Category: English

And for the sake of exposing the traitor in the police force, I, Adam, single-handedly charged onto the drug lord’s speedboat and detonated the explosives. But Mark, the captain I respected most, told the media I was a traitor. My badge number was permanently blacklisted, and my parents were scorned and shunned by our neighbors. My beloved girlfriend, Chloe, fell into Mark’s arms. They didn’t know. It was Mark who personally cut off my backup and falsely reported my defection to command. I was blasted into the icy Mississippi River by friendly fire, leaving no trace of my body. Three years later. During dock dredging, deep within the sunken speedboat’s cockpit, the salvage team discovered a voice recorder. The pen was tightly wedged by the wreckage, its casing melted and deformed. Inside, was the last call recording between Mark and me. Mark, Chloe. The abyss has watched, and now I’m here to collect. The salvage boat pulled my body from the river. Three years. My restless spirit had haunted these waters for three whole years. Mr. Davis, an old officer nearby, spat in disgust. “Traitor! If he hadn’t betrayed us back then, those three brothers of ours wouldn’t have died!” My soul vibrated wildly in the wind. Traitor? Me? I chose to take the drug lord down with me precisely to expose the traitor! On the outskirts of the crowd, a familiar figure pierced my eyes. Chloe, my girlfriend in life, was also there. The man beside her was Mark. The captain I once respected most was now her husband, the youngest deputy chief at the station. Mark solicitously adjusted Chloe’s shawl, his voice doting: “It’s windy by the river, let’s go.” Chloe hummed in agreement, her gaze falling on my hand bones. “There seems to be something stuck in the bone fragments?” Chloe’s pupils contracted slightly. But Mark spoke first, subtly stepping in front of Chloe: “Just a pile of junk, let’s get rid of it all.” Then, he actually tried to snap my finger bone directly. But my bone had fused with the object; it wouldn’t break. A ruthless glint flashed in Mark’s eyes. He was about to call for tools to force it open, when Officer Miller, standing nearby, instinctively spoke up: “This… this looks like evidence. By regulation, we can’t…” Mark’s gaze cut him like a knife, and Officer Miller immediately fell silent. “Just dispose of this trash. Remember, don’t breathe a word of this outside.” “Yes, sir!” Mark scoffed, then wrapped an arm around Chloe and left. I watched their retreating figures, hatred surging. My soul uncontrollably followed them, drifting into the home I’d envisioned countless times in my dreams. The moment I entered, my soul cried out in agony. In the entryway hung Mark and Chloe’s wedding photo, a stunning pair. It ripped my soul apart. And this place? I’d used all my savings for the down payment, a home I promised Chloe. We once sat on the floor here, dreaming of the future. She said we’d hang our silliest photos together in the entryway. Now, the faces in the picture had changed. Mark poured two glasses of red wine: “Don’t think about it. A traitor who got what he deserved isn’t worth your trouble.” Chloe took the glass and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window: “I just never thought that after three years, that boat would be salvaged.” Her voice was soft, devoid of emotion. Mark hugged her from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder: “If it hadn’t been for Adam’s savings, we wouldn’t have settled into this place so quickly. Come to think of it, we should thank him.” My savings? The money I died for became their startup fund for a new life? I saw Chloe’s body visibly stiffen, but she didn’t push Mark away. She just drained her glass of red wine, her voice still emotionless: “What’s there to mention about a traitor?” “What? You still can’t forget him?” Mark’s tone carried a hint of a test. Chloe smiled, turning and embracing Mark, “I just hate him. He betrayed all of us, and he betrayed me.” “Luckily, I still have you.”

Chloe was the first to speak: “Tomorrow, let’s go to the property office.” “The property office?” Mark sounded confused. “To take Adam’s name off the deed and put yours on it.” Chloe’s voice was calm, “This house should have been partly yours a long time ago.” A flash of wild joy appeared in Mark’s eyes, but he quickly hid it. He feigned concern, grasping Chloe’s hand: “Chloe, are you feeling unwell after seeing that boat today? Don’t force yourself.” “Force myself?” Chloe pulled her hand away, a cold laugh escaping her, “I just think a dead traitor’s name doesn’t belong on my home’s deed.” She turned, looking directly into Mark’s eyes: “Or are you saying… you don’t want to?” Mark immediately pulled her into a hug, his voice betraying uncontrollable excitement: “How could I! I just… I just feared you might still be thinking of him.” Chloe leaned against his chest, her muffled voice coming through: “I just hate him. I hate myself for being so blind. Mark, don’t ever bring him up again. I just want to live a good life with you.” “Then let’s go handle the paperwork tomorrow.” Mark gently kissed her forehead, “From now on, this will be our real home.” Hearing that, my soul trembled uncontrollably. This house didn’t just drain my savings; my parents also put in their life’s retirement money. Now, not only do they have to bear the pain of losing a son and the stigma of being “the traitor’s family,” but they will also be completely stripped of the only property their son left behind. Mark, Chloe. You’re not just crushing my hopes, you’re destroying my parents’ last shred of life! My memory flashed back to the spring four years ago, I knelt on one knee, holding a diamond ring. “Chloe, marry me.” She cried as she nodded, “Adam, I do.” We embraced in this house. She said she wanted to hang our wedding photos on this wall. I said yes, we’d take the most beautiful ones. Mark. He was once the brother I respected most. Once, during a drug bust, an out-of-control truck careened towards him. I instinctively pushed him out of the way. Three ribs were broken, and my lung was punctured. Mark held me, his face streaked with tears and snot. “You idiot! Why would you shield me?!” “Because you’re my brother.” I coughed up blood, smiling at him. From then on, I carried a scar that would never fade. Every time Chloe saw it, her heart would ache, and tears would well up. “Does it hurt?” “No, it’s worth it for a brother.” Later, he began to appear frequently in Chloe’s and my life. “This is perfume I had someone bring from abroad. Smell it, see if you like it.” “You must be bored alone at home. I’ll take you to an art exhibition.” “Adam’s not the romantic type. I’ve prepared a surprise for you on his behalf.” Chloe mentioned it to me more than once. “Adam, isn’t he a little *too* good to me? So good it feels… excessive.” “He keeps giving me such expensive gifts. How am I supposed to repay him?” “He always says he’ll take care of me when you’re not around. I think it’s weird.” Each time, I laughed it off for him. “Chloe, he’s just grateful I saved him, he wants to thank you, you know.” “He treats us like his younger siblings, there’s no other meaning.” “We’re brothers. He would never betray me.” Chloe frowned: “But I always feel…” “No buts,” I cut her off. “You women are just too suspicious. Mark is my brother; how could he ever hurt me?” Looking back now, I was the biggest fool on earth. All his care was a prelude to today. Every warm greeting, every thoughtful gift, every gentle gaze, they were all slowly eroding Chloe’s heart. And I, the idiot, couldn’t see it. My most trusted brother stabbed me in the back. Mark, you played your part perfectly.

My memory snapped back to that storm on the Mississippi River three years ago. Three hours before the operation, the witness sent the final intelligence. “The drug lord ‘Ghost Hand’ is bringing heavy firepower this time, and he seems to know we have an operation tonight!” The witness nervously rubbed his hands, his face drenched in sweat. “He also said there’s someone from your team on his side. Be careful!” I looked towards the command vehicle not far away. Mark was gesturing at a map with several high-ranking officials. Noticing my gaze, Mark walked over and clapped me on the chest, “Adam, how are your preparations? Don’t be nervous. This operation is foolproof; we’ve set up a dragnet.” He spoke with certainty, looking completely relaxed. “Mark,” I whispered, “The situation has changed. The witness says Ghost Hand knows about our operation tonight. There’s a traitor in our team!” Mark’s face changed, then quickly regained composure: “Adam, don’t get flustered. How can we trust a single witness? We need to trust command’s judgment. There’s no traitor!” I looked at his complex expression, mistaking it for concern, and secretly made a vow. If there really was a traitor, I would expose him and honor the brothers who were betrayed and sacrificed. Three hours later, the operation began. “All units, attention! Target has entered the designated waters. Prepare to close the net!” Police speedboats swarmed from all directions, gunfire and flashes of light tearing through the Mississippi River night sky. In the fierce battle, “Ghost Hand,” the drug lord’s leader, tried to escape on a speedboat. I couldn’t wait! I looked at Mark, and switched on the voice recorder clipped to my uniform: “Chloe, if I die, live for me, please forget me. I love you.” After saying that, I turned and charged towards the cockpit. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mark standing at the bow of the command ship. I thought he would provide cover for me. Just then, Mark’s clear voice came through the communicator. “Command, Adam has betrayed us! He’s stolen the contraband and is trying to escape with the drug lord via Channel B! He’s attacking us!” “Received. All units, attention. Target Adam. You are clear to fire!” The reply from command made me fully understand. Mark was lying. He was deliberately framing me as a traitor. “Boom—!” The collision of the two boats triggered a violent explosion. The world collapsed before my eyes; flames and river water engulfed me. In my last moments before being submerged, I finally understood. This wasn’t a sacrifice; this was a premeditated murder.

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The moment I asked for a divorce, Brandon Hayes’s mistress slapped me hard across the face. She sneered: “Brandon is just too soft-hearted, letting a low-class nightclub dancer like you continue to be his wife.” Brandon’s sister, Tiffany Hayes, shot me a disdainful glance: “Maya, do you know how many women want to marry my brother? So what if he keeps a few mistresses on the side? It’s not a big deal, is it?” Brandon, meanwhile, had his arm wrapped around his mistress, and he addressed me with impatience: “Everything you have today, I gave you. Without me, you’ll be nothing! I’m giving you one last chance. Are you sure you want to divorce me?” I nodded decisively, stating: “Yes, I do!” After all, my mafia boss father was getting out of prison. He’d been itching to dump Brandon in the river for the alligators for a long time. Scarlett Stone was Brandon’s favorite mistress, and her family owned a small fast-food joint. Brandon’s other mistresses always seemed a little ashamed and timid when they saw me, but Scarlett was an absolute tyrant. Relying on Brandon’s favor, she completely disregarded me. When she saw my firm resolve to divorce, a flicker of delight crossed Scarlett’s eyes. She sat in Brandon’s lap, mocking me with disdain: “Jealous women always meet a tragic end.” “Brandon is a man of great ambition. Marrying him was the luckiest thing that ever happened to you. Instead of helping him further his career, you’re kicking up a fuss about divorcing him just because he has a few women on the side. Isn’t that just holding Brandon back?” “You’re just a stupid woman who got lucky, meeting Brandon before he made his fortune. Otherwise, with your lowly status as a nightclub dancer, you wouldn’t even be qualified to speak to him.” “If I were lucky enough to become Brandon’s wife, I’d manage the household perfectly, treat his other women like family, and make sure Brandon never had a single worry!” Scarlett’s declaration made it clear she was trying to snatch my spot. In the past, I might have exploded in anger. But now, my heart was completely dead to Brandon. The so-called position of his wife was nothing but a joke to me. Tiffany held a glass of red wine, sneering contemptuously at me: “You, a nightclub dancer, aren’t actually trying to blackmail my brother with divorce, hoping he’ll cut ties with his mistresses, are you?” “Maya, don’t be so naive, seriously!” “Are you still thinking that after divorcing my brother, you’ll get half his fortune? Like that minor celebrity who married into a wealthy family a while back and ended up a multi-millionaire through divorce?” “Get that idea out of your head right now. My brother signed a prenup before marrying you, and with me, a top-tier lawyer, on his side, I guarantee you’ll leave with absolutely nothing!” Tiffany certainly had the confidence to say such things. She was a Harvard Law School graduate, now working at a large law firm in New York. Although not yet a “gold-medal lawyer,” she had handled numerous divorce cases with a high success rate. Though I was completely disillusioned with Brandon, Tiffany’s threats still left me feeling angry and heartbroken. I glared at Tiffany, saying: “Without this nightclub dancer, neither of you siblings would be where you are today!” “Back then, you were still in law school, strapped for tuition. If I hadn’t given you the money, you would have been kicked out of the program long ago.” “During that time, Brandon was seriously ill. I was by his side, nursing him, so you could study without worry.” “You once promised me that if Brandon ever treated me badly, you’d be the first one to call him out…” Without my help back then, Tiffany wouldn’t have been able to finish her studies, and Brandon would have starved on the streets. At that time, the Hayes siblings were so grateful to me, they practically wanted to put me on a pedestal. And I, like a fool, thought I’d found true love. What was the result? After Brandon got rich, he stopped coming home. I often saw him in New York gossip news, frequenting bars and other entertainment venues with his mistresses, living a lavish and carefree life. Tiffany, ever since she started working at the law firm, has been rubbing shoulders with business elites and socialites, and she’s grown to look down on me more and more. Now, they fancy themselves as part of the elite, unwilling to mention those poverty-stricken days, which they consider a stain on their lives. When I said these words, the Hayes siblings’ faces instantly turned ugly. Before I could finish, Tiffany violently hurled her wine glass at me. The glass struck my forehead, making me whimper in pain. Wine trickled down my face, leaving me looking quite disheveled. Tiffany watched me with a sinister glint in her eyes, cursing: “You damn wretch, are you going to hold on to those measly favors you did for us siblings forever?” “The money you spent on us back then? We paid it all back ages ago! You think you can keep cashing in on old debts? Dream on!” Brandon squinted at me, his face filled with displeasure: “Maya, my company is about to go public. My sister is also close to getting a promotion at her firm. Do you really have to pick now to cause a scene with a divorce? What’s the point?” “If word gets out that we’re divorcing, it’ll affect both our reputations!” “I admit you helped us in the past, but ever since we got married, I’ve spent a lot of money on you. Any old debts are long settled, so stop clinging to the past.” “If you’re truly set on divorcing me, I won’t treat you unfairly. I won’t make you leave with nothing. After all, you’ve been with me for several years. I’ll give you a million. Be careful with it, and it’ll be enough for you to live comfortably for the rest of your life.” “But you have to agree to one condition!”

Brandon made me sign an agreement. It stipulated that after the divorce, I was not to mention how I had helped him and his sister back then, nor was I to mention to anyone that Brandon and I had ever been married. I agreed. Although Brandon and I had been married for over three years, the outside world didn’t know about it. Everyone still thought Brandon was single! After all, our wedding was very simple, without many friends or relatives invited. The only witnesses were the old priest from the church and Tiffany. Moreover, after the marriage, Brandon started fooling around and deliberately cultivated a single persona. Tiffany also subtly hinted in many social settings that both she and her brother were single. So, for three years, very few people knew I was Brandon’s wife. After signing the divorce papers and taking the million-dollar check Brandon threw at me, I turned to leave. Just then, Scarlett laughed mockingly: “Maya, after divorcing Brandon, you better be careful with that million dollars!” “I heard Brandon say your crippled, jailed father is getting out of prison soon, isn’t he?” “What did he go to prison for? Killing someone by accident in a fight? Or defaulting on gambling debts?” “When he gets out, you should advise your crippled father to stop running those shady businesses, and you shouldn’t go back to being a nightclub dancer. That million should be more than enough for you two to start a small business!” Her words, seemingly caring, were actually full of sarcasm. Tiffany also snorted: “If I had known her crippled father was in prison back then, I would never have let my brother marry her.” Brandon spoke to me coldly: “From now on, we have no connection.” “If I find out you’ve been spreading rumors, I won’t go easy on you.” “My sister and I are now involved with business elites and important figures. We can’t afford any blemishes on our reputation. Keep your mouth shut, understand?” I said nothing, suppressing the grief and anger in my heart, and left Brandon’s company without looking back. Back home, I quickly packed my personal belongings, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. Who was to blame for reaching this point? Only myself, for being so blind and soft-hearted to help those ungrateful, two-faced siblings back then! I dragged my suitcase out of the house, unsure where to go. Just then, a van suddenly pulled up beside me. Then, several burly thugs got out of the van. I recognized them. The leader was Marco, Brandon’s company’s head of security. Marco and his crew used to be street thugs, but after joining Brandon, they morphed into company bodyguards. In the past, they were somewhat polite to me. But now, they roughly dragged me into the van. I struggled fiercely, trying to scream for help, but Marco covered my mouth. He grinned menacingly and said to me: “We’re just following orders, ma’am. If you cooperate, we promise it won’t be too painful.” “Ms. Tiffany wasn’t too happy about Brandon giving you a million dollars, and we certainly have to listen to her. Since she doesn’t like you, we brothers have no choice but to give you a little taste of pain.” “And Ms. Scarlett is about to marry Brandon. We can’t mess up the tasks she gives us, either!” “You’re just unlucky. Don’t blame anyone else!” With that, Marco and his men, smirking lewdly, started to pull at my clothes. Suddenly, the van screeched to a halt. Marco and his crew almost slammed into the windshield. Their faces contorted in anger, ready to yell at the driver, but the next moment, their angry expressions froze. They looked out the window, horrified. Several vans blocked Marco’s vehicle. A group of muscular young men, armed with guns, approached my van and yanked open the door. Marco and his men desperately pleaded: “Gentlemen, have you got the wrong people?” “We’re from Hayes Financial Services. Our boss is Brandon Hayes!” “Gentlemen, let’s talk this out…” The muscular young men ignored Marco and his crew, bowing respectfully to me: “Miss Maya, Mr. Blackwood wants to see you!”

Half an hour later, I arrived at Rikers Island. My crippled father, Mr. Silas Blackwood, was serving his sentence there. He was the “Mr. Blackwood” those men were referring to. After entering the prison, I went directly to the warden’s office. Warden Evans was sitting, chatting, and drinking tea with an old man leaning on a cane. That white-haired old man was my dad! Seeing me, Warden Evans smiled and said: “Maya, it’s been a while since you visited!” “You two catch up. I’ll leave you to it.” After Warden Evans left, the office was silent. After a long moment, Dad spoke softly: “Divorced Brandon, have you?” I lowered my head, clenching my fists, and didn’t respond. Dad let out a cold laugh: “Unwilling? Feel like he betrayed you?” “My foolish daughter, I told you before, that man isn’t trustworthy.” “If you hadn’t stopped me, I would have just put the word out, and those siblings would have been dumped in the river for the alligators long ago!” I cut him off, my eyes red, but I said nothing. After Dad went to prison, I didn’t want to take over his illicit businesses, so I chose to open a nightclub. It was then that I coincidentally saved Brandon and lied to him, claiming I was a dancer at that nightclub. Later, after Brandon and I got together, I had intended to tell them about my dad. But what happened? The siblings weren’t interested. All they knew was that my dad was crippled and locked up. By then, Brandon and Tiffany’s careers were starting to take off. They resented me because of it. They didn’t even visit Dad once. Seeing my sorrowful and disheartened expression, Dad sighed, saying: “Since you’re divorced, don’t dwell on the past.” “It’s just a man, isn’t it? Your old man will find you someone much better!” “As for Brandon and Tiffany, they’ll absolutely regret it.”

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My stepsister, who’d been paralyzed for six years, suddenly had a swollen belly. I picked up my phone to call the police, but my father grabbed my hand. “Seraphina, that’s your baby too!” My husband, Kalan Vance, stood silently beside my father, tacitly agreeing to this absurdity. I understood. My stepsister’s baby was my husband’s. Seeing my silence, Kalan tried to justify himself: “You didn’t want kids anyway. Briar is paralyzed, and she’s your sister. Her having a baby won’t shake your position as my wife.” In their eyes, I never said no to them. But they didn’t know that I had fulfilled my promise to my mother, and now, it was time for me to leave. Kalan’s hand was still resting on Briar’s swollen belly. The sight of it stung my eyes. “Don’t be mad at Kalan.” Briar lay in bed, an innocent smile on her face. “The doctor said I’m not well, Kalan was just worried about me and the baby, that’s why he kept it from you.” “We’re both doing this for your sake. You’ve been Kalan’s wife for so many years without getting pregnant, it’s… a bit embarrassing for you, isn’t it?” She even patted my hand affectionately. “Once the baby’s born, we’ll put him under your name, and he can call you Mom, okay?” My father cleared his throat, adopting the air of a patriarch. “Seraphina! Briar is carrying a Vance family child, the hope of our family!” “Your sister is unwell, yet she’s taking on this burden for you, for the Vance family. Instead of being grateful, who are you giving that sour face to?” Kalan finally took his hand off Briar’s belly and walked towards me. He reached for my hand, but I pulled away. His arm froze in mid-air. “We’ve been married for so many years, don’t you understand me?” “Everything I do is for you, for our family. I can’t let people whisper behind your back, saying you’re a barren woman.” I looked at him, unable to utter a single word. Seeing my unresponsiveness, Kalan’s patience wore thin. He tugged at his tie, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “Alright, stop being dramatic. I’ve already asked Mrs. Davies to prepare dinner to celebrate.” “As the lady of the house, you should at least show some enthusiasm.” He turned and gently helped Briar up, with a tenderness I’d never witnessed. “Briar, what do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen make it for you.” Briar leaned weakly into his arms, pouting playfully: “I want some of that organic, hand-churned almond milk smoothie you make, and I want you to feed it to me.” “Of course, anything for you.” They flirted openly, treating me like a transparent ornament. I stood there, ridiculously superfluous. Just then, Dr. Miller, the family physician, walked in with his medical bag. His face was wreathed in smiles as he pulled a report from his bag. “Mr. Vance, Mr. Blackwood, congratulations!” He handed the report to Kalan, his voice booming. “Miss Briar’s pregnancy is very stable, and the ultrasound suggests it’s a boy! Congratulations, Mr. Vance, you’re having a baby!” Kalan kissed Briar hard. My father’s face was flushed with excitement. Dr. Miller turned to me, a hint of pity in his smile. “Mrs. Vance, you shouldn’t be too sad.” “Since you haven’t managed to get pregnant, having Miss Briar help you is just as good.” The room was filled with laughter and joy, like countless needles pricking my ears. I clutched my phone, my nails digging into my flesh. Kalan held up the report and walked over to me. “Look, isn’t he adorable? From now on, he’ll be our child.” My father quickly added: “But Seraphina, even if the child is registered under your name, he’ll still call Briar ‘Mom.’” They were as complacent as ever, convinced I would agree to all their requests. Just like the day of my mother’s funeral when my father brought home a stepsister who was only half a year younger than me. He claimed she was an old friend’s daughter, but her face bore a striking resemblance to his. Just like when Kalan said he wanted a child, and I tried countless folk remedies. Even though I had told him before marriage that my body wasn’t well and it would be difficult for me to have children, and I couldn’t endure continuous injections and medication. All because seven years ago, I made a solemn vow by my mother’s deathbed. To help my weak father support the Blackwood family, and to pave a bright future for Kalan, who had nothing. For my mother, the Blackwood family was love, and the Vance family was gratitude. They were her last lingering attachments. But for me, it was nothing more than a promise. Now, seven years have passed, and I see nothing left here to cling to. 2. I turned, leaving the family’s joyful reunion behind me. On the deserted balcony, I dialed the number of the lawyer my mother had designated before she passed. “Mr. Thompson, seven years are up.” A brief silence on the other end, then a sigh. “Miss Seraphina, everything is ready. Just say the word, and all the funds injected into Blackwood Corp and Vance Inc. will begin to be withdrawn within twenty-four hours. We estimate six days for a full extraction.” “Start.” Hanging up the phone, I felt the rope that had bound me for seven years finally loosen. Kalan walked over, I didn’t know when, frowning at me. “Who were you talking to so mysteriously?” “Seraphina, I’m warning you, don’t take the family money and make reckless investments. “Raising a child will cost money at every turn, so start saving.” He lectured me as if it were his right, completely forgetting that his money was earned with my help. I ignored him and walked straight to the dining room. The long dining table was laden with dishes, all of them Briar’s favorites. Kalan meticulously deboned fish for Briar, completely oblivious that I hadn’t eaten anything. My father drank until his face was flushed. “Seraphina, transfer your shares in Blackwood Corp to Briar’s unborn child. Consider it a gift from you.” I looked up at his face, etched with calculation. I nodded. “Alright.” My straightforwardness stunned them all for a moment. Kalan was the first to react, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. “I knew Seraphina was the most reasonable one.” He immediately took charge: “The shares you hold in my company should also be transferred. For our child, you’d surely be willing.” Briar leaned into Kalan’s arms, pretending to be worried as she tugged at his sleeve. “Kalan, don’t do that, Seraphina will be unhappy.” My father scoffed. “How could she be? She’s thrilled! Aren’t you, Seraphina? Come on, toast Briar and say a few words of blessing.” Kalan picked up a glass of red wine and offered it to me. “I can’t drink,” I said. Kalan’s face instantly darkened. “Can’t drink? When you drank until your stomach bled on the negotiation table for the South Ridge project, why didn’t you say you couldn’t drink?” My father chimed in: “Exactly, how many rounds have you endured over the years? You seemed quite happy drinking then, even eager to go when no one asked.” All these years, one needed to maintain his image as a refined CEO, and the other his authoritative chairman persona. The dirty work of schmoozing and charming people naturally fell to me. Six more days, I counted silently in my head. Then I took the wine glass Kalan had practically shoved to my lips and turned to Briar. Her face held a poorly concealed triumph. I raised the glass, speaking each word distinctly. “I wish you… everything you desire.” 3 That night, stomach cramps dragged me out of a nightmare. Cold sweat drenched my nightgown, and I curled up on the bed, every breath a painful effort. I fumbled for painkillers on the nightstand, but found nothing. Then I remembered, Mrs. Davies had long since taken away all the household medicines, claiming Briar couldn’t stand the smell of them. The huge villa felt empty. They were probably all gathered in Briar’s room, fawning over her. I struggled to get up and went to the hospital myself. In the emergency room, the doctor looked at my medical records, his brow furrowed. “How did you get into this state again? Didn’t I tell you to take care of yourself?” He looked up at me, his tone full of reproach: “Wasn’t Mr. Vance watching you? Last time he came, he specifically emphasized that I must help you get well.” I felt a little dazed. The first time my stomach issues flared up was also here. Kalan had rushed me into the emergency room, his eyes red with worry, clutching the doctor’s hand, asking again and again what to do. After being discharged, he took away all my work documents, personally cooked porridge for me. Every few days, he would come to the hospital, pulling the doctor aside to discuss my diet. Back then, he really loved me. But that love… it just faded away. Maybe I was too busy, too busy to pay attention to anyone’s emotions. I still remember the last time Kalan and I argued. It was when I hadn’t slept for three days and nights for a project. And missed the trip I had promised Kalan. He was furious with me for the first time. He accused me of being a cold-blooded monster who only cared about work, and that I hadn’t fulfilled my duties as a wife. I was a bit lost then. I was just trying to be like my mother, wanting them to have a better life. What was wrong with that? Supporting two companies was busy and exhausting. Everything left no room for me to think. By the time I came back to my senses, everything had become like this. My phone vibrated, pulling me out of my memories. It was a message from Kalan. “Dad and I took Briar on a vacation to relax. Transfer six million over from the company account.” I replied with a simple ‘Okay,’ just like before. Then I messaged the finance department, giving them an unlimited spending limit for their expenses. It wouldn’t be my company anymore anyway, and whether the cash flow broke wouldn’t be my concern. The doctor was still nagging beside me: “You need to follow doctor’s orders, don’t neglect your health like this again.” I nodded definitively: “Alright, doctor, I won’t anymore.” From now on, I would only live for myself.

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The takeaway joint downstairs from my apartment was expensive, but the food was delicious. I ordered from there almost every day. At first, they’d pack exactly what I asked for. Then, if I asked for $30 worth, they’d pack $50. If I asked for $50, they’d load me up with $100. I knew they were struggling, so I always paid the full amount without a word, thinking I was helping them out. This morning, I was rushing to work, my driver honking impatiently. After grabbing my order, I noticed the paper bag was tearing. Without thinking, I grabbed two extra plastic bags from the counter. I didn’t say anything to the owner, just hurried into the car. Turns out, at lunchtime, the owner’s mom tracked me down at my office, demanding I pay for them. She stood there, in front of all my colleagues, screaming insults, calling me a cheap, shameless thief. That’s when it hit me. Some people just aren’t worth your sympathy or your help. 0I slept late last night and overslept this morning. I threw myself together and rushed out the door. The driver was already waiting, and that’s when I realized I hadn’t eaten breakfast. I yelled to the owner to just pack me $30 worth of fried chicken and fries to go. I was in a hurry. But when she weighed it, the total came to $56.90. I just shrugged, paid, and reached for my order. That’s when I saw the paper bag was ripped, sauce already leaking onto my hand. The owner looked swamped, so I figured it was just a small thing and didn’t want to bother her. I quickly grabbed two plastic bags from the counter and dove into the car. Twenty minutes after arriving at the office, I hadn’t even touched my food. My butt hadn’t even warmed the seat yet. My colleague, Mark, told me someone was asking for me. I thought it was an early client meeting. I tidied up my outfit and headed to the entrance. As I got to the door, I saw a familiar face: Agnes Thompson, the fast-food owner’s mom. Her voice was sharp, spitting venom, spittle flying everywhere. “You ran off without paying! And you work at a big company? How shameless can you be?” My mind raced, trying to figure it out. Did my card decline because of a weak signal? I meticulously checked my payment history. Nope, it went through. I paid with my credit card. There had to be a misunderstanding, I thought. I calmly and politely tried to explain to her. “Agnes, I just checked. I definitely paid. Is it possible there was a network delay on your end, and the payment just hasn’t registered yet?” I practically shoved my payment history in her face. “See for yourself if you don’t believe me. I have the record right here. You must be mistaken.” “You paid for the chicken, sure, but don’t you forget, you grabbed several extra bags on your way out! Those bags are fifty cents each! What, am I supposed to give them away for free? Do I owe you something?!” Instead of clearing things up, she just got more agitated, ready for a full-blown argument. “You walk around here all prim and proper, looking like you own the place, but in the end, you’re trying to screw over a small business owner like me!” “Does this big company not check people’s character when they hire? Call your boss out here! Let him see your true colors!” “I know what this is. You think I’m just an old lady, easy to push around, easy to take advantage of. Taking things without paying! Don’t think for a second I’m too shy to come here and demand my money!” “Everyone here! Come judge this old lady! She’s bullying me!” 0

Agnes’s voice echoed through the office, loud enough for the entire floor to hear. Her shouting drew everyone’s attention. People started curiously gathering around, wanting to see what was happening. Even my team leader, David, was alarmed. David rushed over, and seeing Agnes so upset, immediately started trying to calm her down, without even asking me for my side of the story first. He said to me, “Alex, just pay her quickly. Let’s get this over with. It’s not easy for an old lady to come all the way here. Let’s not argue and make things unpleasant, it’ll reflect badly on the company.” I thought about it and figured David had a point. After all, it was just a dollar. It wasn’t worth causing a huge scene over. Besides, my big client was arriving in half an hour. I really didn’t have the energy to argue with Agnes. I swallowed my anger, giving David a cold, terse “Okay.” “Agnes, I was truly rushing to catch my ride today and left in a hurry. And even though I only asked for $30 worth of food, you still packed me $56.90. I also had no idea you charged for extra bags, so that’s my mistake. My apologies. Please open your payment app, and I’ll pay you now.” When I explained what happened, the colleagues watching understood the situation and gave me sympathetic looks. Agnes shot me a venomous glare. “Fine, you’re smart enough to know when to quit. I’ll let you off the hook this time. But if you ever try to skip out on bag fees again, I won’t sell to you. My takeaway joint doesn’t welcome people with low morals.” Hearing that, I nearly exploded with rage. But I couldn’t stand to look at her for another second, so I quickly opened my phone and paid. “Payment received: $1.” A crisp notification sounded. I thought that was the end of it. But Agnes wasn’t done pushing her luck. Her nose practically touching the ceiling, her aggressive swagger undiminished, she pointed a bony finger right at my face and said: “One dollar? Are you trying to pay off a beggar? I caught you red-handed today, but who knows how many times you’ve secretly taken my bags before?!” “You’re so young, why are you so rotten and malicious?” I clenched my jaw, forcing the words out through gritted teeth: “So tell me! How much do you want?!” “Since you’re such a regular at my fried chicken place, at least… $50!” She named an outrageous price. Seeing my stunned silence, her tone grew even sharper and more scornful. “You casually spend dozens of dollars on a single meal, but you won’t give me $50? Have you no shame?” I didn’t want to argue with her anymore. I just transferred her $50 and told her to leave. She took the money, a smirk on her face. “You’re so rich anyway, what’s it matter who you spend it on? Might as well be me.” Then she beamed and walked away. My mind reeled. $50? Why don’t you just rob me?! Fifty dollars for two plastic bags?! You old hag, you know I come to your place every day for fried chicken, don’t you? I saw that you had three kids, and you were struggling to make ends meet. Every time I bought something, you’d give me extra, dozens of dollars more than I asked for, and I just saw it as helping out someone less fortunate. I never said a word. My dad had suggested raising your rent multiple times, but I knew your family was tight on cash, and I liked your food, so I told him not to. And here you are, coming after me for a measly plastic bag? I didn’t even complain about your torn bag! It’s true what they say: kindness is often mistaken for weakness. I watched her retreating back, a smirk playing on my lips. You just messed with the wrong person. 0

The moment Agnes stormed off, a collective sigh of relief swept through the office. Colleagues gathered around me, offering comfort: “Alex, with old folks like that, you just have to cut your losses. If you don’t pay, they’ll just keep making a scene. Don’t take it to heart.” “My eyes have truly been opened today. Talk about a total ingrate!” one colleague said indignantly. “Exactly! Her place is Thompson’s Takeaway, right? I used to like it, but I’m never going there again!” Then Kevin, a male colleague who always seemed to have an issue with me, chimed in with his usual condescending tone: “Well, Alex was the one who didn’t pay first, wasn’t he? She’s not wrong. Is it really appropriate for you all to talk about an old lady behind her back like this?” “Why don’t you say it to her face if you’re so brave?” His voice was dripping with provocation. I gave him a look that could curdle milk, my voice icy: “Why are you so chatty? What’s it to you, Kevin?!” His face went from red to pale. His mouth opened and closed, but he wisely decided to keep it shut. Some people, you just had to call them out directly, no holds barred. I told my dad what happened. My dad wasn’t one to say “I told you so” after the fact; instead, he gently comforted me: “Alex, don’t worry about it. We just won’t eat there anymore, okay? With her attitude, they’ll go out of business eventually.” My dad’s voice was thick with anger. “That storefront! I’d rather let it sit empty than rent it to them again! They messed with my kid, my precious boy!” “How much longer is their lease?” I pressed. “About a month.” “Then don’t give them any time to prepare. Just tell them to pack up and get out when it’s due.” My voice was cold. “Alright! Whatever you say!” My dad firmly supported my decision. My dad was often away for work, so it was just my mom and me at home. My mom was a university professor, usually at school, rarely home, so I mostly lived alone. I didn’t dwell on the incident. After all, if a dog bites you, it’s not your fault. On my way home from work, I bought a lot of fancy pastries from a bakery and a large box of freshly cut durian. The Thompson family had three children. The eldest daughter was studying at college out of state. The middle daughter, Ashley, was 13 and just started middle school. The youngest son, Billy, was in elementary school. As I passed their takeaway, the two younger Thompson kids excitedly ran up to me. Ashley followed close behind, her eyes wide with longing. “Alex, what did you buy? It looks so good!” I knew what she was thinking and frankly said, “Small cakes and durian! What’s up? Anything you need? No? I’m going home then.” Billy’s eyes lit up at the word ‘durian.’ He reached out, trying to tug at my bag. “Alex, how did you know I wanted durian today? Hurry, open it and let me have a piece!” I held the bag high, looking at him with clear disdain. “Want some? Go buy it yourself! If you don’t have money, ask your dad!” Billy looked up, clearly annoyed. “My dad isn’t as rich as you are! He would never buy us such expensive stuff!” Ashley chimed in, “Exactly! If it weren’t for you, Alex, we wouldn’t have tried all these nice things.” I never realized these two kids were so ungrateful before. Guess the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree, huh? I used to feel sorry for them. Every time I passed by, they’d call out “Alex! Alex!” so sweetly. And whenever I bought something nice, I’d always share it with them without hesitation. Today, I wasn’t in the mood to give. 0

Seeing that I was slow to hand it over, Billy reached out and tugged at my shirt! “Hurry up and give it to me! I’m telling you!” I snapped, “Get lost! I’m not your dad, why should I give it to you?!” He glared, threatening me. “I know you love our food! Believe it or not, I’ll tell my dad not to sell you fried chicken!” Ashley also dropped her innocent act, planting her hands on her hips, her voice righteous. “You always used to give it to us! Why not today?!” ??? How could people be so shameless? Agnes saw what was happening and shamelessly waddled over, utterly devoid of shame, as if the person who caused a scene at my office wasn’t her. She put on a magnanimous air. “What you did, taking those bags, consider it forgotten! I won’t hold a grudge. Don’t want to ruin our harmony,” she continued, her tone bordering on a command. “It’s normal for kids to crave snacks! Just give him some, you’re not hurting for it.” “My grandson only asked because he likes you. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” The moment her words trailed off, I responded with a cold laugh, not an ounce of fear in my eyes. “What are you doing here? Looking for a fight? Then I’m happy to oblige.” My voice was icy, devoid of emotion. “If you’re uneducated, you can learn. If you’re ugly, you can get plastic surgery. But your rotten heart? There’s no cure for that. You extorted $50 from me for a plastic bag, and now you have the nerve to come here and order me around? You only have one face, why don’t you try to save some of it?”

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On our third wedding anniversary, I tricked Sera into signing the divorce papers. The doctor had just told me I had terminal stomach cancer and only three months to live. Sera just thought I was being difficult. Annoyed, she signed, then jetted off to Europe with Leo, her adopted brother and childhood friend. Later, she tried every trick in the book to threaten and retaliate against me, desperately hoping I’d come back to her. But all she got was the video I left for her at my funeral. When the first words flashed on screen: “Sera, by the time you see this video, I’ll already be dead…” The once utterly arrogant Sera completely lost her mind. I was in the hospital, my stomach bleeding from overwork, while Sera and Leo watched a private fireworks show in our backyard. Facing the cameras practically shoved in my face, I forced a weak smile onto my pale lips. “Everyone, stop guessing. Sera and I are doing great. The guy she’s leaning on is just a family friend, her adopted brother, that’s all.” The crowd of reporters surrounding me looked disgusted, as if my answer was too rehearsed. Actually, it wasn’t entirely false. Leo wasn’t her biological brother; he was an orphan adopted by the Harrison family. Sera and I were in an arranged marriage, and she was a perfectly suitable partner for a business alliance. But three months ago, after Leo returned from overseas, Sera’s personality completely shifted. She clung to him constantly. She utterly forgot she was a married woman, and she forgot the media once hailed her as the perfect wife. All the household staff had been sent by Sera to prepare the fireworks show for Leo. I called her several times, but she didn’t pick up. I had no choice but to drag my weakened body through the discharge process and take a cab home. The quiet night, my silent self, seemed utterly out of place amidst the raucous celebration. Watching the fireworks explode across the sky in the backyard, Sera attentively lit a cigarette for Leo, feeding him cake. Suddenly, I realized I was the outsider in my own home. It was deep autumn. Leaves littered the ground, rustling underfoot. Leo was the first to spot me. He jumped up, startled like a bird, looking genuinely pitiful. “Myles!” “Please don’t misunderstand, Sera and I were just celebrating the company’s revival, that’s all.” Ha! Celebrating the company’s revival? *Just* that? What did he have to do with our company clawing its way back from the brink of collapse to reach its peak today? Seeing the contempt etched on my face, Sera rushed forward, shielding Leo behind her. “Myles, stop acting like you’re on your deathbed all the time, okay?” “Haven’t you had enough of faking your calm, collected demeanor for the cameras and interviews every single day?” “You want me to pity you? Feel sorry for you?” “Dream on!” Leo, still behind her, looked scared by her outburst. He sniffled, his eyes red, and tugged on her arm. “Sera! Please don’t be so angry!” “I’m scared.” This grand performance almost made me applaud, but I no longer had the energy to compete with them. Unexpectedly, I forced a smile and stepped closer, putting on a pathetic act for Sera: “Sera, I absolutely didn’t misunderstand anything between you two.” “It’s just… it’s my birthday today. I know you’re busy, so you forgot. I don’t blame you.” She froze for a second, then any trace of guilt on her face was quickly hidden. “Birthday?” She scoffed, a sneer twisting her lips. “Didn’t you say you hated celebrating your birthday?” My mother died giving birth to me; my birthday is the anniversary of her death. My father cherished my mother deeply, and every year he would prepare elaborate memorials for her, so I had never celebrated a birthday growing up. But she had forgotten that it was *she* who, for two consecutive years after we married, celebrated my birthday, pulling me out of the darkness. I remember her eyes sparkling as she leaned in close, whispering to me, “Myles, from now on, you’ll never feel alone on your birthday again.” “You were never a curse; you are my lucky charm.” Looking at her now, defending Leo with the same unwavering devotion, my heart no longer ached. She didn’t know. A week ago, I had tricked her into signing the divorce papers.

The stomach bleeding today wasn’t a coincidence. A week ago, I was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer, with barely three months to live – the memory still vivid. I remember it was our third wedding anniversary. I was sitting alone in the hospital corridor, the sweat on my hands dampening the diagnostic report. My legs felt like jelly; I tried to stand several times but couldn’t. My taut heart was slowly torn to shreds when Sera finally answered on the tenth call. “Myles! Are you sick or something?” “Just because you’re bored to death doesn’t mean everyone else isn’t busy, does it?” She actually got it right. I was sick, and critically so. A man’s voice in the background made the words I wanted to spill catch in my throat. “Sera! I knew you’d come!” “You must miss me, right?” Sera’s laughter echoed from the other end, followed by an abrupt hang-up. This wasn’t the first time. The first time Sera stood me up was to pick up Leo from the airport. The first time she hit me was because Leo broke my architectural model. My initial shock had gradually evolved into indifference. The searing pain in my chest had now become a dull throb. More than once, I made excuses for her, telling myself it was all because Leo was her adopted brother, and she was helpless. But eventually, I had to face the truth: she wasn’t helpless; she was willing. Sera saw me as a temporary distraction when Leo wasn’t around, trampling on my dignity and my feelings. So I decided to make her taste the agony of unrequited love, to force her to fall for me, to make me unforgettable. If she wouldn’t see me, I would become the thorn buried deep in her heart. Alive, I’d cause her constant pain. Dead, I’d make her wish she were dead. I recorded three videos, determined to give Sera a grand parting gift.

During that last month, I abandoned my former pride and dignity, even ignoring Leo’s blatant provocations. But he wasn’t done with me. He spilled coffee all over my design blueprints. When Sera returned, she found me furious at Leo. “Do you have to be so aggressive?” I silently raised my hand. The angry red marks on my wrist from the hot coffee were stark. “Sera! Don’t you know he—” She glanced at Leo, who was trembling with fear, then a sharp slap echoed as her hand connected with my face. “If your hand is hurt, go to the hospital! Why are you throwing a fit here?” “You’re nothing but a savage!” All the glory and aspirations of my first half of life vanished in that moment. And my wife, my supposed rock, mocked me with disdain. “The designs are ruined, so what? They’re just tools for you to grab attention anyway.” My hysterical questions sounded like a madman’s ravings to her. “How dare you compare yourself to Leo?” “He studies design because it’s his dream, but you? You’re just after a bit of superficial gain.” Leo picked up a glass of water, poured it over his head, then smashed the glass on the floor, leaving a mess. He looked at me pitifully. “Myles, I didn’t mean it, are you satisfied now?” Sera hurried to comfort him, helping him change clothes. As she left, she shot me a cold glare: “Myles, Leo is my adopted brother. Watch yourself.” Her gaze flickered to my reddened hand, and for a fleeting second, a hint of emotion sparked in her eyes. Leo seemed to notice Sera’s change in demeanor. He closed his eyes and fainted into her arms. “Leo!” Her resolute departure extinguished the last glimmer of light in my heart. In the end, I took a cab to the hospital alone to treat my injury.

I sent all the recorded videos to my sister, Rowan. She knew about my illness and my plan. Our family relations were always distant. Under our father’s influence, my sister had always believed I was the reason she grew up without a mother. “Myles, your cancer is your karma. You should have paid for Mom’s life a long time ago.” That was the first thing she said to me after learning of my illness. I promised her the company, and she agreed to play the video at my funeral. My phone kept flashing on and off, a relentless stream of messages. It was Sera, the IP address indicating she was overseas. “Myles, don’t worry, I’ll definitely make it back for the family dinner tomorrow night.” “You’re not mad, are you?” “Myles, you have to understand. Leo threatened to kill himself, I had no choice but to go.” “That’s a human life at stake! I can’t just stand by and do nothing!” My lips felt numb, my limbs heavy. Messages popped up on the screen, one after another, until I gradually lost consciousness. As I fell to the ground, the question in my heart remained unanswered: “Sera, how miserable will your end be?” My soul drifted out of my body. I watched my own pale, rigid form lying on the floor. Perhaps my deep unwillingness to accept my fate touched the heavens, granting me this chance to stay and witness their end. My phone had one bar of battery left, the message list already 99+. Sera had just sent me one last message. “Myles, stop making a scene.” “My flight might be delayed, so go to the old family estate and wait for me first.” I scoffed. My consciousness traveled to the Harrison estate, waiting for the show to begin. Sera seemed to be in a hurry; her tie was still crooked. She ran breathlessly into the estate. “Grandpa, where’s Myles?” “I need to talk to him about something first.” Grandpa Harrison looked flustered, his brows still furrowed. “Sera!” “Always rushing around like this, what kind of manners are those?” “And from now on, you can’t let Leo run wild just because he’s throwing a tantrum. Our Harrison family isn’t completely free from the Rowan family’s support. If he hadn’t insisted on going abroad to study design back then, and you hadn’t secretly embezzled company funds, the company wouldn’t have ended up in such a state.” “You can’t afford to anger Myles away, so rein in your temper!” Sera’s brows furrowed instantly, her eyes flashing with annoyance. “Grandpa! Why are you still talking about that now?” “If Myles hears any of this, everything will be ruined!” Watching this, my heart still ached. So, the company’s financial black hole I had worked myself to death to fix was all Leo’s doing. And her kindness to me before? It was merely a calculated act, preying on my ability to revive her company. “Myles? What Myles?” Grandpa Harrison asked, bewildered by her agitated tone. Sera froze for a second, then panic flashed in her eyes. “Myles… he hasn’t arrived yet?” She sighed, pulled her phone from her pocket, and dialed my number. After three calls with no answer, standing rooted to the spot, she finally grew anxious. “Answer the phone, Myles!” She paced frantically, stamping her foot a few times in frustration. Grandpa Harrison suggested they sit down; the entire family was already assembled. Just as Sera sat at the dining table, a call came in. I clearly saw her face shift from excited joy to confused bewilderment. Rowan’s voice came through the phone. “Sera, come to Myles’s funeral tomorrow.”

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Fresh out of college, I decided to move in with three of my roommates. The apartment was mine, right in the heart of the city and a short walk from my office-a world away from the dump they’d been sharing out in the suburbs. For three months, everything was perfect. Harmonious, even. Then one day, I came home early from work and found them-Madison, Brittany, and Jessica-huddled in the living room, voices low. “I looked it up,” Madison was saying, her tone hushed but eager. “A place this size in this neighborhood goes for at least ten thousand a month. We’re only paying four, right? What if we sublet the master bedroom? We could pocket an extra four thousand.” “Let’s do it,” Brittany cut in, her voice sharp. “Why should Chloe get that whole room to herself?” “I’ve always hated her superior act,” Jessica added with a sneer. “Just thinking about her ending up on the street is already satisfying.” Listening to their plan, a slow smile touched my lips. They wanted to see me homeless? Funny, since I was the landlord.

The voices from inside carried on. “Anyway, the lease is up in three days. We just won’t renew hers.” “Serves her right! Who does she think she is, ordering us around like that?” “And that story about it being her ‘relative’s’ place? That’s why it’s so cheap and we should ‘take good care of it’? Please.” “I actually reached the real landlord. He agreed to rent to us next quarter-same price.” Just like that, in a few sentences, they decided my fate. But they’d forgotten one thing. After graduation, they couldn’t afford anywhere near work. They were stuck in a cramped apartment way out in the suburbs, waking up at four every morning for a three-hour commute by bus and train. It was out of pity that I lied. I told them my “relative” owned a place we could get cheap, and invited them to live with me. This apartment was actually a graduation gift from my parents. It was right next to my office, a five-minute walk away. Prime real estate, four bedrooms, two bathrooms-it was never hard to rent out. My parents had always taught me to be discreet about money, so I never revealed I was the landlord. I just symbolically collected a thousand dollars in rent from each of them, covering all utilities and maintenance fees myself. Now, my kindness had been completely twisted. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The laughter inside abruptly ceased, and the air instantly froze. Madison was the first to react, forcing a smile onto her face. “Chloe, you’re home early today. Have you eaten? We made noodles, you should have some.” She pulled me to sit at the dining table. She cleared her throat and began, “Chloe, the landlord called to ask if we’re renewing the lease.” I kept my head down, eating my noodles, not saying a word. She secretly watched my expression, then continued, “We’re not planning to renew.” My hand paused, and I looked up, feigning a bewildered look. “We found a cheaper place,” she said, her eyes darting nervously. “You asked us to move in with you because the rent for the whole place was too much for you alone, right? Now that we’re not renting, you’ll move out too, won’t you?” My voice was flat. “No worries. If you guys aren’t renting, I can take the whole place myself. I just finished a big project at work and I’m getting a nice bonus.” Madison’s face visibly changed. “But it’s such a big place, isn’t it a waste for just one person? Listen to me, you should get a smaller studio. You could save a lot of money.” If I hadn’t overheard their scheming with my own ears, I might have actually believed she was looking out for me. “I’m used to living here. Too lazy to move.” “Chloe!” Brittany, who had been quiet until now, finally snapped. She slammed her fork down on the table. “We wanted to spare you some dignity, but you’re being incredibly dense!” “Fine, I’ll spell it out for you. We don’t want to live with you anymore. We hope you’ll move out willingly, don’t make us have to get ugly!” I stared at her coldly. “I found this place. I signed the contract. Why should I be the one to move out just because you say you’re not renting anymore?” Jessica, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. “Chloe, it’s been awkward living with you. If we keep going like this…I don’t think we can even stay friends.” Jessica was my best friend. Her family was a mess. Her mother left after she was born. Her dad gambled and drank, and took his anger out on her when he was drunk. She fought her way into college anyway, only for her father to try and sell her off. One night, I helped her run away. I helped her apply for student loans, and throughout college, I shared every bit of my living expenses with her. We scraped by, and I supported her until she graduated. After graduation, I couldn’t bear seeing her frail frame squeezed onto buses and subways every day. That’s why I suggested we rent together. And to spare her pride, I even brought the other two in. Jessica bit her lip,  looking at me with timid eyes. “You’ve always put me first, Chloe. Please just agree to move out today. We can still be good friends.” I looked at her blankly, then suddenly laughed. “Fine, I’ll move.” Their eyes lit up at my words. They kept telling me that even if I moved out, we’d still be good friends. I didn’t want to hear another word from them, so I turned and went back to my room. Closing the door, I pulled out my phone and called my dad’s contact. “Raise the rent to twelve thousand.”

It wasn’t long before there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find the three of them standing outside, glaring furiously at me. Brittany shoved me hard. “You contacted the landlord to raise the rent, didn’t you?!” My back hit the corner of a table, making me wince in pain. Jessica’s eyes were red. “How about this, Chloe? If you talk to your relative and tell him to rent to us for four thousand again, and you move out of the master bedroom, we’re still willing to live with you.” I crossed my arms, looking at her with cold eyes. “Where would I sleep?” “You can just sleep on the couch, can’t you?” Madison replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “I’m paying rent, and I have to sleep on the couch?” “Get real, you’re the one clinging to us, desperate to stay. Letting you sleep on the couch is already pretty generous.” Jessica took my arm. “We’re good friends, how could I not think of you? I’ve already found you a new place. It’s fully furnished, you can just move right in. Most importantly, it’s only ten feet from your office. Perfect for a workaholic like you.” “Where is it?” She covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. “In the security guard’s doghouse, of course!” “Right outside the company’s security office! How’s that for close? And in winter, the guard dog can even keep you warm for free!” Brittany chimed in mockingly, “Oh, wow, and you call yourself her best friend, telling her to live in a doghouse? How mean! But…” Her gaze landed on me, a nasty smirk on her face. “Chloe, remember to pay Jessica a finder’s fee! Fully furnished places like that are hard to come by!” Jessica waved her hand. “We’re friends, no need for a finder’s fee.” I watched their performance coldly, not saying a word. Jessica looked at me, her face serious. “Chloe, living with you has been utterly exhausting, mentally and physically. You’re such a control freak. You wouldn’t let us put anything on the walls, wouldn’t let us decorate our rooms. You even nagged us about a single strand of hair on the floor. We just couldn’t stand it anymore.” “You’ve driven me to depression. For next quarter’s rent, why don’t you pay for us? Consider it compensation for our emotional distress.” I almost laughed out loud. I didn’t let them stick things on the walls because the emulsion paint was custom-mixed. Once damaged, it was almost impossible to restore it perfectly. I didn’t let them decorate their rooms because they wanted to knock down a load-bearing wall to expand their space. I nagged them about hair because they never cleaned the drain after washing their hair. It clogged the plumbing, flooded the downstairs neighbor’s apartment, and I had to quietly pay a huge sum to settle it. In the six months they’d lived here, the money I’d shelled out far exceeded their paltry rent payments. Now, they wanted me to pay them for emotional damages? What a joke! “Either you move out, or I move out, and you pay the twelve thousand rent yourselves.” With that, I closed the door. Outside, their furious shouts erupted. “Chloe, you’re really asking for it, aren’t you?!” “Don’t you dare push us!”

The next day, I got off work at 11 PM. When I reached my front door, I froze. My luggage was piled in the hallway like trash. I tried the door code several times, but it wouldn’t open. They had clearly changed the password. A surge of anger shot to my head. I dialed my dad. “Dad, can you send a driver over? I need something delivered…” Hanging up, I started banging hard on the door. Bang, bang, bang. My knocking echoed piercingly in the dead of night. The noise drew complaints from neighbors, who came out to demand why I was disturbing the peace. Someone even called security. More and more people gathered. There was movement inside the door. Click. The door opened. Brittany, wearing pajamas and a face mask, frowned. “What’s with all the racket in the middle of the night, Chloe? You’re ruining my beauty sleep!” I forced myself to suppress my rage, pointing at my luggage on the floor. “How dare you throw my things out?” Hearing the commotion, Jessica walked up, looking at me timidly. “Chloe, we really had no choice. Please, just do us a favor and leave us alone…” She shot a glance at Madison, who caught it instantly. Madison raised her voice, calling out to the neighbors and the security guard. “Everyone, you be the judge! We’re her roommates, and she brings different men home every night. The noise from her room is so loud we can’t even sleep!” Then she turned to me, putting on a pleading tone. “We know you have…a special job, and you have to work at night. We don’t judge what you do, but we have to get up for work in the morning! Please, just find another place to live.” The moment she finished, the neighbors’ eyes shifted toward me-full of disgust, as if I were something filthy. Jessica offered the crowd an apologetic bow. “I’m so sorry, everyone. Her lease is up, and we’ve made it clear we won’t renew. Even the landlord won’t rent to her anymore. But she just won’t leave, so we had no choice…We’re really sorry for keeping you all up so late.” The neighbors began to whisper. “She looks so decent. How could she do such dirty work?” “No wonder she comes home at all hours…” “Just our luck, living on the same floor as her!” A middle-aged woman jabbed a finger toward me, furious. “Weren’t you the one blasting music that night? The bass was shaking my ceiling. I didn’t sleep a wink!” I’d been away on a business trip all last week and only got back yesterday. Brittany’s face flashed with guilt before she pointed at me. “Yes! It was her!” Another neighbor stepped forward. “And wasn’t it your hair that clogged the drain and flooded my place last time?” Jessica, who had the longest hair and never cleaned the drain, paused for a beat before frowning at me. “Chloe, how many times do I have to tell you? Clean your hair out of the drain after you shower. Why do you never listen?” “And wasn’t she the one who wanted to tear down a wall? She practically put the whole building at risk!” Madison, who had been the one wanting to knock down a wall to enlarge her room, rubbed her nose. “Yeah, that was her! We tried to stop her, but she wouldn’t back down!” The neighbors’ anger was fully ignited. “She’s a menace! Get her out of our building!” “Security! Kick her out immediately!” “Call the police, arrest her!” Seeing the situation, the security guard grabbed my arm and tried to drag me away. Furious and desperate, I yelled, “I’m the landlord! You can’t just kick me out!” Brittany scoffed. “If you’re the landlord? I’ll eat dirt!” Jessica put on a trouble look. “Chloe, I’ve already called the landlord. He’ll be here any minute. If you leave now, at least you’ll save face. It’ll be so much worse if he has to drag you out himself.” I was trembling with rage. “Fine! Call the landlord! I’d like to see who dares to throw me out!” “Who’s looking for me?”

I turned to see a sleazy-looking guy with dyed hair, swaying as he walked over. “I’m the landlord. You looking for me?” He squinted, looking me up and down. “Where’s Mr. Peterson?” I frowned. My apartment had always been managed by Mr. Peterson, a very responsible property manager. “You did your homework, huh? You even know my uncle’s last name. Let me tell you, my uncle’s out of town. This place is my responsibility now!” He pointed at my nose. “I’ve heard all about your little drama from these pretty ladies. I’m not renting my place to someone as morally corrupt as you! Be smart, grab your junk, and get out!” I looked at him coldly. “Do you even know whose name is on the deed before telling me to leave?” “It’s my uncle’s place. Of course his name is on it. Not yours, got it?” The thug, Damon, smirked. Jessica tried to smooth things over. “Chloe, just stop. The landlord’s here. Accept it.” Damon ignored me, strutting into the apartment to look around. When he came back out, he snarled, “Hey! Where’s the LEGO set from the TV stand? Did you steal it!” “That was a limited edition, worth two hundred grand! Hand it over now!” That LEGO set? My niece, Lily, loved it last time she visited, so I gave it to her. “It’s my stuff. Do I need to inform you if I give it away?” “Your stuff? That’s the landlord’s-my uncle’s-stuff!” Damon stomped his foot in anger. Madison immediately jumped in to support him. “We can testify! That LEGO set was here since we moved in. How could it be yours? It clearly belongs to the landlord!” Jessica frowned. “Chloe, you really should get it back. Stealing is a crime. If the landlord calls the police, you’ll be in big trouble.” I watched their charade, finding it utterly absurd. “Then call the police.” My indifferent attitude completely enraged Damon. “You bitch! Stealing and acting so arrogant?!” He slapped me across the face. Smack! The crisp sound rang out, my ears buzzed, and I tasted blood in my mouth. Jessica held back Damon, who looked like he was about to hit me again. “Stop, stop. It’s hard to get back something that’s already been given away. Chloe, why don’t you just pay him some money? Since the landlord says it’s worth a hundred grand, just pay him two hundred grand. You… you make good money, it’s just pocket change for you. Pay him quickly, and this whole thing will be over.” I laughed, a humorless sound. That LEGO set looked big, but it was actually a model I bought for three thousand dollars. I finally understood. They had been secretly colluding with Damon, setting a trap to extort money from me. Seeing I was unmoved, Damon shoved me again. “Damn it, did you hear me?! Pay up! Two hundred grand! Every penny! Otherwise, you won’t be leaving this hallway upright tonight!” “I told you, that’s my property!” “Damn it, you’re asking for it!” Damon cursed, raising his hand for another slap. He hit me, and I stumbled backward, falling to the ground. My vision blurred. Brittany’s eyes darted around, and she pointed at my luggage, screaming, “She’s a thief! I need to check her luggage carefully, in case she stole any of my stuff too!” With that, she squatted down and started rummaging through my suitcase. She pulled out a gold necklace, a flash of envy in her eyes, then turned and shouted, “Oh my god! My gold necklace! It’s been missing for ages, I can’t believe I found it here!” “Jessica, Madison! Come help me search! She must have stolen a lot of our things!” Madison’s eyes lit up at the news, and she also started tearing through my luggage. They were like vultures, pulling out jewelry and brand-name cosmetics from my bags. They claimed everything was theirs, stuffing them into their pockets without a word. The other neighbors watching also began to stir restlessly. Jessica smiled sweetly at the crowd. “Everyone, feel free to look around too. See if she stole any of your things.” As soon as she spoke, the crowd surged forward like a swarm of locusts. CRASH. The trophy I won in college was smashed to pieces on the floor. RIP! The sweater my mom hand-knitted for me was torn to shreds. My down jacket was ripped open, feathers flying everywhere. I even saw a creepy middle-aged man pick up my underwear, sniff it deeply, then stuff it into his pocket. “Stop! All of you, stop!” I screamed, rushing forward to intervene, only to be roughly shoved back to the ground. Jessica looked down at me, a sickeningly innocent smile on her face. “Do you think the things she stole might be hidden on her body?” All eyes snapped to me. Damon licked his lips. “Strip her. Let’s see what else she’s hiding!” I yelled, “Touch me once, and I swear none of you will walk away clean!” “Oh yeah? Show me.” Damon reached for my collar. I fought like a wild thing, but Brittany and Madison pinned my arms and legs down. Jessica pulled out her phone and took a photo of me at my weakest. She mouthed three silent words. “You deserve it.” In that moment, I truly regretted ever letting these wolves into my home! “Excuse me, is Miss Chloe here?” A driver, sent by my father, stood holding a document envelope. “I have a document for her.” While everyone was still stunned, I gathered the last of my strength and shoved the people holding me down away. I ran toward the driver and tore open the envelope. Inside was the bright red property deed. I held the document high, my voice sharp and clear. “Look carefully! I am the landlord!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “321856”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My husband was the literary world’s most celebrated genius. Then one evening, he confessed to me. “Stella, my inspiration has run dry. I found someone online, an ‘inspiration provider.’ Ten thousand a month.” “But it’s just work. You are the only one I love.” later, I learned the truth. He and that provider, the one he had promised never to meet in person, already had a seven-year-old son. “Chloe, you must hide the child well. Don’t let anyone find out.” “After the new book launch, I’ll figure out a way to get Stella out of the picture, and give you and the child a proper place.” “Don’t worry, she’s just a clueless housewife.” I smirked, silently closing the message-sharing app on my phone. A way out? I’ll help you find one. How kind of me. Suddenly, the lock turned. Julian strode in as if he owned the place, an adult and a child trailing behind him. “What is this?” I sneered. My own voice sounded eerily calm. He turned awkwardly, a guilty smile on his lips. “Stella, you’re home! Perfect, let me introduce you.” “This is Chloe Hayes, the inspiration provider I mentioned. And this is her son, Leo.” Leo? How fitting. “Didn’t you promise you’d never meet in person?” I cut him off with a cold laugh. Julian’s expression tightened. He hadn’t expected me to be this direct. Chloe’s eyes welled up instantly. She stepped forward, a picture of wounded innocence. “Stella, please don’t blame Julian. This is all my fault. If my presence upsets you, I’ll leave right now.” She turned as if to go. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Julian quickly moved to block her path. He turned back to me, his face etched with impatience. “Enough, Stella, stop making a scene.” “I had no choice. This is all for my work.” “Can’t you see it? Chloe’s insights are brilliant. She’s a single mother, raising a child alone. That mix of strength and fragility she carries…it’s exactly what my writing needs. Having her here is purely to facilitate the creative process.” “A single mom? Sounds like a woman with a story.” “So?” I met his gaze, a dismissive curl to my lip. Julian frowned, annoyed. “For now, Chloe and the boy will stay here. I’ve had the guest room prepared. Everything else can wait until after the new book launches.” His tone sharpened abruptly. “And enough with the interrogation. Everything I do is for the work. There’s nothing personal in it.” I almost laughed. If I hadn’t been ready, I might have believed every solemn word. Three months ago, Julian did mention his writer’s block. He was, after all, the most celebrated literary genius of his time. Nearly every book he wrote became a sensation. But that night, he was smoking uncharacteristically. “Stella, I don’t think I can write anymore.” “Every word feels like a stone lodged in my mind…impossible to move..” My heart sank. At our wedding ten years ago, he had declared to everyone. “Meeting Stella was the beginning of all my inspiration.” But now, his eyes were as lost as a child’s. “Stella, I’m truly desperate. The pressure is crushing. The publisher has called three times. Readers ask about the new book every day on social media. The entire world is waiting.” “So I hired someone online-ten thousand a month. She shares life details and emotional stories through messages, just to spark something in me.” He suddenly looked up, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “It’s a fair trade. She needs the money. I need the inspiration.” My breath hitched. “You won’t meet her in person?” “Of course not!” He grabbed my hands at once, his voice certain. “It’s strictly professional. Stella, don’t read into this. You’ll always be my wife. The only one I love.” And yet now, he was secretly planning how to remove me from his life. I sank slowly back into the couch and turned on the newest film. Julian, you didn’t really think I was just some useless housewife, did you?

The very next morning, Chloe was already at the dining table, wearing my clothes, her child beside her. She looked like a conqueror holding court. “Stella, you’re awake? Come, have breakfast..” “I heard you love soy milk, so I asked the housekeeper to make you a cup. Consider it a welcome gift.” She smiled, pushing the cup towards me. “No.” I had no words to waste on her and turned to leave. But Chloe suddenly reached out and grabbed my arm. “Stella, where are you rushing off? You haven’t touched your soy milk. It’s a gesture from my heart.” “Let go!” Without a second thought, I jerked my arm free. Suddenly, Leo’s face flushed, and he started struggling to breathe. “Mommy, I…can’t breathe…” “Leo, what’s wrong?” Chloe’s scream was perfectly timed. It drew Julian’s attention instantly. He rushed downstairs without hesitation. “What happened?” Chloe spun around, tears already streaming down her face. With a practiced thud, she dropped to her knees before me. “Stella, I know you don’t like me, but how could you hurt a child?” “Whatever you feel toward me, take it out on me. Leo is just a boy. He doesn’t understand any of this.” Julian’s face instantly changed. He quickly, tenderly, helped Chloe up. “Chloe, what are you doing? Don’t worry, with me here, no one will dare to bully you.” Then, he erupted in anger, pointing his finger at me. “Stella, what did you do?” “Why would you hurt a child?!” I scoffed. Looking at the man who once swore I was his entire world, I almost laughed out loud. “Julian, are you blind, or just willfully ignorant? Which part of you saw me lay a finger on anyone?” “No, no, Julian, Stella didn’t do anything, it’s not her fault.” Chloe cut in perfectly, tears already tracing down her cheeks, her expression a masterpiece of wounded sorrow. “I shouldn’t have moved in. I shouldn’t have disturbed Stella’s life.” “And I definitely shouldn’t have mentioned carelessly that Leo is allergic to soy milk, only to still offer it to him… just to try and please her.” “Still, regardless of fault-Julian, please, just take Leo to the hospital first.” “Tsk, what a well-rehearsed script.” “Ms. Hayes, your performance is wasted here. It’s a shame you never pursued acting.” I applauded softly, a smile on my lips. “Stella, that’s enough!” Julian was livid, his hand rising as if to strike me. I scoffed and leaned in closer. “What’s wrong, famous author? Can’t bring yourself to do it?” “Or are you worried your wife might say something…untimely at your book launch in two days?” “You!” Seeing his face freeze, I knew he was afraid. Because I understood better than anyone how desperately Julian craved success. I had watched him claw his way up from obscurity, from a writer no one knew into the “genius” everyone praised. His expression shifted. He released me angrily. “Stella, you’ve disappointed me.” He scooped up Leo, shoved past me roughly, and rushed out. Caught off guard, I crashed into the sharp corner of the table, the impact jolting through my abdomen. Disappointed? I laughed, and the tears came instantly. I had once been pregnant, too. Seven years ago, during Julian’s most hectic book launch, I had lost the child in an accident. Back then, he had held my hand, his eyes filled with a sorrow that felt genuine. “It’s okay, we’re still young.” “There will be other chances.” I still remembered the grief in his eyes. After that, he never mentioned trying for a child again.. But now, I recalled everything I had uncovered last night. My miscarriage. Chloe’s pregnancy. The timing aligned with a precision so chilling it froze the blood in my veins.

“Stella, you have the nerve to be sleeping here!” Julian stormed in. He grabbed my hair, roughly dragging me downstairs. A searing pain instantly shot through my scalp. My vision went black. “Julian, are you insane?!” “Insane? Well, you drove me to it, Stella! Do you know, if we had been ten minutes later, Leo might have died!” “Anaphylactic shock can kill someone! How could you be so vicious?!” He violently flung me to the floor. I sneered, lifting my head to glare at him. “What, Mr. Famous Author, so worried about a child who’s an outsider? Could it be that he’s related to you?” “Stella, what are you talking about?!” Julian immediately roared, his face flushed with shame and anger. “I’m talking nonsense?” I scoffed. “To think you’d strike and scream at your own wife over another woman’s child. Anyone who saw it would think he was your secret son.” Sure enough, his face paled. I knew him too well. Julian valued his reputation above all else. Countless envious eyes were watching him, waiting for him to slip. If a scandal broke now, especially at a critical moment like his new book presale launch, his meticulously built image would be completely shattered. “Stella, how many times do I have to tell you? They are inspiration partners for my work. I brought them home for my writing. What is wrong with that?” “It’s you who’s petty and narrow-minded, constantly bullying her and her child.” “Now the new book’s presales have broken industry records on the very first day. They helped achieve that. How dare you, with such a malicious heart, slander our benefactors?” Benefactors? More like a conquest in the bedroom, wouldn’t you say? But when I turned and saw what Chloe was holding, my blood turned to ice. A scream lodged itself in my throat. “Julian, what have you done?!” It was unmistakably my mother’s urn. Why was it in her hands? Without Julian’s silent permission, how could she ever have reached it? Julian’s expression faltered, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “Stella, let me explain.” Chloe suddenly stepped forward, a mask of panic on her face. “Oh? Was this so important, Stella? Here, I’ll give it back right now!” Before I could even move, her eyes darted sideways, a vicious smile touching her lips. In one swift motion, the urn dropped from her hands. It shattered against the floor with a sickening crack. “Chloe!” Rage surged through me, hot and blinding. My vision flushed crimson. I lunged for her, past all reason. But Julian’s arm shot out, blocking my way. Chloe immediately cowered behind Julian. “Stella, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, it was an accident! I didn’t know it meant so much to you. It’s all my fault. My hand just slipped. Please, please forgive me.” “Chloe didn’t mean it.” Julian watched me crumble, my voice breaking, and frowned with distaste. “Stella, get a hold of yourself. It’s only an urn.” Only an urn? I laughed, a bitter, furious sound. I bit down hard, forcing the words out slowly. “Julian. Tell me. Why did you give her my mother’s ashes?” Julian lowered his gaze. Chloe smugly peered out from behind him. “Stella, it’s my fault, all my fault. There’s an old belief where I come from… if a child in the family falls ill from fright, the ashes of an elder can absorb the bad luck. I was just so worried about Leo’s condition.” “So I begged Julian for help. I’m begging you, please don’t blame Julian, and don’t let this cause any trouble between you two because of me.” She cried and whimpered, making to kowtow again. Julian moved without hesitation, stepping wordlessly in front to shield her. “That’s enough, Stella. What happened to Leo is, in part, tied to you. And your mother is gone. Keeping her ashes is just clinging to the past.” “Just gather them up. We’ll get a new urn.” Ward off evil? If the moment weren’t so grave, I might have laughed until I cried. Julian. You, the celebrated author of our time. You would actually believe such a pathetic excuse. “Fine.” The word tore from my throat, bitter with the taste of blood I kept forcing down. “Perfect.” I dug my nails into my palms, clinging to the pain to stay calm. I’m so sorry, Mom. I let them defile you. Don’t worry. They will pay. Then I took out my phone and texted Julian’s assistant: “Change of venue for the launch. Await my instructions.”

When I first met Julian, he was just an obscure writer, not even worthy of the title author. His writing couldn’t even sell as scrap paper. But even then, I saw his dedication and hard work. For him, I hid all my own brilliance. I retreated behind the scenes, pouring vast resources and connections into his career, handing him opportunities on a silver platter. I never imagined I was feeding an ungrateful ingrate. “Stella, I want to talk…” The next morning, Julian stood outside my door, a look of apology on his face. “I thought about yesterday all night. I was too impulsive, I didn’t think things through.” “Didn’t you want to go to a luxury spa retreat? How about this, I’ll make arrangements today, and take you out to relax, just like when we first got married.” I looked up and saw Chloe standing at the corner, glaring at me with resentment. I raised an eyebrow. Pretending? Who couldn’t? I leaned in, feigning deep affection, and whispered in his ear. “Okay, honey. I was out of line too, ignoring how stressed you’ve been lately.” “It has been a while since we went out together. Maybe we could even try for a baby while we’re there.” Sure enough, Chloe went rigid, all color draining from her face. I smirked. Hook, line, and sinker.. At 3 PM, Julian’s message arrived right on time.. “Stella, I’m so sorry. The publisher called an emergency meeting. The spa day will have to wait. I promise I’ll make it up to you next time.” My reply was gracious, sent with a smile. “No worries, your work comes first. Don’t overwork yourself.” I even added a hugging emoji. Then, I opened the GPS tracker on my phone. I texted Julian’s assistant again. “Launch the new book. Immediate release. Alert all major media and news outlets. Be ready.” Next, I scrolled through Chloe’s latest update. A carousel of photos, each more boastful than the last. “They say this is the most expensive hot spring bath in the world!” “With the right person, even the air tastes sweeter.” “Turns out, the one who isn’t loved will always be the third wheel.” Location: The Hot Spring Resort. A cold smile touched my lips. All they knew was that the place was private and expensive. They had no idea I had bought it years ago. Meanwhile, I had already contacted all the major players in the industry and arranged for them to accompany me to the resort. Our cars had barely reached the foot of the mountain when a swarm of cameras and microphones surged toward mine. “Why was the launch date moved up so abruptly? Are there additional plans?” “Is Julian already at the resort? Why was this location chosen for the launch?” “It’s said this is Julian’s long-awaited masterpiece after two years of reflection. Pre-orders have sold out before the official release. Can you share where his inspiration came from?” I smiled. “Thank you all for your attention. There will indeed be a special program today. As for the details…” I paused, letting my smile deepen. “You’ll just have to wait and see.” As I walked, I dialed Julian’s number right in front of the rolling cameras. His voice came through, raspy and uneven between breaths. “Honey, I’m…having hot pot with some colleagues.” “Of course.” I smiled and ended the call. What a “business dinner,” Julian. Or should I say, a couple’s retreat? A sharp-eyed reporter caught the discrepancy. “This doesn’t look much like a restaurant.” The guards at the entrance saw us and their expressions shifted instantly. “Sorry, it’s a private event. We’re not admitting any guests!” I didn’t slow down. “Out of my way.” Then, I kicked the door open. The internet broke.

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I Don’t Love You Anymore I purposefully left the door open, ensuring my husband heard every single sound of me and my lover making love all night. The next morning, his eyes were bloodshot as he pinned me against the bed, demanding: “How many times did he satisfy you last night? Did he make you feel good? Why not me?” But I just tugged my bathrobe tighter over the angry red marks blossoming all over my body and shot back: “We’re just playing by our own rules now. Has your little nurse stopped satisfying you?” Daniel Blackwood’s gaze blazed red, but he couldn’t find a single word to refute me. The moment he caused our daughter’s death, our love story was over. I drove alone in the biting cold wind to the cemetery on the outskirts, searching for our daughter. As I passed the old site of the small clinic my dad used to own, tears streamed down my face. I had once been the youngest associate professor at the medical academy, but I’d given up the chance to study at a top-tier institution for my husband, Daniel Blackwood. That year, he was ambushed by a patient’s family after a malpractice suit, almost beaten to death. It was my dad who bit the bullet, selling the clinic he’d run for thirty years and draining his entire life’s savings just to pull him out of that legal mess. To help him establish himself in the hospital, my dad handed over his invaluable surgical notes and his entire network of professional contacts. He even sacrificed himself by self-testing an experimental drug, which caused acute liver failure, and he never recovered. That’s how Daniel Blackwood became the youngest chief surgeon in the city. I once naively believed that such a profound debt of gratitude would tie him to me for life. But everything changed the day he brought that nurse, Chloe Sterling, home. The Daniel Blackwood who once agonized over my slightest frown, tore my heart into a million pieces with his own hands. I’ll never forget it. My mother was in the late stages of lung cancer and needed a crucial imported targeted medication. To make Chloe Sterling happy, Daniel gave the drug to her purebred Ragdoll cat, which only had a skin condition. And I’ll never forget the day our daughter stopped breathing. Daniel Blackwood was in Chloe Sterling’s hospital room, intimately entangled with her. I found my daughter’s small niche in the cheapest public columbarium. A space no bigger than my palm, not even a photograph was placed there. Night fell, and I sat on the cold floor tiles. Just like I used to sing her to sleep, I hummed “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” all night, her favorite song. The next morning, I was jolted awake by a cacophony of shouting and cursing. Opening my eyes, I saw a crowd of neighbors from our community surrounding me, all filming with their phones: “That’s her! Mr. Blackwood’s crazy wife!” “Miss Sterling said she went insane last night and trashed our entire community garden!” “Those flowers and plants were just planted by the property management, they cost tens of thousands!” “Such a venomous woman! No wonder Mr. Blackwood locked her up!” Daniel Blackwood emerged from the crowd. His face was filled with a look of deep sorrow: “Neighbors, I apologize for not handling my family matters better. My wife, due to some misunderstandings, has suffered a mental breakdown, which led her to do this. I will cover all losses, please don’t blame her.” His words instantly cemented my reputation as a “lunatic.” I stared at the man I had loved with all my heart for so many years, shaking with fury: “Daniel Blackwood, you’re lying! I never left the cemetery last night!” “Still trying to deny it!” A security guard held up his phone. “The surveillance camera caught a woman’s back, and she was wearing exactly what you have on!” “This crazy woman is bad luck, and her daughter’s grave is bad luck too!” “Throw out the urn! Don’t let it dirty our cemetery!” I lunged forward to stop them, but several men held me down firmly. My face pressed against the cold floor tiles, tears mixing with dust, blurring my vision. All I could manage were guttural screams. They pried open the small niche and pulled out the black urn. I struggled desperately, and the urn crashed to the ground with a sickening thud. The lid flew open, and the grayish-white ashes scattered across the floor. A gust of wind blew through, stirring up a cloud of dust. I watched, helpless, as my daughter’s last trace in this world simply vanished. The crowd dispersed, muttering curses. Daniel Blackwood slowly walked over. He looked at me with complex emotions: “Sarah, you’ve always been so strong… It’s just a place for ashes. I’ll buy a better burial plot later…” “You know, Chloe Sterling has been pampered since childhood and has never suffered any grievances. What you did yesterday, sprinkling medication ash into her bowl, was truly too much.” I gritted my teeth, every word tinged with blood: “My daughter only had these ashes left in this world.” “I understand,” he sighed. “But if I don’t appease Chloe Sterling like this, what if her depression acts up? What if it affects the baby she’s carrying? Sarah, you should understand my difficulties.” He paused, his voice softening slightly: “Sarah, you need to be strong.”

Strong? What a cruel joke! My dad died of liver failure after participating in clinical trials to help Daniel develop a new drug. To spare Daniel any guilt, I forced myself to handle my father’s funeral arrangements alone, not shedding a single tear. My mother had late-stage lung cancer, and he gave the only imported life-extending medication to Chloe Sterling’s cat. Before my mother passed, she held my hand and said: “Daniel Blackwood… he probably has his difficulties, don’t resent him…” My throat tightened, tears welled in my eyes. But I forced them back. Yet all this pain I endured, the grievances I swallowed, the tears I held back— In his eyes, they became reasons for me to be “strong”? I laughed, my body shaking: “Daniel Blackwood, is Chloe Sterling’s mood more important than my daughter’s ashes?” “Can’t you be so petty? She didn’t mean it.” It was always like this; I was always in the wrong. It was the same before; I merely pointed out that she was prescribing the wrong medication to a patient. In her enraged fury, Daniel Blackwood locked me in the basement for a whole year. “Sarah, it’s been a year. Have you thought things through?” When Daniel Blackwood reopened the basement door, the light streaming in from outside stung my eyes. Chloe Sterling, visibly pregnant, walked over, feigning concern to help me up: “Be careful, Sarah. It’s damp down here, don’t fall.” Fall? I almost laughed. A year ago, the day I was locked in, our daughter had just taken her last breath. I knelt, grabbing Daniel Blackwood’s pant leg, my forehead bleeding from hitting the floor: “Please, save Lily! I swear I’ll never touch Chloe Sterling again!” He looked down at me, his eyes as cold as a surgical blade: “Sarah, you’re sick. How could Chloe Sterling harm a child? You’re the one losing your mind.” He embraced a trembling Chloe Sterling, his voice sickeningly tender: “Don’t be afraid. I’ve locked her up; no one will hurt you again.” Seeing a tenderness in his eyes I had never experienced, the blood in my veins ran cold. “Daniel Blackwood! My daughter is dead!” My reply was the *clunk* of a lock. To get out sooner and bury my daughter, I remained quiet, no tears, no tantrums. But by the time my daughter’s body began to decompose in the hospital morgue, Chloe Sterling, while I was asleep, had someone send the body directly to the crematorium. I frantically pounded on the door, my throat raw from screaming: “Daniel Blackwood! That’s your daughter! How could you let her die without a proper burial?!” My palms bled from hitting the door, and in return, rats were thrown in through the vent in the middle of the night. They bit my feet, gnawed at my fingers. I huddled in the corner, my wounds festering, my fever raging repeatedly. “Are you alright?” Chloe Sterling’s voice pulled me back to reality. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead, looked up at Daniel Blackwood, my voice hoarse: “Where are Lily’s ashes?” No one answered. My heart sank, and I stumbled towards the children’s room on the second floor. I had decorated it myself when I was pregnant. The closer I got, the more my heart ached. But the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. The room was filled with lingerie, whips, and handcuffs. The walls were covered with nude oil paintings of Chloe Sterling. My fingers dug into the doorframe, my knuckles white. Daniel Blackwood’s footsteps approached from behind, his tone impatient: “I let you out not for you to cause a scene.” “The dead cannot be brought back to life, can’t you just move on?” “No!” I spun around and slapped him across the face. “This filthy place is your explanation to our daughter?! Daniel Blackwood, do you even deserve to be a father?!” “I’m only asking you, where are her ashes?” At the mention of our daughter, his gaze darted away. “Chloe Sterling is pregnant and emotionally unstable; I just painted some pictures to cheer her up…” “She’s suffering from prenatal depression, I couldn’t help it.” “Couldn’t help it?” When Chloe Sterling moved into my house, and neighbors pointed fingers at me, he pretended not to see—he couldn’t help it. When Chloe Sterling put peanuts, to which I’m severely allergic, in my soup, and I went into anaphylactic shock, he didn’t bat an eye—he couldn’t help it. When Chloe Sterling caused our daughter’s death, he protected her—he couldn’t help it. I laughed, tears streaming down my face: “All these ‘couldn’t help it’ moments have nearly cost me my life.” I rushed into the room, grabbed a paint can, and hurled it at the paintings. “Sarah Moore, have you gone mad?! What did Chloe Sterling ever do to you?!” Daniel Blackwood grabbed my wrist but suddenly froze. Beneath my sleeve, my arms were covered in festering wounds. “You… How did you get these? I explicitly ordered them to send you food every day, to take good care of you…” “I’m doing just fine.” “You can just kneel here. When you’ve reflected enough, then you can come back.” Daniel Blackwood’s cold voice brought me back to reality, and I pursed my lips, unable to utter a single word.

I knelt on the ground, my forehead pressed against my daughter’s tiny tombstone, sobbing inconsolably. “Sarah looks so pitiful like this.” Chloe Sterling’s voice drifted from behind me. “Even after all this, why won’t she be sensible and just get a divorce and leave?” She stood before me, her pregnant belly prominent, exuding the air of a victor: “But you know, everything you’re experiencing today, I planned it all, step by step.” She crouched down, leaned close to my ear, her voice laced with a smile: “I personally dragged your daughter out of the morgue and threw her into that stray dog den on the west side of town.” “I watched those dogs… tear her apart bit by bit, it was truly satisfying.” She paused, her tone laced with a hint of cruel pride: “Do you know how Daniel treated me when I came home that night, covered in the smell of blood?” “He held me… and took me all night.” “You bastard! You bitch!” I shrieked, scrambling to my feet, my hands clamping tightly around her throat. I was going to kill her! Avenge my daughter! Chloe Sterling’s face turned crimson, but she was still laughing: “Serves you right… Hahaha…” She found a nearby shovel handle and brought it down hard on my back. The searing pain made my vision go black. After more than a year of torment, my body was already broken. I collapsed to the ground like a rag doll, unable to move. I don’t know how much time passed, but then she crouched down again, dangling something in her hand. A soft *clinking* sound. My pupils contracted sharply— It was the string of golden pearls. Three years ago, before Daniel Blackwood’s heart surgery, I had flown to the Philippines, almost dying in the deep sea to collect them. Every single pearl was polished by my own hands. Chloe Sterling laughed mockingly: “Do you remember these? Actually, I should thank you for these pearls.” “Daniel loves to play with them in bed… one by one, he slowly inserted them…” “He said that way, he could feel your intentions.” The genuine affection I’d risked my life to acquire now felt like countless poisoned boomerangs piercing my heart. My chest tightened with a sharp pang, and nausea spread throughout my entire body. “Get out! Chloe Sterling, get out!” Her eyes were icy, her words venomous and vicious. “Sarah Moore, you deserve to die!” My vision swam, and I collapsed.

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The Speech That Stole My Mind Everyone said Julian Thorne, the genius scion of the Thorne family, was a master manipulator. He’d kept Scarlett Hayes, the fearless heiress to a billionaire fortune, by his side for seven years without a title or public recognition. All she wanted was for Julian to conquer the research on Alzheimer’s disease so he could finally marry her properly. But even as his company, started from scratch, effortlessly broke into the global top ten, his progress on Alzheimer’s research remained at zero. I didn’t blame Julian. I just silently straightened his messy tie before he left for the forum. Julian didn’t know that while the whole world celebrated his career’s success, I had just received my Alzheimer’s diagnosis. That wedding, it seemed, I’d never get. Soon, I would forget him, and even forget who I am. 1 “She shouldn’t be, she’s only in her twenties. How can she have a disease like Alzheimer’s?” The doctor’s words echoed in my mind. Even after I got home, they didn’t stop. The computer screen beside me flickered off. Four hours earlier, clinging to a final sliver of hope, I had searched for news of cured Alzheimer’s cases. But the news laid out the cruelest facts right in front of me. Losing basic motor functions, Unprovoked violent outbursts, Incontinence. These were all symptoms of late-stage Alzheimer’s. No one was spared. My chest ached, a dull, heavy pain. I closed the page, trying to temporarily escape the nightmare, but accidentally clicked on a folder. His entire family were doctors. Only by solving pressing medical challenges could one inherit the position of family head, marry, and start a family. As a once-in-a-generation genius, Julian had voluntarily increased the difficulty, stating he would only marry after his startup finance company achieved success and renown, and he had solved a major medical problem. With dual Ph.D.s in medicine and finance, he believed only by reaching the pinnacle of both fields could he live up to the family’s investment in his education and upbringing over the years. Coincidentally, the medical challenge Julian chose was Alzheimer’s disease. But now, the folder for Alzheimer’s research was an empty shell; not even the first step had been taken. Beside it, the plans for how his new company would go public and break into world rankings had been executed flawlessly. I stared blankly at the screen. Suddenly realizing a devastating truth. For seven years, Julian Thorne had never intended to marry me. The moment the screen went dark, the door suddenly opened. I instinctively swept the scattered medical reports off the table. Julian, however, frowned slightly at the open laptop. “Can you please not touch my things when I’m not around?” Julian closed the laptop, abruptly changing the subject. “Can you help me find my tie?” “There’s a charity event tonight I need to attend.” “I need to look formal.” In the drawer, His ties were perfectly categorized by color, neatly placed in small boxes. I found the most suitable one and handed it to Julian. “We’ve lived here for five years now.” “You really should start remembering where things are.” My reminder made a flicker of impatience cross Julian’s features. “It’s just a small thing, isn’t that what I have you for?” Julian packed the laptop from the table into his bag. Watching him skillfully tie his tie, I suddenly felt like I didn’t know him at all. I met Julian’s gaze in the mirror. It felt like only today I had caught a glimpse of the real man beneath the surface. Watching his back as he closed the door, a completely ordinary sight, I couldn’t control my tears, letting them stream down my face. The doctor said that within a year, my memory would be severely impaired. Forget remembering where his ties were; I might not even know who I was. Choking back a sob, I dialed a number. “Dr. Harrison, it’s me.” “I’m willing to donate my body, to provide you with a young patient sample for Alzheimer’s research.” Since Julian never intended to marry me, that wedding I would never get, I didn’t want it anymore.

All night, Julian didn’t come home. As the CEO of a startup that had broken into the global top ten in just seven years, he was a hot commodity. Changes to his schedule were common. The doctor settling back into his chair pulled me back to reality. The latest report lay on the table. My brain’s deterioration was progressing faster than average. Perhaps in half a year, I would forget everything. I quietly absorbed the devastating news. A familiar voice drew my attention. On the screen, Julian seemed to be giving an interview. The host’s laughter was hearty. “Mr. Thorne, have you ever wanted to thank a particular woman in your entrepreneurial journey?” Ever since Julian first made a name for himself, reporters had relentlessly dug into his private life. But not once had they managed to get a single scoop out of him. During his school days, Julian was a once-in-a-century genius. He skipped grades in elementary school, fast-tracked through high school, and completed all his university credits in just one year. He devoted himself entirely to his studies and career, never having any romantic entanglements. Just as everyone wondered what kind of partner this genius would choose, the news of Julian’s engagement to me broke. New York’s most notoriously wild and extravagant heiress, paired with a genius who only cared about books and had no sense of romance – somehow, they became a couple. The more desperately people tried to uncover the inside story, the more Julian refused to reveal anything. Just when I thought this interview would also end with his usual detached silence, Julian’s previously serious expression slowly softened, and his voice softened with tenderness. “Actually, for the company to achieve this ranking so smoothly, there is indeed a lady I need to thank.” In the hospital room, my heart pounded like a drum. “The person I want to thank…” “…is my company’s Chief Technical Officer, and also a junior from my undergraduate years—Chloe Jenkins.” The smile froze on my lips. The doctor’s pitiful gaze fell on me, and a thousand words of comfort compressed into a single sigh. Five years ago, a company employee called me, their voice urgent. “Ms. Hayes, can you reach Mr. Thorne? There’s another problem at the lab!” Opening the study door, I found Julian napping. Before I could speak, he opened his eyes and spoke first. “Are they looking for me?” Seeing me nod, a flicker of annoyance crossed Julian’s previously impassive face. My heart ached with sympathy and guilt. He had been working non-stop, pulling weeks of overtime abroad. I shouldn’t have disturbed him. As he was leaving, Julian looked down, his face tired. He said softly, “I’m really tired.” “I don’t understand why Mr. Miller and the others absolutely need me there.” “It seems like such a simple problem to me, but they just can’t figure it out.” It was the first time Julian had opened up emotionally, and I clumsily tried to comfort him. “Maybe it’s because you’re a genius.” He paused. “Do geniuses really have to bear more than normal people?” My heart ached for Julian. I spent an entire afternoon studying the company’s basic operational procedures and financial knowledge. I wanted to lighten his burden, to buy him some time to breathe in his suffocating schedule. But when I tried to discuss the company’s future strategies with him, Julian waved his hand dismissively, his face alight with undisguised delight. That day was the first time I heard Chloe Jenkins’ name. He said that Chloe, who had only started that afternoon, had solved all the problems before he even arrived at the office. He said that while the new girl was pretty, that was her least remarkable trait. Her charisma, decisiveness, and intelligence surpassed all the other employees in the company. Watching Julian speak animatedly about Chloe, my initial enthusiasm slowly faded. I tried to convince myself that I should be happy Julian had found a capable subordinate. I held my notebook, filled with meticulous notes, wanting to prove that his future wife was just as capable. “Don’t bother me.” “The company isn’t your playground. Add another dish my mother likes to the dinner menu tonight.” Two consecutive rejections made me realize that in his heart, I was never a teammate fighting alongside him. He was convinced I could only be a demure, virtuous, and ultimately useless rich wife. But Julian didn’t know that my notes were identical to the company development strategy he later formulated. The proposal I left on his desk slowly gathered dust, becoming a coaster for his coffee cup. Chloe Jenkins’ name, however, appeared in our conversations with increasing frequency. Julian’s daily commute was no longer his usual numb routine; he became anticipatory and appreciative. I started to feel uneasy. My old domineering personality resurfaced, and I demanded he take me to the company, to give me a position. But no matter what I tried, nothing worked. He just gave me a cold stare. Telling me to stop making a scene.

“Your tie today is very distinctive; it’s the perfect accent to your outfit.” “Mr. Thorne, do you usually have an interest in fashion?” The host’s question seemed to jar Julian. For the first time, he paused for three seconds before speaking. “My tie?” “My fiancée picked it out for me. Yes… for seven years, the company’s smooth operation has also been inseparable from her meticulous care and support behind the scenes. I’m very grateful to her, and I will definitely conquer the challenge of Alzheimer’s and marry her.” Those old vows now sounded like an empty promise. The person who would no longer be able to take care of him so meticulously wouldn’t be me. Soon, my memory would rapidly decline, and I would even wet myself, becoming a pathetic fool despised by everyone. I desperately wanted to ask Julian. At that time, would he regret not conquering Alzheimer’s and staying with me, or would he be relieved he never married me? Back home, I sat blankly on the sofa until evening. Julian opened the door, carrying a trendy strawberry cake from the new popular bakery down the street. That shop had an unspoken rule: a minimum purchase of two. Now, in the box, only one cake lay lopsidedly at the bottom. I couldn’t hold back, voicing the thought in my heart. “Was the other cake for Chloe Jenkins?” Julian stopped on his way to change clothes. “If you’re not going to eat it, I can take it back to the office tomorrow.” “There’s no need to make such pathetic assumptions, being so aggressive…” He turned, saw my tears rolling down my face, and the rest of his sentence caught in his throat. “Why is she the woman you’re most grateful for?” My voice trembled. “Why didn’t you even bother to tell me you didn’t come home last night?” Recalling all the little slights and compromises over the years, my vision blurred. “Why is Chloe Jenkins always ahead of me?” “Julian, it’s been seven years.” “Seven years! Have you ever actually thought about marrying me?” My heart ached with a dull pain with every breath. I didn’t hear his response, my eyes burned, and uncontrollable sobs echoed through the living room. I finally managed to steady my breathing. Wiping away my tears haphazardly, I unexpectedly met Julian’s utterly blank eyes. “Are you losing your mind?” “Once you’re done crying, go to bed early.” “Company matters are already bothering me enough; can you please stop adding to my troubles?” He closed the door and went into his room, leaving me alone in the living room. The TV reflected me: disheveled hair, cheeks flushed from crying, exhaustion in my eyes impossible to hide. I looked like a madwoman. I slept on the sofa all night. When I woke up, a soft, thin blanket was draped over me. Julian placed an iced coffee in my hand. “Your eyes are swollen from crying. Use the coffee to reduce the swelling.” He paused. “There’s a dinner party tonight. Do you want to come with me?” Seven years of engagement, and this was the first time Julian had ever actively brought me into the public eye. Seeing me nod, he reached out and ruffled my hair. “Okay, I’m heading to work then. I’ll send you the address later.” All afternoon, I prepared for the dinner party. I pulled out a gown I’d bought years ago but never had the occasion to wear. I put on the most perfect makeup. I didn’t even eat lunch, just to cinch myself into the perfect silhouette. In front of the mirror, I double-checked everything multiple times, and at the appointed time, I left, satisfied. But I had forgotten one thing: the stove in the kitchen was still on. The herbal tea I was preparing to drink was still brewing on high heat.

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A month after I gave birth,, he flew overseas. Alone in the house, I was tidying his study when I found a hospital bill beside the shredder. The date on it matched my delivery date exactly. Stella’s POV A month after I gave birth, Julian flew overseas for a conference. In the sprawling mansion, I had little to do, so I began to tidy his study. Near the shredder, I noticed a crumpled piece of paper. He must have missed it. Against my better judgment, I picked it up and carefully smoothed it open. It was a hospital bill from a private clinic. The date was the same as the day I’d given birth. My eyes froze on the patient’s name at the top. Luna Evans. Luna Evans? Julian’s childhood sweetheart, the woman who should have disappeared from my life three years ago. Back then, she had harassed Julian relentlessly. She had even charged at me with a knife during our engagement party. Julian kicked her away, and his family forced her overseas. How could she be back? And why was her hospital bill in his study? My heart dropped. A cold dread wrapped around me. I forced myself to breathe, my eyes scanning down, line by line. Emergency C-section… Postpartum hemorrhage protocol… Specialized neonatal care… … Total: three hundred seventy-eight thousand dollars. My fingers turned cold. I remembered everything so clearly: Julian told me I’d given birth naturally that day. He said he’d hired the best obstetrician for me, and the total cost was just over a hundred thousand dollars. But here it was-C-section, postpartum hemorrhage. Every item on that bill contradicted what I remembered. An absurd, chilling thought began to swell uncontrollably inside me. If this bill was real…then what had really happened to me? And whose child was this, the one I had tenderly cared for all this past month? I had to see Julian immediately and get to the bottom of this. I dialed his number. His voice, as gentle as always, came through the receiver. “Stella, what’s wrong? I’m at an out-of-town conference, and the signal here is bad.” Another conference. My heart clenched, and I abruptly hung up. I didn’t believe he was out of town. Clutching the paper, I spun around and ran towards the underground parking garage. The huge mansion was deserted. I headed straight for the parking garage. Just as I reached the elevator, a familiar black Bentley glided silently in, pulling into its exclusive spot not far away. The car door opened, and Julian, who should have been hundreds of miles away at a conference, stepped out. He walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and carefully helped a woman out. It was Luna Evans. Julian had his arm half-around her waist, his movements tender. My blood instantly froze. I yanked myself back, hiding behind a massive supporting pillar. The cold concrete pressed against my back, a bone-chilling cold. Their conversation drifted clearly to my ears. “My sweet girl,” Julian’s voice was filled with doting affection and concern. “The doctor said you had a postpartum hemorrhage. You need to rest properly. Why are you running around?” Postpartum hemorrhage?! Exactly like the bill. I clamped my hand over my mouth, desperate not to make a sound. Luna leaned weakly into his embrace, her voice soft, “I miss Leo. Julian, will Stella treat Leo well?” Leo was the nickname Julian had chosen for our baby. My heart ached painfully. Julian sighed, pulling her closer. “Luna, I know I owe you too much. But don’t worry. I arranged for her to undergo deep hypnosis and used new medication. She will only remember giving birth to Leo herself, fighting for him. She will love him more than anything. It is foolproof. No one will ever know.” Tears fell from Luna’s face. “But I hid it from you back then. I thought I was dying, that’s why I insisted on keeping the baby. I’m afraid she might break.” “She won’t.” Julian’s voice was firm, leaving no room for doubt. “From today, Leo is Stella’s son. Her only purpose is to be his mother.” I slid down behind the pillar, my stomach twisting. All the sweet words that had once made me so happy now echoed like a cruel joke. He had said, “Stella, I’ll only love you in this life.” He had said, “Stella, marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.” He had said, “Stella, I’ll give you and our child the most perfect home.” …To use drugs and hypnosis to steal my life, to make me willingly mother his and another woman’s child. It was sickening. My hands and feet went cold as my mind slowly cleared. Then I remembered. Years ago, when Julian’s grandfather was still alive, I had helped him organize his study. I’d seen a secret file, locked deep inside his safe. He had looked at me with a complicated expression and explained it was a medical report from Julian’s teenage accident. The conclusion was clear: Julian had been left permanently infertile. To protect the family’s stability and Julian’s peace of mind, his grandfather and father had suppressed the report together. They hid the truth from everyone, even from Julian and his own mother. His grandfather only urged me to forget what I’d seen and never speak of it. Back then, I was already pregnant. I’d thought the old man was confused, or that it was someone else’s report, or a misdiagnosis. I hadn’t given it another thought. But now I knew. It wasn’t a mistake, and the old man hadn’t been confused. That was the truth. A bitter, self-mocking smile touched my lips as I made my decision. First, I would contact an immigration agency and expedite my application for permanent residency abroad. I didn’t want to stay here a moment longer. Second, I remembered that secret report on Julian’s infertility. I would package that diagnosis into the most exquisite of gifts-a parting present for him. I suddenly burned with curiosity. What expression would that man wear, so arrogantly sure of his own virility, when he discovered the heir he had schemed so carefully for was not his at all.

Stella’s POV Back at the house, a piercing cry erupted from the nursery. The sound stabbed at my eardrums. I stood at the doorway, watching the tiny life in the crib kicking its legs, a surge of repulsion swelling within me. The nanny walked out, her face full of reproach. “Ms. Stella, where have you been? You didn’t answer your messages. Leo has been crying for almost half an hour, and nothing seems to comfort him.” I ignored her, my gaze fixed on the baby’s small face. The resemblance. It was too striking. Those eyes, those brows, they were clearly Luna’s spitting image. How could I have been so blind before, never once suspecting? As I was thinking, I heard the front door open. Julian was back. He first frowned, chastising the nanny in a tone filled with protectiveness. “Stella isn’t feeling well. Why are you rushing her?” After that, he skillfully picked up Leo, gently bouncing him. In just a moment, the baby’s cries gradually subsided. He carried Leo over to me, reaching out to caress my face, his voice soft. “Stella, why do you look so pale? Didn’t you get enough rest?” My stomach churned, and I instinctively turned my head away from his touch. His hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of darkness crossing his eyes, but it quickly returned to normal. He handed Leo back to the nanny, saying softly, “You take Leo back to his room. I’ll talk to Stella.” The nanny seemed to sigh in relief, hurrying away with the baby. Only the two of us were left in the living room. Julian wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin in the crook of my shoulder. “What’s wrong? Are you upset because I sounded rushed on the phone?” I closed my eyes, letting him hold me, my body rigid and unmoving. “I’m tired,” I murmured. “Alright, I’ve prepared some herbal tea for sleep. Drink it and get some rest.” He turned and walked to the kitchen. A moment later, he returned with a steaming cup of richly fragrant herbal tea. This was the custom sleep-aid blend he had started making for me when I was preparing for pregnancy. He said it would relax my nerves and help me sleep better. I took the cup, my fingertips icy cold. Meeting his expectant gaze, I obediently brought the cup to my lips, pretending to take a sip. While he turned to straighten the sofa, I swiftly poured the tea into a nearby potted plant. “It tastes good,” I said, putting down the empty cup, my voice calm. “Glad you like it,” Julian said, walking over and smiling with satisfaction. “Go get some sleep now.” I nodded, not looking at him again, and went back to the bedroom. Lying in bed, my back to the door, I forced my breathing to remain steady. Late at night, rustling sounds came from beside me. I snapped my eyes open in the darkness. I felt Julian lift the covers and get out of bed. His movements were extremely light, as if he was afraid of waking me. I immediately got up, stealthily following him. I watched him go to the elevator and press the button for the top floor. The top floor of this building was a penthouse apartment, not for sale to the public. My heart sank inch by agonizing inch. I didn’t follow him into the elevator, turning instead towards the fire escape. In the stairwell, the sound-activated lights flickered on and off. I walked barefoot on the cold concrete, step by step, upward. At the stairwell landing on the top floor, I stopped, slipping into the deep shadows. The elevator doors opened. Julian stepped out. And the apartment door was already ajar. Luna, wearing a sexy silk nightgown, immediately rushed into his arms. “Baby, what took you so long?” Her voice held a playful whine. “Having to wait for Stella to fall asleep every night must be so hard.” Julian lowered his head and kissed her lips. “Don’t worry, the medication I give her not only ensures deep sleep but also continuously reinforces the memories I’ve implanted in her. There won’t be any slip-ups.” “That’s good.” Luna stood on her tiptoes, pecking him on the lips. “Come in, I miss you so much.” They embraced, kissing passionately, and walked into the brightly lit apartment. The door slowly closed before my eyes. I leaned against the cold wall, my blood running cold. So, that sweet-smelling herbal tea every night was a sedative. So, my husband would wait for me to fall asleep every night before going upstairs to meet his lover. This deception was even more sickening than I had imagined. I fought back the urge to rush over and smash that door open. I turned and went downstairs. Julian didn’t return until dawn. As usual, he embraced me from behind, placing a soft kiss on my neck. “Stella, how about we take Leo to the beach for a getaway this weekend? Just the three of us.” I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears that welled up. “Sounds good.”

Stella’s POV At the private fitness club, in the indoor pool. Julian put his arm around my shoulder, pointing to a woman in a bikini not far away. He smiled as he introduced her, “Stella, this is the new swimming instructor I hired for you. She’s won several championships.” My gaze fell on the woman’s face, and my heart turned icy cold. It was Luna. She had short hair and wore exaggerated sunglasses, but I’d recognize that pitiful, delicate look anywhere, even disguised. I didn’t say anything, just nodded faintly. Luna walked over, giving me a smile. “Hello, Ms. Stella. Let’s do some warm-up exercises first.” I obediently walked to the edge of the deep end, bending down to stretch. The moment my hands touched my toes, a cold hand suddenly shot out from beneath the water, clamping onto my ankle! A tremendous force pulled me, and I instantly lost my balance, being dragged violently into the water. “Mmph!” The cold pool water instantly flooded my mouth and nose. I couldn’t swim at all, and the pain of choking made it impossible to call for help. I could only struggle desperately in the water. On the shore, Julian’s face changed drastically, and he was about to jump in. “Julian, don’t rush!” Luna, however, held him back. “I’m a good swimmer. I’ll save Stella!” With that, she dove into the water and quickly swam towards me. Julian stood at the edge of the pool, a flicker of emotion in his eyes as he watched Luna’s selfless actions. I felt Luna not only fail to pull me ashore but instead use all her strength to press me firmly down towards the bottom of the pool! Luna was trying to drown me! A strong will to survive erupted. I fought back with all my might, my nails leaving several bloody scratches on Luna’s arm. The suffocating sensation intensified. Just as my consciousness began to fade, the pressure from above suddenly loosened. Luna finally dragged me ashore. “Stella!” Julian rushed over, but his first reaction wasn’t to check on me, who was barely conscious. Instead, he knelt down, tenderly cupping Luna’s arm. Several scratches on it were beading with blood. “How did you get so hurt?” His brows furrowed, his voice full of reproach. Luna began to sob pitifully. “I was just too anxious, Julian. If this leaves a scar, it will affect my future endorsements.” Julian’s heartache deepened. Ignoring me, who was still lying on the ground, he pulled Luna into his embrace, comforting her softly. “Don’t be afraid. I’ll call the best dermatologist. There won’t be a single scar left on you.” In my hazy state, I heard their conversation clearly. Suddenly, I coughed violently, spitting out several mouthfuls of pool water. Julian finally snapped back to reality. He released Luna, quickly walked to my side, and swept me into his arms. “Stella, are you alright? I’m taking you to the hospital!” Holding me, he turned to Luna and said, “Luna, you come too. Bring Leo. We’ll meet at the hospital.” Leaning against Julian’s broad chest, I could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat. How could this man, without a flicker of emotion, tenderly soothe his lover, then turn around and play the devoted husband to me? Did he have no heart at all? I closed my eyes, letting cold tears stream from the corners of my eyes. I might as well have drowned.

Stella’s POV I woke up in a private hospital room, completely alone. From the hallway, I heard two orderlies whispering. “I’ve truly seen it all. Julian was so worried about those scratches on Luna’s arm that he called in the best dermatologists in the entire hospital for a consultation. But his legitimate wife, who was unconscious from drowning, was just left with a temporary orderly, not even a single inquiry.” “You don’t know the story? That Luna is Julian’s true darling. I heard Stella is the real homewrecker, using her family’s status to steal Luna’s boyfriend. Now she’s faking a drowning to get sympathy? Serves her right!” I listened quietly, my heart feeling numb. So, in everyone’s eyes, I was the malicious homewrecker. The hospital room door opened, and a young orderly walked in-one of the two who had just been talking. She looked at me with disdain. “Awake already? Tough one, aren’t you?” she sneered. “I advise you to be smart and divorce Julian immediately. Stop occupying someone else’s lover. Luna is my best friend. Julian is deeply in love with her. A woman like you, who destroys other people’s relationships, doesn’t deserve happiness.” I was too weary to argue with her. I simply closed my eyes and said calmly, “I need to rest.” Seeing my aloof demeanor, the orderly flew into a rage. She picked up a new IV bag, hung it on the stand, and roughly jammed the needle into the IV port on the back of my hand. As she adjusted the flow rate, I caught a flash of malice in her eyes. She deliberately twisted the knob to its fastest setting. “Hmph, putting on airs,” she muttered under her breath, then turned and left the room. Not long after she left, I knew something was wrong. A cold liquid was spreading through my veins, and my heart began convulsing out of control. My breath turned ragged. The orderly had given me the wrong medication. I fought to reach the call button beside my bed. The hallway outside stayed silent-no nurses came running. I suddenly realized they were probably all in Luna’s room. My vision began to blur. My body grew colder. With the last of my strength, I fumbled for the phone on my pillow and dialed Julian. A long series of tones echoed before the call finally connected. I tried to speak, but his impatient voice cut through first. “Busy.” Then, the line went dead.

Stella’s POV When I woke up in the hospital, Julian was standing by my bedside. Seeing my eyes open, he immediately grasped my hand, his voice hoarse. “Stella, I’m so sorry. I was dealing with an urgent overseas matter, and my phone was on silent. I never thought…” The regret in his eyes seemed genuine, but I merely watched him perform, numb. “What about that orderly?” I asked. “I’ve already fired her and instructed my lawyers to sue her. There will be no leniency.” He gently stroked my hair. “Don’t worry, nothing like this will ever happen again.” I listened to his reassuring words, but my heart felt empty. After comforting me for a few moments, he quickly glanced at his watch and stood up. “I have an important meeting at the office. I really have to go. You rest well. I’ll be back to be with you as soon as the meeting is over.” With that, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then left in a hurry. I watched his retreating back and gently curved my lips into a slight smile. His excuse was always “a meeting.” Discharged from the hospital, I arrived home to see Julian’s mother gleefully video-calling someone on her phone, holding the baby. On the other end of the screen was Luna. “Come on, say ‘Mommy’,” Julian’s mother said, her voice full of doting affection. The baby babbled. She beamed, unable to hide her joy. When she saw me enter, her face immediately darkened. She ended the video call and coldly swept her gaze over me. “So delicate, just a little drowning, and you have to stay in the hospital for so long. How many company matters has Julian delayed because of you?” She shoved an insulated container into my hands. “Take this soup to Julian. Learn to be a supportive wife. Stop causing him trouble all the time.” I took the container, turned, and walked out without a word. Arriving at Julian’s company, I pushed open the door to his CEO’s penthouse office and, to my surprise, found Luna already there. She wore sunglasses, covering half her face, but the triumphant smile on her lips couldn’t be hidden. “Stella, here to see Julian? Bad timing, he just stepped out for a meeting.” I couldn’t be bothered with her. I placed the insulated container on the table and turned to leave. “Stop!” Luna suddenly stood up and grabbed my arm. She deliberately bumped into me, at the same time, spilling the hot coffee she was holding all over her own chest! “Ah!” She cried out in pain, and a large brown stain instantly spread across her white shirt. Her eyes turned red, and tears streamed down her face instantly. “Stella, I know you misunderstood me, but how could you lay hands on me?” Just then, the office door opened. Julian walked in. Seeing this scene, Luna cried even harder, her face stained with tears. He walked straight past the sobbing Luna, quickly came to my side, and anxiously scrutinized me from head to toe. “Stella, are you alright? Did anything splash on you?” I shook my head. He finally sighed in relief, then turned, his face dark, and sharply rebuked Luna. “Who told you to come here? Get out!” Luna froze, she seemed stunned by his reaction. Under Julian’s cold gaze, she could only sob pitifully and run out. Only the two of us were left in the office. He pulled me into his arms and whispered, “Stella, I love you. Only you. Don’t read too much into things, alright?” His voice was soft, but then it shifted. “But your emotions have been unstable lately. You get provoked too easily…you’ve hurt people.” I broke free and looked at him coldly. “I didn’t push her.” “Alright, alright, I believe you.” His reassurance was perfunctory. He glanced at his watch. “I really have to get to this meeting. You go home and wait for me.” He left in a hurry once again. I didn’t move. I just stepped closer to the door and looked out through the gap. Down the hall, he caught up with Luna. “I’m living like I’m in hiding!” Luna sobbed. “Julian, about what happened back then…I found new evidence. I can prove Stella framed me.” He pulled her gently into an embrace and promised softly. “Luna, don’t worry. I’ll clear your name. From now on, you can walk anywhere openly, proudly.” I watched them hold each other, silent. My heart had turned to ice.