Category: English

Everyone in the company got a $300,000 year-end bonus. Everyone but me. I got three grand. Victor Thorne, my manager, clapped me on the shoulder, a condescending smirk on his face. “Ava, young people shouldn’t focus so much on money. You should value the opportunities for growth this company offers.” I just smiled, nodding, and took the pathetic three thousand dollars. Right then, my contract was expiring, and the company wasn’t renewing it. But I didn’t care. Not one bit. After all, I held the contact list for 108 of the company’s most important clients. 0 Three thousand dollars. I sneered internally as I walked back to my cubicle. It was a corner drowned in files and sticky notes, an ignored island. The air practically hummed with celebration. “Holy crap, $300K! My Hermès bag, here I come!” “Where are we hitting up tonight? Michelin three-star, baby!” “My husband’s telling me to hurry home and pay off the mortgage!” Excited, distorted faces blurred before my eyes. I sat down, my face a mask, feeling like an alien among them. “Hey, Ava, did you get your bonus?” Kyle Miller piped up, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Yeah, I did,” I said calmly. “Companies are laying people off everywhere this year, but ours is so generous!” Kyle continued, oblivious, or perhaps intentionally cruel. “If you’ve got talent, you get a huge bonus! Even the useless ones, the company still gave them three thousand bucks.” A wave of snickers rippled through the office. My knuckles went white as I clenched my fists, but I bit back any response. They continued their revelry, while I just buried my head in my work. Suddenly, the phone on my desk blared, a jarring sound. “Ava, the client’s system crashed again. Get on it, pronto! The boss is fuming.” It was Kyle’s voice, an impatient, demanding tone. This client was notoriously difficult. Anyone who touched them ended up with a headache. “Got it,” I said, a single word, then hung up. Just then, Brenda Lee from HR walked over. “Ava, don’t take it to heart. You’re actually really great.” Brenda was the only one in the company who ever showed me any real concern. “It’s fine, Brenda. Thanks,” I replied. I closed my SnapChat window and clicked open a heavily encrypted folder on my computer’s D drive. Inside was just one document. This document held all my client information. Every single order I’d secured, every single client I’d personally nurtured over the past three years, it was all here. These were the “brilliant achievements” in Victor’s reports, the capital he used to curry favor with Mr. Peterson, the founder. These were also my final trump card. I transferred all these files to my personal USB drive. Then, I wiped them from my computer. In the office, Victor’s voice boomed again, “Drinks are on me tonight, everyone!” Another wave of roaring applause and flattery followed. I sent him a text message: “Can’t make it tonight. Got plans.” 0

The week before my contract expired, Victor was still squeezing every last drop out of me. He called me into his office, leaning back in his executive chair, a sly grin playing on his lips. “Ava, this project is yours.” He pushed a thick folder across the desk towards me. The cover read “Aegis Group Strategic Partnership Proposal.” Aegis Group. Our company’s biggest, most crucial, and most demanding client. I flipped open the proposal. After just two pages, my heart sank. It was an entirely new, incredibly complex customized request. And the client wanted to see the complete first draft within three days. Three days. This wasn’t just impossible; it was a deliberate setup. “Victor, a high-quality proposal can’t be finished in three days.” “Ava.” His smile deepened, laced with meaning. “Challenges are what test you.” He stood up, clapped me on the shoulder, a thinly veiled threat in his voice. “Your contract’s almost up. Your renewal depends on your performance this time.” I took the folder. “I’ll do my best.” When I came out, Kyle immediately sidled up to me, his face alight with schadenfreude. “Ava, congrats! Victor’s really giving you a chance. Work hard, and maybe you’ll actually keep your job.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was loud enough for the entire office to hear. Everyone watched me like it was a show. Pity, mockery, indifference. I knew, deep down, Victor had no intention of renewing my contract. He just wanted to drain every last bit of value from me, then toss me aside like trash. If this project succeeded, the credit would be his. If it failed, the blame would be mine. I opened my laptop, staring at the nearly impossible task, my mind strangely calm. The next three days were a blur of intense activity. By day, I organized files at my desk, deflecting the random tasks Kyle and others constantly threw my way. By night, when the office was finally empty, I truly began my work. Brenda couldn’t bear to watch. At eleven at night, she handed me a steaming mug of coffee, her eyes filled with concern. “Don’t push yourself like this, it’s not worth it.” I gave her a small smile. “It’s okay, Brenda. This is the last time.” She sighed, quietly patting my shoulder. After Brenda left, I picked up my phone and dialed a number directly. The contact was saved as “Mr. Donovan – Aegis Group.” “Mr. Donovan, hi, this is Ava Sterling.” “Oh, Ava,” his tone immediately warmed, “It’s pretty late. Is everything alright?” “Mr. Donovan, regarding this partnership proposal, there are a few details I’d like to confirm directly with you.” I bypassed all the so-called company procedures because I knew that, for Mr. Donovan of Aegis, I, Ava Sterling, was the most efficient process. For three years, every time their internal system experienced an emergency outage, whether it was midnight or not, I was the first to respond, resolving it remotely. Every time they proposed a wild, out-of-the-box idea, I was the one pulling all-nighters to create prototypes that came closest to their needs. His trust was never in our company; it was always in me. “Alright, go ahead.” Next, I worked directly with Mr. Donovan, finalizing all the details. Three days later, I printed out a perfect proposal and placed it on Victor’s desk. Then, I deleted every single file from my computer. When Victor arrived at work, he was absolutely thrilled with my proposal. He announced to the office, beaming: “Great news! Our team has secured the Aegis Group project!” The office erupted in thunderous applause. He basked in everyone’s flattery and compliments, never once mentioning the person who actually did the work. Then, he took my proposal and went to claim credit from Mr. Peterson. My heart remained calm. The last connection between me and this company had been severed by my own hands. 0

The day my contract expired, the HR email landed in my inbox promptly at the start of my workday. “Dear Ms. Sterling, Due to company business adjustments, your employment contract will not be renewed upon its expiry today. Please complete your offboarding procedures by 5 PM.” I glanced at the email, then hit delete. Everyone in the office pretended to be busy. No one offered me comfort. Only Brenda walked over, quietly patting my shoulder. Victor didn’t even show his face today. He probably thought it wasn’t necessary. A tool, once used, is simply discarded. The offboarding process was surprisingly smooth. Everyone was distant, almost cold. As if I were just a casual visitor. I walked out, carrying my cardboard box. Passing by the office, I noticed a celebration party in full swing. Victor stood in the center of the crowd, looking smug and triumphant. “Good news!” he announced. “Because our team brilliantly landed the Aegis Group project, I’ve just been appointed Vice President!” Everyone crowded around Victor, showering him with praise. He stood on the pedestal I’d unknowingly built for him. I smiled. There was no bitterness, no resentment in my smile, just the mockery of watching a clown perform. I turned away, not looking back. I pulled out my phone and sent a text to “Mr. Donovan – Aegis Group.” “Mr. Donovan, I have officially left my previous company today. Thank you for all your support over the years, and I wish you all the best.” Almost immediately, my phone rang. “Ava, why don’t you come work for my company?” I looked at the message, the smile on my lips deepening. Then, I opened my contacts and forwarded the “Core Clients” group to a few key people. These were all the core resources Victor had once valued. I knew a storm was brewing, aimed squarely at Victor. 0

Victor’s celebration party was in full swing, reaching its climax. He raised his glass, about to make a toast. A shrill, urgent phone ring cut through the air. Victor frowned, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he glanced at the caller ID. “Aegis Group – Mr. Donovan.” The annoyance was instantly replaced by a fawning smile. “Excuse me, everyone, the most important client is calling to congratulate me.” Under the envious gazes of his colleagues, he walked to a corner and answered. “Hello, Mr. Donovan! You’re so quick with the news, thank you for—” The voice on the other end cut him off. “Aegis Group is terminating all cooperation with your company, effective immediately.” The smile on Victor’s face instantly froze. “What do you mean? We just signed a partnership—” “You lost the most important person.” Then, the call was abruptly disconnected. Victor stood there, phone in hand, stunned. What did he mean by… the most important person? Before he could even process it, all the phones in the office began to ring, one after another. “Hello, this is…” “Hi, this is Eos Tech. We’re informing you that all our orders are canceled.” “What? Why?” They were all termination calls. “There’s nothing to explain. We only deal with Ava.” … These were the “loyal clients” Victor had boasted about countless times. And now, these “loyal clients” were all terminating their partnerships. The scent of champagne still lingered in the office, but the joyous laughter had been replaced by a dead silence. Only the persistent ringing of phones, like death knells, echoed in everyone’s hearts. Victor slumped into his leather executive chair, his eyes vacant. His subordinates, who had been fawning over him moments before, now kept their distance as if he were carrying a plague. “Ava…” He suddenly remembered something, frantically scrolling through his phone for Ava Sterling’s contact information. Just then, the office door was kicked open. The company founder’s face was thunderous. He stormed up to Victor and slammed another report onto his face. Mr. Peterson’s voice trembled with extreme rage. “Is this what you call a massive success?!” “Is this the regional VP position you brought me?!” “Half the company’s orders, in one damn afternoon, GONE!!!”

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It was on our fifth wedding anniversary that the lawyer finally told me. “Your marriage to Mr. Thorne is not legally valid.” Elara’s POV Five years into our marriage, I was finally expecting a child. I’d scheduled an appointment with our trust attorney to set up a newborn fund as a surprise for Julian on our fifth anniversary. But when the attorney tried to access Julian’s assets for authorization, the system kept denying access. “Ms. Vance, are you certain Mr. Thorne’s marital status hasn’t changed?” After several failed attempts, a hint of professional bewilderment crossed the attorney’s face. I frowned slightly. “We’ve been married for five years, and our relationship has always been stable.” The attorney tried once more, finally projecting an encrypted file onto the screen. He pushed up his glasses with a sigh. “I suggest you verify this with Mr. Thorne yourself. According to this trust agreement, the beneficiary of all Mr. Thorne’s assets, including the legal spouse clause, is a Ms. Chloe Davies.” I walked out of the law firm, chilled to the bone. The fragile joy I’d carried as an expectant mother was utterly gone. The attorney’s words were like an ice hammer, striking over and over. “Your marriage to Mr. Thorne is not legally valid.” Our five years of marriage… was it all a lie? Julian and I had known each other since childhood. He was a golden boy, a man destined for greatness, constantly surrounded by admirers, yet he cherished me above all else, always prioritizing my needs. Everyone said Julian loved me, loved me enough to pluck the stars from the sky for me. But why, then, would he secretly care for another woman, where I couldn’t see? I barely hesitated, immediately booking a flight to Naples. Julian was there, attending a top-tier business summit. I had to get answers from him directly. When I found the private island resort hosting the summit, I walked straight into the outdoor evening gala. The Neapolitan sunset washed the scene in a soft, golden light, but I had no eyes for it. I simply pushed through the clink of glasses and the murmur of polite conversation, searching for him in desperation. My gaze swept over the man being fawned over at the VIP table, and in that instant, I felt my blood run cold. He wore a perfectly tailored white suit, tall and striking, impossibly handsome. On his face was a look of profound, unburdened happiness I had never seen before. That was my husband of five years-Julian Thorne. “Congratulations, Julian, you finally made it!” “Seriously, Julian played this perfectly. He gave Elara that fairytale wedding back home to keep her placated, while over here, he waited for Chloe to come of age, then used the family trust to secure everything for her-untouchable!” “But Julian, are you serious about Chloe? Her background isn’t exactly ideal…” Someone lowered their voice. “What about Elara? These past five years…weren’t you afraid of getting caught?” “You don’t get it, ” someone chuckled. “Julian feels guilty toward Chloe, but more than that, it’s a sense of duty. If Chloe hadn’t pushed Elara out of the way back then, Elara would’ve been the one to lose her leg. Julian says he owes Chloe for life. These five years were just a waiting game-buying time until he could make it official.” “What a brilliant move!” I froze, feeling as if I’d been shoved into the deep sea, every breath a luxury. I even wondered if I was hearing things. But the next second, Julian’s own words plunged me into an ice-cold abyss. “My commitment to Chloe is real.” His voice was calm, steady, each word a verdict. “She gave up dancing to save Elara. She’ll need a cane for life. All she wants now is security and a future-things I can give her.” So, that was it. My eyes burned. That trust fund wasn’t a mistake. It was a plan. Five years ago, at an art gallery accident, I was nearly crushed by a falling sculpture. Chloe, an art student with me, didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward and pushed me to safety. She came from nothing, parentless, but with raw, stunning talent. To repay her for saving my life, Julian and I funded her entirely: hiring renowned teachers, sending her to the best schools. Back then, Julian said Chloe saving me was like saving his own life. He was willing to give everything to compensate her. I just never imagined his “compensation” would include giving away our marriage and his entire future. The most laughable part was that for five whole years, I had been utterly oblivious. Julian’s friend asked again, “What about Elara? If she finds out…” I saw him lower his eyes, his long fingers lightly tapping his phone screen, his voice laced with the confidence of someone in complete control. “I’ll continue to treat Elara just as well; she’ll never find out.” “All of you, keep your mouths shut. Don’t let anything slip in front of her.” The next moment, my phone buzzed. I looked down at the message from Julian, my heart clutched by an invisible hand, a chill spreading from my fingertips to my bones. “Sweetheart, I miss you. This summit is so boring; every second without you is agonizing. I’ll definitely be back for our anniversary. Love, Julian.” I clenched my phone, then looked up at him, laughing and chatting amidst the crowd not far away. A dense, sharp pain pierced my heart. My vision blurred, and hot tears streamed uncontrollably-this wasn’t my Julian. My Julian was the boy who, to pick a edelweiss from a cliff for me, would smile and say “it’s worth it” even with his arm scratched by rocks; He was the man who, for my eighteenth birthday, booked an entire observatory just so I could see a star named after me; He was the man who, on my parents’ remembrance day, would put aside multi-million dollar deals to spend the entire day quietly by my side; He was the man who, after we married, spoiled me into a sheltered princess, and ceaselessly doted on me and shared passionate nights… Not this liar before me, who professed love to me with one breath, while writing another woman into the legal contract of his life with the next. My heart felt like it was being torn apart, and I bit down hard on my lip. My phone vibrated again; it was his call. I hesitated for a second, then answered. “Elara, where are you? Have you had dinner? It sounds lively on your end.” His voice was as gentle as ever, tender and affectionate. “Julian, what are you doing?” I instinctively clenched my fist, my nails digging deep into my palm. I thought, if he would just admit it, I’d give him a chance to explain. “Just dealing with a few businessmen, it’s a headache.” His voice carried a deliberately crafted weariness. “Summit dinner, you know, utterly tedious. Are you at the gallery? If you like a painting, just have the manager wrap it up.” I suddenly laughed, but the light in my eyes extinguished inch by inch. After a moment of silence, I whispered, “Okay.” He immediately sensed my distress. “Sweetheart, are you upset? Who bothered you?” “Too many people. I’ll hang up now.” The moment I hung up, I saw a girl in a white evening gown, leaning on an elegant cane, hobble towards Julian and fall into his embrace. It was Chloe. “Julian, my foot hurts a little.” “Let me see.” His voice held a tenderness and caution I had never heard directed at me. He knelt, carefully massaging her ankle, his eyes filled with heartache. “It’s my fault for letting you stand so long.” That tenderness was a cruel stab to my eyes. So, his love could be divided, and his concern could be replicated. Julian, how could your heart hold two people? I fled in a panic, hiding in the dark shadows of the hotel garden, curling up and hugging myself, letting silent tears stream down my face. When the tears finally ran dry, I rose. The last glimmer of light in my eyes hardened into something cold and absolute. This five-year farce of a marriage was over. Julian, the man, was nothing to me now. Since Chloe was the only partner he would ever claim, I would give them exactly what they wanted. In two weeks, it would be my parents’ remembrance day. After I paid my respects, I would leave. I would vanish from Julian’s world without a trace.

Elara’s POV I took the earliest flight home, and the first thing I did after landing was head straight to the hospital to schedule an abortion. “Ms. Vance, the accident five years ago damaged your uterus. It’s a miracle you even conceived. If you don’t keep this child, you may find it very difficult to have one in the future. Please reconsider and talk to your husband.” My fingertips turned cold, and my heart clenched. Julian had never told me. All these years, whenever our families asked about children, he took the blame, saying he wanted a few more years with just me. My eyes filled with tears then. He had been so thoughtful, so afraid of hurting me. But no matter how good he had been, it didn’t change the fact that he had lied. “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll think about it,” I heard myself say. I walked out of the consultation room in a daze, my steps unsteady, only to see Julian-who was supposed to be abroad-at the end of the corridor. And Chloe. Julian was carefully helping Chloe out of the obstetrics clinic, his face beaming with unconcealed joy and nervousness. His gentle gaze was fixed on her face, not willing to move away for a second. “Julian, don’t be so nervous; I’m just having some early pregnancy symptoms, it’s not like I’m sick,” Chloe said, her eyes curving into a sweet, girlish smile. Julian rarely showed a smile, but his voice was unusually tight. “This is our first child; there can’t be any mishaps.” I clutched the appointment slip in my hand, feeling the temperature being slowly drained from my body. In that moment, I distinctly heard the sound of my heart shattering, inch by painful inch. It turned out, that when pain reached its peak, tears wouldn’t come. Julian helped Chloe into the elevator. The moment the elevator doors slowly closed, I lowered my head and unfolded the appointment slip. Then, I turned and walked back into the clinic. “Let’s schedule the surgery for the day after tomorrow.” I couldn’t let my child be born into a monumental lie. As if by cruel twist of fate, I met them again in the underground parking garage. In that moment, I inexplicably started my car and followed them from a distance. Julian took Chloe to a private art gallery in the city. My heart sank completely. That gallery was one he had built exclusively for me last year on my birthday. It housed all my favorite paintings. He had personally told me it was my own private artistic sanctuary. But now, he was walking into it, hand-in-hand, with another woman. Inside the gallery, Chloe stood beneath my favorite starry night painting. Julian approached, pushing a white-draped cart laden with exquisite desserts. He elegantly took a velvet box from the cart and opened it-inside was a dazzling star-themed necklace. “To my little artist, congratulations on your promotion to expectant mother.” In that instant, I almost lost my footing. “Julian… thank you,” Chloe’s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. “You even made desserts for me yourself.” “Go on, try it,” Julian’s voice was agonizingly tender. “Once you’re done, go back and rest. You’ve spent enough time with me; it’s time for me to go back to Elara.” Chloe blinked knowingly, forcing a hint of tears. But Julian, filled with heartache, pulled her into his embrace. “Silly girl, we’re not going anywhere today. I’m staying with you. You’re my wife now; I’ll spend more time with you and the baby.” I retreated slowly from around the corner, my back pressing against the cold wall, a chill spreading up my spine, making me tremble all over. Yes. Chloe was Julian’s wife. And I was nothing but a deceived fool, completely oblivious for five whole years. I remembered when Julian first brought me here, he also had an identical necklace for me. To make that dessert, he had secretly followed a Michelin chef for an entire month. “Elara, try my cooking. From now on, I’ll take care of all your meals.” “In this lifetime, I will only love you.” He swore these vows in my ear while putting the necklace on me. But now, this unique love and adoration, which was originally mine, was perfectly and precisely replicated for Chloe. My chest felt tight and painful. It turned out Julian’s “lifetime” was so short. I turned and fled, tears streaming down my face as I left the gallery. Immediately afterward, I went straight to my lawyer’s office to begin liquidating all my assets, stripping away everything connected to Julian. My parents’ inheritance was enough to ensure my secure and carefree life. And all I wanted was to completely sever ties with him as quickly as possible.

Elara’s POV It was dusk when I returned home. The sprawling villa was empty, only a solitary light illuminating the entryway. I practically dragged myself onto the sofa, my gaze sweeping over the artworks and books we had chosen together, my heart feeling like it was being repeatedly crushed by a giant stone. Each beat brought a clear, sharp pain. I rubbed my temples, forcing myself to stand and walk toward the massive book wall. That was the first rare art book we’d found together; he had laughed and complimented me, saying my discerning eye was unmatched. That art history book, filled with our shared notes-he had once put his arm around my waist and said we would travel the world, visiting every museum together. And that rare poetry collection he’d gone to such lengths to find for me, on its flyleaf, in his beautiful handwriting- “To my dearest Elara, my only one in this life.” … I pulled out one of the books and opened it. Then, I tore every single one of his handwritten words, page by page, into tiny pieces. The sound of tearing paper was eerily clear in the empty living room. For an entire night, I mechanically repeated the same action, systematically severing every shared thought, every passion, every piece of our combined souls. By dawn, my arms were numb, my fingertips devoid of feeling. And Julian still hadn’t returned. Today was supposed to be our wedding anniversary. At the stroke of midnight on our anniversary, Julian’s social media account updated promptly. It was a video he’d personally edited, documenting our five years together, with deeply affectionate accompanying text. It captivated the entire internet overnight. The largest outdoor screens in the city center were also looping the video. The lawn outside the villa had, at some point, been transformed into a rose garden. In the center of the garden, a drone hovered, dangling a giant gift box containing a set of rare art supplies I had long wished for. His deep, magnetic voice played on a loudspeaker- “Elara, happy anniversary. I love you, just as I did from the start.” I emotionlessly pulled the curtains closed, burying myself under the duvet, shutting out the world’s clamor. Not long after, his call came through, his voice full of apology. “Sweetheart, an urgent situation came up with the merger in Europe, so I can’t make it back today. When I return, I promise to make it up to you with an even grander anniversary celebration.” Listening to his flawless lie, I suddenly chuckled, my laugh slightly trembling. “It’s alright, you focus on your work.” “Sweetheart, you sound upset.” He keenly picked up on my mood. “Don’t you like the surprise I prepared? Don’t be angry; I’ll make it up to you tenfold in a few days.” “No, work is important,” I said, my voice calm. “I’m a little tired; I want to sleep.” I hung up, curled into a ball, and desperately tried to suppress the pain in my chest. After what felt like an eternity, the bedroom door suddenly burst open, and a blinding beam of light flooded in. Silhouetted against the light, I saw Julian standing in the doorway, his face frantic. His hair was disheveled, his face pale, and his deep eyes were filled with fear and dread. Perhaps he had sensed my unusual mood and, unable to reach me, had taken his private jet straight back. The moment he saw me, he practically rushed over, pulling me into a tight embrace, his voice hoarse and choked. “Thank goodness you’re alright! Sweetheart, I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…” His eyes were red, his body trembling uncontrollably. “I’ll never leave you alone again. When you didn’t answer my calls, my whole world collapsed.” “Nothing is more important than you; I came back to be with you.” I remained silent. He assumed I was still angry, so he knelt by the bed, softly coaxing me. “Elara, promise me you won’t ever ignore my calls again, don’t shut me out. I truly will go crazy.” His tension and fear seemed genuine. He loved me. But this love was tainted with too many lies and calculations. “You came back quickly,” I said, a ghost of a smile on my lips. His expression shifted instantly, a flash of guilt before he veered away. “Darling, you haven’t eaten all day. Let me take you to the gallery. I had your favorite made.” “No,” I shook my head. Panic tightened his features. “Then rest. I’ll make you something downstairs.” “Mm.” I gave a curt nod and turned away. He mistook my silence for petulance, drew a steadying breath, and left. The moment the door closed, I lay there, eyes wide open, staring into the darkness, my heart a barren wasteland.

Elara’s POV About ten minutes later, a commotion erupted downstairs. I went down and saw Julian’s friends crowding the living room. They were frantically trying to piece back together the torn book pages, attempting to return them to the shelves, as if restoring those fragments could somehow make everything go back to how it was. Seeing me appear, several of them spoke at once. “Elara, Julian almost tore Europe apart looking for you. Don’t scare him like that again.” “Next time you’re angry, tell us; we’ll help you beat him up. Just don’t turn off your phone again, Julian really went crazy.” “That’s right, Julian’s face turned white as a sheet when he saw the shredded paper everywhere; he almost fainted on the spot. He insisted on going through the trash, saying he’d tape every single piece back together.” “That’s enough,” Julian said, standing nearby, his face full of remorse. “It’s all my fault for upsetting Elara. I’ll accept whatever she does to me.” “Julian truly loves Elara; he has no pride in front of her. She’s so lucky.” I looked over and saw Chloe, who had arrived sometime earlier, standing in the crowd, looking envious. Julian’s expression was normal, a gentle smile on his lips. “She’s my wife, of course, I’ll spoil her.” A wave of intense nausea suddenly churned in my stomach. I spoke calmly. “No need to put the books back; I want to change the style.” Julian immediately came to my side, put his arm around my waist, his voice gentle and firm. “Alright, everyone stop. Listen to my wife.” He helped me sit on the sofa, then turned and went back to the kitchen. Soon, the dining table was laden with all the dishes I used to love. But I had no appetite. With one hand, he solicitously served me food, softly coaxing me to eat more; with the other, beneath the table, he clasped Chloe’s hand tightly. In that moment, I suddenly felt the absurdity of it all. I just wanted to escape. After dinner, Julian had arranged a fireworks display over the sea and invited my favorite jazz band. Halfway through the performance, he excused himself to go to the restroom. Impulsively, I followed him. In the yacht’s VIP lounge, I watched Chloe practically throw herself into Julian’s arms, rising on tiptoes to kiss him. “Julian, I miss you so much, just for a moment.” Julian put one arm around her waist and the other hand on the back of her head, deepening the kiss, and the room’s temperature instantly soared. After a long while, Chloe, her face flushed, pushed him away, her breath ragged. “Alright, you should go back to Elara.” “Are you sure?” Julian’s eyes, tinged with desire, caressed her red lips. Chloe lowered her gaze. “No, but Elara isn’t even answering your calls because of me. I don’t want her to be sad anymore. I can wait. You can come back to me after you’ve spent time with her.” “Your thoughtfulness always breaks my heart. Good girl, don’t think about anyone else right now, just enjoy.” Julian kissed her lips, tracing a path downward… A soft moan of pleasure escaped Chloe’s lips. “Julian, no…” It felt like being dropped into an ice bath. I bit down on the back of my hand, hard, to keep silent. I thought my heart had died, but seeing the betrayal up close-the pain was still visceral. A sharp, burning cramp twisted in my stomach. Nausea hit me like a wave. I clamped a hand over my mouth, stumbled to the bathroom, and retched until the room spun. Beneath the sickness, a familiar, dull ache pulsed low in my abdomen. I gently touched my abdomen, my eyes blurred with tears. Baby, I’m so sorry.

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Packages and food deliveries had been disappearing from the school dorms, mine included. I had no idea who the thief was. So I spiked my next order with “special ingredients.” When it was stolen too, I couldn’t help but smile. That bowl of pho contained water from a filthy bathroom mop. A week later, a police officer gave me a penalty notice. “Medical expenses are thirty-two hundred dollars. Pay by next week.” Before I could speak, Mr. Thompson, a school official, cut in. “You’ve been reported for intentional poisoning. The school has decided to cancel your first-class scholarship and financial aid.” They were trying to frame me? Interesting. I’m Lynn. The Law Department’s loophole queen. The penalty wasn’t just a fine. They were stripping me of my twenty-thousand-dollar scholarship and aid package. We’d already sold our house for my mother’s treatments. That scholarship was my last lifeline. “Sir, Can you at least tell me who filed the report?” I asked. The officer shook his head. “Procedure forbids disclosing that information.” My nails bit into my palms. My own food had been stolen seven, maybe eight times. Every report I made met the same wall: footage too blurry, perpetrator unidentifiable. So I left one out with a “special ingredient.” The thief ate it and wound up in the ER. And now I was liable? What a double standard. “Why should I pay for a thief’s bad stomach?” Mr. Thompson sighed. “Who took what first is secondary. The moment you introduced a foreign substance, the entire nature of the incident changed. A man was hospitalized. That is the primary fact.” “And the fact that he’s a thief isn’t?” I shot back, feeling utterly indignant. The younger officer beside him glanced at his notes, his tone shifting to one of condescending reason. “Listen. They’re only asking for restitution. They could have pressed charges. They’re doing you a favor.” “Can I see the other party’s medical records then? What did they find after pumping their stomach?” The officer frowned, and Mr. Thompson quickly stepped in. “Lynn, why are you asking so many questions? The school has already mediated this. Just follow the procedure and don’t make trouble for yourself.” I learned in my Freshman Orientation Week that if poor people want to live with dignity, they either need fists or brains. I didn’t have fists, so I sharpened my mind instead. For three years, I devoured legal texts. All so that when I argued, no one could push me around. Mr. Thompson mistook my silence for surrender. His tone softened. “Frankly, canceling the scholarship was due to pressure. Pay the medical fees now. Once this passes, I’ll help you apply for a hardship grant. It might cover some of the loss.” I nodded. I pulled out my phone from my pocket and opened the transfer app. “Alright, I’ll transfer it. Mr. Thompson, what are your payment details?” Mr. Thompson visibly relaxed. I typed in $3,200 and hit confirm. The screen flashed a green “Transfer Successful” message. Mr. Thompson picked up his phone, then frowned. “I haven’t received it.” “That’s impossible, mine shows it went through.” I turned my screen towards him. “Maybe there’s a network delay. Just wait a bit.” Mr. Thompson refreshed his screen a couple of times, but still nothing. I subtly reached out. “Let me see if your account has any restrictions set up?” Once people think money is within their grasp, their guard drops to its lowest. Mr. Thompson actually handed me his own phone. I took it. My eyes flew to his message history. Right at the top was a thread with a Mr. Evans. “he other side’s offer is too high. We can’t risk offending those connections.” There it was. The inside track. A jolt of pure, electric adrenaline shot down my spine. Every legal instinct I had woke up, sharp and hungry. I handed the phone back. “Maybe there was a glitch, but I’m tapped out right now. I’ll transfer it again when I get back.” The transfer slip was a fake. The money had gone straight to a shell account of my own. Just as I walked out of the office, my phone vibrated. It was Mr. Thompson. His voice was a tense, hushed rasp. “Lynn, I’ll be honest with you.” “This was a joint decision between the department and Campus Security. I’m just the messenger.” “If the funds aren’t in my account in thirty minutes… I’ll have no choice but to escalate this to Mr. Evans. Once it’s on his desk, there’s no pulling it back.” I clenched my phone, my knuckles white.

Back in Mr. Thompson’s office, I started by playing the victim. “Mr. Thompson, this isn’t fair. Why am I the only one being punished, not the thief who stole my food?” Mr. Thompson sighed, spreading his hands in a gesture of helplessness, but his words were clearly a threat. “Someone from higher up will eventually come to talk to you. At least you and I have some history as student and teacher.” “I advise you to accept the penalty quickly. If this escalates to the school administration level, the deans won’t be so easy to deal with.” Good thing I had a habit of collecting gossip. It looked like I needed to drop a bombshell. “If you don’t want to help me with this, then I might accidentally let slip about you and Chloe…” “Chloe clearly failed her exam, but you gave her an A…” Mr. Thompson’s eyelid twitched. Chloe. The ‘it’ girl of the Business department. Last semester, her overall assessment score was three points lower than mine, yet she ended up with a prestigious national scholarship. I’d found it strange then, but it wasn’t until last week, when I walked into the office and saw Mr. Thompson and Chloe. His hand was on her thigh, and they were kissing. Mr. Thompson was a married man with a family. I’d heard his wife was a total dragon lady, and they had two sons. “Enough! Don’t you dare!” Mr. Thompson slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his face beet red. “Lynn, listen to me. Some things aren’t what you think…” He took a deep breath, and his tone softened. “What exactly do you want?” “I’ve already put in a good word for you with the Dean. The penalty has been reduced from expulsion to just losing your scholarship.” I looked at him. “Who actually stole my food? And why is the school only punishing me?” After a few seconds of silence, Mr. Thompson finally spoke. “The Harringtons did pull some strings. Canceling your scholarship was a condition set by Skylar’s mother.” “The school’s new campus development still needs the Harrington family’s approval. What else could the Dean do?” “Just accept it. The school will consider compensating you for your losses later.” As I walked out of the office, my heart was pounding like a drum. So it was her. Skylar Harrington, the only daughter of the city’s wealthiest family. A third-year Business student, the ultimate rich girl of the entire school. Actually, Skylar’s little quirks were no secret to me, the legal shark. In Freshman year, someone on the campus forum claimed they saw her swipe a public power bank from the library. Others said her dorm closet was filled with random trinkets picked up from various places. Her roommate’s hair ties, the nail polish from the next room, even a cleaning staff’s forgotten mop from the hallway. All these incidents were inexplicably hushed up. And who would believe it? The Harringtons were so wealthy; why would their daughter steal other people’s things? I’d always been baffled myself. My voice recorder had captured every word of my conversation with Mr. Thompson. I pulled out the legal statutes saved on my phone, a small smirk playing on my lips. Skylar, you’re going to pay for my family’s new house. Later, I was at the cafeteria, standing at the end of the line with my tray. “Well, well, if it isn’t the poisoner?” Before I could turn around, a hand reached out, five fingers clamping directly onto the edge of my tray. Clang. The tray crashed to the floor, splashing braised pork sauce everywhere. I looked up. Skylar stood over me, looking down with a sneer, three stylishly dressed girls behind her. “Eating the cheapest meal in the cafeteria every day, and you still order deliveries?” “And if you do, why poison it?” Students around us started to gather, whispering. Skylar’s smirk widened. “Lynn, I advise you to just drop out voluntarily. It’ll be less embarrassing than getting expelled.” I crouched down, picking up the tray from the floor, and scoffed. “However embarrassing, it can’t be as bad as someone who eats actual crap.” Skylar’s smile froze. I sneered. “That Pho? The broth was made with water wrung from a filthy, old bathroom mop.” Skylar’s face instantly went pale. “It soaked for a whole night, and it was still foamy when I wrung it out.” I continued, “Did you taste it?” “Shut up!” Skylar shrieked, clamping a hand over her mouth. She bent over and threw up. The girls beside her also started gagging. It seemed they’d eaten my delivery too. A ripple of shock went through the crowd. “No way, could it be that she was the one who stole it…?” “Holy crap, this plot twist is too fast…” Skylar wiped her mouth, her eyes red. “Lynn! You bitch!” She lunged at me, trying to claw my face. “Do you really think Julian would like someone like you? Dream on!” I froze. Information about him flashed through my mind. The closed-door disciple of a Chemistry department academician, rumored to be the next Nobel Prize candidate. The school treated him like a treasure; even the Dean was polite to him. What was even more absurd was his incredibly wealthy background, and he was unfairly handsome. The untouchable golden boy of the campus, he’d never dated anyone. Skylar liking him wasn’t a surprise at all. But what did she mean by that last sentence? Julian… liked me? Skylar finally finished throwing up and took another step closer. “At the school’s mediation meeting, I will absolutely not let you off the hook.” A sinister smirk twisted her lips. “I’ll make sure you get kicked out of this school.”

The school called for a mediation, and only one companion was allowed into the meeting. Skylar sat beside her mother, Mrs. Harrington, who wore perfectly styled curled hair and scrutinized me from head to toe. I scanned the conference room and spotted a familiar figure by the window: Paige. With her there, I didn’t feel so alone. “I am Mrs. Harrington’s attorney. Based on the evidence we have, you deliberately put an unknown substance in a food delivery, causing my client’s daughter to be hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis. This constitutes the elements of a crime of endangerment by poisoning.” “Considering you are still a student, Mrs. Harrington only requires you to comply with the following points.” He held up three fingers. “First, compensation for emotional distress: five hundred thousand dollars.” “Second, a public apology, in video format, to be pinned to the top of the campus forum for a week.” “Third, voluntarily withdraw from school.” Mr. Evans, the Dean of Students, cleared his throat. “Considering Lynn’s otherwise good performance, we can temporarily put aside the withdrawal demand.” Skylar suddenly covered her face, her shoulders shaking violently. “I didn’t steal anything!” “That day, I saw a food delivery on the table and thought my roommate had brought it for me…” “How was I supposed to know it was yours? I didn’t do it on purpose!” Mrs. Harrington lovingly put an arm around her daughter’s shoulder, her gaze cutting into me like a knife. “Exactly! Who hasn’t accidentally eaten the wrong thing before?” Skylar pointed at me, her finger trembling. “If I had actually gotten seriously sick, you would be guilty of attempted murder!” I rolled my eyes. “The elements of attempted murder require subjective intent to deprive another person of life.” “How, exactly, could I have predicted you would steal my delivery?” Skylar’s sobbing abruptly stopped. She hadn’t expected me to be so familiar with legal statutes. The lawyer waved his hand. “Even if not attempted murder, it’s intentional poisoning. The hospital report shows-” I cut him off. “High E. coli levels. That’s your poison?” “What category does mop water even fall under, Counselor?” Skylar covered her mouth, dry heaving again. Her face was white with genuine disgust. Mrs. Harrington’s face darkened completely. I pulled out my voice recorder from my backpack, ready to counterattack. “I’d like everyone to hear a recording first.” Seeing the voice recorder in my hand, the assistant behind the lawyer immediately got up and moved to my side. “Wait a minute. You’ve been talking a lot, you must be thirsty. Have some water!” She held the cup in front of me, then suddenly tilted it, spilling the entire contents directly down. Warm water seeped into the crevices of the voice recorder. I snatched the recorder, pressing the power switch. The screen lit up. Thankfully, it wasn’t broken. Just as I let out a breath of relief, a figure rushed forward. Paige bumped into my arm, and the voice recorder flew out of my hand. It plunged through the conveniently open window, smashing into two pieces on the ground below. Paige’s voice was panicked. “I saw that assistant trying to grab your stuff, I wanted to help block her…” “I didn’t mean to, I’m so sorry.” Something inside me snapped. When the assistant spilled the water, Paige was sitting on my right. If she truly wanted to help, why didn’t she speak up when the assistant made her move? Her eyes held panic, apology, and evasion. Skylar and Mrs. Harrington exchanged triumphant smiles. The lawyer tidied his documents. “If the $500,000 compensation and the apology video are not delivered within three days, we will proceed with legal action. At that point, you should be prepared for expulsion.” A strange excitement surged through me. As a legal shark, I would never back down from a fight.

An apology was out of the question. Recording that video would cement my identity as a poisoner-a permanent, indelible stain. Even washing dishes, a future boss would fear I’d spit in the soup. I had to fight. There was no other path. The Harringtons moved faster than I’d predicted, dropping all subtlety. By the next morning, I was a public villain. I opened my phone to a flood. News alerts screamed: “University Student Poisons Rival in Jealous Rage.” “Future Lawyer Turns Criminal: Twisted Plot Unraveled.” Even my forgotten high school homework was unearthed, framed as definitive proof of a flawed character. The haters were relentless, hammering their story into the comments. They painted Skylar as the girl who’d just “grabbed the wrong delivery.” They called me a monster who’d “even poison a stray dog.” A soft knock came at my dorm room door. Paige was there, her eyes swollen like walnuts. She handed me two tickets to a concert I’d wanted to see for ages, front row seats, worth thousands. She sincerely apologized. “My parents have worked for the Harringtons for ten years. Skylar threatened them.” “If I didn’t help them at that moment, my parents would lose their jobs.” In the adult world, everyone has their own difficult circumstances. I thought of our three years of friendship and decided to trust her this one time. And give her a chance. I turned around and pulled a USB drive from my drawer. “The contents of this, when the trial begins in three days, help me post it on the campus forum and Ins.” “This is anonymous. As long as it’s not illegal, your parents won’t know it was you.” Paige’s eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. “Oh, and one more thing.” Paige lowered her voice, her expression turning strange. “That day, when Skylar took the delivery, I was in the hallway.” “She said, ‘A poor nobody, still ordering deliveries? Can’t she just eat cafeteria food every day? Why does she have to show off in front of me?’” I was stunned. Just because of that? “She also said, ‘Why do poor students get so much financial aid? I pay so much tuition, and I still have to watch poor people feast like kings in front of me.’” Paige’s voice got quieter and quieter. She didn’t finish, but I understood everything. I thought Skylar targeted me because my grades were better than hers. Turns out, she just couldn’t stand to see me do well. Even if it was just a $20 delivery. Three days flew by, and Skylar sued me. Reporters crowded the courthouse steps on the day of the trial. The case had drawn massive attention. Not only were the Dean and the Secretary present, but several major networks were also broadcasting live. The whole world seemed to be waiting to see the “poisoner” get her due. The trial began. The plaintiff’s lawyer was both eloquent and thorough. He submitted a thick forensic report and played a surveillance video. The video showed a stray dog eating the pho. Within ten minutes, it was foaming at the mouth, convulsing violently, then lying still. The courtroom erupted in gasps. The live stream comments exploded. “So vicious! What if a person ate that?” “Someone like her deserves life in prison!” “Thank god for Skylar. If the campus belle had eaten it, she’d be dead!” The judge’s gavel demanded silence. “Defendant, how do you answer the plaintiff’s charges and the evidence?” Mrs. Harrington’s smile was cold and triumphant. I stood. “Your Honor, I have a question.” My voice was calm. “The plaintiff’s case rests on me poisoning a delivered meal.” I paused, scanning the room. “But I never ordered delivery that day.”

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My girlfriend loved her bikinis. She loved them even more during her private synchronized swimming sessions with her coach, Jared. Seeing them tangled up in the water, I can’t help but ask. “Does he need to touch you like that?” Chloe’s response was a sharp slap across my face. “How else is he supposed to correct my form? It’s called coaching.” Days before our wedding, Chloe threw a positive pregnancy test at me. “We’ll get married after the baby comes.” An explanation from her was rare. “I didn’t plan this. It was just…the swimming. But Jared and I are innocent. Trust me.” I scoffed. “Chloe. Do I look that stupid to you?” She only raised an eyebrow. “Believe it or not. The baby is a fact. I’m keeping it. If you can’t handle that, the wedding’s off.” Fine. Have it your way! She was sure I’d cave. I always had. For years, I’d bent my own rules for her. She’d go clubbing, letting male models grind against her. She called that modern dancing and me old-fashioned. She’d stay out all night with her childhood friend, Jared, the car shaking. She claimed they were checking for damage. I believed her. I knew she loved to play. But I had loved that wild, free spirit in her. I  just never thought she’d use such a ridiculous excuse for a pregnancy. She thought I’d let it go again. She was wrong. I tried to stay calm, but my voice still trembled slightly. “Alright, then let’s break up.” Chloe looked surprised for a second, then scoffed, clearly not buying it. “Playing hard to get? Alex, even if you threaten to break up, I’m still having this baby!” I looked at her confident face, a bitter taste filling my mouth. “Chloe, do you think I’m stupid? Is it fun to play me with such an absurd excuse?” Jared emerged from her bedroom, a couple of fresh hickeys on his neck. I was numb to it. She always said Jared was just a friend-they’d grown up together, she insisted, so close that sharing a bed meant nothing. I used to fight about it. Then she’d threaten to leave. Once, she even made me get on my knees, bark like a dog, and apologize to Jared for “disrespecting their bond.” I compromised. To this day, the video of me on all fours, barking at Jared’s feet, still gets passed around their Snapchat group. Jared shot me an arrogant smile. “Chloe, he doesn’t believe we’re just friends…maybe he needs a demonstration?” Chloe grinned, understanding perfectly. Seeing their smiles mirror each other, a cold dread tightened in my chest. “What are you going to do?” Chloe didn’t answer. She had her bodyguards grab me, strip me, and throw me directly into the backyard pool. “Go find some street women!” Chloe shouted. “Today, I’ll prove you can get pregnant from swimming. No contact required!” My heart lurched. I stared at Chloe. “Have you lost your mind? You know I’m terrified of water.” Two years ago, in Sydney, she’d gone freediving. A shark pack circled her. I dove in after her, dragged her back to the boat. And the sharks? They turned on me. My arms and legs tore open in the churning red water. Jared and Chloe watched from the deck, their laughter cutting through my screams. Later, I learned. Jared had smeared a shark-attractant pheromone gel on my wetsuit. Afterward, I confronted Jared, but Chloe shielded him. “Jared was just playing a prank to see if you’d save me. Do you really have to be so dramatic?” A prank? I almost became a crippled mess from infection because of that prank. Since then, every time I went into the water, I’d remember almost dying in the sharks’ jaws. My body would break out in rashes, and I’d have trouble breathing. Chloe’s face darkened, her eyes filled with intense disgust and impatience. “Such a big man, just going for a swim, what’s with the act? How disgusting! Afraid of swimming? You’re such an embarrassment!” Jared shoved my head underwater. Water poured into my mouth and ears. I struggled like crazy, but Jared kicked me back into the water. Extreme fear enveloped me. I couldn’t control my trembling limbs and slowly began to sink to the bottom of the pool. Seeing me stop struggling, Chloe frantically stood up. But Jared stopped her. “Chloe, he’s just playing mind games, it’s so pathetic. The pool isn’t deep, he won’t drown.” Hearing that, Chloe glared fiercely in the direction I’d sunk. “Such an act. Throw those homeless women in.” A few women were tossed in. The once clean water instantly turned murky. I could have floated up, but these women were pulling me down with all their might. My hands, reaching out instinctively for survival, were pushed down by someone. My lungs burned as if they were exploding. Blood streamed from my nose, and my vision blurred. Jared’s voice drifted from above. “Chloe, he needs to soak for 12 hours. Only then will he believe we’re innocent.” I passed out, was pulled out, then kicked back into the pool. This went on, back and forth, for a full twelve hours. My skin was covered in wrinkles, my body so swollen I was unrecognizable. Chloe had left long ago. I was alone in the mansion. It was terrifyingly silent. Like a pathetic dead dog, I lay gasping on the poolside. After a long while, I dialed my brother, Mark. “Mark, I regret it.” He sighed. “I told you back then, you couldn’t handle her. Come home, you can’t be headstrong this time. I’ve already picked a suitable match for your arranged marriage.” “I have a meeting tomorrow. I’ll send someone to pick you up the day after.”

That night, while packing my bags, I noticed the drawer in my room had been tampered with. I opened it and gasped. Inside was a portrait of my mother. But now, it was splattered with red ink. The word “BITCH” was scrawled in bright red paint across my mother’s face. Blood surged through me, my chest heaved violently, my mind went blank. Aside from me, only Chloe had a key to that drawer! Without thinking, I called Chloe. My fingers were shaking with rage. It took me several tries to dial correctly. The call was answered quickly. Chloe’s voice was languid. “What’s wrong? Realized your mistake? Let’s see if you dare to cause trouble with me again.” My eyes bloodshot, I demanded. “Who told you to touch my drawer?” The voice on the other end sounded confused. “What drawer?” “What’s in your drawer? I gave all the keys to the villa to Jared. If you’re missing anything, ask him.” “Who would touch your junk? You’re not trying to frame Jared, are you? Let me tell you, even if you lost something, it’s your own fault for not looking after it. Don’t try to shift the blame onto others!” Buzz. My mind felt like it had been violently slammed. My chest trembled. “What did you say?” The call abruptly disconnected. Years ago, I fell for Chloe, defied my family’s objections, and ran away to be with her. My father was furious, threatening to disown me. My mother and Mark were also deeply disappointed. To teach me a lesson, my family cut ties with me. I, too, stubbornly refused to contact them. Until last year, when Mark suddenly called to say Mom was gone. He said she’d tried to call me before she died, wanting me to visit, but for some reason, I hadn’t answered. The night my mother called, I was kneeling in the snow as punishment because Chloe had gotten mad after Jared and I had a small argument. She had confiscated my phone. That night, my mother called six times. I missed every single one. After Mom passed, I had even less courage to go back home. Mark had someone secretly slip me a photo of Mom, for me to keep as a memory. I didn’t dare carry the photo on me; I felt too ashamed to face her. I hid it in that drawer, and whenever I thought of her, I’d touch the drawer. But this sole keepsake… was destroyed by Jared! Towering rage, like a fiery serpent, gnawed at me. I found Jared’s house. He seemed to have already heard the news from Chloe, sitting on the sofa, waiting for me. My hands clenched into fists, and I lunged at him. “Jared! How dare you!” He took the hit, a dark smile twisting his lips. “Why wouldn’t I dare? A bastard from a bitch. You think you’re fit to stand next to Chloe?” “You’re just figuring it out now?” He let out a low, grating laugh. “I carved ‘BITCH’ into your mother’ headstone months ago. I thought you knew and were just too much of a coward to face me!” “Tsk. What a pathetic worm. And I haven’t even started on the truly sick stuff. What if I paid your mother’s grave another visit…” My eyes were bloodshot. Rage tore through me. “Shut up!” I swung at him, a wild, furious arc. But the punch didn’t land on Jared. A high heel kicked my kneecap. It was already an old injury from the shark bite, and now, being kicked again, a searing pain spread from my kneecap. I looked up. It was Chloe. Her eyes churned with a terrifying storm, her sharp gaze like daggers cutting into me. “Alex, who told you to hit Jared?!” A flicker of triumph crossed Jared’s eyes, quickly hidden, as he clutched his chin. “Ouch, Chloe, we can’t let him off easily this time.” “He lost something and blamed me, saying I took it… I explained, but he wouldn’t listen and just rushed over and punched me twice.” Chloe leaned in, her heart aching, and blew on Jared’s chin twice. Then she turned to me, her eyes looking like they wanted to devour me. My throat was dry, my eyes red. I thought I had moved on, but my heart still felt torn in two, a deep, intense pain throbbing through me. “Chloe, do you know, he messed with my mom’s…”

Jared’s cry of pain suddenly grew louder, interrupting me. Chloe’s eyes looked like they were about to spew fire. “Alex, are you deliberately jealous because of this child, using it as an excuse to hit Jared?!” “It seems the lesson wasn’t enough. You’re still being unreasonable!” My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a hand, making it hard to breathe. Whatever I said, she wouldn’t believe me. I stopped trying to explain, resignedly closed my eyes, and waited for Chloe’s verdict. She sneered. “If you lost something, then it’s your own fault for not looking after it, not anyone else’s.” “You won’t be needing those eyes anymore.” She had bodyguards bring two buckets of chili water. They forced my eyelids open and splashed the chili water onto my face. Overwhelming pain consumed me. I knelt on the ground, crying out in agony. My eyes felt like they were burning, making my temples throb. I begged desperately, screaming for help. But the second bucket of chili water was still poured over me. Before I lost consciousness, I heard one of the bodyguards speak with reluctance. “Miss, isn’t this enough? If this continues, his eyes might not be saved…” Chloe let out a relieved breath. “That’s enough. Take him to the hospital.” When I woke up again, my eyes had been rinsed with saline solution by the doctor. The doctor warned. “Your eyes are in a dangerous state. Don’t let them get injured again during this period.” My eyes were bloodshot, and even a slight blink caused pain. I endured the pain and called Mark. “Mark, I can’t take it anymore… Can you pick me up early?” He paused. “What happened?” “Okay, I’ll send my assistant to pick you up right away.” The hospital room door suddenly opened. Chloe walked in, holding a peeled apple, and eyed my phone suspiciously. “Who were you talking to?” I put my phone away. “No one important.” She didn’t press further, just told me to eat the apple. “Jared peeled it specially for you. Eat it.” “After you finish, do him a favor.” My face went pale. “No. Please leave. I need to rest.” But Chloe yanked me up. “Jared rarely asks for your help. Don’t be ungrateful.” She had someone tie me up and put me in a car. Half an hour later, Chloe dragged me into a private room. “Jared signed a betting agreement with someone. He can’t drink, so you’ll take the punishment if he loses.” My eyes widened. I felt my insides churning with anger. “Chloe! I don’t owe you anything! I said I wouldn’t help!” “We’re already broken up!”

Everyone in the room looked our way. Chloe glared at me angrily. “Enough! Don’t threaten me with breaking up!” “Just help Jared this one time, and our wedding won’t be postponed. It’ll go ahead as planned. Is that enough?!” Jared shot me a provocative smile, then lost three rounds in a row. The others looked at me with amusement. “Jared. Three losses. Penalty’s doubled!” “That’s three cubes of ‘Deep Dive.’ Neat!” Looking at the three huge buckets of mixed liquor and beer in front of me, cold sweat beaded on my forehead. “Chloe, I took antibiotics. I can’t drink alcohol.” My eyes were still injured, and the doctor had warned me not to touch alcohol or spicy food for a while. Chloe impatiently grabbed the drink and forced it down my throat. “If you don’t drink it, Jared will have to!” “Hurry up! He gets an upset stomach if he drinks too much.” I wanted to ask if I would be fine then. But I already knew the answer. Three buckets of ‘Deep Dive.’ Not a drop spared, all of it forced down my throat. My gut ignited. It felt like I’d swallowed a live coal, the nausea immediate and violent. Stomach acid surged, and I dry-heaved by the side. I heard Jared’s mocking voice nearby. “Look at him, Chloe. Pathetic. Like a wet dog.” Chloe, embarrassed, stomped her foot and ran off. My chest felt tight, my body ached all over. My eyes rolled back, and I completely passed out. When I opened my eyes again, the room was empty. They had gone to the next venue. My phone rang. Mark’s assistant had arrived. An hour later, I was on a plane heading back home. Before boarding, I called the wedding venue and told them to cancel the reception booked for next Monday. Chloe partied until the next morning before returning to the mansion. Normally, by this hour, the lights would be on for her. The bath run. Breakfast laid out to settle the chill from her nights out. But today, there was nothing. A flicker of panic rose in Chloe, then vanished into a scoff. “Still sulking.” She knew how devoted I’d been. My money was hers. I had no female friends. I answered her calls instantly. Who’d have thought I used to have rules? No late nights, no coming home drunk. I let her erase every line. She hadn’t been pregnant, of course. It was just a test-to see how far I would bend. She never thought I would actually break up with her. Last time, her prank got me bitten by sharks. I never once threatened to leave. So why would he walk away over something as small as this? Chloe smiled as she went upstairs, planning to pick out an outfit for tomorrow’s outing. Her phone suddenly rang. It was someone from the wedding venue. “Ms. Chloe, we can’t reach Mr. Alex. He called us last night to cancel the wedding banquet, but some of the decor items have already been purchased, and that portion of the fee is non-refundable. We just wanted to confirm with him again…” “We’ve tried his phone, but it’s going unanswered…”

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Before our anniversary trip, my husband, Liam Hayes, ignored my protests and insisted on bringing his female assistant. His excuse? Work couldn’t wait. The first night, I’d just slipped into some seductive nightwear when his assistant called him for a meeting. The second night, we were mid-sex when she interrupted, demanding he review proposals. The third night, after he emerged from her room yet again, I told him I wanted a divorce. He exploded: “Avery, are you kidding me? You want to divorce over this small things?” I nodded. “Yes. I’m doing this for your own good. Wouldn’t want to get in the way of your precious work, would I?” “Reasons?” Liam’s eyebrows shot up. “Avery, you better explain yourself.” I leaned against the window of our hotel room, the azure waters of the Maldives stretching out below. We were supposed to be celebrating our romantic fifth wedding anniversary here, a trip I’d meticulously planned for over half a year. But now, that brilliant blue gouged my eyes out, making my stomach churn. “You’ll know the reasons soon enough.” Just then, the doorbell chimed. Liam turned. His female assistant, Chloe Davies, stood in the doorway. “Mr. Hayes, the ten o’clock conference call is about to start.” Chloe’s voice was deliberately hushed, dripping with a sickeningly sweet, humble politeness. Her gaze flickered over me, a fleeting smirk playing on her lips. My face remained calm. “Liam, we’ve been on this trip for two days, and you’ve had over a dozen conference calls with your assistant.” “Day or night, you two spend more time together than you do with me.” “Do you honestly think this marriage is worth saving?” Liam frowned. “Is there something wrong with that? You know how important this merger is to me!” “The merger?” I stepped forward, meeting his gaze directly. “For our fifth wedding anniversary trip, you packed three suitcases.” “Two of them were filled with documents.” “You didn’t pack a single outfit for me, not even your own swim trunks, but you somehow remembered to pack ten dresses for Chloe Davies.” “Care to explain why?” Liam was speechless. Chloe seized the moment, a sickeningly sweet, humble smile plastered on her face. “Miss Reed, I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault.” “I didn’t manage the meeting schedule well and disrupted your plans with Mr. Hayes.” She lowered her head slightly, her bangs falling across her forehead, making her look both innocent and incredibly wronged. “He’s been under so much pressure lately; sometimes he forgets things. Please don’t blame him.” I watched her performance, noticing how her fingers brushed against Liam’s wrist as she spoke, seemingly by accident, but I knew better. Liam didn’t flinch away. “Chloe.” My voice turned cold. “I’m talking to my husband. You’re out of line.” Chloe immediately took a half-step back. “My apologies, Miss Reed, I was wrong.” She looked up at Liam, her eyes wide and shimmering, like a drowned puppy, utterly pathetic. “Mr. Hayes, I’ll go prepare for the meeting. I won’t disturb you any further.” “Wait.” Liam grabbed her arm. He turned back to me, his eyes holding that familiar stubbornness. “Avery, don’t be unreasonable. You know my job is demanding.” I countered, “Demanding enough to be holed up with your assistant until two in the morning?” Then I pulled out my phone and opened my photo album. “Demanding enough that she can call you by your first name, while I, your wife, need to schedule an appointment just to have dinner with you?” Chloe’s face shifted, but quickly reverted to her innocent expression. “Miss Reed, you’ve misunderstood.” “Yesterday, there were just so many documents, we…” “Shut up.” I cut her off without ceremony. Liam’s brows furrowed. “Avery! How can you speak to Chloe like that? Everyone knows she’s my most indispensable assistant!” I scoffed, “If she’s so indispensable, then tell me, what significant contributions has she made to the company? How many major deals has she landed?” Liam was momentarily silent. Chloe lowered her head, putting on a show of self-reproach. “Miss Reed is right. I still have many shortcomings and haven’t been able to alleviate more of Mr. Hayes’s pressure.” Liam, seeing her act, immediately clapped her shoulder, a look of tender concern on his face, then turned to glare at me. “Avery, that’s enough!” “Chloe has been working almost non-stop on this merger. Can’t you see her dedication?” “What right do you have to question her?” “Non-stop?” I sneered. “Right, even on our anniversary trip, she’s glued to your side day and night. She must be truly exhausted.” Liam’s face flushed scarlet. He raised his voice. “Could you just drop the passive-aggressive act? Chloe is my assistant. Her job is to help me. What’s wrong with that?” “Are you seriously asking me to abandon all my work just because you’re being unreasonable?” “I’m being unreasonable?” I repeated his words, suddenly finding them utterly absurd and laughable. I pointed at Chloe. “You two shared a room until dawn last night. As your wife, I was left to sleep alone.” “She brazenly touched your hand right in front of me, and you couldn’t even bother to flinch away.” “Ever since she joined the company, no matter what happens, if she opens her mouth, it’s always my fault.” “I’m not even allowed to question her!” “And all of this, in your eyes, is just me being unreasonable?” Liam was momentarily speechless. Chloe quickly interjected, “Miss Reed, you really misunderstand. I have nothing but respect for Mr. Hayes, no other intentions whatsoever!” “No other intentions?” I scoffed. “No one in their right mind would believe that!” Liam exploded. He practically shoved Chloe behind him. “Avery, that’s enough! Chloe is my assistant, and she’s my friend. I won’t let you insult her like that!”

I stared into his eyes, searching for a hint of guilt or even a flicker of hesitation. But there was only stubbornness and anger. I suddenly felt tired, utterly exhausted. Too weary for more of his pathetic excuses, I simply turned and walked away. “Avery!” Liam called after me, a trace of panic in his voice. “Where are you going?” I didn’t look back. That evening, I sat on the terrace, sipping wine. Liam returned. “Avery.” His voice was softer than before, dripping with forced tenderness. “It’s a bit chilly out here. Come inside.” I didn’t move, just stared at the dark ocean outside the window. He sighed, walked to my side, and reached out to take the wine glass from my hand. I subtly shifted, avoiding his touch. His fingers hovered awkwardly in the air for a few seconds. “Come on, Avery.” He spoke softly. “We need to talk calmly, really talk.” Only then did I look up at him. I put down my glass, stood up, and walked past him towards the room. “Fine. Let’s discuss the divorce settlement.” “Avery!” He rushed after me, grabbing my wrist. “What do you want from me? You know how much I love you. I don’t want a divorce!” I stopped, turning to face him directly. “It’s simple if you don’t want a divorce.” “Fire Chloe Davies immediately, and promise you’ll never have any contact with her again.” “Can you do that?” The expression on his face instantly froze. He released my hand and took a half-step back. His brows were tightly furrowed. “Just because she’s my assistant, you want me to fire someone so indispensable to the company?” “Indispensable?” I scoffed. “She hasn’t closed a single deal on her own since she started six months ago. She only keeps her job because she orbits around you.” “Liam, you’re not a fool, and you’re not a child. Stop acting naive.” His cheeks flushed crimson with anger. “You’re being overly sensitive! Chloe is diligent and responsible. This merger would be impossible without her…” “Without her, it wouldn’t stop you from doing your job just fine.” I cut him off without ceremony. “But you chose to let her insinuate herself into every corner of our lives.” “Our anniversary? You brought her along.” “Our dinner dates? She’s at the next table.” “Now, even when we’re talking by our bed, you still defend her.” Liam’s chest rose and fell rapidly, a faint tremor running through him with each breath. “You don’t understand.” He still tried to explain. “That’s just how company work is. I need her assistance.” My voice grew louder. “Liam, I’m not asking for your opinion right now.” “Either she goes, or we’re done.” “There’s no third option.” His eyes widened, seemingly surprised by my unwavering stance. Suddenly, the shrill ring of his phone shattered the tense silence. Liam quickly walked to the bedside table. He glanced at the caller ID, and a visible tension seized him. I didn’t need to guess. It was Chloe. After answering, his expression quickly morphed from worry into outright panic. “What? You fell? How serious is it?” “…Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up, snatched a jacket, not even bothering to change out of his pajamas, and headed for the door. “Liam.” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “If you walk out that door today, we’re getting a divorce immediately.” His hand was already on the doorknob. He froze. Time seemed to stand still. I could hear the pounding of my own heart. Three seconds, five seconds. He turned, his eyes holding a look I’d never seen before, utterly alien. “Avery, don’t be like this.” His voice was pleading. “Chloe really got hurt. This isn’t back home; she’s alone with no one to care for her. She’s helpless…” “So?” I straightened up. “The hotel has doctors, staff, even ambulances. “She’s not a three-year-old, and you’re not her dad.” “Are you saying only you can take care of her?” Liam: “But she fell because she was working overtime…” “Choose, Liam.” I cut him off. “Now. Immediately.” His lips trembled, and a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite decipher crossed his eyes. Finally, he took a deep breath, as if making a grim decision. “I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” The night wind swept away my last trace of hesitation. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Mr. Miller, regarding the divorce settlement, let’s discuss it in detail when I return to New York tomorrow.”

Liam didn’t return all night. At four in the morning, my phone vibrated. I opened Ins and saw a new post from Chloe. In the photo, she was sitting on a lounge chair on the hotel terrace, her knee bandaged, holding a champagne flute. Liam stood behind her, leaning slightly close to her shoulder, a radiant smile on his face. “So lucky to have your company in a foreign land.” I turned off my phone and booked the earliest flight back to New York. As I boarded, a video from an unknown number popped up. In the video, a man and a woman were tangled on a bed, kissing passionately, utterly lost in each other. Though their faces were somewhat blurred, I instantly recognized the man. I pressed my lips together and powered off my phone. When the plane landed, I turned on my phone, and immediately a dozen missed calls and messages flooded in, all from Liam. I was about to turn it off again when his call came through. “Avery!” His voice was laced with obvious anger. “Where are you? Why did you suddenly come back?” “Suddenly?” My tone was calm. “I thought I made myself perfectly clear.” “Just because I went to take care of Chloe last night, you just abandoned me and left?” His voice suddenly rose, sharp and accusing. “Do you have any idea how worried I was, alone in that hotel?” I laughed sardonically. “I saw you and Chloe were having a grand old time. You even posted on Ins. Did you really have time to worry about me?” A momentary silence on the other end, then his voice came back, with a hint of guilt. “She posted?” “The photo’s really well taken, from every angle, and the mood? Flawless,” I said coldly. “Avery, do you have to be so passive-aggressive?” “Chloe fell and got hurt last night. I just went to help her with her injury!” “As her boss and her friend, I have an obligation to take care of her.” My patience evaporated. I scoffed, “Liam, don’t take me for a fool.” “You’re being completely irrational!” “Chloe and I have nothing going on. You’re just overthinking things, always jumping to the most disgusting conclusions!” “You know exactly what’s going on, Liam. Just wait for my divorce settlement.” “Avery!” A trace of panic finally entered his voice. “Are you really going to divorce me over a few trivial matters?” “Maybe it’s a ‘small matter’ to you, Liam, but for me, it’s my absolute breaking point. My non-negotiable.” I could hear his ragged breathing on the other end. He seemed about to say something else. But I didn’t give him the chance. I hung up. The next day, as if to deliberately provoke me, Liam frequently posted on Ins. Sometimes it was photos of him and Chloe at a restaurant, sometimes it was him showing off gifts he’d received, with a caption that dripped with ambiguous affection. “Thanks for the surprise, someone special. All the hard work and stress are worth it.” I swiped past it, my face emotionless, and sent him the divorce agreement with the assets clearly divided. Liam’s call came almost immediately. “Avery, what the hell is this? You actually think I can’t live without you, don’t you? You’ll regret this!” I didn’t bother to reply. I just hung up and blocked his number. Seven days later, on a stormy night, I was hanging out at my best friend’s place. A video from an unknown number popped up again. In the video, Chloe was wearing my silk slip, holding a glass of red wine, looking up at the large wedding photo of Liam and me. A sneering laugh played on her lips. On the bed, the rumpled sheets were strewn with underwear I’d bought for Liam. A cold, blinding fury ripped through me. Liam and I weren’t even divorced yet, and she’d brazenly moved into my home, acting like she owned the place. This was beyond insulting!

Half an hour later, soaked to the bone, I slammed open the front door. The lights inside were dim. Flickering candlelight cast two long shadows on the wall. Chloe was raising her red wine glass, clinking it with Liam’s. When she saw me, she feigned surprise, rising from her seat. “Miss Reed, you’re back?” “Oh, I’m so sorry, my clothes got soaked in the rain. Liam, being so kind, lent me your nightdress so I wouldn’t catch a chill.” My gaze swept to Liam. He sat at the dining table, still impossibly handsome, but his eyes were cold as ice. As if I were merely an unwelcome intruder at their dinner. “Why didn’t you say you were coming back?” His tone was indifferent, devoid of any concern. I clenched my fists, fighting down a tidal wave of fury. “This is my home. Do I need an invitation to come home?” Chloe immediately interjected, her voice laced with a calculated hint of vulnerability. “Miss Reed, please don’t misunderstand. I was just here to bring Mr. Hayes some files, and then it suddenly started pouring…” My patience snapped. I cut her off. “Delivering files requires wearing my nightdress? And a candlelit dinner?” “Get out!” Chloe took a half-step back, pretending to be terrified, her eyes already welling up. “I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault… I’ll just change out of this…” As she spoke, her fingers deliberately fumbled with the buttons of the nightdress, agonizingly slow. She stole a glance at Liam. Sure enough, Liam shot to his feet, shielding her. “Avery, that’s enough! Chloe is my guest. What right do you have to treat her like this?” “Guest?” I scoffed. “Fine. If she doesn’t leave, I will.” I turned and walked to the bedroom, haphazardly stuffing a few outfits into my backpack. Liam started to rise, but Chloe tugged his sleeve, and he reluctantly sat back down. As I passed the study, I pushed the door open, wanting to retrieve my mother’s portrait. But I stopped dead. The frame lay shattered on the floor, the glass splintered, and a huge footprint was stamped right across her face. My blood ran cold. “Who did this?” My voice was low, suppressing the rage that was about to explode. Chloe followed me, sidling up, feigning concern. “Miss Reed, I’m so sorry.” “I accidentally knocked the frame over after my shower. I’ll buy you a new one.” “Accidentally?” I slowly turned, staring at her hypocritical face. “Was it an accident, Chloe, or did you deliberately stomp on it?” Her expression froze for a moment. Then she reverted to her pathetic, helpless look. “I really didn’t mean to, please don’t be angry…” Liam rushed over, his brow furrowed. “Avery, Chloe has already apologized. What more do you want?” “It’s just a picture of your mom, Avery. We can print another one tomorrow, frame it.” “She said it was an accident. Do you have to be so aggressive?” That was it. The fuse lit, and my carefully contained rage exploded. I lunged, grabbing Chloe by the collar and slamming her against the wall. “Who the hell do you think you are, touching my mother’s memorial picture?!” A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s eyes. But quickly, she squeezed out a few tears. “Miss Reed, I really didn’t mean to!” Liam charged forward, pulling at my arm. “Avery! Are you crazy? Let her go!” I ignored him, seizing a handful of Chloe’s hair and slamming her head against the wall. A sickening thud echoed, and instantly, a crimson bruise bloomed on her forehead. Blood streamed from her nose, dripping down her chin. “Avery! Stop it!” Liam shrieked, desperately trying to pull me away. Chloe finally dropped her facade, her face twisting into a mask of pure hatred as she glared at me. Her voice, still sickeningly sweet and innocent-sounding, whispered, “Miss Reed, you doing this… Liam will be so upset…” “Upset?” I slammed her head against the wall again. “His feelings? I couldn’t care less!” Liam rushed over and wrapped his arms tightly around her, then turned to bellow at me. “Avery, you’re completely irrational! We’re over!” “We’re getting a divorce tomorrow!” I delivered a stinging slap across his face. “Liam, this isn’t just about divorce anymore!” “You can desecrate my feelings, but you will not insult my mother!” “If I don’t finish you two two-timing cheats today, I swear on my life!”

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I brought in fifty million in profit for the company in one year, yet during the third week of my boss’s business trip, I was fired on the spot by his mistress. The reason was laughably simple—I showed up at ten. She was sitting in my boss’s chair, jabbing a finger at the attendance record. “This isn’t your company. Do you think good numbers put you above the rules?” “You’re just a commission-based salesman. What makes you so special?” I reminded her that my ten a.m. start was a privilege personally approved by the boss. She just laughed and called him right in front of me. When he said, “Handle it however you see fit,” I simply nodded. Fine. Fire me. A company run like this won’t last long anyway. The boss went away for a month and left his girlfriend in charge. Who knew her first move as acting boss would be to come after me? At 10 a.m., I walked into the office right on time. A colleague looked nervous, gesturing toward the boss’s door and whispering, “Skyler’s in there. She wants to see you!” Skyler Prescott was the boss’s latest girlfriend—notorious for her attitude and bullying. She’d curse out anyone she didn’t like. Once, when a female colleague stayed a few minutes late in the boss’s office to finish a report, Skyler spread rumors she was sleeping her way up. She made that girl’s life so miserable she had to quit. But because Skyler could turn on the sweet talk and flattery, the boss usually let her have her way. I hadn’t expected her to train her sights on me. I set down my coffee and pushed the door open. The moment I stepped in, a folder came flying at my face. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Company hours start at eight. Why are you strolling in at ten?” The sharp corner of the folder left a stinging cut on my forehead. I pressed a hand to it, staring at Skyler throwing her weight around behind the desk. My ten a.m. start was a perk for being the top sales performer. Everyone knew that—it was an unwritten rule. Years back, when the boss’s company was about to go under, they’d taken a chance and hired me. In my first month, I landed five million in sales and pulled the company back from the brink. Ever since, the boss had treated me like his golden goose, listening to my input on every major decision. She slammed a hand on the desk, her face twisted. “Look at your punch card! You’ve been rolling in at ten for a full month. Do the rules not apply to you?” “Company policy says three consecutive late arrivals are grounds for termination!” “You can get out. Now.” I looked at her, disbelief in my eyes. “You’re firing me? Did you clear this with the boss?” I brought in eighty percent of this company’s profit, and she dared to fire me? Skyler snorted, giving me a look of pure contempt. “You’re just a salesman. A glorified peddler. What’s so special about you?” “This is my boyfriend’s company. I’m his girlfriend—I can fire anyone I want!” The boss had always been decent to me, so I wasn’t about to storm out. I took a seat on the sofa. “You should get the boss’s opinion first.” Skyler rolled her eyes. “Who do you think you are?” With that, she called the boss directly. He sounded tired on the other end. “What is it?” The shrill, yelling version of Skyler vanished instantly, her voice turning syrupy. “Sweetie, I miss you.” The boss sighed. “Just tell me what you want.” Skyler shot me a triumphant glance. “There’s a salesman who doesn’t follow rules—always comes in late. I want to let him go.” “Whatever. I need to rest.” The boss agreed casually and hung up. Skyler looked at me, arrogance oozing from every pore. “Hear that? I can fire whoever I want. Now get out!”

I let out a cold laugh, keeping my eyes on her. “Are you sure about this?” “When the boss gets back and finds out you fired me, he might not be happy.” I was giving her a genuine warning. Headhunters had been offering me bigger packages for years. I’d stayed out of loyalty. My leaving wouldn’t hurt me one bit, but Skyler might not be so lucky. She glared, her face contorted with spite. “Who do you think you are? You’re just a salesman. I’m his future wife—the lady of this company. You really think he’d pick you over me?” Hearing that, I just shook my head. Have it your way, then. I turned and walked out. Outside, colleagues had overheard the argument and were shooting me uneasy looks. “Jaden, what’s going on?” I started packing my desk, calm. “What’s going on is I’ve been fired.” My colleague’s eyes went wide. “Fired? Has Skyler lost it? Everyone knows you’re the cash cow. Isn’t she afraid the boss will dump her?” I shook my head with a dry chuckle. “Not my problem anymore. She made the call; she’ll face the consequences.” “Besides, I’ve been grinding for years. Maybe a real break will be good.” I’d saved enough to be financially free long ago, but I never took time off—always felt too guilty to ask. This was the perfect excuse. My colleague was furious. “But why? Did you somehow cross her?” I thought for a moment. “Probably because I stood up for Lena when Skyler was spreading those rumors about her, remember?” “Ever since, she’s had it out for me, picking at everything.” Yesterday, Skyler had posted a selfie in the company WhatsApp group. Everyone flooded the comments with compliments. I was the only one who read it and didn’t reply. Guess that was the last straw. “Should I call the boss? You’re the backbone here. You can’t just leave.” I shook my head, a faint smile on my lips. “Let it go. If I ever come back, it’ll be after Skyler and the boss are done. I can’t stand her antics anymore. We’ll see.” I finished packing and headed to accounting to collect my pay for the month. I’d only worked ten days, but with commission, it came to a hundred grand. I informed the accountant about the termination and asked her to wire the money later. Out of nowhere, Skyler appeared at the office entrance, glaring daggers. “Jaden Carter, I told you to get out. What are you still doing here?” I met her gaze calmly. She was practically gloating, thinking she’d landed the ultimate boyfriend. It was nauseating. When I didn’t respond, she got agitated. She marched over and grabbed my shirt. “Are you deaf? What are you doing in accounting? These are sensitive company records. Get out now, or I’m calling security!” I frowned and shook off her hand forcefully. “Let go.” “Now that I’m fired, is there a problem with collecting what I’m owed for this month? I’m being generous not asking for severance.” Skyler turned her glare to the young accountant. “How much is he owed?” The accountant answered plainly, “One hundred thousand, five hundred.” Skyler’s face shifted. “How much?” After hearing it again, she pointed at me. “You violated policy by being late. Your pay for this month is forfeited.” I laughed coldly. “Two hundred bucks per late arrival—is that your math? Did you even finish grade school?” To my surprise, Skyler looked at me as if she were righteous. “It’s a new rule I implemented. Three lates and you lose the whole month’s pay. Now get out!”

“What gives you the right to make rules?” Skyler crossed her arms, her mouth hanging open like a shark’s, and said shamelessly, “I’ll own part of this company someday. What’s wrong with me making rules?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Then expect a lawsuit from me.” With that, I walked out. I drove home, had just put my things away when I saw a message from Skyler in the company Snapchat group I hadn’t left yet. “From now on, everyone must reply to any message I post on Snapchat or WhatsApp. Anyone who doesn’t will be fired, like that person today.” So she really fired me because I didn’t join the praise parade. The boss really hit the jackpot with this one. Everyone started replying in the group. Annoyed, I left all the groups. My phone suddenly got much quieter. But since Skyler was withholding my final paycheck, I decided to teach her a lesson. All the key clients were in my contacts. I sent a bulk message explaining I’d resigned and would no longer be handling their business. Most of these were clients I’d brought in. They worked with the company because of me. If I left, they’d likely follow. Sure enough, within two minutes, former clients began messaging, asking which firm I’d moved to and saying they’d transfer their contracts. I explained I hadn’t landed anywhere yet but would reach out as soon as I did. The list was so long I kept replying until dark, finally collapsing into exhausted sleep. The next morning, a colleague texted: “Jaden, multiple partners are saying they want to terminate and won’t renew. Was that you?” Seems the plan worked. I chuckled. “I didn’t do anything. Just stated the fact that I’m gone.” “You’re still the best. When Skyler came in this morning and heard, she blew up at several salespeople, demanding to know why they couldn’t keep the clients. Now a few are planning to quit—they won’t take this crap.” Looked like plenty in the company were fed up with Skyler. I wondered how she’d handle the fallout. On my end, I was about to contact a lawyer to file a major lawsuit for my back pay. I didn’t need the money, but I wasn’t about to let her off easy. Unexpectedly, a few days later, Skyler called me. Surprised, I answered cautiously. “What is it?” The moment I picked up, a stream of abuse poured out. “Jaden Carter, are you even human? Where are all the company’s client contacts? They said you have them. Hand over those numbers right now. That’s company property. Don’t think I won’t sue you!” I paused, then realized Skyler must be getting desperate. “How can you be so disgusting? Give me the contacts now! Or I swear I’ll ruin you, you hear me?”

I laughed coldly. “Those clients came from my hustle. They only work with me. Why should I hand them over?” Skyler grew more unhinged. “Did the company not pay you? This was your job. You think we fed you for free?” “You ungrateful snake! My boyfriend paid you all these years, and now you steal all the clients? You’re a heartless animal!” I sneered. “You want the contacts? Fine, I’ll give them to you. I’d love to see you try to win them back.” They were just phone numbers. I had absolute confidence. I wanted to see Skyler squirm. After hanging up, I sent the client list to a colleague, asking her to pass it to Skyler. I didn’t believe she could salvage many. The next day, my colleague sent me a video. It was a covert recording of Skyler. She was on the phone with a client. We couldn’t hear the other side, but Skyler suddenly started shrieking. “Did that bastard Jaden tell you something? You’re in cahoots, aren’t you? How much did he pay you to say this?” “If you’re not buying, then get lost! See where else you can go!” Skyler hung up angrily and hurled the phone down. “I don’t believe this company can’t survive without these clients. Everyone, go find new clients now!” “Each of you bring me five new clients today!” “If you can’t, you can all get out!” The office immediately erupted in complaints. The company sold heavy machinery. Landing one client in half a month was tough—five in a day was impossible. Sure enough, Skyler glared, her face twisted with rage. “What? Are you all rebelling?” One of the older salesmen, Bryce, stood up. “Why don’t we wait for the boss to return? You don’t understand the business. What if things go wrong?” To everyone’s shock, Skyler crossed her arms and looked at him with disdain. “If you’re not capable, you’re not capable. The company doesn’t keep dead weight. If you can’t do it, get out!” The man she’d insulted was usually gentle. Humiliated like this, his face flushed red. He threw his badge down. “I can’t do it. Let whoever can, do it.” As one walked out, others followed, removing their badges. “We can’t either!” Skyler looked ready to explode. “Fine. Fine. You want to rebel? I don’t believe this company can’t run without you people. Now get out! Get out!” At her shrill shout, the sales team gradually filed out. Skyler glared after them, cursing. “I don’t believe we can’t operate without you useless lot. You think you’re so special!” The video ended there. My colleague texted gleefully, “The boss will return to a disaster. The company’s going under.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Skyler was really on a path of self-destruction. She’d actually driven away an entire experienced sales team. What would the boss do when he returned? Too bad I couldn’t see it in person. Must be quite a show. That afternoon, I got a message from our former boss. He asked, “What souvenirs does everyone want? I’ll bring something back.” Skyler had kept my resignation a secret, so he didn’t know. I sighed lightly and replied, “We’ve all resigned. You should ask your girlfriend for details.” The boss immediately video-called, but I didn’t answer. There was no point. I’d started this studio with the team. We’d all tasted success. No one would want to go back to being salespeople under that roof. And I wouldn’t abandon them. At this point, there was no room for negotiation. The next morning, the boss flew back and stormed into the company. Someone in our group reported the scene, telling us all to come down and watch the drama. After some thought, I decided to go. There were things that needed to be said. I saw Skyler, who clearly hadn’t expected his early return, panicking and explaining. “Sweetie, those people were completely out of line. I thought it’d be better to get you a more obedient team. Anyone can do that job, after all.” I sneered. Even now, Skyler was trying to shift blame. She was truly beyond help. The boss finally lost his patience. He stepped forward and slapped Skyler across the face, roaring, “Who gave you permission to act on your own?” Skyler held her cheek, stunned. “I just…” “Who are you to me? Who gave you that authority? You were still lying to me yesterday, saying everything at the company was fine!” “The company’s sales this month are zero. You call that fine?” “Now get out! Get out!” The relatives Skyler had brought in had already scattered when things went south. Seeing the boss’s state, I figured today wasn’t the day for discussion. I’d come back another time. That evening, as I got home, someone knocked on my door. I opened it to find Skyler standing there, eyes red. Seeing me, she seemed about to kneel. I startled, stepping aside. “What are you doing? Kneeling to me will shorten my lifespan!” But Skyler pleaded, “Please… please bring everyone back. My boyfriend said unless you return, he’ll break up with me and throw me out!” Tears streaked her face. “I was wrong. I was too young before—I didn’t realize how important you all were. Please forgive my ignorance. I was wrong.” I frowned at her. “Now you realize? Where was this awareness before?” “All these people have families to support. You fired them without a second thought. Did you ever consider what would happen to them?” Skyler was speechless. Of course she hadn’t considered it. In her world, only she existed. “You’re not sorry. You’re just scared. Scared that without him, you’ll never find another rich guy.” With her true motives exposed, a flash of venom crossed Skyler’s face. She stood up, staring at me intently. “So what? I’ll tell you the truth—I’m pregnant with his child. No matter what, he’ll have to marry me.” I glanced at her flat stomach and shrugged. “What’s that to me? Get out of my home, or I’m calling the police.”

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After Clara, the sister our entire family had always been so proud of, died unexpectedly, my parents were utterly devastated, their cries tearing through the silence. But I, Stella, stumbled upon Clara’s anonymous online post, revealing she had deliberately faked her death. Just as I was about to tell Mom and Dad the truth, I overheard Mom talking to Dad: “The wrong one died. The most accomplished one just… left us.” “We finally put a master’s student through school, hoping she’d help with her sister’s never-ending medical bills.” “Why did I give birth to such a parasitic daughter with a chronic illness!” I froze outside the door. The “wrong daughter” she spoke of, the one who was a burden, was me. I was born with congenital cerebral palsy, and the doctors advised them to give up on me. But Mom and Dad refused. They sacrificed everything, enduring unimaginable hardships, to raise me. Because of my cerebral palsy and uncoordinated limbs, classmates mocked me, and I developed depression and anxiety. Our whole family, struggling to pay for my treatments and medication, never knew a single day of peace. I was the burden holding our family back. Watching my parents’ retreating figures, I whispered to myself: “Mom, you’re right. It should have been me.” “I’ll do as you wish and disappear.”

Before I died, I revisited Clara’s anonymous post. She had updated it with a new status: *Faking my death feels like being reborn. I don’t have to scrounge for every penny anymore, saving money for my sister’s treatments.* It turned out she faked her death because of *me*! *Plip*. A tear hit the screen. Blurring the words. A wave of guilt washed over me, yet I felt an undeniable sense of relief. Because of me, her life truly had been miserable. She never wore new clothes, always wearing things that were too small or too short. Her outfits were always mismatched, ill-fitting for her age – men’s clothes, women’s clothes, children’s clothes, even elderly attire. Yet she would smile and ask Mom: “It’s almost Christmas, could we please get Stella a new dress?” She never asked for anything for herself, as thoughtful and selfless as an angel sent from above. Whenever our family rarely had meat, She’d mimic Mom and Dad, making sure all the lean meat landed on my plate. Skinny as she was, she would carry me on her back for the long walk to school. Not just for a day or two. But for twelve years, through countless springs, summers, autumns, and winters! When others called me a cripple, Clara, usually so quiet, would fight like a lion to defend me. The scales of my parents’ love had always tipped in my favor ever since I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. But Clara never competed for their affection. She loved me just as much as Mom and Dad did, and beyond that, she studied with fierce determination. She would say: “Stella, I’ll definitely get into a great university. Someday, I’ll make sure our whole family lives a good life.” In everyone’s eyes, Clara was Mom and Dad’s pride. The sole beacon of hope in our broken home. I typed a private message to Clara, my hands trembling. “Clara, thank you for loving me all these years.” “I’m so sorry that you had a sister like me.” “I’m tired. I’m going to another world to rest.” “Clara, please come home.” The screen was covered in tears, making the touch unresponsive. I wiped it for a long time with my sleeve before I could exit. I opened the drawer, where I’d collected sleeping pills for six months, finally gathering a lethal dose. At the very moment I decided to swallow them, I still chose to leave a final note for Mom and Dad. “Mom and Dad, I’m so sorry. Because of me, our whole family’s life has been trapped in a never-ending struggle.” “I can’t hold on anymore. I have to free myself. Please don’t cry.” I held back my tears, not letting them fall onto the paper. A thousand words churned in my heart, but I didn’t know where to begin. This would have to do. I placed my suicide note in the most conspicuous spot on my bedside table. Without hesitation, I swallowed half the bottle of sleeping pills. I lay down, pulled the covers over me, found a comfortable position, and closed my eyes. Mom, Dad, Clara, goodbye forever. That evening, my spirit drifted through our home. The quiet house finally heard the sound of the front door opening. “Stella, are you hungry?” “I bought some chicken wings. I’ll make your favorite soy sauce chicken wings.” Mom looked utterly drained, her eyes swollen and red-rimmed. Her spirit was low, but she forced her voice to sound normal. 2 As usual, she called out to both my room and Clara’s. Then she headed straight for the kitchen, bustling about. Dad had the flu and was coughing incessantly. He was curled up miserably on the sofa. My heart ached for him. I stared at his head full of white hair, his face etched with wrinkles, his body thin and frail, his clothes worn and tattered. I vaguely remembered that my dad used to be a handsome young man. Mom poked her head out of the kitchen, her eyes filled with worry, and urged Dad: “Get some medicine. This family relies on you.” “You can’t afford to collapse.” Dad didn’t open his eyes. He shivered, wrapping his arms around his chest and hunching his shoulders. “I’m fine.” Suddenly, he found a burst of strength, got up unsteadily, and shuffled into the room. “I’ll just go sweat it out under the covers. I’ll be fine after a good sweat.” He lay on the old, thin quilt, and since it wasn’t warm enough, he piled all the thick clothes in the house on top of himself. He mumbled softly: “That money… it would be enough for Stella’s medicine.” “Sigh…” He let out a heavy sigh. I stood by his bed, tears streaming down my face with sorrow. He cried in his sleep, his sobs muffled and low, as if afraid Mom and I would hear. “Clara, such a good, accomplished child, how could she…?” “Heaven, if you absolutely had to take one of my daughters.” “Why did you take Clara…?” I patted Dad’s back, but he felt nothing. “Dad, I’m gone.” “You and Mom won’t suffer anymore.” “Clara might even come back.” He heard nothing, hiding under the covers, choking back his grief. Not until Mom finished cooking and came in to call him for dinner. He controlled his emotions remarkably well, not letting Mom hear that he had been crying. “I don’t feel like eating. You call Stella to eat.” Mom sighed and turned to my room and Clara’s. She pushed open the door and saw me lying under the covers. “Stella, dinner’s ready.” “I made your favorite soy sauce chicken wings today.” Seeing no response, no sound from me, she patiently called out twice more. Still no reaction from me. Mom’s temper flared instantly: “I’m talking to you!” “Are you dead? Why aren’t you answering me!” “I’m constantly waiting on you like a maid, and I never get any thanks!” “Can you just give me a break? Stop lying in bed all day like a useless lump!” “I’m talking to you! Do you hear me?!” “With everything that’s happened to our family, all you do is sleep!” “Maybe you should just die! Then I could die with you! We could all be free!” She spiraled into a breakdown as she yelled, tears streaming down her face like pearls from a broken string, constantly wiping them away. I instinctively reached out to hug her, but my arms passed right through. I could only watch helplessly, crying again and again: “Mom, I’m so sorry.” “I’m so sorry.” I knew it wasn’t that she and Dad didn’t love me; it was just that my illness had driven them to the brink of madness for so many years. Mom stormed out, turning her back, and sat at the rickety old dining table with a broken leg, wiping away tears. On the table were three bowls of plain rice, two soy sauce chicken wings, and a plate of homemade pickles. The chicken wings were for me. Mom only ever bought two. At first, the produce vendor used to sneer at Mom, saying she’d never seen anyone buy just two chicken wings. Mom would just give an embarrassed smile every time. Later, the vendor learned about our family’s situation and never gave Mom another cold stare. She started giving Mom free seasoning every time. 3 When Clara was still here, her eyes would practically pop out with longing, but she’d force herself to say: “Stella, you eat them. I don’t like them.” I once asked her: “Clara, Mom and Dad are so unfair to me, doesn’t it make you sad?” She smiled and said: “No, why would that make me sad?” “Mom and Dad treat you better in terms of food and daily life, but they sent me to school, didn’t they?” “Their sacrifices for me are no less than for you; studying is very expensive.” “So, I don’t feel it’s unfair.” Thinking of Clara’s sweet smile, my heart ached faintly. If I hadn’t had this expensive illness of mine. Our family could have lived a good life. Mom and Dad both worked two jobs: construction sites during the day and washing dishes at a restaurant at night. Their combined income was roughly fifteen hundred dollars a month. But my cerebral palsy physical therapy cost eight hundred dollars a month. Actually, there were programs that offered free physical therapy for people with coordination difficulties and walking impairments like me. I went there for a while, but Mom felt the rehabilitation results weren’t good enough. So she spent money to send me to a private facility every day. She’d drop me off at noon, then pick me up two hours later. She drove me for twenty-six years, rain or shine. Plus, I had depression and anxiety, and an hour of therapy cost eight hundred dollars. Mom didn’t bat an eye, sending me three or four times a week. I also had to take all sorts of medication. This meant Clara had no money for living expenses when she went to university and had to work tirelessly to support herself. Because of me, everyone in our family struggled as if in hell. Actually, to prevent them from being dragged down by me, I had attempted suicide several times. Each time, I was rescued. Thankfully, fate had finally answered my prayers, and this time, I had gotten my wish. I remember when I was little, my grandmother would take a bus for several hours from her rural home just to bring me fresh farm eggs. Seeing Mom tormented by me, utterly miserable. She pitied her own daughter, couldn’t bear to watch, and told Mom: “Either abandon Stella, or find a new husband!” “You’re still young; your life shouldn’t be forever stuck in this quagmire!” “If you don’t care about yourself, I do! You’re my flesh and blood!” Mom didn’t listen and had a huge fight with Grandma. After that, Grandma never visited again, and Mom had no home to go back to. My thoughts snapped back. Mom covered the chicken wings. She had no appetite to eat either. Before going to bed, she stood at my bedroom door and said: “I left your dinner on the table. Get up and eat if you get hungry.” No response. She didn’t get angry this time, just turned and went back to her room to sleep. The next day, Dad’s flu hadn’t improved, but he still had to go to the construction site at six in the morning. Even though he was weak, he forced himself. I stomped my feet in a panic, bouncing frantically in front of him and Mom: “Dad, Mom, please, lift my blanket and check!” “I’m gone! You don’t have to work yourselves to death anymore!” “Please, just look!” Mom glanced at the untouched rice and chicken wings on the table and called from my room: “Stella, what are you upset about now?!” “Why didn’t you eat dinner last night?!” “Your dad and I have to go to work. Get up and eat quickly.” “I’ll be back at noon to take you to therapy, do you hear me?!”

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I poured ten years into Gaylen’s life. I personally guided him from a broke student to the CEO of a top corporation. Nearing New Year’s Eve, I discovered I was pregnant. I carefully wrapped a bouquet of red roses, tucking the positive pregnancy test inside. Tonight, I planned to propose to him. I never imagined I’d witness his betrayal with my own eyes. The girl huddled in Gaylen’s arms, sobbing plaintively. “I don’t want to sneak around with you anymore. I want to be your wife. That old woman doesn’t deserve you.” Gaylen playfully tapped Chloe’s nose, his gaze full of doting affection. “Yes, my future Mrs. Gaylen.” The roses slipped from my hand, falling to the ground. Gaylen turned, seeing me through a blur of tears. I covered my face and spun away, tears streaming between my fingers. Back at the apartment, my stomach churned, and I wretched miserably over the trash can. A cold dread spread through my limbs as a pair of black leather shoes entered my vision. Gaylen gently patted my back, instinctively reaching for the antacids. “Stomach bothering you again?” The meticulously prepared candlelight dinner I’d set on the table now sat cold. I pulled away from Gaylen’s touch and headed for the bathroom. The tiled walls were covered with silly big-headed photos, snapshots of Gaylen’s and my ten years together. He, boyish and naive, slowly matured. I, already mature, slowly grew weary. I turned on the faucet, letting the rushing water mask my fragile sobs. After a long while, I composed myself. Gaylen was busy in the kitchen, and a comforting aroma of home-cooked food filled the apartment. When adults cheat, there’s often an unspoken understanding. No need for screaming and shouting. A steaming bowl of mushroom soup was placed in front of me. There was no guilt in Gaylen’s eyes, only the calm composure of a powerful man. The air hung heavy with unspoken words. I instinctively recoiled, moving to retreat to my room. Gaylen was quicker, catching my hand and sighing with feigned resignation. “She’s so innocent and sweet, just like how you used to feel about me.” “I promise I’m just playing around with her.” “I’ll never forget the help and kindness you’ve given me.” Ultimately, the Gaylen who’d tearfully promised to love me forever in the dead of night was long gone. The unspoken cold war between us dragged on for days. During this time, the doctor called to tell me that my body was weak, and I might not be able to handle the rigors of pregnancy. But when he was younger, Gaylen had always wanted me to have his child. This baby, I thought, could have been the turning point for our relationship. Restless and upset, I decided to visit the office to inspect some work. And, if possible, find a chance to talk to Gaylen. The moment I stepped into the office, the bustling, chattering employees instantly fell silent. Chloe, the junior assistant, was handing out coffees. She smirked at me. “Rhiannon, would you like a cup?” The coffee sleeve, emblazoned with a photo of Gaylen and me standing side-by-side, was a jarring sight. My nails dug into my palms, but I smiled sweetly. “Sure.” She held up the last cup, frowning in feigned difficulty. “But Rhiannon, at your age, you probably don’t need to stay up late, do you? Why don’t we leave the coffee for the younger staff who actually need it.” Suppressed snickers rippled through the office. Before I could react, Gaylen appeared, his voice sharp and cold. “Chloe, stop messing around.” It was a reprimand, sure, but I didn’t miss the soft, doting look in Gaylen’s eyes. Pouting, Chloe defiantly stuck out her tongue and ducked behind Gaylen. Gaylen strode towards me, taking the bag from my hand. “What brings you to the office today?” I casually picked up a coffee from the table, swirling it, feigning indifference. “Just came to let you know that Chloe is fired.”

A furious shriek echoed from behind me. The glass shattered inches from my feet, a shard slicing my ankle. The sharp sting spread, and I bit the inside of my cheek, then dialed my private lawyer. “Someone just threatened my safety. Come deal with it.” I leaned against my car, annoyed, and reached for a cigarette. But the thought of the baby in my belly made me stop. Gaylen rushed over, his grip tightening painfully on my wrist. “Chloe needs this job to support her sick grandmother. She can’t lose it.” “She’s suffered enough.” Suffered enough? I flung Gaylen’s hand away, my composure snapping, and days of pent-up resentment exploded. “Just because she’s ‘suffered enough’ means she gets to steal my boyfriend? Just because she’s ‘suffered enough’ means she can strut around, flaunting it in my face?” I hiked up my skirt, revealing my bleeding ankle, and let out a choked laugh. “Or is it just *her* ‘suffering’ that tugs at your heart?” My hoarse shouts echoed in the empty parking garage. Gaylen massaged his throbbing temples. “If you won’t let her go, I’ll have to protect her my own way.” He turned and walked away without a backward glance. His broad back disappeared from sight. All my defenses crumbled, and I hugged my arms, sinking to the ground. Gaylen had been “suffering” back then, too. I’d taken him in. He had an easy job, and after work, he’d do the laundry, cook, and take care of my daily needs. He’d worry when my eyes were red from overtime, and when my stomach bled from drinking with clients. He’d worry that I had no one else to rely on, and that I wouldn’t dare take a sick day, terrified of missing a promotion. Maybe Gaylen had forgotten. His original ambition to climb the corporate ladder was just to be my rock, to build a safe haven for me. I pulled open the car door and sped off towards the hospital. While waiting in the corridor, the couple across from me, after learning they were pregnant, wept with joy. The man squeezed the woman’s hand, tearfully promising to be a good father. It was a touching, heartwarming scene. I gently touched my abdomen, my heart wavering slightly. Was I too headstrong, causing all these arguments with Gaylen? If he knew we had a baby, would he finally settle down and become a responsible father? My phone buzzed, shattering all my sweet illusions. Chloe hadn’t been fired. Gaylen had hired her as his personal assistant, reporting directly to him. The usually dormant company group chat suddenly burst to life. “OMG, Chloe is amazing! With Gaylen covering for her, she can basically run wild in this company.” “Gaylen is known for being strictly fair, but he broke all the rules to keep Chloe. What a man!” “Who knows, maybe Chloe will be our boss one day. Our respected CEO’s wife!” My heart sank deeper into the abyss. Gaylen, who never participated in company gossip, even showed up, sending out a huge cash prize to celebrate. My phone vibrated frantically, displaying a familiar number. I answered. “Gaylen pulled strings with the CEO, cashing in the favor from his last big project, just to keep Chloe.” “Your… dismissal approval has been returned to your inbox.” I responded flatly. Gaylen had taken on a difficult but high-stakes project last time. I’d pulled all-nighters for half a month, practically gave myself a heart attack. I’d gone through hell and back to help him nail that tough challenge. We’d agreed then that we’d use that success to get a week’s vacation and fly to Bali to relax. All my hard work, my very blood and sweat, just a stepping stone for him. Tears streamed down my face. I didn’t hesitate anymore; I walked into the operating room. I also applied for a transfer to the headquarters in the States.

When I pushed open the door to our apartment, an unfamiliar perfume filled the air. Chloe lay on the leather couch, wearing the expensive face mask Gaylen had given *me*. Seeing me, she arrogantly lifted her head, flashing the pigeon-egg diamond ring on her ring finger. “Gaylen gave me this. Pretty, right?” “He also said that once he’s firmly seated as CEO, he’ll kick you to the curb and marry me, you know.” A dull ache throbbed in my lower abdomen, and a warm liquid trickled down my legs. The bathroom door opened, steam swirling out. Gaylen emerged shirtless, several crimson scratch marks across his chest. In the trash can, there were used condoms. Everything screamed that Gaylen had been loving another woman in *our* home. The blood under me plopped onto the floor. Chloe clutched her nose in disgust, scrambling to Gaylen’s side. “Gaylen, do older women just get dirty now?” “The air is full of blood; it’s making me sick.” She faked a gag. Gaylen, however, merely frowned deeply and made a quick phone call. The cleaner arrived promptly. She cleaned every nook and cranny of the apartment. But the blood between my legs just kept flowing. Gaylen used to be so incredibly attentive; he knew my cycle dates without fail. When I was younger, I didn’t take care of myself, which led to irregular periods. Gaylen had insisted on me taking supplements for two years, and he’d practically memorized my monthly cycle. He would have just needed to glance at the period tracking chart on the fridge. He would have known something was wrong. The cleaner, looking at the blood beneath me, worriedly advised, “Miss, are you feeling unwell?” Gaylen glanced at me, his lips parting. But before he could speak, Chloe sagged weakly into his arms. “Gaylen, you were so rough just now.” “My back hurts, and I can’t stand straight. Carry me to the bedroom, please.” Gaylen pulled his gaze away, and as he brushed past me, he muttered an annoyed reminder. “Older people should definitely pay more attention to personal hygiene.” “You should probably stay somewhere else tonight.” He handed me a hotel keycard. I suddenly remembered the first time I met Gaylen; he was huddled under a freeway overpass. His shirt was drenched, caked in mud. I handed him a keycard, just like this, for a suite at the hotel I frequented, telling him to go take a hot shower. The fragile, helpless boy I had nurtured and guided had slowly grown into someone capable of standing on his own. Even, someone who was now my equal. My hands and feet were icy cold. I took the keycard Gaylen handed me. He looked surprised. “You’re actually agreeing to move out?” I gave Gaylen a heartbreaking look, but said nothing. I just numbly packed my bags and slammed the door shut. My chest ached with a dense, suffocating pain. I sat in my car, finally unable to control my emotions, and burst into uncontrollable sobs. The next day at the office, everyone’s eyes held a mocking glint. In the breakroom, Chloe was the center of attention, surrounded by younger girls like she was royalty. “Chloe, did Gaylen pursue you?” “When you become the CEO’s wife, please don’t forget to promote us!” Chloe shot a triumphant glance at me, standing outside the door, preening like a peacock. “Of course Gaylen pursued me! After all, I’m young and pretty, unlike some people who are old and unwanted.” “And shamelessly chase after someone else’s boyfriend.”

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The day I won the lottery, my biological parents, who abandoned me years ago, showed up at my door with my younger brother. They asked if I could give the lottery ticket to Leo, my brother, as a wedding gift. I readily agreed, wishing Leo and his fiancée, Isabelle, a lifetime of happiness. My adoptive mother, Eleanor, who was seriously ill and desperately needed that prize money for her treatment, was heartbroken. She lay in bed, sobbing uncontrollably. My adoptive father, Arthur, pointed at me, calling me an ungrateful wretch and threatening to throw me out. Even so, I stubbornly insisted on handing the five-million-dollar winning ticket to Leo, a brother I’d never even met. Leo and my biological parents happily took the ticket to cash it in. But as I watched them leave, I couldn’t help but smile, a look of pity in my eyes. Just as I was about to hand the lottery ticket to Leo, Arthur stopped me. “Chloe, have you forgotten how heartlessly they abandoned you at the train station all those years ago? How you almost got taken by traffickers!” Of course, I hadn’t forgotten. It was Arthur and Eleanor who, without a thought for their own safety, rescued me from the traffickers and brought me home to raise me. Now, Eleanor was gravely ill, tormented by her sickness in bed. But I simply smiled and took my biological parents’ hands. “I’m sure Mom and Dad had an extremely difficult reason back then. Even if they couldn’t keep me, I know they must have thought of me.” Arthur shook his head, pleading with me earnestly, trying to talk some sense into me. “Chloe, you’re being foolish. If they truly cared about you, why didn’t they ever look for you all these years? And now, the moment you win the lottery, they show up? Isn’t their motive obvious?” Valerie draped an arm over my shoulder, looking at Arthur with undisguised disdain. “Chloe is my flesh and blood. Our hearts are connected, a bond that your words can’t possibly break. As for you two, didn’t you just raise my daughter because your own child died, hoping she’d take care of you in your old age? You’re always so petty and self-serving. It’s no wonder your own child couldn’t wait to escape your household.” Arthur closed his eyes in pain, struggling to hold back from striking her. He was too stunned to even argue. Years ago, Arthur and Eleanor’s biological daughter was killed. They spent every penny they had on lawyers to fight the case. During their toughest times, they were so poor they could barely afford food. But even then, they never once mistreated me, their adopted daughter. Yet here I was, watching them being vilified without a word, and ignoring their protests to give that lottery ticket to my biological brother. What surprised me was that after taking the ticket, Leo suddenly fixated on the bracelet on my wrist. “My fiancée, Isabelle, isn’t here, but as her older sister, preparing a welcome gift for your future sister-in-law isn’t too much to ask, right? I think this bracelet would be perfect.” Valerie’s gaze also landed on my gold bracelet. She chimed in, supporting her precious son, “Oh, yes, it’s beautiful! Perfect as a gift, very classy. Go on, take it off and give it to your brother.” This bracelet was a gift from Arthur and Eleanor for my eighteenth birthday. They had spent several years’ worth of savings on it. They told me that if I ever encountered an emergency and needed money, this bracelet would be there for me. Now, with Eleanor’s sudden illness, selling it would cover her surgery and follow-up treatments. Seeing them eye the bracelet, Arthur quickly grabbed my hand, even kneeling to beg me. “Don’t give it away! We have no savings left. Your mom is counting on this bracelet to save her life. It’s our last resort!” Arthur’s voice trembled, but I remained expressionless. “Since the bracelet was given to me, how I choose to deal with it is my own business.” With that, I smoothly removed the bracelet and personally handed it to Leo. “We share the same blood; we are family, the closest kind. This bracelet is a small token from your older sister. I wish you and Isabelle a happy marriage and a lifetime of love.”

Valerie burst out laughing, pleased that her objective was achieved. She and Marcus left first. Leo, however, suddenly changed his expression, looking at me with undisguised triumph. “Mom was right, you really are as dumb as a rock. Did you truly believe Mom and Dad never looked for you all these years? You don’t know, do you? After high school, you actually got into a prestigious university. It was my mom who deliberately found Ashley to impersonate you and steal your academic spot. She intercepted your admission letter, making you believe you failed and didn’t get in.” Arthur’s brows furrowed in anger, his eyes wide with shock. “What did Chloe ever do wrong? Why would you do that to her? As Chloe’s biological mother, how could Valerie be so cruel?” Leo folded his arms, scoffing at me with disdain. “Why else? Mom just couldn’t stand you being better than me, couldn’t stand you succeeding. She wanted to prove that abandoning you all those years ago was the best decision she ever made.” Meeting Leo’s taunting gaze, my expression remained blank, but my fingers involuntarily curled, my heart shattering into pieces. Proof? Those two light words denied not just all my efforts in high school, but my entire life. When I didn’t receive my admission letter back then, I blamed myself so much that I became depressed. On one hand, I felt I had disappointed my parents’ expectations, and on the other, I endured the cold ridicule of relatives and friends. But the family’s financial situation at the time didn’t allow me to repeat a year, so that incident became an eternal pain in my heart. Arthur tried to snap me out of it, gritting his teeth as he said, “Chloe, they treated you like this, and you still think ‘blood ties’ are everything? Wake up, child. They don’t deserve to be your parents!” I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, drawing blood. Yet, the expression on my face remained unchanged, still that stubborn, misguided look. “Regardless, Mom’s suffering from carrying me for ten months is not fake. And their coming to find me today shows they still care about me. If they ask me for anything, let alone a bracelet or a lottery ticket, I’d even go to hell and back for them!” Eleanor wept, her eyes swollen, her sobs filled with utter disappointment. Arthur slapped me, his hand trembling with rage, threatening to throw me out of the house. Several neighbors, who had been eavesdropping at the door, couldn’t help but sigh. “Oh, I always thought Chloe was such a filial child. Who knew she’d be so cold-hearted towards her adoptive parents?” “Exactly. I even heard her confidently say she’d make her parents proud and give them a good life. Turns out she meant her biological parents.” “Those two worked themselves to the bone to raise her, and now that Mom’s so sick, she just sits back and does nothing? What a completely ungrateful wretch!”

The doctor said surgery within a week was the best course of action. To earn money, Arthur started frantically looking for odd jobs. At noon, I went to the construction site and saw him carrying a huge sack of cement on his back. The grimace on his face told me his old back injury had flared up again. Under the blazing sun, his clothes were soaked with sweat, and his skin was peeling from the sunburn. In an instant, tears streamed down my face. I ran toward him, wanting to help, but just then, a steel plate above us suddenly loosened. As it crashed down, Arthur, with lightning-fast reflexes, pulled me out of the way. We were safe, but another worker wasn’t so lucky. He was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a severe, crippling injury. That evening, Arthur was suddenly called in by his supervisor for questioning about the incident. It turned out that during the investigation, several of the other workers had unanimously claimed the accident was due to Arthur’s negligence, presenting their story convincingly. Unfortunately, that spot was a blind spot for the security cameras, and no matter how Arthur tried to explain, no one believed him. This meant we wouldn’t just lose his wages; we’d also face a massive compensation claim. Eleanor’s surgery funds were still up in the air, and now this happened. The family was suffocating under the pressure. Arthur’s hair turned white overnight. A kind neighbor earnestly advised me to get the lottery ticket back. “Even if they’re your adoptive parents, with no blood relation, they’ve treated you exceptionally well all these years! You can honor your biological parents in a different way. Your family’s situation is dire right now; you have to take care of yourselves first, don’t you?” Arthur and Eleanor also looked at me expectantly, placing their last hope in me. “Yes, Chloe, the money we’re using now is basically borrowed from you. We can write an IOU. We’ll definitely pay you back slowly, okay?” How could I not know that getting the winning lottery ticket back would resolve all the difficulties our family was facing? But even at this point, I still shook my head, appearing unwilling to listen. The neighbor sighed, calling me heartless and beyond saving. “You’re utterly impossible to reason with! Oh, you two would have been better off raising a dog than this daughter. All that money for her education and upbringing was completely wasted.” Arthur and Eleanor’s gazes dimmed. Deeply disappointed in me, they both broke down in tears. Yet, despite the neighbor’s urging for them to disown me, they consistently refused. They said that no matter what I did, I would always be their daughter.

My nose stung, and I fought hard to keep the tears from falling. They didn’t understand. The lottery ticket could never be taken by me directly; Valerie had to give it to me willingly. Only then could I prevent the tragedy of my previous life from repeating itself. During this time, our family had become the talk and laughingstock of the neighborhood. Everyone sighed with regret for my parents, who had raised such a heartless ingrate. Watching the many white hairs that had appeared on my parents overnight, I clenched my fists, finally unable to bear it. “Dad, Mom, do you… trust me?” Arthur and Eleanor exchanged glances. After a few seconds of hesitation, they finally nodded, a flicker of doubt in their eyes. My eyes welled up, and I gripped their hands tightly, telling them firmly that they needed to wait three more days. It was currently a long public holiday, and the lottery agency was closed, so no one could cash in a ticket. This gave me the perfect opportunity to execute my plan. If all went well, in three days, Valerie would regret her actions. This time, I would protect my family and make those who had hurt me and my loved ones pay! Time flew by. Three mornings later, there was a sudden knock on our door. I subtly curved my lips. She’s here, just as expected. I opened the door calmly. Valerie, looking incredibly eager, pushed the lottery ticket into my hand and said the words I had already predicted: “Chloe, this lottery ticket is yours. You absolutely must keep it safe! Cash it in as soon as the holiday is over. And remember, no matter what, don’t let your father, Marcus, or your brother, Leo, get their hands on it, okay?” She seemed to be in a hurry to do something else, tossing out those two sentences before rushing away. Arthur and Eleanor, after confirming the lottery ticket in my hand hadn’t been swapped, widened their eyes in astonishment. They simply couldn’t believe that someone like Valerie would suddenly have a change of heart. I smiled faintly, telling them Valerie hadn’t truly repented. Then, word by word, I revealed the hidden truth from my previous life.

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My brother tried to kill me. The moment my mom stepped forward to help him, I gave up fighting. Later, he had plastic surgery to look exactly like me, and sat in my bedroom, waiting for my wife to return. My parents hoped he and my wife would live happily ever after, enjoying all the wealth and glory. I just laughed, because they had no idea how terrifying the woman before them truly was. Today was Seraphina’s day to return home. She’d been overseas for over two months, and I’d been dead for a week. My brother, Julian Smith, stood up nervously as Seraphina walked through the door. “Seraphina, have you had dinner yet? I asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite creamy pumpkin soup.” This was supposed to be their first meeting. But Seraphina didn’t notice that her husband had been swapped. Julian had really outdone himself, getting surgery to look exactly like me, from head to toe. Seraphina handed her suitcase to the butler, Carlsen, and rubbed her temples. “Alright, a little bit would be nice.” Julian forced a natural smile, meticulously mimicking my every expression and gesture from the stolen videos. He followed Seraphina into the dining room. “Martha, serve the soup to Seraphina.” Seraphina paused at his words, glancing back at Julian. We had a butler and maids, but I usually preferred to do many things myself. After all, I was just lounging around at home. Even after living in this city for nearly two years, I still wasn’t used to casually bossing people around. Before marrying Seraphina, I’d always lived in our small hometown. The one who was originally supposed to marry Seraphina was Julian. Our two families used to be old acquaintances, and Seraphina’s family was once a prominent name in the local business circles. Both grandfathers, seeing a grandson and granddaughter of suitable age, had arranged a marriage. Twenty years ago, after both elders passed away, Seraphina’s family fell victim to corporate machinations. Seraphina’s father brought up the engagement again, hoping the Smith family would offer a helping hand. But my father, Richard, had already been swayed by several other business groups. He decided to seize the opportunity to acquire Seraphina’s family’s assets, completely disregarding their past friendship. Seraphina’s family went bankrupt, Seraphina’s father died from depression, and Seraphina’s mother, with her daughter and the old butler, moved far overseas. Two years ago, Seraphina returned with the Ascendant Group, an unstoppable force from abroad, striking a heavy blow to several major local business empires. Not a single person who had kicked Seraphina’s family while they were down or participated in their downfall managed to escape. They were either buried under crippling debt with no hope of recovery, or facing irrefutable evidence that sent them straight to prison. Financial ruin was the norm. People in the business world whispered privately that it was a good thing she’d returned to a society governed by law; they had long heard whispers of Seraphina’s methods in regions with looser regulations overseas. When the Smith Corporation was on the verge of bankruptcy, my father, Richard, remembered the old engagement. Julian, terrified of Seraphina’s revenge, threw a huge tantrum at home, forcing me to return from our hometown to take his place in the marriage. Businesspeople often have a touch of superstition, and my dad was especially prone to it. On the day Julian was born, my dad smoothly sealed a major contract that elevated the Smith Corporation to new heights. On the day I was born, a newly acquired project of his was exposed for severe issues, shrinking the Smith Corporation’s assets by nearly half. He firmly believed Julian brought him good fortune, while I cursed him. If my grandfather hadn’t fought with his last breath to protect me, I probably wouldn’t have survived back then. So, he publicly announced that I was frail and sent me abroad for treatment. But in reality, I was dumped in the countryside, where they found a lonely old man, Grandpa Charles, to raise me. Grandpa Charles, who raised me, felt sorry for me and took good care of me, but I still died in the prime of my youth.

Julian snapped out of it, softening his voice. “I’ve been a bit dizzy these past couple of days; I was afraid I’d spill the soup.” Seraphina watched him intently for a few moments. Julian’s Adam’s apple bobbed. I saw a flicker of panic in his eyes. Ha, how ironic. That night, when he plunged the knife into me, he struck swiftly and viciously, as if terrified I wouldn’t die. Julian, guilt-ridden, quickly changed his tone. “I’ll go to the kitchen and get it for you.” Seraphina turned away and walked into the dining room. “No need. If you’re not feeling well, get some extra rest.” I froze. In the two years we’d lived together, I’d never heard her say such a thing to me. Now that I was dead, I finally heard these rare words. It was strange, though. My constitution wasn’t particularly strong, but aside from when I first moved into Seraphina’s home, I rarely fell ill for a whole year. Having shared a bed for two years, I gathered my courage and floated close to her ear, calling her name. I wanted her to go to the Smith family and bring my body out. After Grandpa Charles passed away, there was no one left in the world for me to care about. Even though I died with resentment, I also felt exhausted by life. The freezer was too cold. My body always ran cold anyway, and I just wanted to find a sunny spot to rest. Besides, when I died, I heard them discussing how to dispose of my body, to get rid of it later. Just hearing it made me scared. If I didn’t have a whole body, I might as well have completely vanished in the first place. Even cremation would be better; at least it would preserve my last shred of dignity. Unfortunately, she showed no reaction. She even picked up her spoon and began to drink the soup. “I hear you’ve been out quite a lot recently?” My eyes lit up at the question. Besides the Smith family, I didn’t know anyone else in this city. On my wedding day, my parents had told me that if I didn’t want Grandpa Charles to be left uncared for, I had to do my best to please Seraphina. As long as the Smith Corporation was stable, Grandpa Charles’s life would never be disrupted. They also said that a son who left home was like spilled water; I shouldn’t bother coming back often. So, after I entered Seraphina’s house, apart from occasional walks or trips to the grocery store, I hardly interacted with the outside world. No wonder Seraphina found it odd. Julian obediently replied, “The temperature has been fluctuating a lot lately, morning and evening. My parents haven’t been feeling too well, so I went back to check on them.” Mentioning my parents, I was reminded of the scene when he tried to kill me. I struggled fiercely to defend myself. My mom, Eleanor, worried I might hurt Julian, rushed forward with my dad, Richard, and restrained me. In that moment, all strength suddenly left my body, and I let the sharp blade fall. Seraphina saw this but said nothing, only remarking blandly, “Staying at home can be stifling. It’s good to get out.” I felt a little disheartened. How could Seraphina, such a cautious and suspicious person, not notice anything amiss? And she even said things she had never said to me. On our wedding day, my parents had smiled ingratiatingly at Seraphina. They told Seraphina that my presence in her family was meant to atone for the Smith family’s sins. She could vent her anger however she pleased; I would endure any beating or scolding without complaint, and the Smith family would never interfere. Seraphina didn’t actually treat me as a punching bag, but she didn’t seem very keen on socializing. So, apart from our private moments, we didn’t interact much. After finishing the soup, they both returned to the bedroom. Julian watched Seraphina, who had finished washing up, and sat on the bed, looking expectant. Seraphina moved closer to him. Her phone rang. She hung up and began changing her clothes. I wasn’t surprised; she was probably heading to the office to deal with an urgent matter. A flicker of annoyance crossed Julian’s face, but he instantly replaced it with a gentle expression as Seraphina turned her head. “Your cologne is too strong. You were fine the way you were before.” Julian watched Seraphina turn and leave, then paused, quickly lifting his wrist and neck to sniff. He found he couldn’t smell anything at all.

Julian quickly called Martha, the butler, into the bedroom. “Martha, can you smell any cologne or other scents on me?” Martha leaned close to Julian’s neck and wrist, sniffing. “I don’t smell anything particular, sir. Just a fresh scent of shampoo on your hair.” Julian frowned, pacing the room a few steps, then asked, “When you used to take care of him, what did he smell like?” Martha thought for a moment. “He didn’t have any particular smell, I think. He wasn’t very particular about personal care products; he rarely used the things in the bathroom cabinet. He always seemed very clean, with hardly any scent.” Martha was someone my mother, Eleanor, had arranged to join Seraphina’s household six months ago. Eleanor claimed I didn’t know how to ‘manage a marriage,’ and Martha, supposedly skilled in handling domestic affairs, was there to ‘assist’ me. The shift in the Smith family’s attitude toward me had given me a fleeting, unrealistic hope. Even though Martha never truly helped me after she arrived. It still allowed me to hold onto a glimmer of fantasy about family affection. But later I learned that the moment Martha appeared before me, it was the first step in the Smith family’s plan to have Julian replace me. Martha’s arrival at Seraphina’s house was purely to observe my daily habits and secretly film videos for Julian to mimic me. Hearing Martha’s subtle jab at me, Julian’s lips curved into a smile. “Not only was he born poor, but he was also destined for a short life.” A hint of confusion crossed Martha’s face. “Short-lived?” Julian’s smile faltered, and he quickly rattled off the rehearsed story. “His health was always poor. That old man who raised him kept saying he needed to take him to see a doctor, always finding ways to get more money from my parents.” “Always asking for money! And that boy, so timid and always doing everything himself, made it inconvenient for me to even order the servants around.” I angrily rushed forward, but it was useless; I just passed right through his body. The Smith family only provided a meager allowance for the first few years; after that, there was nothing. Grandpa Charles raised me through his own frugality. They only remembered me when they needed someone to take the fall. Martha began to offer Julian advice. “Perhaps you could try using the shampoo from the master bathroom more often? It might be that the brand you used to prefer had a longer-lasting scent, and the smell hasn’t completely dissipated.” “Leo isn’t particular about such things; he just used whatever the house purchased. Naturally, he wouldn’t pay attention to these details like you do.” Julian pressed his lips together, grumbling impatiently, “I use it every day! How can there still be a residue? Fine, I’ll wash my hair again later.” Julian dismissed Martha, then made a phone call. “Madame Celeste, you’ve got Leo’s spirit confined, right?” I floated close to the phone, hearing the reply. “Rest assured, I’ve suppressed him with a binding ritual; he won’t even have a chance to cross over to the other side!” A binding ritual, huh? I couldn’t help but roll my eyes, floating around the room. I still didn’t know why I was tethered to Julian, but would a real medium be so obsequious? Her tone sounded more like she was terrified of losing a client.

Seraphina didn’t return for a few days. Julian waited until eight in the evening. Looking at the table full of dishes that I loved, I felt a pang of nostalgia. To say Seraphina and I had nothing in common wouldn’t be accurate. When it came to food, our preferences were surprisingly similar. Julian only ate some salad and a bit of roasted chicken before putting down his knife and fork. He was always very strict about his physique, and his appetite was probably only half of mine. He was not only particular about ingredients but also strictly controlled his dinner to be before six o’clock. Grandpa Charles said health was most important, but also to eat enough, so I never deliberately dieted. The chef’s vanilla-roasted lamb chops were divine! Just looking at them made my mouth water. Julian had no idea what he was missing. Seraphina also stopped eating, looking at Julian. “Not to your taste?” Julian offered a gentle smile. “I haven’t had much appetite lately.” Seraphina looked at him, and after a long moment, said, “Carlsen told me that while I was away, your appetite was much better than before. So, I come back, and suddenly you can’t eat?” Julian looked at Seraphina’s expressionless face, shaking his head repeatedly. “My appetite hasn’t been good for days. Maybe it’s the hot weather, I just don’t feel like eating.” Seraphina lowered her gaze, then said after a moment, “Dizzy and no appetite? I’ll take you to the hospital for a check-up tomorrow.” Julian instinctively wanted to refuse but finally agreed with a smile. I knew he thought that as long as it wasn’t a check for plastic surgery traces, he had nothing to fear. After all, only the three of them knew I was gone.

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