, who tumbled to the ground, without noticing. He gripped my wrist tightly, reminding me, “Alexis, you’ve got it wrong. This is Grandpa, how can you call him ‘Dad’?” Grandpa Harrison roared. “Alexis is your uncle’s wife!” “Let go of her now!” Brandon’s pupils contracted. He flinched, letting go and taking a step back in shock. “No way!” “Uncle? How could Uncle marry her?” It wasn’t surprising Brandon would think this, as Devin Harrison was famously aloof. Everyone outside the family speculated he either had impossibly high standards or simply wasn’t interested in women. Before the wedding, Devin and I had only met twice. Once at the engagement party, when he accepted my toast. Once at the wedding, when he took my hand. I never imagined he would agree when I asked to swap grooms. Brandon frantically grabbed a maid, pointed at me, and demanded, “Tell me, what’s her relationship with my uncle?” The maid, seeing his furious expression, stammered, “She’s… she’s Mr. Harrison’s wife.” Mr. Harrison, meaning Devin. “Get out!” Brandon pushed the maid away with a cold face, then turned to the butler. “Butler, you watched me grow up, I trust you wouldn’t lie to me. You tell me!” The butler was silent for a few seconds before speaking. “It’s true, Madam married Mr. Harrison.” “Liars!” “You’re all liars!” Brandon’s face was utterly wretched. He remembered his elder sister, Clara, who lived overseas, and quickly dialed her on FaceTime. When she answered, Clara’s mocking voice came through. “Well, well, aren’t you still in Africa watching elephants? How do you even remember to contact me? I thought you only cared about your adopted sister, not your own flesh and blood!” “Then again, you didn’t even want your own wife.” Usually, Brandon would argue back, but now he just wanted to know if I was truly married to his uncle! He shoved the phone camera close to my face, asking urgently, “Clara, tell me, who is she?” Clara saw me and smiled, greeting me. “You’re getting more and more beautiful—” Her voice cut off. Brandon had ended the call. He hung his head, his fists clenched tight. Grandpa Harrison thought he had accepted reality and was about to offer some words of comfort when Brandon spoke. “Grandpa, why did you let the whole family put on an act to trick me?” “It was wrong of me to stay in Africa for two years. You’ve hit me, I’ve knelt, but this kind of joke isn’t funny.” He was still in denial. I stopped Grandpa Harrison’s cane from rising again. Looking into Brandon’s eyes, I said calmly, “You can look up the news from the day you ran away two years ago. My marriage to Devin Harrison was front-page news.” “My room in the estate, and our wedding photos, go ahead and see for yourself.” “If you still don’t believe it, I can even show you our marriage certificate.” At the words “marriage certificate,” Brandon collapsed onto the ground, his eyes bloodshot, as if I were the one who had betrayed him.

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Thanks for Taking My Ruin, Dear Sister! The day my parents divorced, two agreements lay on the table. One meant staying in the old neighborhood with my dad, who was drowning in gambling debts. The other meant moving to the coast with my mom, who’d remarried a wealthy man. In my last life, my little sister, Chloe, cried and begged for Mom. I quietly packed my bags and followed Dad. Later, Dad quit gambling and became a millionaire, spoiling me rotten. Chloe, however, was emotionally abused and trapped at home by her stepfather. She eventually succumbed to depression and passed away. This time around, Chloe snatched the cigarette from Dad’s hand and hugged him tight, refusing to let go. “Jade, I feel for Dad. You go to Mom’s, okay? I’ll keep the good life here for you.” Dad paused, then affectionately stroked Chloe’s head, a look of relief on his face. I said nothing, picking up the train ticket for the coast. Chloe didn’t know that in my last life, Dad only quit gambling because I, riddled with a brain tumor, worked myself to death to pay off his debts, coughing up blood. My life was the price for his temporary peace. Now, reborn, with no debt collectors banging on the door, all I wanted was a good night’s sleep. …… I picked up my duffel bag. “Get out, get out! Go find your mom, the one who only cares about money.” Dad waved his hand, like shooing away a fly. Chloe hid behind him, making a childish face at me. Her lips exaggeratedly formed the words: “Sis, don’t come begging me for money later.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Then I turned and walked into the rain. I pulled my neck into my shoulders, feeling a chill seep deep into my bones. Honestly, it didn’t matter where I went. I just wanted to find a quiet place to endure these last few moments. No more hearing the gamblers’ creditors banging down the door. No more smelling that sickening stench of cheap cigarettes. Mom’s black Mercedes pulled up at the end of the alley. The window rolled down, revealing her perfectly made-up face. She frowned, looking at me, drenched from head to toe, a flicker of disgust in her eyes. “What happened to you? Get in, quickly, don’t get the car dirty.” I opened the back passenger door, about to slide in. “Put that bag in the trunk.” Mom pointed at the duffel bag in my hand. “It’s filthy, probably crawling with germs.” I paused. But I still obediently closed the door and put the bag in the trunk. Back in the car, I huddled in the corner, careful not to touch the luxurious leather seats. The heater was on full blast, but I still felt cold. “Jade, once we get there, you need to be sensible.” Mom drove, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. “Your stepfather doesn’t like noise. Don’t leave your room unless you have to.” “Eat quietly, and don’t drag your feet when you walk.” “And never mention your dad. He’s bad news.” I looked out at the rain streaking past the window and nodded. “Got it.” The familiar spike of pain lanced through my head again. My vision blurred for a second. I reached up and pressed my forehead. “What’s wrong?” Mom asked, her tone laced with impatience. “Nothing, just car sickness.” I said. “So delicate,” Mom scoffed. “Just like your dad.” I closed my eyes, swallowing back the metallic taste of blood that welled up in my throat. Next time, no way I’m signing up for this again. The drive took five hours. By the time the car pulled into the hillside villa community, it was pitch black outside. Though ablaze with lights, the whole place felt eerily dead. “We’re here.” Mom parked the car, touched up her lipstick, and took a deep breath. She was shifting gears, transforming from the sharp-tongued woman she was with me into a sweet, devoted wife. “Get out of the car. Remember to call him Mr. Henderson.” I followed her inside, still carrying my duffel bag. A man sat on the living room sofa, a blanket over his legs, a book in his hand. He looked up when he heard us. This was my stepfather, Robert Henderson.

The same man who, in my last life, slowly suffocated Chloe until she broke. “You’re back?” His voice was flat, emotionless. “Robert, this is Jade.” Mom pushed me forward, a plastered smile on her face. “Jade, say hello to Mr. Henderson.” I stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Hello, Mr. Henderson.” Robert Henderson turned a page of his book, as if he hadn’t heard me. A few seconds later, he hummed a noncommittal “Hmm” from the back of his throat. His gaze swept over my wet shoes, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “The carpet was just replaced.” He lowered his head back to his book. “The first room on the left upstairs is the guest room. It’s ready.” “Thank you, Mr. Henderson,” I said. Mom breathed a sigh of relief and pulled me upstairs. “See? Mr. Henderson is really a good man,” Mom whispered. “Just don’t upset him, and you’ll be able to stay in this house.” Inside the room, it was huge and empty. “Mom,” I called out, stopping her just as she was about to leave. “What is it?” “I’d like to change rooms.” Mom’s face instantly changed. “Jade, are you being picky the moment you arrive?” “What’s wrong with this room? It’s a hundred times better than your dad’s dump, isn’t it?” “Don’t be so ungrateful!” I calmly watched her outburst. Only after she finished did I speak. “No, this room faces north, it’s too cold.” “I’d like a south-facing one, even if it’s smaller.” I was truly cold. The brain tumor messed with my body’s temperature control, leaving me perpetually freezing. Only sunlight offered me any comfort. “Cold? Just turn on the AC!” Mom thought I was being unreasonable. “The south-facing rooms are your Mr. Henderson’s study and a storage room.” “Then the storage room,” I said. Mom’s eyes widened. “Are you crazy?” “Why would you stay in a storage room when there’s a perfectly good guest room?” “Are you deliberately trying to make Mr. Henderson think I’m abusing you?” Her voice grew shrill. I covered my ears. It was too loud. My brain felt like it was going to burst. “I’m just cold,” I repeated. Just then, two light taps came from the doorway. Robert Henderson stood there, a glass of water in his hand, his expression grim. I didn’t even notice him arrive. “What’s all the shouting about?” Mom immediately plastered on a different face, her voice trembling. “Nothing, Robert. This child is being difficult, complaining about the room.” “I’m about to teach her a lesson.” Robert Henderson looked at me, and I looked back at him. His face was very pale, his lips bloodless, looking as if he were about to die. “Which room do you want?” he asked me. “The one facing south,” I pointed to the end of the hallway. “That’s where we store old furniture.” “It’s fine, as long as there’s sunlight.” Robert Henderson was silent for a moment. “Suit yourself.” “Just don’t shout in the hallway.” With that, he turned and left, showing no interest in this mother-daughter dispute. Mom poked my forehead hard. “Go ahead and make a scene!” “Staying in a storage room… what will people say about me?” I ignored her. Carrying my duffel bag, I walked to the end of the hallway. Pushing open the door, a cloud of dust greeted me. But I saw the floor-to-ceiling window. When the sun rose tomorrow, it would be warm in here. That was enough. I made my bed and placed the photo album under my pillow. My diagnosis was tucked inside the album. As long as I wasn’t dead, no one would be idle enough to snoop through my things. That night, I slept soundly. There were no debt collectors in my dreams, only endless darkness.

I settled into the house, like an invisible ghost. Robert Henderson liked quiet, so much so that even the housekeepers walked on tiptoes. Mom tried every trick in the book to please Robert. Cooking soups, giving massages, watching those boring financial news channels with him. She lived in this house like a high-class housekeeper. As for me, except for meal times, I rarely left my room. The storage room had been tidied up nicely. Though cluttered with old furniture, the sunlight was truly wonderful. I often pulled up a chair by the window and soaked in the sun all afternoon, like an old woman. Sometimes Robert Henderson would pass my door. Seeing me sunbathing, he’d pause, but never spoke. His gaze was strange, like he was looking at a kindred spirit. One afternoon during lunch. The dining table was silent, save for the faint clinking of forks against plates. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. In the quiet living room, it sounded like an alarming siren. Robert Henderson frowned. Mom immediately put down her fork and glared at me. “Who told you to bring your phone to the table? No manners!” “Hang up!” I took out my phone and glanced at the screen. It was Chloe. I pressed decline. Less than two seconds later, it vibrated again. I declined again. The third time it vibrated, Robert Henderson put down his fork. “Answer it,” he said, his voice flat. “It’s giving me a headache.” I took my phone to the balcony. As soon as I answered, Chloe’s voice exploded through the receiver. “Jade, are you doing this on purpose?” “Did you take the passbook?” I held the phone away from my ear. “What passbook?” “Dad says the family passbook is gone, and he’s sure you stole it!” “There’s five thousand dollars in there!” I chuckled. Those five thousand dollars were what I’d earned washing dishes last summer. “That’s my money,” I said. “Even if you earned it, it’s still family money!” Chloe said, her voice dripping with self-righteousness. “Dad can’t buy cigarettes now, and he’s throwing a fit at home!” “Transfer the money right away, or I’ll tell Mom you stole it!” From the other end of the line, I heard things crashing and Dad’s angry curses. “I should’ve strangled you when you were born!” Those sounds, even from hundreds of miles away, still made me feel suffocated. “I didn’t steal it,” I said calmly. “That was my medical fund.” “Medical fund? What kind of sickness do you have?” Chloe scoffed. “Stop playing the victim!” “Transfer the money now, or I’ll come to your school and tell everyone you don’t care if your own dad dies!” I looked out at the garden from the balcony. The flowers bloomed vividly, red as blood. “Chloe.” “You chose your path; you have to walk it, even if you’re crawling.” “Don’t bother me.” With that, I hung up and blocked her number. As I turned, I felt a warm gush from my nose. I reached up and touched it – my hand was covered in blood. I fumbled for a tissue from my pocket and pressed it to my nose. Tilting my head back, I tried to stop the bleeding. The blood flowed rapidly, trickling down my throat into my stomach, making me nauseous. I rushed into the downstairs restroom. Looking in the mirror, I saw bright red blood staining half my face. I turned on the faucet and frantically washed it away. “What are you doing?” A voice suddenly came from behind me. I froze. Through the mirror, I saw Robert Henderson standing in the doorway. He looked at my face, streaked with water and blood, his eyes deep and unreadable. I roughly wiped my face. “Just a nosebleed,” I mumbled, lowering my head. “Probably from the heat.” Robert Henderson didn’t say anything. He walked over and handed me a clean hand towel. “Wipe that off.” I took the towel and pressed it to my nose. “Thank you, Mr. Henderson.” He looked at the faint pink stains in the sink that hadn’t been rinsed away yet. “Does this happen often?” “Occasionally.” I lied. The nosebleeds had been happening more and more frequently lately. Robert Henderson stared at me for a moment. “You should see a doctor,” he said. “No need. It’s an old problem,” I replied, lowering my head, trying to slip past him. “Jade.” He stopped me. “You don’t have to live so cautiously in this house.” “Your mom is your mom; you are you.” I froze, looking up at him. His expression was still detached, but there was a hint of something in his eyes I didn’t understand. “If you’re not feeling well, say something.” “Stop trying to be tough. Nobody’s giving you a prize for enduring all this pain alone.” With that, he turned and left, leaving me alone in the restroom. The towel in my hand carried a faint scent of pine. It was his scent, mixed with a faint whisper of decay.

Robert Henderson had a secret, I knew. Because in his study’s trash can, I’d seen a pill bottle just like mine. They were strong painkillers, specifically for late-stage cancer patients. That day, Mom asked me to take some fruit to his study. Robert Henderson wasn’t there; he was at the hospital for dialysis. I set down the fruit bowl and was about to leave when I saw that familiar white bottle in the wastebasket. I picked it up and examined it. It was a bottle for Ibuprofen extended-release capsules, but inside were morphine pills. I’d used that trick too. Putting life-saving medication into ordinary vitamin bottles, deceiving myself and others. Turns out, my arrogant stepfather. The man Chloe called a cold-hearted monster, was also quietly enduring his own hellish agony. I put the bottle back, pretending I hadn’t seen a thing. That night, Robert Henderson returned. His face was paler than usual, and his steps were a little shaky. Mom went to meet him, trying to help him. “Don’t touch me.” He recoiled, his voice raw with pain. Mom’s hands froze in mid-air, her eyes welling up. “Robert, is there something I did wrong?” “I’m just tired.” Robert Henderson didn’t look at her, heading straight upstairs. As he passed me, he paused. In that instant, I caught a strong scent of antiseptic from him. And a faint smell of blood. The lingering scent of dialysis. Later that night, I woke up in pain. The tumor in my brain was relentlessly crushing my nerves. I was soaked in cold sweat, shivering and curled up in my blanket. I wanted water. I got up, stumbling downstairs. The living room lights weren’t on, but I saw a dark figure on the sofa. It was Robert Henderson, sitting there motionless. A cigarette glowed faintly between his fingers, its light flickering in the gloom. I didn’t dare make a sound, intending to quietly retreat. “Since you’re awake, come over.” His voice, hoarse and weary, came from the darkness. I had no choice but to walk over. “Mr. Henderson.” “Do you play chess?” he asked. “A little.” “Play a game with me.” I sat opposite him. In the moonlight, I saw his face was ashen, his forehead beaded with sweat. He was enduring pain, just like me. We played three games of chess. Neither of us spoke, only the crisp sound of chess pieces being placed. He played aggressively, as if releasing something. I played steadily. “Are you afraid to lose?” Robert Henderson suddenly asked. “I can’t afford to lose,” I replied, placing a piece. Robert Henderson let out a soft chuckle. “Life is just a losing game anyway.” “No matter how much you struggle, you always lose in the end.” I didn’t argue. As dawn approached, the last game ended. I was about to pack up the pieces and go back to my room. Robert Henderson’s hand suddenly pressed down on the chessboard. He looked up, his deep eyes staring directly at me. “Jade.” “That diagnosis hidden under your pillow.” “How long do you plan to keep it a secret?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “356432”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn

For all three years my son Liam has been in kindergarten, I haven’t made it to a single school event. It wasn’t that I didn’t try. Every time I mentioned it, he’d burst into tears and cling to my husband’s leg. “I don’t want Mommy to come!” This time, when his essay won a prize and there was an awards ceremony, my husband shut me down as expected. “Liam wrote about ‘My Mom.’ He’d be embarrassed if you were there. I’ll handle it.” I stayed silent and ironed my son’s little suit. But on the day of the ceremony, I slipped quietly into the back of the school auditorium. The spotlight found my son as he read his essay in a clear, proud voice. “My mom loves wearing red dresses. When she kisses me goodnight, she always smells like sweet perfume.” My blood ran cold. I’ve never owned a red dress in my life. And I never wear perfume. So who, exactly, was the “mom” in my son’s essay? The air conditioning in the auditorium was on full blast, but my back was already soaked with sweat. On stage, Liam continued. “It smells like roses!” “Mom loves roses, so Dad buys them for her all the time. She always picks the prettiest one for me and says she loves me even more than her flowers.” I gripped the armrest so tightly my knuckles turned white. My mind was a mess. I don’t have red dresses. I don’t wear perfume. And there’s no way I smell like roses. I’m allergic to them. They make me sneeze and my eyes itch. Both Derek and Liam know this, so roses have never appeared in our home. The mom Liam was talking about… wasn’t me. This horrifying realization was still sinking in when Liam’s winning essay was projected onto the big screen. Beside his childish handwriting was a drawing he’d made The moment I saw it, I couldn’t breathe. It showed a family of three eating ice cream in front of a Ferris wheel-a man in black, a woman in a red dress, and a beaming Liam in the middle. “Mom took me to the Disney castle and bought me a Mickey ice cream bar.” “Mom said she’ll buy me anything I want.” Liam had always dreamed of going to Disney. I’d brought it up with Derek countless times. But each time, he would check his schedule and give a weary sigh. “The company is in a critical growth phase right now. I just can’t get away. Soon, I promise. I’ll take a long vacation, and we’ll spend a whole week at Disney together.” I agreed. But then he turned to Liam. “Your mom won’t let you go to Disney.” Liam cried endlessly, taking all his frustration out on me. I wanted to explain, but Derek stopped me. “He’s still young. He won’t understand it. Just go along with it for now. When he’s older, I’ll explain it to him myself.” I had no choice but to agree. Eventually, Liam stopped bringing up Disney. I thought he’d lost interest, but I never imagined he’d already been there. Derek’s claim that he “didn’t have time” apparently meant he didn’t have time to go with me. The next page appeared, and Liam’s voice rang out again. “Dad and Mom took me to catch crabs. Mom bought me lots of shell toys…” “My mom is the most beautiful, the best mom in the whole world.” “I love my mom.” “Mom, when Liam grows up, Dad and I will protect you together!” The essay ended. Thunderous applause filled the auditorium. Only my hands and feet were ice cold. Liam loves sweets, so I strictly control how often he eats candy, especially ice cream. But he still developed several cavities. I took him to the dentist. He cried his heart out and called me a bad mom. He’s naturally allergic to seawater-it makes him break out in red rashes all over his body. So I never take him to the beach and even gave up my favorite beach camping trips. But he still gets allergic reactions frequently. I thought I was a complete failure as a mother, that somehow I had let him eat something else he was allergic to. I rushed him to the hospital for allergy testing. Again, he was miserable and called me a bad mom. I told Derek how much it hurt. He just frowned and brushed it off. “You’re the adult. He’s just a child. What’s the point in arguing with him? When he’s older, he’ll understand you meant well.” Liam turned six this year. For six years, I’ve been the “bad mom.” For six years, I’ve heard “your mom won’t let you.” And through it all, I kept believing what Derek said. I held onto the hope that someday, Liam would understand. But I was wrong. Derek said “your mom won’t let you,” but out there, that other mom indulged Liam in everything, gave him whatever he wanted. I was the bad mom because he had a good mom on the side. The applause slowly died down. Liam waved happily, and I followed his gaze to the front row. Derek sat right in the middle, wearing the suit I’d prepared for him. And the woman sitting beside him, also clapping, was wearing a red dress. The two of them went on stage together, each taking one of Liam’s hands. The woman’s eyes glistened with tears, and Derek tenderly wiped them away. Everyone stood up, marveling at this happy family of three. Only I remained seated, my nails digging into my fingertips until they bled. I had come here expecting happiness. But now I suddenly realized that happiness was never mine to begin with.

I didn’t stay until the end. I fled home in a panic. The house that once felt warm now seemed like a terrifying abyss. I stood in the entryway, leaning against the console table, feeling for the first time how utterly foreign this place was. But I couldn’t run. If I ran, I would lose completely. While they were still at the auditorium, I searched everywhere. Finally, at the bottom of Derek’s storage box filled with company documents, I found a hard paper bag. Inside was a brand-new red silk dress. The tag was still attached. Twelve thousand eight hundred dollars. Just last month, when my father got sick, I asked Derek for ten thousand dollars for medical expenses. But he showed me his bank balance-only two thousand dollars. “All the money’s been invested in the company’s new project. There’s really nothing left. If your father needs it urgently, I can try to borrow from friends.” I didn’t want him to owe favors, so I maxed out my own credit card and then scrambled to find part-time work to pay it back. And now, this twelve-thousand-eight-hundred-dollar red dress felt like a slap across my face. “My mom loves to wear red dresses.” Liam’s voice echoed in my mind. I swallowed my unease and opened the card hidden beneath the dress. It said: “My Beloved Rachel: Red is the color of home. The mother in Liam’s essay should have been you. Thank you for all you have done for our family. I wrap you in this crimson light, with a wish to walk beside you all my life. Derek.” I clenched the card, recalling that woman’s face. Rachel Sinclair, Derek’s high school classmate. She studied fashion design in college and opened her own studio right after graduation. Before I had Liam, I would occasionally check Derek’s company finances. Back then, half the investment funds went to Rachel Sinclair’s studio. I thought it was odd, but Derek said she was talented and it was a sure bet. Later, he convinced me to be a stay-at-home mom, and I stopped asking about company finances. Looking back now, perhaps even then, he was already with Rachel. In his heart, Rachel was his beloved, the woman meant to be with him for life. She had done “everything for their family.” So what about me? What was I? I put the dress back and opened Derek’s computer to check his transaction records. These past years, dealing with daily household chores, I always had endless housework. He was confident I had no time to look at his computer, so he never set a password. Over the past three months, there were several large purchases. Maldives hotel, three-person suite: thirty-eight thousand dollars. Jewelry counter: eighty thousand dollars. Disney resort: ten thousand dollars. Transaction after transaction-amounts I’d never seen before. Although Derek owned a company, all these years it was always “the company’s growth phase.” His money always had to go into projects, leaving me with only a few thousand dollars for living expenses. I thought if I just held on a bit longer, once the projects paid off, life would get better. But in reality, he’d been living well all along-the person enjoying the good life with him just wasn’t me. Around nine in the evening, Derek finally brought Liam home, his tone tinged with helplessness. “After the ceremony ended, the teacher organized a dinner for all of us. We just finished eating.” “Honey, have you eaten?” I looked at him without responding. At the auditorium, other parents had mentioned there was no dinner planned for tonight-everyone was supposed to celebrate with their own children. So where did you go, and who did you eat with? I clutched the sofa cushion. Beside me, Liam was yawning. “I’m so sleepy. I want to go to bed.” “Liam, want some ice cream?” His eyes immediately lit up. “Can I? Yes!” “Liam!” Derek suddenly snapped at him. “Only one a day!” As soon as he said it, he realized his mistake and quickly changed course. “The teacher gave him one as a reward tonight. You know the rule. He can’t have more.” Liam nodded along. “Right.” Father and son went to wash up. My temples were pounding. My son was only six years old, but he’d already learned to conspire with his father to deceive me-for another woman. What about the career I gave up for laundry and packed lunches? The friendships that quietly faded away? Every hobby that slowly gathered dust? Had every sacrifice I’d made over the years truly meant nothing at all?

The next day, I added the teacher on Snapchat, pretending to be Liam’s aunt. I’d missed all the parent-child activities over the past three years, but in the teacher’s posts, there was always Derek and that woman by Liam’s side. She was always in red, flawlessly put together, her hand tucked in the crook of Derek’s arm. The two of them beaming, cheering Liam on. In one video, Derek leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. Like punishing myself on purpose, I replayed that two-second clip again and again, until the ache in my chest finally faded into a hollow nothingness. That evening, I warmed some milk and brought it to the study. “I haven’t seen Liam’s essay yet. Did you take a photo?” Derek’s fingers froze for a moment before he spoke. “The essays were all kept at the kindergarten. It’s just a kid’s rambling anyway-nothing worth reading.” Silence filled the room. I glanced at the document storage box. The paper bag underneath was gone. He’d given it to her. I dug my nails hard into my thigh and said. “Tomorrow’s Liam’s birthday, and it’s the weekend. How about we take him to Disney?” Derek finally looked up, his face apologetic. “Honey, I forgot to tell you-I have a business trip tomorrow. Liam’s also going to a friend’s house. I’ll drop him off in the morning and then head straight to catch my flight.” “You’ve worked so hard all these years. Just rest at home tomorrow.” My thigh felt like I’d broken the skin. My once-calm heart was pierced again with fine needles-dense, searing pain everywhere. I left the study and went to find Liam. “Liam, it’s your birthday tomorrow. What present do you want?” His little head poked out from under the covers. “Didn’t Dad say all the presents are at the new house?” My heart lurched. “What new house?” He quickly ducked back under the covers. “Nothing, nothing! I didn’t say anything!” My legs grew stiffer. I turned and rushed out of the room. I asked the teacher to add me to the parent group. I immediately spotted the contact labeled “Liam’s Mom.” Rachel posted on Ins almost every other day. “My husband bought me another dress. My closet’s overflowing!” “Congratulations to Liam for winning first prize in the essay contest! Big dinner tonight to celebrate!” One week earlier. “Renovation’s done! Housewarming next week, and it’s also Liam’s birthday party. Everyone’s welcome to come celebrate!” In the photo, Derek had his arm around her in an unfamiliar living room, both their faces radiating happiness. I looked at it over and over in disbelief. Derek had bought her a house. My husband called her his beloved. My son said she was the best mom. My family had a new home-with another woman. Rage surged through me. I stormed toward the study, ready to confront him. But I heard Derek on the phone, his voice low and careful. “Don’t overthink it. Of course I love you. Liam adores you. I’m just waiting for the right moment to tell he…” “Rachel, please don’t cry. You have the fashion career you’ve always wanted. I won’t let you get trapped by chores and lose yourself…” I pressed my back against the wall. Hearing every devastating word. Recording every single one. I knew then that our eight-year marriage was over. Our bond as husband and wife was finished. Even the bond between mother and son had reached its end.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “355916”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn