Category: English

My name is Jane Petrov. Our whole family can hear my mom Fiona Petrov’s thoughts. I found a new job with good pay and benefits. But she worried deeply, thinking, “My daughter has low education and lacks ability. How could she get a new job by selling her body?” My dad, Ivan Petrov, heard it and firmly refused to let me work. He went to the company and caused a scene, getting me fired right after I started. Furious, I decided to move out and temporarily stay at my boyfriend Nash Fowler’s place. Fiona outwardly supported but secretly tried to stop me. “What should I do? Her boyfriend has been married for years and even has kids. Is she trying to be a mistress? If she really moves in, she’ll definitely get beaten to death, and she’ll disgrace our entire family.” To stop me, my brother Alex Petrov even broke my legs with a stick and locked me at home, leaving me to fend for myself. My wounds became infected and inflamed, and I wanted to go to the hospital. Fiona sighed inwardly, “This child is so rebellious, insisting on leaving this home. Her legs aren’t even that serious. If she goes to the hospital, she’ll definitely climb the wall and escape.” Now, no one was willing to care about me, leaving me to die in pain in the room. Even until my death, I never knew who was the one that killed me. When I opened my eyes again, I realized I could hear Fiona’s inner thoughts too. “Congratulations, you can come to complete the onboarding formalities tomorrow.” On the other end of the phone, the HR’s voice was crisp and cheerful. I stared blankly at the phone screen, checking the date—I had actually been reborn. “That’s awesome! It’s so hard to get into this company. You have to treat me to a meal today to celebrate.” My good friend Anna Sanchez held my arm, her face full of excitement. She was right. This company truly offers excellent benefits. I went through five rounds of interviews and took a whole month to get the offer. But I just couldn’t feel happy now. Because in my previous life, when I shared this news with my family, before I could even celebrate, their expressions suddenly changed. They scolded me for being shameless for money and firmly refused to let me work at that company. Faced with the hard-earned opportunity, I chose to secretly report to work. But Alex actually came to the company, caused a huge scene, and took me back. I was also fired. Now that this opportunity has come back to me, I must seize it no matter what. Thinking of this, I immediately said, “I have something to do today, so I need to leave first. Please don’t tell anyone about my new job, especially my family. I want to surprise them.” Anna saw my serious expression and understood the importance of the matter, so she immediately agreed. After parting with her, I went straight home. As soon as I walked in, Alex came up and said, “Did you find a new job? How long have you been unemployed? You can’t keep relying on Mom and Dad forever.” I sneered and said, “I’ve only been unemployed for two weeks, and you can’t stand it? What about you living off Mom and Dad’s pension and playing video games at home for two years after graduating college?” After graduating from college, Alex didn’t find a job and stayed home playing games for two years. It wasn’t until last year that he joined a gaming company. He couldn’t argue with me. Just then, Fiona came over. He started complaining to her, “Mom, her words are so hurtful.” Fiona has always treated everyone fairly at home, never showing favoritism. Just when I thought this time would be no different, I heard a familiar voice.

“She’s already this age, got fired from her job, and still can’t find a new one. Might as well get married early.” I looked at the owner of the voice, Fiona, but her lips were tightly closed, and she said nothing. “My $8,000 monthly pension isn’t even enough for my son to spend. She must have savings, and she needs to bring it out.” I was startled, realizing that this voice was actually Fiona’s inner thoughts. I thought, “How can I hear her inner thoughts? And wasn’t her pension $4,000? When did it become $8,000?” All along, she kept complaining to me about being broke, saying her pension was all spent by Alex, leaving her without even grocery money. Feeling sorry for her, I transferred her several thousand dollars every month. Now it seems she was lying to me. “Jane is just resting at home for a few days, what are you talking about? Apologize to her right now,” Fiona said to Alex. Alex seemed to hear her inner thoughts too and obediently lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Jane. I’m just worried about you. What if you still can’t find a job?” Fiona comforted me, “Don’t listen to him. Even if you can’t find a job, the family will support you. I’m heading to buy groceries now. The supermarket has discounts at this time. Though I have to compete with a bunch of old folks, it’s worth it for the deals.” If it were before, hearing this would have softened my heart, and I would have transferred money to her right away. But now, I want to test her a bit more. So, I nodded. “Then hurry up, or the groceries will be gone soon.” Fiona’s inner voice sounded again, “What’s wrong with this girl today? It’s so hot, I really don’t want to go out.” I pretended not to hear and went back to my room. Now I can be sure, in my past life, it was her inner voice that spread rumors about me, causing me to lose my job and even my life. But this time, I can hear her inner voice too. At dinner, Fiona asked again if there were any new job offers contacting me. I nodded. “I just got an email, I can start work tomorrow.” Fiona said, “So soon? Didn’t you say there was no news this afternoon?” I said, “I was going to tell you, but I got interrupted.” Ivan nodded with satisfaction. “That’s good. Work hard at the new company, get along with your boss and colleagues, and don’t get fired again.” In my previous job, I was harassed by a partner during a business dinner. I angrily scolded that creepy guy on the spot, but the company demanded I apologize. I refused, so I was fired. I told them what happened, but they only cared about what I would do after losing my job, not whether I was hurt or felt wronged. Fiona’s inner voice sounded again, “Ah, what should I do? Jane has low education and lacks skills. How could she find a job so quickly? She probably used improper means.” “After all, at her last company, she was fired by the boss for fooling around.” Sure enough, the next second, Alex and Ivan’s expressions turned a bit strange. “What kind of company is that? I heard it’s really hard to find a job nowadays. You found one so quickly, are you sure you weren’t scammed?” Alex asked. I clicked my tongue impatiently. “When I didn’t have a job, you complained about me staying home all the time. Now that I found a job, you’re saying I got scammed? What exactly do you want me to do?” Ivan said, “I also think it’s not very reliable. You should reconsider and find another one.” Although he said I should reconsider, he actually meant he didn’t want me to go. Luckily, I was prepared and directly took out the materials I had ready. I said, “This is my new company’s information. See for yourselves, they even collaborate on several national-level projects. Such a great opportunity, once missed, it’s gone.” “And Dad, don’t you always talk about your friend’s kid working in a public institution? My company is way better than that.” Ivan took the materials and carefully flipped through them, his frown gradually easing. What he cares about most is his pride, and now that I’ve joined the new company, he can show off to his friends. He finally nodded. “Hmm, not bad. Do your best.” He glared at Fiona. She lowered her head, not daring to speak. I pretended not to notice, smiled, and said, “Definitely, this time I definitely won’t get fired.”

No matter what you do, you need money first. Now that my job is finally settled, everything else will be easier. The next morning, afraid something might go wrong, I got up at dawn, changed clothes, and left home straight away, waiting outside the company early. I didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until I finished the onboarding process. In the following days, using “too busy with work” as an excuse, I didn’t go home for several days and took the chance to quietly rent a place, preparing to move out. This time, I didn’t alert anyone and moved little by little each day, like a hamster. During this time, Nash was also helping. In my previous life, I was confined at home with broken legs, and he couldn’t reach me. He asked around for news about me and even considered reporting to the police to find me. But I didn’t live to see him rescue me; I was already dead. I didn’t tell him about what happened in my previous life, only said that I had fallen out with my family and needed his help. I only told them I was moving out after I had almost finished moving everything. This time, I deliberately didn’t mention Nash, only said it was because home was too far from the company and commuting was inconvenient, so I rented a place near work. Fiona thought, “She doesn’t have to say it, I already know. She’s probably moving out to live with her boyfriend. So shameless.” Her boyfriend already has a wife and kids, yet she’s sunk so low as to become the other woman. Absolutely shameless. If the wife comes knocking, our family’s reputation will be completely ruined.” Ivan and Alex instantly glared at me, their eyes almost burning two holes in my face. Fiona continued in her heart, “Having a daughter who’s a mistress, what’s the point of living? I might as well be dead. It’s so humiliating!” Fiona kept badmouthing me in her heart, making up lies about me. Hearing it, I just wanted her to shut up. I really can’t understand why she’s so fixated on spreading dirty rumors about me. I even doubt if I’m really her biological child. Ivan, furious with veins bulging on his forehead, raised his hand and slapped me. He shouted angrily, “You shameless thing! Are you moving out just to mess around with men outside?” I covered my face and said incredulously, “Dad, what are you talking about? Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” “There are barely any people of the opposite sex in my WhatsApp. Who could I possibly mess around with?” I handed my phone directly to him, letting him check it freely. Fiona sneered inwardly, “I don’t even need to guess; she must have already deleted all the chat records. There’s nothing to find.” “Anyone with eyes can see the necklace on her neck. Such a big diamond, I’ve only seen it on TV. How could she afford it? It must have been given by another man.” Ivan yanked off my necklace and angrily questioned, “Did you buy this yourself? How can you be so shameless? How have I been teaching you all this time?” I retorted, “This was a gift from my boyfriend! How does accepting a gift make me shameless?” “Boyfriend? Well, you admitted it yourself! Don’t blame us for accusing you now!” Alex said eagerly. I pretended to look utterly confused and said, “What are you even talking about? You all knew I was dating someone. Dad, he even asked me to give you a fishing rod. Alex, that game console you wanted before, he gave it to you too. Have you forgotten?”

My dad loves orchids. So, when he retired, I bought him a beautiful manor perfect for his passion. But the moment he stepped inside, the security guards brutally beat him until his head bled. “Leo, you said this place was mine. They’re calling me a scammer. A trespasser.” My dad’s voice trembled through the FaceTime call. I was about to explain when another man walked into the video frame. The guards’ attitude flipped instantly. They fell over themselves fawning, muttering to each other. “The CEO’s husband is here! Get this old con artist out of here!” It hit me like a truck. My wife was having an affair. And she’d given the manor I bought for my dad to her lover. I called the research institute immediately. “I’ll publicly release all my smart chip data and research. For free.” Let’s see if Seraphina Thorne’s company can survive without me! After authorizing the data release with the institute, I drove straight to Willow Creek Manor. I had been married to Seraphina for seven years. In that time, she rose from nothing to become the formidable CEO, all thanks to my research and data support. The world saw a self-made genius. I saw the ghostwriter standing in her shadow. As I arrived at Willow Creek Manor, I saw a frail figure lying on the ground. It was my father. Beaten. Discarded. He was covered in dirt, and his eyes were bloodshot from the beating. A crowd of staff stood around my dad, watching. No one helped. They kept kicking his body. “Hasn’t the old fraud had enough? Want more?” “This estate belongs to Seraphina Thorne’s family. Who do these losers think they are?” They jeered, slapping my dad’s face. Rage boiled within me. I shoved through the crowd and rushed to him. Seeing me, my dad let out a long sigh of relief. “Leo, explain quickly. It must be a misunderstanding.” The estate manager, Gordon, scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. “Have you no shame? This property belongs to Ms. Thorne. And you two… what is this? A pathetic attempt at cosplay?” Gordon wasn’t done. He eyed my cheap beat-up car. “That junk can’t even buy a tire on her husband’s ride. And you dare pretend to be him?” Just then, the “CEO’s husband” they spoke of sauntered out of a luxury car. As he got closer, I realized it was Blake Harrison, Seraphina’s sweetheart. After Seraphina and I married, someone casually mentioned Blake’s, but I never cared. Now, Blake was brazenly claiming to be Seraphina’s husband. Blake met my gaze and walked towards me. “Blake, how dare you steal our Willow Creek Manor?” I confronted him. Blake showed no hint of guilt, just a smirk. “Well, well, isn’t it the pathetic leech trying to latch onto my wife?” “Still obsessed, huh? Chasing her all the way here?” “If you want to see my wife, you can. Get on your knees and kowtow a few times, and maybe I’ll be charitable enough to let you have a glimpse.” As if that wasn’t enough, Blake pointed at me, addressing the Willow Creek Manor staff loudly. “This gold-digger wants to score big, constantly hounding my wife. “Can you believe he’d even follow us to our love nest? What a psycho!” The surrounding staff looked at me with disgust after hearing Blake’s words. “A homewrecker, trying to break up someone else’s family, actually has the nerve to show up here?” “Ugh, what a disgrace. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, especially when the tree’s rotten. The old one’s a fraud, and the young one’s a complete bastard.” “Blake is truly exceptional, driving a luxury car and wearing designer watches. That’s a real success story.” Gordon, feeling emboldened, grabbed my dad’s collar, ready to throw him out. “I smelled the stench of these two low-lifes from a mile away. They actually dared to impersonate Seraphina Thorne’s husband? You’ve got a death wish. Today, I’m going to rip you father and son apart.” My dad’s whole body trembled with anger at their taunts. “You can’t distinguish right from wrong! My son bought Willow Creek Manor for me!” Blake spat at my dad. “You pathetic old man, there’s a limit to your daydreams.” “Seraphina bought this estate for my father. This is Seraphina’s gift to her father-in-law, got it?” I was speechless with fury. This woman, who only managed to establish her company by leveraging my research. Not only did she cheat on me, but she also let her ‘old flame’ seize my dad’s estate. This surreal world was utterly ridiculous. I pulled out my phone, found the purchase receipt for Willow Creek Manor, and showed it to everyone. “I bought Willow Creek Manor! I paid for it!” “Now! Apologize to my dad!”

Gordon burst out laughing. “Showing a doctored image and thinking the estate is yours? I could Photoshop a receipt for the White House and claim it’s mine too.” “You con artist just won’t give up, will you? You won’t believe it until I show you the proof, then you’ll finally scram, right?” A staff member, sensing Gordon’s mood, brought out Willow Creek Manor’s order information and projected it for everyone to see. The order clearly stated: Purchaser, Blake Harrison! My mind went blank. Every step of buying Willow Creek Manor was correct. The payment was deducted from my card. How could someone else’s name appear on the order now? Then I remembered that two nights ago, Seraphina, who was usually cold and distant, uncharacteristically urged me to rest early. Seeing my phone on the bedside table, Seraphina even deliberately put it away. Seraphina knew my payment password. Was she encouraging me to sleep early just to change the payment details? Damn it, that bitch! I grabbed my phone and called Seraphina. Her voice on the other end was filled with annoyed impatience. “I’m busy. Don’t call me if it’s not important. Not everyone is as idle as you, a jobless bum!” “Seraphina, who gave you the guts to give away my Dad’s estate? And why is Blake Harrison telling everyone he’s your husband?” Seraphina frantically hung up the call. I knew Seraphina was completely panicking. After all, without my technical support, Seraphina’s massive tech company was nothing but a house of cards. Blake clearly realized the consequences too; his face turned ashen with fear. I walked past Blake and headed straight for the luxury car behind him. I found the owner’s information inside, and Blake Harrison’s name was prominently displayed. That scumbag Seraphina truly spared no expense. She even gave Blake the Rolls-Royce I bought her when we got married. Blake saw my actions and instantly regained his confidence. “You pathetic loser, not content with trying to scam my estate, now you’re eyeing my car too?” I was so consumed by anger that I lost all sense of reason. I just wanted to clench my fists and punch him hard. Blake, seeing my intent, immediately ducked behind the estate’s security personnel. “Look, everyone, the gold-digger couldn’t scam his way in, so now he wants to resort to violence! Shameless!” Gordon immediately rallied all the security guards, surrounding us. “Damn it, I knew it! These two low-lifes are no good. Get these two bastards out of here before they dirty our estate.” Punches rained down on us from the security guards. I could only hold my dad close, shielding him. Just then, a screech of tires pierced the air. I looked up. Seraphina had parked her car and was frantically running towards us. I expected a tearful apology, filled with remorse. Instead, I was met with a torrent of scathing accusations. “Leo Sterling, you pathetic excuse for a man, how dare you cause trouble outside!”

Blake immediately pointed at me, reporting to Seraphina. “Seraphina, this gold-digger who’s always been harassing you is back.” “For money, he even brought the old fraud along. Shameless!” Seraphina looked at me with utter contempt. “Leo Sterling, I warned you long ago, I’m beyond your reach.” “Now you’re not just stalking me every day; you’ve brought your dad along to stalk me too. Can you not have some decency?” I looked at the woman I had spent seven years with, and a chill ran through me. For seven years, I’d turned down countless high-paying job offers. I had selflessly given Seraphina the smart chip data I had developed over many years, all because she said she wanted to become a successful entrepreneur. I thought we were building a beautiful future together, but I now realized I was just setting her and her lover up for success. My dad was utterly furious. Clutching his chest, he challenged Seraphina. “How can you say that? Leo paid for this estate himself! How can you talk such nonsense?” Seraphina sneered dismissively. “He paid for it? Does he even have money? A jobless bum!” “You pathetic old man, get out of the way!” “I bought this estate for my father-in-law. It has nothing to do with you or your pathetic son!” Her words pierced my heart like a sharp blade. I held my father, who was clutching his painful chest, and stared intently at Seraphina. “Seraphina, dare you repeat what you just said? Who is your father-in-law?” “Who is your husband?” Seraphina froze, clearly not expecting me to challenge her when I was so isolated and vulnerable. But she quickly recovered. This was her turf; what did she have to fear? Seraphina swiftly grabbed Blake’s arm, intertwining with him sweetly. “My father-in-law will only ever be Blake’s father.” “And my husband will always and only be Blake Harrison.” Seraphina’s eyes swept over me from head to toe, full of disdain. “As for you, you’re just a gold-digger, a perverted version of one who wants to scam people when he can’t get what he wants!” Blake beamed, pulling Seraphina into his embrace. After a loving gaze, they shared a kiss. “Honey, I’ve seen plenty of these gold-diggers wanting to latch onto wealthy people. Let’s head inside quickly; let’s not let this ruin our vacation!” As soon as Blake said that, the estate staff began to whisper amongst themselves. “So, he’s just a desperate gigolo wanting to climb up the ladder. Seriously messed up. Blake and Seraphina are a perfect match!” “This pretty boy looks decent enough, but who knew he had such a malicious heart? Constantly harassing a married couple and trying to scam their luxury car and estate?” Blake looked at me with utter contempt. “You bastard, hear that? Seraphina only has one husband, and she only loves me!” My dad gasped for air, clutching his heart. He exerted all his strength, blocking the estate gate, and loudly explained. “My son bought this for me! You won’t take it from us!” Blake’s face darkened. He grabbed a security guard’s baton nearby and swung it at my dad’s head! “You old bastard, if I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll think your buddy Blake is easy to mess with!” Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, watching indifferently as if it had nothing to do with her. I struggled against the security guards, desperate to reach my dad, but Seraphina’s bodyguards held me down firmly. The baton landed squarely on my dad’s head. Blood immediately gushed from his forehead. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. He yelled at the bodyguards around him, “Get me the taser gun!” With one shot, my dad’s body convulsed. “You old bastard, today Blake’s going to show you what’s what.” The taser gun was set to maximum power. After another shot, the surrounding skin was charred black. I struggled wildly, my eyes fixed on Seraphina. “Seraphina, he’s your father-in-law! You know he’s always had a weak heart!” Seven years! Even if she didn’t care about our marriage, didn’t years of companionship mean anything? Even a pet cat or dog wouldn’t be treated with such heartlessness! Seraphina showed no trace of compassion. She lifted the hem of her dress, stepping back, afraid my dad’s blood would stain her new outfit. “The old man constantly causes trouble. Let Blake beat him up, blow off some steam. Maybe then we’ll let you off the hook.” Blake’s confidence swelled after hearing Seraphina’s words. He ordered the bodyguards to tie my dad to the back of Seraphina’s luxury car and started driving onto the paved road. “So, the old man likes the estate, does he? I’ll have the bodyguards give you a tour of the estate.” With a roar of the engine, my father was dragged alongside the car, leaving a long trail of blood. Blake still wasn’t satisfied. “Can’t you go faster? Let this old geezer bleed a bit more.” Watching the blood stream from my dad, I felt my world sway. Then, the massive outdoor screen of the estate lit up with a national news bulletin. “BREAKING: Scientist Leo Sterling has just released his entire smart chip research database to the public, free of charge. Experts say the move will instantly revolutionize the field of AI.” Seraphina stared at me in disbelief. Her triumphant, arrogant expression instantly crumbled into ash.

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My life was cursed from the start. Broken leg at three. Deaf in one ear by five. Eye lost by eight. After my rich parents finally took me home, Chloe, the fake heiress, hissed a cruel threat. “Even if you’re back, I’m still the only Hayes daughter! Try anything, and I’ll break your other leg!” I stared, uncomprehending. Then, without a word, I detached both my prosthetic legs. My parents’ faces drained of color as they saw my empty pants legs. My brother Caleb’s expression darkened. He leaned in, his voice a low warning not to upset Chloe. I just pointed to my ear with an innocent look and shouted. “WHAT?! Someone beat me deaf in this ear! I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” He staggered back, looking like he’d seen a ghost. At the gala, Chloe tried to frame me, faking a fall down the stairs. In the process, she tore my dress. Just as Caleb led my parents over to confront me, they saw my body covered in scars. The world froze. My father rushed to wrap me in his arms. “What happened?! Tell me!” Seeing their horror, Chloe scrambled to her feet, desperate to distance herself. “I didn’t do it! Don’t you dare blame me!” I nodded. No, she didn’t do it. The traffickers did. I was the only child from my village to ever escape alive. I’d made a promise to the little friends I left behind. I would make the monsters pay.

“It wasn’t me.” Chloe’s voice dissolved into a perfect, trembling sob, her eyes seeking refuge in Caleb’s. Caleb understood immediately. He moved to shield her, his voice hardening into a blade of conviction. “Mom, Dad, listen to me. Aria’s just playing the victim to frame Chloe!” “You know Chloe. She could never do something so cruel. Never.” I wrapped myself in the clothes the butler, Mr. Davies, handed me, hiding the scars that covered my body. Even though I couldn’t stop trembling, I tried to smile at them. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s right. My injuries really have nothing to do with Chloe.” “I did all of this to myself to play the victim and frame her.” During those years with the traffickers, I’d learned to be compliant to avoid another beating, to suffer a little less. Accepting charges I didn’t commit was always better than resisting and earning a fiercer beating. But to my surprise, as soon as the words left my mouth, my parents’ faces darkened. Smash. Dad slammed the glass he was holding onto the floor. His hand trembled as he pointed accusingly from Chloe to Caleb. “Look! See what you did? Aria’s not making any sense!” Chloe and Caleb stared, their faces paling. Just then, a girl in an evening dress caught Chloe’s look and stepped out. “Who hurt her earlier is one thing,” she declared, then thrust an accusing finger toward me. “But she just kicked Chloe down the stairs! In front of everyone.” Caleb jumped on it instantly. Her left foot! I saw it too!” he shouted, backing her up. All eyes were on me again. I peeked out from behind Mom, my face etched with confusion and helplessness. Under everyone’s gaze, I timidly bent down and slowly pulled up my left pant leg. It was empty. I looked up, my eyes fearful. “Mom, Dad, even though… even though my left prosthetic leg is being serviced today…” “But since Caleb and Tiffany saw me kick Chloe down the stairs, then… then it must have been me.” As I spoke, I tugged at Chloe’s dress, trying to appease her. “I’m sorry, Chloe, it was my fault. I’ll apologize to you right now.” With that, I used my one remaining prosthetic limb to support myself, hopped to the second floor, and without a second thought, leapt over the railing. Silence descended for a moment. Then, a piercing scream erupted from the crowd. “Aria!!” Mom and Dad frantically caught me. Mr. Davies stumbled and crawled to find a doctor. Caleb and Chloe stood frozen, dumbfounded. The other guests’ expressions were like they’d collectively seen a ghost. “Doctor! Get a doctor, now!!!” Excruciating pain shot through my limbs. Amidst the shouts, the light in front of me faded, and I slowly closed my eyes.

That night, Mom and Dad reviewed the surveillance footage from every corner of the house. Chloe’s entire self-orchestrated scheme played out clearly on the screen, leaving nowhere to hide. The evidence was undeniable. Facing their questions, Chloe rubbed her red, tear-stained eyes, her voice full of grievance. “I’m so sorry.I really didn’t mean to frame her.” “I was just so scared. What if she shows up and you just replace me?” Caleb was beside her in an instant. “You heard her! Chloe’s just insecure!” “She’s lived here for over a decade. Someone suddenly comes back to take everything away from her… isn’t it normal for her to be scared?” “She didn’t mean any harm, so stop being so aggressive!” As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, his brow furrowing tightly, his voice now filled with disgust. “But Aria, I think there’s something seriously wrong with her head, isn’t there?” “Who jumps from the second floor just because someone says something?” Mom and Dad shot him a harsh glare, but they still took his words into consideration. The next day, they pulled some strings and brought in a top psychologist. To everyone’s surprise, I was incredibly cooperative with the doctor’s questions. “Aria, can you tell me how you got these scars?” I thought carefully for a moment, then answered softly. “I did them to myself.” A flicker of surprise crossed Dr. Miller’s face. He pressed on, “And why would you hurt yourself?” My answer was utterly natural. “Because that way, before someone gets angry, I’ve already punished myself. When they see I’m sorry, they might calm down and won’t hit me anymore.” I still remembered that whenever I made a mistake, as long as I punished myself before those people got angry, I’d always end up with fewer injuries, fewer beatings. Dr. Miller stared at me, looking like he wanted to say more but held back. After a long pause, he tried to guide me. “But have you ever thought that hurting yourself like this doesn’t solve the problem? It only hurts those who truly love you.” I blinked, asking curiously, “What is love?” “Is it like those traffickers from before, breaking my legs but saying it was for my own good, saying it would let me live by begging for pity and charity?” “Or is it like my parents now…?” “One second they’re hugging me, crying and swearing they’d fight for me, but the next, even after seeing Chloe framing me on the surveillance footage, they just… let it slide? Instead, they thought I was the problem and brought in a therapist for me?” I leaned closer to him, speaking each word distinctly. “Dr. Miller, I used to have many friends who loved me. We got beaten together, starved together, and we promised each other we’d escape…” “But now…” I paused, then continued, “The people who loved me… they’re all dead.” The pen in Dr. Miller’s hand froze mid-air, his face instantly turning ashen. Dr. Miller relayed every word I said, verbatim, to my parents. His final diagnosis was. I had severe psychological trauma. All my compliance, and the way I hurt myself preemptively when feeling threatened, were self-preservation mechanisms forced upon me to survive in such a terrible environment. After Dr. Miller left, Mom and Dad stayed in their room all day. Until Caleb kicked open their bedroom door.

Seeing Mom and Dad’s attention completely fixated on me, Caleb couldn’t help but let out a cold, mocking laugh. “I bet she’s just putting on an act for the doctor, trying to be pathetic and gain sympathy, all to get Chloe kicked out of this family!” “She’s disgusting, so manipulative and calculating!” Chloe, however, stepped forward and linked her arm through Mom and Dad’s, her voice soft and sweet. “Mom, Dad, Caleb’s just saying that in the heat of the moment. Please don’t take it to heart.” “I was wrong before, I promise, I’ll get along with Aria from now on.” “There’s a social event in a couple of days. We’ll definitely take Aria with us, so she can meet some new friends, and it’ll also… help us sisters bond!” Mom and Dad exchanged glances, thinking it might help me integrate into their circle sooner. After a moment of consideration, they agreed. Soon, the evening of the gala arrived. I limped into the grand hall, only to be bumped by a server coming the other way. I fell to the ground, wine spilling all over me. Chloe let out a little giggle, then quickly changed her expression. “Oh my gosh… Quick, I’ll take you to the lounge to clean up!” She grabbed my wet arm without asking, half-dragging, half-pulling me away from the crowd’s view. Halfway there, she leaned in close to my ear, her voice dripping with malice. “Don’t think that just because you make yourself look pathetic, acting crazy and dumb, you’ll get Mom, Dad, and Caleb’s love! Dream on!” “They still love me! Always will!” A cruel smile twisted her lips. “Wanna make a bet? If I prove it, you’ll get out of the Hayes family and never show your face again!” As soon as she finished speaking, a huge push slammed into my back! “Splash!” The icy pool water instantly swallowed me whole. Then came another, louder splash, and a piercing scream. “Caleb! Help me!!! I’m terrified of water!!!” Caleb rushed over at the sound. Without thinking, he plunged into the water, swimming frantically towards Chloe, who was thrashing around. The moment I hit the water, my body’s memory kicked in before my conscious mind, making me choose the “safest” way to cope. Stay still, cause no trouble, just wait for it to be over. I let my body be enveloped by the pool water, slowly sinking to the bottom, bubbles escaping from my mouth and nose. Caleb didn’t pull Chloe to the edge of the pool until he heard the gasps and warnings from the surrounding guests. “There’s another one in the water! The one who isn’t moving!” He whirled around, his face instantly pale. He frantically jumped back into the water, clumsily pulling me out. I lay curled on the freezing floor, spitting out mouthfuls of pool water. Caleb ignored my trembling, grabbing my wrist with a force that felt like it would crush my bones. “Apologize to Chloe! Look how terrified you’ve made her!” I clutched my eyes tightly, my body shaking even more violently. Seeing this, he let out a cold laugh, his tone even more cutting. “Now you’re scared? Now you want to cry? I’m telling you, tears won’t help!” “Don’t even try to say you didn’t push Chloe on purpose!” “Chloe is terrified of water. If you hadn’t pushed her, how could she have…” As he spoke, he forcefully pushed my head towards the ground. My head hit the floor with a heavy thud. My hand, which had been clamped over my eyes, slipped away, revealing my empty left eye socket. When I looked up, the entire room fell silent. In the profound stillness, I cautiously looked up, forced a small smile, and whispered softly, “My… my eye fell out… I was afraid of scaring everyone…” All of Caleb’s accusations and anger froze on his face. “You…” He opened his mouth, but only one word escaped. Just then, a sharp crack echoed overhead. The rope holding the crystal chandelier snapped, sending it plummeting straight down! In a flash, I saw the image of my friend, crushed by a collapsing beam while trying to save me. My body moved faster than my brain. With a strength I didn’t know I had, I slammed into Caleb, who was still stunned. Fragments of glass grazed my cheek, leaving a trail of blood. Caleb stumbled a few steps and fell to the ground. He turned back, his pupils constricted in shock. His face registered disbelief, then, after a long moment, frustration and anger. “Aria, are you insane?! I’m supposed to protect you! I don’t need you to save me!” Though his words were harsh and cutting, he scrambled to his feet with incredible speed. As he neared me, his hand hesitated, but ultimately, he swept me up into his arms, shouting at the surrounding crowd. “What are you standing around for?! Get in the pool and get her… get my sister’s eye out!” He carried me into the lounge, snatched a blanket, and wrapped me up tightly. Then he placed the freshly cleaned prosthetic eye next to me. “The, uh, the doctor’s too slow, I’ll… I’ll go find him myself!” With that, he bolted, his footsteps frantic. Darkness and the cramped space made me feel drowsy. After I don’t know how long, a pungent, choking smell filled the air. Fire.

Chloe’s voice drifted to me, faintly. “Quick! It’s our chance now. Hurry and take her away in the chaos!” “I’ll just tell Mom and Dad there was a fire, she didn’t make it out, and she burned to death!” “Mom and Dad only need one daughter! Who asked her to come back?! She can go back to wherever she came from!” “The money’s already been wired to you, double! Be quick about it, don’t leave any traces!” Several grinning faces moved closer, chillingly familiar. I didn’t struggle or cry for help. Instead, I submissively waited for them to tie my hands. The smell of sedatives spread through my nose and mouth, and I passed out. I was slapped awake. A burning pain erupted on my cheek, and my already deaf ear rang, bleeding again. In front of me were several twisted faces. The human traffickers always disguised themselves as locals, stuffing one stolen child after another into this remote village. They shoved people into dog cages, mutilated them to appear disabled, and forced them to beg on the streets for profit. A scar-faced man fiercely yanked my hair, his eyes leering. “Damn it, you little bitch, you’re hard to kill! Almost got away for good!” “Boss, I say we just make sure she’s a permanent fixture here, no more running!” The prosthetic limbs with their embedded trackers were brutally ripped off. They tore my evening gown. I knew struggling was useless, so I could only try to buy time. I looked up, my gaze calm. “You disguise yourselves as villagers, but behind our backs, you kidnap children, commit arson, murder… Aren’t you afraid of karma for all the evil you’ve done?” As soon as the words left my mouth, they burst into triumphant laughter, as if they’d heard the funniest joke. “Hah, karma?! We are the karma around here!” My lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. “One last question, then. Who got me out of the banquet hall?” Perhaps to savor my even more desperate expression, they erupted in another round of gleeful laughter. “Your sister! The Chloe from the Hayes family!” “Didn’t expect that, did you? You didn’t die with us, but you came home, and someone there was just itching for you to die!” I feigned a look of disbelief, stubbornly shaking my head, my voice trembling. “Impossible. Chloe… she would never do that to me!” They were enraged, as expected. To prove it, they pulled out the transfer records. “Open your damn eyes and look! The sender! Chloe Hayes! See it clearly?!” With that, their last shred of patience ran out, and they reached out to strike me. Just as those disgusting hands were about to touch my body. Bang. The door was violently kicked open from the outside! Along with countless police officers who stormed in with guns drawn. And my parents and Caleb, their faces filled with shock and fury. And… Chloe, her face ashen white.

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Ten years as DINKs. Then his mistress got pregnant. “I want to be dad.” He announced. I had two choices: take a $300 million settlement and divorce, or stay Mrs. Hayes and be the child’s nominal mother. He thought I’d pick the second. He knew how much I loved him. But I chose the first without blinking. I’d been reborn. In my last life, I fought Richard’s mistress my whole life. In the end, her son still seized all our assets. This time, the money’s mine. The freedom’s mine. And maybe, a young man or two will be mine as well. In my last life, I literally worked myself to death. After discovering my husband Richard’s affair, a cold, focused fury consumed me. I spent 48 sleepless hours plotting. First, I sidelined him at Hayes Corp, seized control. Then I executed reforms so brutal our share price quintupled. Richard’s mistress, Jasmine, and her son, Kevin, were crushed under my heel. They hid abroad, too terrified to return or contact Richard. Not a single Hayes family member dared to challenge me, not even Richard. I thought I’d won. Then I hit forty-five, still not pregnant. Years of grueling IVF, constant injections, and non-stop work took their toll. My body gave out. I collapsed and died on a business trip. My body hadn’t even been buried when Jasmine returned with her son. Richard, Jasmine, and Kevin wept, hugging each other as if they were the ones who’d suffered some great injustice. My ashes and photo? Casually tossed into the trash. Watching Jasmine eagerly move in and Kevin take over my company, I finally realized I’d spent my entire life building an empire for someone else. That night, I heard Jasmine and Richard sharing sweet nothings in bed. Jasmine, teary-eyed, whispered to him, “Richard, you’ve suffered so much for me these past twenty years. You secretly got a vasectomy for me, and even deliberately set Sera up to pave the way for our son! Thank you, my love, I adore you.” Richard kissed Jasmine’s forehead. “Jasmine, I love you too. You’ve been with me since you were twenty. I’d do anything for you.” No wonder no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get pregnant later on. Richard had gotten a vasectomy ages ago. I couldn’t tell if I felt regret or fury, only that my entire life had been a cruel joke. I opened my eyes again, back to the moment Richard laid it all out for me. He’d just gotten home from a business trip, still wearing the custom suit I’d ordered for him. He sat on the sofa, radiating an undeniable charm. Richard sighed. “Sera, let’s part amicably. Jasmine’s pregnant. It was… an accident, but she’s given me everything, and I can’t abandon her.” “I’m going to marry her and keep this child. I’m afraid you’ll have to make sacrifices.” “Besides the $300 million settlement for the divorce, I’ll buy back your shares at market price. This villa we live in and the cars? They’re yours. I truly owe you for all these years.” Honestly, Richard’s terms were pretty generous. If I didn’t love him, it would’ve been a total windfall. But I’d known him since I was eighteen, married him at twenty. Richard built his empire, and I helped manage the company alongside him. Later, when his parents got older and their health declined, I stepped back to care for them. I never imagined Richard would stab me in the back. And twist the knife. That betrayal fueled a hatred so fierce, I burned the rest of that life on nothing but revenge. Now, I gazed at my thirty-year-old face in the mirror. My eyes looked tired, exhausted from cooking and managing the household for my in-laws. My clothes were dated, a testament to my frugality. I reeked of “housewife.” My heart ached. I felt a pang of pity for myself. How had I let my life become this? Why hadn’t I learned to enjoy it? As I drifted, Richard repeated his demand for divorce. He sounded impatient. Just as he was about to deliver a warning, I calmly said, “Fine.” Richard froze. “What?” “I agree to the divorce,”I repeated, my voice calm. “And to you buying back my shares at market price. Let’s end this amicably.” Stunned by my decisiveness, he could only stare for a beat. “As long as you agree,” he muttered. “My lawyer will contact yours tomorrow.” Then he left in a hurry. I took a deep breath. Turning around, I saw his parents on the second floor. They’d known about Jasmine. They’d come for a show. Seeing not a tear but cold resolve, their faces tightened with awkwardness. My mother-in-law forced a thin smile, nudged her husband, and they vanished. I was left alone in the living room, savoring the reality of my rebirth.

Richard’s assistant worked fast. Within a week, Jasmine was strutting into my house as if she owned the future. In my previous life, Richard coddled her because she was young, keeping her well-protected. I rarely dealt with her. So, facing twenty-year-old Jasmine now, a strange resentment still flared. But I fought to hide it. I knew Richard was ultimately to blame. Jasmine was just the fly attracted to the rot. She was practically revered by the Hayes family. My mother-in-law, who’d given me the cold shoulder for ten years, was smiling warmly at someone for the first time. She constantly fed Jasmine fruit, stroked her belly, looking utterly delighted. I didn’t go in to make things worse. I retreated to my car and called Richard. “Have your assistant come out. I’ll sign in the car.” “Since you gave me the villa, tell your parents to move out tomorrow. I don’t like strangers in my house.” “Transfer the money to my account first. Let’s expedite the share transfer paperwork. Once that’s done, we’ll finalize the divorce.” Richard didn’t say anything for a long moment, then let out a sarcastic chuckle. “You’re certainly quick about this.” He made it sound like I was just after his money. I didn’t bite. There was no point arguing with him now. The priority was getting everything finalized ASAP. My attitude must have provoked him, or perhaps Richard just didn’t want to upset Jasmine. Either way, a month later, I received a total compensation of nearly $800 million and my divorce certificate. The second I walked out of the courthouse, I listed the villa online, ready to sell. Richard was still trailing me. When I almost stumbled, he grabbed my arm. His expression was surprisingly remorseful. “Sera, what are you… going to do now?” I was busy calculating the villa’s value and didn’t quite hear him. “Huh? What?” “What are you planning to do?” “Me?” I looked at him strangely. “I’m going to get a haircut and buy some new clothes. Divorce is like a rebirth, after all. Gotta celebrate, right?” Richard choked on his words, his face hardening. “You’re still so stubborn.” “Even though we’re not married anymore, we’ve known each other a long time, and I want to offer some advice. When we were younger, money was tight, and we carelessly decided to be DINKs, not truly understanding what that meant.” “Now that my parents are getting older and my career is successful, I’m starting to understand how important having children is.” “I know you hate your dad for cheating and your stepmother for the abuse, so you stubbornly refused to have kids.” “But Sera, life is long. If you never have your own bloodline, you’ll be lonely and regretful when you’re old.” “I just didn’t want my parents to die without seeing grandchildren, I didn’t want to be unfilial. That’s why I chose to be responsible for Jasmine. I hope you understand.” He rambled on and on, and just then, my ride arrived. I casually pulled my hand from his, got straight into the car. As the car started to pull away, I flipped him the bird. “Richard, you cheated. Don’t try to make it sound so noble.” “You can spin it any way you want, but Jasmine is still your mistress, and that child is still illegitimate. No matter what, you can’t change that fact.” “I’m thrilled about the divorce, because I don’t have to deal with you two anymore, or clean up your mess. May you and your mistress be ‘happily ever after,’ you deserve each other. And don’t ever contact me again.”

Cursing Richard felt incredibly cathartic, and the divorce didn’t affect me in the slightest. Maybe my previous life had completely drained all my love for him. Now that we were separated, it felt like excising a rotting piece of flesh. Utterly liberating. The day after the divorce was finalized, I found a high-end salon, got a perm, and dyed my hair with highlights I’d always wanted. Then I went on a shopping spree, buying dozens of outfits and completely overhauling my wardrobe. Seeing my new, younger reflection, tears finally fell. “Sera,” I whispered. “you’re actually beautiful. You’ve worked so hard all these years.” A sum with nine zeros sat quietly in my bank account. I could live off the interest in blissful idleness. There was no more need to rush. I lounged on the sofa, then wiped out Richard, his parents, his relatives, and most of his friends from my contacts. My contact list felt so much cleaner. As I scrolled, I saw Mia’s name, a friend who owned a bar. After a moment’s thought, I called her. I’d been so wrapped up in family life before, rarely keeping in touch. So, when I suddenly called, she sounded surprised. “Hey, Mrs. Hayes, what’s up? Long time no talk!” I smiled faintly. “I’m divorced. Don’t call me Mrs. Hayes. From now on, you can call me Sera, the rich lady.” “Holy shit!” Mia shrieked. “Seriously? Where are you? I’m coming to get you right now!” Her eagerness for gossip was obvious. Half an hour later, Mia had heard the whole story. She looked at me, clearly wanting to say something but hesitating. I quickly stopped her. “Hey, don’t pity me, girl. I’m loaded now.” Mia just stared. “You’ve got a point.” She wiped her face. “So, what’s next, boss?” I pondered for a moment. “Well, ever since Richard hooked up with Jasmine, it’s been two years since I’ve, you know, been intimate with anyone.” “You know a lot of people. Any clean-cut, fit, handsome guys you could hook me up with? Maybe two?”

The moment I mentioned wanting a male escort, Mia got excited. Within half a day, several profiles landed in my hands. My eyes immediately gravitated to Leo, the one with the cleanest vibe. It wasn’t just his looks; his background was surprising – a top student from A University. How could such a brilliant guy go down this path? I raised an eyebrow and told Mia to bring him to my hotel that evening. That night, in the Grand Hotel’s Presidential Suite, I met twenty-three-year-old Leo for the first time. He was tall, with eyes and brows even more striking than in his photo. His skin was lightly tanned, and his gaze held a hint of veiled resentment. With years of interviewing experience, I could tell he was a textbook good student. Dressed in a shirt and slacks, he was stiff as a board, his face flushed with shame. Too bad I wasn’t feeling charitable. I was focused on getting what I wanted. I walked over and gently lifted his chin. “You’re Leo, right?” Leo mumbled a shy “M-hm.” His youthful awkwardness delighted me. He truly was gorgeous. Clear eyes, long, curling lashes, full, red lips – a pure, captivating temptation. IMy grip on his chin tightened, forcing those deep, wary eyes to lock onto mine. “Half a million is a lot. But I like you, so I’ll pay. Whether you get all that money…well, let’s see your performance tonight.” Leo took a shaky breath. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re satisfied.” His hands trembled violently, and he was flushed from his earlobes all the way down his neck. When he kissed me, he was so inexperienced he bit my lip with his teeth. I couldn’t help but let out a low laugh. So innocent. So pure. So utterly adorable. I reversed our positions, pinning him beneath me, and slowly unbuttoned his shirt. “You’re lucky. It’s my first time hiring an escort. I don’t have any strange kinks.” “I’m buying a good time to clear my head. After tonight, you’ll get what you came for.” Leo let out a choked moan, his hands instinctively finding my waist… The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed. Leo was still asleep. I left the card on the nightstand, kissed his cheek, then got up and left. Decisive as I was, I didn’t notice the tears streaming down his face the moment the door clicked shut.

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I married a “disabled” man for my sister’s benefit, fought for him for seven years, and lost an eye in the process. But when danger came, he stood up—fully capable—and sent me to my death. Reborn, I see every mask clearly: my sister’s softness, my father’s bias, my husband’s betrayal. This time, I bow to no one. Marriage swaps, broken engagements—let them try. I will make them choke on every choice they once forced on me. I stared at the people before me, hatred seeping from my very bones. My sister, Serena, glanced at the steady and talented Callum, then turned to me, her face full of gentle consideration. “My little sister is still young and a bit spoiled. How could I let you marry Jaxon, who’s crippled? I’ll choose Jaxon, it’s fine, really.” She’d said the exact same thing in my past life. I was so incredibly touched back then, believing she was the best person in the world. To spare her any hardship, I refused. “Sister,” I’d said, “you and Callum share a deep love. How could I break you two apart?” I forcefully chose Jaxon, the disabled brother. I sought doctors and medicine for him for seven years. I knelt on countless temple steps, my forehead raw from bowing, begging for his recovery. Then, our enemies attacked our home. My wonderful husband, the man I had meticulously cared for seven years, stood up from his wheelchair and, without hesitation, pushed me out to draw their fire. “I’m sorry, I can’t just stand by and watch Serena die.” He didn’t even give me time to react before he slammed the heavy door shut. My sister, on the other hand, had dozens of bodyguards and a secret passage! She just needed to run a few more steps to meet up with Callum. She’d claimed she wanted to protect me first. But after I was pushed out, she didn’t call anyone to save me. I died, and she got all the praise. Thinking of this, I forced a smile. “Then let’s switch.” The air instantly froze. Serena’s gentle expression stiffened. Callum snapped his head up, blurting out, “No!” My father’s face darkened too, his stern gaze sweeping over Jaxon and me. “Nonsense! How can your elder sister marry a cripple?” A chill pierced my heart, bone-deep. So, you knew marrying a cripple was unacceptable. Last life, when I chose Jaxon, he didn’t say that. He said I was sensible, considerate, and a good daughter of the Sterling family. Just then, a clear, cold voice rang out. “I am not a cripple.” Under everyone’s shocked gazes, Jaxon slowly stood up. His posture was tall and straight, his aura commanding. I stared at him, my blood feeling like ice. He was faking it from the start? So, what was all my sleepless nights searching for doctors and medicine for? What about the good luck charm I begged for him, kneeling on nine thousand steps, bowing at each one? What about giving up all my shares just to beg Father to spare his life? It was all a complete joke! Seeing him like this, I instantly understood. He was reborn too. So, his “I’ll repay you in the next life” from last time? All lies. Even with a second chance, he didn’t want to marry me. It didn’t matter. I didn’t plan on having him either. “Mr. Sterling, my business acumen might not be inferior to my elder brother’s.” Jaxon’s voice was neither servile nor overbearing. In just a few words, he pointed out the Sterling family’s current business dilemma, analyzing it even more precisely than Callum. “I can help the Sterling family turn losses into profits within three months.” My father’s shock turned into wild joy. I saw the way Serena looked at Jaxon. It changed too, becoming astonishingly bright. She quickly composed herself, walked to Callum’s side, and put on a caring act. “Callum, you’ll have to take good care of my sister from now on.” Callum’s grim gaze fell on my left prosthetic eye. That was the eye I lost when I took a knife for Serena. Callum’s eyes filled with disgust. He spoke each word distinctly, “Please, Mr. Sterling, cancel this engagement. Grant me my freedom. I’d rather start from scratch outside.”

My father’s face instantly dropped. His stern gaze landed on Callum. “Cancel the engagement? Do you want everyone in the city to mock the Sterling family, to say we’re untrustworthy?” Callum frowned, his gaze fixed on my face—specifically, on my dull, grey prosthetic eye. His tone was distant. “I’m not worthy of Miss Arden. Please, Mr. Sterling, fulfill my request.” Serena immediately stepped forward, her face full of feigned distress, as she chastised him. “Callum, how can you say that? You’re hurting my sister’s feelings too much.” Callum looked at her, his eyes instantly filling with deep affection. “If I cannot be with the one I love, I’d rather never marry.” I almost burst out laughing. What a dramatic display of undying love. A flicker of joy passed through Serena’s eyes, quickly replaced by her usual thoughtful expression. “Don’t be impulsive. Have you forgotten those enemies? They won’t spare a struggling man like you. I can’t stand by and watch you ruin your life.” Callum was visibly moved, his gaze growing even more fervent. The smile on my lips could no longer be hidden. “Well, in that case, why don’t both Callum and Jaxon become live-in husbands for Sister?” “That way, the engagement isn’t broken, and all you ‘lovers’ get what you want.” “After all, the contract never said Sister couldn’t have two at once.” “As for who’d be the main husband, and who’d just be a ‘plus one’ or ‘side piece’ – well, Sister can decide that herself, can’t she?” Serena’s face flushed crimson. She glared at me, feigning coyness. “Sister, what nonsense are you spouting!” My father’s gaze shifted to me, carrying a hint of scrutiny. “You really don’t want either of them?” I nodded, my voice firm. “No.” Jaxon and Callum looked at me simultaneously. Their eyes held the same contempt, as if saying, If even we don’t want you, who possibly would? My father was silent for a moment, then asked, “Then, who do you want to marry?” “I want Lucian Thorne, the only son of the Thorne family,” I declared. The entire room gasped. My father stood up in shock. “Are you insane? He’s known as the city’s most notorious playboy! Fortune tellers even say he won’t live past thirty!” The Thorne family was vast and wealthy, far surpassing our Sterlings. But Lucian Thorne was idle and dissolute. Two years ago, he’d fallen gravely ill, and all doctors said he wouldn’t live past thirty. Anyone who married him would suffer a living hell. Even with the Thorne family’s promise to give their daughter-in-law twenty percent of the company’s shares, no one in high society dared to marry their daughter into the Thorne family. I calmly looked at my father. I cut straight to the chase. “I’m willing to marry into the Thorne family for the future of the Sterling family.” “But you must give me ten percent of the Sterling family’s shares as my dowry.” The shrewd glint in my father’s eyes sharpened. His reaction was expected. His favoritism had never been for me, so how could he willingly give me shares? I chuckled softly. “Dad, my appearance is… flawed. If I go to the Thorne family, I’ll be without any backing. If you don’t give me some leverage, how can I establish myself?” “Besides, how many years can Lucian Thorne live? Once he’s gone, won’t everything of the Thorne family eventually belong to the Sterlings?” A flicker of calculation passed through his eyes. Finally, he nodded. “Alright, I agree.”

After I joined the Thorne family, Lucian’s parents showed me exceptional regard. They not only personally guided me through the Thorne family’s vast business empire but also taught me hands-on. Two months later, the first project I spearheaded achieved great success, with profits far exceeding expectations. Lucian’s parents were delighted and hosted a celebration banquet specifically for me. At the banquet, I wore a perfectly tailored gown, becoming the center of attention. Serena approached with a wine glass, smiling sweetly. “Congratulations, little sister. But I must advise you, women shouldn’t be too high-profile. Men don’t like that.” She pointedly added, “Especially women who only achieve a little something by being propped up by others.” I swirled the red wine in my glass. “Sister is right. Father has propped you up for so many years, yet I haven’t seen a single achievement from you.” My father, who was talking to someone, heard my words and, for the first time, gave Serena a cold look. Serena’s eyes instantly welled up. “Sister, how can you talk like that? I’m only doing this for your own good!” She changed tactics, looking at my eye, feigning worry. “Your most important task now is to capture Lucian’s heart and get pregnant soon. But your eye… it’s so unsightly, no wonder your husband doesn’t favor you.” “I knew it. From the beginning, you shouldn’t have married into the Thorne family. Staying home would have been better than being thrown out.” I stared at Serena, speaking each word distinctly. “Sister, have you forgotten how I lost this eye?” “That year, when we encountered those thugs, even in that desperate situation, with your leg injured, I never thought of abandoning you. I dragged your hand and ran.” “And how did you treat me?” “We were almost free, just a few more steps, but you tripped me, causing me to be caught by them, and my eye was brutally gouged out!” Serena’s face instantly turned pale. Unable to retort, she covered her face and pretended to cry with guilt. “I’m sorry, little sister, I didn’t mean to…” “Cut the act,” I interrupted her. “Don’t think a few tears can hide your malice.” “Arden Sterling! Your words are too much!” Callum, protecting the crying Serena, angrily rebuked me. Jaxon was even more direct. He grabbed my wrist, trying to forcefully drag me in front of Serena. “Serena is always kind; you must be slandering her. Apologize to her now!” I kicked him. “What are you, some kind of side piece Serena can’t openly acknowledge? Do you even have a right to speak here?” Jaxon looked up at me, stunned. “How can you say that about me?” Then, his face darkened, and he gritted his teeth. “No matter what, you must apologize to Serena first.” With that, he actually tried to kick my shin, intending to force me to kneel before Serena. I angrily struggled free and ordered the bodyguards behind me. “Throw him out!” Jaxon’s eyes widened. “How dare you kick me out?” I sneered, “Because this is a Thorne family banquet. What right does a nameless side piece like you have to cause a ruckus here?” Jaxon roared in anger but was utterly helpless to resist. A week later. Jaxon suddenly burst in, his face full of panic, and grabbed my hand. “Come with me quickly! Serena’s in danger!”

I pulled my hand away, completely unfazed. “Arden Sterling, come with me, now! If you don’t go, the Blackwood family will kill Serena!” Jaxon roared at me, his face grim. “I don’t care how she offended the Blackwoods. What does that have to do with me?” I retorted with a cold sneer. “Arden Sterling!” Jaxon’s face flushed crimson with fury. He gritted his teeth and said, “Serena chose that high-risk, high-return project to surpass you! You’re responsible for this!” I almost laughed. She got into trouble with a project, so she kidnapped a competitor, trying to force them out. Turns out, that person was a tough nut to crack. Even more, she was Isabelle Blackwood, the heiress of the Blackwood family, who was out gaining experience. Serena had tortured her to the brink of death; she was still in the ICU. The Blackwood family wielded immense power; they could make this whole city tremble. They even had their own unofficial detention facility. Anyone who entered that facility usually came out broken or driven mad. “None of my business,” I said, rolling my eyes, and turned to leave. “How is it not your business?” “Arden Sterling, if you hadn’t done so well on your project, if you hadn’t flaunted it in front of Serena, she wouldn’t have been provoked into doing this!” Jaxon blocked me, his eyes red as he stared intensely. “Now, isn’t it your duty to atone for her sins?” With that, he reached out and tried to pull me towards a car. Taking advantage of Jaxon’s distraction, I kicked him, seizing the chance to break free. But before I could even catch my breath, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to see my father approaching with Callum. My father’s expression was grim, and Callum’s gaze was terrifyingly cold. My heart sank. I had a bad feeling. Callum rushed forward without a word, grabbing my arm. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately. “Jaxon!” Callum shouted at Jaxon, who was still clutching his stomach. Jaxon immediately reacted and ran over to help. Two men—I couldn’t break free. They pinned me to the ground, tying my hands and feet with ropes. I glared at my father, furious. “Dad, what are you doing?” My father avoided my gaze, his voice trembling slightly. “Arden, don’t blame your dad. Serena has never been hurt since she was little. She can’t endure the Blackwood family’s torture.” Can’t endure it? So, he’d sacrifice me without hesitation? I turned to Jaxon, demanding furiously. “Jaxon, are you serious about this?!” Jaxon looked at me, a flicker of pain in his eyes, but he remained resolute, dragging me toward the Blackwood residence. “Jaxon, your attitude towards me hasn’t changed one bit. Still just as cruel.” Jaxon looked back at me, his face devoid of surprise. “I’m sorry, Arden.” Sorry? I almost laughed out loud. “Jaxon, your apology is a joke. Push someone to their death, then offer a ‘sorry’?” “I promise, this is the last time.” Jaxon looked at me earnestly. “I’ve already found a loophole in the Blackwood family’s private detention facility. I’ll do everything I can to protect you. You won’t get hurt.” When we arrived at the Blackwood estate, Jaxon immediately pushed me away and rushed towards Serena, who was crying dramatically. He gently stroked Serena’s back, his voice tender, a side of him I had never seen. “It’s alright, I brought her.” “Mr. Blackwood, Serena is innocent. Everything was Arden Sterling’s doing behind the scenes.” “All the harm Miss Blackwood suffered should be borne by Arden Sterling!” I was tied with ropes, sprawled miserably on the ground. I struggled to look at Callum, a last glimmer of hope in my eyes. “You always boasted about your integrity, didn’t you? Why aren’t you telling the truth?” Callum avoided my gaze. He pulled out a document from his pocket. “I’m sorry.” He apologized softly, then handed the fabricated evidence to Mr. Blackwood. “This is the evidence that Serena kidnapped Miss Blackwood. The main culprit is Arden Sterling.” My heart turned completely cold. Mr. Blackwood read the document, his face ashen. He waved his hand, and two men in black immediately stepped forward. A cold glint flashed. Three knives plunged savagely into my body. “Ah—!” The intense pain made me scream. Blood instantly soaked my clothes. Serena was still crying. Everyone was comforting her. No one spared me a glance. Just then, a servant rushed in. “Master, Miss Isabelle is awake!” “Miss Isabelle says it was Serena who harmed her that night, not Arden Sterling!” Mr. Blackwood was enraged. “Outrageous! Your Sterling family dares to replace the culprit?!” I thought I could finally escape this suffering, but my father stepped forward. After a string of comforting platitudes, he changed his tone: “I only have these two daughters. Do you mean to destroy my entire legacy?” He pointed at me. “Since Arden has already suffered the punishment on Serena’s behalf, why not give her double the penalty, and this matter can be considered closed.” My eyes widened. I stared at him in disbelief. “Dad, I’m your biological daughter too.” “For Serena’s sake, are you truly willing to let me die?” He unnaturally averted his gaze. Mr. Blackwood glanced at me, then sneered. “Fine.” I was dragged to the Blackwood family’s private detention facility, my hands and feet chained. Torture implements were laid out before me, one by one. Steel needles pierced under my fingernails, making my entire body tremble with pain. “Ah—!” My blood slowly stained the entire facility. I don’t know how much time passed before Jaxon walked in. “Jaxon, take me away, quick!” “Please, save me…” I cried and pleaded. But he frowned. “Can you be a little quieter? Serena is very scared hearing your voice.” I looked at him in disbelief: “Even with me standing here covered in wounds, your eyes are only on Sister’s trivial fear, aren’t they?” Jaxon’s face showed a flicker of reluctance, and his fists clenched tightly, but his words still brought despair. “Just endure it a little longer. Serena’s period has started, I need to go make her a warm tea for her cramps.” “Jaxon, please! They’re going to stab steel needles into my neck next! If I don’t leave now, I’ll really die!” Jaxon’s footsteps paused briefly. “Just hold on. Serena can’t stand pain.” He walked away without looking back. I numbly wiped the blood from my face. Lucian Thorne and Mr. Blackwood emerged from the shadows. Lucian draped his jacket over me, gently stroking my hair, his voice laced with mockery. “Wife, are these your family and your childhood friend?” I looked at Mr. Blackwood, my face devoid of warmth. “Now, can you believe that I have absolutely no lingering attachment to the Sterling family?” Mr. Blackwood nodded with satisfaction. “Welcome to the family.” From this day forward, I was no longer the second daughter of the Sterling family. I was the Sterling Group’s nightmare. Jaxon stood in the kitchen, a spoon in his hand, the warm water gurgling in the pot. His mind was filled with my last desperate plea to him.

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The night my husband came home reeking of another woman, I finally understood one thing: he would burn the world for his mistress but never spare a single glance for me. I watched him chase scandals, flaunt fireworks for seven nights, and humiliate our marriage online—until I chose my own ending. On our anniversary, I handed him a gift he never expected. On the seventh day after finding his mistress, Damian finally came home. Seeing me sitting quietly at the dining table, he was momentarily surprised. “It’s so late, you’re not asleep yet?” Wariness and impatience immediately rose in his eyes. “Out with it. What drama do you want to make this time?” Ever since his mistress had disappeared, he had caused a citywide uproar trying to find her. Our interactions had turned into endless arguments. But this time, I swallowed all my emotions. I didn’t ask why he had to make such a public display of affection, setting off fireworks for seven days and nights for her. I didn’t ask why he had to trample on my dignity like this, turning me into a joke all over the internet. I just glanced lightly at the lipstick mark on his collar and said softly, “I prepared a gift for you.” Damian froze, his gaze sweeping over the cold dishes on the table. He suddenly seemed to remember something. Then he softened his expression: “Sorry, I forgot it’s our fourth wedding anniversary today.” “I’ll make it up to you with a gift later.” As he spoke, he moved closer to me in a gesture of goodwill, something he hadn’t done in a long time. But as soon as I smelled the perfume on him, I instinctively turned my face away. His relaxed brow immediately furrowed again. “I knew you were going to give me the cold shoulder. I’m going to take a shower!” I watched his back disappear up the stairs, then looked at the unopened gift on the table, my heart filled with sorrow. I followed him upstairs. His phone was charging on the dresser, constantly lighting up. In less than an hour since they’d parted, his precious mistress had already sent a string of messages. [I miss you a little already.] [Waaah, you beast, after torturing me for seven days and nights, I just realized I can’t get out of bed!!!] [What are you going to do about it??] [Your punishment is to dream of me tonight! Hehe.] The heart I thought was already dead suddenly ached again. Then the pain spread to my organs and limbs. Just then, I felt a gaze pinned on me. I looked up abruptly to see Damian standing there, coldly staring at me, a mocking smile on his lips. “Seen enough?” “Don’t tell me you’re still not used to it, Mrs. Yan.”

The next day. Damian left early in the morning. And that gift was still sitting quietly on the dining table. I sat down and untied the ribbon wrapped around it, taking out the divorce papers I had signed. Actually, before last night, I hadn’t decided which gift to give him. The divorce papers, or the pregnancy test results. But during that long wait last night, feeling the night breeze and watching the grand fireworks blooming in the sky, I suddenly understood. The man I had loved deeply was already lost on the road he came from. Seven years ago, on a snowy Christmas Eve. I was studying abroad and went out to buy cold medicine, but fainted in my car. Damian, who was passing by, saved me. From then on, I fell helplessly in love. My friends warned me, “Everyone in the international student circle knows Damian has looks, money, and family background.” “Just have fun with guys like that, don’t take it seriously.” But I was already in too deep. I had seen how he was aloof in public but passionate and possessive in private. How he was always the center of attention in crowds but would childishly get jealous when others approached me. How in the heavy snow, he would always warm my cold hands and gently tuck them into his coat pocket. However, it turned out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy. After marriage, he started to change. Especially after he accidentally found out that his hated stepmother and my mom were best friends. The way he looked at me changed from sincere and passionate to doubtful, then distant, and finally without any warmth. I didn’t know if he really cared that much about it, or if he just didn’t love me anymore. He started to brazenly go out with female celebrities, getting caught up in scandals without any concern, and even kept a mistress. And I went from desperately trying to explain and salvage our relationship, to heartbroken pain, to numb acceptance. Suddenly, my reminiscing was interrupted by Damian’s assistant. She brought an exquisite gift box, saying it was the anniversary gift Mr. Yan had arranged. I opened it to find a sparkling diamond ring. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my size. I snapped back to reality, no longer dwelling on the past. I picked up the document folder and headed out.

I pushed open the door to the CEO’s office. Two overlapping figures suddenly separated. Damian’s breathing was uneven, his face slightly dark. “What are you doing here?” Then he softly reassured his startled mistress, “Vivian, go make a cup of coffee first.” The woman hurriedly fled. The atmosphere sank into silence. Seeing Damian waiting for me to speak first, I took out the document folder from my bag and handed it to him. “You haven’t opened yesterday’s gift yet.” But he raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. “You’re not going to ask?” “No.” The man was silent for a moment, looking at me searchingly, as if he was a bit uncomfortable with this. A few seconds later, he half-explained, half-insulted: “She’s clinging to me tightly now, so I let her play at being a secretary.” In the past, I wouldn’t have been able to tolerate this for even a second, demanding to know “What am I then?” But this time, I had no reaction. I just calmly gestured to the document folder in my hand again. Damian’s eyes flickered slightly, and he stared at me thoughtfully for a few seconds before slowly taking it. A few seconds later, he looked up abruptly, staring at me in disbelief. Gradually, joy seeped into his complex expression. “You’re… pregnant?” I froze, realizing that the paper in his hand was actually the pregnancy test results! I must have taken the wrong one by mistake! Just as I was about to explain, suddenly there was a crash at the door. Vivian had fallen to the ground, cups shattering everywhere. She shot us a coquettish, resentful look, scrambled to her feet, and ran away in a fluster. Damian frowned, dropping a heavy “Wait here for me” before quickly chasing after her. But I wouldn’t wait anymore. In this four-year marriage. I had waited for his scandalous news, waited for those women’s taunting midnight messages, waited for gossiping reporters, concerned parents and friends, internet-wide ridicule… The only thing I never waited for was his change of heart. I was tired of waiting, done with it! Wiping away a falling tear. I took a cab straight to the hospital.

But I never expected. At the hospital, I ran into that pair of lovebirds again. At that moment, the woman’s palm was wrapped in several layers of bandages, cradled in the man’s arms. Damian stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes as he looked me up and down, “Why are you here? Didn’t I tell you to wait for me?” Then his tone cooled a few degrees, “Or did you follow us?” I twisted my lips in a ridiculous smile, wanting to tell him that I hadn’t followed them, that I was here for an abortion. But thinking there was a slight possibility he might try to stop me, I held back. However, Damian took my silence as admission. He was about to say something with a mocking look in his eyes. When Vivian beside him affectionately tugged at his arm. “Don’t fight, you two.” “Can you go get me some medicine first? Please.” After effortlessly sending Damian away, Vivian turned to me with a sincere look. “Mrs. Zhang, I’m sorry, I just wanted to ask…” “Do you like the ring I picked? ” As she spoke, she waved the bracelet on her wrist at me, her eyes curving in a smile. “Look, I have one too. It’s so expensive, worth $20,000.” My heart sank. Hah. I had thought that ring was something he casually had someone prepare. I never imagined it was him allowing her to humiliate me. I snapped back to reality, meeting her challenging gaze with a faint smile. “Miss White, do you know what the difference is between us?” “The things he gives me are marital property.” “But everything he gives you is something you’ll have to pay back one day.” The smile froze on Vivian’s lips. The next second, she left in a huff. Actually, I had someone investigate Vivian’s background long ago. On the surface, she was just an ordinary college student.

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Beatrix came back and turned my marriage into a spectacle. She challenged me to a bet over Asher’s vows, and he proved her right—breaking every promise for her while keeping every distance from me. When I saw the tattoo, the bracelet he threw away, and the surveillance that exposed everything, something in me snapped. I handed him the divorce agreement he once said I could use “anytime” and left. Only when he lost me did he panic. But I was already gone, divorce certificate in hand, reclaiming the freedom he never deserved. After Beatrix came back, she challenged me—said we should see who could make Asher break his vows nine times first. I smirked and drafted the terms of the bet right then: “If you win, I’ll step aside. But if you lose, I’ll make sure you can’t stay in Beijing City.” Only I knew how unsteady I felt inside. In our three years of marriage, Asher would do anything I asked—except break his vows. Within a week, he started coming home less. Determined, I put on the new lingerie I’d bought and walked into his quiet room. I took his hand and guided it down my body… I felt his breathing grow heavier, heat rising in his eyes, something new and dangerous. But then his phone rang. He snapped out of it, pushed me away, and walked out. He didn’t return for three hours. I stood there, the warmth draining from me, unable to think. Until Beatrix showed up, waving a used strawberry-flavored item, flaunting the sticky residue inside. “Adele, this makes nine.” “I told you—Asher loves me. Why don’t you believe it?” “A bet is a bet.” Looking at her smug face, I remembered how I had just humiliated myself, begging my own husband for attention. A wave of dizziness washed over me. Why was I degrading myself like this? Before marriage, I was the prized daughter of Beijing’s elite. Why was I now fighting Beatrix for a spot in my own bed? Feigning calm, I pulled the signed divorce papers from the bedside drawer. “Take it and leave.” Beatrix arched a brow. “You confronted Asher?” I shrugged. “No. Asher said I could make the decision about divorce whenever I wanted.” “He’s just a man. If you want him, he’s yours.” But looking at Asher’s name on the papers… My chest tightened. This had been Asher’s wedding gift to me. Asher always honored his promises. He had once stopped my hands from unbuttoning his shirt, saying he needed to keep his vows for three years and asking me to wait. But if I ever grew tired… I could sign the papers anytime, and he’d accept it. Back then, I had been overjoyed, thinking he was mine for life. Now I saw how foolish I’d been. Was he giving me freedom, or giving himself an easy exit? Beatrix read the papers twice before smiling in satisfaction. “Miss Adele—still as decisive as ever.” “Everyone in Beijing City knows you pursued Asher for five years. I really thought you’d cry.” “How about this—once Asher officially breaks his vows next week, I’ll hand him these papers as a gift.” “You two won’t have to torture each other anymore.” I saw her out with a cold expression. But I had to admit—she wasn’t wrong. Keeping someone who doesn’t love you for five years—if that isn’t torture, what is? I opened my phone and found the Iceland trip I’d booked for Asher and me next week. Asher hated traveling abroad, but I insisted. When he agreed, was he thinking how troublesome I was? I canceled his ticket with a swipe. If that’s the case, then I’ll let him go. This mistake shouldn’t continue.

Not long after Beatrix left, I went to bed. Half-asleep, I felt someone slide in behind me, an arm wrapping around my waist. Annoyed, I pushed his hand away. “Why aren’t you in your quiet room? What are you doing here?” His breath warmed my neck. After a long silence, he asked, “Why did you cancel the Iceland tickets?” My irritation spiked. “Maybe I just don’t feel like going,” I snapped, pushing him away. “Stay away from me.” But when my hand pressed against his chest, Asher let out a low groan—like he was in pain. Something felt off. I lifted his shirt. My vision spun. A piercing was right over his chest. And next to it, two small letters tattooed: QZ. I didn’t know if my eyes were red—I just felt tears threatening to spill, my voice shaking uncontrollably. “What is this?” Did Asher like Beatrix so much he’d do anything for her? When Asher’s parents died and his relatives took everything—when thugs cornered him—it was me who smashed a bottle to keep him safe. He had said he wanted to become a monk. I stayed by him, loved him without asking for anything. Until he let me in and agreed to marry me. What a joke. He wouldn’t break his vows for me. But he’d let another woman mark him? Like some pet being claimed? Asher wasn’t the type who could be forced. Was this their idea of fun? Or did Beatrix want me to see how low he’d bend for her? Asher frowned and tugged down his shirt. “No need to freak out. It’s just something strung—if you don’t like it, I won’t wear it.” “As for the letters… Adele, I’ll explain later.” Then he hesitated, stood up, and walked out. “I’m going to copy scriptures. You should sleep early.” His prayer beads had been replaced with white Bodhi beads—not the rosewood ones I’d climbed a mountain to get for him. Grinding my teeth, I called the butler. “Find out where Asher went today. And who he was with.” “And find out what happened to his bracelet.” Soon, surveillance footage arrived. In the video, Asher was taking drink after drink from Beatrix, completely drunk. Friends at the table looked stunned. “I thought Asher was a devout Buddhist, doesn’t drink at all. Beatrix, how’d you pull that off?” “Back in school, Asher only cared about Beatrix. Looks like her going abroad didn’t change a thing.” “He’s married now though. I heard his wife is something else.” Beatrix laughed, holding Asher’s hand. “If I hadn’t gone abroad, how else would Adele have married him?” “I told Asher not to touch Adele—and he really didn’t. What more proof do you need?” A sharp pain stabbed my chest. What was I to him? I dragged him out of the mud—and he kept himself “pure” for the woman he liked? Beatrix tapped his cheek, waking him. “Throw that bracelet away. I bought you a new one. From now on, you only wear mine.” He hesitated. But pushed by Beatrix, he took off the bracelet and tossed it. Maybe heaven felt pity. It snapped on impact, beads scattering everywhere. Just like my heart. The butler handed me two beads. “Miss, the cleaning staff took the rest. Should I retrieve them?” I laughed bitterly. “No.” “What use are a few beads now?” Asher, like those beads. Once precious. Protected. Now dirty, discarded. Nothing.

I ordered Asher’s belongings packed and sent back to his own home. When Asher walked in with breakfast, he passed movers carrying out his incense burner, scriptures, and meditation mat. He froze. “What’s going on? Adele—are you moving?” I smiled broadly. “Yes. I’ve lived here long enough. It’s annoying now.” I glanced at the tray. Pickles. Plain porridge. A few slices of bread. Not even an egg. Asher didn’t eat meat, so I’d gone vegetarian for years too. I grabbed my bag. “Keep it for yourself.” His shocked expression didn’t matter. Nothing about Asher mattered now. That night, I met several Beijing Circle friends at a bar for a farewell. They teased me endlessly. “Adele’s drinking? What will your picky, uptight husband say?” “Yeah, the social darling has been so proper since marriage. What changed today?” I scoffed. “Being proper is for someone who deserves it.” A commotion broke out in a corner. Two people were having a drinking bet. Whoever finished twelve cocktails first got to take a woman home. My friends went to look, came back uneasy. “Adele… you might want to check. It’s Asher.” I didn’t react. I knew I should be shocked—that a man who never drank would do this for another woman. But inside, there was nothing left. As if my love had died yesterday. I even led the group over, amused. “Come on. Let’s watch.” Asher stood at the long table, stunned when he saw me. But before he could move, the bartender reminded him: “Sir, leaving means forfeiting. You sure you want to quit?” Asher looked at me, then at Beatrix, hesitating. Then he turned back. “No forfeiting.” Beatrix leaned close, voice dripping venom under the bar’s music. “Adele, maybe try talking to him? You two won’t be married much longer—you can still beg a little.” “But if he won’t listen even once… pretty pathetic, right?” I ignored her and stared at Asher. He refused to look back, eyes down, fingers nervously rolling his prayer beads. Onlookers swooned. “Drinking twelve of those will send him to the ER. This guy must really love his girlfriend.” “True love. Wishing them all the best.” A vein pulsed on Asher’s forehead. He snapped, “Shut up.” Then he turned to me and whispered, “Adele… I have my reasons. I’ll explain when we’re home.” I smiled. “Asher, you promised to keep your vows for three years. Only three days left.” “If you drink this, the whole agreement is meaningless.” His face froze. After a long silence, he nodded. “Then it’s meaningless. Let’s go home tonight. I’ll make it up to you.” I knew he meant finally consummating the marriage. I almost laughed. He chose to break his vow for me—after breaking everything else for her. I removed my wedding ring. Dropped it into his drink. And turned to leave. But with so many people crowded around, I accidentally knocked over a champagne tower. Glasses crashed everywhere. I heard Asher call my name. But when it mattered, he protected Beatrix first. Glass shattered underfoot. My vision went dark. I saw Asher running toward me. He lifted me, hands trembling. He whispered “I love you” over and over. And it made me sick. When I woke up, three days had passed. My friends said Asher had waited outside the ER the whole time, refusing treatment for his own injuries. Said he refused to leave my bedside. Didn’t even let nurses wipe my face. They said he booked a massive banquet hall filled with cornflowers—my favorite. No one knew what for. I called the butler. “Take me to the airport.” As the car pulled away, Asher’s car approached. When our cars crossed paths, I rolled up the window. Asher had been relieved—finally fulfilling the twelve wishes he owed Beatrix. The drinking contest had been the last one. He thought he could finally let her go. Finally love me fully. But when he walked into the hospital room— The bed was empty. Not a wrinkle on the sheets. His face showed confusion, doubt… and then pure panic. Beatrix handed him a document, smiling brightly. “Asher, you’re finally free!” “This is the divorce agreement Adele signed. We can finally be together again!” Asher was taken aback. He had heard Beatrix mention “freed

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Nerissa pushed me off a cliff in our last life, but rebirth returned me to the moment we first arrived in the beastman tribe. She thinks she can outshine me again by choosing the werewolf I once relied on. She expects me to pick someone “safe.” Instead, I claim the strongest male in the tribe—the white tiger priest and future heir. This time, I will protect him, elevate him, and weaponize him. Nerissa aims to be the chieftain’s wife, but I aim higher. In a world where females control everything, I will seize power, overturn my fate, and take revenge step by step. After being pushed off that cliff, I was reborn. I woke up on the exact day Nerissa and I first arrived in the primitive beastman tribe. As soon as I opened my eyes, I heard the elderly voice of the tribe’s chieftain. “All our unmated males are here for you two esteemed females. Choose whomever you like as your partner.” Last time, Nerissa and I were confused and overwhelmed. Thankfully, we were somehow able to understand the beastmen’s language despite being new to this world. Nerissa, ever the thrill-seeker and self-proclaimed “dating expert” back in our world, didn’t hesitate for even a second. She immediately pointed to the Seth beastman—handsome, with sharp, almost feminine features—and declared him her choice. “Two tails? I can handle it,” she whispered excitedly to me, practically bouncing with glee. To her, this tribe was paradise. As she scanned the remaining beastmen, she turned to me with a grin. “Lira, you’re too boring to handle someone flashy. If you choose someone too good-looking, another female might steal him from you. Go for someone plain and reliable.” She pointed at a few beastmen who had average appearances after taking human form. I followed her advice—not because I was afraid of losing my partner, but because one of the beastmen she pointed to was a werewolf. I’d heard that werewolves were fiercely loyal to their mates. Once bonded, they would never leave or stray. With him, I wouldn’t have to worry about Nerissa trying to take him from me. And I was right. My werewolf remained devoted to me, no matter how hard Nerissa tried to seduce him. Her frustration grew, and one day, she sneered, “Ugh, Lira, your werewolf is so stubborn. He’s too dumb to know what’s good for him.” I only smiled in response. Sure, he was single-minded when it came to his mate. But dumb? Far from it. If he were truly dumb, he wouldn’t have been able to leverage my influence in the tribe to climb all the way to the chieftain’s position. Of course, Nerissa didn’t know about the lengths my werewolf went to protect and guide me. This time, as soon as the chieftain finished speaking, Nerissa wasted no time. “I’ll take him,” she said, pointing directly at the werewolf. Hearing her words, the werewolf’s eyes lit up with surprise and joy. In the White Tiger Tribe, werewolves were considered mid-tier at best—strong, but not extraordinary. Most females overlooked them. The other beastmen, however, were clearly upset. One particularly large black bear beastman thumped his chest, saying, “Esteemed female, why would you choose a lowly werewolf when I’m right here?” The werewolf stiffened, his expression betraying a hint of self-doubt. But Nerissa walked straight up to him with a sweet smile. “I’ll take him. I trust that the mate I’ve chosen will prove to be the best.” Before leaving, she leaned toward me and whispered smugly, “Lira, this time, I’m going to be the chieftain’s wife.” I said nothing, watching as she confidently grabbed the werewolf’s hand. The werewolf, overcome with emotion, let out an excited howl. The other beastmen could only glare enviously at him before turning their attention to me. I scanned the remaining group, my gaze landing on the Seth beastman. Nerissa noticed and smirked. “Lira, you know Seths are… skilled in certain areas. You’re inexperienced, so maybe he’d be a good choice for you. Save yourself some discomfort, you know?” I chuckled lightly, shaking my head. “No thanks. You know I don’t like spineless creatures.” Then I pointed to the tall white tiger priest standing near the Seth. “I’ll take him.” The priest’s eyes widened in surprise, while the chieftain’s face lit up with approval. Nerissa, however, couldn’t hide her amusement. I knew what she was thinking. The white tiger priest wasn’t just the tribe’s spiritual leader—he was also the chieftain’s son and the heir to the White Tiger Tribe. Ordinarily, he’d be a perfect choice. But in my previous life, he’d been ambushed by a neighboring tribe while hunting and died from his injuries. His death had paved the way for my werewolf to rise to power. This time, though, I wasn’t about to let history repeat itself. I would make sure the white tiger priest survived—and I would turn him into the sharpest weapon in my arsenal. Nerissa could have her petty dream of being the chieftain’s wife. As for me? In a world where females ruled, why settle for anything less than becoming queen? This time, I would take control of my own destiny.

Once Nerissa and I had chosen our partners, we stood in front of all the beastmen of the White Tiger Tribe to officially form our contracts. In this primitive society, a female could have multiple male consorts, but only the males who had a formal contract with her were allowed to live with her. The rest—those who weren’t bound by contracts—were no better than ancient mistresses in human history. Of course, there was one key difference between this world and human society: male consorts were an openly accepted part of life here. There was no secrecy or shame, no hiding them in the shadows. That said, being kicked out by a female if she no longer found you desirable was completely normal, and no one would bat an eye. In our past life, Nerissa had taken full advantage of this system. Despite knowing how possessive and obsessive the Seth beastman could be, she still dared to flirt with other males during his hibernation. Why? Because she’d never planned to keep him around forever. Nerissa’s goal was simple: have her fun, then toss him aside with some convenient excuse. But things didn’t go as planned. In this world, female beastmen were extraordinarily rare. For the males who had fought tooth and claw for the chance to become her consorts, being discarded wasn’t something they’d accept quietly. By the time the Seth beastman emerged from hibernation, Nerissa’s actions had already come back to haunt her. The males she had flirted with surrounded him, demanding answers. Nerissa’s excuse? “The Seth doesn’t allow me to have other consorts.” When the Seth beastman learned what she had done while he was hibernating, he was livid. After a brutal fight with the other males, he dragged Nerissa back to his lair, his expression dark and stormy. That was when her nightmare began. He tormented her in every way imaginable, refusing to let her leave until she bore his children. One clutch of snake eggs turned into another, and another. Nerissa tried to escape, of course, but the Seth beastman never allowed her the chance to set foot outside his cave. Her only opportunity came on the day the werewolf was set to inherit the position of White Tiger Tribe chieftain. The entire tribe—old, young, male, female—was required to attend the ceremony. Nerissa used this as her chance, emerging with her snake offspring in tow. The ceremony was held on a cliff behind the tribe, a sacred location used for offerings to the gods. Nerissa’s jealousy boiled over when she saw me, someone she’d always thought inferior, standing proudly as the chieftain’s mate. She waited until all the beastmen were kneeling in prayer, then made her move. Charging at me with wild eyes, she screamed, “Lira! You’ve always been beneath me in everything—how dare you have a better life than me?! Go to hell!”

My family used to live next door to Nerissa’s family. Back then, we were better off than they were. But after my parents died in a car accident, everything changed. My grandmother, biased and cold-hearted, funneled everything my parents left behind to my uncle’s family. In her eyes, I was just a girl—an outsider—unworthy of inheriting my father’s estate. Nerissa’s mom, noticing my pitiful situation, stepped in and offered to financially support me. At the time, I was grateful. But later, I regretted accepting their help more times than I could count. Nerissa made sure everyone knew about it. She loved to tell people how her family had “saved” me, how I’d never have finished school without their help, and how I would’ve ended up in an orphanage if it weren’t for their generosity. From then on, I was always a step below her. If I did well in school, she hated it—so I started intentionally scoring lower just to appease her. I became her shadow, the sidekick she could outshine. Even the friends I made slowly drifted away whenever Nerissa appeared, drawn to her magnetic, self-centered charm. And when I got a boyfriend in college? Nerissa made a special trip during fall break just to steal him. “Lira, don’t be mad,” she said with a sweet smile. “I just wanted to test if he really loved you. You’re my best friend, after all, and I didn’t want to see you get hurt by some loser.” She had the audacity to add, “See? Now you know the truth. You should be thanking me.” So I forced myself to smile back and said, “Thank you, Nerissa.” Her grin widened with smug satisfaction. “Of course! That’s what best friends are for, right?” Inside, I was seething. The word best friend had been thoroughly defiled by people like her. But as much as I wanted to cut her out of my life, I couldn’t. Her mom had helped me when I needed it most. I couldn’t bear to repay that kindness with hostility or risk upsetting her family. That was my past life. The moment Nerissa shoved me off that cliff, all debts were erased. I didn’t owe her or her family a single thing anymore.

The contracts were finalized quickly. The chieftain smiled warmly at us and said, “Well, now that the contracts are complete, you may go back to your homes.” He turned to address the other males, his tone reassuring. “As for the rest of you, don’t lose heart. If you can win the favor of either one of these females, you still have a chance to become one of their consorts.” Hearing this, the other beastmen visibly relaxed. Their eyes lit up as they turned their attention back to Nerissa and me, their gazes filled with desire. Before they could act, the white tiger priest stepped forward and shielded me with his massive frame. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd as he let out a low, menacing growl. “She’s mine,” he snarled. “I won’t share her with anyone.” His voice carried a deadly edge. “If anyone dares to lay a hand on my female, I’ll rip them apart.” The room fell silent. The other beastmen exchanged uneasy glances. They knew better than to challenge him. As the tribe’s priest and strongest warrior, his strength was unmatched. Competing with him for a female was a losing battle. Nerissa, however, wasn’t as fortunate. The werewolf she’d chosen was nowhere near as powerful. Compared to the other males in the White Tiger Tribe, his strength didn’t even place him in the top 100. The rest of the beastmen quickly turned their attention to Nerissa, their gazes predatory. Their eyes flicked to the werewolf, filled with disdain and thinly veiled hostility. Males in this world valued strength above all else. The werewolf’s mediocre abilities made him an easy target. Why should someone so weak have the right to monopolize a rare and delicate female like Nerissa? The priest’s dominance made sense to them. But the werewolf? He didn’t deserve the privilege in their eyes. Nerissa, however, seemed oblivious to the danger. Instead, she reveled in the attention, a satisfied smile spreading across her face as the males argued and glared at each other. In her mind, this was exactly how things were supposed to be—males fighting over her, treating her like a prize. What she didn’t realize was that once she entered the werewolf’s den, leaving wouldn’t be so easy. I cast her a calm, uninterested glance before turning to the white tiger priest. “I’m tired,” I said softly. “I’d like to rest.” His golden eyes softened with concern, and in an instant, his massive arms—each thicker than my thighs—swept me up effortlessly. “I’ll take you back to rest right now,” he said firmly. Without another word, he carried me out of the gathering, holding me securely to his chest as he sprinted toward his stone house. In the White Tiger Tribe, the priest’s status was even higher than the chieftain’s.

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My husband told me he had met his soulmate—and demanded an open marriage. I didn’t cry or argue. I signed the divorce papers on the spot. He assumed my broken family background made me too desperate to leave. He expected me to beg. Instead, the moment I walked out, the one man he had spent years flattering, chasing, and failing to impress turned his attention to me. Now my ex-husband is on his knees in public, while the man he fears most wraps an arm around my waist and asks where I want to go next. After Brandon came back, he excitedly shared with me that he had never met someone so compatible. They went skydiving together, skiing together, and climbed to the peak of Mont Blanc… Their souls resonated; they were each other’s muse. “Ava, you should go out and see the world too, or maybe start dating. “Honestly, we got married too early, mistaking habit for love. “Why don’t we try an open marriage?” Brandon’s face was beaming with sweetness as he generously suggested. I stared at Brandon’s handsome face, tracing from his brow bone to his jaw with my eyes. Less than three years after graduation, he had already become a stranger to me. I paused for a moment, then chuckled: “No need for such trouble, let’s just get divorced. “Since you like her so much, I’ll step aside.” A flash of surprise crossed Brandon’s eyes. “Ava, you know your situation. Who else would want you if you divorce me?” I was slightly stunned, not expecting him to use this to poke at me. Yes, what was my situation? My mother ran off with someone. My father was a gambling addict who drowned in a muddy pond while drunk. Even my grandmother who raised me passed away a few years ago. I was alone, like duckweed, with no one to rely on. This was the vulnerability I had revealed to him in my fragile moments, and now it had become his leverage to manipulate me. Brandon was so sure I couldn’t leave him that he dared to flaunt his new love interest right in front of me. The promise he made when we got married – to love and care for me for a lifetime – was like a sharp knife, repeatedly twisting in my heart. I took deep breaths, hands gripping the edge of the table, staring at him steadily, my tone resolute: “I said, I want a divorce.” Brandon was stunned for a moment, a smile unconsciously appearing at the corners of his mouth. “Since you insist on divorce, I have no choice. “Ava, it’s not that I want to let you down, you’re forcing me to do this. “Don’t come back begging me later.” When I went back to the room to pack my things, I overheard Brandon’s conversation with his friend. “Brandon, are you really divorcing your wife?” “She’s trying to pressure me with divorce, so I’ll let her have her way. “Sabrina’s been clinging to me tightly, I don’t have time to deal with her petty jealousy. “She has no family here, it won’t be long before she comes crawling back begging me to remarry her.” A wave of bitterness washed over me. I directly threw our wedding photo along with the wedding ring into the trash can.

On the day of the divorce, the sun was shining brightly. I met the girl Brandon had described as his soulmate – she was sporty, with a high ponytail, full of energy. “Sis, you should go out more often. When people get old, they can’t keep up with the times and easily get eliminated.” She clung to Brandon’s arm, sitting in his passenger seat, looking at me provocatively. I was barely twenty-five, yet someone was calling me old. Someone passed by carrying a mirror, and I caught a glimpse of myself. Delicate features, long black hair, curves in all the right places, long legs – I wasn’t inferior to anyone. On the way home, I tried hard to control my emotions, but tears still kept flowing. Bang! I crashed into a Rolls-Royce in front of me. I hurriedly got out of the car to apologize. A pair of long legs stepped out of the car ahead. Broad shoulders, narrow waist, impeccably dressed in a suit, exuding nobility amidst his coldness. “It’s you.” The man broke the awkward silence first. I was confused for a moment, then suddenly realized who the man in front of me was. Brandon had mentioned him many times – Bay City’s mysterious tycoon, Damian Sinclair, the helmsman of the financial group that Mitchell Corp had always wanted to cooperate with. “I haven’t even asked for compensation yet, and you’re crying like this.” Damian Sinclair handed me a handkerchief, his tone surprisingly gentle. “No, you misunderstand. It’s entirely my fault, I’ll definitely compensate you. “I just got divorced, and I’m having trouble controlling my emotions. I’m sorry.” I hurriedly explained, afraid he might think I was trying to shirk responsibility. “Divorced?” Damian Sinclair asked again. I nodded. “That’s good.” “What?” Damian Sinclair’s lips curled into a faint smile as he slowly said: “It’s nothing. The weather is nice today, we shouldn’t waste time on such trivial matters. “Miss Bennett, would you mind exchanging contact information? We can talk more later.” I was a bit surprised and didn’t recover for a long time. Brandon had once spent hundreds of thousands but couldn’t get Damian Sinclair’s phone number or SnapChat. Now it was just lying in my phone. Several days passed, and Damian Sinclair didn’t mention anything about compensation. Even when I asked proactively, there was no reply from the other side. A tycoon is a tycoon, probably busier. Or perhaps he had five SnapChat accounts and didn’t check this one often. The next time I saw Damian Sinclair was after a company drinking party. I was a bit drunk and bumped into a figure in the hallway. Damian Sinclair gentlemanly supported me. Under the influence of alcohol, my emotions broke down again, and I cried uncontrollably. “Mr. Sinclair, this…” “I have something to attend to, we’ll talk next time.” Suddenly my feet left the ground, and I was carried by Damian Sinclair to his car. The atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous. In the confined space, the pheromones emanating from Damian Sinclair constantly stimulated my nerves. I had heard many stories about him – how he took over Sinclair Corp at a young age and won the trust of the old guard with his thunderous methods. [“Who else would want you if you divorce me.”] Brandon’s words echoed in my mind, painful to the point of suffocation. Looking at this face in front of me, more noble than Brandon’s, I couldn’t help but lean closer. “Ava, you’re drunk.” Damian Sinclair’s finger pressed against my shoulder, his voice deep. Maybe it was the alcohol clouding my judgment, or maybe it was my unwillingness to give in. I boldly shook off his hand and leaned forward. “Your lips look so soft, I wonder if they’re nice to kiss.” At that moment my mind went blank, I don’t even remember what Damian Sinclair replied. I only knew that his breath lingered on the tip of my nose, making my heartstrings tremble. His lips really were soft, yet full of aggression. “Open your mouth to breathe~” I dazedly complied. He cupped the back of my head, like crashing waves. His fingertips slid down my waist, and I couldn’t help but arch my body, pressing against his burning chest. His warm lips moved down inch by inch. In the adult world, we both knew what was about to happen. Damian Sinclair draped his suit Brandonet over my flushed face and carried me into a nearby five-star hotel.

“Brandon, isn’t that Mr. Sinclair up ahead? Our project…” Not far away, Brandon’s car was parked. “Have some sense, don’t ruin Damian Sinclair’s mood.” Brandon lazily leaned back in his seat, his expression playful. “Rumor has it he doesn’t take interest in women, seems we can’t trust everything we hear. Those you picked before were too low class, go find better ones.” “Yes, Brandon.” “I heard your ex-wife is at that store up ahead, should we…” Brandon gave a cold laugh and rolled up the window. “Don’t bother with her. “She knew I’d be passing by and deliberately tried to get my attention. “I’m tired of her tricks. “Let’s go somewhere else. “By the way, go buy that jewelry set she likes, so she won’t throw a tantrum at me again.”

I was pinned against the door by Damian Sinclair, his tall figure tightly enveloping me. As my clothes slipped off, I suddenly felt like retreating. “Scared?” Damian Sinclair’s finger slowly slid down my spine, and for a moment my mind cleared. I shook my head slightly and directly wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back. After years of following the rules, what harm could one moment of wildness do? Moreover, the man in front of me was Damian Sinclair, whom countless people pursued. The night was deep, the moon had just peeked out, stirring the spring waters all night long. When I woke up, the sound of water came from the bathroom, and the man’s toned body was silhouetted behind the misty door. His waist was slim but powerful. Recalling last night’s frenzy, my face instantly turned red. Damian Sinclair opened the door, the towel around his waist a bit short. I couldn’t help but swallow. Even though I had seen everything last night, being so close and meeting his gaze still involuntarily drew me in. Brandon was right, I should date more. Having never tasted anything good, I had stupidly clung to him. But someone of Damian Sinclair’s background wasn’t suitable for me. “What are you thinking about?” Damian Sinclair’s fingertip touched behind my ear, leaving a gentle kiss. What followed was another surge of passion. While Damian Sinclair was in another room taking a conference call, I quietly put on my clothes and left the hotel, blocking his contact information. This incident was just a mistake. People in the clouds are out of reach. To keep myself clear-headed, I agreed to a date with a college student. In a coffee shop on the corner, I took out a mirror to touch up my makeup when someone I didn’t want to see appeared – Sabrina Harper. “Sis, what a coincidence. Are you waiting for someone?” Sabrina Harper sat down across from me uninvited. Today she was dressed provocatively sexy. I had no interest in engaging with her and picked up my bag to change seats. “The person you’re waiting for won’t come, sis. He’s my junior, I asked him to invite you. “I didn’t expect you’d be so easy to ask out, sis. Seems you’re really not popular, no one’s chasing you. “No wonder Brandon said you’re boring.” Sabrina Harper’s words made me stop in my tracks. I turned around and poured my unfinished coffee on her. “Is interfering in other people’s marriages something to be proud of? “Should I go advertise at your school, let your juniors and seniors admire you properly?” “Ava! Don’t go too far.” Brandon had just arrived and saw me bullying his precious little girlfriend. He protectively shielded her behind him. “Sis was stood up by my junior, that’s why she took her anger out on me. “It’s okay, I’m fine. Look, I’m perfectly alright.” Sabrina Harper smiled as she wiped the coffee stains off her face, enthusiastically explaining on my behalf in front of Brandon. “Junior. Heh, Ava, when did you start trying to date college boys too? “Remember what I said? After divorcing me, no one else would want you.” A thousand words stuck in my throat, my chest feeling as if pressed by a heavy weight. I looked at him and poured the remaining coffee in the cup directly onto his face. “Brandon, you’re disgusting.” After doing this, I clenched my sweaty palms and quickly left the coffee shop, dragging my tired body and mind. Back home, that eye-catching Rolls-Royce was parked in the community parking lot. After going upstairs, sure enough, Damian Sinclair was standing at my door, his eyes bloodshot with exhaustion. “Mr. Sinclair, what a coincidence.” I felt a bit awkward and guilty, not knowing what to say for a moment. “Mr. Sinclair? That night…” Damian Sinclair raised an eyebrow. I immediately nervously covered his mouth and pulled him inside after opening the door. Damian Sinclair confined me in his arms, his kisses forceful and surging. It wasn’t until I was pressed down that he looked down at me, his eyes icy cold, and asked: “Ava, do you know how many people want my contact information?

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The night before my wedding, my fiancé took me to meet his friends. He was all over me, showering me with affection throughout the dinner. His buddies kept gushing, “Your fiancée is so pure, you really hit the jackpot!” He smirked proudly. “My future wife is the best, unlike all those sluts out there.” But when I went to the restroom mid-dinner, I overheard him bragging in a low voice outside the door: “Pure? What good is pure? She’s like a dead fish in bed. If it wasn’t for her being Stella’s twin, looking exactly alike, I wouldn’t even bother touching her.” The next day, at the wedding, Stella showed up with a baby bump. Just as I expected, he told me to “make peace” and step aside. I scoffed, ripping off my veil. I walked down the aisle and stopped in front of Julian Hayes, who was sitting in a wheelchair. “They all say you like me. Well, I’m single now. Are you brave enough to marry me?” “Hahaha, Anya has lost her mind!” “Choosing a cripple? She’s so desperate!” “What an embarrassment! She’s dragged the Reed family name through the mud!” The guests’ piercing jeers sliced through the air. Every word felt like a needle stabbing my heart. My father’s face turned scarlet, and my mother rushed onto the stage, clutching my arm tightly. “Are you insane?! Ruining your own life just to spite him?!” Below the stage, Liam Miller had an arm around Stella Reed, a smirk plastered on his face as he watched the drama unfold. “I underestimated her. She actually has guts.” Stella let out a delicate sneer. “Guts? I think she’s just lost her mind. Anya, are you really going to spend your life with a cripple?” She deliberately caressed her visibly swollen belly, her eyes filled with a mix of provocation and triumph. My heart felt like it was being brutally torn apart. I’d thought tearing off my wedding veil would bring freedom, but all it brought was deeper humiliation. Julian stood up, limping towards me. Compared to the dashing and polished Liam, he was a world apart. Suddenly, I regretted it. Impulse is a devil. Why did I choose a disabled man? Did I really have to spend my entire life with him? Julian stopped in front of me and pulled a ring from his pocket. The band was set with tiny, dull diamonds, not even a single carat. The diamond ring Liam gave Stella was a whopping three carats, sparkling brilliantly. In comparison, this ring looked pathetically meager. The laughter from the guests grew louder. “Hahaha, even the ring is so cheap!” “Anya, are you really settling for this?” Tears welled up in my eyes. Since childhood, when had I ever endured such humiliation? But then, Julian took my hand, and I froze. His hand was warm, steady. “I am.” Two words, firm and resolute. Unlike Liam’s flowery words, unlike the guests’ cold mockery. Just two simple words, but they made my heart tremble. “Are you sure? I might bring you trouble.” “I’m not afraid.” There wasn’t a hint of hesitation in his voice. The audience erupted in even louder jeers. “Two losers together!” “A cripple and a crazy woman, a perfect match!” Liam called out loudly, “Anya, don’t be childish. Come back. Stella’s baby needs a father, and you need a whole man.” A whole man? I scoffed. What kind of a “whole man” was Liam? Betrayal, deception, toying with his fiancée’s feelings—was that his version of “whole”? I looked at Julian. His leg might be broken, but his spirit wasn’t. “Yes, I do.” I held out my hand, letting him slide the dull ring onto my finger. The ring was small, but it fit perfectly, as if it had been custom-made for me. A commotion broke out among the guests.

Liam’s sneer instantly turned into a furious scowl. He strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Anya, you’d rather choose a cripple to disgust me than beg for my forgiveness?” Before I could react, my dad rushed over. I thought he was coming to stop Liam, to protect me. Instead, he raised his hand and delivered a resounding slap. “Slap!” The crisp sound echoed through the entire wedding hall. My cheek instantly swelled red and burned with a fiery pain. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. The entire venue fell silent, then erupted into even sharper whispers. “Disgraceful daughter! You’ve shamed our family beyond belief! Get back here, right now!” There was no hint of affection in my father’s eyes, only anger and disgust. I covered my face, tears threatening to spill. Not because of the pain, but because of the chilling realization. This man was my father. Stella, at this point, feigned concern and stepped forward to mediate. “Daddy, Anya was just impulsive. Please don’t get so agitated…” As she spoke, she “accidentally” stomped her high heel onto my foot. The searing pain made me lose my balance instantly. Then she pretended to stumble, violently ramming her shoulder into me. I staggered and fell to the ground. The pristine white hem of my wedding dress was instantly stained with the blood from my mouth. The guests below began to point and whisper. “The Reed family’s upbringing…” “The elder daughter is a total lunatic, but the younger one is sensible.” “Good thing Mr. Miller chose the right one.” Stella proudly caressed her belly, her eyes filled with provocation. Julian tried to come and help me, but Liam’s friends blocked him, holding him back. “Who do you think you are? Do you even deserve to touch her?” Liam sneered. I lay on the floor, watching his anxious, yet helpless, face. A despair far deeper than my physical pain welled up inside me. Was this the man I chose? He couldn’t even protect me. Liam looked down at me, his eyes gleaming with triumph. “Anya, do you see now? This is your choice. A useless man who can’t even stand properly, how can he protect you?” He crouched down, reaching out to help me up. “Come on, be good. Come back. I can forgive everything, pretend none of this ever happened.” This man, who just last night called me a “dead fish” to his friends. Now he was putting on an act of deep affection. Disgusting. I mustered all my strength and violently slapped his hand away. “Get lost!” Liam’s face instantly darkened. “You’re ungrateful.” He stood up and kicked the hem of my wedding dress. “Since you’re so cheap, go live with your cripple. But don’t come crying to me later!” My dad, seeing this, stepped forward again. “You rebellious daughter, apologize right now!” My mom also rushed over, crying. “Anya, are you crazy? Are you going to ruin your life just to prove a point?” The guests below watched, entertained, pointing and whispering. “Anya is truly insane.” “To choose a cripple just to spite someone, she must be really messed up.” “What sin did the Reed family commit to end up with such a daughter?” Stella, at the opportune moment, walked over, prominently displaying her baby bump. “Anya, calm down. Even though we had a misunderstanding, Liam genuinely loves you. Look at Julian, he can’t even protect you. Is he really suitable to entrust your life to?” Every one of her words pierced my heart. I lay on the ground, feeling the malice coming from all directions. My parents’ disappointment. My ex-fiancé’s mockery. My sister’s provocation. The guests’ ridicule. And… the helplessness of the man I had chosen. Had I really made the wrong choice? Just then, Julian finally broke free from those who were restraining him. He limped towards me, each step difficult. He crouched down and gently helped me up. “I’m sorry, that you had to endure this.” Then he turned and looked at Liam. “You’re right, I can’t protect her.” My heart sank instantly. Was even he going to abandon me? But the next second, he added: “But at least, I won’t hurt her.” He looked at everyone in the hall. “You mock her for being crazy, you mock her for choosing me out of spite. But have you ever wondered? What truly drives a woman to make such a choice at her own wedding?” The entire hall fell silent. “It’s betrayal. It’s deception. It’s the pain inflicted by the people closest to her.” “My leg may be broken, but my heart isn’t. I may not be able to give her the best material life, but I can give her the most genuine affection.” Liam’s face was livid. “Don’t get all emotional here! What right do you, a cripple, have to speak—” “What right do I have?” Julian interrupted him. “I have the right to love her. Do you?” “Enough with the cheesy talk. Guys, get him out of here.” With that, Liam and his friends shoved Julian out of the wedding venue.

My mom finally moved. Not to help me, but to drag me up from the floor. Before I could react, Stella had already grabbed my other arm. “Mom, what are you doing!” I struggled, but their combined strength was greater than mine. “Shut up! You’ve shamed us enough already!” They dragged me, pulling and yanking, towards the back of the stage. The guests watched, some pulling out their phones to record. “Let me go! What gives you the right to lock me up?! Open the door!” From outside, Liam’s amplified voice boomed, carried by the sound system throughout the entire hall. “Ladies and gentlemen, please excuse the little interruption earlier.” “Right now, my abandoned ex-fiancée is reflecting in the little storage room backstage. What do you say, when do you think she’ll come to her senses?” The hall erupted in laughter. “Mr. Miller is so entertaining!” “This is better than watching a movie!” “That woman deserves it!” I had become the public laughingstock of this wedding. My phone vibrated. I pulled it out and saw a message from my mom. “Anya, stop making a scene. Stella’s happiness is what matters most. Kneel down and apologize to Liam, and this whole thing will blow over.” I stared at the words on the screen. Stella’s happiness is what matters most. What about me? Didn’t my happiness matter? Didn’t my dignity matter? Did I deserve to be humiliated, locked up, and made a joke of? The music outside grew louder. Liam and Stella had started dancing. The guests’ applause and cheers grew in intensity. And I, like a piece of trash, was locked in this dark corner. My phone vibrated again. This time it was from Stella. “Anya, I know you’re angry right now. But think about it, Liam is so exceptional, he deserves better. Please don’t be so stubborn, okay?” I slid down the door, collapsing into a ball on the floor. The physical pain, my family’s betrayal, my lover’s humiliation, and the departure of the man who said he’d protect me, pushed me into a bottomless abyss. I no longer had the strength to even cry. Let it be. Let them mock. Let them gloat. Anyway, I had already lost everything. Liam’s voice came from outside: “Everyone, now for the most exciting part. Let’s go see if our ex-fiancée has come to her senses yet?” Footsteps grew closer. The sound of a key turning. The door swung open, and blinding light streamed in. Liam stood at the doorway, followed by a group of guests, all holding their phones, recording. “Anya, what’s your decision? Are you ready to apologize?” I looked up, about to speak. Suddenly, the main doors of the wedding venue were violently thrown open. A group of people burst in. Julian stood at the entrance, behind him dozens of imposing bodyguards in black suits. The entire hall fell silent instantly. Everyone was stunned, including Liam. Julian took off his suit jacket and strode towards me. His leg was still limping. He draped his jacket over me, then scooped me up into his arms without a word. “What are you doing! Let her go!” Liam finally reacted. Julian didn’t even spare him a glance. In that moment, I felt alive again. “Julian, you’re a cripple. Do you think you can turn things upside down with a few guys?” Liam fumed, enraged. Just then, a middle-aged man in a sharp suit stepped forward. He held a document and threw it directly in Liam’s face. “Mr. Miller, from this moment on, 35% of Miller Group’s shares belong to Mr. Hayes. You have been removed from the board by the directors.”

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