Category: English

1 During the holiday weekend, my mother-in-law and I went to visit the city aquarium. The crowds were shoulder to shoulder, and amidst the pushing, an immaculately dressed woman suddenly lashed out. “Do you have eyes in your heads?! You’re crushing my bag! This is a limited edition! If you ruin it, can you two poor beggars even afford to pay for it?!” I looked at her calmly. “This is a public space, not your private living room. If you’re so terrified of someone brushing against your bag, why don’t you build your own private aquarium to look at the fish?” The woman’s face twisted with humiliated rage. “My husband actually did build this aquarium! I make the rules here! I am ordering you to get the hell out right now! Stop polluting my space!” My mother-in-law and I both froze. This aquarium was built by Sebastian Sinclair. Since when did he become her husband? When the realization finally hit me, my entire body began to tremble. Sebastian was keeping a mistress. My mother-in-law was shaking with fury too. She pointed a finger right at the woman’s nose. “Where did this crazy woman come from?! Sebastian is my son! His legally wedded wife is standing right here! Who the hell do you think you are, barking orders in this place?!” Instead of panicking at the harsh scolding, the woman threw her head back and laughed like she had just heard the greatest joke in the world. “You two poor beggars have the nerve to pretend to be Mrs. Sinclair and her daughter-in-law? That is hilarious!” My mother-in-law had specifically dressed down today to avoid drawing attention and have a quiet, normal experience. Who would have thought her low profile would lead to her identity being questioned? “Whether you believe it or not, I don’t care. I never liked using my status to bully people, but this is Sinclair territory. The only one rolling out of here is you!” my mother-in-law snapped sharply. A mocking smirk tugged at the corners of the woman’s lips. Her eyes scanned my mother-in-law’s plain canvas tote bag like a barcode reader. “Right.” She scoffed through her nose. “You put on a decent act. But everyone knows the elder Mrs. Sinclair is a complete recluse. And the younger Mrs. Sinclair is always by the CEO’s side at high-end galas. They would never dress like absolute trash and squeeze into a crowded, sweaty public aquarium. Who are you trying to fool?” People had already stopped walking, forming a circle around us. The curious stares and hushed whispers felt like tiny needles piercing my skin. My mother-in-law’s face went from flushed red to a sickly pale, her breathing growing ragged. I quickly grabbed her arm to support her, terrified she might pass out from the anger. “What? Cat got your tongue?” Seeing our silence, the woman’s arrogance swelled. She pulled out her phone, swiping the screen with exaggerated, dramatic motions. “Do you want me to call Sebastian right now and have him expose you two frauds in person? Oh, wait. He’s incredibly busy making money right now. He doesn’t have the time to entertain a couple of nobodies.” My mother-in-law’s lips were turning purple. I squeezed her hand tightly, feeling the tremors wracking her frame. I took a deep breath, forcing the violent storm inside my chest to settle. Getting into a screaming match with this kind of woman in public would only lower us to her level. That was exactly what she wanted. “Call him.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable, freezing authority. “Call Sebastian right now. Put it on speaker. Let us all hear how he has absolutely no time for his legally wedded wife and the mother who gave birth to him.” My sheer composure clearly caught her off guard. She paused for a second, but her aggressive facade quickly snapped back into place. “Wow, you are really committed to this bit, aren’t you? You won’t cry until you see the coffin.” She let out a harsh sneer and shoved her phone screen right in our faces. The contact pulled up was Sebastian’s private, unlisted number. “See this? His private line! Do you think a couple of cheap frauds would have access to this?” It felt like a hand made of solid ice had reached into my chest and crushed my heart. The pain was so suffocating I couldn’t breathe. Sebastian… he had actually given this woman his private number. 2 All those nights he claimed he was working late, those business dinners that dragged into the early hours of the morning, those faint whiffs of unfamiliar perfume lingering on his collar. They all rushed into my mind like a violent tide, turning into sharp blades tearing through my chest. The crowd of onlookers was growing thicker, and the whispers were turning into loud murmurs. The woman shrieked at us to take out our phones and show Sebastian’s number. But we had left in such a hurry this morning that neither of us had brought our phones. Seeing that we couldn’t produce any proof, the doubtful looks from the crowd slowly shifted into judgmental sneers. They were completely enjoying the show. She lifted her chin triumphantly, looking exactly like a peacock displaying its feathers. “I knew you two beggars were lying! You’re just making a fool of yourselves!” My mother-in-law’s body shook violently. It wasn’t fear. It was pure, unadulterated rage. She had lived her entire life with grace and dignity. Never once had she been subjected to this kind of public humiliation. Let alone by a woman of such trashy character pointing a finger in her face and questioning her very existence. “You… you…” Her voice trembled so badly she couldn’t even string a complete sentence together. Seeing this, the woman only sneered louder, pouring gasoline on the fire. “Me what? You can’t keep the act up anymore? I highly suggest you take the hint and get lost right now. Don’t wait until I call security to drag you out. That is going to be incredibly ugly for you.” Right as the tension hit a breaking point, a man in a crisp manager’s suit shoved his way through the tight crowd. “What’s going on here? Please keep the peace, everyone…” His authoritative tone completely evaporated the second his eyes landed on the polished woman. An incredibly flattering, almost sickeningly sweet smile took over his face. “Miss… Miss Vanessa! What are you doing here? Is someone giving you trouble?” Vanessa looked at the manager like he was a loyal servant. Her chin tilted even higher. “Manager Davis, perfect timing. These two crazy hags are causing a scene, and they even had the nerve to impersonate Mr. Sinclair’s wife and mother! Get them out of here immediately! Looking at them makes my eyes hurt!” Davis’s expression instantly hardened. He turned to us, his eyes sharp and completely devoid of patience. “Ladies, please leave the premises immediately. Do not cause trouble here and ruin the experience for our other guests. If you refuse, I will have security escort you out by force.” My mother-in-law shook with fury, pointing a trembling finger right at the manager. “You! You are the manager of this facility, and you blindly listen to a one-sided story from her without even asking what happened? Do you have any idea who I am?!” A fleeting look of contempt crossed Davis’s face. “Ma’am. I haven’t had the honor of meeting the elder Mrs. Sinclair many times, but I know for a fact she wouldn’t be dressed like you. Miss Vanessa is a VIP guest, personally entrusted to us by Mr. Sinclair himself. Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” VIP. I caught the keyword, and the chill in my heart turned to absolute freezing dread. Sebastian had blatantly announced the existence of his mistress to his subordinates? I gently pressed down on my mother-in-law’s shaking arm and took a step forward. My cold gaze swept over both the manager and Vanessa. “Manager Davis, is it? You call her a VIP, which means whatever falls out of her mouth is the absolute truth, and whatever we say is just nonsense. Is that how the Sinclair enterprise treats its guests?” My voice was crystal clear and completely calm, carrying an oppressive weight that demanded answers. Davis clearly hadn’t expected me to question him with such ice-cold composure. He was momentarily stunned into silence. But Vanessa was losing her patience. “Stop wasting your breath on them! Manager Davis, call security right now!” “I would love to see who dares!” My mother-in-law, who had been suppressing her blinding rage this entire time, finally erupted with the true, terrifying authority of the Sinclair family matriarch. 3 She stopped looking at Vanessa entirely, dismissing her like a clown. She locked eyes with the manager and spoke with slow, precise hostility. “You will call Sebastian Sinclair right now. Put it on speaker. I want to ask him personally when some random, shady woman got the right to bark orders in his facilities! I want to ask him if his own mother and his legally wedded wife are supposed to be thrown out of a Sinclair enterprise just because this trash said so!” Her aura was absolutely suffocating. Davis was visibly rattled, a flash of genuine panic crossing his face. Seeing his hesitation, Vanessa threw a furious fit. “Call him! Sebastian is in a board meeting right now! Do you really think I’m scared of you two? Call him, Davis! Let these two frauds accept their pathetic reality!” Under the watchful eyes of dozens of people, Davis pulled out his phone with a trembling hand and dialed the number saved as ‘Boss’. After a few long rings, a cold, automated voice echoed from the speaker. “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable…” Davis froze. He quickly dialed again, but got the exact same result. “Mr. Sinclair might be in a meeting…” he tried to explain weakly. But Vanessa whipped out her own phone, looking incredibly smug. “Let me do it. Sebastian told me that whenever I call, no matter how busy he is, he will always pick up.” The call connected almost instantly. The triumphant smile on Vanessa’s face grew wildly arrogant. She even raised an eyebrow at us in blatant provocation. “Baby, what’s wrong?” Sebastian’s deeply familiar voice poured out of the speaker. Her tone immediately shifted into something sickeningly sweet and whiny, playing the role of the spoiled, helpless damsel flawlessly. “Sebastian, I ran into two crazy old women at the aquarium! They’re bullying me! Come back me up!” “What? That is ridiculous. Wait right there, baby. I’m dropping this meeting and heading over right now. How dare anyone touch my girl…” The utter devotion and protective anger in his response felt like a dagger dipped in lethal poison, plunging straight into my chest. My blood froze solid in my veins. My mother-in-law gripped my hand with a deathly tight hold. She had lived her entire life with unparalleled dignity. She had never suffered such a grotesque humiliation. And the worst part was that this humiliation was handed to her by the very son she had raised. Pushed past the absolute limit of her endurance, she lunged forward and slapped Vanessa across the face. “A dirty mistress acting this arrogant in broad daylight!” The slap was incredibly loud and crisp. It carried every ounce of suppressed rage and humiliation, landing squarely on Vanessa’s delicate cheek. Time seemed to freeze. Vanessa’s head snapped to the side. A bright red handprint blossomed across her skin. She covered her cheek, her eyes blown wide in sheer disbelief. The shock in her gaze rapidly morphed into something utterly venomous and unhinged. “Okay. Good.” She gently rubbed her swollen cheek, looking at my mother-in-law and me like we were livestock waiting to be slaughtered. “You ancient bitch. You dare hit me? Impersonating the Sinclair matriarch and laying hands on me? Today, I am going to show you exactly what happens when you cross Vanessa.” She whipped around to look at the terrified manager, her voice sharp and vicious. “Manager Davis! What the hell are you standing there for?! Grab this crazy old hag!” Davis, remembering how fiercely Sebastian had just defended her on the phone, quickly weighed the risks and made his choice. “Grab the old woman!” The second the words left his mouth, two security guards flanked my mother-in-law, grabbing her arms violently. “Let go of her!” My eyes went bloodshot. I fought like a madwoman, scratching and kicking, but another guard easily overpowered me, pinning me back. Vanessa watched the scene with deep satisfaction. She rubbed her cheek again, her eyes darting around the facility before locking onto the massive, deeply illuminated shark tank at the center of the hall. The dark, eerie blue water reflected against the thick glass. Several massive silhouettes were slowly circling in the depths. A completely wicked plan formed in her mind. She let out a chilling laugh and pointed at the guards. “String this old bitch up over the shark tank.” 4 All the color drained from the manager’s face. “Miss… Miss Vanessa, that is incredibly dangerous!” “Shut your mouth!” she screamed, cutting him off entirely. “Do exactly as I say! Or I am calling Sebastian back, and you can kiss your career goodbye!” He swallowed hard, trembling, and finally gave the security guards a defeated wave of his hand. “No! You can’t do this!” I screamed in absolute terror. My mother-in-law finally realized the horrific danger she was in. She struggled violently. “You venomous snake! What are you doing?!” Vanessa completely ignored our desperate screams. She directed the guards to drag my mother-in-law to the service catwalk directly above the deepest, most active section of the shark enclosure. “Vanessa! Stop this! Let her go! Sebastian will never forgive you for this!” I cried out until my voice cracked, thrashing wildly. My nails dug into the guard’s arm, drawing blood, but I still couldn’t break his iron grip. My mother-in-law’s hands were tied behind her back. The mechanical winch slowly lifted her, leaving her dangling helplessly in the air above the massive tank. “How does it feel, old hag? Enjoying the view from up there?” I fought with everything I had, tears entirely blurring my vision. “Vanessa! What do you want from us?! Let her down! Take it out on me!” “Take it out on you?” Vanessa tilted her head as if she had just heard something fascinating. “Sure. You want me to let this old trash go? It’s very simple.” She pointed a perfectly manicured finger at the cold, hard tile floor. “You. Right now. Get on your knees. Kowtow to me eighteen times. And with every single hit to the floor, you will yell, ‘I was wrong, I shouldn’t have offended Miss Vanessa.’ Once you finish, I might consider pulling her back up.” “Don’t you dare!” my mother-in-law screamed from the air. “Audrey, do not kneel! This venomous snake isn’t worth it!” My whole body was shaking. I looked up at the woman who raised my husband, dangling over the jaws of death. I saw the terrifying dark shadows lurking beneath the water’s surface. Dignity meant absolutely nothing compared to her life. “I’ll kneel!” My forehead slammed into the floor with a heavy, sickening thud. “Audrey! Get up! Don’t kneel to her!” my mother-in-law sobbed from above. I didn’t get up. I slammed my head down a second time. “I was wrong… I shouldn’t have offended Miss Vanessa.” Vanessa let out a delighted, ringing laugh, watching me like I was the main event at a circus. By the time I finished the eighteenth kowtow, my forehead was a bruised, split mess. Warm blood trickled down my skin, blurring my vision and coating my face. “Now. Let her go.” Vanessa clapped her hands, laughing so hard her shoulders shook. “Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! I had no idea you two had such a touching bond!” She walked over to the edge of the railing, placing her hand right over the release latch for the winch rope. But she didn’t press it. “However…” She dragged the word out. “I changed my mind.” A cruel, totally twisted smile stretched across her face. “You ruined my mood today. Just banging your head on the floor isn’t nearly enough to make up for it. I need to give you a lesson… that you will never, ever forget!” “No!” I let out a blood-curdling scream, lunging forward with everything I had. But I was too late. Vanessa ruthlessly hit the release, severing the cord that held my mother-in-law’s life. “Ah!” A short, terrified gasp escaped my mother-in-law’s lips as she plummeted straight into the shark tank below. A massive splash echoed through the hall. The water churned violently as the dark silhouettes of the predators darted forward with terrifying speed. The pristine blue water was instantly tainted with a horrifying cloud of red. The world turned entirely crimson before my eyes. My scream lodged in my throat, choking me into absolute silence. She was gone. Right in front of my eyes, the mistress my husband pampered had sent his own mother into the jaws of death. Just then, a voice rang out from the crowd. “Mr. Sinclair is here!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “439049”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

To bathe my pet, I was influenced into buying a “Couples’ Bathroom Suction Cup Wristband.” But the package left at my door was mistakenly taken by my crush, the dentist next door. While walking the dog, I discussed the “wonders” of the wristband with an innocent college boy. When I got back, my neighbor backed me into a corner. “Who did you use it with? “If it could be just anyone, then why didn’t you choose me?” 01 My name is Penny Parker. Ever since I was a kid, my feet would glue themselves to the floor at the sight of good food. After I started working, my food expenses went through the roof, taking up a ridiculous chunk of my paycheck. To fund my eating habits, I racked my brain for ways to make extra cash and finally chose the path that suited me best—becoming a Mukbang streamer. My career was just starting; I only had a meager dozen or so followers. On my stream, I was complaining about how my Corgi, Waffles, never behaved during bath time. A fan mysteriously sent me a link, promising it worked like a charm. I obediently bought it. The next day, the delivery guy called to say it was delivered, but I didn’t see a ghost of a package. “I left it at your front door as you requested.” In the photo the delivery guy sent, the brown cardboard box was sitting quietly right in the middle between my door and my neighbor’s. “I went to the building manager to check the security footage. The neighbor thought it was his package and took it inside!!!” During my stream, looking dead inside, I reported this colossal mix-up to my fans. “I don’t know if the box has the product name written on it. “If he saw it, my lifelong reputation is ruined, hahahaha.” The live chat comments flew by, full of mockery and zero comfort. “I’ve had a crush on him for so long. If he gets the wrong idea, I seriously won’t have the courage to explain myself ahhhh.” Just picturing that scene was more than I could handle. When people feel awkward, they try to look busy, so I stuffed another fried chicken drumstick into my mouth. It was a little bland, but that was okay. Paired with my tears, it was just salty enough. [Don’t you bring him food all the time? Since he just took the package in not long ago, he probably hasn’t opened it yet. Go drop off some food and get it back on the way.] [Girl, she’s right! The longer you drag it out, the higher the risk he sees it. Just rip the band-aid off!] [I’m so anxious, I really want to know what happens next. Streamer, hurry up and go. Come back and restart the stream afterward; I’m pulling an all-nighter right here waiting for you.] Thinking it over, I really didn’t have a better solution. I had no choice but to hastily end the stream, pack up the table full of food, and knock on my handsome neighbor’s door. 02 My neighbor’s name was Arthur Hayes, a dentist at a top-tier hospital in our district. My crush on him originated from a brutally intense cavity filling. I had bad eating habits. Whenever I ate something delicious, I’d subconsciously bite down hard. One careless chomp on a bone fragment chipped my tooth. It hurt so much I couldn’t sleep all night, my cheek swelling up like a small hill. At the crack of dawn, I scrambled to the nearest hospital and registered. Clutching my swollen cheek, I opened the door to the clinic. One look up completely overturned my perception of the medical profession. He looked very unprofessional, because he was simply way too handsome. Fair skin, perfectly proportioned features, soft hair falling smoothly to his brow bone. He wore gold-rimmed glasses resting on a high-bridged nose, and his lips were full and an alluring shade. “Please, have a seat.” His clear, soothing voice pulled my thoughts back. I sat in the dental chair in front of him, obediently opening my mouth, leaving myself at his mercy. He briefly asked about my symptoms, then pinched my chin and meticulously examined me for a long time with his cold tools. I only understood “needs a filling,” “requires a root canal,” and “might need to come in a few more times.” Then, in a daze, I found myself lying back on the cold dental chair. “Pinch me if it hurts.” He placed my hand on his leg. “Tilt your head up. “Relax. “Open wide, don’t bite down…” His deep, gentle voice worked better than hypnosis. It was like I was under a spell, acting completely obedient. Whatever he said, I did. That was until an indescribable, aching, numbing pain spread through my mouth. I couldn’t help but pinch his thigh muscle hard. The texture was firm and elastic. A series of inappropriate images began popping into my head. Like that thirsty TikTok video of the muscle guy I scrolled past before bed last night. Tears spilling out from the pain flowed down my mouth and were sucked away clean by his suction tube. “Bear with it for a second. “A little pressure and pain at first is normal, it’ll be over soon.” The cold instruments brought a weird sensation, and the fear of the unknown tortured me. Only by staring at his eyes and brows could I alleviate a fraction of my anxiety. Luckily, he worked fast. After it was over, I sat dumbly on the edge of the chair. Arthur went over post-care instructions while scheduling my next root canal appointment. When I left, he said. “…Pinch a little lighter next time.” I was speechless. The second time I came, I recorded an audio clip on my phone. “Dr. Hayes, it hurts!” Every time it hurt, I just pressed play on the recording. My voice echoed in the small clinic room. “Dr. Hayes, it hurts! “Dr. Hayes… “Dr. Hayes, it hurts so much!” The young nurse beside us was bursting with joy, laughing so hard she bent over and couldn’t stand straight for a while. Arthur’s face turned red all the way to the tips of his ears. He kept saying, “Okay, I’ll be gentler. Hang in there, it’ll be over soon.” But his hand movements didn’t pause for a single second because of my audio clip. It wasn’t until I looked at him with teary eyes that he let me rest for a few minutes. Then it was a new round of torture. After the filling was done this time, we had no reason to meet and chat anymore. Even though I missed him, the painful memories of that dental chair were truly terrifying, always managing to nip my burgeoning crush in the bud. However, our next meeting didn’t take long. The flu hit hard, and the apartment complex organized a pop-up vaccination drive in the lobby. Arthur was the doctor assigned to our building. I came down late and was at the very end of the line. It wasn’t until I got my shot and he took off his protective gear that I recognized him. “What a coincidence, Dr. Hayes!” “I’ve been dealing with you for days, and you’re just now recognizing me?” “Huh? You recognized me the past two days?” “I recognized your teeth.” I laughed awkwardly. Chalk it up to him being unromantic, and me being overly sentimental. We chatted as we walked, only realizing we were walking the same path when we reached our front doors. “You live here too? “Looks like we’re neighbors.” Being close to the water gets you the moonlight first. Wasn’t this a godsend? I, Penny Parker, am indeed destined to feast on the best! Since then, I would find excuses to bother Dr. Hayes, making him cute bento boxes, asking him out to try new restaurants or watch movies. The fact that he never refused made me feel pretty good about myself. I had even thought of our future kids’ names. Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. I believed our relationship was just one step away from the goal line. Now that this incident happened, if I didn’t handle it well, wouldn’t all this time spent chasing him be for nothing? 03 I knocked lightly three times. Not long after, the door opened. “Hehe, I’m here to use you as my taste tester again.” Arthur stepped aside, gesturing for me to come in. Just as I was about to take off my shoes and walk in barefoot, a pair of fuzzy slippers was handed to me. “I bought you these fluffy bunny slippers. They just arrived today.” The two little ears on the bunny’s head bobbed with his movement. A squeal of delight was right on the tip of my tongue, but to maintain my ladylike image, I swallowed it back down. “I saw these scrolling online just a couple days ago! They’re so cute!” Delighted, I slipped on the slippers and arranged the food on the dining table. Not forgetting why I was here, I kept my hands moving while secretly scanning every corner of the living room from the corner of my eye. By the shoe cabinet in the entryway, my delivery box lay quietly. It didn’t look like it had been opened. My heart settled halfway back into my chest. “I tried to replicate KFC’s crispy fried chicken at home today. I feel like it’s a bit bland, can you taste it?” I held out a drumstick to Arthur. I thought he would reach out and take it, but to my surprise, he just leaned in and took a bite right out of my hand. “It’s delicious.” I felt the temperature of my face rising steadily. Was this the beauty of flirting? I sat down, feigning calmness, and pulled out my homemade floral gin. It was October, the autumn breeze was crisp, and the scent of flowers filled the air. It was a great time for infused liquor. I figured knocking back a couple of drinks might make it easier to speak naturally, so I brought it without overthinking. Arthur brought out two glasses and poured a little for each of us. Worried it wouldn’t be enough liquid courage for me to perform, I topped them off with a bit more. “I didn’t realize you were such a good drinker?” He teased me, watching my actions. I just giggled. I was here to handle serious business, after all. After dinner, I sat on the sofa watching TV, preparing to get down to business once Arthur finished cleaning up the dishes. I was still brewing my words and hadn’t opened my mouth yet when he interrupted my casting. “That movie you missed in theaters is available streaming now. I rented it. Do you want to watch it together?” My mouth was faster than my brain. Before my brain could process it, my mouth had already said yes for me. The lights were dimmed, and coupled with the alcohol, sleepiness soon enveloped me. In a daze, I blindly grabbed something to hug and slept soundly. When I woke up, the movie was over. I was leaning against Arthur’s chest, my hands wrapped around his arm, and I had even left a suspicious drool stain on his shirt. Guiltily, I pursed my lips, but I felt a stinging, burning sensation on them. Seeing this, he leaned in for a closer look. “It might be an allergic reaction. Do you know what you’re allergic to?” Maybe because we hadn’t spoken for a long time during the movie, his voice sounded a bit hoarse. Seeing me shake my head, he continued. “Come to the hospital tomorrow for an allergy test. I’ll book the appointment for you.” Before leaving, as I was changing my shoes in the entryway, I pretended to casually notice my package. “Oh, this looks like my package. The delivery guy must have dropped it off at the wrong door.” He glanced at the box and handed it to me. The lighting was dim, so I couldn’t clearly see his expression. My probing had failed. “Is it? I just brought it in and didn’t look closely. You should take it back.” I thought to myself, Thank god I got here fast. He hadn’t opened it or seen it, so my image was safe. After bidding each other goodnight, I happily carried the box back to my place. I didn’t forget the girls waiting for me online, so I updated them on the progress. “Retrieved safely! I’ll dish the details on tomorrow’s stream! I just fell asleep at his place.” This was the first time I’d stayed at his place this long. My whole body was marinated in the nice woody scent of his apartment. As soon as I got back, Waffles circled me, sniffing for ages. When I showered and threw my clothes in the hamper, I was almost reluctant to wash them. How is my behavior any different from a total creep? Penny Parker, you are such a pervert. 04 Actually, the stinging on my lips was gone after my shower that night. I figured the allergen was probably inside Arthur’s house. However, since he had already booked the appointment, I woke up bright and early to get the allergy test done. As soon as I got the report, Arthur strolled up beside me out of nowhere. “Let me see.” I handed it to him. “Dust mites and cat dander.” “I fed some stray cats on my way home from work yesterday. I probably got cat hair on me.” The symptoms did appear right after leaning on him, and it wasn’t too severe. “Probably.” “Mhm. Next time you come over, I’ll change clothes and shower first.” “It’s fine, it’s fine, I’m not that fragile. It’s probably just because we were leaning so close yesterday.” Arthur gave me a meaningful look. “Last night, when you were rubbing my abs and sleep-talking, you said they felt good, that you loved touching them, and wanted to touch them more.” My eyes widened to the size of saucers. My little brain desperately scrambled for memories of last night—error 404, scene not found. How could a person make such a massive blunder after just a little alcohol??? My mind went completely blank, and I couldn’t utter a single syllable. “Allergies can be mild or severe; in the worst-case scenario, you could suffocate. “As a doctor, I obviously have to prevent my patient from collapsing in front of me.” The heart of a girl with a crush on her doctor simply shattered into pieces. The temperature of my face skyrocketed. If it were winter right now, I’d be blowing white steam out of my nostrils like a dragon. “I have to get to work. I’m leaving.” I muttered under my breath and hurriedly fled the scene, not even taking my allergy report. Sitting in the car, I couldn’t stop replaying Arthur’s words. I said I wanted to touch him, and he just let me? Did he think I was a creep, or was he indulging my handsy behavior? If I hit him up in the future, will he treat me like a pervert? If I read this completely wrong, does that mean I can never hang out with Dr. Hayes again? The more I thought about it, the worse my mood got, and I didn’t dare initiate conversation with him anymore. When I started my stream that night, my head was still full of this mess, so I talked a lot less. [Is Penny in a bad mood?] [You still haven’t told us about last night.] Seeing the chat mention yesterday, I couldn’t help but sigh again. “Ugh, don’t even bring it up. I made an even bigger mess yesterday.” I stopped eating and recounted the whole series of events from last night. The chat had people comforting me and people laughing at my obliviousness. But one particular comment buried in there was exceptionally explosive. [What a shame it was just an allergy! I totally thought he stole a kiss and kissed your lips swollen!] [Let them speak!] [User ‘BigSocks’, you have no filter.] What kind of wild, scandalous statement is that! If Dr. Hayes would actually do that, I’d wake up laughing from my dreams. “I’ve been flirting with him for so long and haven’t even gotten to hold his hand. How could he possibly steal a kiss!” The chat erupted into a sea of [Hahahaha]. [But he ate the chicken straight from your hand! He must have feelings for you to do that.] [Were his words this morning a polite way of telling you to keep your hands to yourself?] [Sister, you’ve definitely never dated. He’s obviously playing hard to get!] [+1.] [I think so too.] Seeing the chat debating so passionately, I felt a whirlwind of mixed emotions. They could guess whatever they wanted, but if I guessed wrong, I might just repeat past mistakes. Back in college, I pursued a guy too aggressively and mistook his polite rejection for shyness. Full of confidence, I went to confess my feelings. When he rejected me, he frowned, looking at me like I was a pesky mosquito. “Sorry, I think you’re just horny, you don’t actually like me.” After that, we completely cut ties. Thinking that if I said the wrong thing, my relationship with Dr. Hayes would reset to zero, my heart ached sourly, and my food lost its flavor. And if I ever needed to see a dentist again, I’d have to detour to a farther hospital. I don’t want that!!! “Sigh, I should just lay low and behave myself for a while.” 05 The wristband the fan recommended was actually pretty great. Once I secured Waffles, he couldn’t break free, and I finally didn’t have to play parkour with him in the shower stall. That evening, I took Waffles out for a walk. We bumped into a downstairs neighbor who also had a Corgi. The two of us strolled along the path by the community park. Waffles and the other Corgi, Marshmallow, ran in circles wagging their tails, having the time of their lives. Heh, little simp. Just like me. Marshmallow’s owner was a college boy. I rarely saw him walking the dog before because he was a busy high school senior; usually, his mom brought the dog out. Back in high school, he had a buzzcut and wore a uniform every day, looking like an average teenager. Now that he was in college, his hair was longer. Wearing a hoodie, calling me “Penny” with a sweet mouth, he gave off total “puppy dog” vibes. “I rarely saw you walking Marshmallow before.” “Yeah, I didn’t have much time in high school. Now that I have more free time in college, my mom stopped walking her for me.” “Oh, I see. Do you take Marshmallow to a groomer, or do you wash her at home?” “Washing her at home is more convenient, but it’s a huge hassle.” Hearing this, I couldn’t wait to recommend my new bath-time miracle tool to him. But since this thing’s original purpose wasn’t pet grooming and it looked a bit kinky, I had to lean in close and whisper to him. “Someone recently recommended something to me, and it works so well. “Go search these keywords: Couples, Bathroom, Wrist Cuffs.” Seeing me say this, Toby looked at me weirdly. I quickly pulled out a picture and explained how to use it, preventing him from thinking I was some older woman with bizarre fetishes. “Look, you strap them up like this, and no matter how much they struggle, they can’t get loose.” “Is it really that good?” “Yeah! It’s comfortable for them, and comfortable for you.” “But I’ve never tried it. Will it overstimulate her?” “No way! I’ve already used it!” Right as we were discussing it, I caught a glimpse of Arthur walking by. I was just about to say hi, but I saw his face was dark. The air pressure around him was freezing, giving off a total “stay away from me” vibe. The way he looked reminded me of that guy I confessed to before; he was just as ruthlessly cold after rejecting me. I swallowed my greeting, lowered my head to pretend I didn’t see him, and moved a few steps closer to Toby. After Arthur walked past, I felt distracted. The topic we were happily chatting about suddenly lost its appeal. Toby also noticed something was off. “Penny, you look a bit tired. You want to head back and rest?” “Yeah, I’m just not really feeling it right now.” I sighed deeply, tugged at Waffles’ leash, and said goodbye to Toby. Waffles looked reluctantly at Marshmallow. His two hind paws dug firmly into the ground, completely refusing to leave. The leash around his neck squished his face flab into a ball, but he still wouldn’t budge. “Waffles! Time to go home!” Seeing his pathetic, simp-like expression made me mad. Toby, on the other hand, was laughing beside us. “He probably hasn’t played enough yet. Looks like Marshmallow wants to keep playing too. “Leave him with me. You head back and take a shower first, and once they’ve played enough, I’ll bring Waffles back to your place.” Although I felt a bit bad, since he put it that way, I couldn’t refuse. I had to temporarily entrust Waffles to him and head home first. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw someone standing in the hallway. It was Arthur. He turned to look at me, his face wearing an icy expression I had never seen before. Pierced by his unfriendly gaze, I felt a sting of hurt. I stood rooted to the spot, momentarily unsure if I should step forward. He turned and advanced on me step by step. In the empty hallway, only the sound of his footsteps echoed, hammering against my heart beat by beat. I had a vague, bad premonition. Perhaps our relationship was about to end right here. My body subconsciously backed up until my back hit the wall with nowhere else to retreat. “Why are you hiding?” I kept my head down, not daring to look at him, but he suddenly took off his glasses. “Close your eyes.” Because I had always followed his instructions during my dental visits, when his familiar voice rang out, my body reacted before my brain. The instant I closed my eyes, his hand threaded through my hair, landing on the back of my neck and pressing me towards him. The momentum made me tilt my head up, and his scorching kiss crashed down. It burned so hot that my eyes flew open, and I froze in shock. His dark eyes carried suppressed anger, his gaze locking tightly onto me, his handsome brows furrowed into a knot. “Do you like it like this? “I saw the package.” He let out a self-deprecating laugh. “I thought you were going to use it with me. “Who did you use it with? “What am I, then? “If it could be just anyone, then why didn’t you choose me?” His tone carried restrained fury. With every accusation, his eyes grew a shade redder. Seeing him like this, I didn’t even know where to start explaining. “I…” The moment I made a sound, he cut me off. “Sorry. I lost my composure.” He let go and looked like he was about to turn and leave. I quickly grabbed his hand. “It’s not what you think…” Before I could spit out more than a few words, my stomach let out a noise louder than my speaking voice. Grrrrmble— In the empty hallway, it sounded exceptionally clear. My silence was deafening. “…Have you eaten? Come over to my place for dinner, and I’ll explain everything while we eat.” He didn’t say a word. He looked like he was in a terrible mood, but he still let me pull him into my apartment. Since I was streaming today, I had cooked rice in advance and prepped food in the fridge, planning to heat it up and eat after walking the dog. I posted an absence notice to my fans on my phone, then heated the food while carefully weighing how to explain things. Arthur sat silently on the couch, the back of his head facing me so I couldn’t see his expression. I analyzed the current situation. He seemed to think I liked aggressive romance, that I had used the wristbands with someone else, and that I was playing with his feelings? So, does that mean I can interpret this as him liking me too? At the dinner table, he ate very little. He didn’t look like he had an appetite, more like he was just going through the motions to keep me company. “Um… that package is indeed mine, but I didn’t use it for those things… “I have a dog named Waffles. He’s misbehaves during baths, so I used them to tie him up while washing him… don’t get the wrong idea.” He put down his chopsticks and looked at me. “Do you see a single shadow of a dog in this house?” I went silent. I had thought of everything except that he wouldn’t believe me. But with Waffles not home, my explanation did sound pretty unbelievable. I had Waffles’ dog bed in my bedroom. If I showed it to him, he should believe me, right? “Penny, do you like me?” I didn’t expect him to ask that. I nodded hastily. He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he had made some sort of resolution. “Then that’s all that matters. I don’t care about the rest. “If you like it rough, I can do it. Just don’t go to anyone else.” 06 “So that’s what happened. It was too much drama. I still haven’t recovered.” After Arthur left, I broadcasted my mind-blowing day on my stream. The chat comments flew faster and faster, and the viewer count skyrocketed. [Ahhhh so sweet!!!] [He’s so smooth!] [He’s down bad!] [Manifesting a handsome, obsessed boyfriend.] I couldn’t help but giggle like an idiot. Who would’ve thought? I assumed I was going to be blocked and treated as a pervert, but the tables turned, and I went from a one-sided simp to mutual love. [Maybe you just shouldn’t explain. I feel like you’re pretty into it.] [She still has to explain! Otherwise, what if he constantly thinks Penny has unhealthy relationships with other guys?] I thought they had a point. Even though this dynamic was admittedly intoxicating, I couldn’t seriously let him keep misunderstanding me. “When Waffles gets back, I’m definitely clearing things up. It’s just that it was so shocking earlier; I’ve never seen anything like that, so I froze in fear, hehe.” After chatting with them for a bit more, Toby knocked on the door to return the dog, so I took the opportunity to end the stream. After wiping Waffles’ paws clean, I took him and knocked on Arthur’s door. Opening the door, Arthur only had a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. His hair hadn’t been blow-dried yet, and water droplets rolled off the tips, sliding all the way down his collarbone and leaving a trail across his pecs and abs. I stared, completely mesmerized. “Come in.” My body reacted faster than my brain again. By the time I came to my senses, the door behind me had already closed. Waffles wriggled free from my arms and ran off into his apartment on his stubby little legs. “Waffles!” I warned him to behave, but Waffles just turned to look at me with a clueless expression. Helpless, I had to turn my gaze back to Arthur. “Now you believe me, right?” “Mhm.” His tone was affirmative, but he didn’t seem to care much whether it was true or not anymore. Looking entirely like, “Whatever, I’ve already made peace with it,” he reached down and scooped up Waffles. Maybe it was because he had smelled Arthur’s scent on me before. Waffles just lowered his head, took a sniff, and dropped his guard. He wiggled his big butt and nestled into a comfortable position in his arms. Haha, the feeling I hadn’t even experienced yet, he got to try it first. Maybe my gaze was too searing; Arthur looked up at me. “Want to touch?” I nodded my head vigorously like a rattle drum. “Touch if you want to. I showered, so you won’t get an allergic reaction.” I remembered what he said at the hospital before. So it really was playing hard to get. Then I won’t hold back. Without hesitation, I shooed Waffles away and threw my arms around his lean waist. I buried my face in his chest; it was cool and felt incredibly comfortable. I hugged him again and again, loving it to pieces. “Arthur, do you like me?” I mumbled. “What else would it be?” He kept a straight face, but his body was honest. His two arms locked me in tight, leaving no room for my hands to cause mischief. “Did you come over to try the wristbands?” I was speechless. “They really are for Waffles!” He clearly didn’t take my words to heart. With a flex of his arms, he hoisted me up just like I hold Waffles and dumped me onto the couch. “We didn’t finish the movie last time. You watch it first; I’m going to change clothes.” Actually, I wasn’t particularly interested in that movie. I just wanted an excuse to ask Arthur out. Unfortunately, my company had a big project right then, and I worked overtime for half a month straight, so we didn’t get to go to the theater. I didn’t expect him to keep remembering it. I sat cross-legged holding the remote, browsing the list for a movie to watch. Arthur sat down beside me, and the couch dipped slightly. Losing my balance, I tipped right over toward him. He stretched out his long arm and very naturally looped me into his embrace. “Throwing yourself at me?” My ears burned bright red from his hot breath. My hand jerked, and I didn’t even know what movie I clicked into. Until Arthur’s voice, speaking through gritted teeth, echoed. “Penny! Parker! What do you mean by making me watch this?” I looked closely. The title “Challengers” was incredibly prominent on the screen. The background image was a promotional poster of two guys and one girl hugging intimately. “No! My hand just slipped, I don’t know how I clicked it!” “Is that so? You sure have a lot of ‘coincidences’ surrounding you.”

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I contacted the man I’d avoided for a decade, my hand resting on my now flat stomach, a cold smile on my lips. It began at a welcome home party my husband threw for his childhood sweetheart, Valerie. During a drinking game, she lost and asked me to take her punishment, claiming it was her time of the month. I refused, explaining I was pregnant. Valerie just scoffed, saying I should admit I didn’t want to help instead of suddenly “getting pregnant” as an excuse. The room burst into laughter, and my husband’s face darkened. The next second, someone kicked me into the deep end of the pool. A man bet my husband on how long I could hold my breath. My husband laughed, wagering his Aston Martin keys that I could last five minutes. Others threw cash into the bet. A heavy hand held me under. A sharp cramp tore through me, and I felt a warm flow into the water. On the deck, they kept counting. Valerie lost the bet. To cheer her up, my husband downed three glasses of wine. As I sank, my vision fading, I heard him clearly: “Stop faking it. Keep going.” When I woke in a hospital bed, my husband stood over me, frowning. His first words were: “Were you really pregnant? Why didn’t you say something sooner?” 1 “I did tell you, Ross. I told you I was pregnant.” Ross let out a cold, dismissive laugh. “In that kind of setting? How was anyone supposed to know you weren’t just making it up to get out of a drink? If you have been pregnant all this time, why did you hide it from me?” Because he did not know, he felt completely justified in watching his friends kick me into a pool. He felt justified in laughing and betting his sports car on my life. He felt justified in guzzling wine to cheer up Valerie while I was drowning. I closed my eyes, my fingers curling into tight fists around the hospital bedsheets. He dropped onto the sofa furthest from my bed, speaking in a slow, casual drawl. “Honestly, you do not even need to say it. I know exactly what you were doing, Nora. You were waiting to go straight to my grandfather to claim your little reward, weren’t you?” Looking at his face, I saw that familiar, absolute certainty. That arrogant, condescending look that told me he thought he had me completely figured out. I had seen that exact look countless times over our three years of marriage. No matter how hard I tried to be the perfect wife, he always looked down on me from his pedestal. I genuinely believed that marrying him meant I finally had a family of my own. Nobody knew how ecstatic I was when I saw those two pink lines. I had been so incredibly excited to welcome this tiny life, a little soul that shared my blood. I had carefully tried to guess his reaction, wondering if the father of my child would feel the exact same overwhelming joy that I did. Just last night, when Ross called to invite me to that party, a secret thrill had bloomed in my chest. I foolishly thought I had finally broken through the walls around his heart. I thought I could finally share my wonderful news with him in front of everyone. The sudden click of the door handle shattered the heavy silence in the room. Valerie strutted in on her designer stilettos, holding a massive bouquet of exotic lilies. I instantly furrowed my brows. “Get out.” She let out a dramatic huff. “Do you really think playing the victim makes you the queen of the Sinclair family? You cannot pin last night on me. You knew you were pregnant, yet you still came out to party with us. You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You just wanted to put on a pathetic show to make Ross feel guilty.” She crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me with pure disdain. “Do not forget, you were the one who forced your way into this marriage. If it were not for you, Ross would have ended up with his first love ages ago. You ruined his life, and you still have the nerve to act high and mighty?” “My marriage is between me and Ross. Outsiders do not get a vote.” My voice was incredibly soft, but I made sure every single syllable was crystal clear. At the mention of his first love, a flash of hostility crossed Ross’s eyes. “She is not an outsider.” I fell silent for a few long seconds before I finally spoke. “Ross, if it were not for her last night, our baby would still be alive. How exactly do you expect me to treat her?” Ross turned his face away, his voice dropping to absolute zero. “It is your own fault for not protecting yourself. You have no right to blame anyone else.” My breath caught in my throat. My mind went completely blank for a split second. I knew exactly what he was doing. He said it on purpose. Because just like Valerie said, he hated me. I slowly exhaled a shaky breath. “Ross, let’s get a divorce.” He let out a mocking sneer. “You know damn well my grandfather will never allow us to divorce. Do you honestly not feel ridiculous trying to use that empty threat on me, Nora?” He leaned forward. The lingering scent of expensive alcohol from last night mixed with an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. “If we divorce, where exactly are you going to go? Your parents died ten years ago. Besides me, who else are you going to cling to as a parasite? Or…” He paused deliberately, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. “Are you planning to run to your… stepbrother?” He spat the last word out like it was poison, his eyes locking onto mine like a predator. A sudden chill shot straight up my spine. But then, my tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed. There was absolutely nothing left to care about. A soft, broken laugh escaped my lips. “For three years, I sat in that massive, freezing house, waiting for you to just look at me. I was stupid enough to believe that if I held a stone against my chest long enough, it would eventually warm up.” “But now I know the truth, Ross. Your heart is harder than stone.” I was smiling, but the tears were spilling down my cheeks faster than I could stop them. “The baby is gone, Ross.” I forced the words out using every last ounce of strength I had left in my body. “And I am completely done waiting like an idiot for you to love me.” “I will go talk to your grandfather myself. He will agree to it.” The moment the words left my mouth, I clearly saw his pupils violently contract. That smug, untouchable mask he had worn since walking into the room finally cracked. He instinctively took a half step backward. After a brief moment of stunned silence, his jaw clenched tight, his voice dangerously low. “Nora, without the Sinclair family backing you, you are absolutely nothing. Are you really sure you want to do this?” “I am sure. Don’t worry, you are about to get your freedom back.” 2 The next morning, Elder Sinclair arrived at the hospital leaning heavily on his silver handled cane. He took one long look at me, let out a heavy sigh, and lowered himself into the chair beside my bed. “I have already contacted the Vanderbilt family. I told them to keep their daughter, Valerie, on a very short leash. You will not have to see her face ever again.” “And I have thoroughly disciplined that reckless grandson of mine. He truly does care for you, Nora. Just give him some time.” I opened my mouth, fully intending to tell him that his grandson’s heart belonged to someone else entirely. But the old man did not give me the chance to speak. “You have suffered a terrible injustice with the child.” His tone softened, yet it carried an undeniable, commanding edge. “But life has to keep moving forward, Nora. You are still young. Once your body heals, you will have other children.” I took a deep, steadying breath. “Arthur, I want a divorce.” The hospital room went dead silent. Elder Sinclair did not explode in anger. He just looked at me, his eyes clouded with a deep disappointment. And that kind of quiet disappointment was infinitely harder to swallow than screaming rage. “Nora, do you have any idea what you are actually asking for?” He phrased it as a question, but he clearly had no intention of waiting for my answer. “Divorce is an easy word to throw around. But what happens after the papers are signed? How do you plan to survive out there on your own?” His tone was heavy and earnest, sounding exactly like a patriarch looking out for my best interests. “Let me ask you a few simple questions, my dear.” “How old are you?” “Have you ever worked a corporate job in your life?” “Have you ever earned a single dollar with your own two hands?” I sat there in total silence. “No. You haven’t.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “I am not saying you are incapable, Nora. But before you turned eighteen, you relied entirely on your stepbrother. When your parents passed, they left you a massive inheritance. And by twenty five, you were married to Ross. You have absolutely no concept of what it means to grind, to struggle, to earn a living in the real world.” “Maybe in the past, you could have fallen back on Gideon. But from what my investigators tell me, the two of you had a total falling out. He left the country ten years ago and has not been back since.” “So tell me. If you divorce Ross today, exactly what are you going to live on?” “This VIP hospital suite costs five thousand dollars a night. You need premium postnatal care after a miscarriage. The Sinclair family can provide you with the absolute best medical team in the state to ensure a perfect recovery. Do not gamble with your health, Nora.” I clutched the edge of the blanket, refusing to speak. Seeing that I was not backing down, Elder Sinclair did not lose his temper. Instead, he smoothly changed his tactics. “How about this. Focus on your recovery first. When you are discharged, you come back to the Sinclair estate. I will force Ross to move out into one of his penthouses for a few months. The two of you need some physical distance to cool off.” “Once you are fully recovered, I will personally arrange a position for you in one of our corporate offices. Whatever career you want to pursue, I will fund it.” “Learn how to be an independent woman first. Then, we can revisit this divorce talk.” “If you still want to leave him after you have tasted the real world, I promise I will not stand in your way.” He gestured for his head butler to bring Ross into the room. Ross stood in the doorway, his face still etched with deep annoyance. “Grandfather.” “Get over here and apologize to your wife.” Ross shot me a sideways glance. “Sorry.” The old man frowned deeply. “Did you forget how to speak? Louder.” Ross took a deep breath and raised his voice a fraction. “I am sorry, Nora.” His volume went up, but the half hearted, dismissive attitude remained exactly the same. Elder Sinclair did not care. Forcing Ross to apologize was just part of his grand performance. It was exactly like his manipulative speech about letting me gain independence. “Arthur, I do not need his apology.” The old man turned his sharp gaze back to me. “My answer has not changed. I want a divorce. It is not because I am throwing a tantrum, and it is not because I am trying to prove a point. It is because this marriage has been entirely meaningless from the very first day.” “It took me three brutal years to finally admit that out loud.” My voice was trembling, but I forced every single word out with absolute clarity. “You told me I have no work experience, that I cannot feed myself. Fine. I will learn.” “I am only twenty eight. It is not too late to start over.” Elder Sinclair sat in total silence for a very long time. Finally, he stood up. As he leaned his weight onto his silver cane, his body swayed slightly. His butler instantly rushed forward to steady him. He looked down at me, the rims of his eyes turning a faint shade of red. “I have always looked at you as my own flesh and blood, Nora.” “If your mind is truly made up, I will not force you to stay.” “But mark my words. The doors to the Sinclair estate will always remain open to you. Whenever you decide you want to come home, your place will be waiting.” He turned and walked toward the door. Right at the threshold, he stopped without looking back. “Ross. Come with me.” Ross followed him out into the hallway. The hospital room fell dead silent once again. I stared blankly up at the white ceiling, fresh tears slipping from the corners of my eyes. He claimed he treated me like his own flesh and blood. But you do not treat your own blood like a business transaction. You do not sit by your granddaughter’s bed the day after she loses her baby and casually tell her she is young enough to just make another one. I knew he was just putting on a masterful act. But his calculating performance made one thing abundantly clear. Getting this divorce was going to be a brutal war. 3 The door swung open again. Ross walked back in, looking thoroughly exhausted and irritated. “Grandfather ordered me to stay here and watch over you.” I stared right through him, my face expressionless. “Ross, your grandfather officially agreed to the divorce.” He froze, a sudden flash of genuine panic breaking through his arrogant facade. “I am walking away with nothing from the Sinclair estate. I only want the inheritance my parents left me. The eight million dollar trust fund. When we got married, I handed it over as my dowry. Later, you told me you converted those funds into Sinclair Corporation shares.” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “Right now, I just want my eight million dollars back in cash.” Ross quickly looked away, dodging my eyes. “Focus on getting better. We can deal with the financial details later.” He turned on his heel, ready to bolt. “Ross.” He stopped dead in his tracks but refused to turn around. “Did you already drain my trust fund?” The muscles across his broad shoulders instantly locked up. “Valerie’s family business ran into massive financial trouble last year. She came begging you for help. Did you use my parents’ money to bail out her family?” Ross whipped around, his face turning an ugly shade of ash. “What the hell are you talking about?” He closed the distance between us, looming over my bed with a dark, threatening glare. “My business with Valerie has absolutely nothing to do with—” I let out a sharp laugh. “Ross, if you dared to give my dead parents’ money to Valerie, I swear to God I will—” The door suddenly clicked open, and Valerie strolled right in. “You will do what, exactly?” She looked at Ross, then shifted her mocking gaze to me, letting out a sharp, condescending giggle. “Ross, why are you even wasting your breath on her? So what if her dead parents’ money was used to save my family? Does she have a single shred of proof?” She crossed her arms, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow. “Nora, I suggest you get a grip on reality. The moment you married into this family, your money became Sinclair money. Or did you think all those designer clothes and luxury cars you have been using for the past three years magically fell from the sky? Did you think the Sinclairs were running a charity?” “Even if Ross was generous enough to write you a check right now, what difference would it make? You do not even know how to write a basic resume. How long do you think eight million dollars will last a spoiled housewife?” She laughed out loud, her voice dripping with pure, unfiltered malice. “What are you going to do when the money runs out? Sit on a street corner with a cardboard sign?” I gripped the bedsheets so hard my knuckles turned white, but I kept my mouth shut. Valerie took a slow step closer, her tone venomous. “Actually, it is going to be incredibly entertaining to watch. An orphan who just got dumped by the great Ross Sinclair. Can you imagine what high society is going to whisper about you behind your back?” She leaned in close, dropping her voice like she was sharing a juicy secret. “Congratulations, Nora. You are about to become completely worthless.” I raised my trembling hand, fully intending to slap the smug look right off her face, but Ross caught my wrist in a vice grip. Right as we were locked in a tense standoff, a deep, resonant male voice echoed from the doorway. “She still has me.” Valerie straightened up instantly, whipping her head toward the door. Ross followed her gaze. A tall man stepped into the room. With a fluid, calculated motion, he effortlessly broke Ross’s grip on my wrist and smoothly stepped between us, acting as an impenetrable shield. “Who the hell are you?” Ross massaged his aching wrist, his face twisting into a scowl. “Gideon.” “So you are that pathetic little…” Gideon shot her a single, freezing look, and she instantly snapped her mouth shut. Completely ignoring the two of them, Gideon pulled up a chair and sat down beside my bed. “The chicken soup is still hot. I got it from that old diner you loved when we were kids. Eat it before it gets cold.” Looking at his familiar face, the tears I had been fighting back broke free, streaming down my face. Ross stood a few feet away, his expression darkening into pure rage. “Did you call him back to the city, Nora?” I did not even bother looking at him. “Get out, Ross. My legal team will be in touch regarding my inheritance.” Valerie let out a nasty sneer. “A legal team? You honestly think you can afford a decent lawyer?” Gideon slowly turned his head to look directly at Valerie. The smug smile froze on her face. She instinctively took a terrified half step backward. Ross quickly grabbed her wrist, pulling her safely behind his back. He glared at Gideon, then shifted his dark, calculating eyes to me. “People always used to whisper that you two had a dirty little secret going on behind closed doors. I never bought into the rumors, but seeing you two now, I guess they were right all along.” “You really played the long game, didn’t you, Nora?” Gideon calmly scooped a spoonful of hot soup, blew on it gently, and brought it to my lips. “You play a pretty good game yourself, Ross. Raiding your wife’s dowry to bail out your little side piece’s bankrupt family. I wonder if the elder Mr. Sinclair knows about this? Do you think he would break your legs himself?” Ross glared daggers at Gideon. “Valerie is absolutely right. The second she signed that marriage certificate, she and her bank accounts became Sinclair property. Who the hell do you think you are to question me?” Gideon’s hand paused in mid air. He lowered his gaze thoughtfully. I opened my mouth, ready to defend him, but his smooth, unwavering voice beat me to it. “It does not matter who I am. But since Nora is divorcing you today, I have more than enough ways to make you choke on every single dime you stole from her.” 4 Ross let out a harsh, barking laugh. “Now it all makes perfect sense. You do not speak to her for a decade, and the exact second she mentions divorce, you magically appear to play the white knight? Were you just waiting in the wings to take my sloppy seconds?” Valerie immediately jumped on the opportunity to pour gasoline on the fire. “Can’t you see what is happening, Ross? Her loving wife act was totally fake. She has probably been sleeping with her precious stepbrother this whole time! She used you as a shield to secure her status as Mrs. Sinclair, while she was messing around with another man behind your back.” “And now that she lost the baby, she is playing the ultimate victim. She wants to throw all the dirt on you so she can walk away clean and run off into the sunset with her golden boy!” “Shut your mouth!” I was shaking violently, pure adrenaline and fury surging through my veins. “Was she wrong?” Ross’s voice dropped to a terrifying, deadly pitch. The fact that he was actually standing there, playing the role of the betrayed husband trying to catch a cheating wife, was the most sickeningly hilarious thing I had ever witnessed. “Ross, wasn’t it you who stood there and watched them kick me into the deep end of the pool?” My voice was barely more than a whisper, but Ross’s breathing hitched instantly. “When I told you I was pregnant, wasn’t it you who stared at me with a dead look in your eyes and called me a liar?” “Wasn’t it you who laughed and bet your car keys on how long I could hold my breath?” “When Valerie lost the bet, and you drank three glasses of wine to cheer her up, did you hear the sound of me fighting for my life in the water?” “Ross.” My tears slipped down my cheeks without any warning. “The person who murdered your child… was you.”

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1 My son, Fred, was with me at the hospital, getting an IV drip, when a little girl nearby started wailing, absolutely refusing to get her shot. I was watching, a frown creasing my brow, when suddenly a male nurse grabbed Fred and pulled him away. “Be a good boy, sweetie, I’ll give him the shot first. He can show you how it’s done, okay?” I immediately protested. Not for any other reason than Fred was severely allergic to many medications. A random injection could be disastrous. But before I could even finish my sentence, a stinging slap landed across my face. “My daughter is a princess of the McKay family! Letting your little brat take a shot with her is an honor! Don’t be so ungrateful!” I had no idea Aurora McKay had a daughter… … “I’m not doing it! No!” In the infusion room, the screams and cries of a child were incessant. Occasionally, tweezers, alcohol swabs, or needles would fly through the air, threatening to hit someone. Several patients, unable to bear it, had already dragged their ailing bodies out of the room. Fred clung to me, his face pale. He’d been frail since birth; my wife, Aurora McKay, and I had coddled him for years to help him function like any other child. Seeing him like this, my heart ached. I regretted giving in to his pleas to accompany me for my IV. This was a McKay-owned hospital; I could easily voice my concerns to the chief of staff. But it was a holiday weekend, and the patient flow was immense; I didn’t want to waste medical resources over a trivial matter. It was strange, though. Despite the crowded infusion room, and those who had fled, not a single person dared to speak up. They just endured it, some silently adjusting their IV drip rates, desperate to finish and leave. Frowning, I raised my voice. “Excuse me, this is a public space, and everyone here is a patient who needs rest. Could you please ask your child to quiet down?” I added, “My child isn’t feeling well, and loud noises upset his heart. Please try to be considerate. Thank you.” The male nurse, who had been trying to pacify the little girl, stopped and turned to look at me. He scowled, his tone self-righteous. “No one else here has a problem, only you. Don’t you know what ‘minority abides by the majority’ means?” He then scanned the room. Wherever his gaze fell, people quickly lowered their heads. Satisfied, he nodded. Then, as if bestowing a favor, he addressed me. “Guess it’s my bad luck today, running into two worthless commoners, big and small, who think everyone should cater to them in a public place. Whatever, I need to take care of my daughter, too lazy to bother with you.” Before turning away, he glanced dismissively at Fred, his eyes practically dripping with scorn. “Knows he’s a sickly kid and still runs around all the time. At such a young age, trying to flirt with rich ladies, like some kind of frail little gold digger?” He paused. “Doesn’t look like it’s working, though. So many people here, and no one’s standing up for you.” He leaned in, his voice dropping slightly. “Know why?” He chuckled darkly. “Let me give you a piece of advice: Do you even know who I am…?” The nurse’s taunts had begun to fuel my anger, but I didn’t want to scare Fred, so I forced myself to be patient and reasonable. “I don’t care who you are. This is a public place!” I insisted. “People should have some common decency!” The nurse stared at me for a long moment, as if he’d discovered something new, then suddenly let out a laugh. He leaned down and whispered something to his daughter, pointing at Fred as he spoke. Although I disliked his finger-pointing, at least his persuasion seemed to quiet the girl down. I breathed a sigh of relief. Then I noticed Fred struggling to breathe, his heart clearly in distress. Frantically patting my pockets, I realized I hadn’t brought his medicine. Panicked, I asked a kind-looking gentleman nearby to keep an eye on Fred, then grabbed my IV bag and rushed out. My phone vibrated; a quick glance showed a message from Aurora. “Sweetheart, when will you be done? I’ll come pick you both up. I already sent Liam over with the herbal soup I personally prepared for you. Waaah, honey, why won’t you let me skip work to be with you?” My mind was a mess; I had no time to reply. Thankfully, I always kept emergency medicine in the car, so I wouldn’t be completely helpless. I sped up, finally feeling a wave of relief once I had the medicine in hand. Still a ways from the infusion room, I saw a shadowy figure lurking behind Fred. A smirk of revenge twisted on his face. By the time I realized what he intended to do, it was too late. 2 “Boo!” The man suddenly jumped out from behind Fred. Several people nearby were startled, ready to curse, but swallowed their words the moment they recognized him. Fred let out a small gasp, convulsing as he clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor. “The little brat’s quite the actor, isn’t he?” I immediately ran over. “What are you doing?!” At the same time, the little girl in the opposite seat suddenly shrieked and, mimicking Fred, slumped in her chair. The man ignored me, rushing towards the girl. “Pearl! My sweet girl! What’s wrong with you?!” He cried. “Pearl! Wake up—” He dabbed at a few nonexistent tears, then wailed dramatically in the infusion room for a few moments before the girl slowly came to. She huddled in the man’s arms, clutching her chest, looking utterly miserable. “Oh, Daddy, I’m scared, my heart hurts so much.” The man’s expression hardened. “Pearl, tell Daddy, who scared you?” The girl pointed a finger at Fred. “It was him—” I found it utterly ridiculous. My heart pounded furiously with anger. I held Fred close, comforting him, ignoring the dislodged IV needle, and sharply reprimanded the man. “That’s absurd!” I snapped. “Fred barely made a sound when he was scared, quieter even than your outburst or the startled gasps of those other gentlemen. Unless you were listening carefully, you wouldn’t have heard it. How could he possibly have scared her?!” But the man ignored me, rushing over and brutally yanking Fred from my arms. I was already weak from my illness and completely unable to resist him. The man grabbed Fred by the hair, holding him up as he addressed the other patients. “Folks, I trust your eyes are sharp. Tell me, whose voice truly scared my daughter?” I looked hopefully at the older gentlemen and ladies. How could any clear-sighted person not see whose fault it truly was? But they avoided my gaze. “I, I saw it clearly. Miss McKay was scared only after that little boy made a sound…” “I saw it too! It was that little boy who scared Miss McKay!” “Poor Miss McKay, she’s ill and still being blamed and picked on everywhere. Mr. Florrick, you’re a generous man to let it go, but these two actually tried to scare Miss McKay! How can there be such a black-hearted father and son in this world!” “Disgusting!” I stared in disbelief at the crowd, who were now vehemently condemning Fred and me. They were indignant, as if Fred and I were truly the most heinous criminals. My vision blurred. After being shoved down by the man, I had remained on the floor, too weak to get up. There were many people around. No one dared to help me up. Most of them were echoing the man, vilifying Fred and me. But Fred was still in his hands. I could only grit my teeth, struggling to get back on my feet. A passing nurse, unable to bear it any longer, bit her lip and helped me up. She quickly whispered in my ear, “I advise you to play along with him, don’t confront him anymore. Just let him vent, and it’ll pass.” She continued, “He’s basically just loafing around the hospital, always throwing his weight around, never doing any actual work, and nobody dares to do anything about him.” I clenched my jaw, asking, “Why is someone like that allowed to stay in this hospital, wasting such good resources?!” The nurse gave me an odd look. “You really don’t know who he is? He’s Florrick Adrian, the husband of Aurora McKay, the head of the McKay family, the wealthiest in the city. His son is truly a McKay princess; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say his family has a throne to inherit.” She leaned in again. “Do you think these people haven’t tried to stop him before? They’ve all been taught a lesson already. Trust me, he won’t go as far as causing a fatality. Just bear with it; it’ll be over soon.” The nurse’s words left me stunned. If I hadn’t misheard, the wealthiest family in the city, the head of the McKay family, was my wife, Aurora McKay. But when did Aurora McKay get such a grown-up daughter? And how did her husband become Florrick Adrian? My mind flashed back to the sweet message she’d just sent. Before I could ponder it further, Florrick Adrian sighed dramatically. “I really didn’t want to make a big deal out of this,” he declared. “But this lady and her son keep harassing my son and me, again and again.” He continued, “My wife loves me to death. I can’t imagine what the consequences would be if she found out.” He paused for effect. “My wife isn’t like me; she’s not one to be reasoned with. If she found out, I’m afraid everyone here would be in trouble.” He added, “After all, it’s because of your negligence that my son and I have been harmed.” He then pulled out his phone, a sinister smile on his face. “What to do? She just sent me a message saying she’s coming to see me and our son right away.” He concluded, “That’s how much she loves us. During work hours, she heard our son was unwell and is rushing right over.” 3 Such unreasonable remarks, yet everyone’s resentment could only be swallowed. Their primary fear now was the unknown retaliation from the rumored head of the McKay family. These were ordinary people, keenly aware that a single finger from someone with that background could crush them. They dared not blame the irrational Florrick Adrian. Thus, all their anger was redirected towards Fred and me. Between the McKay family and seemingly unremarkable Fred and me, anyone could grasp who held more weight. Someone, anxious to appease, immediately proposed, “Mr. Florrick, please don’t be upset. We’ll all bear witness here. Let’s teach this reckless father and son a lesson, and you can calm down, okay?” Just then, Florrick Adrian, seemingly tired, casually tossed Fred onto the floor. I tried to rush forward, but suddenly several large men from behind me pinned me to the ground. Someone slapped me, the blow making my entire head ring. “Stay put!” “You shameless brat, it’s all your fault for angering Mr. Florrick! Do you want to drag us down with you now?!” Some of the accompanying family members also immediately got up, ready to act. One of them rummaged through a trash can and pulled out a discarded needle. Gritting his teeth, he straddled Fred. “It’s your rotten mouth! Why did you have to speak up and scare Miss Pearl?!” He snarled, “I’ll sew it shut right now! Let’s see if you can still speak up and harm people after this!” Several others, quick to anticipate, immediately rushed over and held down Fred’s limbs, preventing him from struggling. The moment the needle pierced Fred’s lower lip, I erupted with astonishing strength, roaring as I broke free from the men’s grasp and lunged towards Fred. “Get off him! Get away!” I trembled, holding Fred close. The needle was already through his lower lip; I didn’t dare move, unsure what to do. I knelt, crying, begging the nurses nearby for help. “Please, I’m begging you, I’m kowtowing to you. Save my son, he’s really not well…” But no one responded. They watched with cold eyes, no one daring to get involved. Florrick Adrian suddenly began to cry as well. “Is not being well an excuse to harm people?!” He wailed, “Did I say anything when my daughter was scared like that? Why is it now making it look like we’re bullying you?” He added, “If only my wife were here…” Florrick Adrian’s sorrowful cries terrified the crowd even more. Now that he was only crying and not speaking, the others, at a loss, could only bow and scrape before his daughter. Pearl stretched, then announced loudly, “Giving shots is so much fun, Daddy, teach me! I want to give this little brat a shot too—” Someone quick-witted immediately seized the opportunity to flatter Pearl. “Miss Pearl is so kind and generous! She knows he’s unwell and still wants to learn how to give him shots to cure him—” Another chimed in, “You two little wretches should be kneeling and bowing to Miss Pearl and Mr. Florrick!” Florrick Adrian was quite pleased with this suggestion. “Good girl, Pearl! How about Daddy gives him a shot first, shows you how it’s done, and then you can give him one, okay?” My only thought was that I absolutely couldn’t let them take Fred from my arms again. Fred was allergic to many medications; any random drug injected into his body without medical supervision could be fatal. I wanted to escape this place. But the doorway was blocked by several burly men. “You wretch, we gave you a chance to atone, and you refuse! Do you want to drag us all to hell with you?!” Someone tried to snatch the nearly unconscious Fred from my arms. The force was so great I feared Fred’s arm might be torn off. In that brief moment of loosening my grip, Fred was immediately pulled away. Over there, many needles and vials of liquid were already prepared. No. Absolutely not! I could only grit my teeth and lunge at Pearl. In a move no one expected, I snatched a needle and held it to her neck. Extreme rage made my whole body tremble. “Let go of my son.” I warned, my voice tight. “I am Aurora McKay’s husband. If you touch my son again, I swear I won’t let any of you get away with it!” Florrick Adrian shrieked, tears instantly flooding his eyes. “Wife!” Just as he screamed, I suddenly felt a heavy blow to the back of my head with a wooden stick. “How dare you touch my daughter? Do you have a death wish?” Florrick Adrian was overjoyed. “Wife!” The searing pain at the back of my head almost made me collapse. Hearing him say “wife,” I froze. Had Aurora McKay arrived?

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He was famous for his strict adherence to propriety, taking the initiative to marry me and take responsibility after our wild night. But he didn’t love me. After we got married, no matter how hard I tried, he kept me at arm’s length. He was as cold and detached as a monk. Until a woman appeared who perfectly matched his criteria for a partner. He lost his mind over her, unable to sleep at night. So, it wasn’t that he didn’t have desires and emotions. He just didn’t have them for me. 01 At 1:00 AM, Carter finally came home. He seemed surprised that I wasn’t asleep yet. “I told you, you don’t have to wait up for me.” “But I want to wait,” I said, smiling and leaning against him. “It’s only natural for a wife to wait for her husband to come home.” He paused in taking off his watch: “Suit yourself.” Only a small lamp was on in the living room. In the dim light, the man’s features were so perfect he didn’t seem human. Every time I looked closely at him, I felt a deep sense of awe. “I missed you so much today—” My words were cut off. Carter frowned at me: “What are you wearing?” I said: “New lingerie, do you like it?” “Don’t do this kind of thing again.” He turned and walked towards the guest bedroom. “Carter,” I stopped him. “Today is my birthday, can’t you just spend some time with me?” He stopped in his tracks: “Happy birthday. I’m pretty tired today, we’ll talk about it later.” He went into the room and locked the door behind him. Leaving me alone in the living room, wearing semi-transparent lingerie, feeling like an absolute fool. We’ve been married for half a year, and Carter has always kept me at a distance. No matter how much I flirted with him, he remained unmoved. Like a monk devoid of human desires. The media always said Carter was different from those playboy trust-fund kids. The Vance family had strict rules, raising him to be the most proper gentleman in Manhattan’s elite circle. But I had seen his other side. His wild, unhinged side. Seeing it once made me crave it again. However, Carter’s actions told me that night was just an accident. My phone vibrated. My best friend, Lily, sent a message: “Have you seen the trending topics… if you haven’t, promise me you won’t get mad.” What happened? I opened Twitter, and a glaring headline caught my eye. #CarterVanceLateNightRendezvousWithBeauty# Oh, I knew this beauty. Carter’s new secretary. 02 The comment section was full of people watching the drama unfold. [Congrats to CEO Vance for finding true love!] [Bring the marriage registry here! Hurry up and divorce that manipulative Audrey Miller!!] [Audrey Miller even posted a PDA tweet today. Talk about a slap in the face.] [Is there anyone who doesn’t know Audrey Miller orchestrated a one-night stand to force him into marriage…] So, Carter was with his new secretary tonight. I had seen that girl before. Twenty-two years old, just graduated from college. Very young, very pretty, and full of energy. Most importantly, she perfectly matched Carter’s criteria for a partner. They met at a campus recruitment event. Carter went to give a speech personally, and the girl was bold enough to be the first to raise her hand to ask a question. After the meeting, Carter specifically pulled out her resume and studied it for a long time. Unexpectedly, this girl was appointed directly as his executive secretary. You have to understand, Carter’s secretarial team wielded immense power. The company’s HR department had no say; only he could personally appoint them. Following the information provided by netizens, I found the girl’s account. An hour ago, she posted a tweet. [Can’t handle my liquor. Thanks to my kind boss for driving me home, hehe.] In the photo, she was sitting in the passenger seat, showing Carter’s hands gripping the steering wheel. 03 Early the next morning. Carter walked out of his room and saw me. “You have a shoot today?” “No.” “Then why are you up so early?” “What were you doing last night?” “Team building with the executive office.” “Was it a team building for a group, or a team building for two?” “What do you mean?” I pulled up the trending topic. Carter glanced at it, downplaying it: “The media is taking things out of context. There were six people at dinner yesterday.” “Is that so? Should I believe you?” “Audrey, stop being unreasonable. You know better than anyone what the media is like.” He wasn’t wrong. After all, in the current entertainment industry, no female star gets hated on more than me. The media deserves a lot of the credit for that. But these are two different things. I cut straight to the chase: “Do you like her? That secretary fresh out of college.” “I don’t.” Faced with my blunt question, Carter remained calm and heavy. “And I don’t appreciate your wild guesses. If you have too much free time, I’ll have the management department schedule more shoots for you.” He spoke as if addressing a subordinate. Not his wife. I said: “I remember your criteria for a partner. Under 5’7″, long straight dark hair, a clean aura, energetic and smiley. She fits them all.” And I didn’t fit a single one. I was known for being cold and glamorous. Carter was getting annoyed: “Are you done? If you’re done, I’m going to the office.” “Fine, go. Today I will tell the media that Chloe is a homewrecker interfering in someone else’s marriage—” Carter stopped abruptly. When he looked back at me, there was actual anger in his eyes. “Chloe is only twenty-two. She’s just a kid. Do you want to destroy her life with rumors?” God knows how long it had been since I saw Carter angry. Raging for a beauty, only that beauty wasn’t me. I said: “Carter, do you remember how old I am?” “Yesterday, I just turned twenty-five.” “I’m only three years older than her.” “When I was getting torn apart by the public, did you ever feel sorry for me?” 04 My feelings for Carter began when I was eighteen. I grew up in a single-parent household. During my senior year of high school, my mom got seriously ill. I didn’t go to college. After graduation, I worked at a bar to scrape together money for her treatment. I worked a legitimate job, not selling anything inappropriate. But because of my standout looks, I occasionally faced verbal harassment from male customers. The manager said the customer is always right, and if I didn’t want to get fired, I just had to endure it. One day, I encountered a particularly difficult customer. “How old are you, little girl? Oh, eighteen. So young. Are you a waitress here? Do you offer any other services besides serving drinks?” A group of men started laughing sleazily. “You don’t? Stop pretending. Your uncle here isn’t just rich, he’s also very capable. Come with me tonight, and I promise you’ll experience pure bliss.” It was disgusting. He was about to continue harassing me when suddenly, a glass of liquor fell from the sky, soaking him from head to toe. “Who the f—” Seeing who it was, the male customer froze. “Mr., Mr. Vance, what is the meaning of this?” “Apologize to her.” 05 That was the first time I heard Carter’s voice. It was clear and cool, like pearls breaking off a string and clinking onto a porcelain plate. He was there to discuss a business deal. I figured if it weren’t for work, he wouldn’t have set foot in this place. Because he completely didn’t fit in here. Carter didn’t have the slightest smell of smoke or alcohol on him. He was as aloof as a god. After the man slinked away, Carter said to me: “People like that aren’t fit to do business with me.” “Thank you, sir.” “You don’t need to endure it. Next time, remember to fight back and protect yourself.” “I’ll lose my job.” He looked down at me: “Are you very short on money?” “Yeah, my mom is sick and needs medical bills paid.” “What about school?” I shook my head: “I don’t have the money for tuition.” “I understand.” Surprisingly, Carter didn’t show any pity. That was good. I didn’t like people pitying me. He left me a phone number. “This is my subordinate’s contact information. You can reach out to him. Our company has a charity project helping impoverished students. As long as your situation is verified, you can apply for a grant.” He paused, then said one last thing. “If you have the opportunity, you must study.” Later, I really did get the grant. After paying for my mom’s treatment, there was still some left over. I took a gap year, studied hard, and successfully got into college. It was only then that I learned he was the famous Carter Vance. The Vance family was a titan in the entertainment industry, terrifyingly wealthy. And Carter was the sole heir. In my sophomore year, I met him for the second time. I gathered my courage and walked up to Carter: “Mr. Vance, thank you.” He was confused: “You are?” He didn’t remember. The lighting was dim that night, and he barely looked at me. Helping me was just a casual gesture for him. But that was okay. I would work hard, and sooner or later, I would stand beside him. A year later, I became a signed artist at Carter’s company. I was finally able to confidently extend my hand to him: “Hello, Mr. Vance.” He would never know how many years I worked hard for this day. I didn’t dare to hope for the future; I was already content. But half a year ago, an accident completely changed our relationship. —Carter and I had a wild one-night stand. 06 I only remember the gist of what happened that night. The company hosted a gala, and many VIPs attended. I drank too much, and so did Carter. My guest room was 606. I was sure the room I entered was 606. But Carter was lying inside. I don’t even remember how we started kissing. I was intoxicated, and so was he. There were many rumors about Carter in the outside world. He kept his distance from women and strictly adhered to propriety. Some said his sexual orientation was a mystery. Others said he had a hidden illness. But that night, I experienced firsthand that it was all fake! When Carter lost control, it was fatal. … Early the next morning, someone rang the doorbell. My legs were weak as I went to open it. Because of the hangover, my mind was still foggy, and I thought it was housekeeping. In reality, it was full of reporters. Countless camera lenses were aimed at me. While I was standing there in shock, Carter also walked over. “Who is it?” He didn’t even have time to put on his shirt properly before he was caught on camera. 07 The scandal between Carter and me caused an uproar. The Vance family was strict and wouldn’t allow such an absurd thing to happen. Carter found me and proposed marriage. Of course, I agreed without hesitation. Happiness came too suddenly, going straight to my head. It caused me to ignore the scrutiny and coldness in his eyes at that moment. He asked me: “Wasn’t the room number 909?” I said: “No, it was 606. You read it wrong.” He was silent for a moment, then spat out four words: “As you wish.” It wasn’t until after we got married that I understood the deep meaning of those four words. It turned out that after that night, Carter went to the hospital for a check-up. They found traces of drugs in his system. The kind of illicit drug that makes you lose your reason and be controlled by lust. Though illegal, this drug wasn’t uncommon. Who drugged him? At the same time, that morning, I opened the door for the reporters. Who called the reporters? How did they conveniently gather right outside this room? Everything seemed planned. I was the prime suspect. Carter hadn’t originally intended to resolve this with marriage. But ruining the family’s reputation caused their stock to plummet, and the family elders were furious. He had no choice but to take responsibility. I had defended myself. “It wasn’t me”—I said those words countless times. But everything was just too coincidental. Carter said it was hard for him to believe me. During these six months of marriage, we slept in separate rooms. Even if he accidentally touched my hand, he would pull away as if he’d been electrocuted. I didn’t give up. I believed that one day, he would discard the misunderstandings and barriers. But it seemed I wouldn’t live to see that day. Because of Chloe’s appearance. 08 I had seen Carter reading her resume word by word. As if trying to study her past between the lines. He was so gentle, but not towards me. After fighting with Carter, I packed my things and left the house. We gave each other the silent treatment for days, and he never reached out. A week later, I went to record a talk show. Carter came too, bringing his new secretary. Having not seen him for days, when he saw me, he just gave a distant nod from afar. No intimacy whatsoever. Chloe followed beside him, curious about everything, constantly asking him questions. I remembered that Carter hated stupid people at work. But right now, facing Chloe, he was very patient, answering every single question. After a while, he came over to me. “Audrey,” he said. “I gave you the status you wanted. Don’t drag innocent people into this.” “We haven’t seen each other for a week, and this is what you want to say?” “Just a reminder.” I laughed: “Mr. Vance, do you still think I drugged you and called the reporters?” “What else?” I didn’t say anything more. There was no need. Disappointment flooded my heart and brain, sobering me up. Carter was truly good to his little secretary. Her probation period wasn’t even over, yet he let her appear on the show in his place. She was talkative and full of energy. Until the host asked about me. “Chloe, you just joined the company recently and you’re already on a show with the boss’s wife. Are you nervous?” Chloe glanced at me and said: “What’s there to be afraid of? I know there are some bad rumors out there, saying Audrey used to be a bar girl, and that she’s very manipulative and stuff. But I want to say, Audrey is a very good person. You shouldn’t be prejudiced against her!” The whole studio was dumbfounded. She just publicly listed all my scandals! Even the host, who had seen all sorts of situations, was stunned into silence. The host had to change the subject. “Ahem, next, let’s ask Audrey. Do you have any important plans coming up? Give the fans watching a little hint.” “I actually do.” I smiled calmly— “I’m, get-ting, a, di-vorce.” Every word was clear and resounding. Carter, who was off-stage, snapped his head up. His eyes were filled with shock and disbelief. 09 The studio was quieter than it had ever been. The host looked like she wanted to die. Probably in her entire career, she had never felt this awkward. “Why, why, why did you make this decision…” “You should ask Miss Chloe.” I tossed the ball to Chloe. The little girl was caught completely off guard. Did she think she was the only one who could play passive-aggressive? Sorry, I prefer the direct approach. “You’ve all seen the news lately, right? My husband has been acting ambiguously with his subordinate. If I don’t divorce a husband like that, am I supposed to keep him around for the holidays?” Facing the camera, I smiled. “I don’t like fighting with other people over a man. I have a lot of things to do. I have to shoot movies and record shows. Without love, I can still live a wonderful life.” “As for men, if they don’t behave, just get a new one.” As soon as I finished speaking, Carter seemed to finally snap out of it and forcefully interrupted the show. He pulled me backstage. “Audrey, what nonsense are you spouting?” “I’m not spouting nonsense.” I peeled his fingers off me one by one. It was so laughable. The man who usually dodged my touch was now refusing to let go. “Carter, listen closely.” “Starting today, I, Audrey Miller, am officially asking you for a divorce.” It was as if all the blood had been drained from Carter’s body, his face turning pale. “You’re fighting with me, right? You think if you bring up divorce, I’ll coax you.” He nodded to himself: “Okay, I’ll coax you. Giving you the cold shoulder these past few days was my fault. I apologize. I’ll have PR handle everything that just happened on the show. The company executives won’t say a word of blame. If you don’t like Chloe, I’ll transfer her out of the executive office—” “Not necessary.” I interrupted. “Wake up. I’m not throwing a tantrum.” I pulled a piece of paper from my pocket. It was a prepared divorce agreement. “Take a look. If you don’t have any objections, sign it now.” 10 The show was live. Even though it was halted midway, the things I said were broadcasted accurately. I instantly went viral on Twitter. The comment section was surprisingly supportive. [I’m siding with Audrey on this one. That Chloe girl was talking way too passive-aggressively, it was disgusting.] [I wanted to say this a few days ago: regardless of how Audrey got her position, she is the legitimate wife now, bound by law. A bunch of people praising the mistress as ‘true love’—what kind of messed-up morals is that?] [Support wifey getting a divorce. If you don’t leave, I’ll fight you.] [Off-topic, but Audrey’s face is truly stunning. I was mesmerized by her beauty watching the live stream today… is Carter blind?] People were also discussing what kind of person Chloe really was. Because the day after the scandal broke, Carter, while fighting with me, swiftly issued a clarification statement. The executives who attended the dinner that night also posted photos. The scandal collapsed on its own. But my interview seemed to confirm their ambiguity again. Could a man as proper and rigid as Carter really cheat? Suspicions were running high. Soon, the company’s disciplinary actions were announced. Because of her inappropriate language, Chloe received a severe warning and was transferred. Everyone said this was Carter trying to win me back. But was it really? I knew Carter’s temper too well. If any other employee had made such a mistake, it wouldn’t just be a transfer; they would usually be fired directly. Chloe merely being “transferred” meant he was still protecting her. 11 Looking back at the day of the recording, I brought out the divorce agreement. But Carter refused to sign. I couldn’t guess what he was thinking either. I decided to send a text to rush him. “Mr. Vance, after you fill out the divorce agreement, please send it to me so we can pick a day to get the divorce certificate.” Carter called me directly. “Rey-Rey, haven’t you caused enough of a scene?” Rey-Rey is my nickname. When I was little and couldn’t articulate well, I always mispronounced my name “Audrey” as “Rey-Rey,” so my mom gave me this nickname. Carter had always known this name. But this was the first time he called me that. “I am very firm on the divorce. Please hurry up, Mr. Vance, don’t delay me from finding my next partner.” “Next partner?” Carter practically laughed out of anger. “I’ve given you the status and resources you dreamed of. Who else do you want to find? Rey-Rey, you are my first, and you will be my last. I’ve never coaxed a girl before, but I can promise you, as long as you want it, the position of Mrs. Vance is always yours. No one can take it away!” I said: “But what I dreamed of was never those things.” Carter seemed stunned. “You still don’t know what it is I truly wanted… but it doesn’t matter, I don’t want it anymore.” With that, I hung up. My best friend, Lily, was also an employee at the company. She told me that Carter had been in a very dark mood these past few days and kept zoning out during meetings. Lily said: “Everyone is saying privately that you can’t bear to leave Mr. Vance and that you’ll be back sooner or later. It seems… Mr. Vance believes it too.” No wonder. Ever since I mentioned divorce, Carter had been initiating contact with me every day. But for the past three days, he had reverted to his cold and aloof self. So he was waiting for me to bow my head. Then I’ll give him what he wants. On Friday, I took the initiative to go to the company. When Carter saw me, his eyes lit up: “Rey-Rey, have you thought it through?” “I have.” I slapped a stack of documents on his desk. “Not only do I want a divorce, but I also want to terminate my contract.” 12 I signed a five-year contract with the company. This year was exactly the fifth year. I chose not to renew. Carter was in disbelief. He asked through gritted teeth: “Are you sure about this?” “Yes.” “Found a new agency?” I didn’t know which agency he was talking about. But I still said “Yes.” My attitude infuriated him. He hesitated no longer, took a pen, and signed both contracts. However, he pressed so hard he almost tore through the paper. With the signed divorce agreement, the rest of the process was very simple. The day I got the divorce certificate, I felt incredibly light. This one-sided crush that had lasted for seven years was finally over. As I was admiring the certificate, I heard Carter say: “Remember, today is the day you gave up everything from the Vance family.” “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t regret it.” “I hope so.” His tone was extremely cold, but when he looked up, I noticed. His eyes were red. 13 Whether his eyes were red or not, what did it matter to me? I threw myself into my new life without stopping. Of course, to say I wasn’t sad at all would be a lie. After all, I had loved him so much and tried so hard to get close to him. But clarity only takes an instant. My sadness was only for feeling that my efforts were not worth it. The Vance family had funded my education, and I figured working for them all these years was enough to repay them. A few days later, Lily told me she had also resigned. “Rey-Rey, if you go, I go. Men are unreliable, your sister will stay with you!” I was so moved I almost cried. Lily had been working behind the scenes for years and was very capable. We planned to start our own personal studio. Preparing the studio would take some time. Before that, I was going to record a reality show first. It was a heartwarming variety show. The guests had to bring a few old items and reminisce about the past. After much deliberation, I decided to bring my old backpack. It was the backpack I used during my gap year studying for the college entrance exams. It held a lot of memories. On the day of filming, Carter showed up. It wasn’t that surprising. I had accepted this gig while I was still with my previous company, and besides me, newcomers trained by the company were also on the show. Carter had a habit of being hands-on and came to check in with the production team. He stood behind the camera crew, his eyes fixed on me. I just pretended I didn’t see him. Halfway through the shoot, it was my turn to present. I opened my backpack and took out the items one by one. “This is a gel pen. During my gap year, I did so many practice tests I had to change pens every two or three days. “Oh, and this. The SAT prep book. Everyone’s done this, right? I call it a nightmare. “This is a notebook for mistakes. I have so many more like this. “And this—” I suddenly stopped. The last item was a yellowed diary. It used to be my most loyal listener. During the hardest and most exhausting times of studying, writing in my diary was my only way to relieve stress. My prolonged silence piqued the curiosity of the guest next to me. “Is there a secret in this notebook? You have to follow the rules of the game, no hiding.” She took my notebook and flipped it open. [September 2016. The teacher said the intensity of the gap year classes is very high, and many students can’t handle it. But I must persevere, because I have to go see Carter Vance.] She froze too. The whole studio went quiet.

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Kelly did not even let me explain. She told me Zane had nearly drowned jumping into a freezing river for her, a reckless devotion she would not trade for a billion dollars. I gave a bitter smile and asked if betraying me meant nothing. She lowered her head, muttered a quick apology, and left without a trace of hesitation. Watching her walk away, I sighed quietly. She had no idea she was giving up far more than me and our shared future. She was abandoning her place as the matriarch of a multi billion dollar empire. We were once the couple everyone on campus envied. I led the dean’s list and treated her like royalty. Everyone believed we would marry. Yet she left anyway, with no fights or warning. On a perfectly ordinary afternoon, she walked straight into the arms of the campus delinquent who had pursued her for three years. She claimed my love was too safe. She wanted a romance that was explosive, chaotic, and reckless. From that day, she skipped classes to go clubbing and rode on motorcycles with local street thugs. Her parents, desperate, called me in tears, pleading for help. My heart softened. I took the fully funded study abroad documents I had prepared for her and tracked her down. She only sneered, saying the department had no exchange quota and accusing me of forging papers to trick her into leaving Zane. 1 I had my butler, Silas, accompany me to the administration building to process my paperwork. Wanting to avoid any unnecessary drama about my identity, I specifically instructed the university to simply announce my withdrawal. They were not to mention a single word about my transfer to an elite Ivy League institution overseas. The paperwork was finalized. Walking out of the grand double doors, the midday sun beat down mercilessly, the harsh glare making my eyes sting. Silas lowered his voice. “Are you holding up alright, young master?” I glanced up at him. “Do I look like the kind of man who would fall apart over a woman?” Silas shook his head. A self-deprecating chuckle escaped my lips. “The eighteen year old me would have. But at twenty one, I finally understand what my father meant.” “He always said love was the most useless commodity in high society. It only turns you into a walking punchline.” I am the sole heir to the Kingsley family empire. Since childhood, every single person who approached me did so with dollar signs in their eyes. After surviving enough betrayals, I gradually locked myself away in my own isolated world. But a part of me still craved a normal youth. I wanted genuine friends and a warm, uncomplicated romance. So, at eighteen, I put on a pair of thick, black framed glasses, bought the cheapest clothes I could find, and enrolled at this university. However, the aura of detachment I had built up over a lifetime was too strong. An entire month went by without a single person daring to speak to me. I tried joining clubs, only to be rejected one after another. Eventually, I found myself sitting by the campus lake, utterly defeated and ready to throw in the towel. Then Kelly appeared. She crashed into my deadened heart like a blinding ray of light. When she smiled and handed me a cold soda, my fingers literally trembled as I took it. In eighteen years of life, it was the very first time someone had given me something out of pure, uncalculated kindness, even if it was just a cheap drink. She comforted me with a soft voice and excitedly dragged me into the sketching club, swearing she did not care about my supposedly poor background. In that exact moment, I decided to give her my entire heart. And I really did do crazy things for her. Once, I heard a false rumor that she had a boyfriend. I spent the entire night drinking rotgut whiskey in a dive bar until I threw up blood. But the next day, when she cleared up the misunderstanding and hugged me, confessing she liked me too, I cried like an absolute fool. Looking back on it now, maybe that is what youth really is. It always comes with a heavy dose of pain. I was just about to leave the administration courtyard. Unexpectedly, Kelly and Zane blocked my path. Kelly’s eyes were visibly red. She marched right up and grabbed my wrist. “Alan, I know you are heartbroken, but you cannot ruin your life by dropping out! I will feel too guilty if you throw your future away like this!” I yanked my hand back, my tone dropping to freezing temperatures. “My withdrawal has nothing to do with you. We have no relationship whatsoever. Keep your hands to yourself.” Without another word, I turned to walk away. Zane immediately stepped in front of me, wearing an absurdly self righteous expression. “Kelly gave you three of her best years. That is more than enough! You dropping out right now is just a manipulative stunt to make her feel bad and force her to come crawling back! If you really loved her, you would wish us the best!” Right at that moment, my three dorm mates happened to be walking by. Derek, our dorm leader, shoved Zane hard in the chest. “Have you got no shame? You steal the guy’s girl, and now you are playing the victim?” “The whole school knows how well Alan treated her. She tossed him like garbage, and now she wants to play the innocent angel?” “Any girl who chooses a piece of trash like you is no prize herself!” Zane exploded. “You can trash talk me all you want, but keep Kelly’s name out of your mouth!” A split second later, he threw a wild punch. The four boys instantly tangled together in a vicious brawl. Students swarmed the area, forming a massive circle, holding up their phones to record every second. 2 It did not take long for my three friends to pin Zane to the concrete. Kelly threw herself onto the ground, wrapping her arms around him and screaming at me hysterically. “Alan! You are pure evil! You chose to drop out, nobody forced you! I came over out of the goodness of my heart to check on you, and you order your friends to jump him!” “I regret every single second of the three years I spent with you! You are a sick, possessive freak! You treated me like your personal property, forbidding any guy from getting near me. It was like living in a cage!” “You are a total monster!” Zane lay on the pavement, groaning out a weak, dramatic line. “Kelly, do not blame him. It is my fault for chasing true love. But even if it kills me, I will save you from a guy like him…” Kelly glared at me with bloodshot eyes, screaming at the top of her lungs. “What will it take for you to let him go? Is it my body you want? Fine! You can have me! Just promise you will never hurt him again!” With a violent tug, she ripped the collar of her own blouse, exposing her bare shoulder. The surrounding crowd went into an absolute uproar. “Holy crap, Alan looks like a nice guy, but he is actually a creep!” “That is so gross. I would have dumped him ages ago if I were her!” Curses, accusations, and the aggressive clicking of camera shutters instantly drowned me out. I stood tall, looking down at them from my vantage point, a cold smirk playing on my lips. “Kelly, your acting is way over the top.” She froze, her hand still clutching her torn shirt, her face a mask of shock. “What did you just say?” I slipped my hands into my pockets, my voice entirely unbothered. “I have been standing right here the entire time. I haven’t said a word, and I haven’t moved a muscle. You, on the other hand, accused me of ordering a hit, slandered me by saying I imprisoned you, and topped it off by claiming I want your body.” “It is a real tragedy you are not in Hollywood. You would sweep the Oscars.” Someone in the crowd immediately spoke up. “I was watching the whole time. It really went down exactly the way Alan said.” The public opinion flipped in an instant. Kelly’s face drained of color. She waved her hands frantically. “No! That is not what happened!” I cut her off with a voice like ice. “No? Zane is the biggest thug on campus. He gets into street fights every other day. My roommates are regular honor roll students. You really think they could drop a seasoned brawler in two seconds flat? Do you think everyone here is stupid?” “You don’t want the reputation of a cheater, so you are pinning all the blame on me.” “But you seem to have forgotten something. When I loved you, I was willing to play the fool. But now that I don’t give a damn about you, why would I ever tolerate your nonsense?” “And as for your body, cover it up. It makes my stomach turn, and I don’t want to pollute my eyes.” With that, I called for Silas and walked away without looking back. The next evening, Derek called to invite me out for a farewell dinner. They originally planned to hit a cheap food truck near the campus gates. For three years, these guys had no idea about my real background, yet they treated me like a true brother. I refused to let them eat street food on my last night. I had Silas book the most exclusive private dining room at a three star Michelin restaurant downtown. Sitting around the table, there was no awkward politeness. Just raw, honest talk between friends. We drank, clinked glasses, and reminisced about the last three years. Nobody asked how much the plates of wagyu and truffles cost. Nobody cared about the invisible wealth radiating from me. It was close to midnight when we finally stumbled out of the private room, our arms draped over each other’s shoulders. 3 The moment I looked up, I saw those two again. Zane had a cigarette dangling from his lips, looking every bit the street rat, shouting at the front desk manager. “You think I can’t afford to treat my girl to a decent meal? My wallet got stolen, and my phone just broke! I will bring you the cash in a couple of days!” The manager maintained a blank, professional stare. “Sir, your bill comes out to over five thousand dollars. If you cannot settle the check right now, I will be forced to call the police.” Kelly looked up and locked eyes with me. She shrieked instantly. “Alan! You stole his wallet on purpose! You just wanted to humiliate him in front of all these people! You are so twisted!” I furrowed my brows in sheer disbelief. “Are you mentally ill? Me, steal from him?” Zane immediately dropped his tough guy act, switching to a pathetic, wounded puppy look. “I know you still love Kelly, and you hate me for taking her away. If you wanted to eat at a high end place like this, I could have paid for you. There was no need to resort to petty crime.” My three roommates stepped in front of me like a human shield. “Bullshit! Alan would never steal a dime!” Kelly looked at me with tear filled eyes, her tone dripping with patronizing pity. “Just admit it, Alan. If you didn’t take his money, how could you possibly afford to eat here? Just hand over the wallet. I will make sure Zane doesn’t press charges. Don’t ruin your entire life over a moment of jealousy.” I completely ignored her, simply casting a brief glance at the manager. The manager caught my drift immediately. Less than a minute later, the high definition security footage was playing on the lobby screens. On the massive display, Zane was seen excusing himself to the restroom, pulling an empty wallet from his pocket, and tossing it directly into a trash can. Then, he took his own phone and violently smashed it against the tile floor, shattering the screen. Returning to his table, he patted down his pockets, shouted that he had been robbed, and pulled out his broken phone, faking a complete meltdown. Kelly’s face flushed a deep, humiliating red. She tucked her chin so far down it practically touched her chest, completely speechless. Zane panicked. “I… I swear I will bring the money tomorrow! Please don’t call the cops!” I looked down, discreetly tapping a quick message on my phone. A second later, the manager’s phone buzzed. A perfectly rehearsed smile spread across his face. “Our owner has a soft spot for romance. He says that if this gentleman can prove he truly loves the lady beside him, the house will cover the bill.” The manager walked over to the bar, picked up a thick, solid glass liquor bottle, and handed it directly to Zane. Zane gripped the neck of the bottle, his hands shaking violently, entirely paralyzed by fear. Kelly nervously checked the judgmental stares of the wealthy patrons around them. She urged him in a hushed whisper, “Zane, I know it will hurt, but I don’t want to go to jail, and I can’t get expelled. Didn’t you say you loved me? Just one hit. You are used to getting into fights anyway…” Finally, Zane squeezed his eyes shut, gritted his teeth, and smashed the heavy bottle against his own skull. Crimson blood instantly poured down his forehead, dyeing half of his face red. Kelly practically tackled him in a hug. “Zane! You are amazing! Thank you for bleeding for me! I am so moved, I swear I will never leave your side!” I stood exactly where I was, my face twisted in utter disgust. Disgust for her, but mostly disgust for myself. This was the kind of cheap, trashy melodrama you read in trashy romance novels, the kind where you wonder how the female lead could be so brain dead. I could not believe I actually loved someone this brain dead for three years. What a joke. Too tired to waste another breath, I grabbed Derek’s shoulder and headed for the door. Passing by them, I couldn’t resist dropping one final piece of advice. “Next time you want to flex, make sure you check the menu prices before you walk through the door.” 4 Before I could take another step, Kelly clamped her hand around my wrist. “You have to apologize to Zane! This is all your fault!” A laugh bubbled up from my throat, dark and dry. “Me? Apologize?” Kelly puffed out her chest, completely shameless. “You obviously had enough money to book a VIP room here. Why couldn’t you just cover our tab while you were at it? You are just cheap! All those times you said you loved me over the past three years, it was all fake! If you don’t apologize right now, I am going to make your life a living hell!” Zane pressed a hand to his bleeding head, glaring at me like a cornered rat. “Don’t get cocky! My boss answers directly to Mr. Silas! The underground runs this city! I promise you, I will make you pay for this tenfold!” I let out a cold snort. “Alright. I will be waiting.” With a forceful yank, I ripped my arm from her grip and strode out into the night. Early the next morning. Derek called me in a complete panic. “Alan, it is bad! The campus forum is going nuclear! You need to see this right now!” I pulled up the university network. The top trending post had a glaring, sensational headline: [SHOCKING! Top Student Alan Kingsley Commits Theft & Violence in Jealous Rage!] Beneath it was a heavily edited video clip. The first half featured Zane playing the bloody victim while Kelly cried into the camera. The second half was a deepfake. It showed a highly realistic AI generated version of me looking down at the ground, admitting I stole the wallet, and then raising a glass bottle to attack Zane. The comment section was an absolute warzone. Rumors, insults, and death threats swept through the entire student body like a wildfire. Shortly after, the Dean of Students called me personally. He sounded heavily conflicted. “Alan, this situation with Zane has escalated beyond our control. The student body is out for blood. Could you possibly come down to the campus and clear the air in person?” “Alright.” After hanging up, I called for my butler. “Silas. I am done keeping a low profile today.” Silas bowed deeply. “Understood, young master.” One hour later. An extended, pitch black Rolls Royce Phantom glided through the streets, coming to a smooth halt right in front of the main administration building under the watchful eyes of the entire university. A massive crowd had already gathered on the steps. Zane had brought a gang of street thugs, blending them in with the furious college students. They waved picket signs demanding justice and screamed for my expulsion. Kelly stood at the very front of the mob, looking like a tragic, wronged heroine. Silas stepped out first. He bowed respectfully and personally opened the rear door for me. Today, there were no thick framed glasses hiding my eyes. No shaggy hair covering my forehead. My hair was styled flawlessly, revealing sharp, aristocratic features that could easily rival any A list Hollywood actor. I wore a custom tailored bespoke suit, a limited edition luxury watch gleaming on my wrist. The cold, untouchable aura of pure old money radiating from me made people physically step back. The moment my leather shoes touched the pavement, the entire plaza went dead silent. Everyone froze like statues. I took slow, measured steps until I stood right in front of Kelly and Zane, whose faces had completely lost their color. A chilling, hollow smile touched my lips. “So, you wanted an explanation?” Zane was the first to snap out of the trance. He clenched his fists and roared, “You think renting a designer suit and hiring a fake luxury car is going to scare me? Let me tell you, it won’t work! My boss is on his way right now, and you are going to pay in blood!” The moment the words left his mouth. A black utility van slammed on its brakes right behind my Rolls Royce. The sliding door flew open. A massive, bald bruiser wearing a thick gold chain vaulted out of the vehicle. Rocco, flanked by a dozen heavily tattooed enforcers, stormed forward with terrifying aggression. “Who the hell is messing with my boy? You got a death wish?” Rocco marched straight toward me, raising a massive, calloused hand, fully intending to slap me across the face. But in the next fraction of a second, his hand froze rigidly in mid air. His pupils dilated in sheer, unadulterated terror. “M… Mr. Silas?”

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The instant my husband left for his business trip, water began to seep from the bathroom ceiling again. A familiar dread, mixed with a growing suspicion, twisted in my gut. It had been this way since we moved into this new complex: every time he was away, the upstairs neighbors’ pipes would start acting up. The first few times, he’d flat-out refused to let me go up and confront them, claiming they were unreasonable and he didn’t want me getting upset. After he’d “talked to them,” the leak would indeed stop for a few days. But the moment he was gone again, the dripping would resume. This time, I still called him first. “Babe, the bathroom’s leaking again.” Perhaps it was just my imagination, but I thought I heard the distinct sound of running water on his end before his voice came through. “Don’t worry about it,” he said, his tone dismissive. “I’ll deal with it when I get back. Those upstairs folks are a handful; definitely don’t go up there yourself.” Like always, I mumbled an agreement, but my feet were already carrying me out the front door. I was determined to see just how “difficult” these neighbors really were. 1 Pressing the button for the floor above, a mix of nerves and curiosity churned within me. My husband, Robert, always claimed the upstairs residents were ill-tempered, yet every time he spoke to them, the issue would “magically resolve” for a few days. It was just too strange. The elevator doors opened, and I took a deep breath, heading towards their apartment. As I approached, I could faintly hear the sound of water, accompanied by a woman’s light laughter. I raised my hand and knocked. The sounds abruptly ceased. I waited for what felt like an eternity, but no one answered. I knocked again, harder this time, raising my voice. “Hello, I’m your downstairs neighbor. My bathroom ceiling is leaking again, and I’d like to discuss it.” Still no response. The water sounds remained silent. A faint, sweet scent wafted from beneath the door – a fragrance I’d never bought myself, yet it struck me as oddly familiar. My mind a jumble of unease, I waited patiently for several more minutes. When no one appeared, I finally gave up and headed back downstairs. Back in my apartment, I opened the building’s resident chat, hoping to find contact information for the upstairs unit, but after scrolling for ages, I found nothing. The growing sense that something was off prompted me to call building management, but even they knew little about that particular apartment. I walked out onto my balcony, thinking I might try to call out to them. The moment I peered over, I saw a familiar flash of gray. Wasn’t that Robert’s favorite gray jacket? I strained to see more clearly, but after squatting there for half an hour, no one else appeared on the balcony. Had I just imagined it? I shook my head, convincing myself I was simply overthinking things, conjuring illusions out of stress. Just then, my front door lock clicked. I jumped. Robert was away; who else had a key to my place? Could the upstairs neighbor have been provoked and now decided to retaliate? I grabbed the broom leaning nearby, hid behind the door, and waited, heart pounding, for the door to open. It slowly swung inward. A figure stepped inside, a bouquet of roses in hand. I froze, the broom clattering to the floor. “Robert? You’re supposed to be on a business trip! What are you doing back?” He looked equally startled to see me, then smiled and walked over. “The company had a last-minute change of plans for the project. And when you told me about the leak, I just couldn’t rest easy. Thought I’d come home to check on you and surprise you.” He reached out to hug me, but I instinctively stepped back. “I just went up to talk to them. Someone was definitely inside, but they wouldn’t open the door.” Robert’s eyes flickered, and he quickly changed the subject. “I told you they were difficult. I’ll go talk to them tomorrow; you just stay out of it.” He offered me the roses, then leaned in to kiss me. In that instant, I caught the same familiar scent I’d noticed upstairs, and my stomach tightened. The strong fragrance of the roses had initially masked it. But as he drew closer, I also noticed the hair at the back of his neck was damp. I reached out and touched it. “Why is your hair wet?” His body stiffened for a fraction of a second, then he chuckled. “Didn’t you notice it’s raining outside? Got caught in a downpour when I stopped to buy you flowers.” I pulled back the curtains. Indeed, a light rain had started at some point. Robert’s explanation sounded perfectly plausible, but my suspicions didn’t diminish in the slightest. I kept my poker face, though, taking the flowers with a happy smile. “Thanks, babe. You should go take a hot shower; you don’t want to catch a cold.” He seemed to let out a sigh of relief, heading straight for the bathroom without another word. Lying in bed that night, my mind replayed the day’s events: the persistent leak when Robert was away, the suspicious running water, the scent, the fleeting glimpse of a familiar jacket, and his sudden, convenient return. All these details didn’t quite add up. Tomorrow, I vowed, I would accompany Robert to meet that neighbor. 2 The next morning, as I placed breakfast on the table, Robert came over, pecked me on the cheek, and said casually, “Hey, babe, I tried contacting the upstairs residents. They said they’d have someone come fix it again today.” My hand, holding the milk carton, paused. I looked up at him. “You have their contact info? Can you give it to me? That way, if you’re ever away and there’s a problem, I can just deal with it myself.” But Robert shook his head, a playful glint in his eye. “The upstairs tenant is a guy, and he looked kinda creepy. My wife’s too pretty; I don’t want him bothering you. Besides, once this leak is fixed, we won’t have any reason to interact with him again.” I didn’t reply, just stirred my oatmeal, a fresh wave of doubt washing over me. Yesterday, I distinctly heard a woman’s voice. Why was Robert telling me it was a man? Were they a couple living up there? The next two days, I had to go out of town for work. But I was distracted, my mind consumed by the lingering questions. Finally, with my work done, I decided to head home early. I put my key in the lock, but for some reason, the door was double-locked from the inside. About two minutes later, Robert finally opened it. “Babe, what are you doing back? Aren’t you supposed to be home tomorrow?” I saw the panic in his eyes, but forced a smile. “Missed you, so I came back early. What were you doing? Why was the door double-locked?” Robert gestured to the apron he was wearing. “I was just cooking. Probably just locked it out of habit when I came in. Perfect timing, actually; go wash up and we can eat.” He then turned back to the kitchen, bustling about. Since marrying him, I’d barely set foot in the kitchen whenever he was home. Everyone said I’d snagged a good one. He was also big on holidays, always showering me with gifts, big and small. Watching his busy figure, a sudden wave of guilt washed over me. Maybe I was just being overly sensitive. It was probably just a coincidence. How could I even suspect him of cheating? I nodded cheerfully and walked over to look at the dishes, but then I spotted something that shouldn’t have been on the table. My heart sank. “Why did you make braised prawns? We’re both allergic to shellfish, remember?” The storm clouds of suspicion, which I’d momentarily suppressed, now rolled back in with full force. Robert seemed to suddenly remember, hastily dumping the prawns into the trash. “Oh, right! My subordinate said these were home-grown, so I just took them. Good thing you’re home, babe, otherwise I’d be suffering.” He then put an arm around me, coaxing. “Forget it, let’s go out for a nice dinner tonight; we won’t eat at home.” He hugged me sweetly, then humbly massaged my back and shoulders. Once we arrived at the restaurant, he handed me his phone. “Order whatever you want, don’t try to save money for me, okay? All my earnings are for my precious wife.” As I took the phone to order, my finger accidentally brushed the search icon. The next second, a pink 26-key keyboard popped up. My heart plummeted. I stared blankly at the glaring keyboard. I’d been with Robert for three years, married for two; I knew his typing habits better than anyone. We both preferred the 9-key layout, finding the 26-key too cumbersome. Even if it was an accidental tap, what about the pink cat-themed keyboard skin? Robert always used his phone’s default keyboard. This had to be something someone had deliberately set up. At that moment, I knew for sure: Robert was cheating. That woman loved rose-scented shower gel, enjoyed braised prawns, and used a 26-key keyboard. But I wouldn’t confront him directly. I would catch them myself. 3 In the days that followed, to make Robert lower his guard, I never brought up the upstairs apartment again. And indeed, after he said the upstairs residents had called someone to fix it, there hadn’t been any more leaks. Less than a week later, whether his mistress couldn’t wait or Robert was just eager, he went on another “business trip.” This time, half a day after he left, there were no leaks from upstairs. Had it actually been fixed? Just then, a knock echoed at the door, followed by the delivery driver’s voice. I paused, confused. I hadn’t ordered anything; why was there a delivery? I opened the door and took the package. The moment I saw what was inside, my heart started pounding frantically. The recipient was Robert, the address was our apartment number, and the phone number was my secondary line. But inside the bag were a bottle of shower gel, a box of condoms, and a bottle of lubricant. My heart constricted, the items in my hand suddenly weighing a ton. Just as I suspected, twisting open the shower gel released that familiar scent, instantly assaulting my senses. And I was allergic to lubricant; in all our time together, we had never used such a thing. The truth was now glaringly obvious: Robert was with that woman right now. He had ordered these items but hadn’t paid attention to the delivery address, so they ended up here. The delivery app not automatically switching addresses also suggested his second home was likely somewhere nearby in the complex. If I wasn’t mistaken, the upstairs apartment had to be his little bird’s hideout! That day when I came back early from my business trip, he was cooking for her! But whether she hadn’t arrived yet, or had left early because she knew I was coming back, I still couldn’t figure out. I was so angry I could barely breathe, tears welling up in my eyes. But quickly, I wiped them away and carried the items out the door. Upstairs, I knocked hard. In less than ten minutes, the door opened. “What the hell do you want, banging on my door in the middle of the night?!” Staring at the hulking man in front of me, I was utterly unprepared and froze. What was going on? Had I been imagining things all along?! Before I could react, the man roughly yanked my hair, sending me crashing against the door frame. “I’ve had enough of you! Your man keeps bothering me, and now I’ve fixed the leak, and you’re still causing trouble? I’m going to beat you senseless!” His fist, like a brick, slammed into my body. I cried out in pain, begging him to stop. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me!” Just as I was about to pass out, the man finally stopped. “I’m warning you, if you ever come up here to bother me again, I will kill you!” I lay curled on the floor, too sore to speak. The man slammed the door shut. After about ten agonizing minutes, I slowly managed to get up and stagger back to my apartment. Near collapse, I video-called Robert. When he saw my face, he immediately looked frantic. “Babe, what happened to your face?! Who hurt you?” Ignoring his question, I held up the bag of items. “Robert, how do you explain these?” He looked genuinely surprised, then angry. “This has to be that upstairs tenant’s doing! That day I went up to get him to fix the leak, he got really annoyed and demanded I pay for the repairs. When I refused, he tried to hit me. I told him I’d call the cops before he finally let me go. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to worry you. This is definitely his revenge. I’m coming back right now!” The throbbing pain in my body made it impossible to discern the truth from his words. About three hours later, Robert returned, looking disheveled and wind-blown. 4 The moment Robert stepped through the door, his eyes reddened at the sight of the bruises on my face. He rushed over, gently stroking my injuries, his voice a mix of urgency and tenderness. “I’m going up there right now to settle this with him! He’s going to pay!” Robert immediately grabbed my arm and dragged me upstairs, pounding on the neighbor’s door with such force my heart nearly leaped from my chest. “Open up! Get out here!” There was no sound from inside, so he hammered on the door several more times. Finally, the door opened. It was the same man, looking thoroughly annoyed. “What do you two want now? Looking for another beating, are we?!” Robert instantly pulled me behind him, pointing a finger at the man’s nose. “How dare you say that? You bought all that garbage for my wife and laid hands on her! Today, it’s either you or me!” The man scoffed, completely unfazed. “So what if I bought them? If you won’t give me peace, I won’t give you peace!” Both Robert and I were stunned, completely unprepared for such a blunt admission. I felt a pang of guilt for having doubted Robert and couldn’t help but ask, “Why would you do this? Just because we asked you to fix the leak?” The man leaned against the doorframe, his eyes full of malice. “Yeah, I was sick and tired of you two bugging me! I was annoyed!” He pointed a finger at us. “I’m warning you, if you ever dare to knock on this door again, I will seriously kill someone!” Robert was fuming, about to charge forward, but I held him back. “Forget it. There’s no point talking to this kind of person. Let’s call the police!” But at the mention of the police, the two men exchanged a quick glance, a hint of panic in their eyes. Robert’s anger suddenly deflated. He pulled me close, trying to dissuade me. “Babe, we just moved here. If we make too big a fuss, the neighbors will start talking.” Then the man’s demeanor abruptly changed too. He said in a deep voice, “Hitting you was wrong, but you guys pushed me too far! Your husband came up here how many times? Anyone would get annoyed!” He paused. “Look, how much money do you want? I’ll compensate you and apologize. Just drop it.” Considering how much we’d invested in this apartment, and wanting to avoid further trouble, I decided to let it go. Life returned to normal, and my suspicions evaporated. Until, that is, I was rummaging through a drawer for a bank card and stumbled upon a few old property fee statements. I looked closely at them. The address was the upstairs apartment’s! My hand, holding the papers, trembled uncontrollably. My heart sank completely. Not only that, but I also discovered a new key on Robert’s keyring. I secretly took it off and had an identical copy made. The next time he went on a “business trip,” I opened the tracking app I’d secretly installed on his phone. Sure enough, he was still in the complex. Holding the copied key, I took a deep breath and walked upstairs. My hand trembled as I stood before the door, but I inserted the key, turned it, and the door opened. The next second, a woman’s scream pierced the air: “Who are you?! Why are you in my apartment?!” Ignoring her, I frantically searched the apartment, almost insane with desperation, but there was no sign of Robert. Why? Why? I scanned everything, on the verge of collapse. On the sofa lay a gray jacket that I recognized instantly. On the bedside table was a razor, his preferred brand. Everything screamed one truth: Robert was cheating! But I still couldn’t prove it! Amidst the woman’s furious shouts, I returned home. Pushing open my own door, I froze. Robert was standing there, holding his phone, looking at me with a puzzled expression. “Babe, where did you go just now? I left and then remembered I’d forgotten my phone, so I came back to get it.” I stood in the doorway, staring at him, utterly speechless. My mind, however, was screaming: What in the world is going on?!

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My daughter’s simple “Daddy” was once the sole reason I clung to my marriage. When my wife, Stella Lawrence, was first caught by the police for soliciting eight men, I chose to endure it. For the sake of our family, we struck a fragile agreement: I wouldn’t file for divorce, and she would undergo daily screenings for infectious diseases at the hospital. Each time, she’d cooperate submissively during blood draws, allowing the cold needle to pierce her skin, all out of guilt. This went on for a whole month, until she was caught red-handed again, for the same offense. In that moment, my blood felt like it was boiling, my eyes bloodshot as I stared her down. “How many more times will you betray me? What do you take me and our daughter for?” A sharp slap suddenly echoed through the room. She shrieked hysterically, “I’m sick of your endless checks! You think this is a compromise? This is you silently condoning my continued indulgence!” “And how clean are you, Mr. Saint? When you were juggling countless women back then, did I ever utter a single complaint?” The most brutal truth unraveled with her cold sneer: “You really think Luna is your biological child? Just because she called you Daddy for a few years, you think you’re her real father?” The undisguised disgust in her eyes pierced my heart like an ice pick. I suddenly understood that all my persistence had been meaningless. I had chosen to forgive her for the child’s sake back then, but now, for the child’s sake, it was time to cut ties completely with this rotten relationship. … A rival, also arrested nearby, gloated. “You two are a perfect match, truly. Both of you are so dirty, what’s there to despise each other for?” “That woman must be getting drafty from all those daily checkups, huh? I bet your husband’s had enough of you.” “And let’s be real, the number of women he slept with back in the day probably outnumbers your current flings…” Stella slapped her again. “Enough! Shut up!” I stared at her, tears streaming down my face, unstoppable. Six months into our marriage, I was kidnapped by an enemy of her past crimes. Beaten and humiliated for three days and three nights, videos spread across the internet before she finally rushed to my side. At one point, I wanted to end my life. She stayed by me 24/7, never leaving my sight. She tried everything to cheer me up. “Julian, it’s all over. I’m here. No one will ever dare to hurt you again.” Two months later, she found out she was three months pregnant. She wept with joy, convinced it was a gift from heaven. “Our baby is fighting so hard to see you. Please don’t let her down, okay?” I started taking new dad classes. Slowly, I began to accept everything. Even through the arduous pregnancy, Stella treated me with unwavering devotion. It was a girl, named Luna, meaning to protect my peace. Three years flew by, and I thought life was slowly getting better. But reality delivered a brutal slap to my face. The day she was arrested, I was in the next room celebrating Luna’s birthday. The police kicked open the door, and all I saw was clothes strewn across the floor. And nine naked people on the bed. “My husband back then probably had even more, must have been awesome.” I happened to overhear that sentence. After she sobered up and saw me, she slapped herself so hard she ended up in the hospital. Claiming she was just framed by a rival. And back then, cradling a trembling me, she had retorted to others: “Am I looking for a husband or virtue?” “Anyone who dares to say one more bad word about my husband, I’ll kill them!” Just three years, and everything had changed. The chaotic shouts pulled me back to reality. The person opposite her was already covered in blood. Stella still had her fists tightly clenched. “You have no right to talk about my husband!” She turned to me, and the ferocity in her eyes finally dissipated. She stepped forward, blocking my view. “I’m sorry, I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. Let me calm down first.” I looked at her calmly. “I’ll have my lawyer handle the divorce papers. Let’s do it quickly.” She furrowed her brows, the drops of blood on her face looking somewhat terrifying. “Are you really that heartless? I just spoke without thinking, does all the good I’ve done for you before count for nothing?” I didn’t answer. I turned to the police. “I’m not bailing her out. Follow the procedure.” Then I walked away without looking back. Luna was waiting for me at home. Her innocent eyes were still searching. “Where’s Mommy?” I picked her up, fighting back tears. I spent a lot of time with her. Making formula, changing diapers—all hands-on. I never once thought she wasn’t my flesh and blood. But after so many years, I had already grown too attached to let go. A car engine rumbled at the door. Stella walked in, her face weary. Luna flew into her arms. Stella immediately put on a smiling face, picking her up and spinning her around. Only after telling stories and putting her to sleep did she open her laptop to deal with messages. A glass of warm milk still sat on the nightstand. She didn’t even look up. “Go to sleep first. Even for Luna, you need to calm down.” I lay awake all night. My mind was clouded, unable to decide what to do. Three days later, Stella’s adopted brother, Alex Lawrence, was getting married. It had been decided that Luna would be the flower girl. Alex and I were on good terms; there was no reason to take my anger out on him. The moment Alex saw Luna, he warmly picked her up. “Our Luna is the best, isn’t she?” Luna giggled, kissing his cheek. “Luna loves Uncle Alex the most!” The joyous atmosphere around me sent a pang through my heart. Should I really take Luna away from the Lawrence family? Alex pulled me over for a photo. “On such an important day, my lifesaver must have a place of honor!” Years ago, he was also taken by the kidnappers. I had negotiated and offered myself to protect him. In these three years, he had practically brought the world’s best things to me. I forced a smile, pushing those messy thoughts away. The wedding went smoothly. I couldn’t resist taking a few more videos. Turning around again, Luna had disappeared. I frantically went to look for her. The hotel storage room. Stella’s phone, which had been unreachable, was ringing inside. Just as I was about to knock, I suddenly heard unusual gasps. “Stella, are you really just going to watch me get married? What about our eight years?” It was Alex’s voice. My hand, resting on the doorknob, froze mid-air. Unspeakable sounds reached my ears. After an unknown duration, Stella’s languid voice spoke. “You’re part of the Lawrence family, after all. We can’t be together.” “Then are you really willing for me to sleep with other women from now on?” Alex sounded a bit desperate. “Why? When I had the kidnappers take him, you should have just left him alone!” “Otherwise, you wouldn’t be despised as dirty by a man who’s been ridden by countless others!” “Luna is our biological child…” “Enough!” Stella cut him off, the sound of clothes rustling. “I’ve already indulged you enough. Don’t push your luck.” “Since you’re married, settle down. Don’t make me sacrifice my reputation to protect you again!” I slumped against the door, making a loud thud. Eight years… I had only known Stella for seven years. That nightmare I lived day and night. It was actually orchestrated by the closest people to me. The air fell into a deathly silence after the door opened. Stella helped me up. “Are you alright? I just came to help grab something…” I stared fixedly at Alex’s clearly aroused state, my heart sinking to rock bottom. “Was it fun, watching your husband being humiliated?” Seeing that I had already heard everything, Alex tore off his disguise. “When you were under those guys, Stella and I were having a blast right next door.” “These past few years of marriage, I’ve been with her every day!” “To avoid you finding out, Stella even deliberately got caught soliciting.” My head spun with a buzzing sound, and my stomach churned with agonizing pain. Stella glared at him, then hugged me. “He and I are in the past. I’ve repaid what I owed him.” “Don’t worry, I won’t have any contact with him again. Those kidnappers have already been dealt with.” “Let’s just live well with Luna, like before, okay?” I didn’t hear a single word she said. “Get out! Don’t touch me!” I pushed her away with all my might. Leaning against the wall, I dry heaved. Behind me, they were blaming each other. I closed my eyes, but the sheer absurdity of it all choked me. Seven whole years! My supposed happiness had all been a lie, replaced by a third party. During the time I was humiliated, I thought of Stella again and again. The belief that I had to see her again kept me alive. But what was she thinking next door at that time? Was it pity for me? Or passion for Alex? When I was anxious outside the delivery room, wishing I could suffer in her stead. Was she thinking about what to name her and Alex’s child? How could anyone be so flawless in their deception? On one hand, loving me with all her might. On the other, carrying on under my very nose. Luna ran over and called out to me. My expression numb, I picked her up, walking past Stella. “Luna, it’s just Daddy from now on.” “Mommy, don’t cry. Luna wants Daddy.” Her tender little hand wiped away my tears. I stumbled out of the hotel. Since neither I nor Luna were wanted, I’d grant them their wish. That night, Alex came. He had changed out of his suit. His light attire revealed prominent hickeys on his chest. A nameless nausea surged within me. The discomfort in my stomach made my nails dig deeply into my flesh. I quickly ushered Luna back to her room. “Brother, you’re being too petty. Luna is my biological child, no matter what.” Alex scrutinized my pale face, his tone filled with thinly veiled mockery. “To be frank, your wife is pregnant again, and it’s mine too.” “In the future, only my child will inherit all the shares of Lawrence Corp.” “Because you, Julian, have absolutely no fertility left.” His triumphant expression deeply stung me. I threw a punch, the pain making me unstable on my feet. “Get out!” He clutched his face but didn’t get angry; instead, he laughed. “Enraged, are we?” “So what? You can never change the fact that Luna is my biological child!” Luna, hearing the commotion, came out clutching her teddy bear and responded blankly. “Uncle Alex, Luna’s daddy isn’t you.” I quickly covered Alex’s mouth, forcefully dragging him towards the door. He leaned on the doorframe, letting out a contemptuous sneer. “If you truly cared about Luna, you shouldn’t have let her be born. She’ll only suffer more as she grows up.” “You really think Stella wanted to have a child with you? Luna was just a tool to stabilize your marriage.” “She only loves me. Even Luna comes second!” “Just a bastard child. Living with you for so long, Stella says she feels sick just looking at her.” Seeing me frozen in place, Alex grew even more triumphant. “Do you know why she agreed to let me hire people to kidnap you back then?” “Because you had a cold, and she was 30 minutes late meeting me because she was taking care of you, so I was angry and wanted revenge.” My entire body felt struck by lightning, my vision swimming. It was merely such a trivial matter. And I was just an ant sacrificed for Alex to trample on at will. My eyes bloodshot, I stared at him, my chest heaving violently. He drew a circle on my chest. “Stella only has me in her heart.” “She was already pregnant. To avoid having your offspring, she had someone render you infertile.” My pupils constricted sharply. My body reacted faster than my mind. I clamped my hands around his throat, trembling all over. “You bastard! How dare you hurt Luna like this… Go to hell!” Luna was terrified and started crying hysterically. Alex flashed a smug, knowing smile. “You’re truly a terrible father.” I looked at a frightened Luna. My grip slowly loosened. Just then, Stella returned from the office. Seeing the scene, she violently shoved me aside. My forehead hit the corner of the table, blood gushing out. Luna’s cries grew louder. But Stella only had eyes for Alex. “Julian Reed! If anything happens to Alex, I will never forgive you!” Alex was helped away. Until the car drove off. Stella didn’t spare us, mother and child, a single glance. I held a trembling Luna tightly. “Daddy’s here, don’t be scared…” “Daddy, do Mommy and Uncle Alex hate us?” I looked into her tear-filled eyes. My chest suddenly ached as if pricked by needles. She was already three years old; how could she not understand adult emotions? “Daddy, then we don’t want Mommy either.” She buried her head in my arms. I forced myself to comfort her to sleep, swallowing my grief. It had come to this. I had to take Luna and leave. With my decision firmly made, I pulled out the divorce papers I had already drafted. I placed the peace charm she had begged for three years ago on top. She had once said it was specially sought to bless me, to ward off my nightmares. But just moments ago, I had seen an identical one on Alex’s wrist. As I packed, my perfectly fine suitcase suddenly cracked open. Just like my once envied relationship, rotting from the inside out. After arranging new lodging, I sat by Luna’s bed. Planning to leave with her at dawn. But suddenly, a commotion erupted outside the door. Before I could even stand up, Stella stormed in, her face enraged. She kicked me away, her eyes bloodshot. “Julian Reed! How cruel you are! You actually tried to kill Alex!” I curled against the wall, too much pain to speak. Luna was also startled awake. Seeing the scene, she huddled in her blankets, trembling in fear. “Lu… Luna…” I struggled to reach for her. Stella grabbed her like a chicken, lifting her up. “You’re a father! Why can’t you be kinder to Alex? Without him, how could you have become a father?” “Alex came here to apologize to you, out of kindness, and you actually hit him! He’s traumatized and now has a fever!” Luna must have been pinched because she cried hysterically. Continuously calling for “Mommy.” “Shut up!” Stella roared viciously. “It’s all your fault, you little bastard! You’re clearly mine and Alex’s child, yet you’re trying to leave with your cheap father.” I couldn’t believe my ears. No matter how harshly Stella had cursed me before, she had never been cruel to Luna. But now, she was actually taking her anger out on her own flesh and blood! “Stella Lawrence! Are you insane?” I rushed forward, trying to snatch Luna. But she held Luna high above her head. “Move again, and I’ll drop her to her death!” I froze in place, my temples throbbing, my mind a blank. “You say I’m insane? I think you’re the one who’s insane.” “I provided you with a good life, good food and drink, and you just because you caught me once, started acting like I’m dirty?” “Alex was right, I never should have kept you and your daughter!” She took a step forward, making to throw Luna down. I quickly knelt, clutching her leg. “No! I beg you, just let Luna go, I’ll do anything.” I repeatedly kowtowed, my voice desperate and helpless. She stared at me for three seconds, then suddenly smiled. “Alex wants Luna to die with him.” My mind reeled. She continued. “Do you know how miserable Alex is right now? He’s on a ventilator!” “Today, I’m going to make you experience Alex’s pain!” With that, she took Luna directly into the bathroom. The bathtub was filled with water. “Mommy, I’m sorry…” But she ignored the pleas, pressing Luna’s head underwater. Luna choked, flailing desperately. “Da… Daddy…” I held onto Stella’s arm with all my might, but she wouldn’t budge. She radiated an almost crazed aura. Luna’s voice grew fainter and fainter. Tears streamed down my face in desperation. I tried to open the drain to let the water out. But Stella violently shoved me to the ground. “Now do you know how desperate Alex was?” “I want you to witness firsthand how Luna suffers because of you!” The floor was slippery, and the back of my head hit the tile with a sickening thud. My vision went black, and my body was unresponsive. Faintly, I saw Luna’s arms stop moving. “No… Give me back my Luna…” I weakly reached out. Stella dragged me all the way to the bedroom. “Give you back your child? Sure! You enjoy wearing a cuckold’s horn that much?” “Are you that starved? No wonder you survived three days and three nights!” A bad feeling surged within me. Before I could react, my pajamas were ripped apart by Stella. I was thrown naked onto the bed. Stella snapped her fingers, and the kidnappers from years ago filed into the room. A phone camera was already set up. “You think I’m dirty? Well, I’ll make you experience what ‘dirty’ really feels like!” My eyes widened, words caught in my throat, only “Ah, ah” escaping. The sound of a belt unbuckling dragged me back to the terror of three years ago. Countless greasy hands, I felt like an object for sale. My stomach cramped violently. I desperately tried to get up. But Stella snatched a belt and tied my hands behind my back. “I advise you not to struggle, or you won’t even get to see Luna one last time.” My twisted limbs completely relaxed at those words. She flashed a triumphant, mocking smirk at me. Patting my face, she whispered into my ear. “Enjoy your gift.” The bedroom door slowly closed. All my memories flashed before my eyes like a rapidly spinning carousel. Stella and my first kiss on the Ferris wheel. That grand and solemn wedding. And her repeated pleas for me not to kill myself. No more. I wanted none of it. I bit down hard, reaching for the scissors hidden under the pillow. Screams of terror erupted from the bedroom. At the same time, Stella received a call from the hospital. After hearing the news, she rushed back to the room like a madwoman.

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1 Five years of recovery, five years cloistered away, and the moment I was discharged, I pulled every string, twisted every arm, to marry James Osmond—the man I’d secretly adored for years. On our wedding night, his voice was a whip-crack, cold and cutting: “I’m in love with someone else. Don’t expect anything from me.” “This marriage is a business deal, pure and simple. Don’t cross the line.” But one night, he was drowning in liquor, and in his drunken haze, he mistook me for his dearly departed love, Minnie. His eyes, bloodshot and brimming, pressed me against the wall, kissing me with a feverish intensity that stole my breath. We were entangled all night. The morning after, he was nearly throttling me. “Trying to mimic her while I’m drunk? You’re not worthy!” Later, my old illness flared up, and I was wheeled into his private hospital room. The walls were covered in paintings, every single one his work. The woman in the portraits was me, during my sickness. Back then, my hormones were out of whack, my body bloated, my face marred by angry red splotches. A world away from the carefully maintained, slimmer, more attractive woman I am now. … “How could you be so cruel? Not even letting me see you one last time?” James’s hot breath, thick with the scent of whiskey, whispered those words into my ear. And I knew, with a sickening lurch, that I was once again shamelessly stealing the tenderness meant for someone else. James’s chiseled features softened, inch by inch, his gaze burning with an intensity that startled me. My body, held gently by him, stiffened. A chill ran through me, as if I’d plunged into an icy abyss. Yet my heart hammered a frantic rhythm. “I’m not…” I shook my head, a frantic, helpless gesture. But as I tried to pull away, my knee gave a sudden, agonizing jolt. The familiar, searing pain shot through me, tearing a jagged rift in the fragile illusion of warmth. My face went pale, and I instinctively bit my lower lip. He, however, seemed utterly heartbroken, his voice tinged with a mournful whine. “I finally dreamed of you, and you’re pushing me away?” And as if terrified I might confirm it, he pleaded, his voice hoarse with desperation. “I’m not mad anymore, just don’t leave me.” His nostrils flared, and his eyes, glistening with unshed tears, glowed in the dim light, fixed on me with a pitiful, vulnerable plea. My heart clenched, a bitter ache spreading through me. I knew his gaze saw through me to another, yet I, despicable as I was, felt a traitorous flutter. A deluge of kisses, wet with tears, rained down on me, scorching and desperate. Every inch of his invasion, coupled with the pain in my leg, left me helpless yet consumed, clinging tightly to his shoulders. As if only through this fleeting fantasy could I brave the certain chill of tomorrow. The next morning, before the sun had fully risen, I was jolted awake by a familiar, searing ache. Every joint in my body felt like it had been wrenched apart by the previous night’s tempestuous encounter, now screaming with retaliatory agony. My hand trembled as I fumbled under the bed, searching for the hidden compartment where I kept my hormone medication. The coldness of the bottle made my fingertips twitch, nearly dropping the pills. This morning tremor, this weakness, was the permanent mark Lupus had etched into my being. Seven years. This incurable, chronic autoimmune disease was like my emotions: only suppressed and controlled, never truly free. I swallowed the pills dry, pressing my hand fiercely against the worst of the throbbing in my knee. Only when the excruciating pain subsided into a tolerable dull ache did I finally breathe a sigh of relief, cautiously curling back into his embrace. My eyes greedily traced his brow, his nose, to his slightly reddened lips. Four years. It had been four long years since I could look at him like this again. Those four years hadn’t etched a single line on his face; instead, they’d refined the breathtaking softness of his youth, transforming it into a potent, mature intensity. The sliver of stolen tenderness was now laced with an overwhelming sadness. Tears welled up, unbidden, and I quickly wiped them away, terrified of shattering this fragile dream. “Had enough looking?” His voice, crisp and cool, held a hint of annoyance. My heart leaped. I instinctively clapped a hand over my nose, then, realizing the red blotches that once plagued it had long vanished, I sheepishly lowered my hand. The next second, his hand clamped down on mine, viciously, so tightly my wrist began to ache. I looked up, only to fall into the frigid depths of his eyes, seething with anger. “Trying to mimic her while I’m drunk? You’re not worthy!” “Spending so much effort to climb into my bed – you don’t feel ashamed? I find it disgusting.” He flung my hand away in disgust, and I stumbled, losing my balance, crashing into the bedside table. A jolt of pain shot through my left shoulder, leaving it numb. My eyes, betraying me, welled up. He stood, dressing, then looked down at me, his voice sharp and unyielding. “Make an appointment to get checked. You’re not fit to carry my child.” “If this happens again, I won’t hesitate to bankrupt your family and send them to prison.” The door slammed shut with a bang. 2 The tender warmth of last night’s drunken embrace was shattered by his contempt. His words, iced and sharp, felt like countless tiny ice picks, piercing deep into my joints, triggering waves of throbbing pain that threatened to dismember me. After he left, I curled up on the floor alone, taking a long time to slowly regain the strength to support my body. I struggled to the wall, leaning against it, holding my breath as I stepped onto the scale. In the weak morning light, I felt the slightly slack skin around my waist. In the mirror, I pressed hard against my cheeks. As if, with enough pressure, I could peel back the smooth skin and glimpse the ugly red blotches from years ago. A shift in the light, and the faint redness in the mirror vanished. I was so much thinner, so much prettier than back then, yet still, I couldn’t catch his eye. I blinked, forcing back the burning in my eyes, and irritably tossed the hormone medicine bottle back into the depths beneath the bed. James hadn’t come home for days. I stared at the steaming dishes on the table, watching the heat slowly dissipate, a hollow ache spreading in my chest. “Mr. Osmond is busy with a new medical acquisition, Mrs. Osmond. Perhaps you shouldn’t wait up?” Liam, his secretary, came to pick up some documents. Seeing me lost in thought at the dining table, he finally couldn’t help but offer a word of advice. I slowly turned my head, habitually clasping my left wrist, my voice a little shaky. “She… did she pass away from illness?” Liam looked uncomfortable. “Please don’t put me in a difficult position, Mrs. Osmond.” I lowered my head, not pressing further. His deceased beloved was his biggest taboo—unquestionable, unexplorable. Ever since James’s marriage to me, with the help of the Sterling family, he had completely shifted the group’s focus to medical equipment and biopharmaceuticals. Even if he didn’t say it, anyone could see his obsession and guilt regarding his lost love. “I’ve been simmering this chicken soup for ages. I’ll come to the office with you.” Years ago, whenever he visited me at the hospital, he would bring a bowl of chicken soup if he had time. Made with ginseng and astragalus, it was a little bitter. Now that I was making it myself, I realized how much effort it took. The chicken had to be plucked, gutted, blanched to remove impurities, then simmered over low heat for two or three hours, never leaving its side. I wondered how he managed to do all that while attending classes. Now that I could get up and cook, I wanted him to taste it. I also just wanted to see him. Liam hesitated several times, but eventually let me into the car. At the office, Liam swiped me into the elevator, then rushed off to the conference room, clutching his documents. The moment the elevator doors opened, a bright, captivating figure seared my vision. The woman wore a perfectly tailored red strapless gown, her skin like snow, her figure graceful, as she spoke softly to someone nearby, a smile playing on her lips. Hearing the movement, she turned her head slightly and our eyes met. My breath hitched. It was Scarlett Rivers. I would never mistake her. Years ago, when James volunteered at the hospital, she would always follow him, wearing pretty dresses, her laughter clear and bright. Her affection was radiant and bold, her pursuit uninhibited and frank. A stark contrast to me, then, swollen with hormones due to my severe illness, my face covered in red blotches, lying in bed, feeling utterly mortified. “Hello? Are you looking for Mr. Osmond?” She smiled gently, her gaze sweeping over my slightly oversized top and dull, yellowish hair, her tone still perfectly polite. I stood frozen, my fingers unconsciously curling, tightening around the handle of the insulated container. “I… came to drop something off.” “Oh, I see.” She nodded understandingly, her voice still soft, but with a natural, almost proprietorial air. “Mr. Osmond is still in a meeting. You might have to wait a while.” Her gaze returned to my face, as if she suddenly remembered something, and the corners of her lips curved into a perfectly appropriate smile. “Oh, forgive me, I got carried away talking.” “There’s a gala tonight, and Mr. Osmond has high standards for his date. We couldn’t find anyone more suitable on such short notice, so I’m stepping in as a temporary replacement. This outfit is also just put on; I hope it’s not too inappropriate.” Date. High standards. Temporary replacement. These words, like tiny needles, pricked at the most vulnerable spot in my heart. 3 A familiar, dull ache, triggered by emotional turmoil, spread from deep within my knee. I instinctively took half a step back, my spine pressing against the cold wall just to stay upright. The moment I averted my gaze, I suddenly caught my reflection in the nearby floor-to-ceiling window. My face was pale, my oversized top barely concealing my slightly rounded stomach, a result of the hormones. My hair was loosely tied back, dry and yellowish. It was a laughable, tragic contrast to the radiant Scarlett Rivers before me. In that instant, my indignation deflated, and my sense of grievance lost its foundation. Yes, of course. Wasn’t it only natural that he would choose to bring her? What right did I have to feel wronged? I stared blankly out the window as night fell, the streetlights a blur of endless traffic. A car emerged from the distant darkness, then gradually disappeared into the deeper night. The world seemed muted, pressed into silence, leaving only the blurry reflection on the glass, an expression I hadn’t even realized was there – a blankness, a fragile intensity born of pain. When I looked back, James had appeared, standing not far away. He watched me, his eyes swirling with an emotion I couldn’t decipher, a profound sadness. But the moment I looked back, bewildered, a startled shock flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by icy anger. His probing gaze locked onto me again, his eyes as cold and deep as a dark pool. “Is Sterling Enterprises so powerful that you even investigated her habits and expressions?” “Or do you think climbing into my bed changed your status?” I panicked, suddenly straightening up, the sharp pain in my knee causing me to stumble for a moment. I hurriedly clutched the chicken soup, stammering an explanation: “No, no, I didn’t investigate.” “I just cooked some chicken soup for you, wanted to bring it for you to taste.” “It simmered for two hours…” Under his cold, disdainful stare, my voice trembled, eventually trailing off into a meek silence. He sneered, his tone laced with ice. “Hah, chicken soup?” “Then why, of all things, did you choose to bring me chicken soup?” “I’m sorry, I, I didn’t know you and her, I just, I just…” I was flustered, words stuck in my throat. Just what? That I’m thinner and prettier now, so I want to pursue you again? But even with my illness controlled, I was only better-looking than before. Could I ever compare to the woman who held his heart? I silently closed my mouth, lowering my eyes, not daring to look at him. He strode closer, the silent pressure instantly filling the air around us. His nostrils flared almost imperceptibly, his voice suddenly dropping, laced with an incredulous, furious rage: “You even found out the exact brand of shower gel she liked?!” “I didn’t! I don’t know…” I was frantic and incoherent, my left wrist starting to throb and tremble with nerves. “The one at home ran out, I just bought whatever was handy…” “Silence!” He almost roared, his jawline taut, his eyes swirling with extreme sorrow and pain. “You are not worthy to speak of her!” “And you are not to investigate her!” “And you are certainly not to imitate her!” “I told you, what we have is just a transaction!” “You’re to discreetly uphold the title of ‘Mrs. Osmond,’ who gave you the audacity to desecrate her like this?!” I’d been married to him for two years, and though he disliked me, he’d always been distant and polite. His furious reprimand felt like the final straw, breaking my already taut nerves. My heart felt as if it had been seized, a violent pain exploding and spreading. My left wrist suddenly gave way, unable to hold the insulated container. The scalding chicken soup splashed onto the floor, splattering my calves, stinging with a searing burn. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” I knelt awkwardly, my right hand pressing fiercely against my uncontrollably trembling left wrist. Tears streamed down my face, silently, like a broken dam. Apologizing for repeatedly intruding on his raw, bleeding wound. Apologizing even more for this infatuation and insistence that was destined to be futile. My voice caught in a sob, my shoulders shaking uncontrollably. “I’ll clean it up.” He looked at my huddled, trembling figure, a flicker of something complex in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by an even deeper coldness. He bent down, stopping me from reaching for the spilled container. His eyes held a mix of weariness and disgust. “What exactly are you doing now, looking like this?” His voice had regained its calm, but it was even more cutting. “Trying to win my sympathy?” I bit down hard on my lower lip, shaking my head desperately, but choked too much to make a sound. “You better not be.” 4 Scarlett quietly approached, her face a picture of perfectly calibrated concern with a hint of awkwardness: “Mr. Osmond, we need to leave for the gala.” He flung my hand away, coldly dropping a command: “Have Liam take her home.” “And from now on, don’t let her up here without my permission.” “Understood.” Scarlett replied respectfully, her gaze at me filled with a hint of mockery and taunt. In the news conferences that followed in the next few days, Osmond Industries once again successfully expanded its footprint in the medical field. And always behind him, you could see that dazzling figure. Scarlett Rivers, smiling brightly, her demeanor poised, handled every challenging question from the media. A bold reporter pushed to the front, asking sharply: “Rumor has it you’ve been married to the Sterling heiress for years, yet recently you’ve been attending galas with your assistant. Does this confirm the rumors of your marital discord?” Scarlett tried to intervene, but James raised a hand to stop her. His eyes darkened slightly, his cold gaze fixed on the camera: “It’s true that the Sterling heiress and I are incompatible. We’ve decided to divorce.” His tone was calm and resolute, yet every word was a knife plunging into my heart. The knitting needles for the scarf in my hands tangled, and a needle sharply pricked my fingertip. A bead of blood instantly welled up, staining the yarn. But I was lost in a daze, staring at the screen. Not until the night swallowed the last ray of twilight did I quietly put away my knitting. Silently waiting for him to come home, for the final declaration. That wait stretched for three months. Initially, I just felt unusually tired and drowsy, often falling asleep on the sofa without warning. My body became alternately hot and cold, and my limbs and cheeks began to swell, leaving deep indentations when pressed. What terrified me most was the reappearance of the familiar, butterfly-shaped red rash on my face, growing more vivid by the day. The appearance I had so painstakingly maintained was visibly crumbling, reverting to my most mortifying state from years ago. I frantically rummaged under the bed for my pills, attempting to belatedly control it. But my body felt out of control, plummeting towards an abyss. My joints became unbearably swollen and painful; I couldn’t even hold a water glass. Until one morning, a wave of nausea struck without warning. I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting until I was dizzy, seeing stars. The nausea and dry heaving became more frequent. I often spent entire nights hunched over the toilet. Not from vomiting, but because my joints were so severely swollen and painful that I couldn’t find the strength to even lean against the wall. It wasn’t until my abdomen visibly rounded and my period was long overdue that I belatedly realized. I might be… pregnant. A tidal wave of panic overwhelmed me. This child was coming at the worst possible time. And I couldn’t bear another round of pain and humiliation. I realized that for the sake of the baby, I had to escape! I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain as I packed my luggage. I staggered as I pushed open the door, only to come face to face with James, who had finally returned from his business trip. He looked travel-worn, his eyes pausing, a flicker of confusion. Then those probing eyes sharpened, locking onto mine. I flinched, my heart threatening to leap from my chest, but I quickly calmed myself. I was two sizes larger than three months ago, bloated and almost back to my former state. My face was also wrapped in a thick scarf, revealing only my eyes, so he shouldn’t recognize me. I lowered my head, silently quickening my pace, trying to slip past him. But he suddenly grabbed my wrist, pulling me back. His usually stern voice was now hoarse and broken, even tinged with an unbelievable euphoria and a careful, pleading tone: “Is that you? Violet?” “You’re not dead, are you? You’ve finally come to find me?”

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Seven years into our relationship, Ethan Reed turned our wedding into a divorce ceremony for the third time, making a complete fool of me. This time, I didn’t yell or make a scene. My heart had simply died. Around me, his friends roared with laughter while I stood frozen in the center, my face expressionless. “Haley, why aren’t you laughing? Don’t tell me you’re actually mad?” I said nothing. Gradually, their laughter faded as they exchanged awkward glances. The silence became eerily oppressive. Only then did Ethan press his lips together and step forward to ruffle my hair. “What’s wrong? Haley, are you really angry?” I looked at him, suddenly remembering the conversation I’d overheard last night between him and his friends. “Ethan, aren’t you worried that pulling this stunt will make the Rose of the South actually leave you?” Ethan had answered dismissively, “I promised Vivian I’d mess with Haley three times. After this one’s over, I’ll give Haley a real wedding to make up for it. She’s been with me all these years, after all.” Now, I stared at him quietly and forced my lips into a smile. “A divorce ceremony, right? Let’s continue then.”

“Continue?” Ethan’s casual expression froze, his smile flattening. “Haley Grant, are you serious?” My gaze moved past him to land on the large banner that read “Let’s Get Divorced.” Seven years. Countless moments I’d spent yearning for us to get married, to spend our lives together. But in the end, what I’d been waiting for wasn’t “Let’s get married,” but this absurd prank. The first time I learned Ethan might propose to me, joy and excitement kept me awake all night. When I arrived at the venue in my carefully prepared dress and the curtain was pulled back, my heart shattered along with my hopes. That was the first time I’d ever lost my temper with Ethan like that. He spent a long time trying to calm me down. He promised he’d never pull that kind of joke again. But only three months later, the same thing happened again. That was the second time. The third time is now. My chest felt tight and suffocating. The whole thing seemed pointless. I answered him. “Yes, I’m serious. Let’s finish the ceremony as you wished.” Ethan’s expression darkened completely. He stared at me without speaking. Three seconds later, he suddenly smiled, though his eyes were empty, yet somehow filled with inexplicable anger. “Fine. Then let’s continue.” The crowd that had been mocking me and enjoying the spectacle fell completely silent, standing awkwardly in place. “Did he really screw this up? That shouldn’t happen. Nothing went wrong the first two times, right?” Another girl sneered. “How’s that possible? Everyone knows Haley Grant worships the ground Ethan walks on.” “She was all over him when her family still had money. Now that they’ve fallen, there’s no way she’ll let go.” I looked up at her sharply, my gaze piercing. She immediately fell silent, closing her mouth awkwardly. At that moment, a woman in a red dress stepped forward. “Haley, don’t be angry. I apologize, I…” “What are you apologizing for!” Ethan’s angry voice cut her off as he moved to shield her behind him. I turned to look. It was Vivian Song. Ethan stood between her and me, his voice low and confrontational. “What are you standing around for? Let’s go through with the ceremony.” The guy in charge came up on stage with his script, so embarrassed his scalp was tingling. “Miss Grant, do you willingly separate from Mr. Reed, whether he is rich or poor, with no regrets?” An absurd location, absurd words. And absurd vows that made my chest ache uncontrollably. Ethan stared at me quietly, his thin lips pressed tight, his whole body radiating irritation. “I do,” I said. The moment the words left my mouth, there was a loud bang. Ethan hurled the microphone to the ground, his face dark as he glared at me. “Haley Grant, you’ve gone too far.” I felt drained. An overwhelming bitterness washed over me. “What’s wrong? Isn’t this what you all arranged? How am I going too far by just going along with it?” He was momentarily speechless. He took several deep breaths, then kicked over a flower arrangement at his feet. He stormed off, pulling Vivian Song along with him. The venue fell deathly silent. The background music happened to switch to: “Happy Breakup, I wish you happiness, you’ll find someone better.” Ethan’s friend quickly turned it off, coughing awkwardly. “Um… Haley, this is our fault. Don’t be angry. Ethan didn’t know about this either.” I ignored him. Whether he knew or not didn’t matter to me anymore. I mumbled an acknowledgment and walked down the red carpet off the stage. When I walked out of the hotel, the sky was gray and overcast, rain pouring down. A black Maybach pulled up in front of me. The window rolled down to reveal Vivian Song’s apologetic face. “Haley, get in. We’ll give you a ride.” My gaze moved past her to the man beside her who hadn’t even looked up. I replied flatly. “No need.” I heard the man snort coldly and give a curt order. “Let’s go.” The water splashed up by the car instantly soaked the hem of my dress. I laughed bitterly and pulled out my phone to make a call. “Attorney Chen, the trust fund my father left—the condition for me to inherit it is to go to America to find Grandfather and never return, correct?” “Yes, Miss Grant. Once you land in America, you can apply for the inheritance.” Watching the taillights fade into the distance, I murmured. “Alright. I accept.”

I returned home soaking wet to find the lights blazing inside. Ethan and Vivian Song were just standing there, looking at me. As if I were the one who didn’t belong. “It’s too late. Vivian’s staying at our place tonight. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?” He studied me carefully, his body in a defensive posture. After all, the old Haley Grant, the Rose of the South, would have definitely rushed over and slapped her. But now… I only paused for a second before agreeing casually, “Fine. She can stay as long as she wants.” Before Ethan could furrow his brow, I changed my shoes on my own and headed to the master bathroom to shower. My stomach ached with a dull, sinking pain. When the hot water cascaded down, it was warm, gradually washing away the coldness in my chest. This kind of thing had happened before. The day Vivian Song returned to the country, Ethan had already brought her home. I stood in the living room, staring at the man at the door holding a drunk woman, my mind going blank. “You brought another woman home?” I laughed in disbelief. “Don’t you think you should avoid this kind of thing?” He didn’t even pause. He carried her to the master bedroom and laid her on the bed. My pupils trembled. He turned around on his own and went to the bathroom to wet a hot towel, gently wiping her face. While doing all this, he warned me. “Watch your words.” “Vivian is my childhood friend. She’s going through family troubles right now and feeling down. Stop giving her dirty looks.” I stood in the doorway watching him bustle around, unable to describe what I was feeling. Ethan had severe OCD. He absolutely wouldn’t allow me to come home drunk, reeking of alcohol. Once when I lost control, he had the driver take me to a hotel to book a room. The point was, I wasn’t allowed home. But Vivian Song could break all his rules. My thoughts snapped back as someone knocked on the bathroom door. “Haley, let’s talk after you shower.” The man’s magnetic voice sounded by my ear. I knew this was already him lowering his pride. Still, I didn’t answer. When I came out after showering, he was waiting by the door with a hairdryer in hand. “Sit down. I’ll dry it for you.” I happened to be tired. Why refuse when someone was offering to help? “Let’s just move past what happened today,” his slender fingers threaded through my hair, but they felt cold, icy, “and we’ll make things work.” “Mm, make things work.” Make my own life work. Hearing that, he breathed a sigh of relief, his tense expression gradually relaxing. “Good girl.” In the mirror, I observed those downcast eyes. Ethan had beautiful eyes. When he wasn’t smiling, they were sharp; when he smiled, they curved into crescents. When we first met, I ran into some local thugs at a bar who insisted I go into a private room with them. Back then, before my family’s downfall, I lived like no one in the South dared to cross me, so I hadn’t brought bodyguards. That middle-aged man, emboldened by alcohol, grabbed me by the hair and slapped me hard. “I’m doing you a favor by sleeping with you!” Just as the door was about to close, Ethan appeared. He kicked the man away, then looked down at me with mockery. “You’re usually so arrogant. How are you so pathetic now?” But I wasn’t angry at all. Instead, I fell for him right then. I chased after him for years. The hairdryer stopped, pulling me from my memories. Looking at him again, I realized with surprise that those eyes no longer stirred anything in my heart. “What’s wrong?” Ethan frowned and inexplicably looked away, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. “Nothing.” He was about to say something when the door was pushed open. Vivian Song walked in as naturally as if she belonged there, tugging at the man’s sleeve. “Ethan, can you stay with me?” “You know now that I’m back in England, you’re all I have. I’m a little scared.” Ethan glanced at me, hesitating. “Maybe I shouldn’t. I…” “Go ahead.” He looked at me sharply. Time seemed to freeze for an instant. Then he took a deep breath, as if deliberately trying to upset me. “Fine, then I’ll go stay with her!” I turned around calmly and got into bed on my own. That night, Ethan didn’t come home. And I passed out in my sleep, blood pooling beneath me.

When I woke up again, everything was blindingly white. Ethan sat beside me, hands pressed against his forehead, lost in thought. “What happened to me?” His whole body shuddered. He looked up, his eyes tinged with red. “The baby’s gone. Haley Grant, you were pregnant. Didn’t you know?” My expression froze. I could also hear the accusation in his tone. Just then, the doctor pushed the door open. I asked him, “Why did I miscarry?” He glanced at the medical report. “Habitual miscarriage. Your uterine wall is already very thin, and combined with getting caught in the rain, catching a cold, and developing a fever, miscarriage was inevitable.” Ethan shot to his feet, his eyes trembling. “Habitual miscarriage?” His eyes, filled with a gathering storm, fixed on me. “Haley Grant! Don’t you need to explain this to me?!” The doctor, sensing trouble, quickly distanced himself from the brewing conflict. I looked down, my fingers brushing over my stomach. My chest felt like it was being sliced with a small knife, sharp and painful. When I looked up, my gaze held a trace of hatred. “Explain what? The first baby—you personally had it aborted. The second one was drugged away by your mother.” “Did you think you hid it so well?” “Now, what right do you have to demand an explanation from me?!” His hands clenched into fists. The hospital room fell deathly silent, filled only with the man’s ragged breathing. “You… when did you find out?” “I knew from the very beginning.” When I miscarried the first time, we’d just gotten together. That day, I drank a glass of milk and felt dizzy and faint. Perhaps the dosage wasn’t enough, because my consciousness didn’t fade immediately. I heard the conversation between him and his mother. “Ethan, we can’t keep this baby. We need to devour the remaining shares of the Grant family. We can’t have this kind of complication now.” The man was silent for two seconds, his voice hoarse. “Alright, I understand.” He asked, “Will this abortion pill affect her body badly?” “Not much,” his mother said suspiciously. “Ethan, Vivian’s coming back soon. What are you planning to do? Mom knows you can’t let her go.” For a long time, he didn’t answer. He didn’t deny it either. I kept my eyes tightly shut. I wanted to cry, to confront him, but I couldn’t do either. When I woke up, perhaps out of guilt, Ethan stayed by my side constantly. “We’ll have more children in the future,” he promised. But I kept losing one child after another. My thoughts returned to the present. After I finished speaking, Ethan suddenly looked lost. “Haley, I…” His explanation was interrupted by someone pushing the door open. “Haley, I heard you had a miscarriage. I came to see you.” I collected my emotions and looked up. “Get out.” Vivian Song’s expression stiffened. She hadn’t expected me to be so blunt, leaving her unable to save face. She hesitated in the doorway, neither entering nor leaving. “Haley.” The man’s displeased voice carried a warning, as if his earlier guilt had been just an illusion. I suddenly felt powerless, my spine sagging. “I need to rest. Please leave.” I looked at the man with his brows knitted tight. “Is this attitude satisfactory?” Ethan opened his mouth, wanting to say something but unable to get the words out. Finally, he could only forcefully ignore the unease in his heart. He stepped forward and hugged me. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. Haley, when you’re discharged, I’ll officially hold a real wedding for you, okay?” “I’ll make up for everything I owe you.” “Three days from now, okay? I’ll prepare everything. I’ll compensate you properly.” My heart felt nothing. He didn’t wait for me to nod in agreement either. As if afraid of hearing me mock him, he pulled Vivian Song along and left. My phone chimed. It was a text from Attorney Chen. “Miss Grant, due to the typhoon, the earliest flight is at noon three days from now.” “I’ve already booked your ticket. Someone will pick you up in America.” My fingers landed on the screen, typing as if I’d been set free. “Alright. I’ll be there on time.”

That evening, Ethan brought me home. “Drink some hot water.” He sat down beside me, concern seemingly overflowing from his eyes. If only Vivian Song weren’t there. I found it absurd. He went to the balcony to take a call. I don’t know what the person on the other end said, but he glanced at me. That’s when Vivian Song spoke up. “Still not leaving him?” I looked up at her. Her eyes were mocking. “Honestly, I’ve never seen anyone debase themselves more than you.” “You should know he’s loved me from the very beginning. Even those three times he humiliated you were just because I asked him to.” Hearing that, I found it laughable. “And what about you? No matter who Ethan loves, at least he and I have a marriage certificate.” “What gives you the right to lord it over me?” Vivian Song raised an eyebrow and suddenly laughed out loud. I was confused. But I had an ominous feeling. She glanced at the man on the balcony with his back to us, then suddenly leaned close to my ear. “So you still don’t know.” My lips flattened. My fingers unconsciously tightened on my sleeve. “Know what?” She said softly, yet her words landed like a crushing blow. “Your marriage certificate is fake. It was just something Ethan used to placate you.” “What did you say?” My voice was hoarse. Vivian Song pulled out her phone, opened the marriage registry system, and checked her marital status. Then she held it in front of my face with cold mockery. “Open your eyes wide and look.” My stiff gaze turned toward it. In the spouse column, it clearly showed: Ethan Reed! My mind went blank. Everything was so absurd I couldn’t accept it. My eyes glazed over. I turned around and looked at the man on the balcony, suddenly laughing bitterly. “So it was all fake.” Soon after, he hung up and came back inside. Seeing my expression, he frowned and reached up to touch my forehead. “What’s wrong? Still not feeling well? Why is your face so pale?” I instinctively stepped back. His hand hung in the air. Ethan’s fingers froze. “Rest well. The wedding is in three days.” Three days later, early in the morning, Ethan wheeled a wedding dress into the master bedroom, gently ruffling my hair. “Take a look at the dress first. It’s too heavy, so you’ll put it on at the banquet hall. We’ll go together.” I turned my face away, avoiding his touch. “I’m not feeling well. You go ahead.” He hesitated for a moment but nodded. “Alright. The ceremony officially starts at noon.” Watching his retreating figure, my eyes were full of mockery. I tore up all the photos of us in the house, scattering them everywhere. Thinking of the gift I’d prepared for him at the wedding venue, I laughed coldly. After venting, I removed my SIM card and left without looking back. At the same time, at the wedding venue, Ethan’s mother looked extremely displeased. “Son, what were you thinking? Are you really holding a wedding with her and spending your life together?” “What about Vivian?” Ethan’s heart felt inexplicably heavy, as if something was suspended high above, unable to settle. “Yeah, it’s decided. I’ll make things work with Haley. As for the marriage certificate issue, I’ll handle it without her knowing.” He glanced at the time and asked his assistant. “Go check if Mrs. Reed has arrived yet.” The assistant was about to turn around when the hotel manager burst in, face pale and gasping for breath. “Mr. Reed, something’s happened…” Ethan’s heart sank, his expression instantly darkening like storm clouds. “Speak clearly!” The manager’s voice trembled with fear. “The bridal dressing room… You’d better go see for yourself…” Ethan’s eyes shook. His usually composed face now looked like a storm was approaching. He rushed out and pushed the door open with trembling hands. When he saw what was before him, his breathing stopped.

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