Category: English

I’d faced death countless times alongside Julian Blackwood for seven years. Everyone knew I was his absolute favorite. He’d even told me more than once that he’d marry me. But when I returned home, my heart brimming with joy after completing the mission he’d assigned, I walked right into his engagement ceremony with his idealized first love. Seraphina Thorne leaned shyly into his arms, asking, “Maya Shaw saved your life, didn’t she? You even said you’d marry her. Are you really sure you won’t regret this?” Julian just chuckled, utterly dismissive. “If saving my life meant I had to marry her, I’d have a long list of wives by now. Besides, a mercenary living paycheck to paycheck like her? Marry *me*? That’s a joke!” His contemptuous tone hit me like a wave of icy despair. But after I left, Why did that man, who swore he wouldn’t regret it, desperately search for me, claiming he did? It was drizzling the day I returned home after completing Julian’s mission. The sky was hazy and indistinct, making everything seem unclear. As usual, I instinctively headed to his villa. This time, I’d even brought him a birthday gift from overseas. But the moment I reached the villa, I froze. The usually quiet villa was buzzing with activity, many people coming and going. At first, I thought they were all guests for his birthday party. But as I listened to snippets of conversations from the passing crowd, I finally realized it was Julian Blackwood’s engagement ceremony today. Through the villa’s glass window, I immediately spotted him in the crowd, and the woman by his side. She had long, dark hair and was wearing a stunning, elegant deep-red gown. Both held champagne flutes, celebrating with the well-wishers. “Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood! After all these years, you’ve finally got your wish and are with Ms. Thorne!” Receiving the blessings, they exchanged a sweet, knowing smile. It hit me then – this woman was Seraphina Thorne, the idealized first love Julian had always pined for. They were engaged? What did that make me? A side piece? A fling? Or maybe just utterly disposable? A sudden urge to storm in and confront Julian flared within me. How could he get engaged to another woman when he’d promised to marry me? But just then, Seraphina leaned shyly into his arms and asked, “Maya Shaw saved your life, didn’t she? You even said you’d marry her. Are you really sure you won’t regret getting engaged to me now?” Julian just chuckled, utterly dismissive. “If saving my life meant I had to marry her, I’d have a long list of wives by now. Besides, a mere mercenary like her, wanting to marry *me*? Do you think that’s even possible?” “Even if *I* wanted to, my family would never allow someone of her standing into our elite circle!” My foot, mid-step, instantly froze. So, that’s how Julian truly saw me all along—worthless. He’d been lying to me this whole time; he never intended to marry me! It felt like I finally saw him for who he was. He’d tricked me into going overseas with a mission, all so he could have an undisturbed, peaceful engagement. And here I was, foolishly rushing back, risking injury and death, completing the mission early. All because I didn’t want to miss Julian’s birthday. “Maya, you’re back today? Well, perfect timing! You can join the young master’s birthday party and engagement ceremony!” I’d been standing outside the villa for a long time before Mr. Davies, the butler, recognized me. I used to frequent the villa, so Mr. Davies knew me well. He immediately pulled me inside. Julian, who’d been smiling, scowled the moment he saw me. He looked as if he feared I was there to cause trouble. I knew my timing was terribly off. But my feet wouldn’t move; they were rooted to the spot. Finally, Seraphina led Julian over to me. She looked at me with an air of superiority and said, “Ms. Shaw, the mission is complete, right? Please hand over the item.” I instinctively looked at Julian. He, however, impatiently urged, “What are you looking at me for? Just do as you’re told!” My nose stung, and I bit down hard, forcing myself to retrieve the box Julian had instructed me to bring back from overseas. Inside was a necklace. Seraphina eagerly had Julian put it on her. I was completely rigid. Before I left, Julian had repeatedly stressed how important this box was, telling me I had to protect it and bring it back, even if it cost me my life. Only now did I realize. The box I’d nearly died for, shedding blood and sweat to retrieve, was nothing more than a gift for Seraphina!

Julian and I met seven years ago. I’d failed a mission and was being hunted by enemies. Julian saved me. I still remember the surprise in his eyes when he rescued me. He’d said something about a woman daring to take on a suicidal line of work like being a mercenary! Because I feared leaking information, he was the one who nursed me back to health for over two weeks. Once, when I ran a high fever, Julian pulled an all-nighter watching over me. Later, he chuckled, saying he’d never cared for anyone so diligently in his entire life. He then said he wanted to hire me, as a way to “get back at me” for all the trouble. At the time, I thought it would be some incredibly difficult task. Only after I agreed did I realize they were two extremely simple missions. They weren’t torture at all; strictly speaking, it was just him handing me money. Later, as I grew closer to Julian, I became his dedicated mercenary. For seven years, I knew he secretly admired Seraphina. There was even one time when he chased after Seraphina overseas and ran into an ambush. It was I who fought desperately to get him back home safely, taking two bullets for him. That day, on the plane back home, Julian’s eyes were red from crying. He gripped my hand tightly and said, “Maya, you’re my mercenary. You can’t die without my permission!” “As long as you live, I’ll marry you!” The moment I heard those words, my heart actually fluttered with shyness. I never thought he knew about my feelings for him. It was because of that promise that my raw survival instinct dragged me through that crisis. When I woke up in the hospital, my first question was to ask Julian if he was serious. He nodded very earnestly then. “Of course, it’s true! I said I’d marry you, and I will!” But now, he’d chosen someone else. Looking at Seraphina, who was admiring the necklace before me, I could no longer control my emotions. I lowered my head and turned to leave when the birthday gift box in my arms slipped out. I bent down in a hurry, but a sharp pain from my abdominal wound made me flinch. Seraphina picked up the gift box. She opened it to reveal a rather inexpensive bracelet. It even had “JB,” Julian Blackwood’s initials, that I had carefully woven into it. “Maya, this is for Julian, isn’t it? With his initials and everything, you really put a lot of thought into it.” Then, her tone shifted, laced with disdain. “But this doesn’t look very valuable, does it? Julian wouldn’t wear such a cheap bracelet. There’s no brand logo; did you make it yourself?” I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted blood. “It’s his birthday present!” The words had barely left my mouth when a chorus of laughter erupted. Julian, tears in his eyes from laughing, seemed amused. He casually took the bracelet, glanced at it, then indifferently tossed it onto a nearby table already stained with cream and red wine. Finally, he spoke, utterly nonchalant. “Alright, I get it.” In that moment, I almost wished he’d mock me hysterically, or scoff at my foolish infatuation. But that detached, indifferent expression was like a sword piercing my heart, an unbearable pain. I looked up, asking Julian, word for word, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” He frowned, then slowly patted his head, pretending to just remember. “Oh, right. You worked hard on this mission too. I’ll have Mr. Davies transfer the remaining payment to you later.” I forced a laugh. It was a brittle, ugly sound. The strong taste of blood filled my mouth, and the wound in my abdomen ripped open again. But no physical pain could compare to the ache in my heart.

After leaving the villa, I went to a small cottage. This was the same cottage where Julian had nursed me for two weeks after he saved me seven years ago. Later, I bought this cottage, holding it as my most cherished memory. Seven years passed, and all the decorations in the cottage remained unchanged. Not even a speck of dust could be found. I knew this was because Julian had people clean it every day. I had once told Julian. If we ever got married, I would choose this place as my bridal home. Since then, he would often come to check on it. He said he would always protect everything I cared about. But now, it seemed like my own words were coming back to haunt me. The wedding day would likely never arrive. Lying on the bed, I changed into my pajamas, preparing to clean my abdominal wound. The sound of the lock turning on the door echoed, and Julian, smelling faintly of alcohol, walked in. Seeing the wound on my abdomen, his eyes immediately filled with concern. “Maya, how did you get hurt again? This mission was just to retrieve a necklace!” Then, he familiarly pulled out the first-aid kit from the bedside cabinet, expertly wiped the wound with alcohol, disinfected it, and finally applied a fresh bandage. Julian performed the entire sequence of actions with practiced ease. It felt as though I was back in the past. I subconsciously reached out to gently caress Julian’s face. But my hand brushed against a deep red hickey on his neck. In that second, it felt like a knife was lodged in my throat, and I couldn’t utter another word. Not until Julian put the first-aid kit away, ruffled my hair, and continued, “Don’t push yourself so hard next time. You’re a woman; you don’t need to risk your life like men do. If anything were to happen to you, what would I do?” I looked up at him. Julian’s downcast eyes were full of tenderness for me. Yet this was the very man who had broken his vows to me! “Julian Blackwood, did you get engaged to Seraphina today?” After a long silence, I finally asked the question. He frowned slightly, and his voice suddenly turned cold. “That’s my private business. Why are you asking so many questions?” I pressed my lips together, stubbornly meeting Julian’s gaze. It was the first time I had ever looked at him like this. And it was the first time Julian had ever brushed me off with “private business.” In the early days of our relationship, Julian hadn’t been like this at all. He would go to great lengths to make me understand him, even sharing confidential contracts with me without reservation. Fearing I might inadvertently cause problems, I instinctively kept away from his study. One day, Julian held me close, telling me he would always be transparent with me, always have no secrets! Now I knew his “always” had only lasted a mere five years! His so-called transparency with me was, in fact, highly selective. The pressure in his eyes grew, quickly turning to cold indifference. “Come on, don’t be difficult.” “The Maya I know is a very obedient woman; she wouldn’t make me unhappy!” With that, Julian left without a second thought. A moment later, the roar of a sports car engine echoed from downstairs. I couldn’t hold back anymore; my nose stung, and tears streamed down my face. A chill of despair seeped into my soul. Now, he wouldn’t even spare me a flimsy excuse.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, I was woken by the searing pain from my abdominal wound. I’d only slept three hours, and dark circles bloomed under my eyes. I wanted to go back to sleep, but my injuries wouldn’t allow it. The pain persisted until full daylight, when Mr. Davies, the villa’s butler, arrived at the cottage with a doctor to check on my injuries. My type of gunshot wound usually requires a private doctor; it’s not something to show up at a regular hospital for. So, for the seven years I’d been with Julian, he had always secretly arranged for doctors to treat me. The doctor quickly gave me anti-inflammatory medication, re-dressed the wound, and applied new bandages. Before leaving, he specifically instructed me not to engage in strenuous activities for a while, to prevent the wound from reopening and risking a severe hemorrhage. “Ms. Shaw, you see, the young master still cares about you deeply. He called me before dawn to arrange for your treatment.” “However, sometimes, darling, there’s a clear line between us due to our different statuses. It’s best not to overthink other matters.” Mr. Davies chuckled and told me many things. I knew what he meant. He was warning me, in no uncertain terms, not to entertain any improper ideas. I remained silent, my mind a blank. I used to be so certain Julian loved me. But now, I couldn’t find any trace of his love. Perhaps there was a glimmer of it once, but it wasn’t enough for him to defy his entire family’s wishes and choose to be with me, no matter the cost. After all, I was just a low-class mercenary, living paycheck to paycheck! After the treatment, I lay idly in the cottage for the entire day. My mind was filled with everything Julian had ever told me. Lost in a hazy stupor, my phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, it was Julian calling. I hadn’t expected him to contact me today. “How are your injuries?” “I’m fine, nothing major.” “Then come over.” Julian asked me to meet him at a club. I hadn’t expected him to call me to a place like this. “Maya, you’re here.” He had Seraphina in his arms, looking completely calm when he saw me. Seraphina, however, walked up to me, curiously sizing me up. “They say Ms. Shaw is Julian’s most formidable mercenary, so it’s no wonder you successfully retrieved this necklace for me.” She toyed with the very necklace I had risked my life to retrieve. Then she took my hand, eagerly saying, “Speaking of which, I’ve never seen a real spar before. How about Ms. Shaw gives me a little demonstration today?” I froze for a moment. A demonstration? I’m a mercenary, not some circus monkey to be put on display. I bit my lip, my gaze fixed on Julian in the distance, hoping he would say something, anything.

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My client wanted her wedding dress to be light and romantic. “We’re getting married in Santorini, the ultimate wedding destination!” I smiled and agreed, but my heart felt like it was plunged into ice water. Just yesterday, I’d discovered a secret Leo had hidden deep in his bookshelf. Two plane tickets to Santorini from five years ago. One was his. The other belonged to a woman named Luna. On the back of the tickets, in Leo’s handwriting: “For your most romantic wedding.” But he had explicitly told me that weddings were cliché and a hassle. That’s why, in our five years of marriage, we had no proposal, no wedding, not even a single decent photo together. That evening, when Leo returned, I placed the two tickets in front of him. “Leo, let’s get a divorce,” I said calmly. He barely glanced at them before impatiently sweeping the tickets to the floor. “Seriously? That old thing again? What’s gotten into you?” I said nothing more. I simply had my lawyer prepare the divorce papers. Seeing my persistence, his patience snapped. “You’re divorcing me over two old plane tickets?” “Yes.”

My words hung in the air, and a long silence fell over the living room. Leo’s face darkened, irritation etched across his features. That same irritation, I’d seen it countless times over the past five years. When I’d painstakingly prepared a candlelit dinner, only for him to suddenly say he had to work late. When I’d waited for him, brimming with excitement, on my birthday, only for him to forget the time playing basketball with his friends. When I’d cautiously asked him when we could travel like other couples. He always looked at me with that expression, as if I were a spoiled child making unreasonable demands. “Skye, what exactly do you want?” He tugged at his tie, his brows deeply furrowed. “If you think I haven’t been spending enough time with you lately, I can make time. If you feel like you don’t have enough money, my extra card is with you. You haven’t forgotten the password, have you?” He reduced everything to material needs and companionship, deliberately avoiding any mention of feelings. Perhaps, in his heart, I, his wife, was only worthy of these things. I suppressed the ache in my chest and looked into his eyes. “I don’t want anything, Leo. I just want a divorce.” His patience finally ran out. “Is this really necessary? All this drama over some stupid thing from five years ago!” “I forgot to throw those tickets away; it was my oversight, and I apologize! But you can’t use that to threaten me into a divorce!” He spoke with self-righteous indignation, tearing off his tie and tossing his jacket onto the couch, his face a mask of cold indifference. I met his gaze defiantly, refusing to back down, still insisting on the divorce. The atmosphere grew heavy. Just then, Leo’s phone rang. The screen lit up, and the caller ID “Luna” stabbed me like a knife. Leo’s expression softened. He instinctively glanced at me, then picked up his phone, his movements subtly guarded. His voice melted. “…Not asleep yet? Another nightmare?” “Shhh, don’t be scared, don’t be scared. I’ll be right over. You just wait for me in bed, okay?” My heart ached with a dull throb. So, Leo wasn’t naturally cold. All his tenderness and patience were reserved for someone else. He hung up the phone, glared at me, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the door. “Something came up at the office, Skye. I don’t want to have a pointless argument with you about this. If you keep stirring up trouble like this, there’s nothing I can do. Five years of marriage, and you still act like a naive girl, so childishly paranoid. It’s truly disappointing.” *I’m* stirring up trouble? I felt utterly powerless. Leo always blamed me during arguments. And most of all, he’d tell me that as husband and wife, we shouldn’t nitpick or keep score. “Leo…” A lump formed in my throat. I was about to call out to him when my peripheral vision caught a white piece of paper fluttering from his jacket pocket. It was a delivery slip. Driven by an impulse I couldn’t explain, I bent down and picked it up. **[Item: Condoms x 2 boxes, Recipient: Ms. Xu]** The date was last Saturday, and the delivery location was a hotel. The words caught in my throat, unable to be spoken or swallowed, and my heart sank. I remembered Leo saying he was on a business trip last week. He hadn’t come home all weekend, and when I’d called, his attitude had been impatient. I laughed, but tears welled up, stinging the corners of my eyes crimson. My hand clenched tight, and almost instinctively, I followed him out. But what I saw next, I never could have imagined. Leo left our house, turned right, and stopped at the house NEXT DOOR!

As he slipped inside, just before the door fully closed, I clearly saw a woman stand on her tiptoes and kiss him directly. “Leo, you’re finally here,” she whispered. “I was so scared alone…” Leo didn’t refuse her kiss. He deepened it, then slammed the door shut with a frantic urgency. My blood ran cold. Leo had brazenly put his mistress right next door, a single wall separating her from me! I stared at that tightly closed door, and fragmented images exploded in my mind. He would press her against the door, silencing her cries with the same possessive kisses I’d begged for for five years but never received. He would lift her into the bedroom like a precious treasure, gently peeling away her clothes… My heart felt like it was being squeezed, the pain so intense I couldn’t breathe. I leaned against the cold wall, then drifted back home, utterly lost. His scent still lingered in the house, but it now filled me with waves of nausea. Looking around this home I had so carefully decorated, I suddenly felt it was meaningless. I began to pack my things. As I reached for my old sketchbooks, I found a planner hidden at the very bottom of the bookshelf. I’d never seen it before. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I opened the first page. In that instant, I felt myself falling into a romantic dream meticulously crafted for another woman. There were analyses of Santorini’s sunlight in different seasons, solely to choose the most beautiful time for a wedding. There were comparisons of over a dozen top bridal brands, each page meticulously marked in red pen: *Luna’s possible preferred styles.* There were engagement ring designs drawn by his own hand, with tiny notes beside them: *The main diamond should be her favorite cornflower blue sapphire, and the band should be paved with small diamonds, because she said she loves the sparkle of a starlit sky.* There was even a proposal plan detailed down to the minute. *On Luna’s birthday, at the mountain observatory where they first dated, 999 drones will spell out her name in the night sky. Then, he will present flowers and the ring, promising her a lifetime under the stars.* The last page of the booklet contained a handwritten honeymoon travel plan. From the blue and white towns of Greece, to hot air balloons in Turkey, and then to the Northern Lights in Iceland… I turned page after page, my fingertips numb, my body trembling. All these years, I hadn’t been without hope. I thought Leo was just reserved, not good at expressing himself. I thought he was too busy with work to bother with these formalities. But now I knew: he wasn’t incapable, he just wasn’t capable *for me*. He had poured all his romance, all his meticulous care, all his grand gestures into someone else. And all he left me was perfunctory indifference and impatience. I remembered once at a gathering with Leo’s friends, after they’d had a few drinks, they egged him on to give me a proper proposal. We had already been married for two years then. I was a little hopeful too, my cheeks flushed as I looked at him. But Leo just leaned lazily back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips. “Come on, stop it. We’re old married couples, why bother with all that fake stuff?” Everyone laughed and dispersed, that small interlude quickly forgotten. Only I, on that boisterous night, felt an emptiness inside. Turns out, it wasn’t that he didn’t do “fake stuff.” He just didn’t want to do it *for me*. He poured every romantic thought, every ounce of effort he could imagine, into Luna’s planner. And all he left me was a dismissive “trouble” and “cliché.” I slowly closed the booklet, my heart aching with a sharp, prickling pain. The tears finally broke free. Numbly, I set aside the planner, along with that glaring condom receipt. Through a blur of tears, I messaged my lawyer. “Mr. Miller, are the papers ready? Send them over. I want to sign tonight.”

Leo didn’t come home that night. I sat on the couch, staring blankly all night. As dawn broke, I rubbed my dry, aching eyes. There was no point in waiting any longer. Just as I was packing my last few personal items, the doorbell rang. I thought it was Leo, and my heart clenched. I walked over and opened the door. Standing there, however, was a strange woman. She wore a white dress, her long hair flowing over her shoulders – a picture of innocent purity. I recognized her instantly. It was the woman who’d cooed about being scared last night. Seeing me, she feigned surprise, covering her mouth, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. “Oh, I’m so sorry, did I… did I get the wrong place? I’m looking for Leo.” She paused, tilting her head to scrutinize me, her tone deceptively sweet. “Excuse me, are you the housekeeper here?” I stared at her, brazenly waltzing into my home, staking her claim, and found it utterly laughable. “I’m Leo’s wife, Skye,” I said coldly. “Ms. Xu, why bother pretending you don’t know me? Honestly, your acting is terrible.” With her identity directly exposed, the feigned innocence on Luna’s face vanished instantly. She dropped the act, crossing her arms and speaking with contempt. “Wife? A wife who doesn’t even know where her husband spends the night?” She scoffed, tapped her phone a few times, then shoved it in front of my face. On the video, Leo, shirtless, was pressing her against a bed, their lips locked in a desperate kiss. Their frantic movements left no doubt about his desire. “See that?” Luna’s voice was filled with triumph. “Leo says he loves me most when I wear white dresses. He just can’t resist me like this.” She scanned my loungewear with a dismissive glance. “Unlike some people, dressed like a frumpy housewife, completely turning him off.” She swiped the screen, and intimate photos flashed one after another. “Leo was exhausted last night. He’s still asleep at my place right now.” She put away her phone, a defiant smirk playing on her lips. “He said having sex with you was like completing a chore, completely joyless. But with me, he’s like a tireless beast.” “Skye, you’ve been living a loveless, sexless marriage for five years, haven’t you? Must be so lonely.” *Slap!* I raised my hand and slapped her, hard, across her smug, triumphant face. Luna’s cheek instantly swelled red. Clutching her face, she glared at me with venomous eyes, shrieking as she tried to strike back. But just as she raised her hand, she caught a glimpse of the elevator, and her expression instantly transformed. All the fierceness vanished completely, replaced by terror. She stumbled backward, falling straight towards the shoe cabinet behind me, her forehead hitting the corner with a pitiful cry. I was stunned by her rapid transformation. I was about to speak when Leo’s voice, brimming with fury, boomed from behind me. “Skye! Are you out of your mind?!” He roared, lunged forward, and violently shoved me aside. Caught off guard, my back slammed hard against the cold wall, and the pain made my vision go black. He didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he carefully helped Luna up, cradling her in his arms, his voice laced with concern. “Luna! Are you okay? Where did you get hurt?” Luna wept in his arms, looking utterly helpless and tear-streaked. “Leo… it’s not her fault, I just fell accidentally… please don’t blame her…” No sooner had she finished speaking than Leo looked up, his eyes turning menacing. “She’s just not feeling well and came over for some medicine! Why would you lay a hand on her? How utterly heartless can you be?!” I bit back the pain, not missing the flicker of triumph in Luna’s eyes. I gave a bitter laugh, raising my hand to wipe away the cold tears on my face. “Leo,” I said calmly, “I only dare to admit it today: you’re an absolute bastard!” “My lawyer will send you the divorce papers. We’re done.” He scoffed, carrying Luna into the elevator, leaving me with a single dismissive remark: “I don’t have time for your madness! If anything happens to Luna, you and I are not finished!” I sat on the floor, watching the elevator doors slowly close, reflecting my pathetic figure. After a long while, I forced back all my tears, went into the bedroom, and packed my luggage. Before leaving, I looked back one last time. The couple’s slippers I’d bought him were still by the entrance, untouched. The living room wall was still bare because he said hanging wedding photos was tacky. This house was filled with traces of our life together, yet not a single shred of evidence that we had ever been in love. I turned away decisively, not shedding another tear. It wasn’t worth it.

The next day, my lawyer called, his voice somewhat hesitant. “Ms. Skye, Mr. Leo… says he won’t agree to a divorce. It seems a mutual divorce isn’t an option.” I hung up the phone, pressing my temples to quell the frustration, recalling the information my lawyer had found on Luna. After a moment’s thought, I pulled out my phone and dialed Leo’s number. The phone rang for a long time before it was answered, and I heard men’s laughter in the background. “Leo, is your wife checking up on you again?” “Checking up? Looks more like she’s coming for his life! Leo, you gotta hang in there, don’t let that woman suck you dry. Our Goddess Luna is waiting for your attention!” The vulgar, disgusting words assaulted my ears, making me sick. The next second, Luna’s sweet, cooing voice chimed in, feigning a gentle reproach. “Oh, you guys, stop talking nonsense. Leo’s wife will get angry if she hears that.” “What right does she have to be angry?” One of the men scoffed. “Someone who clawed her way in through underhanded means, does she really think she’s someone important? If she hadn’t taken advantage of the situation back then, Leo and Luna would have a house full of kids by now!” A more unrestrained burst of laughter erupted on the other end. My hand, clutching the phone, began to tremble, blood rushing to my head. Leo’s voice finally spoke. “Alright, enough with the jokes.” A few seconds later, he asked impatiently into the phone, “What do you want?” “Are you just going to let them humiliate me like that?” I said, my voice cold. There was a moment of silence on the other end, then his voice rose. “They’re drunk, just kidding around. Are you taking it seriously? Skye, can you stop making such a big deal out of everything?” “Making a big deal out of everything.” He’d said that for years. I was finally, completely, sick of it! I’d wanted to part ways amicably, to preserve what little dignity we had left. But now, it seemed I was too naive. If they had no shame, why should I give them any? “Where are you?” I asked calmly. Leo paused, then gave an address. “Nightfall Club. Why?” “No reason.” I hung up the phone, then pulled out the red slip dress from the back of my closet. On our first wedding anniversary, I’d excitedly put it on, but Leo had only glanced at me coolly. “You look indecent. Take it off.” Since then, I’d never worn it again. But today, I felt it was just right. I headed straight to the Nightfall Club. When I pushed open the door to the private room, the revelry inside came to an abrupt halt. In the center of the room, Leo and Luna sat together on the couch. Luna was nestled in Leo’s arms, holding a glass of red wine, about to feed it to his lips. And on Leo’s face was an expression of ease and happiness I had never seen before. What a picture of devoted lovers. Leo saw me, and his face instantly fell. He pushed Luna away, his brows furrowed. “What are you doing here?” I didn’t answer. I simply curved my red lips into a smile, swaying gracefully as I walked towards him. “What am I doing? You’re about to find out.” I swept a contemptuous glance at Luna, then picked up a glass of red wine from the table and poured it over her head. “Ah!” Luna shrieked, stomping her foot in fury. “That’s a lesson in manners for you! You touch what’s mine, you pay the price!” “Skye! You’re insane!” Leo roared, lunging forward to grab my wrist, squeezing so hard it left red marks. “What the hell do you want?!” His eyes were bloodshot. I looked at his frantic, protective stance for another woman, my heart utterly dead. I abruptly raised my leg and kicked him hard in the stomach. Leo grunted, doubling over in pain. I looked down at him, my words like ice. “Leo, I didn’t want anything at first. But you insisted on provoking me. So of course, I have to deliver.” I turned to Luna, my gaze sharp. “You thought you could provoke me and get away with it? Ms. Xu, you’re quite foolish.” Her face instantly changed, but she still forced a smile. “Ms. Skye, threatening me is useless. My conscience is clear.” I laughed. “Oh, a clear conscience, how noble! I hope you can still smile after you hear what I have to say.” The atmosphere in the private room turned cold. Luna looked at me with suspicion, a flicker of unease in her eyes. She instinctively tightened her grip on Leo’s arm, feigning composure. “What… what do you mean?”

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I stayed by my girlfriend’s side as she went from having nothing to owning a multi-million dollar company. But on the day her company went public, she announced her engagement to someone else. “Alex, he’s different from you. He’s from a truly established family, and we’re a perfect social match.” “I have to think about my own future. I can’t keep messing around with you anymore.” I didn’t argue. This ‘messing around’ had to end. After all, I still had family waiting. People who had called me ‘Young Master’ since I was a child. I snatched the cigarette from Chloe’s hand and took a deep drag. It was a gesture we’d shared countless times over ten years. Chaos stretched from the kitchen all the way to beneath the bed. I always used to call Chloe my ultimate temptress. She looked so quiet and reserved, but once things got going, she was an absolute firecracker. Slowly exhaling a smoke ring, I offered Chloe the remaining half of the cigarette, but she refused it. “Alex, I’ve had enough of playing around. Tomorrow, I’m getting engaged.” I flipped over, straddling Chloe, a smile I couldn’t suppress playing on my lips. “Ten years, and you’re finally going to marry me?” “Let’s do it now. No need for anything formal. I’ll definitely say yes…” “Not you. He’s different from you.” Our voices clashed, speaking at the same time. The air fell terrifyingly silent. Chloe lifted her phone, holding it up to me. On the screen was a guy, smiling openly and recklessly. His clothes had no visible labels, but you could tell at a glance they cost a fortune. “He’s the young heir of a family our company partners with. Isn’t he handsome? He’s not like you; he couldn’t just give everything up and fool around with me.” “His family background is excellent, and he’s so innocent. He’s been fighting with his family for me for a long time. I owe him an explanation.” Chloe took her phone back, carefully wiping the screen. She cherished this guy, so much that I could barely stand to look at him twice. A sharp pain instantly pierced my chest. That boy was indeed different from me. I was calm, brooding, always three steps ahead, every glance calculated. I helped her build her company from nothing to a billion-dollar empire. He, on the other hand, was bright and spontaneous, seemingly never thinking about what he’d do next. But I’d been with Chloe for ten whole years. From the moment she had nothing, I was there for the late-night drinks, the business deals, the reckless risks, the hardships, the scheming. More than just a partner, more than just an assistant – I was her everything, doing every dirty job and then some. I always thought she’d marry me, but now she was telling me it was all just “fooling around.” My fingers, pressed against her chest, slowly tightened. The composure honed over so many years finally crumbled before her. “Chloe, what about me then?” She didn’t speak, just grabbed my neck. I didn’t speak either, just grabbed hers. I squeezed harder, and her face went from pale to flushed. Her cool, clear eyes narrowed slightly, showing a rare hint of desire. In all these years, this was the first time I’d refused her. She didn’t care at all, smiling nonchalantly, a playful, almost mocking glint in her eyes: “Alex, you’re not actually in love with me, are you?” “You know I hate trouble.” “I’ll compensate you. Don’t make a scene.” “Be a good boy. This is your last chance to call me Chloe. If you don’t, starting tomorrow, you’ll only be able to call me Ms. Chloe.” She was so sure I couldn’t go through with it. She touched my earlobe. Seeing I remained silent, she ruffled my hair, put on her dress, adjusted her scarf, and transformed back into the composed, professional woman. It was as if the only things left in the chaotic room were the mess, and me. “Pack your things. Leave the key in the flowerpot by the door. You won’t need to come back anymore, Assistant Alex.” Her voice was cool and detached, and she left just as swiftly. The sound of the door closing was heavier than usual. I turned on my phone. The screen displayed a photo of Chloe and me. We were both in suits, smiling perfectly, gold-rimmed glasses perched on our noses, looking like the ‘Employee of the Month’ pictures hung in a company hallway. Chloe was right; we really were alike. The last time I wore a suit was ten years ago. In those ten years, I felt like I truly had become Chloe’s shadow. Looking around, I suddenly grew tired of the suffocating darkness. *WHOOSH!* I yanked open the curtains. The evening sun poured in. I raised my hand. My skin, so pale it was almost transparent, looked like a vampire’s in the sunlight. Leaning against the window, I lit another cigarette. Through the drifting smoke, I seemed to see the me from ten years ago. Back then, I wore white t-shirts, my youthful energy more dazzling than the sun itself, looking like a good-for-nothing punk. And Chloe was a critically ill patient clinging to life. We ate together, worked part-time jobs together. In a hospital room reeking of disinfectant, we had the most absurd romance. She always said I was too loud, yet before her last surgery, she pressed her last ten dollars into my hand. That composed, self-possessed woman, held me, crying in the most desperate way. “Alex, if I make it off this operating table, I’ll confess my love to you. I’ll love only you, for my entire life.” That day, she went into the operating room without waiting for my answer. I stood outside, crying and laughing, never imagining that someone as strong and unyielding as her could also be afraid. Later, she came out of surgery. With the first money she earned, she bought a watch and confessed her love to me. I laughed at her then: “Girls don’t propose! That’s supposed to be my job…” We held our gifts, our stomachs rumbling with hunger. During that time, our love was like a stubborn seed, taking root and sprouting in hunger, carrying the scent of earth. She told me countless times, with firm conviction: “Alex, once I make it big, the first thing I’ll do is marry you, and then we’ll have two adorable babies.” Now, her company was about to go public. She’d made it big, but she was going to wear someone else’s wedding dress.

I stayed in the villa all night, cleaning it thoroughly. The physical exertion did nothing to quiet my mind. All the past memories whirred endlessly in my head. I couldn’t even recall when I had become so calm and self-possessed. Perhaps, like my love for Chloe, it had subtly, silently, integrated itself into my life. Chloe’s assistant, Daisy, arrived very early. Her baby face was, unusually, clouded with worry. “Sir…” The word ‘Sir’ lingered on her tongue, twisting and turning, before finally settling on: “Mr. Alex.” “Ms. Chloe asked me to give you these things. She said to sign them and forget everything from these past years. This is your compensation.” Daisy opened a box, neatly stacked with cash. On top was a document. Chloe had transferred the branch company I managed into my name. “Ms. Chloe said to go to the branch company…” She didn’t finish her sentence, but I understood. Chloe was telling me to make way for her fiancé, afraid that I, a calculating old hand, would bully her ‘innocent’ fiancé. My fingertips traced over the documents, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. Ten years of dedication, several times almost costing me my life. And in the end, it was all worth so little. It turned out I was so cheap in Chloe’s eyes. “Take these things back. And please, tell Ms. Chloe for me: let’s just pretend nothing ever happened all these years. I’m ready to settle down and stop playing games.” Chloe was right. I was nineteen when I met her, and now I was twenty-nine. The nineteen-year-old me would have been scared away by such intense love. But the twenty-nine-year-old me suddenly wanted to go back and see if she was still waiting for me. “Alex, no, I’m coming with you! You saved my life!” Daisy’s eyes suddenly reddened. “We all agreed; we only recognize you, not anyone else!” “If Ms. Chloe ends up with someone else, we’ll all collectively quit and follow you!” I had indeed saved their lives. In our poorest year, they all called me ‘Big Bro,’ staring at me with hungry eyes, bowls in hand. I dragged them out of various miserable situations and had them help Chloe. I never expected them to remember it until now. “Don’t be so impulsive.” I still spoke in a gentle, slow voice, trying to persuade her. But Daisy was sobbing uncontrollably. It wasn’t until Chloe walked in from outside. In front of outsiders, she rarely spoke much; just her gloomy, icy stare was enough to stop Daisy’s crying. Finally, her gaze landed on me. It was as cold as if she were looking at an enemy. “Alex, don’t try to use these tactics to stay. Don’t make me despise you. Whatever you want, I can give you.” I scoffed, raising an eyebrow at her. “I want my life. Can you give me that?” We stared at each other, Chloe’s face flushed. I wondered if she remembered how I had knelt before the director, begging, just to get her a chance at surgery. Her life? I gave it to her. And now she was using that very life to betray me. “I guess this is what they call demanding payment for past kindness, isn’t it?” Before the person even arrived, his arrogant and boisterous voice already allowed me to almost picture him. He emerged from behind the door, in head-to-toe designer labels, dazzling brighter than the sun. “I know about you, Alex. Someone as calculating as you, using ten years of companionship to secure a position – don’t you think you’re being unreasonable?” He scrutinized me up and down, his eyes filled with disdain. I looked at him too. He was so much like the nineteen-year-old me, looking as if every strand of his hair was studded with tiny diamonds. Every inch of him exuded a polished refinement. A fearless, devil-may-care vibe, but it came with a faint air of naive foolishness. “Chloe, he probably doesn’t even know whether to kiss your lips first or rip off your clothes and get in bed, does he? How can you even go for someone so young?” Before I even finished, Chloe’s eyes commanded me to shut up, and she pulled him behind her. Her face darkened, and her voice became even colder: “He’s not like you, not someone who’s just been messing around. Before we’re married, I won’t cross any lines with him.” Chloe used to say I was different from others, too. That kind of physical favoritism, the undeniable preference she used to show, it was once mine alone. Now, it was a thorn piercing me. I once didn’t understand what it meant for your heart to turn to ashes in an instant. But in that moment, I could feel all emotions extinguishing, leaving not even a ripple. A dull ache spread from my heart, inch by inch, until every part of my body throbbed. I stared at Chloe for a long moment, then adjusted my gold-rimmed glasses. The habit of ten years, even in extreme pain, still made me manage a faint smile. “Ms. Chloe, you’re right. But I don’t care for these things of yours.” “I arrived alone, and I can leave alone. I don’t want anything. Let’s just consider it all a game.” I pulled my suitcase, walking past her. Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand: “Don’t be petty with me.” Before I could speak, Leo, who had been standing there, let out a huff. He turned away, pouting, without a word. The hand that had just been holding mine released me, little by little. Chloe quickly started coaxing him, even disregarding her image in front of her subordinates. My years of experience made me keenly aware that someone had investigated Chloe. But I no longer had any reason to warn her. Daisy ran after me, sending me off, grumbling and cursing Chloe under her breath. It wasn’t until two honks interrupted her voice. “Young Master, I’m here to pick you up and take you home.” The suitcase was snatched from my hand, making it feel lighter. She bowed deeply to me, then looked up, flashing a row of white teeth, smiling brightly. Obedience and wildness clashed fiercely within her. Beneath the restraint of her suit, there was a fierce, untamed energy, a raw power barely suppressed. Her delicate, almost fierce face, which was usually so intense, melted into something warm and submissive when she looked at me. And in her eyes, I saw hostility. “Ms. Chloe, any further, and you’ll be crossing the line.” She slowly straightened up, enveloping me in her shadow. Following her gaze, I noticed Chloe, who had rushed out the door. The two women stared at each other, as if, in the next second, they would be consumed by primal urges, tearing each other apart.

Raven and I got into the car. In the rearview mirror, Chloe stood rigidly, engulfed by our car’s exhaust. Raven always drove fast, but when she drove for me, she was always incredibly steady. She turned down the music, glancing at the rearview mirror repeatedly. “Young Master, this time, you won’t leave me again, will you?” I didn’t answer her, just turned my head to study her. Ten years hadn’t changed her hair; it was still medium-length, a bit wild, and her sharp, intense eyes, now blinking, looked almost cute. I couldn’t even connect her to the little girl who used to cry and beg me not to leave. Raven had been sent to my family’s home when she was little. I’d climb trees for birds, she’d hold the ladder. I’d curse, she’d hand me a knife. I’d skip school, she’d take the scolding for me… We grew up together, played together. The day I was told I had to marry her, I completely lost it. Who could accept marrying their childhood playmate, someone who knew all their embarrassing secrets? You don’t date your best friend, right? It’s practically dating your sibling! Without a second thought, I ran to find her. I thought she’d be on my side, like always. But it turned out she was a shameless little bunny. Her bedroom, which she never let me into, was plastered with my photos. And she just stood there, staring at those pictures, her face flushed with a drunken haze. “Raven!” I only called her name once, and she shivered, her legs going weak. I looked her up and down. I was nineteen then, a shy and awkward age. But she was like she’d been wild for decades, with even more experience in being crazy. For every meal, she’d madly wag her tail at me. Finally, I couldn’t take her intensity anymore. I grabbed my suitcase and fled in a panic. From the north to the south. For ten whole years, I knew she was secretly watching me. But this wildcat never made a sound. Raven turned the steering wheel, pulling into a villa. I was surprised for a moment. I hadn’t realized she lived so close to me. “Young Master, this is all the territory I’ve claimed for you.” Raven parked the car, her handsome face leaning closer, her eyes sparkling as she looked at me. Her face practically screamed, *as long as the territory is big enough, Young Master will stay by my side.* I really couldn’t stand her silly antics, so I stepped out of the car, though a smile involuntarily tugged at my lips. Inside the house, Raven followed me, chattering incessantly about what she’d done over the past ten years. I couldn’t stand her constant chatter, so I grabbed her collar and pushed her onto the bed. But she, like a small leopard, flipped over, pinning me beneath her. Through the thin fabric, her body heat scorched every inch of my skin. She remained perfectly still, but her intense eyes grew brighter and brighter. When she finally spoke, her voice was hoarse. “Young Master, please, just this once, can you give yourself to me? Just once.” “Young Master, please, please don’t hate me…” Her wild boldness and restrained submission clashed intensely. In her upturned, beautiful eyes, a wronged, pleading look was suppressed.

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  Three years after I announced my death due to illness. My son ran into Simon Sander, who had just returned to the country, at the airport. He let Simon lead him along, blinking his eyes and speaking to him, “Uncle, you look just like my dad.” Simon squatted down, smiling as he ruffled his hair. “But your mom didn’t choose me in the end, did she?” ***** Today was my fifth anniversary with Simon, and his idealized first love, Lydia, suffering from depression, called again. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if it held a magic, easily stirring up deep memories and emotions within Simon. “That ocean view we saw before, it was so beautiful. Will you remember Lydia in the future, Simon?” Simon’s hand, which had been fiddling with his hair, froze. His voice trembled slightly, “Lydia, what are you saying? Simon really likes you.” “I’ll come pick you up. Shall we go to your favorite seafood restaurant for crab, okay?” Simon’s voice carried a tension others might not have noticed. I watched him turn away without hesitation. My phone smashed onto the floor. Simon heard the sound and turned back, looking apologetic. He rushed over to me and knelt down. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I’ll make up our anniversary to you another day.” “You’ve always been an understanding girl. Lydia has been by my side all this time.” “I can’t just leave her alone.” I looked at his almost pleading eyes, slowly, imperceptibly, I loosened my grip on his sleeve, though my heart was screaming. Still, I couldn’t help but demand, “If you walk out that door today, we might really be over. Don’t you care?” “Even if her leg can’t dance anymore because of you, it’s been so many years. Whatever you owed should have been paid back long ago.” Simon’s eyes hardened instantly, sharp as a blade. “Hilary, stop being unreasonable. You shouldn’t be so jealous.” My vision blurred as his figure shrank, disappearing into the distance. Lydia was his untouchable. No one could mention her, no one could touch her. His words from when he was deeply in love still echoed in my ears, “You’ll always be my first choice. I’ll never let you be sad.” Simon, you broke your promise.

  I couldn’t help but recall our college days, me, Simon, and Lydia. I always thought Simon and Lydia had met through me. It wasn’t until the second year Simon and I were together that I accidentally overheard a conversation between them. That’s when I found out they had known each other for a long time and shared some unforgettable memories. “Now that you’re with Hilary, treat her well. She’s a very good girl.” “As for me, a cripple won’t have a bright future.” Her face was devoid of expression, utterly bleak. Lydia’s words successfully stirred up Simon’s guilt. He hugged her tightly. “Lydia, I’m so, so sorry! I’ll stay with you until you truly find your own happiness.” “Hilary won’t mind.” Many things I didn’t realize at the time. He called her Lydia, he called me Hilary. I actually wanted to rush out then and ask, “By ‘forever’ staying with her, do you mean the three of us will live together?” But as an understanding girlfriend, I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t until I returned to the dorm that night, looking at each other, us two girls who shared a strange similarity. Lydia spoke with a triumphant sneer, “See? Just a few words, and he can’t bear to leave me. You’re just a disposable replacement.” “You probably don’t know this, but Simon studied medicine because of me. He came to this university because of me too.” I said nothing. Lydia slowly, leisurely, stood up from her wheelchair and limped towards the bathroom. “He’s with you out of guilt, unable to get past a hurdle in his heart, that’s why he found you.” She smiled sweetly as she said that. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I vaguely guessed they had a complicated history. Looking at the wheelchair Lydia had left aside, I chuckled, “Well, you’re in the past, after all. Does Simon know your leg is almost healed?” Simon came from a prominent family. Lydia’s father was a murderer, and her mother was a gambler. Simon’s father was obsessed with appearances, so as long as he was alive, he would absolutely never let Simon and Lydia be together. At the time, when Simon’s father found out that Simon, still in high school, was dating a girl from a troubled background, he was furious. He went straight to the school and took Simon home. Lydia was lost and desolate all day until the news of Simon going abroad broke. She got into a car accident on her way to the airport. “For a dancer, not being able to dance is like taking my life.” She went on hunger strike, cut her wrists, took sleeping pills. And Simon stayed by her side through it all. In the end, her voice choked. “But your appearance gave me a sense of crisis. Hilary, I’m not like you. I only have Simon.” The next day, Lydia was found having cut her wrists in the dorm. I was scared by the blood everywhere and instinctively stepped back. She looked at me, her face pale. “Do you think Simon will blame you for provoking me?”

  Less than half an hour later, Simon burst into the hospital room, breathless. He slammed into me, sending me sprawling. My arm hit the nearby metal cabinet. “You were supposed to have moved out. Why were you even here, near Lydia?” He took out the soup from the meal tray and carefully fed it to Lydia. He then thoughtfully propped a pillow behind her back, before fixing me with a cold stare, his voice laced with accusation. “You knew Lydia’s situation was delicate. Why didn’t you stay away from her?” Lydia gently wrapped her arms around his neck, whining softly, “Simon, it hurts so much. I can’t walk like a normal person anymore.” But her triumph was impossible to hide in her eyes. Someone genuinely suffering from depression wouldn’t have that look in their eyes. Yet Simon hugged her tenderly, gently rubbing her leg. “Lydia will get better. Simon’s here for you.” His entire focus was on Lydia, he didn’t notice my bleeding arm, covered in cuts. I comforted myself countless times, telling myself Simon was only acting out of guilt. Every time, I compromised. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He knew Lydia’s illness wasn’t severe to this extent. But later, on a mountain drenched in a downpour, amidst a howling blizzard, on a deserted highway in the dead of night, even at our own wedding, Simon abandoned me without a second thought and chose Lydia. This was his last chance. I ran after him. “Simon, have you really thought this through?” Simon’s footsteps faltered. From a distance, I saw guilt in his eyes. “Hilary, I’m sorry. I can’t abandon Lydia. Her leg is like this because of me.” The outcome was clear long ago. For the first time, I used a hidden ability and heard Simon’s inner thoughts: “Hilary, I’ll make it up to you properly when I get back.” I shook my head, my voice raw and strained. “Simon, no need. We’re breaking up.” Simon finally turned and walked towards me, his brows furrowed, his tone filled with displeasure. “Stop being unreasonable! Our relationship and helping Lydia recover aren’t mutually exclusive. Why do you have to make it a competition?” “Lydia’s by the ocean, it’s dangerous. Her life is on the line, what are you even thinking about?” The atmosphere between us instantly solidified. People around us cast curious glances, eager for drama. A lump formed in my throat, choking back the words. It was useless because Simon’s mind was completely consumed by Lydia at the beach. I managed a faint smile, opening my mouth to speak. But before I could say anything, Simon’s phone rang. It was our mutual friend, saying Lydia’s condition was very bad. In just a few seconds, Simon made his choice. He abandoned me again without a second thought. Right then, I thought my decision to give up a prestigious university’s exchange program for Simon was absolutely terrible. I dialed that number, hidden at the very end of my contacts for a long, long time. “Rex, I’m giving in. I accept your offer.”   Back home, I threw away all my things that were connected to Simon. I only took a few pieces of clothing. Yes, I left. I walked away from Simon. My name is Hilary, because my mom hoped I’d live my life open-minded, optimistic, kind, and proactive. But I failed not only to do that, I even lost myself. “Hilary, long time no see.” Rex, long time no see. I looked at the man before me. He was still as radiant as he’d been years ago. “How did you end up so miserable without me around?” Rex took my suitcase, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. Hearing his familiar voice, my nose stung, and my voice involuntarily caught in my throat. “Yeah, I’m pretty miserable. And I’ll have to trouble the great Rex, top influencer, for a while.” Rex haughtily snorted twice. “Hilary, I told you long ago to leave him.” “Rex, I’m pregnant.” Rex’s grip on my hand tightened abruptly. He seemed agitated. “And you? Do you want to keep it?” I pulled my hand from Rex’s grasp. “I’m ready to start a new life.” In the following days, I steadily began my new life. I paid no attention to the chaos that had erupted back home. When Simon returned home the next day, he unexpectedly noticed many things missing from the house. He called our mutual friends. “Has Hilary contacted any of you?” All he got were words of advice: “Simon, I’m just telling you, in this toxic relationship with Lydia, you might as well let Hilary go.” Everyone’s consistent answer was that they had no idea where Hilary went, until Hilary’s family was asked. “Hilary has a really good friend overseas. You actually know him – Rex.” Simon didn’t understand why everyone thought he had wronged me. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prenatal check-up results on the vanity table. Simon left the country that very night, taking Lydia with him. The next time I met Simon was at the supermarket downstairs. “Hilary!” Rex reacted faster than I did, swinging a punch at Simon’s face. “You bastard! How dare you show your face?!” They wrestled, their identities too prominent. If no one pulled them apart, tomorrow’s headline would be “A-List Celebrity and Corporation Heir Brawl in Public: What’s the Real Story?” “We broke up. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” I shielded Rex behind me, casting a cold gaze at the man and woman opposite us. Simon pulled out the prenatal check-up results. “Hilary, stop messing around. You can’t let our child grow up without a father.” “I terminated the pregnancy.” He froze. He threw down the suitcase he was holding and clamped my arm tightly. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

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I could see everyone else’s final exam scores and college acceptances floating above their heads, but never my own. Didn’t matter to me, though. I was practically top of my class; if I said I was second, no one would dare claim first. The day before the final exam results were released. My fiancé, Julian, had a perfect 700 hovering above his head, along with the name of the prestigious university we’d promised to attend together. The maid’s daughter, Chloe, had a measly 250 and some low-tier community college. But the very day after the exam, Chloe’s score inexplicably changed to 720, and her college admission was suddenly the same as Julian’s. I thought exhaustion was making me see things. Turns out, I wasn’t wrong. The day the official scores were released, Chloe really did get a 720, with countless elite universities practically begging her to enroll. Meanwhile, no matter how many times I refreshed the score checker, my own score remained a pathetic 250. “Rich Prodigy Flunks with a 250, While Poor Innocent Girl Defies All Odds”—the headline instantly plastered everywhere, spreading like wildfire. Everyone, absolutely everyone, claimed my previous stellar grades must have been achieved through cheating. Even Julian, who had always spoiled me rotten, distanced himself, turning to hold Chloe’s hand instead. As I was spiraling into a mental breakdown, the maid’s daughter delivered the final, crushing blow. “My 720 is actually *your* score. And your fiancé, Julian, personally helped us swap them. Too bad no one will ever believe you.” I finally cracked, completely lost my mind, and was committed to a mental asylum where I was tortured until I died. Only on my deathbed did I discover that Julian was linked to a grade-swap system. The next thing I knew, my eyes fluttered open, and I was back. Back to the day before the scores were released. This time, I was going straight to live streaming my college entrance exam predictions!

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you’ve activated the Live Prediction System!” The moment I opened my phone, a huge screen popped up in front of me. Turns out, my ability to see scores was also due to being linked to a system—it just hadn’t been fully activated in my previous life. A robotic voice echoed from the system. “Host, please accept your mission: Before scores are released, successfully predict the scores of 10,000 live call-ins. Mission success reward: Julian’s grade-swap system will malfunction. Mission failure penalty: Host will die.” My eyes widened, and I trembled with excitement. My original goal for going live was just to use public opinion to force Julian and Chloe to confess the truth about the score swap. Now, things just got a whole lot easier. “So, if I succeed, my scores will come back?” “Yes, Host.” Remembering that hellhole of a mental asylum from my last life, I didn’t hesitate to hit the confirm button. That hellish place. I swore I’d never set foot in it again. I quickly opened my live stream, and the system began its countdown. “Mission countdown: 24 hours begins!” Ten minutes had already ticked off the 24-hour clock on the screen, but my live stream was completely empty. Even if someone clicked in, they left just as quickly. To get 10,000 live call-ins before the scores were released, I’d have to stream non-stop, without eating or sleeping. Otherwise, I wouldn’t just lose my scores again; I’d die. Again. I quickly logged onto the school forum and posted anonymously: “SHOCKING! Top Senior Student Going Live to Predict College Entrance Exam Scores – 100% Accuracy!” In less than ten minutes, over twenty people flooded into my live stream. [Can she really predict scores?] [She’s a fraud, the scores aren’t even out yet.] [Isn’t that Stella Sterling, the number one student?] I took a deep breath and tapped the ‘Join Call’ feature. “Welcome to my live stream. I can accurately predict your college entrance exam scores and which university you’ll get into. If you don’t believe me, call in and verify.” The comments section was filled with skepticism, but soon, the first call-in request popped up. I accepted it, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Ryan, the basketball team captain. A notorious troublemaker, always looking for a fight. “Well, well, if it isn’t our number one student,” Ryan smirked, his eyes full of mockery. “You claim you can predict scores? So tell me, what did I get?” I gazed at his head; a clear number floated there: 423 points, with the name of a local sports college beneath it. “423 points, Sports College.” I said calmly. Ryan’s face changed dramatically, then he burst out laughing. “Bullshit! I can get at least 500 points! My practice tests were always over 500!” The comments section blew up: [LOL! What a trainwreck!] [Ryan actually has decent grades though] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time] I simply smiled. “You’ll see when the scores are out. Next?” Muttering curses, he slammed the ‘End Call’ button, but the number of viewers in my stream had already climbed to over 300. Looks like controversy really does bring traffic. The second call-in was from an unfamiliar girl, wearing a mask that only revealed her eyes. “I… I want to see if you can really tell?” I looked at her head: 586 points, State University. “586 points, State University.” The girl’s eyes widened. “That… that’s actually the school I want to apply to.” The tide of comments began to shift: [OMG, how is she so accurate?!] [It’s a setup, right?] [Let’s keep watching, maybe she’s just guessing.] Over the next hour, I predicted scores and colleges for over twenty more people. Some believed, some didn’t, but my viewer count had already surpassed 2,000. My live stream became so popular that even Julian, who lived next door, stumbled upon it.

He barged into my room, his usual gentle and caring demeanor replaced by a terrifyingly dark expression. “Stella, aren’t you worried that live streaming rumors will affect your final exam scores?” I looked at Julian’s face, and it felt like a lifetime ago. The old me would have thought he was concerned for my well-being. But now, I knew perfectly well that he wasn’t afraid of my scores being affected. He was afraid for Chloe’s swapped score. My gaze turned ice-cold. “Who gave you permission to enter my room? Get out!” Julian was stunned, clearly not expecting me, usually so mild-mannered, to suddenly be a completely different person. But in a flash, he brushed past me, reaching for my laptop, clearly intending to shut down my stream. I quickly stepped in front of him. “Julian, was I too easy on you before? Don’t forget, you’re merely my fiancé, part of the Sterling family. Without the Sterling name, you’re nothing!” Julian’s pride was legendary; there was no way he could tolerate such humiliation. He would surely storm out. I didn’t have time to waste on him; I needed to get him out of here fast. At that moment, the comments section exploded: [Fiancé?!] [What kind of high-society scandal is this?!] [Quick, record this! Big news!] Julian’s face flushed crimson, but he still wouldn’t leave, stubbornly trying to close my stream, lecturing me all the while. “Stella, I’m doing this for your own good. I know you’ve been a pampered princess since childhood, and this is just a game to you, but if your predicted scores are fake, have you considered the consequences? Results come out tomorrow. What if something happens to you? What about our agreement?” I never thought Julian would sacrifice his pride for Chloe’s score. “Agreement? Are you talking about your agreement with the maid’s daughter, Chloe?” Julian’s pupils constricted, his face instantly turning ashen. In my previous life, I only found out at the very end that he and Chloe had been together all along. The live stream audience had already surpassed 500,000, comments scrolling wildly: [Too much information!] [Maid’s daughter? Fiancé?] [This is a real-life high-society drama!] I seized the opportunity to accept more call-ins, and the number of predictions rapidly exceeded 5,000. System prompt: [Mission progress 50%]. And Julian, seemingly afraid I’d reveal more, quickly threw out a parting shot before leaving. “Stella, don’t you dare regret this!” After Julian left, to prevent anyone else from disturbing me, I quickly locked my bedroom door and wedged a heavy object against it before settling back in front of my stream. Just then, I connected with a total academic superstar, which significantly boosted my stream’s traffic. I accepted the call, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Daniel, the second-ranked student in our grade, known for his meticulousness. “Stella, can you really see our final exam scores?” Daniel pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose, his gaze sharp as a knife. I looked at his head; a clear number floated there: 705 points, with Harvard’s name beneath it. “705 points, Harvard.” Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Impossible. My self-assessment puts me at 685 at most. There’s no way it could be over 700.” The comments section immediately exploded: [OMG, the number two student is personally stepping in to expose this scam!] [Daniel is famously meticulous; if he says 685, he must have a reason.] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time, right?] My heart pounded, but I maintained a calm exterior. “You’ll know when the scores are released.” Daniel scoffed. “I participated in the Physics Olympiad and got 20 bonus points. But even with those 20 points, it’s only 705. How could you possibly know I had bonus points? Unless…” He suddenly stopped, a flicker of shock in his eyes. The comments section went even crazier: [Wait, if Daniel really has bonus points, then 705 matches up?!] [This is too mind-blowing! She even knows about competition bonus points?] [She must be guessing! Daniel himself said it’s impossible.] I seized this moment. “Daniel, you know in your heart if what I’m saying is true. Your Physics Olympiad bonus points are for a national first-place award, which grants 20 points, correct?” Daniel’s face changed. He opened his mouth, but said nothing, simply disconnecting the call. The live stream viewer count instantly surged to 200,000, comments almost entirely covering the screen: [Daniel just defaulted!] [OMG, Stella really can see!] [This is unbelievable!] Riding this wave of traffic, I quickly accepted many more call-ins.

System prompt: [Mission progress 70%]. But then, an uninvited guest arrived. Chloe’s account entered the live stream and successfully connected. “Stella, big sis, can you check my final exam score too?” On screen, Chloe was wearing a limited-edition dress I’d bought her just last month. In my previous life, I had poured my heart out for her, yet she wished me dead. I stared at the number above her head – 720 points, Harvard. Exactly the same as my previous life. But what came out of my mouth was: “250 points, some low-tier community college.” Chloe forced herself to suppress a smirk, feigning innocence. “I think Stella, big sis, is lying. Before the final exam, Julian tutored me every single night. There’s no way I could get a score like that. Maybe my college will even be the same as yours.” The moment Chloe’s words fell, the live stream instantly exploded. [OMG! Tutored every night? So much info!] [Isn’t that the maid’s daughter? Is she the one the princess mentioned earlier?] [Stella applied to Harvard; everyone in our school knows. Chloe’s grades were never that good, how could she possibly get in?] Chloe’s face subtly changed, but she quickly put on that pitiful, innocent expression again. “Stella, big sis, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t just hire trolls to slander me like this. Julian said I did really well this time…” The live stream comments scrolled wildly, and the online viewership had already passed two million. The system’s chime sounded in my ear: [Mission progress 80%, Host, please hurry.] Chloe’s face showed a hint of panic as the stream’s viewer count soared, but she quickly composed herself. “Stella, big sis, the scores come out tomorrow. Then we’ll know who’s lying.” “Oh yeah? How about we make a bet? If your score truly is 720 tomorrow, I, Stella Sterling, will quit the internet forever. But if your score is 250, then you’ll get out of the Sterling household.” Chloe hesitated, thinking about all the luxuries she’d enjoyed at the Sterling mansion over the years. I added fuel to the fire. “Are you scared, perhaps?” “How could I be?!” “Then bet,” I challenged, looking at her provocatively. “Or do you have something to hide?” Chloe’s face went pale, her lips trembling, unable to speak. Just then, a flood of paid trolls suddenly poured into the live stream. [Stella Sterling is a bully!] [Being rich doesn’t make you superior, bullying the maid’s daughter!] [I heard Stella Sterling’s grades were always faked!] I sneered. These troll accounts were clearly Julian’s doing. In my past life, he used this exact tactic to turn public opinion against me. Seeing these comments slandering me, Chloe immediately regained her confidence. “Bet it is. When the scores are checked tomorrow, I’ll definitely meet Harvard’s admission line.” I curled my lips. “Then we’ll see.” Just then, Julian appeared behind Chloe. He earnestly tried to advise me. “Stella, don’t keep making mistakes. If you can even get Chloe’s score wrong, let alone others’, give up now. If something goes wrong, I’ll face the consequences with you.” What superb acting. But I could still detect a hint of mockery in his eyes. He was laughing at me, unaware my score had been swapped, laughing at me about to plummet from heaven to hell, to be trampled under his feet, completely clueless. But I didn’t care now; I just wanted to use him to hit my target number. Because Julian had hired trolls, my stream lost quite a few viewers for a moment. Now, I was only one thousand people short of completing the mission, and only an hour remained on the countdown. I didn’t care if he wanted a prediction or not; everyone in the stream counted. I directly stated his score and college. “700 points, Harvard.” Julian paused for a moment but quickly recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean? We grew up together; it’s not surprising you’d know my score, is it?” With my fiancé’s arrival, the number of curious onlookers in the stream began to climb again, and with it, the number of score predictions. I directly uploaded a custom-coded system app; users could upload a selfie to get their score predicted. Efficiency immediately skyrocketed. To keep the momentum going, I dropped a major bombshell. “You guessed right. My fiancé has been secretly messing around with the maid’s daughter for a long time.” The live stream instantly erupted, comments scrolling like a raging torrent. [!!! I’m actually witnessing a live high-society drama?] [OMG, this is more exciting than a novel!] [So Julian tutoring Chloe was fake, and their secret affair was real?] Along with this came rapidly soaring prediction data. Just one more person needed, with only 30 seconds left on the clock. But then, the official score check system suddenly went live, *early*. Just then, Chloe triumphantly flashed her score: 720 points. “Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Everyone was cursing me out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299095”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that the ruin of my ten-year marriage to Daniel Sterling wouldn’t be a well-connected socialite, or a formidable rival, but the innocent darling he’d personally groomed – Scarlett Hayes. Two months ago, my latest A-list fantasy screenplay, *Nine Heavens*, had just wrapped principal photography and was entering intense post-production. Daniel had urged me to rest, assuring me he’d handle everything at Starlight Entertainment. I believed him. I was a top-tier screenwriter, responsible for seventy percent of Starlight Entertainment’s blockbusters. I thought Daniel and I were comrades, partners, our relationship built on shared ideals and struggles, unshakeable. Until my assistant, Chloe, a fresh graduate, hinted subtly, “Maya, lately, Scarlett… and Mr. Sterling have been getting too close. The resources the company is allocating to her already exceed the standards for A-list artists…” I just smiled then, telling her not to overthink it. After all, Daniel had personally scouted her from obscurity, and she was Starlight Entertainment’s face for the coming years. Investing more in her seemed normal. Until that day. I came home early from my studio for a crucial soundtrack detail. The villa was eerily quiet. I stood by the half-open door of the upstairs study, where a soft, intimate glow spilled out. Then I saw it. Scarlett was sitting on Daniel’s lap, wearing a sheer silk nightgown, clinging to him like she had no bones. Daniel had just showered, his bathrobe loosely tied. Scarlett’s hand was tracing circles on his chest, far too boldly. “Daniel, I still can’t quite grasp this scene… could you explain it to me again?” Her voice was syrupy sweet, dripping with an almost childish vulnerability. Daniel laughed, a rare, genuine laugh, not the fake business smile he used for investors, but one filled with indulgence and affection. “Little siren, always trying to charm me.” He pinched Scarlett’s cheek. “Can’t even memorize your lines, and you want to be Best Actress?” “With you, Daniel, I’m not afraid of anything.” Scarlett tilted her head back, her eyes hazy. “Daniel, don’t you think my ‘experiential’ approach has more soul than Maya’s scripts, which are just built on pure technique?” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins at that instant.

I waited for Daniel to refute her. Six years ago, Starlight Entertainment was on the brink of bankruptcy. I had poured in my mother’s entire inheritance and pulled all-nighters for three days and nights writing three screenplays, just to rescue him from the brink of ruin. He swore in front of all the shareholders: “Maya Linwood’s talent is the soul of Starlight. Anyone who dares to question her, questions my very existence.” The local media had labeled him “the doting husband.” He would remember. But the next second, I heard Daniel say, in a voice I had never heard before, tender to the core: “Of course. You’re unpolished jade, a natural talent, a born genius who doesn’t even have to try. Maya… she’s just a mature, excellent craftswoman. You’re different.” Craftswoman. Ha. Ten years of my hard work, in his eyes, I was just an artisan drawing blueprints and hammering nails. My heart felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on it, then thrown it into an ice bath. The pain was so intense my vision blurred. Scarlett, emboldened, buried her face in his chest, her voice laced with a sob: “Daniel, I’m so scared… I’m scared that one day Maya will dislike me, will think I’m stealing your attention, and then she’ll drive me away…” Daniel patted her back, his voice soothing: “Silly girl, with me here, no one can touch you. Starlight will always be your rock.” Always Scarlett’s rock? I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Daniel probably forgot that Starlight Entertainment was founded on my blood, sweat, and talent. Without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. The last flicker of warmth in my eyes died out, like a candle flame extinguished by a cold wind, leaving only a wisp of smoke. I didn’t cry, nor did I make a scene. I just quietly, step by step, turned and walked down the stairs. “Mrs. Linwood, you’re back.” Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, looked surprised to see me. “Mm.” I didn’t stop. I knew that the “devoted” pair upstairs had already heard me. Good. I’d wait for them in the living room downstairs. I had no interest in watching them scramble to get dressed. I simply turned on the living room’s home theater system, connected to the cloud server, and pulled up the past two months of indoor surveillance footage. When I wasn’t home, Scarlett acted like the lady of the house. Drinking from my cups. Wearing my slippers. Even sitting in my exclusive creative studio, on my chair, ordering Daniel to peel her fruit. And Daniel, the man who was so attentive to me outside the house, didn’t refuse her at all; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it. On the monitor, Scarlett pointed at my award-winning interview on the TV, pouting to Daniel: “Daniel, look how amazing Maya is. When will I be as great as her, so you’ll only have eyes for me?” Daniel turned off the TV, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered, “You don’t need to be like her. Just be yourself, that’s enough.” I watched it all, expressionless. My heart was a barren wasteland. I even saw how Scarlett subtly manipulated my five-year-old son, Leo. She’d hand him cheap toys and say, “See, Aunt Scarlett bought these for you. Your mommy only works; she doesn’t even know what you like.” She’d also point towards my study, asking with feigned innocence, “Leo, does Mommy not like Daddy playing with you? She’s always alone in her room, it’s so strange, isn’t it?” And Daniel? He just watched from the side, silent, implicitly condoning it. An icy dread snaked up my spine, chilling me to the bone.

Footsteps echoed from the stairs. Daniel and Scarlett descended. Scarlett had changed into a modest long dress, her face a mask of perfectly calibrated panic and innocence, eyes red-rimmed, clinging tightly to Daniel’s arm like a terrified fawn. Heh, impressive acting. No wonder she’s hailed as the next big thing. Daniel’s face was grim, his brows furrowed, with a hint of displeasure at being caught. “Maya, why didn’t you say you were coming home?” He walked towards me, his tone carrying a trace of accusation he probably hadn’t even noticed himself. I ignored him. I raised my hand and pressed pause. On the enormous screen, the image of Scarlett nestled in his arms, calling me a “craftswoman,” was frozen. The air instantly became dead silent. Scarlett’s face went white as a sheet, and she swayed as if she might faint any second. Daniel’s face turned ashen. He strode to me, blocking the screen, his voice low and warning: “Maya, what is this? What are you trying to do?” “What am I trying to do?” I finally looked up, my gaze calm. “Daniel Sterling, that’s what I should be asking you.” “I…” Daniel was speechless. Behind him, Scarlett had already started crying, her tears, like a string of pearls, began to fall. “Maya, please don’t blame Daniel; it’s all my fault… I just admire you so much, and I wanted Daniel to give me some acting tips, we…” “Shut up.” I bit out two cold words. Scarlett’s sobs hitched, and she looked at me in disbelief. She probably hadn’t expected the usually gentle me to speak to her in such a tone. Daniel’s temper flared. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Maya! Come at me! What does this have to do with Scarlett? She’s just a kid, she doesn’t understand anything!” A kid? A twenty-four-year-old actress was a kid in his eyes? I looked at his furious face and suddenly found it ridiculous. “Daniel, look closely at what she’s wearing.” I yanked my hand free and pointed at Scarlett’s sexy silk nightgown on the screen. “Wearing that to ‘practice lines’ with you? In your study, sitting on your lap, until your bathrobe was practically open?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was like an ice-cold knife, striking both their faces. Daniel’s face flushed red, then pale. Scarlett’s dramatic streak kicked in again. She cried harder, rushing to cling to Daniel’s arm. “Daniel, I didn’t mean to… I just felt comfortable wearing something casual at home… Maya, I truly didn’t mean to ruin your relationship, I… I’m leaving now! I’ll never bother you again!” With that, she covered her face and ran out, looking heartbroken. Just as expected, Daniel immediately felt a pang of sympathy. He shot me a furious glare, an expression that saw me as nothing but an unreasonable lunatic. “Maya, do you have to make such a scene?!” He chased after her. I heard the car engine start outside, followed by a deadly silence. He was gone. He’d left me alone in this house, empty as a tomb, for that “wronged” Scarlett. Slowly, ever so slowly, I walked to the massive floor-toceiling window. Outside, was the rose garden I had personally designed and planted. It was right here, years ago, that Daniel held the first script I had ever written and told me, “Maya, marry me. I’ll spend my life protecting you and your talent.” Ten years. How many decades do you get in life? I’d given him my best ten years, given them to Starlight. What I got in return was being called a “craftswoman.” I picked up my phone and dialed my private lawyer. “Mr. Davis, prepare something.” “Prepare what, Ms. Linwood?” “Divorce papers, and also… a full audit for copyright divestment and asset liquidation for all film and television projects under Starlight Entertainment where I served as screenwriter or held the original creative concept.” Mr. Davis on the other end was silent for three seconds, clearly stunned by the news. “Ms. Linwood, are you certain? This is almost half of Starlight’s empire.” “I am.” I hung up, looking at the roses outside the window. Daniel, you think Scarlett is unpolished jade, a genius? Fine. I’d like to see what kind of castles in the air your unpolished jade can build without me, the “craftswoman,” laying the foundation. This play needed a new ending.

The next day, I didn’t go to the office. Daniel hadn’t returned home all night, not even a phone call. I guessed he was busy comforting his startled “innocent angel.” Good. I’d use this time to settle all the messy accounts between us. I had Mr. Davis’s team move into Starlight, beginning the copyright and financial audit. The news spread like wildfire, sending the entire company into an uproar. Daniel’s call finally came through at noon, his voice thick with suppressed fury. “Maya! What the hell are you trying to do?! Bringing lawyers into the company, do you want everyone to laugh at us?!” “Laugh at us?” I leisurely applied lipstick in the mirror, the vibrant red like a battle flag. “Mr. Sterling, what’s left between us besides a joke?” He choked, his breathing growing heavier. “Stop messing around! Get your lawyers out of there! We can talk about this at home!” “Home?” I chuckled. “Which home? The one with you in it, or the one with Scarlett?” “Maya!” he practically roared. “Are you really trying to destroy ten years of our lives together?!” “Our lives?” I pulled a cold smile at my reflection. “Daniel Sterling, from the moment you put Scarlett and me on a scale, calling her a genius and me a craftswoman, there was nothing left between us but business.” “And I, Maya Linwood, never do business at a loss.” I didn’t wait for his reply; I hung up directly. My phone rang again almost immediately. This time, it was my assistant, Chloe. Her voice was utterly frantic: “Maya! It’s bad! Something huge has happened!” “Slow down,” I said, remarkably calm. “Scarlett… Scarlett gave a live interview today, and she said… she said that the new script you’re working on, *Begonia*, the lead character ‘Begonia,’ is based on her!” My hand, applying lipstick, froze. *Begonia*. That was the script I wrote for my mother. My mother’s childhood nickname was Begonia. She was the most resilient, gentle woman I had ever known, and she passed away in an accident when I was ten. This script was my elegy to her, the softest, most sacred place in my heart. I had never mentioned it to anyone, not even Daniel. Scarlett… how could she know? “Not only that,” Chloe’s voice was tearful, “she also implied in the interview that many details of the character resembled her own life experiences, and she ‘thanked’ you for tailoring it for her… Now the entire internet is calling you a ‘genius screenwriter’ who, to promote Scarlett, even ‘copied’ her life story!” “Copied” her life? Heh, she wished. A wave of nausea and pure rage surged up from my gut. “Maya, the PR department is losing their minds, and Mr. Sterling’s phone is unreachable, what should we do?” “Don’t panic.” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, my gaze was icy. “Tell the PR department to do nothing. Wait for my message.” After hanging up, I immediately logged into my Ins account. That account, which had been dormant for almost a year, still boasted millions of followers. I didn’t post a long rant, just a photo and a single sentence. The photo was a black-and-white picture of my mother when she was young, holding a幼年的 me, smiling gently and serenely. In her eyes, one could vaguely see the shadow of the ‘Begonia’ character. The caption read: “*Begonia*, written for my one and only muse, my mother. She’s gone, but she lives forever in my stories. #BegoniaLivesOn” Not a single word mentioned Scarlett, but every word was a resounding slap across her face. Ins exploded instantly. #MayaLinwoodBegoniaIsMyMother #ScarlettHayesScam #FeelSorryForMaya These topics shot to the top three trending lists with unstoppable momentum. The tide of public opinion turned instantly. The marketing accounts that had previously praised Scarlett as “naturally talented” and “the chosen one” were left utterly exposed and humiliated. Countless netizens flooded Scarlett’s Ins, calling her a “fake innocent girl,” a “scheming manipulator,” and accusing her of “exploiting the deceased for fame.” I watched the comments, feeling no joy. Only a vast emptiness. I knew this was just the beginning. The war between me, Daniel, and Scarlett had just begun. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Daniel, just a few short words. [Are you satisfied?] I stared at those words and laughed. So, in his eyes, my act of clarifying the truth, of defending my mother’s dignity, was merely for my “satisfaction.” I didn’t reply. Because I knew he wouldn’t think that way for long. Sure enough, half an hour later, Chloe’s call came again, this time her voice filled with despair. “Maya… we’ve been hit by a backlash…” “What do you mean?” “Mr. Sterling… Mr. Sterling himself intervened.” Chloe’s voice trembled. “He ordered the company’s online smear campaign to claim that you… that you are exploiting your deceased mother, seeking sympathy, and deliberately suppressing a newcomer…” “He said Scarlett is just a naive young girl who misspoke out of pure admiration for you, and that you, as a senior, are being ruthless and utterly graceless!” “Now… now the tide has turned again, and many people are calling you malicious, calling you a publicity-seeker…” I gripped the phone, my knuckles turned white from gripping the phone. For a moment, I felt like I was choking on glass. Daniel Sterling. To protect Scarlett’s so-called “innocent darling” image. He actually stepped in personally, directing an online smear campaign, using the most vicious language to defame me and my deceased mother. He was trampling me into the mud, just to build a pure, unblemished wall around that ‘innocent’ woman he cherished. I finally understood. My talent, my efforts, my ten years of selfless love, even my most sacred family bonds. In front of Scarlett, they were utterly worthless. This man was no longer the boy who had weathered hardships with me. He had become a lunatic who would twist facts and sacrifice anything for his “precious darling.” And I was the price to be sacrificed at will. I opened my contacts and found a number I had saved but never thought I’d dial. The contact name was – Julian Thorne. The head of Aura Media, the man whom even Daniel Sterling had to treat with caution in the capital market. The call connected quickly. A deep, magnetic male voice, with a hint of lazy amusement, answered. “Ah, Ms. Linwood, finally remembered me?” “Mr. Thorne.” My voice was calm, without a ripple. “I want to discuss a business deal with you.” “Oh?” He seemed interested. “Tell me more.” “I want to start my own company, a new film and television production house.” “I have three A-list projects in hand: a sci-fi blockbuster, a suspense crime thriller, and one that’s currently at the center of controversy, *Begonia*.” “I need funding, distribution channels, and top-tier promotional resources.” “In return, you’ll own thirty percent of the new company’s shares, and… exclusive distribution rights for all projects overseas.” Silence fell on the other end of the line. It lasted so long I thought he would refuse. Then, Julian Thorne laughed, a deep chuckle, like the resonance of a cello. “Maya, do you know you’re declaring war on Daniel Sterling?” “I do.” “He’ll tear you apart.” “So what?” I looked out the window. The sky was darkening, a storm was brewing. “I have nothing left, so I have nothing to lose.” “Interesting,” Julian Thorne said. “I accept your terms.” “However, I have a condition too.” “Name it.” “I don’t want shares.” Julian Thorne’s voice, transmitted through the phone, carried an undeniable authority. “I want you.” I froze. “Mr. Thorne, I don’t…” “Don’t misunderstand,” he interrupted. “What I mean is, I want Maya Linwood to become the future head of production for Aura Media. Your new company, Aura will acquire it entirely. You’ll have one hundred percent creative freedom and decision-making power. I’ll give you the platform, the resources, everything I can give.” “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think betting on a genius’s revenge is far more thrilling than betting on a businessman’s marriage.” “Besides,” he paused, his voice dropping lower, imbued with a strange seduction, “I also want to see Daniel Sterling’s expression when the jewel he personally destroyed blossoms with even more dazzling brilliance in someone else’s hands.” “It’ll be quite a show, won’t it?” I had Mr. Davis send the divorce papers directly to Starlight’s board of directors. Attached was a fifty-page list for copyright divestment and asset liquidation.

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  My wife had always hated stuffed animals. But recently, she bought a giant teddy bear—and started cuddling it to sleep every night. As for me, I was left to the side, completely ignored. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, during our daughter’s first birthday banquet, I asked for a divorce. The entire room went silent in shock. Cora splashed a glass of wine in my face and shouted, “You’re jealous of a teddy bear?! Are you out of your mind?” I calmly wiped my face and said coldly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to spend the rest of your life with that teddy bear? I’m just making it easy for you.” —— “Jason!” she seethed. “Our daughter just turned one—and you’re divorcing me over this? What kind of heartless bastard are you?” Cora’s eyes turned red with fury, her body trembling. “Sign the papers,” I said, throwing the divorce agreement on the table. “See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine tomorrow morning.” I didn’t bother explaining, and just turned and walked away. The guests were stunned again, exchanging confused glances. We were the couple everyone admired—the so-called perfect match. No one understood how things could fall apart so suddenly. There was a flash of panic in Cora’s eyes. Her parents frowned, their expressions darkening. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be this decisive. Her assistant, Amos, grabbed my arm and pleaded, “Come on, all girls like stuffed animals—are you really making a scene over this? Apologize to Ms. Cora.” “Have you forgotten how she nearly died giving birth to your child? She refused anesthesia and passed out from the pain, just to deliver your daughter.” “She sleeps in a separate room and takes care of the baby herself, so she doesn’t disturb your rest. Can’t you see how much she’s sacrificing for you?” More guests chimed in, rebuking me. “He’s right! You two had a good thing going. So many people envy you for marrying such a good woman.” “If there’s a problem, talk it through. What kind of man uses divorce as a threat? You can’t just take it out on your wife.” Cora took a deep breath and steadied herself. Then she rushed over and hugged me tightly. “Honey,” she said softly, “we’ve been through twelve years together—from strangers to soulmates. You’ve always been gentle and patient. You never lost your temper.” “Is it something at work? Are you trying to protect me by pushing me away? Tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.” Hearing her speak up for me so earnestly, the guests began to side with her. They looked at me with increasing disappointment. “Jason,” her father finally spoke up. “I may be retired and out of the business world, but I still carry some weight.” “We’re all family. If something’s wrong, you should say it. Don’t bottle it up.” Even Cora’s parents chose to believe in me. After all, I was the son-in-law they had hand-picked. But I didn’t care about any of them. Without a glance around, I shoved Cora off me. My voice was cold. “It’s simple. I don’t love you anymore.” A dead silence ensued. “…What?” Cora froze. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes. “I said—I don’t love you anymore,” I repeated. “Did you hear me clearly this time?” I stepped past her, ready to leave. “Stop right there!” Amos grabbed me by the collar and yelled, “Enough with this nonsense! Even as her assistant, I can’t stand watching this anymore!” “Have you forgotten how hard you chased after her for three whole years?” “And it took another six just to finally walk down the aisle with her!” “Have you forgotten what you said at your wedding? To hold her hand and grow old together. To never leave her.” “And your kid is already one year old! Do you want him to grow up in a broken home?” Watching him defend her so passionately, I smirked and said with a mocking tone, “Why are you so worked up? What—don’t tell me… you have feelings for her?”

“Anyone with a conscience would be disgusted by a thankless bastard like you.” Amos clapped back. His tone was growing even more arrogant. “You came from nothing, and yet Cora didn’t look down on you. She even arranged a job for you in her family’s company.” “If it weren’t for theCronin family, would you be living the good life you have now? Would you even be sitting in the president’s chair?” Smack! I slapped him across the face without hesitation. “You’re just an assistant. Know your place and keep your mouth shut.” Seeing him hurt, Cora instantly panicked. “Jason, are you insane?! What gives you the right to hit Amos?” She shoved me aside and hurried to help Amos off the ground. Her eyes were full of concern. “He deserved it,” I said flatly, clenching my fists, utterly unapologetic. The crowd instantly turned against me. They began to think my usual calm demeanor was all just an act—deep down, I was nothing but a violent hypocrite. Amos lowered his head and said quietly to Cora, “I’m sorry, Cora. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. I must have upset Mr. Jason. Please don’t blame him.” He looked so guilty and remorseful. “It’s not your fault,” she replied gently. “I dragged you into this.” Then she turned to me, her voice low and humble, “Honey, this is between us. Don’t take it out on others.” “Today is our daughter’s first birthday. Can’t we just get through the day without drama? I’m begging you.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. Her softness. My aggression. The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Naturally, the guests sided with her. Her father, Franco, took a deep breath and tried to mediate once more. “Jason, over the years, you’ve always been hardworking, devoted to the family, and respectful to your elders.” “There’s no need for things to get this ugly.” “If you really feel wronged, bring out the evidence. I promise I’ll stand up for you.” He was giving me an out, but I didn’t take it. I remained cold and firm. “This marriage is over. I’m divorcing her no matter what.” At that instant, his expression changed, and a hint of gloom clouded his face. Cora looked at me through tears. “Is there someone else?” she asked, voice quivering. “Think whatever you want,” I said indifferently. “If that’s what you believe, go ahead.” “That’s enough!” Franco finally exploded. “Jason, I’ll give you three days to think this through.” “Either you go home and act like a husband and father—” “—or we’ll see you in court. And don’t expect to leave with a dime.” “Don’t forget, everything you have now came from me.” The words were harsh and final. Everyone thought I’d finally give in. But instead, I turned and walked out without hesitation. Outside, my junior from university, Kelly, was already waiting for me. “I’ve already sent someone to Europe,” she said with a smile. “The answers you want—won’t take long now.” “Thank you.” I leaned wearily against the backseat, exhaustion soaking into my bones. “I’ll be facing Cora in court in three days,” I added. “I’ll need you to represent me.” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and opened a video clip. In the surveillance footage, Cora’s beloved teddy bear walked straight out of the side bedroom. Then—it began dancing in front of the living room camera. That footage alone was enough to upend everything. Three days. That’s all I needed. Originally, I planned to check into a hotel. But all my bank cards had been frozen. Only then did I remember—over the past year, control of our finances had slowly shifted back into theCronin family’s hands. Even the bank account was now registered under Cora’s name. I had thought I was living in a warm and happy family. In reality, I was completely alone. That night, I crashed at Kelly’s place. The next morning, I returned to the company to collect my things. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I was bombarded by gossip and whispers from the employees.

“A live-in son-in-law asking for a divorce? Doesn’t even know how lucky he is—he’s dumber than a pig.” “So what if PresidentCronin likes cuddling a teddy bear to sleep? That’s not weird. I do it too!” “He probably got bored of her after she gave birth and her figure changed a little. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s keeping a harem of mistresses on the side.” The way they looked at me was full of disgust as though I were some vile criminal. I hadn’t even opened my mouth to respond when a familiar voice rang out from behind. “Enough! Who gave you permission to speak like that? Get back to work!” It was Cora. Only then did the employees reluctantly scatter. She walked up to me with a warm smile. “Honey,” she said, “I bought you a new watch. Try it on.” From her bag, she took out a pristine wristwatch. Gasps erupted around us. “A Patek Philippe limited edition! Only three were ever made—rumor is, they were all snatched up by mysterious collectors!” “PresidentCronin must’ve gone to great lengths to get her hands on this. She’s so thoughtful…” Everyone looked on with admiration and envy. But my response remained cold. “I came to collect my family heirloom,” I said, stepping back. “You can save the watch—for your teddy bear.” The words hit like ice water. Cora froze, stunned. The crowd erupted again, only now with outrage. “What an ungrateful bastard!” “He doesn’t deserve anything good!” I ignored every word and headed upstairs. When my parents passed, they left me with only one thing—a pendant they said would ward off evil. I’d worn it around my neck ever since. A while ago, Cora had complained that her office felt eerie, that strange noises kept happening. So I’d taken off the pendant and hung it in her office. From that day on, everything went quiet. But now? She didn’t deserve to keep it. As I entered her office, I saw Amos playing with a little girl. “President Jason,” he greeted with a grin. “You’re finally back. Nothing matters more than a happy family. Come, take a look at your daughter.” “She’s adorable—how could you bear to walk away from her?” He walked over with the child in his arms. “Move,” I said with a frown of pure disgust. “She’s your daughter,” Amos insisted, his voice rising. “You won’t even spare her a glance?” “Get out of my way!” I shoved him aside impatiently and walked straight in to retrieve the pendant. I turned. Amos and the girl had both fallen to the floor. At that exact moment, Cora walked in with several senior executives and saw everything. She rushed to the child, checking her from head to toe. Only when she confirmed there were no injuries did she breathe a sigh of relief. “What happened?” she asked, eyes darting between me and Amos. Amos hung his head. “I just wanted President Jason to look at his daughter, but he refused. He pushed me… I wasn’t steady on my feet, and I fell.” What? Before I could react, Cora slapped me hard across the face.   “You’ve become heartless!” she screamed. “That’s your own daughter!” “She’s barely a year old. What if she had been seriously hurt?” My face remained indifferent. “Say whatever you want. Even if she had died from the fall—it’s not my problem.” Her expression collapsed. Tears streamed down her face. Amos pointed at me, shaking with rage. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Cursing your own daughter to die? You’re beyond help!” “Enough,” Cora choked out, trembling with fury. “I’m done.” “Get out.” “Get out of my life! I can raise our daughter on my own. She doesn’t need a father like you.” “We’ll settle this in court.” Cora’s final words were practically screamed at the top of her lungs. I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked away. Not long after, news of my divorce with her exploded online. One exposé after another flooded the internet. Some claimed I was keeping dozens of mistresses. Some said I was a regular at shady clubs. Others even alleged I had an illegitimate child. Photos were posted as so-called evidence. I was crucified on the internet—labeled a heartless scumbag who abandoned his wife and child. Still, I remained silent. No explanations. No statements. Until three days later, when I appeared in court. Because the trial was public, the gallery was packed—not just with friends and family, but with reporters as well. “Jason,” Cora said, fists clenched tightly, “I’ll give you one last chance. Admit your mistake, and let’s move on with our lives.” Amos chimed in beside her. “You don’t have a leg to stand on. You’ll lose everything in the divorce. What then? Who’s going to want anything to do with you?” “Just give in,” he sneered. “Unless you want to end up sleeping on the street.” Cora’s parents sat stiff-faced. “Jason,” her father said sternly, “think carefully about the consequences.” “If your whole argument for splitting assets is that Cora sleeps with a teddy bear, you have no chance of winning.” In the face of their criticism, I said nothing. I simply walked to my seat beside Kelly. The entireCronin family scoffed in unison. The hearing began. After reviewing Cora’s submitted evidence, the judge turned to me. “Sleeping with a teddy bear doesn’t constitute a fault in a marriage,” he said. “However, the plaintiff has submitted over fifty photos of you in intimate situations with other women.” “If you cannot provide new evidence, the court will rule you at fault based on the current facts.” I stood up calmly. “I have evidence.” Now the real show was about to begin.

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My intern, Tyler, used a deposit transfer function on me. No matter how much money I had in my account, the balance would always revert to fifty dollars. In my last life, all I dreamed of was buying my own apartment near the office. Until I finally saved up half a million dollars for a down payment. When I swiped my card, the real estate agent told me I had insufficient funds. I checked my transaction history, confronted the bank, reported it to the police, but everyone dismissed me as crazy. Because my bank statements showed every single transaction clearly. But these were expenses I, who lived frugally, had never made! I told my colleagues about it, and to my surprise, after seeing my bank statements, a few malicious male colleagues actually taunted me: “Liam frequently spends thousands at a certain bar in the middle of the night! That price perfectly matches a full night with a model!” Faced with such misunderstandings, no matter how much I explained, it was useless. I anonymously posted about it online. Netizens all commented that I was making things up to grab attention for selling products; only one comment advised me to observe my surroundings and see if anyone else’s spending matched my statements. Through careful observation, I indeed discovered that Tyler, the new intern in our department, would cause a deduction from my card every time he made a purchase. Even buying a drink would immediately show up. After identifying my target, I confronted Tyler directly, only to be mocked. He said I was reckless with my money, and trying to blame others for my inability to save was delusional. He even ganged up with company colleagues and had me committed to a mental institution. After two years in the hospital, unable to endure the torment, I finally found an opportunity to escape and jumped into a river to commit suicide. Unexpectedly, when I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before I was going to buy the apartment.

Reborn, the first thing I did was open my banking app to check my balance. Sure enough, only fifty bucks remained. I quickly pieced together the situation. My money, had already been transferred to Tyler’s account through some unknown means he possessed. I wanted nothing more than to drag Tyler down with me, but in my previous life, after my death, seeing my parents’ hair turn white overnight, I regretted it. If I acted impulsively like before, I would only repeat the same mistakes. Just then, Ms. Miller, our department manager, called me over. “Liam, this order might be a bit tricky, but the commission is five thousand dollars! Don’t say I didn’t look out for you, honey!” My throat tightened, and I swallowed hard, almost instinctively. Five thousand dollars. Enough for a month’s rent, with a good chunk left over. But I still refused. “Thanks, Ms. Miller. But for the next month, I don’t want to take any orders.” Ignoring Ms. Miller’s stunned expression, I turned and walked out of the office. Because of the poor soundproofing, the colleagues outside had already heard everything. Immediately, discussions erupted. “Liam’s the company’s sales champion! He used to fight for every order, but he just refused one today?” “Not just today, didn’t you hear him say he wouldn’t take any for the next month?!” Disregarding the gossip around me, I opened my food delivery app, ordered the largest iced americano, and then deducted the last fifty dollars from my card. You should know, in my previous life, I couldn’t even bring myself to buy a dollar coffee from the vending machine. To build a life for myself in this impossibly expensive city, I worked myself to the bone, sacrificing everything. Every day, I’d stay up until two or three in the morning doing client follow-ups, wake up before dawn, and get packed like a sardine on the subway for two grueling hours, just to punch in on time. One late clock-in meant a fifty-dollar deduction. That was nearly a week’s worth of food for me. I dreamed of buying my own apartment near the office, even if it was just a small studio. Every payday, I’d only keep three hundred dollars for living expenses. The rest went straight into my bank account. But I never imagined that the half a million dollars I desperately saved for a down payment would end up in someone else’s pocket! Just then, the office door was flung open. “Guys! Lunch is on me!” Tyler’s boisterous voice instantly filled the room. His face was flushed with excitement, a brand-new Swiss watch glinting on his wrist, looking like a lottery winner who’d just hit big. “Let’s go to The Grand Hotel! Order whatever you want!” The office erupted, and colleagues swarmed around him. “Tyler, did you strike it rich?” “Who’s your sugar daddy?” I didn’t move, just held my coffee, my eyes cold as I watched him. Because I knew, he was spending *my* money. Tyler, surrounded by the crowd, waved his hand, feigning modesty: “Oh, you know, just bought a lottery ticket a couple of days ago, won a small prize.” A nosy colleague immediately pressed him: “How much did you win?”

Tyler glanced at me, a smug smile playing on his lips. “Not much,” he said nonchalantly, “just a few hundred thousand.” A collective gasp echoed through the office. A few hundred thousand was an astronomical sum for us, who barely made five figures a month. But I noticed that from the moment Tyler entered, his gaze kept drifting towards me, purposefully. As if he was observing a lab rat’s reaction. He was watching to see if I had already discovered that my bank card was now useless. I suppressed the hatred churning in my gut, biting back the questions that almost burst from my lips. For now, I couldn’t tip him off. I stood up, forcing a perfectly natural smile, even a hint of envy. “Tyler, congratulations! I’ve got to bask in your good fortune.” Seeing my composed demeanor, a flicker of surprise crossed Tyler’s eyes, then he subtly let out a sigh of relief, clearly feeling guilty. He probably thought I hadn’t noticed the anomaly in my savings yet. As lunchtime approached, Kyle, who sat next to me, suddenly leaned over. “Liam, didn’t you say you’d go house-hunting once you had enough for the down payment? When are you going? I’ll go with you.” At the mention of the apartment, I clenched my fists tightly, my nails almost digging into my flesh. But I quickly relaxed them, maintaining a calm expression. “No rush,” I said. “I lost my ID a couple of days ago, and it takes time to replace it. Besides, house prices are dropping so fast now, I might as well wait and see.” The words were barely out of my mouth when I felt a gaze land on me again. It was Tyler. He was watching me again, his eyes betraying a hint of unconcealed glee. Tyler had only been an intern at the company for two months. He was five foot seven, weighed 180 pounds, had an ordinary face, and ranked last in sales performance. In our sales department, where looks and业绩 mattered, he should have been at the bottom of the food chain. But in my previous life, it was him who used my half a million dollars, first to get full-body liposuction, then plastic surgery. He transformed himself into a charismatic, handsome golden boy that everyone adored. It was also him who used my money to buy loyalty, colluding with a few female colleagues to have me committed to a mental institution, citing my “mental instability.” Recalling the two years of torment in that mental institution, I took another deep breath to calm myself. At noon, Tyler took us to The Grand Hotel for lunch, grandly telling us to order whatever we wanted. I didn’t hold back. I opened the menu and pointed directly to the most expensive pages. “King crab, the biggest one.” “Australian lobster sashimi.” “And this, the French foie gras.” “A bird’s nest soup for everyone, please.” With each dish I ordered, the expressions of my colleagues grew more entertaining. Kyle nudged my arm, whispering, “Liam, isn’t this… a bit too wasteful?” I smiled at him, saying nothing. Spending my own money, how could it be called wasteful? Tyler’s cheek twitched, but in front of everyone, he could only force a smile. “It’s fine, Liam’s our sales champion, he’s worked so hard, he deserves to eat well and recharge.” He grinned brightly. “He still has to eat more and work harder in the future, to create more业绩 for our department!” Before I could speak, a colleague next to me chimed in: “Oh, Tyler, you weren’t here this morning, so you didn’t know. Liam just told Ms. Miller that he’s stopping all his orders for the next month.” The air instantly went quiet. I leisurely wiped the corner of my mouth with a napkin and looked up at Tyler. The smile on his face froze, inch by inch. “What did you say?” He glared at me, his voice sharp as he yelled: “Liam, why are you stopping orders?” “What do you mean by this?”

I met Tyler’s almost furious gaze and slowly curved my lips. “Why are you so agitated that I’m stopping orders?” The colleagues around us also exchanged glances, their eyes burning with gossip. “Yeah, Tyler,” Kyle couldn’t help but speak up, “Liam himself isn’t worried, why are you reacting so strongly?” “Exactly, anyone would think you were the one who stopped orders.” The collective whispers were like cold water, instantly snapping Tyler out of his outburst. The ferocity on his face rapidly faded, replaced by a forced expression of extreme concern. “I… I’m just worried about Liam, that’s all!” He raised his voice, as if to sound more sincere. “Didn’t you say you were only a few orders away from your down payment? The Grandview Towers orders are so hard to get, stopping now means losing out on so much money! I’m just feeling bad for you!” He looked on the verge of tears, acting as if it were real. I smiled. “I’m tired, I want to rest.” I casually picked up a spot prawn, slowly peeling its shell. “Besides,” I paused, looking up at him, my gaze pure and harmless, “didn’t you just win a big lottery prize? Hundreds of thousands, right? What if I really am a bit short on my down payment, you… wouldn’t refuse to lend me some, would you?” The air froze again. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Tyler. The color drained from his face instantly, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. I put the peeled shrimp meat into my mouth, slowly adding. “Our generous Tyler, he’d definitely help, right?” He was put on the spot, scorched by everyone’s gaze, and finally, he squeezed out a few words, almost through gritted teeth. “Of… of course I would.” As if afraid I would actually ask, he immediately added, “But, I didn’t win that much, it’s just… just pocket money.” I looked at the new Celine short-sleeved shirt he was wearing, the globally limited Swiss watch on his wrist, and this table full of lavish dishes that could feed an ordinary person for half a year. Indeed. My half a million dollars wouldn’t even last him a few days at this rate. I thoroughly enjoyed that meal. Before leaving, I asked the waiter to pack up all the untouched king crab and lobster. A few colleagues whispered behind my back. “Oh my God, taking leftovers, that’s so tacky, isn’t it?” “Seriously, like he’s never eaten before, so embarrassing.” I heard them but pretended not to, just smiling sweetly at Tyler. “Tyler, look how much you’ve spent. All these good things, it would be such a waste not to take them. I’ll take them home to eat, you don’t mind, do you?” Tyler’s face was a kaleidoscope of emotions. But in front of everyone, he could only grit his teeth and nod. “No… I don’t mind.” Back at the company, I nonchalantly placed the packed containers into the communal fridge, completely ignoring the strange looks from my colleagues. In the afternoon, I knocked on the door of Ms. Davis’s office. “Ms. Davis, I’d like to advance half a month’s salary.” Ms. Davis looked up at me: “By regulation, it requires a manager’s signature, and it’s all processed at the end of the month.” I handed her a pre-prepared application form, already signed. “The manager approved it.” “And, I don’t want a bank transfer.” “Cash only.” If money in my card vanished as if by magic, then cash should be safe, right? An hour later, clutching a hefty stack of bills in an envelope, I returned to my cubicle. This was my base salary for the current month and part of last month’s commission, fifteen thousand dollars. I tucked the envelope into the deepest compartment of my bag, zipping it shut. In my previous life, it was from that half a million that I slowly plunged into the abyss. In this life, I would climb back up from this fifteen thousand. But I hadn’t even settled into my seat, not even five minutes had passed. My right eye began to twitch uncontrollably, a sudden, alarming flutter. *Thump, thump, thump.* Each twitch more violent than the last. A deeply ominous premonition instantly gripped my heart! I quickly unzipped my bag, reaching for that compartment— It was empty! The envelope was still there, but the thick stack of cash inside had vanished! My blood ran cold instantly, every hair on my body standing on end. I hadn’t realized that the deposit transfer method Tyler used on me had no limits whatsoever! Was he trying to cut off all my escape routes? I looked at Tyler not far away, a flicker of glee on his face. I clenched my fists tightly. Good thing I’d already thought of a way to break this cycle! Five minutes later, I had just returned to the office from the restroom when the police arrived. Amidst everyone’s stunned expressions, I stepped forward directly.

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My brother, Liam Thompson, harbored a decade of hatred for me. The last time we argued, I left town alone and unexpectedly found myself caught in an earthquake. Just as a hotel chandelier was about to crash down on me, Liam suddenly appeared, shielding me with his body. “Skye, run! Don’t look back!” The chandelier fell heavily, shattering his spine, yet he looked at me with a relieved smile. “Mom and Dad’s dying wish was for me to take care of you. I did it.” “If there’s a next life, I hope you never appear before our family again.” Someone held me back, forcing me to watch as my brother was completely buried beneath the rubble. That night, having lost my last remaining family member, I didn’t hesitate to leap into the river. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my birth family found me. I saw Liam waiting outside the police station. I walked past him, heading straight for another boy behind him. “Brother,” I called out. “You don’t remember anything at all?” Officer Davies looked at me, pen in hand, unwilling to miss any detail. “Try to think harder. Like, what’s your last name? Roughly where do you live? Who’s in your family?” “You were seven or eight when you were abducted. You should have some memories, logically.” I lowered my gaze, speaking slowly. “I was always beaten there. Once, I was hit on the head, passed out, and when I woke up, I couldn’t remember much.” Officer Davies’s eyes softened with sympathy. She put down her pen. “It’s okay. If you remember anything later, you can always contact us.” I left the police station, about to head towards the temporary lodging they’d arranged for me. But then, I saw a familiar figure rushing toward me. Liam? My heart lurched. In my past life, Liam had only come to pick me up reluctantly after the police contacted the Thompsons. Why was he here already this time? Liam’s eyes lit up when he saw me, and he quickly closed the distance between us. I was about to speak, but he beat me to it. “I’m warning you, don’t try to claim any relation. Our family already has a daughter.” It hit me like a ton of bricks. Liam had been reborn too, no wonder… He was afraid I’d return to claim my place, just like in my previous life, so he wanted to stop me first. A bitter ache bloomed in my chest, but I looked up, feigning confusion. “Who are you? What do you mean by ‘our family’?” Liam’s expression turned suspicious. “What game are you playing now?” I pointed to my head and said, straightforwardly, “I really don’t know you. I got hurt here before, and I can’t remember a lot of things.” A flicker of guilt crossed Liam’s eyes when he heard about my injury, but it quickly vanished. “I don’t care if you’re really suffering from amnesia or faking it. All you need to know is that the Thompsons’ house isn’t where you belong.” He paused, then continued. “Even though we’re strangers, I can give you some money and help you find an apartment until you’re an adult, just because I feel sorry for you. As long as you don’t go babbling to the police and disturbing my family.” I shook my head. “Thank you, but I don’t need it.” Ignoring his stunned gaze, I got into the waiting car. I remembered Liam’s smiling face just before he died in my previous life, saying he could finally be reunited with Mom, Dad, and Mia. My heart twisted with an unbearable pang of sorrow. He risked his life to save me. But in his heart, he only ever had one sister… Since they were so happy as a family of four without me, Then let them continue to be happy in this life.

At the lodging, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. Staring at the dark night sky outside the window, memories crashed over me like waves. In my past life, it was also this year that the police rescued me from the remote mountains. I cried, giving them Mom and Dad’s names and address, my heart full of the hope that I was finally going home. But when I was sent back, I found a strange girl in the house. Mom and Dad awkwardly explained that after I was abducted, they were in so much pain that they adopted her. Her name was Mia. They looked at me with complicated expressions, like I was a stranger who had suddenly invaded their lives. They were gentle and affectionate with Mia, as if she were their true daughter. But… but they used to love me the most. I broke down, screaming and shouting until my throat was raw. I pointed at Mia, calling her a thief who had stolen the home that was rightfully mine. Mom and Dad scolded me, saying I was thoughtless. I trembled, crying, my voice hoarse. “But I suffered so much! Why does she get to live in luxury?!” Mom and Dad watched me in silence, their eyes showing both heartache and hesitation. Unexpectedly, that night, Mia left a letter and quietly slipped away. She said she was going back to the orphanage, not wanting the family to break apart because of her. My heart was filled with unease. But Mom and Dad didn’t blame me; they just sighed and said they were going to the orphanage to bring her back. Liam wanted to go with them but was stopped. “You stay home with your sister. She’s finally back, you need to take good care of her.” As it turned out, they never came back. Their car was in an accident on the way to pick up Mia. All three of them were gone. From then on, Liam hated me. He hated me for ten whole years. Thinking of this, my throat constricted, and a familiar sting burned behind my eyes. I wiped away the tears. Now that I couldn’t go back to the Thompson family, I had to think about my future. I was not yet sixteen; I needed a guardian. Suddenly, a name surfaced in my mind. Caleb Maxwell. A skinny boy who always shielded me when we were beaten. In my past life, if it hadn’t been for him, I would have been bought to be a child bride for that family’s dim-witted son. When we were shivering, locked in the pigsty, he wrapped his only remaining clothes around me. “From now on, I’m your brother. I’ll protect you.” We endured countless grueling days together. But later, he was sold to another village. When we were rescued, the police said the people in that village had been freed before us. In my past life, I had wanted to find him. But the sudden changes in my birth family prevented me from doing so. In this life, I decided to find him. The next day, at dawn, I went to the police station. “Officers, I remember where my family lives.” After registering the information, I turned to leave the police station. But Liam Thompson, who had rushed over, grabbed my wrist. “You tricked me again! You really were faking it before!” “Why are you so determined to go back to my family? They don’t want you.” His voice trembled, as if suppressing immense anger. “Don’t you understand? I already have a sister. Mom and Dad dote on her endlessly. They don’t need an extra daughter.” I shook off his hand and continued walking out without a word. Liam was so infuriated by my attitude that his eyes turned bloodshot. He suddenly shouted, “Weren’t you abducted? Why didn’t you just stay in those mountains forever?!” His hysterical outburst was identical to his fury in my previous life, after our parents died, when he pointed his finger at me and screamed, “Why didn’t you die instead of them?” I raised my hand and slapped him hard. *Slap!* The sharp sound silenced him for a moment. “Who do you think you’re talking to?” I stared at him, asking each word distinctly. “Do you think someone who was abducted deserves to die out there?” Liam seemed to snap awake from the slap. He staggered back half a step, regret showing in his eyes. “I’m sorry…” Officer Davies, who had finally had enough, frowned and stepped in front of me. “Excuse me, sir, how can you speak like that? This young lady is looking for her family. It’s not your place to dictate.” Liam was silent for a long moment, then, with a cold face, he grabbed my arm. “You want to go home, don’t you? Come on.” But I pulled my arm free from his grasp, and to his surprise, I hid behind Officer Davies. “Yes, I want to go home, but what does that have to do with you?”

“My brother’s name is Caleb Maxwell, and he lives in S-Province.” I spoke each word clearly to Liam Thompson. Liam froze, then looked at me incredulously. “Skye Thompson, you’ve gotten bold, haven’t you?” “Where did you get a brother named Caleb Maxwell?!” Officer Davies immediately pulled me behind her, protectively, and turned to ask me, “Young lady, do you know him?” I shook my head, my voice very soft. “No, I don’t. And… I’m not Skye Thompson. My last name is Maxwell.” Liam’s expression instantly changed to shock, disbelief written all over his face. Suddenly, he seemed to understand something. “You’re back too, aren’t you?” I lowered my head, clutching the hem of my shirt. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “Skye Thompson!” Liam’s eyes blazed with raging hatred. “Do you think playing dumb or pretending to have amnesia will erase the fact that you’re a murderer?” “And you even made up a fake name to trick me,” He scoffed. “What, do you think I’d be worried?” “Let me tell you, keep dreaming.” He took a step closer, his eyes mocking. “Fine. Your brother’s named Caleb Maxwell, right? Then go find him.” He watched me smugly, as if certain I would panic. “You’re insane!” Officer Davies cursed, then pulled me into her patrol car. “Come on, ignore him.” Liam finally panicked, chasing after us and banging on the car window. “Where are you going?!” But he only got a mouthful of exhaust fumes. The car drove for a long time, eventually stopping in front of a garden house. My heart was surprised. I hadn’t expected Caleb’s family to be quite wealthy. This instantly boosted my confidence about relying on him. We walked up and knocked on the door. After a long wait, someone finally opened it. The man standing behind the door was tall and slender, with refined features that held a hint of sickly paleness. His messy hair slightly obscured his eyes, and his shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing thin wrists. Seeing us, he paused. “And you are?” “Brother, I’m your sister!” I rushed straight into his arms. He stiffened, but didn’t immediately push me away. “Skye, are you crazy?!” Liam suddenly rushed up the stairs, pulling me away and angrily pointing at Caleb. “What are you doing! Do you even know who he is? Just throwing yourself into someone’s arms? What if he’s a bad guy?!” Seeing Liam’s dusty, travel-worn appearance, he must have followed us all the way. Just like in my previous life, when he secretly followed me and ultimately risked his life to save me. My gaze lingered on him, unreadable. “He’s my brother. What right do you have to insult my brother?” Liam laughed in exasperation. “He’s your brother? Skye Thompson, do you even have eyes?!” I retorted, word for word, “If he’s not my brother, then are you?” I stared at him, watching as Liam’s mouth opened, the word “yes” almost escaping. But he forcefully stopped himself. He glared at me, then let out a cold laugh. “You almost tricked me there. I told you I’m not your brother. You don’t deserve to be my sister.” A cynical smile tugged at my lips. Officer Davies finally lost her patience, cutting in sharply. “Which one of you is her brother, for goodness sake?!”

The moment I threw myself into Caleb’s arms, He already recognized me. Seeing my pleading eyes, Caleb sighed and turned to Officer Davies. “I’m her brother. Thank you for helping me find my sister.” Liam’s expression turned incredulous. “Fine. Just fine.” He looked at me with a grim face. “This isn’t me forcing you, it’s your own choice. Don’t regret it later.” With that, he turned and left. Watching Liam’s retreating back, a wave of unspeakable bitterness washed over me. Isn’t this exactly what he wanted? For me not to return to his family? Yet why did he look so betrayed? After everyone else had left, I quietly said to Caleb, “I’m sorry, I caused you trouble.” “He’s your biological brother, isn’t he?” Caleb asked. “If you’re having family issues,” Caleb advised, “you should go back once you’ve made up.” I shook my head, memories of my past life flashing through my mind. I couldn’t go back. Just as I was about to speak, my peripheral vision caught sight of an uncollected pill bottle on the table. My stomach dropped when I read the label. Looking at the man whose head was bowed, his expression unreadable, I grabbed Caleb’s hand. “You once told me that if I had no home, you’d be my brother and take care of me for life.” My voice trembled slightly. “Does that promise still stand now?” Caleb was silent for a very long time, so long that I thought time itself had stopped. Finally, he nodded. “It stands.” I happily threw myself into his arms. “Then from today on, you’re my real brother, and I’m your only sister.” I looked up at him. “We’re each other’s family.” “Now… Brother, I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day.” Caleb clearly paused. “Okay, I’ll go grocery shopping. What do you want to eat?” “Tomato scrambled eggs, and just buy whatever else you like.” I said casually. Caleb nodded and left the house. I took the opportunity to dump all the pills from the table into a drawer. Pretending I knew nothing. However, soon after, there was a knock at the door. “How are you back so quickly?” I opened the door, only to see Liam Thompson standing there, his face grim. “Why are you here?” Liam grabbed my hand without a word, pulling me toward the door. “Come with me.” I shook off his hand. “Where are you taking me?” “Home! Skye Thompson, there’s a limit to how much you can fake amnesia! Do you really want to stay in a strange man’s house with no proper explanation?” Liam’s voice suddenly carried a hint of fatigue. “Since we’re both back, let’s just forget about what happened in the last life. Come home with me and be sensible. Mom and Dad and I won’t mistreat you. Stop trying to compete with Mia…” I cut Liam off. “What if I said my condition for coming home is for Mia to leave? Would you agree?” The air instantly froze. Liam looked at me incredulously, then his eyes filled with hatred. “I knew it! You truly are evil by nature! Why are you so determined to drive Mia out?” “Let me tell you, don’t even dream about it! Mia has been with Mom and Dad for so many years; in their hearts, she’s already like a real daughter!” “See?” I sneered. “I only proposed the idea, and I haven’t even done anything, yet your reaction is so extreme.” “Between Mia and me, it was never fair from the start!” My voice began to tremble. “Did any of you ever consider my feelings? Was I abducted willingly? Do you know how much I suffered during those years I was kidnapped?” “Why should I be magnanimous enough to accept that the love that was originally mine is now split with someone else?” “It was your own fault for being so reckless and getting abducted in the first place!” Liam blurted out. “Who else is to blame?” I suddenly looked up, my gaze sharp as a knife. “Are you sure it was my fault for being reckless?” I took a step closer to him. “Liam Thompson, you’ve lied to everyone for so long, have you actually started believing your own lies?” His face instantly turned ashen. I knew he remembered. When I was seven, Liam insisted on taking me to play in a secluded cornfield. I didn’t want to go into the cornfield, but he called me a coward, shook off my hand, and rushed in himself.

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The perennial singleton, Serena, was asked on a reality show: “Artists your age are already married with children. Why are you still single?” Serena smiled faintly: “Because the man I love already has a devoted wife.” “Oh my god! Who did he marry?!” Serena glanced at me, also a guest on the show. My social media was instantly flooded: “How does it feel to be a homewrecker?” “Are you happy about ruining someone’s life?” “Are you really not going to let your husband go?” I looked at Liam Miller, the investor sitting in the audience: “Honey, they’re asking if I should let you go.” “Oh my god! Serena, the man you love is… Mr. Miller!” Serena darted a glance at Liam, then quickly lowered her eyes, a hint of reluctance in them. The live comments were going wild: 【OMG, she’s so jealous! My heart aches for her!】 【Jade’s triumphant smirk, flaunting Mr. Miller right in front of Serena – isn’t she just rubbing salt in the wound?】 【Um… but Mr. Miller *is* Jade’s husband, right?】 【The commenter above defending a homewrecker? Must be one herself!】 … I simply glanced at Liam, unfazed. Three years of marriage, and no one had ever questioned our relationship. He insisted on investing in any reality show I joined, just in case I was targeted by the crew. If he couldn’t accompany me, he’d double his investment. But as I really looked at Liam, I found his gaze fixed on Serena. His eyes were complex, holding an emotion I couldn’t decipher. My hand, propped against my chin, subtly dropped away. How could I have forgotten? Serena was the one Liam loved first. Back then, Serena was so fresh and ethereal. At an age when other girls would swoon if Liam merely looked their way, only she would disdainfully toss his gifts in the trash, muttering: “Entitled jerk.” Even when she reluctantly agreed to date him, she broke up with him abruptly on the day of our college entrance exams: “You have a bright future ahead. I won’t be joining you on that path.” Liam completely shut down on the spot. It was me, with a face strikingly similar to Serena’s, who approached him: “If she won’t keep you company, I will. I can play any role you want, just pay me.” I became Serena’s stand-in. I made a killing by the side of the wealthy heir. When the Millers demanded he marry, I packed my bags to leave. But he grabbed my hand. The man who had been withdrawn for years declared firmly: “I want her.” I touched his forehead: “Do you even know who I am?” “Jade.” “Not Serena?” He gritted his teeth: “Jade, it’s always been Jade.” I leaned in closer: “Who is Jade to you?” “My wife.” After helping the scion overcome his withdrawal, the Miller family immediately accepted me as their daughter-in-law. Everyone said I was lucky, that I’d snagged a man even A-list actresses couldn’t win over, and I, an industry nobody, had him wrapped around my finger. But now, looking at Liam’s eyes, I wavered— What if Serena came back? Seeing Serena’s shy expression, a lump formed in my throat. “Do I know this woman?” Liam’s words made Serena’s smile freeze. “What does my marriage have to do with you? Do you think you can slander any woman whose husband you fancy? “No wonder Ms. Serena has been in the industry for years and is still just an influencer, without a single award to her name.” Serena’s smile vanished completely. Liam, however, chuckled: “Sorry, my withdrawal just cleared up recently, so I’m not very good with words. Don’t mind me.” “Uh… of course, haha.” Serena’s laugh was worse than a cry. As soon as the recording ended, I rushed into Liam’s arms. The comments had long since shifted from accusing me of being a homewrecker to “JadeLiam forever!” Serena stood nearby, her gaze meeting Liam’s. Sadness, heartache, spilled over. Liam merely gave her a brief glance, then wrapped an arm around my waist and walked away. Back home, I happily scrolled through comments. Then I saw the top trending topic: 【Serena Invites Mr. Miller to Love Swap – EXPLOSIVE!】 I clicked on it. Serena had retweeted the link to the Love Swap reality show, tagging Liam: 【Coming?】 Liam’s reply was the first comment: 【Yes】

“Honey, since she’s slandering you like this, of course I have to make her give up in person. Only if I participate in the Love Swap show and choose only you as my partner will the whole country know her malicious intentions.” I sipped my yogurt pouch, watching Liam. His attitude was earnest, just as it had always been. “Liam,” I said, biting the corner of the pouch, “if you regret it, we can get a divorce… Mm-!” The yogurt mixed in our mouths. He only let me go after kissing me until I was breathless. “Don’t say things like that again. “Besides, doesn’t your bag design need a promotional opportunity?” “Let’s do it!” I nodded instantly. No reality show was more popular than Love Swap; it was wildly popular, even internationally. After all, a group of married/partnered celebrities swap partners to experience different lives, full of taboo and excitement. Liam could spend a fortune promoting me, but it probably wouldn’t compare to this single appearance. Serena’s social media account exploded, with many fans celebrating the ultimate triumph of first love. But Serena merely smiled shyly at the press conference: “How is this a victory? He’s just doing it to advertise for his wife. “For me, just seeing him from afar would finally bring closure to my youthful regrets.” My best friend, Chloe, was fuming: 【She just found out how hard the entertainment industry is and now she’s regretting it, seeing how Jade has Mr. Miller backing her up!】 【Ugh! That manipulative witch!】 But she was immediately attacked by netizens: 【Get this straight, it’s Jade, the homewrecker, who stole our Serena’s man! You’re defending a homewrecker, probably because you’re used to being one, right?】 【LOL, maybe she’s also got her eye on her best friend’s man. Saying Serena’s a manipulative witch? Maybe she just doesn’t want another competitor!】 I immediately stopped Chloe from arguing, to prevent retaliation. At the same time, I collected the IDs of those making outrageous comments and handed them over to our legal team for defamation. While scrolling through Serena’s response video, I suddenly noticed a pair of hawk-like, sharp eyes behind her. I zoomed in. The cold face of Serena’s fiancé, from her arranged marriage, filled the screen. Serena had indeed been single before. But she recently accepted a commercial marriage arrangement from her family, and then, immediately, she eagerly signed up for Love Swap. I knew this man. The biggest jewelry magnate in Silverwood City, the undisputed heir to that dynasty. Seeing the possessive look in his eyes, I sighed— Serena always had such good luck. In her student days, Liam Miller, the East Coast scion, was crazy about her. Now, after a casual arranged marriage, the Silverwood City heir was utterly obsessed with her. I sipped my yogurt pouch, sighing. Just as I was about to put down my phone, another trending topic exploded: 【Liam Miller: Stop pretending】 I quickly clicked on it. Under Serena’s response video, Liam’s comment had soared to the top: 【Stop pretending】 Serena hastily held a press conference to clarify. I was doubled over with laughter, but then accidentally glimpsed Noah Hayes, the Silverwood City heir, in the corner, staring coldly at the camera. His eyes were filled with fierce protection for his fiancée.

The reality show soon began filming. Before choosing whose partner to team up with, the production team arranged a week-long cohabitation period to help them make their choices later. Liam always stayed by my side. Even during group dinners arranged for all the guests, he maintained a respectful distance from any other female guests sitting next to him. Serena was repeatedly arranged to sit beside Liam, but he would simply get up and leave. The crew tried to persuade him: “This is Love Swap, Mr. Miller, you have to follow the rules.” “I’ll cover any penalties.” Liam dropped those words and walked away. Serena bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed, watching him walk towards my room. Noah Hayes, standing nearby, cast a glance at his fiancée. His eyes held complex emotions. Serena stopped clinging to Liam. Because after watching a few live broadcasts, public opinion on her took a sharp turn: 【Mr. Miller said no, so why is she still pushing? Is she really like that netizen said, she’s struggled enough in the industry and is now envious of Jade having a powerful husband?】 【LOL, isn’t she already clinging to Noah Hayes?】 【How could Noah, that ice king, compare to the rush of young love that could give her a better marriage?】 As if to reinforce this public sentiment, the production team’s treatment of Serena declined. Her meals were downgraded several times, and her screen time was fleeting. One evening, after dinner, as Liam and I were taking a stroll, she dramatically stumbled out of her room, wrapped in just a thin shirt. She fell right at Liam’s feet. The mid-winter chill had her skin red, her nose red, making the tears in her eyes look genuinely pitiful. “Mr. Miller! Save me! I…” She instinctively grabbed Liam’s hand. Seeing me, her hand stiffened. She quickly let go and stumbled back two steps: “I… I didn’t mean it like that, Ms. Jade, please don’t misunderstand, I won’t dare to again…” She choked up, covered her mouth, and turned to flee. Her bare footprints marked the snow. I was stunned. Her performance was so flawless that by the time I processed it, it looked as if I had ordered someone to bully her. She instinctively sought help from Liam but then saw me, the “culprit”… But, given Noah’s intense gaze for Serena, how could he possibly let her suffer? I smiled, a hint of sarcasm on my lips. I turned to observe Liam’s expression. His face was unreadable. “I heard there’s a public outcry against her online. The production team signed a contract so they can’t kick her out, so they’ve just started collectively ostracizing her.” I looked at Liam. He wrapped an arm around my waist, simply mumbling, “Hmm.” That night, before bed, I deliberately asked him: “Do you believe Serena is being bullied?” He looked out at the snowy night sky, letting me rest my head on his arm. “No.” I smiled. After all, Noah was also an investor in the show. I understood that much, and as a businessman, Liam should understand it even better. The next day, for the partner selection segment, I put on beautiful makeup and appeared hand-in-hand with Liam. Serena’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying for a long time. She had never held hands with Noah on camera. Noah stood behind her, arms crossed, watching. His eyes showed deep displeasure. The director’s camera focused on Liam, and the comments went wild with laughter: 【Is this even a choice? Who doesn’t know Mr. Miller is totally devoted to his wife?】 【To be honest, I didn’t come for Love Swap, I came to watch Mr. Miller and Ms. Jade’s sweet romance.】 “I choose…” Liam’s hand slackened. I instinctively reached to tighten my grip, but he directly pushed my hand away: “Serena.” Serena, her eyes red, suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief. The comments were a sea of question marks. I also stared at Liam in shock. But he simply walked to Serena’s side.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299088”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic