Category: English

I went home mid-day to grab some meeting documents, not expecting the projector in our living room to flick on automatically, displaying a single line of text. “Today’s mission: Pleasure yourself with my picture in front of your wife for one hour. Don’t forget to send me the video once you’re done, darling.” The next second, the projector shut off just as quickly. I tried to rationalize it, thinking maybe it was just a hallucination from my late-night work sessions. But that night, after my husband, Julian, the man I’d loved for ten years, fed me warm milk, I distinctly heard him growl a strange woman’s name under his breath. My body, however, felt like my limbs were filled with lead, utterly unable to move. Earlier that evening, when Julian fed me the milk, I’d been wary. I only took a symbolic tiny sip, then quietly poured the rest of the liquid into a potted plant as he turned to leave. But even that tiny sip was enough to paralyze me completely. I closed my eyes, but my hearing became unnaturally sharp. I could feel his warm breath ghost across my ear, then his muffled, suppressed moans began. “Scarlett… *Mmm*… *Ah*…” Knowing exactly what was happening, a wave of unspeakable nausea churned in my stomach. I couldn’t reconcile the man before me with the person I remembered, the one who’d walked with me from nothing to where we were today. The boy who used to blush just from a harmless joke in front of his classmates. The broke student who ate instant ramen for a month just to buy me a limited-edition lipstick. The man who, during the early days of his startup, would hug me and say, “Anya, I promise I’ll give you a good life someday.” Now, he was a high-powered CEO, always so suave, so charming to outsiders. But when I wasn’t looking, this was what he truly was. Time stretched, each second an agonizing eternity. Finally, the suffocating sounds stopped. I heard him sigh, a long, drawn-out breath, followed by the sound of water running in the bathroom. After the water stopped, he returned to bed, a faint scent of dampness clinging to him, and gently pulled me into his arms from behind. The familiar scent of his shower gel enveloped me, yet it only sent a cold shiver down my spine. His warm lips pressed against my cheek, as if nothing had happened at all. “I’ll always love you, Anya. Goodnight.” I froze, caught off guard. Did he truly love me? But the darkness was too quiet, and I couldn’t fight off the exhaustion, eventually slipping into a deep sleep. I woke up the next morning, and the spot beside me was already empty. A sticky note, with Julian’s familiar handwriting, was on the bedside table. “My dearest Anya, the project kicks off today, so I headed in early to prepare. Breakfast is on the table, don’t forget to eat! (＾Ｕ＾)ノ~ＹＯ.” Looking at the note, I felt a moment of disorientation. Everything that happened last night seemed like an absurd nightmare. But then I reached for the vase, pulling out the pinhole camera I’d secretly installed last night. I connected it to my phone, and the video playback from last night reminded me: it wasn’t a dream. The humiliation, the disgust – it was all real. My rationality screamed not to act rashly. I forced myself to calm down, fast-forwarding through the surveillance footage. Thankfully, the camera did capture a glimpse of the girl on his phone screen. I paused the video, zoomed in. The girl on the phone looked delicate, young, with a fragile, pitiful kind of beauty. I recognized that face, though. Her name was Scarlett. She was a professional mourner. Three months ago, at Julian’s mother’s funeral, a funeral team was hired, and this girl had cried the hardest. Anyone who didn’t know might have thought it was her own mother who had passed. I was intrigued by her dedication at the time, so I looked her up. Her parents were abusive, and to escape that home, she studied hard, working as a mourner to pay for her tuition and living expenses. After the funeral, it was me who asked Julian to give that girl twenty thousand dollars. Now, it seemed highly likely that’s when they met. I exited the video and called Julian. But several attempts went straight to voicemail.

Just as I put down my phone, an unknown number called. On the other end, it was a young woman’s voice. “Is this Ms. Sterling? I’d like to talk to you about your husband.” I recognized the voice instantly. It was the mourner. She then gave an address and hung up. I looked it up; it was a café in a secluded, remote area. Initially, I didn’t want to go. But the next second, my phone vibrated, and she sent me a photo. In the picture, I was lying on a bed, disheveled, my eyes unfocused, clearly drugged. My fists clenched, and I decided to go to the meeting. The café was indeed isolated, with barely any customers. I spotted her immediately. Scarlett was wearing a white dress, just as she had on the day I first saw her. Seeing me sit down, she smiled at me, then pulled out a stack of photos. The pictures showed me in various poses while I was unconscious, each one extremely explicit. “Ms. Sterling, you’re calmer than I expected. I assume you already know the whole story from the surveillance footage.” “I suggest you be reasonable and agree to a divorce with nothing. Otherwise, these photos will appear at your company and on all major platforms tomorrow.” I picked up the photos, tearing them into tiny pieces without hesitation. “Expose them, then. But making me leave with nothing? Impossible.” She seemed surprised by my reaction and let out a sneer. “Ms. Sterling, why are you making this difficult? Julian loves me. Why don’t you just graciously step aside?” “Why should I step aside?” I retorted, unable to hold back. Her smile widened, carrying a cruel certainty. “Because he can’t live without me.” The next second, she snapped her fingers. From a dimly lit corner of the café, several tall men emerged and surrounded me. Before I could even react, punches and kicks rained down on me. Pain forced me to curl up. After a brutal beating, they shoved a rag into my mouth and pushed me into a dog cage under the table. Scarlett watched my pathetic state for a while, then, right in front of me, called Julian. “Ten minutes. I want to see you here.” She hung up, not giving him a chance to speak. A faint, uncontrollable flicker of hope ignited in a corner of my heart. After all, Julian and I had loved each other for ten years. Surely, he wouldn’t just stand by and watch me being treated like this. But today was the launch day for his company’s biggest annual project. Julian was a complete workaholic. I remembered one time, during another important project, I simply asked him to come home early because I had a fever, and he gave me the silent treatment for three days. Would he abandon everything and rush here just for Scarlett’s vague command? Time ticked by in the silence, second by agonizing second. Every moment felt like a dull knife slowly carving into my heart. I even started counting in my head. Just as I reached 299, the café door burst open. Hurried, yet steady, footsteps grew louder, stopping right by the table. Through the gaps in the iron cage, I saw a pair of familiar, perfectly polished leather shoes. It was Julian. He actually came. He didn’t even take five minutes. “Master.” Julian’s voice was respectful, laced with a breathless urgency, clearly having run all the way here. “Sit in that chair now. You have ten minutes to relieve yourself.” Scarlett’s voice was like she was ordering a well-trained dog. I heard the chair scrape as it was pulled out. I struggled to reach out my hand, letting Julian step right on my fingers. The excruciating pain made my body tense instantly, and a muffled whimper escaped past the rag in my mouth. Julian’s foot froze.

He seemed to sense something was off, and with a hint of surprise, asked Scarlett: “Is there something under the table?” Julian leaned down, his hand just touching the edge of the tablecloth. Scarlett quickly reached out and pressed down on his wrist. “Don’t move. It’s just a crazy person I ‘borrowed’ from the asylum. She’s in the cage to add a little sensory thrill for you. Don’t worry about it.” Julian paused, glanced at her, and seemed to genuinely believe her, not pressing further. He closed his eyes, leaning back in the chair, still looking perfectly prim and proper. But under the tablecloth, I watched his suit pants, so close to me, and his hand resting on his lap. My stomach churned, a sickening wave of nausea making me want to throw up. I bit down hard on the rag in my mouth, my body thrashing violently within the cramped cage. “Clang!” A crisp sound echoed loudly in the silent café, drawing immediate attention. It was the jade pendant Julian had begged for on 999 steps, specifically for me, that had snapped from my neck. It fell to the ground, rolling to Julian’s feet. Julian’s movements abruptly stopped. He opened his eyes, looking down at the pendant. His face instantly changed. The next second, he ripped aside the heavy tablecloth. I instinctively squinted. He looked into the cage, at me. Our eyes met. I saw the tension in his eyes instantly dissipate, replaced by a long, relieved sigh. Scarlett, beside him, giggled, patting his shoulder. “Why so tense, Julian? I told you, it’s just a crazy person I ‘borrowed’ from the asylum. Did she scare you?” I followed his gaze, seeing my reflection in the café’s clean glass wall. My hair was maliciously matted and disheveled, like dry straw. My clothes were torn and wrinkled, stained with unknown grime. My face was smeared with dirt, and a rag was stuffed in my mouth. I truly looked like a lunatic. No wonder he hadn’t recognized me. That promise, “Even if you turn to ash, I’d recognize you instantly,” was just another lie. I looked at him, whimpering, trying to give him one last chance. “Mmm… mmm-hmm…” Seeing my distress, Scarlett raised her foot and kicked the cage twice. “What’s all that noise about? Keep it up and I’ll cut out your tongue.” The iron cage rattled with a “clang,” hitting me painfully. She then turned back to Julian, smiling. “Since you’ve uncovered her, why waste her? Julian, just pretend she’s Anya, and really let loose.” “Afterward, just make sure to finish on her face, okay?” I stared, wide-eyed in disbelief. Julian’s eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, and he actually started to move. My heart chilled, inch by agonizing inch. As his movements grew faster, I simply turned my head away, noticing a clock on the wall. After seeing the time, I breathed a sigh of relief and began to count down. Three. Two. One. “BANG!” The café door was kicked open. “Don’t move! Everyone, hands in the air!” The voice was loud and authoritative. Scarlett’s sweet smile instantly froze. Julian, who was positioned directly over me, also stiffened. Several uniformed police officers rushed in, quickly taking control of the scene. Soon, the iron cage was opened, and the rag was removed from my mouth. A female officer took off her jacket and draped it over me, softly reassuring me. “It’s okay, don’t be scared.” I was helped to my feet, my legs a bit shaky, but I stood firm. I looked up, meeting Julian’s gaze. He was being held by two officers, his hands raised above his head. As the police wiped the dirt from my face, he saw my features clearly, and his pupils constricted sharply. “Anya?” His voice held a tremor, barely perceptible. “What are you doing here?” I said nothing, just stared at him quietly. I don’t like fighting unprepared battles. Before I came here, I’d already called the police, instructing them that if I didn’t cancel the call in half an hour, they should come to this café to rescue me.

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The Harrington family, a dynasty steeped in old money and tradition, had one iron-clad rule: their heir could *never* marry outside their elite circle, especially not a woman of humble origins. Yet, Liam, the sole heir, had fallen hopelessly in love with me—just a regular girl from the wrong side of the tracks. To be with me, he’d defiantly given up his inheritance, enduring ninety-nine brutal lashes, administered by his father’s personal guards, and was forced to kneel in the grand hall of their estate for three days and three nights. His tailored shirt was soaked crimson with blood, yet he still looked up at me, a faint smile on his battered lips. “Evelyn, don’t be afraid. I only want you.” The Harringtons finally conceded, reluctantly agreeing to let him leave the family with me. But there was a non-negotiable condition: he had to secure an heir for the family. From then on, the words Liam said to me most often were—”Just wait.” The first time, he asked me to wait for him to get another woman pregnant. So he slept with Seraphina thirty-three times, until she conceived his child. The second time, he asked me to wait a little longer. That baby was a girl, and the Harringtons demanded a son. So he slept with Seraphina ninety-nine more times, until she was pregnant again. Just as I thought I’d finally reached the end of my ordeal, Seraphina and Liam’s daughter, who’d just celebrated her hundred-day party, suddenly developed a high fever and started vomiting blood. Everyone immediately blamed me. Seraphina lunged at me like a madwoman, her nails clawing at my face as she screamed, “If you hate anyone, hate me! Why would you hurt my child?!” Liam’s parents were furious. “This is our first grandchild! How dare you lay a hand on her?!” When I was stripped and thrown into a freezer at twenty degrees below zero, Liam stood just outside the door. Through the frosted glass, I saw his hand tremble as he lit a cigarette. But the eyes that once overflowed with love now held nothing but chilling indifference. “I told you to wait,” he said, crushing the cigarette butt, his eyes filled with disappointment. “Why would you hurt my child?” *His child.* How wonderfully possessive. I doubled over in pain, my heart feeling like it had been ripped open. Suddenly, I remembered— He’d once knelt in the rain, swearing, “Eve, I only want you in this life.” He’d once pressed his forehead against mine, saying, “Eve, I’ll only acknowledge the child born from *your* womb.” He’d once kissed my fingertips after we made love, promising, “Eve, just wait a little longer. Soon, it’ll just be the two of us.” But now, he stood beside Seraphina, holding *their* child, looking at me as if I were a wicked stranger. When the freezer door opened again, my frozen fingers dug desperately into my palms. This time, I wouldn’t wait. I dialed Mrs. Harrington’s number. “I’m willing to leave Liam,” my voice was eerily calm. “But I have one condition: I want you to send me somewhere he’ll never find me.” A satisfied laugh crackled from Mrs. Harrington’s end. “If you’d been this sensible earlier, wouldn’t things have been easier? One trip to the freezer taught you manners, it seems. A street vendor like you, worthy of our Harrington family?” “We’ll arrange everything in half a month,” Mr. Harrington’s voice was laced with contempt. “Then, don’t ever appear before Liam again.” The call ended. I stood by the villa door, my fingertips trembling. In the living room, Liam was bouncing Lily on his knee, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling tenderly. A perfect family of three, filled with joy. I stood there, my heart feeling like it had been violently torn out. “Miss Evelyn, you’re back?” Seraphina spotted me first. Her spine stiffened immediately. Liam, almost instinctively, passed our daughter to the nanny. “Take her upstairs.” His gaze, sharp as a blade, pierced my heart. He was afraid I’d harm his child. The man who’d once said, “I’ll only acknowledge the child born from your womb,” now guarded against me like a murderer. Once Lily was taken away, Liam walked over, reaching out as if to check me. “You’re back. In the freezer… were you hurt?” I looked at the man who’d once taken ninety-nine lashes for me, a bitter ache swelling in my chest. I turned my head, dodging his touch. He frowned, then began to explain. “Eve, last night, under those circumstances, the more I protected you, the harsher their punishment would have been.” “Besides, we’re leaving soon. I didn’t want any complications. And the child is innocent, why would you—” “I told you it wasn’t me!” My eyes suddenly welled up. Liam seemed startled by my intense reaction, pausing a moment before softening his tone. “Alright, alright, it doesn’t matter anymore.” *It doesn’t matter anymore.* Those four words felt like an ice pick driven into my heart. He still didn’t believe me. As the atmosphere grew tense, Seraphina walked over, gently touching her belly. She feigned sincerity. “Miss Evelyn, I should apologize too. I was so frantic then. You don’t have children, so perhaps you can’t understand a mother’s feelings…” She raised a hand to smooth her hair, the vintage diamond bracelet on her wrist glinting softly under the lights. My eyes narrowed. I snatched her arm. “Where did you get that bracelet?” “Seraphina liked it, so I gave it to her,” Liam said, pulling my hand away. “Consider it your apology to her.” “That’s my mother’s heirloom!” My voice trembled. “How could you give it away? You know how important it is to me!” I reached out to snatch the bracelet back, but Seraphina suddenly stumbled backward, clutching her belly and crying out in pain. “Ah… my stomach…” “Evelyn!” Liam instantly pushed me away, his eyes chillingly cold. “She’s carrying my child! Haven’t you caused enough trouble?!” His force was too great. I was thrown violently against the corner of the coffee table, my head hitting it hard. Blood instantly gushed out. But Liam didn’t even glance back. He scooped Seraphina into his arms and rushed out. “Liam…” Seraphina whimpered, leaning against him, her voice weak. “Will the baby be alright…?” “Don’t worry, I’m here,” his voice was sickeningly tender. “You’ll be fine, and the baby will be fine.”

When Liam rushed out of the villa with Seraphina in his arms, I was still slumped on the floor, blood streaming down my neck from the back of my head. I watched his retreating back, so desperate, so frantic. He didn’t look back even once. The throbbing pain in my head was unbearable. Suddenly, I remembered, he used to be just as anxious about me. Back then, I ran a small fish stall in the local market. My hair was always in a simple ponytail, and I never wore makeup. My unassuming beauty earned me a quiet nickname among the vendors: “The market’s unassuming pearl.” The first time Liam saw me, he stood by my stall for two whole hours. Finally, he pulled out a black card, holding it out to me. “Come with me. You’ll never have to touch this stuff again.” I might have been poor, but I had my pride. I paused, then pushed the card back into his hand. “No, thank you, sir. I earn my living through honest work. There’s no shame in that.” He gazed at me silently for a long time, then handed me a business card, his fingers long and clean. “My name is Liam Harrington. I’ll be back tomorrow.” I didn’t think much of it. But the next day, he indeed returned. He drove a black Maybach and stood in the reeking market in a crisp suit, completely out of place. For three months, the city’s most eligible and notoriously reserved bachelor did many outrageous things to pursue me— I refused his roses, so he had expensive, air-freighted seafood delivered to my stall every day. I avoided his luxury car, so he’d walk through the reeking, fish-scented market on foot. I told him we lived in different worlds, so he’d squat beside my fish-scaled wash basin and scale fish for me, his aristocratic hands covered in grime. He stood in my fish market for three whole months. I’d refuse him once, and he’d come back a second time, a third, a fourth… I wasn’t unmoved. I was just too aware of the gulf between us, so I couldn’t, didn’t dare, fall for him. Eventually, I finally said yes, because he took a splash of sulfuric acid meant for me, thrown by a rival vendor. It left a raw, ugly scar across his back. He was drenched in cold sweat from the pain, yet he still smiled and said to me, “Eve, remember, you owe me your life. You’ll spend a lifetime repaying it.” Tears streamed down my face, hot and scalding against his palm. After we got together, he pampered me shamelessly. I cut my finger slicing fish, and he called a private doctor in the middle of the night. I casually mentioned liking a certain cake, and he immediately bought the entire pastry shop. When I had period cramps, he’d stay up all night, gently rubbing my stomach. Once, I tripped and scraped my knee. His eyes turned red with worry, and his hands trembled the whole way to the hospital as he carried me. The doctor laughed, saying it was just a superficial scratch, but he insisted on an X-ray, terrified I’d fractured a bone. And now— I looked down at the pool of blood on the floor and suddenly laughed. As I laughed, tears started to fall. I hailed a cab to the hospital alone. After my wound was treated, I was still so dizzy I could barely stand. As I stepped out of the examination room, my wrist was suddenly grabbed fiercely! “Evelyn!” Liam’s voice was tight with anger. “Seraphina almost miscarried, and you’re still not giving up? You followed her to the hospital to cause more trouble?” I turned and saw his tightly furrowed brow and the coldness in his eyes. He was in a suit, as aloof and distinguished as ever, but the cloying scent of Seraphina’s perfume still clung to him. “I came to the hospital…” My voice was barely a whisper. “Not for her.” I slowly raised my hand, pointing to my bandaged forehead. “I was hurt too.” Liam’s expression froze. Only then did he notice my pale face and the gauze on my temple. “You said you’d take me away once she had the baby,” I looked at him, my eyes red-rimmed. “But now, can you even see me anymore?” Liam’s brows furrowed deeper. He reached out to touch my wound. “What happened?” “You pushed me,” I said calmly. “I hit the table corner.” Liam’s pupils contracted. He seemed to recall the scene then. His anger immediately dissipated. He pulled me into his arms. “Eve, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to. I was just afraid something would happen to Seraphina. She’s pregnant, and if anything went wrong, our departure would be delayed again…” I let him hold me, my eyes vacant. I’d heard these words too many times. “I understand,” I pushed him away. “Go take care of her.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist again. “Eve, no matter what, you have to believe I only love you. Everything I’m doing is just so we can leave sooner.” He gently stroked my bandage. “I’ll have the maid look after you. Don’t let your wound get wet.” With that, he let go of my hand and turned towards Seraphina’s hospital room. I stood there, watching his tall figure slowly disappear. I suddenly laughed, tears streaming down my face. “I don’t believe it anymore…” I whispered. “Liam, I don’t believe it at all.”

In the following days, I received provocative photos from Seraphina almost daily. In the pictures, Liam was gently coaxing Lily, his eyes soft and tender, while Seraphina leaned on his shoulder, smiling sweetly. My fingertips trembled as I scrolled through them. There were photos of him staying by Seraphina’s hospital bed late at night, of him personally feeding her soup, and of him holding their child, his eyes full of doting affection. Each image felt like a knife carving into my heart. But as the pain continued, I suddenly realized I couldn’t feel it anymore. Perhaps my heart had utterly died the moment I was locked in that freezer. I was about to block Seraphina when my phone buzzed again. It was a picture of my vintage diamond bracelet, being playfully handled by Seraphina. 【Want your mom’s heirloom? Come and get it.】 I shot up, my vision momentarily blurring. But I didn’t care. I grabbed my jacket and rushed out. In the VIP room, Seraphina was softly humming a lullaby to Lily. “Daddy loves his little baby, doesn’t he? Daddy comes to see us every day…” She looked up and saw me, her smile widening. “You’re here. Did you know? Since I’ve been hospitalized, Liam hasn’t even gone to work. He’s been here, looking after Lily and me.” My nails dug deep into my palms. I didn’t want to hear it. “The bracelet?” Seraphina slowly picked up the diamond bracelet from the bedside table and dangled it. “You mean this?” She curled her lips, her smile cruel. “How about this: you kowtow to me three times, and I’ll give it back to you.” I trembled. “Don’t push your luck.” “And what if I do?!” Seraphina’s eyes were filled with disdain. “Evelyn! You’re nothing but a lowly, despicable street vendor. I’m the heiress of Albright Corporation, the woman the Harringtons chose for Liam! What makes you think you’re in my league? Asking you to kowtow is an honor!” She made a show of loosening her grip. “I’ll count to three. If you don’t bow, I’ll smash it.” “One, two—” I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes stinging. My knees hit the floor with a thud. Three loud thumps later, my vision swam. Seraphina laughed. “You look truly pathetic, bowing like that.” She stood up, looking down at me. “But I won’t give it to you.” With that, she raised her hand— “Smash!” The diamond bracelet hit the floor, shattering into several pieces. I trembled, rushing forward to pick them up, when the door suddenly burst open! Liam, Mr. Harrington, and Mrs. Harrington stood in the doorway, their faces grim. “What are you doing?!” Mr. Harrington demanded sharply. Seraphina’s face instantly twisted. She cried and threw herself into Liam’s arms. “Liam! I don’t know what happened, she just burst in here, pinching and hitting Lily…” She pulled open Lily’s clothes, revealing several dark bruises! I was incredulous. “I didn’t!” I shook my head frantically, but Mr. Harrington was already striding towards me. “Smack!” The slap made my vision swim, my ears ring, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. “Vicious woman!” Mr. Harrington’s voice seemed to come from a distance. “How could you harm such a small child?!” Mrs. Harrington spoke coldly. “The last punishment was clearly too light. Guards! Drag her out and give her twenty lashes!” Liam clenched his fists, taking a step forward. “Mom—” “You’re still defending her?!” Mrs. Harrington interrupted sharply. “She hurt *your* biological daughter! Even if you eventually abandon her at the old estate and run off with Evelyn, that won’t change the fact that Lily is your flesh and blood!” I trembled, instinctively looking at Liam. He still stood there, his long fingers clenched white, knuckles pale. He looked at me, his eyes filled with such struggle, such pain… Finally, they slowly settled into a terrifying calm. He slowly turned his face away. I stared blankly at his averted face, my heart feeling like it was being violently torn apart. But the next second, my lips slowly curled upwards, and I laughed. I laughed at myself for being so foolish, for actually believing he would take me away. I laughed at myself for being so stupid, for thinking those vows could outweigh blood ties. I laughed at myself for being so naive, for still hoping he would choose me at the last minute! I was dragged to the hospital’s outdoor corridor. Bodyguards held my shoulders, forcing me to kneel. The first lash came down, and pain made my vision swim. In a daze, I remembered— The day I learned the Harringtons were desperately trying to prevent us from being together, I, with tears in my eyes, broke up with him. That night, it poured rain, and he stood outside my apartment building all night. The next day, he had a fever of 104°F, almost developing pneumonia. When I went to see him, he was delirious with fever, yet he clutched my hand and said, “Eve, remember, even if the whole world is against us, I only want you.” The second lash fell, and I bit through my lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. I remembered the time he flew back from abroad overnight, just because I’d sent a text saying “Miss you” in the middle of the night. The third lash, the fourth lash… Each lash felt like it struck my heart, hurting more than the wounds on my back. By the fifteenth lash, I could almost hear his pained voice in my ear: “How did you get hurt again? Let me see…” By the nineteenth lash, I was already in a daze from the pain, my ears ringing. I vaguely heard someone calling my name, but I couldn’t tell if it was reality or hallucination. The last lash came down, and I finally couldn’t hold on. My vision went black, and I completely passed out.

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**Chapter 1** The night before our wedding, my fiancée suddenly lost her memory. She remembered everyone else, but I was a complete blank. That day, I finally got my hands on a new medication that could potentially bring back lost memories. My heart pounding with hope, I rushed to find her. My hand had just touched the doorknob when several familiar voices echoed from inside the private room. “Vivian, how did you even come up with pretending amnesia? It was perfectly executed, absolutely brilliant! Asher Reed would never suspect a thing. So, how long are you planning to play this game before telling him the truth?” Their gleeful laughter stopped me dead in my tracks, my face frozen in disbelief. Vivian Thorne… was *faking* her amnesia?! What about all those nights I’d cried myself to sleep, agonizing over her condition? What was all that pain for? A chilling cold started from my feet, slowly spreading through my body, leaving me utterly cold. I clenched my jaw so hard it ached, listening to Vivian’s nonchalant tone. “Maybe another month. Then I’ll go back to Asher, resume my role as his devoted and faithful girlfriend.” Her friends looked at her, clearly astonished. “A month? Is that even enough time for you to ‘play’? How many guys have you been with in the past few weeks? Why don’t you just break up with him already? You’ve been dating the same boyfriend for seven years—nobody in our circle sticks with one guy that long!” “Sneaking around with guys, then having to fake amnesia just to keep Asher from getting mad—aren’t you tired of it?” Facing their teasing, the smile on Vivian’s face slowly faded. “I would never break up with Asher. He’s the only one I love. It’s just been so long, and I got a little bored. In bed, he’s too reserved, and I miss the thrill. This time, it’s just a pause button, a wild escape. After a month, I’ll go back to him and be his one and only.” “That’s easy to say, but Asher, with his unforgiving nature… if he ever found out the truth, he wouldn’t just swallow his anger. Aren’t you afraid he’d break up with you and leave?” “Yeah, remember that guy from a prominent family? He played around too much, his girlfriend left the country, and he’s still chasing after her like a madman.” Though they all spoke with serious faces, Vivian didn’t seem to care. She swirled the wine in her glass, letting out a soft chuckle. “He’ll always be mine, no matter what. As long as his name is Asher Reed, whether he leaves the country or marries someone else, I’ll drag him back and keep him by my side for life.” Hearing her confident declaration, everyone in the room cheered, “Vivian, you’re amazing!” and popped a bottle of champagne. Numb, I dragged my heavy feet, stumbling out of the bar. Outside, a heavy rain was falling. But I felt nothing of the weather, walking listlessly into the downpour. Cold raindrops pelted my body. My trembling hands couldn’t hold on any longer, and the small bottle of medicine plummeted to the ground. Watching the hard-won pills, meant to cure amnesia, wash away, long-dormant memories were suddenly reawakened. My first encounter with Vivian was at a freshman Christmas party. I made a grand entrance, playing a soulful piece on the piano that captivated everyone. Vivian fell for me at first sight. A young girl, she blocked me backstage with a huge bouquet of roses, declaring she wanted to pursue me. I’d already heard rumors about her—the campus beauty queen who’d supposedly dated over twenty boyfriends in just a month since school started, a girl full of irresistible allure. I didn’t like “players” like Vivian. And because my parents’ affair had shattered our family, I was extremely strict about relationships. I ignored her advances, keeping my distance. But she pursued me obsessively, refusing to let go no matter how many times I rejected her. She caused a school-wide blackout so I could get some rest when I was sick, she boldly declared her feelings for me in front of the entire school on the sports field, she rejected every guy who confessed to her… Day after day, she persisted for three years, but I still didn’t give in. It wasn’t until the summer after senior year that I was cornered in an alley by a group of troublemakers. Vivian fought off four or five people who were with them, taking several wounds herself, almost losing her life for me. I cried hysterically by her hospital bed, unable to comprehend how someone could risk their life for another person. In that moment, I thought, *she’s the one*. We were together for seven years, from high school sweethearts to navigating our careers. Vivian always treated me the same. Everyone said I’d found true love and finally settled down. I believed it too. Until three months before our wedding, when she was in a car accident during a business trip and diagnosed with amnesia. She remembered everyone, except me. The devastating news nearly broke me, but I held on. I tried everything, traveling far and wide for doctors and remedies, staying up late reading medical journals, all to help her recover her memory as soon as possible. But I never imagined this amnesia was nothing but a complete and utter deception. All the courage and determination that had sustained me were now washed away by the heavy rain. In a daze, I returned home, pulled out all my documents, and headed to the police station. Meeting the inquiring gaze of the officer, I spoke in a hoarse voice. “Hello, I’d like to change my name.” After reviewing the papers, the officer handed me a pen. My hand trembling, I signed both my old and new names. Looking at the new name, one no one would recognize, I managed a bitter, ugly smile. From now on, no matter where I went, or what I was doing… Vivian Thorne would never find me. **Chapter 2** By the time I finished the paperwork, it was already dark. I hailed a cab and pulled out my phone to search for plane tickets. The name change application had been submitted, but it would take a month to process. So I booked a flight to Melbourne for the first of next month and accepted the offer from the study abroad agency. Ever since graduation, I’d been preparing to study overseas for my master’s. But Vivian said she couldn’t live without me, that she didn’t want a long-distance relationship, so my plans had been put off for three years. Now that I’d decided to cancel the wedding and end this relationship, everything from the past needed to be left behind. It was time for me to think about myself and start a new life. Back home, I changed out of my wet clothes, showered, and went to bed. That night, I slept more peacefully than I had in the past month. The next morning, I woke up, ate breakfast, then gathered everything related to Vivian. Gifts she’d given me, matching couple’s clothes we’d bought, love letters from our school days… They filled five boxes. I dragged them out of the villa, one by one, and tossed them all into the dumpster. As I was busy, a limited-edition sports car suddenly pulled up to the curb. I turned at the sound and saw Vivian. She got out of the car, arm in arm with a man, walking boldly. Even when she saw me, she didn’t flinch. I knew she wasn’t avoiding me because she was sure I wouldn’t expose her actions during her “amnesia.” From the beginning, Vivian had refused to acknowledge me as her boyfriend, even having someone throw my things out of the villa. I thought I’d be homeless, but then the owner of the house next door suddenly contacted me, saying he was going abroad and offered to rent it to me at the lowest price. At the time, I thought I was lucky. Now, it was clear it was all her own orchestrated play. She was afraid I’d really leave, so she used this method to keep me close. Recalling the past month of deception, I could only feel a bitter amusement. I didn’t care what act she was putting on today. I turned, lifted the last box, and dumped it into the trash. Vivian, who happened to be walking by, glanced over. Seeing the items I was discarding, her face turned cold. “Why are you throwing all these things away?” I shot her a sidelong glance, my voice flat. “Didn’t you lose your memory? How do you remember any of this stuff?” Vivian realized she’d let something slip. She quickly adjusted her expression, feigning indifference. “Just asking, that’s all. How could I possibly remember? The past is the past, and now is now. I only like Julian Hayes now. After all, when I had my car accident in South Bay, he was the only one who came to take care of me.” Car accident? If her amnesia was faked, where was this car accident coming from? I curled my lips slightly, glancing at the man on her arm. He wore a blue and white windbreaker, broad-shouldered and slender-waisted, his eyes full of smugness. A new face. He was probably the most satisfying lover Vivian had found during this period, which was why she brought him back so openly. I didn’t want to waste any more words on her. I simply hummed in response, then turned and went inside the villa. Watching my retreating back, Vivian’s eyelid twitched. She’d brought someone back; shouldn’t Asher be crying and jealous? Why was he so calm? Vivian sensed something was off but didn’t chase after me to explain. She simply watched me disappear behind the door. At eight o’clock, the doorbell suddenly rang. I put down my takeout bag and went to open the door. It was the man Vivian had brought back earlier. He raised a hand and waved, a smile on his face that didn’t reach his eyes. “Hi, I’m Julian Hayes. I’ll be staying at my girlfriend’s place for a while. Since we’re neighbors, would it be convenient to exchange SnapChat IDs?” “No need.” I rejected him without a second thought, turning to leave. Julian snatched my phone, quickly opened SnapChat, and added himself. Seeing my face darken, he grinned as he handed the phone back, his tone flippant. “Just making friends, you know? We’ll be seeing a lot of each other from now on. Oh, by the way, do you have any condoms? I used up the whole box I bought today. Mind lending me a few?” A pallor flashed across my face, and the hand I used to take back my phone trembled slightly. “No.” Julian, however, wouldn’t give up, his mockery undisguised. “Right, my mistake. Why would you have any? Vivian doesn’t want you anymore, does she?” **Chapter 3** I knew he was deliberately provoking me. I didn’t want to engage, so I pulled the front door shut. Julian grabbed the doorknob, then dramatically collapsed to the ground, tears instantly streaming down his face. “Brother, I know you don’t want to see me, but I just came to borrow some seasoning to make dinner for Vivian. If you don’t want to lend it, fine, but why hit me?” Seeing Julian’s sudden act, my heart lurched. Before I could react, Vivian, who had entered the house without my noticing, rushed up the steps and pulled him to his feet. She looked at me coldly, her voice laced with suppressed anger. “Julian has done nothing to you, why are you making such a scene? He’s my boyfriend now, so please be more polite to him!” After spitting out those words, she didn’t even glance at my expression, turning and leaving with him. Each word echoed in my ears, making me clench my fists involuntarily. I stared fixedly at their retreating backs until they disappeared into the dusk, then expressionlessly raised my hand. *Bang!* The door slammed shut. In the dead of night, my phone on the bedside table vibrated. Waking with a start, I rubbed my eyes and instinctively pressed the answer button. The next second, the screen changed, revealing a vast expanse of pale skin covered in hickeys. Ambiguous moans filled the air, interspersed with heavy, relentless breathing. Watching the shaky camera capture those indecent images, I sobered up completely. Realizing what the person on the other end of the line was doing, I froze like a statue. A few seconds later, Vivian’s voice, thick with desire, came from the speakerphone. “From now on, you’re not allowed to bother Asher next door.” “You’ve seen right through my little tricks, so why are you still on my side? Is it because you really like my body, so you don’t want to be honest with him and want to enjoy yourself a little more, huh?” Hearing his rare burst of playful whining, Vivian groaned softly and patted his abs. “If you already know, why ask?” After a flurry of movement, the camera focused on Vivian’s face. Watching her revel in the moment, my heart turned to ice. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The breathing grew more rapid. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and pressed the disconnect button. My sleep-hazy eyes were now completely filled with tears. I tilted my head back, trying to keep the tears from falling, countless images flashing through my mind. In the past, during our intimate moments, she would always be mindful of my feelings, afraid I might be uncomfortable. Too much consideration, I suppose she was never truly satisfied? Now she wouldn’t have to worry anymore, nor would she have to scheme for fleeting moments of pleasure. From now on, I would grant her freedom. For the next few days, I stayed holed up at home. It wasn’t until Liam’s wedding day that I finally pulled myself together and went out. Upon arriving at the hotel, I gave him the gift I’d prepared in advance, before the ceremony started. We chatted for a bit, and Liam, his eyes crinkled in a smile, gripped my hand. “Asher, I sent an invitation to Vivian, and she said she’d come. Go pick her up later, and talk to her a lot. Maybe she’ll remember our proposal and get her memory back.” I paused, then shook my head. Seeing the smile slowly vanish from my face, a flicker of worry crossed Liam’s eyes. “What’s wrong? Giving up already?” I was about to answer when I saw Vivian and Julian appear at the entrance, arm in arm. Liam followed my gaze. Seeing them so chummy, his face turned red with anger. He swore he was going over there to teach them a lesson. I quickly held him back, my voice weary. “Forget it. It’ll all be over soon.” Liam didn’t understand what I meant. He was about to ask for clarification when a groomsman came over. “The wedding is about to start, Liam.” After much persuasion, I finally got Liam onto the stage. Listening to the wedding march beginning in the hall, I took a deep breath and returned to the main reception area. The guests were already seated; only the spot next to Vivian remained empty. After a moment of hesitation, I walked over and sat down. Throughout the wedding, Julian constantly clung to Vivian, asking her to serve him food. She responded to his every request, pouring him drinks and blowing on his soup, utterly attentive. She even ate the dessert he’d already taken a bite of without hesitation. Seeing how intimate they were, I looked away, towards the center of the stage. I had no appetite and hadn’t touched my food. Liam’s mother, seated nearby, served me some dishes, urging me to eat more. Not wanting to refuse Mrs. Smith’s kindness, I picked up a dumpling. Vivian, who was beside me, saw this and immediately reached out and took the dumpling away. “Are you crazy? This is seafood filling, you’re allergic to it.” **Chapter 4** Watching the dumpling roll several times on the floor, I looked up and met her gaze intently. Vivian then seemed to realize what she’d done. Her expression grew unnatural as she quickly offered an explanation. “The housekeeper never buys seafood. I’ve told her many times. That’s what she told me.” After saying that, she dared not look at my face again, turning to peel a shrimp. Julian leaned close to her ear and whispered something. Whatever he said, Vivian’s eyes deepened. She put down what she was doing and pulled me out of the venue. I didn’t care where we were going. It wasn’t until the bouquet toss ceremony ended that I finally got up to use the restroom. As I approached the door, I heard continuous slapping sounds coming from inside. I stopped, holding my breath. After a few minutes of quiet, a woman’s seductive voice came from the innermost stall. “Why are you so horny? Coming to a wedding, and you wear *these* clothes, hmm?” “Don’t you like it?” A gasp, followed by a soft chuckle. “Of course, I like it.” I looked up at the sign above, my fingernails digging deeply into my palms. Footsteps echoed down the hallway, and the restroom fell silent again. I took one last look at the tightly closed stall door, my eyes red, then turned and left. At three in the afternoon, the wedding concluded. After saying goodbye to Liam, I went downstairs. Stepping out of the elevator, I saw a familiar sports car parked on the road. I pretended not to notice, about to hail a taxi, when Julian, appearing from nowhere, grabbed my arm. “Vivian had some company business, so she left her car with me. We live close by, want a ride?” I rejected him without a second thought. Julian, however, paid no mind, practically shoved me into the passenger seat, locked the doors, and sped off. He drove so fast that I could only fasten my seatbelt. All the way, Julian, under the guise of casual conversation, constantly boasted and provoked me. “You’ve known Vivian was faking amnesia all along, haven’t you? Why didn’t you call her out?” My eyes froze for a moment, my face cold. “None of your business.” “How is it none of my business? I really want to stand openly by Vivian’s side and become her fiancé. Even though she doesn’t have that in mind right now, you know she really likes my body. She’ll fall for me eventually, don’t you believe it?” I completely ignored him, turning my head to look out the window. Seeing that I wasn’t taking the bait, Julian grew exasperated and uttered a few more taunts. I simply closed my eyes, pretending he didn’t exist. This dismissive attitude infuriated Julian. He glanced at the upcoming turn, then, hardening his heart, sharply swerved the steering wheel, crashing the car. *“CRASH!”* Under the violent impact, my body lurched forward uncontrollably. I opened my eyes to a shower of glass shards, instinctively raising my arms to shield myself. Crimson blood dripped from my arm. I slammed against the side door, a searing pain shot through my head, and my vision went black. I passed out. I don’t know how much time passed. Falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me. It was two people talking, their voices eerily familiar. “Vivian, you’ve blown this whole thing so wide open, how are you going to fix it? Asher values his hands more than his life, and you chose to save Julian first? Do you want to kill him?” “How could I want to kill Asher? He just happened to wake up. If I had agreed to save him first, wouldn’t my fake amnesia have been exposed? There are still twenty-something days left. I just wanted to play around a bit more, I won’t let anything happen to Asher.” “Nothing happened? Didn’t you hear the doctor? One more minute before he got into surgery, and Asher’s hand would have been permanently ruined! If he wakes up and finds out the truth, you and he will never have a chance again.” The person holding my hand seemed very nervous at these words, their palm growing sweaty. A few minutes later, she pressed a kiss to my forehead, her voice full of certainty. “He won’t know. I’ve made arrangements. In twenty-three days, the doctors will announce that my memory has returned, and everything will go back to how it was.” After a long sigh, someone left the room. The other person remained by my bedside, murmuring softly. “Asher, our wedding is so soon. I’ve already ordered the rings. You’ll see them the day my memory returns.” “After we get our marriage license, how about I take you to see the Northern Lights? Do you remember the wish you made under the shooting stars on our third anniversary?” “When you said you wanted to be with me forever, I was so happy. I want to grow old with you too.” The effects of the anesthetic slowly wore off. I remembered who this chattering person was. It was my fiancée, Vivian Thorne. She seemed very concerned about me, calling the doctor every half hour to check on my condition. She would also considerately feed me water, tuck me in, and stay by my side without leaving. Until I fully woke up. All the tenderness she’d showered on me receded like a tide. Watching her elusive figure leave the hospital room, a hint of sarcasm flashed in my eyes. A few minutes later, a nurse came in to check on me. I noticed the nurse carefully hiding the medical chart and spoke in a hoarse voice. “Who was taking care of me these past few days?” The nurse’s gaze darted around a few times, and she stammered in response. “I… I’m not really sure. It was probably… a nursing aide.” I just felt tired. I picked up my phone and checked the time. December 8th. I had been unconscious for three days. My inbox still only contained advertisements and phone bill notifications. I closed my eyes, silently praying that the name change process would be completed soon. For a long time after that, Vivian didn’t appear. Julian, however, sent me many messages every day. Half of them were various provocations and photos of him showing off his relationship. The other half were SnapChat videos of him and Vivian in bed, from various locations. I didn’t open a single one, immediately setting my phone to Do Not Disturb. On December 15th, I completed the discharge procedures. I threw away everything else, leaving the hospital with only my medication. As I reached the entrance, I coincidentally ran into Sarah Jenkins, a senior from university who had pursued me once. We exchanged a few pleasantries, and I was chatting happily when Vivian, who seemed to appear from nowhere, grabbed my arm. Her face was so dark it could drip water, her eyes full of gloomy resentment as she looked at me, her voice dripping with jealousy. “Who allowed you to get so close to her?” I glanced at her, used some force to pull my reddened wrist from her grasp, and spoke with sarcasm. “Didn’t you lose your memory and refuse to acknowledge me as your boyfriend? I’ll chat with whoever I want; I don’t think it’s your place to control me.” With that, I didn’t wait for her reaction, hailed a cab, and left. Vivian, speechless and choked with anger, could only watch me drive away. **Chapter 5** I don’t know how long it was, but falling endlessly in darkness, I finally regained some consciousness. Perhaps it was the anesthetic, but I couldn’t open my eyes. I could only hear some sounds around me.

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“I need you to fake a private jet crash for me. I need to get away from Julian Sterling.” My best friend, Chloe, nearly dropped her jaw hearing my request. She thought she was hallucinating. It was just like when she first heard Julian and I were getting married. A girl from humble beginnings and a privileged heir from an elite family—two people from entirely different worlds—somehow ended up together, defying everyone’s expectations. Gossip swirled. Some said Julian was just infatuated, others whispered he had a forbidden love and I was merely a shadow. There were even rumors that he married me on a dare. But after three years of marriage, Julian proved with his actions that there was no other reason for our wedding than his insane love for me. Julian fell for me at first sight and launched a relentless pursuit. Besides showering me with endless gifts, he donated billions to various charities under Elara’s name. He also funded numerous educational projects worldwide, all bearing the ‘Elara’ title. He wanted my name to be synonymous with philanthropy, ensuring that if I ever faced hardship, kindness would always find me. To spend more time with me, he joined me in my part-time jobs: waiting tables, handing out flyers, sorting packages… This pampered heir, who’d never even washed his own clothes at home, gritted his teeth and worked alongside me for two whole years. His long, slender hands, once only familiar with a violin, were now calloused. His sincerity finally moved me. But the vast disparity in our families’ backgrounds meant his parents fiercely opposed our union. To win their approval, he endured sixteen brutal family punishments, beaten until he was a bloody mess, leaving scars that still marked his back. When he realized that wasn’t working, he renounced his entire inheritance and started from scratch – so no one could interfere with his right to choose his own spouse. All our friends thought he’d lost his mind. He was always so sharp and rational, yet here he was, willing to give up a fortune that generations couldn’t exhaust, all for one woman. His family had no choice but to concede and approve our marriage. After we got married, he replaced all his personal staff with men. Even though I never asked, he meticulously reported his schedule and even installed a GPS tracking system so I could check up on him. Netizens raved about our “fairy-tale love,” calling it the ultimate victory for true romantics. For a time, our online ship became an absolute sensation, even outshining major celebrities. But no one knew, except me, that this “perfect husband” had secretly fathered twins with another woman and built a second family behind my back. When I found out, my heart shattered, and I passed out, spitting blood. Hearing the news, Julian canceled a multi-billion-dollar deal and rushed back home, taking care of me nonstop for two days. When I woke up, he was anxiously watching over me by the bed, warming the IV fluids in his hand. “You’re awake? You scared me senseless.” Julian pressed my hand to his face, almost in tears. The man who wouldn’t even bat an eyelid when a gun was pointed at his head during a business deal was so panicked when he heard I’d coughed up blood that his legs went weak. Looking into his eyes, filled with worry and desperation, my heart felt torn to shreds. The love in his eyes wasn’t a lie; he genuinely loved me. But had this same devoted man also looked at Seraphina with those eyes? Had he whispered those same sweet nothings to her? Seraphina was the woman he cheated with, his childhood sweetheart. After news of Julian pursuing me spread, Seraphina gathered her friends to bully me at school. She’d even deliberately caused trouble at my part-time jobs, leading me to lose several positions. She even hired some thugs to harass me, but Julian, who happened to be there to confess his feelings, caught them in the act. At that time, he didn’t care about their long-standing family friendship, ruthlessly driving Seraphina’s family into bankruptcy. If his mother hadn’t intervened, he would have killed Seraphina several times over. So, if I hadn’t seen those disgusting videos and the paternity test results with my own eyes, I would never have believed Julian cheated, let alone that his children were already a year old. I closed my eyes and turned my head, tears streaming down, soaking a large patch of my pillow. Julian didn’t see my tears; he thought I was just tired. “Elara, the doctor just checked you and said you’re two months pregnant! We’re having our own baby!” The usually cold and dignified executive was now as excited as a child. “Our anniversary is in five days, and you’re pregnant! This is double the happiness!” My eyes snapped open. When I was little, my father kicked me into an icy river, and I stayed there for a long time. It damaged my body, and many doctors said I’d have great difficulty getting pregnant. Because of this, Julian’s family elders, who were already displeased with me, often gave me the cold shoulder. I endured it because they were his parents. But Julian didn’t want to see me suffer for his sake. He said coldly, “Elara is the woman I love. Her choosing to be with me is a blessing I earned in a past life. If you dare give her a hard time about not having children, then I’ll cut all ties with you. We’ll be strangers.” I gently stroked my lower abdomen, unable to hold it in anymore, and burst into sobs. *This baby, why did you have to come at such a terrible time?* Julian pulled me into his arms, cooing softly, “Why are you suddenly crying? Who upset you? Your husband will make them pay.” But then I caught a faint, unfamiliar scent of perfume on him, mixed with the smell of baby formula. I abruptly pushed Julian away and leaned over the bed, vomiting. Julian thought it was morning sickness and instinctively held out his hands to catch it, not worried at all about me getting sick on him. He looked at me with deep concern. Of course, he was thrilled about my pregnancy, but he had been there for Seraphina’s entire pregnancy and delivery, and her post-partum recovery. He knew how much women suffered through it all. I stared at Julian, stunned. I knew he had severe OCD, yet he was willing to go this far for me. He even hand-washed all my clothes and shoes. He had given me three years of unconditional love, and I had returned it in kind. I truly couldn’t imagine living without him. For a moment, I even thought about abandoning my principles, thinking that if Julian would just cut ties with Seraphina, we could go back to how things were. But the next moment, he received a text, said he had an urgent company matter, and hurried away. Half an hour later, I received photos from Seraphina. In them, Julian was holding the twins, kissing their foreheads. That picture shattered all my illusions. After leaving the hospital, I went to Chloe and asked her to fake a plane crash. Because I knew Julian; he would never agree to a divorce, nor would he let me go. He would simply lose his mind. After leaving Chloe’s, I immediately booked an abortion in another state. Julian’s family was too powerful. If I stayed in this city, he would find out about the surgery before I could even have it. Just before I entered the operating room, Seraphina sent me another video. It was two and a half hours long. In the video, Seraphina was in seductive lingerie, Julian in a crisp suit, and on a nearby table, various aphrodisiacs. The kitchen, the desk, the entryway… they were having wild trysts in every corner of the room. The Julian in the video was a side I had never seen before—completely unhinged. Every scene tore at my heart, yet like a masochist, I watched the entire video. “Ma’am, it’s time for your surgery. But, are you sure you’re okay?” The doctor asked, concerned. Only then did I realize I was weeping uncontrollably, shaking from head to toe. I wasn’t crying just from sorrow, but because I realized that even knowing Julian cheated, I still couldn’t let go of my love for him. He was a living, breathing person, not an item to be discarded at will. Tearing him from my life felt like tearing open my chest, ripping my bleeding heart to shreds. I wiped my tears and decided to give Julian one last chance. I called him, “Where are you right now? I miss you. Can you come back?” Julian’s voice was tight, as if he was holding something back. “Honey, there’s a very important company matter tonight… Ugh!” He let out a muffled groan, his words suddenly rushed. “I won’t be back tonight!” With that, he hung up. I stood there, stunned, tears flowing unchecked. He had never hung up on me before. This was the first time. A few minutes later, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m fine. Let’s proceed with the surgery.” Late that night, I dragged my exhausted body home. Chloe texted me, “Baby, everything’s arranged. Execution in two days.” I collapsed onto the bed. All night, I’d fall asleep only to wake up crying. In the latter half of the night, I sat in the dark, hugging my knees, until dawn. The next morning, Julian returned. He took off his coat and waited for the cold to dissipate before coming to hug me. Then he opened his tablet, pointing to an island. “Honey, look at this island. I just bought it for our child. Also, I’ve started building amusement parks in cities all across the country, which will be named after our baby. When the baby arrives, I’ll throw a hundred-day feast, inviting everyone to celebrate!” He finished speaking excitedly, only then realizing I hadn’t said a word since he walked in. Suddenly, he heard my soft sobs. He walked around to face me and saw my face was drenched in tears. “What’s wrong?!” He’d never seen me cry like this before; for a moment, his voice even trembled. If I was even one percent unhappy, Julian would feel a hundred percent of the pain. Every mood I had was magnified exponentially in him. Now, seeing my tears, his heart ached as if someone were twisting and pulling it. “I’m fine.” I avoided his touch. “Pregnant women are sometimes like this, they just suddenly feel like crying.” “Really?” Julian finally relaxed. “I’ll stay home with you all day today, okay? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.” “No need. I’m going to a class reunion at noon, and then visiting some old teachers tonight. You go do your work.” I stood up. This time, I was leaving the country, probably never to return. Seeing them one last time was my way of saying goodbye. Julian was uneasy about me going out alone and insisted on coming along. The moment we entered the class reunion private room, everyone burst into laughter. “I knew it! If Elara’s here today, Julian will definitely follow. He’s terrified she’ll get lost.” Julian smiled amiably, accepting their teasing, and personally distributed the gifts he’d prepared to everyone. Everyone gasped, “Oh my god, this is the latest full set of Chanel jewelry! That’s seven figures! Mr. Sterling always gives us such expensive gifts. We’re really basking in Elara’s glow!” I had always been popular in college, and everyone present was a good friend. Julian was also willing to go out of his way to please them. Because if they were happy, I would be happy too. Everyone secretly marveled at the immense power of love, capable of transforming the unapproachable CEO, Julian, into a cheerful sunflower who smiled at everyone. “Elara, I really envy you, having such a loving husband!” Hearing those words, I didn’t smile blissfully as before, just offered a polite smile. As the private room filled with laughter, the door suddenly swung open. Seraphina, dripping in jewels, appeared before everyone. “How come no one told me about the reunion? Aren’t we in the same class?” Seraphina’s appearance immediately dampened the atmosphere. She seemed oblivious to their unwelcoming stares, casually sitting across from me, and then scanning the gifts in everyone’s hands with a smirk. “Chanel, a very famous brand. But I guess not everyone knows that it’s *my* brand.” *Hers?* Everyone whispered amongst themselves. Her family had been driven to bankruptcy by Julian back then, unable to make a living anywhere in the country. How could she have founded such a luxury brand? “My family did face some difficulties back then, but then I met my husband. Two years ago, he invested billions and used a lot of his connections, working tirelessly to set up companies for me. And it’s not just this one, oh no. He’s opened twenty-six companies for me.” As she spoke, Seraphina’s gaze subtly drifted to Julian, then she flashed me a challenging smile. My breath hitched. I remembered two years ago, there was a period when Julian was especially busy. He’d said the company was expanding into overseas markets, which explained his workload. But it turned out he was busy setting up companies for Seraphina. A sharp pain spread from my chest, and I instinctively clutched my heart. “What’s wrong, honey? Are you feeling unwell?” Julian immediately stood up, alarmed. “I’ll call a doctor.” Seraphina sneered, “Elara, Mr. Sterling dotes on you, treats you like a queen, yet you still look half-dead all the time.” The moment her words fell, Julian’s face instantly darkened. He slapped her hard. “Shut up and get out, or I’ll make sure you can never speak again.” Seraphina clutched her face, grunted, and reluctantly left the room. As soon as she was gone, the room’s atmosphere livened up again, but my face remained pale. Julian anxiously squeezed my hand. “Honey, where does it hurt? The doctor will be here soon.” I pulled my hand away. “I’m fine. I need to use the restroom. Don’t follow me.” The moment I stepped into the hallway, Seraphina blocked my path. She sneered, “Don’t think you’re so important just because Julian hit me for you. I’ve given him a son and a daughter. His heart is already shifting towards me. Do you believe me if I say the kids have a fever, he’ll rush straight to me?” When I returned to the private room, Julian’s expression was indeed abnormally anxious. He walked over and kissed my forehead. “Honey, I have an urgent company matter and need to go back. I’ve already told the manager, all your expenses are on my tab. You and your friends have fun.” I clutched his sleeve tightly. “Didn’t you say you’d spend the day with me? Stay, please?” Looking into my half-pleading, half-calm eyes, for some reason, a wave of panic suddenly rose in Julian’s heart. He felt that if he left today, he would lose something incredibly important. But Seraphina said the children were sick, and they were his flesh and blood. He had to go see them. Ultimately, he peeled my tightly clasped fingers from his, one by one. “Honey, I promise I’ll be back tonight to be with you, okay?” I took a deep breath. So, Julian’s heart truly was shifting. Half an hour later, Seraphina sent me a video. Though I knew what I’d see, my hands trembled as I clicked play. In the video, Seraphina was weeping plaintively. “I can’t bear to be without you for a moment. I missed you so much I couldn’t stand it, that’s why I came to the reunion. But seeing you and Elara so affectionate, I got so incredibly jealous that I said those bitter things. And you hit me.” Julian gave a faint smile. It was clear he was flattered. He used a warm egg to soothe her swollen face. “There, there. Stop crying, or you’ll turn into a little mess. You can ask for anything you want, as compensation.” “Then… the children’s birthday is coming up. I want that new island you bought, as their birthday gift.” Julian frowned. “No. That’s for my and Elara’s child.” “Please, darling~ I had an astrologer look at it, and that island is like a lucky charm for our children, it’ll bring them good fortune! You promised to compensate me!” This time, he agreed. Seraphina flashed a challenging smile at the camera, then sent a voice message. “See? Even something he promised you, if I ask for it, he’ll still give it to me. You lose.” I held my phone, sitting numbly. I remembered how Julian had soothed my pain when I got hurt working part-time. It turned out, everything he did for me, he would also do for another woman. In that moment, I felt utterly drained. But as long as I left Julian, everything would be fine. Tomorrow, I could finally leave.

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That year, when I was twenty, I married Damien, my father’s closest friend. He was eight years older than me, a formidable business elite in the city’s elite circles, known for his decisive and tough demeanor in the business world, always keeping women at arm’s length. But with me, he showed an extraordinary tenderness. He’d have multi-million dollar jewelry delivered to me the very next day, just because I’d casually mentioned, “That necklace is pretty.” When my period cramps had me curled up in bed, he’d drop a massive project, personally brew me comforting ginger tea, and gently coax me to drink it spoon by spoon. In moments of passion, he’d cup my waist, his voice low and husky, calling me “baby,” saying I was so good, so addictive. Even all his social media accounts bore the name “Für Elise.” I always thought it was to commemorate the day we first met, when I played that very piece on the piano. Until that day, when I found an old photo album in his study. The album was filled with pictures of the same girl, who bore a striking resemblance to me, smiling as she stood by a piano. On the back of one photo, it read— “Für Elise, my dearest Isabelle.” … After uncovering the truth, I did only two things. First, I went to the hospital and terminated my five-month pregnancy. A five-month-old baby already kicks in your belly. On the operating table, I gritted my teeth and held back tears, but when the nurse asked, “Do you want to see the baby?” I broke down, shaking my head. Second, I drafted a divorce agreement. Then, I called Damien. Before, he’d always answered my calls instantly, his voice soft as he’d ask, “What’s wrong, baby?” But this time, I had to call twenty-three times before he finally picked up. A jumble of voices came from the other end, followed by his friends’ mocking tones: “How important is a first love, really? The moment Isabelle came back, Damien just ditched his five-month pregnant wife at home.” “What do you expect? The girl was just a stand-in. You should’ve seen how much Damien loved Isabelle back then; he practically drank himself to death after they broke up. He never forgot her all these years, even coaxed some girl into being her replacement.” “And that girl’s still clueless, clinging to Damien like a shadow every day. Last time I saw Aurora kissing Damien, the way she was acting all cute and sweet? It totally melted my heart. If I had a sweet, bubbly girl like that at home, I’d have forgotten Isabelle ages ago.” “Ah, well, Damien might seem cold, but he’s incredibly devoted. He only loves Isabelle. Look, Isabelle just casually complained about her feet hurting in heels, and he immediately scooped her up to buy her flats…” I gripped my phone, tears silently streaming down my face. Suddenly, the other end of the line went quiet. “Who picked up my call?” Damien’s voice abruptly cut through. “Huh? I don’t know, maybe someone accidentally pressed it…” Footsteps sounded from the other end, and soon the background noise returned to silence. When he spoke again, that intoxicatingly gentle voice of Damien’s whispered through the receiver: “What’s wrong, baby? Is it thundering? Can’t you sleep?” “Husband has a business dinner, I’ll be back later to keep you and the baby company, okay?” I took a deep breath: “I’m calling to sign the divo—” Before I could finish, a woman’s voice chimed in: “Damien, my feet hurt…” He paused for a moment, then hastily told me: “Be a good girl, go to sleep first. Husband will be back later to be with you.” And then, the call ended. I smiled, wiping away all my tears, then looked up at the desktop. Two “gifts” lay there, both for Damien. A divorce agreement, and a gift box containing the baby we’d aborted. Those who betray a sincere heart deserve to swallow a thousand needles. I might be young, but I wouldn’t tolerate such deceit. I wouldn’t keep the person who deceived me. I could love wholeheartedly, and I could let go just as completely. I don’t know how long I sat there, but finally, I stood up and put the gift box with the baby into the freezer. Just then, a sound came from the main entrance of the villa. “Baby, why aren’t you asleep yet?” Damien walked in, shedding his suit jacket, his tie loosely around his neck. “What are you looking for in the fridge? Are you hungry?” I didn’t answer, just watched him silently. He seemed a bit unaccustomed to my coldness. He pulled out an exquisite lunchbox from behind him, his eyes soft: “I ran all over town to buy this. Haven’t you been craving this lately?” He meticulously laid out the pastries, all my favorites during my morning sickness these past few months. In the past, I would have thrown myself into his arms and kissed him. But now, I only felt a bitter irony. “Why are you standing there without saying anything? Is the baby in your tummy bothering you again?” As he spoke, his hand reached out to caress my lower abdomen. I blocked his hand and handed him a document: “Sign this.” He paused, about to open it, when his phone suddenly rang. I saw the caller ID – it was Isabelle. After he answered, I didn’t hear what was said, but his expression changed slightly. He hung up the phone without even looking at the document, quickly signed it. Then he grabbed his car keys and started to leave. “Baby, I have an urgent matter to deal with. You go to bed early.” At the door, he added gently: “From now on, just buy whatever you want; you don’t need my signature. We’re husband and wife, what’s mine is yours.” I clutched the signed divorce agreement in my hand, a faint, bitter smile touching my lips. “Damien, we won’t be husband and wife for much longer.” That night, I had a very, very long dream. In the dream, it was the first time I met Damien. I was eighteen that year, attending the Sterling family’s gala with my father. He stood by the piano in a crisp black suit, long fingers holding a champagne flute, his face perfectly sculpted. It was love at first sight. Later, I boldly stole a kiss from him. He paused, then chuckled softly: “Little girl, that’s not how you kiss.” Then he cupped the back of my head and taught me what a real kiss was. That kiss was so long, so long, it left me breathless. Even now, thinking back, it feels like an ethereal dream. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked. Daylight had broken. After a long while, I picked up my phone and called my dad. “Dad, I got divorced,” my voice was hoarse. “After I get the divorce decree, I’ll come abroad to be with you.” “Did Damien bully you?” Dad’s voice immediately rose. “No,” I gazed out at the brightening sky outside the window, “I just don’t love him anymore.” Actually, it was Damien who didn’t love me. And I, too, would never love him again. I didn’t utter those words, feeling as if I’d swallowed a piece of broken glass, letting it tear me apart inside. After hanging up, a SnapChat friend request popped up. On a whim, I accepted it. The person immediately sent a video. In the video, Damien was lightly dozing on the sofa, his brow furrowed, murmuring a name: “Isabelle…” Immediately following the video, a long message arrived: `This is Isabelle, Damien’s first love. I never thought that after all these years, even after he got married, he still hadn’t forgotten me. When I came back to the country today, I found he still has my name tattooed on his inner wrist, and all our photos, all the diary entries he wrote, are perfectly preserved. See, he’s still calling my name in his dream; he must be dreaming of our past, after all, those were the first love days he’ll never forget.` I stared at the long message, my heart aching to the point of numbness. I only replied with one sentence: `What do you want?` The other person replied after a long pause: `Nothing, just want to take back what’s mine. He’s about to wake up. Don’t you believe me? If I just say I had a nightmare, he’ll stay with me for the next five days and won’t contact you once.` I didn’t reply again. Ten minutes later, Damien’s message came through: `Baby, I have an urgent project and need to go on a five-day business trip. My secretary will be with you; feel free to contact him if you need anything. Take good care of yourself and the baby.` I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. As I laughed, tears streamed down, splashing onto my phone screen. For the next five days, Damien was indeed completely silent. But Isabelle’s messages kept coming. Damien walking with her on the beach, taking her to watch the sunset from a mountaintop, driving her around the countryside… Isabelle messaged: `These are all places we used to go when we were dating.` I read every single message, then suddenly remembered Damien had taken me to those same places too. Back then, I thought he was being romantic. Now I understood; he was just revisiting old haunts, seeing someone else through my reflection. On the evening of the fifth day, I started packing. The jewelry Damien gave me, the bags, the clothes… Everything related to him was packed into cardboard boxes and thrown into the storage room. When Damien rushed home, dusty and tired, he saw a walk-in closet that was half empty. He clearly froze for a moment: “Baby, what are you doing?” I didn’t even lift my head: “Nothing, just throwing away some useless stuff.” Damien didn’t overthink it, just smiled and handed me the gift in his hand—a limited edition set of illustrated books. Last month, I had casually mentioned wanting to collect them; I hadn’t expected him to remember. “Baby,” he naturally pulled me into a hug, his large hand caressing my lower abdomen, “Is your morning sickness still severe? Tomorrow’s your prenatal check-up; I’ll go with you.” “No need.” I pulled away from his embrace. “No need anymore.” Damien finally sensed something was wrong: “What do you mean, no need? Are you feeling unwell lately?” A housekeeper chimed in: “Madam hasn’t had much appetite these past few days; she’s barely eaten anything.” Damien immediately loosened his tie: “I’ll go buy groceries and cook for you. All your favorites. Come on, eat a little, alright?” As he turned, he didn’t forget to instruct: “You all take good care of Madam. Make sure she doesn’t bump or bruise herself.” The housekeepers whispered enviously: “Mr. Sterling is so good to his wife…” “You should find a husband who’s older and knows how to dote on you…” I listened quietly, a flicker of self-mockery in my eyes. Once, I too believed I had found the best love in the world. But only now did I understand that it was nothing more than a meticulously planned stand-in game. No sooner had Damien left than the doorbell rang. I opened the door, and a woman stood there, holding an exquisite box of pastries. “Hello, I’m Isabelle, the Isabelle who sent you messages.” Isabelle smiled sweetly yet provocatively: “Damien has been taking such good care of me lately, so I made some pastries to thank him. A guest is a guest; you wouldn’t be unwelcoming, would you?” Without waiting for my answer, she simply walked in and began to look around. Passing by the garden, Isabelle paused: “These roses are my favorite kind. I can’t believe Damien still grows them.” My fingertips trembled. I remembered Damien personally tending to these flowers every morning, never letting anyone else touch them. I once thought it was his hobby, his personal touch. By the pond, several turtles basked lazily in the sun. “Oh, they’re still alive!” Isabelle exclaimed in surprise. “I raised these when I was little. I left them when I went abroad and thought they’d died long ago.” I thought of Damien, feeding these turtles religiously every day, and a suffocating tightness filled my chest. In the living room, Isabelle’s gaze swept over the display cabinet filled with dolls: “These are my most cherished collectibles.” She looked around again: “The furniture style is also my preferred Nordic minimalist design.” I followed behind her, each step feeling like I was walking on razor blades. This home, where I had lived for two years, suddenly felt alien. In the bedroom, Isabelle ran her fingers over the suits and ties in the wardrobe: “These were all gifts from me. I can’t believe he’s kept them so new.” I remembered myself ironing these clothes by hand every day, and my throat felt clogged. It turned out he never let me touch them, not because he was a germaphobe, but because these were all traces of Isabelle. Finally, Isabelle stopped in front of our wedding photo. “What a coincidence,” she tilted her head and laughed, “Damien and I used to talk about wanting three themes for our wedding photos: desert, ocean, and forest. I can’t believe you chose those three too.” My face instantly went pale. When we took our wedding photos, Damien insisted on these three themes. I thought he simply loved the romance of nature. “What are you doing here?” Damien’s voice suddenly came from the doorway. He strode in quickly, his face not looking pleased. Isabelle immediately put on a sweet smile: “I made some pastries, so I came to bring you some. Your lovely wife enthusiastically invited me in as a guest and even said she’d keep me for dinner.” Damien’s brow slightly relaxed. He turned to me: “This is Isabelle, my childhood neighbor. We’re like brother and sister. She was abroad before and just came back recently, so you haven’t met her.” I watched him silently. Childhood neighbor? Like brother and sister? He kept their relationship well hidden, didn’t he? Isabelle also played along: “Yes, Damien has always taken care of me since I was little. When I was a picky eater, he specially learned to cook for me. His braised pork ribs, steamed sea bass, and braised meatballs… they’re all my favorites.” My fingers dug into my palms. These were all Damien’s most frequently cooked dishes. I had naively thought it was because I liked them. I couldn’t force a smile, so I excused myself, claiming to feel unwell, and went upstairs. But not long after, Isabelle came knocking on the door, holding a bowl of a pregnancy tonic. “Damien brewed this for you; he asked me to bring it up.” She smiled innocently. “Drink it while it’s warm.” I took the bowl; the medicine had a pungent smell. “Oh, right…” Isabelle suddenly asked, “Are your baby’s names by any chance Asher for a boy and Lily for a girl? Those were the names Damien and I had picked out before.” My hand trembled, and the bowl of medicine almost spilled. Those two names were precisely what Damien had chosen when I first got pregnant. So, even our child was to be used by him to commemorate Isabelle? My heart suddenly twisted in a violent spasm, and before I could react— “Oh, no!” Isabelle suddenly “accidentally” knocked over the medicine bowl. The scalding liquid splashed onto my arm, instantly turning red and blistering. I gasped in pain, too preoccupied to acknowledge Isabelle’s apology, my face pale as I turned to go downstairs for ointment. But just as I passed the top of the stairs, I felt a sharp shove from behind. “Ah!” I tumbled down the stairs, landing heavily on the first-floor landing. Blood spread beneath me, staining the beige carpet crimson. The next second, Isabelle also tumbled down, seemingly after me. In the kitchen, Damien was about to open the fridge when he heard the commotion and rushed out. Seeing the scene, his pupils instantly contracted. “Isabelle!” He flew over, catching a stumbling Isabelle, anxiously checking her ankle, “Are you alright?” “I… I’m fine,” Isabelle said weakly, “Quick, check on Aurora…” Damien finally looked at me, lying in a pool of blood, but Isabelle suddenly “fainted” in his arms. “Isabelle!” His usually composed voice was now laced with urgency. He scooped Isabelle up, striding quickly out, not even sparing me another glance. I watched their retreating figures, my consciousness gradually blurring. In the last moment before darkness consumed me, I seemed to see the fridge door slightly ajar, revealing a corner of the box containing the “gift”… When I woke up again, the blinding white light made me squint uncomfortably. A doctor was examining me, and Damien stood by, his face grave. “How’s the baby?” he asked the doctor. The doctor looked up in surprise: “The baby? Miss Aurora’s baby was terminated long ago, wasn’t it?”

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“My child, stay, and I’ll give you a billion dollars.” “No, two billion!” At the grand Hayes Estate, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes sat hunched in a plush armchair, his gaze pleading with me. But I, sitting opposite him, simply shook my head. With a gentle push, I slid the colossal check back across the table. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. We agreed on six years, and that time is up. My debt of gratitude has been repaid. It’s time for me to leave.” My voice was soft, yet unwavering in its resolve. Seeing my mind was made up, Old Mr. Sterling Hayes could only sigh. “You’ve worked tirelessly these past years. Before you go, tell me anything you wish for.” A heavy silence stretched between us for what felt like an eternity before I finally spoke. “I want you to… approve of Asher and Serena being together.” “You asked me to approach Asher specifically to make him forget Serena. But six years have passed, and you’ve seen it for yourself. Perhaps true love truly cannot be broken apart.” Another profound sigh escaped Old Mr. Sterling Hayes, his eyes heavy with weariness and resignation. “Enough, enough. I’m old. I won’t meddle in their young lives anymore. Let them do as they please. As for the divorce, my child, you’ll have to tell Asher yourself.” I nodded, bowing respectfully to the old man, then rose and walked toward the grand entrance. Once in the car, I cast one last look at the estate. The first time I came to this sprawling mansion, it was out of gratitude. I was an orphan from a foster home, destined to drop out of school like the other children there. But fate, or perhaps luck, intervened when Old Mr. Sterling Hayes noticed me. He sponsored my education, giving me a chance at a future. I had talent, and I worked tirelessly, skipping grades until, at just 22, I had already earned my Ph.D. from an elite university, a feat that turned heads. The year I achieved academic success, I specifically sought out the Hayes Estate to thank Old Mr. Sterling Hayes in person. He sat regally, his face etched with fatigue, and made a request. “My child, the Hayes family lacks no wealth. If you wish to repay my kindness, grant me one request: starting today, and for the next six years, you will approach my heir, Asher, and bear him a child, to make him forget… his adopted sister.” It was then I learned that Asher, the heir to the Hayes Group, had fallen for Serena, his adopted sister. He was willing to throw away his entire inheritance, defying all societal norms and family expectations, just to be with her. He was their golden boy, groomed from childhood to be the perfect heir, yet he rebelled so fiercely for a woman. The entire Hayes family was in a frenzy. To quash his obsession, they even sent Serena abroad. But after that, Asher plunged into a spiral of heavy drinking, a shadow of his former self. To repay my debt, I agreed. From then on, I began to approach Asher, relentlessly pursuing him, playing the part of a woman madly in love. Finally, I succeeded in marrying him and even bore him a child. For six grueling years, I performed my duties diligently, without a single complaint. But the moment Serena returned, his suppressed affections reignited with a vengeance. Even our son was frequently taken to see Serena, developing an affection for her and, in turn, growing distant from me, his own mother. It turned out, the woman he secretly cherished, the one he never spoke of, was also the one he had never forgotten. Thankfully, from now on, none of this would concern me. The Hayes family’s claim on me was only for six years, and the child had been born. Finally, I was free to leave. My scattered thoughts snapped back into reality, my gaze darting back inside the car. In the next horrifying instant, a runaway truck barreled straight for us. Then came a series of violent impacts. “BANG!” The world tilted, and I felt a jarring lurch. My forehead slammed into the hard seat, a searing pain consuming my senses. My vision dissolved into black, and I succumbed to unconsciousness. When I next awoke, the stark white ceiling and the acrid smell of antiseptic informed me of my whereabouts. A nurse, checking on me, expressed her relief upon seeing I was awake. After asking for my basic information, she marvelled, “You’re incredibly lucky. Just a mild concussion. We had over a dozen patients from that pile-up on Bayfront Road, and you’re the only survivor.” The nurse re-checked my vitals, letting out a relieved breath. “Nothing serious. We just need a family member to sign some discharge papers, and you can go.” I struggled to sit up, still reeling from the shock of my near-death experience. It took a long moment before I nodded, picking up my phone and dialing Asher’s number. The ringing continued, unanswered. Finally, perhaps annoyed, he simply disconnected the call. One call, two, three… I called him over a dozen times, but he never picked up. My gaze dropped, and I tapped on another contact: my son, Leo’s number. Time ticked by, the call disconnected again and again. Finally, a message popped up on the screen. [Can you stop bothering me? I have important things to do. Oh, and make sure to cook some chicken soup at home.] His tone was dismissive, his command arrogant. If you didn’t know, who would guess those words came from the son I carried for nine agonizing months? Outside the hospital room, nurses walked by in the hallway, their hushed voices drifting in. “Mr. Hayes is so devoted to his wife, isn’t he? She just had a minor burn from hot water, barely a scratch, and he booked an entire floor for her! And the young master, so well-behaved, constantly running errands for her.” “You’re mistaken. That’s not Mrs. Hayes. That’s Mr. Hayes’s adopted sister, Serena.” Hearing her, the other nurse quickly corrected her, lowering her voice conspiratorially. “But you’re new to Riverview City, you wouldn’t know. Mr. Hayes apparently loves his sister. He even nearly gave up his inheritance for her before, causing a huge scandal. It was only after Ms. Serena was sent abroad that he married the current Mrs. Hayes.” In that moment, I finally understood what those two—father and son—were so busy with. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. If I had truly died in that multi-car pile-up, would there even be anyone to claim my body? I looked up at the nurse, my voice quiet. “I’m sorry, I don’t have family. Can I sign for myself?” Perhaps it was the first time she’d encountered someone completely alone. A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes, and she eventually made an exception, handing me the discharge papers. I handled the discharge formalities alone. As I walked past a hospital room on my way to pick up medication, familiar voices drifted out. I instinctively glanced inside and saw Asher and Leo, both at Serena’s bedside, their faces displaying a tenderness and obedience I had never seen directed at me. I watched silently, my expression betraying no emotion, as if the people inside weren’t my husband and son. After a moment, I shifted my gaze, turning to walk away. Back home, I retrieved the divorce papers from a drawer. My eyes landed on Asher’s fluid signature at the bottom, and for a fleeting moment, I saw him signing it all those years ago. His eyes had been distant, devoid of any emotion as he looked at me. “Elara Brooks, I know you’re madly in love with me, but my heart belongs to another. I only married you because my family pressed me. From now on, if you ever want a divorce, just sign here, and you’re free to leave anytime.” Now, I picked up the pen and, without a moment’s hesitation, signed my name in the section for the wife!

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**Chapter 1** Everyone knew Liam Henderson adored me more than life itself. He would turn down every woman who tried to get close to him. He named his new jewelry collection after me. He’d faced severe consequences from his family, nearly losing his inheritance and status, all because he feared me enduring the pain of childbirth. Yet, this man, who loved me so fiercely, ended up in bed with his best friend’s sister. After countless times he broke his promises to me for her, I decided to leave. 　　“System, I’m the daughter of Host 12138. I request to leave this world.” 　　It was a cold winter night, the fire in the fireplace roaring, casting dancing shadows on the white wall. 　　I stared at the swirling snowflakes, slowly took off the simple silver necklace from my neck, and spoke softly. 　　Moments later, a cold, mechanical voice abruptly echoed in the quiet bedroom. 　　“Received. System is processing. You will be removed from this world in 15 days.” 　　The instant the words faded, I realized the necklace in my palm had vanished into thin air. 　　At the same time, the TV began broadcasting an interview with Liam Henderson. 　　“The new jewelry collection being launched today is named ‘Love Aurora,’ Mr. Henderson. Does it have any special meaning?” 　　Hearing the host’s question, Liam, the main guest, showed an extremely gentle smile, his eyes filled with warmth. 　　“Aurora is my wife’s name. The meaning behind this collection name is simple: I will love her for a lifetime.” 　　The host, caught off guard by such a loving declaration, couldn’t hide her flirty smile. 　　“I hear from online news that you and your wife were each other’s first loves, and you got married as soon as you were old enough. Five years into your marriage, your relationship is still so stable and sweet. Do you have any relationship secrets?” 　　“Secrets? Well, perhaps it’s listening to my wife in everything, always replying to her messages instantly, preparing surprises for her every day…” 　　Liam’s series of relationship tips drew envious cheers from the studio audience. 　　“Oh my god, I wish heaven would grant me such a dominant and devoted boyfriend!” 　　“Liam Henderson is one in a million. When will it be my turn to be Mrs. Henderson!” 　　Listening to the endless exclamations below, Liam’s eyes curved into a smile, his voice soft. “Sorry, Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora.” 　　A wave of thunderous applause erupted as the interview drew to a close. 　　Watching Liam’s figure gradually blur and recede, I turned off the TV, a sarcastic smile twisting my lips. 　　Liam Henderson belongs only to Aurora? 　　Perhaps in the past, that was true. 　　After all, we grew up together as childhood sweethearts, started dating at fifteen, and married at twenty-two. Our love story began in school and led all the way to the altar. 　　Everyone around me envied me for finding such a faithful and devoted partner. 　　He would fill his Ins feed with my photos, actively keeping his distance from all other women. 　　He spared no expense, arranging a spectacular fireworks display that lit up the entire city for our wedding, just to declare to the world that he had married the girl he loved most. 　　When I was diagnosed with kidney failure, he didn’t hesitate to donate his kidney to me, simply because if I died, he wouldn’t want to live either. 　　Seven years of dating, five years of marriage – he truly hadn’t broken the vows he made when he proposed. 　　But what did it matter now? 　　People change. 　　My father was like that, and Liam, he’s no different. 　　My father, Richard, at twenty-seven, betrayed my mother, getting involved with his secretary, causing my mother to lose heart and completely leave this world. 　　Liam, at twenty-six, similarly betrayed me, secretly taking his best friend’s sister as his mistress behind my back. 　　The exact same script, playing out again more than twenty years later. 　　And this time, I made the same choice as my mother. 　　If he betrays me, I disappear! 　　I touched my empty neck, suddenly remembering what my mother told me before she left. 　　“Aurora, Mom isn’t from this world. I came here to complete a mission, and now that it’s done, and your father has betrayed me, Mom has to go home. Before I leave, I’m giving you this necklace. Whenever you feel unhappy, use it to summon the System and leave this world forever, to be with me.” 　　Leave this world forever? 　　Just as I wished. 　　I gave a soft laugh, slowly took off my wedding ring, and tossed it into the fireplace. 　　The moment I closed the door, a soft click came from behind. 　　Liam, covered in wind and snow, pushed the door open, carrying a bouquet of vibrant red roses, a smiling gesture as he handed them to me. 　　“Aurora, I was late coming back from the meeting today. I’m sorry to make you wait so long for me.” 　　I received such beautiful flowers every day. 　　But today’s bouquet had an unusually strong scent, as if trying to conceal something. 　　I placed the flowers on the table and then caught a whiff of the strong perfume on him. 　　So, it was to cover up her scent. 　　I suppressed the pain in my chest, looked up, and saw the faint red mark on his collar. 　　My tears had already run dry, so this time, I only glanced at it before looking away, speaking calmly. 　　“It’s fine. From now on, you can come back whenever you want. Or not at all. You don’t need to worry about my feelings.” 　　Just as he didn’t need to know that I only had fifteen days left in this world. **Chapter 2** Hearing me speak those words in such a flat tone, Liam’s heart suddenly pounded. “Aurora, please don’t be angry with me. I promise I won’t come back late again. I swear, if you forgive me, I’ll do anything.” It was the smallest of matters, yet he held me, pleading and coaxing, placing my slightest feelings above all else. I didn’t understand why a man who loved me so terribly would also betray me. But I had to endure this charade for another fifteen days, so I forced down the pain in my heart. “I’m really not angry. I just think you don’t need to prioritize my emotions so much.” “How could I not prioritize them? I love you so much, Aurora. The whole world means nothing to me compared to you.” He smiled, continuing to whisper sweet nothings in my ear. I said nothing, but Liam suddenly noticed my neck was bare. “Aurora, where’s your necklace?” He knew it was something my mother had left me before she disappeared, something I cherished and always wore, never taking it off. My body stiffened slightly. I lowered my eyes, my voice barely a whisper. “It broke. I sent it in for repairs.” Seeing my expression, Liam assumed my unhappiness today was because the necklace reminded me of my mother. He quickly offered words of comfort. “It’ll be fixed, Aurora, don’t be sad. Your mother will come back to you too. Even though she vanished into thin air all these years, I’ve never given up searching for her. How could someone just disappear from this world for no reason? She must be hiding. Believe me, I’ll reunite you two.” I forced a thin smile. I would indeed be reunited with my mother very soon. “How’s my father doing lately?” Liam paused for a moment, then sighed softly. “Same as usual. He’s disoriented in the mental hospital, constantly muttering your mother’s name.” “He deserved it.” I uttered those three words, one by one. Then I looked up at the person whose face had subtly changed. “Liam, my mother and I are alike. On our wedding day, I told you: if your heart changes, I will also disappear, and you’ll never find me again…” These words, falling on Liam’s ears, made his heart pound with increasing panic. He didn’t want to hear any more, so he quickly pulled me into his arms, his tone firm. “No, Aurora, I won’t betray you, and I won’t allow you to leave like your mother did.” Hearing him make such a solemn promise again, my voice was calm. “What if that day truly comes?” “That day will never come. Even if you were to vanish without a trace, I would search every corner of this world and beyond, stake everything I have, and I would find you.” His words were like a declaration of fate, foretelling the future we were bound to confront. I closed my eyes, my voice barely audible. “I’ll be waiting for that day.” Liam hadn’t heard clearly and asked something, his voice trembling. I shook my head, broke free from his embrace, and turned into the bedroom. “Nothing.” Early the next morning, a knock on the door woke both Liam and me. Opening the door, Chloe stood outside with her suitcase, her big, teary eyes instantly pleading. “Brother Liam, there were rats in my apartment last night, and I was too scared to stay. Can I crash at your place for a few days?” Liam rejected her without thinking. “No, Aurora doesn’t like strangers staying here. Go to a hotel.” Chloe’s face immediately fell, and her eyes welled up. “You won’t help me? If you don’t let me stay, I’ll tell my brother! You promised him you’d take good care of me! Aren’t you worried about me, a young girl alone in a hotel?” Hearing this, Liam rubbed his temples. “Chloe, don’t be unreasonable!” I sat nearby, quietly watching the two of them pretending to be mere siblings. They had already done every intimate thing possible, yet they were still putting on this act in front of me. Perhaps seeing that Liam wasn’t budging, Chloe immediately looked at me with a pitiful expression: “Sister Aurora, please let me stay for a few days. I promise I won’t cause any trouble.” I looked up at her. “Fine. Make yourself at home.” Hearing that, Chloe cheered, dragging her suitcase inside. She didn’t stand on ceremony, walked right over to the dining table, and sat down, her eyes sparkling at the sandwiches on the table. “Brother Liam, did you make all these? You’re so amazing!” Liam slapped her eager hand away, moving the plate in front of me. “If you want to eat, have the maid make something. What I make is only for Aurora.” Chloe’s lips immediately drooped in a pout, and she lowered her head, walking silently into the kitchen. I glanced at the breakfast on the table but didn’t touch it. Liam noticed immediately. “Aurora, why aren’t you eating breakfast? Don’t you like what I made?” I gently shook my head, coming up with a casual excuse. “No, I just feel like having the croissants from ‘The Daily Crumb’ downtown.” Liam immediately picked up his car keys and went to the entryway to change his shoes. “I’ll go buy them right away.” Chloe, who had just come out, heard this and quickly put down her plate, skipping after him. “The food at home doesn’t suit my taste either. I want to eat out too.” Watching their backs as they left, one after the other, I forced a bitter smile. Half an hour passed, and Liam hadn’t returned. I had a premonition. I took out my phone and accessed the dashcam footage. The screen was still loading when a sultry gasp echoed in the quiet room. “Brother Liam, easy… easy…” In the cramped car, the two people who had been at odds moments ago were now naked, wrapped in each other’s arms. Liam thrust his hips wildly, his eyes red-rimmed, fingers digging into Chloe’s soft, yielding waist. “How can you be satisfied if I don’t go harder, huh? It’s bad enough you shamelessly seduced my best friend, but now you brazenly move into my home? Just to cling to me?” “I’m telling you! I don’t love you at all, you’re just a tool for my release. Aurora is my bottom line. If you dare make a scene about us in front of her, you’ll face the consequences.” **Chapter 3** The moment Liam finished speaking, Chloe’s sobbing began on the video. “Yes, I was delusional. I knew you were married and only had eyes for Sister Aurora, but I still couldn’t give up, insisting on clinging to you, letting you torment me like this every day! Do you think I want this? If I didn’t like you so much, why would I degrade myself?” Watching her cry, her face streaked with tears, Liam’s thrusting movements suddenly stiffened. Though his tone remained harsh, his actions softened slightly. “Can’t take a single word? So fragile? Where’s all that fire you had when you were trying to seduce me? Didn’t you say you only wanted my body, not my heart?” Chloe didn’t respond, instead crying even harder. Liam, exasperated, finally leaned down and kissed away her tears one by one. “Alright, be good. What gift do you want? I’ll buy it for you.” Chloe whimpered pitifully. “I… I want the necklace you bought for Sister Aurora, and the breakfast you just bought for her!” Liam’s brow furrowed. “Choose something else.” “Why not? I just want those.” Seeing her pout again and start tearing up, Liam had no choice but to give in. “Alright, you can have it. Anything you want, just don’t cry, okay? Be a good girl, let me kiss you.” Though I already knew Liam had betrayed me, seeing this scene unfold, I was still ripped apart by pain. My heart tightened, a sharp, suffocating ache that made me curl up, drenched in sweat. I bit down hard on my lip, but couldn’t stop the choked sobs rising in my throat. Liam, Oh, Liam. When we were fifteen, you stammered out a confession, saying I was the only girl who ever made your heart race. When we were twenty-two, you knelt before me with a ring, promising to give all your love to me, and only me, for a lifetime. Turns out your “lifetime” was only a few years. My sharp fingernails pierced my skin, drawing blood. But my knuckles kept pressing harder, deepening the wounds, as if only this could barely quell the bone-deep agony in my heart. I sat stunned at the dining table, motionless. Tears streamed down my face like rain. I don’t know how long passed before my phone screen returned to normal. A short while later, Liam, fully dressed, pushed open the door. “Aurora, I’m back…” His gentle voice cut off abruptly. Seeing my tear-streaked face, his heart lurched, and he rushed to my side. “Aurora, why are you crying?” I struggled to control my emotions, pulling out a tissue, my voice incredibly hoarse. “It’s nothing. I just watched a really touching TV show and cried.” Liam quickly took the tissue, gently wiping away my tears, his eyes filled with heartache. “What show? It made you cry so much.” “Do you want to see?” Liam paused, then playfully ruffled my hair. “Sure, let me see. I’ll have someone take that show off the air later. How dare it make my sweet girl cry.” As he spoke, he reached for my phone. But just as his finger was about to tap the screen, I suddenly spoke. “Where are the croissants you bought?” Liam’s movements froze for an instant, then he quickly embraced me, apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry, Aurora. They were all sold out by the time I got there, and the shop was closed. I’ll go buy them for you tomorrow, okay?” No sooner had he spoken than Chloe walked in, carrying a bag, her face beaming with triumph as she held it up. “I bought the very last croissant, Sister Aurora! Do you want me to give it to you?” I said nothing, my gaze fixed on her neck. The pure silver necklace Chloe was wearing looked very much like the one my mother had left me. It seemed Liam had stayed up all night to find a similar one, planning to cheer me up. But Chloe had simply used a little manipulation, a little pout, and he had given it to her. Noticing my gaze, Chloe walked right up to me, pulling the necklace for me to admire, a cheerful smile on her face. “Isn’t this necklace pretty? I just bought it. Sister Aurora, do you think it suits me?” I stared at it for a long time, then laughed, tears streaming down my face. “It suits you.” With that, without looking at their expressions, I turned and went upstairs. In the evening, I ate a light meal and returned to my room. As soon as I sat down, I felt a cramping pain in my lower abdomen, as if it were filled with lead. I felt weak, slumped onto the sofa, and cold sweat slowly seeped through my clothes, soon dampening my sweater. Liam, who had followed me up, saw my pained expression. Knowing it was my period, he quickly went downstairs to make brown sugar water. After feeding it to me spoonful by spoonful, he gave me some medicine and then rubbed his hands together to warm them, gently pressing them against my stomach. He held me, wishing he could bear the pain for me, his eyes overflowing with heartache. “My sweet girl, let’s not have children, okay? I can’t stand to see you in so much pain during your period. If you were to give birth, I can’t even imagine.” I lifted my pale, paper-white face, looking at him quietly, my voice extremely weak. “No children, what will your parents think?” “I don’t care what they think! Nothing is more important than you! If they insist on forcing me, I’d rather leave the Henderson family and give up all my inheritance!” He declared, while passionately kissing my neck. “Aurora, I told you, in this life, you alone are not enough for me to spoil. You are my child, and I’ll spoil you for life.” **Chapter 4** Every word was sincere, utterly earnest. I almost believed him. But then I remembered the videos from this morning, and I felt nothing but mockery. His love for me was clearly not fake, so why could he do something so deeply hurtful to me? Tears streamed down my face. I buried half my face in the pillow, my consciousness growing hazy. Unbeknownst to me, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up again, it was already midnight. I felt the space beside me and realized I was alone. I paused, then picked up a glass, planning to go downstairs for water. But as soon as I left the bedroom, I heard faint creaking sounds from next door. The study door was ajar. I tiptoed over and saw two figures entangled on the desk. Chloe’s skin was pale as snow under the lamp. Her face was flushed, and she was panting softly, her fingers ceaselessly clawing at the tabletop. “Brother Liam, isn’t… isn’t Sister on her period? You’re not with her, and you’re tormenting me again…” “Shut up!” Liam intentionally lowered his voice, but his movements didn’t stop. This unexpected scene hit my chest like a heavy blow, making every breath a tearing agony. Could he really not control himself? Every moment, he had to be with Chloe… I looked away, no longer thinking of getting water. I stumbled back to my room. Half an hour later, my bedroom door opened. Liam, after showering, lay down beside me and pulled me into his arms again. “Aurora, my sweet, your husband’s here. It won’t hurt anymore.” I didn’t answer him. I closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. But tears streamed down my cheeks, dampening my temples. The person behind me, thinking I was asleep, continued to gently rub my lower abdomen. I felt the burning warmth of his fingertips, and all my strength seemed to drain away, leaving only endless pain. I counted down in my mind, over and over. Only thirteen days left. Just hold on, Aurora, only thirteen days, and you’ll have nothing more to do with this man. During my period, Liam canceled all his work and stayed home with me. Once I slowly recovered, he reluctantly let go of me and went to the company to handle the piled-up affairs. After he left, I took my ID and went to the civil registry office to process the cancellation of my household registration. The clerk looked surprised. “Miss, only deceased persons can apply for this service.” I nodded. “I will be completely leaving this world in ten days. Please help me process it in advance.” The clerk thought I had cancer, gave me a sympathetic look, and eventually processed it for me. Holding the stamped documents, I sighed in relief, a smile of liberation on my face. Soon, there would be no Aurora in this world. And Liam would never find me!

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After five years in prison, the first thing I did was book a natural burial. “Ms. Vance, this is your reserved natural burial service. After you pass, your body will be taken to the Alps for a green burial. You’ll need to pay a deposit now, with the remaining balance due within two weeks.” I nodded, fumbling a worn plastic bag out of my faded jeans. I counted the bills and coins I’d saved for so long behind bars, over and over, before finally managing to hand over the full deposit. I’d been diagnosed with late-stage cancer in prison. They estimated I only had a month left to live. I remembered years ago, Julian Thorne and I had promised each other that we’d get married in the Alps, letting the eternal spirit of those majestic mountains witness our unwavering love. Now, the wedding was impossible. Let me rest forever in that pure land; it would be some small comfort. The natural burial wasn’t cheap. After leaving the agency, to settle the remaining balance, I went to apply for a waitress job at the ‘Night Feast’ club. My criminal record meant I couldn’t find any legitimate work, and this was a notorious high-end establishment in the city’s red-light district, where the wages were surprisingly good. After running through a few instructions, they handed me a uniform and told me to start that very night. After a quick training session, I carried a tray of drinks into a VIP room. The lights were dim, and many wealthy elites and socialites were playing games. I lowered my head, half-crouching by the coffee table, carefully setting down the bottles. Just as I was about to turn and leave, that familiar, cold voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. My body stiffened, and I froze instantly! Sure enough, on the high-backed sofa, Julian was seated, the undeniable center of attention. His starkly handsome features, usually so unyielding, seemed even more regal and aloof under the shifting lights. Five years later, his face hadn’t changed at all, but there was an added icy aura that warned others to keep their distance. I couldn’t help but glance at him again, and that’s when I noticed the woman he had his arm around. It was Charlotte Sterling, my best friend. They seemed to be talking about their wedding. “The wedding will be exactly how you like it, by the beach, with pink roses covering everything.” “If you didn’t like the last dress the designer made, I’ll have someone redo it. Everything will be to your taste.” Listening to that familiar voice, my thoughts drifted back, pulling me into the past. Five years ago, I was so close to becoming Julian’s bride. We had grown up together. When my parents died in an accident, Julian was there, helping me through those unbearable years. He cycled me to school, fought my bullies, and even, flushing bright red, bought me pads during my first period. Then, naturally, we fell in love, taking step after step towards the altar. Until, on the eve of our wedding, I accidentally hit Julian’s mother with my car, killing her! I’ll never forget that night. Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, crimson with fury. He cornered me against the wall, demanding to know why, if there was some hidden reason. I had never felt such despair. I looked up and laughed, “There was no reason. She caught me in bed with another man, and she swore she’d tell you everything. I just snapped, got into the car, and… that was it.” I’ll never forget the look Julian gave me then. Fury, hatred, and betrayal intertwined, a suffocating web that trapped me completely, making me feel as if I couldn’t breathe. The story ended with Julian himself sending me to prison. During my five years in prison, I replayed it endlessly: if I had told him the truth, would Julian and I have ended up like this? But my rational mind reminded me: I couldn’t. Because his mother, Victoria, had suffered from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, she’d had a mental episode, mistaking his bodyguard for his father, and they’d ended up in bed together. I had gone there to discuss wedding plans with Julian and had accidentally witnessed the scene. Victoria, once lucid, was filled with regret. She tearfully begged me never to tell anyone. Though I was conflicted, I ultimately promised to keep her secret. But I never expected that as I got into my car to leave, Victoria, overwhelmed by despair, would throw herself in front of it. Julian had been a prodigy from a prominent family since childhood. If this scandal ever got out, it would bring ruinous damage to him and the Thorne Corporation. People in their circle would look at him differently, might even question his legitimacy within high society. So, for Julian’s sake, I could only swallow the bitter pill alone, taking responsibility for everything. Now, with my terminal illness, there was even less need to reveal the truth. If he hated me, let him continue to hate me. That way, when I left, I could do so cleanly, without any lingering ties. My body trembling, I was about to slip away when a voice from behind suddenly called my name. “Eleanor Vance? You’re out of prison!” I flinched, not daring to meet the sharp gaze from the high-backed sofa. Just as I tried to leave, someone deliberately stuck out a leg and tripped me. Unprepared, I slammed into the coffee table, falling hard to the floor. Several bottles of liquor crashed and shattered with me. My hand was cut in several places, blood welling out profusely. Laughter instantly erupted in the room. Everyone stood, scrutinizing my pathetic, disheveled state. “Eleanor Vance, it really is you! Just out of prison and already working? You’re certainly dedicated!” I kept my head down, silent, only pressing my hand against my bleeding wounds. The person spoke again. “What are you waiting for? You spilled liquor everywhere, now clean it up.” “And remember, you’ll clean it on your knees.” Another wave of laughter washed over me. I could only pull a rag from my apron and kneel, wiping the spilled liquor again and again. I didn’t look up, but I could feel Julian’s hateful gaze fixed coldly on me. It was like a sharp blade hanging over my head, ready to strike a fatal blow. He hated me so much; he must be happier than anyone to see me tormented. After quickly wiping up the liquor, I tried to stand, but the person in front of me wasn’t ready to let me off so easily. “Trying to leave already? Those bottles you broke are priceless. How do you plan to pay for them?” I wrung my hands, at a loss, not even daring to look up. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to.” “You think an ‘I’m sorry’ is enough? I doubt you can afford it. Tell you what, I won’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Just crawl between my legs, and we’ll call it even.” The person finished, smirking as he propped one leg on a stool, his gaze mocking me. A fresh wave of laughter spread through the room, followed by a chorus of shouts. “Crawl! Crawl!” I bit my lip, my cheeks burning. Their mocking stares felt like daggers piercing my back; there was no escape. I had no money to pay, and the person in front of me was clearly just doing Julian’s bidding. If I didn’t kneel, they’d find another way to torment me. In those five years in prison, dignity had long become meaningless to me. My vision blurred. I bit my lip until I almost tasted blood. Finally, before everyone’s eyes, with a sickening thud, I sank to my knees before the man. Just as I bent down, preparing to crawl between his legs, the coffee table was violently kicked over, and an icy voice sliced through the air. “Enough!” Then, a sharp pain shot through my arm. Before I could react, I was pulled out of the room. In the dim hallway, Julian slammed me against the wall, his eyes burning with hatred and coldness. “Eleanor Vance, is this how you degrade yourself?” My back hit the cold marble, and I shivered involuntarily. It took me a moment to turn my head. “You shouldn’t defend me. If you do, how could your mother ever rest in peace?” My words evidently infuriated him. He shoved me away. “Defend you? You’re thinking too much. I pulled you out to make a deal!” “You’re short on money, aren’t you? Spend the night guarding my room door tonight, and I’ll give you money. For the coming days, you’ll stay by my side. I promise, I’ll pay you more than you’d earn serving drinks.” He finished, and without waiting for my refusal, he took a wad of cash and savagely threw it at my face. The impact made my head snap to the side, and blood immediately seeped from my cheek. I knew his demand was nothing more than a way to get revenge. And he certainly succeeded. That night, as I stood outside his door, I heard him and Charlotte making love. The man’s muffled groans and the woman’s moans continued for a long time, never stopping. Yet, I stood there like a soulless husk, not even feeling the tears that streamed down my face. The moans lasted all night. It wasn’t until dawn that Julian finally opened his door, looking at me coldly. “Clean up the room.” I looked at the “battlefield” of condoms strewn across the floor, my heart clenching, but I said nothing, only nodding silently. Charlotte emerged from the bathroom, covered in hickeys. She paused, seeing the scene, then linked her arm through his, coaxing, “Julian, it’s all in the past. Just let Eleanor go.” Julian’s lips curled into a smirk, but no warmth reached his eyes. “She wants money, I give her money to do things for me. A fair trade. Why should I ‘let her go’?” He then turned, embracing her, and his tone softened. “Don’t worry. Before the wedding, I’ll make sure she’s out of our lives for good.” For the next few days, wherever Julian and Charlotte went, he’d drag me along. When someone offered a toast, he’d make me take the drink, letting me get completely wasted until I was throwing up endlessly in the restroom, but he wouldn’t let up. During meals, he made me serve Charlotte like a personal maid: peel her shrimp, debone her fish, wipe her hands. He even made me accompany her to the restroom. All the while, he showered Charlotte with affection, right in front of everyone. After every social engagement, he’d impassively pull a stack of cash from his car and throw it hard at me. “Your payment for today.” I never reacted to his humiliation. I’d just silently bend down, pick up the crumpled bills, and carefully tuck them into my bag. Yes, I needed the money. Once I had enough, I could disappear from his world entirely. A natural burial, leaving not a single bone, not a shred of flesh. As if I had never existed in this world at all. On Charlotte’s birthday, Julian threw her an extravagant party. His devotion to Charlotte was evident to everyone. The entire venue was decorated exactly to Charlotte’s liking; I heard they’d used a million roses for the setting alone. Charlotte’s dress that day was the very one Julian’s mother had designed for her future daughter-in-law years ago. They made their entrance, arm in arm, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. Julian was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but the woman by his side was no longer me. My mind involuntarily replayed our own engagement. That occasion, too, had been grand and elaborate. All their friends and family had witnessed his deep affection for me, as we walked hand in hand, about to enter the gates of happiness. He had presented the family heirloom ring, placing it on my finger, saying that with his ring, I was his, and we would never be apart. The murmurs around me broke my reverie. “What was Eleanor Vance thinking, anyway? She grew up with Julian; he practically spoiled her rotten, doted on her every whim. And she goes and runs over his mother.” “Exactly. Everyone in the city knew how much Julian loved her back then. I really don’t know why she did it.” “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have kids in elementary school by now.” “Don’t even think about it. Can you understand the mind of such a viper-hearted woman? She deserves everything she’s getting now.” “Yeah, women like her should just die!” I listened to their curses, my face devoid of emotion. As they wished, I would be dead soon enough. After the party, Julian was still bidding farewell to guests. Charlotte and I waited for him by the lakeside near the entrance. This was our first time alone since my release. Charlotte was silent for a long time before she finally spoke. “Eleanor, do you know? I’ve always been deeply in love with Julian. I fell for him even before you two got together.” “Back then, you both loved each other, and I had given up on him, preparing to bless your union. But why did you betray Julian?” “Do you know how much Julian has suffered all these years? I finally managed to comfort him, so why did you have to reappear now and stir up his feelings again?” I looked at the woman before me, never having imagined that my best friend, who had been by my side all these years, had secretly loved my man. But even now that I had reappeared, I never intended to disrupt their lives. Someone who “killed” his mother, someone on the verge of death, was destined to contend for nothing. “Lottie, I’ll be leaving soon.” Charlotte looked at me coldly, a flicker in her eyes, clearly not believing my words. Suddenly, she took off her engagement ring and forcefully threw it into the lake. “Eleanor, you threw my ring in the water, so you should help me get it back, shouldn’t you?” As her words fell, Julian’s figure appeared, swift as a shadow. He angrily grabbed my hand, his eyes burning with fury. “Eleanor Vance, can’t you go one minute without causing trouble? What does the ring I gave Charlotte have to do with you? Why would you suddenly throw it away?!” I met his gaze. His furious eyes held a flicker of something else—was it… expectation? Was he hoping I’d thrown Charlotte’s ring out of jealousy? A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I forced a smile onto my face. “Why would I throw away an insignificant ring? To me, it’s worth less than the stack of cash you toss my way.” Julian’s eyes instantly turned to ice. He shoved me hard, sending me tumbling into the freezing lake with a splash. My gasp was swallowed by the water, but he’d already turned his back, not even sparing me a glance. “I don’t care how you do it; you will get that ring back for me.” With that, he pulled Charlotte away, hurrying off without hesitation. It was the dead of winter; fresh snow had just fallen, and the air was brutally cold. Shards of ice floated on the lake’s surface, chilling me just to look at them. Submerged in that icy water, my entire entire body stiffened, and the muddy lakebed was filled with sharp debris, drawing blood from my feet. I bit my lip, diving down again and again, then surfacing again and again. I continued this mechanical search in the lake all night, until blood stained a large portion of the water. Finally, I found the ring at the bottom of the lake. When I appeared before Julian, battered and bruised, utterly pathetic, his brow furrowed briefly. Then, with a cold face, he pulled a stack of cash from his pocket and once again ruthlessly threw it at me. As always, I took the money and left in silence. For the next few days, Julian uncharacteristically didn’t bother me. Until one day, returning from an outing, I saw Julian’s entire villa engulfed in thick, rolling smoke as I stepped out of the car. A sudden premonition of dread surged through me. Julian was in danger! The thought flashed through my mind, and I instinctively rushed toward the fire. Julian always preferred quiet, so the household staff only came to clean when he wasn’t home. He’d been staying in for days, so there would be no one else in the entire house but him! Being intimately familiar with the house, I quickly found a semi-conscious Julian in the bedroom. The fire had spread incredibly fast. He must have taken a sleeping pill and been resting, which is why he was trapped so easily, suffocated by the smoke before he even knew what was happening. I strained, pulling him onto my shoulders, and slowly, laboriously, moved toward the door. The fire grew larger and larger, almost completely cutting off our escape route. As I hesitated, a burning beam suddenly crashed down. Without a thought, I threw myself over Julian, shielding him. The searing hot wood slammed into my back, and the pain nearly knocked me out. But looking at Julian, slumped against my shoulder, brows furrowed in his deep unconsciousness, I felt a determination I’d never known. I had to get Julian out, even if it cost me my life. And so, with a desperate resolve, utterly disregarding my own life, I somehow managed to drag a man over six feet tall out of the raging inferno. We collapsed onto the lawn, and I struggled to breathe the fresh air, my entire body covered in wounds. Seeing Charlotte rushing frantically toward us, I mustered my last ounce of strength and pushed Julian into her arms. “When he wakes up, tell him you were the one who saved him.” Charlotte looked at me, perplexed by my request. She called out to me as I stood to leave, asking again, “Tell me, Ellie, did you really kill Julian’s mother on purpose?” I swayed as I stood, my body stiffening at her question. After a long pause, I finally spoke. “Yes.” With that, I hurried away, never looking back. In the days that followed, Charlotte diligently cared for Julian. And when he learned that Charlotte had risked her life to save him, his devotion to her became enviable, almost doting. Their intimate encounters grew more frequent. Standing guard outside their room, I clearly heard their passionate nights and the sweet nothings he whispered to her. I thought, perhaps now, Julian truly loved Charlotte. And that was good. He deserved to find his true happiness. And I, like a rat in the sewer, could only darkly glimpse at others’ joy. The wounds on my back still throbbed. I could only secretly apply ointment when no one was around. One day, as usual, I was hiding in my small room, taking off my jacket to apply medication, when the door suddenly pushed open. It was Julian. His gaze landed on the grotesque scars on my back, and his eyes instantly reddened. Then, he walked toward me, step by trembling step, and spoke. “What are these burns from?” “Were you the one who saved me that day?”

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Everyone in NYC knew Jaxson Reed, the Reed family heir, was head-over-heels for me. He’d shamelessly flaunt our relationship, talking about starting a huge family with me, and every time he did, I’d blush fiercely. To make his dreams come true, after every intimate moment, I’d secretly spend half an hour trying every old wives’ tale in the book. That was until a few days ago. Jaxson had too much to drink at a party. When I went to pick him up, one of his buddies, clearly wasted, pointed at me and slurred, “You, and Jaxson’s ex, and his ex before that—you’re all just stand-ins for his first love.” It turns out Jaxson and Seraphina Thorne were high school sweethearts. The year he loved her most, Seraphina broke up with him and moved abroad without a second thought. He got lost in the past, becoming a playboy, dating one girlfriend after another. And every single one of them, including me, carried Seraphina’s shadow. Even his refusal to inherit the family business after graduation, opting to be a race car driver instead, was because of something Seraphina had said years ago: “Race car drivers are so hot! My future husband *has* to be a race car driver.” Six years of my youth, six years of my genuine heart, all just a cruel illusion. In that moment, I made the decision to return home and accept a family arrangement. I was done with Jaxson. I wouldn’t, *couldn’t*, love him anymore. My soft voice cut through the silent night, clearer than I expected. “Liam, I’ve agreed to the family arrangement.” My brother, Liam Parker, on the other end of the line, finally breathed a sigh of relief. “So you’re finally ready to break up with that boyfriend of yours? After all these years, he wouldn’t even come home to meet Mom and Dad. I always knew you two wouldn’t last.” Hearing his confident tone, I lowered my eyes and mumbled a quiet agreement. “I was wrong before. I’ll wrap things up here as soon as possible. You can handle the wedding arrangements; just give me half a month.” “Don’t worry about the wedding, we’ll take care of everything. You just need to be back in time. This time, Mom, Dad, and I carefully selected your partner. He comes from a good family, has a great personality, and he’s handsome. He’ll definitely impress you.” “Oh, and when you come back for the wedding, remember to invite someone for me. My best buddy, Jaxson Reed. You lived with him for a while when you went to college in NYC, didn’t you? He took good care of you back then, so make sure to invite him to the wedding.” I didn’t know how to respond to that. After a long silence, I finally whispered, “He can’t make it.” Before I finished speaking, the door swung open. With a quick flick of my wrist, I hung up the phone and looked up at Jaxson, who had just returned. He raised an eyebrow, a cocky, arrogant grin spreading across his face. “I can’t make it? Can’t make it where?” *My wedding.* I answered him in my head. But on the surface, I remained calm, seemingly unaffected by anything. My voice was flat. “Nothing.” Jaxson didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, casually unbuttoning his black shirt. “Just talking to your brother?” I hummed in response, getting up to go to the bedroom, but he pulled my hand, circling me into his embrace. His hot breath brushed against my ear, and an electric tension sparked between us. “So, did you tell him what we are?” I managed a small laugh, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Didn’t you want to keep it a secret?” “Not that I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t. Knowing your brother, if he found out his best friend was dating his precious sister, he’d probably fly to NYC tonight and beat me to a pulp.” Listening to his joking tone, my eyelashes trembled slightly, but my voice remained calm. “So, in your heart, am I your girlfriend?” Jaxson raised an eyebrow, surprised by my sudden question. “Not my girlfriend? We’ve lived together for six years! Not my girlfriend? I come home and immediately hug you? Not my girlfriend, and I do *this* to you?” As he spoke, his warm lips brushed against my neck. My body tensed instantly, and I quickly turned my head, dodging his kiss. “I… I don’t feel well today.” Jaxson mistook my discomfort for shyness and chuckled. “My little girlfriend, we’ve been together so long, why are you still so shy?” He ruffled my hair, then turned and headed to the bathroom. Listening to his receding footsteps, I finally repeated the question to myself. *Girlfriend?* *Shouldn’t it be… stand-in?* I first met Jaxson eight years ago. He and Liam were college roommates, and because they were close, Liam would occasionally bring him home to play video games. It was puppy love at first sight; I instantly fell for the cool, lazy, devastatingly handsome older brother. Later, I graduated high school, and Jaxson also graduated and returned to his hometown in NYC. Longing to be near him, I defied my family’s objections and secretly applied to a university in his city. Because I was pretty and had been harassed by bad boys in high school, Liam didn’t feel safe leaving me alone in a new city. He entrusted me to Jaxson, his best friend, and arranged for me to stay in his apartment. At first, we didn’t have much interaction. I was busy with school, and Jaxson was busy with racing, and busy with dating—he changed girlfriends almost every three days. That was until my sophomore year, when Jaxson came home completely drunk. I stumbled around, trying my best to take care of him. Late that night, looking at him seemingly asleep on the couch, I was overcome by an impulse. I reached out, wanting to smooth away the frown lines on his face. The moment my skin touched his, his tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. Jaxson lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice low and magnetic. “You like me?” Caught off guard, my face flushed, and I sprang to my feet. “N-no…” He smiled languidly. “Don’t like me? Then why does your face get so red every time you see me, little sister?” I hadn’t realized he knew about my stolen glances. Before I could figure out what to do, he chuckled, cupped the back of my head, and pressed a light kiss on my lips. I melted into that tender, lingering kiss, utterly lost. After that passionate night, my once-peaceful life changed dramatically. Jaxson, who had been a wandering spirit, seemed to settle down, focusing solely on our relationship. I repeatedly refused my parents’ and Liam’s demands for me to return home for an arranged marriage, stubbornly staying in NYC, by his side. Every time, Liam would ask me, “Who’s in NYC that makes you stay there for six years and never come back?” Each time, I wanted to reveal my relationship with Jaxson, to tell everyone that I was dating my brother’s best friend. But Jaxson always stopped me. I never understood why, until now. It was because I was merely a stand-in for his first love. He didn’t love me at all. The next day, my biological clock woke me up at seven sharp. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jaxson tidying his shirt in front of the mirror. His routine was usually reversed; seeing him up this early was a first in my memory. Hearing my footsteps, he turned to me and asked, “How do I look, little sis? Handsome today?” He was a natural model; even a simple black shirt usually looked great on him. Today, he’d made a special effort, and he was undeniably handsome, capable of charming any girl with just a lazy glance. I didn’t know why he was suddenly so concerned about his appearance. Normally, my heart would pound, but now I just calmly nodded. “Yeah, very handsome.” Jaxson didn’t notice my odd behavior. He curved his lips. “I have a party today. Be a good girl and stay home. I’ll bring you dessert when I get back.” With that, he turned and left. After his retreating figure disappeared, I went to pour myself a glass of water, noticing his phone left on the table. As I picked it up, I accidentally hit the power button. The screen lit up, revealing a new message. From someone saved as “Sera.” “Jax, it’s been eight years. I’m really looking forward to the party today. Are you?” My steps faltered at the sight of the message. So, his first love was back in town today. No wonder he was up so early, dressed so meticulously, with a noticeable glow about him. The next second, the front door swung open. Jaxson, who had turned back midway, suddenly returned to grab his phone. Before leaving, he glanced at the screen’s content, his steps pausing slightly, and he couldn’t help but look at me, who was eating breakfast. “Did you just look at my phone?” I looked up, my gaze calm. “No, why?” He finally smiled, as if relieved, said “Nothing,” and left again. This was the first time I felt I couldn’t read him. His heart was clearly with his first love; all his girlfriends were stand-ins for Seraphina. Logically, he shouldn’t care if I discovered the truth. So why did he care if I found out? Was he afraid of losing me? I didn’t want to delude myself into thinking he still harbored any love for me. Besides, I knew the loss was already a done deal. After breakfast, I sat down at my computer and opened my drawing software. I’m a graphic novelist, and with the wedding coming up, I probably wouldn’t be able to work for a long time. While I still had free time, I planned to finish all my remaining drafts. After a morning of work, I packed up half a day’s worth of progress and sent it to my editor, then had lunch. In the afternoon, taking advantage of the nice weather, I started decluttering. Couple’s mugs, keychains, scarves, jackets… I’d bought them little by little over the years, filling a large box. Every time I saw these items, I remembered the helpless look on Jaxson’s face when I’d gotten something new and insisted he wear or use it. “These are all just little girl’s trinkets. Do you really want your Jax to wear these out and be laughed at by his buddies?” Remembering those words, I dragged the box downstairs and tossed everything, box and all, into the trash bin. *Now it’s better. No one will laugh anymore.* Done with the swift disposal, I was about to go back inside when I turned around and bumped into a cool, firm embrace. Jaxson, who had returned without my knowing, put one arm around my shoulder and used the other to brush away my sweat-soaked bangs. “What did you throw away? Why are you all sweaty?” “Just useless trash.” I gave a casual excuse, and Jaxson didn’t suspect a thing. He pulled me upstairs. The moment the elevator doors opened, the sanitation truck rumbled by. Watching the box of items being taken away, I finally averted my gaze. *Trash. What kind of trash was that? Anyone who looked closely would have noticed, but he didn’t ask anything. It was only because he didn’t care.* A flicker of self-mockery crossed my eyes. My peripheral vision caught the unwavering smile on his face, and I paused. Jaxson had a pair of incredibly captivating eyes, and when he smiled, it was impossible to look away. Perhaps knowing this, he usually had a smile on his face. Others might think he was good-natured, but only I knew that his smile was superficial; it never reached his eyes. But today, all day long, when he smiled, his eyes held genuine happiness. Seeing Seraphina must have made him truly happy. As soon as we walked in, Jaxson noticed how empty the apartment felt. He looked around, a surprised expression on his face. “Did we get robbed? Why does it feel like so many things are missing? Where are the mugs? The throw pillows are gone too?” I was about to answer, but Jaxson’s phone buzzed several times. He glanced at the messages, quickly forgot about it, and walked into the study. Before closing the door, he instructed, “Hazel, I have something to do. You go to bed first, don’t wait up for me.” I didn’t ask anything and went to my bedroom alone. The clock on the wall struck midnight. My phone, tucked under my pillow, vibrated wildly. “Happy Birthday, Hazel!” “Happy 23rd Birthday, baby Hazel! Remember to eat cake!” Scrolling down, it was a stream of birthday wishes. My dad, mom, Liam, friends, classmates—everyone, even those thousands of miles away, had sent their blessings. Everyone except my boyfriend, who was just a few feet away, and seemed to have completely forgotten. *Because he had more important things to do.* I closed the half-watched movie on my laptop and clicked the constantly popping-up SnapChat icon in the bottom right corner. It was Jaxson chatting with Seraphina. He didn’t know his SnapChat was logged in on the laptop, and I could see all their conversations. I watched as they talked, from the past to the present, and then about the future. In the long, dense stream of messages, Jaxson never once mentioned me. *Of course. After all, I was just a stand-in, a mere comfort. Why would he mention me?* I watched the constantly refreshing dialogue and pressed the power-off button. I had no dreams that night. The next morning, I was woken by the doorbell. I rubbed my eyes as I walked into the living room and saw Jaxson, who had woken up at some point, holding a bouquet of flowers and a birthday cake. “Hazel, did you order a cake? Why the sudden craving?” A few seconds of silence filled the room before I spoke softly. “It’s my birthday. My friends probably had it delivered.” Jaxson froze. He instinctively looked at the wall calendar and realized it was July 12th. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He quickly put down the items and gently guided me back to the bedroom. “It’s your birthday today. Let’s go out on a date. What do you want to eat?” “No need. Let’s just celebrate at home.” I declined his suggestion. But Jaxson insisted we go out to celebrate, even pulling a dress from the closet and handing it to me. I couldn’t argue with him, so I washed up and went out with him. We went to our favorite restaurant for brunch, then watched the latest movie, and browsed around the mall. In the middle of it, I went to the restroom. When I came back, I saw him on the phone, asking someone at home to order a very expensive necklace. It was the same necklace I’d seen in a magazine half a month ago and instantly fallen in love with. Watching his eager expression, a storm of emotions brewed inside me. I didn’t quite understand what was going on in his head. He remembered a necklace I’d only glanced at, yet he completely forgot my most important birthday. Couldn’t he tell what truly mattered? On second thought, he probably could. Before Seraphina returned, he used me, his stand-in, as a substitute for his affection, paying attention to me in every way. But after Seraphina’s return, all his attention shifted to her. So, anything related to me was simply forgotten. I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for the rest of the morning, finding little interest in anything. Jaxson noticed my distraction and ruffled my hair. “Little birthday girl, why do you seem unhappy? Aren’t you satisfied with my plans today?” Now that I thought about it, he always loved to ruffle my hair. Subconsciously, he probably always treated me more like a sister than a lover. I shook my head, about to say I was tired and wanted to go home, but Jaxson hailed a car and gave the driver the address of a mountain retreat. Seeing my surprised look, he raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you always said you wanted to meet my friends? Everyone’s free today. I’ll take you to meet them. Will that make you happier?” This unexpected change of plans left me slightly stunned. In the past, Jaxson was unwilling to meet my family or friends, so I thought I’d try to meet his. But each time, he’d come up with various excuses to refuse. Over time, I stopped bringing it up. Now that I was about to leave NYC, he wanted to take me, probably out of a flicker of guilt. *The irony of it all, really.* I quietly watched the scenery flashing by outside the window, ultimately saying nothing. The taxi stopped halfway up the mountain. Jaxson took my hand and led me into the retreat, pushing open the heavy doors. *Bang, bang!* Confetti and streamers rained down from above. A crowd of people rushed out, shouting “Happy Birthday!” with huge grins. Seeing the commotion, Jaxson immediately pulled me into his arms, brushing the streamers from my hair while shooing away a few of his eager buddies. “Watch it, don’t scare my girl. She’s a bit…” His words trailed off abruptly. He stared at a familiar face in the crowd, his expression suddenly changing. Seraphina, however, looked completely at ease, smiling as she approached. “Jax, it’s been so many years since I moved abroad. I haven’t been to a group event in ages! This morning, I heard you were celebrating your girlfriend’s birthday, so I thought I’d join in. You don’t mind, do you?” Jaxson’s eyes scanned the room, cold and sharp. Everyone present lost the courage to meet his gaze, quickly looking away, pretending it had nothing to do with them. Just as the atmosphere threatened to turn frosty, I politely extended my hand and introduced myself. “Welcome. Nice to meet you. I’m Hazel Parker.” Seraphina stared at me for a long moment, then, as if realizing something, she smiled faintly and shook my hand. “Hello, I’m Seraphina Thorne, Jax’s… friend.” “Hazel, has anyone ever told you we look a little alike?”

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Behind Julian Sterling’s back, I arranged for his ‘little rose’ to study at a prestigious music conservatory in New York. Julian, who everyone always described as a detached ascetic, instantly went berserk. He was convinced I’d deliberately sent away his little rose. He marooned our five-year-old son, Leo, on a cruise ship heading for the Arctic, demanding I bring Seraphina back. I watched Leo cry in agony on the ship as it sailed further into international waters. Then, Julian’s assistant hoisted Leo, his small body dangling precariously outside the railing. Julian’s voice, chillingly low and sinister, echoed, “Eleanor, you have five minutes to decide. Otherwise, our son will sink to the bottom of the deep blue sea!” **Minute one:** I remembered the five years I’d secretly loved Julian, quietly becoming his unacknowledged partner. He came from an influential family in pharmaceuticals; I was just a girl from a humble background, with no standout looks. I’d chosen to be a secret, content without a title. **Minute two:** Sterling family had Julian set for an arranged marriage of convenience with an heiress right after graduation. But Julian pulled me straight to the courthouse and we got our marriage license. **Minute three:** I got pregnant, but the Sterling family refused to accept me. Julian took me away from his family, cut ties, and we had our son, Leo. **Minute four:** Julian adopted his friend’s niece. The night of Seraphina’s 20th birthday, I saw the raw, hidden love in Julian’s eyes when he looked at her. **Minute five:** I remembered Julian and his little niece, Seraphina, in bed, willing to die entangled in each other’s arms… Julian’s hand opened, and the personal charm he’d worn for nearly twenty years was gone. That charm, which I was never allowed to touch, was now fastened around Seraphina’s right ankle. Julian’s eyes were arctic, completely devoid of warmth. “Eleanor, I’m asking you one last time. Where is Seraphina?” A sharp pang of pain tore through my throat, and Leo’s desperate cries for “Mommy, save me!” hammered in my ears. The sea wind whipped at my face, stinging painfully. “Eleanor, do you want our son to die, is that it?” My chest ached, each breath a struggle. I lifted my tear-filled eyes to Julian. “Julian, Leo is your biological son! How could you threaten his life?” Julian’s thin lips curled as he spat, “But Seraphina is my life too!” Tears streamed down my face. So, Seraphina was his life now. What were Leo and I to him then? “Eleanor, as long as Seraphina comes back, you’ll still be my wife.” I swallowed, trying to control my emotions. “Julian, I don’t believe you’d actually sacrifice our son for Seraphina. Besides, I haven’t harmed her.” Julian’s voice turned cold. “Counting down five seconds. If you don’t tell me where she is, our son, Leo, will be thrown into international waters to feed the sharks!” “5… 4… 3…” Seeing him actually start to move, I couldn’t hold out any longer. “Seraphina is at the BK Music Academy in New York.” I crumpled to the ground. He actually dared. He dared to abandon our own son for Seraphina. My tearful eyes watched Julian immediately grab his phone and dial. He was clearly frantic. “Get a helicopter over here. I’m flying to New York.” He didn’t spare me another glance, his eyes glued to his phone. My trembling hand scooped up a handful of sand. For ten years, I’d quietly been Julian’s woman behind the scenes. Whether it was scientific breakthroughs or achievements, every single one of his projects had my help. He built Sterling Pharmaceuticals from the ground up, moving beyond pure research to become its CEO. I’d spent 24/7 in the lab, solely dedicated to developing the specific drug he wanted. I succeeded. Sterling Pharmaceuticals quickly rose to become a top-tier pharmaceutical group, rivaling the original Sterling corporation. That night, Julian held me close, kissing my neck with such tender affection. “Eleanor, you’re my other half! Woven into my very soul!” I thought everything was finally moving in the right direction. I could prove I deserved to stand by his side, the Sterling family had seen my results, and in the last two years, our relationship with them had softened. But the outcome was this: Julian had fallen in love with a girl nine years his junior. A girl who was innocently charming, who’d cling to him, constantly pouting and saying: “Julian, I want you to stay with me.” “Julian, I don’t get this problem, help me.” “Julian, you absolutely *must* come to Seraphina’s cello competition. If you don’t, I’ll forfeit…” “Julian, Seraphina really likes you.” Acting spoiled was something I’d never done with Julian. Confessing my feelings was something I’d never done with Julian. Julian, right under my nose, fell for that ‘little princess’ who was so utterly helpless she ‘could barely function on her own.’ This little princess needed him to pamper her, and he willingly took on that difficult task, treating it like sweet candy. The helicopter arrived quickly. Julian couldn’t wait for Leo’s cruise ship to return; he boarded the helicopter and flew to New York. I watched the helicopter disappear into the distance. I called Julian several times, but he hung up every time. I sent him a message directly: **[When is our son coming back?!]** His reply came: **[In three hours, Eleanor. Seraphina is just a friend’s niece I promised to look after. She even calls me ‘Uncle Julian,’ I can’t let him down.]** I managed a bitter laugh at his explanation. *Can’t let him down?* I was about to turn off my phone when another message popped up. **[Eleanor, so what if I love Julian? He wants to be with me, and we’re willing to die tangled in each other’s arms. He’s had no passion for you for ages. You’re just unwilling to let him go.]** **[Eleanor, Julian came to my school again tonight. We went to a hotel, and he really liked the bunny outfit I wore today.]** **[…]** There were also explicit videos, showing Julian’s unrestrained passion in vivid detail. I turned off my phone and sat numbly by the sea, waiting for my son to return. The sea wind had dried my tears. I once believed that my love for Julian was enough. When Julian cheated, I even thought men might just be looking for excitement; we had a son, we needed a complete family. But now, I knew I couldn’t do it anymore. I’d been alone since childhood, without parental love or family affection. I thought I’d found true love, but now everything was shattered again. I opened a contract on my phone. This was the divorce agreement I’d signed when Sterling Pharmaceuticals went public. It meant automatically forfeiting all my shares in Sterling Pharmaceuticals and waiving my claim to the marriage itself. Just before the IPO, Grandpa Sterling had found me. “Eleanor, if you sign this, I’ll help Julian’s company go public. He wants to list on NASDAQ, and with my help, Sterling Pharmaceuticals can rival the original Sterling corporation.” To reassure the Sterling family and for Julian’s sake, I secretly signed the agreement. I had never imagined Julian would leave me. Now, everything had changed. Soon after, I sent another message. **[I agree. I’m joining Ocean’s Gate.]** That was the world’s top marine medical research team, where the best minds from all over the globe gathered. The catch? You needed to be confined beneath the sea for 30 years before you could pass through that ‘Gate of Time.’ My only condition: I would take my son, Leo. Julian would never find Leo and me again! To go to a place without borders, I needed to take my unique research findings with me. But all the research data and samples were in the lab. Opening that lab required both Julian’s and my fingerprints and passwords simultaneously. Soon after, Leo finally returned. His face was stained with tears, and he was sleeping fitfully. I kissed his forehead. “Leo, do you want to leave with Mommy?” Leo’s eyelashes fluttered. He looked at me, crying, “Mommy, Leo almost went into the ocean.” A five-year-old already understood what that meant. It was Julian’s most trusted assistant who had held Leo. My eyes welled up. “Leo, if you come with Mommy, you won’t have Daddy anymore. Are you willing?” Leo wrapped his small arms around my neck and nodded. “Wherever Mommy is, Leo is.” I took Leo to the corporate building. My fingerprints and password allowed me access to the high-level research lab. But I couldn’t open that door. Through the glass, I could see the computers and various experiment samples inside. One set of experimental data, which I had developed entirely on my own, was the only thing I truly wanted to take with me. “Mommy, what should we do? Daddy’s not here, you can’t open this door.” My mind replayed Julian building this lab, recording my fingerprints and password. He’d held me, whispering in my ear, “Eleanor, don’t tell me your password, and I won’t tell you mine. This place holds the company’s most important treasures. Only when we’re here together can we open this door and see these things. This way, we’ll always be connected, never separated.” When two people are in love, it’s about mutual reliance. But when the love fades, it becomes the perfect way to guard against each other. Julian, did you ever consider this day, five years ago? I ultimately couldn’t open the lab door. I took Leo straight to our apartment on the second floor. For years, Leo and I had lived in the corporate building with Julian until Seraphina’s arrival prompted them to buy a villa, turning it into a home. Everything here was something Leo and I had put together ourselves, before Seraphina came along. I packed all my belongings: things Julian bought for me, things I bought for Julian, and all the matching couple items I’d secretly bought with hidden hopes. Leo also sorted all his things. “Daddy bought this, don’t need it. Mommy bought this, take it. This is our family photo, don’t need it.” The little guy used three bags, categorizing items quickly. I held back my tears, watching my son meticulously sort everything. Julian, do you know how smart Leo is? He didn’t say a word, but he understood you’d abandoned him. Leo ran over and hugged me tightly. His small hands wiped away my tears. “Mommy, you always wanted to go to that lab, didn’t you? You said the ocean makes up three-quarters of our home, and we have to protect it. You always wanted to be a warrior protecting the ocean. Mommy is the best. You’re just going to fulfill your dream, and Leo supports you, he’ll go with you.” I looked at a painting in the distance. Julian was a skilled painter. It was an oil painting he’d done of Leo and me when Leo was two. I walked over, opened a paint box nearby, grabbed a brush, and slowly painted over my own image. Leo immediately grabbed a small brush, mimicking me, and painted over his own image in the painting. The little guy said warmly, “Mommy, when Leo learns to paint, I’ll only paint for you. Leo is super talented, definitely better than this painting.” I smiled faintly, stroking his face. Once everything was sorted, I made a call, and the junk collection service hauled everything away. That included the bed Julian and I shared, the sofa, the kitchenware—everything. The cozy photos I’d arranged on the walls, Leo’s messy scribbles, I tore them all down and threw them away. I even bought new paint and brushed the walls over and over again. Until this 200-square-meter apartment was left with only its load-bearing walls, empty, not even a single needle left. The walls were stark white, not a trace visible. And in the kitchen, the stomach medicine I always kept for Julian? Not a single pill remained. It took me a day and a night to do all this. Leo fell asleep on the floor. I carried him back to the villa. Pushing open the door, I found the living room filled with cigarette smoke, a dozen butts overflowing in the ashtray. Julian’s usually stoic face was etched with a hint of despair, his eyes bloodshot. His voice was cold, deep, and menacing. “Seraphina was bullied the moment she got to school! She’s lying in her dorm, covered in bruises, and she doesn’t even have money for medicine!” Julian had been waiting for me, his face accusatory, his icy eyes chilling me to the bone, as if I were his enemy. I glanced at Leo sleeping in my arms. “Julian, whatever it is, don’t argue in front of our son.” I was about to head upstairs. Just then, Seraphina appeared at the top of the stairs. She was wearing a white nightgown, her cascading curly hair falling to her waist, her innocent face filled with panic. She nervously clutched the fabric of her nightgown. “Aunt Eleanor, I… I promise I won’t cling to Uncle Julian anymore. Please don’t send me abroad.” The girl stood not far away, deliberately calling me “Aunt Eleanor” to make me sound old and past my prime. She looked at me pitifully. Julian had already risen from the sofa and went straight to Seraphina on the stairs. He gently pushed back her long hair, revealing red finger marks on her fair face where she’d been slapped hard. Seraphina collapsed into Julian’s arms, weeping. “Aunt Eleanor, the students who bullied me were all from here. They said they were paid to do it. You sent me to a top music academy, so it couldn’t have been you bullying me, could it?” Julian’s eyes turned completely cold, his icy gaze fixed on me, standing downstairs. “Eleanor, you may not like Seraphina, but I told you I have to take care of her until she graduates with her master’s at 25, until her uncle returns. But my constant compromises have only led you to bully Seraphina again and again.” Their arguments were loud enough to wake Leo. He tried to turn his head, but I wouldn’t let him. “Leo, close your eyes. Don’t listen.” I struggled to compose myself. “Julian, the BK Music Academy is one of the top three institutions in the world. If there’s bullying, you can call the police, or investigate it yourself, instead of interrogating me here.” Seraphina continued to sob uncontrollably. “Aunt Eleanor, I was wrong, I was wrong.” She pleaded while kneeling on the floor. “Please, Aunt Eleanor, I just want to study here in Veridian City. I can even live on campus. I promise I’ll only come back once a month—no, even half a day is fine. Please don’t send me away. Those people will kill me.” Seraphina’s tears seemed to mesmerize Julian. He picked her up right in front of me, his eyes filled with ruthless fury as he looked at me. “We’ll talk in the study later. I need to comfort Seraphina first.” I numbly went upstairs, Leo’s childish voice saying, “Mommy, can we leave Daddy sooner?” Julian embraced Seraphina. I stroked Leo’s back, my heart aching. “Yes, honey. Once Mommy handles everything, I’ll try my best.” I carried Leo down the second-floor hallway towards his bedroom. As we passed Seraphina’s room, I noticed the door wasn’t quite closed, leaving a slight gap. Through the sliver of space, I saw Julian pinning Seraphina on the bed, his hand already disappearing beneath her white nightgown. My body instantly stiffened, my eyes filled with excruciating pain. Julian, is *this* how you’re taking care of her?

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