Category: English

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.

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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 CEO fiancé said the company was struggling, so he cut my salary in half. But then I saw his little assistant flaunting on SnapChat. [My boss didn’t just give me a raise; he even bought me a luxury car because he was worried about my commute! So thoughtful.] In the picture, she and my fiancé stood in front of a brand new, high-end car, beaming with happiness. I paused for two seconds and tapped ‘Like.’ That evening, my fiancé called an urgent meeting. Using my “disruption of company morale” as an excuse, he docked my entire month’s salary and gave it to his assistant as “compensation” for her “distress.” Everyone looked at me with pity, expecting me to throw a fit. But I calmly packed my things from my desk and handed him my resignation. “Just docking salary isn’t enough for bullying a colleague, is it? I’ll resign myself.” The moment I finished speaking, Chloe, Connor’s assistant, jumped in. “Harper, how can you resign over such a small thing?” “You’ve been with the company for so long, and Connor has always been so good to you. If you quit now, at this crucial moment, what will everyone think of him?” “Connor, you should try to convince Harper too!” Connor probably had been planning to stop me. But after listening to Chloe, his anger flared. He scoffed, “Convince her? Why? If she wants to leave, let her. I’ve done nothing wrong; I’m not afraid of what anyone thinks or says.” Then, without hesitation, he signed my resignation letter and threw the paper in my face. The watching colleagues were stunned. A good friend from my team quickly whispered for me to just apologize, to not let my emotions get the best of me. Almost everyone present knew that I had helped Connor build this company from the ground up. When the company was short on funds, I practically drank myself sick to secure investments. When deadlines loomed, I was the one leading the team, pulling all-nighters for days on end. I poured my heart and soul into every single project. Now the company had completed its funding rounds and was about to go public. No one in their right mind would leave at a time like this. But I remained calm, picking up the resignation letter from the floor. “I’ll leave after I’ve handed over my work.” “No need for a handover. Get out now.” Connor pointed at the door, his voice cold and unwavering. Seeing this, I said nothing, just waved goodbye to a few colleagues, picked up my bag, and left. Before walking out, I glanced back at Connor. I clearly saw a flicker of complex emotion in his usually composed eyes. I knew exactly why. He thought I wouldn’t leave. We’d had arguments before, but I’d always regret it shortly after leaving, returning to him as if nothing had happened, apologizing, and going back to work as usual. But he probably didn’t realize this time was different. My patience with him had finally run out. I walked to the parking garage. I found my beat-up old car, the one I’d driven for ten years, its paint scratched and faded in several places. Next to it was a brand new, top-of-the-line Porsche – the exact one Connor had just given Chloe today. There were plenty of empty spaces in the garage, but she’d deliberately parked it right here. I understood. It was a clear challenge. It wasn’t just two cars; it was like the two of us. Connor and I had been together for ten years, yet I was worth less than Chloe, who’d only been here for ten months. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and got into my car. Just then, a text message came through. I opened it and saw a transfer from Liam, my friend. This morning, when Connor said the company wasn’t doing well and he was cutting my salary, I’d worried he was under too much stress. I immediately contacted Liam and arranged for a fifty thousand dollar loan. I’d intended to give it to Connor, but then I’d accidentally seen Chloe’s SnapChat post about Connor getting her a new car. Surprisingly, my heart had been perfectly calm, no sadness, no raging jealousy. Perhaps it was because it had happened too many times. Chloe had been specially recruited by Connor, even though her work ability was abysmal. Yet Connor, who was usually so serious and rigorous about work, tolerated her mistakes again and again. From minor things like ordering plain water for a client and a bubble tea for herself during meetings, to major blunders like sending the bottom-line price list instead of the official quote to a partner, causing the company to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars. Whenever I held Chloe accountable, Connor would unhesitatingly stand in front of her, looking utterly annoyed with me. “Chloe just graduated, isn’t it normal to make some mistakes? Why are you so harsh on new hires?” Over time, Chloe grew increasingly brazen, to the point where she didn’t even acknowledge me anymore. Soon, I left the garage. As the parking barrier lifted, my car suddenly jolted. Realizing I’d been rear-ended, I stepped out, only to see Connor and Chloe walking out of the car behind me, holding hands. “Oh, sorry, Harper, is that you?” Chloe immediately walked up, looking at her car’s dented hood with exaggerated concern. “But why did you brake so suddenly? I didn’t even have time to react.” “Such a shame, Connor just got me this new car.” Connor’s face was dark as he glared at me. “Were you doing this on purpose? Did you know Chloe was behind you and deliberately braked to get back at her?” I almost laughed at his audacity. It was always like this. Blindly placing the blame on me without any reason. Before I could even speak, Chloe’s eyes welled up. “Connor, don’t blame Harper.” “She just quit because of me; it’s normal for her to be angry.” “It’s all my fault, really.” Saying this, she clenched her fist and, as if in agony, moved to hit her forehead, only to subtly pull her punch at the last second. Connor, however, didn’t see through it. His eyes filled with concern as he gently rubbed her forehead. “It has nothing to do with you. Don’t take everything upon yourself.” Then, he turned his furious gaze back to me, getting angrier the more he thought about it. He angrily poked my forehead. “Harper, can’t you learn from Chloe and take some responsibility? She knows how to be modest, and you, after working for so many years, are still so childish and arrogant?” He pushed me back a couple of steps. Once I recovered, I found it almost laughable. For the past year, Chloe had been constantly stealing my credit, playing mind games, and framing me, and now she was modest and responsible, while I was childish and arrogant. Knowing that further conversation would be a waste of breath, I didn’t bother to say anything more and turned to leave. “Wait.” Connor suddenly stopped me. I expected him to lecture me again, defending Chloe. But to my surprise, he pulled me aside. He spoke with a serious, almost paternal tone. “Harper, my attitude towards you today was indeed extreme.” “But, I also have high expectations of you, which is why I’m so strict.” I was still somewhat confused by his gentle words. However, I soon understood his intention.

Connor smiled faintly at me and patted my shoulder. “I’ll withdraw your resignation; just come to work as usual. But find a time to publicly apologize to Chloe.” “Also, you’re fully responsible for this rear-end collision, and I’ll deduct the compensation amount from your salary.” It all clicked. I scoffed, looking up at Chloe. She probably knew exactly what Connor was going to say. Her face was full of smugness, and she winked at me provocatively. I sneered. “No, thank you.” “We can check the surveillance cameras to see whose fault the collision was. If not, just call the police.” “I have somewhere to be. I’m leaving.” With that, I walked straight away. Connor was fuming behind me. “I’ve given you a chance! Don’t you dare regret this!” Regret? Never. I got back in my car and sent a message to Liam. “I’ve resigned. I can start working at your company tomorrow.” Less than half a second later, Liam called back, his voice full of surprise. “Are you serious?” He sounded a little unsure. “Are you sure you don’t want to talk to Connor again?” Liam and Connor had started their companies around the same time. Compared to Connor, who started from scratch, Liam had more resources and more attractive benefits. Liam desperately needed excellent technical talent, so he’d promised me higher shares and profits if I’d come help them. He even made an exception and offered me a part-time role, even after knowing my relationship with Connor. But for Connor’s sake, I had always unequivocally refused. When I was at my lowest, almost freezing to death in the snow, it was Connor who dragged me into the police station and saved my life. I was incredibly grateful to him, so I’d abandoned everything and dedicated myself entirely to the business, finding every possible way to help Connor’s company grow step by step. But now, it seemed he didn’t care. Besides, after all these years, no matter how you looked at it, I’d repaid his debt of gratitude enough. I didn’t need to put myself through this anymore. “No need. I can make my own decisions.” After chatting with Liam for a few more minutes and confirming the contract signing time, I drove home first to grab the necessary documents. I expected Connor to be out until late, as usual. To my surprise, not long after, he walked into the living room, his face beaming with joy, while on the phone with Chloe. Seeing me, his face instantly darkened. He intentionally rolled his eyes at me, then pushed open the bedroom door and went inside. I knew he was waiting for me to go and soothe him. Every time we argued at the company, I would find ways to apologize and ask for his forgiveness. Even if he was the one in the wrong, I had to swallow my pride and admit fault. Before, I thought it was my duty, whether to repay his kindness or to maintain our relationship, I should always indulge him. But now, I just found it tiresome. I focused on searching for things in the drawer. Not long after, he walked out of the room, his face dark. “Chloe’s car is fixed. Is yours fixed yet?” I knew this was his signal, an olive branch of sorts. In the past, I would have immediately felt that he had forgiven me and gone to appease him. But now, I didn’t even look up. I said calmly, “It’s just a beat-up old car. Not worth fixing.” Connor frowned. “What do you mean by that?” I looked up at him, puzzled, not understanding what he was unhappy about now. This car had been scratched many times before, and when I suggested fixing it, he’d always said the same thing. I expected him to explode again, but to my surprise, he sighed. “Chloe’s work has been quite good lately. I gave her the car to retain her talent.” “You’re my girlfriend, and when we get married, the company will be yours anyway, so why bother with salary amounts or compete with her?” “Harper, everything I do is for the company. I don’t want other colleagues to think I’m playing favorites with you.” I was surprised that he was actually explaining himself to me. He’d never bothered to say such things before. But I knew deep down that these were just excuses. At the company, colleagues all knew how Connor treated Chloe and me. Projects I slaved over for three days, he’d suddenly, on a whim, hand them over to Chloe, and with just a simple PowerPoint presentation, they’d become her achievement. Clients I spent days negotiating with, on the verge of signing a contract, he’d use my name to take Chloe out to dinner with them, and suddenly the contract became Chloe’s accomplishment. Such incidents were countless. Over time, other colleagues simply thought Connor favored Chloe more. They even believed Connor didn’t like me, and because of this, I suffered many snubs and bullying at work, which he saw but pretended not to. I didn’t want to explain; he’d just say I was making excuses anyway. “Oh,” I replied flatly. “You don’t need to tell me all this. I have nothing to do with the company anymore. You can do as you please.” Connor didn’t speak. Finally, he sighed. He walked over to me, lowered his head, and gently touched my face. “Actually, I have a selfish reason too. I want you to take some time off and think about our wedding.” “When do you plan to marry me?” He asked, smiling. But I had brought up marriage many times before, and each time, he had refused. Every time we fought and he wanted to placate me, he would bring up marriage. Sometimes, I felt less like his girlfriend and more like a dog he strung along. I remained silent. Connor, as if playing with a dog, scratched my chin. “Don’t be mad, can you just smile for me?” Saying this, he leaned in, as if deliberately trying to please me, and kissed my neck. He rarely initiated physical affection with me. In the past, I probably would have been thrilled. After his kiss, I would have taken the lead, only to be pushed away and laughed at for being “dirty-minded.” Now, thinking about it, it just felt tiresome. I yanked his arm away, pulled out a wet wipe, and scrubbed at my neck. Connor was thunderstruck, frozen in place. “You’re disgusted by me?” “I have to go out later. I’m going to change.” I said calmly, then turned to go back to my room. Connor tried to follow, but I unhesitatingly closed the door and locked it. “Fine! Harper, don’t you dare regret this!” Connor seemed genuinely furious. After his angry outburst, he kicked the door hard and stormed off. When I came out of the room, the living room was empty. In the company SnapChat group, Connor had sent a message, inviting everyone out for dinner and asking who wanted to come. Complete silence followed. Only Chloe sent three “happy” emojis in a row. I knew Connor was deliberately trying to provoke me. This had happened many times before; other colleagues were always reluctant to join, but Chloe was always enthusiastically responsive. In the past, I would have been so jealous that I would have gone along, only to be mocked by them. Now, I couldn’t care less. I went straight to Liam’s place and signed the contract. Liam was incredibly happy and specially arranged a celebratory dinner for me. After several rounds of drinks, when I went to the restroom, I heard familiar voices from the private room next door. I instinctively paused. Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Chloe leaning into Connor’s arms. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Connor was laughing joyfully.

Seizing the moment, Chloe quickly looked up and kissed him on the lips. Connor froze for a moment but made no move to push her away. “Connor, when are you and Harper breaking up?” “I can’t wait to be with you. Do you know how upset I get seeing you with her every day?” Chloe whined, sounding incredibly wronged. Connor’s lips moved, as if he wanted to say something. Finally, he hugged Chloe, patting her back gently, as if comforting a child. “Just wait a little longer.” “It won’t be much longer.” The two of them, intimately embraced, looked exactly like a couple. I scoffed and didn’t watch any longer. Back in the private room, after a few more drinks, the party broke up. As we headed to the underground parking garage, Liam suddenly pulled me in front of a top-of-the-line Porsche and asked if I liked it. I nodded, puzzled. I assumed it was his new car and was about to compliment him when Liam suddenly pressed a car key into my hand. “It’s for you.” He winked at me. “Your car is such a wreck, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I got you a new one.” I was about to refuse, but he seemed to know what I was going to say and cut me off. “I heard Connor got a new car for the new hire at your company. She has such terrible skills and gets to drive a luxury car; you certainly shouldn’t be any worse off than her.” “Speaking of which, I’ve seen some of the things that new hire has ‘produced.’ Her style is different every time. It’s clearly plagiarized. I have no idea how she even stays at the company…” Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Liam was completely unreserved, grumbling on and on about Chloe. I remained silent. He was right. Those projects were all things I and other members of my team had worked on. Almost every time, just as they were nearing completion, Connor would demand they be transferred to Chloe. That’s why Chloe’s “style” always varied. Liam wasn’t even at the company, yet he could see the truth. But Connor, for some reason, couldn’t. I thanked Liam. After chatting for a few more minutes, I headed home. When I opened the door, Connor was already sitting on the sofa in the living room. “Where were you?” He seemed to be in a good mood; his tone was much lighter. The image of him and Chloe embracing in the hotel flashed in my mind again. My stomach churned. “Out to dinner with a friend,” I said calmly, walking straight towards my room. After just two steps, Connor suddenly stopped me, frowning. “You drank?” “Didn’t I tell you not to drink when I’m not around?” I couldn’t help but scoff. His words meant I was only allowed to drink when I was entertaining clients for him. I didn’t say anything. But Connor seemed to have thought of something and suddenly smiled, a hint of smugness on his face. “You’re still mad about me going out with Chloe, right? If you don’t want me to have dinner with her alone, just say so. Is it really worth drinking this much over?” “You’re overthinking it. My drinking has nothing to do with you two.” I was tired, so I sat down on a stool. “However, I do have something I want to tell you.” “What is it?” Assuming I was about to apologize and soften up, Connor’s tone grew even more self-satisfied. “Let me tell you upfront, it’s too late to apologize now. I’m really angry with you because of what happened this afternoon.” “Don’t think a simple apology will make me forgive you.” Saying this, he rolled his eyes at me. I pretended not to see it and spoke. “I…” Before I could finish, his phone rang. Connor glanced down. I noticed the caller ID was Chloe. “Just a moment, I need to take this.” Without another thought for me, Connor lifted his hand to answer the call. Watching his indifferent, decisive back, I spoke calmly. “Let’s break up, Connor.” The moment I said it, Connor’s body seemed to stiffen abruptly.

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When my husband learned his first love had passed away, he took his own life right there on our honeymoon. Reborn back to our teenage years, he decisively pulled his hand from mine and walked straight towards his first love. I watched them disappear into the distance, then turned and walked away. From that moment on, our lives became two parallel lines that would never intersect. Ten years later, we met again at a high-profile charity gala in New York. He had become a rising star in the city’s elite circles, confidently appearing with Chloe Miller, her arm intimately linked with his. When he saw me enter the gala, seemingly searching for someone, he couldn’t help but advise me. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you’d waited ten years, I still wouldn’t have fallen for you.” I ignored him, pulling my son, who was sneaking bites of cake, out from a corner. His eyes suddenly flashed with a raw, desperate red, and he gripped my hand like a lifeline. “Are you deliberately trying to provoke me? Didn’t you say you’d only love me in this lifetime?”

I never imagined that I would ever cross paths with Liam Hayes again in this lifetime. At a high-profile charity gala in New York, he stood in the crowd with Chloe on his arm, his smile elegant and composed, bearing no resemblance to the boy he once was. The people around them beamed, their voices dripping with flattery. “Mr. Hayes, you’re truly impressive, achieving so much at such a young age. Securing that statewide project means your future is limitless!” “And this must be your lovely fiancée, right? A perfect match, you both look incredible together!” Chloe gazed at Liam with deep affection, her voice soft. “We’re planning to get married at the end of the year. If you’re free, please do come to the wedding.” Another round of congratulations followed, and someone asked. “I heard you two have been together for ten years. Why are you only getting married now?” That question piqued my curiosity too. In the last life, Liam loved Chloe so much he was willing to die for her. After being reborn, he immediately broke up with me. I thought they would get married right after graduation, but it seems they still haven’t made it official. Hearing the question, a flicker of stiffness crossed Liam’s face, almost imperceptible, before he quickly covered it with a smile. “Business first, then marriage, right? I wanted to give Chloe the best life possible.” He looked at Chloe, his eyes practically overflowing with tender affection. In my previous life, when we were together, I brought up marriage many times. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that Liam reluctantly agreed to marry me. It turns out, the difference between love and indifference can be painfully obvious. I was about to turn and leave when my eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of a small figure. My body instinctively followed. Splat! Champagne splattered across the floor. The waiter, holding a tray, glared at me with an annoyed expression. “Where did you come from? Can’t you watch where you’re going?” His voice wasn’t quiet, drawing everyone’s attention. Liam’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw my face. “Stella, what are you doing here?” I lowered my head, apologizing to the waiter and explaining. “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone curious asked Liam. “Mr. Hayes, do you know her?” Liam’s hand, holding the wine glass, tightened. His gaze darkened. “Yeah, an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby, too quick with their tongue, blurted out, “You two were together for ten years, I thought you were each other’s first loves!” The smile on Chloe’s face faded slightly. She took Liam’s hand, saying dismissively. “We were young back then, had a small fight and separated for a bit. Who hasn’t made a few mistakes when they were young?” Liam didn’t say anything, his gaze sweeping past me and settling on the waiter. “Put the damages on my tab. Let her go.” He stood there, his expression calm. Aside from that initial surprise, he wasn’t interested in giving me a single extra glance. It seemed he wanted to clearly draw a line between me – that “mistake” he made – and himself, especially in front of Chloe. The waiter immediately started pushing me out. “Mr. Hayes is being generous, helping you clean up your mess. But there won’t be a next time!” He eyed my wrinkled pajamas, scoffing. “This isn’t the kind of place you belong. Get out of here!” I pulled free from his grip, trying to explain patiently. “I’m looking for someone. Once I find them, I’ll leave on my own.” The waiter sneered, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty of people like you trying to latch onto the rich and powerful. Do you even have the right to be at a gala like this? If you don’t leave now, I’m calling security!” “Wait.” Liam’s voice came from behind the waiter. Chloe, pulling at the hem of her dress, looked at me with a sigh, sounding exasperated. “He’s here looking for me. Let me talk to him.” Chloe stood beside him, possessively intertwining her arm with his. “Stella, Liam and I are getting married soon. I think anyone with a shred of decency wouldn’t come looking for an ex at a time like this.” Liam’s face tightened a bit, and he couldn’t help but try to reason with me. “Why are you still so fixated on me? Even if you’d waited ten years, I still wouldn’t have fallen for you.” “Being with you was a mistake. Now that I finally have a chance to correct it, I hope you can move on from the past.” Chloe eyed me from head to toe, a sneer in her eyes. “I can understand why you’d still come looking for Liam. After all, things aren’t what they used to be. He’s a renowned entrepreneur now, surrounded by people trying to butter him up.” Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave her confidence, as Chloe said with her nose in the air. “You graduated from a good university, didn’t you? How did you end up like this? If I were you, I’d be too ashamed to leave the house!” Liam frowned, pulling out his phone, a hint of impatience in his voice. “If you feel like I wronged you when we broke up, I can give you a severance payment now.” “Fifty thousand? Is that enough?” His fingers moved across the screen for a couple of seconds, then froze. “Did you delete me from your contacts?”

I was a little puzzled, not understanding why his reaction was so strong. Deleting an ex after a breakup is pretty normal, isn’t it? Besides, I had someone at home who was incredibly jealous. If he found out I still had an ex-boyfriend’s contact information, he’d probably make a huge fuss. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after we broke up?” Liam’s face went cold, looking like he wanted to say something but held back. I added in a flat tone. “And there’s no need for a severance payment. I don’t need it.” One setback after another, Liam’s face looked even worse. He said coldly. “Why are you still putting on an act in front of me? If it weren’t for how pathetic you look now, I wouldn’t even bother speaking to you.” Chloe gently comforted him. “Liam, you’re just too kind. Honestly, why bother with women like her? Look at her, she’s a complete mess, a lost cause!” His tone was dismissive, as if he’d forgotten that ten years ago, he was in a far worse state than I was. In the previous life, Liam’s family disapproved of him being with Chloe because she was a delinquent who skipped school and engaged in illegal activities. The first time I saw Liam in college, he had just bailed Chloe out of the police station and was being forced by his family to break up with her. During that period when Liam was at his lowest, I stayed by his side, helping him through it. He loved photography, so I used the money I had saved for my own startup to buy him tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Who would have thought that Liam was the one who confessed to me first? I knew about his past with Chloe and had seen him occasionally lost in thought, staring at their old photos. So, when Liam confessed, I asked him very seriously. “Have you truly moved on from Chloe?” At the time, he held me tight, his voice firm. “That’s all in the past. I’ve long since realized who truly cares about me. Stella, I love you, let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even his best friend was surprised. “He was so crazy about Chloe, I never thought you two would last.” But no one knew that Liam had rejected my proposals countless times in private. “Stella, I’m not the marrying type. Isn’t it good enough for us to just be together like this forever?” It wasn’t until Liam’s parents pressured him intensely that he finally agreed to marry me. During our honeymoon, news of Chloe’s accidental car crash arrived. He jumped off the cruise ship, leaving behind only a suicide note. The entire letter was filled with his love for Chloe, without a single word for me. At the very end, he wrote in his own blood. “Chloe, I only ever wanted to be your groom. Now, I’m coming to find you.” My love for him turned to ashes in that moment. So, when Liam wanted to break up with me after we were reborn, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew I couldn’t. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Liam’s contact information, thinking I’d never see him again in this lifetime. But I never expected to run into him here. I wanted to leave, but Chloe was relentless, determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “You really went to great lengths to get close to Liam. Judging by what you’re wearing, you probably don’t even have a decent job.” “Tell you what, I can get you a job as a waiter here. If you learn how to serve people, you could earn five figures a month.” Someone nearby, eager to please, chimed in with a chuckle. “This is a hotel in a prime location in New York City! Getting to work here would be an incredible opportunity for you. Hurry up and thank Ms. Miller!” I was surrounded and couldn’t leave easily, so I said helplessly. “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “It’s photography.” As soon as I said “photography,” Liam immediately looked at me. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, and his lips moved a few times. He turned his head away, not looking at me, his voice cold. “How much money can you make from photography? A hobby won’t pay the bills. Out of courtesy, since we’re acquaintances, I can arrange a job for you.” I paused, immediately realizing he had misunderstood.

My love for photography isn’t some lingering attachment to Liam. In fact, the moment I read that suicide note in my past life, I was utterly heartbroken and gave up completely. It’s just that when I was reborn, I found that all my money had already been spent on camera equipment. I couldn’t sell it on eBay, so I just picked it up and started using it myself. And surprisingly, I actually fell in love with photography. In this life, I’m not trying to please anyone else; I’m doing it solely for myself. I politely declined Liam again, my tone distant and formal. “My hobby generates enough income for my living expenses, thank you for your concern.” Seeing my perceived lack of gratitude, a flicker of anger crossed Liam’s face. “You’re turning down this opportunity. Don’t come crying to me later!” I didn’t say anything, nor did I tell him. Currently, my photography work is commissioned by several national publications and top international journals. All the copyright fees combined are certainly not lower than Liam’s income. But if I said it out loud, he’d probably think I was bragging. After all, my wrinkled pajamas certainly made me look quite humble. It’s my son’s fault, really. He insisted on me playing with him in the sandbox. The moment I turned my back, he darted off downstairs. I hadn’t even had a chance to change clothes when I chased after him. I was just looking for an excuse to leave when the waiter seemed to notice something. He pointed at my clothes and said. “Balenciaga? Where did you pick up that outfit? You’re not one of the cleaning staff, stealing from a guest’s room, are you?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Can’t these clothes be my own?” Chloe scoffed, a mocking laugh escaping her. “Your own? Can you even afford it? What wealthy person runs around dressed so casually?” She dramatically pinched her nose. “It’s so dirty, you probably haven’t even washed it and just secretly put it on.” Liam looked at me, his brows almost knit together tightly enough to catch a fly. “Stella Maxwell, you’re in this state, are you still going to be stubborn?” I didn’t want to deal with them, so I turned directly to the waiter. “If you truly think I stole something, you’re welcome to call the police right now.” I knew he was just trying to curry favor with Chloe, seeing her displeasure with me, and wanted to kick me while I was down. Sure enough, his bravado immediately deflated, and he muttered quietly. “If it weren’t for an important person staying at the hotel today, and us not wanting you people to disturb them, I would have called the police already.” Chloe’s eyes lit up, and she quickly interjected. “Is it Arthur Kingston? I heard he and his family are in New York and staying at this hotel.” Liam nodded, a look of anticipation in his eyes. “If we could get the Kingston family’s support for the project our company is working on, that would be amazing.” The name “Arthur Kingston” dropped like a bomb, instantly igniting a feverish buzz of discussion. “Isn’t the whole point of coming to this gala today to meet Arthur Kingston? This entire building belongs to his family.” “I heard he got married and had a kid in his early twenties. I wonder which heiress he married.” As everyone was discussing, the lobby manager burst in, his face slick with sweat, followed by a whole team. “Everyone, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy around here, about this tall?” The manager wiped his forehead, his eyes frantically scanning the hall. Someone quick-witted, seeing the commotion, immediately guessed something. “Is it the Kingston family’s young master? I heard he’s exactly seven this year.” The gala attendees became enthusiastic, quickly searching everywhere. After all, finding the boy could be a chance to connect with the Kingston family. Liam and Chloe also joined the search, no longer paying attention to me. I looked at the chaotic hall and walked straight to the dessert area. Sure enough, I found my son under the table, his face covered in cream. I frowned, extending my hand. “Come here.” My son jumped, hugging the table leg and refusing to let go. “No.” I was about to pull him over when Chloe suddenly appeared, blocking me, her voice righteous. “Stella Maxwell, what do you think you’re doing!” “Even if you want to connect with the Kingston family, there’s no need to lay hands on a child, is there?” Liam rushed over, his eyes filled with disappointment as he looked at me. “Stella Maxwell, I can’t believe you’d do something like this for fame and fortune.” The waiter grabbed the manager and complained. “It’s this woman! She suddenly crashed the gala and even stole clothes from another guest!” The manager’s face immediately turned cold, and he called security. “Grab this thief and take her straight to the police station! If she scares the young master, you’re all fired!” A triumphant smile flickered in Chloe’s eyes. She bent down, putting on a kind face for the Kingston family’s young master. “Come here, sweetie, Auntie will protect you.” My son ignored her completely. To everyone’s astonishment, he carefully reached out for my hand. “Mommy, I’m sorry.”

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In my previous life, Ash locked me in his world. He controlled my phone, my friends, my every step. He used his illness as a chain and treated my fear as loyalty. When I tried to leave, he broke my bones and called it love. I died in that cage. Then I woke up on the day I confessed to him. This time, I cut him off before he could touch my life again. No hesitation. No mercy. I’m alive again, and I’m not his cure or his possession. I’m here to take back everything he stole—starting with my freedom. I was tortured to death. When I opened my eyes, I was back to the day when my crush rejected me. As we were cutting the cake, they encouraged me to confess. Gathering my courage, I said, “Ash, my birthday wish is you.” Ash’s hand holding the cigarette trembled. He smirked and said, “Sorry, you’re too good. Not my type.” In my previous life, because of these words, I went crazy, thinking about my miserable end. My whole body felt cold, and I wanted to kill Ash right then and there. “Nova, are you okay?” “Ash, can’t you say something nice?” Ash maintained his laid-back and nonchalant attitude, lazily blowing smoke rings. “I’m not good at lying.” His lazy British accent was quite alluring. But hearing it now, I only felt disgusted. In front of everyone, I coldly made a new birthday wish. “Ash, I hope that for eternity, you and I will never cross paths again.” I blew out the candles. They tried to stop me, but couldn’t. Ash’s smile froze on his face. “Nova, are you serious?” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make a new wish, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything just now.” No need. I ignored him and started cutting the cake. Ash rushed towards me, grabbing the blade with his right hand. “Nova, I’m talking to you.” The blade cut his finger, drawing blood. Someone exclaimed, “Blood! Ash, you’re bleeding!” I knew he was having an episode again. Ash had a severe psychological disorder. In my previous life, only I could stop him from having these episodes. Oh, to be precise, only I could before that poor junior girl appeared. Because of this, I always thought I was special to him. Until I heard him comforting that poor girl in his lazy tone. “She’s different from you.” “At most, she’s just a placebo. Only you are my sole medicine.” “Without you, I’d die.” I let go of the knife and said, “If you like it so much, you can have it.” As I turned to leave, Ash threw the knife aside and grabbed me. His bloodied finger stained my white shirt. “Nova, who are you trying to impress with this attitude?” The blood terrified me. Uncontrollably, I remembered the things from my previous life. Feeling dizzy and overwhelmed, I fainted. When I woke up, Ash was by my bedside. “Awake?” “You made me angry, yet I had to carry you back. Nova, how do you plan to make it up to me?” Ash was a player. He often said these ambiguous things, making me harbor inappropriate hopes. But I was no longer who I used to be. I knew very well that when faced with someone he truly liked, Ash couldn’t utter a single flirtatious word. Even when confessing, his voice would tremble. I sighed and said, “I’m tired.” “Ash, let’s not see each other anymore.” 0

The next day, I went to school alone. Ash didn’t wait for me. I knew this was his punishment for me. He was waiting for me to apologize. But I ignored him all day. In the afternoon, I was sleeping in the classroom when someone shook me awake. “Nova! Wake up! Ash’s fighting with someone on the basketball court!” Still half-asleep, I was dragged to the basketball court by my deskmate. “Quick, go look! Ash’s gone crazy, only you can stop him!” No. He was wrong. I didn’t need to go over there. Because his leading lady had already appeared. I guessed right. By the time we arrived, Ash had stopped fighting and was sitting to the side, drenched in sweat. Beside him sat a girl. She had a low ponytail, a serene expression, and was holding his hand. Her voice carried a hint of choked emotion. She said softly, “Ash, you’re hurt.” Ash hated being touched by outsiders. He tried to pull his hand away. But when his eyes met mine, he paused, his gaze darkening, allowing Lily to hold his hand. The senior he had beaten was leaving, supported by his classmates. “Wait,” he called out to them. He pointed at Lily beside him. “Apologize.” The senior’s face was bruised and swollen. A classmate tried to persuade Ash, “Ash, let him go to the hospital first.” Ash refused, his voice deepening as he repeated, “I said, apologize to her.” Lily grabbed Ash’s hand, shaking her head, “It’s okay, Ash, I’m fine.” The senior, beaten so badly, still had to bow and apologize. Someone asked why he was beaten. My deskmate answered, “He called her poor, and Ash overheard.” “Serves him right! Who told him to be so mean!” “Ash is so cool! A hero saving the damsel in distress!” “Is this a campus romance happening right before our eyes?” Only I knew that wasn’t the truth. In my previous life, the senior was forced to transfer schools by Ash. Before leaving, he came to warn me about Lily. He wouldn’t say more, probably scared by Ash. The senior needed to go to the hospital, but the ambulance would take some time to arrive. I went over and said, “Take my car.” The senior was stunned and said, “Thanks, but no need.” Ash ran over and grabbed my arm. “Nova, are you deliberately trying to upset me?” I looked at Lily behind him, her eyes red from crying. “Mind your own business.” “If you dare leave, don’t ever come find me again.” I left without looking back, leaving them in a mess. “Bang!” There was a commotion behind me. Ash had punched the basketball hoop. Tsk, doesn’t he feel pain? 0

Ash and I haven’t had much interaction lately. I heard that for Lily’s sake, he hasn’t been fighting for a long time. He’s even turned over a new leaf and started studying hard. Ash’s friends called him to go to the internet cafe. Lily whispered to him, “You haven’t memorized your English vocabulary yet.” Ash sighed deeply and sat back down. “My family’s strict, I can’t go.” I hear stories like this from my deskmate every day. But whenever they see me approaching, they stop talking and go back to their own business. “She’s so pitiful.” “Yeah, she chased Ash for so long, only to be snatched away by a poor junior girl.” Pitiful? I don’t think so. My paperwork for studying abroad is all set. Once I pass the Japanese language test, I’ll be off to study my favorite major, journalism. My beautiful new life is about to begin. That day, on my way home from school, Ash’s mom stopped me: “Nova, Ash forgot his medicine again. Could you please take it to him for me?” I really wanted to refuse. But seeing the bruise on Ash’s mom’s wrist, I sighed and said, “Alright.” I asked Ash, “Where are you?” He took a long time to reply, sending me a location. Pool hall. In my previous life, I had been there countless times. When I arrived, I knew exactly where to go. The pungent smell of smoke made me feel sick. I spotted Ash immediately. He was at the central pool table, gambling with someone. There was a thick stack of cash on the table. I walked over and tossed him the medicine. “Your mom asked me to bring this to you.” Seeing me, Ash frowned and said, “Who told you to come?” I didn’t bother responding to him. I dropped the medicine and turned to leave, but someone blocked my way. “Ash, is this your girlfriend?” Ash sneered, taking a cigarette offered to him and tucking it behind his ear: “Do you think that’s possible?” Just then, Lily came in with her backpack. As soon as she entered, she started coughing. Ash stood up, shielding her. “Put out all the cigarettes.” The guy with yellow teeth who had stopped me earlier grinned. “Looks like the real girlfriend is here.” Lily’s face turned red. “Ash, don’t talk nonsense. The teacher said we can’t…” “I know.” Ash lightly tapped her nose. “Be good, call me ‘brother’ and I’ll let you go.” Lily exclaimed “Ah!” and pointed at the cigarette behind his ear: “Ash, didn’t you promise me you’d quit smoking?” I noticed Ash’s gaze fall on me. Suddenly, I remembered that I had also asked him to quit smoking before. Because I had asthma since childhood and couldn’t stand the smell of smoke. At that time, he didn’t even bother to pretend, deliberately blowing smoke rings in my face, saying, “Can’t do it.” A cold smile crossed my lips as I tried to leave, but someone grabbed me again. “Don’t go, little sister.” “Ash, hurry up. It’s two on two. My girlfriend’s here, who’s going to play on your side?” 0

I just walked away. Lily tugged at my sleeve. “I… I don’t know how to play pool.” I frowned and said, “What’s that got to do with me?” “I…” Intimidated by my harsh tone, Lily’s eyes welled up with tears. Ash ran over, shielding her behind him, and confronted me: “Can’t you speak nicely?” “Psycho.” I tried to leave, but he blocked me. Fed up, I deliberately provoked him: “What’s the deal, Ash? Playing hard to get? Want me to be your girlfriend?” “In your dreams.” “Then don’t block my way.” I left, and this time no one stopped me. I heard Lily panicking behind me, asking, “What should we do, Ash? I don’t know how to play pool.” Ash patiently comforted her: “Silly, with me here, we won’t lose.” I had no interest in the outcome of their game. But that evening, during dinner. My mom kept sighing, saying, “I saw Ash’s mom again today, she was covered in bruises. His dad is really going too far…” “By the way, Nova, why haven’t I seen Ash come over for dinner lately? Did you two have a fight?” “No.” “That’s good. If you’re free, invite him over more often…” I looked up, interrupting my mom. “We’re not friends anymore.” “What? Why?” I took a bite of the tender fish. “No reason. I just can’t stand blind people.” My mom cautiously asked, “Is Ash dating someone?” I put a piece of fish in my mom’s bowl. “Yeah, and they’re sickeningly sweet.” They’re acting out some idol drama and insist on dragging me, a passerby, to play the supporting role. Early the next morning in the classroom, I heard Lily crying. “What should I do, Ash? It was in my backpack this morning, but now it’s gone!” My deskmate told me: “The class fund that Lily was keeping has disappeared. Everyone’s helping her look for it.” I casually said, “Why not just check the security cameras?” Lily reacted defensively, coming over to me and saying, “Nova, I may be poor, but I’m not so poor that I’d steal the class fund.” I didn’t even say she stole it, why is she so defensive? Ash came over and coldly commanded. “Apologize to her.” I put my backpack on the desk and sat down. He threw my backpack and flipped my desk. Ash was having an episode again. “Apologize to her, didn’t you hear me?” The classmates didn’t dare to make a sound, and no one dared to come stop him. I bent down to try to right my desk, but Ash grabbed my neck. His eyes were red as he said, “A-po-lo-gize.” I couldn’t breathe, tears welling up in my eyes. My neck quickly developed a red mark from his grip. Lily tried to stop him: “Ash! Ash!” He wouldn’t listen to anyone, staring at me with red eyes, not knowing who he thought I was. It took several teachers rushing in to separate us. Lily went forward and hugged the frenzied Ash. “It’s okay, it’s okay, Ash. I don’t care about others, as long as you believe me, that’s enough.” He buried his head in her shoulder, but his gaze was fixed in my direction. I was taken to the infirmary by the teachers. His gaze was obscure, constantly fixed on my retreating figure.

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Four years ago, I put three men in the hospital and five in the ground. All to protect my wife.The court called it excessive force and threw me in prison for four years. After my release, the house felt off. Everything looked normal, but the air was wrong. Then one day, helping my son with his homework, he looked up at me. “Why didn’t you just die in prison? Now that you’re back, Daddy Blake never comes to play games with me anymore.” Daddy Blake. That was my best friend. Blake. Maybe it was just proximity. Blake had been around a lot those four years. A kid gets attached to a friendly face. I tried to convince myself, but that very night, I caught my wife and Blake making out. My wife, Seraphina, hated germs. She saved her real kisses for rare, joyful occasions. With me, it was usually just a quick touch of the lips. But the way she was devouring Blake’s mouth was nothing short of carnal. “My wife. Enjoying that kiss?” The rage was a live wire under my skin, urging me to lunge and break his face. I held myself back by a thread. I waited for the shock, the panic, the scramble to explain. It didn’t come. Instead, their faces relaxed into sheer relief. “I’ve been meaning to tell you,” Seraphina said, her voice calm. “But how do you even start a conversation like that? I suppose it’s better you found out this way.” She leaned back into Blake’s hold. Then, she ran her tongue over her bottom lip, catching a last, glistening trace of him. . A cold clarity washed over me. Every time I’d reached for her, it was a new pill, a fresh ache, a mysterious flare-up she couldn’t explain. There was no illness. There was just him. In prison, many inmates had broken down, lamenting how their wives or girlfriends had abandoned them. But I was so sure. I was certain I wouldn’t be betrayed. Because I went to prison for Seraphina. Otherwise, she would have been violated that night, maybe even lost her life. “You two should talk. I’ll go first.” Right in front of me, Blake leaned in and kissed Seraphina again, a deep, lingering kiss. As their lips parted, he gave a soft, teasing bite that drew a low, playful gasp from her. Then, with a smile playing on his lips, he glanced at me, turned, and got into a car. He was provoking me. And the car he got into was my black Maybach, the one I had before prison. He even rolled down the window, flashed me a smug grin, and though he said nothing, his eyes screamed, “See, Asher? I’m driving your car, just like I’m sleeping with your wife.” I clenched my fists, my breathing growing heavy. I was on the edge of losing it. “Are you thinking of hitting someone again?” Seraphina’s icy voice snapped me out of it. “Don’t forget, you’re a convicted felon. If you lay a hand on him, I’ll make sure you go back to prison myself!” “Why?” I asked, confused, unable to understand why I was being betrayed. “How can you even ask that?” “As a husband, as a father, you spent four years behind bars!” “Do you have any idea how hard these past four years have been for me?” “If it weren’t for Blake holding everything together, this company, this family, everything would have fallen apart long ago!” Seraphina screamed at me hysterically. “Why was I in prison?” “I never agreed to that shady deal, but you backed Blake’s plan, which got us trapped in the shipping container district!” “With all those people surrounding us, if I hadn’t fought back, what do you think would have happened to you?” “Do I really need to spell out what those thugs would’ve done?” “I went to prison to protect you all, and this is how you repay me?” I couldn’t help but roar. “If I hadn’t felt obligated, I would’ve filed for divorce while you were still rotting in there!” Seraphina left me with a chilling sentence. “You’re still the man of this house, but please don’t interfere with Blake’s and my relationship.” With that, she brushed past me. I stood frozen. The love I once had, the person I’d risked my life for… it was all gone, just like that. “Asher, don’t make a scene. This kind of arrangement is pretty common.” But Seraphina turned back, took my hand, and started walking towards the mansion. “At least Blake and I are still just at the kissing stage. I can even promise you that before we’re officially together, I’ll ‘be with’ you one more time.” I walked forward numbly, her words completely shattering my understanding of the world. “And don’t worry, I’ll still be your wife and fulfill my wifely duties.” “I’ll try to make time for you. I won’t spend all my time on Blake.” Seraphina sounded like she was scheduling work tasks.

“There’s ten million dollars on this card. Do whatever you want with it.” “But remember, if you’re going to fool around, keep it clean. Don’t bring back any diseases.” Seraphina led me to the study and handed me a card. I looked at the card, then at the woman who had become a complete stranger. I said nothing, just took the card. “Where are you going?” As I turned to leave, Seraphina suddenly grabbed my arm. “To sleep.” I replied numbly. “No, you’re not!” “Tonight, you can ‘have’ me in the study. Didn’t you always want to try something… different? Tonight, anything you want.” Seraphina actually initiated it. But I felt utterly disgusted. Psychologically sick to my stomach, physically wanting to gag. Yet I suppressed the revulsion and didn’t refuse. That night, I barely slept. It was like she was trying to physically exhaust me to death, using sex as a weapon. It wasn’t until dawn, when she finally fell asleep in a chair, that I managed to shower. I thought of those movie scenes where someone feels violated and scrubs themselves endlessly, desperate to wash away the filth but never feeling clean. That was exactly how I felt right then. I even wanted to find sandpaper and scrub off my own skin. After my shower, all that was left was sorrow and exhaustion. I fell asleep in that haze, waking up sometime in the afternoon. When I went to the living room, I saw Seraphina’s parents sitting on the sofa, their faces grim. “What time is it already? Still sleeping?” “Did you sleep like this when you were in prison?” “What rotten luck to have married our daughter to a man like you” My mother-in-law, Mrs. Thorne, hadn’t changed. She remained a walking jewelry display, every possible surface glittering with stones. But I remembered the truth. She had once sobbed on my doorstep, threatening to kill herself if I didn’t marry Seraphina. And now, it was rotten luck? “We heard you saw everything yesterday?” “Well,” she sighed, as if relieved of a burden. “Now let’s skip to business. We’re here for two things.” “First, we’re taking Leo to Blake’s place. We all live there now.” “Second, we’re here to warn you. Don’t you dare ruin Seraphina and Blake’s relationship, or we’ll send you straight back to prison!” “A morally bankrupt ex-con like you doesn’t deserve my daughter!” Mr. Thorne finished, his face stern, then stood to leave. Morally bankrupt? Did his memory fail him? Forgot that I bailed him out after his prostitute scandal. Now he stands there in the suit I paid for, calling me corrupt. “Leo, are you sure you want to go?” I asked my son. He was seven or eight years old, and I decided to give him a chance. Leo glared back, his face twisted in disgust. “Mom said I can change my name to Sterling, like Daddy Blake! I’m not keeping your name, you pathetic ex-con!” With that, he tugged on Mr. Thorne’s hand and walked off, asking, “Did Daddy Blake buy me that computer? The one with the RTX 5090? I want to play Warzone and dominate every lobby!” “He did, he did,” Mr. Thorne replied. “And you don’t have to call him ‘Daddy Blake’ for long. Soon enough, Blake will be your real dad.” Mr. Thorne looked at me as he said this, as if trying to provoke me. I clenched my fists, saying nothing. The spacious room was now empty, leaving just me. The irony hit me hard: our wedding photo, Seraphina’s and mine, still hung in the living room. Near the liquor cabinet, another photo showed Seraphina and me kissing under a tree, with Blake’s goofy face photobombing from the corner. The woman I loved most, the brother I trusted most. I would have died for them. And they, without hesitation, gave me a cuckold’s cap. The true nature of people in this world. Just as I sat on the sofa, smoking, my phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Asher, I’m out too! Called you the second I got out. This is my new number!” The voice on the line was Julian’s. He looked like an angel and had been framed as a demon by his own brother for a DUI crash. In prison, his beauty made him prey. I made him my responsibility. He repaid me with a loyalty deeper than blood. “Let’s find a time to meet up. I’ve got some things going on right now, so I can’t hang out just yet.” I had barely finished speaking when another call came in, from my dad. I quickly told Julian, “Gotta go, my dad’s calling.” My biggest worry was my parents finding out. They were getting old, and the news might make them sick. “Asher, listen to me.” “Feelings are tricky. If Seraphina’s fallen for someone else, you shouldn’t cling on.” “Besides, Blake is a good kid. In the four years you were in prison, he took better care of us than you, our own son.” “So, if you keep bothering her, don’t blame your mom and me if we cut you off!” My dad’s angry voice boomed through the receiver.

So, even my parents betrayed me? A sharp pain lanced through my chest. I said nothing, just hung up the phone. If everyone was going to betray me, then I’d just pretend these people didn’t exist. Beyond emotions, there was also my career. I got up, cleaned myself up, put on a suit, and went to the company. Vance Enterprises. I built that empire from scratch. I started it in college, accumulating wealth through small mobile games. Then our mobile MOBA games blew up overseas, and I practically owned half the global market for games developed in our country. Before I went to prison, a major AAA title was just about to drop on Steam. My incarceration delayed it. Now, I was out of prison. Love and family were gone. This game was my only chance to return to my peak. But when I arrived at the group’s entrance, the security guard stopped me. “I’m Asher. Vance Enterprises is mine.” I explained. The security guard, a guy named Mark, sneered. “So what if your name’s Vance? I’m Mark. Can I say I’m your dad then?” Just then, footsteps approached from behind. I turned to see Seraphina and Blake, surrounded by a small entourage. Upon seeing them, Mark immediately stepped forward with a fawning smile. “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, there’s some idiot here claiming Vance Enterprises is his!” Mr. Sterling? Mrs. Sterling? It seemed Seraphina and Blake weren’t hiding their relationship from the outside world at all. Blake just smiled, telling his distant cousin, “He’s not wrong. Vance Enterprises used to be his, but it isn’t anymore.” “How is it not mine?” I frowned. Blake chuckled. “When you went to prison, for the company’s development, all your shares were transferred to Seraphina. How could it still be yours?” Seraphina merely gave me a dismissive glance. “Alright, Asher, you shouldn’t come to the company anymore.” I remembered transferring my shares to Seraphina. At the time, the company was at a critical juncture and desperately needed funding. To attract investment, it was indeed unsuitable for me, being in prison, to hold shares, as competitors could use it against us. “Then why can’t I even come to the company?” I asked, suppressing my anger. “You’re a convicted felon. This company can’t have a felon as an employee, let alone in leadership.” Seraphina’s tone was ice-cold. “And you need to understand, I’m the CEO now. Don’t you dare question my decisions ever again!” Everything was gone? Even my career? I turned and left, saying nothing. I didn’t even know what to say. Seraphina’s voice echoed behind me. “As long as you behave, I’ll still ensure you maintain your dignity. At least you won’t be short on money.” They were taking the wealth I’d built, and now they wanted to dole it out to me, to insult me? I walked for who knows how long until I found myself in front of my old high school. I caught a whiff of familiar fried chicken, that greasy, salty, spicy smell-an indelible scent of youth. So many memories were made here with Seraphina and Blake. “Hey, can I get a fried chicken?” I said numbly to the vendor. “Don’t make him one.” Blake’s voice sounded behind me. He sneered. “Seraphina and I bought this fried chicken stand. With your money.” I stared at him deeply, then sighed, “Blake, nearly thirty years of friendship, and this is how you treat me?” “Asher, you know what?” “You went to prison, and every day, I slept in your bed, kissed your wife, and spent your money.” “Your son calls me Daddy Blake every day. Your parents treat me like their own son.” “Now you’re out. You think you can just waltz back and take everything from me?” Blake’s smile was cold. “Asher, you have nothing left. In four years, I’ve made everything of yours my own, and all you can do is watch me take it all!” I gasped, clenching my fists, just like I used to when I was ready to fight for my life. “What, you’re upset?” “You want to hit me? Come on then.” Blake pushed his face closer. “Go on, Asher. If you’re still a man, hit me!” I raised my hand.

I raised my hand, then let it drop. If I hit him, and Blake pressed charges, I’d definitely go back to prison. Especially now that he had money-my money! “What, no guts?” Blake sneered, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes. That disappointment told me he was deliberately trying to provoke me into hitting him. I said nothing, just turned and walked away. From that day on, Seraphina rarely came home. But every day, my SnapChat inbox was flooded with photos of Seraphina and Blake. Photos of them kissing. Were they really that addicted to making out? I blocked them, out of sight, out of mind. But after I blocked them, packages started arriving every day. They were printouts of those same photos. They seemed intent on driving me insane. My mental state worsened. I was often deeply depressed, even suicidal, but then I’d suddenly become extremely agitated, filled with destructive urges. Julian noticed this when he came to visit. He took me to the hospital. His sister, Dr. Julia Hayes, was a psychiatrist there. Julian was strikingly handsome. His sister Julia was breathtaking. Hers was an artistic, formidable beauty that made you stare-a reflex, not a desire. After a brief evaluation, Dr. Hayes’s gaze found mine in the ensuing silence, then moved to Julian. “Go on, Asher can handle it.” Julian trusted me completely. I knew my situation was grim. “Asher, you might have bipolar disorder.” “You need to start medication immediately, and keep yourself busy. Otherwise, it could be very dangerous.” Dr. Julia said sympathetically. “My brother told me you’re a man of great perspective and a very open-minded person. How did you end up like this?” “I went to prison for my wife and my best friend, and they ended up together.” “Now my son disowns me, my in-laws curse me, and even my own parents threaten to cut me off if I don’t leave my wife alone.” “And I’ve lost all my company shares.” “Love, career-everything’s gone.” “If I could still be ‘open-minded’ after all that, I’d be a god.” I laughed sardonically. Julia hadn’t expected my story to be so tragic. Besides sympathy, she seemed to feel empathy, almost on the verge of tears herself. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll get through this.” I even ended up comforting her. She wiped her eyes, then gave me a diagnosis certificate and a stack of prescriptions. I didn’t let the siblings take me home. I left alone. Instead of taking the elevator, I wandered floor by floor, trying to waste time. But when I reached the sixth floor, I froze. I saw Blake helping Seraphina out of a consultation room. Blake’s face didn’t look good. “Asher, are you stalking me?” Seraphina saw Blake’s unhappiness, and her temper flared. Seeing me, I became her immediate outlet. “No, I’m not.” I shook my head. “Easy, Seraphina. You’re pregnant.” Blake said. Pregnant? I looked at her stomach, and my heart ached. Was she carrying Blake’s child? “Congratulations, Asher. You’re going to be a father again.” Blake said, gritting his teeth. “Mine?” I scoffed. “She sleeps at your place every night. How do you know the child is mine?” “Shut up!” Seraphina angrily walked up to me and slapped me across the face. “I told you, I haven’t slept with Blake! So the child is yours!” “Then abort it.” I dropped the bombshell, turned, and left. This time, I took the elevator. As the elevator doors closed, I saw Seraphina’s face, a mask of shock at my words. “I was going to break things off with Blake for this child!” “But Asher, you disappoint me too much!” Seraphina said, gritting her teeth. “You just wait, I won’t let you spend another dime of my money!” Blake’s eyes were blazing with fury. He had been so happy, thinking Seraphina would demand a divorce, but she was only threatening to cut off my funds. I ignored them completely. After leaving the hospital, I wandered aimlessly. Unconsciously, I found myself in a small alley. “Don’t go any further. This is it.” Blake’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned to see him, flanked by a dozen men. “What do you want?” I asked, frowning. “Alright, you guys, go.” “Don’t hit him too hard. Don’t actually injure me seriously, but make sure to cut me with your knives.” “Don’t touch my face, got it?” “Then I’ll call the police. You know what to say, right?” Blake’s voice was unnervingly calm, giving orders as if I weren’t even there. “Oh, and take his phone. Add yourselves as contacts. Transfer a few grand from his account to yours. Then type a message saying he hired you to beat me up.” “So determined to send me back, Blake?” I smiled bitterly. Blake gave a chilling smile. “Not just back, Asher. I’ve already made arrangements. Someone inside is expecting you. You’ll never disrupt my life again!” “Now. Get to work.” Blake roared.

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On the day Dillon returned, my wife dragged me off the road by my hair. Not because she wanted to save me— but because she didn’t want Dillon to see my blood. For three years, I saved her, raised my sister, protected Violet, and pushed away the only woman who truly loved me. Yet when Dillon faked his death, they all blamed me. They beat me, tortured me, and begged Dillon for mercy while stabbing me in the chest. I thought dying would set me free— until the one person I had abandoned came running through the crowd, screaming my name. “Ryan Scott, I know you’re awake. Why did you choose to commit suicide on such a joyous day when Dillon is returning? Are you trying to frame him by your death?” Hearing the cold voice, I opened my eyes to see my wife, Luanne Wright. Her icy glare was full of hatred. Luanne, one of my targets, was my wife who had loved me. When we met at the very beginning, she pretended to be mentally disabled to avoid being involved in a family feud and insisted on marrying me. For three years, I took complete care of her and gave her everything. Upon the death of all the family heirs, she regained her sanity and became the sole beneficiary. Only then did I know that she had been pretending all along and that I was the real fool. I tried to leave, but Luanne knelt and begged me, spending millions to propose to me in a high-profile way. “Ryan, don’t leave me, please. I can’t live without you. I deceived you, but I truly love you.” In the midst of swirling flower petals, I looked at the girl I had seen every day and accepted her proposal. However, when her true love, Dillon Hughes, returned, Luanne fell out of love. She used work as an excuse to stay away from home for long periods. She even questioned me, “Ryan, why can’t you understand me? Without my hard work, we won’t have a good life.” I believed in Luanne. But not long after, I discovered her intimate moments with Dillon in her office, along with used condoms on the floor. I confronted her, but she kicked me out without a penny. Dillon even staged a false suicide by jumping into the sea and posted a lengthy accusation on Twitter, claiming I had abused him and driven him to death. I faced a torrent of online abuse. Luanne then kicked me out of our home. Even my sister, Belle Scott, cut ties with me, calling me a vile person. No matter how much I tried to explain, no one believed me. I didn’t know why Luanne saved me, but seeing the intense hatred in her eyes, I struggled to speak, “Kill…me.” The next moment, Luanne let go, slapped me hard, and shouted, “If you want to die, do it somewhere else. You’re so disgusting!” Her slap left me dazed. When I came to my senses, her bodyguards had already thrown me onto the road outside the villa. Luanne crossed her arms, looking at me with contempt as if I were a pitiful creature. “If it weren’t for you bullying and tormenting Dillon, he wouldn’t have been driven to jump into the sea. Go away if you want to die. You really make me sick.” I forced a bitter smile. They slandered me, yet somehow I was the one at fault. With power and influence, they could smear me at will. Luanne probably forgot that without me, she would never have achieved what she had today. Since that was the case, I wouldn’t bother her anymore. Stumbling away, I reached a bustling street. Watching the flow of cars, I jumped. I thought, “As long as this body dies, I can go back to my original world.” Suddenly, the screeching sound of tires and honking horns filled the air. Someone grabbed my hair and dragged me to the roadside. “Ryan, what are you doing?” I looked at the furious Luanne and asked calmly, “I’m already leaving you alone.” Though her words were harsh, I saw her trembling all over. When she was pretending to be a fool, she would tremble with fear and hide behind me. Looking at Luanne, I thought, “What is she afraid of? Afraid I would die? But I’m making things easier for her and Dillon.” Luanne slapped me. “This is the road Dillon takes to come home. How can I let him see such a bloody scene?” I lowered my gaze, laughing bitterly. I went to the riverside. Here, I wouldn’t disgust her beloved man.

I was walking towards the river when someone suddenly grabbed my hand. Confused, I turned around and saw it was my sister, Belle. She was holding a cake with “DH” written on it. This cake was probably prepared to celebrate Dillon’s return after his fake death. Belle’s eyes blazed with anger and hatred. “What are you doing here, Ryan? Are you trying to stop me from giving this cake to Dillon? We’ve cut ties!” In this world, if anyone hated me more than Luanne, it was Belle. Belle wasn’t like this before. We were orphaned at a young age, and I raised her alone, naming her Belle, hoping she would be beautiful and free. She dreamed of learning music, and I dropped out of school to work three jobs so she could attend the best training programs. When there was a fire at home, she ran barefoot into the burning house, crying that she couldn’t live without me. We used to be each other’s support, the closest family we had. But everything changed after she met Dillon. Dillon said he wanted to eat something tasty, so Belle forced me, despite my illness, to cook an elaborate meal for him. Dillon didn’t even take a bite, and when I asked why, Belle lashed out, saying my cooking was terrible and accused me of being mean to him. Then, she threw away the food I had painstakingly prepared. Later, Dillon and Luanne conspired against me, faking his death by jumping into the sea. Belle hated me and cut ties with me. She watched coldly as I suffered and even pushed me further into despair. Thinking about this, I didn’t respond but pulled my wrist out of her grasp. Luanne sneered. “Dillon is back. I left your brother penniless. He can’t accept it, so he must be thinking of committing suicide.” Belle frowned, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she said, “Ryan is such a coward. He wouldn’t do it. This is just for show.” “Exactly,” Luanne nodded, laughing. “He tried this twice.” Belle looked at me with hatred. “Ryan, someone as vile as you won’t be missed even if you die. Get out of my way. I’m going to see Dillon.” I lowered my gaze. “Fine, I’ll go.” The next second, I fell into the turbulent river. Belle’s face turned pale. The current was swift, and within seconds, I was carried several feet downstream. I wasn’t afraid of death. Instead, a sense of relief washed over me. This time, maybe I could really die. But then, with a splash, Belle saved me, throwing me onto the shore. I was covered in mud, looking pathetic. She was soaking wet, kicking me furiously. “Ryan, are you trying to make everyone think I drove you to suicide and ruin me? Bastard!” “When did you learn to swim?” I coughed violently, cold water spilling from my mouth. Belle kicked me hard and sneered. “After Dillon jumped into the sea. Huh, your trick didn’t work. Are you upset now?” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Love was truly powerful. I had tried many times to teach Belle how to swim, but Dillon had always stopped me, saying, “With me around, Belle doesn’t need to learn to swim. I’ll always be there to save her.” Belle belittled me by saying, “This is where you and Dillon differ. You only force me to do things I don’t want to do. Ryan, you’re not fit to be my brother!” Later, when Belle accidentally drowned, Dillon looked on indifferently, while I dived in to save her. But she thought it was Dillon who had saved her and gave him all the credit, calling me heartless for standing by. Unexpectedly, Belle, who used to be afraid of water, had learned to swim for Dillon. I snorted. “It has nothing to do with you if I live or die. To me, you’re just a stranger now.” Hearing this, Belle turned livid with anger and slapped me. “If it weren’t for my vow to pray for Dillon’s soul, do you think I’d save someone I’ve cut ties with? I’d even save a dog that fell into the water!” I laughed bitterly. “Huh, what a moving story. Do you know? Dillon is going to marry Luanne.” At this, the cake in Belle’s hand fell to the ground as she stared at Luanne. “What? Marry her?” Before I could speak, another target, Violet Wood, rushed up in a panic, blurting out, “Dillon is missing!” “Ryan, did you hide Dillon? Bring him out right now!” Luanne glared at me.

Luanne, who had always been composed, panicked for the first time. “What? Dillon is missing? Ryan, no wonder you’ve been so strange today. You must have done something and are trying to clear your name. Tell me, where is Dillon?” Belle’s eyes turned bloodshot as she slapped me hard. “Dillon went through so much to come back, and you dare to harm him. Ryan, I shouldn’t have saved you just now. Where is he now? If he dies, I won’t live either!” The taste of blood filled my mouth. I parted my lips slightly, and a few drops of blood fell. I thought, “Dillon disappeared again. Huh, he really couldn’t stand me. Then I might as well fulfill his wish.” Just as I was about to speak, Violet, who had said I was her only salvation, pressed a dagger against my neck. “Where have you hidden Dillon?” Violet, one of my four targets, was a renowned expert in the field of traditional medicine. At that time, her family was murdered because someone tried to steal her family’s secret traditional medicine manual. I risked my life to save her. Perhaps witnessing her family’s murder made Violet extremely wary of anyone getting close. There was a scar on my left hand, which was left when she bit me in a moment of distress. Despite this, I accompanied her through that traumatic period. Eventually, Violet regained her composure and resolved to master her family’s medical techniques and seek justice for her family. Through countless life-and-death struggles, I helped her rise to prominence and exact revenge on all her enemies. That day, Violet cried, saying I was her brother from then on. I also cried because she reminded me so much of my sister from my original world. I missed her so much. However, after Dillon appeared, Violet gradually distanced herself from me just because he didn’t like me. She warned that if I came within ten feet of her, she would mute me with needles. When Violet learned Dillon had jumped into the sea, she went mad. She stabbed thousands of needles into my body, torturing me relentlessly to avenge Dillon. “Ryan, he must have suffered a lot because of you. You drove him to suicide. Every day from now on, you’ll endure torture a hundred times worse than what he experienced!” My silence further infuriated Violet. The sharp dagger pressed against my throat, leaving a thin line of blood. “You won’t say it? Well, it seems you’ve forgotten my means because I haven’t tortured you in a while.” With a cold expression, Violet knocked me out and dragged me into a small dark room in Luanne’s villa. She inserted countless needles into my acupuncture points, amplifying my pain before torturing me with various tools. Luanne and Belle didn’t stop Violet. Instead, they glared at me with intense hatred. I writhed in agony, the piercing pain spreading throughout my body, making me scream in torment. Violet slapped me hard and sneered. “Can’t you endure this bit of pain? Don’t forget how you tormented Dillon. If you don’t tell us where he is, I’ll make you suffer everything you did to him!” Hearing this, I opened my eyes. I didn’t want to be tortured anymore. Now, I just wanted to die quickly. Then, I could come back to my world and rest. I cried wildly at them and said, “Dillon is dead! I chopped him up into pieces. Kill me. Then you can avenge him. Just do it!” Violet, in a rage, couldn’t believe my audacity. “You think I wouldn’t dare kill you? Now that Dillon is dead, you must die with him!” She suddenly grabbed a dagger and thrust towards me with all her strength. She thought I would resist, but I just stood there, letting the blade stab into my chest. Violet froze, staring at the blood gushing from my chest, seemingly unable to believe it. I smiled. Finally, it happened. As my consciousness faded, Dillon’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. “Hey, you are all here. I’ve been looking for you all.”

Luanne’s dagger fell to the ground. She finally stopped torturing me. My blood-soaked body slumped onto the floor. Blood gushed from the wound in my chest. I thought, “Just wait a little longer, and everything will be over.” Suddenly, ambulance sirens and women’s shouting rang out. I faintly heard someone begging me not to die. I thought, “Why does this voice sound so familiar? It’s like Ellie’s voice. How could it be her? Didn’t she die trying to save me from Luanne and the others?” “Ryan, don’t die, please!” a woman cried. I forced my eyes open and saw Ellie Green kneeling over me, desperately pressing her hands against my chest. Her hands were covered with my blood. It really was her. She hadn’t died. Countless memories of our youth flashed through my mind. Ellie was my first target and my childhood friend. When I was working to make money, she helped keep an eye on Belle. When Violet bit my hand, she bandaged my wound. Ellie had said to me, “Ryan, do whatever you want. I’ll always be your support.” Later, I married Luanne. Ellie left me a farewell letter and went overseas. We met again when she learned about the online abuse I had endured. That rainy night, Ellie became a world-renowned star, while I had been slandered by Dillon and fallen into disgrace. Ellie looked at me with a bright smile. “Ryan, did you do those things?” Raindrops fell into her eyes. I smiled and lied to her. “Yes, I did. I’m that kind of malicious person. You must be very disappointed in me, right?” But the next moment, Ellie hugged me tightly. “You’re lying. Every time you lie, you furrow your eyebrows for a second. Ryan, I know you’re not that kind of person. Why are you lying to me? You have nothing left now. Do you still want to push me away?” I lowered my gaze, showing a bitter smile. Among the four heroines, the others owed me something, but Ellie was the one I owed the most. That was why I always resisted her kindness. I didn’t answer Ellie and left her. But I never expected that this decision would plunge me into an abyss. Luanne’s people captured me. To avenge Dillon, they tortured me mercilessly. When I was dying, Ellie appeared, promising to rescue me. But she never showed up again. Later, Luanne told me she had gotten rid of Ellie. Dillon returned, and Luanne let me go. Coupled with Ellie’s death, I thought my task was completely ruined. And that was why I wanted to leave this world. But now, Ellie was still alive. “Ellie, you…” In my hazy state, I had so much to ask her, but my voice grew weaker and weaker. I struggled to stay conscious, afraid I wouldn’t get another chance to ask. “I…” Before I could finish my words, I fainted. What a good day it was. Everyone had gathered. I had no regrets left. I stopped struggling, waiting for death to claim me. But before long, I woke up. My body was wrapped in bandages. “Poor guy. There are so many wounds, some even showing bones.” Hearing the nurse’s mutter, I gradually regained awareness. I murmured, “Kill me.” “No wonder he has so many injuries. He must be a Luannetic!” The nurse, terrified, ran out of the ward. Soon, a group of people flooded into the ward. Violet, with a cold face, said harshly, “Ryan, you don’t know where Dillon is. Why did you lie to us? Do you want us to carry the burden of killing you? You’re so selfish! With my medical skills, I can bring you back from the brink of death!” The others echoed her, blaming me. Despite being the injured party, I was somehow at fault. I laughed bitterly. Dillon, pretending to be sympathetic, said, “I just wanted to cook for everyone on this special day, but I didn’t expect Ryan to almost die because of it.” Belle added, “Ryan, why don’t you explain it?” I frowned and sneered at them. “Explain? What’s the point? I’ve explained countless times that I never harmed Dillon. He framed me. But what did I get in return? Nothing but your insults! I don’t want to explain anymore. If you have any conscience left, give me a quick death.”

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Cole missed another engagement dinner because Sierra cried over something trivial. He told me to stop complaining. He told me to “understand their bond.” When I confronted him, he defended her before he even looked at me. That was the moment my patience ended. I took off the ring, placed it on the table, and walked out. If he can show up for her every time, he can lose me. My boyfriend has a buddy who he treats like a sister, and they’re practically inseparable. On the day we were supposed to get engaged for the ninth time, he ditched me at the venue. Why? Because it was their 20th “friendship anniversary.” “It’s just a delayed engagement. No need to rush. Are you really worried that no one will marry you?” Her latest Instagram Story popped up, and it felt like a thorn in my eye. “Twenty years of friendship. How could someone like you ever compare?” They hugged, looking way too cozy for “just friends.” I tossed the ring into a trash can. A cab driver waved me over and asked, “Where to?” “Just drive,” I replied. “Anywhere but back.” When Cole Delaney’s calls started coming in, I turned my phone off. It stayed off for three days. The night breeze by Santa Monica Pier felt calming, lifting the hem of my red dress. It reminded me of the first time Cole told me he loved me. He had been so young and awkward, his feelings written all over his face, impossible to hide. I had fallen hard for 20-year-old Cole. I even left my hometown of Austin, Texas, and moved to the unfamiliar Midwest for him. I quit a job I loved to become his secretary, a role I held for nine years. Fate sure has a twisted sense of humor. We got engaged nine times. And each time, she got in the way. Her name is Sierra Stokes. We fought about her more times than I can count. “I’ve told you, Sierra and I are just friends. Why are you so insecure?” “We’ve shared everything since we were kids—even baths. Do you really think it’s anything more?” “Skylar Quinn, you’re acting like a jealous maniac! Sierra’s already forgiven you for stalking us. What else do you want?” Cole’s expression darkened during those arguments. After each fight, I’d pick up my feelings, wipe my tears, and apologize. I was terrified of losing him, so I always gave in first. But this time, I felt nothing. No anger, no sadness—just a calm desire to stay by the ocean, doing nothing and feeling at peace. Cole found me without much trouble. I forgot that the hotel I booked was one of his. He burst into my room without warning. “Skylar Quinn, running away is such a childish move.” “It was Sierra and I’s 20th anniversary as friends. We were just celebrating! Can’t I have friends besides you?” Friends. Right. Friends who kiss? I kept that thought to myself. I knew he’d dismiss it as “just a game.” Not like it would be the first time. “Sierra and I have nothing going on. Stop sulking, okay?” His furrowed brows softened as he looked at me, almost concerned. “I’ll make it up to you with a bigger wedding. Sierra can even be your maid of honor. Will that make you happy?” His voice had a soothing tone. I remained silent, making his brows knit together again. “Skylar, if you don’t—” “Fine,” I interrupted. The old me would’ve argued until I caved and apologized. But now? I just smiled faintly. My unexpected compliance caught him off guard, but he quickly masked it with a relieved smile. He reached for my hand. “Let’s go home.” I pulled my hand away coldly and walked ahead of him. Cole paused, stunned for a moment. No fight? He didn’t know how to deal with that. When I reached his car, Sierra was already waiting. “There you are, Skylar! Cole’s been freaking out trying to find you!” She pouted, playfully scolding him. “I told you we should’ve brought her to the anniversary, but nooo. Look what happened—she’s jealous again!” “Skylar, I’m really sorry for him. Don’t be mad, okay? If you are, I’ll hit him for you!” She pretended to punch Cole’s chest but ended up in his arms. “Still the charmer, huh?” Cole smirked at her. “Ugh, stop holding me like that!” Sierra blushed and squirmed, glancing at me. “Skylar’s watching. Are you trying to scare her off again?”

I ignored them and quietly took the backseat without looking up. I’d fought so many times over the front passenger seat. If Sierra was around, it was always hers. “She gets carsick unless she’s next to me,” Cole explained. I seethed, baffled. He thought I was being petty. This time, I said nothing, and Cole looked a bit surprised. As the car started, Sierra turned to me. “Skylar, you’ve lost so much weight in just two days. Let me take you to dinner to apologize for Cole?” “Next time, I promise you’ll be invited to our hangouts!” “No need,” I replied sharply. “Just take me home.” Cole ignored me and drove to a restaurant instead. “You look like you haven’t eaten properly. Stop being stubborn.” The car stopped in a busy area filled with restaurants. Sierra tugged at his arm and said, “Cole, I want a Matcha Latte!” “You’re about to start your period. No iced drinks.” They acted like a couple. He knew her body better than he ever knew mine. At the restaurant, the server brought us lemon water. Sierra grabbed Cole’s glass, sipping it. “Yours is so sour!” she giggled, scrunching her nose. Cole smiled fondly, pinching her cheek. “You’ve got to stop stealing my stuff.” Then Sierra turned to me. “Skylar, you’re not mad, right? We’ve always shared everything since we were kids.” Cole froze, realizing how inappropriate that sounded. “Doesn’t bother me,” I replied. “You’ve shared everything since you were kids, right? Makes sense.” Cole exhaled in relief, even smiling faintly as if impressed by my “maturity.” For the first time, I didn’t care if they flirted. When Cole peeled a shrimp for me, Sierra snatched it before it reached my plate. “How sweet! You remembered I love shrimp!” she teased, placing it on her plate. Cole shook his head, amused. “Slow down. No one’s taking it from you.”

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I thought marrying a billionaire would save my life. Instead, it became the reason I nearly died. My husband left me in labor to protect his mistress’s child. His people tied me down, drugged me, and tried to stop my baby from coming. He thought I would break. But I survived. Now it’s his turn to kneel. I had a fling with a younger guy back in the day. Once I had him hooked, I dumped him. Later, he became a billionaire CEO. He found me, broke and bankrupt, and married me. Everyone said I hit the jackpot. But they didn’t know he brought different women home every single night. I didn’t cry. I didn’t fuss. But it drove him mad. He retaliated by getting his mistress, Delilah, pregnant. I stayed calm, cool as ice. He slammed me against the wall. “Marina, do you actually love me or not?” Later, Delilah and I broke our water at the same time. I fell to my knees, telling him I loved him, begging him to take me to the hospital. He hugged me tight, a cruel smile on his face. “I knew it!” “You liar.” He shoved me away, hard. He scooped up Delilah, then walked out without a backward glance. “I’ll send you to the hospital later. The pain of childbirth is your punishment!” All I saw was his retreating back as he rushed away. My lower abdomen ached as if all strength had been drained from me. I collapsed heavily to the floor. Amniotic fluid gushed out, soaking my thighs, spreading a wet stain on the ground. Weakly, I raised a hand, calling out to a maid nearby, my voice hoarse. “Please, take me to the hospital…” The maid looked at me, her face full of dilemma. “Mrs. Miller, Cassian specifically told us we must wait for him to return. I wouldn’t dare…” “You wouldn’t dare?” I clutched my abdomen, my voice trembling from the pain. “If anything happens to me or the baby, Cassian will never forgive you. Take me now!” The maid, terrified, finally scrambled to her feet and rushed out. She had barely reached the door when Cassian’s personal assistant, David, blocked her path. “David, Mrs. Miller is in labor. She needs to go to the hospital right away,” the maid stammered nervously. David glanced at the fluid on the floor, then at my contorted face, his tone calm. “Mr. Miller said to wait for him. Mrs. Miller is just using her pregnancy to manipulate us again. Help her back to her room to rest.” “If we delay any longer, the baby will be gone! Will you take the blame?!” I desperately pushed myself up, pointing a trembling finger at him. David offered a polite, fake smile, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Mrs. Miller, Mr. Miller is with Miss Delilah at the hospital, making sure her baby is safe. He said to wait for him to return.” “You know Cassian’s temper. No one dares to cross him.” “I’m in labor! The baby can’t wait!” The agonizing contractions returned, like a knife twisting and tearing inside my abdomen. I curled into a ball, cold sweat instantly soaking through my clothes. “What are you waiting for? Help Mrs. Miller to bed, now.” David snapped, his voice sharp. Two maids immediately rushed forward, ignoring the intense pain in my abdomen, roughly grabbing my arms and dragging me towards the bedroom. At that moment, I suddenly felt a warm liquid gushing out. I looked down—it was blood! “Blood! I’m bleeding!” Frantically, I grabbed a maid’s hand, screaming. “Take me to the hospital, quickly! Any later and the baby will really be in danger!” “Mrs. Miller, I can’t make that decision. I’ll call the family doctor over first.” The maid pulled her hand away, guilt written on her face. “I don’t want a family doctor! I need to go to the hospital!” “Mrs. Miller, please don’t get angry. I’ll go ask David right away.” The maid finished speaking and ran out in a panicked hurry. The pain in my abdomen was like a knife carving into my very bones. Cold sweat, mixed with blood and amniotic fluid, soaked the velvet blanket. Time ticked by, but no one came. Dragging my bleeding body, I painfully shifted to the edge of the bed and grabbed Martha, who had just walked in, by the hem of her uniform, crying out. “Martha, please, go check! I can’t hold on any longer…” Martha nodded, her face full of sympathy. “Mrs. Miller, just hold on. I’ll go hurry them up now.” But as she turned, David blocked her. He slowly walked towards me. His gaze swept over the blood-stained blanket, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. It was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “Let Dr. Miller take a look first.” As he spoke, Dr. Miller quickly entered with his medical bag. Several maids immediately stepped forward and pinned down my struggling limbs. “Let go of me! I need to go to the hospital!” I twisted my body desperately, tears mixing with cold sweat. “The baby can’t wait!” Dr. Miller, expressionless, examined me. Then he took out a few white pills and instructed Martha to give them to me. “What’s that?” I shook my head wildly. “I won’t take it! Are you trying to kill my baby?!” “It’s medication to delay labor. The contractions will lessen after you take it.” “No! That will cause the baby to be oxygen-deprived!” Dr. Miller remained coldly impassive, not saying another word. “Dr. Miller, your wife is also about to give birth, isn’t she? If she were lying here right now, would you make her take this medication? Aren’t you afraid of karma?!” I endured the intense pain and looked at David again. “David, if anything happens to me and the baby, you’ll be the murderer! Cassian Miller won’t let you get away with it!” Dr. Miller and David exchanged a glance. Just as David was about to agree to send me to the hospital, his phone suddenly rang. It was Cassian. He answered the call, responding respectfully, the hesitation on his face completely gone. “Mrs. Miller, you heard him.” His voice was filled with helplessness. “Mr. Miller said to absolutely wait for him to return. It’s not that I won’t help you, it’s that I truly don’t have the authority to decide.” With that, he gave Martha a meaningful look. Two maids immediately held down my shoulders, forcibly prying open my mouth. Martha took the opportunity to pop the pills in. I struggled to vomit, but the pills still slipped down my throat. Tears streamed silently down my face. I looked at the ceiling and suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. The laughter only made my tears flow harder. “This is excellent. Remember this day! If anything happens to my baby, I will become a vengeful spirit and drag you all down to hell with me!” “Mrs. Miller is unstable. Give her a sedative shot. Don’t let her hurt herself or the baby. Martha, keep an eye on her.” David frowned, then, after speaking to Dr. Miller and Martha, he turned and left. I stopped struggling, letting the thick needle pierce my arm. Turns out, in Cassian’s heart, his mistress was far more important than his own flesh and blood. To save her baby, he would let his own child struggle on the brink of death. The despair I felt in that moment was equal to my regret for having been so determined to marry him. I thought if I was good enough, he would see it. Sometimes, for a fleeting moment, I believed he loved me. But now I knew: if he doesn’t love you, he just doesn’t. Even carrying his child couldn’t earn me a shred of his concern. I caressed the rising curve of my abdomen. Amniotic fluid and blood had long since soaked the entire bed. I slowly closed my eyes, tears once again wetting my face. “Cassian Miller, if anything happens to my child, I will never let you go!”

Perhaps the medication had taken effect, as the pain of the contractions gradually lessened. But the blood still gushed from below. I lay weakly on the bed. In a haze, I suddenly heard Martha calling Mr. Miller’s name. Hope instantly ignited in my heart. Had he finally softened and decided to send me to the hospital? He still cared about me and the baby. So I gathered all my strength and shouted into Martha’s phone. “Cassian Miller, quickly! Tell someone to send me to the hospital! The baby really might not make it!” Martha had put the phone on speaker, but what came through was Delilah’s soft yet arrogant voice. “Sister, you really need to hold on. Cassian is still here with me. He can’t spare a thought for you right now.” She paused, then instructed Martha. “Martha, make sure you take good care of Mrs. Miller, okay? Make sure she listens to Cassian.” “Delilah, let Cassian take the call…” Before I could finish, someone clamped their hand over my mouth, leaving me to only make muffled sounds. Martha smiled fawningly into the phone. “Don’t worry, Miss Delilah, we’ve already given her the delay medication. Mr. Miller’s instructions will definitely be followed.” “That’s good.” Delilah’s voice was filled with triumph. “If Sister is still in pain later, I know a method that can both stop the pain and help her last until Cassian gets back.” “What method?” Martha urgently asked. I held my breath, staring intently at the phone, wanting to hear what twisted idea she’d come up with next. The voice on the phone suddenly turned sinister. “First, hang her upside down, head first, feet up. After five minutes, the baby will slowly retract. Then, find a rope and tie it tightly below her abdomen. That will naturally help her last longer. If that still doesn’t work, then…” She deliberately raised her voice: “Like, stitch her up. In short, no matter what method you use, you must wait until Cassian returns.” I desperately shook my head, but only muffled sounds came out. Martha stood frozen, her face ashen, only managing to force out a sentence after a long moment. “Miss Delilah, isn’t that… inappropriate? Something bad could happen…” “How could it?” Her voice was full of disdain. “Where I’m from, to make sure the baby is born at a ‘good time,’ people often do this. Babies are resilient, you know.” She paused for two seconds, then continued. “Cassian is right here next to me, and this is his idea. He’s the one who asked me to call and tell you. He said he needs to properly fix Marina’s jealous streak. And he said to protect my baby at all costs. If you go soft, and anything happens to me, Cassian will never forgive you.” Ignoring the gushing blood from below and the pain of the contractions, I violently broke free from the maids and screamed. “No! Cassian wouldn’t do this to me and the baby! You’re lying! You evil woman! Martha, don’t listen to her!” But the next second, two maids roughly pressed me back onto the bed. Tears streaming down my face, I looked at Martha, pleading desperately. “Martha, you’re a mother too. Can you really be so heartless towards my baby?” Martha was trembling, sweating profusely, even the hand holding the phone was shaking violently. Delilah was relentless. “Cassian said he’ll divorce her soon. You need to think carefully about who’s more important, me or her.” Then the phone was abruptly hung up. After a moment of silence, Martha suddenly spoke to the maids. “Let go of Mrs. Miller.” A surge of joy filled me. I thought she had finally taken pity on me. I weakly reached out to her. “Martha, quickly, to the hospital. Any later and it will be too late.” But she sharply turned her face away, avoiding my gaze, and instructed the maids. “Get some ropes.” “Martha, what are you doing? You can’t do this!” I stared at her, horrified. But she acted as if she hadn’t heard me. Then two maids forcefully pinned me down on the bed. Ropes savagely bit into my hands and feet, instantly leaving raw, bloody marks. Every movement felt like my flesh was being ripped open. “Mrs. Miller, this is for your own good. Please, bear with it.” Martha threw out this sentence, then shouted to the maids again. “Bring the metal frame!” “For my own good?” I looked at her, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Don’t believe Delilah’s lies! No matter what, Cassian wouldn’t treat me like this! He swore he’d never hurt me!” But no one listened. Not a soul. Not until the metal frame was finally wheeled into the room. They grabbed my arms and forcibly dragged me towards the frame. A long trail of blood instantly marked the floor. The baby in my womb seemed to sense the danger, suddenly kicking wildly in my belly. The agonizing contractions returned, and I could barely breathe from the pain. Then, they hung me upside down on the metal frame, head first. My head pounded, the baby violently kicking my abdomen. Black spots danced before my eyes. Tears streamed down my forehead, mixing with my damp, sticky hair. “Cassian Miller, please come back and see me! Are you really so heartless?” “Cassian Miller, I really can’t hold on any longer. The baby will really…” As my consciousness blurred, I thought I saw Cassian walking towards me, smiling. Just like before, he kissed my forehead, his voice tender. “Marina, I’ll protect you and our child from now on. Don’t cry.” “Marina, I’ll give up everything for you, even my life.” I reached out, my hand trembling, but I couldn’t grasp him.

The excruciating pain from the rope constricting my lower abdomen violently yanked me back to consciousness. Moments later, a maid brutally pulled me down from the metal frame. My back slammed hard against the floor, as if my bones would shatter. The rope binding my abdomen dug into my flesh, intensifying the contraction pain. The more I curled up, the tighter the rope bit, as if it was crushing my internal organs. Just then, a tearing, plummeting pain suddenly erupted from below. My hand trembled as I beckoned Martha. “Quick, I’m really giving birth…” Jenny, a maid who had just entered, suddenly gasped and screamed. “Martha, the baby… the baby’s crowning! Get her to the hospital, fast!” Martha’s face went white, but she just spun around in confusion. I stared at her, weak and in pain all over. “Please! Any later and the baby will be gone!” She suddenly raised her hand, her eyes cold. “Get a needle and thread. First, sew up her lower body.” “No!” Jenny rushed to the bed, spreading her arms to protect me. “Mrs. Miller and the baby will die! You’ll have to step over me first if you want to sew her!” “Do you dare defy Mr. Miller’s orders?” Martha scolded sharply. “But there’s so much blood!” Jenny cried, her voice choked. “Martha, how can you be so cruel?” “If we upset Mr. Miller and Miss Delilah, we won’t even be able to save our own lives!” “Tie her up! Don’t let her interfere!” Two maids rushed forward, dragging Jenny towards the metal frame. Tape was slapped over her mouth. Her eyes bloodshot, she struggled desperately. The metal frame was knocked to the ground, hitting her back hard. She curled up on the floor, her body convulsing violently, and remained motionless for a long time. Enduring the pain in my lower abdomen, I screamed, my eyes red. “Let her go! You monsters! I hope you all rot in hell!” The next second, tape was sealed tightly over my mouth. Martha took the needle and thread, lifted my dress, and plunged the long needle into the flesh of my lower body. Excruciating pain instantly spread through my entire body, like a sharp knife carving into my flesh. I shook my head wildly, tears mixing with cold sweat. The maids held down my hands and feet tightly, making it impossible for me to move even an inch. “Mrs. Miller, it’s a cosmetic stitch, won’t leave a scar.” Martha’s face was expressionless, her needle still pushing deeper. “No anesthetic is better for you. Childbirth is much worse than this, anyway. You’ll get through it. We’ll send you to the hospital once Mr. Miller returns.” I looked at these inhumane people, closed my eyes, and gave up struggling. Just then, the door was violently thrown open. “What are you doing?! Stop it!” Cassian’s sister, Sarah,’s stern voice echoed from outside the door. The air in the room instantly froze. The maids hurriedly released me, all lowering their heads in unison. Martha stood frozen, her face pale, her hands stained with blood, smearing her uniform. Cassian and Sarah had grown up together, their parents having passed away when they were young. Cassian’s success today was half due to her efforts. In the Miller family, her word carried more weight than Cassian’s. Sarah’s gaze swept over the purple bruises on my abdomen, the blood-soaked bed, and the half-finished, bloody stitches in my lower body. Through the fresh blood, a glimpse of the baby’s hair was visible. She stumbled, clutching the doorframe, her voice trembling. “Who gave you the audacity?! How could you be so wicked?!” “It… it was Mr. Miller who said we had to wait for him to return…” Before Martha could finish, Sarah raised her hand and slapped her twice, hard, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth. “That wretched woman again! She’s behind this!” Sarah was trembling with rage. “I don’t have a cold-blooded brother like him! And the Miller family certainly doesn’t have an animal who hurts his wife and child!” “She’s Mrs. Miller! How dare you treat her like this! If anything happens to her and the baby, I swear I’ll make you pay a hundred times over! You’ll rot in jail! Get her to the hospital, now!” The maids scrambled to untie the ropes from my body. The moment the ropes loosened, I felt a sudden relief in my abdomen. Immediately, more blood gushed down my thighs, and the excruciating pain below remained. Sarah rushed over, crouching beside my bed, her voice shaking uncontrollably. “Marina, I’m so sorry I’m late. You’ve suffered so much. You have to hold on! Please, don’t give up!” I looked at her red-rimmed eyes, wanting to reach up and wipe her tears away, but then my vision suddenly went black. In a daze, I felt myself enveloped in a warm embrace, carrying a faint, clean scent. Sarah’s tearful voice whispered in my ear. “Marina, look at me. Don’t sleep. I’m taking you to the hospital right away!” I wanted to respond, but no words would come out of my throat. I only heard a maid’s sudden scream nearby. “Blood! So much blood! The baby… I think I saw the baby’s head moving!” Sarah suddenly looked up, pointing her blood-stained right hand at Martha, roaring. “What are you waiting for?! Call an ambulance! Quickly!”

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