Category: English

At my brother’s funeral, my stepmother struck me and called me his killer. “You left the gate open. You let Leo run into the road. He is dead because of you.” My father, Arthur, didn’t believe me. He locked me in the basement in a blind rage. Then I managed to escape. Only to find Eleanor in a stranger’s embrace. She was sobbing, pounding his chest. “If you hadn’t left the gate open that day, my son would still be alive.” So, it was Eleanor’s affair that killed her own son! I turned to run, to call my father Arthur and scream the truth. But Eleanor saw me. Terrified her secret would be revealed, she shoved me down the stairs. I died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Leo died. I pointed at Eleanor’s room. “Dad! The man in her room left the gate open!” “Lily! You saw a man? You saw him leave the gate open?” My father stood outside the yard gate, looking furious. I sneered internally. Look how much my dad doted on Leo. In my last life, I’d sworn I shut that gate. He didn’t listen. Eleanor’s word was his truth, and that truth condemned me as his son’s killer. My mother passed away right after I was born. Before the mourning period was even over, he brought he brought Eleanor home-already carrying his child. That child, born too soon, was her ticket in. The birth broke something inside her, leaving her barren. So Leo became his most precious possession. After Leo’s death, I’d been less than a dog to him-fed scraps, housed in the kennel, forced to bark. It was how he channeled his impotent rage and nursed his guilt toward Eleanor. Not this time. I wouldn’t be that foolish again. I would leverage his masculine pride and his brittle paternal love, to expose that despicable couple. My first act upon rebirth was simple: go home and catch Eleanor in her sin. But I never expected that as soon as I turned back, I’d see Leo standing in the middle of the road. In the distance, Arthur’s face paled, horror dawning. I was closer. And I needed him to believe me, now and always. So I lunged, yanking Leo back from the curb. This time, the car didn’t shatter his skull. It crushed his legs instead. He would never walk again “Arthur!” The shriek was pure, undiluted panic. Eleanor was on him in an instant, a mess of tears and snot, clawing at his arm. “Don’t listen to her! She’s hated us from the day her mother died! She opened that gate! She wants Leo dead!” Before he could react, I ran to Arthur and wrapped myself around his, pressing my dirt-streaked face to his knee. When I looked up, my eyes were wide pools of shattered innocence. “Daddy, I didn’t!” I whispered, letting my voice fracture with the perfect note of bewildered hurt. “I just…I want a mommy who loves me too. Eleanor doesn’t. I thought…if I was extra good to Leo, you’d both want me…” As I spoke, I forced out a few tears, pointing my small hand towards Leo, who lay sobbing pitifully nearby, his legs broken. “I share my milk with Leo every day, and I let him play with my favorite teddy bear… Just now, if I hadn’t pulled him back, he would have flown to heaven and wouldn’t be able to play with me anymore. My teacher says we should respect elders and cherish the young. Lily did that, Lily is a good kid, Dad, you have to believe Lily.” Because I usually put on a show of being good to Leo to appease Arthur, I said all this without batting an eye. I clung tightly to Arthur’s leg, using all a child’s strength to depend on him, then I dropped my heavy bait. “If Dad doesn’t believe me, you can go upstairs now and find that man! He’s definitely still here!”

Arthur’s face darkened, so angry you could wring water from it. He reached down and pinched my cheek. “Dad believes you.” With that, he spun around and rushed upstairs. He looked less like a man catching his wife cheating and more like one ready to fight to the death. Eleanor’s face went deathly pale. Unable to stop him, she stomped her foot and wailed, “Arthur! The most important thing now is to get Leo to the hospital!” But Arthur was a man who could tolerate anything except being cuckolded. His son’s legs were nothing compared to his pride. He went upstairs without looking back. Of course, he found nothing. The man had already slipped away. But the unfamiliar men’s cologne upstairs, so strong it was choking, wouldn’t dissipate. Eleanor, true to form, burst into tears on cue. She pulled a beautifully packaged men’s cologne from her bag, crying like a tragic heroine. “Arthur, this was a special gift I bought for you, I wanted to surprise you…” Nobody would believe that excuse. But Arthur had no proof. The ambulance wailed as it took Leo away. Before getting in, Arthur glared at Eleanor, spitting out each word through clenched teeth: “If I find out it was because of that lover of yours that my son’s legs were broken, I’ll make sure his entire family suffers a miserable end!” I was desperate but helpless. I knew Eleanor’s methods were cunning, and she’d clearly prepared well. I couldn’t defeat her just yet; I needed to find another opportunity. At the hospital, Leo cried in pain. I immediately rushed to his bedside, holding his small hand, and choked out, “Don’t cry, Leo. Lily’s here.” Leo was probably dazed from the fall, or maybe my usual fake affection for him was working its magic. He instinctively snuggled into my arms. “Lily saved me.” Arthur, standing nearby, praised me for being “sensible.” But when he saw Leo’s leg in a cast, he couldn’t help but sigh, muttering, “Thankfully, nothing vital was injured.” Without proof, Arthur could only eye Eleanor with suspicion regarding who opened the yard gate. She, in turn, played the role of the docile and obedient wife to perfection, adamantly claiming the yard gate was old and had simply come loose on its own. The matter was quietly pushed aside, unresolved. Back home, Eleanor became impossibly good to me. She cooked me BBQ ribs, bought me pretty new dresses, and even tucked me into bed at night. Her gentle demeanor made it seem as if I were her own child. Arthur noticed, and his suspicions gradually faded. He probably thought that even if she had done something, for the sake of the children and the family, she would have settled down by now. But I knew the more she acted like this, the more it proved she had a guilty conscience, desperate to wash the dirt off herself and then dump it all back on me. I was waiting too, waiting for her to show her true colors. Despite all my precautions and calculations, I still underestimated her ruthlessness. That weekend, Eleanor sent me back to my second-floor bedroom to do homework early that morning, while she pushed a sleeping Leo out onto the second-floor balcony to enjoy the sun. I looked up from my homework, the sense of unease in my heart growing stronger. And sure enough. The moment Arthur pushed open the front door, a loud crash, followed by Eleanor’s shrill scream, echoed from the staircase. “Lily! How could you push Leo!” Arthur’s steps, just inside the door, abruptly halted. He looked up to see me standing in the second-floor hallway, while Leo, wheelchair and all, lay overturned at the bottom of the stairs.

I clenched my hands until my nails bit into my palms. Calm. Breathe. “Daddy, I didn’t. I was in my room doing homework. Eleanor…she was on the balcony upstairs. She was watching him.” I let my voice waver, the perfect picture of a scared little girl. Arthur held an unconscious Leo, his bloodshot eyes fixed on me, like a wild beast about to lose control. Eleanor immediately interjected, “I told Lily to watch Leo upstairs, then I went next door to Mrs. Harrison’s to borrow a cup of sugar! Mrs. Harrison can vouch for me!” I sneered internally. What a perfect ‘golden cicada shedding its shell’ trick. She had timed Arthur’s return precisely, deliberately going downstairs to find a neighbor to vouch for her. Sure enough, Mrs. Harrison, who was always close with Eleanor, immediately pushed through the crowd, chiming in with a righteous expression. “That’s right, Arthur, Eleanor just got back from my place with the sugar, saying she was going to make your favorite pot roast! I saw her enter the yard myself!” After she finished, she didn’t forget to point a finger at me, adding with feigned distress, “But your daughter, Lily, when we came over, we saw her standing on the second floor, just staring coldly downstairs, without any reaction! Oh, Lily, how can your heart be so cruel? Was it you who deliberately left the gate open last time when Leo got hurt?” Her words immediately stirred up a storm. The surrounding neighbors immediately began to chatter, everyone talking at once. “Exactly, that kid doesn’t look like she’s innocent.” “So young, and already so jealous. What will she be like later?” Eleanor brought a perfect, trembling hand to her face and dissolved into sobs, going limp against Arthur. “Don’t blame her, Arthur. Last time with the gate…it must have been an accident. Maybe this time was too…” Every word meticulously designed to convict me. Arthur’s gaze completely hardened. He had seen it. He had seen Eleanor rushing in from outside the yard, frantic. And me? I was just standing on the second floor, a cold, indifferent bystander. Seeing was believing. “Last time, I saw you pull Leo back with my own eyes, and I believed you.” Arthur’s voice was terribly hoarse. “Now, I saw you push him down the stairs with my own eyes! What more do you have to say for yourself!” The trust in his eyes instantly crumbled, replaced by an unyielding disgust. “You don’t have a single trace of fear on your face, Lily. Was even saving Leo last time just an act for me?” Tears instantly welled up in my eyes, and I cried out, “It wasn’t me! It was the man Eleanor brought home! The same man from last time! That’s why Eleanor had time to go to Mrs. Harrison’s!” “Dad, don’t you believe me?” With all my might, I cried out. “Call the police! Let them check for fingerprints on the wheelchair, and they’ll prove I’m innocent!” Seeing Arthur’s arm around Eleanor loosen slightly, I knew my words were working. I choked back a sob, but my gaze was fixed on the unconscious Leo in his arms. “Dad, if there’s really a bad person hiding in our home who would hurt Leo, what will happen to him later?” Those words were like a needle, precisely piercing Arthur’s most vulnerable spot. Eleanor’s face instantly went deathly pale. She bit her lip hard, then as if making a sudden decision, she abruptly looked up, her eyes misty with tears, at Arthur. “That’s what I should be saying to you! Our family of three was doing perfectly fine. If it weren’t for a plague like you in this house, how would we never have a day of peace!” She spoke tearfully, every word seemingly wrenched from her very soul. “Arthur, I gave up everything to be with you, to bear your son. How could I possibly harm our own flesh and blood? I cook you delicious meals in countless ways every day, and I keep this house perfectly in order. Have you forgotten all that?” “It doesn’t matter if you misunderstand me, I’m just worried about you! I’m afraid you’ll be blinded by this ungrateful wretch, this viper I’ve raised, and regret it later!”

Eleanor’s words were heartfelt and sincere, imbued with all the grievances of a wronged wife. Arthur wavered. He remembered how, over the years, Eleanor had humbled herself, kept the house immaculate, and been utterly devoted to him. How could a woman who gave up everything to be with him, and bore his only son, possibly harm her own flesh and blood? Seizing the crack in his resolve, Eleanor pressed her advantage with the precision of a master tactician. Her face was a portrait of wounded dignity pushed to its limit. “Arthur, if you doubt me, investigate. But if you find nothing, you will have shattered more than my heart. You will have broken the trust this marriage is built on. If that happens, I will take Leo and leave. We will divorce!” The word “divorce” hit Arthur like two crushing blows. It worked. He convinced that she was the victim, driven to despair by his own wicked daughter. Mrs. Harrison, our ever-watchful neighbor, chose that moment to swoop in. “Eleanor, dear, don’t speak such words in anger! We’ve all seen your devotion to this family. It’s the girl who’s rotten-jealous of her own brother to the core!” “Exactly, quickly go and comfort your wife. A good wife like her is hard to find! If she leaves in anger, you’ll regret it too late!” The neighbors’ chattering became the final straw that broke Arthur’s remaining reason. He whirled around, his eyes blazing with fury, glaring at me. “Are you only happy when you’ve torn this family apart and created utter chaos? All those books you’ve read, have they all gone into a dog’s belly?!” Before he finished speaking, he turned and walked to the toolbox in the corner, pulling out a dark, heavy whip. It was the same whip we used to discipline our large German Shepherd when he was disobedient. It was covered in tiny barbs, and dried, blackened flesh still clung to the tip, giving off a mixed scent of rust and gore. “Since studying won’t make you a decent person, then right here at home, Dad will teach you how to behave!” CRACK! The whip whistled through the air and lashed my back. The neighbors feigned concern, murmuring, “Don’t go too far,” but their eyes couldn’t hide their approval. “Serves her right! Disobedient children need to be disciplined!” Eleanor, holding Leo, a smug smile playing on her lips, looked at me like a lamb about to be slaughtered. “Dad, it wasn’t me! Call the police. Check for fingerprints!” I choked out, the metallic tang of blood flooding my mouth as I bit down on my own tongue. Arthur didn’t hear me. With a flick of his wrist, what seemed like a gentle tug sent the whip’s barbs deep into my flesh, then ripped them out, a searing, tearing pain. I hated it! I hated it so much I trembled! Why? Even with a second chance, even planning every move, was I still trapped in this nightmare? Just as I desperately closed my eyes, believing I was doomed to repeat the past, Arthur’s second whip was already raised high, aimed straight for my eyes! I was finished. At that critical moment, Leo, unconscious in Eleanor’s arms, stirred. A faint whimper escaped him. “No… don’t hit Lily…” Everything froze. Leo forced his eyes open. With all his might, he cried out. “It was a man! A man who smelled like cologne pushed me!”

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After three years of my intermittent amnesia, I happened to overhear my husband, Liam Stone, chatting with his friends. “Liam, Elara blanks out every few months. You make us take shifts pretending to be you. What if one of us catches real feelings?” “Why would I worry?” Liam laughed, a wild, unbridled sound. “Elara ‘s libido is practically nonexistent. As long as you keep your hands to yourself, she won’t be starting anything.” “But don’t get any ideas about making out with her. When I’m finished having my fun, I’m returning to my marriage.” For three years, every time I lost my memory, the men who held my hand, hugged me, and even shared a bed with me, were never the real Liam. Three years. Nine blackouts. Nine stand-ins. But what they didn’t know was my memory had returned two years ago. My ninth “husband” arrived home to find me staring blankly at the sofa. A smooth voice cut through my thoughts. “Elara, I’m home.” I turned my head to look at the man at the door. “Who are you?” I frowned, feigning confusion. “Are you my husband? I thought my husband’s name was Liam Stone.” The man froze for a second, then quickly retorted. “No! Uh… I’m a friend of your husband’s! Don’t worry, I’ll call him right now and tell him to get over here.” With that, he pulled out his phone and hurried to the balcony. “Liam, Elara’s lost her memory again! Whose turn is it this time? Get over here and relieve me!” I stayed by the window, listening as Liam’s friend made excuses into the phone. “Liam, Elara is too clingy, we have to watch her 24/7, we can’t handle it!” “Yeah, Elara’s great and all, but she’s way too controlling. What guy doesn’t like to stray once in a while?” “How about you just go back yourself, Liam?” “No way.” Liam’s lazy voice came through the speaker. “I’m still having fun. Who’s gonna cover for me back home? Come on, we’re brothers. You can’t just leave me hanging like this?” Amidst their excuses, a cool, clear voice spoke up. “I’ll do it.” I recognized it instantly. It was Aidan Walker, Liam’s best friend. Aidan was known as the notoriously unapproachable heartthrob in our circle. Rumor had it, he’d been single for all thirty years of his life. When Liam first suggested finding someone to impersonate my husband, Aidan was the first to object. But now, he was interested in playing this game, too? Half an hour later, the front door clicked open. Aidan walked in, backlit by the evening sun. “Elara, I’m home.” His cool voice had a hint of magnetism. I stood up, watching the tall, handsome man before me. “Are you my husband, Liam Stone?” Aidan cleared his throat into his fist. “Sorry. Work ran late. I should have called.” Just as he finished speaking, his phone rang. Aidan made an apologetic gesture, then took the call on the balcony. Through the earpiece, I heard Liam’s nonchalant voice. “Oh, right. Aidan. Forgot to mention. You can hold her hand or hug her. But don’t sleep with her. No matter what, she’s still my wife.” “Got it,” Aidan’s voice was low. For three years, no matter how those men pretended to be Liam, they only ever held my hand or hugged me. They never crossed the line. For three years, there were no photos of us in the house, no identification documents of any man. They naturally assumed I wouldn’t find out. And I played dumb, pretending to know nothing. But this time, I wanted to play a different game. I walked over and actively wrapped my arms around Aidan’s waist. “Even with no memory, something about you feels…familiar. You must be my husband.” I squeezed Aidan’s waist tightly, and didn’t forget to run my hand over his firm abs. Aidan’s body stiffened for a second. He quickly pushed me away. “What’s wrong?” I asked innocently. “I lost my memory. Don’t you want me anymore?” “…I do.” Aidan’s eyes flickered away slightly, his voice hoarse. My fingers went to the buttons of his shirt. “It’s so cold today. We’d be warmer in bed?” His throat worked. “Okay.” That night, we shared the bed. An unspoken agreement to lie there, perfectly still.

The next day, Aidan took me to a bar, saying he wanted to reintroduce me to his friends. As soon as we entered the private room, we saw Liam passionately kissing a woman. Aidan cleared his throat, interrupting them. Liam saw us, froze for a second, then slowly stood up. “Hi, I’m Aidan Walker, Liam’s childhood friend.” Liam extended his hand to me, introducing her unhurriedly. “And this is my girlfriend, Chloe Davies.” “Oh,” I nodded, but didn’t take his hand. Chloe Davies. Of course, I knew her. Liam’s first love. They had broken up due to family reasons, then secretly rekindled things when I lost my memory. Liam’s unwillingness to return to our marriage for three years was all because of her. There were many of Liam’s other friends in the room, several of whom had pretended to be my husband. Now, they all casually teased me: “Elara, you lost your memory again? Our Liam is such a great guy, no matter how many times you forget, he’ll always stick by you!” “Yeah, Elara, you really need to cherish a man like that!” I curved my lips into a sarcastic smile, but said nothing. Aidan put his arm around me and we sat down on the sofa. As soon as we were seated, I picked up a piece of fruit and fed it to him. “Husband, eat more.” In the dim light, I glimpsed Liam’s eyes flicking towards us. I leaned close to Aidan’s ear and deliberately nipped his earlobe. “Husband, you were poking me all night last night, it hurt so much~” Aidan’s face stiffened, and he awkwardly squeezed my hand. “Baby, stop it.” Liam gripped his wine glass tightly, his expression clearly displeased. Chloe, sitting beside him, jabbed with a sugary sweetness. “Elara, you’re a real witch. The man, who never so much as glances at a woman, has turned into a lovesick puppy over you.” At that, Liam’s friends, afraid I might catch on, all let out awkward laughs to smooth things over: “Haha, that just proves how strong Elara and Liam’s feelings are!” “Exactly, even with amnesia, it doesn’t stop them from showing affection!” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Liam take a sip of his drink, his face as black as charcoal. A wave of satisfaction washed over me, and I got up to go to the restroom. When I came out of the restroom, Chloe walked towards me. As we brushed past each other, “Splash!” she flung the red wine from her glass all over me. “Oh, I’m so sorry, my hand just slipped.” “Slap!” I raised my hand and slapped her hard across the face. “Sorry, my hand just slipped too.” The words had barely left my mouth when a furious shout came from behind me. “Elara, what are you doing!” Liam strode over. Chloe immediately threw herself into his arms, crying dramatically. “Honey, I just accidentally spilled wine on Elara, and she got angry and hit me. Now my head feels so dizzy.” Liam’s face was dark, furious. “Apologize to Chloe!” I sneered. “Who are you to tell me what to do?” “Elara!” Liam’s eyes were icy, his face terrifyingly grim. “Why have you become so arrogant and unruly after losing your memory?” “What I become has nothing to do with you.” I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him anymore. Just as I was about to turn away, Liam kicked me in the knee, forcing me to drop to my knees with a “thud.” “Elara, don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you lost your memory. Apologize to Chloe, now!” Looking at the enraged man before me, I felt nothing but pathetic and ridiculous. I had no parents, and in this huge city, Liam was my only anchor. We had been together for ten years, ever since we started dating in college. When he proposed, he swore he would always protect and love me, and would never betray me. But now, he had not only betrayed our marriage but was also getting physical with me for another woman. All those sweet words and solemn vows had become a cruel joke. Amidst my grief and indignation, Aidan’s cold, sharp voice sounded from behind me. “Don’t touch her!” I endured the pain in my knee, stood up quickly, slapped Liam across the face, then hid in Aidan’s arms and complained, “Husband, your friend is so rude. He bullied me!” Aidan’s expression was grim, his eyes shadowed, looking at Liam with a warning glare. “Don’t you dare bully Elara.” Liam gritted his teeth, a hint of violence on his stern face. Chloe, still shrinking in Liam’s arms, sneered disdainfully. “What’s so great about a girl who’s been passed around and a guy who’s picking up the scraps?” “Shut up!” Liam and Aidan’s voices rang out simultaneously.

“Chloe, Elara may be wrong, but you can’t insult her like that,” Liam’s voice was cold and hard. Aidan’s brows furrowed. He looked at Chloe, his eyes icy. “Don’t let me hear you badmouthing Elara again.” With that, he put his arm around me and we left quickly. We went straight home. The moment we walked in, I wrapped my arms around Aidan’s waist, my hands running over his solid abs. “Darling, you were so hot protecting me just now, I loved it!” Aidan’s ears tinged red, and he cleared his throat. “As long as you liked it.” I reached out to undo his belt. “Darling, it’s too cold. How about we go to bed and warm up with some exercise?” “It’s still early.” “Who says we have to wait for a certain time to go to bed?” I kissed his Adam’s apple, coaxing softly. “I lost my memory, and I can’t remember what being intimate feels like… Can you help me remember?” Aidan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice rough. “Elara… stop teasing.” I simply pushed him onto the sofa. Aidan struggled for two seconds, then flipped over, pinning me beneath him. From afternoon until late into the night, Aidan was like a starved wolf finally off the leash, he was insatiable, devouring every moment. I was so exhausted I fell into a deep sleep. In a hazy state, I heard Aidan ask hoarsely in my ear: “Elara, did you really lose your memory?” I opened my mouth, but said nothing. Did it matter, whether it was true or not? Actually, I wanted to ask Aidan the same thing. You clearly hated this game of playing house, so why did you finally join in? … The next day, Aidan took me to the hospital for a follow-up on my neurological condition. Unexpectedly, we ran into Liam and Chloe in the lobby. Chloe was the first to call out to us. “Elara, Ai… Liam, what a coincidence.” She touched her lower abdomen, speaking boastfully. “I’m pregnant, here for my prenatal check-up. What about you two?” Aidan glanced at her coolly, his tone detached. “Just bringing Elara for a check-up.” Liam said nothing, but his gaze was fixed on Aidan’s and my tightly clasped hands. Suddenly, his eyes moved up, noticing the dense hickeys on my neck. “What happened to your neck?” His voice rose sharply. I deliberately looked at Aidan coyly. “You’ll have to ask my husband.” Liam turned to Aidan, his stern gaze holding a dark intensity. I took the opportunity to leave. “I still need to get a CT scan. You guys chat.” After I left, Chloe also went into the ultrasound room. Once it was quiet, Liam stared coldly at Aidan, his voice frigid. “Aidan Walker, did you touch her?”

Aidan lit a cigarette. In the curling smoke, he mumbled, “No.” “Then what are those red marks on her neck?” Aidan paused for two seconds. “Mosquito bites, maybe.” Liam frowned, half-believing, half-doubting. Aidan blew out a smoke ring and sneered. “Besides, what if I did? You don’t want to be with her anyway, so why not just get a divorce?” Liam’s reaction was furious. “No, we can’t divorce! Elara and I have known each other for so many years, there’s still something between us. It’s just… now Chloe’s pregnant, and at this point, I can’t leave her.” “Ha.” Aidan scoffed disdainfully. “Trying to have your cake and eat it too, Liam. You’re such a scumbag.” Liam was silent for a moment, then, as if making a firm decision, he said, “Aidan, the next time Elara loses her memory, let’s switch back.” “We’ll see when she loses her memory next time.” Without a definite answer, Liam grew even more uneasy. He stared intently at Aidan, his face grim. “I just feel like the atmosphere between you and Elara is all wrong, Aidan. Promise me, you absolutely won’t touch her!” Aidan stubbed out his cigarette, opening his mouth to speak just as I strode over, CT report held aloft like a verdict. “I have good news! The doctor says my neural pathways have fully regenerated. No more memory loss!” Liam went rigid. “That’s…impossible.” Aidan’s face, however, split into a genuine, radiant grin. “Really? Elara, that’s incredible!! Come on, let’s go home and celebrate!” I slid my arm through his, turning to leave. But Liam grabbed my arm. “Elara, don’t go! Actually, I-” I cut him off impatiently. “Mr. Stone, even if you’re my husband’s friend, touching me without permission is really classless.” Without a backward glance, I walked away, leaving him standing alone. Back home, Aidan swept me into the bedroom before the lights could come on. His kisses were fierce, raining down on my neck. “Elara,” he breathed, the word ragged. “Never leave me. Promise me.” Lost in the darkness, I murmured. “Okay.” At my word, Aidan became a beast unleashed. He claimed me with a fierce, tireless hunger. Just as we were nearing the peak, the lights slashed on. In the doorway, Liam stood still, his eyes burning with rage.

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“As long as the baby comes to term, that healthy little heart will save Aurora. That was the deal from the beginning. Marry Amelia. Get her pregnant. All for this.” My world shattered. He had raced into the flames to save me, not out of love, but because my womb carried the spare parts for his true love. I wasn’t his heart. I was the incubator for a heart. The disposable vessel. And my purpose was nearly served. Amelia POV Alexander loved me. All of New York knew it. For a blissful, foolish stretch of time, I believed it too. When my fingers turned to ice after hours with the cello, he’d gather them into his own warm, broad palms, his brow creased with a concern that felt utterly real. “My Amelia’s hands are meant to create beauty, not endure pain.” In the Sterling mansion, I had been a ghost. The light, the warmth, every smile-all flowed to my sister, Aurora. Then Alexander came. He didn’t just notice me. He pulled me forcibly from the toxic swamp of my birth family. He gave me a wedding they still talk about. He gave me Sycamore Estate, with its cathedral of rustling plane trees. Most of all, he gave me a home. I was naive enough to believe this was the beginning of happiness. Until the fire. It didn’t just engulf the yacht. It turned every dream I owned to ash. It was the anniversary celebration of Pierce Group. The yacht cruised slowly along the Hudson River, packed with Manhattan’s elite. Halfway through the dinner, he presented me with a sapphire necklace in front of all the guests. “Amelia, you are my heart.” He whispered in my ear, his gaze burning with an intensity that took my breath away. Leaning into his strong embrace, I closed my eyes in contentment, feeling I had no regrets in this life. But catastrophe doesn’t knock. It explodes. The fire erupted without warning, thick smoke billowing out, sharp alarms tearing through the facade of luxury. People screamed and fled; the scene was pure chaos. I was shoved violently, a tearing pain shooting through my ankle, leaving me unable to move. In the confusion, I saw my parents-Mr. and Mrs. Sterling. Their faces were etched with panic. When they saw me on the ground, their steps faltered for only a fleeting moment before they unhesitatingly stepped over me, rushing in the opposite direction. I heard my mother’s heartbroken cry. “Aurora! Where is my Aurora!” They didn’t even spare me a glance. At that moment, my heart felt like it had been plunged into the frozen Atlantic, even the pain turning numb. The smoke was suffocating. Flames clawed at the doorframe, and the air itself burned in my lungs. I curled up in a corner in despair, my consciousness on the verge of being swallowed by darkness. Just then, a tall figure forcefully burst through the warped door, rushing in against the fiery glow. It was Alexander. His usually immaculate golden-brown hair was wild, his bespoke suit scarred by burns and sparks. He stripped off his jacket, wrapped my slender body tightly, and swept me into his arms. A burning piece of wood crashed heavily onto his back. I distinctly heard his muffled groan, but the arm holding me tightened even more. “Don’t be scared, I’ll get you out.” His voice cut through the inferno, anchoring my drifting soul. Held securely in his embrace, those dozens of feet through the sea of flames became the hottest brand on my memory. I thought, even if the whole world abandoned me, Alexander Pierce wouldn’t. When I woke again, I smelled the antiseptic of a hospital. I lay in a VIP room, Alexander by my side. Seeing me awake, his deep eyes filled with joy and relief. “Amelia, you’re awake? Do you feel unwell anywhere?” I weakly shook my head, wanting to check if he was hurt. He pressed me gently back onto the pillows. “I’m fine, just superficial burns. What matters is that you and the baby are safe.” Baby? I instinctively stroked my flat stomach. The doctor had checked me and said I only suffered from smoke inhalation and a twisted ankle, nothing serious. The baby was also safe. Alexander, however, was still worried and insisted I stay for observation. My parents and Aurora also came, thanking Alexander profusely. My mother held Aurora’s hand, weeping like a broken doll, as if her most cherished youngest daughter was the one who had just narrowly escaped death. After Alexander escorted them out, the medication made me drowsy, and I drifted back to sleep. Time lost all meaning. I was pulled back to awareness by hushed, urgent voices just outside the door. I didn’t open my eyes, but their words pierced my ears, clear as day. It was my mother’s urgent voice. “Alexander…the baby. Amelia’s baby. The fire didn’t…harm it, did it?” “It’s fine. The doctors have confirmed. The fetus is perfectly healthy.” Alexander’s voice was as steady as ever, but devoid of the usual tenderness. “I was careless. I shouldn’t have put her in danger. This child is too important for Aurora.” Aurora? My heart constricted fiercely, a chilling cold spreading through my limbs. Then I heard my father sigh heavily. “Aurora’s heart probably can’t wait much longer. Alexander, once the baby is born-” “I’ve already made arrangements, Dad.” Alexander cut him off, his voice cold as ancient ice. “As long as the baby comes to term, that healthy little heart will save Aurora. That was the deal from the beginning. Marry Amelia. Get her pregnant. All for this.” To marry Amelia? To get her pregnant? It was all for this day. To take the heart of my unborn child to save Aurora? Boom-my world shattered into a million pieces. He had raced into the flames to save me, not out of love, but because my womb carried the spare parts for his true love. I wasn’t his heart. I was just a vessel, an incubator for a heart, expendable at any moment. Cold liquid flowed into my veins through the IV drip, and also into my heart. I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the blood in my body freeze inch by agonizing inch.

Amelia POV I don’t know how I walked out of that hospital room. In my mind, only Alexander’s cold, ruthless words echoed repeatedly. Marry Amelia, get her pregnant, it was all for this day. I slid down the wall to the floor, my chest aching, suffocating me. Tears streamed down, blurring the entire world. All the good he had given me, all his preferential treatment, it was all just for this as-yet-unformed heart in my belly. I was such a fool, grateful to him even as he ensnared me in his scheme. Just as I was on the verge of collapse, a familiar and shrill voice, laced with unconcealed triumph, drifted from behind the emergency exit door. It was Aurora. “…Don’t worry, everything’s going smoothly. Alexander is obsessed with me; he’ll do anything for me. Marry that Amelia? He’s just using her uterus.” My sobbing stopped instantly. I forced myself to stand, inching towards the door, peeking through the glass pane. Aurora was casually leaning against the window, talking on her phone, her face twisted with a malice completely unlike her usual gentle demeanor. “Congenital heart defect? Ha! You actually believe that? It’s just a few falsified medical records. Someone like Alexander, blinded by guilt and ‘love,’ believes whatever I tell him.” My mind went blank. Fake? Even that heart condition, which had burdened me with guilt for over a decade, was a lie? “He fell in love at first sight with a girl playing the cello under the sycamore tree all those years ago. He was practically blind. All he remembered was a white dress. He never knew it was Amelia, not me.” “I simply took her identity, played her role, and he bought it hook, line, and sinker. Now, he’s going to give me Amelia’s baby’s heart to cure a non-existent illness. Isn’t that hilarious?” “Once I have the heart and stage a little ‘miraculous recovery,’ I’ll be his beloved, plucked from death’s door. And Amelia? No baby, no purpose. Do you honestly believe Alexander will look at that empty husk twice?” The voice on the other end of the phone was indistinct, but Aurora’s triumphant laughter pricked my heart like needles. So, he had loved the wrong person. And I was the girl under the tree. I was the one he was looking for. My fingers turned white as I pulled out my phone, calmly pressed the record button, and captured all of Aurora’s further malicious plans. Only when Aurora hung up the phone did I put away my cell and walk back to my room. Alexander returned shortly, carrying the chicken soup I loved. Seeing me sitting quietly by the bed, he sighed with relief. “Why are you up? Shouldn’t you get more rest?” He walked over, habitually reaching out to touch my head. I instinctively flinched, avoiding his touch. His hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I looked up and smiled at him. “I just feel a bit unwell. My ankle is still aching, I think it might be worse than we thought.” Alexander immediately frowned. “I’ll go call the doctor for you.” “But…” I feigned hesitation, gently stroking my belly, my voice laced with worry, “the doctor said medication for pregnant women can have side effects and might affect the fetus. I’m a little scared.” I could feel Alexander’s gaze immediately fix on my stomach. “Alexander, I’m so afraid. I don’t want there to be any risk to this baby,” I said, my eyes welling up, my voice trembling. Sure enough, his expression darkened. What he cared about most was the absolute health of this child. “Then let’s not worry about it for now,” he decided immediately. “But I really am uncomfortable,” I looked at him, my voice breaking into a whimper. “The doctor said if I leave it untreated, it could lead to permanent damage. I’m scared… this kind of stress might harm the baby.” That sentence hit his weak spot. Alexander’s expression shifted repeatedly before he walked out of the room. He returned shortly, followed by a woman in a crisp white coat. I recognized her instantly. Dr. Harper. She was the chief obstetrician at this private hospital, but more importantly, she had been Aurora’s best friend since their university sorority days. Harper looked at me with a professionally detached gaze, though a flicker of disdain crossed her eyes. “Alexander, Amelia seems very stressed, which could induce contractions. While her vitals are stable, I strongly recommend a special sedative to soothe her nerves, along with some nutrient fluids to help the fetus develop.” Harper said, taking a tray with a small glass from a nurse. Alexander hesitated, his brows furrowed. “Is it safe for the baby?” “Of course. I’m Aurora’s best friend. Do you think I’d risk anything that could harm her future nephew? It’s merely to grant her peaceful rest. And rest, Alexander, is the greatest gift we can give the baby now.” Alexander nodded, his guard dropping instantly. He never questioned anyone in Aurora’s inner circle. “Thank you, Harper,” he said, then turned to me, his voice softening. “Amelia, listen to the doctor. Drink this and get some sleep.” Just then, Alexander’s phone rang-an urgent business call-and he stepped out into the hallway. Silence filled the room. Only Harper and I remained. She walked to the bedside, holding the glass of cloudy brown liquid. The professional smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. She leaned close, her voice hissing in my ear like a snake. “Amelia, Aurora is too kind for her own good. But I’m not. This bastard in your belly is the biggest obstacle between Aurora and Alexander. Once this ‘problem’ is dealt with, Alexander will kick you out, right back where you belong.” She had no idea. She had absolutely no idea that Aurora needed this baby alive. Aurora needed the heart. In Harper’s mind, she was merely fulfilling the duty of a loyal friend, eliminating a rival’s leverage. She believed that by inducing a miscarriage, she would ensure Aurora and Alexander’s marriage proceeded smoothly. The irony was almost too perfect to bear. Aurora’s most devoted ally was about to unwittingly burn down her entire life’s scheme.

Amelia POV Harper pressed the glass to my lips, her eyes full of menace. “This is a strong ‘calm-down’ medication. You might feel a little stomach ache, but you’ll sleep soundly. If you don’t drink it, I have plenty of ways to make sure you won’t stay in this hospital.” I looked at the cloudy liquid, and suddenly, everything became crystal clear in my mind. If I drank this, my baby would die, but he would die whole. He wouldn’t suffer the prolonged agony of being kept alive only to be cruelly murdered for his heart. If I refused and gave birth, my child would face a fate far more cruel than death. “Lord, forgive me,” I murmured silently. “I am not the one holding the blade. I am merely… ceasing to struggle.” I looked up, my hands trembling as I took the glass. “Alright,” I whispered, “I’ll drink it.” Under Harper’s triumphant gaze, I tilted my head back and swallowed the bitter, pungent concoction in one gulp. Harper clapped her hands softly, a satisfied smirk on her face. “Good girl. Sleep now. When you wake up, everything will be ‘better.’” She turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her. I leaned back on the pillow, waiting for the judgment to come. Harper, you, with your own hands, had destroyed Aurora’s only lifeline. The medication worked quickly, but it was potent. At midnight, a thunderstorm raged over Manhattan. The thunder rattled the windowpanes, drowning out my heavy breathing. A violent spasm seized me, my abdomen twisting and tearing, as if an invisible hand reached inside me, ripping everything to shreds. I bit down hard, my teeth aching, cold sweat drenching my hospital gown. The pain was clear, brutal, absolute. But I didn’t utter a sound. No operating table, no cold surgical instruments. Only the darkness of the VIP suite, and the slow draining of my life. I curled up under the blankets, feeling a warm gush of fluid from my body. Every time a life departs, a part of a mother’s soul breaks. I remembered Alexander’s smile the first time he learned I was pregnant. I remembered the fragile, fake bubble of happiness I once lived in. I’m sorry, my baby. Mama couldn’t protect you. Mama only hoped you could leave this dirty world unharmed. Better to return to God than to become a harvest for the wicked. I don’t know how long it was before the pain subsided, replaced by an empty, chilling loneliness. Gathering my last strength, I dragged my exhausted body to the bathroom and cleaned up the evidence. I gazed at my reflection in the mirror-my face pale as a ghost, my eyes dry, not a single tear trace, only a deathly silence. It was over. The “medicine” that could save Aurora was gone. The next morning, Harper came to the hospital, ostensibly for rounds. She dismissed the nurses and performed a quick examination. Seeing the results, a triumphant smile played on her lips. “Looks like you slept well,” she said. “Some things are just not meant to last. Now, you’re just a useless ex-wife.” She thought she had done Aurora a huge favor. I looked at her, feigning the weak, helpless, heartbroken victim. I put on a terrified front, widening my eyes. “My stomach… why does it feel so empty…” “Shh.” Harper pressed a finger to my lips. “Keep your voice down. Unless you want Alexander to know you’re too weak to carry his precious heir, then keep quiet. I’ll tamper with the medical records. As long as you stay silent, no one will know for now.” To avoid a malpractice lawsuit or an investigation into illegal drugs, she offered to help me cover it up. This was exactly what I wanted. “Please.” I clutched her sleeve, pretending to burst into tears. “Don’t tell Alexander. He’ll kill me.” “Hmph. You’d better leave the Pierce family soon.” She flung my hand away, strutting out of the room like a queen. I watched her retreating back, a faint, cold smile playing on my lips. Now, only one person in the world knew about my baby’s death. As long as Dr. Harper disappeared, this secret could be kept until I was ready to drop the bombshell.

Amelia POV I stayed in the hospital for two more days, behaving unusually docilely. Alexander visited me daily, completely unaware. He looked at my abdomen with anticipation-where a prosthesis was carefully padded. The night before I was discharged, Alexander sat by my bed, peeling an apple. “Amelia, you’ve been so brave these past few days. Harper says you’re recovering very well.” I picked up a slice of apple, chewed slowly, then casually remarked, “Yes, it’s all thanks to Harper. You know, Alexander… when I chatted with Harper, she confided her dream to me. She’s always wanted to be a researcher at UCLA Medical Center. It’s one of the top obstetrics and gynecology research institutions in the world.” Alexander paused, the knife suspended above the fruit. “Really? She never mentioned it to me.” “She’s too proud, too embarrassed to ask. Because she’s Aurora’s best friend, she didn’t want you to think she was using her connections,” I sighed, my tone serious. “But she’s taken such good care of me. I’d feel so guilty if we didn’t help her. Besides, if she studies there, think of what excellent medical care she could provide Aurora when she returns.” At the mention of “taking care of Aurora,” Alexander’s interest was piqued. “You have a point,” he nodded. “The Pierce Group has sponsorship funds at UCLA. Talent shouldn’t be buried. This would be a career-changing opportunity for her.” “And it has to be soon,” I added, pressing my advantage. “I heard the program starts next week. If she misses it, she’ll have to wait a whole year.” “Alright. I’ll have my assistant arrange it right away.” Alexander was always decisive, pulling out his phone on the spot. As he dialed, I lowered my head and took another bite of the apple. Crisp. Sweet. The next morning, Dr. Harper was summoned to the hospital director’s office. Instead of an inquiry into medical malpractice, she was offered a prestigious, fully funded scholarship to UCLA, along with a first-class ticket departing that very afternoon. Rumor had it she nearly fainted with joy. She presumed Aurora had pulled strings with Alexander for her. She barely packed, rushing to JFK Airport to catch her flight to the West Coast. She never dreamed that this so-called “bright future” was a golden cage I had built to silence her. I needed her far away so she wouldn’t discover that Aurora didn’t want the baby to die-she wanted its heart. If Harper had stayed, she would have quickly realized her mistake. … I stayed in the hospital for three more days, refusing all visitors. Alexander sent flowers and health supplements through his assistant, which I sent back. When he called, I pretended to be very tired, telling him to focus on his work. He praised me for being “understanding.” He had no idea I was recovering from a mother’s most profound trauma. The day of my discharge, the weather was overcast. Alexander’s assistant waited promptly at the door, respectfully opening the car for me. “Madam, Mr. Pierce sent me to take you home.” “No need,” I refused calmly, turning to hail a yellow cab. In the rearview mirror, I could see the assistant’s bewildered face. The car drove towards Sycamore Estate. As we neared the entrance, I asked the driver to stop a good distance away. Through the car window, I saw an incredibly heartwarming scene. Alexander, my parents, were all doting on Aurora, showering her with affection. Aurora, dressed in an expensive white dress, pouted playfully, charming Alexander. My mother lovingly tidied her disheveled hair. The four of them stood together, like a perfect painting. And I, like an outsider who couldn’t bear the light of day, hid in a taxi, spying on everything that should have been mine. My husband. My parents. Their devotion, a river that flowed only to the impostor who lived in my stolen skin. And I had just ended an innocent life, all alone. The familiar, rending ache bloomed again in my chest. This time, I didn’t look away. I let my eyes drink in the scene, let it sear itself onto the marrow of my bones. I never forgot that these people had forfeited all mercy. Only when their laughter had dissolved into the villa did I slip inside through the side door. The villa was empty. They were probably all in the side parlor with Aurora. I went straight upstairs to the bedroom and dialed the number of the Mother Superior at St. Jude’s Abbey. “Mother Superior, it’s Amelia.” “Amelia, may God be with you,” the nun’s voice was calm and peaceful. “Mother, I wanted to ask, does the abbey still take in broken hearts?” My voice had a slight tremor. There was a long silence on the other end. “The Lord’s door is always open for you. Come, St. Jude’s Abbey is always at your service.” “Thank you.” Then, I pulled out my phone again and drafted a scheduled email. The recipient was Alexander. The attachment was a photo. A photo of that tiny, fully formed fetus, suspended in a jar of formalin. I stared at the heartbreaking picture, my finger hovering over the send button, yet unable to press it. Not yet. I would wait for the perfect moment to drag them all into hell.

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To please my wealthy husband, I signed up for an embarrassing “Wives’ Training Camp.” The coach pressed down on both sides of my knees, forcing my thighs to spread outward. The tearing pain made me gasp heavily: “Ahh, Jake, no more…” A sly glint flashed in his eyes: “You have to train your body to be soft enough—only then will men like it.” 1 My name is Sophia, I’m 30 years old, and I’ve been married to my rich husband Richard for almost three years. Originally, all I had to do was enjoy my comfortable life as a trophy wife, but recently I found some inappropriate messages on his phone. It gave me a sense of crisis. I met Richard through Anna’s “How to Marry a Millionaire” coaching program—I spent nearly $200,000 on her course to land him. If he cheats, fine, but if that clueless little mistress tries to take my place, wouldn’t all my effort have been wasted? “Mr. Richard, tonight I’m wearing black stockings waiting for you~” “Mr. Richard, if you ever feel unsatisfied with your wife, come to me, okay?” All the messages were from someone named Taylor. Taylor is his secretary. Even though Richard never replied, I had a feeling something had already happened between them. The bathroom door opened. I quickly put the phone back. Richard walked out with just a towel around his waist. Tonight was the first time this month he’d come home. I’d specially put on sexy lingerie, but he only glanced at it, seeming uninterested. I felt a little deflated. “Honey, you’re finally home—do you like what I’m wearing tonight?” I asked shyly. I twisted my body and looked at him with affectionate eyes. I clearly saw a slight movement under the towel. I hooked my arms around his neck and rubbed my full breasts against him. Soon the room grew steamy. I reached climax quickly. Richard sensed it and pulled away—but he hadn’t finished. “Honey, aren’t we continuing?” I asked, confused. For months it had been like this: he’d withdraw before finishing. That was what really worried me—if he wasn’t even interested in my body anymore, wouldn’t the mistress eventually replace me? “We’ll continue when you learn some new tricks. I still have work to do—I’m going to the study.” He threw out that line, got dressed, and left, leaving me lying alone on the bed, frustrated. Although Anna had personally trained me, my bedroom skills clearly couldn’t compare to those young vixens out there. This couldn’t go on—I hadn’t enjoyed my trophy-wife life nearly enough yet. The next day Richard went to work. I was about to head out for afternoon tea when Anna called. “Sophia, you free this afternoon? Same place for tea?” Anna and I stayed in touch often. With all my recent troubles and no one to talk to, her invitation was perfect. I happily agreed. The moment we met, she saw something was wrong. “How come in less than a month you look so worn out? Is the trophy-wife life not all it’s cracked up to be?” There was teasing in her tone. I sipped my latte and opened up: “It’s Richard—he seems to be cheating lately, and he’s not as passionate with me anymore.” Anna was the person I trusted most, so I was always direct with her. “Sweetie, men crave novelty. If you want to keep him, you need some new tricks,” Anna said with a knowing smirk. Her words echoed exactly what Richard had said—both telling me to learn something new. “I trained you myself—I know exactly what you’re missing. Come with me to a place; I guarantee it’ll fix your problem.” Now I was really curious. In elite circles, Anna was famous as a matchmaker. Countless wealthy men’s innocent wives had been introduced through her, so I had full confidence in her abilities. 2 Anna drove me to a high-end gym in downtown Manhattan. “Is this for body sculpting?” I asked, puzzled. My figure was already curvy in all the right places—pretty good, if I do say so myself. “You’ll see when we get inside,” Anna said mysteriously. At first the gym looked normal—just a luxury fitness center, nothing special. But then Anna led me to a side door. When she pushed it open, it was a completely different world. She guided me down a hallway lined with posters of gorgeous women showing off their bodies—nothing too unusual. At the end was another door. Though dimly lit, I could clearly read the large sign: “Wives’ Training Camp.” Instant shame washed over me—what on earth was this place? Anna pulled me inside. I was stunned by what I saw. A group of incredibly ripped male trainers were helping women perform highly suggestive, difficult bedroom positions. Anna and I sat on a nearby bench. “Just watch for now.” Every trainer had eight-pack abs, shirtless, their lightly tanned skin glistening with sweat—pure sex appeal. The women being put through the poses wore expressions of discomfort, yet upon closer look there was also a hint of frustrated desire. “Anna, what is this?” “Exactly what it looks like. It’s the Wives’ Training Camp. Wealthy wives who feel threatened come here to develop their bodies or learn new bedroom techniques to keep their husbands.” Anna gave me a meaningful glance. I’d only ever read about things like this in online erotica—never imagined it existed in real life. Anna pointed to a woman farther away whose legs were being pressed over her shoulders: “See her? That’s Vanessa, wife of a major real-estate tycoon. She’s almost forty.” I was still in shock when a man approached. “Hey Anna, want to grab coffee across the street?” Through Anna I learned this was Jake, head coach of the Wives’ Training Camp. Jake looked under thirty, over six feet tall with a muscular build. His tight workout pants outlined everything perfectly. I couldn’t help glancing there, then quickly looked away. God, I felt like a total perv. “Sophia’s husband hasn’t been fully satisfied in bed for the past couple of months. See if you have any courses that can help her keep him.” Anna was blunt—even in front of a guy my age—which made my face burn. Jake didn’t dodge the topic. “No problem. Many wives in the same situation have fixed it after our program. And Mrs. Sophia is so beautiful—our courses are just a boost.” His direct compliment flustered me. Who could resist appreciation from a gorgeous, fit guy like him? Still, I hesitated. “Do these courses really work?” Anna and Jake exchanged a look. “If they didn’t, no one would come, right? And you trust me, don’t you?” Fair point, but I wanted to think it over. 3 After adding Jake on WhatsApp, I went home. That night Richard came back from work. He was leaving on another business trip soon, meaning another long stretch without intimacy. So I’d prepared scented candles for seduction. But Richard still wasn’t impressed. “Same old moves every time.” His tone was reproachful and impatient, leaving me even more discouraged. Late that night Jake messaged me. “Sorry Mrs. Sophia, just finished up. Here are a few of our course descriptions—take a look.” He sent the program details. The first was body flexibility training. Remembering today’s scenes, I felt shy. The second was advanced bedroom techniques—the photos made me blush. The third… live practice. My heart sank—if it involved real partners, wasn’t that cheating? No way. So I only signed up for the first two courses with Jake. Richard was snoring beside me while the animated demos on my phone made me restless. My hand slid downward on its own—I was already wet. The next day at noon, Jake greeted me warmly. “Mrs. Sophia, you’re in my group, so I’ll personally guide you through both courses.” I felt a secret thrill—my first impression of Jake had been good anyway. He took me to change into workout clothes. His strong hand gripped my wrist; my back pressed tightly against his chest. It had been so long since I’d felt a man’s raw strength. Richard was no slouch in bed, but we’d barely been intimate these past months—and I’m a woman with a high sex drive. The contact made me tense. Jake sensed it and whispered in my ear: “Relax, Mrs. Sophia. A woman’s body should be soft like water. These warm-ups are meant to fully loosen you up.” It made sense. But every move caused my hips to accidentally brush against his bulge, sending tingles through me. I took deep breaths, trying to stay calm, telling myself it was just normal training—don’t overthink it. Yet I couldn’t ignore his heavy breathing in my ear. Jake’s calloused fingers slid slowly from my arms down to my waist. “Most women are sensitive around the waist—relax it properly.” He gently kneaded as he spoke. I bit my lip, trying not to let him notice my reaction. If I went to the bathroom right now, I’d probably find myself soaked. The shameful physical response embarrassed and frustrated me, yet I couldn’t wait for the next move. “Alright, your body is fully relaxed now.” Warm-up finally over. I exhaled in relief, tiny beads of sweat on my forehead. Jake smiled. “Mrs. Sophia, do you not exercise much? You seem winded already.” I answered his teasing honestly: “Yeah, I’ve been slacking. I might even sign up for your regular gym later.” After a short break we began the official flexibility training. Since I’d paid for VIP, I had a private training room, which let me relax more. Jake had me lie flat on the mat, then gently spread my legs. I resisted a little. “Mrs. Sophia, relax. Only with enough flexibility can you do advanced positions.” He sounded completely professional, but my face burned. He adjusted me carefully while applying light pressure. Enduring the embarrassment, I let him position me—and strangely felt a thrill of submission. Jake pressed on both sides of my knees, forcing my thighs outward. 4 The tearing pain made me gasp: “Ahh, Coach, no more…” A sly glint flashed in his eyes: “You have to train your body to be soft enough—only then will your husband like it.”

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In the hotel restroom, I was cleaning my blouse soaked with milk stains when a pair of hands caressed my softness from behind. I grabbed that groping hand and threw him over my shoulder. My mother-in-law rushed up and slapped me across the face. Because I had fractured her precious son’s tailbone… Today was the baby’s one-month celebration party at a fancy downtown hotel in Chicago. I’d been bustling around since early morning. Even with the air-conditioner cranked up full blast, I was still sweating buckets. My husband pulled me aside and pointed at my chest. Seeing the hunger in his eyes, I smacked the back of his head. “Pervert, we’re surrounded by people!” But before I knew it, he dragged me into an empty corner, pulled up my blouse, and exposed the pair of full, white, round breasts underneath. They were already glistening with milk. “Honey, how did they get even bigger? I literally nursed from them this morning.” He looked all pitiful, but the desire in his eyes was impossible to hide. “Stop it, guests are arriving soon.” “Just one quick sip, babe.” “No… ah!” The heavy weight on my chest suddenly felt light the moment his mouth covered it, like a huge burden had been lifted. Guests, banquet—none of it mattered in that moment. “Hello?!Someone here?” The sudden shout snapped me back to reality. I quickly pushed my husband off, pulled my blouse down to my neck, and shot the man in front of me a warning glare before letting it go. The one who called out was my husband’s younger brother, Derek Winter. His gaze swept over us, lingered on my husband’s mouth for a second, and he flashed a knowing grin. Guess the kitten didn’t wipe the milk off his face properly. I pinched the soft flesh on my husband’s waist hard where Derek couldn’t see. Only then did he casually wipe the leftover milk from his lips, laugh it off, and say, “The coconut water at the banquet is really good—kids love it.” Then he hurriedly dragged Derek away, leaving me alone in peace. I let out a huge sigh of relief, double-checked that everything looked fine, and went out to greet the guests. My mother-in-law handed our daughter over to me. That’s when I noticed a small silver bracelet on the baby’s wrist. “Thanks, Mom. Sweetie~ isn’t Grandma so good to you?” She also gave the baby a thick red envelope—probably a few thousand dollars. Everyone around said I had a great mother-in-law and Emily had a wonderful grandma. But her next words silenced the entire room. She pulled out two heavy gold bracelets and a $10,000 red envelope, dangled them in front of baby Emily, then put them away. Confused, I watched as she said to my daughter, “Emily, hurry up and give Grandma a little brother. Once he’s born, Grandma will buy you a silver necklace.” “Mom, Emily’s only one month old and you’re already pushing me to have another? And why does a boy get gold bracelets while Emily gets silver? That’s blatant favoritism! How will Emily feel when she grows up—that Grandma doesn’t like her but loves her brother?” The moment the words left my mouth, she slapped me hard. “How dare you stir trouble? You give birth to a girl and suddenly think you’re above everyone? I love grandsons and granddaughters equally—it’s just that girls can’t handle heavy gold.” I held my stinging cheek, wanting to argue, when my husband suddenly stepped in, stuffed a red envelope into my hand, and pulled us apart. “Mom, how could you be so forgetful? You even misplaced the money.” He claimed his mom had cashed out the gold bracelet money into two red envelopes and simply forgot one. I didn’t believe a word of that nonsense. She’s from a small rural town in the Midwest and has always looked down on me for being a city girl from Chicago. My husband and I met in college, dated for seven years before marrying. He loves me—I know that—but he can’t stand up to his mom. He says she raised him and his brother alone, scraping by and even selling family belongings to put him through college. Before marriage, I admired his filial piety. After marriage, even though she constantly made things difficult for me, I didn’t want to put him in a tough spot, so I endured it again and again. I didn’t want to cause a scene on such a happy day, so I excused myself to the restroom to compose myself. I splashed water on my face. Looking up at my slightly red eyes in the mirror, I felt a wave of grievance. Water splashed onto my chest, mixing with milk and soaking a large patch. I’d deliberately worn a white button-down blouse today—the wet spots made the pale mounds faintly visible… Since it was the women’s restroom, I felt safe enough to take off the blouse, leaving just a black lace nursing bra. The blouse would take a while under the hand dryer. I turned my back to the door and started scrolling short videos, completely unaware of footsteps behind me.

I was giggling at a funny video when strong arms suddenly wrapped around me from behind. Thinking it was my husband, I didn’t react much and kept scrolling. Those hands eagerly pushed aside the nursing bra and cupped the peaks, letting out a satisfied sigh—“Oh!” The touch started gentle but quickly turned rough. Ever since giving birth, the milk never stopped. My heavy breasts hung full, and the sensitive nipples leaked at the slightest touch. “Jack, stop messing around—someone might come in! Didn’t you just nurse earlier? And after your attitude today, I’m not letting you drink my milk anymore. I’m really hurt.” Annoyed, I swatted the roaming hands away, intending to turn and rinse the mess on my chest. But he spun me 180 degrees to face him. He lowered his head and latched onto one side. I immediately shoved him off. Because the man in front of me wasn’t my husband—it was his younger brother, Derek Winter! “Sis-in-law, I’m thirsty. I want a drink.” Derek grinned mischievously, pointing at my exposed chest. “Derek! I’m your sister-in-law! How could you…” I stared in disbelief at this twenty-something guy. In my eyes, he was still just a kid. He showed no shame, continuing to stare brazenly at my chest. Furious, I slapped him, then quickly dressed and threw him over my shoulder. With a howl of pain, his tailbone fractured! My mother-in-law watched her son being carried out on a stretcher, collapsed to the floor, and wailed dramatically. “Oh Lord, what sin have I committed? A daughter-in-law who acts like a demon!” She turned to my husband, hitting and pinching him. “This is the trash you married! Look what she did to your brother!” My husband shot back, “Mom, Derek brought this on himself! My wife was minding her business in the women’s restroom—why was Derek even in there? Planning to transition?” That set her off. She slapped my husband hard across the face and cursed him as an “unfilial son” and “white-eyed wolf.” The room was full of friends and family we’d invited. At this point, the celebration was effectively over. I apologized to everyone one by one and tried to see them out, but my mother-in-law blocked the hotel entrance, lying on the ground refusing to let anyone leave, demanding “justice.” “So what if he drank your milk? You think you’re still some pure virgin? A little milk and you try to kill him?” She rolled her eyes so hard they nearly disappeared. “Mothers aren’t women? We don’t deserve privacy?” I laughed coldly. “You’re a mother now—what privacy do you need? Carrying a baby really made you think you’re somebody. We feed and house you, I gave your daughter a red envelope and bracelet—Derek takes one sip and you act like we owe you? Don’t be so greedy!” “Can you stop downplaying this? Derek’s actions constitute sexual assault. I can sue him.” I pulled out my phone to call the police, but the old lady snatched it and smashed it on the ground. I stayed calm. “You seem to forget—this house we live in, half the down payment was mine. Everything I eat and wear now doesn’t cost your family a dime.” I tossed the silver bracelet from Emily’s wrist onto the ground in front of her. “Too expensive—my Emily can’t accept such generosity.” The clank as it hit the floor caught my attention. That sound… this bracelet might be fake? I bent to pick it up, but she snatched it faster and stuffed it away. “I’m old and weak—I can’t win against a city princess like you. You don’t even want the gift I gave my granddaughter.” She hurried out, looking almost guilty. The drama finally ended, but my husband and I were completely done with Derek. My husband, still furious, went to the hospital and beat Derek badly. Only when his mom cried and begged did he stop short of killing him. “Bro, I was wrong. I drank too much and messed up.” His attitude seemed more sincere now. He even brought a first-birthday gift for Emily: matching gold necklaces, one for me and one for her. They’re brothers after all—beating and scolding done, his mom suffered too. I didn’t want to drag it out. Through all this, I realized I loved my husband even more. When it mattered, he stood up first and confronted his mom for me. “Babe, you really love me so much.” Lying in Jack’s arms, stroking the stubble on his chin, I felt indescribably sweet. People online say no matter how loving a couple is, passion fades after a baby. Looks like the internet isn’t always right.

A month passed since Emily’s first birthday party was supposed to happen. Derek was out of the hospital. We live in a big three-story duplex in the Chicago suburbs. Mother-in-law on the first floor, brother-in-law Derek on the second, my husband and I on the third. Since everyone was home, we had to eat together. Dinner was painfully awkward. I quickly ate a few bites and went upstairs to nurse Emily. Once it was quiet downstairs, I handed the baby to the nanny and grabbed my car keys to head to my postpartum fitness class. I got in the car and tried to close the door, but it wouldn’t shut. A shadow suddenly loomed over me. It was Derek. He forced the door open and climbed into the passenger seat. I opened my mouth to scream, but he covered it with his hand. In that moment, my mind raced—murder, rape, robbery… I wanted to escape, but reason told me it was useless. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for death, but he suddenly let go and shoved a photo in my face. It showed a mother lifting her shirt to nurse her child. The full, pale breasts dominated two-thirds of the picture. What horrified me was… The mother was me. The only person who could have taken it was my husband! I zoomed in countless times, searching for any sign it wasn’t him, but… The background was our bedroom. The angle was straightforward. “What is this supposed to mean?” My voice shook. He opened his phone. The first thing I saw was my husband’s messages in a group chat. “My wife’s chest got so much bigger after the baby—huge and soft. Enough to feed both me and the kid every time.” Below were photos of me nursing, taken at different times and places. It was a 15-person group—all men. His relatives, friends, and coworkers. I flung the phone away. Before I could scream, Derek covered my mouth again. “Shh!” I asked why he was showing me this. He said he felt terrible about what he did the other day and wanted to tell me the truth. “Big bro’s messages in the group were really explicit. I lost my mind and…” “What exactly did he say?” I still clung to hope. “He told everyone to go ahead and try it—no need to be polite…” His parting words: “Be careful of my brother.” Cold sweat poured down my back as I sat in the sealed car, heart pounding painfully in my ears. I calmed myself. If I confronted my husband directly, he’d deny everything and cover his tracks. I started the car and went to class as usual. That night, the nanny brought Emily to me to nurse. My husband, as always, asked the nanny to leave the room. I used to think it was just to protect my privacy. Once she left, he eagerly lifted my shirt. I cursed him as a pervert, but he just grinned foolishly. Emily nursed happily. I deliberately turned my body away from him. “Why so shy all of a sudden, honey?” “Yeah, you should leave too.” I teased, but he got annoyed, forcibly turned me to face him. I looked down at Emily’s face, catching in my peripheral vision that he was staring at his phone. He let out satisfied chuckles now and then. When he wasn’t looking, I tried to grab his phone. He immediately stuffed it in his pocket, on high alert. “What’s so funny? Let me see.” I stared seriously. He wiped the smile off his face. Under pressure, I got the phone, unlocked it, and went straight to the messaging app. I searched every chat—nothing like what Derek described. I was sweating profusely when he suddenly opened the photo album. The first image was me nursing—but only my head was visible, nothing below the neck. “Just saved an ugly pic of you, that’s all, scary wife.” He hung his head, looking wronged. I set Emily down and hugged him. “I thought…” “Thought I took pics of your chest? Silly wife, how could I? You’re a mom now—you deserve privacy. I respect that.” His eyes looked sincere. Was Derek lying to me?

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To make some extra cash, I headed to the film studio to work as an extra. My build was similar to the lead actress, so the director called me over to be her stand-in. But it wasn’t until I signed the contract that I realized this was an adult film. The steep penalty clause left me with no choice but to agree. And what did I have to face? Nude scenes, wide-angle shots with extreme movements. And… Xiang Sinian. Mr. Donovan, the producer of *Whispers of the Bloom*, found me while I was lying motionless on the ground, pretending to be dead. After the director yelled ‘Cut!’, he handed me a business card. “We need a stand-in for the lead actress for one reshoot. Won’t take long—five thousand RMB. Interested?” I nodded frantically, signing the contract without hesitation, terrified that someone else might snatch this golden opportunity if I hesitated. I’d been a stand-in before. Usually, it was for falling, crashing, or getting beaten up. Compared to lying on 104-degree Fahrenheit pavement pretending to be dead all day for a measly $45, this gig sounded way better. Five thousand for a stand-in… At the time, I just figured the crew was loaded. Until Mr. Donovan led me to meet Director Reed. Director Reed circled me, eyeing me up, then nodded in satisfaction. “Take it off.” I looked at Mr. Donovan, confused. Take what off? “Bai Wei, you signed the contract yourself—it’s all in black and white. Trying to back out now?” I’d been in such a rush earlier that I completely forgot to read the contract carefully. It clearly stated “intimacy double”—the kind where you’re completely bare. There are some lines I just won’t cross, and this was definitely one of them! “I’m so sorry, Director Reed—I really didn’t read it properly earlier. I had no idea it was this kind of situation. I can’t…” “Twenty times the breach of contract fee.” “Me? Not able to do it? Absolutely impossible!” I forced a smile. “Don’t you worry—I’ll be the best stand-in you’ve ever seen!” I’m just a regular college student, only working as an extra to make some quick cash because I’m broke. Now, instead of earning anything, I’d owe a hundred thousand? That’s practically a death sentence! It’s just an intimacy double—not actual adult content! Just close my eyes, and it’ll all be over.

Director Reed handed me a script. “We’re pretty tight on time, so let’s just start. This scene is primarily the lead actress’s fantasy—big movements, let loose… Don’t be nervous, Sinian is an excellent actor; he’ll guide you.” Sinian? Xiang Sinian?! My gaze swept across everyone present, finally locking onto the man on the bed, being prepped by the makeup artist. He was looking down at the script in his hands—strong, chiseled brows, a sharp nose, slightly parted thin lips, a flawless face. My face flushed crimson, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm in my ears. I have a secret: I’m in love with Xiang Sinian. I have another secret: I’ve more than once fantasized about being tangled up with Sinian in my mind.

Director Reed brought me over to Sinian’s side. By now, the makeup artist had left, and Sinian was alone on the bed. He was shirtless, propped up on one elbow. Sinian must be incredibly disciplined. His abs were toned and firm—not overly bulky, exactly the kind young women swoon over these days. My gaze drifted lower, to two perfectly sculpted V-cut abs, their ends tantalizingly hidden beneath a blanket. The partial covering only made it more alluring. Now it wasn’t just my face—my entire body began to feel feverish. If it weren’t for the circumstances, I might even think I was sick. “Qu Lanying’s stand-in?” “That’s right—her name is Bai Wei.” Sinian smiled at me, like a ray of sunshine breaking through a snowstorm. “I might accidentally get a bit handsy when we start shooting in a moment. I apologize in advance—if you feel uncomfortable, please say something, it’s completely fine.” A wave of warmth washed over me, and I mumbled, “Mm-hmm,” looking down. Then, as per Director Reed’s instructions, I did a quick run-through. Sinian pressed me beneath him. When the face I’d imagined thousands of times in my dreams was truly inches away, I was so nervous I almost forgot to breathe. “Honey, I love you—can you trust me?” Sinian gently gripped my chin, tilting my head back. I couldn’t meet his gaze, my eyes darting downward. The blanket had shifted slightly, and I realized he was only wearing boxer briefs. His legs, straighter than any woman’s, were wrapped around mine like a snake, sending goosebumps prickling over my skin. Whether it was his natural talent or he was truly immersed in the role, I could feel a burning heat radiating from his abdomen—even through three layers of fabric. “Perfect! That’s roughly it! Lin Jiaojiao is an innocent girl, and for her first forbidden taste, it should be this mix of shyness and anticipation.” Director Reed cut in at the right moment, then added another instruction: “It’ll be a wide shot later. Sinian, just deliver your lines as usual. Bai Wei, simply show the emotion you’re feeling right now.” “When we shoot the nude intimacy scene later, make the movements more exaggerated—otherwise, they won’t show up on camera. After the kiss, just let the blanket hang halfway off the bed…” I don’t remember anything else Director Reed said because my mind was completely blank. Although I’d prepared myself to be nude, I hadn’t expected Xiang Sinian to be completely naked as well. And from what Director Reed said, there would be a kissing scene… I couldn’t tell if I was more nervous and scared or more excited. This feeling, surprisingly, mirrored the lead actress’s character.

The makeup artist had done my makeup to look about sixty percent like the original lead actress, Qu Lanying. Aurora was a well-respected actress in the industry. Normally, she wouldn’t need a stand-in for intimate scenes like this. But as luck would have it, Xiang Sinian and Qu Lanying were cousins. They’d grown up together—acting opposite each other was fine, but getting intimate and rolling around naked in bed? That was a bridge too far for them. I slowly, hesitantly, shed my clothes under the blanket, lying flat on my back like a concubine awaiting her emperor. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sinian. A male assistant was squatting in front of him, applying prosthetic skin and tape for protection. This was standard procedure for male actors shooting explicit intimate scenes—I’d witnessed it on other sets. But after Sinian was secured, it seemed… larger than other male actors I’d seen. He walked over to me, shirtless, and got into bed. Everything was ready. Director Reed gave the command: “Clear the set! Prepare to roll!”

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After I got pregnant, my boyfriend tricked me into going to the rainforest to “relax.” Once inside, he took all the supplies and pushed me down a steep slope. This was not an accident. His one true love had said it herself— as long as the baby and I were alive, her life would be ruined. In my previous life, I bled to death in the jungle. He faced a live camera and announced: I had insisted on the expedition and died by my own recklessness. This time— the woman they personally killed walked back into the spotlight, alive. There was a sharp pain coming from my body, and I slowly opened my eyes to find myself at the bottom of a cliff in the forest. If it weren’t for the soft dirt beneath me, I would have died. I was a guide at Ailfa Mount Forest Park and was 12 weeks pregnant. I was supposed to be resting at home, but my husband, Bradley Cooper, insisted that I be a guide for his childhood friend, Ashley Thompson. I was furious. “I’m pregnant now. Why are you making me give Ashley a tour guide?” Bradley said, “If Ashley’s personal tour guide hadn’t had a temporary commitment, I wouldn’t be asking you to do this, Amanda. Besides, you’re only 12 weeks pregnant. It won’t hurt.” I got angry and said angrily, “I’m not going.” “Go or get a divorce,” said Bradley. I could only compromise. In my previous life, I had taken Ashley walking in the safety of the forest park. But she took advantage of my inattention and ran into the primitive forest of Ailfa Mount, which was infested with poisonous insects, miasma, and crisis. I couldn’t leave her alone and had to chase after her. When I came to a cliff, Ashley said that there seemed to be a person at the bottom of the cliff, so I went over to look. But she suddenly pushed me off the cliff. Ashley said, “Amanda, go to hell. As long as you die, I can be with Bradley.” Luckily, the bottom of the cliff was soft dirt, and I survived. I endured the excruciating pain and groped for half an hour on the ground full of rotten and withered leaves before I finally found the micro-recorder. In my previous life, after I awakened, I had been eager to save myself. Only after I was saved did I realize that the micro-recorder was gone. Without the micro recorder, no matter how I explained the truth, Bradley just didn’t believe me. I took a closer look at the micro-recorder and was relieved to find that it was not broken. I had a habit of taking the recorder with me when I did one-on-one guided tours so that I could have proof if something happened that I couldn’t explain. The one thing I could be sure of now was that Ashley had dared to kill me in the primeval forest because she had traveled this road with her private guide. But she overestimated herself. The primeval forest of Ailfa Mount was like a labyrinth. Even if she had walked through it dozens of times, she would still get lost, let alone without a guide, which was why she was also in danger. After I bandaged my injured leg at the bottom of the cliff, I immediately followed the route I had taken in my previous life to leave the mountain. In this life, I didn’t want anything to do with Bradley and wouldn’t ask him for help. Coming to the tree I had seen in my previous life, I realized that there were two paths in front of me. In my previous life, I chose the left one, which led to getting lost before I asked Bradley for help. In this life, I chose the right path and headed for the right side. After I had walked 1250 yards, there was a sudden chill of cold air in front of me, and then I realized that a white mist had risen from the ground. I hastily retreated. The white mist was miasma, and I would die if I inhaled it. I was forced to the tree again. Looking at the time, it was already past three in the afternoon. Ailfa Mount would be dark by five. At night, Ailfa Mount was infested with poisonous insects and wild animals, and it was very cold. It would be dangerous for me to lose my warmth. I had no choice but to take the left side of the road. After an hour or so, it was dark. I climbed up a tree and looked for a signal source. At this time, my cell phone battery was only 2% left. Luckily, as in my previous life, I got through to Bradley at the last minute. “Bradley, I’m in distress, probably southeast of Ailfa Mount, within 9100 yards upstream of Snake Lake. Come and help me,” I yelled. Bradley said, “How could you, as a veteran guide at Ailfa Mount, not get out? You’re such a vicious woman. How dare you take Ashley into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount? Do you want to kill Ashley? I know what’s in your mind. Don’t pretend to be lost. I’ll settle the score with you when you get out. Right now, I’m going to save Ashley.”

With that, Bradley hung up. I froze. What was going on? In my previous life, he would have obviously come to my rescue first, and he didn’t say those words. After thinking for a moment, I suddenly understood. Bradley had also been reborn. This time, he chose to save Ashley first. I tried to call the rescue center, but my phone was dead. I felt a wave of fear enveloped me. On all sides were interlocking and strange trees, and the weird noises were emanating from the gloom. I couldn’t delay any longer and had to get out of the mountain quickly. At the moment, I was lost in reverse, but I had to keep going. My injured leg went from pain to numbness. As I walked, it got dark. I was exhausted. The water and food in my backpack had been eaten up by Ashley not long into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount. I sat on the ground panting heavily as the temperature reached 23 degrees Fahrenheit and the branches of the trees lit up with eerie silver “lights”. They were night birds staring at me. In the distance, there was a horrible hissing of wild animals. I was a bit desperate, not knowing whether I could get out alive. Just then, a few lights penetrated through. It was the rescue team coming. “Amanda, why aren’t you out yet?” The two team members who came, Dylan Murphy and Joshua Collins, were Bradley’s men. “Dylan, Joshua, it’s good you’re here. Hurry up and get me out of here,” I said breathlessly. “But we have a mission. Bradley told us to search and rescue Ashley,” said Dylan. “Aren’t you guys going to rescue me?” I questioned. At that moment, Dylan’s satellite phone rang, and it was Bradley calling. Bradley asked, “Did you two find Ashley?” Dylan replied, “Bradley, we didn’t find Ashley, but we did find Amanda. Should we take Amanda out first?” “Don’t bother with her. She’s just trying to delay you guys from getting to Ashley. You guys hurry and head downstream to Snake Lake,” said Bradley anxiously. “Dylan, Joshua, I’m really dying. Why don’t one of you two take me out first, and the rest of you keep looking for Ashley?” I pleaded. “Amanda, the rescue team has a rule that two people are required for an action. Going alone would be dangerous,” explained Dylan. “Amanda, our whole team knows that you hate Ashley. But you went too far this time. How could you take Ashley into the primeval forest? You should know very well the danger of Ailfa Mount.” Joshua complained about me for Ashley. Dylan said, “Joshua is right. Amanda, you really went too far this time. If anything happens to Ashley, you are legally responsible. “Also, how could you get lost? You’re the guide of Ailfa Mount. You should be more familiar with the geography here than us.” I was a guide for the Ailfa Mount attractions, not for the Ailfa Mount primeval forest. Dylan said, “Amanda, stop pretending.” “I’m not pretending. Can’t you guys see that my leg is hurt?” I said angrily. Dylan looked at my leg and said, “Then you wait for us here, and we’ll go search and rescue Ashley first.” Wait? How long would I have to wait? I didn’t know if Ashley had been bitten by a snake right now. If a snake had bitten her, they would have waited in place for a helicopter rescue. At that time, would they be able to come back and rescue me? I said, “Give me water, food, and an outdoor jacket, and I’ll get out on my own.” I decided to save myself. After giving me the supplies, they both continued to swim down towards Snake Lake. I was less tired after I put on the outdoor jacket, drank water, and ate cookies. I couldn’t continue walking at night. A campfire was built, and I was too wary to sleep. Just after six in the morning, a faint bright light shone through the cracks in the branches of the trees to the ground, and I started to move. After six hours of walking, I finally made it to the exit. Just at the moment of relief, the stabbing pain in my leg and exhaustion suddenly hit me, and I passed out.

When I woke up, I found myself in the hospital at the Ailfa Mount. “Amanda, would you like some water?” A girl asked me. “Hailey?” She was Hailey Richardson, my coworker. She had happened to find me fainting at the exit and took me to the hospital. “How did you get into the primeval forest?” asked Hailey, puzzled. I said, “It’s complicated.” Just then, Bradley’s voice came from the corridor. “Where is she?” Hailey immediately walked over. “Bradley, your wife is here.” The door to the ward was open. I looked over at Bradley, and his eyes were so cold. A man said, “Bradley, Ashley is in Ward 8.” “How is she?” Bradley asked. The man replied, “She’s fine, just losing her warmth.” “That’s good.” Bradley went straight to Ward 8. Hailey was shocked. “Why didn’t your husband come in to see you?” I smiled bitterly and didn’t explain. The next day at noon, I saw Bradley walking through the corridor with a lunch box. He didn’t even glance toward me as if I didn’t exist. I had bought that lunchbox. I would often go to the rescue unit to bring food to Bradley. Now, he was carrying my lunchbox and delivering food to his beloved. It was kind of ironic! I was getting ready for bed around ten o’clock at night when Ashley pushed open the door and came in. I asked, “What do you want?” Ashley said wickedly, “I really didn’t think you were so tough that falling off a cliff didn’t kill you.” I said, “Are you going to turn yourself in, or am I going to call the police on you?” Ashley laughed, “Do you have any evidence? Who would believe you?” “There’s always a day when the truth is revealed,” I said. Ashley said smugly, “The truth? The truth right now is that you took me into Ailfa Mount and tried to kill me. I desperately ran away from you and was saved. “By the way, are you having a hard, aggravating time right now? Bradley chose to save me instead of you.” After experiencing my previous life, I was now utterly disappointed in Bradley. If I hadn’t encountered the miasma, I wouldn’t have asked Bradley for help. “Have you finished? Get out when you’re done,” I said in a cold voice. Just then, the sound of steady, heavy footsteps came from the corridor. The footsteps were all too familiar to me. It was Bradley. Suddenly, Ashley slapped herself. Then, she collapsed on the floor and looked at me with tears in her eyes. “Bradley and I are just friends, Amanda. I can understand that you don’t believe me. But why did you hit me?” The door to my ward was pushed open. Bradley dropped the food he was holding and ran over, heartbroken, to help Ashley up. “Amanda, you’re a mean, vicious bitch. Ashley wasn’t wrong. Why did you hit her? Don’t you realize she hasn’t recovered from the distress?” “Did I not get in distress? Did I recover physically?” I asked. Bradley said, “You deserved it. If you hadn’t lured Ashley inside the primeval forest, not so much would have happened.” “Do you believe anything she says?” I questioned. Bradley said firmly, “Yes, Ashley doesn’t lie.” I roared, “Fine. I don’t want to argue with you guys. You’re both assholes. Get the fuck out of here. I don’t want to see either of you.” “My face hurts.” Ashley cried, covering her cheek in aggravation. Bradley was outraged and reached out to slap me hard. I was dazed from the slap and stumbled, falling to the ground. A sharp pain came from my belly. Looking between my legs, I realized that blood was flowing out.

After coming out of the emergency room, the doctor told Bradley and I that the baby was fine. “You rest easy and nurse the baby. Deal with our marriage after the baby is born,” said Bradley icily. “Do you still care about the baby?” I sneered. Bradley said, “Of course. The baby is my bloodline. How could I not care?” His words were so ironic. In my previous life, he had ignored the fact that I was pregnant, locked me up in a secret room full of poisonous snakes, let me be bitten alive by the snakes, and then watched as the already-formed child and I were eaten clean by the snakes. But in this life, he cared about the baby. After Bradley left, I approached the doctor. “Doctor, please perform an abortion on me.” I thought, “My child, don’t blame me for being cruel. Even if I give birth to you, you won’t be happy. Living a new life, I don’t want to have any involvement or ties with Bradley. Forgive me, my child.” After being discharged from the hospital, I returned home and opened my computer to draft the divorce agreement. Just after ten in the evening, Bradley came home. “I have something to say to you.” We both surprisingly spoke in unison. “Go ahead,” I said. Bradley said, “Tomorrow, I’ll take you to Ashley to apologize, and you’ll have to beg her forgiveness.” I laughed, “Are you insane? Are you asking me to beg her for forgiveness?” “Shouldn’t it be? Ashley and I are just friends. I just think of her as a sister. But you’re so petty and vicious that you always think Ashley and I have something to hide,” said Bradley stubbornly. “Are you sure you really just see Ashley as a sister? What sister would ask you to go to her room in the middle of the night to install a light? What sister would come to my house when I’m on a business trip and watch TV in your arms in a miniskirt?” I retorted. Bradley blushed, obviously knowing I was right. “Regardless, it was your fault for luring Ashley into the primeval forest of Ailfa Mount this time. You were so evil that you tried to get Ashley killed. Shouldn’t you apologize?” He said loudly. I was furious and took out my micro-recorder, placing it in front of him, then roared, “See for yourself exactly who harmed whom.”

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I was working overtime, and my blood sugar crashed. My fiancée’s male assistant offered me a piece of chocolate. Turns out, it had peanuts. I’m severely allergic. Soon, my body was covered in hives, and I struggled to breathe. I collapsed on the floor, begging my fiancée to take me to the hospital. The male assistant, Caleb, looked so hurt as he explained: “I didn’t know Alex was allergic to peanuts, and this chocolate only has a tiny bit of peanut in it.” My fiancée, Jessica, glared at me, her eyes blazing: “Stop faking it! You just can’t stand seeing me do well by Caleb. A man’s jealousy is pathetic!” Even Chloe, my childhood best friend, cursed me for being manipulative and shoved a handful of peanuts into my mouth. “Caleb is so kind, and you’re still targeting him. How disgusting!” After that, they grabbed the “traumatized” assistant and rushed off to a luxury suite at a hotel. I suffocated and died right there on the spot. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on that very night of overtime.

A figure flitted nervously around my desk. “Oh no, Alex, your blood sugar is low? Quick, eat this chocolate!” Caleb blinked his big, innocent eyes, holding out a piece of “chocolate” to me. Meeting his overly concerned gaze, a wave of sickening dread washed over my spine. The agony of suffocating to death in my past life surged through me. Caleb suddenly pouted, his eyes welling up. He knelt before me, his legs giving out. “I was so thoughtless! Alex, you’re Jessica’s fiancé; you usually eat expensive things. You must look down on anything someone like me offers.” “I… I deserve to die, boo-hoo-hoo! Alex, please don’t blame me! Please don’t hit me!” His utterly provocative act made me see red. Last time, I was on the verge of collapsing at my desk. Caleb, seemingly out of kindness, came over and offered me chocolate. I was deeply touched by his apparent generosity. “Thank you.” I smiled gratefully at him, tore open the wrapper, and tossed the treat into my mouth. Not long after, huge red rashes erupted all over me. My body itched so badly I wanted to tear my skin off. Then, I started coughing uncontrollably, collapsing weakly onto the floor. I struggled to grab Caleb’s pant leg: “Y-you gave me peanuts?” Caleb blinked his innocent eyes, feigning confusion as he explained. “Peanuts are nuts, too, Alex. I didn’t lie to you.” But in his eyes, there was a flash of triumph. In that moment, I knew he was doing it on purpose. I wanted to beat him to death. However, my throat was swelling, making it harder and harder to breathe… Nightmarish memories flooded my mind. I snapped my eyes open, staring at Caleb, who was still kneeling before me. “Caleb, on your very first day, I told you I was allergic to peanuts.” “And you’re still pretending you didn’t know?” You bastard, trying to pull the same stunt again? Furious, I lifted my foot and *thwack* – I kicked him, sending him flying into the back of a desk leg. Immediately, a huge bump swelled on his head. He clutched his head, curling up and looking at me in disbelief. “You kicked me? What did I do wrong with my good intentions?” Innocent tears streamed from his eyes, as if I were some kind of villain. He burst into loud sobs: “I know I can’t stand up to you, but you shouldn’t just bully me because Jessica has your back!” He made such a scene that everyone else still working overtime turned to stare. My colleagues’ gazes were filled with condemnation. They whispered amongst themselves. “He’s so arrogant, just because he’s Jessica’s fiancé. He’s just a useless nobody.” “He actually made the new guy kneel and used violence? Is there no decency left?” Looking at these people, I felt a surge of anger. When I was dying last time, where was all your outrage then? Caleb trembled, huddling into a ball. “I truly didn’t know you were allergic to peanuts, Alex.” Still playing innocent. I wanted to give him two more slaps, but then a sharp female voice came from behind me. “Alex Miller, how dare you hit Caleb?!”

Jessica stormed over on her high heels, immediately pulling a tearful Caleb into her embrace. Caleb buried himself in her, sobbing and hiccuping. “I… I just saw Alex working so hard, so I offered him chocolate!” “I know Alex doesn’t like me since I became Jessica’s assistant. Maybe I should just leave. Only if I leave you, Alex will be happy.” “Otherwise, every day will be hell for me!” What a masterful liar! Hearing his words, Jessica’s heart ached even more, her eyes turning red. “You’re not going anywhere! As long as I’m here, Alex Miller won’t dare bully you!” Then, she gritted her teeth and snapped at me. “I really spoiled you, turning you into a worthless bully!” Worthless? A bully? Her face, distorted and venomous under the harsh office lights, looked utterly alien in that moment. To make her branch manager’s performance look good, so she could get promoted to corporate headquarters sooner. I worked day and night, preparing proposals for her. Several times, I worked overtime to the point of intense stomach cramps, a racing heart, dizzy spells, and even collapsing right at my computer! Only to wake up the next day and continue working… I secured countless important projects for her. She’d forgotten all that. A few simple accusations from the man in her arms were enough for her to slander me. The ridiculous accusations from the person I loved most made my whole body ache with anger. An uncontrollable nausea rose in my stomach; I almost threw up. That’s right, in my previous life, she protected Caleb the same way. When I told her Caleb gave me peanuts and begged her to take me to the hospital. Caleb, as if deeply wronged, cried hysterically. “But I saw Alex drinking a peanut smoothie just two days ago! Alex, what do you have against me? Why are you slandering me?” This time, not only did Jessica accuse me of being jealous and dramatic. But even Chloe, my childhood best friend, who came to pick Caleb up after work, witnessed the scene. She then forcibly shoved handful after handful of peanuts into my mouth… My eyes bulged as I suffocated. Before I lost consciousness, I saw my fiancée and childhood friend, each linking arms with Caleb. Jessica gazed at her little assistant with deep affection. “Caleb, you’ve worked so hard working late. Let’s get a luxury suite tonight to reward you.” Chloe turned back to me, sneering. “Alex Miller, you deserve whatever comes next. Even if you die from this allergy, it’ll be the price for bullying Caleb!” My colleagues watched me with cold eyes; no one paid any attention to my pleading hand. “He deserves it for provoking Jessica’s most important person.” “I heard Caleb’s real identity is actually…” They whispered amongst themselves. “No wonder Jessica values him so much, and even Ms. Chloe treats him with such care. Caleb’s noble aura just can’t be hidden, even as a junior employee.” “That jerk Alex, he deserves what he gets for bothering someone he shouldn’t.” They closed the doors and windows, happily leaving for a company dinner with the funds Jessica specially approved. I lay alone and helpless on the cold floor. Until I became a stiff corpse… The memory sent shivers down my spine. I abruptly widened my eyes, pulled open my drawer, and threw a pile of medication and hospital records onto Jessica’s face. “Is this what you call ‘spoiling’ me?” Then I slammed a stack of contracts I’d secured onto her desk. “Is this what you mean by ‘worthless’?” A flicker of guilt crossed her face. I pointed at Caleb, still feigning innocence in her arms: “Me bullying him? Which eye are you seeing that with?!” I’d suffered enough; I wouldn’t tolerate it anymore. I yanked Caleb out of her embrace and started dragging him towards the exit.

“Y-you let go of me! Where are you taking me?” The main entrance was blocked by glass. I dragged him by his hair and slammed his head into the biometric scanner. With the hatred of two lifetimes, I used all my strength. The scanner shattered instantly. The alarm blared, “Ahhhhh!” A trickle of blood ran down Caleb’s forehead. Jessica snapped back to reality and rushed over, her eyes burning with fury. “Alex Miller, are you insane?! I order you to let go of Caleb!” I smiled, gritting my teeth. “Didn’t you say I was bullying him? How could I possibly disappoint you?” Jessica was livid, swinging her hand and slapping me across the face. Her sharp nails left deep, fiery gashes, and the stinging pain froze me in place. Again, she hurt me without hesitation, for someone else! While I was stunned, she snatched a wailing Caleb back into her arms. Caleb touched his forehead, which only had a small cut, and tears streamed down his face in terror. “It hurts so much! Am I going to be disfigured?” “I knew I shouldn’t have been so willful. My sister didn’t want me to come to the branch to learn. It’s all my fault for being so headstrong…” In an instant, Jessica’s face turned white. Rumors had long circulated that the CEO’s younger brother had secretly joined a branch office. Now Caleb had just admitted it himself! Jessica pointed at me, her eyes bloodshot, and yelled at the approaching security guards. “Arrest him! Make him kneel and apologize to Caleb!” Despite my struggles, the security guards immediately twisted my arms behind my back and tied me up. Jessica sent Caleb to the hospital, and they took me there too. “Quick, call all the specialists! Make sure Caleb doesn’t have even the slightest scar!” She was so frantic she could barely speak, as if Caleb had lost an arm or a leg. As doctors swarmed into the room, Jessica finally let out a sigh of relief. Then, her gaze fixed on me, cold and piercing. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” “Our company worked so hard to achieve today’s success. Are you going to ruin everything?!” I scoffed, a laugh escaping me. “You’re truly insane for Caleb.” Jessica shook her head: “Alex Miller, you are rotten to the core.” She clenched her fist and ordered the security guards. “Hold him down. Don’t let go until he bows down and apologizes a hundred times to Caleb.” Caleb, feigning distress, clutched Jessica’s skirt, whimpering. “Forget it, Jessica. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t accidentally given Alex those peanut snacks, he wouldn’t have lashed out at me and injured me.” “It’s just because Alex loves you too much. Please don’t break up because of me…” Heh, what a scumbag. He made me sound like some kind of possessive, violent psychopath. Jessica’s face was grim. “Caleb is still pleading for you, and look at yourself, your maliciousness. I don’t think we need to get married anymore!” I stared at her cruel face, as if all our past happiness had been nothing but a lie. I fought back tears and shouted. “Fine! From today onwards, we have nothing to do with each other!” “You…” Jessica was momentarily stunned, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. At that moment, the medical staff in the room glanced at me with peculiar looks. And with Caleb injured, everyone felt more pity and sympathy for him. Yet no one saw the blood from my face running down my neck, staining my white shirt… As the medication was applied to Caleb’s head, he let out a sharp cry of pain. Jessica snapped back, saying. “I am so disappointed in you. What are you waiting for? Hold him down and make him apologize and bow down to Caleb!” “Never! I’d rather die than bow down to him!” A security guard kicked my knee hard. My joint buckled, and I involuntarily dropped to my knees. Jessica, how could you make me suffer such humiliation, lose all my dignity? At that moment, a figure exuding a palpable chill walked into the room.

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That year, the one where we were practically broke, I followed Alexander to Germany for his studies. He casually mentioned Christmas was coming. I washed dishes at a local diner for half a month, then spent twenty euros on a small Christmas tree. He glanced at it and called it pathetic, practically trash. That very evening, Alexander maxed out all my credit cards to get Vivian a whole farm of German firs. The next day, they returned home together. Their high-profile union became the talk of the town. Meanwhile, I was penniless, evicted by my landlord, and nearly froze to death in the heavy Munich snow. Six years later, we met again. Alexander stood at the entrance of my temporary apartment, lugging a luxurious Christmas tree, his eyes red as he wished me a Merry Christmas. I firmly stated, “Mr. Alexander, I absolutely despise Christmas.” Chloe’s POV Alexander clearly froze at my words, a flicker of bewilderment crossing his usually playful eyes. He probably hadn’t expected such a blunt rejection. After all, when I was sixteen, I’d been so thrilled by a ring he’d woven from grass that I couldn’t sleep for three days. “Chloe,” he said, setting down the priceless Christmas tree. His voice was laced with a hint of caution, completely lacking the demanding, high-status CEO image he usually projected in the media. “Don’t be mad. I know you’re blaming me.” “Back then, I truly had no choice. If I didn’t play along, we’d both starve.” He tried to reach for my hand. “I’m free now. My grandpa handed the Alexander family over to me.” “I’ve taken care of Vivian too.” “Chloe, look, I still remember you once saying you wanted a Christmas tree covered in crystals.” The tree he brought was adorned with all sorts of expensive crystals, shimmering beautifully in the sunlight. It was stunning. “You suffered so much with me back then. I can make it all up to you now.” “Chloe, let’s start over, okay?” But my heart felt strangely calm. If it had been the Alexander from six years ago standing here, saying these things, I probably would have joyfully leaped into his arms, screaming and kissing his face. Now, though, as I looked at the opulent Christmas tree, I only felt a sense of absurdity and a bitter laugh welling up inside. What was the point? Could it take me back six years, so I wouldn’t have to rummage through restaurant dumpsters for food on freezing nights? Could it prevent my landlord from throwing my luggage onto the street because I couldn’t pay rent? “Mr. Alexander,” I said, taking a step back, avoiding his touch. My voice was soft. “I’m doing perfectly fine now.” “Fine?” Alexander frowned as if he’d heard a joke. “Living in this hundred-square-meter apartment is ‘doing fine’? Chloe, stop being childish. Come back with me to…” “Mommy.” A timid voice interrupted Alexander mid-sentence. A tiny head peeked through the crack in the door. Lily, in her pink bunny pajamas, clutched a worn-out teddy bear, her eyes wide with fright. She had a tendency to be very shy, fearful of strangers and loud noises, and only truly comfortable with me. Seeing me confronting a strange man at the door, she was clearly terrified, but still bravely ran out to find me. The little one clung tightly to my leg, trembling all over, but wouldn’t let go. Alexander’s voice died in his throat. He looked down, his gaze falling on Lily. The little girl, around five or six years old, had fair skin and dark, shiny eyes like grapes. They were red-rimmed from fear, and her pressed lips showed a stubbornness that was heartbreaking. The soft, warm glow of the apartment lights fell on Lily’s face. Anyone could see the striking resemblance between the child’s features and my younger self, and that defiant expression was so much like his from back then. Before he left Germany six years ago, despite our many conflicts, we hadn’t slept in separate rooms. Alexander’s hand trembled as he pointed at Lily in disbelief, his voice hoarse. “Chloe… this child… who is she?” Just as I was about to pick Lily up, Alexander suddenly crouched down, staring intently at Lily’s face, his eyes instantly turning alarmingly red. “She’s my child… isn’t she?” He stammered, the wild joy of rediscovery almost overwhelming his reason. “Back then… back then you were already pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me? Chloe, how *dare* you wander around all these years with *my* child!” I ignored Alexander’s accusations, quickly trying to soothe Lily, who was trembling with fear. “Lily… you named her Lily…” Alexander’s wild joy intensified. “I knew it! Chloe, you still care about me! I used to fantasize about it, and even told you, if we ever had a daughter, we’d name her Lily! You remembered!” By the end, his voice was choked with tears.

Chloe’s POV I looked at Alexander like this and almost burst out laughing. He had probably conjured up an entire dramatic saga of a single mother on the run in his head—like me enduring hardship and humiliation alone in a foreign country to give birth to his child. This instantly sent his already overflowing guilt soaring to its peak. “Alexander, get a grip,” I said, looking at him coldly. “Not every child in the world is yours.” “You’re still trying to trick me!” Alexander suddenly stood up, his emotions raw. “The timing matches, the looks match! Chloe, you’re doing this to get back at me, keeping my child from me, aren’t you?” “I know I was an ass, but I truly had no choice back then, Chloe. Let me hold her, I’m her father.” He reached out to touch Lily. “Ah—!” Lily shrieked, startled. Her psychological defenses were fragile, and a strange man’s closeness instantly sent her spiraling. She let go of me, covered her ears, and crouched on the ground, her tiny body curled into a ball, beginning to tremble violently. “Lily!” My heart tightened, and I quickly crouched down to comfort her. Alexander stood there, flustered. “I… I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to…” The elevator door opened, revealing Aldrich. “What’s going on?” Aldrich was wearing a dark gray cashmere coat, clearly just back from work, a strawberry mousse cake for Lily in his hand. Seeing Lily trembling on the floor, he quickened his steps, first handing me the cake, then kneeling down on one knee. He skillfully pulled Lily into his arms, his broad hand gently patting her back. “Lily, it’s okay, Daddy’s home.” Lily, who had been screaming moments ago, immediately quieted down as soon as she heard Aldrich’s voice and caught his familiar scent. She buried her face in Aldrich’s coat, her tiny hands clutching his collar, whimpering, “Daddy… I’m scared…” Aldrich gently kissed her forehead, then stood up, holding her with one arm. With his other hand, he instinctively pulled me behind him. He turned, facing a stunned Alexander. Alexander stared at the child in Aldrich’s arms, then at Aldrich’s stern face. “Daddy?” Alexander gritted his teeth. “Chloe, you’re letting my daughter call some random guy ‘Daddy’?” Aldrich slightly raised an eyebrow, his gaze calm as he looked at Alexander, his voice gentle but sharp. “Mr. Alexander, is it your family’s etiquette to harass my fiancée and daughter at my doorstep late at night?” Alexander looked at Aldrich. The Aldrich family, though discreet and not flaunting their wealth, everyone knew Aldrich was a formidable figure. He’d cut his teeth on Wall Street in his early days, then slowly began taking over the family business. He was a force to be reckoned with. “Your wife and daughter?” Alexander laughed. He pointed at Aldrich. “When did the famous Aldrich suddenly get such a grown-up daughter? This child is clearly…” “Clearly what?” Aldrich took a step forward. He was a head taller than Alexander, and his height advantage gave him an imposing aura. “Alexander, if you truly cared, if you had visited Chloe even once in her four years in Germany, you wouldn’t be barking like a stray dog here now.” Alexander winced, his face flushing with embarrassment at having his secret exposed. Aldrich didn’t look at him again. He just turned to me, speaking gently. “It’s cold out here. Take Lily inside. I’ll handle the rest.” I nodded, took Lily, and closed the door. The Alexander from back then would also tell me to hide behind him, but then, for his own future, he’d let go of my hand again and again.

Chloe’s POV The argument outside slowly died down. After comforting Lily, I hesitated for a moment, then couldn’t resist walking to the floor-to-ceiling window and looking down. The black Maybach sat in the snow for a long time, not moving. The streetlights cast its shadow long, much like that field in my memory that felt impossible to cross. And on the haystack beside the field, the boy with a blade of grass dangling from his lips. That was sixteen-year-old Alexander. Back then, he wasn’t called Alexander; everyone in the village called him a bastard. He was the Alexander family’s illegitimate son, hidden away and left to fend for himself in the countryside. I lived next door. Two unsupervised kids, growing up intertwined like wild weeds. That summer was stiflingly hot. After school, we’d run to the small river behind the mountain to cool off. Alexander caught two fish, grilled them golden brown, and gave me the biggest one. As he meticulously removed the bones, he confidently said, “Chloe, when I’m rich someday, I’ll buy this entire mountain, build you a huge house, and treat you to meat every day.” I laughed, calling him a braggart. “You can’t even scrape together your tuition.” He just smiled, his eyes bright like stars in the sky. “Now is now, and the future is the future! Chloe, believe me, I’ll definitely make something of myself.” I smiled back. “Of course I believe you! When you make it big, don’t forget me!” Wealth arrived more suddenly than we could have imagined. The head of the Alexander family lost two sons and four grandchildren in quick succession, and finally remembered there was still a bloodline in the sticks. The day that black Rolls-Royce drove into the village, the dust it kicked up almost blinded everyone. The butler, in a black suit, stood in our dilapidated yard, his eyes filled with disdain, yet he had to respectfully invite Alexander into the car. When Alexander left, he clutched the car door, refusing to get in. His eyes red, he turned back to me, then grabbed my hand and wouldn’t let go. “I’m not going! I’m taking Chloe with me!” The butler, his face cold, pried his hand away. “Mr. Alexander, you’re going back to inherit the family business. What would taking a country girl like her look like?” “Once you’re educated and your career is stable, what kind of woman couldn’t you find?” Alexander was forcibly pushed into the car. The window rolled down, and he leaned half his body out, yelling at me, his voice hoarse: “Chloe! Wait for me! You absolutely have to wait for me! I’ll come back for you!” I laughed confidently. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely come find you!” Two years later, I got into a top university far from our village. To save money, I bought the cheapest long-distance train ticket. The twenty-plus-hour journey was filled with the smell of stale feet and crying babies. I stood squashed in the aisle for an entire night. When I got off the train, my legs were swollen and aching like crazy. The destination was a grand city, bustling with people. I dragged my frayed, dusty old canvas bag, feeling lost and unsure where to go amidst the dazzling crowd. “Chloe! Over here!” A familiar voice cut through the noisy crowd. I smiled and turned. There was Alexander, standing in the most conspicuous spot at the exit. In two years, he had changed. He was taller, his skin fairer. He wore a neat shirt and casual pants, his hair meticulously styled. He glowed. He was no longer the wild country boy but the heir to the Alexander family. I instinctively wanted to hide that canvas bag behind me, feeling utterly ashamed of my appearance. But Alexander didn’t hesitate at all. He rushed over, pushing aside anyone in his way, and pulled me, smelling of sweat and travel, tightly into his arms. “Silly girl, if you needed money, you should have asked me. Didn’t you get tired sitting on that train for so long?” His voice trembled with concern. He snatched my dirty canvas bag, slung it over his shoulder, and held my hand tightly with the other, as if afraid I’d get lost. He ignored the strange looks people gave us. He escorted me all the way to school. At the campus gate, someone heckled, “Well, well, Alexander, is this your childhood friend? She looks so cheap-looking!” Alexander’s face darkened, and he shot them a cold glare. “Shut up. This is my girlfriend. Anyone else want to say something?” He took me to a restaurant near the school gate. The prices on the menu made my jaw drop. Alexander puffed out his chest, his eyes shining with youthful arrogance and ambition. “Chloe, even though I’m not in charge yet, I’m working hard. My grandpa really likes me these days.” “Don’t worry, with me around, you’ll never have to suffer like this again.” “I’ll have you fly on planes, ride in private cars, live in mansions. I’ll even take you to study abroad and see the most beautiful sights in the world.” That pizza tasted so good that day, the melted cheese stretched, as if melting my heart. Through the hazy steam, I looked at the smiling boy across from me, my heart brimming with happiness.

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I’d just wrapped up a cross-continental meeting when my phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. “Are you Dennis Miller’s mother? Please come to the school. Your son led a bullying incident today, and the other parent is demanding compensation!” The voice on the line was sharp, accusatory. My fingers paused, and I instinctively straightened my posture. “Excuse me, I think you have the wrong number. My son attends middle school in Canada; he’s not in school here.” There was a moment of silence, then the voice grew colder. “Our records show you as the guardian, Sarah Miller, an employee of Radiant Group, and this is your cell number. So, is your son named Dennis Miller?” My mind went blank. My name is Sarah Miller, I’m a director at Radiant Group, and my son is indeed named Dennis. After my husband passed away, my son went to live with my parents in Canada. How could he possibly be enrolled in a school here? I didn’t get a chance to explain further before the caller hung up. Half an hour later, I rushed to the Dean’s office at that private middle school. Pushing open the door, a heavy, stifling atmosphere hit me. Several teachers were huddled around a middle-aged woman, speaking in hushed, comforting tones. The woman’s eyes were red and swollen as she clutched a thin, trembling boy beside her. The child had a bandage on his forehead and was still quietly sobbing. On a nearby chair sat a boy with a bowl-cut. Two buttons on his school uniform were undone, his pant legs rolled up to his knees, and he was picking at his fingers. There wasn’t a shred of remorse on his face; instead, he radiated an almost arrogant defiance. At the sound of the door opening, everyone’s eyes snapped toward me. The bowl-cut boy’s eyes lit up. He shot up from his seat, rushed over, and grabbed my wrist, his voice loud and demanding: “Mom! You’re finally here! You have to back me up!” I froze, instinctively shaking off his hand. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m not your mom.” He paused, then burst into ear-piercing wails. “Mom, why are you pretending not to know me?! They started it; I just pushed him! It’s his fault for not letting me copy his homework!” Owen’s mother immediately turned red with fury, pointing at me. “Is that how you teach your child? He assaulted someone and now you won’t even acknowledge it, you won’t even acknowledge him?” A woman in her early thirties with a frown on her face walked over. “Hello, Ms. Miller, I’m Brenda Collins, from the school. “I just checked our records, and they do show you as Dennis Miller’s guardian. Your child pushed a classmate into a bookshelf, and he needed three stitches on his forehead. The other parents are demanding $7,000 for medical expenses and emotional damages.” I swallowed my surprise and explained, “I came to your school to ask why you have my information in the first place? “My son has always been in Canada; he’s never attended school here!” Then I pointed at the boy. “And he is not my son. I don’t even know him!” The boy’s crying stopped for a second, his eyes darting around before he jutted out his chin and yelled, “You are my mom! Your name is Sarah Miller! You work at Radiant Group! I’m not wrong!” My heart plummeted at his words. How could he possibly know all that information? I instantly calmed myself, staring directly at him. “Shut up, I’m not your mom!” Then I turned to the bullied child. “Little one, did he hit you first?” The child timidly nodded. “He always bullies me. Today, when I wouldn’t let him copy my homework, he pushed me down and said he’d make me regret it.” Seeing this, the bowl-cut boy suddenly lunged to hit him again, shouting, “You’re lying! I’ll rip your mouth off!” I quickly grabbed him, only to find he was surprisingly strong. He struggled, trying to kick, and kept spewing curses. “Let go of me! You’re all bad people! My mom has money; she’ll get you all fired!” The teachers rushed to help hold him down, their faces etched with helplessness. “This boy often bullies classmates, stealing things and yelling at people. We never expected him to be this violent.” Owen’s mother trembled with rage. “You need to give us a clear explanation today! Either pay up, or I’m calling the police!” I looked at this unfamiliar, aggressive boy, my mind swirling with doubt. Why was he using my son’s name to attend school? And why was he pretending I was his mother? Something was definitely wrong here. “Call the police then.” I pulled out my phone. “Let the police investigate who his guardian really is and why he’s using my son’s identity to enroll.”

Just as I raised my phone to call the police, the Dean’s office door burst open with a bang. A bald man with a menacing expression stormed in. His sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing a network of brutal tattoos. Owen, his face full of grievances, stumbled toward him. “Dad, Dad!” The bald man instantly pulled his son into a fierce embrace, his gaze sweeping over the bandage on Owen’s forehead. His pupils constricted, and his fury ignited. He looked up abruptly, his roar shaking the room. “Who’s Dennis’s parent? Get out here!” The office fell silent. Everyone’s eyes instinctively darted to me. The bald man followed their gazes, locking onto me, and immediately charged. Before I could even speak, a searing pain exploded across my cheek. Smack! The bald man’s fist slammed into me. The force was immense; I stumbled back several steps and fell to the floor, a fiery pain spreading through my nerves. “You’re that monster’s parent, aren’t you? Look at the kind of child you’ve raised!” Still seething, the bald man struggled to lunge at me again, but two teachers held him back. Brenda offered some feigned concern. “Mr. Black, please try to calm down. Let’s not resort to violence in front of the children!” She glanced at me, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. The arrogant bowl-cut boy, Caleb, now trembled uncontrollably, clinging to my clothes and hiding behind me. I stood up straight, wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, and explained, “Mr. Black, you’ve got the wrong person. I am absolutely not this child’s parent! “My son’s name is Dennis Miller, but he’s been in Canada since he was three and has never attended this school!” I pointed at Caleb, my voice hardening. “I came here today to figure out why you have my phone number and why my son’s information is in your archives!” The bald man paused, the furious expression on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by a flicker of doubt that creased his brow. He pushed away the teachers holding him, grabbed Caleb by the collar, and roared, “Tell me, is she really your mom or not?” Caleb’s face went ashen, but he still jutted out his chin, not a hint of guilt in his eyes. “She is my mom! I’m not lying!” “She’s a director at Radiant Group and has lots of money! She can pay Owen’s compensation!” Brenda, far from trying to de-escalate, added, “That’s right, Dennis’s records indeed list Ms. Miller as his guardian.” “All the information was entered through proper procedures; there couldn’t be a mistake!” The bald man’s fury reignited. He released Caleb and advanced toward me. I backed away repeatedly until my back hit the corner of a desk. He stared into my eyes, grinding his teeth. “If you say he’s not your son, then how would he know all your information?” “Are you the director of Radiant Group?” I straightened my back, meeting his gaze, and said each word distinctly. “I am Sarah Miller, and I do work at Radiant Group, but I am absolutely not this child’s mother. Someone has impersonated me and my son!” The moment I finished speaking, Caleb’s face crumpled, tears and snot streaming down. “Mommy, why won’t you acknowledge me? I’m Dennis!” “I’m sorry, I won’t be naughty and bully classmates again! Mommy, please don’t abandon me.” Crying, he pulled a photo from his pocket and handed it to Brenda . “This is a photo of me and Mom when I was little. Please, Teacher, tell Mom not to abandon me.”

In the photo, I was wearing a cream-colored dress, holding a seven or eight-month-old baby boy in my arms. My mind went blank. This photo was taken a week before my husband’s death. Soon after, my son went to Canada with my parents. But how did it end up in this child’s hands? The bald man also saw the photo. The confusion in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an icy glare, as if he was convinced I was deliberately trying to deflect blame. Brenda’s voice suddenly turned stern. “Ms. Miller, that’s you in the photo, isn’t it?” Scornful, mocking gazes from everyone in the room converged on me. I tried to explain, but my throat tightened, unable to utter a sound. Because it was indeed me, undeniable. “Since it’s you, stop trying to shirk responsibility!” Brenda took the photo, her tone laced with reprimand. “A child’s misbehavior comes from bad parenting, but a parent avoiding responsibility is utterly despicable! A woman like you doesn’t deserve to be a mother; you have no moral compass! “To avoid a few thousand dollars in compensation, you’d disown your own child? You’re heartless! People like you are a menace; you not only corrupt your child but ruin their entire life!” I stared at her, stunned, unable to comprehend such hostility from a teacher. I took a deep breath, forcing down the surging emotions. “I really am not his mother!” “Why don’t we call the police right now and let them investigate this identity theft…” Before I could finish, the bald man cut me off. “Don’t pretend anymore!” A mocking smirk played on his lips. “Parents with such dishonest, irresponsible character are bound to raise a bullying monster!” The teachers and parents in the office nodded in agreement. “She looks so respectable, but who knew she’d be so irresponsible!” “The child just made a small mistake; she should help him correct it. How could a parent disown her own son?” “And she’s a director at Radiant Group? Shifting blame over such a minor issue, doesn’t she feel ashamed?” They mocked me openly, completely ignoring what I had just said. I trembled with rage, my peripheral vision catching Caleb. He was hiding within the crowd, the fear he’d shown earlier replaced by a triumphant smirk. He was smiling at me, his eyes full of provocation, as if watching a twisted play. Rage instantly clouded my judgment. I lunged forward, grabbing his arm with such force that he immediately grimaced in pain. “Ow! Let go of me!” I clamped onto his arm, forcing him to meet my gaze. “I’m asking you, what’s your name?” “I’m Dennis Miller!” “Where is your father?” “I don’t have a father!” “Then what about your mother?” “My mother is…” He was about to continue when he suddenly looked up at me, a chilling, subtle smile playing on his lips. Then, he pointed his small finger at me, his voice clear. “My mom is right here! You’re my mom!” I completely lost it. Ignoring the strange looks from everyone around me, I reached out and clamped my hand around his neck. “You’re still lying!” His face instantly turned purplish-blue. His hands flailed wildly, and his eyes shifted from defiance to deep terror. My voice was icy, carrying a ruthlessness I’d never felt before. “I’m giving you one last chance!” “Who is your real mother? How did you get this photo? Who told you to impersonate my son?”

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