Category: English

My Christmas vacation was meticulously planned, but my boyfriend kept complaining about my spending. To save money, he actually put me up for “auction starting at one dollar” on a travel companion app. Whoever bid the highest would get my companionship for the next three days. He even called it “resource sharing.” Watching the bidding price on the app steadily climb, and seeing my boyfriend’s smug face, I just smiled. He had no idea that the top bidder on the list was someone I’d called in. It was Christmas break, and my boyfriend, Brendan, and I were on vacation in Hawaii. Standing by the ocean, with the gentle breeze blowing, it should have been utterly blissful. But Brendan, standing right beside me, was lecturing me about money for the third time. “Aurora, I just don’t get it. This Airbnb is over three hundred dollars a night. What’s the difference between this and one that’s a hundred bucks? Don’t they all have a bed and a bathroom?” “We’re here for a holiday, not a budget trip.” I stared at the distant horizon, unwilling to argue with him on our first day. “So a holiday means wasting money? Look at you, you just *had* to buy that new dress before we left. Five hundred dollars! That’s my whole month’s grocery budget!” Here he went again. Brendan’s cheapness was practically coded into his DNA. When we ate out, he’d always find the cheapest coupon deals or bargain combos. For movies, he only bought the Tuesday discount tickets. For my birthday, the gift he gave me was a thermal mug he’d won in a raffle at his company’s annual holiday party. I always tried to tell myself he was just frugal, that he still cared about me. But this trip, his stingy nature was amplified in this unfamiliar environment, turning him into a truly selfish and petty jerk. At lunchtime, I wanted to go to a popular, trendy restaurant I’d found online. Brendan’s face immediately darkened. “One hundred forty dollars for a single chicken stir-fry? They might as well just rob us!” He dragged me through the winding alleys of the old town, finally stopping in front of a grocery store. “Here, instant noodles, all kinds of flavors. Problem solved.” I looked at the instant noodles he was offering, my stomach churning. “Brendan, we’re on vacation.” “So what if we’re on vacation? Does that mean we don’t have to be responsible with money?” “Aurora, I’ve noticed you’re spending more and more lately. We’re going to get married and buy a house eventually. You’re putting a lot of pressure on me.” I yanked my hand away from his and walked straight into the restaurant. “Eat it or don’t. I’m going.” I ordered two dishes for myself. The chicken soup was fresh and delicious, the stir-fried meat sweet and tangy. Not long after, Brendan showed up anyway. He didn’t say a word to me. He just sat down and grabbed a fork. He ate faster than anyone. When the bill came, he stood to the side, fiddling with his phone, showing no intention of paying. I paid the bill. Two hundred sixty-eight dollars. He glanced at the receipt, a sarcastic smirk on his face. “How lavish, Princess.” “One meal, and you’ve blown three days of my salary. Impressive.” I couldn’t be bothered with him. I just walked straight out. Back at the Airbnb, I was exhausted and just wanted to lie down and rest. But Brendan was sitting by the window, messing with his phone. He kept glancing up at me, a strange look on his face. I couldn’t help but ask, “Brendan, what are you doing now?” He turned the phone screen towards me, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. “Aurora, I’ve figured out a great way to earn back our travel expenses.” “Look, this TravelBuds app, it’s really popular.” I leaned closer to look. The screen showed an interface similar to a dating app. He pointed to a post and said, “See this? Someone’s looking to split gas money. They could save hundreds of dollars on a trip.” “What does that have to do with us? We didn’t drive here.” Brendan’s smile widened. “We can share other ‘resources’.” He typed rapidly on the screen, then shoved the phone in my face. The screen displayed a newly published post: 《My girlfriend is too extravagant. This Christmas trip is breaking the bank. Starting bid of one dollar for three days of her companionship. Highest bidder wins. Photos included. Absolutely worth it.》 Below the post was a candid photo of me by the beach. In the picture, I was wearing my new dress, smiling brightly. All the blood rushed to my head, and my face burned. “Brendan! Are you insane?! Delete that right now!”

What did he think I was? An item to be auctioned? Brendan, however, casually pulled his phone back, even turning on the speaker, listening with relish to the constant “ding-dong” sounds from the app. Those were the notification sounds of people placing bids. “Delete what? It’s fun!” He leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs, looking like a mastermind with a brilliant plan. “It’s performance art, Aurora. You wouldn’t get it.” “Besides, if someone actually bids high, won’t we make back our travel expenses? We might even turn a profit.” I literally couldn’t believe my ears. “You’re publicly humiliating me!” I lunged to snatch his phone, but he easily dodged me. “Aurora, don’t be so dramatic! It’s just a joke.” “Anyway, people are bidding. That means you’re popular. You should be flattered.” I was trembling with rage, but he was admiring his handiwork. “Oh, someone’s already bid fifty dollars. “Not bad, not bad. Looks like you’re worth something.” He even showed me the chat logs of his friends in their group chat, practically worshipping him. “Dude, you’re a genius! How’d you even think of this?” “Aurora’s hot enough to fetch thousands, right?” “When the money rolls in, drinks are on you!” I stared at those disgusting messages, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. So, in their eyes, I was just a commodity, something to be bought and sold. “Brendan, I’m telling you one last time: delete it!” “No.” He held his phone high above his head, a defiant smirk on his face. “Unless you promise me that for the next few days, you won’t spend a single extra dollar, and all expenses will be decided by me.” He thought he had me exactly where he wanted me. But watching his smug face, the fury in my heart slowly, strangely, cooled. Getting angry over a scumbag like him wasn’t worth it. I sat back on the bed, staring at him coldly. “Fine.” “I’d like to see how much I’m worth.” Brendan froze for a second, surprised I’d given in so quickly. The smirk on his face widened even more. “That’s more like it, Aurora.” He walked over, intending to hug me, but I recoiled in disgust. “Don’t touch me.” He just shrugged, didn’t push it, and turned his attention back to the auction post. “Whoa, one hundred! This user ‘SilentBreeze’ is serious!” “And ‘MountainMist’ isn’t bad either, up to one hundred twenty!” I pulled out my own phone, opened SnapChat, and found a contact I barely ever spoke to. It was my boss, Alpha. I just sent him a message: “Are you there?” He replied instantly. “Yes. Everything alright?” I took a deep breath, sent him the link to Brendan’s auction post, along with our current location, and started typing. “Alpha, I know this is incredibly presumptuous. I’m in a bit of a bind right now.” “My boyfriend, to save money, put me up for auction on this app.” “I don’t want anything to do with him anymore. Could you do me a favor and turn this farce into a full-blown spectacle?” After sending the message, I felt a knot of anxiety. Alpha was the CEO’s son, a classic corporate heir. At the office, he was always impeccably dressed in a suit, his expression stern, radiating an aura that kept everyone at a distance. Our only significant interaction was at a company retreat, where I got blackout drunk and threw up on him. The next day, I went to apologize, terrified I’d be fired. But he just gave me a blank stare and mumbled, “Maybe don’t drink so much next time.”

After that, he seemed to pay a bit more attention to me, occasionally offering me advice on work matters. But after Brendan and I got together, we hadn’t been in touch. I wondered if he’d think I was crazy, or if he’d laugh at me. My phone vibrated. It was Alpha’s reply. “Alright. What do you need me to do?” I glanced at Brendan, still gloating over the bids, and smirked to myself. I replied to Alpha. “It’s simple.” “Bid for me at a price he can’t refuse.” “Then transfer the money to me.” Alpha was silent for a few seconds. “Understood.” “Send me your account details.” I sent him my PayPal QR code. After doing all that, I put down my phone, feeling like the pent-up frustration in my heart had finally found an outlet. Meanwhile, Brendan was still giddy over the small, steadily climbing numbers. “Two hundred dollars! Aurora, look! It’s already two hundred dollars!” “Oh my god, we’ve almost made back the cost of our Airbnb for this trip!” I looked at him coldly. “Really? Just two hundred dollars, and you’ve sold three days of my freedom. You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?” Brendan stiffened, then retorted self-righteously. “How is this ‘selling’? This is ‘resource exchange’, ‘experiencing life’.” “Besides, the money isn’t the point. It’s the thrill of the game.” Just then, his phone’s notification sound suddenly became frantic. “Ding-dong! Ding-dong! Ding-dong!” Brendan looked down, his eyes widening instantly. “Holy crap!” He cursed, jumping up from his chair in excitement. “Aurora! Look! Someone just bid! One thousand dollars! Straight to one thousand dollars!” He shoved the phone in my face. I saw a user with the ID ‘G’ had instantly upped the price from $200 to $1,000. Brendan’s friend group chat exploded too. “Dude! A whale!” “One thousand dollars… who *is* this person?” User ‘G’ seemed to be in a personal bidding war. When others added $10, he added $500. When others added $100, he added $1,000. The price surged upwards at an insane speed. $2,000… $5,000… $10,000! When the price jumped to ten thousand dollars, Brendan was speechless. He stared intensely at the screen. His friends in the group chat started sucking up to him. “Brendan! Let me cling to your leg! This isn’t finding a companion, this is finding a millionaire!” I looked at Brendan’s wide-eyed, like he’d never seen money before, and felt only contempt. He was losing his mind over a measly ten grand. I picked up my phone and sent Alpha a message. “That’s enough. Any higher and it’ll look too fake.” Alpha replied quickly. “Not enough.” “The price for your humiliation can’t be this low.” Then, I watched as the price leaped from $10,000 to a number that made my heart pound. $88,888. Eighty-eight thousand eight hundred eighty-eight dollars. The moment that number appeared, the entire bidding page went silent. Those who had been adding tens and hundreds of dollars earlier vanished instantly. Only that glaring $88,888 remained, high at the top of the list. Brendan was utterly speechless. He held his phone, repeatedly checking the number, rubbing his eyes several times, even restarting the app. “Eight… eighty thousand dollars?” He mumbled to himself, “I… I’m not dreaming, am I?” He suddenly looked up, his face filled with wild joy. “Aurora! We’re rich! We’re rich!”

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On our wedding anniversary, my husband personally sent me into the operating room. He knew I had already died twice. He also knew I could come back one more time. So when his white moonlight needed a heart, he chose me without hesitation. “She won’t die,” he told the doctor calmly. What he didn’t know was— This time, it was my last life. Adrian Quinn carried my lifeless body into the underground room of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Team base. My internal organs had been removed, leaving only an empty shell. My face, however, was rosy, as if I were just sleeping. He skillfully opened the cryogenic equipment, his movements clean and precise. As he placed me inside, his hands were steady, without even a hint of hesitation. “Sleep for now,” his voice was terrifyingly calm. “Didn’t you say that dying doesn’t matter?” Yesterday was our wedding anniversary. I had prepared a table full of delicious food at home and bought his favorite red wine. Seeing him come home on time for once, I was as happy as a fool. When the phone rang, he had just picked up his wine glass. It was his deputy calling: “Captain, Nora got caught in a landslide while patrolling the mountain area. She’s trapped inside…” His hand trembled, and the wine glass fell to the floor, dark red liquid splashing onto my new dress. “How badly is she hurt?” His voice was already hoarse. “It’s serious, her internal organs…” He didn’t wait for the other person to finish. He grabbed his jacket and rushed out. I caught his hand, “I’ll go too. I can help.” He turned back to look at me, his eyes complex, not with concern, but as if he were calculating something. At the scene, Nora had already been rescued, but her heart was severely damaged and urgently needed a transplant. He looked at the unconscious Nora on the stretcher, his fingers trembling. It was a panic I had never seen in him before. Then he looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot. “I’m sorry,” he said. Before I could understand what he meant, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my neck. As I lost consciousness, I saw him nod to the doctor. They had prepared for this all along. Miraculously, as I was pushed into the operating room, it was as if my soul floated out of my body. I felt myself hovering in mid-air, witnessing everything. I saw him standing right next to the operating table. As the surgeon’s scalpel cut open my body, he watched without expression, his eyes showing no ripple of emotion, as if this body was nothing more than a tool to be disposed of at will. “Her organs are in good condition, and the match is compatible,” the doctor’s voice seemed to come from far away. “It’s enough to save Nora.” I watched as my heart was taken out, placed in an ice box, and sent to the adjacent operating room. He followed the ice box out, not even sparing me a final glance. After putting me in the cryogenic equipment, he sat nearby dealing with documents, occasionally looking up at me. I floated in front of him, wanting to see if there was even a hint of guilt in his eyes. But his gaze passed through my soul and fell on his phone – it was a message from the doctor: The surgery was very successful, she’s recovering well. He smiled with relief, casually tossed my medical record aside, and left the underground room. The part of the medical record that was open clearly stated: “Organ donor – voluntary donation.” He didn’t even bother to make up a lie, thinking I would wake up soon anyway. But what he didn’t know was that this time, I really wouldn’t wake up again. Because the chance that allowed me to be reborn had already been used up the last time I saved his teammate.

My ability to be reborn was real. Three years ago, before I was pulled out as the sole survivor of that plane crash, the system informed me that I had gained three lives. The first time, I used it on myself, allowing myself to survive that plane crash. Adrian was the SAR team leader who came to investigate the accident. He was tall, wearing a dark blue uniform with straight shoulder lines. Standing in front of the plane wreckage, he was surrounded by an aura of coldness, like a general who had walked out of an old photograph. I was shivering on the stretcher when he turned his face towards me, his well-defined jawline tense. When those pitch-black eyes swept over me, it felt like they could see through to my soul. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “You’re safe now.” His voice was deep and pleasant, like warm water slowly being poured into my heart. At that moment, I was smitten. The system said that if I maintained a three-year marriage with my destined person, I could stay in this world forever. Looking at this stern man before me, I decided to take a chance. This was the first time that 28-year-old Eliza Hart had ever been so determined to want something. Adrian looked to be in his early thirties, very tall, with a lean and muscular build from years of training. He walked with a special rhythm, probably due to his military background. Every time I passed by the SAR team, I could recognize his silhouette at a glance. I started to approach him as an ordinary person. I would bring coffee to the SAR team every day and prepare late-night snacks for the team members working overtime. I knew I was like a desperate groupie, but I didn’t care. They said Adrian never accepted anything from women, but he took my coffee. He was always polite and gentle, but he always kept his distance from me. The people in the SAR team felt sorry for me, saying I couldn’t see reality clearly. “Captain Quinn never gives hope to any woman. Don’t waste your efforts.” But what I didn’t tell them was that every time I pretended to lose my balance, he would always be the first to steady me. He would tell me to be careful, but his hand would linger. Until one day, I heard him on the phone calling a woman “Nora,” his tone affectionate. It turned out to be his former deputy team leader, Nora White. They were said to be childhood sweethearts. Nora was very beautiful, and everyone said they were a perfect match. I should have known better and given up. But at that time, I still had two lives left. Young and reckless, I thought I could always make it through three years. If I had known earlier that the second life would be used to save his teammate, and the third life would be ended by his own hands, I would have stayed far away from him from the very beginning. But alas, love is blind when you’re in it.

Nora had been Adrian’s partner since their special forces days. Everyone in the SAR team knew that they were once the most outstanding sniper and spotter. On the battlefield, a spotter and a sniper need to be in perfect sync to complete their missions. So after retiring from the military, Adrian and Nora joined the SAR team together, working in perfect harmony as if they were one person. I once secretly looked through Adrian’s old photo album. In the photos, Nora wore a uniform, her eyes bright and spirited, exuding a charm that ordinary people like me could never achieve. And Adrian stood beside her, looking down at her with such gentle eyes. Later, people in the team told me that Adrian had pursued Nora for five whole years. From boot camp to special forces, from training grounds to battlefields, everyone thought they would end up together. But in the end, Nora still rejected him. “We’re not suitable for each other. You deserve better,” she said. She said this just before a mission, and Adrian still loaded her bullets for her. They remained the best partners, as if nothing had happened. But in the dead of night, Adrian would practice shooting alone on the training ground until his fingers bled. Later, Nora voluntarily applied for a transfer to a remote SAR branch. On the day she left, Adrian stood outside the airport, watching her silhouette disappear into the security check. His fingers unconsciously fiddled with the ring he had never given her. The team said that was the most lost and dejected they had ever seen Adrian. I met Adrian six months after Nora left. At that time, he was like a dead pond, even his smile was cold. But I didn’t care. Young and impetuous, I thought time would wash away all the past. “He’s never had eyes for anyone else. You think he’s being gentle? That’s just his professional habit. Not just you, even those Instagram models who send him flowers, beautiful women, he smiles and accepts them, then throws them away as soon as they leave.” That’s what an old team member once told me. They couldn’t stand seeing me running to the SAR team time and time again, kindly warning me not to embarrass myself. But I didn’t believe them. I told myself that the past was in the past. Even if I was just continuing someone else’s story, I accepted it. Even the on-duty nurse at the SAR team couldn’t bear to watch anymore: “Eliza, why don’t you understand? Adrian goes to the border to see Nora every year without fail. They may be separated by mountains and rivers, but their feelings are deeper than every day you spend by his side.” I really didn’t understand. I didn’t understand why Adrian would accept my pursuit, why he would marry me. Thinking back now, perhaps from the day I used my second life to save his teammate, he had already been planning something.

The rescue that changed everything happened in my second year of knowing Adrian. Heavy rain caused a landslide, burying an entire village. Adrian led the team at the forefront, with his lifelong friend Leo Sanders covering the rear. No one noticed the massive boulder teetering overhead. “Adrian!” Leo’s voice cut through the curtain of rain. The moment Leo pushed Adrian away, the boulder came crashing down. “No!” Adrian rushed towards the rubble like a madman, held back by three team members. Back at the SAR team compound, he knelt in the rain, his whole body shaking like a wounded animal. It was the first time I had seen him lose control. Adrian, who was always calm and composed, could actually be driven to such despair. Leo was Adrian’s brother in all but blood. They had grown up together, joined the military together, entered the special forces together, and later retired to join the SAR team together. Their relationship was closer than real brothers. When Leo was rescued, his heart had already stopped beating. The doctor said that even if they could save him, he would need a heart transplant, and the treatment would cost at least five million dollars. “Please, you must save him,” Adrian gripped the doctor’s hands, his voice hoarse. “I’ll find a way to pay, no matter how much it costs.” But he had only recently retired from the military, and his salary was mostly going towards his mortgage. His teammates pitched in, a thousand here, ten thousand there, but they only managed to gather half a million. I watched him pacing back and forth in the hospital corridor, his eyes bloodshot as if he hadn’t slept for days. “It should have been me,” he kept saying. “Why did he save me?” At that moment, I felt like I was suffocating from heartache. I couldn’t hold back anymore. “I can donate my heart,” I pushed open the door and walked in. “My tissue type is a perfect match for Leo.” Adrian jerked his head up. “Are you crazy?” His voice was raspy. “You’ll die!” I smiled at him and whispered in his ear: “Trust me, I have a superpower. I won’t die.” He still didn’t agree, but I went ahead with the surgery behind his back. Not only did I donate my heart, but also my liver and kidneys to a rich man’s daughter. The wealthy man transferred five million dollars to Adrian’s account. Three days later, I woke up. When I opened my eyes, I saw Adrian keeping vigil by my bedside. He hadn’t slept for three whole days. Dark circles under his eyes, yet he stubbornly refused to leave. “You’re awake,” his voice was hoarse as he carefully held my hand. “Does it hurt?” It was the first time I had seen him so gentle. Leo recovered quickly, and Adrian started visiting me in the hospital frequently. He would peel apples for me, help me drink water, his gaze so focused it made my heart tremble. Sometimes when I was asleep, I would feel someone gently kissing my forehead. He began to tell me his stories, about the fun times training with Leo when they were young, about the rigorous tests in the special forces, and about how much he feared losing important people. When he said these things, his eyes were gentle, but there was also something in them that I couldn’t quite understand. Later, he proposed to me. I nodded, tears streaming down my face. He kissed away the tears on my face and held me tight. After that, I applied to join the SAR team as a contract nurse, so I could be by his side. It was at this time that Nora was transferred back to the main team.

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My girlfriend made me hand over everything I’d accomplished to her first love. I even gave him the CEO title. Not because I was foolish, but because I knew one thing for sure— he couldn’t handle it. Without me, they couldn’t even get the drones off the ground. And the royal drone show contract came with a penalty clause she could never pay. Later, when she got on her knees and begged me to come back, I only said one thing: “We’re already divorced.” Chapter 1 Chloe Sterling, my wife, stood on stage, holding Ethan Moore’s hand. “Ethan, the Sterling Group’s success is thanks to you,” she announced. “This year’s entire bonus is yours.” She handed him a five-million-dollar check. The room erupted in applause. Chloe’s father, Richard Sterling, nodded in approval while our colleagues crowded around, cheering them on. “With Mr. Moore leading, our global expansion is guaranteed!” “Mr. Sterling and Chloe have a real eye for talent. And Chloe and Ethan? They work better together than most married couples!” I stood at the back of the crowd, watching the celebration, my technical proposal crumpled in my fist. Today was supposed to be the company’s annual bonus ceremony. But just as I entered the conference hall, Chloe got a call. There was a reported malfunction in the drone system—I was needed at the testing site immediately. After years together, I trusted her without question. I didn’t even grab lunch before rushing over. My team and I spent all day troubleshooting under the blazing sun, over 100 degrees. But seeing Chloe hand the entire bonus to Ethan, an intern who’d been here less than a month, it all became clear. The system glitch was just an excuse to get me out of the way. She was ready to hand my three years of work—my life’s achievement—straight to her first love. Ethan pretended to notice me then, feigning surprise. “Mr. Carter, you made it! We thought you might not show, so we started without you. Hope you don’t mind.” His words were polite, but his eyes held a clear challenge as he waved the check in my direction. Chloe shot me an impatient look. “Liam, what’s with the attitude? Did you expect the chairman and everyone to just wait for you? No wonder you drag your feet on every project bid. You’re deadweight. Since you’re here, hand over the Aldonia project to Ethan now. At least then we won’t have to worry about you messing it up.” I clenched my fists at her tone, my heart turning cold. The Aldonia project was a massive deal I’d spent three years securing. It was my life’s work. The Aldonian Crown Prince had provided a five-million-dollar advance. But to ensure thousands of drones could operate flawlessly in the desert, I’d pulled endless all-nighters. The constant travel, the jet lag, the stress-induced health issues—I’d pushed through it all. Now, just as the project was nearing completion, Chloe wanted to snatch it away with a few words and hand it to her ex. I almost laughed at how pathetic my dedication had been. Ten years ago, the Sterling Group was nearly bankrupt, unable to pay its staff. Chloe took over, announcing plans to pivot to drone technology. Without hesitation, I left my well-paying tech job and poured all my savings into building her dream from scratch. But with a background in fashion, she couldn’t even read basic code, let alone handle R&D. For years, I was the backbone of the company’s tech. Every patent bore my name. Every crisis required my attention. When we were struggling for funding, Richard refused to help, looking down on me. My parents sold their home and life savings to keep us afloat. That was what saved the Sterling Group. Only then did marrying Chloe even become an option. But I wasn’t just a husband—I was the “married-in” husband, taking her family name. Richard never missed a chance to mock my humble roots, acting as though the Sterling family was doing me a favor by letting me in. I didn’t care back then, because I was in love with Chloe. I would have done anything for her. But I never expected that after a few business trips abroad with Ethan… he’d effortlessly take credit for my work. Chloe and I had been married for ten years. Yet somehow, I still ranked below her ex, who’d treated her poorly. Today, she finally burned away the last bit of feeling I had left. After a long silence, I spoke calmly. “Fine. Do what you want.” Ethan couldn’t hide his smug grin, though he played humble. “Ms. Sterling, I’m just a beginner. How could I take over your billion-dollar international project? I heard you’ve struggled with it for three years. I only want to help.” Chloe placed a hand on his shoulder. “Ethan, you’re an Ivy League graduate! If you can’t handle this, no one here can.” Richard added firmly, “Exactly. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re better than that loser anyway.” I almost laughed out loud. Ethan’s degree was just a piece of paper. During his interview, he couldn’t explain basic control theory. But the Sterlings were determined to back him, paying him a fortune. After soothing Ethan, Chloe turned to mock me. “Liam, do you really think you’d be anywhere without me? You’ve had it too easy. You’ve forgotten your place. Making a fuss over handing over one project? If Ethan hadn’t put in a good word for you, Dad and I would’ve kicked you out long ago.” I laughed inwardly. Had she already forgotten that without me, the company’s drones wouldn’t even function? I built the tech team from scratch. Now that the Sterlings were on top, they saw me as a burden. They kept talking, painting me as the family’s biggest embarrassment. Taking a deep breath, I walked up to Ethan under Chloe’s scornful gaze. Everyone watched, probably thinking this pushover was finally about to snap. But I just smiled calmly. I pulled the CEO transfer papers from my bag and dropped them at Ethan’s feet. “Managing thousands of drones must be exhausting. How about I just make you CEO instead?” Chapter 2 The room fell silent, everyone staring in disbelief. The Sterling Group executives whispered, thinking I’d lost my mind. After all, everyone knew I’d worked tirelessly for a decade, asking for nothing in return. “Mr. Carter, you’re the company’s second-in-command! It’s just one project. Don’t throw away your future over a rash decision!” Hearing this, Chloe seemed to think I was threatening her. Her face flushed with anger. “Liam, have you lost it?” she snapped. “How dare you act up after a little criticism? Let me remind you—you’re only the CEO on paper. I’m the one who really runs this group.” I laughed inside. She should’ve been thrilled I was stepping down. Wasn’t this her dream? To see her beloved ex take the top spot? Ethan clutched the transfer document, greed flashing in his eyes. But he played the humble hero. “Mr. Carter, are you offering this in anger? Please don’t misunderstand. Chloe was just trying to help me catch up. It’s for the good of the Sterling Group. Besides, how could I replace you? You’re a veteran here. The CEO role isn’t for someone like me.” He made a show of handing the document back, but his grip stayed tight, as if afraid I’d take it. Seeing his act, I smiled faintly. “Why would I be angry? You’re an Ivy League returnee. I’m thrilled to bring in fresh talent. I have every confidence in you as CEO.” Chloe gave me a suspicious look, then snorted. “Ethan, since he’s offering, just take it. With your skills, you’d have gotten there anyway. Everyone here is a witness.” The moment she finished, Ethan stopped pretending and hugged the document, his eyes gleaming. Watching him, I sneered inwardly. Chloe, busy flirting with Ethan, had no idea how technically demanding the Aldonia project was. I’d spent a year perfecting the desert formation algorithm. But they didn’t know the core program was still on my encrypted drive, not yet handed over. Even if they stole it, without my notes, it would take months to crack. Without me, how could they possibly pull off a show with tens of thousands of drones? What they saw as a goldmine would become a swarm of locusts. Plus, Ethan probably didn’t realize that being CEO meant taking on all the responsibility. If the Aldonia show failed, they’d not only owe millions in penalties—they’d face the royal family’s wrath. Not to mention the competitors waiting to pounce. Since they thought I was useless, I saw no need to warn them. The day the project failed would be the day the Sterlings fell. Chloe seemed almost embarrassed by my easy surrender. She cleared her throat haughtily. “Alright, Liam, stop standing there. You’ll need to hand over your work. We’re celebrating Ethan’s success tonight. Since you’re being reasonable, you can join us.” Her condescending tone was almost funny. If the Aldonia project succeeded, the bonus would be tens of millions. They cut me out of the profits, and now a dinner was supposed to make it okay? The thought of eating with a weasel like Ethan made me sick. I was about to decline when he chimed in, fake concern plastered on his face. “Oh dear, Mr. Carter, I booked the private room before you arrived, so I didn’t save you a seat. My apologies. I might’ve sprained my ankle today, but I should make it right. Please, have a seat. I’ll fetch a chair and some drinks.” I knew he was playing the victim to score points. Sure enough, Chloe fretted over him, guiding him to a chair. “Ethan, you’ve done more than enough for the company. This huge project rests on you. We can’t have you running errands.” She shot me a disgusted look. “What are you waiting for? After all your years here, don’t you have any sense? Either go get the drinks, or don’t bother coming!” Her double standards made me scoff. Chloe always took me for granted. I’d worked day and night but was never included in team dinners. Now they acted like they were doing me a favor. Ethan, pushing his luck, smirked. “Mr. Carter, so sorry to trouble you. I’ll make sure to toast you properly later…” Before he could finish, I let out a cold laugh and kicked the leather executive chair out from under him. Chapter 3 Ethan stumbled back, tripping over a chair. He crashed headfirst into the million-dollar holographic projector. Glass shattered. I watched him scramble up, blood trickling down his forehead, and sneered. “What, did the star student’s ankle heal miraculously? That was some agility. Were you a tap dancer in a past life?” Chloe froze as if doused in ice water. Then she rushed to Ethan’s side, whirling on me with a roar. “Liam, have you lost your mind? What if Ethan’s hurt? I get it now! You can’t stand seeing him succeed, so you’re sabotaging the project!” I scoffed. “Jealous of an idiot? Please.” “And,” I added, “I’ve already resigned. So drop the boss act. I’m done playing your games.” Chloe trembled, eyes red, about to retort. I strode out of the conference room without looking back. The sounds of chaos and Richard’s shouts faded behind me. I packed my things from my office, my gaze lingering on the velvet box on my desk. It was a custom bracelet I’d ordered from overseas. An anniversary gift for Chloe. How ironic now. Staring at it, I drifted back. In college, Chloe was my goddess. I knew I was just an ordinary guy, not worthy of an heiress like her. So I silently adored her—running errands, buying lunch, even doing her homework. And yes, she took me for granted, treating me like a backup. One day, I found a silver bracelet she’d lost and tried to return it. But she threw it into a dirty ditch and told me to “step up” and be her boyfriend. Everyone said she was just lashing out after her first love dumped her, taking revenge on me. But I refused to believe it. I doubled down, convinced my love would win her over. Like a loyal puppy, I revolved around her 24/7. I showered her with gifts, always planning surprises. Even after ten years of marriage, nothing changed. Our anniversary was always marked in my calendar, though Chloe never remembered. I knew she was never truly passionate about me, but I believed she loved me in her way. Maybe that was just how she showed love. So, I accepted being a powerless CEO and the Sterling family’s live-in husband. I thought our life would stay happy. But I underestimated the pull of her first love. It wasn’t until I saw her with Ethan—the unconcealed affection in her eyes—that I realized my ten years of devotion were self-deception. Maybe Ethan had always had a place in her heart. And I was just a disposable stand-in. Just as I was about to toss the gift, I bumped into Chloe and her entourage returning to the office. “Well, well, Liam, weren’t you the tough guy earlier?” she sneered. “Can’t you be less petty? Resorting to cheap tricks?” Chloe stood in the doorway, arm in arm with Ethan, executives trailing behind. I sneered inwardly. This shameless pair wasn’t even hiding it. Ethan tugged Chloe’s sleeve, feigning concern. “Chloe, Mr. Carter must want to apologize. Look at the bracelet in his hand. He probably got it to beg your forgiveness!” Chloe paused, then scoffed. “Hah! Does he think a cheap bracelet will win me over? If Ethan hadn’t stopped me, I’d have called security…” She reached for the bracelet. I frowned and tossed it straight into the trash. “You’re sick,” I said. “Even trash looks good to you. Get that delusion checked.” Chapter 4 Without waiting for her reaction, I grabbed my briefcase and left. I headed home to pack. It was time to end this charade. But I’d barely started when the door slammed open. Chloe stormed in, fuming. “Liam, have you lost it today? Humiliating me in front of everyone? Have you forgotten you’re just my live-in husband?” Ethan trailed behind, pretending to be concerned. “Mr. Carter, I wanted to speak up for you, but you went too far. Is it because Chloe and I are close that you feel threatened? We’re just colleagues. If you misunderstand, there’s nothing I can do. I don’t want to be the ‘other man.’ I should leave.” He made a show of leaving, but his steps were slow. Chloe grabbed his arm, soothing. “Ethan, you’re right. He’s just a live-in husband. Who is he to tell you to leave?” She turned to me, teeth gritted. “Liam, you’ve disappointed me. You’ve changed. You’re disgusting! Apologize to Ethan, or I’ll kick you out!” I clenched my fists. It wasn’t the first time she’d threatened me with divorce. Every time we argued over Ethan, she’d dangle expulsion over my head. Back then, like a fool, I gave in, thinking she’d one day see me as her real husband. Now, I realized I’d been blind. I didn’t need a woman like this. Seeing my silence, Chloe assumed I’d back down. She tossed her hair triumphantly. “Actually, I don’t have to kick you out. As long as you and Ethan…” I cut her off. “Enough. I’ll leave. Let’s get a divorce.” Chloe was thunderstruck, mouth agape. Ethan jumped in. “Mr. Carter, even if you’re angry, you can’t joke about divorce!” I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and slapped them on the table. “I’m not joking. Sign it. Let’s end this.” Chloe finally realized I was serious. She pointed a trembling finger at me. “Fine! Get out! Go ahead and regret it!” A gleam of triumph flashed in Ethan’s eyes, but he feigned concern. “Mr. Carter, think this through. You’re part of the Sterling family. Once you leave, you lose that status. Without them, what will you have?” His meaning was clear: I was nothing without the Sterlings. Chloe, emboldened, added, “Exactly! Who’d want a nobody like you without the chances we gave you? You couldn’t handle this project, but Ethan managed it effortlessly. Once Aldonia’s show is done, our company will soar!” I scoffed. Soar? They were headed for bankruptcy! Without my core program, Ethan’s amateur skills couldn’t synchronize ten drones, let alone ten thousand. The Aldonian royal family wasn’t to be trifled with. When the project failed, the company would be ruined. Just then, Chloe’s phone rang. She shot me a smug look. “Look, it’s Prince Malik’s secretary. Once this payment comes through, I’m taking Ethan on vacation! And you? You can cry in your crappy rental!” She put the phone on speaker, eager to flaunt her triumph. A second later, a furious roar erupted from the phone. “You useless idiots! This is the billion-dollar show you bragged about? It can’t even fly in a test run! How dare you scam me! I’ll destroy your company!”

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The day I found out I was pregnant, Julian deliberately drove the car off a cliff. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my college days. Only then did I understand— from beginning to end, the person in his heart had always been his first love, Serena. I tore the love letter to shreds on the spot and walked away in the opposite direction from him. Eight years later. He booked the most expensive bar in the city, preparing a proposal for the “love of his life.” When he saw me appear, he looked at me with open mockery and said, “I know you can’t let me go, but you didn’t have to chase me all the way here, did you?” But the moment he saw me holding another man’s hand, he completely lost control. “Claire,” he demanded, eyes burning red, “didn’t you promise to love only me for the rest of your life?” I never expected to see Julian again, especially not in a nightclub. Traffic had delayed me, causing me to miss the class reunion dinner. I drove straight to the club where I had a prior engagement. To my surprise, I stumbled upon my old classmates who had moved on to their second venue of the night. They were lost in the rhythm on the dance floor. Julian, with his fair skin and tall stature, stood out in the crowd. He held Serena close, his eyes full of adoration. “Julian is truly a rare genius. At such a young age, he already owns several Formula 1 teams,” someone remarked. “Indeed. Tonight, he rented out this entire club just for Serena.” “This must be the most luxurious venue in the city. The rental fee for one night must be at least a million dollars.” “Well, you can’t put a price on a beautiful woman’s smile.” As the music stopped, Serena stood there, flushed and slightly out of breath. Suddenly, the big screen lit up, playing a montage of Julian and Serena’s romantic moments. The crowd started to cheer as Serena was ushered onto the stage. Julian, holding a bouquet of roses, got down on one knee before her. “Serena, will you marry me?” His voice was as soft as a gentle stream, almost overflowing with emotion. Someone in the crowd asked, “When did Julian break up with Claire?” The question, neither too loud nor too soft, reached everyone’s ears. Hearing my name, Julian’s expression darkened, his smile fading. Serena’s face froze for a moment before she quickly recovered, accepting the flowers from Julian with a polite smile. “Julian has always been popular with women, but who hasn’t made mistakes when they were young? The important thing is that it all worked out in the end.” The crowd laughed, continuing to compliment the couple on how well-matched they were. I stood in the corner, watching their intertwined fingers. Was I the mistake she referred to? But she didn’t know that in my previous life, it was Julian who had pursued me. He had fallen for me at first sight, launching an intense pursuit. Who could resist a handsome, tall, intelligent man who loved you to the point of obsession? So I agreed. On the day we became official, Julian cupped my face, hesitating to kiss me. “Claire, am I dreaming?” he had said. “If I kiss you, will I wake up?” I laughed, brushing his beautiful eyes before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. That night, he promised me, “Claire, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I believed him. But he lied. I took a deep breath and headed towards the elevator through the dim light. A sharp-eyed former classmate spotted me and exclaimed, “Claire, what are you doing here?” “What happened to you? You look so disheveled.” “Don’t tell me you’re still unemployed. Since Julian is here, why don’t you ask him to help you find a job that pays at least $5000 a month, for old times’ sake?” Their mockery was undisguised. I didn’t care, just smiling politely as I poured myself a glass of ice water. From the moment I entered, Julian’s gaze had been fixed on me, never wavering. Seeing me take a free glass of ice water, he seemed to relax a bit and said casually, “Order whatever you want. I’m covering all the expenses tonight.” I replied, “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” My tone was polite but carried an unmistakable distance. Julian’s attempt to approach me halted. Half his face was hidden in the shadows, making his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he let out a bitter laugh. “Claire, after all these years, you’re still so prideful.” Serena’s gaze was filled with wariness. She intertwined her fingers with Julian’s, eyeing me with a look of ownership and contempt. “Claire, I don’t mean to be rude, but as a woman, you should at least make an effort with your appearance when you go out.” “Look at your mismatched clothes and messy hair. How do you expect any man to want to marry you like this?” “I have plenty of clothes at home that I don’t wear anymore. If you don’t mind, you can have them. After all, Julian buys me so many that I can’t even fit them all in two walk-in closets.” The crowd burst into laughter. I turned to look at my reflection in the glass. After two days of non-stop work on set, I was exhausted and hadn’t bothered with my appearance. Standing next to the impeccably groomed Serena, I did look rather unkempt in comparison. “No, thank you,” I said, waving her off as I helped myself to some chilled fruit from the bar. I was too hungry to care about my table manners. Julian suddenly walked towards me and held out his phone. I looked up at him, confused. “Give me your account number. I’ll transfer you $300,000,” he said. “Your current situation is ultimately because of me.” “But we’re in the past now. Don’t be so stubborn.” “Stop waiting for me and move on with your life.” Julian’s phone wallpaper was a picture of Serena holding a large bouquet of flowers. Looking at her carefree smile, I felt a bit dazed. In my previous life, let alone being his wallpaper, there wasn’t a single trace of me on Julian’s phone. He didn’t even save my number because he never needed to contact me. Whether in life or work, I always arranged everything for him in advance. It turns out that love and indifference are indeed very obvious. We started dating in college and got married right after graduation. He dreamed of becoming a race car driver, while I wanted to study film directing. Two completely different dreams that would never intersect. Seeing his dejected eyes, I gave in. I gave up the opportunity to study abroad without hesitation, following him around with heavy toolboxes day after day. He didn’t have professional equipment, so I would ride my bicycle around the city at night delivering food, saving money to buy him the most expensive and best racing suits. He didn’t have a maintenance team, so I taught myself car repair techniques, taking on the work of an entire team for him alone. But he still lost. His second-hand race car, bought at a low price, could never outrun others’ latest models. Despite my tireless efforts to comfort him in his depression, he pushed me away harshly, his eyes filled with a disgust I had never seen before: “I’m sick of this boring life with you.” “If I had chosen Serena back then, I wouldn’t be living like this now.” Those words shattered all my hopes for the future. I didn’t even have time to look back at the road we had traveled before we both died in that cliff accident. I wanted to beg him to save our child. But the words were swallowed by the flames before they could leave my mouth. Since fate had given us a chance to start over, we both chose to pursue the lives we wanted. There was no need for any further contact between us. I pushed the phone back to him. “There’s no relationship between us. This isn’t necessary.”

Julian frowned, his voice trembling slightly, though he didn’t seem to notice it himself. “No relationship? What do you mean? Am I just a stranger to you now?” I looked up, meeting his gaze steadily. “Aren’t we? Our lives have no intersection. Whether I dress well or poorly, whether I live comfortably or not, what does it have to do with you?” “If you have too much money to spend, you might consider helping those in need.” Perhaps feeling that I had embarrassed him in front of everyone, Julian’s expression turned impatient. He coldly rebuked me, “Claire, stop pretending. Didn’t you show up here just to get my attention?” Seeing this, Serena gently comforted him, “Julian, don’t say that about Claire. It’s too harsh.” Turning to me, the contempt in her eyes was barely concealed, though her tone remained gentle as ever. “Claire, don’t mind Julian. He’s just concerned about an old classmate.” “How about this? I opened a private clinic on South Street. We need a receptionist there, with a salary of $7000 plus room and board.” “If you’re interested, you can work there.” Someone nearby exclaimed, “South Street is prime real estate! To have a clinic there, Serena must really be something.” “Claire, you’ve struck gold! Quick, thank Serena!” I rolled my eyes, calmly eating my fruit and refusing their offer once again. “No need. I’m very happy with my current job.” Seeing that I didn’t appreciate their gesture, those trying to curry favor with Julian immediately stood up to criticize me for being ungrateful. “Claire, I think poverty has made you crazy. Julian and Serena are trying to help you, and not only are you not grateful, but you’re acting all high and mighty.” “We’re all old classmates. Everyone knows what you’re worth. Don’t miss this opportunity for the sake of your worthless pride.” After he finished speaking, Serena pretended to stop him. “Please don’t say that about Claire… Maybe she really likes her current life.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, as if she had been bullied. Seeing the tears in Serena’s eyes, Julian pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly. “Serena, you’re just too kind.” He turned to me and said, “Claire, I didn’t expect you to still be so selfish and hypocritical.” “You really are beyond help! You only deserve the worst life has to offer.” I was curious why Julian would say such things about me. In both my previous life and this one, I had never done anything to hurt him. Why, after all these years, was he still speaking to me so harshly? I didn’t want to engage with them any further and stood up to go to the private room upstairs. However, a former male classmate blocked my way. He held a drink and leered at me as he approached. “Claire, I always hated that high-and-mighty act of yours. Never thought I’d see you like this.” “How about you drink with me? $500 per glass, what do you say?” “If you let me hold your hand, I might even pay extra.” I looked closely and barely recognized him as the guy who had confessed to me at the graduation ceremony. I think his name was Jack. At the time, I was focused on securing a spot for further studies abroad, so I had flatly rejected his advances. I didn’t expect him to hold a grudge for so long. Everyone was laughing, and no one came to my aid. I frowned. It wasn’t my intention to join their gathering. If I hadn’t had a prior appointment, I would have left long ago. The security guards were nowhere to be seen. As I was about to push him away, Julian, who had been quietly watching everything, suddenly threw his glass violently at Jack. His tone was ice-cold: “Stay away from her.” Jack, now drenched in alcohol, was about to lash out but stopped when he realized it was Julian. He could only turn back and glare at me viciously. The glass shattered on the floor. Serena’s schadenfreude smile instantly vanished as she looked at Julian in disbelief. “Julian, what are you doing?” Julian didn’t even glance at her, his eyes fixed on me. “This is my event tonight. I don’t want any accidents happening here.” I took two steps back, wiping the alcohol off my pants. “The security here is really poor.” Serena looked at me, her eyes almost shooting fire. “You’re complaining now?” “Do you know where you are? This is the property of Adrian, the movie star. If it weren’t for Julian, someone like you wouldn’t be able to set foot in here in a lifetime.” At the mention of Adrian, several female classmates suddenly became excited. “Is that the Adrian who’s won all those awards at such a young age and has been on the city’s richest list for five consecutive years?” “I heard he already has a child, but his wife has never been seen in public.” Just then, the main door was suddenly pushed open. A little girl, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, entered the hall. The girl looked around curiously. A butler in a suit followed closely behind her, cautiously saying, “Miss, please walk slowly. Be careful not to bump into anything.” The old classmates became excited instantly. “Someone who can freely enter a private event and is called ‘Miss’ must be the movie star’s little princess!” “My goodness, she looks exactly like Adrian!” I was about to step forward when the man who had been splashed with alcohol by Julian earlier blocked my path again. He didn’t dare confront Julian, so he took out his frustration on me: “Claire, if it weren’t for Julian, how could someone like you even get to see the movie star’s daughter? I suggest you kneel down and apologize to me right now. If I’m in a good mood, I might even marry you.” “A good man like me with a stable monthly income of $5000 is hard to come by. I advise you to be sensible!” I ignored him and watched as the movie star’s daughter was surrounded by people. They bombarded her with questions, and some had already taken out their phones to take pictures. Serena’s face no longer showed the arrogance from earlier. Instead, she wore a fawning smile: “Little sister, is your daddy Adrian?” After getting confirmation from the little girl, Serena’s smile became even more ingratiating: “What are you doing here? Would you like some fruit? Let sister get it for you.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch the girl’s face. The little girl pushed Serena’s hand away and walked straight towards me. Under everyone’s gaze, she threw herself into my arms, sweetly calling out: “Mommy!” Her bright eyes instantly filled with tears as she looked at me pitifully: “Mommy, Lily missed you so much!” “Why didn’t you answer Lily’s call yesterday?” I held her in my arms, comforting her softly: “Mommy was rehearsing with the actors on set yesterday and didn’t check her phone. Mommy won’t do it again. Can Lily forgive mommy?” Lily smiled brightly at me and planted a kiss on my cheek with a “mwah” sound. “Lily isn’t mad at mommy. I was just worried about you.” I poked her cheek: “Mommy’s little Lily is the best.”

Everyone present was shocked, all looking at us with disbelief. Julian stood frozen, frowning as he was about to speak. A handsome man wearing sunglasses rushed in from the entrance. “Honey, why didn’t you message me that you got off work early today? I would have picked you up. There’s so much traffic, I worry about you going alone.” “The manager told me your classmates are having a gathering here?” He put his arm around my shoulder, took off his sunglasses, and smiled at everyone: “Hello, I’m Claire’s husband. My name is Adrian.” “Tonight’s gathering is on me. You’re all Claire’s classmates, so feel free to make any requests. I hope everyone has a great time tonight.” The man who had just tried to get me to drink with him suddenly turned pale, while almost all the female classmates became so excited they could barely speak coherently: “Claire is actually the movie star’s wife!” “Oh my god, it’s like a drama come to life. This is too perfect!” Hearing this, I just smiled without responding. Adrian turned his head, his gaze scanning Julian up and down. After a while, he gave a contemptuous smile and said in a neutral tone: “So you’re Claire’s college boyfriend?” “I should thank you. It’s because of you that I was able to marry such a perfect wife.” Julian didn’t respond, his gaze fixed on me: “Claire, are you lying again?” “Are they actors you hired from somewhere?” I sighed, directly taking Adrian’s hand and showing the wedding ring symbolizing our vows to Julian: “He is my only husband, Adrian.” “I never lie, and I have no reason to lie to you.” Julian suddenly panicked: “But you said you would only love me forever!” Fearing that Adrian might get jealous, I quickly explained to him: “I never said that. Never.” These words made Julian’s face lose all color. He wanted to argue but knew he was in the wrong. In my previous life, I had indeed promised at our wedding to love only him for life. Living this life again, he chose a different path for himself. What right did he have to demand that I fulfill the promises of my previous life? Julian couldn’t accept it: “Even so, we were once in love. How can you be with someone else so casually? Does our past mean nothing to you?” Beside him, Serena’s face had turned completely pale. Looking at the photos still rolling on the big screen, I sighed helplessly: “Aren’t you with Serena now?” “Half an hour ago, you were proposing to her. Now you’re accusing me of not cherishing our past.” Julian had organized this gathering, and almost everyone had come with the intention of currying favor with him. When I was harassed by a male classmate, not one person reached out to help me. Now that they knew my identity, they started to criticize Julian and Serena. “That’s right, Julian. Let it go. Claire is so happy now, you shouldn’t disturb her anymore.” “After all, who wouldn’t love a handsome and rich movie star?” Serena couldn’t bear to listen anymore. She stepped forward, trying to hold Julian’s hand: “Julian, let’s go. I’m your fiancée now. You and Claire have nothing to do with each other anymore.” But as soon as her hand touched Julian, he violently shook it off. Serena lost her balance and fell onto the broken glass. Her delicate hand was instantly cut with several shallow wounds. Her face immediately turned red, and she looked at me with resentful eyes. Adrian’s smile deepened as he spoke leisurely: “Mr. Summers, you’re not regretting your choice and wanting to win my wife back now, are you?” “Claire is indeed very charming, but she’s not interested in just anyone. Mr. Summers, it’s best not to overestimate yourself.” Having his thoughts exposed by Adrian, Julian froze on the spot, stuttering as he tried to explain: “No… I…” I raised my hand to interrupt him, my tone cold: “Julian, the past can only be the past.” “I have a happy family now, and you’ve found your true love as you wished.” “Let’s not say any more meaningless words.” Our daughter had clearly lost interest in the situation. She tugged on Adrian’s hand and pouted: “Daddy, I don’t want to celebrate my birthday here anymore. I want to go home and eat the food you and mommy cook.” Adrian asked the butler to take our daughter to the car. Holding my hand, he gave a meaningful look to everyone present. “I heard that someone offered a high price of $500 earlier, wanting my wife to drink with them?” Jack’s face instantly turned pale. His shoulders trembling, he apologized profusely: “It was me… I was blind and offended Mrs. Smith. Please… please be magnanimous and forgive me.” He hung his head, stuttering slightly due to extreme nervousness. With just a glance from Adrian, the bodyguards behind him lifted Jack and dragged him into a side room. After dealing with Jack, Adrian turned his attention to Serena: “I also heard that you wanted my wife to work as a cleaner at your clinic?” “As it happens, I own an entire block of businesses in the South District. If even the cleaning staff needs to be personally recruited by the owner, I think I should reconsider the lease renewal.” The threat in his words was clear. Serena managed to squeeze out a smile, hiding slightly behind Julian: “I was just joking with your wife. Please don’t take it to heart…” Adrian then looked up, his gaze sweeping over those who had spoken disrespectfully to me earlier. They all lowered their heads, not daring to even breathe loudly. After all this, he finally turned to me, giving me a flirtatious wink. I knew what that meant. He was seeking praise for standing up for me. I took his hand and turned to leave. Just as we stepped out of the main door, Julian caught up with us. He called out to me: “Claire!”

The late autumn wind was chilly, and I instinctively hugged my arms. I signaled Adrian to wait for me in the car. After hesitating for a moment, he draped his coat over my shoulders before getting into the car. Even when facing Julian, he chose to respect and trust me. I clutched Adrian’s coat tightly, watching Julian approach with unsteady steps. His eyes were dark and unreadable. “Why did you marry Adrian? Is he really better than me?” I was speechless at his words, but thinking back to everything that happened before I married Adrian, I couldn’t help but smile. That year, I was still a rookie director barely stepping into the film industry. Even new media short drama producers wouldn’t look at my scripts. To chase my dream, I had spent almost all my savings. When I was at my wits’ end, Adrian took on my script. He didn’t look down on me. Instead, he carefully went over the plot details with me, recommended suitable actors, and helped me win my first director’s award. On the day I received the award, he confessed his feelings to me. I won’t deny that I had developed feelings for him during our long association, but because of the shadows from my past life, I forced myself to stay calm. I asked him: “If I’m with you, can I still continue my career as a director?” Adrian was surprised by my question: “You’re an independent person. You can do anything you want without needing my permission. I love you, so I’ll support you with all my might.” I took a deep breath and continued: “I like children.” Adrian chuckled softly: “So do I.” I accepted his pursuit, and from that day on, he became the catalyst for my new beginning. Later, we got married. Adrian respected my wishes and held a simple wedding in a church with only close friends and family. Then, we had Lily. Seeing my happy expression, Julian felt as if his heart was being pricked by needles. With reddened eyes, he asked me again: “That little girl, is she really your child?” “Yes.” “You weren’t willing to have a child with me, why could you have one with him!” Hearing this, I suddenly recalled the ultrasound report I had clutched tightly until my death in my previous life. That child had already developed a regular heartbeat, but ended up perishing with me in the fire. My chest hurt so much I could barely breathe, and my vision blurred with tears. Julian was still accusing me of betraying him. Finally, I couldn’t hold back anymore and slapped him across the face. Julian held his swollen cheek, looking at me in disbelief. “We once had a child.” “On the day you drove us off the cliff, I was going to tell you.” “I used to feel incredibly guilty about that child, but now I’m just relieved. At least my child didn’t have a father like you.” Upon hearing this, Julian froze on the spot. He covered his mouth, as if he had received a massive shock, and asked me with a trembling voice: “No, didn’t you go to have an abortion that day?” “Serena told me she saw you enter the abortion clinic with her own eyes!” “She said you thought I was too poor, so you didn’t want to have my child!” At that moment, I finally understood why Julian had called me selfish when we met again after all these years. “If I really looked down on you, why would I have married you without hesitation?” Julian was completely devastated. He collapsed on the ground, mumbling: “I killed my child… I killed them.” Tears rolled down my cheeks as I looked at the man before me, feeling nothing but ridicule. “I walked with you for so long, gave you so much, yet you easily believed someone else’s words.” I turned to leave, but Julian grabbed my hand: “Claire, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.” “Please come back to me. I can’t live without you.” I shook my head and pulled my hand away: “Julian, you forgot.” “‘Let’s never see each other again in this life.’ Those were your words that day.” I understood that no one could change the past. Fortunately, I had truly let go.

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I was his lawful wife, yet every dollar I spent had to be approved by his secretary first. Living expenses required authorization. Purchases had to be registered. When my father was rushed into the ICU, I wasn’t even allowed to sign for his surgery. The night he rented out the entire Disneyland to set off fireworks for another woman, I stood in a hospital corridor, calling him again and again. The moment I sold my wedding ring and decided to file for divorce— he was the first time he refused to let me go. After losing control while drunk, I slept with the boy next door. He’s an extremely responsible person, so he proposed to me after sobering up. It wasn’t until later that I found out his most beloved woman had left the country that night. So I hid my deep feelings and became his obedient and virtuous wife in name only in this wealthy family. On countless quiet nights, we were incredibly in sync, yet kept our distance. My friends all said I would never be able to leave him, and I thought so too. Until one day, when I discovered his second phone. While he was in the shower, a girl sent a selfie of herself. “Mr. Sterling, thank you for the birthday gift.” She was a very young girl with delicate features. But she was wearing expensive clothes that didn’t match her age, so she looked a bit uncomfortable. I stared at it for a long time, until my eyes stung. I had always known there was someone in Alexander’s life, but I never imagined it would be a girl like this. Beyond my heartache, I was also surprised by my husband’s preferences. I thought to myself, I’m sorry for discovering Alexander’s secret. A moment later, Alexander came out with steam rising from his body. “How long are you going to look at that?” He snatched the phone from my hand, glanced at me, and started getting dressed. There wasn’t a hint of embarrassment on his face at being caught by his wife. I knew his confidence came from his control over the family finances. Because I was the one being kept at home, even though I used to be a well-known pianist in the country before we married. I didn’t confront him about the photo. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. Seeing he was about to go out, I quickly spoke up. “Alexander, I have something I want to talk to you about.” He fastened his belt leisurely and looked at me. “I have five minutes. The driver is waiting downstairs.” I guessed where he was going and my eyes darkened. “Alexander, I want to go out and work.” Alexander turned to look at me, staring for a while. Then he took out a checkbook from his pocket, wrote down a number, tore it out and handed it to me. “Isn’t it nice being a full-time housewife at home? Work isn’t suitable for you.” He was about to leave after saying that. I chased after him, taking a very humble stance. “I’m not afraid of hard work. I want to go out and work. I can play the piano.” The man had no patience to listen further. In his mind, I was like a delicate vine. Used to being taken care of, completely unsuited for working outside, and unable to endure hardship. Alexander looked at his watch. Time was up. He left this home without any reluctance. I couldn’t stop him, only managing to urgently ask as he gripped the doorknob. “My dad’s birthday is on Saturday. Do you have time?” Alexander paused. “We’ll see.” The door closed softly. A moment later, the sound of a car starting came from downstairs, gradually fading into the distance. A few minutes later, the housekeeper came upstairs. “Sir is going to H City for a few days. He said it’s for something important.” “Also, a batch of Sir’s clothes just arrived for washing. Madam, should we send them to the cleaners or would you like to hand wash and iron them yourself?” They knew my relationship with Alexander was strained. In this house, they were the messengers between Alexander and me. I knelt on the sofa, taking a while to come back to my senses before softly saying, “I’ll wash them by hand.” Because Alexander didn’t like the smell of dry cleaning solvents. So almost all of Alexander’s clothes, including suits and coats, were hand washed and ironed by me. Besides this, Alexander had high standards in other areas too. He didn’t like eating out, and he didn’t like any mess in the bedroom, so I learned cooking and flower arranging. He never took this wife to heart, only marrying me because of an accident. I gradually became the perfect housewife, and my life revolved almost entirely around Alexander. But Alexander still didn’t love me. I lowered my head and stared at the check. Last year my family business failed. My father suddenly fell ill from the shock, costing over six figures every month. Every time I went home, my stepmother complained that I took too little from Alexander. “He’s the CEO of Sterling Pharmaceutical Group, worth billions.” “Elena, isn’t he your husband? Doesn’t that mean everything he has is yours too?” I smiled bitterly. How could anything of Alexander’s be mine? Alexander didn’t love me and was very cold to me usually. Our marriage only had sex, no love. He wouldn’t even let me have his child. Every time we slept together, he would remind me to take birth control. Yes, I had to take the pills. I felt for the pill bottle, took one out, and swallowed it numbly. After taking the pill, I gently pulled open a small drawer. Inside was a thick diary, filled with 18-year-old me’s deep love for Alexander. Ten years. I had loved him for a full ten years. I quietly closed my eyes. This one-sided play seemed like I could no longer keep acting it out.

I didn’t wait for Alexander to come back. My dad had another acute attack and entered the ICU. The situation was very critical and he needed immediate surgery. I stood in the hospital hallway calling Alexander over and over, but no one answered after several tries. Just as I was about to give up, Alexander answered. Afraid he would lose patience and hang up the next second, I spoke rapidly: “Alexander, my dad—” But my words were still cut off by Alexander. His tone carried a hint of impatience: “Do you need money?” “I’ve said many times, if you urgently need money just ask Secretary Mason. Elena, are you listening?” I looked up at the electronic screen, my expression dazed. It was playing today’s news. The CEO of Sterling Pharmaceutical Group had rented out the entire Disneyland for a night of fireworks to please a beauty. Under the dazzling fireworks, a young girl sat in a wheelchair, smiling sweetly and innocently. And my husband Alexander stood behind the wheelchair. He was holding his phone, talking to me. I blinked slowly. After a long while, my voice carried a hint of brokenness: “Alexander, where are you?” There was a pause on the other end. He seemed very unhappy with my questioning, but still perfunctorily said: “Still busy. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up. Contact Secretary Mason.” He didn’t notice my near-tears tone, but his gaze looking down at the person beside him was very gentle, so very gentle. My vision blurred. So Alexander could be this gentle after all. My stepmother’s voice came from behind: “Did you get in touch with Alexander? If Alexander doesn’t help, there’s no way we can handle this.” But her words stopped abruptly, because she also saw the scene on the electronic screen. After a while, my stepmother finally found her voice again. “Elena, I just don’t believe that when Alexander was in a coma, this Sophia girl playing the piano could wake him up.” “Even if that’s true, is this how you repay someone? He can’t even remember your birthday.” My stepmother got more and more angry as she spoke. Thinking of the Miller family’s situation, she couldn’t help but shed tears. “But Elena, you have to be clear-headed. Don’t cause trouble with Alexander at a time like this.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, but I couldn’t feel any pain. Cause trouble with Alexander? I wouldn’t. Not because I’m a sensible Mrs. Sterling who knows better. But because I have no right as the unloved wife. The title is just an empty shell. I stared at the sky full of fireworks and said very softly: “All those fireworks must cost a lot of money, right?” My stepmother didn’t understand what I meant. I lowered my eyes and started dialing Secretary Mason’s number. Disturbing someone’s sleep in the middle of the night is always unpleasant. Secretary Mason had been by Alexander’s side for a long time and held a high position. Moreover, he knew Alexander didn’t care about this wife. So after hearing my request, his tone was cold and aggressive. “Mrs. Sterling, you need to apply first and have Mr. Sterling sign off before you can get a check.” “Just like the jewelry you wear, it needs to be registered before use.” “Madam, do you understand what I mean?” I hung up the phone. I lowered my head, very quiet. After a while, I looked up at myself in the glass, gently raised my hand. On my slender ring finger was my wedding diamond ring. This was the only thing on me that didn’t need to be requested from Alexander, didn’t need to be registered and reported to his secretary. How pathetic I was as Mrs. Sterling. I blinked dazedly and suddenly said: “Help me find someone to sell the wedding ring.” My stepmother was stunned: “Elena, have you gone crazy?” I slowly turned around. In the desolate lobby late at night, even my footsteps sounded lonely. After walking a few steps, I paused, then said firmly: “Aunt Clara, I’m very clear-headed. I’ve never been this clear-headed before. I want to divorce Alexander.”

Three days later, Alexander returned home. Alexander pushed open the bedroom door to see me sitting at the dressing table organizing items. He put down his luggage, loosened his tie, and sat on the bed examining me. After marriage, I always enjoyed doing housework, organizing things, making snacks. If I didn’t still hold the title of Mrs. Sterling Group, in Alexander’s heart I was really no different from a housekeeper. For a long time I didn’t speak. Alexander was also tired from his business trip. Seeing I didn’t speak, he was too lazy to say anything. He went straight to the closet, took a bathrobe and went to the shower. While showering, he probably thought that with my weak personality, by the time he finished I would have calmed down. Then I would continue to be a gentle wife. He was so certain I would always love him like this. So when he walked out of the bathroom and found his suitcase still in its original place, he felt it necessary to talk to me. Alexander sat down on the sofa, casually picked up a magazine to read. After a while, he looked up at me and said: “How is your father’s condition?” “I’ve already reprimanded Secretary Mason about that night.” He spoke lightly, without much sincerity. I put down what I was holding and looked up to meet his gaze in the mirror. In the mirror, Alexander’s features were deep-set and his aura was noble. Even a bathrobe looked better on him than others. I looked for a long time, until my eyes were sore, before saying very calmly: “Alexander, let’s get divorced.” Alexander was clearly stunned. He knew I must be unhappy about that night. Alexander turned and took a cigarette box from the coffee table, shook out a cigarette, put it between his lips, and lit it. A moment later, he slowly exhaled a thin wisp of smoke. “A few days ago you said you wanted to go out and work. How come after just a few days you’re now making a fuss about divorce?” “Tired of being Mrs. Sterling for so long, want to go out and experience life?” “Go out and see how many people are working overtime for just a few thousand salary, having to watch others’ facial expressions.” “Elena, you live in a 5000 square foot villa, being Mrs. Sterling. What more are you unsatisfied with?” His tone was heartless and cold. I finally couldn’t hold back anymore and smiled bitterly. “Mrs. Sterling? Is there a Mrs. Sterling like me?” I suddenly stood up and pulled Alexander to the closet, yanking open the doors with a whoosh. Inside was a whole row of jewelry cabinets, but they all had password locks. I didn’t know the passwords. These were all managed by his secretary. I pointed at those things, mocking myself sarcastically. “Is there any wife who needs to report and register with her husband’s secretary just to use a piece of jewelry?” “Is there any wife who needs to write an application to her husband’s secretary to use any money?” “Is there any wife who doesn’t even have cab fare when going out?” “Alexander, you tell me, is this how one is supposed to be Mrs. Sterling?” “Yes, you give me 1 million every month.” “But every time I receive the check, I feel like it’s just a favor after you use me for release.” Alexander coldly interrupted me: “Is that how you think?” He gently pinched my chin: “You want a divorce? You think you can live what kind of life without me?” I was in pain from his pinch and raised my hand to push him away. The next second, Alexander caught my hand, his cold gaze fixed on my empty ring finger: “Where’s your wedding ring?” “I sold it.” My tone was bleak: “So Alexander, let’s get divorced.” Those words almost exhausted all my strength. Alexander was the man I had loved for six years. If it wasn’t for that night, if I hadn’t seen those fireworks in the sky, Perhaps I would have stayed in this loveless marriage for many more years. But I saw it. I don’t want to be with him anymore. Maybe life after divorce will be harder than now, like Alexander said. But I don’t regret it. After I finished speaking, I gently pulled my hand away. I pulled out a suitcase and started packing my things. I knew in his heart he probably never imagined I would have such a rebellious day. Actually saying I want to divorce him so resolutely. But I couldn’t care about anything anymore. Just as I finished packing and was about to leave with my suitcase, The next second, I was picked up by him, carried a few quick steps, and thrown onto the bed. Alexander’s tall body pressed down on me. His face was tightly against mine, eye to eye, nose to nose. Hot, intense breath swirled between us. After a while, his thin lips moved to behind my ear, his tone frivolous: “You’re making a fuss with me just because of Sophia? Elena, why can’t you be more honest?” “Isn’t this Mrs. Sterling title what you schemed for?” “Why don’t you want it now?” I trembled at his words. Even now, he still thought I had orchestrated that night’s events. The phone rang. Alexander ignored it, lowering his body to kiss me. I refused, shaking my head trying to break free. The phone kept ringing persistently. Finally Alexander answered irritably. It was his savior, Sophia, on the other end. “Alexander, my leg hurts so much. Can you come keep me company?” The coquettish voice came through the phone. Alexander didn’t answer immediately. He seemed to consider for a moment before saying to the phone: “I’ll be over in a bit.” After hanging up, he got up and changed clothes. “I have to go out for a while. We’ll talk about the divorce when I get back.” With that, all he left me was the dull sound of the door slamming. I lay limp on the bed, powerless. After a while, I finally got up, silently changed my clothes. I took the luggage I had packed earlier and left this place.

I returned to my father’s home. Every day I was busy with my stepmother taking care of my dad in the hospital, running around non-stop. One day, my stepmother had just finished cooking and was preparing to take it to the hospital. Seeing me still at my parents’ home for several days in a row, my stepmother couldn’t stay calm anymore. She pointed at the suitcase that had been placed in the room and spoke in an unpleasant tone. “What couple doesn’t fight? It’s normal for men to occasionally cheat.” “That Sophia girl comes from a poor family and is blind. I’ve asked around, she’s even divorced before.” “Someone like that won’t affect your position at all.” What position did I have with Alexander? I smiled self-mockingly, took the food from my stepmother’s hands, packed it in a thermos, and said to myself: “Aunt Clara, you rest today. I’ll go take care of Dad.” My stepmother glared at me. After a while, seeing I wouldn’t budge, she angrily said: “Your dad will probably be furious to death if he finds out you want a divorce.” “Elena, let’s take a step back. Even if you really can’t go on with him, can you survive after divorce?” “With the Miller family in this state now, what do you have to support yourself?” I slowly screwed on the thermos lid. After tightening it, I lowered my head and said softly: “We’ll find a way. The money from selling the wedding ring is enough to cover Dad’s medical expenses for a year.” “I plan to sell this house, and I’ll also go out to work to support the family.” As I finished speaking, my eyes grew moist. This house was left to me by my mother. Even in the hardest times before, we never touched it. My stepmother was dumbfounded. She didn’t try to persuade me anymore, but clearly still didn’t approve in her heart. I cleaned up the kitchen, then went to the hospital with my stepmother. After treatment, my dad’s condition had largely stabilized. I also hadn’t mentioned the divorce to my dad. In the afternoon, the attending physician Dr. Bennett came to do rounds. After the examination, he glanced at me: “Let’s talk outside.” I was startled. Then I put down what I was holding and said gently: “Dad, I’ll step out for a bit.” A moment later, we walked to a quiet hallway. Dr. Bennett saw my nervousness and gave me a reassuring smile, then lowered his head to look at the medical records. “Last night, I discussed with several chief physicians from the surgery department and we unanimously recommend:” “Mr. Miller needs to receive customized rehabilitation therapy going forward, otherwise it will be very difficult to recover to his previous state.” “It’s just that the cost is a bit high, about 150,000 per month.” 150,000 was an astronomical figure for me now, but I didn’t hesitate to open my mouth: “We accept the treatment.” Dr. Bennett closed the medical records and was about to speak when a cold voice sounded from across: “Elena.” It was Alexander. Alexander was dressed in business attire, looking like he had come from the company. He walked towards us, his calfskin shoes making crisp sounds on the hallway floor. Shortly after, Alexander came up to them and extended his hand, his voice lazy with a hint of contempt. “Why aren’t you staying properly at home? What are you doing here?” Guessing he probably hadn’t had time to go home for several days in a row, having been by someone else’s side, I couldn’t help but feel a wave of weariness. Not wanting to show a black face in front of others, I could only turn to leave. Alexander saw me leave and followed. We walked towards the ward together, neither of us speaking. Ever since I wanted a divorce, I no longer carefully tried to please him and make him happy like before. Near the ward door, Alexander suddenly grabbed my hand, trapping me between himself and the wall. His gaze was complex, his voice hoarse: “What did you talk about with him?” I wanted to break free, but Alexander used a bit more force and I was pressed back again. “Alexander, this is a hospital.” “I know, of course.” Alexander didn’t budge. He pressed his body tightly against mine. His face was also pressed close to my ear, his voice carrying a hint of danger. I guessed his hidden thoughts. As the CEO of Sterling Group, With status and position, he wouldn’t allow his wife to be too close to other men. I smiled bitterly: “Alexander, I don’t have your filthy thoughts. I don’t have that mood either.” “Rest assured, before we divorce, I won’t get involved with anyone else.” After saying that, I pushed him away and turned to enter the ward. Alexander followed, pushing open the door. As soon as he entered, he frowned: “It’s actually not even a private room.” My stepmother brought over a chair, speaking softly: “Sit down quickly. I’ll have Elena cut some fruit for you.” For the sake of my dad’s health, I could only reluctantly serve Alexander. Alexander sat down to chat with my dad. He was usually cold to me, but performed flawlessly in front of my dad. He had been in the business world for years. As long as he wanted to please someone, it was easy for him to make people feel good. My dad had always liked him. But when Alexander suggested changing hospitals, he still refused, smiling at Alexander: “Let’s not move around. It’s fine here. That Dr. Bennett is very responsible.” Alexander grasped the right degree and didn’t insist: “It’s good if Dad is used to it here.” After some small talk, when I handed him the cut apple, he didn’t take it but instead stood up and said to my dad: “Well then, I’ll take Elena home first. Dad, take care of yourself.” My dad nodded. Alexander took me downstairs. The setting sun dyed the luxury car a blazing red, dazzling and noble. I was pushed into the car by Alexander. I wanted to get out, but my wrist was pressed down by him. Alexander’s expression was composed. From outside the car, one absolutely couldn’t tell he was using such force. I couldn’t move at all, showing the clear difference in strength between men and women. When I gave up struggling, Alexander finally let go and quietly started smoking in the car. My breathing was slightly ragged as I looked at his profile. The dim light cast a shadow on his profile. Alexander was born with good looks, and with his status, he could easily make women’s hearts flutter. I vaguely recalled back then, it was just such a face that made me lose my mind. After a while, he put out the cigarette and took out a velvet box from his pocket, opening it to reveal a diamond ring. My throat tightened. This was the wedding ring I had sold that night. Alexander had bought it back. Alexander stared at my face the whole time, not missing any subtle changes in my expression. As if he wanted to see through my skin and flesh. After a long time, he spoke flatly: “Hold out your hand, put on the ring, then come home with me.” “I’ll pretend the previous things never happened. You’re still Mrs. Sterling.” He was rarely so generous and gracious, but I refused. I curled my palm, this direct action expressing my rejection of him. Alexander’s patience was limited: “What do you really want?” I answered in a low voice: “Divorce. I want to divorce you.” As soon as the words fell, silence pervaded the car. For a long time, Alexander fastened his seatbelt and glanced sideways at me. I turned my face away, not giving him a single look. Alexander stared for a while, then lightly stepped on the gas. The car drove smoothly, the lights on both sides slowly receding. He clearly wanted to chat about something, but I didn’t engage at all. About five minutes later, Alexander spoke. “Tomorrow I’ll arrange for your father to be transferred to Sterling Hospital. He’ll have the best team of experts treating him.” “And in the future, just tell me if you need money.” His tone was quite gentle, considered a concession. He didn’t love me, and still cared about how I had schemed him back then. But he didn’t intend to change wives. This would cause trouble for his life and the company’s stock. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but smile self-mockingly. Alexander looked over puzzled, but didn’t care. He continued while holding the steering wheel: “From now on, Secretary Mason won’t come to the house anymore. You can keep those jewels yourself. I’ll instruct him.” I listened quietly. The air conditioning in the car was very strong. I hugged myself to avoid shivering from the cold. I had been married to Alexander for five years and understood his personality quite well. To be honest, these concessions were considered favors from him. I should have been grateful and moved to tears, But I wasn’t. He said quite a lot and made concessions, but he didn’t mention Sophia at all. Which meant if I accepted his arrangements, Sophia would still appear in our lives in the future, with no changes. I was tired. I didn’t want to be trapped in a marriage I loved anymore. I flatly refused: “No need. My dad’s current doctor is fine.” Alexander heard my meaning. I didn’t accept his goodwill and insisted on divorce. He couldn’t help but get angry too. “Elena, don’t forget, we signed an agreement when we got married. If we divorce, you won’t get a penny.” “I know.” I answered quickly. Alexander’s patience was exhausted. He pulled the car over to the side of the road. One hand on the steering wheel, the other rubbing his brow, his face showing impatience. “How long are you going to make a fuss?” Even now, he only thought I was making a fuss. My heart turned cold as I sat up straight, looking ahead. After a while, I said softly: “Alexander, I’m serious. I don’t want to be with you anymore.” I stared straight into his dark, shining eyes, not giving an inch. He was handsome, with well-defined features. I used to be quite infatuated with this face. But now I felt nothing. Nothing at all. For the first time, I saw an unhappy expression appear on Alexander’s face. Before I could marvel at it, His phone rang. It was Secretary Mason calling. Alexander answered, his tone not very good: “What is it?” On the other end of the phone, Secretary Mason dutifully informed him: “Miss Sophia just fell when getting out of bed. She’s in a very bad mood now.” “Mr. Sterling, do you want to go see her? If you go, she’ll definitely be very happy.” Alexander held the phone without the strength to speak, clearly considering me beside him. His phone volume wasn’t low. I heard it. I just found it funny. Then I opened the car door and got out, leaving without looking back. A gust of cold wind blew over me, chilling me to the bone. I’m glad that when Alexander took out the wedding ring earlier, I didn’t waver. Didn’t have a change of heart, didn’t want to go back to that suffocating married life.

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Three days after getting terminated, I still walked into the company’s conference room. My ex‑girlfriend, Skyler, looked me over with open contempt. “Carter, given your current situation, you don’t even belong in this room.” She paused, her tone turning patronizing, almost generous. “Hand over your client portfolio and transition everything properly for Dax.” “Maybe then I’ll let you stay—scrubbing toilets.” After ten years by her side, this was how it ended. Mopping floors in the company I helped build. I didn’t move. The door opened, and her assistant stepped inside, stopping beside me. “Let me introduce everyone,” “This is our new CEO.” When Skyler, my ex‑girlfriend and former CEO, gleefully told me that her earlier attempt to win me back was just a joke, I didn’t get angry. I just pulled out my phone to call a cab home. The colleagues around us stared with mocking eyes, sneering: “Carter, the CEO said she doesn’t want you around. Why are you still here? Go on, book another flight!” “Didn’t you say you got an offer overseas? What happened—they changed their mind about you?” Skyler watched them cold‑shoulder me with indulgence, making no move to stop them. This kind of suffocating, humiliating workplace bullying had surrounded me for years. In the past, I would’ve fought back, hurt that my CEO girlfriend wouldn’t speak up for me. Now, I felt nothing—like watching clowns perform. “My business isn’t your concern, is it?” I said calmly. Skyler snorted, her eyes sweeping over me with disgust: “Still acting tough at a time like this?” “With your limited skills, if I hadn’t carried you all these years, you might not even have food on the table!” “Going abroad? What a joke.” Yes, I was a top‑tier graduate who’d turned down a dream offer to help her build a company from scratch. But in Skyler’s eyes, I was worthless—someone who’d only survived because of her. It almost made me laugh. I’d loved Skyler completely. Even staying in a mid‑level role forever wouldn’t have bothered me. But then she started reassigning my projects to her new assistant, Dax, without consulting me. She even pinned Dax’s mistakes on me, forcing me to take the fall. Then she used that as an excuse to cut my pay and suspend me, while promoting Dax and giving him a raise. That’s when I finally woke up. This one‑sided relationship had to end. So I quit on the spot, broke up with her, and decided to pursue my career abroad. I never expected her to show up just before my flight to play this “joke” on me. For a moment, I didn’t feel sadness—just bewilderment. How blind had I been, falling for someone like her? I shook my head, not bothering to argue: “You’re right about everything. Can I go now?” I stepped around Skyler, ready to leave. But she grabbed my arm, staring me down with disdain: “You’re really committed to the act, aren’t you? Your ‘overseas offer’ is exposed, and you’re still pretending?” “For old times’ sake, I’ll give you an out.” “Come back with me, and I’ll make you Dax’s assistant.” Seeing her condescending act, I finally understood the real point of her joke. On the surface, it was a bet with Dax to see if I’d take the bait. Really, she just wanted to keep me at the company as a workhorse for her and Dax. I had to admit, Skyler had planned Dax’s career carefully—promotion, raise, even an assistant. As for me, I’d helped her achieve her dream of running a company, and she’d taken everything from me to pave Dax’s way. I laughed coldly. “Dax isn’t skilled enough to deserve my help.” Skyler’s face darkened. “Carter, it seems I’ve been too soft on you all these years. That’s why you’re so full of yourself—” Before she could finish, a figure approached from across the terminal. “Skyler!” Her expression instantly softened. “Dax!” Dax was the only one in the whole company who didn’t call her “CEO”—he used her first name. Even I, her actual boyfriend, never had that privilege. Dax glanced at me and smiled at Skyler. “See? I knew Carter’s ‘overseas move’ was just an excuse. He never actually left.” Skyler shot me a sidelong glare, her eyes full of contempt. “Some people overestimate their importance—think the company can’t run without them!” “Not like you, Dax. You’re capable and humble. Since he won’t take the offer, let’s drop it.” “Let’s go.” But Dax held Skyler’s hand, putting on a pitiful look. “Skyler, wait. Ever since Carter quit, I haven’t been able to find my watch.” “It was my grandmother’s heirloom.” Then he turned to me, pleading: “Carter, please give it back to me.” Before I could process what was happening, Skyler glared at me furiously. “Carter, you stole something?” I started to deny it, but she cut me off coldly. “Don’t even try. Why would Dax make this up?” “You’re jobless now—who knows what you’re capable of?” Then she ordered the others: “Open his suitcase and check!” I stared at Skyler in disbelief. After ten years together, she knew my character better than anyone. But on Dax’s word alone, she would publicly rummage through my luggage? Earlier, with her cruel joke, I hadn’t wanted to engage. But now, this bullying crossed a line. Not disappointment. Not heartache. Just anger and disgust. “Stop!” I shouted, but Dax pretended to be sincere. “Carter, why so defensive? You didn’t actually take it, did you?” That made Skyler look at me with even more disgust. She signaled two people to block me as she said coldly: “Ignore him. Keep searching.” Watching my suitcase being dumped, my clothes and belongings scattered on the floor, my anger peaked. I yelled for airport security. Only then did they sheepishly back off. “It’s not here,” Dax said, sounding disappointed. “Forget it. Let’s not make things harder for Carter. He’s having a tough enough time.” But Skyler shot me a fierce look. “I think someone already sold it.” Then she said gently to Dax: “It’s fine. I’ll buy you a new one.” As she left, she threw me a cold glance. “Carter, when you’re living on the streets, don’t come begging to me.” With that, she left with the group, Dax shooting me a挑衅 look over his shoulder. I said nothing, just laughed coldly inside. They didn’t know yet—the company’s projects had imploded. It was about to go bankrupt and be acquired. And I’d turned down the overseas trip because the new parent company had appointed me as the incoming CEO.

My new company was headquartered overseas—a well‑known enterprise. Back at graduation, I’d received an offer from them thanks to my record. But Skyler talked me into staying to build a startup with her, so I’d turned it down. After the breakup, they’d reached out immediately, inviting me to join. But just before boarding, I got a call: their domestic subsidiary was acquiring local firms to consolidate resources, including Skyler’s company. They wanted me to be the new CEO. After dropping my luggage at home, I set a meeting with Mr. Quinn, the domestic liaison. I arrived early at the restaurant to wait. But unexpectedly, I saw Skyler and Dax there, laughing over lunch. When they noticed me, Skyler froze for a second. She walked over with an irritated look. “Carter, are you stalking me now?” “Weren’t you all tough earlier? Having regrets already?” Before I could speak, Dax smiled and said: “Skyler, there were a lot of people at the airport. Carter was just saving face.” “Tell you what—if Carter apologizes sincerely, I’m sure Skyler would still give you a chance.” “Right, Skyler?” Skyler looked at me with disapproval, pretending reluctance. “Since Dax is sticking up for you, fine. Finish this bottle of wine, and I’ll let you be an assistant.” She pointed to a full wine bottle on the table. I laughed inwardly. Skyler knew perfectly well I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink. She was just making me beg. But she’d miscalculated. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone.” “Waiting for someone? Hah, you’re really committed to the act.” Skyler sneered. “I’ve known you for years. I know your little games.” “You just think being Dax’s assistant is beneath you, don’t you?” “But these days, what’s pride worth?” Just then, Mr. Quinn, the person I was meeting, walked over. He offered his hand. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Evans.” I ignored Skyler and shook his hand with a smile. “Mr. Quinn, let’s talk inside. There’s a bit of noise out here.” “Of course.” Skyler stared in disbelief. As I turned to enter the private room with Mr. Quinn, I heard Dax say loudly: “Looks like Carter scheduled a meeting with a headhunter. Still job‑hunting, huh?” The next moment, Skyler stepped in front of me. She smirked. “Carter, you’ve really grown a spine, huh? You’d rather scrape for jobs than ask me for help?” “But let me remind you—given your track record, I’ve already talked to every firm in town. No one will hire you.” “Starting to regret it now?” She looked at me with a half‑smile, waiting for me to fold. But she was wrong. Skyler’s influence wasn’t enough to threaten me. And because of my departure, she’d let Dax take over all major projects, pushing the company to the brink of collapse. She had no idea. I said calmly: “Skyler, confidence is good. I hope you keep that attitude when your company goes bankrupt and gets acquired.” “You—!” Skyler was about to snap, but instead she turned to Mr. Quinn. She shoved a business card into his hand. Arrogantly, she said: “Skyler Vance, CEO of McAsh Group. Carter is a former employee of mine—fired for misconduct.” “I’d advise your firm to be careful.” With that, she glanced at me, linked arms with Dax, and strode off. Mr. Quinn frowned at the card, then looked at me. “This…” “Just clowns. Let’s talk inside.” I smiled slightly. Mr. Quinn tossed the card into a trash can. Inside, we discussed acquiring Skyler’s company. We’d capitalize on McAsh Group’s project failures and buy it at a low price. Mr. Quinn handed me the current staff list, asking me to help optimize it. I knew everyone’s capabilities and conduct intimately, and promised a plan soon. After the meeting, I headed home. But as soon as I stepped inside, I saw Skyler on my couch. Crossing her legs, she glared coldly. I frowned. “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the door. Then I remembered I hadn’t deleted her fingerprint after the breakup. Skyler didn’t answer, just said coldly: “Who told you my company was going bankrupt?” I was changing my shoes and ignored her. Skyler’s face darkened further. “You got your wish. The company collapsed.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised Mr. Quinn had moved so fast. Mentioned at noon, done by afternoon. Skyler went on: “Carter, I don’t know how you got that tip‑off.” “But don’t celebrate too soon.” “The firm acquiring us is a major player. They’ll handle the project issues.” “I’ll still be in management.” I made myself tea, unsurprised. Of course I knew. My optimization list wasn’t final yet, so existing staff were temporarily retained. “And?” I asked flatly. Skyler stared intently. “Hand over your client portfolio to Dax, and I’ll arrange a manager role for you in the new company.” “You know with the parent company’s backing, McAsh will be stronger than ever.” “A manager title is a generous offer.” I almost laughed. She said it so righteously, as if granting me a favor. But I knew the truth: after the acquisition, Mr. Quinn had circulated the development plan I’d drafted. One key point: roles would be based on merit under my leadership. Skyler just wanted to use my contacts to boost Dax into a VP role. Her love for Dax ran deep. Too bad she’d backed the wrong horse. “Skyler, you’re naive.” My words darkened her face. She stood and stepped toward me. Her gaze was piercing. “Carter, I know you’re jealous of Dax.” “You’re upset I changed, that I treat him so well.” “But get this—our statuses are different now. I’m the boss. The capitalist.” “And you? You work for me. A boyfriend like you hasn’t been on my level for a long time.” “But Dax… he brings me freshness. The joy of being a woman. You can’t compare.” Skyler looked at me deeply, her voice oddly soft. “I’ll give you one night to decide.” With that, she turned and left. I shook my head, annoyed. I deleted her fingerprint immediately, then opened my laptop and sent the layoff list for the next day. The following morning, I started at the company officially. As I entered, colleagues were buzzing about the acquisition. Skyler was painting a rosy picture as usual. Saying she’d remain in management, and if everyone worked hard, things would stay the same. Until someone noticed me. Her eyes lit up. She walked over, sounding like she’d expected me. “Changed your mind? Ready to hand over the client list to Dax?”

I laughed and shook my head. Skyler’s face fell. Before she could speak, Dax smiled and said: “Carter, why the act?” “If you weren’t handing over the contacts, why come?” “Don’t tell me you’re here to work.” The other colleagues chuckled. I raised an eyebrow. “Actually, I am here to work.” That drew louder laughs, fingers pointing. “Work? He’s probably job‑hunting, thinks he can sneak in after the acquisition!” “Dream on.” “Carter, what about that overseas offer? Applying here now? Hilarious!” I was about to reply when Skyler cut in, her expression dark. “Carter, when will you drop the act!” “I told you—give Dax the contacts, and I was giving you a chance. Still being stubborn?” “Didn’t you hear me yesterday? Do you really want to stay unemployed?” I shook my head, almost pitying her. “Skyler, you’re the one about to be unemployed. You should plan ahead.” Skyler looked at me and burst into mocking laughter. “Listen to him! Has he lost it? Telling me to plan ahead?” “What, I’m the former CEO. You think you can fire me?” “Carter, I bet that with me here, you won’t even get a janitor role—” Just then, two people entered through the main doors. It was the team Mr. Quinn from headquarters had sent to help me restructure. Skyler recognized them. Her expression shifted, and she forced a smile as she approached. “Mr. Higgins, you’re here. Has the new CEO arrived? I should greet him.” Mr. Higgins glanced at her, said nothing, walked straight to me, and gave a respectful nod. Then he announced to everyone: “This is our new CEO, Mr. Evans!” For a moment, Skyler’s smile froze. She asked, strained: “Mr. Higgins, you’re joking, right?” “This… Carter is a washed‑up nobody. How could he—” Suddenly, Mr. Higgins pulled out the layoff list I’d drafted the day before and thrust it toward her. Pointing at her and Dax, he said coldly: “You’re both terminated. Pack your things and leave. Now.”

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My employees dragged my name through the mud online, calling me a cheapskate for only giving out $1,000 gift cards for Christmas. But that $1,000 gift card was their own choice, determined by a vote. What I had originally prepared was a $10,000 Hermès bag for each of them. Now, the entire internet was calling me stingy. I smiled and sent out a company-wide announcement: “Respecting the democratic decision, the Christmas bonus will officially be $1,000 gift cards. The surprise is canceled.” The moment the announcement went out, AstraCorp blew up— Because the Hermès order confirmation was now being frantically shared in every WhatsApp group. A week before Christmas, Monday morning meeting. I stood at the front of the conference room, looking at the room full of employees, and decided to set the stage early. “This Christmas, the company has prepared a special surprise for everyone.” I paused deliberately. “It’s a secret for now, but I promise, this will be the most thoughtful Christmas gift you’ve ever received.” A buzz of curious discussion rose from the audience. Chloe, a new employee, her eyes brightened, but she immediately whispered to Mark next to her: “A surprise? It’s not going to be our own products again, is it? I gave last year’s custom thermal mug to my dad.” Mark, a five-year veteran at AstraCorp, chuckled. “The boss loves this kind of thing. It’d be more practical to just give us cash.” The next day, the buzz in the breakroom shifted. Chloe held up her phone, her voice clear enough for the entire open-plan office to hear: “Look! Our competitor is giving out $2,000 Amazon gift cards this year! The company downstairs is giving out cash directly!” She sighed. “Our company isn’t small either. ‘Surprise, surprise,’ who knows if it’ll actually be surprising?” A few young employees gathered around to look, envy etched on their faces. “If only we could get gift cards, then we could buy whatever we want.” “Exactly, what if I don’t like it?” By the afternoon, Chloe knocked on my office door. Behind her were Mark, and three or four department representatives. “Boss,” Chloe smiled sweetly, “we all discussed it, and we have a small suggestion.” Mark took over, his expression earnest: “Boss, we know you put a lot of thought into it, but everyone’s giving out gift cards this year. Should we perhaps go with the general sentiment?” I scanned each of them. “The surprise I prepared is worth far more than a gift card.” “But boss,” Chloe blinked, “Gift cards are the most practical. Everyone can buy whatever they want for their families. That’s true freedom.” Another employee chimed in, “Yeah, boss, the surprise is your good intention, but what if someone doesn’t like it? It’s better to let everyone choose for themselves.” They all looked at me with expectant eyes. I paused for a few seconds, then nodded. “Alright. Since this is everyone’s wish, then this year we’ll switch to gift cards.” “$1,000 for each person, to be distributed before Christmas.” Cheers erupted, almost shaking the building. Chloe shot Mark a triumphant glance. They had won.

After the announcement about switching to gift cards was sent out, the company was jubilant. The SnapChat group was flooded with “Boss is wise!” and “Thank you, boss!” I instructed my assistant, Sarah, to cancel the Hermès order. The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon. Sarah was rushing through the office, documents in her arms, when a delivery confirmation slip slid out of her folder. She didn’t notice and walked straight into the conference room. The paper fluttered to Chloe’s feet. She bent down to pick it up, intending to return it to Sarah, but her gaze fixated on the paper— Hermès Official Order Confirmation Item: Birkin 25 Leather Handbag x 230 Ordered by: AstraCorp Total Amount: $2,300,000 Notes: Christmas employee gift box, greeting cards to be imprinted with “Thank you for being with us.” Chloe’s hands began to tremble. She mechanically looked up and saw Mark walking over. “What’s wrong, Chloe?” “Mark.” Her voice was trembling. “Look at this.” Mark took the receipt, his eyes instantly wide. He sucked in a sharp breath and read the amount twice more. “Over two hundred Birkins? About ten thousand dollars each?” His voice was barely a whisper. The number exploded like a bomb in both their minds. They had exchanged a $10,000 bag for a $1,000 gift card. Chloe suddenly snatched the receipt back and pulled out her phone to take a picture. “What are you doing?” Mark asked urgently. “Posting it in the group!” Chloe’s fingers were shaking. “Let everyone see! We’ve been tricked!” “Wait—” But it was too late. The photo was dropped into the company’s 200-person main SnapChat group. Along with Chloe’s question: 【@Boss What is this? The “surprise” you prepared, was it this?】 The group fell silent for a full minute. Then, it exploded. 【Hermès Birkin???】 【One for each person???】 【So this is what we were originally going to get???】 【I traded a $10,000 bag for $1,000???】 Questions, shock, regret, and anger flooded the screen like a tsunami. Mark’s phone started vibrating wildly as private messages poured in: “Mark! Is this real?” “Why didn’t you say the surprise was this?!” “Can we still switch back now?” Mark watched the chaos in the group, and a thought suddenly sparked in his mind. He private messaged Chloe: 【We can’t just let this slide.】 【We need to get the bags back.】 Chloe replied instantly: 【How? We’re the ones who asked for the switch.】 Mark typed quickly: 【We’ll say the boss deliberately misled us! If he’d been clear it was Hermès, who would’ve chosen $1,000?】 【This is fraud!】

That night, small discussions began to appear in industry forums. An anonymous account posted: “Gossip time: a tech company boss played mind games, giving employees a choice between two Christmas benefits. He deliberately didn’t mention option A was Hermès, misleading employees into choosing option B, a $1,000 gift card. Now the employees are furious.” Someone in the comments asked: “Is this for real? Hermès as an employee benefit?” The original poster replied: “Got the order confirmation as proof, but the boss says since they chose B, they can’t change it. He’s incredibly cheap.” This post was forwarded to a private company SnapChat group. Chloe watched the rising number of likes and said in the group: 【We need to stand united. One person complaining won’t do anything; if we all do it together, the boss has to give us an explanation.】 Mark immediately agreed: 【Exactly! This is the boss’s trick! He deliberately wasn’t clear because he didn’t want to give out the expensive one!】 Someone timidly asked: 【But, we’re the ones who asked for the switch.】 Chloe immediately replied: 【That’s because we didn’t know what the options were! This is fraud through unequal information!】 【If we’d known it was Hermès, who would’ve chosen $1,000? Is that fair?】 Emotions flared. Regret and greed festered, turning into anger. The next morning, a jointly signed petition from over a dozen employees lay on my desk. It demanded a “fair re-selection of benefits” and “compensation for emotional distress caused by lack of transparency.” I looked at the familiar signatures on the petition— The intern whose rent I paid for half a year. The single mother I specially approved to bring her child to work. The technical backbone who always said he’d “work with the boss for a lifetime.” I pushed the petition aside. “Inform everyone: the benefit plan has been democratically decided and will not change.” When the news spread, the company erupted. Chloe directly filed a complaint with the labor union, crying about “corporate fraud against employees.” Mark, meanwhile, started sending private messages to peers, partners, and investors: “The boss might have funding issues, otherwise why would he go back on his word?” “I heard they’ve been delaying payments to suppliers for a while.” “They can’t even afford Christmas benefits, is the company going under?” Rumors spread like a virus. In the afternoon, three partners called to inquire about the situation. That evening, a screenshot of a chat log circulated within the industry— “AstraCorp’s capital chain is broken, Christmas benefits shrink to $1,000, employees protest en masse.” The source of the screenshot was shown to be an internal company email.

On the third day of the fallout, I received a call from Michael, Executive Vice President of Okovia Group, our largest client. His voice was as cold as ice: “Alex, I’m hearing some disturbing rumors.” “Our collaboration for the next quarter is based on the premise of your company’s stable operation.” “Now, the industry is buzzing that you have financial issues and widespread employee protests.” I tried to explain: “Michael, this is just a small misunderstanding regarding a benefit plan.” “Misunderstanding?” Michael cut me off. “My inbox received five anonymous tips, all from your employees.” “One of them even included your company’s cash flow analysis for the past three months—internal data, Alex.” My heart sank. Someone had leaked financial data. “I’m giving you 24 hours,” Michael said. “If by this time tomorrow, I don’t see your genuine commitment and a plan to completely resolve this issue—” He paused. “We’ll initiate the process of replacing vendors.” The call ended. I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the scattered media vehicles gathering downstairs. Sarah cautiously knocked and entered: “Boss, two more media outlets are requesting interviews. Also, Chloe and Mark are here with over a dozen people, saying they want to see you.” “Let them in.” The door was pushed open, with Chloe leading, Mark following, and a dozen or so flushed employees behind them. Chloe showed me her phone screen— It displayed her live stream data: 120,000 viewers online. “Boss,” her voice was shrill, “the whole internet knows how you ‘defrauded’ your employees now.” “Our demands are simple: either distribute the Hermès bags as originally planned, or compensate the difference—$9,000 per person.” Mark feigned a sympathetic tone: “Boss, everyone isn’t unreasonable. But your actions were indeed not ethical. Now that it’s blown up, it’s not good for the company’s image. Why not compromise?” I looked at them. At those whom I had helped, trusted, and considered my comrades. Their faces were etched with greed. “What if I say no?” I asked calmly. Chloe smiled. She tapped another screen on her phone— It showed fragments of our core product’s design source code, redacted and posted on a tech forum. The poster was anonymous, but the title read: “AstraCorp Core Code Leaked, Company May Face Bankruptcy.” “Then maybe tomorrow, it won’t just be fragments that are leaked,” she said softly. “Boss, what do you think? Are a few dozen bags more expensive, or is the company going bankrupt?” The office fell into a deathly silence. I slowly stood up and walked to the window. Then I turned around, looking at each of them: “Inform everyone: tomorrow morning at nine, in the main conference room.” “I will provide the final solution.” Chloe’s face flashed with a victorious smile. They thought I had caved. After the crowd dispersed, I called in the legal and IT department heads. “I want to see a complete chain of evidence before tomorrow’s meeting.” My voice was devoid of warmth. “You know what to do.” I gave them diamonds, but they threw them away like worthless trinkets. And after throwing them away, now they want to snatch the diamonds back. Fine. Then I’ll show you. You don’t even deserve the glass beads.

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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.

My brother and I woke up, back on the day our parents divorced. In my past life, my brother chose our mom, a corporate executive, abandoning our dad, a painter lost in his art. Mom, after remarrying, poured all her energy into her new family, treating him with extreme strictness and coldness. But the dad he abandoned unexpectedly awakened a “Predictive Investment System” and became a legend in the investment world. Jasper spent his adolescence in loneliness and suppression. When he saw me on TV, living a privileged life as Dad accumulated wealth and fame, his heart filled with regret. Eventually, he rammed his car into me. When I opened my eyes again, Jasper was already grasping Dad’s hand. “You’ve had your good life already; this time, it’s my turn.” He looked at me, a smug smile playing on his lips. But he didn’t know that the so-called investment system was both a gift and a massive trap. When I opened my eyes, my mom, Eleanor, was pointing at Dad, Arthur, and scolding him sharply. “Arthur! You good-for-nothing, broke waste of space! I slave away to provide for this family, and you dare cheat on me!” A shattered glass flew past my eyes. Before I could even react, someone beside me moved faster. “Mom! How can you say that about Dad! Dad sacrificed so much for his art, and if you weren’t constantly obsessed with work, completely ignoring this family, he wouldn’t have felt so lonely!” My brother, Jasper, shielded Dad, his handsome face flushed with indignation. “This is unbelievable!” Eleanor froze for two seconds before snapping out of her shock. She reached out in annoyance to pull Jasper, but he violently shook her off. “Don’t touch me! I’m staying with Dad!” Eleanor looked at him in disbelief, unable to comprehend why her usually obedient younger son would suddenly twist the truth and spout such nonsense. In the chaos, only I caught the fleeting, sly glint in Jasper’s eyes. Just that one look, and I understood—Jasper and I had both been reborn, returning to this critical fork in our destiny. In my past life, the scene was exactly the same. Eleanor was a high-earning corporate executive, constantly busy with her career. Arthur was a struggling artist, dedicated to his so-called art, yet unable to earn a single penny. He believed others simply didn’t appreciate his talent, so he gradually grew close to a woman who did. They met frequently under the guise of discussing creative projects, until one day Eleanor, who came home early, caught them. Eleanor was furious and immediately demanded a divorce. Back then, Jasper, eyeing Mom’s financial strength and social status, unhesitatingly chose to go with her. But he never imagined that on the night of the divorce, Dad would unexpectedly acquire the “Predictive Investment System,” capable of foreseeing stock market trends. With this ability, Dad quickly amassed astonishing wealth through stock trading, becoming known in the industry as the “Midas Touch.” And as his son, I naturally lived a privileged life, receiving the best education. In contrast, Jasper, after choosing Mom, did not find the care and freedom he expected. Eleanor soon remarried, investing most of her energy into her new family, strictly disciplining him but lacking warmth. His stepsister, Brooke, brought by his stepfather, had a strong personality and constantly clashed with him. He grew up feeling suppressed. Eventually, while wandering the streets, he saw me, celebrated and thriving at an international forum on a giant mall screen. Jealousy and regret consumed him, leading him to choose the most extreme path. I just never expected that, upon reopening my eyes, we’d both be back at this starting point. This time, due to Jasper’s persistence and uproar, Eleanor ultimately relinquished custody of him, choosing me instead. But Eleanor still felt more for her younger son. Dad, who in the previous life had left with virtually nothing, was now able to keep our spacious old house because of Jasper’s choice. Watching me quietly pack my belongings, Jasper’s face displayed unconcealed triumph. “Aria, if things don’t work out for you later, come back and beg me. Maybe I’ll throw you a bone.” I merely smiled at his words, amused by his continued naivety. He thought that by choosing the “System”-bound Dad first, he held the winning hand. He didn’t know that easy success doesn’t exist in this world. Any gift received without effort always comes with a hidden price. That seemingly unbeatable card, without the matching skill and mindset, can lead straight to ruin when played alone.

Mom and I moved into a small apartment near my school. People often say it’s easy to get used to luxury, but hard to give it up. Moving from a spacious detached house to such a cramped space, Eleanor indeed found it difficult to adjust. But deep down, she knew that if it weren’t for her favoritism towards Jasper, unwilling to let him suffer even a little, it wouldn’t be us who had to move out. “Aria, don’t worry. Once this big project is done, I’ll definitely get you a bigger place.” When she noticed my clothes and shoes no longer fit into the tiny closet, her tone was filled with clear apology. But I actually didn’t care much about these things. In my past life, after Dad’s “Predictive Investment System” was fully activated and wealth rapidly accumulated, invitations to social events and collaboration opportunities poured in. I quickly moved into a more upscale neighborhood and owned many expensive possessions. I didn’t have to devote all my energy to college applications and standardized tests like most of my peers. Because with Dad’s investment foresight, which seemed to predict the market, a brief investment seminar could earn more than an average working-class family made in a year. In the eyes of others, my life was enviable, like a movie plot. But only I knew that behind this sudden surge of fame and fortune lay immense public pressure and many unspoken rules within that circle. Dad had always lacked patience for running actual businesses. After gaining immense wealth from the system, he became even lazier, refusing to learn any solid asset management or business acumen. However, wealth growth isn’t limitless. Even with that almost predictive investment intuition, his increasingly casual spending and lack of long-term planning gradually eroded his partners’ confidence. People criticized him as merely a lucky speculator, no longer willing to engage in long-term collaborations that required trust. Most of those who had once gathered around him, calling him brother, were merely opportunists chasing profit, never genuinely caring. Seeing the tides turn, they quickly distanced themselves, disappearing without a trace. Desperate, he tried to force the core mechanics of the “Predictive Investment System” onto me, wanting me to be his puppet. To completely control me, he ignored my wishes, made me drop out of high school in my senior year, and then arranged for me to attend various social galas with unclear purposes. Finally, he pushed me into the bed of a wealthy man with particular tastes, taking photos to threaten me: “If you don’t do as I say, I’ll make these public.” During that time, I was physically and mentally exhausted, once on the verge of collapse. It was in those bleak days that I fully understood: every seemingly generous gift from fate always comes with a steep price attached. This time, I didn’t want those gifts that fell from the sky, yet came with invisible chains. I wanted to stand on my own two feet, rely on my own efforts, and firmly control my own life. I created a strict study plan for myself. Thanks to Mom’s lingering guilt, this time I didn’t have to worry about basic living expenses. I used the allowance she provided to enroll in several one-on-one private tutoring sessions. Like a knight on a grueling quest, I strictly followed my daily schedule, shuttling between home, school, and the tutoring center. These days were tough. During that initial period, I’d come home every day with my brain blank from overexertion, leaving only numb exhaustion. But I knew clearly that, as someone returning to my graduation year, I had far more catching up to do than my classmates. To earn respect and a future through genuine knowledge and skill, I had to put in several times more effort than others. Hard work pays off. With the guidance of my tutors and my own full dedication, my grades steadily climbed from the bottom of the rankings. Meanwhile, Dad, just like in my past life, quickly amassed unimaginable wealth due to his sharp investment foresight, and was suddenly highly sought after by many investment banks. When Jasper reappeared at school, he was clearly the most sought-after center of attention in the crowd. “What’s the point of studying so much? What you’ll earn working later might not even be a fraction of what I make from one investment right now.” Facing the envious glances and flattery from classmates, Jasper wore a casual smile, idly flipping through my exercise book, which was covered in annotations and markings. The guy next to him, Noah, immediately chimed in: “Exactly, what does Aria know, she just studies all the time? After all that studying, she’ll still end up working for some boss.” “Our Jasper is different; he’s going to be a rising star in the investment world… I heard that popular actress, Seraphina, is even really close to him lately!” “Don’t be silly, that’s not true!” At the mention of this topic, a deliberately veiled expression of triumph immediately appeared on Jasper’s face. His feigned resistance drew another round of teasing from those around him. A celebrity named Seraphina? My pen, mid-sentence, paused almost imperceptibly. If I wasn’t mistaken, they were talking about Seraphina, the actress whose career had been skyrocketing in recent years. In my past life, she was known for her low-key professionalism, yet she showed an unusual understanding and concern for my situation. On social media, discussions about us were quite heated, with even subtle interactions sparking widespread fan speculation. Perhaps driven by a competitive impulse directed at me, this time around, as soon as Jasper gained a little fame, he actively sought her out. And, unsurprisingly, photos of them appearing together at private events began to circulate online. “Aria, seeing someone who used to only have eyes for you now getting closer to me, doesn’t that sting a little?”

Jasper leaned into my ear, his voice a low, malicious whisper. Looking at my neat homework on the desk, he seemed to deliberately pick a fight, suddenly grabbing my pen-holding hand and scribbling several crooked, paper-damaging lines across my notebook. They say there’s a limit to how much a person can take. Especially when he just ruined homework that I had spent over two hours carefully completing. I abruptly snatched the water cup from my desk, and with my other hand, quickly grabbed the front of his shirt. Amidst his surprised yelp, I splashed the entire cup of water right in his face. “Aria! You’re dead!” He froze for a second, drenched, then erupted in a furious rage, lunging at me like a wild animal. But as he came at me, my hand, already prepared and surging with power, grabbed his wrist and yanked him back hard. “You’re the one who’s dead. Do that again, and I’ll deal with your dad too.” Under my merciless grip, he grimaced in pain. The intense pain sobered him slightly. He didn’t recklessly charge forward again; instead, he recoiled a couple of steps, his eyes filled with venomous resentment. “You just wait… you’ll get what’s coming to you!” … Jasper’s “comeuppance” arrived sooner than expected. Returning home from school that evening, I found a visitor on the living room sofa. “Aria, come meet Uncle Richard.” Eleanor stood up a bit awkwardly, her introductory tone a little dry. I looked at the sofa. It was a man with a composed demeanor, dressed impeccably but not ostentatiously. He was also the formidable individual Jasper had mentioned in my past life, the one who eventually forced him out of the house. I’d once heard Dad proudly mention that the first time Eleanor introduced Uncle Richard to Jasper, Jasper threw a huge tantrum and went on a hunger strike for days. He smashed quite a few things in the house, pointing his finger at Uncle Richard and yelling: “You, a man remarrying with baggage, you’re not even fit to tie my dad’s shoes! What right do you have to step into our home!” At that time, Dad was at the peak of his fame, a media darling. Jasper, on one hand, regretted his initial choice; on the other, he looked down on Uncle Richard’s simple lifestyle and complained that Eleanor couldn’t provide him with the same prestige and lavish lifestyle as Dad. But before he could finish his rant, a solid punch landed on his face. Brooke, Uncle Richard’s daughter, stood emotionless in the doorway, her gaze as cold as a frozen lake. Ultimately, Eleanor still chose to be with Uncle Richard. And because of that terrible first meeting, Jasper and Brooke’s family became sworn enemies. Now, looking at the man before me, who offered a gentle smile, and the girl behind him, with a calm expression and a hint of scrutiny in her eyes, I extended my hand. “Hello, Uncle Richard, I’m Aria.” Brooke’s gaze shifted slightly, her previously distant scrutiny softening a little. Eleanor visibly relaxed, a relieved smile spreading across her face. “Aria is so much more sensible than her brother. If Jasper were here, who knows what kind of scene he’d make.” Sensible? I maintained a polite, shallow smile. If given the choice, what child would willingly share their parents’ affection and family resources? Jasper naturally understood this, which was why he gloated and taunted me at school. He believed I would, like him in the past life, clash endlessly with Brooke and her dad, ultimately ending up with nothing. However, what he never knew was that Uncle Richard was the head of a national research project. Though his life was simple, his social standing and network were exceptional. Objectively speaking, when it came to his marriage with Eleanor, perhaps we were the ones who benefited more. Jasper never cared about the academic world, so he had never witnessed Uncle Richard’s brilliance at professional forums. Of course, even if he knew, he probably wouldn’t care. Because his criteria for judging people always remained fixated on outward show and flashy clothes. So, while he wished Uncle Richard would leave quickly, not wanting him to touch “his” interests. I, on the other hand, was thinking about how to absorb knowledge from Uncle Richard, understand the wider world, and build my own undeniable value through genuine learning and ability. That evening, I went to the kitchen for a glass of water. As I passed the hallway corner, I was abruptly pulled into the shadows beside it by an unseen force. Moonlight streamed in through the window, outlining a face with sharp features, and a cool, keen edge in her eyes. “Aria,” her voice was a low whisper, her gaze fixed on me, “I don’t care what you’re thinking, but you’d better not have any designs on my dad.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. Brooke, the person Jasper feared most. She was my age, yet already someone no one dared to cross at school. She marched to the beat of her own drum, with a formidable personality, and thanks to her natural talent, even the guys couldn’t beat her. In my past life, when Jasper first tried to sow discord with Uncle Richard, Brooke simply stepped forward and beat him up. Because her usual tricks of pouting and whining were completely ineffective against Brooke, Jasper feared her terribly. Even after being thrown out of the house later, it was with a ‘scorched earth’ mentality that he orchestrated a trap to have her sent to juvenile detention. Yet, this was also the person who, during my most vulnerable moments, appeared like a ray of light and protected me. This time, I didn’t want to be her enemy. “Brooke.” I looked at the girl’s stern face before me and suddenly smiled. “Do you want to keep solving problems with your fists?” Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and even the smooth lines of her arm muscles tensed slightly. No one had ever dared to bring that up directly in front of her. Everyone knew that Uncle Richard, a renowned scholar, hoped his daughter would focus on her studies and inherit his legacy in the future. However, Brooke had absolutely no interest in academics. She was straightforward and hated roundabout empty talk and tactics. In my past life, Jasper had exploited this very trait, orchestrating a trap that landed her in serious trouble. Yet now, facing her scrutinizing and defensive gaze, I simply pulled a flyer from my pocket. “If you don’t want to keep going like this, maybe this place is worth a try.” The flyer was for a fencing club’s enrollment. Even before Uncle Richard came to our house, I had already thought about how to guide Brooke onto a different path. The respect she commanded at school wasn’t just due to her intimidating aura; it was more her exceptional athletic talent. She was tall, with long arms, and her reaction speed and explosive power far surpassed ordinary people. These two qualities were precisely what fencing needed most. Jasper saw Brooke as an untamable beast who only used violence to solve problems, so he could only feel fear, ultimately leading to mutual destruction. But I was never afraid of a challenge. To me, you can find the right way to guide any beast, and you can unlock its true potential. The moonlight was cold and clear. Brooke simply stared at me intently. After a long while, she took the flyer, turned, and left. A faint “Thank you” drifted back to me. The results for the school competition team selection were finally out. With the help of my tutors and my own full dedication, I successfully made the team. On the day the results were announced, many classmates came to congratulate me. “Aria, good luck with the competition! When you get a good ranking, don’t forget to treat us!” “If you ask me, you’re the real role model here! What you earn with genuine ability is far more reliable than all that flashy nonsense!” Amidst the chorus of congratulations, only Jasper in the corner looked displeased. Unlike my smooth progress, he hadn’t had it easy lately. Initially, after discovering Dad’s system and rapid rise to fame, he indeed indulged in the adulation of the crowd. But gradually, the troubles brought by immense public attention began to surface. First were the work arrangements. Dad, inherently clueless about business operations, had relied on others his whole life. After getting the system, he became even more engrossed in various superficial social events and indulgences. Choosing work invitations and handling business collaborations ultimately all fell on Jasper. Jasper had initially thought he could ride Dad’s coattails to skyrocket to success. Instead, he ended up transforming from his family’s pampered son into an assistant constantly cleaning up his father’s messes. He was exhausted and constantly busy, following Dad around, dealing with all sorts of trivial matters, and managing media reports of Dad flitting between different women. But even so, the situation didn’t improve. A public figure’s life is magnified infinitely. Besides paparazzi photos, even more devastating was Dad’s truly deplorable knowledge base and cultural literacy. In my past life, with me there to promptly remind him or smooth things over, many issues were barely glossed over. But now, Jasper himself was someone who disliked studying and couldn’t settle down to learn. During an art interview, the host asked Dad to offer a blessing to students about to enter university. Jasper hastily searched online for some quotes, but Dad mangled a historical allusion, making a huge joke of himself. Dad, feeling humiliated backstage, slapped Jasper hard across the face on the spot. “If only I’d brought Aria along instead, this embarrassment would never have happened!” He pointed his finger at Jasper, scolding him fiercely. But he clearly still didn’t want to give up the attention and benefits he’d gained. So Dad ultimately made the same decision as in the past life—he transferred the system to Jasper. “Aria, did you know this would happen all along?” As I packed my bag, only he and I were left in the classroom. I turned, looking at his furious face, and found it somewhat laughable. “Haven’t you already gotten what you wanted most?” My tone was calm, and I watched the expression on his face slowly stiffen. Of course, I knew why Jasper, despite having the system, was so restless and anxious. Because the “Predictive Investment System” was nothing like he imagined.

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The day Chloe and I agreed to move to the same city, I never showed up. She probably still can’t figure out what happened. I just went back to my hometown to pack, and suddenly I was gone, completely off the grid. A few days later, I finally called Chloe. The moment she picked up, her voice was sharp with accusation: “Leo, are you trying to ghost me?” I glanced at the stark, cold walls around me and forced out words I didn’t mean. “Yeah, that’s right. I’m heading overseas for a better life.” “Let’s just… not contact each other anymore.” Five years later, I was running a small stall at a night market in a popular tourist spot, just trying to make ends meet. I customized handmade leather goods for tourists and sold little wooden carvings I’d made myself. One evening, a light rain started to fall. Ben, the guy at the stall next to mine, packed up his things and called out, “Leo, it’s raining, aren’t you going home?” I shook my head, a bitter taste in my mouth. I hadn’t sold anything all day, and I just didn’t want to go back to an empty apartment. Ben tried to coax me. “Buddy, this isn’t how you make money. You haven’t eaten all day. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Just as he finished speaking, two people stopped in front of my stall—a couple. “Hey, how much for this wallet?” The man casually picked one up, examining it. I instinctively lowered my gaze, wiped down the display, and eagerly introduced, “Basic cowhide is $20. For the vegetable-tanned leather, it’s $30. If your girlfriend likes it, I can even throw in a handmade wooden carving. I made them all myself.” The man didn’t even look at me. He just pointed to a classic design. “Just this one. Forget the carving. I’m not interested in street vendor stuff.” The woman beside him held an umbrella over his head, her voice full of playful scolding. “Only you would think to wander through a night market in the rain.” My hand, which was reaching for the leather, froze. It had been a long time since I’d heard that voice, but I knew I’d never forget it. Not even if I lived a hundred years. It was Chloe. I sneaked a quick glance and finally saw her. She was thinner, even more beautiful. The awkwardness of her student days was gone, replaced by a confident, polished air. In that instant, my heart felt like a leaf ripped from its branch by a wild storm, spiraling aimlessly, utterly lost. I mechanically grabbed my tools, burying my head to steady my racing thoughts, and started working on the leather edges. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe pull up a chair and sit down, her arm still raised, holding the umbrella for him. I instantly remembered college, how she’d always wait for me downstairs at the library when it rained, always tilting the umbrella to cover me more. But that favoritism, that special care, no longer belonged to me. Now, she stood beside another man, sheltering him, her eyes completely focused on him. “Wait, don’t bother.” The man suddenly tossed the wallet back onto the stall, a frown on his face. My thoughts snapped back to reality. I asked, flustered, “Miss, is it… is it not the style you like?” He shook his head, his voice laced with disdain. “The edges of this leather are so rough, and there are scratches. How can you even run a stall with workmanship like this?” That’s when I noticed my own rough hands. Years of woodworking and handling leather had left my fingers and the web between my thumb and forefinger covered in calluses and tiny scars. In that moment, my face burned, and my chest tightened with shame. Chloe, beside him, suddenly chuckled and patted his shoulder, pulling her wallet from her bag. “Forget it. Just take the money. Let’s go.” She finally looked at me. That look made her hand, mid-reach for cash, freeze. I watched her expression slowly turn rigid, even the muscles in her face subtly twitching. Those eyes, once so gentle and captivating, slowly filled with a complex mix of emotions—shock, confusion, and finally, pure hatred. The man pulled out a tissue and wiped his hands, then turned to her. “What’s wrong? You know him?” She suddenly laughed. She pulled out a few extra bills from her wallet and threw them all at me. “No, I don’t. He just looks pathetic.” “Consider it charity for a beggar. Let’s go.” Those two sentences pierced me like sharp hooks, digging deeper and deeper into my heart. She recognized me. Right when I was at my lowest.

Chloe didn’t know that my lowest point wasn’t now. The year we graduated, we’d planned to move to the same city. Before leaving, I had to go back to my hometown to pack. But the moment I walked through the door, I saw a scene straight out of a nightmare. My stepfather was pinning my mother down, one hand on her head, the other viciously swinging a fist. Seeing me enter didn’t make him stop; if anything, he hit her harder. “You worthless hag! You’re just as filthy as your son! You live off my dime, drink my liquor, and now you won’t even serve me? I’ll beat you to death!” My mother’s screams and my stepfather’s curses blended together, assaulting every nerve in my body. I couldn’t take it anymore. I lunged forward and shoved him away. But I was no match for him. In just a few seconds, he was back on his feet and punched me. Mom struggled up and grabbed his leg. “Please, stop! He’ll make money in the future!” The mention of money only enraged the brute more. He broke free from my mother, then grabbed me by the throat. In that moment, I felt like I was going to die. As despair closed in, my hand found a fruit knife on the table. Without thinking, I plunged it into his chest. Barely in my twenties, I suddenly had a death on my hands. On the day I waited for my sentence, I called Chloe. Her first words were an accusation, asking why I was so heartless. I wiped away the tears that had already streamed down my face and, for the first time, spoke to her with contempt. “Chloe, to be honest, I’m going abroad in a couple of days to live a good life.” “Only a fool would stay with a poor student like you.” Those cruel, forced words, meant to devastate the then-penniless Chloe, made my whole body tremble. Her voice shaky, she warned me not to regret it, and we never spoke again. Later, I was sentenced to five years for manslaughter. My mother took her own life a week after my sentencing. From that day on, I lost not only my mother but also my freedom. I regretted it, but it was too late. Chloe was wonderful, irreplaceable by anyone in the world. And the castle I had spent over twenty years building inside myself had crumbled. I wasn’t worthy of her. Not anymore. After I got out of prison, no company would hire me. I finally managed to find a delivery job. But when my criminal record was discovered, my usually kind boss suddenly turned cold. “You kid, do you know how much trouble you’ll get me into if the company finds out? Get out! Get far away!” Who would have thought that I, a graduate of a prestigious university, wouldn’t even qualify to be a delivery driver? After that, I could only rely on the woodworking and leather craft skills I’d learned in prison, doing odd jobs, barely getting by. The money Chloe threw at me today was almost my entire month’s income. But I didn’t want to keep it. That money, hitting my body, felt worse than a slap to the face. Before bed, I got a call from Sam, my college roommate. He was the only friend I’d kept in touch with after my release. “Leo, I’ve invited Chloe to my wedding next month. My dad has a business deal with her, so I couldn’t really avoid it.” “But you have to come. We promised each other in college.” I tidied up the money I hadn’t managed to refuse earlier and replied calmly, “It’s fine. I have something to return to her anyway.” Once it’s returned, maybe I can finally let it go.

Sam’s wedding was held at his dad’s hotel. It was my first time back in this city in over five years. Even though I’d been back in society for six months, I still felt uncomfortable and out of place in crowded areas. “Leo, don’t be so stiff.” Sam patted my shoulder, trying to reassure me. I managed a dry smile and waved him off to attend to his guests. Soon, people started taking their seats. I realized I was at a table with my old college classmates, but no one recognized me. Chloe arrived with that handsome man from the other day. Before they even sat down, they caused quite a stir. “Wow, Chloe looks like she’s about to get married!” She didn’t try to hide it, openly holding hands with the man. Then she glanced in my direction, smiling as she nodded. “That’s right. Everyone’s invited to the wedding when Brandon and I get married.” So his name was Brandon. I lowered my head, wishing I could disappear. All I could do was try to be as inconspicuous as possible. But Brandon saw me. “Hey—aren’t you that guy from the night market the other day?” His words drew countless eyes to me. Finally, someone recognized me. “You’re… Leo! Right?” I nodded faintly, still not lifting my head. The person slapped his thigh. “It really is! But what happened to you? I remember you used to be so sharp, now you look so haggard.” I forced a smile, unsure how to answer. Some of Chloe’s close friends at the table started throwing veiled insults. “Well, well, looks like our brilliant Leo finally got his karma. We hadn’t heard from you in years; we thought you’d vanished in the pandemic.” The words were harsh, but I could bear them. Compared to the abuse I’d suffered in prison, what was this? Besides, this was Sam’s wedding. I couldn’t let him be embarrassed. During dinner, I just focused on the food in front of me. Chloe scoffed, serving Brandon some food while making a sarcastic remark. “Mr. Black, have you been abroad so long you can’t stand local cuisine anymore?” I mindlessly finished my last bite, then gently set down my forks. “Please enjoy your meal, everyone. I have to go.” As I said this, my gaze swept across the room, finding no eyes to meet among the table full of people. I left in a hurry, without saying goodbye to Sam, and without finding a suitable chance to return Chloe’s money. But just as I stepped out of the hotel, someone stopped me. Chloe, somehow, had gotten to the entrance before me. She dragged me to a deserted corner without a word, her face a dark storm cloud, ready to burst. “Leo, what’s your game? You said you were going overseas for a better life. Why are you back now?” My throat tightened. I looked at her, helpless. “They’re right. This is your karma for abandoning me.” “Are you jealous? I’m rich and powerful now, and my boyfriend is handsome and caring.” “Most importantly, he loves me! He wouldn’t just abandon me! You’re the one who got dumped!” A tidal wave of pent-up anger crashed down on me, making it hard to breathe. Just then, Sam rushed out, panting, and stepped in front of me. “Chloe, what are you doing? You know Leo, he…” “Sam!” I quickly cut him off. I pressed the money I’d been carrying into Chloe’s hand, grabbed Sam, and turned to leave. I didn’t want her to know. I wanted it to stay buried forever.

Later that evening, Sam found time to call me. “Leo, don’t stay cooped up in that small tourist spot. Come work at my dad’s hotel.” I felt a mix of daze and unease. “Is that… appropriate? Won’t I cause trouble for you guys?” Sam answered casually, “No big deal. It’s just a temporary maintenance job. You won’t have to be in the public eye often, and it pays better than your stall.” This time, I suddenly wanted to try. On my third day of work, someone was having a birthday party in the main ballroom. It had nothing to do with me, but I was suddenly called down by Mr. Miller, the manager, to help move equipment. When I got to the hall, I realized it was Chloe’s birthday. I’d actually forgotten. Not only were many college classmates there, but also friends she’d made in the city over the past few years. I looked around, trying to find Sam in the crowd. I didn’t want to be seen at this party. “What are you staring at? I didn’t call you down here to gawk!” Mike, the junior manager, shoved a box of liquor into my hands without asking. “Go on, hurry! The main table is waiting for it!” I didn’t have time to refuse before he pushed me. I walked like a zombie, carrying the box through the bustling crowd. Just as I reached the main table, Brandon suddenly turned and bumped my arm. My grip slipped, and the box overturned. With a crash, several bottles shattered, liquor spilling everywhere, splashing onto Brandon’s shoes and pant legs. “Hey, what are you doing?! Watch where you’re going!” “I’m sorry.” I mumbled an apology, fumbling to clean up the glass shards on the floor. Brandon was furious. “What good is ‘sorry’? Do you know how much these pants cost? Clean it up already!” I instinctively glanced at Chloe. She frowned slightly but remained silent. I knew then; she wasn’t going to intervene. “Hurry up, what are you thinking about? Is this how your staff handles mistakes here?” Fine. I pulled out the cloth I always carried and knelt to wipe the spilled liquor from the floor. In that moment, everyone was watching me. Before I even finished, Brandon’s cold chuckle came from above me. “Friends, classmates, many of you here know this guy, right? Does anyone know where he’s been all these years?” My mind exploded. He was doing this on purpose? He asked me in a mocking tone, “Leo, right? Should I help you tell everyone where you were during those missing years?” I understood instantly. Brandon had investigated everything about me. Though I didn’t know why, he was clearly determined to expose me. The room buzzed with whispers, like an annoying swarm of flies. I looked up, meeting Brandon’s triumphant gaze. He looked down at me, smiling maliciously. In that moment, I felt like an animal backed into a corner. And they were all executioners waiting for me to surrender. If I was going to die either way, I’d rather jump myself than be played by them. I stood up, looking at him, at Chloe, at the countless eyes fixed on me. I wouldn’t hide anymore. “No need for you to trouble yourself. I’ll tell everyone myself.” “Years ago, I accidentally killed someone. The time I was gone, I was serving my sentence in prison.” This confession wasn’t for others; it was for myself. I just wanted to live my life honestly. “What did you say?” Chloe shot to her feet, staring at me in disbelief, her eyes burning with a fierce fire.

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