Category: English

1 During the final week of summer break, I stayed at home, waiting for my parents to keep their promise of a graduation trip. They had promised to take me to the coast to make up for the family portrait they missed on my eighteenth birthday. But I waited until eight in the evening, only to see my sister’s social media update. In the photo, Dad was holding up the camera, Mom was adjusting her sunhat, and my brother Tyler was kneeling in the sand, building a sandcastle for her. Nolan, my childhood sweetheart, stood right behind her, shielding her from the ocean breeze with his jacket. The caption read: A little family escape to the coast. Family. I stared at those words, my hand trembling as the frame in my grip slipped. Inside was a family portrait I had drawn as a little girl. Five of us, holding hands. Back then, I foolishly believed that if I drew it carefully enough, I wouldn’t be left behind. When I called them, Mom’s voice sounded flustered for a second. “Nora, Zoe has been under so much pressure lately, so we took her out on a whim to clear her head.” Tyler snatched the phone, his voice dripping with annoyance. “Can you stop being such a buzzkill? It’s just a trip, it’s not like we’re abandoning you.” Nolan chimed in too. “Be good, babe. I’ll take you out by ourselves next time.” Next time. They always traded my this time for a promised next time. I looked down at the old drawing. The girl in the middle, me, was smiling like an idiot. But in reality, I didn’t even deserve to know their location. The frame shattered against the floor, glass scattering everywhere. In that moment, I finally understood. There was never any room for me in that picture anyway. … “Nora, what exactly is your problem?” On the other end of the line, Nolan’s voice carried a hint of annoyance at being interrupted. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was clear in the background, mixed with Zoe’s giggling. I squatted in front of the shattered glass, watching a bead of blood seep from my fingertip. “Nolan, what about my graduation trip?” The phone went quiet for a second. Then, my brother Tyler’s voice cut in. “Nora, can you stop being such a wet blanket every single time?” “Zoe did terribly on her high school placement exams. She’s been crying under her covers for days. What’s wrong with Mom and Dad bringing her to the beach to relax?” “You’re eighteen now. You’ve just finished high school and have nothing but free time. Can’t you show a little empathy for your sister’s stress?” I stared at the drawing sliced by the broken glass. The girl in the middle, smiling so happily, had her face completely split open. “I have free time because you told me we were going to the coast this week.” “I’ve been packing since the beginning of the month. I bought sunscreen, motion sickness pills, even Zoe’s favorite snacks.” “But when you guys left, you didn’t even knock on my door.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion, as if I were stating a fact that had nothing to do with me. Tyler choked on his words, his tone turning even more irritated. “We left in a rush. We were afraid of waking you up, okay?” “Besides, why did you have to come anyway?” “If you came, Zoe would feel like we were playing favorites, and she wouldn’t be able to relax.” Playing favorites with me. I let out a dry laugh. During my senior year of high school, to create a quiet study environment for Zoe’s exams, I was kicked out of my room and forced to sleep in the drafty, unconditioned storage room for a whole year. When I was in middle school, to drop off and pick up Zoe from elementary school, I had to wake up an hour earlier than everyone else, riding my bike across half the city. Now, they were worried she’d think they favored me. “Mom, is Nora mad at me?” Zoe’s timid voice drifted through the receiver. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have said I wanted to see the ocean. I’ll buy a ticket back right now.” The other end of the phone instantly erupted into chaos. Mom coaxed her gently. “Zoe, sweetie, your sister isn’t mad. She’s the sensible one.” Nolan’s voice came back on the line. “Nora, did you hear that?” “Zoe is sensitive. Don’t trigger her right now.” “When we get back, I’ll bring you that seashell necklace you wanted, okay?” He was always like this, assuming that tossing me some cheap scrap of affection would make me swallow all my grievances. “No need,” I said softly. “What do you mean, no need?” Nolan frowned. “I don’t want the necklace.” Using my uninjured hand, I picked up the glass shards one by one and tossed them into the trash bin. “Have fun.” Before he could speak, I hung up. The living room fell back into a suffocating silence. The wall clock ticked away, pointing to nine in the evening. I walked into the bathroom and turned on the tap. Cold water washed over the cut on my finger, rinsing the faint red blood down the drain. I looked at myself in the mirror. My eyes weren’t red, and there were no tears. It turned out that when your heart completely dies, you can’t even cry. My phone buzzed on the sink. It was a notification from our family group chat, named “The Happy Family.” Mom had shared a video. In the video, Nolan was carrying Zoe on his back through the shallow water while Tyler splashed them from behind. Dad held the camera, laughing heartily. Mom sent a voice note. “Our Zoe is finally smiling. This trip was worth every penny.” No one asked if I had eaten dinner. No one remembered that today was supposed to be my college celebration dinner. I dried my hands and tapped the group settings. My finger hovered over the red button that read “Leave Group” for a brief second. Then, I pressed it. The next morning, I was awakened by a courier knocking on the door. I opened it to find a massive cardboard box. The recipient was Zoe. I dragged the box into the living room and saw the label. It was the latest model of a high-end digital piano. Zoe had wanted it for a long time, but our parents had always delayed buying it, saying it was too expensive. Looking at the box, I recalled how my three-year-old laptop had broken right before my final exams. I had begged Mom for a new one to do my research. Mom had said: “Nora, our expenses have been high lately. Just use your brother’s old hand-me-down laptop for now.” Now, a two-thousand-dollar digital piano was sitting in our living room. My phone lit up with a text from Nolan. “Nora, did Zoe’s piano arrive?” “Your parents bought it as a congratulatory gift. Unpack it and set it up in her bedroom.” “She’ll be thrilled when she gets back.” I stared at the words, my fingers turning cold. Nolan knew how badly I had wanted a new laptop. He also knew that to save up for one, I had stayed up late all through senior year helping other students compile study guides. Yet, he took it for granted that I should assemble this expensive gift for Zoe. I didn’t reply. I tossed the phone onto the sofa. I walked into my room and pulled out a twenty-four-inch suitcase. I began clearing out my room. In the closet, most of the clothes were faded from washing or cheap clearance items Mom had bought. I pulled them all out and stuffed them into heavy-duty black trash bags. In my desk drawer, there was a crafted wooden keepsake box. It was filled with things Nolan had given me over the years: the first plush toy he won for me, the study notes he stayed up all night writing for me in middle school, and a note he wrote in high school. “When Nora turns eighteen, I’ll take her to see the ocean.” I pulled out that note, staring at the slightly faded ink. Then, gripping the edges, I tore it to shreds. Along with the wooden box, I threw it all into the trash. Around noon, Nolan called. I answered and put it on speakerphone, continuing to clear my bookshelf. “Nora, did you check your phone?” His tone carried a hint of irritation. “Is the piano set up?” “No.” I tied a stack of old textbooks with some twine. “Why not?” Nolan’s voice dropped. “Are you still throwing a tantrum over yesterday?” “Nora, can you not be so petty? Zoe is your sister. You can’t even do this small thing for her?” I stood up, looking at the half-empty bookshelf. “It’s too heavy. I can’t lift it.” The other end went quiet. Nolan didn’t seem to expect such a flat, indifferent response. He let out a sigh, softening his voice slightly. “If it’s too heavy, why didn’t you ask the neighbors for help?” “By the way, go to my room, open the left drawer of my desk, and take a photo of the blue folder inside. I need it for an assignment.” He was always like this, completely used to ordering me around. “I’m not home,” I said calmly. “Where did you go?” His voice grew guarded. “Out.” “Nora!” He lost his patience entirely. “Why are you acting so selfish lately? You hesitate over every little favor.” “Do you think because you got into Silverlake University, you can suddenly walk all over everyone in this house?” Silverlake University. That was the college my parents forced me to apply to. Because it was close to home, making it convenient for me to continue taking care of Zoe while she was in high school. I looked down at the college admission guide in my hand. “I don’t think that.” “Then go home and take the photo!” Nolan ordered. “I’m hanging up. Zoe is calling me for seafood.” The line went dead again. I slipped my phone into my pocket, grabbed the trash bags, and walked out. The sun outside was blinding. I threw the trash into the bin downstairs and walked straight out of the neighborhood to a local secondhand shop. I sold my old tablet and several cherished art books. I got a hundred and fifty dollars. That money, combined with what I had saved up, was just enough for a train ticket three thousand miles away. For the next three days, my family was still enjoying their getaway. They seemed to have forgotten I existed entirely. My name never appeared in the family group chat, and I enjoyed the peace. I cleared my room of everything that belonged to me. What could be sold was sold, and what couldn’t was thrown away. In the end, only a single suitcase and a backpack remained. The room was completely bare. Even the sheets were washed, folded, and stacked neatly at the foot of the bed. It looked as if a girl named Nora had never lived there. On the afternoon of the fourth day, my college acceptance letter arrived. After signing for the package, I sat on the bare mattress and opened the envelope. On the deep blue cover, gold letters gleamed: Cascade University. This was the college I had secretly changed my application to, behind everyone’s back. Cascade was in the far north, three thousand miles away. No familiar faces, no biased parents. And no Nolan. I ran my fingers over my name on the letter, and for the first time in days, a smile touched my lips. Suddenly, my phone rang. My mother’s name flashed on the screen. I let it ring almost to the end before answering. “Nora, why did it take you so long to pick up?” Mom’s voice sounded cheerful. “I was sleeping.” “Sleeping in the middle of the day?” Mom grumbled before getting straight to the point. “By the way, didn’t you say you saved up three hundred dollars from your part-time job?” “Transfer it to my account.” My grip on the acceptance letter tightened. “Why do you need my money?” “Zoe wants a pearl necklace. It’s over five hundred dollars, and your dad and I didn’t bring enough cash.” “You’re starting at Silverlake soon anyway. You’ll be living and eating at home, so you won’t need money.” “Give it to us as a gift for your sister’s placement exams.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, leaving absolutely no room for discussion. I looked out the window at the blazing southern sun. “I spent it,” I said flatly. “Spent it?” Mom’s voice shrieked. “You stay at home all day, what could you possibly spend it on? Are you doing this on purpose?” “Nora, how did I raise such an ungrateful child?” “Your sister calls you ‘sis’ all day long, and you can’t even spare this bit of money for her?” My brother Tyler piped up in the background. “Mom, why bother arguing with her? She’s just jealous of Zoe.” “When we get back, cut off her college allowance. Let’s see if she still dares to hide money from us.” Listening to their accusations, I felt absolutely nothing. If this had been before, my eyes would have welled with tears as I tried to prove I wasn’t jealous, that I was their daughter too. But now, I just found it noisy. “I bought something,” I interrupted Mom’s tirade. “Bought what?” “A ticket.” Mom paused. “A ticket? What ticket?” “Nothing,” I replied, having no intention of explaining. Nolan’s voice came from nearby, as he took the phone from her. “Nora, cut it out.” “Your mom is only asking for a little cash. Who are you being passive-aggressive with?” “If you’re really that broke, I’ll give you the three hundred dollars back when we return, okay?” “Stop acting like the whole family is ganging up on you.” Ganging up. In their eyes, stripping me of everything to feed Zoe wasn’t bullying. My refusal to cooperate was the actual tantrum. “Okay,” I murmured. Nolan didn’t seem to expect me to agree so quickly, and his tone softened. “That’s more like it. We’re flying back tomorrow afternoon.” “Clean up the house. Zoe is exhausted and needs to rest when she gets back.” “And remember to set up the piano.” I looked at my empty bedroom. “Okay.” I hung up. I carefully packed the Cascade University acceptance letter into my backpack. Then, I raised the handle of my suitcase. The day of my departure was overcast. I dragged my suitcase to the door and took one last look at the home where I had lived for eighteen years. On the coffee table lay the last thing I had left behind. The torn family portrait, taped back together with clear tape. Beside it lay my house keys. I pulled the door shut, listening to the solid click of the lock. Without looking back, I walked toward the elevator. … At five in the afternoon, a taxi pulled up outside the building. Tyler was carrying bags of local souvenirs, while Mom held Zoe’s hand. Nolan walked behind them, holding a shopping bag containing a bracelet he had lazily picked up from the airport duty-free shop. “That ungrateful girl. She knew we were coming back today and didn’t even come down to help,” Mom complained as they walked. “Mom, you know how Nora is,” Zoe said, clinging to Mom’s arm. “She’s definitely still mad at us.” “She wouldn’t dare!” Tyler scoffed. “If she gives us attitude today, I’ll throw her out myself.” Nolan remained silent, but his brow was furrowed. For some reason, he had felt uneasy all day. At the door, Tyler pulled out his keys. “Nora, we’re back! Come grab these bags!” Tyler yelled into the apartment out of habit. The apartment was dead silent. There was no response. “Is she hiding in her room pretending to be deaf again?” Mom slipped off her shoes and angrily marched to my room, pushing the door open. “Nora, you—” Her voice cut off. Mom froze, her shopping bag slipping from her fingers and hitting the floor. “Mom, what is it?” Tyler walked over, following her gaze into the room. He froze too. The room was completely bare. No clothes, no books, no laptop. Even the sheets had been stripped, leaving only a blank mattress. There wasn’t even a trace of life in the air. Nolan shoved Tyler aside and ran into the room. He pulled open the closet. Empty. He yanked open the drawers. Empty. He spun around and ran to the living room, his eyes scanning the coffee table. There lay a set of keys and the taped-up family portrait. Nolan’s breathing turned shallow and rapid. He pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed my number. It rang for a long time before it was picked up. In the background, the noisy PA system of a train station echoed: “Attention passengers, train K128 bound for Cascade is now boarding…”

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1 After I was discharged from the hospital, I gave my motorized wheelchair to my elderly parents. That very night, Jordan looked up the official retail price of that exact model. “Eight hundred dollars.” His tone was so flat it bordered on clinical. “If your folks like it so much, they can just give us six hundred. Consider it a second-hand discount.” My father was still in the kitchen fixing a leaky faucet. My mother, her posture hunched from years of hard work, immediately fumbled in her pockets for her phone. “Sure, sure thing.” I grabbed her wrist in absolute shock. “Jordan, these are my parents.” Jordan stared at me, genuinely bewildered. “Didn’t you say that since we’re prepping for IVF, every single dollar counts?” The words lodged in my throat, choking me. I could do nothing but watch helplessly as my mother transferred her entire social security check for the month into his account. She even dug into my father’s worn wallet to scrounge up another forty dollars in crumpled bills to make up the difference. After we dropped my parents off at their run-down apartment complex across town, I overheard Jordan making a phone call to Savannah, his childhood friend. “Savannah, your parents are getting older, and getting around isn’t as easy as it used to be. I ordered them an imported mobility scooter.” “Don’t worry about the cost. Five grand is a small price to pay for peace of mind, and the quality is guaranteed.” My hands shook violently as I pulled out my phone and sent a text to my lawyer. “Start drafting my divorce papers.” Jordan kept his voice incredibly soft and patient for another ten minutes. When he finally hung up, he turned around and noticed me standing in the hallway. He froze for a fraction of a second before asking in a completely casual tone, “You didn’t secretly wire that money back to your parents, did you?” I curled my hands into fists, my nails biting into my palms. It took a long time before I could find my voice. Jordan didn’t let it go. “Good fences make good neighbors, even with family. I’m doing this for your own good, Nat. You don’t want them getting greedy and taking advantage of us.” I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I screamed his name. “Jordan Hall! If you are so obsessed with saving money, why did you just drop five grand on a luxury imported scooter for Savannah’s parents?” He looked at me like I was being entirely unreasonable. “Savannah has a hard time taking care of two elderly folks all by herself.” I took a deep, shuddering breath. “And you think it’s easy for me to take care of mine?” Jordan didn’t even blink. “How can you possibly compare yourself to Savannah?” A gaping hole ripped open in my chest. I could almost feel the freezing wind howling through it, creeping into my veins and turning my blood to ice. “Fine. Since we are drawing boundaries with family, cancel that scooter order right now. If you don’t, I have every legal right to sue and recover it as a misuse of our marital assets.” Jordan frowned heavily. “Natalie, are you seriously throwing a tantrum over six hundred bucks?” I stared at his perfectly handsome, usually gentle face. The very last shred of hope I had for this marriage dissolved into the cold air. My phone buzzed. It was a FaceTime request from Savannah. I hit accept. Savannah appeared on the screen wearing a flimsy, silk slip dress. “Nat, thank you so much for the reminder! If it weren’t for you, Jordan and I wouldn’t have even thought about how much my parents needed a mobility scooter.” I stared at the screen, watching her blatant, sickly-sweet provocation. My throat felt like it was lined with sandpaper. “And?” Savannah covered her mouth, giggling softly. “My parents were so touched! They actually bought bus tickets to come all the way down here just to thank him in person.” Jordan instantly snatched the phone right out of my hand. “Savannah, they are traveling a long way. How can they sit on a cramped bus? Cancel those tickets right now. I’ll book them two first-class flights so they don’t have to suffer.” My mind flashed back to the day Jordan opened his own law firm. My parents had brought all their neighbors down to support his grand opening. I had asked him to send a car service to pick them up. Jordan had scoffed at the idea. He told me that hiring cars would just look like we were buying fake popularity. I had to sneak into the restroom to secretly order them Ubers on my own dime. It turned out he wasn’t completely clueless about how to treat elders. He just reserved all of his generosity and care for someone else’s parents. The two of them completely ignored me, chatting passionately on my phone. They planned the airport pickup. They planned a weekend getaway. Jordan even promised to book an appointment with a top-tier specialist for her father’s arthritis. I snatched my phone back and ended the call. “Jordan, I’ll be sending you a document shortly. Make sure you check your inbox.” He let out a condescending scoff. “What kind of game are you playing now, Natalie?” My phone chimed. My lawyer had just sent over the finalized divorce agreement. A hollow, tragic smile crept onto my lips. I turned around, walked into the master bedroom, and locked the door behind me. I forwarded the PDF to him. Message attached: Find some time this week. We are going to the courthouse to sign this. A few seconds later, Jordan started pounding on the bedroom door. “Natalie, open this door!” “I am a literal attorney! Do you really think a fake divorce agreement is going to scare me?” “You have three hours to unsend that file. I am giving you one last chance to stop this childish nonsense.” I flipped my phone to silent and tossed it onto the bed. Two hours later, he knocked again. “Which discount lawyer did you hire? You even got them to format it properly. You really are willing to waste money on this little performance, aren’t you? I’m counting to three.” The next morning, I washed my face, threw on a blazer, and opened the door to leave for work. Jordan was already gone. By noon, Savannah posted a new update on her social media. “My parents are in town! My amazing boss gave me three days of paid leave to spend time with them.” The photo background was the lobby of Jordan’s law firm. I immediately called his administrative assistant. “How long has Savannah been working at the firm?” The assistant stammered, awkwardly trying to change the subject. I completely understood. Savannah had indeed been hired at his firm right under my nose. “Do I need to take the afternoon off and come down there to check the employment records myself?” The assistant finally caved. “Over a year, Mrs. Hall. She’s already past her probationary period.” I hung up the phone. I opened Jordan’s chat and sent a single text. “If you don’t want this to get incredibly ugly, sign the papers as soon as possible.” He didn’t reply. That evening, he sent me a demanding checklist. “Savannah’s parents are coming over for dinner tonight. Get everything ready.” “Her dad has bad joints, so make sure the menu is high in calcium.” “Her mom is allergic to shellfish. Absolutely no seafood on the table.” “Buy organic blueberries and imported cherries for dessert.” “And don’t forget to set the thermostat to 72 degrees. Savannah gets cold easily.” I stared at the messages. This meticulously attentive man felt like a complete stranger. I remembered when I needed him to draft a simple commercial lease for my small business. He had brushed me off with total annoyance. “My firm only handles million-dollar cases, Nat. Can’t you just download a free template off the internet?” That night, I unlocked the front door of our house. I froze. My own parents were sitting in the living room. I whipped my head toward Jordan. “What is the meaning of this?” He smiled smoothly and wrapped an arm around my waist. “You said you were swamped with work and might have to work late. I couldn’t just leave our guests hungry, so I invited your parents over to help out.” I subtly stepped out of his grip. “I’ve never heard of an employer forcing his own family to cook and serve when an employee’s relatives come to visit. Did your firm go bankrupt, Jordan? You can’t even afford to take them to a restaurant?” Savannah’s face turned completely pale. “I’m so sorry, Nat. Jordan told me it would be too impersonal to leave my parents at a hotel. I thought… I thought you two had already agreed on this.” Jordan ignored me. He leaned over and lit a cigarette for Savannah’s father. “Why would they stay at a hotel? We are practically family.” Those words sucked the oxygen right out of the room. My mother stood awkwardly near the kitchen island, wiping her hands nervously on a floral apron. “Well, I should get back to the stove.” She turned to hurry back into the kitchen. I reached out and grabbed her arm. “Mom. Whoever invited the guests can cook the meal.” She shook her head gently and whispered. “Don’t make a scene, sweetie. They traveled a long way. We can’t just let them go hungry.” She pulled her arm from my grasp and went back to the cutting board. My father quietly rolled up his sleeves. “I’ll go help your mother.” The two of them stood side by side in my kitchen. One washing vegetables, the other chopping meat. The rhythmic clatter of pots and pans echoed through the house. Meanwhile, Savannah’s father sat spread-eagle on my expensive leather sofa, puffing away on his cigarette. Her mother sat next to him, popping organic cherries into her mouth one by one. Jordan sat across from them, patiently telling them stories about his firm’s success. He refilled her father’s teacup. He cracked open macadamia nuts and handed them to her mother. Looking at them, anyone would think they were the true masters of this house. I stood in the kitchen doorway. I watched my mother hunch over the sizzling wok. Her graying hair was plastered to her forehead by the greasy smoke. My father was carefully lifting a heavy, boiling cast-iron pot onto the counter. A fine sheen of sweat coated his forehead. Watching them, my heart felt like it was being shredded through a meat grinder. Just then, Savannah’s mother called out toward the kitchen with a sweet, patronizing smile. “Thank you so much for your hard work, Maggie! It smells absolutely delicious!” My mother quickly poked her head out and offered a nervous, accommodating smile. “Oh, it’s no trouble at all! I just hope it suits your taste.” My eyes instantly burned with tears. This was my home. Yet my own parents were tiptoeing around, breaking their backs to serve strangers like hired help. When the food was finally brought to the table, Jordan scanned the spread and nodded approvingly. “Maggie. Next time Savannah’s parents visit, just stick to this exact standard.” My mother paused for a second, but forced a smile anyway. “Of course.” I let out a bitter, furious laugh. I pulled out my phone and texted my lawyer. “Send the physical divorce papers to Jordan’s law firm first thing tomorrow morning. And file the motion for the emergency asset freeze immediately.” The next morning, I had barely sat down at my desk when my phone rang. It was my father. “Nat, it’s bad. Your mother collapsed. I just called an ambulance.” I dropped everything and sprinted to the hospital. The cardiologist’s expression was incredibly grim. “The patient already had an underlying heart condition. The severe physical exhaustion and lack of rest triggered an acute myocardial infarction. She needs to be admitted to the ICU immediately. We also need to schedule an emergency bypass surgery.” My legs gave out. My father leaned against the sterile white wall, his entire body violently trembling. “Doctor… how much will it cost?” The doctor kept his eyes on his clipboard, scribbling rapidly. “Between the pre-op prep, the bypass, and the ICU stay, you need to put down a deposit of at least thirty thousand dollars.” Thirty thousand. I immediately opened my mobile banking app. Available Balance: $45.60. I stood there, paralyzed. For the entirety of our marriage, my salary, my bonuses, and my savings were all transferred into a joint account managed exclusively by Jordan. He always told me that as an attorney, he had insider knowledge on the best investment portfolios to grow our money. And now, I didn’t even have the money to save my own mother’s life. My fingers shook as I dialed Jordan’s number. The phone rang for an agonizingly long time before he finally picked up. “What is it?” I gripped the phone tight enough to crack the screen. “Jordan, my mom had a massive heart attack. She needs emergency surgery right now. Transfer the funds to my checking account. That is our money.” Dead silence fell over the line. Two seconds later, Jordan’s voice came through, completely calm. “Natalie. The liquid capital in our joint account has already been allocated.” My stomach dropped into a bottomless pit. “What the hell does that mean?” “Savannah’s parents have ongoing medical treatments. I already prepaid their medical bills for the year. Plus the imported scooter and the out-of-network specialist consultations. Everything is already paid for. There really isn’t much cash left in the account right now.” A deafening ringing filled my ears. The money I had earned. The money meant to save my mother’s life. He had drained it to fund luxury medical care for Savannah’s parents. My eyes were bloodshot. I spoke through gritted teeth, emphasizing every single syllable. “Jordan Hall. You would rather drain our accounts to pamper someone else’s parents… than pay to save your own mother-in-law’s life. Is that it?” His reply was practically robotic in its coldness. “Calm down, Natalie. Savannah’s parents have life-threatening conditions too.” My nails dug so deeply into my palm that I drew blood. “Jordan, the woman lying outside the operating room is my mother! She is literally dying right now!” He stayed silent. Just as I thought he might finally relent, he let out an annoyed sigh. “Stop pushing me, Nat. The treatment plan for Savannah’s parents is already locked in. I cannot touch that money. You’ll just have to figure something else out.” Click. He hung up. I stood completely frozen in the middle of the hallway, the dial tone buzzing mockingly against my ear. My father was crouched in the corner. In a single night, he looked like he had aged ten years. “Nat…” Tears finally spilled over my lashes, hot and stinging. “Dad, Mom is going to be fine. I promise.” I turned and bolted toward the billing department. “Please, is there any way you can start the surgery now? I swear I will get the money today.” The billing clerk shook her head sympathetically. “I am so sorry, ma’am. Without the deposit, the surgical wing won’t clear the procedure.” Just then, the elevator doors down the hall slid open with a soft chime. I looked up on instinct. It was Jordan. For a split second, a desperate spark of hope ignited in my chest. But then I saw it. Jordan was pushing a brand-new, sleek motorized wheelchair. Savannah’s father was sitting in it, beaming. Savannah was linking arms with her mother. The four of them were laughing and chatting like a picture-perfect family. “Jordan, this scooter is incredibly comfortable.” “I’m glad you like it, sir.” Jordan crouched down onto one knee, patiently adjusting the footrest. “Let’s raise this up a bit so it doesn’t put pressure on your calves. It’ll make traveling much easier.” He was so sickeningly gentle. And less than sixty feet behind him, my mother was lying in a critical care bay, waiting for the money to afford a chance at life. I walked toward them, one heavy step at a time. My voice was a shredded whisper. “Jordan.” He finally turned his head. When he saw my bloodshot eyes and tear-stained face, a flicker of discomfort crossed his features. “What are you doing here?” I stared at the five-thousand-dollar scooter. I started to laugh. “Do you know something? Last night, my mother stood in our kitchen for four agonizing hours just to cook a feast for your guests. This morning, she woke up at five A.M. to make them breakfast. Now she is lying in that room, and the doctors say if she doesn’t get surgery immediately, she is going to die.” I raised a trembling finger and pointed straight at the resuscitation bay. “Jordan. Return the scooter. Give my mother her money back.” The air in the hallway went completely dead. Jordan’s brows locked together in deep annoyance. “I already gave it to them as a gift. How can I possibly return it? Besides, Savannah’s parents have a lot of follow-up appointments. How are they supposed to get around without it?” Those two sentences finally broke the last fragile thread holding me together. It wasn’t that he didn’t have the money. It wasn’t that he couldn’t find a solution. He simply believed that the comfort of Savannah’s parents was vastly more important than my mother’s heartbeat. I slowly nodded. I didn’t beg him anymore. I walked straight out of the hospital, hailed a cab, and went to the largest diamond exchange in the city. I pulled the platinum wedding band off my left hand. “I need an appraisal. Right now.” The jeweler took the ring, inspecting it closely before looking up at me with a soft, cautious expression. “Ma’am, are you absolutely certain you want to sell this?” I looked at the intricate engraving on the inside of the band. It felt like a sick, twisted joke. “Sell it. I have no use for it anymore.” After selling the ring, I rushed to my company’s headquarters and begged my CEO for an emergency advance on my salary. Finally, I managed to scrape together the thirty thousand dollars. Once my mother was wheeled into the operating room, I collapsed against the freezing tile wall. My entire body felt like it had been hollowed out. My father sat on a bench at the end of the hall, burying his face in his hands. I looked down at my phone. My lawyer had just sent an update. Message: Mrs. Hall, the court has officially approved your emergency motion for a pre-litigation asset freeze. The injunction will be served to his banks and his firm this afternoon. I stared at those words for a very long time. I typed back two words. “Thank you.”

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1 On our wedding night, Luke dragged my best friend Stella into the suite, scowling. “She’s a total Princess and the Pea—flew in from Europe, and you put her in a hotel with a lumpy bed? Let her sleep on our premium mattress. You take the guest room.” I frowned. “And you?” He pinched Stella’s cheek. “I’ll stay here with this troublemaker. One crumb on that bed, I’ll spot it—spares her bugging you.” We grew up as a trio. Luke always complained Stella was high-maintenance, yet wiped her chair with a microfiber cloth before she sat, inspected her clothes seam by seam, and tested every bed for stray hairs. When I protested, he’d brush it off: “Stella’s delicate. It’s our job to care for her.” Earlier, mid-ceremony, he’d abandoned me and the officiant to check Stella’s chair. Once, I asked why he married me, not her. He laughed: I was financially independent and domestic—better wife material. Now the truth hit: he craved our triangle; I was just the sensible, wealthy backdrop to their romance. He forgot I never keep what isn’t mine. I texted my assistant: list this penthouse, sell within two hours. Then called the man who’d waited ten years. “Wedding’s off. Pick me up.” The sound of Vincent’s breathing hitched instantly on the other end of the line. I could feel his overwhelming surge of emotion, though his voice remained wrapped in his usual icy restraint. “Wait right there.” I hung up. Through the heavy mahogany door of the master bedroom, muffled giggles and playful wrestling echoed in the hallway. A few minutes later, Luke opened the door. His shirt was half-unbuttoned, and fresh purple love bites dotted his neck. His eyes, however, held a cold, distant annoyance when he saw me standing there. “Haven’t you had a busy enough day? Why are you just standing there like a statue? Don’t you trust me to take care of your own best friend?” Before I could answer, Stella stepped out from behind him. The neckline of her dress was torn, exposing half of her chest. She playfully punched his shoulder. “I told you Val is the jealous type. Why did you have to provoke her?” She then reached out and tapped my nose affectionately, exactly like she used to do when we were kids. “Alright, don’t be such a grouch. It’s your big day, so I won’t ruin the mood. Don’t worry, I’ll just go back to the hotel. Worst case scenario, I just won’t sleep for the next few days until my flight back!” As she turned to grab her coat with practiced efficiency, Luke’s eyes flooded with absolute heartbreak. When he snapped his gaze back to me, he spat out his words through gritted teeth. “Are you leaving or not?” In that split second, I actually heard murderous intent in his voice. Growing up, Stella was the bubbly, adorable darling of the neighborhood. I was the quiet, violently stubborn girl who often became the target of petty bullies. Whenever I was cornered, Luke would step in front of me like a shield, while Stella ran away to fetch the adults. Once, while protecting me, a neighborhood bully smashed a brick over Luke’s head. It took five stitches to close the wound. Ever since then, every time I looked at that pale scar hiding in his hairline, I made a silent vow. As long as he and Stella didn’t end up together, I would marry him and make him the happiest man on earth. Stella had seen right through my teenage crush. She used to laugh at my terrible taste in boys. Maybe that was why she moved to Europe right after college, finally leaving Luke with no one to look at but me. I had been entirely grateful to her for that. That was until late last night, the eve of my wedding. I overheard Luke calling her, his voice trembling with sheer desperation. “Please. Just come back for the wedding. I really miss you so much.” I was known as a ruthless corporate shark. I had the nerve to reject the romantic pursuits of Vincent Cross, the notoriously cold-blooded billionaire. Yet last night, I was so utterly pathetic that I could only hide under my blankets and muffle my own sobs. I had fought too hard for this wedding, and I refused to watch it burn to the ground. I foolishly convinced myself that once she attended the ceremony and flew back, his eyes would belong to me again. I turned a blind eye when he placed her at the head table just so he could peel her shrimp. I forced a smile during the garden photoshoot when my gown was caught in a patch of thorns, tearing into my skin, while he was entirely focused on plucking a stray piece of lint off Stella’s bridesmaid dress. I was willing to play deaf and dumb. I thought I just needed to grit my teeth until she left. But his death glare right now shattered every last pathetic illusion I had been clinging to. The custom floral wedding wreath hanging on the bedroom door behind him suddenly looked like a sick joke. This time, I refused to swallow my pride like a scolded child. I walked into the hall closet, grabbed a handful of his designer clothes, threw them into a suitcase, and shoved it hard into his chest. “Stella is right. She is just a guest, and guests belong in hotels. Since you are so desperate to take care of her, you can go pack your bags and join her.” It was the very first time I had ever defied him. Luke froze, his brows knotting in confusion. He was about to lash out, but when he caught the faint glimmer of tears in my eyes, he let out a heavy sigh instead. “Throwing a tantrum again, Val? You know how she is. She can’t sleep if there’s even the slightest bump on a mattress. You used to help her make her bed all the time. I was just trying to spare you the exhaustion today, and now you’re being utterly unreasonable.” Thinking of that midnight phone call, a freezing smile crept onto my face. “Are you sparing me the exhaustion, or are you just fulfilling your own twisted fantasies? You know exactly what you’re doing.” His fragile patience completely snapped. He kicked the heavy door with brute force. “She is leaving the day after tomorrow! Can you stop wasting everyone’s time?” The impact sent the beautiful wedding wreath crashing to the hardwood floor. His shoe landed squarely on it, crushing the delicate white roses into an ugly, ruined mess. It was the perfect reflection of this rotting relationship. Sensing the suffocating tension, Stella immediately stepped between us, glaring at Luke defensively. “You promised me you would treat Val well. What kind of attitude is this? You know she’s always been stubborn. Why can’t you just let it go?” She turned and gently cupped my cheek. “Be a good girl, Val. Don’t stoop to his level. I told him I shouldn’t have come. I could have just sent a massive wedding gift and called it a day. He refused to listen and bought my flight anyway. I’m leaving right now. Enjoy your wedding night, you two!” She shot me a playful, innocent wink and turned to leave. But Luke grabbed her wrist, his knuckles turning stark white from the force. They locked eyes in a silent, agonizing tug-of-war for several seconds. Finally, Luke turned his chilling gaze back to me. “This is my house, and Stella is a guest I personally invited. You spent a fortune on the best mattress in the country, and she is the only one delicate enough to deserve the first night on it. You live rough anyway. What is a few nights in the guest room going to do to you? Since you are being so incredibly petty and vicious toward your own best friend, you are the one who needs to go to a hotel and reflect on your behavior. When you’ve figured it out by tomorrow, I’ll consider bringing you back.” His absolute arrogance made it sound like he was disciplining a disobedient puppy. I lived rough? I lived rough because I had an entire corporate empire to carry on my back. I busted my ass to make millions, only to fund his endless shipments of custom-made, hypoallergenic luxury goods to Europe for her. Even his shoelaces and dental floss had to be top-tier handcrafted garbage. I used to love him down to my marrow. I was willing to play the blind fool to his blatant boundary-crossing. But tonight, he had personally taken a scalpel and carved that love straight out of my chest. I wiped the stray tears from my cheeks and pulled out the legal documents I had prepared just minutes ago. “This penthouse is my premarital asset. It has absolutely nothing to do with you. If you don’t like my rules, sign this annulment, and you can take her wherever the hell you want.” Luke’s pupils dilated in pure shock. He stared at me like I had grown a second head. After all, the ruthless female CEO that the business world feared had only ever been a docile, obedient shadow in his presence. Seeing the standoff, Stella’s eyes flushed red. She lunged forward to snatch the documents, acting as if she were going to rip them to shreds. “What are you two doing? I came here to celebrate your love! If I’m really that unwelcome, I’ll just leave!” Luke panicked. He desperately pried her fingers open, slapped the annulment papers onto the floor, and pressed her soft, manicured hands against his chest in sheer terror. “You idiot! Your skin is too fragile. You used to get paper cuts just from turning the pages of a textbook. Why would you hurt yourself over this meaningless garbage?” When he looked back up at me, his eyes were dripping with absolute disgust. “You know how delicate her hands are, and you intentionally brought out this thick stack of paper to hurt her! You just want to drive her away so you can monopolize me, don’t you? We used to be so happy when the three of us hung out. Why did you have to turn into such a toxic, vicious snake?” I laughed out loud, pointing at the massive, framed wedding portrait hanging on the wall. The bright, blinding smile I wore in that photo now felt like a brutal slap to the face. “If you decided to marry me, why the hell should I share my husband with another woman?” Stella stared at me in stunned silence as a single, perfect tear rolled down her cheek. She immediately grabbed my hand and started slapping her own face with it. “It’s all my fault, Val! I shouldn’t have shamelessly followed him into your home. I really thought we were still those three carefree kids from back then. I guess I was just being delusional! You two need to stay together. If you’re really that angry, just hit me!” In the next fraction of a second, Luke shoved me violently. I crashed onto the hardwood floor. He cradled Stella’s face, his eyes welling up with frantic heartbreak. “Are you insane? Her hands are practically made of sandpaper! Look at this massive red mark on your cheek!” He spun around and delivered a stinging backhand right across my face. “She traveled thousands of miles for us, and I wouldn’t even let her carry her own purse! How dare you lay a finger on her? You keep throwing this wedding in my face, but let me remind you, we haven’t even signed the legal certificate yet! Apologize to her right now, or get the hell out of my house!” His house? A chilling smile spread across my lips. I remembered the day I handed him the keys to the most expensive real estate in the city. He had cried tears of pure joy. Growing up, he used to point at the brochures for this exact luxury development, his eyes shining with hope as he showed them to Stella and me. “When I get married, I’m going to buy a unit here for my wife!” I had pretended not to notice how his gaze lingered on Stella when he said it. Instead, I quietly memorized his dream. When I finally bought the penthouse, he pulled me into a tight embrace, overwhelmed with emotion. “You worked so hard for this, Val. I don’t deserve it. But I swear, I will treat you like an absolute queen after we’re married. I will never let you suffer.” For a brief, pathetic moment, I had actually fantasized that he would shower me with the same obsessive care he gave to Stella. I never imagined he would summon his goddess back on our wedding night just to use my property to fulfill his childhood promise to her. He had even planned an escape route, agreeing to the ceremony but conveniently delaying the legal paperwork. Just yesterday, when I heard he had booked an expedited appointment at the registry office for tonight, I thought it was a romantic surprise for me. Now I realized the truth. He was just waiting to see if his goddess would change her mind. If she did, he could instantly erase our ceremony and drag her to the courthouse instead. I couldn’t help but laugh at my own stupidity. He really was devoted. Just not to me. But the dream was over, and I was done being a pawn. I stood up, walked to the front entrance, and opened the door. My assistant and a wealthy female client were already waiting in the hallway. I ushered them in and shot Luke a deadpan look. “The property is officially sold, and that mattress now belongs to its new owner. You can both get the hell out now.” The two of them froze, completely blindsided by my ruthlessness. Luke’s voice cracked as he yelled. “Valerie Monroe, have you lost your damn mind? This is our home! We just had our ceremony today. How could you sell it off just like that?” I shook my head in utter disbelief. “If you knew it was our wedding night, why were you rolling around in our bed with another woman?” My assistant and the buyer exchanged looks of utter disgust. “No wonder Miss Monroe wanted this place gone so fast. It’s infested,” the client sneered, immediately pulling out her phone to record the drama for her massive social media following. “Miss Monroe bought this place with her own blood, sweat, and tears. You two are repulsive.” Seeing a camera pointed directly at her, Stella’s face drained of color. She covered her face and began to sob uncontrollably. “I treated you like my own sister, Val! How could you let a stranger record me and spread rumors about me? You just know I’m too soft to fight back, so you abuse me over and over again!” Seeing the love of his life weeping in terror, Luke flew into a blind rage. He lunged forward and grabbed me by the collar. “Apologize to her right now! You know damn well nothing happened between us. Why are you publicly humiliating her? Do you have any idea that her tears cause severe chemical burns to her sensitive skin? She is as fragile as glass, and you just keep shattering her!” Looking at his agonizing concern for her, a hollow, tragic laugh escaped my throat. I forcefully shoved him off and yanked up my sleeves, exposing the faint, scattered scars on my arms. “Since we were kids, she was too delicate, too allergic to everything. Every time there was a new food, you forced me to taste-test it like a royal poison taster. You wrecked my immune system so badly that I break out in hives from stress. Right after high school, she threw a tantrum about wanting to take pictures in a rose garden. When she tripped, you were so terrified the thorns would scratch her that you shoved me to the ground to act as her human cushion. I bled through my clothes. On her farewell trip before moving to Europe, you spent three hours inspecting her mattress. When you found a bug, you tricked me into switching rooms with her. I woke up the next morning covered in severe, swollen bites.” I took a step forward, my voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “You both convinced me that because you protected me from a bully once, I owed you my life. Well, consider the debt paid in full. From this second forward, we are nothing to each other. Get out.” A flicker of genuine guilt flashed through Luke’s eyes. But the moment he glanced back at Stella’s flushed, tear-stained face, his brows knitted together in that familiar, condescending glare. He looked at me like I was an unruly teenager throwing a fit in public. “Are you quite finished? Even a tantrum has limits. Since we have an audience, I’ll save your reputation as a CEO for now. Stella’s skin is inflamed because of you, and I need to get her an ice pack. Take your people and get out of my sight.” Without another word, he dragged Stella by the wrist straight back into the master bedroom. Moments later, hushed, intimate whispers drifted through the cracked door. My assistant and the client stood in stunned silence. No one could fathom that a groom would blatantly drag another woman into his marital bed right in front of an audience. On the client’s live stream, tens of thousands of viewers were already tearing me to shreds. “If she can’t even keep her own man on a leash, how the hell does she run a corporation? What a joke!” “Everyone knows Valerie Monroe is just a desperate sugar mommy. Pathetic.” “I heard those three grew up together. Seeing how hard the other girl is crying, I bet the CEO is just staging this drama to get free PR for her company!” In a matter of minutes, my reputation was dragged through the mud. The stock prices I had sacrificed countless sleepless nights to elevate began to plummet in after-hours trading. My assistant’s face went sheet white. “Miss Monroe, what do we do?” I simply bent down, picked up the torn pieces of the annulment, and smiled coldly. “I was going to leave him a fraction of the assets just to be done with it. Since he wants to play the victim, he can leave with the clothes on his back.” I walked straight out the door, took the elevator down to the private garage, and slipped into Vincent’s waiting luxury sedan. Ten minutes later, heavily armed police officers stormed the penthouse, kicking the master bedroom door wide open. They flashed their badges at the two naked figures scrambling for the blankets. “This property has legally changed hands. If you do not vacate the premises immediately, you will be arrested for criminal trespassing.” Luke nearly jumped out of his skin. Once the shock faded, he let out a smug, condescending sneer. “That psychotic woman. She is so desperate for my attention she actually called the cops to fake an eviction.” Stella clutched the blanket tightly to her chest, giving him a gentle nudge. “Don’t be so mean to Val. We did get a little carried away just now. It’s only natural she’s jealous. Give her a few hours to cool down, and we’ll buy her favorite takeout to apologize. Once I fly back to Paris, you two can block my number. I just don’t want her to be sad anymore.” They truly believed I was playing my usual role. They thought I would throw a fit, cry, and eventually crawl back to beg for his affection. It wasn’t until Luke realized his number had been blocked across every single platform that panic finally set in. He angrily threw on his clothes, stormed into the hallway, and grabbed my assistant by the collar. “Where the hell is Val? Tell her to get out here and face me! How dare she humiliate Stella like this?” My assistant simply scoffed. She pulled out her phone and held up a crystal-clear photo. It was a shot of me and Vincent Cross, holding our freshly stamped marriage certificate at the VIP registry office. “Who the hell do you think you are,” she whispered venomously, “to bark orders at the billionaire’s wife?”

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On the night before our wedding, my fiancée’s bedroom photos with her first love went viral on social media. When I confronted her, she just shrugged it off with pure disdain. “It was just a bit of fun, Ethan. You can understand that, right?” “Besides, that was ages ago. You weren’t my husband back then.” Later, when the wedding photos of me and my gorgeous college crush went viral, she came to me, screaming and losing her mind. I simply flashed the wedding band on my ring finger. “What does it have to do with you? You’re not my wife anyway.” Chloe’s intimate photos were spreading like wildfire on everyone’s Snapchat Stories. In the photo, she was fast asleep on a king-sized bed, wearing a sexy lace nightgown, her cheeks still flushed with a post-intimacy glow. My group chat with my friends exploded, and everyone was tagging me. “Ethan, bro, is that your fiancée?!” The second I saw the messages, I called her to demand an explanation. But to my surprise, her voice on the phone was completely indifferent. “Who I hang out with is none of your business, Ethan. We’re not married yet, so stop trying to control me.” “Besides, I agreed to marry you, but I never said I loved you.” Before I could even reply, she hung up on me. A few minutes later, Mason sent me another photo. This time, it was a selfie of Chloe and a man. The man had his arm wrapped tightly around Chloe’s waist, a smug, triumphant grin plastered across his face. I recognized him. It was Jax, Chloe’s first love from college. I slowly slipped off my engagement ring and sent Chloe a text. “The wedding is off. Have fun playing your games.” Putting my phone down, a wave of bitterness washed over me. Chloe and I were childhood sweethearts. We practically grew up together. Our families were close business partners, and they had arranged our marriage long ago. I really thought we loved each other, and that we were a perfect match. I thought it was a dream come true. But I had ignored how fast she went through boyfriends during our college years—it was faster than she changed her clothes. At first, I told myself she was just young, wanted to have fun, and wasn’t ready to be tied down by marriage. Because I loved her, I tolerated it over and over again. But now, a sudden thought popped into my head. Why should I? What did she actually take me for? Not long after I sent the text, Chloe called me on FaceTime. Her voice was dripping with sarcasm and annoyance. “Are you seriously throwing a tantrum right now, Ethan? Calling off the wedding? Please. Do you think your parents would ever agree to that?” The anger that had been building up in my chest finally erupted at her condescending tone. “My words represent my parents. Don’t ever contact me again.” Chloe paused, seemingly shocked and confused. “Are you insane?! When I was with my exes before, didn’t you even buy us dinner? Why are you acting up now?” Before I could speak, Jax’s mocking laughter came through the speaker. “Oh, is your fiancé jealous? Tell him we’re just playing house. You’re going to marry him anyway, so tell him not to be such a loser.” Jax continued to tease her in the background. “Babe, aren’t you going to comfort him? He sounds like he’s actually crying.” The sound of his voice disgusted me. I was just about to hang up. Then I heard Chloe’s cold voice. “There’s no need to comfort him. He always acts like this. Just ignore him.” She sounded so sure of herself, as if she knew I would always crawl back to her. Then, she said in a sweet, pampering voice, “Babe, didn’t you say you’ve never flown first class? I’ll buy you the most expensive ticket for our flight back tomorrow!”

After walking out of the house, I wandered aimlessly down the streets. I bought a six-pack of beer and sat by the harbor, watching the sunset. My phone kept buzzing with new messages. My friends had found out about Chloe, and they were all sending messages of support. “Ethan, where you at, man? Want us to come over and grab a drink?” “Don’t sweat it, bro. I did some digging. That Jax guy is just a broke gold-digger…” … I didn’t reply to any of them. But every time I saw Chloe’s name, my chest tightened. Fortunately, the cool breeze blowing off the water gradually calmed my racing mind. I didn’t know how much I had drank, but the sky had turned pitch black, and the harbor lights were starting to flicker on. “Fuck!” I cursed out loud, throwing the empty beer can into the water. “You absolute bitch!” I screamed into the empty air, throwing one can after another into the water. Yet, the suffocating weight in my chest didn’t lighten at all. “Hey! You over there! No littering in the water!” A park ranger with a flashlight came marching toward me. I quickly jumped up and bolted. Normally, I would have lost her in seconds. But with the alcohol sloshing in my system, my feet were heavy, and she ended up chasing me for ten whole minutes. By the time I finally shook her off, I collapsed onto a curb, panting heavily. I lifted the warm, half-empty beer can that had been shaking in my hand, ready to take a gulp. Suddenly, a shadow blocked the streetlight. A voice like silver bells echoed in my ears. I looked up. Under the dim golden light, a woman was standing right in front of me. Our eyes met. Her eyes seemed to hold a soft, swirling ocean, making it impossible for me to look away. It was Sienna. Our college campus queen. What was she doing here? The harbor lights outlined her flawless face. Her long hair danced in the wind, carrying a faint, sweet scent of gardenias. Her nose twitched slightly, and she smiled softly. “Have you been drinking?” I cleared my throat, threw the beer can on the ground, and quickly crushed it with my shoe. “No. Just… collecting cans for fun.” She watched me quietly, then raised an eyebrow with a playful smirk. “Right. I was going to say—the great Ethan, heir to the Miller Group, couldn’t possibly be running away from a park ranger for littering.” Uh… I kept quiet. The silence between us felt like a lifetime. “Oh? Is your face red? What’s wrong? Did the breakup hit you that hard? Guess you’re not as tough as you look.” Sienna reached out, her slender, fair fingers gently pinching my cheek. A subtle smile played in her eyes. Maybe it was the alcohol talking. Or maybe it was just a crazy impulse. I grabbed her wrist, looking straight into her eyes. “Sienna… do you want to come back to my place for a drink?” “My dog Tommy can do backflips.” The second the words left my mouth, I saw a flash of shock in Sienna’s eyes. Honestly, between consenting adults, an invitation like that was pretty obvious. And I instantly regretted my impulsiveness. She was the ultimate goddess of our entire social circle, every guy’s dream girl. There was no way she would agree to such a ridiculous, forward request. I must have been out of my mind to say that. Just as I was about to apologize, she bit her lower lip slightly and whispered, “Okay.”

The next morning, I was woken up by my phone blaring. I looked down and realized Sienna was lying right next to me, her hand resting softly on my chest. What happened last night? I held my pounding, hungover head and tried to piece together my memories. But no matter how hard I tried, I could only recall fragments. I only remembered bringing her home, pinning her against the door, and holding her tightly. She had asked me, “Aren’t we supposed to have a drink first?” And I think I replied, “You are my drink. Let me take a sip first.” After that, everything was a blur. The phone was still ringing. I squinted and pressed answer. Chloe’s demanding voice immediately blasted through the receiver. “Pick me up in thirty minutes. I want to go shopping.” I instantly woke up. I glanced at Sienna next to me and lowered my voice. “What does your shopping have to do with me? Stop calling and annoying me!” As I spoke, Sienna stirred, letting out a soft, sleepy whimper, seemingly annoyed by the noise. Even though it was just a quick, quiet sound, Chloe caught it. Her voice instantly went up an octave. “Ethan! Where are you?! Is there a woman with you?!” “None of your business!” I snapped, hung up the phone, and turned it completely off. Then, I pulled Sienna back into my arms and happily went back to sleep. I didn’t wake up again until noon. When I opened my eyes, the space beside me was empty. I sat up, shaking my head. Thinking back to last night, it felt like a dream. Only the slight ache in my lower back reminded me that it was very, very real. Walking out of the bedroom, I saw Sienna sitting in the living room. She was wearing one of my oversized white t-shirts, showcasing her long, gorgeous legs. My brain short-circuited, and I blurted out, “Did you bring your ID?” She turned to look at me, a hint of confusion on her face. I walked over, leaning down to wrap my arms around her waist, breathing in the scent of her hair. Sienna’s eyes widened slightly, her beautiful, clear gaze shimmering. I whispered in her ear, “I’m taking you to City Hall to sign some papers. The kind that lets you drink at my house for the rest of your life.” At this moment, I was completely sober. I could hear my own heartbeat. It was louder and faster than ever before. An hour later. I walked out of City Hall, holding Sienna’s hand in one of mine, and our official marriage certificate in the other. “It’s official. You’re legally mine.” Sienna looked at me and smiled beautifully. “Getting swept off my feet like this feels a little too easy. What about our wedding?” I couldn’t help but laugh, pulling her head gently against my chest. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you the wedding of your dreams.”

Over the next few days, Sienna and I were busy picking out wedding rings, trying on dresses, and discussing details with the wedding planner. We watched the sunrise and sunset together. We talked about everything under the stars. The connection between us was so natural. We even discovered we both wanted a rustic wedding in the valleys of Montana. Without any hesitation, we started planning the venue setup. Every day, she would sketch ideas on paper, and a perfect wedding scene began to take shape under her pen. But one afternoon, I received an unexpected phone call. “Is this Mr. Miller? Your custom tuxedo has arrived at the store. When would you like to come in for a fitting?” I was confused. “Tuxedo? What tuxedo?” Sienna and I were planning on getting custom suits, but we hadn’t placed any orders yet. The person on the line paused before explaining, “Miss Davis ordered it for you a few days ago and left your number.” I glanced at Sienna, covered the microphone, and walked out to the balcony. I got straight to the point. “I don’t know anything about this. Contact Miss Davis directly. Please don’t call this number again. Thank you.” After hanging up, I frowned. What was Chloe playing at? Since when did I ask her to get me a tuxedo? Right on cue, Chloe’s call came through. “Ethan! What are you doing? Why haven’t you called me in days?” Her voice quickly turned impatient and bossy. “I ordered a tuxedo for you. Make sure you pick it up. We’re having dinner with my parents this weekend to talk about the wedding date.” “And don’t you dare show up with that miserable face of yours!” I found it almost laughable. “Miss Davis, I’m already married. I’ll inform my parents about it. I don’t want the tuxedo, and please stop calling me. I don’t want my wife to get the wrong idea.” Chloe went dead silent. A second later, a screeching scream erupted from the phone. “Ah!!! Are you out of your mind, Ethan?! Where the hell did you get a wife?!” “I know you’re mad about me and Jax, but I was just having some fun with him! Otherwise, how else am I supposed to enjoy my freedom before getting married?” I could practically picture her face twisting in rage on the other end. “Can’t you just be understanding for once?!” I let out a cold chuckle and didn’t bother to reply. She had been spoiled since childhood. Her family’s pampering—and my unconditional love—had made her think she could do whatever she wanted without consequences. She never cared about anyone else’s feelings. She thought the entire world revolved around her. The ultimate spoiled princess. “I’m giving you one last chance. Get over here right now and apologize, or else—” Before she could finish, I hung up. Sienna walked over, teasing me playfully, “Ooh, was that your fiancée?” I smiled bitterly, pulling her into my arms by her waist. “Fiancée? No way. That was just Chloe. You know, the whole family-arranged engagement thing.” “But don’t worry, I’ll explain everything to my parents. I’m bringing you home to meet them this weekend.” Sienna nodded thoughtfully, but a clever smile quickly played on her lips. She said confidently, “Trust me, your parents will be much happier with me.”

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After three long years of agony, I finally got the call. A perfect kidney match was available. But a few moments later, my primary doctor, Dr. Evans, walked into my hospital room with a conflicted look on his face. My parents followed closely behind him. “Sophie, I am so sorry,” Dr. Evans said. ” After a comprehensive evaluation, the hospital board has decided to prioritize your sister, Chloe, for this transplant.” I froze. “Why?” “Dr. Evans, I’m the one with stage 5 kidney failure. Chloe only has mild chronic kidney inflammation.” My mother, Eleanor, avoided my gaze, but her voice was as uncompromising as ever. “Chloe is still young, Sophie. She’s not even married yet. We can’t let her life be ruined by chronic illness.” “Besides, you’ve always been resilient. You can wait a little longer. Another match will turn up.” “She’s right,” my father, Richard, chimed in from the side. “You’ve always been stronger than Chloe since you were kids. You can get through this little setback. We just can’t bear to watch Chloe suffer.”

‘You’ve always been stronger than Chloe.’ That sentence was like a curse that haunted my entire childhood. Because I was “strong,” I was sent to live with Grandma in a tiny, sleepy town in Maine when I was only three, while Richard and Eleanor took Chloe—who is just a year younger than me—to enjoy a luxurious life in Boston. Because I was “strong,” every time Chloe caused trouble, I was the one who got screamed at. Because I was “strong,” every good thing in the house rightfully belonged to Chloe, and I was left with her scraps. And now, even the kidney meant to save my life had to be given up because I was “strong.” I looked at the sheer entitlement on their faces. Decades of suffocating grievances and resentment surged in my chest, making it hard to breathe. By the time my husband, Thomas, rushed into the room, he found me trembling, my eyes completely hollow. Heartbroken, he wrapped his arms tightly around me and glared at my parents. “How could you do this? This is Sophie’s life we’re talking about!” Eleanor rolled her eyes, completely unfazed. “Oh, cut the drama, Thomas. We’re family. Sophie wants Chloe to get better too.” “Anyway, we have to go take care of Chloe now. Talk some sense into her. Tell her not to be so selfish.” With that, they turned and walked out without looking back, as if they had just settled some trivial chore. That night, Chloe updated her Instagram. “A fresh start at life! Thank you to the best parents in the world.” “Your love created a miracle for me. I can finally embrace a healthy future again!” The post featured a photo of her in a luxury private suite. Eleanor and Richard were on either side of her bed, their faces glowing with a kind of happiness I had never once received. My parents quickly reposted it with the caption: “Our little princess is finally recovering. Nothing matters more than keeping our family whole.” ‘Family.’ It turned out that in their hearts, I was never part of that “family.” Cold tears streamed down my cheeks. Clinging to Thomas, the tears I had held back for years finally spilled over. “Thomas… it hurts so much.” Thomas held me tighter, his voice cracked but firm. “Don’t be afraid, Sophie. I’m here. We don’t need them. We’ll find a way on our own.” Looking into his bloodshot eyes, a certain realization became clearer than ever before.

Without hope, the agony of dialysis was magnified a thousand times. Every time my blood circulated through that cold machine, I felt my life slipping away bit by bit. But the final straw that broke me was my parents’ next visit. They didn’t come to comfort me. They came to take. “Sophie, Chloe’s post-op recovery is costing a fortune,” Eleanor said, getting straight to the point. Her tone left no room for negotiation. “The supplements, the private nursing, the physical therapy—she needs the absolute best.” “We need you to give us your savings so we can cover Chloe’s bills.” That money was what Thomas and I had painstakingly saved since our wedding. It was our absolute last hope, the money we intended to use to seek medical help abroad. “No,” I squeezed the word out of my throat. “That is my life-saving money.” Richard’s face darkened instantly. He barked, “Sophie, how can you be so incredibly selfish?” “We raised you! What’s wrong with helping your sister out now?” “She is your flesh and blood! Once she’s fully recovered, we’ll have the time and energy to worry about you!” “Worry about me?” I felt like I had just heard the most ridiculous joke. I burst into a fit of laughter, though tears kept streaming down my face. “When have you ever worried about me? Where were you when I had a fever so high it almost turned into severe pneumonia?” “Where were you when I was being bullied at school? Now you’ve stolen my kidney, and you want to rob me of my last chance to survive?” Furious at my confrontation, Richard stepped forward, trying to grab my phone to force a PayPal transfer. Thomas immediately shielded me, blocking Richard. “Step back! Show some respect!” Thomas growled. The room fell into utter chaos. Eleanor was screaming at the top of her lungs, throwing the most disgusting insults at me. Richard shoved Thomas hard. In the scuffle, I was knocked aside by a brutal force. My frail body crashed heavily onto the hard floor. A sharp, agonizing pain erupted in my abdomen. Seeing me fall, they froze for a split second. But then Eleanor said coldly, “Stop acting, Sophie. A tiny bump doesn’t hurt that much.” Realizing they had crossed a line, they cursed under their breath and hurried out of the room like I was some kind of plague. Lying on the freezing floor, I felt the very last ounce of warmth in my body drain completely. This so-called family was a joke. And I was the punchline. It was time to wake up.

The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. After the fall, my condition worsened, and Dr. Evans ordered absolute bed rest. Thomas stayed by my side every single second, his eyes brimming with worry and rage. I stopped him when he wanted to go confront them. I just shook my head wearily. It was pointless. There was no arguing with people who didn’t care if you lived or died. Just then, my phone rang. It was Chloe. The moment I picked up, her weak, tearful voice came through the speaker. “Sophie… I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to take your kidney…” “But my recovery isn’t going well. The doctors say my emotions are too unstable…” “Mom and Dad said it’s all because of you. Can you please stop making them angry? I’m so scared… I’m scared my body will reject the kidney…” Her pathetic, theatrical act only sounded incredibly repulsive to me now. She was always like this. She would play the victim, stir up trouble, and then hide behind our parents while they fought her battles and handed her the spoils. In the past, I might have argued. I might have been angry. I might have cried. But now, I was just tired. “Chloe,” my voice was flat, devoid of any emotion. “You’ve already taken everything you wanted. From now on, never call me again.” With that, I hung up. I knew a bigger storm was coming. Sure enough, thirty minutes later, Eleanor and Richard kicked my hospital room door open. “Sophie! What did you say to Chloe!” Eleanor’s finger was practically poking my nose. “She just had surgery! Her vitals are unstable now because of you! She almost had to go back into the ICU!” “Do you want her dead? Is that it?” “How did we raise such a wicked daughter!” Richard roared. “You are going to apologize to Chloe right now!” “And then, you will sign a document stating that your savings are a voluntary gift to her, so she can recover in peace!” “Otherwise, we will sue you for intentional distress and physical harassment!” They yelled in perfect harmony, their vicious words sounding like they wanted to tear me apart. Looking at these two monstrous “parents,” the final thread of family affection snapped. Snap. “Fine,” I whispered. To their shock, I reached under my pillow and pulled out a document. I had asked Thomas to prepare this beforehand. “I can write the statement. I can even give her the money,” I said, handing the paper to them. Every word was crystal clear. “But first, you sign this.” They stared at the paper. It was a Legal Severance and Liability Waiver Agreement. Eleanor let out a sharp laugh. “A severance agreement? Sophie, do you really think you can survive without us? Who are you trying to threaten?” They thought it was just another one of my pathetic tantrums. Without a second thought, they scribbled their names on the document and threw it back in my face like trash. “Done! Now get your ass over to Chloe’s room and apologize!” I picked up the signed agreement, folded it carefully, and handed it to Thomas. Then, with his help, I got into a wheelchair. Just as my parents thought I was going to crawl to Chloe’s room, my phone rang. Thomas answered it and put it on speaker. A calm, professional male voice came through: “Mr. Thomas, the medical transport jet for Mrs. Sophie is ready at the airport.” “The specialized transplant clinic we contacted in Germany has everything set up. We have a perfect kidney match waiting. When can you depart?” The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence. The smug, contemptuous looks on my parents’ faces froze, replaced by pure shock and disbelief. Meeting their horrified eyes, I let out a genuine, beautiful smile—one I hadn’t made in years. Thomas pushed my wheelchair, turning away from them, away from Chloe’s room, and toward a real future. Behind us, we left two signed papers, and two thoroughly discarded “parents.”

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“Is Julian checking up on you again?” My friend Howard and I married the Franklin sisters. We’ve been married for five years now, and each of us has a beautiful little daughter. I married Georgina, the older sister who runs the local pharmacy across the street from our townhouse complex. Howard married Vivian, the younger sister who works as a tattoo artist. I’ve had chronic stomach issues for years and take daily medication. But this time, right after swallowing my pills, a violent wave of nausea hit me. I spat out a mouthful of dark, blackish-red blood. Georgina’s pharmacy was right across the street. She had medical training, so clutching my burning stomach, I frantically called her for help. She declined my calls six times before finally picking up. When she did, her irritated voice blasted through the receiver. “Didn’t you just get your meds from my shop last week? If your stomach hurts, take your pills! What do you want me to do about it?” “Koman just came over to bring me lunch, and his hand got scratched by an unsterilized needle. I need to give him emergency treatment right now!” “If he gets an infection from this, he’ll have to go through absolute hell with heavy antibiotics!” I felt a violent squeeze in my stomach and threw up mouthful after mouthful of blood. On the brink of death, Howard, who had just picked up the girls from preschool, found me and saved my life. On the way to the ER, he called Vivian, telling her to rush home and look after our young daughters. But Vivian just screamed at him over the phone: “Do you have any idea how busy I am? I work late almost every night, and you’re constantly harassing me with these stupid phone calls!” “Koman’s wound needs to be treated immediately! I don’t have time to waste on your childish drama!” Left completely unattended at home, our young daughters wandered out of the house to look for us. But I was fighting for my life in the ICU. By the time we realized what had happened, both of our girls had gone missing. Howard and I were completely done. No matter what, we were getting a divorce!

I was rushed into emergency gastric lavage. When I finally woke up, every single organ in my body felt like it was on fire. The doctor determined it was acute food poisoning. If I had arrived even five minutes later, they wouldn’t have been able to save me. After literally staring death in the face, I had no lingering attachments left. I called Georgina to tell her I wanted a divorce. But she didn’t seem to care at all. “You always threaten me with divorce to get your way. Do you have any spine left? Grow some balls and act like a man!” “I already told you I’m busy! Why do you always have to make a scene and ruin my day?!” “I still need to pick up the lab results for Koman’s needle scratch, and I have to change his dressing to make sure it doesn’t get inflamed.” Just as she finished speaking, I heard Vivian’s worried voice in the background: “Georgina, the scratch on his hand still looks pretty red. Why isn’t the anti-inflammatory ointment from your shop working? Should we take him to the hospital for a full-body check-up later?” Georgina immediately panicked. “Is it really that bad? I’ll close the pharmacy early. Let’s take him to the hospital together!” Koman’s chuckle came through the line: “Georgina, it’s really not that serious. You’re basically a doctor, why are you overreacting? It’s only been a day, of course it hasn’t fully healed yet.” I had been in a coma in the hospital for two days, and she had spent the entire time babysitting Koman over a tiny scratch! My near-death food poisoning meant absolutely nothing compared to a faint red mark on Koman’s hand! Before I could speak, Georgina spoke to him in a sweet, cooing voice: “How is it not serious? It’s all my fault. I should have cleared out those old needles sooner. You were sweet enough to bring me lunch, and I let you get hurt.” “Alright, Vivian, I handle dressings for patients all the time. I’m the professional here, so let me do it. Let me take care of him this time as my apology.” But the moment she spoke to me again, her voice instantly turned cold and filled with disgust. “I don’t have time for your childish tantrums. And let me warn you, stop using divorce to threaten me.” “It only makes me despise you even more!” “Koman got hurt because of me, so of course I have to take care of him. I’m not heartless like you!” “Besides, Koman is a perfect gentleman. He has never crossed any boundaries with me. I won’t let you insult him! If you keep letting your jealousy get the better of you, I won’t let you off easy!” Koman’s helpless voice drifted over: “Is Julian checking up on you again? Maybe I should talk to him personally and explain.” Georgina simply snapped, “He doesn’t deserve an explanation,” and hung up. My body hadn’t recovered yet, and my stomach began to throb with intense pain again. I never could have imagined that after being married to Georgina for so long, and even having a beautiful daughter together, she could still be this heartless. When I took my stomach medicine that day, my stomach churned, and I started throwing up black blood. Georgina used to be a nurse. When she got tired of working night shifts, I emptied my entire savings account to help her open that pharmacy. Her pharmacy was right across the street. If she had come to take me to the hospital, she would have been much faster than an ambulance. And with her medical background, she could have performed basic first aid to keep me stable! But what did she do? She was so lost in the sweet romance of Koman bringing her lunch that she completely forgot she was a married woman and a mother! And because Koman scratched his hand, she abandoned me entirely! If she had listened to me for just one second on the phone, she would have known I was dying! But I heard it clearly on the phone—even though Koman kept saying he was fine, she insisted: “How are you fine?” “My place is a pharmacy. Who knows what kind of sick people bring in biohazards and viruses here every day? What if a virus gets into your bloodstream through that cut? What will happen to your hand then?” “You’ll have to go through so much pain to treat it later!” She pampered and coddled Koman over a scratch. Meanwhile, I was writhing on the cold floor in agonizing pain, losing the strength to even dial 911. The blood I threw up covered my face, and my breathing grew shallow. Thank God Howard, who lived right across from us, remembered my chronic stomach issues. He picked up our daughters and came to check on me first. Seeing me in critical condition, he immediately rushed me to the hospital. I took a few deep, painful breaths, barely regaining my focus. I wanted to call Howard to ask about our daughters. But before I could, Vivian did something rare—she called me first.

I didn’t talk to Vivian much. But judging by her behavior lately, she was just as toxic as her sister Georgina. Still, I answered. The next second, her shrill, irritated voice exploded in my ear. “Did you and Howard plan this? What kind of pathetic, childish game are you guys playing now?” “He claimed you were on your deathbed in the ER, yet here you are, fully energized enough to call Georgina and pick a fight. You’re completely fine, aren’t you?” “Playing these petty, jealous games all day… aren’t you guys embarrassed?” My voice was raspy as I replied, “I have no reason to lie to you. I was poisoned. I was…” Vivian cut me off, her tone turning even more hostile and impatient. “Do you think I’m an idiot?! You and Howard spend all your time plotting in the dark. Neither of you is a real man!” “Koman is three years younger than you, yet he’s twice the man you’ll ever be!” “How many times do we have to tell you? Koman is like a little brother to us! Are you deaf?” “I’m warning you, stop playing these mind games with Howard. Georgina and I are running out of patience. If you keep acting up, we will actually divorce you!” “Also, tell Howard to answer his phone and bring our daughter back!” “He called me this morning claiming you were in a coma and the girls went missing so he needed my help to find them.” “I know he did it on purpose! Don’t use my daughter’s life to threaten me. I’m not falling for it!” She slammed the phone down after her rant. Her words sounded more like a threat to Howard and me than anything else. But I didn’t have time to process her insults. She said the girls were missing. I had to find out the truth right now! I quickly called Howard, and he picked up immediately. I blurted out, “Where are Anna and Maria?!” The next second, he spoke the words that plunged me into absolute terror. “When I rushed you to the hospital, they were left alone and ran out. I checked the security cameras. They disappeared at the street corner.” I suddenly wished he hadn’t saved me. If he hadn’t, my daughter Anna and his daughter Maria wouldn’t have gone missing! I would rather have died on that floor than let anything happen to them! My blood ran cold. I pounded my chest in pure agony, my body shaking violently. Ignoring my weak physical state, I ripped the IV needle out of my arm and ran out of the hospital in my gown. I had to find them! The longer they were gone, the more danger they were in! I remembered Georgina had a local community Snapchat group. Most of the residents in our neighborhood were in it to order medicine easily. I could ask her to send a mass message to see if anyone had seen the girls. But no matter how many times I called her, she kept declining. I had no choice but to text her: [Anna is really missing! Can you please ask the neighborhood group chat if anyone saw her yesterday?] She didn’t reply. I was so frantic I wanted to crawl to her and beg on my knees. I wanted to beg her to stop being so heartless and just help me find Anna! [I am not lying to you!] But this time, my message bounced back with a red exclamation mark. She had blocked me. I was completely cut off from her. A bitter taste filled my mouth as I stumbled down the street to search on my own. I could accept that she didn’t love me anymore. I could accept that she had checked out of our marriage. But I never imagined that even the daughter she carried for nine months meant absolutely nothing to her compared to an outsider!

Howard and I searched the streets all day and night, but we found nothing. The police were also investigating, but there was still no trace of our daughters. Exhausted and broken, Howard and I sat on the curb. Hating myself, I raised my hand and slapped myself twice across the face. “It’s my fault! If I hadn’t gone to the hospital, they wouldn’t have gone missing!” Tears streamed down my face. Howard grabbed my wrists to stop me from hurting myself. In the end, it was the police officer who gave us a lead. He suggested that since social media was so powerful, we should post the girls’ pictures online and ask the community for help. But the moment I pulled out my phone, I saw an Instagram notification. It was a post Koman had uploaded just an hour ago. There were two photos. One was of Georgina kneeling in front of him, looking up at him with deep concern as she applied ointment to his scratch. The scratch was practically healed! The other photo was of Vivian smiling warmly as she peeled shrimp and fed it directly into his mouth. The caption read: [No matter how old I get, I’ll always be a baby to my favorite big sisters. A tiny scratch gets me this much love. Who wouldn’t love sisters like these? ] His tone was incredibly suggestive. Did he really just view Georgina and Vivian as “sisters”? My fingers trembled as I scrolled down to read the comments. [You’re so lucky to have two gorgeous, hot sisters! You’re living the dream, bro!] [Looking at how they take care of you, I bet they are way more than just ‘sisters’…] [Why choose? With two hot babes like that, I’d gladly die of exhaustion to have them both!] People were leaving incredibly vulgar comments about Georgina and Vivian, yet they didn’t care. They even replied to the comments, writing that “love is a two-way street” and praising how well Koman treated them. I recalled how Georgina flinched and looked disgusted whenever I tried to hold her hand at home. Talk about a double standard. Before I could read any further, Howard snatched the phone from my hand. “We are getting a divorce anyway. Why do you care what they do? They aren’t worth your tears!” “By the way, when I went back to your place yesterday, I saved the medicine you took. I’m going to take it to a lab to get it tested when I have time.” “I have a bad feeling about this. This was definitely not normal food poisoning!” He was right. I had stomach issues and had been taking those pills for years without any problems. Why did I suddenly collapse this time? I even threw up black blood! But if someone was actively trying to hurt me, then the girls’ sudden disappearance… I didn’t dare to think about it. Forcing myself to stay calm, I posted missing person flyers on every social media account I owned. Howard and I were sick with anxiety, but we had run out of options. Every minute that passed felt like a knife twisting in my chest. Since Georgina and I had mutual friends, some of them saw my posts and contacted her. Perhaps to save face, she actually called me. But the moment I answered, her sharp, accusatory voice filled my ear: “What the hell are you playing at now?! You saw that I blocked you, so you decided to make a massive scene online?” “Are you using these pathetic, cheap tricks just to get my attention?!” “How many times do I have to tell you? Koman’s hand is still healing. He can’t get it wet, so I have to stay at his place to take care of him!” “Delete those posts right now! Do you want the whole neighborhood laughing at us?” “You’re not a real man!” I could picture her face perfectly. The woman who was once gentle and polite must have a distorted, ugly expression right now, rolling her eyes at me. But none of that mattered anymore. “I’ve told you a thousand times, I am looking for our missing daughters, Anna and Maria!” “And I don’t care when you come home, or what kind of sick relationship you have with your precious Koman. I just want to finalize our divorce as soon as possible!” She screamed into the phone: “Divorce, divorce, always divorce! Is that the only threat you know?!” “It’s getting pathetic! I’m sick of hearing it!” “Koman actually brings me lunch when I’m busy. What do you do?” “A grown man whining and crying all day. You make me sick!” I realized that once your heart completely dies, you can remain perfectly calm even when speaking to the person you once loved the most. “I am serious. I want a divorce.” I hung up immediately. I didn’t want to waste another second talking to her. But to my surprise, she showed up at my door the very next day.

She was wearing a low-cut top, exposing a fresh tattoo on her chest covered in a clear plastic wrap. It was the silhouette of a man—Koman—spanning across half her chest. This was a woman who used to cry for hours over a tiny hot water burn. Yet now, she had endured hours of needles just to carve Koman’s face permanently onto her skin. She didn’t see anything wrong with tattooing another man’s face on her body. She had even worn a low-cut shirt specifically to show it off to me. She stormed in, screaming, “How dare you ignore my calls! Why haven’t you deleted those posts yet?!” “You might not care about your reputation, but I care about mine! Do you have any idea how much this is affecting my pharmacy?!” “The customers today were all gossiping about it! Some of them only came in to nose around!” I took two steps back. Howard walked out of the guest room. “You’ve lost your mind.” Just then, Vivian stormed in from across the hall. “I knew you’d be here! Delete those damn posts right now!” “How could Anna and Maria go missing? They’re probably playing a prank!” “I lost half my clients today! Some of my biggest VIP appointments were canceled because of this! Do you know how much money I lost?!” “Your petty tantrums have to stop! You guys are more dramatic than schoolgirls. It’s disgusting!” She, too, had a new tattoo. It covered her entire thigh. Looking at these sisters, I only felt disgust. Their faces looked incredibly ugly and repulsive. Noticing my gaze, Georgina defensively snapped: “We got these tattoos because Koman got hurt, and we felt responsible for it!” “We couldn’t bear to let him suffer alone, so we did this to share his pain!” I clenched my teeth and nodded. “To share his pain? Then why didn’t you just cut off a piece of your own flesh? Why did you have to tattoo his face on your bodies?” “You two are the most pathetic, desperate women on earth, throwing yourselves at a boy.” My words completely exposed her. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she quickly tried to deflect. “You’re always so petty. I don’t want to fight with you. Just delete those posts.” “Otherwise, I’ll call the cops on you for spreading rumors and defamation!” But sometimes, life is full of coincidences. Just as she said that, there was a knock on the door, and a police officer walked in. The officer knew Howard and me, and he knew we were on the verge of a breakdown trying to find our daughters. He looked at us and said, “We have a major lead on your daughters’ disappearance!” Howard and I felt our eyes well up. We were close to tears. An officer in uniform would never lie about something this serious. Georgina froze for a moment before gasping, “What? Anna… Anna and Maria are really missing?!”

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At the company team-building dinner, our CEO, Arthur Sterling, invited the core management team. As the Head of Tech, I arrived right on time, only to find there was no seat left for me. Chloe Ward, the Head of Sales, covered her mouth and smirked. “Oh, Elena. I’m so sorry. We thought you weren’t coming.” “After all, your department cost Arthur a fortune this year.” My heart went cold. I knew she was targeting me. I scoffed. “What is that supposed to mean, Chloe?” “Our product upgrade was highly praised by the market. On the other hand, Sales has been tanking.” “Are you trying to use the Tech Department as a scapegoat for your own missed targets?” Chloe’s face twisted with rage. She turned to Arthur. “Look at her, Arthur. This is the attitude of the Tech Department.” Our product was my shield. I looked at Arthur without fear. But Arthur only said: “Tech spent a lot of money this year. A punishment is indeed in order.” “Elena, for tonight’s dinner, you can stand and serve Chloe.” I let out a cold, disbelieving laugh. Humiliating me in public? Fine. If you want a circus, let’s burn the whole tent down.

A waiter quickly brought a set of disposable cutlery. Arthur gestured with his chin toward the space next to Chloe. “Elena, stand right there.” Chloe smirked, and the others at the table chuckled along. The Head of R&D even went so far as to slide his chair over, leaving a wider space for me to stand and wait on them. Rage surged to my head. “Mr. Sterling, every single penny the Tech Department requested this year went into product upgrades.” “Purchasing records, R&D logs, test reports—everything is documented and fully transparent.” “If you think that deserves punishment, then I have nothing to say.” “Oh, listen to Ms. Elena Lewis,” Chloe said lazily, using her fork to place a piece of sashimi into Arthur’s bowl. “As if your department is the only one working, and the rest of us are just freeloaders?” Her words actually triggered a memory. The Sales Department spent five million on a “service upgrade” this year. They burned through that cash without a second thought. And the result? A major account they had been chasing for six months fell through. Five million dollars down the drain, and third-quarter sales plummeted by thirty percent. I stared at her and sneered. “I don’t know about the other departments, but Sales has definitely been freeloading this year. You couldn’t even keep your loyal clients.” Chloe’s face turned pale instantly. “Elena! That five million was a strategic investment approved by Arthur himself. Are you questioning his decision?” Viper. She immediately deflected the blame onto Arthur. As expected, Arthur’s expression darkened. Just then, the waiter stood beside me with the cutlery. Arthur waved his hand, signaling the waiter to hand them to me. I didn’t take them. “Mr. Sterling, the value of the Tech Department is not measured by standing and serving food.” “If that’s what this company believes, then I’d rather skip this dinner.” I turned toward the exit. “Elena,” Arthur’s voice boomed behind me. “If you walk out that door tonight, don’t bother coming back to work tomorrow.” My footsteps froze. My daughter, Barbara, has congenital heart disease. She just had her second surgery last month. To pay for it, we sold our house and our car. Everyone in the upper management knew this. Arthur was bringing this up now because he knew he had me by the throat. But I couldn’t jeopardize Barbara’s treatment. Slowly, I turned back around and took the cutlery from the waiter. “Elena, I want some fish,” Chloe mocked, covering her mouth as she laughed. My grip on the fork tightened. I picked up a piece of fish and placed it on her plate. “Here you go, Chloe,” my voice sounded dry and hollow, barely recognizing it as my own. Chloe smiled smugly, picked up the fish, and put it in her mouth. Pfft! The next second, she spat the fish right into my face. The chewed-up meat hit my skin. The fishy stench rushed into my nose. In that instant, I felt the blood in my veins run cold, then boil. “Ugh! It’s overcooked and dry!” She pulled out a napkin to wipe her mouth, her eyes gleaming with malice. “Elena, your serving skills are just like your tech products—rough and useless.” The table erupted into laughter again. Arthur joined in. “Elena, did you hear that? You need to learn from Chloe.” “Tech is one thing, but interpersonal skills and service mindset need to keep up with the times.” “Don’t just stand there. See what Chloe needs. Have some initiative.” Spit and wet fish clung to my cheek, sliding down my skin. The buzzing laughter filled my ears. Tears welled in my eyes, but I bit my lip so hard, refusing to let them fall.

“Mr. Sterling, Chloe, I need to use the restroom.” I kept my eyes down, my voice barely a whisper. “Don’t leave yet, Elena,” Chloe grabbed my arm. “When clients throw up all over me after drinking too much, I don’t just walk away.” Someone chimed in, “Exactly, Elena. Frankly, you’re lucky Mr. Sterling values old loyalty, or he wouldn’t tolerate your attitude.” “With your communication skills, you wouldn’t even get a job as a janitor elsewhere.” “Elena, Mr. Sterling isn’t actually holding a grudge. You should pour him a drink and thank him for giving you this chance.” Before I could react, someone shoved a glass of vodka into my hand and pushed me forward. I stumbled two steps, landing right in front of Arthur at the head of the table. Arthur leaned back in his chair, looking at me with a greasy grin. “Elena,” he murmured, his fingers sliding over the back of my hand, giving it a suggestive squeeze. “I’ve always appreciated your skills. It’s just your temper…” This absolute bastard! I yanked my hand back, aimed at his oily face, and threw the vodka straight at him. “Ah! Arthur! Arthur, are you okay?” Chloe panicked, rushing over with napkins to wipe his face. Arthur grabbed Chloe’s hand and screamed at me, “Elena, if you don’t want to work here, get the hell out!” “Fine! Consider this my resignation!” With that, I turned and stormed out. Behind me, Chloe and Arthur’s furious curses echoed. Leaving the restaurant, I unlocked my old bicycle and rode toward the hospital. On the road, the tears I had held back all night finally poured down. Just before reaching the hospital, I wiped my face clean, forcing myself to look normal. I pushed open the door of the ward. Barbara was already asleep. My husband, Stuart, looked up when he heard the door. “You’re back…” His voice trailed off as his eyes locked onto my face. “Elena, what happened?” “Nothing,” I turned my head, avoiding his gaze. “Just had a drink, and someone spilled it on me.” Stuart was silent for a few seconds. He placed a warm hand on my shoulder. “Elena, don’t carry everything on your own.” “Barbara’s surgery is done. My company is finally making a profit. We’ll have a big payout next month.” “Don’t push yourself so hard, okay? You don’t have to carry the world.” My nose stung. I quickly looked down, whispering a soft, “Okay.” I barely slept that night. The next morning, I still went to the office. Even if I was leaving, I had to pack my things. Some of my research notes and personal files were too valuable to lose. The Tech Department was at the end of the hallway. When I reached my office door, I found it slightly ajar. I pushed it open, and my heart sank. My desk was completely bare. Not even a scrap of paper was left. Chloe was standing right in front of where my desk used to be. Hearing my footsteps, she turned around, a smug grin plastered on her face. “Oh, look who’s here! You’re quite early.” She picked up an envelope from the desk and tossed it at me. “Here. Your termination letter.” I stared at the envelope but didn’t touch it. “Where are my things?” Chloe smirked, her manicured finger pointing toward the trash can in the corner. My blood ran cold. Scattered around the trash bin were shattered pieces of glass. Those were my trophies and awards from the past few years. My professional textbooks and research notebooks were thrown into a messy pile next to them, covered in dirty footprints.

“You!” Rage erupted. I glared at Chloe. “What right do you have to touch my things? This is my personal property!” Chloe crossed her arms and scoffed. “Elena, do you still think you’re the Head of Tech?” “You’re just an ungrateful, fired washed-up woman.” “Your trash was taking up space. I did you a favor by cleaning it. No need to thank me.” Inhaling deeply, I walked over to the trash can and knelt down to pick up my notes and certificates. Suddenly, Chloe’s high heel kicked forward. Crash! Glass shards flew everywhere. I instinctively shielded my face with my arms, but I was too late. A sharp piece of glass sliced across my left cheek. “Ah!” I cried out in pain, covering my cheek. Warm blood immediately seeped through my fingers. A few of my former team members had gathered at the door. Seeing this, they tried to rush in. “Elena! Are you okay?” “Stop right there!” Chloe barked, glaring at the crowd. “Let’s see who dares to help her.” “The Tech Department is undergoing a restructuring. I haven’t submitted the layoff list to Arthur yet.” “If anyone wants to pack their bags with this fired loser, step right up!” Her threat worked like a bucket of ice water. The employees froze at the door. Only Hathaway, a girl I had personally mentored from her internship days, broke through and ran to help me up. “Elena, oh my god, you’re bleeding. Come on, I’m taking you to the ER.” Chloe’s face turned green. She pointed at Hathaway. “You’re fired too! Get out of my sight!” Hathaway helped me stand up and glared at Chloe. “Gladly. Let’s go, Elena.” At the hospital, Hathaway was still shaking with rage. “Hathaway, I’m so sorry. I dragged you into this,” I said, my voice hoarse. “Don’t say that,” Hathaway shook her head quickly. “It’s not your fault at all.” “Management and Chloe have been treating us like garbage.” “We work ourselves to the bone for the product, and they just say we’re burning cash. Our salary is a joke, and Arthur even cut our bonuses. Who would want to work for that jerk anyway?” “So, what’s your plan now?” “I… I don’t know,” she muttered, rubbing her hands nervously. I suddenly thought of Stuart’s profitable company. I took out my phone and dialed his number. “Stuart, does your company need people? Product development. I have a brilliant colleague…” “Yes!” Stuart answered without a second of hesitation. “I’ve been waiting for you to say that.” “My company is where you belong, Elena.” “Bring your people over. I’ll match whatever you want!” Hathaway’s eyes lit up. The very next day, she joined Stuart’s company with me. We quickly formed a new team and began developing a direct competitor product targeting Arthur’s core market. A few days later, Hathaway whispered to me: “Elena, some of our old colleagues from Tech reached out. They want to know if we’re hiring.” “Chloe pushed Arthur to lay off more people, and a bunch of them got sacked. They’re looking for jobs.” After a moment’s thought, I nodded. “Tell them to come.” Soon, a familiar yet completely revitalized team was assembled. Our goal was crystal clear: build a superior product and crush Arthur’s business. By the end of the year, the contract for the “Smart Community” project was up for bidding. This was the crown jewel Arthur’s company was desperate to secure, and it was our primary target. On the day the results were announced, we won. This meant Arthur’s company lost at least ten million dollars in projected revenue. That night, Arthur posted a bitter, passive-aggressive message on LinkedIn, hinting that “disloyal employees stole trade secrets to engage in malicious competition.” Chloe was more direct. She shared the news article on Twitter with the caption: “Some people will do anything for money. Stealing Arthur’s project and poaching his team. Aren’t you afraid of karma?” I smiled and put my phone down. On Friday, I took my team out to celebrate. The atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was raising their glasses. Suddenly, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. I declined it. The next second, the door of our private dining room was pushed open. Two uniformed police officers walked in, their eyes locking onto me. “Elena Lewis? We received a formal complaint.” “You are suspected of stealing proprietary technical secrets before leaving your former employer.” “Please come with us to the station to assist with the investigation.” The room fell dead silent. All glasses froze in mid-air. Hathaway was the first to react. “Officers, that’s impossible!”

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The new female coworker was gorgeous. But my childhood friend, Victor, told me she was nothing but a “bitch.” That was until I had to pull three all-nighters in a row just to clean up her work disasters. Instead of apologizing, he stormed into my place, smelling of alcohol and radiating anger. “Why is your work ethic so trash? You couldn’t even cover one little mistake by yourself?” “If you hadn’t desperately called me back to the office, I would’ve been in her bed by now.” I stared at him, wondering if I was hallucinating from sleep deprivation. Later, he stood by the office entrance early in the morning, blocking my path. “Kate, why did you request to change partners?” The new girl captured everyone’s attention the second she walked in. Her low-cut, white lace dress perfectly hugged her curves. The moment the clock struck five, guys from our department—and even other floors—crowded around her desk, trying to strike up a conversation. Only Victor, my childhood friend, didn’t join the crowd. He shut his laptop and walked over to me. He gave me his usual bright, sunny smile. “Kate, what are you spacing out for? Let’s head home.” In the car, I couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you think the new girl is pretty? Her body is insane.” Victor scoffed dismissively. “Looks are just skin deep. Who cares how pretty she is? She’s just a bitch who uses her body to hook men.” I frowned. His harsh words made me uncomfortable. But he didn’t notice. “Don’t you dare learn from her. She doesn’t want to work hard; she just wants to rely on men while she’s still young.” I chose to stay silent. The next day, the office was still buzzing around her. To my surprise, the new girl hadn’t stayed at her assigned cubicle. She had packed up her things and moved. Right next to Victor. She flashed a radiant smile and extended her hand to him. “Please look after me from now on, neighbor.” I turned to look at Victor. Without a second thought, he grabbed her hand. The new girl turned her head, her eyes shifting from my face to their clasped hands. She arched an eyebrow. Her smile widened, and she squeezed his hand even tighter.

After work, I was organizing the files for tomorrow’s meeting. Then, like always, I stood by the lobby entrance, waiting for Victor. We always commuted together. But minutes ticked by. Victor, who was usually the first to bolt after work, was now thirty minutes late. I sent him a text on Snapchat, but got no reply. I had no choice but to go back upstairs to find him. He was still at his desk. The new girl, Alice, was holding his hand, whining and swaying gently against him. I tapped on the partition. They both looked up at me. “Kate, is it time to go?” Victor blurted out, looking slightly flushed. “Oh, actually… I won’t be heading out with you today. I’m helping Alice sort out some of her work.” My hand froze on his desk. My eyes met Alice’s. Half of her body was practically draped over his shoulder. She gave me a fragile, pitiful smile, as if she were the victim here. “I heard you two have known each other since you were kids and make a great team. I’m new and have so much to learn. Can I borrow him for tonight?” “Don’t be so stingy. I’ll return him to you tomorrow.” Victor pinched her cheek playfully, though his tone held a mock complaint. “Why are you asking her permission?” Alice giggled, placing her hands on his face, pinching him back. “What? Are you trying to reject me?” It hadn’t even been two days, and they were already flirting in broad daylight. Without a word, I grabbed my bag and turned on my heel. As I reached the door, I heard Alice’s teasing voice behind me. “Oh, stop pinching me. Your little wife looks mad.” “What wife? We’ve just known each other a long time.” “Oh, really? So there’s nothing going on between you two?” “Of course not.” A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. My eyes burned. I slammed the door shut behind me.

Our families lived next door to each other, so I usually had dinner at Victor’s house before heading home. As I walked past his porch, his mother, Mrs. Miller, was waiting at the door, wearing her apron and smiling warmly. Seeing me alone, she looked surprised. “Why are you so late today, sweetie? Did they make you work overtime?” “That company is ridiculous. Whatever it is, it can wait till tomorrow.” “Wait, where is Victor? Did he get held up?” I pulled my coat tighter around myself, forcing a smile. “A new colleague started today. Victor was asked to stay behind and show her the ropes.” “I won’t be eating here tonight, Mrs. Miller. My mom already made dinner. See you later.” Before she could say anything, I blinked back my tears and ran across the lawn to my house. “But I made slow-roasted beef ribs tonight! Your favorite!” Mrs. Miller called out, sounding disappointed. “At least have a few bites!” But some invitations, once declined, can never be accepted again.

I wasn’t just being delusional. Victor and I grew up together. For as long as I could remember, Mrs. Miller had treated me like her own daughter. She used to hold me in her arms and brag to the neighbors: “Look at our Kate. Gorgeous, isn’t she? She’s ours. When she grows up, she’s going to marry Victor.” “And Victor absolutely adores her!” When I turned eighteen, boys at school started asking me out. When Mrs. Miller found out, she immediately wanted to set up an official engagement. Though my parents politely declined, saying we were too young, she went out and bought a delicate gold chain with a heart pendant. “It’s just a small token for now. I’ll get you a bigger, proper diamond later. Don’t feel pressured, just wear it for fun.” It was an expensive piece of jewelry, and I felt uncomfortable accepting it. I tried to hand it back. But Victor had smiled and gently clasped it around my neck. “It looks beautiful on you, Kate. Right?” Later, I bought Mrs. Miller a gift of equal value to make things even. But that moment had rooted itself deeply in my heart. Now, it felt like a cruel joke. I was the only one who had taken it seriously.

The next morning, I didn’t wait for Victor. I drove to the office early by myself. My coworkers were surprised to see me alone. “Where’s Victor? Don’t you guys always arrive together?” I stayed quiet, my eyes involuntarily drifting to Victor’s empty desk. Sarah, my coworker, gave me a knowing nudge. “Good for you. Men need to be kept on ice sometimes. You pamper him too much, so he takes you for granted.” She pointed chin behind me. “See? You ignore him for one morning, and he’s already begging for forgiveness with flowers.” I turned around. Victor was walking in, holding a bunch of red roses. My heart fluttered with a sudden hope. Despite how much his words had hurt me yesterday, if he was planning to apologize and confess… Maybe I could forgive him. But we would need to set boundaries. He had to stay away from Alice. Just then, the click-clack of high heels echoed. Alice walked in, smelling of expensive perfume. Seeing Victor, her face lit up. “Oh! You actually bought me the roses?” Victor turned to her, tilting his head with a proud grin. “Of course. I keep my promises.” “I got up an hour early just to drive to that specific florist you mentioned.” “I even ditched Kate for you. Now that I lost my usual pretty companion, shouldn’t you make it up to me?” His tone was greasy, loaded with heavy innuendo. Sarah, who was standing next to me, gasped. “Is he out of his mind??” I lowered my gaze. Alice took the roses. They walked right past my desk, shoulder to shoulder. Neither of them spared me a single glance. Sarah fell dead silent.

That evening, our department manager organized a team dinner at a steakhouse to welcome Alice. Everyone was laughing and ordering food. Alice came back from the drink station, holding a plastic cup of Coke. She navigated the carpeted stairs perfectly fine. But the moment she reached the flat carpet right in front of me, she suddenly “tripped.” The entire cup of sticky Coke splashed all over my sweater and jeans. Sarah, who witnessed the whole thing, stood up in anger. “You bitch! Nice stunt. Anyone with eyes can see you did that on purpose!” Alice straightened up, looking down at me with zero remorse. “Oh, my bad. Victor’s little Kate~” The mockery was practically dripping from her face. Sarah couldn’t take it. She grabbed Alice by the collar. “I cannot stand fake-ass bitches!” “You know you’re trying to slide into a relationship that isn’t yours, so why don’t you keep your hands off another girl’s man?” “Do you think your pathetic act actually works on everyone—” Before Sarah could finish, a hand violently shoved her aside. Victor wrapped his arms around Alice, shielding her. He glared at me. “Kate! Since when did you become such a bully?” I stared back at him. My stained, dripping clothes were right in front of his eyes. He chose to ignore it. The pain and confusion in my chest suddenly turned into a cold, dead calm. “Victor, are those two things on your face actually eyes, or just decorations?” Victor froze, staring at me in utter disbelief. In all the years we had known each other, I had never spoken to him like this. Even when he made me angry, I would usually hide in a corner and cry quietly. Then, I’d wait for him to feel guilty and buy me food to make up. But this time, I wasn’t going to wait. Alice clung to his chest, her voice trembling with fake tears. “It’s my fault… Kate didn’t trip me. I just lost my footing and spilled it on her.” “Don’t get mad at her because of me. It’s fine. It’s normal for Kate to be upset. I’ll just apologize.” She flipped the script effortlessly. “I know you two are going to get married eventually. It’s only right that you take her side. I don’t blame you.” “Why should you suffer like this?” Victor interrupted her, his eyes cold as ice as he looked at me. “There is no marriage. It was just a joke my mom made.” “Why would I ever marry a bitter, toxic girl like her?” He guided Alice toward the exit. Alice buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled but clear enough for the room to hear. “Well, your description of her was certainly accurate…” Bitter. Bitch. He had painted me as a monster to her. A cold shiver ran down my spine.

I went to the restroom and tried to scrub the sticky brown stain off my clothes with cold water. The freezing water against my skin felt like it was numbing my heart. When I got back, Alice was laughing, looking pristine and untouched. Victor sat right next to her. Looking around their table, it was Alice, Victor, and a bunch of male coworkers from various departments catering to her every whim. She was the queen bee, surrounded by guys pouring her drinks. Sarah scoffed from beside me. “Why do men always fall for this garbage? First my ex, now Victor.” I knew Sarah’s ex-husband had cheated on her with a girl who played the victim. Sarah had kicked them both out, and now they were struggling to pay rent. Honestly, she was a great role model. “He’s not my man,” I said, giving Sarah a brief hug, as if hugging my past goodbye. “He’s Alice’s now. They deserve each other.” Sarah looked shocked. “Years of history, Kate. Can you really just let go like that?” I sat down and picked up my fork. “Haven’t you heard of the sunk cost fallacy? You don’t let past investments ruin your future.” I couldn’t even blame Alice entirely. Victor was the real issue here. In a way, I should thank her. She showed me his true colors before it was too late.

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There were only two seats left at the company dinner. One was in the dark corner, and the other was right next to Ethan Vance, my secret boyfriend of three years. Just as I took a step forward, Ethan spoke up, his voice cutting through the chatter as he called out my best friend’s name. “Sienna, why don’t you sit here?” Instantly, the surrounding coworkers let out low, teasing cheers. Our office Snapchat group went absolutely wild. “They look so good together! What a perfect couple.” “Mr. Vance has never invited anyone to sit next to him before.” “I swear he treats Sienna differently. I don’t care, this is real.” Throughout the entire dinner, Ethan didn’t spare me a single glance, all in the name of “keeping things professional.” Even when a clumsy waiter spilled hot soup and scalded my hand, Ethan was too busy blocking drinks for Sienna to notice. At that exact moment, a thought suddenly popped into my head. This hidden relationship. I didn’t want to continue it anymore. While I was in the restroom treating my burn with cold water, I saw a text Sienna had sent me half an hour ago. “Chloe, don’t take what they’re saying in the group chat to heart. They’re just teasing. Don’t worry about it.” I wiped my hands dry and replied, “I know.” A minute ago, Ethan had also sent a message. “I only did that to keep our distance at work. Don’t overthink it.” I stared at the message, a sudden tightness squeezing my chest. In my three years at this company, I couldn’t even count how many times this had happened. Team-building events, dinners, meetings… The person next to Ethan was always a department manager, or Sienna, or some other employee. It was never me. Even on the rare occasions I had a chance to stand next to him, he would deliberately swap places with someone else. To “avoid gossip,” he ignored my eyes, ignored my words. Because my coworkers saw his coldness toward me, they treated me like an outcast. I locked my phone and didn’t reply. When I went back, they were still laughing and talking as if nothing had happened. Only the throbbing blister on my hand reminded me of my decision to walk away. As the dinner ended, a coworker playfully pushed Sienna toward Ethan. “Mr. Vance, there’s a severe storm warning tonight, and Uber wait times are crazy. It’s not safe for Sienna to go home alone. Would you mind driving her?” Ethan didn’t refuse. “Sure. I’m heading toward Bayview. Anyone else on the way?” He spoke casually, but his eyes were locked straight on me. My throat tightened. Three years ago, I was stalked by a stranger on my way home from work, and I had been terrified of walking alone at night ever some. Ethan knew this. Since then, he had driven me home every single day. I opened my mouth. “I also…” “I’ll take care of the other guys,” another coworker cut me off, stepping right in front of me. “Mr. Vance, you should just take Sienna home first.” Ethan stared at me for a few more seconds before finally looking away. He nodded and turned. “Thanks.” Then he drove off. When I finally told the remaining coworker my address, he looked at me with an annoyed grimace. “Chloe, why didn’t you say earlier that you lived in Bayview?” “It’s already 1 AM. If I drive you back and then go home, it’s going to take me forever. Why don’t you just call an Uber?” “The wait times are long, but I’m sure you’ll get one eventually.” I silently opened my rideshare app. Estimated wait time: 53 minutes. Meanwhile, notifications kept popping up in the office Snapchat group as people safely reached home. Then, someone started a new thread. “Did anyone else notice how a certain someone kept trying to squeeze next to Mr. Vance tonight? Does she seriously not realize how much he dislikes her?” “Right! If Mr. Vance hadn’t called Sienna over, she would have sat there!” “And when Mr. Vance asked if anyone was on the way, it was so obvious he just wanted to be alone with Sienna. He was just being polite. Only a certain someone took it seriously.” Sienna replied vaguely, “Guys, don’t talk about her like that. Mr. Vance was just looking out for me because I’m new.” But that only made the coworkers mock me even harder. “Please! When that certain someone first started and dropped all her files after being chewed out by the manager, Mr. Vance walked right past her without even looking.” “Besides, Mr. Vance didn’t deny anything. Actions speak louder than words!” Staring at the screen, I felt nothing but numbness. Sienna had joined this company because she heard I was being targeted and wanted to “keep me company.” Now, she was the office darling. And her comfort to me was always just a few lazy, half-hearted texts telling me not to overthink it because “they didn’t mean any harm.” When rumors spread about Sienna and Ethan, Ethan merely told me to stop wasting my energy on “insignificant matters.” Insignificant. I guess only those who don’t care about you would think your feelings are insignificant. The night wind felt freezing against my face. I left the chat group, logged into the company portal, and submitted my resignation. Since I had decided to end this relationship, there was no need to keep swallowing this humiliation.

It was 2 AM by the time an Uber finally picked me up. When I walked through the door of our shared apartment, Ethan stood up from the couch. “Why didn’t you tell me you were heading to Bayview earlier? I could have easily brought you back with us.” Hearing his casual tone, I wanted to ask him: Didn’t you see how our coworker cut me off just to set you up with Sienna? Couldn’t you have just insisted on taking me? But the words died on my tongue. “I forgot.” I walked closer. That was when I noticed he was wearing matching pajamas. Before tonight, under the guise of professionalism, Ethan had never agreed to wear anything matching with me, even at home. I softened slightly. “I thought you said you hated matching clothes.” Ethan opened his mouth to speak. But before he could, Sienna walked out of our guest bathroom, wearing the matching set. “I made him wear it,” she said with a bright giggle. “This brand was having a buy-one-get-one-free sale for couples. But I didn’t know what size to get for the guy’s version, so I wanted Ethan to try it on for me.” My face froze. The tiny spark of joy in my heart vanished instantly. I had thought Ethan wore them because he saw my resignation draft and wanted to make things up to me by finally going public. But it was all because of Sienna. Sienna looked Ethan up and down. “Actually, I think the men’s size is a bit too big for what I wanted.” “Never mind, I won’t buy it. I don’t have a boyfriend anyway, so it’d just go to waste at home.” Hearing the disappointment in her voice, Ethan spoke naturally. “Then just take this set with you.” Sienna’s eyes lit up. “Seriously?” Ethan’s expression was calm, but a soft smile played on his lips. “Yeah. Chloe has never worn her set anyway. It’s just taking up space in her closet.” I kept my head down, my fists clenching and unclenching. He was right. It was just taking up space. What was the point of couple’s pajamas if only one person wore them? So I had left them in the back of the closet to gather dust. I used to think I could wait until the day Ethan was ready to go public, the day he would wear them with me. Instead, I waited just to see them gifted to someone else. “Take them,” I said quietly. “I won’t be needing them anyway.” Sienna spun around happily. “Chloe, you’re the best!” “Oh, by the way, I’m really scared of storms. Can I stay with you guys for a few days?” “Just until the weather clears up.” I changed my shoes and headed to the bedroom. “Do whatever you want.” I was leaving soon anyway. It didn’t matter how long she stayed. Once we were in bed, Ethan suddenly spoke into the darkness. “You’re very quiet today.” “Usually, when I give away those couple’s items, you get upset.” My body went rigid under the blanket. When we first got together, I had excitedly bought so many matching things. Matching mugs, matching slippers, matching umbrellas, matching pens. I wanted everything around us to show we were a couple. But the very next day, Ethan had given his matching items away as raffle prizes at an office party. Some coworkers noticed I had the exact same items and mocked me behind my back for “hopelessly crushing on the boss.” I became the biggest joke in the company. What hurt me wasn’t that he didn’t like matching things; it was that he chose the most humiliating way to reject them. And after that, to “avoid suspicion,” he wouldn’t even ride in the same elevator as me. When I gave him the silent treatment back then, Ethan took me to his private wine cellar, pointed to a wall of priceless red wine, and told me, “These bottles are priceless vintages from the year you were born. I bought them all. We are only opening them on our wedding day.” I had always believed Ethan’s love was silent, that he was just bad at expressing it. But seeing him try on pajamas with Sienna tonight, I finally understood. True love doesn’t need to be hidden or explained. And when you have to force yourself to believe someone loves you, it’s already a lie. “Didn’t you say those couple’s items were useless?” my voice was flat. “Since they’re useless, it doesn’t matter who gets them.” Ethan remained silent and didn’t say another word.

The next morning, the office pantry was packed with people gossiping around Sienna. “Sienna! That selfie you posted on Instagram was definitely not at your apartment! Don’t tell me…” “You slept at Mr. Vance’s place!” “And those pajamas look like a couple’s set! Oh my god, you guys are moving fast!” “I knew Mr. Vance liked you! He personally brought you in during hiring. It was basically him marking his territory!” “And last week when your blood sugar dropped and you almost fainted, the company suddenly added free afternoon snacks the very next day!” My hand froze on the pantry door handle. That afternoon, I had skipped lunch to help Sienna fix her data entry errors. I was the one who actually fainted in the breakroom. Ethan had seen me. But he had stepped right over me to catch Sienna, who had only stumbled behind me. The panic in his eyes back then was real. When I got angry about it later, his explanation was: “You have me, but Sienna is single. If she gets hurt on my watch, it’s my responsibility.” “I only look out for her because she’s your best friend.” “Are you seriously getting jealous of your own friend?” I didn’t want to hear any more of their giggling. I turned and walked away. Just then, Mark from HR rushed in, looking ecstatic. “Guys! I have two massive pieces of news!” “First, Mr. Vance is getting married! I literally just heard him ordering a custom engagement ring!” The coworkers squealed even louder around Sienna. “Oh my god, Sienna! Congrats!” Mark cleared his throat. “And the second news is…” “Mr. Vance just approved a promotion list, and it’s for our department!” Everyone cheered. “Who else could it be but Sienna!” “Let me be the first to call you Mrs. Vance!” Sienna blushed and played coy. “It might not be me. Chloe has been here much longer.” I didn’t stay to hear the rest of their guessing game. Leila, the HR director, had received my resignation and called me into her office. “Chloe, your performance reviews, project data, and strategy plans are flawless. Why are you suddenly resigning?” I kept my eyes down. “Leila, the promotion Mr. Vance just approved… was it mine?” Leila went silent. “I’ve been here for three years,” I said quietly. “People who started at the same time as me are already department heads. I’m the only one who hasn’t moved an inch.” Every year, HR put my name forward for a promotion. And every year, Ethan would find some minor, insignificant mistake to reject it. Leila frowned. “Chloe, did you somehow offend Mr. Vance?” “Maybe you should go apologize to him?” I let out a bitter laugh. I hadn’t offended him. I was just his dirty little secret. Leila didn’t push further. “Since you’re a standard employee, your resignation doesn’t require executive approval.” “If you’ve made up your mind, I’ll process it.” Right after that, Ethan called an all-hands department meeting. His face was grim. “The financial reports submitted two days ago had major data errors. The client pointed them out on the spot.” He looked up, cold eyes scanning the room. “Chloe Henderson, your team handled this, right?” “If you can’t handle being the assistant lead, step down. You’re losing a month’s salary, and Sienna will be taking over your position as team lead.” Several coworkers immediately beamed, shooting smug, congratulatory looks at Sienna. But I just stared at the data sheet on the screen. That report was the one Sienna and I had worked on together. Ethan knew very well that I wasn’t the one responsible for the data entry. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. My heart went completely cold. She made the mistake, I took the fall, and he used it as an excuse to strip me of my title and hand it to her. A self-deprecating smile crept onto my face. How pathetic. Ethan noticed my expression and knit his brows slightly. After the meeting, he called me into his office. “The data was indeed Sienna’s mistake, but as her supervisor, you are responsible for the oversight.” “Do you have an issue with the demotion and pay cut?” My face remained blank. I replied in a cold, professional tone, “No.” “I’m sure Mr. Vance has his reasons.” Ethan’s frown deepened, but he didn’t say anything else. He just waved his hand for me to leave. As I walked out of his office, Sienna approached me holding a cup of coffee, looking incredibly apologetic. “Chloe, do you want some coffee?” I pushed her hand back. “No, thanks.”

Her face instantly crumpled into a victimized pout. “Chloe, are you mad at me because of the demotion?” “But promotions and demotions are entirely the boss’s decision. I couldn’t change his mind even if I tried.” My expression didn’t change. “I’m not mad.” “Mr. Vance’s decisions have nothing to do with me.” Hearing my cold tone, Sienna’s eyes welled with tears. “How can you say you’re not mad?” “You won’t even take my coffee! You’re clearly furious at me!” Seeing Sienna “crying,” the surrounding coworkers immediately stepped in to defend her. “Chloe, are you seriously jealous of Sienna’s promotion?” “Sienna bought coffee for the entire team. She kept this specific one just for you, and you’re treating her like trash.” “Sienna, just ignore her. She didn’t deserve the position anyway. There’s a reason Mr. Vance blocked her promotions for three years!” “Exactly! And remember three years ago when she acted like a delusional clinger around Mr. Vance? He probably hated her back then, and she just dragged things out for three years.” Their cruel, mocking words washed over me like a tide. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. “I didn’t take the coffee because I’m allergic to it.” “And from beginning to end, did I say a single word about being unhappy with her promotion?” Sienna’s hand froze, her eyes overflowing with tears. “I’m so sorry, Chloe… I didn’t know you were allergic.” A coworker snapped, “Chloe, what is wrong with your attitude? Can’t you just explain your allergy nicely?” “Besides, who knows if you’re actually allergic? You’re just jealous that Mr. Vance favors Sienna, and that he’s about to propose to her!” Hearing their ridiculous delusions, the anger I had suppressed for three years finally erupted. I held up my hand, showing the simple silver band on my ring finger. “Ethan Vance is my boyfriend. Why on earth would I be jealous of her?” The entire office fell dead silent. Then, someone burst out laughing. “Oh my god, this is hilarious! She really thinks she’s Mr. Vance’s girlfriend!” “This is actual harassment at this point, right? She even bought herself a fake ring!” Furious, I turned around to find Ethan, wanting him to put an end to this. But I saw him walking out of his office. I looked straight into his cold eyes. “Ethan, tell them!” “What exactly is our relationship?” As he remained silent, knitting his brows, the coworkers began to whisper. “Mr. Vance isn’t denying it… is Chloe actually his girlfriend?” “Then what was going on with him and Sienna?” Hearing the whispers, Ethan’s expression hardened. He said coldly, “Our relationship?” “We are boss and employee.” “Chloe Henderson, for spreading rumors about your superior and insubordination, you are suspended for seven days without pay.” Looking at the absolute ice in his eyes, my heart shattered into pieces. I let out a soft laugh, slowly slid the ring off my finger, and dropped it onto the floor. “We’re done, Ethan.” His hand twitched, but he forced himself to stay put. Hearing my words, the coworkers scoffed even louder. “The boss literally just shut her down, and she’s still acting out a breakup drama?” Several people mocked me. “A real relationship is what he has with Sienna. The moment Sienna gets upset, Mr. Vance steps in to defend her.” “Chloe, next time you fantasize, pick a normal guy.” The group burst into laughter. I ignored them completely, silently packing my things into a box. Ethan, a seven-day suspension is too short. We are never seeing each other again. Ethan stood by the window, watching me walk out of the office building. He drafted an explanatory text, deleted it, drafted it again, and deleted it once more. By the time the workday ended, he still hadn’t sent anything. When he got back to our apartment and realized I wasn’t there, he tried to text me, only to see a red exclamation mark. I had blocked him. When Sienna found out, she put on a worried face. “Is Chloe still mad about today? But you already announced your proposal plans. Why does she have to be so dramatic?” Ethan frowned, remembering the empty look in my eyes when I walked out of his office. A sudden wave of panic washed over him, but he forced himself to stay calm. “She’s just throwing a tantrum because of the demotion. I’ll just give her the promotion back when she returns.” But seven days later, I still hadn’t shown up for work. Left with no choice, Ethan asked HR to contact me. “Promote Chloe? But she already resigned,” Leila said.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “452043”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My roommate kept a black pet snake with creepy red spots. Every night after lights-out, that snake would crawl into my bed. It would wrap tightly around my thighs, and its ice-cold, wet tongue would flick across my neck. Terrified, I told our Resident Advisor that there was a snake in our dorm. But when housing security inspected the room, they found absolutely nothing. Everyone in the building started calling me a paranoid freak. My hair fell out in clumps. I was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown. Finally, I ran out of the campus gates in the middle of the night, straight into the path of a speeding semi-truck that crushed my skull. My soul floated in the cold night air, looking down. I saw my roommate, Chloe, holding that black snake, laughing hysterically. “Kai, babe, did that bitch taste good?” The black snake let out a low, raspy laugh that sounded chillingly human. It turned out it was never a snake. Chloe had paid a fortune to a dark witch to seal the soul of her perverted boyfriend, Kai, who had died in a horrific car crash, inside that snake’s body. And because she knew I was pretty, she let her boyfriend crawl into my bed night after night. But then, my eyes flew open. I was reborn. I was back to exactly one month before the fall semester started. Without a second thought, I booked a plane ticket straight to the deep wilderness of the Appalachian Mountains. When I returned, I had a ten-foot-long golden albino python packed safely inside my suitcase.

My soul had floated in the air for three agonizing days. And in those three days, I finally figured everything out. That black snake with red spots was actually Chloe’s dead boyfriend, Kai Carter. Chloe had paid a shady occultist a massive sum of money to trap his soul inside the reptile after his car accident. Kai had been an absolute creep when he was alive, and he became even more disgusting after he died. Chloe couldn’t bear to lose him completely, so she came up with this sick, twisted way to keep him around. But she didn’t expect that once Kai became a snake, his perverted desires would only grow. He targeted the prettiest girls on campus. And I was the unlucky winner. Every single night after move-in, that snake would slither into my bed right on cue. Its cold, scaly skin would slide up my thighs, and its wet, slimy tongue would lick my neck and earlobes. I told the RA about it in a panic, but they searched our room three times and found nothing. Soon, the entire floor thought I was losing my mind. “Sera, are you just stressed out from classes?” “Maybe you should go see a therapist?” “Stop accusing Chloe. She’s literally the sweetest girl on the floor.” My hair started falling out in handfulls. My nerves were so shot that I was too terrified to close my eyes at night. My weight plummeted from a healthy 110 pounds to a skeletal 85. During those dark days, they took videos of me shivering in the corner of my bed and posted them to our dorm’s Snapchat group. The caption read: “The drama queen in room 302 is having another episode.” In the end, I broke. I ran out of the campus gates at midnight and was crushed to death by a giant semi-truck. I died in silence, like a pathetic joke. But now, I was alive again. I stared at my phone screen: August 1st, 7:23 AM. Exactly one month before the semester started. I lay in bed for three minutes, completely still, letting the memories of my past life wash over me. Then, I smiled. My past life taught me one thing: Chloe was a master manipulator. She knew how to play the victim, cry on cue, and say things like, “I don’t know why Sera hates me so much.” Everyone would immediately take her side. This time, I could run. I could request a room change. But I didn’t want to. Because if I ran, some other innocent girl would end up in that bed, suffering the exact same fate. After thinking it over, I booked a flight to the mountains that very afternoon. Before I died in my past life, I had read a thread on a conspiracy forum about an old witch doctor living deep in the Appalachian Mountains who could talk to snakes and control massive pythons. Back then, I thought it was internet garbage. But in this life, I believed it. On the plane, I drifted off to sleep. My nightmare was filled with that black-and-red snake crawling up my legs. I kicked at my blankets frantically but couldn’t shake it off. I opened my mouth to scream for help, but no sound came out. I woke up gasping, tears streaming down my face. The older man sitting next to me handed me a packet of tissues and asked if I was okay. I nodded in terror, my resolve to find the witch doctor hardening. The moment I landed, I didn’t waste a second and headed straight into the mountain hollows. By noon the next day, I was standing in the exact spot described in the forum post. Just as I stepped onto the overgrown path, an old, sun-weathered woman blocked my way. “No tourists allowed here. Go back.” I looked her dead in the eye. “I’m not a tourist. I’m looking for the one who speaks to snakes.”

The old woman’s expression shifted. She turned and walked deeper into the woods, gesturing for me to follow. She led me to a secluded wooden cabin. The porch was covered in dried mountain herbs and hanging snake skins. The air thick with a pungent, musky odor. Pushing past the heavy screen door, I saw an elderly man sitting in a rocking chair. He looked to be in his late sixties, his skin leathery and his eyes deep-set, but those eyes gleamed like a feral cat’s. “Who sent you?” “No one. I saw a thread online. It said you can command snakes.” The old man scoffed, taking a sip from his mug of black coffee. “And how do you know I’m not just a scammer?” I stared back at him. “Because on my way up here, I noticed all the chickens in the yard were locked up tight, and not a single dog in this hollow is barking. The dogs are silent because they’re terrified of whatever you keep in here.” His hand paused mid-air. He leaned back against his chair. “You’ve got a dark shadow over you, girl. Someone put a curse on you?” I didn’t want to explain the whole reincarnation thing. I only had one question: “Is there a way to force a human soul out of a snake’s body once it’s been sealed inside?” The old man froze, his coffee mug hovering. He stared at me for ten long seconds before slamming the mug onto the wooden table. “Binding a human soul to a reptile is forbidden black magic. Where did you encounter such a thing?” “I lived through it.” “Lived through it?” His voice pitched higher. “You encountered a soul-bound snake? Was the soul from a living person or the dead?” “A dead man.” The old man went silent for a long time. He stood up, paced around the room, and pulled a polished black bone flute from the wall, handing it to me. “The one you met—was it a small snake or a big one?” “Small. Black with red bands. About fifteen inches.” The old man snorted. “That’s the lowest tier of soul-binding. Trapping a weak, dead soul inside a common garden snake. High on malice, low on actual power.” A sharp light flickered in his cloudy eyes. “Since you made it all the way out here, it means you want to fight back. The law of the wild is simple—fight poison with poison. Fight small with big.” He reached under his table and dragged out a heavy wooden crate. The moment he slid the lid open, a wave of cold, musky air hit my face. Inside, coiled on a bed of dry straw, was a baby python, its scales a brilliant, glowing gold. It was only about as thick as my index finger. It lifted its head and looked at me, its golden, vertical pupils sending a chill down my spine. Slowly, trembling, I reached my hand into the crate. The baby python flicked its tongue, then gently crawled onto my wrist. Its cold scales slid against my skin—a sensation identical to the night Kai crawled onto my legs in my past life. But this time, I didn’t flinch. I let it wrap around my wrist like a heavy, golden bracelet. The old man chuckled. “The little guy likes you. He’s small now, but in three months he’ll be six feet. In six months, he’ll top ten feet. That little black snake won’t even dare lift its head in front of him.” “What does he eat?” The old man grinned, revealing a row of crooked teeth. “He eats snakes. Specifically, other snakes.” When I left the Appalachian hollows, my suitcase contained a specialized, heated reptile case. Inside was the baby python. I named him Sunny. The old man had also given me the black bone flute. “Don’t play this in front of regular folks. Snake charming isn’t exactly holy work. But sometimes, you have to use darker magic to clean up a dark mess.” I asked him one last question. “Can the soul inside that little snake be expelled?” The old man thought for a moment. “Once a dead soul is bound to a beast for too long, they merge. If you want to drive it out, you have to make it feel a terror worse than death itself. Snakes don’t just fear predators—they fear absolute domination.” “What does that mean?” “It means you have to make that little snake understand that he isn’t the apex predator anymore. You are.” On my flight back, I leaned against the window and closed my eyes. The memories of my past life flashed behind my eyelids—Chloe holding the black snake, her high-pitched, mocking laughter echoing in my ears. “Kai, babe, did that bitch taste good?” And Kai’s raspy, disgusting laugh from inside the snake. And then, the faces of my old dormmates. “Sera, can you just act normal for once?” “A snake? Okay, show us some proof then.” This time, I didn’t need proof. Because I was bringing the solution.

Once I got home, I spent every day training Sunny. Our bond grew incredibly strong, and he could understand my basic commands. Three days before the semester started, I called the housing office. I asked if bed selection was first-come, first-served. The lady on the phone said yes. I told her I’d be checking in a day early. In my past life, I was the first to arrive. I foolishly chose the bottom bunk by the window. Chloe arrived second and took the top bunk. Back then, I didn’t realize she chose the top bunk so her heavy curtains could hide her hiding the snake, while my bottom bunk was the perfect launching pad for that thing to slide down into my sheets at night. This time, I was still the first to arrive. But I wasn’t taking the window bunk. I chose the bottom bunk right next to the door. The moment anyone opened the door, my bed was fully visible. This would severely limit Chloe’s ability to hide her snake. If her snake wanted to get from her bunk to mine, it would have to cross the wide-open, highly exposed center of the room. That was only step one. On September 6th, I walked into my empty dorm room. I placed Sunny’s heated enclosure on my nightstand and opened the lid. Sunny lifted his head, his golden eyes shimmering under the fluorescent lights. I held out my hand, and he smoothly slithered up, coiling around my wrist. Then, I went out to the local target and bought heavy black blackout curtains, fabric scissors, heavy-duty double-sided tape, and a sewing kit. I was going to fortify my bed. The only reason Chloe’s snake had evaded the housing inspections in my past life was because she had custom-made, hidden zippered pockets sewn into her bedding and bags. Well, this time, I was going to be prepared way before she even set foot in this room. As I was securing my blackout curtains, my phone buzzed. It was a friend request on Snapchat. The profile picture was a mirror selfie of a girl with long, perfectly styled blonde hair and a sweet, dimpled smile. The bio read: “Hey! I’m Chloe, your new roommate! Thought I’d add you so we can connect!” I stared at her smiling face for a long time. In my past life, I had accepted her request instantly, typing out a bunch of excited, naive messages. Back then, Chloe had sent me voice notes, her voice sounding so sweet it could give you cavities. This time, I tapped accept. “Hey girl!” she replied instantly. “Which bed did you grab? Can I have the top bunk opposite you? I heard that spot has a great view of the courtyard!” What a flawless opening act. First, pretend she has no idea how the room is laid out, then pretend she just wants a “nice view,” and finally, naturally secure the exact position she needed. I messied back: “Totally! I actually just got here and took the bottom bunk by the door. If you want the view, both window bunks are still totally open!” The “typing…” bubble popped up and disappeared several times. After a full thirty seconds, she finally replied: “Oh, the bottom bunk by the door? Won’t that be super noisy with people walking by?” “Nah, I sleep like a rock. A thunderstorm couldn’t wake me up.” I smiled as I sent the text. In my past life, I really did sleep like a rock—so deep that the first time the snake crawled into my bed, I didn’t even wake up right away. But this life was different. Now, I could hear a pin drop. After exchanging some basic small talk about our majors, she finally dropped the bait: “By the way, are you afraid of snakes? I think they’re actually so cute. I was thinking of getting a pet snake, but I wasn’t sure if our dorm allows them.” She had tested me exactly like this in my past life. Back then, I had replied, “Omg no, snakes are so scary, please don’t!” And she had laughed it off, saying, “Haha just kidding!” only to smuggle the snake in on the very first day. This time, I typed: “Snakes? Omg, not at all! I actually think they’re adorable. You should totally get one! I’d love to play with it!” The other side went completely silent for a few seconds. “Wait, for real?” “Yeah! I watch so many snake-handling videos on TikTok. Those bright yellow pythons are literally so beautiful.” Another long pause. I could easily picture her face on the other side of the screen—her brow furrowing, her fake smile faltering as she stared at her phone. She was probably wondering why this Sera girl wasn’t fitting into her neat little box. Finally, she sent: “Well, then I guess I’ll have a little surprise for you when I get there! ~” followed by a winking emoji. I tossed my phone onto the desk. Sunny was resting quietly on my wrist. I stroked his head, and he nudged his nose against my finger affectionately. In two days, Chloe would arrive with that little snake carrying her dead boyfriend’s soul. And she was going to learn a very hard lesson: Not only was I not afraid of snakes, but I owned one that ate hers for breakfast.

Move-in day finally arrived. At 10:00 AM, the sound of heavy suitcase wheels echoed down the hallway. A key turned in the lock, and the door swung open. Chloe stood in the doorway. She was wearing a white crop top, denim shorts, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, sporting her signature sweet smile. She was dragging a massive silver suitcase and carrying a heavy black backpack. Her eyes quickly swept the room, pausing on me for a fraction of a second. “Hey! You must be Sera!” her voice was soft and bubbly. “Hey Chloe! Nice to meet you!” I stood up and helped her pull her heavy suitcase inside. She pushed her suitcase directly under the top bunk opposite me—right facing my bed. Then, she began unpacking, pulling out her things one by one. Toiletries, clothes, her iPad, snacks—and a small, black, hard-shell pet carrier with tiny ventilation holes. It was tiny, barely eight inches long. Easily small enough to slip into a backpack or a custom-made hidden pocket. As she pulled the carrier out of her bag, she subtly turned her body, using a bag of chips to block my view. Her movements were so smooth she had clearly practiced this a thousand times. But she didn’t know that from the moment she walked through that door, every nerve in my body was locked onto her. I pretended not to notice. I leaned down, picked up a pack of tissues she had dropped, and handed it to her with a smile. “Here you go, Chloe. Wow, this packaging is so cute.” “Oh, thanks! Ordered them on Amazon,” she said, taking them and quickly sliding the pet carrier into her nightstand drawer. It was incredibly fast. If I hadn’t been watching her like a hawk, I would have missed it. But she had no idea that in my past life, to figure out where that damn snake was coming from, I had torn this room apart when she was in class. I knew every single one of her hiding spots—under the folded sweaters in the bottom drawer, inside the lining of her hanging duffel bag, and the hidden pocket taped directly underneath her mattress. All of them were fitted with opaque, custom-made zippers. Does a normal college freshman arrive with that kind of stealth gear? No. She was on a mission. After she finished unpacking, Chloe turned to me with a sweet grin. “So, Sera, remember that surprise I mentioned?” She reached into her drawer and pulled out the black pet carrier, placing it on the desk. There was a dark, eager glint in her eyes, like she was holding her breath to see me scream. In my past life, the moment she popped that lid and that black-and-red snake poked its head out, I had screamed, stumbled back, and knocked over my water bottle. That was the beginning of my living nightmare. This time, she popped the lid. The black-and-red snake slowly slid its head out. It was slightly smaller than I remembered, but the dark scales and blood-red bands were exactly the same. It flicked its black tongue, its vertical pupils narrowing into slits. My stomach violently churned. The memories of my past life rushed back like a tidal wave. The feel of cold scales sliding up my thighs, the wet tongue on my neck, and that raspy, dead man’s voice whispering in my ear: “What a pretty face… let me wrap around you.” My temples throbbed as anger flared in my chest. Under the desk, my hands clenched into tight fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. In my head, I slowly counted to three. One. Two. Three. Then, I smiled. I let my eyes crinkle up, showing a completely innocent, bubbly expression. “Oh my gosh! He is so cute!” I leaned in closer to the desk. “What kind of snake is he? His pattern is beautiful, like a vintage floral print!” The eager smirk on Chloe’s face froze. According to her script, I was supposed to scream, pale, and run to the other side of the room. Then she could play the “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I thought you said you liked snakes!” card, instantly labeling me as the weak, easily bullied roommate. But I didn’t follow her script. “You’re… you’re not scared?” her voice shook slightly with confusion. “Are you kidding? I told you, I love snakes!” I reached out a finger toward the little reptile. The snake immediately recoiled, its body tensing into an S-curve, its eyes locked onto my hand. I could feel it. The greasy, perverted, greedy aura of Kai Carter radiating from that tiny reptilian body. Chloe quickly slammed the lid shut and shoved the carrier back into her drawer. “He’s super shy. Don’t touch him, he might bite.” “Aw, bummer,” I said, pulling my hand back with a harmless laugh. “I’ll just wait until he gets used to me.” Chloe forced a tight, awkward smile. That first round ended in Chloe’s utter confusion. But I knew this was just the warm-up. She wasn’t going to stop just because I wasn’t afraid. Because the pervert trapped inside that snake wouldn’t let her.

Sure enough, the trap was set for that night. At 11:30 PM, the dorm lights went out. The hallway silences stretched, and the entire building was plunged into darkness. I lay in my bed, my heavy blackout curtains zipped tight, my duvet pulled up to my chin. My eyes were wide open in the dark. About an hour passed. Around 12:30 AM, I heard it. A faint, rustling sound coming from Chloe’s bunk. It was incredibly soft, like fabric dragging across fabric. “Rustle. Rustle. Rustle.” The sound moved from her bed to the wooden frame, sliding down the wall onto the tiled floor. Then came the almost silent scrape of scales sliding across the cold floor. It was moving toward me. In my past life, I would have been fast asleep by now. But tonight, I was as awake as if someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. Every inch of my skin tensed, my hair standing on end. The horrors of my past life played on a loop in my brain. But I didn’t move. I waited. The sliding sound got closer and closer, until I could feel a sudden drop in the air temperature near the floor. A chilling draft crept in. And then, I heard a sound. It wasn’t a snake’s hiss. It was a wet, muffled, human-like grunt, squeezing out of the snake’s tiny throat. It was laughing. At the bottom of my blackout curtains, there was a tiny two-centimeter gap. The black-and-red head of the snake slowly poked through, its red-flecked eyes glinting in the dark, its black tongue tasting the air. In my past life, this was the exact moment I broke. But tonight, I pulled my blanket tight, rolled over to face the wall, and whispered in a voice so quiet only I could hear: “Sunny, you’re up.” Beneath my bed, the lid of Sunny’s backup enclosure slid open without a sound. Something massive was slowly crawling out from the darkness. It didn’t make a sound, but it carried an overwhelming, suffocating pressure that seemed to freeze the very air in the room. It was a primitive, instinctual dread—the kind carved deep into the DNA of every prey animal. The little black-and-red snake instantly froze. It wanted to run. But it was already too late.

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