Category: English

After a week of night shifts, I made a mistake. I injected phenobarbital into my son Albert Morrison’s body instead of the intended antibiotic. This mistake caused Albert to stop breathing on the spot. The hospital declared his brain dead. Upon hearing the news, my husband Harvey Morrison had a mental breakdown. He became very agitated and could only calm down by holding his nephew Felix Morrison, as Felix looked a lot like Albert. So, I gave up a valuable opportunity to transfer back to a city job. I used this opportunity to gain the consent of Harvey’s late brother’s wife, Mila Allan, to let Felix be adopted by our family. Because of that mistake, I have been extremely careful and hardworking. Even when facing Harvey’s cold and disdainful looks every day, I don’t mind. Until ten years later, Mila returned to her hometown, very successful and wealthy. I accidentally overheard her conversation with Harvey. Mila asked, “Back then, to help me become a city resident, you went as far as switching the medication and personally caused your child’s death. Do you really not regret it?” Harvey coldly laughed and said, “I don’t regret it. I promised you that I would make you someone better and more successful than others. With Charlotte’s personality, if she knew there was a chance to transfer back to the city, she would definitely fight you to the end.” Charlotte Simpson is my name. He continued, “I could only use my son’s death to trap her for life. This way, I could naturally have her raise our child, allowing you to focus on your career without any burden.” I couldn’t believe everything I heard. I rushed out of the room but fell into the fast-flowing river. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Albert was declared dead by the hospital. The painful feeling of not being able to breathe while drowning still lingered in my nose. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Mila’s tear-filled eyes. Mila said, “Charlotte, you’re awake. Albert is dead. Please control your grief.” The familiar voice reached my ears, and I suddenly realized I had been reborn. I was reborn on the day I gave the wrong medication, causing Albert’s “death.” Looking at this pretentiously kind face in front of me, I was furious. In my past life, it was Mila and Harvey who sent Albert to the orphanage. They even pretended to be heartbroken and reluctant, transferring that ungrateful Felix under my name, making me raise their child. Back then, I failed to see their hidden, cruel ambitions. Every time Mila came to my house to see Felix, I would voluntarily work overtime, giving them enough time to be alone together. I guess they were probably mocking me as a fool behind my back at the time. I dug my fingernails deep into my palm, forcefully suppressing the hatred in my heart. I’ll settle the score with them for all these wrongs they’ve done, one by one. Phenobarbital doesn’t cause immediate death. They must have hidden Albert. It was urgent, so I couldn’t delay. I threw off the blanket and rushed out. My action startled Mila. Mila said, “Charlotte, what are you doing? Even if Albert is gone, you have to stay strong. You’re still young. You can definitely have more children.” How ridiculous. Since Felix was adopted into my family, not only have Harvey and I not had any marital life, but even if Harvey and I got slightly closer by about two inches, Felix would loudly broadcast it. In this era, where newlyweds making louder noises at night would be mocked, Harvey and I lived like the most familiar strangers. Now, I understand. As long as Felix is adopted into my family, Mila can effortlessly get a spot to transfer back to a city job. This way, someone takes care of her child, and she can even conveniently plant a spy between Harvey and me. This one thing achieves three goals at once. She really knows how to plan and scheme. Mila tried to stop me. I pinched my thigh hard, and tears immediately streamed down. I said, “Mila, don’t stop me. Without Albert, as a mother, I don’t want to live either. Tell me where Albert is. I want to die with Albert.” In my past life, I was completely consumed by the guilt of causing my son’s death with my own hands. I didn’t even see the body and hurriedly had them bury Albert. Mila was completely panicked. She had already taken Albert away. How could there be a body? She could only scream sharply, hoping someone would hear the commotion and come quickly. Sure enough, the ward door was suddenly pushed open. My gaze met a pair of bloodshot eyes. The next second, a large rough hand tightly gripped my neck. The moment Harvey appeared, Mila let go of her tight grip around my waist. The suffocating pain quickly overwhelmed me. Looking at Harvey’s blood-red eyes, I couldn’t stop trembling all over. In my past life, he went crazy like this, blaming the child’s death on me and even trying to drive me to despair. Only Felix’s appearance could calm him down. At that time, I was filled with guilt, so when Mila suggested adopting Felix under my name, I had no objections. Back then, I only hoped Felix could bring new hope to our broken family. He did bring hope, but it wasn’t for me. My breath was taken away, and my vision gradually blurred. At this moment, a child’s voice rang out. “Dad.”

After the tender “Dad” sounded, the hand gripping my neck loosened. I lay on the ground, gasping for air. And Harvey, whose eyes were bloodshot just now, immediately changed his expression upon hearing that “Dad.” He used all his strength to hold Felix, who had rushed into his arms, as if holding a precious treasure lost and found again. His hands trembled, and he kept murmuring softly, “Albert, Albert…” Who wouldn’t be moved by this performance? Only I kept a cold face, unwilling to spare them even a glance. If I hadn’t lived again, I might have been so guilt-ridden at this moment that I’d wish to apologize with my life. After all, I am directly responsible for Albert’s death and indirectly caused Harvey to go mad and lose his sanity. Noticing my cold expression, Mila cautiously said, “Charlotte, I let Felix call Harvey ‘Dad’ for your sake. You saw it too. Albert is gone, and Harvey’s mental state…” The worry on her face was unmistakable. I sneered inwardly. Whether she did it to stabilize Harvey’s emotions or for something else, she knew better than I did. I said, “Is that so? That must have been hard on you, Mila.” Meeting my stern gaze, Mila instinctively looked away, then turned to comfort Harvey and Felix. I didn’t hesitate either and strode out of the ward. This time, no one bothered to stop me. Standing in front of the public phone booth, I took a deep breath before dialing that familiar number. The voice on the other end said, “Hello?” I said, “Dad, Mom, Albert is missing.” Almost the moment I heard the voices of my parents, George Simpson and Evelyn Simpson, my tears uncontrollably streamed down. Hearing my tearful voice, George and Evelyn, who had angrily threatened to cut ties with me when I got married, also panicked. After I haltingly explained everything, I heard a steady and reliable man’s voice on the receiver. He said, “Charlotte, don’t be afraid. We’ll definitely help you find Albert. Can you handle things over there on your own?” Although I couldn’t see the person on the other end of the phone, I still instinctively nodded like I did when I was a child. I said, “I can manage. The transfer notice has been issued. I’ll be back the day after tomorrow.” He said, “Alright, we’ll wait for you to come back.” This gentle male voice reached my ears, inexplicably giving me a strong and reassuring feeling. I returned to the ward and saw Harvey and Mila sitting on either side of Felix. When they looked at each other, the sweet and clingy atmosphere almost overflowed. I pushed the door open directly, interrupting the warmth filling the room. Harvey, who had “returned” to normal, turned his head, not even bothering to spare me a glance. Mila, however, stood up a bit embarrassed, then walked over to me and held my hand. She said, “Charlotte, we’ve discussed it. In a few days, we’ll find a time to transfer Felix to you and Harvey’s name.” Her face was full of heartache, but the slight lift of her brows still revealed her true feelings inside. Before I could speak, a small figure slammed into my waist. Felix roared, “Bad woman! Don’t think you can separate me from Mom!” Then, he cried and threw himself into Mila’s arms, sobbing, “Mom, don’t you want me anymore?” After all, Felix is just an eight-year-old child now. Even though Mila had talked to him a lot before, he still couldn’t control his emotions when truly facing abandonment by his biological mother. I held my aching waist, looking at the scene of a loving mother and a filial child before me, sneering coldly in my heart. Facing Felix’s tears, a trace of reluctance flashed in Mila’s eyes. But the next second, she steeled herself. Mila said, “What are you doing? Hurry up and apologize to your mom!” Felix stiffened his neck, like a stubborn little wild beast. Mila raised her hand and slapped him, then shoved him hard onto me. As soon as he got close to me, Felix grabbed my hand and bit down hard. The sharp pain in my wrist made me throw him hard against the wall. The scene was chaotic. Harvey’s mother, Freya Morrison, pushed the door open and came in. She saw Felix crying loudly, while Harvey and Mila were frantically holding him to comfort him. And I stood aside, looking as if it had nothing to do with me. Freya said, “Charlotte, you wicked woman! You killed Albert, and now you want to kill Felix too?” She grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the wall with her rough hands. My vision turned blood-red as blood streamed down. Mila screamed, drawing everyone’s attention.

Harvey carefully covered Mila’s eyes, his brows tightly furrowed. He said, “Mom. Mila faints at the sight of blood. Even if you want to act, this isn’t the place.” Freya, who was showing off in front of me just now, instantly lost her momentum. She ingratiatingly helped Harvey support Mila out of the ward. As she passed me, Mila gave me a slight smile, showing no signs of fainting or discomfort. In the vast ward, only the sound of my heavy breathing remained. I forced myself to walk to the nurse’s station. The nurse on duty was startled when she saw me. She said, “Ms. Simpson, what’s wrong with you?” After hastily bandaging up, I immediately got up and headed toward the leader’s office. Unexpectedly, I ran into Harvey and Mila eagerly embracing each other in the hallway. Mila said, “Harvey, sending Albert to the orphanage, are you sure you won’t regret it? He’s your own son.” Harvey’s voice was hoarse. He said, “Of course, I don’t regret it. Felix is my son. I remember Charlotte’s family even prepared a house for her in the city. When Felix grows up, won’t all of this be ours?” “Besides, haven’t you always wanted to study in the city? This is a perfect chance for you to check it out.” Mila said emotionally, “Harvey, you’re so good to me.” After speaking, the sound of a sticky embrace followed. My stomach churned with nausea. Holding back the urge to vomit, I went around to the other staircase and headed to the leader’s office. I carefully tucked the transfer notice into my pocket before returning to the ward. But when I pushed open the ward door, I found it empty. Seeing me return, a nurse tidying up the room said a bit awkwardly, “Ms. Simpson, your husband said there’s no need to waste money, so…” I didn’t say anything, just let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Since that’s the case, I might as well go back to the staff dormitory to pack my things. After confirming with the logistics department that the staff dormitory would be reclaimed once my transfer procedures were completed, I finally felt at ease and returned to the dormitory. But the moment I opened the door, I was stunned by what I saw. The wedding photo on the wall was gone, the orchids I planted on the balcony were missing, and the bedsheets and duvet cover had been replaced with patterns I disliked. All traces of me in the house had disappeared. As I stood there in a daze, laughter came from outside the door. I opened the door and saw Mila in brand-new clothes, holding Harvey’s arm intimately. The diamond bracelet on her wrist sparkled blindingly. Harvey was holding shopping bags from the department store, and his other hand was holding Felix, who was eating candy. Seeing this scene, my blood pressure instantly spiked. Married to Harvey for ten years, he never bought anything for Albert and me. Now, he’s openly buying things for another woman and her child. How can I not be angry? Even though I already knew what kind of person he is, I can’t help but feel heartbroken at this moment. I said, “Harvey, explain this to me. Why is all my stuff gone from this house?” Harvey frowned tightly and said impatiently, “I let Mila move in. Felix will be our child from now on.” “I let Mila move in so I could spend more time with Felix. Do you really have to fuss over such small things?” I could hardly believe my ears. I said, “Fussing over small things? You let a widow move into our home…” Before I could finish my sentence, a hard slap landed on my face. Harvey said, “Charlotte, I’m not as dirty as you think.” Immediately, Harvey’s eyes widened. Seeing me covering my face, he looked guilty for a moment. He instinctively took a step back but continued, “If it weren’t for you killing Albert, how would we have ended up here?” “I’ll take Mila and Felix to stay at a hotel for a couple of days. You think it over on your own.” After saying that, he took all the cash from the drawer and left with the two of them as if fleeing. I looked around the house, which was filled with traces of Mila’s presence. I grabbed a broom and started smashing things around the house. Since these things were bought with my money, no one can blame me even if I smash them all. After smashing everything, I specifically went to the logistics department and told them I didn’t want anything in the house anymore. I also said that if they needed anything, they could just take it. It was two days later when the house was completely emptied. I handed over the keys to the staff dormitory. Then, I saw a car parked at the hospital entrance at the agreed time. The car window rolled down, and I immediately saw Albert wearing a small hat, smiling sweetly at me. He called out, “Mom.” The deep unease in my heart finally disappeared. I held my precious, lost-and-found treasure tightly. At this moment, a steady male voice came from the driver’s seat. He said, “Let’s go. George and Evelyn are still waiting for you.” I nodded, took one last look at the place where I had spent ten years, and then got in the car without looking back.

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My name is Aurora Olson. I donated $100 on a charity platform to a girl with leukemia. My husband, Vincent Watkins, saw the bank message and scolded me for not being frugal. Two days later, I received a message from the hospital thanking Vincent for donating a kidney to a girl. My fingers trembled as I dialed Vincent’s number. “Did the hospital make a mistake? They said you donated a kidney.” An impatient voice came from the other end of the line. “What nonsense? I just donated blood, the hospital made a mistake. Just delete the message.” I replied softly, “Okay, I understand.” After hanging up, I immediately called the hospital. “Hello, I’m a family member of the donor Vincent Watkins. I’d like to know about his post-surgery recovery and the recipient’s condition.” The nurse on the other end paused for a moment, then said, “Oh, you’re a relative of Mr. Watkins?” “His physical condition is excellent, and he’s recovering very well.” The nurse’s voice was enthusiastic, every word like a knife stabbing into my heart. I asked with a trembling voice, “And what about the child?” The nurse said, “Lucia Watkins? Her surgery was very successful, and she’s still under observation in the ICU.” “Thanks to her dad, truly great fatherly love.” “For the child, he’s even willing to give a kidney.” I felt the world spinning and could barely stand. I couldn’t believe it and thought, “Fatherly love? Vincent is Lucia’s dad?” I struggled to speak, “Nurse, are you sure Vincent is Lucia’s dad?” The nurse said, “Yes, Lucia’s mom said it herself.” “She even showed us the documents, otherwise the hospital ethics review wouldn’t have approved it.” “Don’t worry, their family is doing well now.” Hearing her words, my vision went dark, and the phone slipped from my hand, falling to the ground. So, I was the outsider all along. I took a day off and took a cab to the hospital. I arrived at the inpatient kidney transplant department. I stood outside a VIP ward, looking inside through the glass window on the door. Vincent was wearing a hospital gown, weakly leaning on the bed. A stranger was feeding him. The woman had long hair draped over her shoulders, with gentle eyes and brows. Vincent looked at her with tenderness and affection I had never seen in our five years of marriage. I recognized that woman. She is Amelia West, Vincent’s ex-girlfriend. Back then, Vincent told me they broke up because his parents disapproved. I looked at the watch on Amelia’s wrist. It was the one I stared at for a long time last year on my birthday at the mall, but Vincent pulled me away without buying it for me. He said, “This watch is too expensive, it’s worth three months of our living expenses. We’ll buy it later.” Turns out, it wasn’t that he thought it was too expensive, he just couldn’t bear to buy it for me. My heart has grown numb from the pain. I didn’t rush in. I just quietly watched them until my eyes stung, then turned and left. Two months later, Vincent “returned from a business trip.” As soon as he walked in, he wore a gloomy face and threw his briefcase heavily onto the sofa. He questioned, “Aurora, why didn’t you go to work today?” “Are you trying to slack off? Do you think it’s easy for me to earn money and support the family alone?” I lowered my head and lied, saying I wasn’t feeling well. He let out a cold snort and didn’t press further. But from that day on, household expenses started to be gradually cut. He said his mom’s back hasn’t been well lately, and they’ve spent quite a bit on her treatment back home. He said his dad’s rheumatism flared up again and they needed to buy an imported massage chair. Household expenses must be halved. The food for our three meals was also halved. My daughter Anna Watkins looked at the greens on her plate and softly said, “Mom, I want to eat strawberries.” Vincent heard it. He slammed the table, knocking the plate to the ground. “All you think about is eating all day!” he roared at a three-year-old child, “You have no idea how to understand adults! Lucia is seriously ill and not as picky as you!” After yelling, he froze. The living room fell into dead silence. I looked up, stared at him coldly, and asked, “Who is Lucia?”

Vincent’s face instantly turned pale. His eyes darted away, avoiding my gaze. “Nothing,” he stammered, “just a distant relative’s kid, also sick, quite pitiful. I just mentioned it casually, don’t ask more.” He hurriedly finished his meal, made an excuse about work, and quickly got up to leave. Watching his fleeing figure, a cold smile curled at the corner of my lips. I thought, “A distant relative? So pitiful that they need you to donate a kidney?” I started quietly gathering evidence. I made an excuse about managing finances and asked him to show me the “family emergency fund” account. It held all our savings from five years of marriage, about over $500,000. At first, he refused, but after I kept pushing, he reluctantly handed me his phone. I opened the bank transactions, and my heart sank bit by bit. Every so often, there was a large expense—$10,000, $30,000, $50,000. The recipient’s name was all Amelia. The notes all said living expenses, rent, supplements. The most recent transfer was $200,000 for Lucia’s surgery. Turns out, all the money we saved by scrimping and saving went to Amelia and her daughter. I handed the phone back to him, looking calm. He didn’t notice anything unusual. I found Amelia’s Instagram and started scrolling through her posts. Her life is indeed quite comfortable. One of her posts showed various supplements with the caption: [Thanks to my husband, enduring all the hardships for me and our daughter.] Another post of hers featured designer bags with the caption: [My husband’s love is never late.] The location of her post is right in our city. Every post feels like a sharp blade, cutting my heart open and leaving it bleeding. On the weekend, I took Anna back to my mom’s house. I pretended it was accidental and dialed Vincent’s mom, Stella Watkins, putting it on speaker. I asked, “Stella, how have you been feeling lately?” She said, “I’m good. How are you and Vincent?” I chuckled lightly and said, “We’re doing well. Just a few days ago, I got a text from the hospital saying Vincent donated a kidney to a little girl named Lucia. Do you know about this? Whose child is Lucia?” On the other end, Stella’s voice instantly became tense. “What Lucia? I don’t know! Who told you such nonsense?” Her voice was sharp and guilty as she said, “The hospital sent the wrong message! Vincent is fine, how could he possibly donate a kidney?” “Aurora, don’t listen to others’ nonsense. Just live your life well!” After saying that, she hung up the phone. I put down the phone, unable to hold back my tears as they poured out. That night, Vincent came back. As soon as he walked in, he exuded hostility. He must have received a call from his mom. He asked, “Did you call my mom?” He stepped closer to me, his gaze terrifyingly sinister. “Aurora, I warned you, don’t play tricks behind my back!” I looked up at him calmly. “I just asked a question, why are you so nervous?” “You!” He raised his hand, seemingly about to hit me, but it stopped mid-air. In the end, he gave me a hard shove. Caught off guard, I stumbled back a few steps and hit the wall, my back aching. He warned me, “If you dare meddle again, we’ll get a divorce!” His tone was fierce, and the hatred in his eyes startled me. He said, “By then, don’t expect to get anything!” It was the first time he laid hands on me, and also the first time he mentioned the word “divorce.” My heart completely died.

I thought, “Divorce? Fine. But I won’t let him get his way easily.” I want him to pay the most painful price for what he has done.” A few days later, Anna suddenly had a high fever in the middle of the night. Her little face was flushed, and her whole body was burning hot. I was terrified, holding her, completely at a loss. My first reaction was to call Vincent, my voice trembling and choked with sobs. “Vincent, Anna has a high fever. Come back quickly, let’s take her to the hospital!” On the other end of the line, there was a noisy background. Vincent’s voice sounded impatient. “If she has a fever, just take her to the hospital. What’s the point of calling me?” “I have an important project here at the company, with several bosses around. How can I leave?” “You take her to the hospital first. I’ll come over when I’m done.” I sneered inwardly, “Important project? Is it that illegitimate daughter of yours causing trouble again?” I hung up the phone and, holding the feverish Anna alone, took a cab to the hospital in the cold night wind. I handled everything alone with Anna—registration, payment, tests, and IV—completely exhausted. Anna lay on the hospital bed with an IV, crying her heart out. It felt like a knife cutting through my heart. After settling her down, I went to the nurse’s station to find a nurse. But at the end of the pediatric corridor, I saw a familiar figure. It was Vincent. He was carefully supporting Amelia, both of their faces full of worry. They were surrounding a doctor, whispering something. I instinctively hid in the corner. I could only hear Amelia’s tearful voice. “Doctor, why is Lucia’s rejection reaction still so severe?” She suddenly became agitated, pounding Vincent’s chest hard. “It’s all your wife’s fault!” “A few days ago, the nurses told me she even called to inquire about Lucia’s condition!” “Does she know something? Is she trying to harm our daughter?” Vincent held her tightly, gently comforting her. His voice was a tenderness I had never heard before. He said, “Babe, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” “She knows nothing, just making wild guesses.” “Don’t worry, once Lucia fully recovers, I’ll divorce her.” “By then, our family will never be apart again.” I leaned against the cold wall, feeling like all the blood in my body had frozen. So, in his heart, Anna and I are the ones who should be abandoned. I’m completely disappointed in him. He not only took our money but also blamed all the misfortunes on me. I didn’t listen any further and turned back to the ward. Looking at the sleeping, Anna just on the,-bed Anna, I wiped away my tears, my the ​-eyes became firm. I must win this battle. Vincent showed up in Anna’s ward at noon the next day. He carried a bag of fruit, with fake exhaustion on his face. He said, “You’ve worked hard. Something came up at the company last night, I really couldn’t leave.” I didn’t look at him, just said calmly, “Anna’s fever has gone down.” He pretended to check Anna’s forehead, then sat down beside me. He held my hand, putting on a sorrowful expression. “There’s something, I don’t know how to tell you.” I looked at him, waiting for his act. His eyes reddened, and his voice choked. “My mom was diagnosed with severe heart disease back home. She needs bypass surgery, and the cost is 300,000 dollars.” He took a piece of paper from his bag and handed it to me. It was a forged critical illness notice. The hospital seal on it was crooked. He said, “Our family savings were all invested in a friend’s project before, and now we can’t withdraw them. The only way to save my mom now is…” He paused, looked up, his eyes full of “hope” and “pleading.” He said, “The solution is to sell the house your parents bought for you.” As he spoke, he knelt in front of me. A man with only one kidney, for his ex-girlfriend and illegitimate daughter, knelt before me, crying and begging me to sell the only security my parents gave me. He continued his hypocritical plea, “I beg you, save my mom! As long as you’re willing to sell the house, I’ll listen to you for the rest of my life, I promise to repay you!” Looking at his utterly hypocritical face and that broken body, the last trace of attachment in my heart turned to ashes. I laughed, a laugh filled with utter sorrow. I helped him up and gently wiped away the fake tears on his face. “Alright, I’ll sell it,” I said softly. “Give me the property deed.”

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Due to a shortage of ER resources, I, the hospital’s lead consulting physician, had to cover a shift as a nurse. My cousin, Chloe Davies, a patient on my ward, made my life hell. “The toilet’s dirty. Clean it. Isn’t that what nurses do? Clean up other people’s mess? Refuse, and I’ll report you!” Duty overrode fury. I clenched my jaw and did it. On her discharge day, she filed a complaint with the associate director anyway. “I’m here to report Ava for patient abuse! And she also seduced my husband! A vixen like her doesn’t deserve to be a nurse. Fire her, now!” Furious, I yanked off my nurse’s scrub top and flung it at her. “Save your complaint. I’m the chief medical consultant here. You have no idea who you’re messing with!” Before I could finish, Associate Director Dr. Sterling cut me off sharply. “Lead Consultant? Ava, even for a liar, you should at least aim for something believable.” I was the newly appointed Lead Consultant, a fact known only to Dr. Peterson, the hospital director. Sterling was completely in the dark. I was about to explain, but he steamrolled over me. “You’re just an unaffiliated intern. Say one more word, and you’re out!” Chloe, who had been frozen in place, instantly relaxed. She mumbled under her breath. “Oh, so she’s just an nobody intern.” Her eyes, when she looked at me again, were filled with mockery and disdain. “So what if she’s an intern? Does an intern get to target a patient?” “Shameless tramp, seducing my husband!” “She has to kneel down and apologize to me, and she needs to be fired!” Hearing Chloe’s baseless accusations, I immediately frowned. I’d never even met her husband. How could I have seduced him? Before I could speak, Dr. Sterling glared at me. “Apologize immediately, or forget about getting your internship certificate!” Was Dr. Sterling under the impression I was here just for an internship certificate? But I was merely trying to get a feel for the work environment. Seeing Dr. Sterling’s attitude, Chloe grew even more arrogant. Her eyes gleamed with triumph, as if convinced I, as an intern, would fall in line. I shook my head right away. “No way.” “I didn’t do anything wrong; I won’t apologize to her.” Without even looking at Chloe, I continued. “Everyone witnessed how Chloe treated my colleagues since she was admitted to the ward.” “If Dr. Sterling isn’t aware, you can check the security footage.” At the mention of surveillance, Chloe’s expression stiffened for a second. But she quickly recovered, yelling insults at the top of her lungs. “What’s wrong with hitting the call button when I need something? You’re just here to clean up after patients, it’s an honor for you to even get me water!” Her expression was fierce, adopting the aggressive stance of someone arguing in the street. Dr. Sterling pushed up his rimless glasses, a forced smile on his face. “Ma’am, rest assured, I will definitely make Ava apologize to you.” With that, he shot me a warning look. “Nurse Miller, just humble yourself and apologize, and this whole thing will blow over.” “You’re an unaffiliated intern; you must want to keep this job, right?” Recognizing the threat in Dr. Sterling’s words, I gave a cold smirk. Dr. Peterson had been the one communicating with me recently; it seemed Dr. Sterling truly didn’t know my real identity. Chloe spat on the ground, looking at me with her nose in the air. But I spoke unhurriedly. “No need to fire me. I’m quitting right now.” Ignoring the three dumbfounded faces, I walked away with a flourish. As I was packing my belongings in the break room, I heard a commotion in the hallway. “The nurses at this hospital are indecent; you all better watch your husbands, or that Ava vixen will snatch them up!” “She seduced my husband and won’t even admit it, she refuses to apologize!” Listening to Chloe’s wails, I paid her no mind.

After packing my personal items, I left the break room. Chloe saw me and rushed forward, wildly tugging at my clothes. Her long nails dug deeply into my skin, and blood immediately seeped out. I winced in pain, then forcefully broke free from her grasp. Glancing at my bleeding wound, I warned her angrily. “Chloe, if you dare touch me again, I’m calling the police right now!” A flicker of panic crossed Chloe’s eyes, and she didn’t dare speak again. But bystanders stepped forward, blocking my path and preventing me from leaving. They spoke sarcastically, shoving their phones in my face and filming non-stop. “Seducing someone’s husband and acting so righteous? All that education went to waste!” “Apologize now, or I’ll blast you all over the internet!” Seeing that she had support, the guilt in Chloe’s eyes vanished. Before I could react, she rushed over and slapped me across the face. “That’s for seducing my man, you shameless home-wrecker!” “No wonder you had money to be a self-sponsored intern here; you just spread your legs for dirty money to support yourself!” My gaze hardened on Chloe; I was at my breaking point. Just as I was about to speak, a familiar voice came from around the corner. “Ava? What are you doing here?” It was Mia Chen, my elementary school classmate. We had kept in touch after graduation and were close friends who talked about everything. Seeing her, my agitated mood vanished. She hurried over, affectionately linking her arm through mine. “What’s going on here? So much excitement!” Someone in the crowd muttered sarcastically. “What else? We’re catching a shameless home-wrecker!” I shot an annoyed glance at the person, who, far from being intimidated, even rolled their eyes at me. Mia looked confused, as if still trying to process what was happening. I managed to control my irritation and pulled Mia closer. “I’ve never done anything I regret in my life. This is my good friend; if you don’t believe me, you can ask her.” At my words, everyone’s gaze shifted to Mia. I looked at Mia with certainty and anticipation, sure she would vouch for me. But Mia gave an awkward smile, pulled her arm away, and stepped back. She looked at me suspiciously, speaking cautiously. “Ava, are they talking about the pictures you showed me?” I froze, not understanding what Mia was referring to. Before I could speak, Mia quickly swiped on her phone a couple of times. A minute later, she handed the phone to me. “Are they talking about you and this man?” “Didn’t you say you really liked him and Photoshopped intimate photos with him? “So, did you get him? If you did, you owe me dinner!” On her phone were intimate bedroom photos of me and Daniel Hughes, in very suggestive poses. My mind went blank instantly; I couldn’t think at all. “SMACK!” The crisp sound of a slap echoed loudly in the hallway. “Ava, you little tramp, you actually Photoshopped such disgusting pictures!” “And you said you didn’t seduce my husband? Your own friend just exposed you!” She started hitting and kicking me, nailing me to the pillar of shame. The bystanders were even more enraged, showering me with insults. “I didn’t, I didn’t Photoshop these pictures…” But no matter how I explained, they wouldn’t believe me. I looked at Mia like a ghost, utterly bewildered. Why would she frame me?

Finally regaining my senses, I demanded angrily. “Mia Chen, I’ve never wronged you, why are you slandering me?” But she looked innocent, quickly apologizing to me. “I’m so sorry, Ava, I didn’t know the man you liked was already married.” “If I had known, I would have absolutely kept your secret!” Her words hit me hard, and I almost collapsed. Chloe, meanwhile, was tugging at my hair, demanding angrily. “Ava, what else do you have to say for yourself?!” “This is your friend; would she lie to frame you?” Yes, Mia Chen was definitely framing me. I forced myself to stay calm, my gaze falling on Dr. Sterling in the corner. “I need to see Dr. Peterson. Otherwise, I won’t perform tomorrow’s surgery.” Dr. Sterling scoffed, sizing me up with a contemptuous look. “Surgery? What surgery? I think you’re just trying to stall for time.” “You know, people shouldn’t do bad things, or karma will catch up to them eventually!” He rolled his eyes and addressed the crowd. “Everyone, Ava has been fired. Her actions have nothing to do with this hospital.” As soon as he finished speaking, the enraged crowd turned their fury on me. Ignoring my explanations, they continued their personal attacks. Just as I was about to give up, I heard a steady male voice. “Chloe, why are you still here? I’ve been waiting for you in the parking lot.” It was Chloe’s husband, Daniel Hughes. Three years ago, when they got married, my mom even sent me their wedding photos, hinting that I should contribute to their wedding gift. I only clicked to view the wedding photo once before I unceremoniously retorted. “You already gave your uncle’s daughter a huge sum for her wedding, wasn’t that enough? Now you want another chunk from me? You might be obsessed with spoiling our relatives, but I’m not!” Soon, I received a dozen 60-second voice messages. Although I didn’t give a gift, Mom still threatened me into attending their wedding. Daniel was from a prestigious university; he surely wouldn’t be as unreasonable as Chloe. I spoke impatiently. “Daniel, someone’s spreading vicious rumors about us. You need to clear this up!” Daniel turned to look, and when he saw me, his expression froze. I looked at him expectantly, hoping he would clarify for us. But he actually knelt directly in front of me, his voice humble and pleading. “Ava, please, can you just stop hounding me? “I’m already married to your cousin; there’s no way I can be with you.” “If you just leave me alone, I’ll get on my knees and thank you.” With that, he actually performed three full bows towards me. Seeing Daniel’s actions, the whispers and condemnations from the crowd drowned me out. “Oh my god, how shameless! She’s really desperate to be a mistress!” “And he’s her cousin’s husband! How desperate can she be?” I quickly shook my head, looking at Chloe and Daniel in front of me with fear and confusion. Chloe was staring at me furiously, but her eyes were filled with triumph. I instantly realized what was happening; they had all conspired to set me up! Finally finding my voice, I quickly denied it. “No, this isn’t right. I just got back from overseas not long ago; I’ve never even met this man!” “The three of them are working together to frame me, deliberately ruining my reputation!” The bystanders, however, didn’t believe what I said. “Still making excuses? The man himself admitted it!” “So shameless, does she even have a family to be ashamed for her?” Before I could move, Chloe’s palm shot out toward my face. I tried to sidestep, but Mia locked my arms in a vise grip. The slap connected, hard. I tasted blood, my lip already swelling. Damn it. Tomorrow’s surgery… I took a deep breath. My eyes locked on Chloe’s. No fury, just a terrifying calm. “It will cost you more than you can imagine, Chloe Davies!”

I turned to the smug Dr. Sterling, my voice cold. “I am Dr. Ava Miller, lead consultant in cardiac surgery. I can’t complete tomorrow’s surgery. You’ll have to find another surgeon.” “You may inform Dr. Peterson yourself.” Chloe and Daniel looked confused. They had no idea what I was talking about. Dr. Sterling let out a derisive snort. “Do your homework before spinning tales. No Lead Consultant is that young.” Chloe spat on the ground, panting as she mocked me. “Ava, you barely scraped through vocational school. Your degree is lower than mine. Who are you trying to fool?” The air hummed with their ridicule, sharp and mocking. Then, cutting clean through the noise, a middle-aged woman’s voice rang out. “Lead Consultant, my foot! Ava is just a country bumpkin!” The sharp voice attracted everyone’s attention. It felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over my head, and I froze in place. My voice came out strangely hoarse, “Mom?” Mom rushed to Chloe’s side, her glare cutting toward me like a blade. Chloe instantly buried herself in Mom’s arms, sobbing. “Aunt Susan, you have to help me!” Watching Mom soothe her was a fresh twist of the knife. My mother had always put my uncle’s family first. Since we were children, Chloe got first pick of everything. Later, she even blocked me from attending proper high school, steering me into a vocational track instead. “What’s the point in wasting money on your education? Let Chloe go to university instead!” She used my tuition money to pay for Chloe’s college diploma. My father, who had divorced Mom long ago, found out and arranged for me to study abroad. But while I was studying overseas, Mom never contacted me; she didn’t even know I was abroad. Now, to protect Chloe, she was pointing her finger at me, cursing me, trying to nail me to the pillar of shame. “Ava, after all these years, you’ve learned to lie!” “You only have a vocational certificate, stop pretending!” “You’ve always been jealous of Chloe. Now that she’s found a good husband, you’re trying to seduce Daniel!” With that, she cast a satisfied look at Daniel. “Luckily, you truly love Chloe and weren’t swayed by Ava, that vixen.” The crowd gasped, completely believing Mom’s words. “Even her own mother says that about her, she really must be a home-wrecker.” “And she was acting so righteous just now? Where did she get the nerve?” “I almost fell for it. Should someone like her be selling herself? How much for an hour?” My eyes were red-rimmed when I met my mother’s gaze, but hers only hardened in return. She leaned in close, whispering a warning. “Serves you right. Who told you to come here as a self-funded intern? I already pulled strings to get Chloe a position, but because you were here, they turned her down!” Each word was a blade, twisting deeper. So she knew. She had helped Chloe destroy me. And because she was my mother, everyone would believe her. At that moment, I was truly exhausted. “You conspired to ruin me,” I said, “for a junior internship?” “You’re not my mom. I’m cutting ties with you!” But Mom pushed me hard, muttering non-stop. “Cut ties, then! I’d be ashamed to claim a daughter like you anyway!” With a sharp shove, she sent me stumbling back. I hit the floor hard. Suddenly, Dr. Peterson’s respectful voice came from behind me. “Dr. Miller? Are you all right?”

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My best friend and I married into the powerful Sterling family together. I got the eldest son, Julian. She got Damon, the younger. We got pregnant in the same month. We went into labor on the same day. I gave birth to a boy with a failing heart. The Sterlings treated him, and me, like a stain on their legacy. My best friend, Seraphina, delivered a healthy, robust boy. He became the family’s golden child. To save my son, Julian and I sacrificed our inheritance, willingly cut off from the family. Later, the child recovered, but he recognized Seraphina as his mother. Julian and I froze to death by the roadside. Only after I died did I learn the child with the failing heart was Seraphina’s. She swept them. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the very day we were due to give birth… “Rory,” her voice drifted gently from the next bed, “do you think our babies will be boys or girls?” I slowly opened my eyes and looked over. My best friend, Seraphina, was gently caressing her baby bump, a soft, maternal glow on her face. I stared at her, my mind reeling. My hand, hidden beneath the blankets, savagely pinched my skin. The pain was sharp. Real. It was true. I was back, trapped once more in the sterile limbo of the delivery room. She’d asked me the same question in our last life. Back then, I’d been blind, answering with a laugh, “Boy or girl, as long as it’s mine, I’ll love it.” “And what if the baby isn’t healthy? Will you still love it?” Her voice floated over again. The words were a perfect echo of the past. Last time, I’d been blind. This time, I knew. She had already known her baby would have problems. The swap had been her plan all along. In my previous life, I’d laughed it off. “Relax, Sera! We’re on the Sterling estate, with doctors on call. Our babies are going to be perfect. Don’t scare yourself, and definitely don’t scare me. You know I’m a big softie.” But Seraphina pressed, needing a firm answer. I gave her one. “If it’s my child, I’ll love it and care for it.” “You better mean that, Rory!” she beamed, a flicker of triumph in her eyes I’d been too naive to recognize. I never knew, then, that every word was a step in her design. Now, the same question hung in the air between us. I immediately turned my head and pressed the nurse call button. Kim, my assigned nurse, was at my side in an instant. “Mrs.Rory Sterling, what can I do for you?” she asked softly. “I need to be moved to a private delivery room. I don’t want to stay in here with her.” Kim blinked, but nodded. As the elder Sterling daughter-in-law in active labor, a sudden odd request wasn’t unheard of. “One moment, please. I’ll arrange it immediately.” Seraphina anxiously called out, “Kim, wait!” “Ma’am, shall I call your nurse for you?” Kim asked politely. Seraphina snapped, ignoring the courtesy. “Don’t you dare move her.” Kim’s eyes sought mine. “Mrs. Sterling?” “Proceed. Now.” I calmly instructed. Kim nodded and left the room. Seraphina glared at me, her face darkening. “Rory, what is this? Are we not best friends anymore?” We used to be. In my past life, we were. But not anymore. This time, I wouldn’t let her wicked schemes succeed. That ungrateful, cold-hearted brat? They could have him.

“Seraphina, I always considered you my closest friend, but I never expected you to suggest my baby might be unhealthy. Until my child is born, I don’t want to see you.” After saying my piece, I turned away, not wanting to look at her. I was afraid if I looked at her any longer, I wouldn’t be able to control the rage boiling inside me. Seraphina didn’t notice my unusual change. She just thought I was upset about her comments regarding the baby’s health. She immediately started explaining, “Rory, that’s not what I meant! I’m just so nervous about giving birth, that’s all. Please don’t overthink it.” “We promised we’d deliver together, and spend our recovery chatting in the same room. You can’t leave me now!” At the end, Seraphina resorted to her usual trick. Her eyes welled up, looking at me as if she were the most wronged person in the world. In my past life, I’d given in to her emotional manipulation time and time again, which is why she always got what she wanted from me. But this time, I wouldn’t yield. “Seraphina, until my baby is born, I don’t want to hear anything negative. And your persuasion won’t change my mind.” Seeing my resolve, Seraphina stopped trying to convince me. However, it wasn’t long before the Sterling brothers arrived. Julian, my husband, smiled gently when he saw me, hurrying to my side and tenderly touching my forehead. “Don’t worry, Rory. I’m right here with you.” Julian had always been so gentle, his presence calming my heart, yet making it race all at once. For our child, he would have sacrificed everything. But in my past life, we’d both put our faith in the wrong people, and it led to a tragic end. “Julian,” I whispered his name, full of emotion. He quickly asked, “Are you in pain?” I was about to answer when I heard Damon’s incredulous voice from Seraphina’s bed. “Seraphina, you must have misheard, right? Rory is so close to you. Now that she’s about to give birth, why would she suddenly want a private delivery room?” Seraphina replied, her voice laced with feigned hurt, “Damon, it’s true. It’s all my fault for saying something that upset Rory. Please, go talk to her for me.” Damon walked to my bedside, looking confused. “Rory, is what Seraphina said true? You’re really moving to a private delivery room?” “Yes, that’s right,” I replied with a smile. Damon looked even more bewildered but immediately accused me of bullying Seraphina. “Rory, aren’t you being unfair to Seraphina? She’s your sister-in-law. How could you do this at a time like this? Aren’t you worried something might happen to your baby?” He was taking the moral high ground. If it were the old me, I would have been the pushover, compromising for Seraphina. But reborn, knowing Seraphina’s malicious schemes, how could I stay with that venomous woman? “Damon, apologize to Rory,” Julian said before I could even open my mouth, making his stance clear. Damon looked shocked. “Julian, Rory’s the one in the wrong. Why should I apologize to her?” Seraphina immediately chimed in, “Exactly, Julian! You should join Damon in persuading Rory to stay with me. I’ll be scared without her.” With that, Seraphina sniffled, looking utterly devastated. One more look at her, and I felt my eyes ache, a wave of nausea washing over me. “Ugh!” I couldn’t help but retch, and Julian’s face immediately darkened. “Seraphina, even if you and my wife are close, there are still boundaries. Damon, is this how you teach your wife respect?” Damon, reprimanded by Julian, grew even angrier. “Julian, are you really letting Rory twist your judgment? Your wife is bullying my wife, and you’re scolding me?” I glanced at the couple, catching a fleeting smirk in Seraphina’s eyes. She was plotting something sinister again.

“Damon, is Julian’s reprimand really so wrong? You’re quick to accuse me, but have you considered the truth?” “Seraphina and I are close, it’s true. But with both of us so close to giving birth, Seraphina kept asking me what I’d do if my baby wasn’t healthy.” I sighed, then continued, “I’m a pregnant woman too. And I’m even further along than your wife. I’m scared too, you know.” Then, I too feigned a sniffle. “Besides, would our friendship truly suffer just because Seraphina and I are in different delivery rooms?” “Or is Seraphina somehow certain my baby won’t be healthy, and that’s why she keeps bringing up my child?” I spoke each word slowly and deliberately, my gaze fixed on Seraphina and Damon. They stiffened, looking like they’d been caught red-handed, a flicker of guilt flashing in their eyes. Especially Damon, who shot Seraphina a furious, covert glare. It was exactly as I’d suspected. Damon was in on the baby-swapping plan. I couldn’t stand another second in that room. Seraphina and Damon tried to argue, but I cut them off with my final word. “Seraphina, even if you’re just nervous, I can’t stay here with you.” “I believe you’re just anxious, but I’m still moving to a private delivery room. It’s also for the Sterling name.” That last sentence finally silenced the couple. For a family like the Sterlings, reputation was the only currency that mattered. Sisters-in-law forced to share a delivery room? he tabloids would spin it into a saga of neglect and family discord. Appearances had to be maintained, even here. Kim walked in. “Mrs. Sterling, the new delivery room is ready.” I nodded, and Julian followed, carrying my things. Once settled, I noticed Damon had followed us. A sense of urgency pursued me. It also told me they hadn’t given up on their plan to swap the babies. Seraphina and my delivery rooms were on the same floor, separated by three rooms, making a baby swap still quite feasible. But no medical staff would dare to swap babies for a wealthy family’s delivery. Therefore, the only ones who could swap the babies were Seraphina and Damon. Seraphina swapping babies after delivery was unlikely, so the one to act would be Damon. I felt like I’d uncovered the truth, and my hand, hidden beneath the blanket, clenched into a tight fist. “Rory, both you and Seraphina are about to give birth. Seraphina is just overly nervous, so please don’t be angry.” “Our Sterling family is vast and prosperous. It’s probably better for you and Seraphina to be in separate delivery rooms anyway. I’ll go keep Seraphina company now.” I offered him a faint smile. “Alright, go on. Be with her.” As soon as he left, Julian sat beside me. “Rory, did something happen?” “Julian, you have to watch over our baby carefully,” I said seriously, tears welling in my eyes. Julian didn’t quite understand but smiled. “Of course, darling. He’s our child. I’ll protect him with my life.” I was anxious but couldn’t tell him about my rebirth. Not only was it unbelievable, but our tragic past was something I alone should bear. He deserved to remain optimistic and carefree. Before my water broke, I quickly told him about several news stories about babies being stolen or swapped in hospitals. Julian found it unbelievable but didn’t argue. As I was telling him the stories, my water broke. Seraphina also went into labor. We were wheeled into separate delivery rooms. After six grueling hours, our baby was born. I was exhausted, but I dared not sleep. I watched the medical staff clean my baby. I watched as they placed the hospital’s special newborn bracelet on his wrist. I watched as they brought him to me. The baby was fair, plump, and perfectly healthy, his tiny hands actively swatting at the air. This was my child.

I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up, the first thing I saw was Julian. “Julian, where’s our baby?” I asked weakly. He chuckled. “You did amazing, darling! The baby’s right over there with Kim. Don’t worry.” I nodded and told him, “Bring the baby over. I want to see him.” He gave a helpless smile and asked Kim to bring the baby to me. The baby hadn’t been swapped. I let out a sigh of relief. But then Julian asked, “How are you feeling now? Do you want something to eat?” Almost as soon as he asked, Kim brought over a nutritious meal for new mothers. I ate quietly, and afterwards, the urge to sleep returned. Before drifting off, I repeatedly instructed him, “Julian, you absolutely must watch over our baby. Don’t leave his side for a second, stay focused.” Julian looked even more helpless but patiently reassured me, “Alright. Get some rest, I’ll keep a close eye on our baby.” His words eased my mind a little, but I still felt uneasy. However, a new mother post-delivery is incredibly weak, and my body simply wouldn’t obey my will. I quickly fell back asleep. When I woke again, it was three in the morning. Julian wasn’t there, and neither was Kim. My heart tightened, and I immediately pressed the nurse call button. The first person to enter the room was Mrs. Sterling, my mother-in-law. “Mom, what are you doing here?” “Both you and Seraphina have given birth to boys for our Sterling family, so how could I not come?” “I had the chef make some chicken soup. Would you like a sip?” I couldn’t refuse my mother-in-law’s offer, so I smiled and said, “Yes, please.” But inwardly, I desperately wanted to see my baby. With my mother-in-law sitting beside me, watching me with a smile, I had no choice but to force myself to drink the soup. I mindlessly finished the chicken soup, then proactively asked, “Mom, where did Julian go?” “Oh, he just left the room to go to Damon’s side. Your father had something to ask him. He’ll be back soon.” “He just left?” I asked suspiciously. My mother-in-law nodded without hesitation. “That’s right.” But my unease persisted. Something felt off. In my past life, when Seraphina and I gave birth to our sons, my in-laws didn’t even visit us at the hospital that night. Yet tonight, both my in-laws were here, and they had even called Julian away. A preposterous, yet strangely true, premonition began to form in my mind. “Mom, I want to see the baby.” “What’s there to see in a baby? They all look the same. The most important thing now is for you to rest and recover. You can see the baby tomorrow.” My mother-in-law’s words were meant to sound caring, but she was subtly refusing my request to see the baby. My unease intensified, and I said again, “Mom, please bring the baby over. I want to see him.” But my mother-in-law commanded me sternly, “Rory, you’ve just given birth; you shouldn’t get agitated. You’ve had your chicken soup, now rest. You can see the baby tomorrow.” She wouldn’t let me see the baby. But I was too worried the baby had been swapped, so I pressed the nurse call button again. My mother-in-law frowned, glaring at me. I offered a sheepish smile. “Mom, I just want to see the baby for a moment. It’s not that I’m disobeying you.” This time, Kim arrived very quickly. “Mrs. Sterling, what can I do for you?” “I want to see the baby.” Kim immediately brought the baby over. With just one look, I knew something was wrong with the baby. My baby had been swapped. This wasn’t my child. Both Seraphina’s baby and mine were boys and both looked fair and healthy, but their lip colors were different. My healthy baby’s lips were pink. Seraphina’s son, with the failing heart, had lips that were a faint purple. And compared to my healthy child, the baby in front of me was clearly much weaker. “This isn’t my baby.” The conviction in my own voice propelled me to action. “Kim, call Julian. Now.” But my mother-in-law stopped Kim. “You’re not going anywhere.” Then, she looked at me coldly. “Rory, what are you trying to do?”

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My parents adored me, raising me like their precious princess. They bought me countless beautiful dresses and hair clips. Every holiday, they’d take me on trips and adventures. I always thought I was the happiest child in the world. Until my dad passed away, and his friend’s daughter came to stay with us. I picked up her discarded, half-eaten popsicle and put it to my lips. That’s when she burst into an earth-shattering wail. Without a single question, Mom roughly shoved me to the ground. “You’ve had everything your whole life! Why do you *have* to snatch the popsicle right out of Bella’s hand?” “A child like you, always picking on someone weaker, needs to be taught a serious lesson!” And just like that, Mom *threw* me into the freezer. “So you love popsicles, huh?! Well, then you can eat your fill in there before you come out!” With that, Mom took Bella out to buy an apology gift. No one noticed Bella secretly plug the freezer back in, then casually flip the child lock. “Chloe, *I’m* the little princess of this house now.” An icy cold instantly enveloped my entire body, feeling like all my blood had frozen solid. I hugged my small body, trying desperately not to make a sound. Just a little longer. Maybe Mom wouldn’t be angry anymore.

I tumbled headfirst into the freezer. The chill rushed up from my lower body, making me shiver uncontrollably. My clothes instantly soaked in frigid water, clinging to my skin, an agonizing, bone-deep cold seeping into me. I tried to push open the freezer door and climb out, but my feet kept slipping. After falling several times, I started to panic. “Mom, I’m so cold!” “Please, let me out! I know I was wrong!” I desperately pounded on the freezer walls, trying to get someone’s attention. “Mom! Chloe’s legs are freezing!” “Help me! I’m sorry, Mom, Chloe really knows she was wrong!” My limbs were already numb, gradually losing all sensation. I watched, horrified, as my body slowly turned to ice, starting from the outside, creeping inward. It reminded me of a time Mom and I were out playing. Suddenly, it started raining, drenching us both. The rain felt cold against my skin, but as soon as we got home, Mom drew me a warm bath. Even though she was still soaking wet herself, she bustled around, putting me in warm, dry clothes and even making me ginger tea. Mom loved me so fiercely; there’s no way she’d actually let me freeze, right? I just had to hold on a little longer, and Mom would surely come to take me out! I tried to cheer myself up, hoping Mom would forgive me soon. The air in the freezer was getting thin. Each desperate breath felt like tearing open my lungs. Frost coated my lips, my eyelashes brittle with ice. My limbs were stiff, completely unable to move. I could distinctly feel my body temperature plummeting, even my breathing slowing down. I wanted to call for Mom to save me, but when I opened my mouth, I couldn’t make a sound. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw them. Mom and Dad, holding me tight in their arms. “My sweet girl, you’re our family’s little princess!” “Mom and Dad will love you forever and ever!” When I next became aware, I was lying on the living room floor. Had I escaped the freezer? I wanted to go to the kitchen to see how I’d opened the door. But my hand went right through the kitchen door before I could even touch it. I stood before the freezer; its door was tightly shut. I tried to open it, but my hand passed straight through the metal. It turns out I couldn’t touch anything solid anymore. Had I become a ghost? Just as I felt a wave of sadness, I heard someone unlocking the front door. I rushed to the entrance, waiting. It was my Grandma Eleanor, coming to visit me! “Chloe! Grandma’s here!” “Come out and see what yummy treats Grandma brought you!” Grandma muttered as she changed her shoes. “Chloe is really quiet today. Usually, she’d be rushing to hug me!” “I’m right here! Grandma!” “Chloe’s right here at the door, waiting for you!” I shouted for Grandma, but she couldn’t hear me at all. She walked straight through my transparent body. Grandma called my name as she walked through the living room and bedrooms. Not finding me, she finally stood at the kitchen doorway. Her hand rested on the kitchen doorknob. Just then, the front door opened again. Mom, Dad, and Bella walked in, carrying several large bags filled with toys. Grandma looked past them, not seeing me. “Where were you all? And where’s Chloe?”

Mom tossed the toys onto the couch, clearly still fuming. “That Chloe, she actually snatched a popsicle from Bella today.” “I told her before Bella even arrived that she had to be accommodating to her little cousin.” Dad, hands on his hips, looked just as furious. “Yeah, Mom, I never thought Chloe could be so manipulative, so malicious.” “They always say kids raised with love are supposed to be kind and understanding, right?” “We’ve been so good to her, but she still turned out so twisted.” “I saw Bella downstairs earlier and just found out Chloe bullied her. It’s despicable!” “Chloe, you come out here right now! I’m going to teach you a lesson today!” Dad yelled into my bedroom. I shook my head, frantically trying to explain to Dad. “It’s not like that, Dad! I didn’t snatch her popsicle at all!” “She said she didn’t want it, and it was the last one of my favorite flavor, so I just picked it up to eat!” But Mom, Dad, and Grandma couldn’t hear me speak. When no sound came from the bedroom, Mom immediately frowned. “Chloe, so now you’ve learned to play mute, have you?!” She moved to go into the bedroom to find me, but Grandma stopped her. “I looked everywhere, inside and out. Chloe isn’t home!” Mom took a deep breath, stunned. “Then where did that child go?” Bella immediately piped up. “Aunt Sarah, this morning I heard Chloe say she was going downstairs to play with her friend Ashley. She’s probably at Ashley’s house!” Ashley was my best friend from school, and also my neighbor, so I often went to her house to play. Dad scoffed. “She’s just a little kid, and she’s already pulling stunts like running away in a huff!” “Hmph, let her stay at Ashley’s house! We’re not going to pick her up.” Grandma sighed. “She’s still just a child, after all. Maybe go get her back soon.” “I’ll make dinner. Those chicken wings I bought for Chloe are still in the freezer, right?” “I’ll make her favorite Coke chicken wings!” My heart instantly leaped into my throat. Grandma was going to open the freezer. Would she see my body? Grandma was old and had high blood pressure. My frozen body must look horrifying. Please, don’t let her see it; don’t let it scare her! I tried to block Grandma with my body, but it was no use. Grandma passed right through me and walked toward the kitchen again. I watched Grandma enter the kitchen. “Mom, don’t cook tonight! Bella’s still here. Let’s just order pizza!” Dad opened his delivery app, stopping Grandma just as she was about to open the freezer door. Grandma nodded but still worried about me. “Call Chloe back for dinner. It’s not good for her to always eat at other people’s houses.” Mom waved her hand dismissively. “Mom, don’t even worry about her! I just sent her a SnapChat.” “I told her I was ordering her favorite cheesy shrimp pizza. That greedy kid will be back in less than ten minutes!” Mom’s reminder made me instinctively look at my wrist. My wrist was empty. Oh no! My smartwatch was frozen in the freezer too! That was my birthday gift last year, from Mom and Dad. Now I’d ruined it. Mom would definitely be even angrier with me! I really was a bad kid, always making Mom angry. Mom throwing me in the freezer was justified. I huddled in the corner of the couch, crying heartbrokenly. Half an hour later, the takeout arrived. Seeing I still wasn’t back, Mom gritted her teeth in anger. “That Chloe! I just said a few words to her, and she’s still pouting and refusing to come home!” Dad just opened the takeout bags. “We’re eating! We’re not waiting for her. She won’t starve at Ashley’s house!” Grandma tried to speak up for me, but Dad cut her off directly. “Mom, please don’t interfere when we’re disciplining Chloe!” “If she defies us today, who knows what serious trouble she’ll get into tomorrow!” “We’re going to eat! No one pays her any attention!” Bella took out the largest slice of pizza from the takeout bag. “Mark, Sarah, Chloe loves this one. Should we save it for her?” Mom and Dad’s eyes filled with satisfaction. They stroked Bella’s hair, praising her. “You’re so thoughtful.” “It’s okay, we’ll eat. Don’t mind her!” I watched Bella sit in my special chair. Mom, Dad, and Grandma gathered around her, happily eating my favorite pizza. It was as if they were a family all along, and I was the outsider. My heart ached with a sharp, wrenching pain, and the tears just wouldn’t stop falling. Why was I still hurting and crying as a ghost? Was this God’s punishment for a bad kid like me? I hid in the corner of the living room, trembling with sobs. Until Dad was about to put the leftover pizza in the freezer. I instantly held my breath.

“Mark! Don’t you dare save any for Chloe!” Mom snatched the pizza from Dad’s hand and threw it straight into the trash can. It was dark outside now, and Grandma had to go home. She put on her coat, trying to persuade Mom and Dad. “The child is still young. Go pick her up from the neighbor’s house soon; don’t keep bothering them.” “When Chloe comes back, don’t scold her anymore. I believe she didn’t do it on purpose.” Hearing Grandma’s words, my tears of grievance welled up again. Grandma believed me! I really wasn’t a bad kid who bullied others. But now Mom and Dad both thought I was, and they didn’t love me anymore. Thinking that, my heart started aching again. Mom sent a few more SnapChat messages to my smartwatch. After waiting a few minutes and getting no reply, she angrily kicked over the trash can. “That stubborn brat! Not a single reply!” “She’s seriously trying to cut us off, isn’t she?!” I quickly floated to Mom. “I’m sorry, Mom, I didn’t mean not to reply to you.” “My smartwatch and I are both frozen stiff in the freezer! I can’t reply to you!” “I’m sorry, Mom, please forgive me, okay?” But no matter how much I apologized, Mom couldn’t hear me. Dad was busy helping Bella with a craft project. “If she doesn’t want to come home, let her stay at Ashley’s house!” “I want to see how long she can be stubborn!” Dad was always busy with work. My school craft projects were always finished by myself. I had always wanted Dad to do a craft with me just once, a dream I couldn’t fulfill even in death, yet it was coming true for Bella right now. Dad gently reminded her to be careful with the scissors, patiently helping her arrange the tools. Little me sat next to Dad, pretending Dad was teaching me how to do crafts too. But Dad’s gaze passed right through me, looking only at Bella. He didn’t spare me a single glance. Bella suddenly grabbed Dad’s hand. Her eyes red-rimmed, she cautiously asked: “Uncle Mark, can I call you Dad?” Seeing Dad hesitate, Bella pitifully added. “Ever since my dad passed away, I miss him so much. I can’t sleep at night thinking about him.” “My dad used to be your best friend. Could you just… could you just say ‘Dad’ for him, just once?” “Dad!” This time, my dad didn’t hesitate. He pulled Bella into a hug. “Oh, honey! Dad’s right here, my sweet girl!” The scene pierced me deeply. “I’m right here, Dad! I’m your daughter, Dad!” “Dad, you don’t want me anymore either?” I frantically tried to separate them. But it was no use. Dad comforted her for a long time, and then told Bella. “From now on, you’re my second daughter. Come home whenever you want.” My heart ached again, making it hard to breathe. “Dad, didn’t you always say I was your *only* treasure?” I felt like nothing more than a stray kitten or puppy, thrown out on the street. That night, Mom saw I still hadn’t replied to her messages, so she locked the door. “I’ve really spoiled that stubborn brat rotten!” “She can come back or not for all I care!” Bella brought a basin of warm water and placed it at Mom’s feet. “Sarah, don’t be angry. Bella will wash your feet.” Mom was touched by Bella’s gesture. She took Bella’s hand. “You’re so thoughtful, Bella!” “If only Bella were my daughter! Let that awful child drop dead for all I care! And don’t you dare ever come back!” Mom, your wish came true. I really did die, just inside the house. Bella put on my pajamas and lay in my little bed, falling into a deep sleep in Mom’s arms. When Mom thought she was asleep and went back to her own bedroom, Bella jumped up, put on slippers, and walked straight to the kitchen. Bella stood in front of the freezer. “Chloe, are you dead yet?”

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Nine months pregnant with twins, I begged my husband to take me to the hospital. Instead, Cole locked me in the abandoned attic—because his first love, Ivy, claimed my belly “hurt her feelings.” I screamed through hours of contractions. No food. No water. No help. Downstairs, he held Ivy and kissed her like I no longer existed. Three days later, I died with my unborn children in my arms. Now I stand beside them as a ghost. Three days later, Cole, sipping a bowl of rice porridge that didn’t suit his taste, said: “Tell Mia to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then apologize to Ivy. If her attitude is sincere, send her to the hospital to give birth.” “Why isn’t that jealous woman Mia wailing anymore?” “Sir… could something have happened to Mrs. Frost? Last night, her screams were heart-wrenching, she sounded like she was in terrible pain…” Cole took a sip of porridge, snorting dismissively. “No one knows Mia better than I do. She’s just putting on an act! This time I must teach her a lesson so she won’t dare to provoke Ivy again!” The butler glanced towards the attic, hesitating before speaking: “But Mrs. Frost is carrying twins, and the doctor said she needed to be admitted to the hospital early…” Cole paused mid-sip, his expression softening slightly. “Is that so?” He stirred his porridge for a while, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: “Fine, tell Mia to come out and make me a bowl of porridge, then get over here and apologize to Ivy! Today is her due date, if her apology is sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital.” Cole heated up a cup of milk and walked into the guest room. On the bed, Ivy’s breathing was steady, the blanket had slipped down to her shoulders, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of her chest. Cole’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he stared at her for a long moment before reluctantly tearing his gaze away. He bent down and placed a kiss on her lips. Ivy slowly opened her eyes, stretching languidly, and pouted coyly: “Brother Alex~ You’re bullying me again~” Cole parted his legs to let Ivy sit in his lap, his fingers idly massaging her waist. “Who could resist when you sleep like that?” Ivy buried her head in Cole’s chest, letting out a few contented murmurs. “But, sister Mia is working hard carrying your child. We’re both women, I can’t let you betray her when she’s at her most vulnerable!” Suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked up anxiously: “Last night, sister Mia was screaming so loudly, is she going into labor? Sigh… Even though it hurts to hear sister Mia in such pain, I’m envious! Being able to carry Brother Alex’s baby, even if childbirth is painful, it would be sweet happiness for me.” Sweet happiness? By now, I had already become a ghost floating beside them. On the attic floor, red blood had spread across the entire room. On the walls were deep scratches I had made in my intense pain, with bits of fingernails and flesh still clinging to them.

Not to mention how I had torn myself apart down there trying to give birth to the children. When I pulled out the first child, it was already not breathing. Blood gushed from the gaping wound between my legs, and the second child became stuck in the torn, bloody hole. With blood matting my hair, I held the blood-covered fetus, my eyes wide open as I stopped breathing. I wonder how Cole will react when he sees this scene? But for now, he was only focused on holding Ivy close. His voice was full of guilt and self-reproach: “It’s my fault! I shouldn’t have let the pregnant Mia appear in front of you and make you sad! I swear, this is the last time that woman will carry a child for me! You won’t see any more pregnant women in this house in the future.” “You don’t know, Mia even lied to me to try to soften my heart, saying she was afraid the babies were too big and might cause a difficult delivery, and that the doctor recommended immediate hospitalization.” “She can survive in the wilderness for three days and nights without food, yet she tells me she’s afraid of giving birth!” My heart ached, almost unable to breathe. A pregnant woman’s constitution is far different from a normal person’s, let alone the fact that from the day I became pregnant with twins, the discomforts of pregnancy had nearly exhausted me. Several times, due to my poor pregnancy constitution, I had even been hospitalized to prevent miscarriage. When I was first locked in the attic, I begged and pleaded with him to let me out. Because if I was really locked up for three days, it would surely result in three deaths! But Cole, right in front of me, loudly instructed the butler: “Go! Throw the key into a stinking river, and don’t let anyone secretly open the door for Mia! After three days, I want her to kneel and apologize to Ivy!” To survive, I tore down the wall paintings, piercing my hands with blood, and to pry open the attic window, my nails were forcibly broken off. Enduring the excruciating pain, I mustered my strength to climb out of the window onto the rain gutter outside, gripping the tiles tightly with my hands, inching along bit by bit, trying to jump to another room to escape. But then. In the garden below, Cole was forcefully holding Ivy in a deep embrace, kissing her passionately. The two were kissing so recklessly, it looked like things were about to get out of hand. Ivy suddenly pushed Cole away, looked up towards the attic, and let out a piercing scream. Cole raised his head, saw me desperately trying to escape, and flew into a rage. He was convinced that I had deliberately appeared in front of Ivy again. He ordered someone to bring a crane, and personally operated it, using the shovel to press against my belly, forcibly ramming me back into the attic. Intense pain shot through my abdomen, and blood seemed to flow endlessly from between my legs. In the end, my eyes were wide open, holding the blood-covered children in my arms. And that’s how I stopped breathing. Cole brought the cup of warm milk to Ivy’s lips. “I’ve already sent someone to bring Mia over to apologize to you. If she’s sincere, we’ll send her to the hospital. If not, she can give birth in the attic!” Ivy sipped the milk in small mouthfuls, but still choked a little, coughing with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful and delicate. “Brother Alex, you can’t treat sister Mia like this. Childbirth is very dangerous for women!” Cole sighed, looking at the girl in his arms with doting eyes: “You’re just too kind-hearted, that’s why you get bullied by women like Mia! Mia is a survival expert, she can survive for three days without food or water in the wild! You, on the other hand, little one, are so delicate you choke on a sip of milk.” He gently tapped her nose: “And you talk about childbirth being dangerous as if you’ve given birth before!” Ivy’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, but she quickly lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance: “Only Brother Alex… can see through the fragile heart beneath Ivy’s strong exterior…” She looked up again, her eyes misty, her lips bitten to a glossy sheen. She hooked her arms around Cole’s neck, deliberately pressing her chest against his heart.

Cole could no longer resist, kissing her with heavy breaths as Ivy softly murmured. Their lips entwined fiercely, and they began to hungrily demand more from each other’s bodies. But at the last moment, Ivy suddenly pushed away the heavily panting man: “We can’t, you’re a married man now, and sister Mia is carrying your child. Ivy doesn’t want to be a homewrecker!” Cole’s eyes were burning with desire, his voice hoarse: “Alright, I, Cole, will never betray Ivy’s true heart! Wait for me a little longer! Only when I’m clean and free will I be worthy of touching someone as pure as you!” With that, he placed a lingering kiss on her forehead, as if cherishing a priceless treasure. A flash of triumph gleamed in Ivy’s eyes. Cole couldn’t see it, but I could. Not wanting to be a homewrecker? I found it ridiculous, laughable! Then what about the many times she came to me, brazenly saying that even though I was pregnant, I was just paving the way for her, and that even the children I gave birth to would call her “mom” in the future? What does that count as? Using the poor excuse of being sick with no one to take care of her to move into my home. Openly flirting with Cole at the dinner table, to the point where even the house cook couldn’t stand it and made a few sarcastic remarks about her. She immediately tattled to Cole, saying the cook didn’t wash the ingredients properly, causing her to get gastroenteritis, and demanded the cook be fired. At that time, I had no appetite due to my pregnancy, and only the food made by this cook suited my taste. Out of hospitality, I approached her and offered to hire another chef to cook for her, but she slapped me across the face. “It doesn’t matter if the food tastes good or not, what matters is knowing who the real mistress of the house is! Mia, I just want to tell you, there’s only one Mrs. Frost, and that’s me, Ivy!” To prove that she would be Mrs. Frost, she curled up in Cole’s arms like a kitten, whimpering and sobbing. Crying that she was unfortunate, that she couldn’t bear children for him in this lifetime. And seeing me with my pregnant belly every day inevitably made her feel lost and heartbroken. “I’ve already tried my best to avoid sister Mia, but I still can’t help running into her every day! I should move out! Ivy can’t live in such pain every day, it’s making me so unhappy!” Cole lost control of his emotions in an instant, his face turning cold as he rushed over and slapped me to the ground. “You know very well that Ivy gets upset just by seeing pregnant women, yet you still parade around with your big belly in front of her every day! What are you trying to do!” “Such a vicious woman! You don’t deserve to be a mother! Today I’m going to lock you in the attic! Let you have a taste of suffering!” Several bodyguards grabbed my limbs and threw me into the dust-covered attic. “The doctor told me to go to the hospital today for delivery! If I go to the hospital, she won’t see me either!” I desperately clung to the doorframe, pleading tearfully. Cole sneered: “If you’re going to lie, at least get your facts straight. Your due date isn’t for another three days!” He no longer listened to any of my protests and slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, the sudden, piercing pain making me curl up and retract my fingers, unable to say anything more. Cole looked on with satisfaction and locked the attic door. And now, as the two of them were still passionately entangled, the butler came running, out of breath and panicked: “Madam… Madam is gone!” “Gone?!” Cole suddenly raised his head, looking annoyed at having his mood disturbed. The butler wiped the sweat from his forehead, saying fearfully: “The attic is full of blood… Madam… she…” He dared not continue. Cole straightened his rumpled shirt. “What blood? Oh, she’s probably just spotting, is she going into labor? Send her to the hospital.”

The butler swallowed hard and forced himself to continue: “Madam… she’s not breathing…” There was a hint of panic in Cole’s voice, but just as I tried to listen more closely, his tone became harsh again. “Acting! She’s still acting! I want to see how long she can keep this up!” “She’s survived in much harsher conditions in the wilderness, she can hold her breath underwater for over ten minutes! She’s just trying to fool you all because you don’t have any medical knowledge! She’s holding her breath to scare you! Call my private doctor, I want to expose her tricks in person!” The butler’s eyes widened, “Mr. Frost, Madam’s children are…” “Who do you listen to?!” Cole impatiently interrupted him. “Am I the one paying your salary or is that woman?” “Yes… I’ll go call the doctor right away…” The butler sighed helplessly before leaving. Ivy softly pressed herself against Cole. “Brother Alex, don’t be angry. Anger is bad for your health.” “That woman Mia is just good at winning people over! It’s only been a few years, and she’s already acting like she runs this house!” Cole’s words were like a slap, waking me from my delusions. In just three short years, he had already forgotten his promises from the past. On our wedding day, Cole had looked at me with eyes full of love and said, “This is your home now, and from now on, you’ll be the only mistress of this house.” Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Just moments ago, I had foolishly imagined that if Cole knew I had died from complications during childbirth, He might feel a bit of regret and guilt… How ridiculous I am now, and how stupid I was then. I actually believed Cole when he said he would love me forever. Back then, Cole and Ivy were childhood sweethearts in an arranged marriage between prominent families. But Ivy unexpectedly discovered that due to health reasons, she couldn’t conceive naturally. So she left for a foreign country without looking back, cutting off all contact with Cole. She kept saying that as the sole heir to the Frost family, she couldn’t bear to marry Cole and end his bloodline. To forget the pain of their breakup, Cole joined a wilderness exploration team. And I happened to be the team leader. Later, when he proposed to me, he said I was brave and strong, the embodiment of all that was good in the world. I was his guiding light in his darkest times, the one he knew instantly was his soulmate. After we got married, he felt that wilderness exploration was too dangerous. So he asked me to quit my job and stay at home to prepare for pregnancy, to give the Frost family an heir. But during those days when Cole had broken up with Ivy, he had been drinking heavily and staying up late, which had severely weakened his body. Under the pressure from the Frost elders to produce an heir, I worked on improving his health while actively trying to get pregnant. Finally, in the third year of our marriage, I successfully became pregnant with twins. The Frost elders were so delighted that they immediately held a press conference, declaring that the children I would give birth to would be the sole heirs to the Frost Group. It was at this time that Ivy returned to the country. And she brought back a statement: “I have no interest in inheriting the company. As long as I can be with Alex, Ivy will be satisfied for this lifetime.” Cole began staying out all night, his white shirts stained with indelible red lipstick marks. I decisively brought up divorce, but Cole said the children in my womb were the heirs to the Frost Group, and he wouldn’t let me go. He also said Ivy was sick and needed someone to take care of her, so he brought her to live in our home. And because Ivy couldn’t have children and couldn’t bear to see pregnant women with big bellies, he locked me, who was about to reach my due date, in the abandoned attic. Cole truly deserves to rot in hell! The doctor arrived quickly. As Cole’s personal friend, Dr. James had always been in charge of Cole’s health management. Cole followed behind Dr. James with his arms crossed, fuming, “Mia, let’s see how much longer you can keep up this act!”

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I planned to take my girlfriend to Alaska to see the Northern Lights. Instead, I found naked photos of her with her “sick” best friend—and a lab report proving she was testing his fertility on the day of my cancer surgery. She slapped me. He beat me. Both called me jealous and dirty-minded. So I packed my bags, called my parents, and said the words that would end everything: “Mom, Dad… I’m coming home. And I’ll take back the family business.” I was preparing to take my girlfriend to Alaska to see the Northern Lights when I found photos of her lying naked with her male best friend in my drawer. Along with the photos were a bunch of lab reports checking male fertility. The date on the reports was the same day I had my stomach cancer surgery. So when she said she was busy, she was actually busy testing her male best friend’s fertility. When I confronted her about it, she lashed out at me impatiently. “We were just lying together, nothing happened.” “This was purely medical treatment. Can’t you stop being so dirty-minded?” Looking at the explicit video that came through on my phone, my heart sank into dead silence. After a long pause, I called my parents. “Mom, Dad, I agree to come back and inherit the family business.” After I hung up the phone, there was a violent knocking at the door. The door shook with the urgent, grating knocks. Whoever was outside was clearly furious. “Evan, open the door!” It was my girlfriend Lena’s voice. In the past, I would have rushed to open the door for her, helped her change into slippers, and welcomed her home. I always felt bad about how hard she worked managing the company and wanted to do whatever I could to take care of her and ease her worries. But today, I just sat there, my expression blank. Seeing no one was opening the door, Lena had someone break it down. The first thing she did when she came in was rush to my side and slap me hard across the face. “Why did you attack Dylan?” “You know his health is poor. Why would you hurt him?” Looking at Lena’s near-crazed expression, my heart clenched painfully. Today I had bought plane tickets, planning to come home and pack our bags to take her to see the Northern Lights in Alaska. I wanted to surprise her. Instead, I found those “treatment” photos of her and Dylan in the drawer. When I went to confront Dylan, I was beaten up by him and his friends. Now somehow I was the one who had attacked him. “Say something. Cat got your tongue?” Lena’s pupils were bloodshot, her eyes looking like they wanted to kill me. “You dare to do it but not admit it? Some man you are.” I lowered my head with a self-mocking smile, no longer having the energy to argue with her. I just tossed the photos at her feet. “What is this?” When she saw the photos, a flash of guilt crossed Lena’s eyes. Her hands involuntarily clenched, and she spoke with less confidence. “It’s not what you think.” “Dylan was diagnosed with fertility issues and might not be able to have children. I was just helping the doctor treat him.” What kind of medical treatment requires lying naked in bed with a woman? Such a ridiculous excuse, yet she believed it. I just found it laughable. But Lena kept talking, becoming more convinced she was right. “That’s right, this was purely medical treatment. Dylan and I are completely innocent, heaven knows.” “How can your mind be so dirty? You really disgust me.” I looked at her, shocked and grieved. What was I still hoping for? I should have understood long ago, when she kept abandoning me for Dylan time after time, shouldn’t I?

Lena and I were college classmates. We went from campus sweethearts to where we are now, the model couple in everyone’s eyes. For her sake, I fought with my parents and stayed in this city. When she wanted to start a company, I emptied my pockets and worked hard with her to build the business from scratch. When she saw me vomiting uncontrollably after drinking too much at business dinners, she would hold me preciously, tears welling up in her eyes out of distress. “Evan, you’ve worked so hard. When we make it big, I’ll never let you push yourself like this again,” she would gently comfort me, wiping the sweat from my brow. “Then we’ll get married, have the wedding at the best hotel, the most luxurious ceremony.” “I’ll make everyone envy you.” Those words still rang in my ears, but the person before me was no longer the same. When she looked at me now, there was only disgust in her eyes. “I’ve already explained everything clearly. Stop being difficult,” Lena said impatiently, reaching out to pull me. “No matter what, you were wrong to hit someone. Come with me now to apologize to Dylan.” Before I could break free, her phone rang. After answering, her expression instantly changed. She shot me a vicious glare. “Dylan is still coughing up blood from your beating. You’d better pray he’s okay, or I won’t let you off easy!” After Lena left, I stared at the door that could no longer be closed and thought for an entire night. As dawn approached, I finally went inside to pack my bags. Something already broken can never be restored to its original state, no matter how much you try to fix it. I had always thought about what I could do to keep her, but I forgot that someone who doesn’t love you won’t stay no matter what. Taking one last look at the room I had lived in for years, no matter how reluctant and nostalgic I felt, I had to let go. It no longer belonged to me. Voices of laughter came from outside. When I opened the bedroom door, I was stunned by the scene before me. Lena was helping Dylan sit down, her face full of concern and distress. But the moment she looked up and saw me, her expression instantly turned cold. “You slept well, didn’t you?” “Dylan couldn’t sleep all night because of you. I was so worried I didn’t sleep either. How dare you sleep?” Dylan patted her back soothingly. The atmosphere between them was so intimate, it seemed no third person could intrude. It made me, the real boyfriend, feel like the shameful mistress. My heart trembled with pain, and even my newly operated stomach began to ache faintly. Dylan took Lena’s hand, smiling magnanimously. “Lena, don’t blame Evan. He only hit me because he loves you too much.” Before I could say anything, Lena couldn’t sit still. “You don’t need to speak up for him. I know him too well. He’s just a born bad seed, jealous and selfish, who can’t stand seeing me be good to anyone else.” Lena completely ignored the pain in my eyes and continued righteously: “Dylan is in this state because of you. I brought him home to help you atone for your sins.” Saying this, her expression turned haughty, speaking as if granting me a favor. “These next few days, you’ll personally take care of Dylan. Once he recovers, I might forgive you.” “If you don’t agree, hmph, we’ll break up.” Her arrogant demeanor suggested she was certain I would give in. In the past, I would have already lowered myself to appease her. Because I loved her and couldn’t bear to see her suffer even a little bit of grievance. But all of my compromises and concessions had become leverage for her to manipulate me in her eyes. “Fine, then let’s break up.” Time seemed to freeze. Lena’s smug expression instantly cracked, her whole being filled with disbelief. It took her a long time to react, pointing at me with trembling fingers. “What did you say?” Over the years, we had our quarrels and conflicts, but as long as she mentioned breaking up, no matter how angry I was, I would immediately calm down and beg her not to leave me. But today, this usually foolproof tactic wasn’t working. Lena felt like she was losing control of something. Her eyes trembled fiercely. No longer wanting to argue with her, I picked up my suitcase and strode out. In the room, Lena stood frozen. When she came to her senses and wanted to chase after me, Dylan stopped her. “You don’t need to go after him. He’ll naturally come back in a few days.” “He’s just doing this on purpose to get your attention. I’m a man too, I understand.” Seeing her still wavering, Dylan immediately put on a pitiful expression. “I’m still feeling unwell. Can you stay and keep me company?” With those words, he successfully kept Lena from leaving.

I went to the company dormitory, planning to go home after resigning. The company I’m currently working at is Lena’s. All these years, I’ve worked myself to the bone to bring in business and secure investments for the company, striving tirelessly to realize her dreams. I thought that once her career was more established, we could go home together. Then my parents wouldn’t object to us being together anymore. Now it seems there’s no need for that anymore. I called my mother. Before I could speak, tears welled up in my eyes. Mom didn’t ask anything, just sighed. “My dear boy, you’ve suffered out there.” Like a child who had endured too much hardship finally returning to his mother’s embrace, I broke down sobbing. After I calmed down, I said softly, “Mom, I broke up.” She seemed to have guessed it already, her tone very calm. “If you’re tired, just come home. We’ll always be waiting for you.” Dad jumped up angrily when he heard the news, but was calmed down by Mom. “You calm down. I won’t let anyone who dares bully my son off easy.” My mind felt emptied. I hung up the phone, exhausted. After a few days, I went to the company and submitted my resignation. As soon as I submitted the resignation letter, my phone rang. When I answered, Lena’s agitated voice came through. “Evan, what are you up to now?” “This project is very important for the company. You need to know your limits. Get back here and entertain the clients right away.” I cut off her words. “I’ve resigned. Find someone else to take over these things.” The other end of the line went quiet for a moment before erupting with even more intense emotions. “You really want to do this, huh?” “Fine, there are plenty of people who can do your job. Don’t think you can threaten me like this.” As if to punish me, Lena immediately approved my resignation application. She thought I wouldn’t last half a day before begging her to take me back. But a whole morning passed, and I showed no signs of giving in. She started to get a bit antsy. She called my coworkers several times to pressure me. I ignored it all and continued doing my own work. It turns out when you stop caring about someone, nothing they do has any effect on you anymore. After lunch, I returned to my desk to find Dylan sitting in my chair, strutting around like he owned the place. My things had been thrown all over the floor. When he saw me, he slowly stood up. “Evan, this was all Lena’s idea. She said to have me take over your position.” Then he walked over to me and lowered his voice next to my ear: “Who told you to be so stupid and resign? From now on, I’ll be the one enjoying the good life here.” Seeing his smug expression, I suddenly found it quite amusing. I don’t know where he got the confidence to say he could replace me. All these years, I’ve poured my heart and soul into maintaining this troubled company. Yet he thinks my position here was about enjoying the good life. Well then, I wish him success. Seeing his face fall, I forced a detached smile, took the box of belongings an employee had helped gather, thanked them, and strode out. I spent a few days saying goodbye to friends before bending down to pack my bags. From now on, I would be leaving this city for good. This place held my youth from recent years, as well as my first love that ended without closure. Bitterness welled up in my heart. I closed my eyes, forcing myself not to think about it anymore. My phone rang abruptly, Lena’s furious voice coming through. “Evan, you’ve gone too far. You deliberately sabotaged things with the business partners, causing Dylan to be ostracized.” Before I could explain, she imperiously ordered me, “Get your ass back here right now. This big deal is crucial for the company’s performance in the second half of the year. If we lose it because of you, we’re finished.” Her absurd yet confident words made me feel truly ridiculous. What gave her the right to think I would still care? “Didn’t you say you’d be fine without me? Then go find someone else,” I said. Ignoring her angry tone, I hung up and blocked her number.

Once everything was packed up, I opened the door and set off for the airport, about to say a final goodbye to the city I had lived in for so many years. I had barely left when a silver BMW cut me off. The door opened and Lena rushed over, violently throwing her bag at me. It hit me right where I had just had surgery. My face instantly went pale as I gasped in pain. “Are you done throwing your tantrum?” she yelled furiously, kicking my luggage aside and grabbing my collar to slap me hard across the face. “Is your heart really that small? Just because the project wasn’t given to you, you had to sabotage it?” I was in so much pain I was sweating, but I gritted my teeth and bore it. “The deal falling through was because of Dylan’s own incompetence. It had nothing to do with me.” Lena scoffed coldly, her eyes full of contempt. “You think I’d believe that?” “You could close the deal, how could Dylan possibly fail?” “I can see you’re just jealous of his abilities.” I laughed bitterly, my eyes bloodshot. “If he’s so capable, why don’t you just go to him? Why come find me?” On one hand she looked down on my abilities, on the other she wanted me to come back and work for her. Was I really that cheap in her eyes? The partnership she thought was so simple was actually the result of me pouring my heart and soul into it, disregarding my health to fight for it desperately. With one casual sentence, she negated all my years of effort, making all my hard work seem worthless. Lena’s face cycled through shades of red and purple, looking extremely ugly. Seeing I was about to leave, she forcibly dragged me into the car. “No matter what you say today, you have to come with me.” I was already in so much pain I could barely move. I weakly begged her, “My stomach hurts. Can you take me to a pharmacy first?” She laughed mockingly. “Are you addicted to acting now?” “Even if you’re in pain to death today, you still have to go close this deal for me first.” My fingers had gone completely cold. I clutched my stomach with difficulty, looking at her in disbelief. The woman I had loved for so many years could actually say such things. She could actually watch me suffer to death without batting an eye. Fine. How lovely. Hatred surged in my heart. My eyes turned bloodshot as I stared at her fixedly. Lena ignored my reaction and forcibly dragged me into the meeting room. As soon as we entered, she started exchanging pleasantries with the business partners. “I’m so sorry everyone. My employee was foolish and inconsiderate, wasting everyone’s time.” She kept smiling as she introduced Dylan to the partners, constantly praising him and putting me down, completely oblivious to the partners’ strange looks. Dylan couldn’t hide the smugness in his eyes. “See? The one who isn’t loved will always be the loser,” he said with the air of a victor, eyebrows raised. “You loved her for so many years, cherished and protected her. But what use was it? All I had to do was crook my little finger and she came running back to me.” His smug demeanor made it seem like Lena wasn’t the love of his life, just a tool for him to show off. I felt nauseous. The two of them were truly a perfect match – equally dismissive of others’ love and efforts. Lena walked over to us, her smile stiff as she addressed me. “Hurry up and tell everyone that Dylan was behind all the previous projects. You were just following orders.” “As long as you do this, I can forgive you.” She was still so high and mighty, but I no longer wanted to put her on a pedestal. I moved away from them and walked to the center of the room. “I’m sorry for taking up a bit of your time,” I said, bowing deeply. “I have now resigned from Lena’s company. I won’t be participating in any future collaborations with them. Thank you all for your support over the years.” With those words, the room exploded into chaos. Lena’s face instantly darkened, but before she could react, the lead partner immediately made his stance clear. “Evan, if you’re not involved in the partnership, then our collaboration with Lena’s company ends here.” The others chimed in as well. “That’s right. All these years, if it wasn’t for your abilities, we wouldn’t have invested money in Lena’s company at all. If you’re leaving, there’s no way we can continue working with them.” I thanked them graciously, no longer caring about Lena and Dylan’s ugly expressions as I strode out. My vision was going dark. I had barely made it to the door when the pain made me lose all strength.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “310687”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #魔幻Magic

For three years, everyone thought I was obsessed with Jace. They didn’t know I was paid fifty million dollars to turn him from a failure into a genius. Right after he got into an elite university, he dumped me for another girl— and I finally completed my mission. Now I’m back as the Chief Designer of a top French luxury brand, and he’s still telling people I’ll come crawling back. Tonight, at the class reunion, he’ll learn the truth. I took on Jace, the notorious playboy everyone thought I was obsessed with. He’d get into fights, skip class, and I’d be there, copying his notes. For three years, I was his ultimate simp, pouring my heart and soul into helping him get into an elite university. But right before orientation week, he dumped me. He looked down at me, arrogant as ever. “I know you’ve liked me for ages, but your head’s always buried in books. Compared to Brielle, you’re just too stiff. Let’s break up. I’m going to be with Brielle.” Everyone was waiting for me to shatter. I glanced at my bank account, seeing the extra fifty million dollars that had just landed. With genuine sincerity, I said, “Okay. Congratulations.” “She got dumped by the school heartthrob and only said congratulations?!” “Didn’t even last a minute before she hung up. So decisive. She must be absolutely losing her mind with grief, right?” “Doesn’t look like it. Too calm. More like she was looking forward to getting dumped.” As the words hung in the air, someone cautiously eyed Jace. He had his arm around his new girlfriend, but his handsome face was dark, clearly annoyed. They quickly changed tactics. “Everyone knows how long Ava has been crushing on Jace. There’s no way she’s genuinely indifferent. She’s probably just bottling it up inside!” “I bet you anything, she’ll be back begging Jace not to abandon her within three days!” Jace’s scowl eased slightly. “If she comes back begging, I might consider forgiving her. Let’s see what she does.” I was blissfully unaware of their chatter, dragging my suitcase towards the train station. Even if I had heard their mockery, I would have just offered a cold, faint smile. If it weren’t for my parents’ unwavering belief that a daughter was useless for studying and should be married off for money while she was young. If it weren’t for my acceptance letter being shredded into worthless scraps, and my alcoholic father beating me until I was battered and barely conscious – that’s when Mrs. Sterling, Jace’s mother, found me. And she offered a deal: If I could help Jace get into an elite university, she would not only cover my high school tuition but also give me fifty million dollars. Otherwise, I would never have chased after Jace, the school’s resident bad boy, always at his beck and call, his devoted follower, enduring everything without complaint. Three whole years. I used every trick in the book, turning him, a rebellious slacker, into a top student, successfully getting him into an elite university. Now, my mission was complete. I finally had the money and could leave. I was too happy to even think about it. Why would I be sad because he got a new girlfriend? From the very beginning, all I wanted was to break free from hell, and carve out a world of my own. Love? That was never on my radar. After orientation week, I didn’t enroll in the university I was accepted to. My parents wouldn’t let me go, not when a prestigious university student could command a decent amount of money. If I was going to leave, I had to leave completely. Over the three-month summer, I took my IELTS and reached B2 level in French. I successfully processed my study abroad application. As I boarded my flight to Paris, Jace’s texts started coming in. “Why did you block all my contacts?” “Ava, haven’t you thrown enough tantrums this whole summer? Even if Brielle and I are together, we’re still friends. Stop acting out, unblock me.” His words still dripped with that usual arrogant tone. As if he was certain I’d be just like the past three years: no matter how childish he was, or how much he trampled on my feelings, I would eventually come crawling back to him. I simply took out my phone card, snapped it in half, and tossed it into the airport trash can. Along with that card, I discarded all the humiliation, the calculations, and the unbearable memories of the past. The plane sliced through the sky, erasing all my prior existence. Later, my best friend told me Jace had been leaving comments under my old social media posts. The messages were always something like, “Are you done acting up yet?” “It’s just a relationship, why are you so mad?” “Add me back already!” She said, “At first, Jace was convinced you’d come back to him, but when you didn’t, he started getting really aggressive. Sometimes just hearing your name would make his face darken.” It felt like I was listening to someone else’s story. It didn’t stir a single ripple in me. I used the fifty million dollars from Mrs. Sterling to start fresh in Paris. I chose a top design academy. The language, the culture, the heavy workload – Everything was a new challenge. But there was no Jace to appease, no suffocating family. Just my sketchpad, designs, and boundless possibilities for the future. Years vanished in a blink. Nurtured by hard work and talent, my jewelry designs began making waves at major fashion weeks, winning several prestigious international awards. As Lumina Company’s newly appointed Chief Designer, I was dispatched back to my home country to spearhead the expansion into the Asia-Pacific market. My first day back. While grabbing lunch at the restaurant beneath the branch office, a hesitant voice spoke behind me: “Ava? Is that really you?” I turned, seeing a somewhat familiar face. It was Ashley, I think, a girl who used to sit in front of me in high school. Her eyes widened, openly scrutinizing me from head to toe, filled with astonishment and disbelief. “Oh my god! It really is you! You’ve changed so much!” Gone was the timidity and the desperate need to please from high school. Time and experience had granted me a calm, composed demeanor. “Long time no see.” “It really is you! What a coincidence!” Ashley seemed thrilled. “There’s a class reunion tonight, right upstairs at The Summit Restaurant. Loads of people are coming, and Jace will be there too! You absolutely have to come! Everyone will be shocked when they see you!” Jace? That name was like a distant symbol, one that hadn’t crossed my mind in ages. I was about to decline, but then I reconsidered. Some things didn’t need to be avoided. “Okay.” The entire day was spent dealing with new company handover tasks, keeping me swamped with work. By the time I remembered the reunion, it was already late. Too lazy to go back to the hotel to change, I just wore my casual clothes and headed up to the private room at The Summit. Pushing open the heavy door, a wave of noisy chatter washed over me. The private room was huge, with a giant round table packed with people. My gaze instinctively swept the room, and almost instantly, it landed on the man at the head of the table, clearly the center of attention. Jace. He was more mature than in high school, his handsome face more defined. Dressed in an expensive casual suit, he exuded a relaxed, nonchalant aura, always the focal point of any crowd. Right beside him sat a young, pretty girl, her makeup flawless, her clothes flashy. But it wasn’t Brielle. Looks like his string of bad-girl girlfriends had seen another update. After a brief silence, a guy who’d clearly had too much to drink was the first to recognize me. “Holy crap! Look! Jace! Your simp, Ava, is here!” That shout instantly detonated the entire room. Everyone’s eyes, filled with surprise and schadenfreude, swung to focus on me. Jace’s head snapped up. When he saw me standing at the door, his pupils contracted sharply. That easygoing, nonchalant expression instantly froze, replaced by shock and a complex emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. The girl beside him immediately sensed his discomfort, tightening her grip on his arm and looking at me with scrutiny and hostility. “Ava?” I ignored the whispers and stares. Walking straight to the empty seat beside Ashley, I calmly poured myself a glass of water. “Ava, long time no see!” Brittany, a girl dressed to the nines as usual, was the first to speak. “Heard you didn’t go to college back then? Well, yeah, how could your family afford college tuition?” “So, where did you end up working these past few years? Please don’t tell me it’s like what everyone said, that you married some old guy? Your outfit today is pretty casual, though.” She deliberately emphasized “married some old guy,” making a few girls around her giggle behind their hands. “I’ve been living abroad for a few years, just got back.” I replied faintly, not wanting to elaborate. “Oh, abroad, huh!” Kyle, another guy, chimed in, his tone dripping with exaggerated sympathy. “Returning from overseas isn’t as easy as it sounds these days, is it? You can do some shady jobs abroad, but those are illegal here. We’re old classmates, so have you found a job yet? Want us guys to help you out?” “My uncle’s company needs an admin assistant; the requirements aren’t high, just need to know how to use a computer! The pay isn’t great, but it’s a legitimate job, right? Better than what you used to—” He intentionally dragged out his words, implying something. “Exactly, exactly,” Brittany immediately agreed, feigning sincerity. “Even though foreign men like Asian women, they usually just play around.” “Ava, we’re old classmates, so speak up if you’re in trouble.” “With your background… oh, I mean, you didn’t go to college, and you don’t have many nice clothes, so interviews might be tough. Maybe I can take you shopping for some decent outfits sometime? If you’re short on cash, I can lend you some first? After all, you used to be such a genius, it’s a shame to see you like this.” Jace remained silent. Only the fingers gripping his wine glass tightened slightly, his eyes fixed on me with a heavy gaze. His new girlfriend, Camille, finally couldn’t hold back. She sneered, leaning slightly forward, a look of condescending pity and undisguised contempt on her face. “Ava, right? I’ve heard about you.” “I heard you used to be like a simp, desperately chasing my Jace?” “Helping him with homework, copying notes, even dealing with his teachers?” “You really worked hard, huh.” She paused intentionally, savoring the classmates’ expressions as they waited for the drama. “But you had some self-awareness, at least, knowing that you and Jace were worlds apart and had no future. So you just ran off. Though, it seems you haven’t done so well for yourself?” “Now, Jace is the heir to Sterling Industries, and me? I just took over my family’s fashion brand and I’m busy negotiating collaborations with top international design companies. If you’re in a tough spot, we can help you out.” I calmly drank my water. “No need, thank you.” Camille scoffed, glancing at me dismissively, her tone now laced with triumph. “You probably don’t know how much influence I have, do you? You know Lumina? The rising French luxury jewelry brand!” “Their Chief Designer is a genius who won international awards in Paris! They’re incredibly talented and very mysterious. I pulled a lot of strings to finally get in touch. If she could design a collaborative collection for my brand, it would definitely shake up the entire fashion world!” “With a snap of my fingers, I could probably even find you a job.” Everyone immediately gasped and flattered her: “Lumina? I know them! Their designs are so tasteful!” “I heard that designer is incredibly good, with impeccable taste. Most people can’t even catch their eye!” “Ms. Camille’s network is amazing! To be able to invite such a high-caliber designer, that’s truly impressive. Only someone like her deserves to stand beside Jace!” Camille proudly lifted her chin, basking in the compliments. This was exactly the effect she wanted to achieve. “What’s the designer’s name? So powerful?” Someone asked curiously. “Her English name is Ava Su, but she’s from here.” Camille tried to continue boasting about the designer she mentioned. “I heard she’s very young but incredibly talented, with a high standing in the French design world.” “It’s certainly not easy for a small brand like ours to get her on board, but I’m confident!” She said, then leaned intimately towards Jace. “Jace, don’t you think so?” Jace gave a distracted “Hmm.” His gaze was still fixed on my face, his eyes seemingly filled with a silent resentment, refusing to say another word. Everyone continued to ruthlessly put me down, using it to elevate Camille. I simply picked up my water glass, took a small sip, my expression utterly calm. Just then, a gentle knock sounded on the private room door. A young woman in a business suit, clutching a thick stack of documents, peeked in, her face anxious and deferential. “Ms. Camille, I apologize for the interruption.” “I brought the urgent Lumina project documents you requested, and regarding the designer…” Camille immediately pressed, “What about them? Did the designer reply? Have they agreed to meet with us to discuss?” Her voice was full of anticipation. The assistant, Sarah, clutching the documents, nodded. “I met the designer today, but she has an appointment tonight, so she scheduled a meeting for tomorrow.” Hearing the assistant confirm that she had personally met the mysterious designer and arranged a meeting for tomorrow. Camille’s face instantly bloomed into a radiant, determined smile. “That’s wonderful!” She turned to Jace, her eyes sparkling with triumph. “Jace, see? I told you I could do it, didn’t I? I’m definitely going to close the deal with her tomorrow!” The surrounding classmates immediately erupted in enthusiastic compliments: “Ms. Camille’s touch is truly extraordinary!” “Amazing, amazing! We’ll all be relying on you for opportunities, Ms. Camille!” “Jace, you’re so lucky to have such a capable partner as Ms. Camille!” Amidst the chorus of fawning compliments, Camille’s vanity was fully satisfied. Her gaze lightly swept over me, sitting quietly in the corner. “Oh, by the way, Sarah, are there any basic open positions at the company recently? Like a cleaner, maybe?” She paused, her eyes pointedly flicking towards me. “That Ava, she used to help my boyfriend so much.” “I heard she doesn’t have a legitimate job right now. As classmates, I’d like to find her some stable work, just to help her out.” The private room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into louder laughter and agreement. “Oh, Ms. Camille, please don’t! Being kind is great, but some people, and their families, are just trouble you can’t touch!” “Exactly, exactly! You wouldn’t believe it, when she just ran off without a word back then, her parents came to the school and made such a scene! Throwing a fit, wailing and carrying on outside the principal’s office, insisting the school had kidnapped their daughter! It even caught the attention of local news reporters! The spectacle… tsk, just awful! So embarrassing!” “Right, right! Her whole family is like that, utterly unreasonable! Ms. Camille, your design company is just starting, it’s a critical period. What if her parents come to your company and cause trouble? What would you do?” Camille, hearing this, faked a look of profound relief. “Is that so? Well, I’m really sorry, Ava. See, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but my design company is just starting, its foundations aren’t solid, and it truly can’t handle trouble like that. I can’t afford to attract any negativity.” She finished, then deliberately leaned closer to Jace, as if being near me would taint her with bad luck. Jace only looked at me, his lips twitching as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he just scowled and held back. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on me, watching with a superior, disdainful, and expectant gaze. I didn’t understand why she was so keen on giving me a job. But I remained calm, repeating the words I’d just said. “No trouble, I have a job, thank you.” Camille sighed. “That job of yours, if it’s not working out, maybe quit. Being young and pretty has some advantages, but… that kind of work can really wear you down, physically and mentally.” A wave of sneering laughter rippled through the group. Sarah, the assistant, chuckled too, but when she looked at me, her professional expression suddenly froze. The thick stack of urgent Lumina project documents she was holding, *whoosh*, slipped from her grasp and crashed to the floor, white papers scattering everywhere. The private room fell silent. Camille’s face was full of displeasure. “What are you doing? Can’t even hold a few files?” But Sarah completely disregarded her boss’s scolding, pointing at me, a look of pure terror on her face. “Ms. Su?! You… what are you doing here?!”

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My brother’s secret girlfriend locked me in a storage room, accused me of seducing him, and ordered her guards to beat me. Lucas didn’t answer my calls. But he did throw a party— telling everyone he’d make me kneel and apologize. He forgot one thing: I built everything he owns. And I’m done protecting him. I was about to leave the upscale restaurant Lucas owned when the manager stopped me. “Excuse me, ma’am, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, figuring she was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on Lucas’s tab. He knows.” The female manager swept a disdainful glance over me. “Ma’am, our restaurant is a Michelin three-star. We’ve never had a policy of charging to an account.” She finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down, and my eyes widened. A single meal for half a million dollars. Cutlery Gleam Maintenance Fee: Thirty thousand. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: Fifty thousand. VIP Serenity Service Fee: One hundred thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a rip-off joint. I was so furious, I actually laughed. “I’m Sloan Cross, Mr. Cross’s sister. Tell him to come home and talk to me if there’s a problem.” But she wouldn’t back down. “Can’t afford it, huh? Don’t pretend you’re someone important, trying to mooch off Mr. Cross.” I immediately texted my assistant: *Tell Lucas. Either fire this woman, or I’m pulling all my investments. “Ma’am, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay the bill.” Her tone was utterly certain, cutting, as if she’d already branded me as a vain gold-digger trying to skip out on the bill. Several curious glances from other patrons were already turning our way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number directly. However, only a cold busy signal answered, and repeated attempts yielded the same result. What the hell is that kid up to on a weekday? I put down my phone and faced the aggressive woman, enunciating each word carefully. “I’ll say it again. My name is Sloan Cross. I am your boss, Lucas Cross’s, older sister.” “His phone is unreachable right now, but you can check his company account. My picture and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the female manager heard my name, instead of verifying anything, she burst into a sharp, grating laugh. She cackled, shaking with malicious glee, drawing even more attention. Then, she abruptly leaned in close to me, lowering her voice to a volume only we two could hear. “Still pretending? I’ve seen that face of yours in my husband Lucas’s Ins feed countless times!” “You shameless hussy, secretly seducing my man!” “Now you have the audacity to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge everything to his account? Do you have no shame at all?” I froze for a second, then glanced at her name tag—Madison Reed. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Lucas’s girlfriend, the one he’d been keeping under wraps, not even a single picture he’d bothered to show me. It turned out to be this foolish, venomous woman in front of me. How could his taste be this bad? Suddenly, I understood. This half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, she’d completely lost her patience. “Since this woman wants to dine and dash, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She waved her hand backward, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. One clamped his hand over my mouth, while the other wrenched my arms painfully behind my back, twisting them like rope. I struggled violently, but the sheer difference in strength between us made all my resistance futile. They ignored my furious glares and the horrified stares of the other patrons, roughly dragging me toward the back of the kitchen. Then I was thrown heavily into a storage room reeking of disinfectant mixed with stale food. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from the outside.

In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” “That’s for trying to seduce him!” She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage. She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!” The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Lucas! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!” I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop. Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me. “You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.” “That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.” “I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Lucas will have it all smoothed over for me.” I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.” Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more. I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?” “One million, not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number. The call connected quickly. “Maya, bring two million to Lucas’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice. “Sloan? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Madison heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes. She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy. The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.”

Maya’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from the outside. Maya stormed in, flanked by two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic form curled on the floor, she gasped in shock. She rushed forward and helped me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak, then took the bank card with the sticky-note password from her hand and tossed it to Madison. Madison took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving her hand dismissively. “If that’s a fake card, I have plenty of ways to find you. Now get out.” I endured the excruciating pain that pierced my bones, and with Maya’s help, I limped out of that disgusting place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Maya. “Thanks, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” She looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My brother’s found himself quite the girlfriend. I’ve got a score to settle with him.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Vice President. This VP was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally headhunted, and he was fiercely loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Madison Reed.” “Otherwise, the Cross family will withdraw all investments from the restaurant, every last penny.” The VP on the other end was scared him witless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unsettling tone in my voice, as he frantically agreed, not daring to ask a single question why. I hung up, not pausing for a second, and hailed a cab directly to the police station. Using the clearest, most logical reasoning, I explained everything that had just happened to the officer who received me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for a medical examination. Holding that thin report, the fury of betrayal in my heart felt like it had been doused with hot oil, burning even more fiercely. I needed an explanation. I needed Lucas Cross to give me an explanation himself. My assistant located Lucas at his own house. My driver and bodyguards were already en route to Lucas’s villa. That villa, too, was a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by deafening heavy metal music. And the boisterous sounds of men and women emanating from the doors and windows. He was throwing a party. No wonder he hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. On a whim, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Madison. She was crying to everyone in the house, painting herself as a poor victim bullied by an arrogant mistress, who was then falsely accused. “…I just asked her to pay her bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face, and then had me fired…” “Lucas, she’s too much. She has absolutely no respect for you!” “She just wants to humiliate me, she just wants to break us up!” Inside, Lucas’s group of fair-weather friends all indignantly echoed her sentiments. Lucas, meanwhile, was loudly comforting Madison in his arms, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Madison, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this kind of injustice!” Then, as if to prove his resolve, he confidently promised everyone: “When I catch that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Madison, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Lucas, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!” “Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door. The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished. Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?”

The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor. Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room. Lucas Cross’s expression was nothing short of spectacular. First, shock, then an uncontrollable terror, his face instantly paling. He instinctively let go of Madison Reed, as if to stand up. But his gaze caught Madison’s tear-streaked face, and he hesitated, a struggle in his eyes. Finally, that fear was replaced by a ridiculous, blustering defiance. He remained seated, just staring fixedly at me, as if that could mask his inner panic. As for Madison, the moment she recognized me, her pupils constricted violently. But she quickly regained her composure. This was Lucas’s territory, surrounded by all his friends. Instead, she burrowed deeper into Lucas’s arms, crying even louder. “Lucas, it’s her… she’s the one who bullied me…” She cried, casting me a malevolent, triumphant look, as if to say, See? He still protects me. I ignored her, my gaze fixed solely on my dear brother. “Lucas Cross, I’m talking to you.” “Weren’t you just saying you’d make me kneel and apologize to your girlfriend?” Lucas’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his lips trembling, but not a single word escaped him. He was afraid of me. He had always been afraid of me, ever since we were kids. He knew who truly called the shots in this family. His friends exchanged confused glances, clearly not understanding the situation. A rich kid with bleached hair, probably wanting to impress Madison, stepped forward. “Who are you? How dare you talk to Lucas like that?” “If you know what’s good for you, apologize to Madison right now, or else…” He didn’t finish his sentence. Because the bodyguard behind me had already stepped forward, standing impassively in front of me. That invisible pressure instantly silenced the blonde kid. I walked past the bodyguard, stood before Lucas, and looked down at him. “It seems you’re not going to give me an explanation.” Lucas finally mustered his courage, stiffened his neck, and stood up. He pulled me aside, lowering his voice, his tone a mix of pleading and a hint of impatience. “Sloan, what exactly do you want?” “Do you really have to humiliate me in front of my friends?” “Madison didn’t mean it, she just has a short temper. Can’t you just let it go?” I looked at him and suddenly found it incredibly laughable. Let it go? After she had her goons beat me half to death, after she extorted a million dollars from me, he wanted me to *let it go*? “Lucas Cross.” I called him by his full name. “Are you kidding me?” “I…” He was speechless for a moment, his eyes darting away. Just then, from outside the villa, the sound of police sirens grew louder and clearer. The sharp, piercing wail cut through the party’s false festive atmosphere. Everyone froze. Soon, several uniformed police officers, their expressions serious, walked in. The lead officer scanned the room, then his gaze settled on me. “Excuse me, are you Ms. Sloan Cross?” I nodded. “Yes, I am.” The officer pulled out an arrest warrant and turned toward Madison Reed. “Madison Reed, you are suspected of assault and extortion. You are now under arrest. Please cooperate with us and return to the station for questioning.”

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I raised that snake for twelve years. Then I saw him with his hands around my sister’s waist, whispering sweet things meant for me. “Who would like a short, weak little freak like her?”He laughed, talking about me. In that moment, I finally understood. I hadn’t saved a partner. I’d raised a snake who would bite the hand that fed him. So I handed him the termination papers and walked away. Later, he went crazy looking for me. But by then, I was already in the arms of someone who actually knew how to hold me. Raven was a sickly little snake I’d adopted. It wasn’t uncommon for humans and shifters to pair and bond. My family had been bonded with snake shifters for generations. From a young age, each of us would either be gifted a snake beast-man by our parents or find one on our own. But I was out of favor, so I quietly went and found my own little snake. When I found Raven in a dilapidated sewer drain, he was tiny and frail. His body, having just shed its skin, was incredibly weak, and he was barely clinging to life. I saved him, and I raised him for twelve years. Raising a snake took immense energy, resources, and money. Raising a sick snake was adding insult to injury. And being an unfavored, penniless person? That was like adding insult to injury and then some. Thankfully, Raven grew up healthy. His bronzed, muscular lines curved smoothly down, outlining his taut waist, yet his snake form kept him from looking bulky, instead giving him a certain delicate grace. Many in my family said I’d struck gold, finding such a handsome snake-shifter. I’d just smile, never saying a word. Only I truly understood the bitter reality of our bond. Raven rarely initiated physical contact with me. Even when I had to train for my snake-bonding rituals, he rarely cooperated. He’d always be cold-faced, impatiently wrapping himself around my arm, his scales grating painfully against my skin. I constantly reassured myself that snakes were cold-blooded, and that was why he didn’t want to be affectionate with me. Until that day I saw him, his face flushed, carefully wrapping himself around my sister Lana’s calf, softly asking her, “Does it hurt?” Lana looked helpless, gently pushing his head away. “Raven, I know you like me, but you’re my sister’s companion. This isn’t right for us.” His face instantly hardened, and he scoffed. “I don’t care. I only like you. Who would ever like that short little freak?” Lana tried to protest further, but Raven moved closer, wrapping around her waist, his scales smoothed against her, playfully tickling her. Raven was *flirting*. Scene after scene from the past twelve years flashed through my mind. Raven rarely smiled, but during family dinners, sitting across from me, his face always held a faint smile. Looking back now, he was never looking at me. He was looking at my sister, Lana, beside me. The signs had been there all along, but I had just been too blind to see them. I had thought that my adopting this sickly little snake was a mutual rescue, a fate that brought us together. But I never imagined it was precisely because I was a freak that he disliked me. It felt like my heart was being squeezed. That tiny flicker of hope I’d harbored for years, which used to tickle my heart, suddenly sharpened into a blade, piercing right through me.

On my way home, I passed a clothing store and couldn’t help but stop. Lana had one of the dresses displayed in the window. The sales assistant looked hesitant but, seeing my persistence, handed me a set of clothes. The girl in the changing room was small, barely reaching half the height of the full-length mirror. My chest was flat, my limbs slender and weak – the body of someone too frail to properly bond with a snake-shifter. That outfit, which looked absolutely stunning on Lana, made me look like a precocious little girl secretly wearing her mother’s high heels. Images of Lana with her shifter automatically flashed through my mind. Tall, with long limbs, Lana looked incredibly beautiful when she bonded with a snake-shifter. Raven wrapped around her, they looked perfectly matched. No wonder Raven didn’t like me. From the day I was born, even my own parents didn’t want me. I hadn’t developed properly in the womb, born with a frail constitution. I grew slower and stayed shorter than everyone else. Even as an adult, I still looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old child. Others would mock me: “A freak of nature in a family of revered snake-tamers! She’ll probably snap her arm just trying to handle one.” Those cruel words pricked at my heart like thorns that couldn’t be removed, and they brought shame to my parents’ faces too. They learned their lesson and were extra attentive when Lana was conceived. And that extra care gave them every snake-shifter’s dream match – she grew fast and tall. With Lana, they cared for me even less. It was as if they were a complete family of three, and I was just a poorly-nurtured burden. I stared at my small hands, angrily digging my nails into my palm, then curled my fingers into fists, silently sobbing.

I arrived home, my eyes swollen raw, like bruised fruit. Raven was sitting on the sofa, his expression impatient and chillingly cold. “What took you so long? Do you know I’m starving?” I sniffled, my emotions, just barely controlled, surged up again. “I’ll order you some takeout later, I’m a little tired.” He scoffed, “Ha, you want me to eat takeout?” Not wanting to argue, I sighed. My foot, already stepping towards the bathroom, changed direction, heading to the kitchen instead. I usually cooked for Raven. He never lifted a finger in the kitchen. Even with a fridge full of ingredients, he was too pampered to dirty his precious hands. Once before, I’d come home late, and Raven had thrown a terrible fit because he was hungry. I thought he was specially waiting for me to eat, and, filled with guilt and a tiny bit of joy, I cooked him a huge meal. But as I pulled out a chair, about to sit down, he threw cold water on my hopes. “You reek of cooking oil. Go take a shower.” Snapping back to reality, I placed the prepared meal in front of him, but Raven didn’t touch it. “Why do you smell like another shifter?” I raised my arm and sniffed. It was probably from the clothing store earlier. I suddenly remembered when I was little and had no money, I had to hike up the mountain to hunt wild rabbits and pheasants to feed him. He’d grumble, chewing on the tough, stringy meat. He’d complain about the mud on my face and the scent of other shifters on me, always keeping his distance. “I’ll go shower now.” I set the cutlery on the table and walked towards the bathroom, but Raven swept the cooked meal onto the floor with a single arm. “Nova Miller, aren’t you going to explain yourself?” A shard of ceramic from the shattered bowl cut my calf, and the pain instantly sharpened my mind. Some people are just so strange. They don’t love you, but they still want to possess you. They give you the illusion of being cherished, of being cared for, when all they truly want is to extract more love from *you*. Raven was exactly like that. For the first time, I looked at him with a cold face. “Explain what? “It’s fine for you to smell like other people, but I can’t?” A flicker of surprise crossed his face. But it was quickly replaced by anger. “You’re doubting me? “Don’t forget who presumptuously saved you?” I didn’t answer, stepping past him to get the first-aid kit. I brushed past his arm, and he immediately flinched back, the sharp edges of his scales scraping me. His voice was colder than his expression. “Don’t touch me.” Right. He barely let me touch him even during bonding training. Outside of training? That was a pipe dream. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. I used to think he was just a cold-blooded creature, too hard to warm, too wild to tame. Turns out, he just didn’t like *me*. Twelve years of sincere companionship from a freak meant nothing compared to his instant infatuation with a ‘normal’ person.

I took a dissolution of adoption agreement from my bag. “I’m sorry. Sorry for presumptuously saving you, for intruding into over ten years of your life without permission, and for making you unhappy. “So, let’s part ways amicably. “May you finally achieve everything you wish for, and live a life filled with joy and ease.” Raven ground his molars together, a sound of pure rage, his face dark as he asked, “What do you mean?” I said calmly, “It means we’re breaking up.” I then pulled out a property transfer deed and a bank card for him. “I sold the house. We’ll split the money evenly, and with this bank card, you’ll have enough to buy a small studio apartment for yourself.” His face grew even darker. “You’re abandoning me? “Didn’t you say you loved me?” Did I love Raven? I had wondered about that myself. I had never truly received love, so I wasn’t entirely sure what love felt like. I just thought that love meant being good to someone. I looked up at the small house filled with our memories. I had moved out with Raven after I came of age. At first, he was reluctant. Back then, I had to both study and work to support him, so I was always out early and back late, with little time to spend with him. He’d be all alone in that cramped rental apartment, his snake tail sticking out from the folding bed with nowhere to go. I thought that was why he was reluctant. So I worked seven or eight jobs, saving up to buy a house for him. Even then, he still didn’t want to touch me, locking his bedroom door even though we each had our own room. But I still wanted to melt his icy demeanor. He was my responsibility, the one I had saved and raised. I couldn’t just abandon him. Yet, I had seen how others in my family interacted with their shifters. My childhood friend, Hailey, had a snow leopard beast-man. That snow leopard had been very arrogant when first adopted, but Hailey’s gentle persistence eventually melted his icy heart. He’d affectionately rub against Hailey’s neck, and gently lick the back of her hand. Like a mouse in the gutter, I watched, craving a beauty that wasn’t mine. I searched for shifter vlogs online, learning their preferred ways of care. I spoiled him rotten, never letting him do any chores, giving him whatever he wanted. I never thought that what was my sweet gesture was his bitter poison. I also thought that one day I could truly enter Raven’s heart, but his heart had long been occupied by someone else. Perhaps I had loved Raven once, but those feelings had slowly eroded over the years. Until I saw him wrapped around Lana – that was when the melting snow mountain of my hope finally crumbled into dust. “I don’t love you anymore.”

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