Category: English

The man my wife had always loved suddenly became a monk. To follow him, she donated her multi-million dollar fortune to build him a monastery, joining him in a life of piety. I was left to wander the streets with our sick daughter, desperately seeking medical help, nearly freezing to death. Eventually, I worked construction, did dangerous underwater salvage work—anything to keep myself and my daughter alive. Through sheer force of will, I built my own company from the ground up. Then, on the very day I landed the biggest contract of my career, my wife returned. Her one true love had cancer, and she wanted me to pay for his treatment. 1. The day I secured the largest construction project in the city, I received a text from my sister-in-law. 【Cole, my sister’s back. Get ready, we’re almost at your office.】 I stared at the screen, a cold knot forming in my stomach as the words sank in. Rhiannon. My wife. The woman who had abandoned us to chase after a ghost in a monastery. I didn’t reply. A second text came through. 【Come on, Cole, don’t be so petty. She promised me this time, she’s not going to leave you again. It’s been so many years, and she really misses Summer. Can you really stand for your child not to have a mother?】 I read the words and fell silent. The mention of Summer’s name sent a jolt of panic through me. I immediately dialed her number. Summer was only five when Rhiannon left. The day she understood her mother was gone for good, she cried until she was sick. For years, her most frequent question was always the same: Daddy, why don’t I have a mommy? I didn’t want Summer to know Rhiannon was back. She had finally, painstakingly, come to terms with a life without a mother. I couldn’t bear to see her heart break all over again. Summer picked up, her voice bright. “Hey, Dad! When are you picking me up?” I forced a smile into my voice. “Hey, sweetie. Dad’s got something to take care of today. How about I have Lily, my assistant, pick you up? I sent her some money. You two can hit the mall, buy yourself something nice.” “Wow, Dad,” she teased, “since when did you get so generous?” “Don’t be a smart-aleck,” I chuckled. “Just come by the office after you’re done shopping, okay?” “Okay! Thanks, Dad.” 2. After hanging up, I hurried downstairs. Two women were standing outside the main entrance. Even after all these years, I recognized Rhiannon instantly. She hadn’t changed much, though the once-flawless skin of her face now bore fine lines. Her complexion was darker, and I could see threads of gray in her hair. She stood with her hands on her hips, her voice sharp with impatience as she spoke to her sister. “Did you even tell Cole I was coming today? I’ve been waiting forever. Why isn’t he down here yet?” Her sister, Ruby, tried to placate her. “Calm down. You were gone for years. It’s normal for him to be a little moody. Just be patient.” Rhiannon scoffed. “I can’t believe I ever fell for a man like him.” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. She wasn’t wrong. Even I had been shocked when she’d agreed to marry me. She came from a wealthy family; I was a poor kid from the countryside with no parents. But the man she’d always worshipped, Leo, had moved abroad. It was as if she’d given up on love, and she stumbled into a life with me. After we were married, her family—and she herself—never stopped looking down on me. Then came the news that Leo had renounced the world to become a monk. That same night, Rhiannon made her decision. She liquidated her multi-million dollar assets, sold her company, and used the money to build a monastery for him, joining him in his spiritual retreat. The world was stunned by her grand gesture. The story of their epic, tragic love was on everyone’s lips. Meanwhile, our daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and desperately needed money for treatment. With nowhere else to go, I took Summer and started searching for a cure. With no money, we slept on the streets. I took the most dangerous jobs I could find—construction, underwater salvage diving. One dive could earn me a hundred thousand dollars. I lost count of how many times I went down into the dark water, how many times I almost didn’t come back up. After years of risking my life, I finally had enough money to save my daughter. Our lives had just found a fragile peace, a measure of comfort. And now, Rhiannon was back. As I stood there, lost in thought, Ruby spotted me. “Cole! There you are!” she called out cheerfully. Rhiannon turned, her face a mask of annoyance. “What took you so long? Hurry up and let us in. My legs are killing me from all this standing.” A cold smile touched my lips. “What are you doing back here?” Her expression hardened. “Your company is my company. Why can’t I be here?” “Yours?” I sneered. “If I recall, you sold your company. And your home. Or have you forgotten?” She flinched, then her face flushed with anger. “It was years ago! Can’t you let it go? For God’s sake, you’re a grown man. Stop being so petty.” “I’m not as generous as you, ‘Miss Rhiannon.’ I wouldn’t spend my entire fortune to play nun with another man.” My words hit their mark. She raised her hand to slap me, an old, familiar gesture. She used to do that whenever she was the slightest bit displeased. Back then, because I loved her, I took it. But now? I wouldn’t let her lay a finger on me. Sensing a fight, Ruby quickly stepped between us. “Hey, what’s wrong with you two? This is supposed to be a happy day. Why are you fighting?” She turned to me, her voice wheedling. “Cole, I know you’re upset. She was gone a long time, it’s normal to be angry. But I’ve already given her a piece of my mind. She promised she’ll never leave you again. You know what they say, couples fight. There’s no need to make a big scene over something so small.” “Small?” I repeated, my voice dangerously low. “She almost got me and my daughter killed. Is that a small thing?” Rhiannon exploded. “Of course it’s a small thing! And what do you mean, I almost got her killed? You’re her father! It’s a man’s job to provide for his family! What did you expect from me, a woman?” She was practically screaming now. “Besides, it was my money! I could have thrown it in a fire and it would have been none of your business!” Hearing that, I laughed. A hollow, empty sound. “Fine,” I said. “If that’s how you feel, then please leave. I hope you never appear in front of me or my daughter again. We don’t want to see you.” Seeing my resolve, Ruby looked from me to her sister, flustered. “Cole, don’t be so rash. Even if you don’t want to see her, what about Summer? Have you asked her what she wants? I’m sure she misses her mother.” At the mention of her daughter, Rhiannon’s confidence surged back. “That’s right. I’m Summer’s mother. I have a right to see my own daughter. What right do you have to kick me out?” She said it without a hint of shame. That’s when my control finally snapped. I turned to the security guard. “I don’t know these two women. Please escort them off the premises.” Rhiannon shrieked and lunged at me. But just then, a clear voice cut through the chaos. “Dad? What are you doing out here?” 3. Panic seized me. Even now that Summer was a teenager, I still saw the flicker of envy in her eyes whenever she saw other girls with their mothers. I was terrified that the heart she had so carefully walled off would be sealed shut once more. I tried to step in front of her, to shield her from the sight of Rhiannon, but it was too late. Summer had already walked right up to her. “Summer,” Rhiannon gushed, her voice dripping with manufactured emotion. “It’s me, Mommy! I’m back! Did you miss me?” I watched my daughter, my heart in my throat, ready to throw them both out at the slightest sign of distress. But Summer just smiled. “Mom. You’re back.” Rhiannon was ecstatic. She shot me a triumphant look. “Yes, I am! Your father was about to turn me away. You’ve grown up so much, Summer. You take after me, thank God. Not petty like your father.” She tried to take Summer’s hand, attempting to project the image of a doting mother. Summer gently pulled her hand away. Seeing the flash of anger on Rhiannon’s face, Summer just smiled again. “Well, since you’re here, you might as well come in.” Rhiannon’s smug expression returned. I took Summer’s arm, my voice low. “Summer, if you don’t want to see her, I’ll get rid of her right now.” She just patted my hand. “Dad, what are you talking about? She’s my mother, after all.” Her composure eased some of my fears. Rhiannon and Ruby swept into my company as if they owned the place. They looked around, their noses in the air. “Cole, I have to admit, I’m surprised a country boy like you managed to start a company,” Rhiannon announced. “It’s not bad. But I don’t like the decor. You’ll have to have it redone.” My employees stared as the two women strutted around, pointing and criticizing. Whispers broke out across the office. Rhiannon sat down in my chair, in my office, like a queen on her throne. After a moment, she pointed a finger at my assistant, Lily. “What kind of assistant are you? I’ve been here for five minutes and you haven’t even brought me a cup of tea.” She sneered at me. “See, Cole? You still don’t know how to manage people. But don’t worry, I’m back now. I’ll take over and get these people into shape.” My face was a storm cloud. If it weren’t for Summer, I would have dragged her out by her hair. Lily looked at me, uncertain. But it was Summer who spoke. “Lily, would you mind getting us some tea, please?” Lily nodded and quickly left. Rhiannon continued her inspection of my office. “This will all have to be redecorated to my taste. Oh, and Ruby doesn’t have a job right now. Find her an easy position here tomorrow. Since she’s my sister, her salary can’t be too low. Let’s say ten thousand a month, plus full benefits.” Ruby beamed. “Thank you, Cole!” she chimed in, not waiting for my reply. I just sneered and excused myself to the restroom. On a whim, I pulled out my phone and accessed the security camera feed for my office. As soon as I was gone, Ruby turned to her sister. “You were right, Rhiannon. You know him so well. No matter how mad he is, he wouldn’t dare do anything to you with Summer around.” She ran her hands over the expensive furniture. “Our family has been in decline ever since Mom and Dad died. I haven’t been around things this nice in so long. You have to play your cards right this time.” Rhiannon smiled smugly. “Of course. I know Cole better than anyone. He acts tough, but he’s a total softy. All I have to do is act a little vulnerable and he’ll cave. Soon, all of this will be mine.” The greed in her eyes was undisguised. I let out a short, sharp laugh. I couldn’t understand how she could possibly believe I was the same man she’d left behind, the man who would forgive her anything. Or how a person could be so utterly shameless. 4. Just as they were talking, Summer walked back in. Rhiannon pulled her into a chatty, casual conversation. “So, Summer, you must be in middle school now, right?” Summer smiled faintly. “I’m in high school, Mom.” Not even knowing what grade her own daughter was in. Rhiannon’s face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly changed the subject. “Oh, right! I was just so excited I forgot. It’s a good thing you look like me. If you took after your father, you’d probably be working some dead-end job by now.” Even now, her disdain for me was palpable. She seemed to have forgotten that our fortunes had been completely reversed. Summer didn’t argue. Instead, she said, “Mom, my dad has a dinner meeting with some important clients at a five-star hotel. We should probably get going.” Rhiannon’s eyes lit up. “Oh, perfect. Your aunt and I are starving. We’ll go with you.” When I came out of the restroom, she looked at me imperiously. “Go get the car.” Before I could speak, Summer stepped in. “Oh, Mom, I’m sorry. Dad has to pick up his other clients. There’s no room. You’ll have to take a taxi.” Rhiannon was clearly annoyed, but she reluctantly agreed. In the car, I looked at my daughter, confused. “Summer, I’m not picking anyone else up. And… you don’t hate her?” Summer just looked at me. “She’s my mother, Dad.” I drove to the hotel in silence. Rhiannon and Ruby had arrived before us. After finding out which private room we were in, they had made themselves at home, taking the seats at the head of the table. I was furious. These were business associates, friends, but even so, her behavior was appallingly rude. Summer, however, remained calm. With a maturity that belied her years, she simply signaled for the waiter to begin serving the food. Rhiannon’s eyes were practically glued to the lavish dishes being brought out—roast duck, lobster, steak. She looked desperate. Too many years of a vegetarian diet, I supposed. But when she noticed that everyone at the table had been given plates and silverware except for her and her sister, she snapped at the waiter. “Hey! Is this what you call five-star service? How am I supposed to eat without any utensils?” That’s when Summer smiled. “Mom,” she said, her voice sweet as honey, “I didn’t tell them to set a place for you and Aunt Ruby.”

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To me, Karen was never the false heiress who stole my life. She was my baby sister, my closest friend. When our parents refused to acknowledge me, she knelt in the chapel until her knees bled, just to get me into the family tree. When I was bullied at school, she slapped the ringleader Stanton so hard his face swelled—trembling with fear, yet forcing a smile to comfort me. Even the family fortune, she refused a cent, insisting it all be mine. Then she brought Ethan into my life. Seen as the perfect match, he taught me etiquette, helped me into a top university, and shaped me into a true heiress. On my graduation day, he proposed, vowing to care for me forever. They were two flames, warming what I’d thought was a hopeless life. Until the day I came home from the hospital and saw them through our half-open bedroom door. Ethan had her pressed against the wall, voice trembling. “Why make me marry her? You know I’ve always loved you.” Karen didn’t struggle. She only wept. “Please… don’t hurt Elara. We’re all she has now.” Outside, tears and blood soaked the medical report in my hand: 【PROGNOSIS: LESS THAN ONE MONTH TO LIVE.】 And suddenly, I laughed. How perfect. It seemed even Death could grant a wish. 1 Thud! A wave of dizziness from the blood loss sent me stumbling, and I slammed hard against the doorframe. The medical report I was clutching scattered across the floor. As I scrambled to pick up the pages, the door was yanked open from the inside. Karen’s face, still streaked with fresh tears, went pale with shock when she saw the blood pouring from my nose. “Elara! What happened? Why are you bleeding so much?” I wiped my nose clumsily with the back of my hand, forcing my lips into what I hoped was a natural smile. “It’s nothing. I was staring at my phone and walked right into the door.” Karen knelt, using her own sleeve to gently clean my face, her voice a mix of concern and scolding. “How can you be so careless? Does it hurt?” “Let me help you up. We’ll have the family doctor take a look at you later, just to make sure it’s not…” Her words caught in her throat. Behind her, Ethan’s gaze had fallen to the papers on the floor. His brow furrowed as he reached for one. “What’s this?” My head whipped around. The medical report! No! Panic seized me. I practically dove forward, snatching the paper from his grasp. My voice was shrill, unrecognizable. “It’s nothing!” My outburst startled them both. Ethan’s hand froze in mid-air, his eyes fixed on the paper I now held in a death grip. Luckily, the most damning information was blurred into an illegible red smudge. I struggled to compose myself, stuffing the report into my pocket. “It’s just the flu, and I’m a bit run down,” I lied, my voice still shaky. “The doctor gave me some medicine.” “You know how it is, the air is so dry in the winter, it gives me nosebleeds. You two should be careful as well!” Ethan studied me for a few seconds, the suspicion in his eyes slowly fading. But then he asked, his voice cautious, “Elara, you were just at the door… You didn’t happen to hear anything, did you?” I could feel Karen’s fingers tighten on my arm. I knew what they were afraid of. It didn’t matter. Even knowing the truth, I could never blame them. This life, this happiness… it was all borrowed. But my eyes still burned, and I had to fight back tears. I tilted my head back, trying my best to look innocent and confused. “Hear what? I was too busy having a fight with the doorframe. It hurt so much I was seeing stars. What’s going on?” Ethan visibly relaxed. Karen’s whole body seemed to sag with relief. She helped me inside. “Nothing. Ethan and I were just talking about your wedding.” “Come on, let’s get that bleeding stopped.” Ethan nodded and moved to close the door. But just as it was about to click shut— Bang! A hand, all sharp knuckles and lean fingers, shot through the gap, forcing the door open. Stanton’s defiant face appeared in the opening. He yelled right at me, “Elara, what the hell? Why’d you run when you saw me at the oncology department?” My heart sank. I’m screwed. 2 I had run into Stanton at the hospital, but I was wearing a mask. My first instinct upon seeing someone I knew was to bolt. I never imagined he would recognize me, let alone follow me home. Ethan moved to block him, but Stanton just shoved past him. He strode right up to me, his eyes scanning my panicked face. He fumbled in his pocket and then roughly pressed a lipstick into my hand, his tone as sharp as gravel. “Your stuff falls out of your pocket and you don’t even notice? I was yelling your name, are you deaf?” A lipstick? I stared at it, confused. I looked down at the tube in my palm. I’d never owned this shade in my life. But I grabbed the lifeline he’d thrown me. I forced a laugh. “I’m so sorry, Stanton! I wasn’t feeling well, so I was in a rush.” “I honestly didn’t hear you. Thanks so much for bringing it all the way back.” For once, Stanton’s expression was serious. He looked me up and down, as if he wanted to say more. But in the end, all he did was let out a derisive snort. With his usual arrogance, he drawled, “Funny, isn’t it? The big sister goes to the hospital, and her fiancé hangs out with the little sister all day…” With that, he turned on his heel and walked out. The air crackled with a sudden, awkward tension. I jumped in immediately, trying to smooth things over. “That idiot Stanton, he’s had it in for me since we were kids. Every time he sees me, he just has to say something to stir up trouble between us. Don’t listen to him.” “Next time I see his father, I’m definitely telling on him again.” Worried they’d dwell on it, I caught sight of the housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, bringing dishes to the dining room. I grabbed Ethan’s sleeve with one hand and looped my other arm through Karen’s, physically breaking the suffocating silence. “Oh, that smells amazing! Let’s eat!” “Looks like Mrs. Gable went all out today. I’ve been so busy, I’m absolutely starving!” It was a lie. At this stage of my illness, hunger was a distant memory. I couldn’t even taste my food anymore. But my little performance worked, and the atmosphere returned to something resembling normal. At the dinner table, I mechanically moved food to my mouth. It tasted like ash. Across from me, Karen’s face lit up as if she’d just remembered something. She put down her fork excitedly. “Elara, I got a ton of fireworks for the backyard!” “Can we go set them off after dinner?” I shook my head gently. In my condition, I’d collapse before the first firework even left the ground. “Not tonight, Karen. I’m feeling a little drained, and the medicine I took earlier is making me sleepy. I think I’m going to turn in early.” “Ethan, you should go with her.” The conversation shifted seamlessly to Ethan. They started talking about the brand of fireworks, which somehow led to a trip down memory lane. “Oh, Ethan, do you remember that time at grandpa’s birthday party? We snuck out to light fireworks and ended up setting the drapes on fire. We were so scared we hid in a closet for the entire afternoon!” Ethan looked up, his eyes shining with a vibrant light I had never seen directed at me. “How could I forget? We only got caught because you couldn’t stop sneezing.” “Hey! It was your fault for hiding us in the closet that reeked of mothballs.” “My fault? Who was it that grabbed a sparkler and insisted on pretending it was a rocket launch? Don’t play innocent now, Miss Future Architect.” … They went back and forth, weaving a tapestry of memories I had no part in. I sat between them, feeling a deep, chilling ache in my bones, like I was being slowly flayed alive. Thankfully, Karen was too excited to sit still for long. Before dinner was even over, she was dragging Ethan out to the backyard. Claiming exhaustion, I went upstairs to the master bedroom. Standing before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, I watched the yard light up, bright as day. Karen ran around like a little kid, while Ethan stood a few feet behind her, relaxed, his eyes following her every move. A firework screamed into the night sky, illuminating their joyful faces. Karen spun around, laughing, and seemed to spot me in the window. She waved enthusiastically. “Elara, look! Isn’t it beautiful?” I immediately plastered on the brightest smile I could manage, waved back with all my might, then pressed my hands together by my cheek in a gesture for sleep. They nodded, and I drew the curtains closed. The moment I turned away, I staggered into the bathroom and began to vomit violently, the pain causing my body to curl into a ball. I slid down the cold tile wall to the floor. Acting on pure instinct, I crawled toward the nightstand, my trembling hand fumbling for my bottle of painkillers. I didn’t bother counting. I dry-swallowed a dozen of them. Grabbing the edge of the curtain for support, I tried to pull myself up. But in doing so, I accidentally opened a small gap. And I saw it. Ethan and Karen were kissing.

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My novel about a secret crush became a bestseller and sold its film rights. Ethan James, the award-winning actor who retired years ago, suddenly reappeared on social media, announcing he would play the male lead. The internet exploded. Netizens dug up old rumors about Ethan’s high school sweetheart, the “one that got away.” Coincidentally, the rising starlet cast as the female lead also graduated from Ocean High. Fans went wild, shipping them hard, hoping the “second chance romance” plot would become reality. At the press conference, a reporter asked a loaded question: “Mr. James, could you pick a word to describe the female lead? Maybe ‘moonlight’ or ‘jasmine’?” Ethan suddenly looked up at me, his gaze cold. “Liar.” “Excuse me?” The reporter froze. Ethan calmly looked away. “I said, she’s a liar.” 1 Script Reading. “In the book, they were clearly so in love. Why did they break up?” someone whispered. Ethan’s finger traced heavily across the page. He spoke coldly: “I’m also curious about that.” I looked up in shock, then quickly lowered my head. Ethan didn’t press further, his eyes returning to the script. I shifted toward the corner, staring intently at my phone, trying to make myself invisible. Twitter was blowing up. Under the hashtags #EthanJamesReturns and #SecondChanceCast, a blurry graduation photo was being retweeted thousands of times. In the photo, seventeen-year-old Ethan ignored the camera, his gaze fixed on a distant point. And in the blurred corner of the shot was the slender back of a girl. “This is no coincidence! Ethan and our Bella both graduated from Ocean High!” “I remember Bella had short hair in high school! That girl must be her.” “Fiction becoming reality! I’m crying, this is perfect.” Next to me, the assistant director nudged my elbow and winked. “Are you shipping ‘Ethanella’ too?” “No, just scrolling…” “Hey, I just remembered you went to Ocean High too. Tell me, did Ethan really have a crush back then?” I silently locked my screen and looked up. “I don’t know him well.” Just then, the director yelled “Cut!” and Ethan lifted his eyelids. He met my gaze across the crowd. The director hesitated. “Ethan, the emotion isn’t quite right. This is a reunion scene. You need to look at her with a mix of love and hate… Jane, don’t you agree?” I quickly looked away. “Yes.” “Jane, I think this part feels off.” Ethan smirked, but his eyes were cold. “Why don’t you teach me?” Everyone’s eyes landed on me. The director chimed in: “Bella’s flight is delayed. Jane, why don’t you stand in for a bit?” “I don’t think that’s appropriate. I can’t act.” I waved my hands, forcing a smile. Ethan said flatly, “I have an interview tonight. I’m in a hurry.” The director practically shoved me forward. I was forced to stand up. Ethan took a step closer. The script said the male lead grabs the female lead’s wrist. Instead, he grabbed the back of my neck, whispering in my ear: “When you dumped me back then, you didn’t look like this.” “I remember you were smiling.” My breath hitched. The script fell from my hands. Maybe the AC was too strong; I was shivering. “Why did you leave?” He pulled back, completely off-script. “Speak!” Ethan pinned me against the wall, hands on either side of me, knuckles white. His chest heaved as if a fire was burning inside. My heart skipped a beat, eyelashes trembling. “I’m sorry…” Ethan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, swallowing emotions that threatened to explode. “I’ll only ask you once.” “Did you ever love me?” His eyes were red, teeth clenched. Everyone held their breath. The director shouted from outside: “That’s it! Hold that emotion, Ethan!” I opened my mouth, voice dry. “I…” The monitor light turned red. Bella and her assistant burst in. “Sorry I’m late!” “Bubble tea on me today!” The director took off his headphones. “Let’s take a break. That take was perfect!” Everyone cheered and swarmed Bella. I stood frozen, my heart hollow. Ethan smiled suddenly, his thumb brushing a small red mole on my neck. In high school, he used to say he’d find me in the next life by this mark. Now, his breath hit the same spot. “Screenwriter Jane.” “It feels more real this way, doesn’t it?” I snapped back to reality, stepping back clumsily. “You? You look familiar.” Bella paused as she glanced at me. “Have we met?” I looked at her. “A long time ago.” “Oh, sorry, I must have forgotten.” Bella shrugged, unbothered. “Want some tea? It’s hot.” She handed me a cup. I flinched, face paling. “Are you okay?” “Fine. Just stood too long.” “Rest up. If you need meds, ask my assistant. My trailer is stocked.” She turned and pulled a separate insulated bag from her stash, smiling as she walked to Ethan. “Your coffee. Cold brew, no ice, just how you like it.” Intimate. “Thanks.” As Ethan stepped back, I saw the diamond ring on Bella’s finger. It matched the one in the paparazzi photos of Ethan at a jewelry store last week. The assistant director gasped beside me, shaking my shoulder. “That coffee shop is downtown, hours away! She bought it even though she was late because she knows he hates bubble tea. Oh my god, my ship is sailing!” “Jane! Tell me the truth, are they the prototypes for the story? Ethan admitted he’s the male lead at the press conference.” I looked down, whispering. “If I said the prototype for the female lead is me, would you believe it?” “What?” The assistant director gasped. “Jane, I didn’t know you were such a fangirl. No wonder you don’t ship them.” I watched the perfect couple in the spotlight, glad I didn’t say more. The gap was too wide. Even the truth sounded like a joke. “Well, you got to work with him. By the way, what did he mean by ‘liar’ at the press conference? Was it just for hype?” I took a deep breath to hide the tremor in my voice. “He… wasn’t lying.” Ten years ago, I was the one who lied first. 2 Bella needed to reshoot a scene where she falls into water. “Stunt double?” The director frowned. “This is a key bullying scene…” Bella’s agent’s face changed. “Director, Bella’s period is coming. Cold water will kill her.” “But we didn’t prepare a double. Finding one now will delay the schedule.” Bella held her assistant’s hand and turned to the director. “Director, ignore my agent, she just worries too much.” “How about this? I’ll do the close-ups.” Bella looked me up and down. “For the wide shots of falling in, let Screenwriter Jane do it. She’s the only one here with my build.” Her agent chimed in. “Director, Ethan only joined this project for Bella. If she gets sick, who’s responsible?” Good cop, bad cop. The director looked conflicted. “We need Jane’s consent.” Bella beamed at me. “Jane, please? Pretty please?” “I heard you helped Ethan rehearse the other day. Why won’t you help me? Are you trying to isolate me?” “Sorry, I’m not a pro. It wouldn’t look right.” “It’s fine, just wide shots. I’ll teach you.” Bella got up from her chair. She approached with a smile, then suddenly shoved me. I lost my balance and fell straight into the pool. The deep autumn water felt like a thousand needles. As I sank, the memory merged with being pushed into the deep end at seventeen. Panic surged. I struggled, but my limbs felt bound. Water rushed in from all sides, filling my nose, ears, throat. Bella’s laughter grew muffled. The director realized something was wrong and signaled the lifeguard, but Bella stopped him. “Wow, Jane is such a good actor.” “It looks so real.” My vision blurred. The light from the surface shattered like a broken mirror. Just as I was about to suffocate. Bella grabbed my hair and pulled me up. She leaned close, smiling, her breath smelling sweet and venomous. “Don’t think I don’t know what you sluts are thinking.” “Stay away from Ethan.” “Or next time, I really will kill you.” My lungs burned. I coughed violently, unable to speak. “Jane, you okay?” Bella dunked me again, giggling. “Director, don’t cut! Don’t ruin Jane’s performance. Let’s get another take.” I gathered my strength, grabbed her wrists, and yanked her down with me. “Help—” Bella tried to scream but only blew bubbles. “Quick, life preserver!” “Bella can’t swim!” “Help! Bella is drowning!” Chaos on the shore. I hugged Bella tight, refusing to let go. Amidst the noise, I heard a surprised crew member: “Why is Ethan back early…” “Hey, Ethan, you can’t jump!” Bella kicked me hard. “Ethan! I’m here—” Her heel dug into my stomach. Agonizing pain. I sank, consciousness fading. 3 The smell of disinfectant. I opened my eyes to champagne-gold curtains. Ethan’s dressing room. “Awake?” He touched my forehead. “Still feverish. I’ll call the doctor again.” “No need.” I tried to sit up but realized he was holding my right hand—where an old burn scar from a cigarette remained. Bella’s handiwork. “The doctor said you have old scars everywhere. Not just this one.” He spoke suddenly. “What happened back then?” Breath hitched. Memory rewound to that humid afternoon. Hiding in a locker, counting light beams through the slats, listening to Bella and her clique discuss “teaching me a lesson” in the deep end. Ethan’s audition was two days later. So I hid my soaked uniform at the bottom of my bag. “You’re overthinking it.” My voice shook. The air froze. Ethan grabbed my chin, force enough to crush bone. Dark tides surged in his eyes, his calm mask shattering. “Jane, what am I to you?” I looked at the fresh ring mark on his finger and laughed. Tears mixed with the salt on my lips. “What right do you have to ask? Ex-boyfriend? Someone else’s fiancé? Or a pitying celebrity?” His pupils shrank. “What are you saying?” As he let go, the door burst open. “Ethan!” Bella rushed in wrapped in a fluffy blanket, tears clinging to her lashes. “I thought I’d never see you again…” Her diamond ring flashed, blinding me. “Why did Jane pull me in?” She showed bruises on her skin. “Did I do something wrong to upset her…” “Cameras.” I cut her off. “The set has cameras everywhere.” Bella stopped sobbing. She looked at me, then grabbed a fruit knife, holding it to her wrist as she looked at Ethan with teary eyes. “The cameras there were broken! Jane knew that! That’s why she did it!” “Ethan, if you believe her, I’ll die right now to prove my innocence!” “Enough.” Ethan took the knife, voice low. He turned to me. “Starting tomorrow, you’re off the project.” A ringing in my ears. I gripped the sheets. “Why?” “This is my story.” “Because I’m the biggest investor.” He turned his back, voice cold. “You’ll be paid in full.” Bella smirked at me, mouthing: You lose. Heartache. I stumbled out of bed, knocking over a photo frame. Glass shattered. In the photo, seventeen-year-old Ethan stared at a corner. The blurry figure wasn’t Bella. It was me. Cropped out. He really hated me. Taking my project just to kick me out. Revenge. I rubbed my eyes. “I understand.” “Wait.” Bella blocked my path. She whispered in my ear, laughing: “Jane.” “I remember now. You’re the pathetic crybaby from the locker room.” My blood ran cold. After all this time, I still feared her. Funny how she just remembered. Memories are shallow for the abuser, etched in bone for the victim. She stroked her ring like a trophy. “You leaving the set looks just like when you ran away hugging your backpack back then.” She beamed. “No transferring schools this time.” “Bella.” I heard my numb voice. “Do you know how long it takes to die from a cut carotid artery?” She froze. “Three minutes.” I picked up a shard of glass. “Want to try?” Bella stumbled back. Ethan stared at me. “Jane, calm down.” The glass cut my palm. The pain cleared my head. Blood dripped down my wrist. I stepped back. “Relax.” I looked at Ethan, forcing a smile. I had decided to accept reality, so why did it hurt so much? “Just scaring her.” I walked out. At the door, I turned to Bella. “But next time, who knows.” 4 Downstairs, I heard suppressed sobbing in the stairwell. I hesitated, then approached. A small girl was crying while applying ointment to bruises on her arm. I knew her. Bella’s assistant. I softened my voice. “Need help?” She jumped, hiding her arm. I sighed and reached out. “Doing it like that hurts more.” “Let me.” She hesitated, then shyly extended her arm. “Thank you, Ms. Jane.” I took the swab. “I know a good scar cream. I’ll send you the link later.” “Um…” “Did you really… do this to yourself?” “You sure?” “Yes, I was clumsy.” I smiled, didn’t push. “I wasn’t. I was bullied.” “What?” She looked surprised, then pained. “Do you know the fastest way to heal?” I blew gently on her wound. She blushed. “What?” I winked. “Hit back.” Her brow smoothed out, eyes glistening. “Thank you, Ms. Jane.” I patted her head. “By the way, my studio needs help.” “I recall you were a lit major. Want to work for me?” “But Ms. Bella…” “I’ll talk to the director.” Her eyes lit up. “I’d love to!” “See you tomorrow.” “See you, Ms. Jane.”

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Chapter 1 On the very night I was identified as the true heiress, my brother dumped me at an orphanage. My smooth, luxurious life turned upside down overnight. The head bully at the orphanage made my life a living hell. One day, she held my head in a latrine until I almost suffocated; the next, she whipped me until I was bedridden and bleeding. I cried for help, begging the director to save me. He just sneered. “If you weren’t so vicious, would your family have kicked you out? You deserve it.” His silence emboldened the bully. The torture became unbearable. On the eve of New Year’s, she stripped me naked and threw me out into the snow. I was frozen stiff before they finally rushed me to the hospital. In my delirium, I heard the director laughing with someone. “Rich people really know how to play. Kicking out the biological sister just to keep the adopted one happy? And paying us to ‘toughen her up’?” “Have you seen the news? Her parents and brother spoil that adopted girl rotten. They gave her their hearts.” “I wonder if Mr. Sterling will even come this time. We aren’t paying her medical bills.” So, my suffering was just a game my brother played for her—Lily. I clutched the bone cancer diagnosis the doctor had given me and laughed until I cried. Great. Soon, Lily really would be his only sister. … The doctor stood over me, sighing repeatedly. “It’s rare for someone your age to have this condition. But the repeated trauma to your legs without proper treatment…” He sat down and explained the treatment plan earnestly. But my eardrums had been damaged from the beatings. I could barely hear him. I only caught the last sentence. “If we treat it now, we can buy you a few more years. Discuss it with your family.” Family? After six years as an orphan, hearing that word still made me pause. I shook my head, tears in my eyes. “I don’t have a family.” The doctor stopped writing. He looked at the scars covering my body and tried to reason with me. “Little girl, fights happen. But running away isn’t the answer. The world is dangerous. You’ll suffer.” “Your brother will be here soon. Talk it out.” I lowered my head. Home used to be my sanctuary. But the day my brother, Lucas, threw me out for Lily, claiming I was the fake, I lost my home. He wouldn’t care. I stared blankly at the ceiling. Just as I tried to turn over, the door burst open. “Sarah? Are you done? hurting yourself just because I wouldn’t pick up the phone?” Lucas’s familiar voice stunned me. So, every time I called him, begging him to save me from the hell of the orphanage, he knew it was me. He just didn’t want to answer. I laughed in despair. I looked up, my eyes red, and met his gaze. “You hate me that much? Your own sister?” Lucas’s pupils trembled. He clenched his fists, his eyes reddening. We both knew the truth. Finally, he relaxed his hands and sighed. “I did it so Lily could have a happy childhood. You already had a good life. Her mother died because of our family.” “Taking care of her is my promise to her mom. You were too domineering. You bullied her. I had no choice.” I nodded, smiling. But inside, my heart shattered into a million pieces. A happy childhood for her? So I deserved to be dumped in an orphanage? Deserved to be tortured? Deserved bone cancer? I choked back tears. “What about Mom and Dad?” He frowned, his expression unreadable. “We made the decision together. But we agreed to bring you back once Lily is stable.” I thought I could handle it. But hearing him say it out loud… The bloody truth hit me like a hammer. The whole family knew. For the sake of the nanny’s daughter, they happily let me suffer. Tears streamed down my face. I wished I really was the fake heiress. I wished I had frozen to death that night. At least then, it wouldn’t hurt this much. Chapter 2 Seeing my tears, Lucas softened. He finally compromised. “If you promise to behave, stop being bossy, and stop bullying Lily, I can bring you home tomorrow.” He paused. “Not tonight. Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and it’s her birthday. We promised to spend it with her alone.” I opened my dry mouth, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Finally, I smirked. “I have bone cancer. I need to stay in the hospital. Just pay the bill. I won’t go home. I won’t bully your precious Lily.” The moment I finished, Lucas exploded. “Sarah! Stop the sarcasm!” “You think being the ‘real’ daughter gives you the right to lie about cancer just to get your way?” I looked at him in shock and pointed at the doctor. “I’m not lying! Ask him!” The doctor stepped forward to explain. But Lucas kicked the bed frame, his patience gone. “Enough! You haven’t changed at all. Conspiring with doctors to trick me?” “I shouldn’t have come here out of pity!” The door slammed shut. The room fell silent. My heart sank. I stared at the door. The doctor was dumbfounded. “That… is Mr. Sterling? The famous doting brother? Is he really your brother?” I nodded, then shook my head foolishly. He was a doting brother. But that sister wasn’t me anymore. It was Lily. She was our nanny’s daughter. We grew up together. I shared everything with her. I treated her like a sister. But Lily wanted more. She started framing me. She told my parents I bullied her at school, calling her a hillbilly. She said I stripped her naked in public, screaming that poor people didn’t deserve clothes. My parents couldn’t believe their sweet daughter could be so cruel. Their eyes filled with disappointment. Lucas was furious. He started slapping me. The whole family began to hate me. After the nanny died saving my parents in a car crash, Lucas “found” a recording. He sent nine-year-old me to the orphanage that very night. “You and Lily were switched at birth. She is the real daughter! You stole her life!” My world collapsed. But I had to accept it. Even when I was tortured at the orphanage, I didn’t hate them. I thought they were just avenging their real daughter. But now I knew the truth. It was all a lie. A sick game. I cried as I told the doctor everything. Seeing his pained expression, I forced a smile. Just as I was about to say “It’s okay,” a group of security guards burst in. They grabbed me and dragged me out. “Mr. Sterling says you’re faking illness to waste resources. Any doctor who helps you loses their license!” Chapter 3 The doctor tried to stop them, pleading for me. But Lucas Sterling had power. The guards were paid. No one dared to defy him. I was thrown onto the street. The impact sent shooting pains through my bones. I lay on the ground, twitching. The kind doctor ran out and draped his only coat over my thin frame. “Girl, I have a family to feed. I can’t lose this job. I can’t help you, but here…” He shoved a bottle of painkillers into my hand before the guards chased him away. I swallowed a handful of pills. It took a long time for the pain to dull. I stood up shakily, staring blankly at the busy street. It was almost evening. Everyone was rushing home for New Year’s Eve. Their faces glowed with happiness. Only I wandered aimlessly, having nowhere to go. I sniffled, wrapping the coat tighter, but the wind cut through me. I found a sheltered corner and curled up to stay warm. But as I crouched down, I looked across the street. In a high-end restaurant, I saw the familiar family of four. A three-tier cake sat on the table. Lily, wearing a tiara, closed her eyes to make a wish. Dad put a pink diamond necklace around her neck. Mom snapped photos. Lucas held a party popper, ready to fire. When she blew out the candles, they cheered. Lily was surrounded by love, a true princess. Maybe it was my imagination, but she seemed to glance out the window, smirking in my direction. I didn’t think much of it. I hadn’t eaten in two days. My stomach hurt. I closed my eyes, trying to sleep the pain away. Just as I drifted off, icy water splashed over my head. I woke up shivering violently. Lily stood over me, sneering. “It really is you. I had those people torture you so much, how are you not dead yet?” “Tough life, huh?” My heart stopped. The bullying at the orphanage… Lily ordered it? She crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “Doesn’t matter. I’m the Sterling heiress now. You’re just a useless dog!” She was right. So what if I knew? No one would care. No one would believe me. The pain in my bones was excruciating. I didn’t have the energy to fight. It didn’t matter. I was dying anyway. If I ignored her, maybe this New Year’s Eve would be bearable. But Lily wasn’t satisfied with my silence. She squatted down, frowning. “Trying to play the victim so Mom and Dad see you and take you back?” She laughed, her dimples deepening as her words grew more venomous. “Let’s see who they care about more!” Before I could react, she pulled out a knife and stabbed me in the thigh! Chapter 4 I screamed, twisting in agony. The pain nearly knocked me out. Instinctively, I reached out to push her away. But before I even touched her, she threw herself down the stairs. “Ah! Mom! Dad! Lucas! It hurts!” Her delicate cry drowned out my screams. Through the blur, I saw the three people in the restaurant look up instantly. They rushed out, crossing the street like madmen. Lucas arrived first, scooping Lily up, asking frantically what happened. Mom and Dad followed, hovering over her, calling her “baby.” They checked her for injuries and called an ambulance. Lily cried in Lucas’s arms, pointing a trembling finger at me. “I… I thought the person outside looked like Sarah, so I came to check. I wanted her to celebrate my birthday, but…” The three of them followed her gaze and finally looked at me, lying in the dark like a dead fish. They froze. Their eyes were filled with unreadable emotions. But when Lucas looked from Lily to me, his gaze turned to hatred. I stared blankly at the family who once cherished me. Now, they looked at me like an enemy. The pain and years of injustice surged. I waved my hand, desperate to explain. “I didn’t touch her! She hurt me first! Please believe…” Before I could finish, Lucas slapped me so hard my head snapped to the side. “Sarah! You stalked me here to ruin Lily’s birthday? And you try to frame her?” Dad’s face was black with disappointment. “Sarah! Must you drive Lily to death? All these years and you only learned how to lie!” I touched my burning cheek with a shaking hand. It hurt. But I laughed. A manic, broken laugh. Always like this! They were my real family! But they couldn’t see my emaciated body. They couldn’t see the blood soaking my pants. They only saw Lily! I should have known better than to hope. I looked down and spoke to Lucas, my voice hollow. “If I don’t make it through the night, will you come collect my body?” Lucas scoffed, his eyes full of disdain. “Ideally. Then we wouldn’t have to worry about you bullying Lily ever again.” His indifference hollowed me out. Death didn’t seem scary anymore. “Promise me,” I whispered. So I wouldn’t scare anyone else. Lucas didn’t look at me again. The ambulance arrived, and he rushed to help Lily onto the stretcher. Before getting in, Mom looked at me with worry. “Lucas, Sarah doesn’t look right. Were we too harsh?” Lucas snorted. “She’s faking. Too harsh? This is letting her off easy.” The ambulance drove away, leaving me alone in the street like a rat. My head grew heavy. I watched the New Year’s fireworks bloom in the sky and slowly fell asleep… The New Year began, but Lucas felt increasingly uneasy. Thinking of me left a gaping hole in his chest. He suggested bringing me home early. Just as the family agreed, a news report flashed on the TV. [Breaking News: Body of young woman found frozen on Changsheng Street. Identified as Sarah Sterling, ward of the state.]

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He was a special forces captain, my husband. A mission left him in a vegetative state, and a few days later, he was declared brain-dead. In my first life, I never gave up on him. I kept him alive on machines, only for him to push me down a flight of stairs, killing me instantly. In my second life, I saw the truth. I requested a transfer, but on my way out of town, he crashed his car into mine. As I lay dying, I asked him why. His face was a mask of disgust. “Your father is a general. He’s the reason Celeste and I were torn apart. That is your crime.” “Only when you’re dead can Celeste be with me. And I’ll still be the general’s son-in-law.” I finally understood. He never wanted me to live. This time, when I received the notice of Alex’s brain death, I looked over at the attending physician, Dr. Celeste Schnapp, standing not far away. Without a moment’s hesitation, I made my decision. “In that case, let’s get a death certificate issued immediately.” “Given Alex’s situation, applying for a Medal of Valor shouldn’t be a problem. We should invite the top brass to the funeral. It needs to be a grand affair.” If he wanted to play dead, I would make sure he was truly dead. 1 The moment the words left my mouth, Celeste’s expression changed. She rushed forward, positioning herself between me and the hospital bed. “Ma’am, please, you need to calm down.” “The patient may be brain-dead, but we can still maintain his vitals with life support.” “As doctors, we will never give up as long as there is a sliver of hope.” I looked at her sanctimonious act and laughed coldly to myself. What a convincing performance. In my first life, I fell for her nonsense. I chose to keep my husband, Alex, on life support. And what happened? Alex wasn’t dying at all. He and his first love, Celeste, had worked together. He’d taken a drug to simulate death, orchestrating an elaborate escape. The first thing he did after “waking up” was shove me down the stairs. My neck snapped on impact. I died instantly. And the murderer? A man in a vegetative state? Who would believe it? Not only did he get away with it, but he also used his “grief” to win the sympathy of my father, a high-ranking general, and climbed the ranks with ease. The memory of my father, a white-haired man mourning his only child, was a knife to my heart. Hatred boiled within me. This time, I wouldn’t give them a single chance. My voice was firm. “That won’t be necessary. My husband, Captain Alex Hayes, died in the line of duty. The evidence is conclusive.” “I need you to issue a death certificate so I can apply for his posthumous honors.” Celeste stood frozen, forcing a look of pity and disapproval onto her face. “I understand your grief, but isn’t it too rash to just give up on treatment?” “He’s still young. A miracle could happen.” “You’re his wife. Are you telling me you won’t even give him that last bit of hope?” She intentionally emphasized the word “wife,” as if to accuse me of being cold-hearted. A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “It seems this hospital needs to brush up on its basic medical knowledge.” My words made her flinch. Before she could recover, I continued, “Brain death is the irreversible cessation of all brain function, including the brainstem. It is, by legal definition, death.” “There are no medical miracles for this condition.” “As a doctor, for you to give a family false hope when a patient is clinically deceased… what is your motive?” I didn’t spare another glance for Celeste’s pale face. My voice was unwavering. “Please shut down all the equipment immediately.” “My husband was a soldier who died with honor. He deserves to leave with dignity, not be kept as a specimen in a hospital bed.” Faced with my unyielding stance and irrefutable medical facts, the hospital administration finally agreed. Celeste stood rooted to the spot, her eyes filled with panic as she watched the nurses begin to power down the machines. 2 I was quietly folding Alex’s dress uniform when the hospital room door opened softly. The General, followed by the Colonel, the Major, and several other high-ranking officers, entered with somber expressions. The General’s voice was heavy with sorrow. “Mrs. Hayes, our deepest condolences. You must take care of yourself.” “Alex was a fine soldier. The military will handle his arrangements with the utmost respect and ensure you are taken care of.” I looked up, my face tearless, my expression resolute. “Sir, as Alex’s wife, I would like to request that he be awarded the Medal of Valor. And I ask the military to organize a funeral befitting a hero.” The room fell silent. The officers exchanged surprised glances. They hadn’t expected me to be so composed, to be thinking of my husband’s honors while suppressing my own pain. Celeste immediately stepped out from the corner, her voice urgent. “Ma’am, I know you’re grieving, but determining military honors is a matter for the review board!” I knew what she was worried about. Once the “hero” status was officially declared, Alex’s death would be a matter of national record. Her and Alex’s entire plan would fall apart. I ignored her completely, my gaze meeting the officers’ with clear-eyed determination as I methodically listed Alex’s achievements that qualified him for the highest honor. The officers’ expressions shifted from surprise to gravity, and then to deep respect. “Mrs. Hayes, you are right! We were not thinking clearly!” the Colonel said, his voice firm. “This medal must be applied for!” The General nodded emphatically, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at me. “To be this composed, to fight for your husband’s rightful honor at a time like this… Alex was a lucky man to have you.” The other officers murmured in agreement, their gazes filled with reverence. Celeste was left standing on the sidelines, utterly defeated, unable to utter another word of protest. She could only watch as the officers made the decision on the spot, setting in motion the application for the Medal of Valor and the plans for the funeral. With that settled, I turned to the General with one final request. “Sir, according to regulations, the family can take possession of a fallen soldier’s body. Now that he has been declared brain-dead, please allow me to take Alex home today.” The General agreed immediately and assigned soldiers to assist me. I took one last look at the handsome face on the hospital bed, my own expression unreadable. You want to fake your death? Then I’ll give you a state funeral. I’ll nail you and your conspiracy to a hero’s tombstone. The show was just beginning. As I expected, Alex’s parents, tipped off by Celeste, were waiting at home, ready to cause a scene. My mother-in-law was wailing, slapping her thighs. “My son! My poor, ill-fated son! Open your eyes and look!” “This heartless woman, your wife, she doesn’t want you to live! She’s trying to kill you!” My father-in-law pointed a trembling finger at me. “What have we done to deserve a cold-blooded monster like you in our family?” “The doctors said they could maintain him, and you insisted on pulling the plug!” “This is murder! You’re the one who killed my son!” In my past life, such baseless accusations would have broken my heart. But now, I felt nothing but a calm emptiness. I pulled out the official death certificate. “Mom, Dad, this is from the hospital. It’s in black and white, perfectly clear.” “You call me cold-blooded, heartless!” “Well, let me ask you this: is keeping Alex tethered to machines like an object, lying there as a shell of a man, is that what you call love?!” I pointed to the uniformed portrait of Alex on the wall. “Your son was a soldier, a hero who stood tall! He shouldn’t be lying in a hospital like a zombie, causing you pain and becoming a burden to the military.” “What you’re doing now is tainting his sacrifice. It’s an insult to his honor as a soldier!” My words struck a chord, hitting them with the full force of morality and patriotism. They were instantly silenced. My mother-in-law’s lips trembled, but all she could manage to choke out was, “Fine! Even if you’re right! We can’t just cremate him!” “I’m taking my son home! We’ll preserve him in a refrigerated casket!” “What if there’s a miracle? Maybe medical science will advance and they’ll be able to save him one day!” My father-in-law immediately chimed in. “That’s right! We’ll preserve him! We can’t just give up on our son!” I almost laughed out loud. Preserve the body? It was just another stalling tactic concocted by Celeste and Alex. In my second life, I had requested a transfer to escape Alex’s plot. But he’d still managed to hunt me down and run me off the road. As I lay dying, Alex had gloated, revealing every detail of his plan. His parents weren’t just bystanders; they were accessories. Their hysterics now were just a performance to buy Alex more time to “wake up.” Once he did, a third, carefully planned “accident” would be waiting for me. There was no more time to waste. I took a deep breath, my voice calm. “Dad, Mom, there’s no need to argue.” “Alex must be cremated immediately.” The room fell silent. His parents’ expressions soured, and they looked ready to start screaming again. I slowly pulled a handwritten letter from my bag. It was the suicide note Alex had penned during a moment of “brief consciousness” at the hospital, a calculated move to cement his image as a devoted husband. I put on a pained expression and began to read aloud. “…If my life becomes a burden, I would rather it end with dignity than become a weight upon those I love.” “…Please let me go quietly, with honor.” I folded the letter, my eyes sweeping over his parents’ instantly ashen faces. “This was Alex’s final wish.” “To cremate him immediately, to let him depart with dignity, that is true love.” “Your bickering now… are you trying to satisfy your own selfishness, or do you simply not care about what Alex wanted?” This counter-attack left them speechless. What could they say? Could they deny their own son’s last will and testament? I watched the panic in their eyes, a cold smile forming in my heart. Alex, every word you wrote to build your facade has now become a nail in your own coffin. There’s no escaping the fire this time. 3 Powerless to stop me, my in-laws agreed to the funeral. My mother-in-law, her eyes red, insisted on holding a traditional three-day wake, a clear attempt to stall for more time. I knew her game, but I agreed. Late that night, the memorial hall was quiet, the candlelight flickering. My in-laws were feigning a vigil with me. My mother-in-law took my hand, dabbing at fake tears. “My dear, you’re still so young. After Alex’s affairs are settled… you should find a good man and remarry. Your father-in-law and I will support you.” I looked at her deceitful, teary eyes and felt a wave of nausea. In my first life, after I was pushed down the stairs, they were the first to cry to the investigators that I had been so overcome with grief, I’d lost my footing and fallen by accident. And now she was encouraging me to remarry? This family was rotten to the core. “I’m not feeling well. I’m going to go rest for a bit.” I pulled my hand away, unwilling to play along with this viper any longer. I turned and left the hall, but I didn’t go far. I hid just outside the doorway. Sure enough, as soon as I was gone, my mother-in-law crept over to the casket. She whispered, “Alex, my boy, you have to wake up soon! Once you’re awake, we’ll find a way to get rid of that woman. Her inheritance, her father’s connections… it will all be ours!” “That’s right! Wake up, son, we can’t delay any longer!” my father-in-law added anxiously. In the darkness, my nails dug deep into my palms. The pain kept me sharp. Any last shred of hesitation I felt about sending my husband to the crematorium vanished. You want me dead? You want my family’s fortune? Fine. I’ll send your precious son on his way right now. Exhausted from the past few days, my in-laws finally went to bed, leaving me alone in the hall. I walked to the casket and stared at Alex’s “peaceful” face, my eyes like ice. I quickly took out the vial of the death-simulating drug I had swapped from Celeste’s office. Under the pretense of adjusting his shroud, I administered a doubled dose, injecting it precisely into the side of his neck. It would delay his revival. As dawn broke, the funeral began on schedule. Military leaders and Alex’s comrades arrived. Dressed in black, my face was a mask of grief, but my composure earned everyone’s admiration. “Stay strong, Mrs. Hayes. You’re a remarkable woman,” the General said, his own eyes red as he offered his condolences. I nodded slightly, my gaze sweeping over the ashen faces of my in-laws and Celeste at the back of the crowd. “The procession may begin.” I personally draped the flag over the casket, watching as it was lifted steadily. The hearse started, and with a solemn military salute, it began its slow journey to the crematorium. 4 Sitting in the car, I couldn’t help but glance at my watch. Time was running out. I had to see Alex pushed into that furnace with my own eyes before the drug wore off. Otherwise, the gruesome deaths of my past two lives would be my fate once more. Just as the convoy was picking up speed, my in-laws darted out from the side of the road. They threw their arms out, blocking the hearse. “Stop! Stop the car!” My mother-in-law threw herself onto the hood, pounding on the windshield, tears and snot streaming down her face. “You can’t cremate him! You can’t burn my son! You venomous woman! You won’t even let us see him off on his final journey? You have no conscience!” My father-in-law, also weeping, clung to the car door. “Alex! My poor boy!” Funeral staff rushed to intervene, and the scene descended into chaos. Suddenly, I remembered the moment of my death in the second life. I was mortally wounded, slumped over the steering wheel after Alex had rammed my car. My in-laws had gotten out of his car and looked at me with nothing but the triumphant glee of a plan gone right. My mother-in-law had even said to Alex, “Hurry up. Dump this jinx’s body in the mountains for the wolves. Clean and untraceable.” The memory snapped me back to the present. I took a deep breath, pushed open the car door, and walked out, my face a mask of sorrow. “Dad, Mom, we can’t bring him back. We’re doing this grand procession out of respect for Alex, to send him off with honor.” “Behaving like this will only disturb his peace.” I took a step forward, as if to help my mother-in-law up. “Mom, we can’t delay any longer. For Alex’s dignity, and for your own health, we have to keep moving.” “Dignity?! My son is gone, what good is dignity now!” my mother-in-law shrieked, batting my hand away. Her bloodshot eyes stared daggers at me. Realizing she couldn’t stall any longer, she finally screamed, “You can’t burn him! My son isn’t dead!” “This is murder! You’re murdering your own husband!”

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I time-traveled. The moment I opened my eyes, a man who looked like he’d been beaten with the ugly stick was sneering down at me. “Sarah, go kiss the ugliest guy in the room, and I’ll unblock you on WhatsApp.” Me: ??? Aren’t you the ugliest guy in the room? Then I followed his finger. In the corner sat a man in a crisp white shirt, looking aloof and stunningly handsome. Later, I found out this is a world where beauty standards are reversed. 1 “Sarah, hurry up! Go kiss him!” When I arrived in this body, the jeering around me was reaching a fever pitch. Kiss who? I blinked, confused. The mocking voices continued. “Chad really knows how to play. Making Sarah kiss the ugliest guy.” “Hahaha, the ugliest guy is obviously…” “This is brilliant. It humiliates him and pranks Sarah at the same time.” Someone winked and gestured in a direction. I instinctively followed their gaze. Holy crap! My eyes! My poor eyes! A man so ugly he could be a meme was sitting in the center, surrounded by people. Seeing me look, he hugged the girl next to him tighter and raised an eyebrow. “Sarah, we had a deal. I said the universally recognized ugliest guy. No cheating. Just one kiss, and I’ll add you back.” insert confused math lady meme Bro, look in a mirror. Is there anyone uglier than you here? Also, did you mix up your words? You’ll add me back? Talk about delusional confidence. The Ugly Man—Chad—saw me hesitate and thought I couldn’t find the target. He pointed again. I followed his finger. Guess what? My eyes, previously assaulted by ugliness, were instantly healed! In the opposite booth sat another group. But in their center sat a man with cold, refined features—a devastatingly handsome guy. Seeing him was like seeing the sun break through storm clouds in this dim bar. Forget arguing with Chad. I pressed my lips together, my voice trembling slightly. “You want me to… kiss him?” “I want you to kiss the ugliest guy here.” Chad grinned maliciously, staring straight at the handsome guy. I nodded, feeling a bit sorry for him. Not only was he ugly and mean, but he also needed an optometrist. 2 Listening to the raucous cheers, I didn’t hesitate. This wasn’t a humiliation; this was a reward. Most importantly, I fell in love with the handsome guy at first sight. The people around the handsome guy clearly heard the commotion and glared at me, telling me to get lost. I ignored them and sat directly next to him. I saw a flicker of humiliation in his eyes. I didn’t get it. I’m not bad looking. Even if he didn’t want a kiss, “humiliation” seemed a bit strong. Without thinking too much, I opened my mouth to confess. But the handsome guy glanced at Chad’s group and spoke with a hint of self-mockery. “I, Liam, may be ugly, but I only kiss my girlfriend.” Me: Excuse me? Handsome, do you hear yourself? You’re ugly? YOU’RE UGLY?! You could be a K-pop idol right now. But that wasn’t the point. My heart raced. I grabbed his hand. “Do you have a girlfriend?” Liam paused. “No…” I didn’t let him finish. “Well, you do now.” Liam: … “You’re not speaking, so I’ll take that as a yes.” “Since I’m your girlfriend, can I kiss you now?” Liam looked at me, let out a self-deprecating laugh, and leaned back against the sofa. “You’re really going all out for Chad.” That languid posture made me lose my mind. Knowing he misunderstood, I straightened up and leaned over him. Eye to eye, I whispered a compliment about his eyes, then kissed him. Liam looked shocked. His lips were soft, and I lingered. The crowd gasped. The next second, Chad’s angry voice rang out. “Sarah! What are you doing?!” I wanted to continue my exchange with Liam. But Chad was too loud. I turned around impatiently. “Are you blind? I’m kissing my boyfriend.” Liam instinctively put a hand on my waist. The scene descended into chaos. Chad tried to grab me, Liam protected me, and the two groups started fighting. I later learned they were arch-enemies. Chad just wanted to use me to humiliate Liam. 3 On the way back to the dorms in Liam’s car, I looked at the Rolls-Royce’s starlight headliner, then at him. Yep, he was definitely the better view. “Why are you staring at me?” “Because you’re good-looking.” As soon as the words left my mouth, Liam’s expression turned strange. “Sarah, for the sake of us being classmates, I helped you out today. Don’t push your luck.” What? Was he regretting it? I panicked. “I’m not joking! I really want you to be my boyfriend. Please, date me! I’m willing to ride in luxury cars and live in mansions if it means being with you!” Liam laughed in exasperation. After a moment, he asked, “You really think I’m good-looking?” I nodded furiously. Anyone with eyes could see that! If I wasn’t afraid of scaring him off, I wouldn’t even be going back to the dorms tonight. He smiled almost imperceptibly. “Since you’re my girlfriend, you can’t be involved with Chad anymore.” I agreed instantly. I can’t believe such good luck fell into my lap. When we arrived at my dorm, I lingered in the car. “Is there something else?” Liam asked. I twiddled my fingers, glanced shyly at the driver, and whispered, “Shouldn’t couples do something before parting?” He raised an eyebrow. The driver tactfully exited the vehicle. A few minutes later, I walked into the dorm building with swollen lips. In the car, Liam watched my retreating figure. “Sarah… you better not be lying to me.” 4 As soon as I entered the room, a sarcastic voice greeted me. “Well, look who’s back. The campus simp. Why are you back so early? Don’t need to run errands for Chad?” That was Zoe, my roommate who never liked me. I ignored her, washed up, and climbed into bed. I had swapped bodies with the original Sarah. We briefly exchanged memories, but I barely knew these roommates. No point explaining. I happily picked up my phone to text Liam. But when I opened WhatsApp, I saw a friend request. From Chad. His message was condescending, saying that since I obeyed him, he would graciously add me back. I rolled my eyes. The original Sarah only said she liked a guy named Chad. She didn’t mention he was ugly and trash. I accepted the request, watched the “typing…” indicator appear, and immediately blocked him. The next morning, my roommates were surprised to see me still there. “Aren’t you bringing Chad breakfast today?” I looked up from my chat with Liam. “Don’t mention Chad anymore. I have a boyfriend.” “What? Really? Who?” Before I could answer, Zoe scoffed. “Yeah right. Boyfriend. Everyone knows you’re Chad’s simp. You’re just playing hard to get to get his attention.” Me: … Their tone when talking about Chad was weird. Like he was some god. Before I could ask, someone knocked on the door. “Sarah, someone’s downstairs for you.” Must be Liam. He should have just texted. I skipped downstairs. I saw a tall figure in a white shirt waiting with his back to me. I pounced and hugged him from behind. “Haven’t seen you all night, I missed you!” The next second, Chad’s smug voice sounded above my head. “Sarah, I knew you were playing hard to get.” I froze and straightened up immediately. Crap, wrong person! Worse, Liam had arrived unnoticed and was standing nearby, witnessing the whole thing.

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My father dotes on his illegitimate son. My mother favors her adopted daughter. They compete with each other, and no one wants me. On the eve of my college entrance exams, they suddenly agreed to meet me together. I thought they finally remembered their parental duties and wanted to wish me luck. But when I arrived, each of them pulled out a document: a “Voluntary Renunciation of Inheritance” agreement. They wanted me to sign. It turns out they remembered I was about to turn eighteen. But their only fear was that I would fight their precious children for the family fortune. I sat on the sofa, looking at my parents’ cold expressions. Finally, I just whispered: “Then, can you give me some money?” 1 I needed money. A lot of it. Both my parents had stopped supporting me long ago, each assuming the other was paying my living expenses. Since my junior year of high school, my savings had run dry. I had gone hungry many times, filling my stomach with plain water. When hunger made my vision blur, the desire for money outweighed love. I wanted enough money to finish college, to have a place to live, and to eat. My parents were surprised by this request. Especially my mother. She raised an eyebrow, seemingly disgusted by my mercenary attitude. Sitting next to her was her beloved adopted daughter, Bella. My mother had pampered her for years, grooming her into the perfect debutante. As I spoke, Bella glanced at me. Her posture was elegant and reserved. Without saying a word, her gaze conveyed her disdain and contempt. Thankfully, my mother didn’t dwell on me. Her focus was still on my father. She sneered at him: “So, wasn’t Chloe your ‘only little princess’? And now you let her live in poverty? Fifty thousand dollars? You wouldn’t even tip that little.” She clicked her tongue and sighed. “Chloe, a real heiress, yet her vision is narrower than my Bella’s. This is all due to your responsible parenting.” My mother patted Bella’s hand, proudly displaying her masterpiece to my father. She didn’t care if her biological daughter felt awkward hearing this. My father’s face darkened. Next to him sat Liam, my illegitimate half-brother. For the past two years, Bella had crushed Liam in every aspect—manners, grades, everything. Every time my mother flaunted Bella’s excellence, it was a slap in the face to my father and Liam. My father understood the mockery. Furious, he sneered back: “You’re the mother who abandoned the child from her own womb. Why should I care if you don’t?” “Chloe is rotten from the root; I can’t save her.” My mother smirked, her glare piercing my father. “With a cheating father, her bloodline is tainted. She’s destined to be flawed.” “Samantha, you think you’re any better?” “Look closely, William. I raised Bella to be exceptional, while you raised Liam into a degenerate. The problem isn’t me. It’s your genes. You were always inferior to Robert.” Eventually, they couldn’t contain their anger. Right in front of me, they started arguing again. I trembled, wanting to bury my head like I used to. But I couldn’t. I knew once they vented, they would leave. They would leave me in the mess they created, uncaring. I didn’t want to go hungry anymore. So I screamed, stopping the war. “Save your arguments for after you give me the money!” I slowly extended my hand, palm sweating. “I need to go to college. Give me fifty thousand each.” My whole body shook as I spoke. I didn’t know if it was nerves or excitement. This was the first time I stood up to them. I knew if I didn’t fight now, I would never have another chance. 2 My father had always favored his illegitimate son, the product of an affair with his first love. Liam was only six months younger than me. Before his existence was revealed, we were the perfect family in everyone’s eyes. Successful father, gentle mother, adorable daughter. Everything changed when I was fifteen. Father brought Liam home. That was when my mother learned that for years, my father had essentially built a second family. He often used business trips as an excuse to visit them in a neighboring city, living a sweet life with his mistress and son. But as Liam grew older, his mother wasn’t satisfied with him being just a secret. She wanted to move to our city to be closer to my father, but he refused. Undeterred, she secretly followed him with Liam. But they got into a car accident on the way. That woman used her life to knock open the door of my home for Liam. At first, when my father brought him back, he didn’t dare look my mother in the eye. Deep down, he didn’t think his mistake was that grave; he thought showing weakness would earn forgiveness. But my usually gentle and understanding mother went crazy on the spot. She cursed my father, cursed Liam, and cursed the woman who nearly broke them up years ago. Initially, my father humbly coaxed her, saying, “Liam’s mother is dead; she can’t hurt you anymore.” But my mother wouldn’t let it go, and eventually, he got angry too. He shoved her to the ground, pointing at her nose. “Why are you being so unreasonable!” That was the first time I saw my parents fight. It lasted for a year. No consensus was reached. Over that year, the more my mother raged, the more guilt my father felt toward his mistress and Liam. In the end, his last shred of guilt for us was worn away. Standing before my hysterical mother, he calmly said: “Let’s divorce.” 3 The divorce never happened. Over the years, our families’ business interests had become deeply intertwined. Divorce would mean mutual destruction. But my mother refused to swallow her pride. So soon, she brought home a child too. The daughter of her childhood sweetheart. That man was also my mother’s first love. In her youth, she thought she would marry him. Then my father appeared, viewing Robert as his biggest threat. Even after my parents got together, my father was often jealous of him. Later, Robert married too, but divorced shortly after. His ex-wife left him with a child. Then, Robert had to go abroad for a few years, but his daughter, Bella, needed to stay for school. My mother stepped in, adopted Bella as her goddaughter, and brought her home. I had seen photos. Bella looked just like Robert—tall, fair, striking features. Seeing a face so similar to Robert’s, my father couldn’t look happy. My mother knew this upset him, and the more upset he was, the happier she became. Another year of grinding conflict. Living under the same roof, they competed to spoil their respective “chosen” children. They tried their hardest to prove their child was superior. But Liam was a disappointment. Knowing his biological father was a wealthy CEO, he stopped being considerate. He demanded the best of everything. He bullied others at home and acted like a prince at school. He was unpopular and had terrible grades, constantly embarrassing his father. My mother reveled in this. She said cheating men carried inferior genes. She cursed Liam, calling him the son of a cheater and a homewrecker, destined to be trash. My father fought back. They knew each other best and knew exactly where to hurt. He mocked her, saying Bella’s biological mother was still alive, yet she rushed to play mom. If Robert reconciled with his ex, my mother would be left with nothing. Provoked, they started another round of fighting. But the problem actually had a solution. My grades were better than Liam’s and even Bella’s. I was kind, friendly, and loved by everyone at school. I loved my mother too. Once, I wanted to be the one to protect her until the end. But faced with me, who carried half of each of their bloodlines, they tacitly chose to ignore me. Once, I was the crystallization of their love, the princess they both cherished. Now, they refused to be good to me because it felt like bowing to the other. Ignoring me was the best solution. So for six months, though I lived in my own home, I couldn’t eat or sleep well. Those two intruders claimed everything I had. My bedroom was turned into Bella’s piano room. Liam complained that I had lived better than him before, so the gifts my father once gave me were transferred to him one by one. Later, when I was starving and wanted to sell some jewelry for food, I had nothing left. I had nothing. No love, no money. Now, for their precious darlings, they wanted me to sign away my inheritance. Before coming here, I secretly harbored hope. I thought they finally noticed me, noticed my excellent grades, and my heart that naturally loved them. With exams approaching, maybe they called me to give me a surprise, to cheer me on. I hid my secret joy, cleaned myself up, and walked to them. Only to be met with two cold agreements. “Sign it.” Their voices were icy commands. I froze, feeling cold all over. In that moment, I remembered a lot. I remembered how they used to love me. I remembered crying alone in the corner during countless unknown nights. Tears soaking my homework, biting my pen to stifle my sobs, swallowing my grievances before continuing my studies. In this instant, I finally accepted it. The parents who used to call me “baby” and wanted to give me the world were gone. I could only love myself. I had to move forward alone, go to college, go far away. They didn’t want me. They wanted Liam and Bella. Then, I didn’t want them either. 4 Faced with my firm demand for money, my mother’s expression cracked first. She scrutinized me, trying to read me. I looked back openly. No coquetry from the past, no begging, no acting out for attention. I just simply wanted money. Besides money, I wanted nothing from them. “Are you resenting us?” As if just realizing my existence, my mother pursed her lips, subconsciously turning away to avoid my gaze. Rarely, she acknowledged I had emotions and deigned to explain. “This is indeed a bit harsh on you,” she said. “Blame your father. He brought in this bastard and wants to leave everything to him, giving you nothing. I have no choice. You are his daughter. If I leave my assets to you, he’ll trick you out of them. Chloe, you have to understand Mom.” Hearing this, my father slammed the table and roared: “Don’t slander me in front of my daughter! At least I’m leaving my assets to my own blood. Liam is Chloe’s biological brother! And you, Samantha, you’re using our family’s money to subsidize an outsider’s daughter! You’ve lost your mind!” “What? You can take care of your first love’s son, but I can’t take care of my first love’s daughter?” My mother sneered back. “You spend a fortune on that tramp’s son, so I’ll spend just as much on Robert’s daughter. If you hadn’t interfered back then, Bella would have been my daughter…” She stopped abruptly, glancing at me guiltily. Seeing my expressionless face, she secretly sighed in relief. “I don’t want to hear your meaningless arguments. Fight later.” I spoke numbly. “Give me the money first. Then you can argue about bastards and wild seeds all you want.” “Money, money, money! All you care about is money! How did I raise such a shameless thing?” Triggered by my disdain, my father turned his fire on me, pointing a trembling finger at my nose. I didn’t get angry, just kept my hand extended. “Give me the money, then pretend you never had me.” Laughter came from behind. It was my mother, laughing hysterically, clapping her hands. “William, you’re not human! Even your own daughter disowns you! This is your karma!” She laughed exaggeratedly, tears in her eyes. Bella quickly went to support her, wiping her eyes with a tissue, softly calling: “Godmother?” Then, she turned to glare at my father. “Don’t bully her.” This seemed to wake my mother up. She calmed down, looking at Bella with infinite tenderness. My gaze fell on their joined hands. My mother gently patted the back of Bella’s hand. She used to comfort me like that. Now, she used the same gesture to be someone else’s mother.

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I think my girlfriend has been reborn. It’s like she’s suddenly realized I’m the bad guy, that I’ve been playing with her heart. And she’s started being incredibly kind to my sweet, innocent younger brother. The other day, I saw them together, tucked away in a quiet corner. Her eyes were red as she said: “I was so stupid. So blind.” “It was you. You’re the one I was always meant to find.” “I missed you in my last life.” “In this one, let me make it up to you with everything I have. Please?” 1 This was the fifth time Elara had bailed on dinner. Before, that would have been unthinkable. I sat by the window, staring out at the relentless rain. Then, I ran out into the storm. 2 Elara Hollingworth and Aiden were sitting in a café. They looked completely absorbed in each other. I shoved the door open and stormed inside. A little bell chimed, slicing through the quiet atmosphere. My brother’s face went pale with shock. Elara pulled her hand back and looked up at me. “What are you doing here?” I managed a weak, fragile smile. I’d checked my reflection in the glass door on my way in. I looked pathetic enough to inspire pity. So, when I slid into the booth beside Elara, she didn’t push me away. “You said you’d have dinner with me. Did you forget again?” I leaned in close, our noses almost touching. I’ve always been confident in my looks, especially when I put on this wounded, pleading act. As expected, the woman hesitated, then apologized. “I’m sorry.” “Aiden had some homework he needed help with, and I lost track of time…” “We didn’t eat together.” “…” I smiled, playing the part of the magnanimous boyfriend. “It’s okay.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my dear brother. His fists were clenched tightly under the table. He was struggling to hide the pain on his face. 3 Back in middle school, when those bullies were shoving my head into a toilet, I made a vow. I would do whatever it took to get the life I wanted. I would never let anyone see me broken again. So no, I’m not a good person. I never have been. I studied relentlessly, perfected my posture, and learned how to present the best version of myself to everyone, constantly expanding my social circle. I was ruthless in my pursuit of excellence, becoming so outstanding that whenever people mentioned my name, they’d say: “Sam Thorne? How can a guy that perfect even exist?” I finally earned the approval of my stoic, demanding father. My teachers adored me. My friends supported me. I thought I could maintain this delicate balance forever. Until Aiden showed up. 4 He was my father’s illegitimate son. Aiden found his way to us on his own. The moment he appeared, the balance of our family shattered. I demanded to know why my father had cheated, but he only met my questions with silence. And Aiden just stood in the corner of the room, shrinking away as if none of it was his fault. Worse, there was a kind of magic about him. It was an innate, effortless vulnerability, completely different from my carefully constructed facade. It was as if everyone around him was compelled to protect him. Soon, my own father was defending him. My friends all told me to be nicer to him, that it wasn’t his fault, that I shouldn’t become some evil step-brother from a TV drama. That old sense of crisis washed over me again. I realized he was slowly, quietly stealing everyone from my life. I had to defend my territory. 5 So I took Elara from him. Although, it was less “taking” and more that Aiden handed her to me on a silver platter. Aiden, ever the selfless hero, had volunteered for a disaster relief team after an earthquake. He’d rescued Elara Hollingworth, a debutante who had been hiking in the mountains. Unfortunately for him, Elara’s vision was blurred, her consciousness fading in and out. She never got a clear look at her savior. So I stepped in and took his place. Elara had been desperately searching for the man who saved her. But for some reason, Aiden refused to admit it was him. So I said, “Brother, if you really don’t want her to know, why don’t you introduce her to me?” At the time, he agreed. But I imagine, by now, he’s regretting it. 6 Elara. Elara was a good person, full of warmth and a fierce sense of justice. When she was good to me, she was all in. She’d do anything for me. She’d peel my grapes for me, for God’s sake. But then, overnight… She changed. Her warmth turned to ice. She started ignoring my calls. On Saturday morning, I went to her studio. She’s an oil painter, a graduate of a top international art academy. The studio smelled of sunlight and turpentine. I walked into the wide, open space and saw her, slumped over her easel, asleep. She must have pulled an all-nighter. Her breathing was slow and even. I crept closer to look at her canvas. The man in the portrait looked about thirty, maybe forty percent like me. He was smiling at the artist. The colors hadn’t been filled in yet. It took me a moment to realize. It wasn’t me. It was Aiden. 7 I must have been staring at the painting too intently, because I didn’t even notice her wake up behind me. I was crouching. When I turned, she was watching me silently. “What’s this? Painting my brother now?” “How about you paint me next time?” She sighed and wrapped her arms around me from behind. “No time.” The gesture was gentle, but the words were pure ice. I think the phrase “each with their own ulterior motives” described our current state of mind perfectly. But I’ve always been good at wearing a mask. I blinked and turned back to face her. “Elara, listen. If I ever do something you don’t like, you have to tell me, okay?” “Don’t keep it bottled up, you dummy.” I reached out and gently pinched her nose. It wasn’t just about playing the part of the gentle, sensitive boyfriend. It was an attempt to find a way back to what we had. Sometimes, silence is the deadliest poison in a relationship. And right now, I still needed Elara. Her brown eyes stared at me for a long moment. She looked so serious, so intense, that I had the distinct feeling I was digging my own grave. Then, I heard her ask: “That day… was it really you who saved me?” 8 “…” That was a difficult question to answer. Elara was an elite graduate, and her family’s business empire spanned half the city. She was the ideal, perfect partner for the perfect life I was building. At first, I had pursued her with marriage in mind. But after we got together, I discovered that when it came to love, I was just as clueless as any other guy. To put it simply, I had fallen for her. And that made lying to her… complicated. But she didn’t wait for my answer. For the first time, I saw genuine disappointment in her eyes. “Don’t answer.” “…” She was right. My silence was an answer in itself. A hollow feeling opened up in my chest. It was like the fortress I had spent my whole life building… Had just been effortlessly torn down by a single question. 9 “So? Did you and Elara break up?” On the school rooftop, I was sharing a coffee with another girl. Her name was Maya. She was a year below me. But she was one of the few people I considered a true friend. We’d known each other since middle school. She had seen me when I was bullied. She’d even helped me get revenge on those guys. I rubbed my thumb over the rim of the can. The way things were, even if Elara hadn’t officially ended it, we were close. “Oh, by the way, your brother has been coming to see me a lot lately.” Maya stretched lazily and grinned at me. … Looking back now. I should have paid more attention to what she said that day. “Oh, by the way, your brother has been coming to see me a lot lately.” Because slowly, gradually… Aiden’s name started popping up more and more in my conversations with Maya. After Elara started ghosting me, Maya was the main person I talked to. My life was still a frantic rush. I had countless competitions to win. It wasn’t just about relationships. I had to be perfect in every single area to maintain my image. It was exhausting. But it was the only way I knew how to live. I never complained. Until one day, before a public speaking competition. Something happened backstage that made my entire life feel like a joke. 10 I was the last speaker of the night. The headliner. So, I was the only one left in the dressing room. The door was thrown open with a bang. I was just tightening my tie. The person who stormed in was my girlfriend, Elara, who I hadn’t seen in ages. Oh, and she was holding someone’s hand. My brother, Aiden. She was furious. Aiden looked like he was on the verge of tears. She dragged the boy in front of me and shoved his sleeve up for me to see. “You did this, didn’t you?” The boy’s pale arm was covered in angry red welts. They looked like they were made by a whip. I raised an eyebrow. That small movement seemed to enrage her even more. “What’s that look on your face?” “Hah. Sam, you couldn’t even leave your own brother alone, could you?” My dear brother was still playing the victim, tugging on Elara’s sleeve. “Please, Elara, don’t,” he whimpered. “It wasn’t… it wasn’t Sam’s fault…” Elara. So familiar. I looked down at the marks on his arm. I had no idea how he got them. But it was clear Elara had already decided I was the villain. I was about to explain. But then someone else walked in. Maya, her hands shoved in her pockets. I felt a wave of relief. I tried to smile, to look composed. “Elara, think about it. Why would I do something like this to my own brother?” “Maya, you’re just in time. You know my history. You know I was bullied. Why would I…” My words died in my throat. Because I saw the look on Maya’s face. I had never seen her look at me with such disgust. My mind reeled, uncontrollably replaying the last few weeks. Maya, constantly bringing up Aiden. “Your brother is so shy.” “Your brother is seriously terrible at calculus.” “I ran into your brother in the cafeteria today.” “Your brother…” In the silent dressing room, her voice finally cut through the air. I heard her say, word by word. “Sam, I was so wrong about you.” “Just because you were bullied, does that give you the right to bully someone else?” 11 The scene felt sickeningly familiar. I watched Aiden pathetically clutching Elara’s sleeve. I watched Maya instinctively step in front of him, shielding him. I smiled at them, even as my eyelashes trembled. “Is that so? If you think I’m a bully, then call the police.” “Let them handle it. How about that?” I moved to walk past them. Elara grabbed my wrist, her grip like iron. I heard her hiss, “Apologize to your brother.” Maya blocked my path. “Sam, don’t become this person. Don’t be so cruel.” I haven’t done anything wrong, so why is everyone attacking me? I glanced over at Aiden. His eyes were red-rimmed. He knew. He had to know I wasn’t the one who hurt him. But he said nothing. I wrenched my arm free, shoving both of them aside. “Excuse me, ladies. I’m a very busy man.” “I have a speech to give. And I intend to win. I don’t have time for this.” “At a time like this, you’re still thinking about your stupid speech?” Maya’s voice followed me, but I didn’t care. I didn’t look back. I walked onto the stage. Even with nothing but emptiness behind me, I would keep moving forward. 12 The speech went off without a hitch. The applause at the end was thunderous. I smiled and bowed. But my mind was elsewhere. I looked out at the audience. I saw Aiden, in his crisp white shirt, being led away by Elara. Maya trailed behind them, her fingers playfully flicking the ends of his hair. But why? The spotlight was on me. I hadn’t lost. I hadn’t let them humiliate me. So why… Why was my heart being swallowed by this overwhelming, crushing wave of despair? … A few days later, Elara contacted me out of the blue. Honestly, I didn’t have time for relationship drama. If Elara was gone, another woman could take her place. But as I stared at her name on my phone screen… I realized it wasn’t that easy to let her go. It was true. She was the only girl I’d ever been with. It started as a strategic move for my future, but somewhere along the way, I had actually started to like her. I held onto a tiny sliver of hope. Hope that she’d come back to me. Or that she’d realize I could never have bullied my own brother. But she summoned me to a deserted gymnasium. And then she was gripping my wrist, her voice dripping with venom. “Sam, can you just leave your brother alone?” “Why are you spreading rumors that he’s the one who broke us up?” “We’re over. Have some damn dignity, Sam.” I blinked, almost laughing from the sheer absurdity of it. That tiny bit of lingering affection I had for her vanished in an instant. “Wait, Elara, who told you I was spreading rumors?” She scoffed. “Who else could it be?” “Your brother is a saint. He’s always telling me how great you are.” “Can you stop projecting your own pathetic jealousy onto him?” “???” I was about to explode. “You two are together 24/7! Anyone with eyes can see what’s going on! Why is this my fault?” She sneered at me. “There it is. Your true colors. Let me tell you something, Sam. Your brother is a thousand times purer and kinder than you’ll ever be.” “I won’t let you hurt him.” “Not in this lifetime. Never again.” ??? I wanted to scream at her, but my only reply was the sound of a heavy door slamming shut. When I tried the handle, it wouldn’t budge. ??? She locked me in here? For the first time, my composure was about to completely shatter. I rattled the door violently, the noise echoing in the empty gym. “Hey! Elara! Get back here!” “What gives you the right to say that to me?!!” “You…!” “Are you an idiot???” No one was around. I let it all out. I kicked the locked door until my leg ached and my nose stung with the threat of tears. I’d been playing a part for so long, this was a perfect release. Just as I was exhausted, spent, and miserable… A soft laugh came from nearby. “Sam Thorne?” “So this is the real you.” 13 I slowly turned my head. A girl I didn’t recognize at all was sitting on a stack of old gym mats. She was swinging her legs, watching me. She must have been sleeping there, which is why neither Elara nor I had noticed her. My first thought when I saw her was, how many holes does this person have in her face? An eyebrow stud, a lip ring, a constellation of earrings. I despised anything that challenged my traditional sensibilities. But she was beautiful, in a wild, untamed way. I froze for a second, my usual mask taking too long to slip back on. “Hm? Do I know you?” She smiled, a pure, innocent kind of smile. “Quite the quick-change artist, aren’t you? Weren’t you just kicking the door down a second ago?” “How did you turn back into the perfect student so fast?” I ignored her teasing. I smiled my polished smile. “Excuse me, do you know if there’s another way out of here?” She shook her head. “Just that one. And your lovely girlfriend locked it.” “…” I nodded and pulled out my phone to call a friend for help. She hopped off the mats, hands in her pockets, and sauntered over to me. She leaned in and whispered with a laugh. “Sam, you really don’t remember me?” I turned to look at her. Hmm. She had the kind of face that suggested a long list of ex-boyfriends. I would never get involved with a girl like this. She didn’t fit any of my criteria for a future partner. “No.” She raised an eyebrow. “We have each other’s contact info.” “Impossible.” Refusing to believe it, I held out my phone for her to type her number. She leaned over, entered her digits, and sure enough, a contact popped up. The nickname I had saved for her was: “Rich Girl – No Reply” “…” She was silent for a moment, then let out a sly laugh right next to my ear. I suddenly remembered. Back when I was searching for a suitable girlfriend, I had… categorized… the girls in my contact list. “Sam, don’t you even remember the fish you try to catch?” She had to twist the knife, didn’t she? … I took another look at her. My memory is excellent. I hadn’t forgotten her. Her name was Vesper Liang. But the girl in my memory was completely different from the one standing in front of me now. I had met her at a gala my father dragged me to. If Elara’s family’s empire covered half the city, Vesper’s family was one of those colossal dynasties woven into the very fabric of the metropolis. Even my father had to grovel before them. The reason I didn’t recognize her… Was because I remembered her clearly from that night. She was wearing a black evening gown, an untouchable ice queen. And on social media, she ignored me. Completely cold. I had asked her out several times, only to be rejected every single time. 14 After that encounter in the gym, Vesper started showing up everywhere. Consequently, the nickname in my phone for her changed from: “Rich Girl – No Reply” To: “Rich Girl – Certified Psycho” I would never tell her that, of course. Her family was powerful, which meant connections. If she was interested in me, it suited my purposes perfectly. As for romance… I had learned a valuable lesson: Women were nothing but trouble. Elara and I were officially over. Though it didn’t seem like she was with Aiden, either. Sometimes I’d see her waiting for him outside his classroom. So, she was still chasing him? I didn’t have time for any of it. My father had started handing over company responsibilities to me, and I was busier than ever. I knew he had originally planned to train Aiden, but Aiden was… not very bright. I thought I had finally beaten him. I thought I had proven myself, that I could finally have my father back. But one afternoon, my father sat me down in his study and poured me a cup of tea. He spoke slowly, each word deliberate. “Sam.” “Study hard.” “In the future, you will need to support your brother.” 15 I had worked so hard. I studied from dawn until dusk. I had no time for fun, no time for myself. I fought tooth and nail for everyone’s approval. And for what? My father wanted me to learn all this… Just to pave the way for my love-sick, useless brother? That afternoon, I had a massive fight with my father. He smashed his inkstone on the floor, pointing a trembling finger at me, too furious to speak. “Don’t you know, the truth is, you’re…” In that moment, I felt like he was about to reveal the secret he’d been hiding from me for years. But a shadow burst into the room. “Enough! Dad, don’t say any more.” Aiden stood between us. His eyes were red. “Sam, please don’t be mad at Dad, okay?” “It’s… it’s all my fault…” “If it weren’t for me, none of this would have happened.” “I’m just a curse…” He started playing the victim again. I didn’t understand. I wasn’t the one crying, so what right did he have to? I laughed, leaned in close to him, and said, word for word: “You’re right. You are a curse.” He flinched, like a startled rabbit. My father had already grabbed a dictionary from his desk and hurled it at me. This time, I didn’t dodge. The sharp pain in my forehead was blinding, but I refused to cry. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. I turned and walked out of the room, my father’s roars echoing behind me. He told me to get out and never set foot in this house again. 16 When did it all start? Everyone leaving me, one by one. No matter how hard I tried, it was useless. They all ended up standing behind someone else. My brother, Aiden. It was strange, wasn’t it? As if an invisible hand was orchestrating everything. I stopped winning competitions. First place went to my brother. Not because he was more skilled, but because the judges saw his “effort” and were “moved” by it. My brother would always add my friends on social media, under the pretext of wanting to be closer to me. And after a while, for reasons I never understood, those friends would drift away. Lately, the rumors at school had started again. That I was a bully. That I was a vicious, two-faced hypocrite. That I had been bullied myself, and now I was taking it out on my own brother. Some of the old photos from when I was bullied were leaked. They were like a knife, slicing open old wounds. Only Maya had those photos… I confronted her, demanding to know why she would do it. Spreading rumors was one thing, but posting pictures of my deepest humiliation on the school forum? She said. “You deserve it.” “This is what you get for hurting your brother.” 17 “What’s the point of hanging upside down like that?” Vesper stood in front of me, her head tilted. I was, in fact, hanging upside down from the parallel bars in the abandoned gym. It was the only way to keep the tears from falling. I’d forgotten that Vesper also used this place as her private napping spot. We had gotten to know each other over the past few weeks. I learned that beneath her cold exterior, she was a complete weirdo. I learned that she was lonely, too, which was why she always sought me out. No one else hung out with her. They all said she was bad luck. “Vesper, I was reading a novel recently.” “It’s about a fake young master living the high life, and then the real young master returns.” “I think… I think I’m the fake young master.” “I’m the villain who stole someone’s place, the evil side character, the one who ends up abandoned by everyone and gets his face slapped in the end.” She looked at me, then smiled. “Really? I’ve never seen such a cute side character.” She laughed and helped me down from the bars. “Come on, you’re going to get a brain hemorrhage. Are you a bat?” Outside, the rain continued its endless drumming. I suddenly asked her, “Do you think I’m a bully too?” She blinked, looked down, and pulled out the necklace she always wore. It was a tarnished, brass-colored, six-pointed star. A girl like her had no business wearing something so cheap. “This… a boy gave this to me back when I was in the orphanage.” The star glowed dully in the light of the setting sun. “That little boy… he was my reason for living back then.” “He told me that it’s the cracks in life that let the light in.” “Sam.” “You can be the kind, good person. You can be the determined protagonist. You can be the one who gets a happy ending.” “It’s your path to choose, isn’t it?” … Yes. So what if fate was playing games with me? So what if the whole world was against me? Even if I had to die, I was going to die beautifully. 18 That’s how I survived. Even if my bones were broken, I would get back up. Even if I wasn’t happy, I would act happy for the world to see. I thought if I was stubborn enough, if I refused to lose, fate would eventually have to side with me. I was wrong. … After spending so much time together, Vesper had heard a lot about Aiden. They had never met, and Aiden didn’t know I knew her, so he hadn’t tried to add her. “You know, I’m kind of curious what your little white-rabbit brother is actually like,” Vesper said one day, chewing on her straw. “White Rabbit” was her nickname for him. I could tell from her tone she didn’t like him. But I still frowned instinctively. “Don’t go near him.” “There’s something… wrong about him. Something dangerous…” I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I didn’t actually believe Vesper would be swayed by Aiden. She wasn’t like the others. For one thing, she was a psycho, and the thoughts of a psycho are hard to predict. But I still felt a deep unease. “What? Are you afraid I’ll get stolen away by him, hmm?” Vesper was enjoying this, teasing me. …Yes. That’s exactly what I was afraid of. Vesper was the only person left on my side, even if she was crazy. “Seriously? Like I would ever leave you.” Vesper laughed it off. At the same moment, a gentle voice sounded behind me. “Oh? Sam, what are you doing here?” It was too late. I watched as the woman across from me, the one who had just been laughing, froze solid when she saw Aiden. For the first time, I felt like I was in the grip of a giant, cosmic hand. Vesper had a necklace given to her by a little boy in an orphanage, a necklace she still wore to this day. Who was that little boy? My brother’s expression was one of pure surprise. He smiled at Vesper. “Vesper! What are you doing here?” “Sunny Meadows Orphanage… do you remember me?” …Remember him? She had said. He was her reason for living.

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My boyfriend, Liam, died on William Zio’s private yacht. The official story was that he argued with someone, slipped, and fell into the sea. But I knew the truth—he was beaten to death. It was all because Seraphina Vance, the unforgettable flame of William’s life, had idly flirted with Liam, complimenting his voice. William’s jealousy had erupted like a volcano. He’d ordered his men to beat Liam to a pulp and toss his broken body into the freezing, midnight water. “Seraphina said you have a lovely voice?” William had sneered. “I suppose I’ll have to hear it for myself.” When the news of Liam’s death reached me, I didn’t cry. I simply tore up the acceptance letter from the top-tier university I was about to attend. I flew back home and became the most docile canary in William Zio’s gilded cage. He would often tip my chin up with his fingers, murmuring to me as if I were a cherished pet, “Aria, my dear, I can give you anything you desire. Anything but my love.” I’d look up at him, my voice a soft whisper. “Anything?” But inside, my heart was a frozen, silent wasteland. What good is your love to me? It’s your life I want. 1. Everyone in New York’s elite circle knew that I, Aria Thorne, was Seraphina Vance’s stand-in. Three years ago, after a spectacular fight with William, Seraphina had stormed off to America in a fit of pique, cutting off all contact. That was when I made my move, leveraging a side profile that was a five-point match to hers to become the perfect shadow by William’s side. I learned to be pliant, obedient. If William pointed east, I would never dare to look west. Slowly, I became the woman who stayed by his side the longest, second only to Seraphina herself. Sometimes, he would gaze at me, lost in thought, his fingertips tracing the line of my jaw. “Your eyes are the most like hers,” he’d murmur, “but she would never look at me the way you do…” I knew he was looking through me, seeing someone else. Then, recently, whispers started circulating that Seraphina was coming back. The day her flight landed, William had the entire airport terminal carpeted with ten thousand roses, a display of extravagant welcome. And I, naturally, became the subject of gossip once more. “The real thing is back. The understudy should know her place.” “If Seraphina hadn’t left, trash like her wouldn’t even be fit to polish Mr. Zio’s shoes.” “That whole doe-eyed act of hers makes me sick.” In the back of the town car, I scrolled through my phone, my eyes welling with tears, a single drop trembling on my lashes. “Upset?” William pulled me into his arms, his tone unreadable. I rested my head on his shoulder, my voice soft and sticky like honey. “William, I know how important Ms. Vance is to you… I won’t compete with her.” “The fact that you chose to bring me home first today… that’s more than enough for me,” I whispered, then tilted my head up to press a soft kiss against his cheek. He was clearly pleased, scratching me under the chin as if I were a kitten. I snuggled closer, remaining in his embrace until the car glided to a stop in front of his private villa. As we got out, I clung to his arm, my reluctance palpable. “Be good,” he said, his gaze dropping to my chest with undisguised intent. “Mrs. Gable made you that restorative broth. Drink it and get some rest.” A sly smile touched my lips. I leaned in close to his ear, my breath a warm caress. “Tonight… I have a new toy for us to play with.” A faint blush crept up his neck, and he wrapped an arm tightly around my waist. “You little temptress.” His kiss was bruising, almost violent, as if he wanted to meld me into himself. My hand slipped down from his waist, but he caught it firmly. “None of that now,” he murmured against my earlobe, tapping the tip of my nose. “Wait for me.” I relaxed in his arms, letting out a soft, breathy sigh. “William, I won’t fight for you… I only want you.” Then, with a catch in my voice, I added, “It’s just… sometimes I feel so insecure.” A tear escaped and traced a path down my cheek. At the sight of it, his expression softened. His warm palm stroked my shoulder. “Aria, I won’t cast you aside.” After another moment of tender reassurance, I wiped my eyes and turned to go. “Aria,” he called out suddenly. I turned back, my heart feigning a hopeful leap. “Your purse.” He held out the new Chanel bag he’d bought me. The light in my eyes dimmed instantly. I took it obediently and watched his car disappear down the long drive. It’s starting, Seraphina. Are you ready? Inside the villa, the housekeeper, Mrs. Gable, greeted me warmly with a bowl of the broth. I took it, my makeup smudged from my performance, and hurried upstairs, locking the bedroom door behind me. The moment the lock clicked, all the strength drained from my body. I slid down the door, slumping to the floor like a deflated balloon. I stumbled into the bathroom and turned the shower on, letting the hot water cascade over my face. I scrubbed at my skin, at every inch of my body, as if trying to wash away some indelible stain. The stinging in my eyes from the scalding water finally shocked me back to reality. I stared at my reflection in the fogged mirror. The woman looking back was a stranger—pale, her eyes a hollow void hiding a universe of madness. My right hand began to tremble uncontrollably. I gripped my wrist, my nails digging into my own flesh. It was happening again. This body, and the soul trapped within it, were rejecting the role I had been forced to play for three long years. 2. There was a time when I was the princess in my parents’ world, cherished and adored. Then a car crash shattered everything. Overnight, I lost them both, plunging into a severe depression that left me a sullen, silent shadow of my former self. It was in the darkest days at that private clinic for troubled youths that I met Liam. Everyone at the clinic was afraid of him. Like me, he wore the label of “problem.” But he wasn’t withered and silent like I was. He was a caged beast, snarling at any doctor or nurse who dared approach, his words sharp as broken glass. He was a creature of thorns and solitude, fiercely independent. But with me, he was different. He knew I was terrified of thunder, so on stormy nights, he would sit vigil in the hallway outside my room, a silent stone guardian, not leaving until the last rumble faded and he had to drag his numb legs away. When I once mentioned offhandedly that I missed the salty air of the ocean, he scaled the clinic walls and disappeared for three days. He returned with a bottle of murky, briny water and a fresh set of bruises he refused to explain. He found a pop-top tab from a soda can and spent a whole month grinding it against the concrete pavement until it was a misshapen, makeshift ring. When the other kids taunted me, calling me an unwanted orphan, he forced it onto my finger. … “Aria,” he’d said, “with me, you can still be a princess.” So you see, William? The person you destroyed wasn’t just some nobody. You destroyed the one who, with all his fierce, untamed tenderness, pulled me back from the abyss. You destroyed my entire world. “Liam, you broke your promise.” I curled into a ball in the darkness, my voice barely a whisper, clutching the small, worn good-luck charm he’d given me. He had pressed it into my hand at the airport when he saw me off to study abroad. His eyes were red, but he tried to act cool and detached. He’d fidgeted for what felt like an eternity before pulling a crumpled, red fabric charm from his pocket and shoving it at me. “Just picked this up on the way,” he’d mumbled, his neck stiff, his ears burning crimson. “Figured you might get bullied out there alone. So, you know… take it. It’s from me… and I’ve never given a girl anything before.” His voice grew quieter with each word, his face redder. I’d smiled and, right there in front of him, solemnly hung it around my neck. He’d darted his eyes away, so flustered he nearly tripped over his own feet. As the plane took off, I watched his figure shrink on the tarmac and made a silent vow: Liam, wait for me. I’m coming back. During my first year away, his messages arrived like clockwork, bridging the time difference. A “Good morning” at 8 AM, a “Good night” at 10 PM. He shared every trivial detail of his life with infectious excitement: “Aria, old Mr. Henderson’s dog had puppies. They’re ugly as little rats.” “Why are you taking so long to reply? Is your homework more important than me?” “I’m looking at an apartment with a yard. When you come back, we’ll have our own home.” … His very last message was sent under a sky full of fireworks. “Rich people are something else. Even their fireworks are blue. When you get back, I’ll set some off for you too. A whole night’s worth.” But after that night of blue fireworks, his messages stopped. I never heard from him again. Then the news came: Liam had fallen from a private yacht and was lost at sea, his body never recovered. I didn’t believe it. I flew back in a frenzy, broke through the police tape, and screamed his name at the vast, merciless ocean that had swallowed him whole. The only answer was the crash of the cold, indifferent waves. And the owner of that yacht? At that very moment, William Zio was at a rooftop restaurant, his arm around his one true love, Seraphina Vance, as they enjoyed afternoon tea. “William, darling, it was just one person. Why is it causing such a commotion?” Seraphina, draped in a pristine white gown, spoke words laced with poison. William handed her a glass of juice, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. “He was a nobody, darling. Not worth ruining your day over. With me here, no one will dare to make a fuss.” Two weeks later, the case was closed. “Accidental drowning.” The real killer never even had to show his face. It took me months to find out that the yacht belonged to the prince of New York’s elite—William Zio. 3. I never expected to meet Seraphina so soon. William was personally giving her a tour of the greenhouse, a “hobby” he’d built on a whim but had rarely ever set foot in. Dressed in the latest Chanel suit, Seraphina tilted her chin up, surveying the space like a queen inspecting her domain. In reality, for the past three years, it was I who had tended to every plant, every blossom within these glass walls. “Ms. Thorne,” she paused, her manicured fingertips brushing against a cluster of gladioli I had painstakingly nurtured. Her voice dripped with mock surprise. “You look so fragile, yet you seem quite skilled at tending to flowers.” Before the words had fully left her mouth, she casually snapped the stem of a perfectly bloomed gladiolus. The movement was slow, deliberate, her eyes flashing with unconcealed provocation. I immediately lowered my gaze, my voice soft and submissive. “It’s just a simple skill. I’m not worthy of Ms. Vance’s praise.” William stood nearby, saying nothing to stop her. In fact, he seemed to find my deference rather pleasing; the corner of his mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. “However,” Seraphina said, dropping the broken flower and grinding it under the heel of her shoe. Her gaze flickered meaningfully towards William before settling back on me. “These flowers are too… cold. They don’t suit William. He only likes roses—intense, vibrant.” I looked up, my expression a carefully crafted mix of admiration and timidity. “You have excellent taste, Ms. Vance. William often says you’re just like his favorite rose—brilliantly beautiful, the one and only in his heart.” My “relayed” compliment pleased her, and William as well. A flicker of triumph crossed her face. She linked her arm through William’s, resting her head on his shoulder, but her eyes, now sharp with a condescending command, returned to me. “Well then, I’ll have to trouble you, Ms. Thorne. Those rose bushes over there look a bit messy. Since you’re so skilled, why don’t you tidy them up?” William remained silent, which was his form of consent. Mrs. Gable, the housekeeper, saw what was happening and quietly offered me a pair of gardening gloves. But Seraphina let out a light laugh, stopping her. “Oh, no. All the top florists I knew back in the States say you must work with your bare hands to feel the true life of the flowers. Gloves? So unprofessional.” It was a blatant lie, and everyone present knew it. William adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze falling on me with a weight that was both probing and permissive. “Do as Seraphina says.” He was using this to placate Seraphina’s bruised ego, and to reassert my complete and utter obedience. I bowed my head without argument, knelt, and began to gather the thorny, withered rose clippings scattered on the ground. “Heh,” Seraphina’s mocking laugh came from above. “William, look at her, kneeling there. Doesn’t she look just like a…” She didn’t finish, but I felt the thick, suffocating malice in her unspoken words. I looked up at her and managed a pale, humble smile. A sheen of cold sweat broke out on my forehead as a thorn bit deeply into my finger, the pain making my performance of delicate suffering all the more convincing. “As long as it makes Ms. Vance happy.” My reaction seemed to bore her. She huffed and settled into a nearby wicker chair to sip her tea. I continued my work, focused, as if the world around me had faded away. Until Mrs. Gable cried out in alarm, “Ms. Thorne! Your hand! My goodness, you’re as white as a sheet!” Her words were my cue. My body went limp, darkness swam before my eyes, and I collapsed sideways. In the last moment of fading consciousness, I felt a strong arm snake around me, catching me before I hit the ground. It was William. I leaned against his chest, my breath shallow, and whispered an apology laced with guilt. “I’m sorry, William… I still… couldn’t do it right…” The hospital room smelled of antiseptic. I woke with a soft groan, a pained frown on my face as I felt the sting in my arm from the IV drip. William was instantly at my side with a glass of warm water, his own brow deeply furrowed. “The doctor said you’re suffering from exhaustion and low blood sugar. What’s going on?” I lowered my head, my long, dark hair falling forward, making my face seem even paler. Under his increasingly impatient gaze, I finally seemed to gather my courage and spoke in a small voice. “I… I remembered you mentioning how difficult it was to cultivate the new ‘Roman Holiday’ roses… I thought that if, for your and Ms. Vance’s engagement party, the venue could be decorated with flowers I grew myself… it would be the last thing… I could do for you.” My voice choked with unshed tears. I turned my head away defiantly, my shoulders trembling. The atmosphere in the room instantly dropped several degrees. He had just proposed to Seraphina, driven more by a fear of losing control and being abandoned by her again than by love. And I, upon hearing the news, hadn’t thrown a tantrum. Instead, I had silently set about preparing a “final gift” for him. The stark contrast was a thorn digging into his conscience. “The last thing?” He grabbed my chin, his grip tight, forcing me to face him. His eyes burned with a mixture of anger and a flicker of panic he himself didn’t recognize. “Aria, who gave you permission to decide you’re leaving?” I looked at him through a blur of tears, my expression one of heartbroken disbelief. “I know I’m just a substitute. Ms. Vance is back… I can’t be so shameless as to overstay my welcome.” “Who told you you were a substitute?!” he snarled, as if I’d struck a nerve. He released me abruptly, but his fingertips still felt the phantom heat of my tears. “Besides, when did your coming and going become your decision to make?” 4. That night, in a break from all precedent, William stayed with me until I fell asleep before leaving to see Seraphina. In my dreams, I saw Liam again. He was wearing that same faded white shirt, standing in front of the little house with the yard we had always dreamed of. The morning sun cast a golden halo around him. “Aria,” he said, smiling and waving me over, his eyes as clear and unpolluted as the day I first met him. “What took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you.” I smiled back, but as I did, tears began to stream down my face. “Liam,” I whispered, “I miss you so much… Wait for me, okay? I’ll come find you soon.” A few days later, I returned to the villa from the hospital, only to find that Seraphina had moved in. She sat in the garden, playing with a fluffy white Pomeranian at her feet. She didn’t even bother to look up. “Ms. Thorne, you’re so delicate. Shouldn’t you have rested a few more days?” I offered a polite smile. “Thank you for your concern, Ms. Vance. I’m much better now.” She ignored me, scratching the dog under its chin, her words dripping with double meaning. “Chai is such a good boy. It’s a shame, though. At the end of the day, he’s just an animal. He can’t change anything.” She let out a sharp, piercing laugh. I stood my ground, my face a placid mask. As expected, the little dog, as if agitated by something, suddenly perked up. It broke free from Seraphina and charged straight at me. Amid the gasps of the staff, it sank its teeth into my calf. A sharp, searing pain shot up my leg. I cried out. Mrs. Gable rushed forward and forcefully shoved the dog away. It yelped and scurried off, leaving my leg bleeding freely.

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The system tasked me with saving the destitute male lead, but I’m a spoiled, high-maintenance heiress. Walking into that damp, run-down apartment, the system urged excitedly: “Hurry, warm his heart, heal him!” Instead, I covered my nose and pointed arrogantly at the gloomy man. “You, come here and change my shoes.” 1 I’m precious. I only drink water that’s exactly 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. I only eat food fed to me. My parents raised me like a princess, yet the system wants me to save a poor male lead. I refuse to accept this. 2 Stepping into that dark, damp apartment building in my lambskin heels, my frown was deep enough to trap a mosquito. The system chattered in my ear. “The male lead lives on the sixth floor. He’s so pitiful, you must save him!” Pitiful? I looked up at the endless stairs, clutching my small pink purse, thinking I’m the pitiful one. “Go in quickly! He didn’t lock the door; he’s lost the will to live!” I pushed the door open grumpily. My gaze fell upon a room even shabbier and darker than the hallway. In the corner slumped a handsome man. His eyes were dull and lifeless, black hair falling over his brows, lips pale, and body bruised. Light from the hallway spilled in. He looked over, his breathing weak. “So beautiful.” “So angels look like princesses in fairy tales…” What is he mumbling about? My feet were sore from climbing all those stairs. I walked in. Heels clicking on the concrete floor, clack clack clack. The room was so damp. I sat on the sofa, covering my nose, my diamond-encrusted manicure sparkling. The system was excited. “Quick, redeem him, apply medicine to his wounds!” Instead, I pointed a finger at the gloomy male lead, arrogant and commanding. “You, come here and change my shoes.” The man froze, motionless. I glanced at him. “Hey, are you deaf?” He seemed to snap out of it, slowly pushing himself up, hesitating before walking toward me. I hadn’t realized while he was sitting, but standing up, he was incredibly tall. Nearly 6’3″, yet incredibly thin. Like a bamboo pole. He stopped in front of me. Dark eyes stared straight at me. I didn’t like being scrutinized like that. I ordered coldly. “Squat down.” He hesitated for less than three seconds before kneeling on one knee. “What’s your name?” “Caleb.” He looked up at me, voice hoarse. That’s right, I deserve to be looked up to. I nodded in satisfaction. “Listen well, my name is Vivienne. From now on, you are my servant.” The system slowly typed a question mark. “Shouldn’t you be warming his heart, saving him? Why are you making him your servant?!” Ignoring the system, I pulled a card from my wallet. “Take this. There’s ten thousand dollars on it. In the days to come, you must take meticulous care of me.” Caleb held the card, a flicker of light in his eyes. “Why…” “Why help me?” I just crossed my legs, swinging the tip of my shoe in front of his eyes. “What are you waiting for? Change my shoes.” Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He lowered his eyes and grasped my ankle. His hands were cold. He leaned down, silently undoing the buckles. My sore feet finally relaxed. There were no slippers, so I simply rested my feet on Caleb’s knee. His hands were nice enough—distinct knuckles, pale and slender. When he exerted force, veins popped on the back of his hand. Perfect for… Giving me a foot massage. The system looked skeptical. “The male lead hasn’t eaten in days, and instead of taking him to eat, you’re making him massage your feet!” “Besides, having not eaten, where would he get the strength!” I just hummed lightly and kicked Caleb’s shoulder. “Gently! You’re hurting me!” Caleb’s hand paused. He lowered his eyes and apologized softly. “I’m sorry.” System: ? Looks like he has plenty of strength to me. 3 While Caleb massaged my feet, I asked the system about the plot. “Caleb is a destitute and pitiful male lead. His parents died in a car accident due to brake failure. Without money, he had to drop out of college. He worked odd jobs but got stiffed on wages and was beaten up. When you found him, he hadn’t eaten for almost three days.” “I detected he had lost the will to live, so I found you to save him.” I asked the system why me. The system said it didn’t know; the program just indicated it so. “Maybe this is destiny.” Seeing my lack of interest, the system quickly added. “Caleb is the male lead. Being by his side will keep you beautiful, rich, healthy, and long-lived.” I looked at Caleb, who was meekly massaging me, and my mood improved slightly. “Fine.” After a while, my feet finally felt better. I ordered Caleb to put my shoes back on. Then told him to come home with me. Before leaving, I took a candy from my bag and handed it to Caleb. And told him to eat it. The system was very gratified. “You’ve finally started the redemption arc.” But fell silent the next second. Because I ordered Caleb to carry me down the stairs. “So you gave him candy because you were afraid he wouldn’t have the strength.” Leaning on Caleb’s back, I retorted to the system. “Yeah, if he drops me, it’ll hurt.” Caleb carried me down six flights of stairs. When he put me down, he was panting, face flushed. Like he was exhausted. The system popped up. “The male lead looks so pitiful, praise him.” I looked disdainful. “Panting just from going downstairs, how can you be so useless?” Caleb lowered his head in shame. 4 The driver took Caleb and me back to my villa. Getting out, the driver opened the door for me. Caleb stared, deep in thought. I walked ahead, ignoring him completely. Because I was hungry. I sat at the dining table, Caleb standing silently aside. “This doesn’t taste good, you eat it.” I took one bite and put down the cutlery. Caleb didn’t hesitate, devouring everything like a wolf. His face looked less pale. I directed the butler in formal attire. Told him to teach Caleb how to be a servant and treat his wounds while he was at it. After giving instructions, I went for my beauty sleep. Caleb stared at my retreating back. It was a long time before he looked away. The next day, when I saw Caleb, he was wearing a suit. He looked much better than yesterday. He pulled out the chair for me. “Miss, breakfast is ready.” The food today was much better than yesterday’s. I ate a few more bites and saw Caleb’s brow relax. So Caleb made this meal. He had worked in a restaurant before. “You’re somewhat useful.” Caleb pursed his lips. “I’m glad Miss likes it.” After eating, I took Caleb to afternoon tea. 5 In the socialite circle, I have a nemesis. We compete over everything. If I bring ten bodyguards, she brings eleven. If she buys a new Hermès, I give that model to my maid. And so on. This afternoon tea was bound to be another battle. Sure enough, when I arrived, Tiffany was showing off her new boy toy. “Isn’t he handsome? Look at that nose, those eyes.” “Just average. Worse than my new servant.” I pulled Caleb forward. Tiffany stared at Caleb’s face and sneered. “So what if he’s good-looking? Probably not clean! My new guy is a virgin.” I looked at Caleb. Caleb lowered his eyes and spoke, ears turning red. “Miss, I am also a virgin.” I became arrogant again. “Hear that? He’s a virgin too.” Tiffany pulled her boy toy closer. “Not only is he a virgin, but he’s also a student at C University. What about his education?” Caleb pursed his lips. “Miss, I’m sorry…” Tiffany smiled triumphantly. “Vivienne, your servant is just so-so.” The boy toy wanted to join in the mockery. Tiffany glanced at him. “Since when is it your turn to speak between us?” Despite that, my face darkened. I stomped away in my high heels with Caleb in tow. As soon as we were out the door, I pointed at Caleb’s face. “You made me lose today.” Caleb spoke cautiously. “Miss, I used to study at A University, but I dropped out.” A University is better than C University. My anger suddenly vanished. I immediately arranged for Caleb to go back to school. Preparing to slap Tiffany in the face next time. The system popped up. “If Caleb goes back to school, he’ll meet the female lead. What if he falls in love with her?” I examined my manicure, unconcerned. “What’s it to me? I’m saving him, not dating him!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387900”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel