Category: English

At the class reunion, Ashley Adams, the prettiest girl from our year, got wasted. Someone asked her what the worst thing she’d ever done was. She pointed at me, tucked away in a corner, and laughed until tears streamed down her face: “It was back then, when Dempsey Thorne was showering. I used his phone to delete his broke girlfriend’s desperate plea for help. And I texted back: ‘Get lost!’ You wouldn’t believe it, that poor girl waited out in the torrential rain all night. It was absolutely hilarious…” The club erupted in laughter. Dempsey’s wine glass shattered in his hand with a sharp *crack*. Blood mixed with red wine streamed down his fingers. He stared at me, his eyes burning. I calmly offered him a tissue. “Mr. Thorne, long time no see.” The city’s most exclusive private club was booked solid tonight. Word was, a new magnate in the venture capital scene, worth hundreds of millions, was back in town and wanted to flaunt his wealth in front of his old classmates. When Mr. Dawson, the manager, handed me the gilded wine list, his eyes held an unreadable hint of pity: “Chloe, that private room tonight… if you don’t want to go, I can arrange someone else.” I glanced down, adjusting my ill-fitting waitress uniform, and smiled faintly. “It’s fine, Mr. Dawson. That’s our highest-spending room. The corkage fee alone means decent tips. I need the money, you know that.” Mr. Dawson sighed, said nothing more, just patted my shoulder. As I pushed open the heavy door, a wave of heat, expensive perfume, and cigar smoke assaulted me. That scent… it was the smell of burning money. On the leather sofa in the center of the private room sat the man I hadn’t seen in seven years. He’d changed so much. The memory of the clear-eyed, stubborn boy in his faded school uniform was gone. In his place was a business elite who exuded an air of absolute power. He was listening to someone beside him, his head tilted slightly, a cold smirk playing on his lips. And nestled beside him was Ashley Adams, the campus beauty who had snatched him away from me all those years ago. Ashley wore a white Chanel haute couture dress tonight, her diamond necklace flashing blindingly under the lights. She swirled her wine glass, looking like a proud swan. “Oh, Dempsey’s main reason for coming back is for me, really. He’s moving his company’s focus back here because, well, we’re getting engaged, you know.” Immediately, a chorus of compliments broke out. “The campus queen and the CEO, what a match made in heaven!” “Mr. Thorne is a finance magazine cover star now, Ashley, you’re so lucky!” “*This* is what you call happiness. Unlike some people who were gold diggers back then. I bet they’re kicking themselves now, huh?” Someone dropped a pointed comment, and the air in the room froze for a second. Everyone’s gaze, as if on cue, shifted to me, standing in the corner, opening a bottle of wine. I moved like a senseless puppet, expertly uncorking the bottle. “Bordeaux Left Bank. Optimal taste after twenty minutes of decanting.” I poured the perfectly decanted wine into the crystal glass in front of Dempsey, my movements flawless. Dempsey finally looked up. What kind of look was it? Disdain, disgust, hatred, and a sliver of deep-seated contempt. He didn’t take the glass, letting me hold it. My wrist, sore from holding the tray for so long, trembled slightly. “Chloe?” He finally spoke, his voice deep and hoarse. “I heard you dropped out of college? What, that rich guy got tired of you and dumped you? Now you’re reduced to serving people in a place like this?” The room fell silent instantly. Everyone was waiting for the show. Ashley covered her mouth dramatically, feigning surprise as she looked at me: “Oh my goodness, it really is Chloe! How could you… how could you be dressed like this?” “If you’re short on cash, you should tell me. Even though you dumped Dempsey for money back then, we’re still old classmates. I’m sure I could arrange a cleaning job for you, no problem.” She deliberately emphasized the words “dumped Dempsey for money.” A ripple of mocking laughter spread through the room. “Serves her right. Dempsey was so good to her back then.” “That’s karma for you. Look at Mr. Thorne now, worth billions. And her? Waiting tables.” “Tsk, tsk, how the tables have turned.” I listened to their harsh words expressionlessly, as if they were talking about someone else’s story. Seven years. I had long since built an impenetrable shield around myself. Living in the darkest corners of this city. Washing dishes in restaurant kitchens, hauling boxes in cold storage, getting drinks splashed on me by drunk customers, being yelled at by landlords for being a pauper. Dignity, that thing, had shattered into a million pieces on that torrential rainy night, leaving nothing but dust. “Mr. Thorne, your wine.” I repeated myself, my voice calm. Dempsey stared into my eyes, as if searching for a trace of regret, shame, or tears on my face. But he was disappointed. There was nothing in my eyes. Only endless numbness and exhaustion. This disregard seemed to infuriate him. He suddenly raised his hand and violently knocked the wine glass from my grasp. “This wine is too cheap. I’m not used to it.” Dempsey pulled out a tissue, wiped his hands, his eyes icy. “Get another bottle. Something with age. Like the one from seven years ago.” He was humiliating me. Seven years ago, he was a broke kid. To celebrate my birthday, he’d scrimped and saved for three months to buy a cheap bottle of red wine. We sat on the campus lawn, sharing sips, our faces flushed, promising to be together forever. Now, he was using this to remind me of the price of betraying him. Ashley giggled beside him, chiming in: “Oh, don’t make it hard on her. This bottle costs tens of thousands. She couldn’t afford to pay for it even if she sold herself. Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Thorne, and clean up the wine on the floor. Then we’ll let it go.” I knelt, took out a cloth, and meticulously wiped the wine stains from the carpet. Glass shards pricked my fingertips, a piercing pain. But I didn’t even flinch. I was just calculating in my head: the commission for this bottle was gone, plus I’d have to pay for the broken glass. Tonight’s shift? All for nothing. Maybe even half a month’s salary gone. This was my life now. No emotions, just endless calculations of prices and debts that could never be repaid. As for love? That was a luxury only the rich could afford. “I’m sorry, Mr. Thorne.” I finished wiping the last bit of wine, stood up, and maintained my humble posture. “I’ll ask the manager to bring the finest wine we have.” Dempsey looked at the beads of blood welling from my fingertips, his pupils constricted slightly, then immediately returned to their cold state. “Get out.”

I didn’t get out. Because Mr. Dawson said the guest tonight specifically requested my service. If I left, the twenty thousand dollar tip would be gone, and even my base salary would be docked. I really needed the money. Mom’s dialysis fees for next month weren’t settled yet, and the landlord had messaged again,催促asking for next quarter’s rent. So I went to the restroom, quickly dealt with my injury, and returned to that suffocating private room. When I pushed the door open again, the atmosphere had changed. After several rounds of drinks, the elites began to shed their pretenses, revealing the rawest human depravity. They were playing Truth or Dare. It was a cliché but eternally effective game, especially when fueled by alcohol; it was the best tool to tear away humanity’s fig leaf. The table was covered with empty bottles—Louis XIII, Hennessy Richard, Ace of Spades… The combined price of those bottles was enough for me to buy a small bathroom in this city. Ashley was clearly drunk. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was practically draped over Dempsey, her eyes hazy and fervent. She was the star of the night, and the biggest winner. About to marry Dempsey and become the envied Mrs. Thorne—this made her smug, even a little bit floating. “Come on, come on! Next round!” Mike, the class rep, slurred, egging them on. “Who does it land on this time?” The empty wine bottle spun rapidly on the polished marble table, making a teeth-grinding sound. Everyone held their breath, staring at the bottle’s neck. Slowly, the bottle stopped. Its mouth pointed directly at Ashley. “Whoa—! The campus queen’s a winner!” “Truth or Dare?” Ashley giggled, waving her hand with drunken eyes: “This lady chooses Truth! There’s nothing I’m afraid to say!” Mike rubbed his hands with a sly grin, his gaze darting between me and Ashley, clearly wanting to stir up some trouble. “Alright then, let’s ask something juicy. Ashley, what’s the most disgusting thing you’ve ever done in your life?” At that question, the private room instantly quieted down a notch. Everyone was an adult; who didn’t have a secret they wanted to keep hidden? But since it was a game, the thrill was the point. Dempsey, who had been resting with his eyes closed, merely lifted an eyelid nonchalantly when he heard the question, making no move to stop it. In his opinion, Ashley was a pure and kind rich girl. Though a bit spoiled, she would never do anything truly awful. Ashley hiccuped, her gaze suddenly cutting through the crowd and landing on me, pouring water for guests in the corner. A malicious smile curled on her lips. Alcohol numbed her brain, but also amplified the jealousy and malice deep within her. “The most disgusting thing, huh…” Ashley swayed as she stood up, her finger pointing straight at me. “It was seven years ago, on that stormy day, I went to Dempsey’s rental apartment to find him…” At the words “seven years ago,” my hand suddenly shook, and the hot water in the kettle almost spilled. Dempsey’s body stiffened slightly too. Ashley laughed, her whole body shaking, as if telling an incredibly funny joke: “Dempsey was in the shower that day, his phone on the table. And wouldn’t you know it, this broke girl, Chloe, texted him.” “Guess what she sent? Hahahaha… She said: ‘Dempsey, please save my dad, I beg you, just fifty thousand dollars… I’ll definitely repay you later.’ ” “Tsk, tsk, tsk, so pathetic, so pitiful.” “At the time, I thought, Dempsey is so exceptional, how can he be entangled with someone so poor? He belongs to me, to a broader future, not to be dragged into the mud by someone from the bottom!” “So…” She paused, a crazy glint in her eyes. “I replied to a text for Dempsey.” “I deleted that plea for help, then, pretending to be Dempsey, I texted back two words: ‘Get lost, leave me alone’!” “Hahahahaha! You wouldn’t believe it, that poor girl actually waited out in the pouring rain all night! I watched her from behind the window, soaked to the bone like a stray dog, watched her fall to her knees crying in despair. It was absolutely hilarious!” “Oh, don’t you think I did a great thing? If it wasn’t for my move, how could Dempsey have gotten rid of that burden? How could he have achieved what he has today? Dempsey, you should thank me…” Ashley’s words were cut short by a sharp, shattering sound. The stemmed glass in Dempsey’s hand had been crushed by his own grip. Glass shards pierced deep into his palm; blood mixed with red wine dripped through his fingers onto the pristine tablecloth, a shocking sight. But he seemed to feel no pain. He just stared at Ashley, his normally cold eyes now bloodshot. “What did you say?” Ashley hadn’t realized anything was wrong. She was still basking in her self-congratulation: “I said I helped you get rid of that broke…” “Shut up!” Dempsey slammed his hand on the coffee table in front of him, overturning it. The loud crash made Ashley shriek, half-sobering her up. She looked in horror at the man before her, like a raging lion, stammering: “What’s wrong with you? I was just joking…” “Joking?” Dempsey swayed as he stood up, advancing on Ashley step by step. “Are you saying, that night seven years ago, she didn’t run off with that rich guy, Jason? She didn’t text to say she hated my poverty and wanted to break up?” “Are you saying, she was at the hospital? She was begging me for help?” His voice grew louder and louder, until he was practically shouting. Ashley, terrified by his intensity, collapsed onto the sofa. Dempsey ignored her. He spun around abruptly, looking at me in the corner. “Chloe…” He called my name, his voice trembling, almost a sob. “Is what she said true?” “That night… were you waiting for me?” The entire room fell silent. No one dared to breathe. I put down the kettle, calmly looking at the truth that had arrived seven years too late. My heart felt surprisingly unmoved. Too late. It was really too late. I took a tissue from my pocket, walked over, and offered it to him. “Mr. Thorne, wipe your hands. They’re covered in blood. It’s messy.” Dempsey didn’t take the tissue. He grabbed my wrist. “Answer me! Chloe! Tell me it’s not true!” I looked into his bloodshot eyes and smiled faintly. “What if it is true, Dempsey?”

Dempsey’s hand trembled. He stared fixedly at my face, searching for any hint of “you’re lying.” Even if it was hatred, even if it was revenge, even if I was deliberately fabricating lies to make him suffer, he could accept it. But he couldn’t accept *this* truth. Because if it was true. Then all his hatred of the past seven years, all his struggle, all the motivation that had pulled him out of the mud, would become a joke. A complete and utter joke. “If you were truly in trouble, why didn’t you call me? Why didn’t you come find me? Why did you send that text saying you’d fallen in love with someone else?” I looked at his broken expression, finding it utterly absurd. “Call you?” I gave a light laugh, but no mirth reached my eyes. “Dempsey, that night, I called you thirty-seven times.” “Thirty-seven times.” “The first call was when the doctor gave the critical condition notice. You didn’t pick up.” “The tenth call was when I was kneeling at a relative’s door begging for money and got kicked out. It was hung up.” “The twentieth call was in the pouring rain, I was soaked to the bone, with nowhere to turn. Your phone was off.” “The last time, after I desperately sent that plea for help, I received those two words: ‘Get lost, leave me alone’.” I took a deep breath, those long-buried memories resurfacing. “You ask why I didn’t come find you? I did.” “I stood downstairs from your rental apartment all night. I knew you were home because the lights were on. I watched Ashley’s shadow on the curtains, watched you two laughing and talking.” “I thought then, if only you’d come down to see me, even if you said you had no money, even if you just hugged me and told me not to be scared, I could have grit my teeth and held on.” “But you didn’t.” “You told me to get lost.” Dempsey’s face was ashen. He let go of my hand, staggering back two steps. “It wasn’t me… I didn’t…” He clutched his head, groaning in agony. “My phone was missing that day, I thought I lost it. Later, Ashley said you ran off with Jason, the rich kid. She said you texted that you didn’t want to live a hard life anymore.” He suddenly turned to Ashley, his eyes fierce enough to devour her. “My phone! You took my phone?!” Ashley was terrified now. She had never seen Dempsey so out of control. In her memory, Dempsey was always composed. “Dempsey, please let me explain…” Ashley cried, tears streaming down her face, trying to grab Dempsey’s sleeve. “I loved you so much then, I didn’t want to see you dragged down by her. Her dad was a bottomless pit! I did it for your future!” “For my good?!” Dempsey backhanded her, a brutal slap across Ashley’s face. *“CRACK!”* The blow was heavy; Ashley fell directly to the floor, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. A gasp went through the room, but no one dared to intervene. “You did it for yourself!” Dempsey’s eyes were bloodshot, his finger trembling as he pointed at Ashley. “How dare you make decisions for me! How dare you delete that text message!” “Do you know that was money to save a life?! Do you know what that meant to her?!” Dempsey seemed to go mad, sweeping all the remaining wine bottles off the table. He remembered that night, seven years ago. He came out of the shower, found his phone missing, and Ashley was sitting on the sofa, looking a little flustered, saying she didn’t know where it was. Later, he didn’t think much of it, assuming it was lost. The next day, the whole campus was spreading rumors that Chloe had run off with Jason, the rich kid. He went to confront Chloe, but only saw her back as she withdrew from school. He thought she was guilty, ashamed. “Chloe…” Dempsey turned around and dropped to his knees with a thud onto the shattered glass. His knees instantly pierced, blood soaking his expensive trousers. But he seemed to feel nothing, only crawling towards me, reaching out to grab the hem of my skirt. “I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know…” “If I had known, even if I had to sell a kidney, sell my blood, I would have saved your dad! How could I have let you face all that alone?” “Your dad? How is your dad now? I’ll get him into the best hospital, bring in the best specialists, I’ll pay any amount!” He spoke incoherently, his eyes gleaming with a hopeful light, as if with money, everything could be undone. I looked at the man sobbing on his knees before me, my eyes still calm. Some mistakes can be remedied. But some mistakes cost a life. “Dempsey, save it.” I coldly interrupted his fantasy. “My dad died.” Dempsey’s body stiffened abruptly. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. “It was just a week after that rainy night.” My voice was flat, as if telling someone else’s story. “Because we couldn’t gather enough for the surgery, we missed the optimal window for rescue. He lingered in the ICU for seven days, and then he died in pain.” “Before he died, he held my hand and told me not to blame you. He said you had it hard, and not to make things difficult for you over money.” “Dempsey, you say you want to save him?” “Are you going to save him in heaven?”

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My parents were pushing me into an arranged marriage with a 60-year-old billionaire. My stepsister, Vivian, panicked and immediately called my three childhood best friends. “Which one of you is willing to marry Iris? Otherwise, she’s going to have to marry that ugly old man!” Ronnie, the guy I’d had a crush on for 10 years, frowned at Vivian. “Vivian, you know perfectly well I like *you*.” Noah, my high school deskmate, scoffed. “Ha, like? You’re just the Sterling family’s butler’s son. How could you ever be good enough for Vivian?” My friend, Alex, leaned back lazily on the couch. “Iris, I’m already Vivian’s boyfriend! Sorry!” I froze. So, all these years, them hovering around me was all because of Vivian. Fine. If that’s how it is, then I’ll marry the billionaire. Vivian secretly glanced at Ronnie, her face flushing as she retorted. “Alex, when did you become my boyfriend?” Alex’s tone was firm. “I will be, eventually.” “Alex, you’re so foolish!” Noah wagged a finger. “Vivian, you can’t keep a guy like that. How about you be my girlfriend instead?” Vivian cupped her face in exasperation. “Alright, Alex, Noah, I really just see you two as brothers, stop messing with me.” Ronnie’s lips curved slightly. He pulled her closer, subtly asserting his claim. Alex’s face instantly darkened. Noah punched the coffee table, the glass shattering with a crash, fragments flying everywhere. Looking at the mess, I pointed towards the door. “Gentlemen, if you want to confess, make a scene, or smash things, please turn right out the door. That’s Vivian’s room.” But after I yelled, my heart felt hollow. I didn’t understand why Ronnie liked Vivian. When I was nine, Mom found out about Dad’s illegitimate daughter but chose to endure it. Yet, whenever she drank, she’d lash out at me, as I resembled Dad so much. Ronnie would always rush over and shield me, laughing carelessly. “Iris, don’t cry. Boys can take a hit; it’s fine.” When I was fifteen, Dad filed for divorce, and Mom jumped from the rooftop. Ronnie desperately covered my eyes and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll always be with you.” At eighteen, Dad brought his stepmother and stepsister home. I ran away, freezing unconscious under a bridge. That’s when Ronnie got angry with me for the first time. “You’re upset and didn’t call me? You’re cold and didn’t crawl into my arms? You just had to hide in a place like this, waiting to die?” I thought he’d always be by my side, that our marriage was only a matter of time. “Iris, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize there wasn’t even one person willing to marry you.” Vivian clasped her hands, pleading with the guys. “Guys, don’t just stare at me! Iris is being forced to marry next week. Can you really stand by and watch her jump into a pit of fire? She’s only twenty-two, and that old man is sixty – he’s old enough to be her grandfather, even if he is the wealthiest man alive! If you have any conscience, you should step up and save her!” Seeing their silence, she seemed to make a huge decision, speaking in a self-sacrificing tone. “As long as one of you is willing to marry Iris, I… I’ll agree to anything.” I was about to cut short her performance when Ronnie spoke in a low, reprimanding voice. “Don’t be ridiculous.” He finally turned his gaze to me, his eyes dark. “You want to help her, but how do you know this arranged marriage isn’t what *she* wants?” Alex raised an eyebrow, his tone playful. “After all, the other party is a billionaire. Even crumbs from his table would be enough to fill the Sterling family’s current hole.” Noah suddenly understood, giving me a thumbs-up. “So what if he’s sixty? That’s prime time to hustle!”

“The old man has no heirs. Iris, you should quickly get pregnant, give him a child, and then after a few years when he’s gone, you’ll inherit everything. Instant millionaire!” He said, still shaking his head with a “tsk.” “Her father played this perfectly! I was just mentally cursing him for selling his daughter for money, but it seems I was wrong.” Vivian looked at me with feigned pity. “Iris, why do you have to sacrifice yourself like this? Even if the Sterling family gets richer, you won’t be happy!” “Or rather, are you really after the billionaire’s fortune?” She tilted her head, gazing softly at Ronnie. “If it were me, maybe I’m just not ambitious enough, but I would never give up love for money.” Ronnie returned a doting smile, but when he turned to me, his face instantly hardened. “It’s not that *you’re* not ambitious enough. It’s that some people have too much ambition; they’re never satisfied.” My throat tightened. But the truth was, Dad had only gone to meet the Hayes family yesterday to discuss business, and today, the news of the arranged marriage broke. I called him countless times, but he kept hanging up. When I was completely at a loss, these so-called childhood best friends came to mock me. Who did they think they were? “Yes! I’m ambitious! I’m vain! I’m not content just being a minor Sterling. I want to be the billionaire’s wife, and I’ll pay any price!” “What’s love? Anyone who stands in my way, I’ll kick them aside, including all of you!” I looked at Vivian, sneering. “You hastily rounded these guys up. Have you had enough of watching my humiliation? Can you all just leave now?” “Heh.” Alex let out a cold laugh, then stood up and walked away. Noah followed, sighing dramatically and looking back every few steps. Vivian’s eyes were red. “Iris, I didn’t know you thought of me so badly.” “I’m sorry, I meddled where I shouldn’t have and almost messed up your marriage.” Finally, only Ronnie remained frozen. He grabbed my hand. “The arranged marriage must be Uncle Sterling’s decision, right? If you don’t want it, I can go with you to beg him.” Begging him would help? Years ago, I knelt before him, begging until my knees ached, but didn’t he still divorce Mom? Looking at the concern in his eyes, I suddenly felt confused. “Ronnie, marry me…” Just a fake marriage, we’d divorce after a year. The next second, he brutally pushed me away. My lower back hit the table corner hard, and I doubled over in pain. Ronnie’s voice fell from above, cold and steady. “Iris, from the first moment I saw Vivian, my heart was set on her. For you, there was never anything like that.” “I’ve always just seen you as a friend, a sister I needed to look after. I’m sorry, I can’t marry you.” I pursed my lips. “Not even a fake marriage?” “No, I can’t let Vivian, in the future, be gossiped about for marrying a man who’s been married twice.” He paused, then seemed to soften. “I can convince Noah to marry you. He has a slight crush on you… Alex, though he has a sharp tongue, has a soft heart; maybe he could…” He said something else, but I didn’t want to hear it anymore. Tears blurred my vision. I stumbled out of the house, and only when I reached Mom’s grave did I finally cry out loud. “Mom, I’m getting married.” “It’s not Ronnie. It’s a sixty-year-old man, even older than you.” My throat tightened, and I forced a smile. “At least at his age, he won’t cheat and raise an illegitimate daughter like Dad did, right?” My phone vibrated. Someone added me as a friend. “Hello, Ms. Sterling, I’m your fiancé.” Looking at the animated, comic-book-character avatar, I replied. “Mr. Hayes, you have a very youthful spirit.” The other party quickly sent a laughing-crying emoji. “Actually, I’m not that old. Just a bit older than you, Ms. Sterling.”

I was speechless for a moment. Sixty and twenty-two, and he said “a bit older.” This was probably what they called inappropriate. Without the mood to chat further, I tossed my phone into my bag. As I walked out of the cemetery, I saw Vivian leaning against my car. “What, you’re coming to tell Aunt about something so shameful as marrying a sixty-year-old man? Aren’t you afraid you’ll make her so angry she’ll flip over in her grave?” Seeing my face change, she grew even more smug. “But she probably wouldn’t care, right? When she found out about me and my mom, didn’t she put up with it for six years? Looks like you and your mother are equally tolerant.” “Speaking of which, in those years, she drank herself silly every night at the bar, her personal life was a mess. She either hit you or yelled at you. I don’t think she even liked you as a daughter, did she?” “Shut up!” I couldn’t take it anymore and raised my hand to slap her. The next second, my wrist was seized by Ronnie. “When your mother was out of control and hit you back then, what did you hate most? And now you’re going to become just like her?” Alex shielded Vivian behind him, giving me a cold look. “Iris, you haven’t even become the billionaire’s wife yet, and you’re already throwing your weight around?” Noah raised his palm towards me. “Try laying a hand on Vivian, I dare you.” Vivian peered out from behind them, looking utterly wronged. “I just saw Iris driving out looking upset, and I was worried something would happen, so I followed her.” “Iris, these three guys are all your childhood friends. They don’t want to help you, you should look for the reason within yourself. Why are you taking it out on me?” The guys, who usually argued amongst themselves, now glared at me, ready to stand up for her. I retorted sarcastically. “Everything she just said, insulting my mother, is recorded on the dashcam. Want to listen?” Alex curved his lips playfully. “Things like that can be faked. I only believe what I see with my own eyes.” Ronnie rubbed his temples, looking exhausted. “Vivian cares about you. Why don’t you appreciate it and have to resort to violence against her?” Noah looked utterly bewildered. “Iris, why can’t you like Vivian like the rest of us? She really is such a sweet and kind girl!” “Is it really that hard to understand that I don’t like my dad’s illegitimate daughter?” I had no desire to argue anymore. One person couldn’t possibly argue against four mouths. As soon as I got into the car, my sixty-year-old fiancé sent a message. He said he wanted to meet before the wedding, that he had something to tell me in person, and he’d set the time for tonight. I was about to decline, but he sent a pleading emoji. “Okay.” My finger moved, and the message was sent. I suddenly felt a little curious. What kind of person was he, exactly? What if he had Alzheimer’s? The car door suddenly opened, and Ronnie got into the passenger seat. “I talked to Alex and Noah. They won’t agree to a fake marriage.” “We’ll go to the Hayes’ place, together, and talk to your fiancé. We’ll make him an offer to cancel the engagement.” In the back, Alex and Noah sat on either side, protecting Vivian in the middle. Vivian smiled. “Iris, it’s okay, I’m not angry anymore.” Alex ruffled her hair, a pained look on his face. “Such a kind, silly girl.” Noah glanced at me impatiently. “Just so we’re clear, if this doesn’t work out, don’t think you can latch onto us.” I silently started the car, not wanting to say another word. Whatever I said, it would only lead to a combined attack from the four of them. Just as we were about to reach the agreed-upon restaurant, an out-of-control truck suddenly swerved and crashed into us from the side. Ronnie cried out in panic. “Iris, how are you driving?!” “Vivian! Alex, Noah, protect Vivian!” “Bang!” The airbags deployed. A sharp pain shot through my head and chest. In a haze, I saw Ronnie, blood trickling from his forehead, frantically hailing a car by the roadside while holding Vivian. Alex and Noah were also injured, but they ignored themselves, just anxiously calling out to the unconscious Vivian.

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It was Kindergarten Family Day. My wife, Serena, claimed she had company business and told me and our daughter, Lily, not to go. So, I decided to take Lily myself. As soon as we walked in, I saw Serena, one arm cradling a little boy, the other hand holding our childhood sweetheart, Ryan. They looked like a real family of three, laughing and chatting, perfectly harmonious. Until they saw Lily and me. Serena’s brow furrowed slightly, and she finally let go of Ryan’s hand. “Daniel, don’t misunderstand. It’s tough for Ryan, being a single dad. Today is his son’s fifth birthday, and he just wanted him to experience a mother’s love.” I shot her a meaningful glance, then crouched down, taking Lily’s small hand. “Sweetheart, say hello to Ms. Serena.” Seeing this, Ryan quickly took his son, his face apologetic. “Daniel, please don’t be mad. Serena meant well. Leo grew up without a mom, and today’s his fifth birthday. Serena was just helping him fulfill a dream of having a mother.” I stared at him, a half-smile playing on my lips. “If that’s the case, now that Lily and I are here, shouldn’t Serena come back to us? After all, we’re the real family of three.” Ryan froze slightly, but the boy in his arms wasn’t having it. “Mommy, you promised you’d spend today with Daddy and me!” The five-year-old glared at me with fierce eyes. I raised an eyebrow. “Mommy”? They’re already calling her “Mommy”? Before I could say anything else, Serena stepped in front of them, adopting a protective stance. Her tone was impatient. “Daniel, you’re a parent too. Do you have absolutely no empathy?” “Ryan and I grew up together. I’m just spending one day with them, just one day! Do you really have to be so petty about this?” I scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping me. Was Ryan’s misfortune my fault? Just then, other parents and their kids started arriving, and someone came over to greet us. “Leo’s dad, Leo’s mom, good morning! You two always come to Family Day together with Leo. Not like my husband, always saying he’s busy with work, never caring about our child’s growth.” Ryan awkwardly returned the greeting, and I saw a flicker of panic in Serena’s eyes. I couldn’t help but demand, “Serena, is this what you meant by ‘just one day’?!” Serena flushed with anger, grabbing my arm. “Daniel, there are a lot of people here, don’t make a scene!” She then looked down at Lily, lowering her voice. “If you make a fuss, it won’t be good for Lily, will it?” Lily suddenly heard her name and looked around confused. But she still didn’t seem to understand what was happening, just clinging tightly to my leg, her small hand clutching mine, already sweaty. I felt her unease. I knelt down, stroked her little ponytail, and whispered, “Daddy’s here, sweetheart. There’s nothing to be scared of.” I watched Serena, Ryan, and Leo walk away. Soon, they were surrounded by the crowd. Some parents, eager to flatter, smiled and greeted Serena. They were praising her successful career, how she’d become the CEO of a multi-billion dollar company in her early thirties. Serena was undoubtedly arrogant and smug, practically strutting with pride. And Ryan? He stared at Serena with shining eyes, looking as if he were basking in her reflected glory. Leo, still in Serena’s arms, suddenly looked back and shot me a defiant grimace. A cold laugh bubbled up in my chest. It looked like Serena had gotten way too ahead of herself. Even though I’d cut down my time at the company to be with Lily, 75% of Everwing Group’s shares were in my name. I was the real CEO, the actual boss. She had just latched onto me, and out of marital consideration, I’d given her a manager title. I pulled out my phone and messaged Chloe in HR: “Chloe, transfer Serena from her manager position. Internal announcement next Monday.” Then I messaged Marcus in Legal: “Marcus, draft a divorce agreement for Serena and me.”

A short while later, the Kindergarten Family Day activities officially began. Each family sat at a table that had been prepared beforehand. Lily looked at Serena sitting in the front row and asked sadly, “Daddy, why isn’t Serena sitting with us?” I pinched Lily’s soft, plump cheek. She was still so young; she shouldn’t have to deal with this dirty business. “Because Daddy’s a superhero, and to be fair, Serena went to help other little superheroes.” Just then, the kindergarten teacher announced the start of the first activity: building blocks, smiling as she added, “There’s a prize for first place! A LEGO spaceship!” Lily suddenly brightened, pointing at the spaceship. “Daddy, I want that!” “Alright, then let’s go for it!” The sand in the hourglass was almost gone when Lily raised her small hand and excitedly shouted, “Teacher, we’re done!” The teacher walked over and nodded, about to make the announcement, when a little boy came zooming over from the front row. It was Leo. He shoved over our completed block structure with one hand, then stood there, chest puffed out. “Now first place is mine!” Lily stared at the collapsed blocks, her eyes welling up with tears. Angrily, she picked up a large block and threw it at Leo. Serena’s first words as she arrived were, “Lily, how could you hit someone?! Apologize to Leo right now!” Lily was stubborn. “No, I won’t! He knocked down my blocks first! He’s a meanie!” I stood firmly behind Lily. “Serena, anyone with eyes can see who started it. Leo should apologize to Lily!” Ryan followed her, pulling on Serena’s arm. “Serena, let it go. No need to make a big deal. Adults overlook a child’s misdeeds.” The kindergarten teacher also tried to smooth things over. Just then, Lily suddenly burst into tears, whimpering, “Mommy, why aren’t you protecting me? Why are you being mean to me?” That single word, “Mommy,” instantly stunned everyone. Their gazes darted between me, Serena, and Ryan. Serena’s face flushed red and then white. Ryan looked like he wanted to speak but held back. At that moment, Leo stood with his hands on his hips in front of Lily, his voice venomous. “Who are you calling Mommy? What are you shouting about! She’s my mommy!” Lily was so startled she started hiccuping. She cried, her eyes blurry with tears, her little voice cracking as she shrieked, “Mommy, say something!” My heart ached, and I shot Serena a furious glare, my voice much harsher. “Serena, aren’t you going to explain? Are you just going to stand there and let Lily and me be misunderstood?” Serena’s eyes widened, and she snatched Leo into her arms. “Explain what? Today, I am Leo’s mommy!” She even patted Leo’s head. Instantly, the other parents began pointing and whispering about Lily and me. “Why is that child calling her ‘Mommy’ willy-nilly?!” “Lily’s family usually never comes to Family Day. This time it’s just the dad. Could she be someone’s mistress’s child?!” “I heard Serena is a CEO, super rich. Maybe Lily’s dad was trying to hook up with Serena, and his own daughter stumbled upon them and got confused.” As Lily and I were being attacked by rumors, Serena remained silent, simply comforting Leo. Ryan, standing nearby, barely concealed a smirk, glancing at me. I hugged a sobbing Lily, patting her gently. Though I wanted nothing more than to slap that conniving woman and that slimy man, it wasn’t the time. I couldn’t let Lily get hurt any further. Just then, someone trying to curry favor with Serena simpered, “Leo looks so much like you, Serena. You can tell they’re mother and son at a glance.” I looked up at Serena. A flicker of guilt crossed her eyes, then she quickly changed the subject. Ryan, meanwhile, looked absolutely smug. I’d seen this father and son before, but I’d never noticed that Serena and Leo really did share a certain resemblance in their features. Lily couldn’t stop crying. I had to ask the teacher to take us to the quiet room, hoping to calm Lily down first. In the quiet room, I comforted Lily until she eventually fell asleep. Looking at her swollen, red eyelids from crying, my heart twisted into a knot. I quietly slipped out, walked to the bend in the corridor, and called Chloe and Marcus. “Chloe, Marcus, bring my marriage certificate with Serena, the drafted divorce agreement, and her termination letter to Little Star Preschool now. Hurry!” As I was still discussing the details with them, I suddenly heard a scream—it was Lily’s voice! My heart sank to my stomach.

At the end of the hallway, by the bathroom door, Lily had been pushed to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Leading the pack of kids surrounding her was Leo, his face a menacing scowl. “That’s what you get for calling her Mommy! I’m going to beat you to a pulp today!” With that, he kicked Lily in the stomach. Lily cried out in pain, trying to dodge, but the little boy behind him grabbed her. “The mistress’s kid deserves a beating!” “My mom said illegitimate kids should be strangled at birth!” Lily flailed her small hands in protest, crying so hard she could barely breathe. “You’re lying! That’s my mommy! Mommy, Daddy, come save Lily!” “Lily hurts so bad!” “Mommy, Daddy, where are you?!” The moment I saw that, my mind went blank with a roar, blood surged, my veins felt like they were about to burst. The little boys spotted me, exchanged glances, and seeing my furious expression, scattered like startled birds. I scooped Lily into my arms, realizing she was shaking violently. I immediately called an ambulance. “Don’t be scared, sweetheart. Daddy’s here, Daddy’s here.” When the ambulance arrived, other parents crowded around, curious about what had happened. I raced towards the ambulance, carrying Lily. As I passed, Serena was smiling, building blocks with Leo, while Ryan stood by, wiping sweat from her brow. Hearing the commotion, she looked up, a confused expression on her face. As she stood up and started to ask, “What’s going on? What happened to Lily?” Ryan grabbed her hand. “Serena, you promised to spend today with Leo. You don’t know how happy he was when I told him last night you’d be with him all day.” Serena’s footsteps faltered. I had already gotten into the ambulance with Lily. Lily had passed out, and the paramedics immediately began checks and resuscitation in the ambulance. When a female paramedic lifted Lily’s dress, she gasped. “How could anyone be so cruel to such a small child?!” I instantly panicked. Lily’s milky-white skin was covered in bruises, purple and blue, with a fist-sized contusion on her side. Her tiny body trembled uncontrollably. The paramedic’s voice suddenly became urgent. “Quick, get the equipment ready!” Two agonizing hours passed before Lily was stable. Regret and hatred intertwined in my heart, growing wildly, tearing through me. My mother, Eleanor, cried tears of sorrow, complaining, “How could you let this happen, Daniel? My poor baby, what she’s been through!” Lily, hooked up to an IV, weakly opened her eyes on the hospital bed, looking at me blankly. “Daddy, why do they all say Lily’s a child Mommy didn’t want?” “But Lily has a mommy!” “Why didn’t Mommy protect Lily?” I gently kissed her forehead and told her, “Daddy will always, always protect Lily. Lily is Daddy’s most beloved treasure.” “As for your mommy, we don’t want her anymore.” When I returned to the kindergarten, the activity day was on its last item. Families were painting a portrait of their ‘happy family.’ Serena was patiently coloring a picture, Leo nestled quietly in her arms, and Ryan, a look of utter contentment on his face, was taking photos of them both. It truly was a picture of serene domestic bliss, a perfect happy family. But why was my Lily lying in a hospital bed, while the culprits were here, enjoying their happiness?! I stormed over, and without a word, landed a fierce punch on Ryan. The sheer force sent him stumbling back, and with a dull thud, he hit the corner of a table behind him. The sudden sound stunned everyone into silence. Serena shrieked, “Daniel, what are you doing?!” Then she quickly pulled Ryan into her arms, her eyes full of concern. “Ryan, does it hurt?” Tears rolled down Ryan’s face, but he shook his head, playing the victim. “Daniel, have you misunderstood something? I apologize to you.” I sneered. “Just a verbal apology? Isn’t that a bit insincere?” With that, I raised my hand to slap him again. Serena saw it coming and tried to block me. I changed direction, delivering the slap directly to Serena’s face. The five-fingered red imprint was starkly visible on her cheek. Serena clutched her face, stunned for a second, then went ballistic. “Daniel, are you sick?! Who gave you the right to hit me?!” Just then, the kindergarten teachers rushed over to intervene, asking me what was going on. I pointed at Leo, gritting my teeth. “This little brat, when I wasn’t looking, ganged up with a few other boys and beat up my Lily!” The words had barely left my mouth when Ryan anxiously interjected, “No way! Leo is a very sweet boy. Serena, you have to believe me!” I took a step forward. “No way? Then why do you think an ambulance just came?!” Serena once again positioned herself protectively in front of Ryan and Leo. “What harm can a little kid do? Kids roughhouse, it’s inevitable. But you? You’re overreacting, hitting people right away—a total brute!” Seeing my aggressive stance, Serena actually shoved me with force, sending me to the ground. My palm scraped against the ground, bleeding. Those who were trying to curry favor with Serena joined in, looking down on me, ridiculing and cursing. “Is he trying to stage an accident? Knows Ms. Serena’s loaded and wants to extort money!” “Look at his audacity! He’ll be crying when Everwing Group’s legal team is done with him.” “You think, maybe he tried to seduce Ms. Serena before and failed, and now he’s just causing trouble? He’s nowhere near Ms. Serena’s level!” “Definitely acting like a mistress’s man!” Just then, the roar of cars grew louder, and soon three luxury black SUVs pulled up to the kindergarten entrance. A sharp-eyed parent gasped. “Those cars have the Everwing Group logo! They’re executive vehicles!” Someone else, eager to flatter, added, “Ms. Serena is truly amazing, she’s already called the company’s legal team!” With that, the person spat at me, gloating. “You homewrecker, you’re finished! Everyone knows Everwing’s legal team is called the ‘Invincible Force of Oakwood City’! Get ready to pay up and go to jail!” An influencer parent was already buzzing with excitement, holding up her phone. “Wow, what a scoop today! Folks, hit that follow button! I’m livestreaming this brute’s downfall!” Ryan finally reacted, looking at Serena with surprise and affection, while Leo beside her became even more cocky.

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Christmas Day. My parents, chasing triple pay, had left me alone at home again. Thinking back to the last twenty years, how they always did this, I couldn’t stand another cold, lonely Christmas all by myself. So, I went looking for them. To my surprise, my parents, who constantly preached about needing to earn more money, stepped out of a luxury car, arm-in-arm with a boy about my age, laughing and chatting as they headed into a five-star restaurant. “Dad, Mom, is it really okay to leave Alex home alone like that?” My mom just shrugged, dismissive. “It’s fine. He’s used to it.” My dad chimed in, equally nonchalant. “He’s nothing compared to you, Leo. You’re our precious one!” I turned and walked away. They’d been faking poverty, lying to me all this time. This time, I didn’t want their company anyway. Back home, I dumped all the untouched food on the table straight into the trash. Before, I would never have dared. Ever since I could remember, I knew our family was struggling. Everything I ate and wore came from my parents’ tireless scrimping and saving. New clothes were a rarity. Every season, my mom would bring home a bag of used clothes. She’d always tell me, “These were worn by a colleague’s son. They’re clean, no need to buy new ones.” I had no idea where she got those old clothes. My childhood was practically devoid of anything new. I always wore ill-fitting clothes, and my classmates made fun of me, calling me a ragamuffin, like I picked my clothes from a dumpster. I buried myself in my studies, hoping that one day, I could earn enough to buy new clothes for myself. During holidays, I’d hand over any gifts or pocket money relatives gave me, just to ease my parents’ burden. But who knew, they had no burden at all. I’d looked it up. That luxury car was owned by the Davidsons, one of the city’s wealthiest families. The young master of that family had once been spotted cruising around in it with a famous actress, creating quite a stir. I’d seen that gossip news, and the rich kid’s face was unmistakably the same boy I saw tonight. Turns out, I was a rich kid myself! I found it ironically hilarious. I sniffed, wiping my nose, then turned back to my parents’ bedroom to search. Maybe they were too careless, leaving such important documents at home. When I saw my dad’s signature on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Montblanc pen tucked inside the papers, the last shred of hope in my heart died. I put everything back exactly as I found it, then quietly returned to my room, pulled the blanket over my head, and went to sleep. I just hoped I’d wake up and find it all a dream. The next morning, my parents were already bustling in the kitchen. I looked at the breakfast laid out on the table and suddenly realized: who eats gourmet seafood for breakfast? The smell was identical to the expensive seafood feast Professor Thompson treated us to last time. I glanced at the trash bag by the door. Sure enough. Empty seafood containers. “Mom, Dad, did we strike it rich?” I asked, sitting at the table, watching them. My mom looked surprised. “Alex, what are you talking about?” “Then how can we afford such expensive seafood?” I pointed at the trash bag. My mom’s face immediately changed. My dad chuckled beside her. “Oh, that? Last night I was working late with my boss, and he packed it for me. I couldn’t bear to eat it myself, so I brought it home.” “With your mom and my meager salaries, how could we ever afford seafood like this?” Right, of course. I nodded, sipping the porridge, but inside, I scoffed. Seafood, about seventy-five bucks a bowl. Last night’s dinner probably cost tens of thousands. If they were genuinely poor, this bowl of porridge would have tasted delicious. Now, it tasted like cardboard. I only ate two bites before standing up. “I’m full.” “Alex, why are you eating so little? Are you feeling unwell?” My mom asked, her face etched with concern. Her gaze didn’t seem fake. I shook my head, forcing a smile. “No, not at all! Aren’t we going to Grandpa George’s today? I’m saving room for a good lunch there!” Hearing that, my mom sighed in relief. My dad looked a little guilty, about to say something, when his phone rang. I glanced at the screen. The caller ID read, “My Precious Son, Leo.” Leo, his precious son. What about me, then? My dad quickly went out to the balcony, and my mom followed. I faintly heard him saying things like, “Be good,” and “Don’t let Alex find out.” A chill settled deep in my heart. So, they’d known all along. They’d been in on it, conspiring to keep it from me. I even wondered if my entire world was like The Truman Show. Yet, they felt so real.

After hanging up the phone, Dad came over to me. “Alex, something urgent came up at work. I need to go in for a bit!” Mom tried to reassure me. “It’s fine, sweetie, I’ll go with you.” I nodded, got ready with Mom, and we headed to Grandpa George and Grandma Martha’s place. When we arrived, Grandpa George saw me, pulled me in close. “Alex, you’re here! Come in, it’s cold outside!” His hands were soft and smooth, not at all calloused like a man who’d spent his life doing physical labor. This old apartment complex was part of a former industrial site; they said Grandpa George was a retired blue-collar worker from the plant. But looking at how pampered he seemed, it didn’t add up. Grandma Martha saw me and immediately pressed some money into my hand. I took it. “Thanks, Grandma.” Then I put it straight into my pocket. My mom looked a little taken aback. Usually, I’d hand the money straight to her. Back then, Mom would always say, “Alex is such a thoughtful boy.” But today, I acted completely out of character. Even Grandma Martha paused, then chuckled. “Our Alex is learning to keep his pocket money now!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled. “It’s not really ‘keeping’ it. I just want some pocket money for myself.” “That’s right, Alex is so responsible! He earns all his tuition and living expenses himself!” I didn’t need them to say it. I knew Grandma Martha would give me maybe seventy bucks at most. Compared to my tuition, that amount was nothing! They were clearly so wealthy, yet they squeezed every penny out of me. I didn’t understand this ‘hardship training’—why was it only for me? What was their game? Grandma Martha didn’t say anything else, just went into the kitchen and started bustling around. When the dishes were served, I took two bites and lost my appetite completely. The food was identical to what I’d seen last night at the five-star restaurant. Now I was absolutely sure: my entire family was loaded. My parents, despite their immense wealth, were putting on an act of poverty. Even Grandpa George and Grandma Martha were playing along. After dinner, my mom took a call, made an excuse about work, and rushed off. Grandpa George and Grandma Martha started yawning, looking sleepy. I felt awkward staying any longer, so I left. But I didn’t go far. I hid around the corner, watching. Sure enough, less than twenty minutes after I left, a stretched limousine pulled up. Grandpa George and Grandma Martha, surrounded by a group of people, got into the car and drove off without a backward glance. I took a deep breath, pulled my mask up, and walked over. I saw a few cleaning ladies tidying up. One of them sighed. “I don’t know what these people are thinking. They come here just one day a year, cook a meal, and then leave!” “But they do pay a hefty cleaning fee every time!” “You don’t know? This family has been doing this every year for over twenty years now. They have a huge mansion in the Hillside Estates. These are rich folks who come to slum it for a day!” Hearing that, my heart turned utterly cold. The Davidsons, the wealthiest family in the south of the city, had a mansion in the Hillside Estates. I rode my bike over there. I saw the magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside. This kind of place was beyond anything I could imagine. When the bodyguard saw me approaching, he immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!” I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past, pulling up from outside. I’d seen it online; that bike was worth almost three hundred thousand dollars. The rider was Leo.

He saw me too, clearly surprised. He stopped, looking me up and down, a sneer on his face. “Not as dumb as I thought, huh? Figured out how to find your way here!” I froze. So, he knew about me all along! “Why? Why is this happening?!” “Leo, am I adopted? Or are you all part of some project, and I’m just an observation subject?” Leo seemed to catch on to my confusion. He raised an eyebrow, wagging a finger. “No, you’re also a Davidson. A biological son.” “As for why they created this illusion of poverty for you, there’s only one reason: because I am the sole heir of the Davidson family!” “Alex, you were born just one minute before me. What makes you think you can compete with me?!” “This isn’t your place. Just get lost!” “Oh, poor thing. Don’t look at me like that. Mom and Dad put a lot of effort into raising you too, you know!” “Oh, and by the way, don’t bother Grandpa George and Grandma Martha for holidays anymore. They’re old, they don’t have the energy to keep up the act for you!” Leo revved his engine and sped inside. I stood outside for a long time, and then it all clicked. My birth, and Leo’s, seemed tied to the family inheritance. But what had I done wrong? All I ever wanted was my parents’ genuine love. They’d lied to me for so many years, but their kindness to me had also seemed real. Now, as I looked at the mansion and that expensive motorcycle, I began to doubt how much of their kindness was truly genuine. I turned to leave. Before I did, I called my dad. “Dad, are you coming home for dinner tonight?” “No, Alex, I won’t be back. Overtime tonight, triple pay for the next three days!” “Oh, and your mom is working too!” But I clearly heard the roar of a motorcycle in the background of his call. I simply mumbled, “Okay,” my mind already made up. Back home, I started packing my belongings. At the same time, I signed up for a special research project posted by the university. This project was based out in a remote location, a three-year commitment, completely cut off from the outside world. No one would disturb me there. Once I was packed, I printed out the photo I’d secretly taken of Leo’s back and placed it on my bedside table. That day, they didn’t come home. I was alone in the house. I called my dad again, but no one answered. Meanwhile, Gardner Corp., a Davidson family company, was giving out gifts. An employee posted on Ins, thanking their boss. She was just a regular employee, but her gift was worth over four hundred dollars! Many other employees also showed off their company benefits. My parents were front and center on stage, Dad in a suit, Mom holding a glass of wine. My mom had exquisite makeup, radiating an air of wealth. Below the stage, Leo was surrounded by people, and there was even a full family portrait of them. My parents seemed convinced that I was too busy earning money to pay attention to online gossip. They forgot that I was just an ordinary boy, raised in poverty and hardship. How could I not pay attention? A reporter interviewed them, asking about their New Year’s plans. My dad looked into the camera. “This year, our son Leo turns twenty-two. Every year, we arrange a trip for him, and today, we’re off!” My heart plummeted. I was twenty-two too. The farthest I’d ever been was a school field trip to the local zoo in elementary school. I scoffed, picked up my official papers, tracing their edges with my finger. It was almost funny. After I started college, my parents moved my official residence to the school’s address. They said I was an adult now and needed to be responsible for myself. Now was the perfect time to leave. I grabbed my luggage and walked out without hesitation. Dad, Mom, goodbye for good!

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My girlfriend, Elara proposed to her assistant. I confronted her, but overheard her conversation with a friend: “If I don’t marry him, his family will force him to marry someone he doesn’t love.” “What about Asher? He’s your boyfriend. Aren’t you afraid he’ll get mad?” “What’s getting mad going to do? Asher and I have been together for seven years. He can’t live without me.” Later, I got married on the same day. As my wedding cars passed each other, Elara completely broke down when she saw me in the other car. “Mom, I’ve agreed to the family arrangement.” In the dim living room, my soft voice sounded hollow and numb. Mom was shocked when she heard me agree. “You weren’t willing before, were you? Why the sudden change of heart? Asher, marriage isn’t something to rush into. Whether it’s an arranged marriage or not, all I care about is your happiness. You need to think this through, don’t be impulsive.” Listening to Mom, my eyes welled up. “Mom, I’ve thought it through. You can start preparing for the wedding.” Mom knew I was hurting. After a moment of silence, she comforted me: “You and Elara have been together for so long, yet she never wanted to make your relationship public, and she always put off meeting your family. Your dad and I knew this relationship wouldn’t last.” Mom’s words were like a thorn piercing my heart. Turns out, everyone else saw it clearly. I was the only one who was blind. “Chloe from the Sterling family is someone your dad and I picked out for you as a suitable partner for an alliance early on. Your parents carefully vetted her. Putting everything else aside, her character and family background are undoubtedly excellent. My son deserves the best.” I took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mom. I trust your judgment and Dad’s.” Mom continued, “Shall we arrange for you two to meet in the next couple of days?” “No need. Just go straight to preparing the wedding.” After hanging up, Elara appeared behind me, I don’t know when, holding a small cake. She asked, confused: “What wedding? Who’s getting married?” Mine. I’m getting married. I answered silently in my head, but the words never left my lips. I calmly shook my head. “Nothing, just a friend.” As the words left my mouth, I noticed her expression visibly relax. A bitter pang hit me again. She was so tense just now. Was she worried I was going to pressure her into marriage? Or perhaps, was she getting married to her beloved assistant, Milo Jensen, and thought I had found out? “I brought you your favorite cake from that bakery. Do you want to eat it now?” Elara used to always bring me treats when she came home from work. Even if many weren’t to my taste, I still felt as sweet as if I were floating in a honey-sweet dream. Just because I felt the love of being constantly remembered and fed by the person I adored far outweighed the taste of the food itself. But now, looking at this box of cake, I felt nothing but irony. Just moments ago, I saw Milo change his previously private SnapChat stories to public. I only scrolled through a few before I couldn’t bear to look anymore. Now, I realized how ridiculous I was. This cake, it turned out, was Milo’s favorite. Not just this cake, but all the other nuts and snacks were Milo’s favorites too. Even more tragically, I discovered that Elara’s habit of bringing me food after work had only started after Milo joined the company. So, Elara, when you were feeding me, who were you pretending I was? Asher, or Milo? I swallowed the bitterness and spoke softly: “I don’t like sweets. They’re too cloying. Don’t buy them anymore.” Elara was surprised by my reaction. Her eyes showed a hint of bewilderment: “What? You never seemed to mind them before.” After all these years together, if she truly cared about me, how could she not have noticed my food preferences? Some things, when repeated too many times, become exhausting, eventually turning into a compromise. I didn’t argue further, just casually offered, “My tastes have changed recently.”

For several days, Elara seemed incredibly busy, so busy she even forgot my birthday. But I didn’t care anymore. Then she seemed to suddenly remember and, to make it up to me, bought tickets for my favorite musical. It was a popular show, hard to get tickets for. I hadn’t managed to buy any myself, so when Elara said she had tickets and invited me, I agreed. But on the day of the show, she didn’t show up. Instead, I saw Milo Jensen flaunting two tickets on his Ins. Two tickets. [Bored, heading to a concert. It’s so nice to have someone always ready to join you for some fun and relaxation.] Although the faces weren’t visible, the hand with the distinctive scar in the photo—I recognized it as Elara’s in an instant. The scar on her hand was from saving me years ago. Suddenly, I felt like a clown. I was outside, drenched in the rain, worried something might have happened to her, while she and her assistant were in the VIP seats inside, watching a concert. The cold rain pelted my face, and my heart and body grew colder by the minute. Just then, Mom messaged me, saying the wedding was set for two weeks later. She said if I felt it was too rushed, we could postpone it. I shook my head. “No need. This is fine.” The heavy rain had brought the city’s traffic to a standstill. I waited for a long time but couldn’t get a ride. Elara’s call came very late. “Why aren’t you home?” My voice was calm, devoid of any emotion. “I’m at the theater.” She seemed to remember something, falling silent for a moment. “I’m sorry, something came up this afternoon. Wait there, I’ll pick you up.” I didn’t refuse, but I also knew she wouldn’t come. Sure enough, the next second, Milo updated his status again: [My honey cooked ginger tea for me, worried I’d get soaked and catch a cold. A woman in the kitchen is the most beautiful. Want to marry her!] The accompanying picture was Elara’s back as she busied herself at the stove. I glanced at it once, then calmly closed the app. The heavy rain still inevitably led to me catching a cold and fever. Using the excuse that I didn’t want to infect Elara, I moved into the guest room. Breaking her routine, Elara put aside her work to stay home and take care of me. But I felt uncomfortable. “It’s just a mild cold. I’m an adult; I can take care of myself. Go back to your work.” She stared at me strangely for a while; “Didn’t you used to wish I’d be with you when you were sick? Why are you acting so unusual today?” I lowered my head, hiding all emotion in my eyes, and forced a smile. “I was immature before. Not anymore.” Elara looked at me with worry. “Asher, are you okay?” “I’m fine. You go.” She felt I was a bit off but couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. Finally, she just stared deeply at me, sighed, and said: “Alright, then get some good rest. Call me if you need anything.” After she left, I let out a long breath and went back to sleep. When I woke up, I saw that Mom had sent me the detailed wedding plan. She also sent me about a dozen suits, asking me to choose. I casually scrolled through them, then clicked to enlarge a picture and started looking closely, so engrossed that I didn’t notice Elara appear suddenly. She snatched my phone from my hand and tossed it aside, her brows furrowed in displeasure: “What are you looking at suits for?” I thought she had discovered I was getting married and was about to just come clean. But her next words made me realize how ridiculous my assumption was. “Asher, are you trying to pressure me into marrying you? I told you I’d marry you. You don’t need to play these games to hint at it. It’s really unbecoming.”

“You misunderstood. I’m not…” But she waved her hand, cutting off my explanation: “I have something to do, so I’m leaving. I advise you to stop with these stunts that just chip away at my feelings for you.” The front door slammed shut, plunging the entire room into a deathly silence. I stood there for a long time, then gave a self-deprecating smile. Elara, how much affection do you have left for me, to even speak of “chipping away”? In the past, her misunderstanding would have left me sleepless and miserable. Now, I quickly composed myself. I continued to review the wedding arrangements Mom had sent. Before exiting SnapChat, I casually clicked on the red dot in her stories and saw that Elara, who rarely posted, had updated her status. [You’re so wonderful, of course, I’d marry you and keep you close, then I can finally relax.] The post included a solo picture of Milo and their wedding invitation. Less than a minute later, a mutual friend commented: [Did the groom really change just like that?] Immediately, Elara’s new post disappeared, but it quickly reappeared on Milo Jensen’s Ins profile. Then Elara’s call came in. In the past, I would have already taken a screenshot and called her immediately to demand answers. There would have been no way to avoid a huge fight. But this time, I let the phone ring until it stopped without answering. It was strange. Seeing that post, I wasn’t even very upset. Perhaps I was numb. My first thought was, how ironic, their wedding date is the same as mine. When Elara arrived home, I was already asleep. She quietly opened the door and walked to my bedside. “Asher, are you asleep? Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I lay with my back to her and mumbled, “I fell asleep accidentally. Didn’t hear it.” Elara sighed with relief, leaned closer, and reached out to check my forehead for fever. “Still have a fever?” As she got close, the scent of men’s cologne on her made me feel a wave of nausea, almost making me gag. I instinctively shifted away, avoiding her touch. Her hand hung in mid-air, filled with shock. She tentatively asked, “Asher, did you see something?” I buried myself completely under the covers, my voice muffled. “No, I just feel sick from the cold. I want to sleep.” I slept until the next day, finally feeling a bit lighter. I gathered my energy and started packing, slowly erasing every trace of myself from this house. It was then I realized I had bought many matching couple’s items. At first, Elara used them with me. But at some point, she had thrown them all into a corner. I packed all these useless things and tossed them into the trash. There was also an album filled with photos of Elara and me traveling, postcards we collected together, old train tickets from when we were long-distance, and letters she wrote to me. This album was brimming with all the memories Elara and I had made over the years. But ever since Milo appeared, no new photos had been added to the album. When Elara returned, I was throwing this album into the fire. She rushed over like a madwoman, snatching the damaged album from the flames. Ignoring the pain of her burned hands, she demanded angrily, “Are you crazy?! Don’t you know how important this album is to us? Why would you burn it?!” Elara rarely got angry with me; this was the first time she had ever raised her voice so much. The concern in her eyes didn’t seem fake, but it was also true that she was hiding her impending marriage to someone else from me. Not wanting to argue with her, I casually said, “The album got moldy and buggy. I’ve backed up everything inside; I’ll just make a new one later.” Hearing this, her anger subsided. While I applied burn cream to her hand, Elara stared at me and suddenly spoke. “Asher, you seem a bit off lately. Is work stress getting to you? I booked a custom trip for you. Go out and relax.”

My hand paused as I applied the cream. I looked up at her. “Just me? Aren’t you coming?” Elara sighed, sounding regretful. “I’m too busy with work; I can’t get away. Next time, okay?” But Elara, there won’t be a next time for us. I lowered my head and continued what I was doing. “It might be hard to get time off from the company.” “Don’t worry about it; I’ll handle it for you.” I insisted, “But I don’t want to go.” Her tone left no room for refusal. “I’ve already booked it; it’s non-refundable.” I didn’t say anything, but my heart grew cold. I remembered waking up in the middle of the night last night, hearing Elara on the phone with someone: “I’m not planning to tell him. I’ll keep it a secret for as long as I can.” “To be safe, during the wedding, I’ll book him on a trip to get him out of town.” The person on the other end sighed. “And then what? Are you going to make him the third party?” Elara didn’t speak for a long time. It felt like an eternity before she slowly said, “As for what happens later, we’ll have to take it one step at a time.” My heart twisted in pain. Lying in bed, my emotions gradually numbed. I felt like a joke after seven years. Elara, I think I never truly knew you. If you no longer loved me, why couldn’t you just say so instead of choosing to deceive me? Were you afraid I’d cling to you? Is that why you planned to send me away like this during your wedding? You didn’t need to go through all this trouble. Elara, I will grant your wish and completely disappear from your world. I asked her, “When’s the flight?” “Two days from now.” I smiled. “Okay, I’ll go.” Elara visibly relaxed at my words, instinctively reaching out to touch my head. I subtly dodged her hand. She froze for a moment, then smiled. “Let’s have dinner before you leave.” I thought about it, and finally nodded. Tomorrow would be our seven-year anniversary. Then let’s say a proper goodbye, clarify everything, and let this relationship begin and end on that day. The next day, I arrived early at the restaurant Elara and I had agreed upon. She showed up as promised, but with Milo by her side. “Asher, Elara and I were just doing some errands nearby, so we came together. Hope we’re not interrupting your dinner?” Milo said with a fake smile. I shook my head, though I felt a pang of regret. It seemed even this final farewell meal wouldn’t be complete. Elara ordered a table full of bland dishes. Seeing this, Milo couldn’t help but laugh. “Elara, the food you ordered is too bland. It probably won’t suit Asher’s taste, right?” Elara dismissed it casually. “You don’t like spicy food.” Milo chuckled. “It’s not that dramatic; you just care about me too much.” The two of them acted intimately, as if I wasn’t even there. I watched them coldly, my heart so calm that not a single ripple was stirred. We were in the middle of eating when someone suddenly shouted, “Fire!” The crowd immediately stirred, people scattering and rushing out. As I stood up, I saw a figure flash past me. Then, I saw Elara tightly shielding Milo Jensen, turning her back on me and rushing out with him. In a daze, it was as if I traveled through a time tunnel and saw that 18-year-old girl. It was the same scene, but back then, the person she protected with all her might was me. It wasn’t until they reached a safe place that Elara snapped back to reality. She turned to look at me, standing not far away, her eyes wide with shock: “I was too rushed just now. I didn’t mean to…” I smiled and cut her off. “It’s okay. I understand.” Soon, the day Elara had arranged for my trip arrived. I packed my luggage early. After double-checking that there were no traces of me left in the apartment. I picked up my suitcase and left without looking back. Of course, I didn’t go on the trip. Instead, I returned to my parents’ home. After all, my wedding day was also fast approaching. Meanwhile, Elara was busy trying on wedding dresses with Milo, completely oblivious to me. The wedding day arrived in a flash, and I met my arranged marriage partner, Chloe, for the first time. I had to admit, my parents’ taste was truly impeccable. She was even more beautiful in person than in her photos, flawless in both figure and appearance. The wedding procession was grand. I got into the car, and we drove majestically forward. As we passed another wedding car coming from the opposite direction, both sides instinctively stopped for the brides to exchange bouquets. The car window slowly lowered. In the car across from me, Elara and I locked eyes. A huge storm instantly raged in her eyes, and she stammered in disbelief, “Asher, how… how can it be you?”

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Millionaire heir Derek Chase had hidden his wealth for three years. Now, he was going to confess his love to a gold digger. He claimed he’d finally found his true love, someone who didn’t care about his money. I scoffed and threw a million dollars right in the gold digger’s face. She immediately lit up and scrambled toward her new sugar daddy. But the man she latched onto turned out to be abusive. Pregnant with his child, she was beaten to death. Later, Derek, by then my husband, choked me like a madman. His eyes were bloodshot as he pushed me off a cliff. “Tiffany’s dead because of you, you venomous witch!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Derek planned to confess to the gold digger. This time, I packed my bags for Cambridge. Let the fool chase his “true love.” After the SATs, Derek finally revealed his true identity as a millionaire heir and successfully proposed to the gold-digger, Tiffany Reid. Our classmates suggested a party to celebrate, but I slipped away quietly. “Ava Sterling, stop!” Derek called out. I kept walking, but he caught up and grabbed my wrist, his grip tight enough to bruise bone. “What’s this? Playing hard to get?” He frowned. “I just came to tell you I’m not going to Cambridge. I promised Tiffany I’d go to community college with her.” When I stayed silent, his voice softened slightly. “Tiffany is the woman I’m going to marry! You need to let go.” Just then, Tiffany sauntered over in her high heels and clung to Derek’s arm, putting on a show of fragility. She swung a soda can in one hand, her eyes daring me. “Derek, I know you and Ava grew up together. But you’re my fiancé now. You need to keep your distance from her. A relationship has no room for three people.” Derek shot me a triumphant look and pulled Tiffany closer. “Don’t worry, Tiffany. You’re my everything! She means nothing to me.” Then, Derek turned back to me, his voice final. “Stop wasting your time, Ava. Nothing will ever happen between us.” I just smiled. I remembered how, before he met Tiffany, he’d always told me he hoped we’d go to the same university. That’s why I’d studied so hard. So I could go to Cambridge with him. And now, just to please her, he was throwing it all away. Such a spineless man wasn’t worth holding onto. When I didn’t respond, Tiffany suddenly “slipped,” and the entire soda spilled all over my portfolio. “Oops! Ava, why did you push me?” I was stunned. “Seriously? You’re still pulling these cheap tricks? You ruined my work on purpose!” Derek immediately jumped to her defense. “Ava, stop pretending to be innocent! Tiffany is the kindest person I know. How dare you accuse her!” Tiffany leaned into his embrace, tears welling in her eyes. “Derek, my ankle… it hurts. But please don’t blame her. I understand Ava is just… jealous.” Derek completely lost it. Right in front of everyone, he lifted Tiffany’s chin and locked her into a passionate kiss. The crazy part? While he was making out with Tiffany, he was still grabbing my arm, not letting me leave. He didn’t release my arm until he’d finished kissing her for a solid five minutes. Then he turned to me. “See this? Tiffany is my true love. If you dare bully her again, don’t expect our childhood bond to mean anything.” Their lips were swollen and red. The sight made me sick. Aside from his looks and his parents’ money, that man brought nothing to the table. Then he pulled a pen from his pocket and threw it at my feet. “Here, take this back!” I recognized it instantly. It was the birthday gift I’d given him when I was fifteen. I’d bought two, telling him,, “I’ll definitely go to Cambridge with you someday!” Now, Derek ground that very pen under his heel, crushing it right before my eyes. “Ava, since neither of us is going to Cambridge anyway. There’s no use keeping these things. Better to throw them away now, so you don’t get sad later.” With that, he wrapped an arm around Tiffany and walked away. I was speechless, again. You’re not going to Cambridge? Fine. But I still am!

I pushed open the front door. My dad was ironing my shirt for tomorrow’s interview. Mom brought out a warm glass of milk. Our home always smelled of comfort and safety. Watching them fuss over me, my eyes welled up. In my past life, I’d been so consumed by that idiot that I hadn’t spent enough time with my parents. Just then, Derek’s mom, Mrs. Chase, showed up at our door. The moment she entered, she seized my hand, her eyes already glistening. “Ava, that wretched girl has completely blinded Derek. His father and I see you as our future daughter-in-law. Please, you have to talk to him. That woman will destroy his future!.” In my past life, Mrs. Chase had begged me the same way, only to later tell Derek I was just jealous and nosy. This time, I calmly pulled my hand away. “That’s your son.” I said evenly. “I can’t control him.” Mrs. Chase’s face stiffened, then she actually started crying. “How can you say that? You’ve always wanted to follow Derek to Cambridge, and he even tutored you! Can you really bear to watch him give up Cambridge?” Just then, my phone rang. It was Derek. I answered it right in front of Mrs. Chase, putting it on speaker. Derek’s cold voice came through the phone. “Ava, did my mom come to find you? I’m warning you, we have absolutely nothing to do with each other from now on. Stop clinging to me.” Mrs. Chase heard her son’s words and instantly fell silent, her face cycling from pale to flushed with embarrassment. I rolled my eyes at her. “Hear that? Your son and I are completely unrelated now.” With that, I hung up. Mrs. Chase stood there, stunned, unable to say a word for a long time. My dad walked over, a frown on his face. “How could Derek be such an jerk? Ava just gave him chocolates she made herself two days ago! Ava’s never even made me any!” My mom looked displeased too. “All these years, our family has partnered with yours because Ava liked Derek. If Derek chooses another woman, then our business arrangements will be a completely different story.” Mrs. Chase’s face drained of color, then flushed crimson. “No, that’s not it. Derek is just confused right now.” “Ava, don’t worry, I’ll definitely help you get rid of that bad woman.” I looked at her coldly. “No need. I don’t care about him.” Mrs. Chase was so flustered she stomped her foot. “But how will you go to Cambridge without Derek? Your grades aren’t that great, didn’t you always rely on Derek to tutor you?” I yanked my hand away from her again. “You should worry about your own son first.” Seeing my reaction, Mrs. Chase left dejectedly. As she reached the door, she looked back, still unwilling to give up. “Ava, are you really not going to reconsider?” I closed the door, ignoring her shouts.

The next day, I walked into the Cambridge Admissions interview room. I performed brilliantly during the interview, confident and composed. A stark contrast to the timid girl I’d been in my past life. After the interview, I ran into Tiffany Reid waiting downstairs. She was dressed in designer clothes, and seeing me, she immediately puffed out her stomach. She deliberately waved a sonogram printout in front of me. “Ava, Derek and I are having a baby. You’ll never have the right to steal him away now!” I was completely baffled. When did I ever try to steal him? Lately, I’d deliberately avoided both of them at school. Running into her today? Guess I just have terrible luck! I glanced at the sonogram. The date was last week. But they’d only been together for half a month. A suspicion formed in my mind. Was this child really Derek’s? But it wasn’t my business anymore. I replied coldly, “Well, congratulations.” With that, I turned to leave. Seeing that I wasn’t upset, Tiffany became irritated instead. She deliberately patted her belly, as if it harbored supreme glory. Then she advanced, practically backing me into a corner. “What are you trying to act all high and mighty for? You must be so jealous of me, jealous to the point of madness! I hate seeing that condescending look on your face! You’re just a little richer than my family, what else do you have that’s better than me?” I sneered, “Yes, my family is rich, which means I don’t have to try to please a man by having his baby.” Tiffany heard that and immediately flew into a rage. She suddenly swayed, let out a gasp, and clutched her stomach as she stumbled backward. “Ah! It hurts! Ava! Are you trying to kill my baby?!” A tall figure abruptly rushed over. Derek’s face was ashen. He caught Tiffany, then swung around and slapped me hard across the face. A sharp, burning pain spread through my cheek. “Ava! You vicious witch!” Derek roared, his eyes blazing. “I warned you not to touch Tiffany! How dare you lay a hand on her when she’s carrying my child!” Tiffany melted into his arms with a delicate sob. “Derek, my stomach… I’m so scared for the baby…” “I never pushed her!” I protested. “I was here for my Cambridge interview!” Derek’s gaze turned to ice. “You? Get into Cambridge? Don’t make me laugh. Get out of my sight!” Tears welled up in my eyes, but I fiercely held them back. I stopped explaining. After all, I’d be going to Cambridge very soon. Behind me, Derek was comforting Tiffany. “She’s just a jealous shrew! But don’t worry, I truly don’t like her at all!” Tiffany’s voice, filled with the joy of victory, gently echoed his. “Derek, don’t be angry. She’s not worth it.”

I stood backstage in the school auditorium. Today was high school graduation. Tiffany, arm-in-arm with Derek, walked in, drawing everyone’s attention. Her designer gown made a stark contrast to my simple white T-shirt. Immediately, classmates gathered around, showering them with compliments. “They’re a match made in heaven!” “Derek even gave up Cambridge for Tiffany, that’s true love!” Tiffany chimed in with a mocking laugh, her voice laced with schadenfreude. “Ava, you’ll find true love someday too.” Other classmates joined in the taunting. “Is Ava regretting not holding onto Derek back then?” “She couldn’t even if she wanted to, Derek clearly doesn’t like her.” “The clingy follower who’s been chasing him since childhood finally got completely dumped!” Derek, hearing this, looked even more smug. His gaze landed on me again. “Ava, why did you push Tiffany the other day? If you had been nicer to her, I might have, out of consideration for our past, helped you get into Cambridge.” Just then, the auditorium doors flew open. Mr. and Mrs. Chase stormed in, their faces pale with fury. They clutched a thin piece of paper tightly in their hands. It was the community college acceptance letter that had arrived a few days ago. Mrs. Chase locked onto Derek and rushed over. “Derek Chase! You rotten scoundrel!” She thrust the paper so close it nearly brushed his nose. “What is this?! Southgate City Community College?!” “You told us Cambridge had already accepted you. That this community college nonsense was just to placate Tiffany! How could you actually throw your future away like this?” All the color drained from Derek’s face.

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After fighting tooth and nail to get the company public, Julian, my CEO boyfriend, finally decided it was time to reveal our relationship. But his assistant, Chloe, beat me to the punch. She stepped onto the stage first, clinging to his arm, letting everyone assume they were the couple. Julian didn’t even bother to explain. Instead, he handed her a share transfer agreement, publicly announcing her as a new shareholder. The entire hall erupted in a buzz of whispers and cheers. Chloe seized the moment to mock me. Julian not only didn’t stop her, but his voice was chillingly dismissive: “Skylar, you did a lot for the company, but Chloe has exceptional talent. Only she can take us further.” Instead of getting mad, I just nodded in agreement, generously handing all my shares over to Chloe. I was genuinely curious to see. How they planned to grow the company without its biggest investor — me. 1. When Julian publicly announced Chloe as the new shareholder, the hall exploded with applause. I stood there, stunned, my brain foggy from days of endless overtime. For a moment, I actually thought I’d misheard. “You guys, look at Skylar’s face! It’s priceless.” “She’s been with the CEO for so long and only got two percent. Chloe’s barely been working here and she’s already got twenty percent!” “Skylar always used to nitpick Chloe’s work. Now she looks like the joke.” My coworkers deliberately spoke loudly, making sure I overheard. I knew they were doing it on purpose, trying to curry favor with Chloe by putting me down. And Julian wouldn’t stop them anyway. Chloe shot me a smug little smirk, then feigned a hurt tone: “Skylar, why aren’t you applauding? Do you have a problem with me owning company shares?” “I mean, based on seniority, perhaps they should have gone to you.” As she spoke, she slowly extended the contract towards me. Julian, as if afraid I’d actually take it, snatched the contract back, shoving it gently into her hands. He looked at her, a mix of helplessness and adoration. “Chloe, you’re too kind, but the company values capability, not seniority.” Then he shot me a cold glare. “And you, stop making a scene. Your mistake last time cost the company millions. Not firing you was already lenient enough. What right do you have to shares?” Watching them, a perfectly synchronized duo, I just found it pathetic. That mistake? Chloe caused it. But she was scared of being held accountable, so she pushed the blame on me. I’d shown Julian the evidence. He still didn’t believe me. But I was used to it. For years, Chloe’s work performance was mediocre, but she poured all her energy into messing with me. She was fresh out of college, a real sweet-talker. She’d managed to win over a lot of people, and even Julian thought she was innocent. So every time we clashed, Julian always sided with her and blamed me. It’s why my coworkers increasingly disrespected me. Chloe’s voice softened to a whisper: “But I’m worried Skylar might be upset…” She leaned into Julian, her face almost resting on his shoulder, an intimate pose. Julian didn’t flinch. He just glared at me, his face grim: “Skylar, who are you giving that look to?!” “This share transfer was my carefully considered decision. Don’t ruin the mood, don’t be a party pooper.” “Can’t stand it? Then leave!” Everyone immediately chimed in, agreeing with him. I knew Julian was just saying it out of anger, but I couldn’t help but laugh. I hustled, practically drank myself sick to get those clients. I pulled all-nighters to finalize those proposals. The company getting listed? That was all me. Now he wanted to kick me to the curb, tossing aside all my hard work with just a few words? I grabbed my bag and walked up to him. Chloe, thinking I was about to hit her, flinched and hid behind Julian. He stepped in front of her, glaring at me defensively. “Skylar, what do you want?” I pulled the stock ownership documents from my bag and handed them to him. “I just thought, she works so hard, the shares you’re giving her are too little.” “Here, give her mine too. Hope she keeps up the good work.” Chloe’s eyes lit up as she stared at the documents. Julian, though, looked at me suspiciously, remaining silent. A ripple of gasps spread through the crowd. They all knew how much I’d done for the company over the years, from its chaotic startup days through its toughest times. I’d handled the workload of several people, managed everything from fundraising to office errands. Now that the company was public and its stock soaring, my two percent was worth millions. Everyone had speculated how I’d fight for more, nobody expected me to just give it up. But what they didn’t know was that I was Julian’s fiancée. Julian had always hidden our relationship, worried about office gossip. But when Chloe appeared, I started to get uneasy and pressed him to make it public. After I kept pressing him, he finally agreed to announce it the day the company listed. Last night, I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. Who knew Chloe would just waltz onto the stage first, linking her arm with his? He didn’t even try to pull away. The entire room mistakenly thought they were a couple, and he just stood there, looking completely unfazed. It hit me then. He didn’t want to hide a relationship; he just didn’t want to publicize our relationship. He stayed silent. I didn’t push it. I turned to leave. After two steps, a hand grabbed my wrist. I looked back. It was Julian. I was surprised. He usually just let me go. He knew I loved him, I’d always come back to apologize. But then I instantly realized why he stopped me. He pressed his lips together. “Skylar, you’re too impulsive. You’re not as steady and composed as Chloe.” “I didn’t want to touch your shares, but your behavior today disappointed me. These shares have to go to Chloe.” I just laughed. He was deliberately putting me down, just so he could justify giving the shares to Chloe. Back then, I would have argued, but now, I felt absolutely nothing. I just gave a bland, “Oh.” Julian, expecting me to explode, froze. He was about to speak when someone from the crowd yelled for a champagne toast. Julian glanced at me, grabbed the contract, and turned away. I watched his back, then averted my gaze and walked straight out of the banquet hall. Once outside, I pulled out my phone. “Dad, I’ve decided. I’m coming home to take over the family business.” 2. My father owns over a hundred companies and is ranked among the top twenty wealthiest people. I’m a textbook heiress. But when I first met Julian, he told me about his childhood: his father was hit by a driver from a rich family who then fled the scene. His father died, and the driver, protected by his family’s influence, was only detained for a few days before being released. Because of this, Julian held a strong animosity towards the privileged class. To be with him, I hid my family background, rejected my family’s plans, and followed him to a strange city to start from scratch, investing all my savings to support his startup. Until yesterday, I naively believed we would finally have our happy ending. Now, I realized I’d been utterly crushed. After hanging up, I went back to the apartment Julian and I shared. The room was decorated romantically, heart-shaped candles on the floor, a huge bouquet of vibrant blue roses in the center. Tucked among the flowers was a diamond ring. Next to it, documents for a luxury apartment. These were all surprises I’d prepared for Julian. I’d imagined his reaction countless times, never thinking he wouldn’t even see them. I tossed everything out the door. Then, I booked a flight for tomorrow night. I needed one day to sort out work handovers. Ding! My phone buzzed. Chloe had sent a video: Julian was carrying her princess-style, her face flushed as she clung to his neck, burying her face in his chest, looking completely intimate, just like a couple. Coworkers around them were applauding and cheering, “Kiss her! Kiss her!” The video was quickly withdrawn, and Chloe sent another message: [Oops, wrong chat]. I knew exactly what she was doing. She’d been using these kinds of tricks for years. Before, I would have been furious and confronted Julian, only for him to snap back, “Can’t you stop being so paranoid and just focus on work?” At first, I even thought I was overthinking, until one time when he had a fever and mumbled Chloe’s name. That’s when I knew his heart had already strayed to her. But now, I felt absolutely nothing. I just blocked and deleted Chloe. Unexpectedly, Julian called me almost immediately: “Did you delete Chloe?” His voice was cold and accusatory from the moment I answered, not caring at all how she’d provoked me. I was numb. I answered flatly. “Why delete her? She’s your coworker, how’s she supposed to work now?” “She’s crying her eyes out because of you. Add her back and apologize, right now.” I sneered. “Do you even know what she sent?” He paused for a moment, then his nonchalant voice came through: “So what if she sent the wrong picture? It’s no big deal.” Of course. When it came to Chloe, he always took her side. I retorted, “Yeah, it’s not a big deal. Just like the last time she sent the wrong quote and cost the company millions.” That time, Chloe mistakenly sent the bottom-line price as the actual quote to a client, leading to partners canceling or demanding lower prices. All our hard work, down the drain. Julian just hummed. Clearly, he remembered that incident. He was silent for a few seconds. Then Chloe’s voice, choked with sobs, interjected from his end: “Julian, Skylar must still be mad about the shares… Let me apologize.” Julian’s voice softened as he comforted her, “No need, it’s not your fault. Let her calm down herself.” Then he hung up. In the past, after conflicts like this, he’d always use “calm down” as an excuse to go be with Chloe. But now, my heart was like still water. I calmly drafted my resignation letter and sent it to HR. 3. The moment I hit send, a wave of relief washed over me. Later that night, as I was sound asleep, Julian called again. “Come pick me up, I’m still at that hotel.” On the other end, it sounded like a party. In the past, I would have been out of bed, dressed, and on my way in a heartbeat. But now, I just yawned, my voice lazy. “Just take an Uber. There are tons of ride-sharing cars over there.” Julian’s tone was suspicious. “You were asleep?” “Yeah.” Before, every time Julian went out for work events, I’d worry about him and couldn’t sleep. But tonight, I slept soundly. Even this call felt like an interruption. Julian didn’t say anything. About half an hour after he hung up, I heard him come through the door. I happened to be using the restroom, and when I came out, we found ourselves staring at each other. “Good, you’re up. Can you make me some ramen? I’m a little hungry.” He said softly. I knew he was offering an olive branch, trying to mend things. Whenever we had a silent treatment spell, he’d show a little vulnerability to open up communication and bridge the gap. But that was because I loved him. When that love was gone, all I felt was annoyance. “Make it yourself, or order takeout if you don’t know how.” I said flatly, walking towards the bedroom. Julian stepped in front of my door, blocking my way. I caught a whiff of Chloe’s perfume on him. “Skylar, why are you still mad?” “I’ve already explained. It was all for the company. You can’t think that just because we’re public, everything’s smooth sailing. We need to work even harder to maintain it now.” “Chloe might not be the most capable, but she has a lot of connections, and she’s good at business networking. Plus, her family has businesses too, so there might be future dealings.” “Everything I did today was for the company. Giving her shares was just to better secure her loyalty.” I was surprised he was actually explaining himself today. But I didn’t know if he believed it, and I certainly didn’t. Too tired to argue, I just gave a faint “Mm-hm” and walked into the room. Julian seemed about to say something, but I shut the door on him. That move seemed to genuinely anger him. He kicked the door hard. “Fine! Skylar, be as dramatic as you want! Don’t come crying back to me!” The next morning, I walked out of my bedroom to find Julian sitting on the sofa, carefully smoothing out a brand-new dress. Seeing me, he immediately came forward with the dress, telling me to put it on without asking. I recognized it as a limited edition Chanel, not only expensive but incredibly hard to get. The internet was full of ads calling it the best gift a man could give his girlfriend. I’d even hinted to Julian that I thought the dress was beautiful. I changed in the bedroom and walked out, my throat tight. I was about to say something when he laughed. “You and Chloe have similar figures, so it fits you perfectly. I’m sure it’ll be just right on her too.” “Quick, take it off before you wrinkle it. I just finished ironing it.” With that, he reached out and took the dress off me. I watched as he carefully folded it back into the gift box, then he left, humming happily, with the box in hand. I knew he was doing it on purpose, punishing me for yesterday. But I didn’t feel angry. Just childish. After that, I took another call and headed to the company to process my resignation. The moment I walked through the main doors, I saw Chloe sitting on my desk, surrounded by a group of fawning coworkers, like she was the center of the universe. Seeing me, a coworker immediately stepped forward. “Skylar, go buy everyone coffee.” “Why should I?” I glanced at the clock; I wasn’t late. The person smiled smugly. “Julian just said whoever arrived last had to treat everyone to coffee, and that’s you.” “Oh, never mind, it’s fine.” Chloe stood up, deliberately smoothing down the dress she was wearing. I recognized it. It was the same one Julian said he was getting for her this morning. “How can we make Skylar run errands for us? I’ll go instead.” She said, raising her voice on purpose, but making no move to actually leave. Sure enough, the moment she finished speaking, Julian walked out of his office. Seeing Chloe in the dress, his expression faltered for a second, then quickly returned to normal. He deliberately smoothed down her collar and smiled. “It definitely looks beautiful on you.” Everyone around them started cheering. Julian’s face flushed, and he quickly glanced back at me. Was he afraid I’d still be jealous and make a scene? He was probably overthinking it. My heart was like still water at that moment, stirring no ripples. My lack of reaction didn’t seem to satisfy Julian. He said coldly, “I already said, whoever arrived last buys the coffee. What are you doing just standing there?” A coworker immediately pointed at me. “Skylar was the last one.” Julian, who already knew it was me, sneered. “Go on. If you don’t, I’ll fire you.” It seemed he hadn’t received my resignation letter yet. Seeing this, I didn’t hold back. I stated directly, “I’m here today to resign.” 4. My coworkers looked shocked. Some who were on friendly terms with me quietly tried to warn me. “Skylar, Julian just gave everyone a raise. It’s really dumb to resign now.” “And didn’t you hear? He was just joking with you.” My voice was calm. “I’m not joking. I submitted my resignation to HR yesterday.” Chloe’s eyes flickered with a hint of delight. But just as she was about to say something, she met Julian’s unreadable gaze and swallowed her words. Julian frowned deeply, his eyes on me filled with a complex expression. “Do you know the company’s current situation? If you leave now, do you know what you’ll be losing?” Of course, I knew. I’d be losing worries and shackles. Chloe, looking distressed, said, “Skylar, I get it. Are you still upset about me? Maybe I should be the one to leave.” “After all, you and Julian have worked together for so many years. It would be such a waste to leave now.” With that, she walked towards the door, her eyes secretly darting to Julian, waiting for him to stop her. I almost laughed. Julian, however, seemed oblivious to her little game. He immediately grabbed her hand, his voice doting. “This has nothing to do with you. If anyone leaves, it won’t be you.” A flicker of triumph danced in Chloe’s eyes. Perhaps seeing that Julian still hadn’t caved, she reluctantly said, “But Skylar has been with the company for so long. Fine, I’ll try to persuade her.” Chloe walked up to me. “Skylar, maybe you should really think about it again. We’d all be so sad to see you go.” “We were all just kidding earlier. We honestly see you as a good friend.” With that, she patted my shoulder, but when no one was looking, she twisted her fingers into my arm, hard. A sharp pain instantly shot through me. Without thinking, I pushed her away. Chloe fell to the floor, clutching her arm and gasping. Julian rushed to help her up, his eyes full of tenderness. He had never shown me such concern, not even when I’d drunk myself sick for a business deal. Julian slapped me across the face, yelling, “Skylar, what’s wrong with you?! Chloe was trying to be kind, and you attacked her?! You’re bullying a coworker!” Just then, HR walked over, seemingly to inform Julian about my resignation. Julian said without hesitation, “Process her paperwork, get her out!” After signing my resignation approval, he still seemed unsatisfied and continued, “The company is making hundreds of thousands daily now. Only an idiot would leave at a time like this.” “Chloe, don’t worry. In a few months, you’ll have everything you want, not just a house and a car.” “And the rest of you, too! The top performer next month gets a house, straight up!” Chloe’s eyes gleamed. Other coworkers excitedly chimed in. Julian became even more arrogant. “However, certain people, bullying coworkers, refusing to follow orders… I’ll make sure her background checks fail everywhere!” Others quickly followed suit, cursing me. Watching them in their near frenzy, I hesitated for a long moment before deciding not to speak. This morning, my dad had called and told me that Julian’s company’s biggest investor for the past two years was actually him. After learning I was resigning to come home and inherit the company, my dad had done another due diligence check on Julian’s company, was very unhappy with the results, and had already decided to withdraw his investment, citing breach of contract. I knew very well the weight of my dad’s subsidiary company in the investment world. Once he pulled his investment, forget about buying houses or cars. It would be hard for the company to last another month. Seeing me hesitate, Julian thought I was regretting my decision. He rolled his eyes at me and said coldly, “Some people, if you apologize to Chloe now, it might still be salvageable.” “Otherwise…” He hadn’t finished his sentence when Brenda, from finance, rushed in, looking anxious. “Mr. Kane, bad news! Our biggest investor just sent word. They found serious issues with our financial status, suspecting investment fraud. They’re not only withdrawing their investment but also suing us for triple the breach of contract fees!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “308336”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #后宫Harem #重生Reborn

Seven years after our divorce, I saw Gaylen Thorne again at a nightclub. He was lounging on a sofa, casually scanning the women, looking for entertainment. The manager scurried over after the third group of stunning, curvaceous women were dismissed from the room. “Mr. Thorne, this batch of dancers… they’re the closest resemblance to your wife yet…” Gaylen smashed a liquor bottle on the floor before the manager could finish his sentence. As I walked past him, he suddenly froze. “Is that you?” I lifted my head, brushing a strand of hair aside to reveal half of my face, marred by burn scars, and gave him a faint smile. “Mr. Thorne, long time no see.” The air hung silent for a few seconds, as if time itself had paused. Gaylen stumbled towards me. His hands trembling, he cautiously spoke. “You’re alive?” His face was a mixture of disbelief and the profound joy of a lost treasure found. “All these years, why didn’t you contact me?” “Do you have any idea how long I’ve been looking for you…?” I didn’t respond, a flicker of bewilderment in my eyes. He was the one who practically wanted to banish me to the ends of the earth, to never see me again. And now, *he’s* the one claiming he’s been searching for me all this time. “Are you still mad at me?” His voice, raw and strained, suddenly broke the silence. His gaze fell on the scars on my face, a hint of anguish in his tone. “So mad that you’d rather work in a place like this than come to me, is that it?” I paused, surprised. Then I realized Gaylen had misunderstood. It was my birthday today, and I was simply celebrating at a venue I owned. But I couldn’t be bothered to explain. Hate was too much of a luxury for Gaylen Thorne. He didn’t deserve it. Gaylen seemed to suddenly realize something. He began to stammer, flustered and anxious. “I don’t usually come to places like this. It’s just… I remembered it was your birthday today, and I just… I missed you so much that I…” I watched Gaylen, a mocking smile playing on my lips. A murderer who had killed my parents and crushed the bones in my hand, was actually saying… he missed me? “Mr. Thorne, you’re crossing a line.” As if he hadn’t expected such a calm response, Gaylen’s face flickered with disappointment, regret, and a touch of sadness. He was about to say more when his phone suddenly rang. “Where are you? You haven’t been home in almost a month!” “I know what day it is today, did you go to—” My brow furrowed. Fragmented memories, laced with intense emotions, flooded my mind. I couldn’t help but let out a cynical scoff. Instantly, the female voice on the phone grew sharper. “Who is that? Who are you with right now?” The call was abruptly cut. Gaylen’s face was etched with impatience. He took a few deep breaths, trying to appear gentle and harmless, before looking at me again. He handed me a black card. “If you’re short on cash, take this card.” “After all, you’re… the former darling. You shouldn’t have to do this kind of work.” The darling. I hadn’t heard that title in so long, it made me falter for a second. But Gaylen Thorne’s condescending tone made my stomach churn even more. After all, he was the architect of all my nightmares. Why bother with this act of false sympathy? I pushed the black card back, said nothing, and turned to leave. But Gaylen insisted on following, babbling endlessly about how hard it had been to find me over the years. He talked about our old memories. Annoyance flared within me, and I finally couldn’t help but interrupt. “Mr. Thorne, I’m married. Please stop bothering me.” The biting cold wind prompted me to pull my coat tighter. Before Gaylen could fully grasp my words, I walked away, my boots crunching on the thick snow.

Half an hour later, I arrived at my childhood home. I was there to retrieve my parents’ belongings. I had thought that time had mellowed the raw edges of my emotions, but looking at the familiar furnishings in the house, my eyes still welled up with tears. Every birthday, my mom and dad would prepare a three-tiered cake for me. Dad would hold me close, his light stubble tickling my cheek. Mom would stand by, laughing and playfully scolding him for being silly. But now, the people in those cherished memories were just small, black and white photographs. I traced my parents’ photo, lost in thought for a long time, until the doorbell rang. Gaylen Thorne stood before me, a hint of apprehension in his eyes. Behind him stood Stella Vance, whom I hadn’t seen in seven years. “I knew you’d come back here on your birthday.” “Honestly, you don’t have to lie to me about being married.” “We grew up together, Alice. No matter what, I truly wish for your happiness.” Before I could even speak, Stella’s eyes already began to redden. She clasped my hand, her voice choked with tears. “Yes, he told me everything. You’ve had a really hard time these past few years, and you even became a hostess, didn’t you?” “Don’t degrade yourself like this. If you’re in trouble, just tell me!” “We’re sisters, after all. I’ve forgiven you for what happened back then!” Forgiven? I found it utterly ridiculous. I gave a faint, cynical tug at the corner of my mouth, then sat on the sofa and spoke calmly. “Seven years. I’m beyond caring about who was right or wrong.” “Gaylen Thorne, Stella Vance, if you’re just here to spout nonsense, please leave.” Stella’s sobs froze, and for a moment, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Gaylen looked at me, then broke the silence. “Go get her a coffee first, her favorite, with just a touch of sweetness.” His familiar, casual tone made me momentarily stunned. My thoughts drifted back more than twenty years. Back then, Gaylen and I grew up together, and we were engaged from a young age. When the Thorne family went bankrupt, his father was sentenced to life, and his mother driven to suicide. It was *my* father who, despite immense pressure, took Gaylen in. And it was my mother who held him close when others looked down on him, telling him he wasn’t an unwanted child. I remember little Gaylen, his eyes red and swollen from crying, stammered a promise: he’d make me the happiest girl in the world when we grew up. I believed him. And at first, he truly was wonderful.

He’d wait for hours in line for that limited-edition pastry I loved; he’d shield me fiercely during an earthquake; he’d remember every single one of my preferences, always surprising me with something new. I once believed that meeting Gaylen Thorne was the greatest fortune of my life. Then, I met Stella Vance. At the time, I was a piano prodigy who had won countless competitions. Stella, on the other hand, was a girl from a poor background, but with the same dream of playing piano. She pleaded with me, tears welling in her eyes, saying she also wanted to play the piano. So I took pity on her, brought her home, and my parents adopted her as their goddaughter. From then on, she became the Alice family’s second daughter. Unlike my outgoing nature, Stella always appeared delicate and vulnerable. She was often ostracized by our peers, and every time, Gaylen and I would stand up for her. I’d stand defiantly, one foot propped on a locker, declaring Stella my honorary sister. Anyone who dared to mess with her was messing with *me*. Gaylen would stand behind us, a helpless look on his face, always ready to pull us away if things got too wild. For countless afternoons in the piano room, it was always the three of us. I’d chatter on, explaining sheet music to Stella, while Gaylen watched with a gentle smile. Then, just as my throat went dry from talking, he’d perfectly time bringing me my coffee, with just a touch of sweetness. Until the eve of my big competition, when Gaylen and I walked down the aisle, I believed I was the happiest person in the world. But later, I discovered that this so-called happiness was just honey-coated poison. Which is why what happened later left me so utterly hysterical, so unable to let go. A warm cup of coffee was offered to me. Stella’s gaze swept over my plain white shirt. “Alice, it must have been so hard for you to make a living all these years, with your face ruined like that.” “Did you encounter many difficult clients while working as a hostess?” She asked, her words subtly loaded, while seemingly casually showing off her designer brands. “Gaylen bought me so many clothes, I can’t possibly wear them all. Maybe I could give you some?” “Don’t worry, they’re all brand new.” After all these years, Stella had only grown more fond of flaunting her possessions. It was a shame, though, that her taste remained as poor as ever. She couldn’t tell that the clothes I was wearing were custom-designed couture from Ryan Carter. Seeing my silence, Stella’s expression stiffened. She forced another smile and pushed on. “Alice, please stop this. I’ve forgiven you for your past mistakes, and I’m sure Mom and Dad wouldn’t want to see—” “Ah!!” I splashed the coffee directly onto Stella. Gaylen instinctively pulled her behind him. But when his eyes met mine, his composure faltered, and he ultimately said nothing. I let out a cold laugh. My gaze fixed on the man and woman before me. “Gaylen Thorne, Stella Vance, are you two truly clueless about whose fault it was back then?”

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I’d just sealed another major client for the company, yet, once again, my promotion fell through. I felt a fierce indignation bubbling up inside me. I was about to confront my boss – who was also my boyfriend – and demand an explanation. But as I reached his office door, I overheard him talking to a friend: “Skylar is so capable, why aren’t you letting her get promoted?” Adrian let out a mocking laugh. “Skylar? She’s just a fling, a bed warmer. What real ‘capabilities’ could she possibly have? That promotion is earmarked for Camilla.” “Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave if she finds out the truth?” Adrian laughed even louder this time: “She practically begs me not to use protection in bed. You think she’d ever walk away from this?” I clutched the promotion application in my trembling hand, crushing the papers. I called my mom. “That marriage you mentioned? I’m in!” Camilla snatched the document from my hand. “Skylar, you’ve failed five times already. You seriously think you’ll get promoted now?” She scoffed, flicking shredded paper onto my face. “Lack of ability. You could apply a hundred times, it wouldn’t matter!” Lack of ability? In seven years, I’d closed six multi-million dollar deals for the company. I’d been the top performer for thirteen consecutive quarters. I’d even landed in the ER twice with stomach hemorrhages from fixing my colleagues’ messes. No client I’d ever worked with had called me incompetent. Every time before, I’d get into it with Camilla about my competence. But now, I was just tired. It would just end up in front of Adrian, and I’d get some wishy-washy, half-hearted remark. “Past performance isn’t relevant. If your overall capabilities aren’t up to par, you just have to accept it.” Then, under his smooth persuasion, I’d go back to working my butt off, closing deals, desperate to prove myself. All while fulfilling his goal of getting high returns with minimal investment in me. Only now did I realize that the one who received the least fair treatment was myself. Adrian, you truly played your cards perfectly, didn’t you? Tears, uncontrolled, splattered onto my phone screen. *Ding-dong*. The screen lit up. [Come to my office.] My quieted heart fluttered, clinging to a fragile flicker of hope. Until I reached his door and heard Camilla’s muffled sobs from inside. “It’s okay, stop crying. I said you deserve it, and you do. I’ll take care of her.” Adrian’s gentle, patient tone was like a dull knife twisting in my heart, gutting me, tearing open old, festering wounds. Six months ago, when Camilla spread rumors that I slept my way to contracts, and I ended up getting beaten black and blue by a jealous wife who thought I was the other woman, unable to stomach anything but liquids for two days— I’d looked at him with the same aggrieved expression, pleading for him to clear my name. But he had only left me with one sentence. “You’re not new to the corporate world, you know you can’t be so delicate and naive.” A bitter taste spread through the fresh wounds. I had to admit, his affections hadn’t truly meant much to me either. I pushed open the door, feeling numb. Adrian’s hand, wiping Camilla’s tears, froze. He looked at me with displeasure. “I hear you’re unhappy about Director Camilla’s promotion? Has no one ever told you that the workplace isn’t about being articulate? Is it really that hard to admit someone’s more skilled?” I stared, stunned. “I didn’t…” He cut me off before I could finish. “A thousand-word apology letter, and a public apology at the afternoon staff meeting.” He demanded an apology letter and a public apology for an unverified complaint. It made all the real rumors that reached his ears, only to be ignored, seem like a cruel joke. Before, I could still comfort myself by thinking he kept his professional and personal lives separate. But after realizing I was nothing more than his cheapest labor, an expendable asset, I didn’t even have the courage to argue. I swallowed the bitterness, lowered my gaze, and forced a light laugh. “Yes, you’re absolutely right.” “I admit I’m less skilled. I apologize.”

I gave a small, forced bow to Camilla. “Director Camilla, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have questioned your abilities, and I shouldn’t have foolishly hoped for a review of my application.” She didn’t respond for a long time. Just as I was about to look up, Adrian pressed down on my lower back, hard. He leaned close to my ear, his voice a low whisper. “I promised her father I wouldn’t let her feel slighted. Just take it for her, play along.” He pushed my back down a few more inches, and a searing pain shot through me. Yes, Camilla’s father had helped him once. He owed her father, I get it. He’s repaying a debt. But what about me? Once, while accompanying him on a site inspection, a machine malfunctioned. Without a second thought, I rushed forward to shield him, taking the brunt of it. A control lever slammed into my lower back, causing a severe, lasting injury. Back then, he’d looked at me with red eyes, calling me reckless. He’d massaged my back every single day for my recovery. But now, he was pressing down on the very back I’d injured for him, forcing me to apologize to the person who had wronged me. What a pathetic way to repay a debt. Those brief ten seconds stretched out like an eternity. When I finally looked up again, my back felt like it had snapped; I could barely straighten. Camilla gasped, feigning concern as she looked at me. “Oh, I almost forgot, Skylar got that back injury for Adrian. Adrian, you really don’t know how to show compassion. It’s so disheartening!” Adrian’s hand suddenly released me, his gaze clouded. “N-nothing else. You can go.” I bit down on my lip, my jaw trembling. Gritting my teeth, I forced my spine straight against the tearing pain and walked out. Camilla’s words were the most painful. There were so many ways to make me apologize, to “play along.” But he chose the one that would cause me the most physical pain. It took me a long time to recover at my desk before I had the strength to hand my drafted resignation letter to my supervisor. He had tried his best to fight for me regarding the failed promotion. But Adrian’s “no” was something he couldn’t overturn. “You’ve given seven years to this company, Adrian knows your contributions deep down. You’re still young, there are many more opportunities ahead. Are you sure you don’t want to wait a bit longer?” “These years,” “ahead,” “next time,” and “wait a bit longer” had practically become etched into my ears. It was “next time” whenever I asked Adrian when we could go public with our relationship after our intimate moments. It was “wait a bit longer” every time I failed to get a promotion and asked when I’d have a chance to stand beside him. It was “next time” whenever my parents pressured me to get married, and I asked him when he’d come home to meet them. I never doubted my own resolve, but I couldn’t change the outcome he’d already planned for me. I shook my head, smiling faintly, helplessly. “Twenty-eight isn’t that young anymore. My peers are already married with kids. I can’t keep failing to hold onto my health, my career, or a family, can I?” He said nothing, looking at my pale face. He signed his name with a sigh of regret. “You can leave after you finish your hand-off this week.” “I won’t tell Adrian yet, to spare you any trouble these next few days. Besides, your current position doesn’t require you to report directly to him.” I finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Marcus.” After submitting the form, a message from Adrian popped up on my phone. [How’s your back? I bought some ointment, I’ll rub it in for you tonight.] This was his usual way of acknowledging he’d gone too far without actually apologizing. It was his subtle olive branch. I used to think this was his way of showing affection, and I’d even playfully flirt back. Now, I saw it for what it was: just a sugar cube to keep me from slipping out of his control. [No need to trouble yourself. I’ve already booked a massage therapist to come over.] According to company tradition, promotions were usually celebrated with a team dinner, hosted by the management. I used my pre-booked massage as a polite excuse to decline. But then, Camilla, with a wounded expression, tugged at my arm. “Is Skylar upset that I got the promotion over her? Is that why you’re making excuses?” “Anyone else can miss it, but not you. I really want your sincere blessing.” My brows furrowed, and I was about to speak. Adrian, who had just tacitly approved my leaving, now chimed in. “Everyone else is going, so it’s not right for you to skip it, is it? Don’t be so petty. As a senior employee, you should be able to let things go. Don’t make a scene.” “When can’t you get a massage?” I froze, a bitter pang twisting in my gut. I should have recognized Adrian’s cold indifference long ago. My feelings would always be secondary to greater interests.

When I was twenty-three, my second year away from home, he promised to spend our first birthday together. I cooked with a heart full of joy and waited for him all night. When I called him and mentioned it was my birthday, I heard a girl crying in the background. He offered no apology, no explanation, only a slight rebuke that I shouldn’t treat a birthday as such a big deal. Camilla’s mother had died during childbirth. Whenever she heard someone mention a birthday, she’d think of her mother and become sad. For the next five years, he never celebrated my birthday. Nor did he allow me to post birthday photos, claiming it would upset Camilla. Yet, when he wasn’t visible, he wouldn’t put in any effort for me either. Now, catching my supervisor’s cautionary gaze, I decided one less complication was always better. I’d treat it as my farewell dinner with everyone. At the dinner table, the two of them sat together. Camilla, in her chic business suit, looked perfectly matched with Adrian in his crisp suit. Sometimes, you just have to recognize the reality: some people, no matter how hard you chase, you’ll never catch up. So, when a colleague jokingly commented on how well they looked together, I nodded in agreement. “Yes, they’re quite a match. Their age, looks, and family backgrounds are all perfectly aligned.” The moment the words left my lips, Adrian and Marcus, the VP he’d been discussing me with earlier, both froze. Normally, in such situations, Adrian would inevitably be drawn into comparisons. Every time I heard such teasing, I always felt uncomfortable. I’d either pretend not to hear, staying silent, or just scowl. But today, I felt like an indifferent observer. Camilla, pleased with the compliments, shot me a triumphant look. Finally, when someone brought up the topic of marriage, she directed the conversation my way. “My dad’s been pressuring me to get married so much, it’s driving me crazy! I heard Skylar has a boyfriend you’ve been with for years but haven’t married. You’re twenty-eight, don’t your family pressure you? Tell me, how do you avoid the marriage talk?” Curious gazes turned to me. Even Adrian looked visibly tense. I feigned indifference. “Of course they do, but I’ve already broken up. So, I can’t really answer that question for you.” A moment of frozen silence followed. Many people looked at me with pity. Some of my closer colleagues joked about setting me up with someone. I pulled out my phone. “Sounds good. Send them my way.” *Bang!* Adrian’s glass shattered. Tiny shards of glass left fine red marks on his hand. I only glanced at it before looking away. No longer like before, where I’d be more anxious than anyone. The atmosphere at the dinner table turned strangely awkward. What began as a lively meal ended abruptly. I refused to share a ride with Adrian, who just happened to be assigned to the same car. I showed him my phone, where I’d already called my own ride. I went home alone. Just as I was about to relax, my door flew open. Adrian, reeking of alcohol, shoved me against the door. He kissed me fiercely, desperately, as if he couldn’t wait another second. He was desperate to push his way into me. My lower back slammed against the doorknob. A jolt of pain made me gasp, and I slapped him across the face. “Adrian, what do you take me for?” He stormed out, slamming the door. In five years, we’d never had this kind of unspoken tension, this direct confrontation. So, when he suddenly realized I was actually angry, Adrian didn’t bother pretending to care anymore. He assigned me to supervise the construction site in Northwood. When word got around, many colleagues spoke up for me. The Northwood project was unpaid rework on a project that hadn’t met specifications, and the temporary workers were furious. During the day, there were falling debris and nails sticking out everywhere. At night, relentless calls would harass them. They couldn’t ignore them, but going there would lead to strange and unsettling occurrences. Three male colleagues before me couldn’t handle it; they either ended up in psychiatric care from the trauma or hospitalized with injuries. Let alone a woman. Adrian had been dealing with this problem late into the nights, woken by those male colleagues. I’d once joked that if I ever disliked someone, I’d send them there. Or if we ever argued, I’d go there myself, out of sight, out of mind. Back then, he’d tapped my head, saying it was impossible; he’d never send me to such a dangerous place, no matter how much we fought. Yet, he still sent me. I packed up my desk belongings at lightning speed. Clean, efficient, as if I were never coming back.

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Eight years ago, I was framed for drunk driving, a tragedy that claimed dozens of lives. I wanted to expose the truth, but I found my parents had already fabricated evidence for my adopted brother, Caleb, forcing me to take the fall. I pleaded with my fiancée, Ashley, but she just screamed, calling me a murderer. Later, the victims’ families, in their grief-fueled rage, brutally severed my hand tendons, leaving me unable to ever hold a paintbrush again. Eight years on, I walked out of prison and became a security guard. My former fiancée, Ashley, reappeared. Her eyes were red, her voice laced with accusation as she gritted out: “Leo, why did you disappear? Do you have any idea how long your parents and I have been looking for you?” I sat motionless in the security booth, dressed in my uniform. “Ma’am, I think you’ve got the wrong person.” But Ashley wouldn’t let it go. She lunged forward, grabbing my hand, trying to drag me out. “You’re always so stubborn. Eight years ago, your stubbornness killed so many people. How long are you going to keep this up?” Her voice was loud, but it choked off the moment her gaze fell upon my right hand. She lowered her head, staring at my twisted hand, her fingers trembling as they traced the grotesque scars. Eight years had passed, and the old wounds no longer hurt. But Ashley’s fingertips felt like knives, slicing open my old scars inch by inch. Cold sweat instantly drenched my clothes. The terror of having my tendons brutally severed eight years ago came rushing back, and I couldn’t stop my body from shaking uncontrollably. Ashley’s voice was hoarse. “Leo, back then, did it hurt?” “I’m sorry.” I didn’t answer her, but her strange behavior had already drawn the attention of the security captain. He ran over anxiously, shouting, “What are you doing? Let him go!” Before he could get close, a group of students from a nearby art academy swarmed Ashley. “You’re Ashley, aren’t you? The most famous artist in the country! Could you sign an autograph for me?” Thanks to those students, Ashley released me. I instinctively took a step back, widening the distance between us. The captain finally understood what was happening. He turned to me, his face filled with shock. “These students are saying you’re someone important. Who exactly are you?” Before I could answer, one of the students spoke again. “I heard you’ve been looking for your fiancé from back then, the one who caused all that trouble. It couldn’t be this security guard, could it?” The student gave me a dismissive glance. “But your fiancé was a prodigy artist. This guy’s just a security guard, and he’s disabled. You must have the wrong person.” I gave a bitter laugh. Yeah, that’s me. Now, I can’t even hold a paintbrush. There’s nothing left of my old self. But Ashley, who was signing autographs, heard it. Her face instantly darkened, and her hand stopped mid-signature. “Shut up!” “This is between Leo and me. It’s not for you to talk about!” She pushed through the crowd and walked towards me, extending a gilded invitation. I looked down, the words on the card stinging my eyes. [Caleb Miller & Ashley Wedding Invitation] So, she was marrying my adopted brother. “Leo.” A flicker of pain crossed Ashley’s face. “Your mistake eight years ago caused me so much pain. Caleb was there for me, he stood by me for eight years. I can’t let him down.” “You once said you wanted to see me in a wedding dress. I hope you’ll come.” I took Ashley’s wedding invitation and simply placed it on the counter beside me, ignoring it. Just as I thought the matter was over, that very night, I received a termination notice from the factory. “You’re still young, and you used to be a great artist. You’re too good for this place.” Mr. Henderson’s voice trembled as he spoke over the phone. “I’ll pay you $500 for this month, but please, just don’t come back.” I was stunned. Before I could ask for more details, he had already blocked my number. Then, Ashley’s call came through. “Leo.” Her voice was thick with exhaustion. “You shouldn’t be a security guard. I’ve talked to the factory. Come home. Your parents and I will take care of you. I can even help you get back into the art world. You don’t have to…” She hadn’t finished her sentence before I hung up.

Why? Why did she always get to decide everything? Eight years ago, she wouldn’t listen to my explanations, convinced I was in the wrong. She punished me in her ‘own right way’ – letting my hand tendons be severed. And now, she doesn’t ask me either. She unilaterally shatters the peace of my life, without ever having trusted me or doubted the ‘truth’! Ashley’s words filled me with a nauseating rage. I sat on my dorm bed, taking a long time to calm down. My roommate, Mike, noticed something was off and poured me a cup of hot water. “What’s going on?” I knew he had a million questions. He had been good to me. When I first got out of prison, I had nothing, and my hand was crippled. He took pity on me, stepped in, and got me this security guard job. Even though the pay was only a measly $200 a month, with food and lodging included, it at least gave me a place to go. So, I decided not to hide anything from him. I bought some food, and I told him everything. He listened in silence for a long time, then patted my shoulder, letting out a sigh. “Forget it. We’ll find another job. If you have nowhere to go, I have a basement at my place. You can stay there for now.” I was supposed to move out of the dorm the next day. As I finished packing my luggage and stepped out, the victims’ families, somehow having learned of my whereabouts, were already blocking the dorm entrance. Seeing me, their emotions immediately ignited. “You animal! We finally found you!” “You killed our loved ones, why do you still get to live?” With that, they swarmed me, surrounding me completely. I was about to speak, but a kick landed on my stomach. I crumpled to the ground, clutching my stomach in pain, and then fists and sticks rained down on me like hail. Crimson blood seeped from my body, and my luggage scattered across the ground. *Drip, drop—* The sky was a dismal gray, and then, the rain began to pour down. Whether they were tired of hitting me, or because of the rain, they stopped their assault. A few frustrated kicks later, they left. After everyone dispersed, I was the only one left lying on the ground, unable to move. The heavy rain washed away the bloodstains on my body. I tried to get up several times, only to fall back down. “Are you okay?” Just then, Mike ran over with an umbrella. He helped me up from the ground and took me to the hospital on his old motorcycle. But no matter if it was a big hospital or a small clinic, they all waved their hands, refusing to admit me. Finally, an old doctor, unable to bear it, secretly slipped me a bottle of medicine and explained, “Kid, someone’s put the word out. No one dares to treat you.” “Go home quickly!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. Ashley, is this what you meant by ‘helping’ me? You’re truly ruthless! In the end, I had no choice but to return to Mike’s basement. But just as I walked in and prepared to rest, there was a knock at the door. It was Caleb and my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miller. Caleb saw me and immediately his eyes welled up. “Leo, why are you living in a place like this?” “I know you’ve always liked Ashley. If you don’t want this, then… then I just won’t get married. I’ll give her back to you…” By the end, he was whimpering softly, as if bearing an immense grievance. This was Caleb’s specialty. Ever since we were kids, whenever he wanted something from me, he’d use this trick. Because his parents had died in a car accident trying to save my parents, my parents showered all their guilt and affection on him. Whenever he cried, it was automatically assumed I had bullied him.

Sure enough, seeing his pitiful state, my father stepped forward and slapped me. “Don’t you dare put on such a disgusting act here.” “Do you think putting on this pathetic show will make us feel sorry for you, or make Ashley come back to you? Don’t dream about it!” My mother, Mrs. Miller, quickly comforted Caleb, then said to me coldly, “Alright, someone’s already found you. If you don’t come back with us now, the outside world will start saying we mistreated you, and it wouldn’t be good if those busybodies figured out what happened back then.” “Come back with us now!” Seeing that I didn’t move, my father interpreted it as a challenge to his authority. He angrily kicked me, hitting my unhealed wound square on. Blood seeped through, and my father’s hand, which was raised to hit me again, froze in mid-air. After a moment, he slowly lowered his hand. My mother’s voice also took on a hint of worry. “What are those injuries on your body?” I gritted my teeth, my body still trembling slightly from the intense pain. Caleb, seeing this, a flicker of panic crossed his face. “Dad, Mom, Leo must be so angry he’s hurting himself, like they do on TV.” He said, wiping away tears as he walked up to me. “Leo, please don’t make Dad and Mom worry. Don’t be so careless with yourself.” He sounded sincere, but then he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Why didn’t those people just beat you to death? So useless!” After that, he feigned concern, giving me a few more insincere warnings. My parents clearly believed Caleb’s words again, and my father scoffed, “If he wants to harm himself, let him. Caleb, don’t be too kind. Let’s go, ignore him!” With that, they turned and left with Caleb. They didn’t see the triumphant smirk Caleb shot me as he looked back. After they left, I closed the door, retrieved the first aid kit, and, enduring the pain, changed my bandages. Just as I finished, Mike knocked and came in. He rubbed his hands, his face full of difficulty. “Sigh…” He paused for a long time, as if choosing his words carefully, then finally spoke again. “It’s not that I don’t want you to stay, it’s just… sigh, those people from the city came to talk to me. My kids are still young, and I just can’t risk it…” At that point, what more was there for me to understand? I didn’t blame him. I knew he had done his best. I thanked him again, and to avoid burdening him, I moved out that very night. As soon as I left, Ashley arrived with a moving company. Seeing her, my suspicions were confirmed. I frowned and spoke. “Ashley, what’s the point of this? Why threaten innocent people?” Ashley’s eyes darted away, glancing at Mike’s house, then she said, “Leo, I don’t want to either. You’re forcing my hand.” “Just come back with me. I’ll help you get out of this mess. What’s so hard about that?” I didn’t answer. The atmosphere became instantly oppressive. From that small town to the city, we drove in silence. When we arrived, it was a small apartment, and my parents were already waiting for me on the sofa. Seeing them, I instinctively wanted to leave, but Ashley slammed the door shut. My father spoke first. “Where are you going? Haven’t you disgraced us enough?” My mother scoffed. “For a murderer like you, it’s a blessing we’re even giving you a place to hide.” “I know you’re upset about Ashley marrying Caleb, but look at yourself. Do you think someone with a criminal record like you deserves Ashley? Until the wedding, you’ll stay here. You must report to us before going out and wear a mask!” My parents’ words almost made me laugh out loud. “Dad, Mom, me? A murderer? A disgrace?” “About what happened back then, you yourselves know…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “308339”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #后宫Harem #重生Reborn