Category: English

Arabella Walker and Charles Clark are the most enviable loving couple in the entire military base’s family area. Charles is a famously cold-looking colonel, but all his tenderness is reserved for Arabella. When Arabella had her period, Charles would make her honey water. When Arabella had a high fever in the middle of the night, Charles would carry her through the snow to the hospital. Even when Arabella had a severe hemorrhage during the difficult birth of their daughter, Bonnie Clark, Charles ignored everyone’s advice and insisted the nurse take half his blood to transfuse to her. Arabella originally thought they would live happily like this forever. Until three years ago, Charles’s brother, James Clark, unexpectedly passed away, leaving behind his wife, Emilia Kelly, and their one-year-old son, Arlo Clark. Charles had a close bond with James since childhood. From then on, he took caring for Emilia and Arlo as his responsibility. At first, Charles only delivered some daily necessities and food to them from time to time. But later, at some point, the relationship between Charles, Emilia, and Arlo slowly changed. Emilia said she hadn’t worn new clothes in a long time, so Charles used all his salary to take Emilia and Arlo to the department store, buying new clothes from head to toe. Emilia mentioned that Arlo had never had a photo taken since birth, so Charles took them to a studio for a “family portrait.” Once, even when Arlo and Bonnie both caught a virus, Charles gave the hospital’s only dose of special medicine to Arlo. Arabella and Charles had argued, but every time after she lost control, Charles would hold her in his arms and repeat the explanation she had heard countless times. Charles said, “Emilia and Arlo were the people James loved most in his life. Now that James is gone, as his brother, of course, I have to take good care of them. Otherwise, how could I face James after I die?” “Don’t worry. I’ll only take care of them until Arlo becomes an adult.” “Arabella, you’re my wife. You should understand me. For my sake, can you bear with it, please?” Looking into Charles’s familiar gentle eyes, Arabella chose to trust and endure again and again. She naively thought Charles was just too responsible, which is why he treated Emilia and Arlo so well. She thought that once Arlo grew up, Charles would naturally return to being the considerate husband and father he once was. Until a month ago, Arlo suddenly had a nosebleed and was sent to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. Everyone eligible for matching was tested, but no one was a match. That night, Charles stayed alone in the study and didn’t come out all night. The next morning, Charles grabbed Arabella, who was about to make breakfast, his voice hoarse but firm. Charles said, “Arabella, I want to have another child with Emilia.” With a bang, the plate in Arabella’s hand slipped and shattered. She looked at Charles in disbelief, her voice slightly trembling. Arabella asked, “What did you say?” A hint of pain flashed in Charles’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by urgency. He said, “The doctor said that if there’s no matching donor, a sibling’s cord blood can save Arlo. James and I are brothers, sharing the same blood. So, the cord blood from a child Emilia and I have can also be used. That way, Arlo can be saved.” Arabella’s nails dug into her palms, leaving bloody marks. She struggled to steady her nearly collapsing body, her gaze slowly scanning Charles’s face, trying to find a hint of joking in his expression. But no. The urgency and seriousness in Charles’s eyes were completely genuine. Arabella staggered back two steps, forcing a smile that looked worse than crying. She never imagined her husband would suggest having a child with another woman. Arabella said, “Charles, for the past three years, you’ve left Bonnie and me time and again to be with Emilia and Arlo. I’ve endured it all because you said you’d only take care of them until Arlo came of age. “But now? You want to have a child with Emilia. “What about Bonnie and me? What do we mean to you?” By the end, Arabella’s tears were falling heavily to the ground. Seeing her tears, Charles felt a twinge of guilt, but Arlo’s frail figure and Emilia’s devastated expression kept flashing in his mind. He turned away, avoiding Arabella’s eyes, afraid he might waver. Charles said, “You and Bonnie are the ones I love most in this life. That will never change. Having a child with Emilia is only to save Arlo.” “Besides, with IVF technology now, Emilia and I can have a child without being intimate. That way, I wouldn’t be betraying you.” Arabella thought bitterly, “What does it matter if there’s no intimacy?” That child, once born, will share a blood relationship with him. At that time, should I tell Bonnie that her dad and her Aunt Emilia had a baby brother for her?” Arabella couldn’t do it. She wasn’t generous enough to tolerate her husband having a child with another woman. Arabella closed her eyes, her voice unusually calm. She asked, “Charles, what if I say I disagree?” After being refused several times, Charles was a bit angry. He didn’t understand why Arabella was unwilling. He was doing it to save Arlo, and nothing would actually happen between him and Emilia. He looked at Arabella with disappointment in his eyes. Charles said, “Arlo is James’s only descendant left in the world. No matter what, I have to save him.” These resolute words were like a sharp sword, piercing deeply into Arabella’s heart. It turned out Charles wasn’t discussing it with her; he had already made the decision and was merely informing her. Seeing Arabella unresponsive, Charles gave her a deep look. He said, “I’m going to the hospital to see Arlo. Arabella, I hope you can think it through.” After speaking, he strode away. Arabella stood there, watching Charles’s figure gradually disappear. Her eyes, always filled with love, were now only numb. She knew that from today, it was over between her and Charles. “Mom.” Bonnie’s voice pulled Arabella’s thoughts back. Bonnie asked, “Is Dad going to have a baby with Aunt Emilia? Will he no longer be just my dad?” She threw herself into Arabella’s arms, her voice trembling with sobs. Arabella hadn’t expected Bonnie to wake up and hear their conversation. Looking into Bonnie’s tear-filled eyes, Arabella couldn’t bring herself to lie to her. Arabella nodded reluctantly. Bonnie’s body stiffened for a moment, and the next second, tears streamed down her face. She asked, “Mom, is it because I did something wrong that made Dad angry, so he wants to have another child with Aunt Emilia?” Bonnie was too young to understand that Charles talked about having a child with Emilia to save Arlo. She only knew that her dad was going to have another child. Hearing Bonnie’s self-blaming cries, Arabella felt as if her heart was being stabbed. She crouched down and wiped away the tears on Bonnie’s face. Arabella said, “Bonnie, you did nothing wrong. “How about I get you a new dad? A dad who belongs only to you.” Bonnie hugged Arabella’s neck tightly and buried her head in her shoulder. She said, “Okay. Since Dad wants other kids, then I don’t want him anymore.”

The next morning, after dropping Bonnie off at kindergarten, Arabella rode her bike to the Courthouse and handed the prepared documents to the staff. Arabella said, “Hello, I want to apply for a forced divorce.” The staff member looked up at her in surprise, their tone very serious. He said, “Have you thought it through? Divorce is no small matter. Conflicts between spouses are inevitable. Don’t act impulsively.” Arabella nodded silently, her expression resolute. The thought of divorce had already taken root in her mind during these three years when Charles repeatedly “took care” of Emilia and Arlo. But thinking of young Bonnie and their past feelings, she kept persuading herself to endure. Until yesterday, when Charles suggested having a child with Emilia. This seed finally sprouted. Seeing her completely unwavering, the staff sighed. He said, “Forced divorce requires a one-month process. During this period, if you don’t withdraw the application, the marriage will be automatically dissolved.” Hearing this, Arabella felt relieved. A month later, she could leave with Bonnie. It was late at night when Charles, who hadn’t been home all day, finally returned. Arabella lay on the bed with her back to him, no longer throwing herself into his arms like before. Charles stared deeply at her back, his voice tinged with restraint and pain. “Arabella, the longer Arlo’s illness drags on, the more dangerous it becomes, so…” Arabella’s heart skipped a beat. The next second, Charles’s slow and clear voice echoed in the quiet room. He said, “Emilia and I started IVF today. In a week, the doctor can transfer the embryo into Emilia’s womb.” Even though she had decided to divorce Charles, hearing that he and Emilia had already started conceiving their child still tore Arabella’s heart apart. The man who vowed to love her for a lifetime when they married now had a child with another woman. How could she not feel heartbroken? But luckily, she had already decided to leave him. This pain will only be temporary. Arabella closed her eyes tightly, held back the ache in her chest, and nodded gently. Charles thought she would lose control like yesterday. He had his words of persuasion ready but didn’t expect her to be so calm. He looked at the unresponsive Arabella in front of him with a complicated expression. Charles asked, “Arabella, you agreed?” For some reason, knowing that Arabella agreed to him having a child with Emilia, he should have been happy, but he felt a bit uneasy. Noticing the trace of unease in his voice, Arabella gave a sarcastic smile. She said, “Even if I don’t agree, you and Emilia would still go for IVF, wouldn’t you?” Charles opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say. After all, he had indeed decided to go through with IVF no matter what. He carefully observed Arabella’s reaction and only breathed a sigh of relief after noticing she showed no signs of displeasure, then gently pulled her into his arms. Charles said, “Arabella, thank you for understanding. Everything I do is just to fulfill James’s wish to take care of Emilia and Arlo.” Arabella had heard the exact same explanation from him too many times, so she no longer held any expectations for his words. “Alright. I’m going to sleep. Bonnie’s kindergarten is hosting a parent-child fair tomorrow, so I need to get up early.” Thinking of young Bonnie, Charles’s eyes showed a hint of guilt. He said, “I’ve been busy looking for a match for Arlo lately and haven’t spent much time with Bonnie. I’ll go with you tomorrow.”

The next morning, Arabella dressed Bonnie in her favorite little dress. She twirled around excitedly, holding up her skirt. Bonnie said, “Mom, today I’m going to be the prettiest kid in kindergarten.” Arabella smiled and pinched her cheek. She said, “In my eyes, you’ve always been the prettiest kid.” Bonnie shyly threw herself into her arms. Charles just came out of the bedroom and saw Arabella and Bonnie laughing, feeling very tender inside. He picked up Bonnie in one swoop, then took Arabella’s hand, his voice full of joy. Charles said, “I’ll go with you too.” Bonnie hugged Charles’s neck and tentatively asked, “Dad, are you really not going to Arlo’s place today?” Although she had said she didn’t want Charles as her dad, Bonnie was still a child and secretly hoped to attend the parent-child fair with her mom and dad. After all, for the past three years, every time there was a parent-child activity at the kindergarten, Charles would choose to accompany Arlo. Over time, some classmates teased her for not having a dad. Bonnie’s words made Arabella’s nose sting, almost bringing her to tears. Charles felt a tinge of guilt in his heart. Since James passed away, he didn’t want Arlo to be teased for not having a dad, so he attended every event with Arlo, neglecting Bonnie in the process. If Arlo weren’t hospitalized now, this fair might have been… He stopped thinking further. Anyway, he would stay with Bonnie today. That was enough. Charles said, “Of course. I’ll play with you all day today.” A simple promise made Bonnie temporarily forget yesterday’s unhappiness and excitedly hug Charles around the neck. Bonnie said, “I want to introduce Dad to all my classmates.” She wanted to tell them that she also had a dad. However, just as they arrived at the entrance of the military base’s family area, they saw Emilia’s anxious figure. Emilia said, “Charles, Arlo doesn’t want to stay in the hospital and insists on pulling out the IV to run outside. He usually listens to you the most. Can you go to the hospital and help me persuade him?” She grabbed Charles’s sleeve, her tone extremely anxious. Hearing her words, Charles immediately frowned. He said, “How can he be so reckless? Emilia, don’t worry. I’ll go to the hospital with you right now.” Hearing him agree, Arabella was almost amused with anger. He had just promised to accompany Bonnie, and now he forgot. Arabella said, “Charles, today is Bonnie’s parent-child outing. You promised to accompany her.” Charles realized it too, his face stiffened, and he looked hesitant. Emilia let go of her hand and started sobbing into her palms. She said, “Charles, it’s me and Arlo who have delayed you too much. Go accompany Bonnie. I’ll go persuade Arlo alone. If he really doesn’t listen to me, then I won’t treat his illness anymore.” Saying that, she turned and left. Charles panicked instantly, then put Bonnie down and ran after Emilia. He said, “Emilia, how could that be? Bonnie’s matter isn’t important. Arlo is the priority right now.” After speaking, he turned around, his eyes filled with a deeply familiar guilt. Charles said, “I’m sorry, Bonnie. How about letting your mom go with you today?” Arabella’s nails dug deep into her palms as she trembled with anger. She thought angrily, “Why does he make promises he can’t keep?” As a mother, she couldn’t accept her daughter’s emotions plummeting from heaven to hell. This is too cruel for a child. Arabella was about to step forward to call Charles back when a small hand tugged at her sleeve. Bonnie’s face showed a calmness beyond her age. “Mom, let’s go. Having you by my side is enough. Anyway, I’m already used to days without a dad.” Even though Bonnie spoke nonchalantly, Arabella still noticed a hint of hurt in her eyes and a trace of sobbing in her voice. Arabella hugged Bonnie tightly with a heart full of ache, trying hard to hold back the sting in her eyes. She said, “I promise you, once we leave here, I’ll find you a dad who only cares about you.”

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My husband, Ethan Vance, lost everything and his family was gone, and I just walked away. After he’d rebuilt his empire, I’d come knocking every year. The first year, I held our daughter. He threw fifty thousand dollars at me and told me to get lost. The second year, I brought him my late-stage cancer diagnosis report. He didn’t even glance at it, gave me a hundred thousand, and told me to disappear forever. The third and fourth years, I vanished from this world, just as he’d wished. Until the fifth year, he received a call from our daughter. “Mommy, when are you bringing food? I’m hungry.” “Mommy, I’m so hungry.” I watched our daughter, Grace, sneak back home from the orphanage. She found my old phone, charged it, and started calling, just like I used to. When I was terminally ill, I often ordered takeout, and the delivery riders would always deliver my order last. When Grace was hungry, I’d call to rush the rider. So Grace thought if she just made a call, her little tummy would be full. Now, she dialed, just like me, but she called the emergency contact—Ethan Vance. She called again and again. The dimly lit screen illuminated her innocent face. I wanted to stop her, but my hand passed right through her body. A wave of frustration washed over me. It had been three years. How could I keep forgetting I was just a spirit? “Grace, don’t call him. He won’t answer.” He probably still thought I was just some gold-digger. “Go open the small box on the table. There’s money I left for you in there.” Most of the money I got from Ethan, I put into a trust fund for Grace’s future education and living expenses. I left a thousand dollars in the box for any unexpected needs she might have. As if by some sixth sense, Grace picked up that little box. But then, a crisp, cold voice came from the other end of the phone. “Aurora?” I froze, realizing the call had been going on for a minute already. “Didn’t I tell you to go die somewhere?” His tone was calm, emotionless, just as cruel as ever. I twisted my fingers, feeling a pang of shame to be cursed at by her father, right in front of our daughter. Even if they didn’t know each other. His voice was mocking: “Want more money? Fine, come beg me.” Grace stared at the phone, her eyes shining with delight. Her tiny, sweet voice piped up: “Uncle! When are you bringing me food? I’m hungry!” Silence on the other end for a moment. “Let Aurora answer the phone.” “You mean Mommy?” Grace’s face instantly fell: “But she can’t answer the phone anymore.” Ethan’s voice deepened: “What happened to her?” “Mommy said she’s sleeping.” A four-and-a-half-year-old child had no concept of life and death. A scoff echoed from the other end, clearly not buying such a lame excuse. “Is that so? I’d like to see what new scheme she’s cooking up.” I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t. What new scheme could I possibly be cooking up? Even trying to float over and scare him felt beyond my power. After hanging up, Grace curled up in the corner of the sofa, waiting patiently, a slight curve on her lips. But I was pacing frantically. Ethan hated me so much. What would he do to my daughter? An hour later, there was a knock at the door. My heart lurched: “Don’t open the door, Grace!” Grace had already opened it. Outside, there was no food as she’d expected, only a few security guards in suits. They surveyed the room, found no one else, and took Grace away. “No!” I was helpless, forced to watch my daughter being taken. When Ethan opened his door, he saw Grace, tears streaming down her face. He glanced behind her. “Where’s that woman?”

He was talking about me. I lowered my eyes. I didn’t even deserve a name from him anymore. A security guard reported truthfully: “When we arrived, only the little girl was in the house.” Grace broke free from their grasp and hugged Ethan’s leg. “Uncle, bad guys caught me.” I was shocked. Grace had only met Ethan twice before. She didn’t know Ethan was the father who refused to acknowledge her. But blood ran deep, making her instinctively trust him. Ethan seemed uncomfortable with her hug, frowning as he scoffed: “She’s so cruel, pushing her own bastard child out to face my anger.” I shook my head frantically: “No, Grace isn’t a bastard!” She’s our child. He wouldn’t believe it. After Grace was born, I found out she had the Vance family’s hereditary heart condition, and I had sought him out then. Ethan’s words still echoed in my ears. “Aurora, do you think I’m the same Ethan as before? You fooled me once, do you think you can fool me twice?” “Trying to pin a child you had with some other guy on me?” “Get lost. Here’s twenty thousand. Consider it a buy-out for our five years together.” I said, “It’s not enough.” He didn’t want our daughter, but she needed money for her surgery. Ethan gnashed his teeth in anger: “You really are obsessed with money. Fine, here’s fifty thousand. Because that’s all you’re worth.” Five years of love, reduced to a mere transaction. I knew this would make Ethan despise me even more, but it didn’t matter. Grace had her surgery with that money. She would live a healthy life now, and it was worth it. Now, Ethan asked Grace coldly, “Tell me, where is your mother hiding?” Grace looked up, teary-eyed. Her features were strikingly similar to mine. Ethan seemed a little lost in thought. “Mommy sleeps during the day, and at night, she turns into a star.” At her words, Ethan’s expression hardened, and he pulled his leg away. “Now she’s resorting to playing the victim?” Grace tumbled to the floor. I floated over, using all my strength, but I couldn’t catch her, watching her fall right through my embrace. The little box she clutched tightly also fell. Grace, who hadn’t eaten for two days, struggled twice before finally getting back up. A sharp pang twisted in my chest. Ethan watched coldly from the side, his fists inexplicably clenched. Grace hugged the little box, pretending to be brave, and patted her bottom: “Mommy, it doesn’t hurt.” I was startled, thinking she could see me. Then I remembered I was paralyzed in bed with late-stage stomach cancer. She learned to take care of me when she was two, even picking up plastic bottles while I slept. One day, she got into a fight with a stray dog and came back covered in bruises. I was so worried I coughed up blood. She, instead, smiled and comforted me. Saying it didn’t hurt. Hearing her words, Ethan looked around: “Aurora, come out!” The house was dead silent. I was standing right in front of him, but he couldn’t see me. Ethan waited a moment, found no sign of me. He sneered: “How cruel. To even use a child this big.” “Just send her away.” Ethan left those words and walked into his house. The security guards left Grace on the curb of the busy street. It was already dark. Grace stood there for a moment, lost, in the unfamiliar street. She looked bewildered, asking the little box: “Mommy, which way should I go?” My heart ached so much I couldn’t breathe. I could only pray the orphanage would quickly realize Grace was missing. Grace looked at the moon in the sky. “Mommy, can I find you by following the moon?” She was too hungry to walk and fell twice. She stumbled and found a trash can, discovering half a leftover cake. Her eyes lit up. She picked up the stale, sour-smelling piece of cake and eagerly put it into her mouth. I cried, trying to stop her: “Grace, don’t eat that, you’ll get sick!” She couldn’t hear me, but the cake in her hand was suddenly knocked away.

It was Ethan, who had appeared out of nowhere. I hadn’t even noticed him. He looked at the grubby Grace, gritting his teeth: “Aurora, this is how you treat your daughter, huh?” He led Grace into a car parked nearby. Grace cried and screamed, all affection for him gone: “Why won’t you let me eat? You’re a bad guy!” Then, she tried to lick the crumbs from her fingers. Ethan grabbed her hand, wiping her tiny hand clean with a wet wipe, his face a mix of disgust and gentleness: “Didn’t your mother teach you not to pick up things from the ground and eat them?” His movements were gentle yet meticulous. When we were dating, he always took care of me so attentively. My friends used to call him my ‘dad’ boyfriend—so mature and stable. But Grace was as stubborn as I was. When she pushed him away, her little hand slapped him across the face: “I don’t want you, bad guy, to tell me what to do!” I gasped in fright, looking anxiously at Ethan. I saw that he wasn’t angry. He lowered his eyelashes, threw away the wet wipe, and turned his head to the window, avoiding looking at Grace, whose profile was identical to mine. His tone was mocking: “Just as stubborn as your mother, isn’t she? Good thing she’s not mine.” I smiled bitterly. I’m sorry to disappoint you, then. The little box slipped from Grace’s embrace. He bent down to pick it up. He glanced at the dirty wooden box, finding it vaguely familiar. I instinctively wanted to stop him. If he opened it, he would discover the truth from all those years ago. He would live a lifetime of guilt. Better for him to hate me than to feel guilty. But then I looked at Grace, and I hoped she could live under her father’s protection. I was conflicted and nervous. To my surprise, he tossed the wooden box back into Grace’s arms: “What a piece of junk to pick up.” For a moment, I didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. Ethan took Grace home. He told Martha, the housekeeper, to cook something for her. He glanced at Grace’s bony frame and added, “Make it something easy to digest.” “I don’t know how that woman raised a child. Thin as a rail. Good thing I never married someone like her.” I nodded. I really was an inadequate mother. Ethan sat at the dining table, watching Grace pick out the carrots. He frowned and instinctively said, “Aurora Hayes, no picky eating.” Both he and I froze. “I’ll keep her right here, under my watch. I don’t believe Aurora won’t come to get you.” With those words, Ethan stood up and went upstairs, his back retreating, as if in a hasty retreat. Grace’s eyes lit up: “Really? Will Mommy come get me?” As night fell, Grace refused to sleep in the guest room, insisting on sleeping on the sofa. Martha tried to persuade her, but it was no use. Ethan seemed a little impatient: “Kids are such a bother. Let her be, she can sleep wherever she wants.” Grace slept on the sofa for three days. Ethan, seeing her curled up in a tiny ball, frowned deeply: “Is your mother that cruel to you? Doesn’t she ever let you sleep in a bed?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy’s on the sofa.” Ethan looked bewildered, but I was crying uncontrollably. Because we only had one sofa at home. When I was gravely ill, I often lay on the sofa, drifting in and out of consciousness. Grace thought I was just sleeping. She would quietly crawl into my arms and hug me. Even at the orphanage, Grace liked to stay on the sofa in the reception area, as if sleeping in my arms. Ethan had been working from home lately, often staring blankly at the door. He watched Grace, who was also looking at the door, and asked: “Hey, what’s your name?” “Grace Hayes.” “Grace, your mother abandoned you too.” Grace instantly became a stubborn little beast: “No way! My mommy would never abandon me!” “Is that so? Then why hasn’t she come to pick you up after a whole week?” Just as he finished speaking. The doorbell rang. Ethan immediately stood up, a knowing smile appearing on his face. “Your mother’s here.” Grace scrambled up from the floor, looking expectantly at the door. The door opened. Both of them froze.

Grace pouted: “Liar, it’s not Mommy at all.” The newcomer was a striking girl in a red dress. I had seen her once before, the second time Grace and Ethan met. That was at the women’s health clinic, right after Grace’s surgery. Ethan had emerged with her, looking very intimate. The girl glanced at Grace, confused: “Where did this child come from?” Ethan replied casually: “Just picked her up off the street.” The girl’s eyes widened: “You’re picking up kids now?” She suddenly remembered something, pointing at the flower bed in the yard, furious: “Who pulled up my roses!” My heart ached inexplicably. So, they were already living together. Ethan glanced at Grace, who barely reached his knee. Grace guiltily averted her gaze and went back to the sofa. Ethan sounded disinterested: “It’s just flowers, we can plant more.” Seeing him say that, the girl didn’t press the issue. She followed Ethan into the house. As soon as she sat on the sofa, she covered her nose with her hand: “What’s that strange smell? Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve been really sensitive to smells.” I looked at her, shocked, at her still flat stomach. Watching Ethan and Grace’s interactions these past few days, I had still hoped that once he discovered Grace was his child, he would treat her well. But now that he had a child with another woman, what would become of my daughter? Ethan also noticed an unusual smell in the air. He looked at Grace on the sofa. He walked over, lifted Grace, and pulled back the sofa cushion. A pile of food wrapped in plastic bags and seven withered flowers were scattered all over the floor. Both of them were dumbfounded. Ethan’s veins throbbed: “Grace, what are you doing?” Grace cried out: “Don’t touch my things! These are all for Mommy!” I remembered my tiny daughter picking through trash outside. Some kind-hearted people, pitying her, would buy her food. She wouldn’t eat a single bite, always bringing it home for me. At the orphanage, the director caught her a few times and taught her. She learned to eat first herself, then save the best things for me. The other children often avoided Grace because of her smell, not wanting to play with her. Ethan’s gaze was complicated: “Why would you do this?” Grace cried sadly: “Mommy never got to eat any of these good things, and you said Mommy would come to pick me up, so I wanted to save them for when I see her.” Ethan tried to sneer, but couldn’t: “Didn’t she go off to live a good life with some rich guy? What hasn’t she eaten?” Grace shook her head: “No way. Mommy always said she wasn’t hungry.” At first, I said I wasn’t hungry so Grace would eat more. Later, when my illness worsened, I truly couldn’t eat. The girl beside Ethan asked: “Why is there an urn on the floor?” It was the little wooden box that had fallen. Ethan stared blankly: “An urn?” No wonder it looked familiar, like he’d seen it somewhere before. A stack of money and a letter fell out of the box. This letter felt like a thousand pounds. Ethan’s trembling hand tried several times before he finally picked it up. On the envelope was his all-too-familiar handwriting: [To my sweet daughter, Grace]. He opened the envelope. In an instant, his eyes turned red.

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In the seventh year of my marriage to Alexander, the poor student we sponsored came to me with a swollen belly. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered timidly: “Chloe, since you can’t have children, I’ll do it for you. I have cancer and don’t have long to live. My biggest wish is to give Alexander a child, to repay your kindness.” Her logic stunned me. I turned to Alexander and asked: “Are you sure the baby is yours?” Alexander showed no guilt for his betrayal, answering matter-of-factly: “I know this is hard to accept, but Luna is sacrificing her last days to fulfill your duty. Don’t be ungrateful!” Before I could speak, Luna burst into tears, sobbing dramatically: “Alexander, please don’t fight because of me. If Chloe doesn’t agree, I’ll go get an abortion right now…” “Don’t say that! You and the baby are what matter most now. Even Chloe has to prioritize you!” Watching Alexander hold Luna with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years, I laughed bitterly. If he wanted to play daddy to someone else’s kid, that was his business. But I wasn’t taking the blame for this.

I went to the bedroom and dug out that old medical report I’d kept hidden for years, shoving it in Alexander’s face. “Alexander, look carefully! Which one of us is infertile?” He glanced at it, his face turning dark, then tore the report to shreds and threw the pieces at me. He pointed a finger in my face, his voice shaking with rage: “Chloe! How dare you forge a report saying I have azoospermia, just to stop Luna from having my child? You’re disgusting!” In seven years of marriage, Alexander had never yelled at me like this. My nose stung with unshed tears as memories flooded back. After two years of trying for a baby, tests showed Alexander had azoospermia. As we left the hospital, I was struggling to find the right words to tell him. Suddenly, we were attacked by a business rival. I pushed Alexander aside and took a knife for him. That knife pierced my uterus. After emergency surgery, I asked the doctor to tell Alexander that my uterus was damaged and I couldn’t have children. Back then, our love was strong, and I’d just risked my life for him. Alexander held me like a precious treasure, sobbing uncontrollably. He vowed that we didn’t need children—having me was enough. He promised to love me forever. How laughable that after just seven years, he’d forgotten those vows. “I’m not lying! If you don’t believe me, go get tested again!” Luna’s expression shifted slightly, her fingers tightening unconsciously. But Alexander acted as if he’d been deeply insulted, veins bulging on his forehead: “Chloe! I always thought you were kind and pure, but now you’re blaming me to cover up your own infertility!” “Doesn’t Luna’s pregnancy prove you wrong?” Luna chose that moment to grab my hand, her eyes red and voice trembling: “Chloe, I understand the pain of not being able to have a child as a woman.” “Don’t be too sad. After I’m gone, my baby will call you Mom. Treat him well, like your own, okay?” Her audacity made me laugh coldly: “You think you’re worthy of stealing my life?” I tried to pull my hand away, not using much force, but she let out a sharp cry. She fell back onto the couch, clutching her stomach and wailing: “Alexander, my baby! Is my baby going to be okay?” Seeing this, Alexander snapped. He slapped me hard across the face. I stumbled and hit the coffee table, a sharp pain shooting through my lower back. He knelt down immediately, cradling Luna and comforting her gently. Then he turned to me, his eyes full of hatred: “You vicious woman! Apologize to Luna! Now, right this second!” I bit my lip, refusing to yield. “Are you blind, Alexander? Can’t you see she faked that fall?” “Luna is pure and kind! She’d never risk her unborn child!” “You’re the one who’s been hostile to her and the baby since you found out!” Alexander stormed over, grabbed my shoulders, and forced me to my knees in front of Luna: “From today, you’re not allowed to go to the office. You’ll stay home and serve Luna.” “Wash her clothes, cook her meals, fetch whatever she wants. If she’s even slightly unhappy, I’ll cut off your brother’s medical payments!” Looking at the man I’d loved for ten years, I felt a chill run through me. “Alexander, I want a divorce!” Meeting my red-rimmed eyes, Alexander gritted his teeth: “I won’t divorce you. Don’t make me say it again. Apologize!”

I clenched my fists, the taste of blood filling my mouth. Thinking of my brother, whose health had just improved, I finally lowered my head. “I’m sorry.” Luna deliberately rubbed her stomach: “What did you say, Chloe? I didn’t hear you.” Alexander glared at me: “Louder!” “I’m sorry!” I shouted, tears of humiliation welling in my eyes. Luna nodded with satisfaction, then said in a sugary voice: “Alexander, I’m hungry. I want grilled lamb chops and pigeon soup.” “You heard her. Go cook.” I hurried into the kitchen, tears streaming down my face. The next day, while shopping at the import grocery store, my phone buzzed incessantly. My team members flooded me with messages: “Chloe, Mr. Alexander said you’re not coming in. What’s going on?” “Chloe, you weren’t at the project meeting today. Mr. Alexander let Mr. Wang take over. What happened?” I stared at the screen, unsure how to respond. Then, a notification popped up in the work WhatsApp group. It was from Alexander: “After investigation, Chloe has been found guilty of embezzling company funds. She is hereby terminated.” A wave of shocked question marks followed the announcement. “Is this for real? Did Mr. Alexander make a mistake?” “Chloe would never do something like this!” Reading those words, I felt frozen to the core. Alexander was framing me. He was trying to destroy my career! He wanted to cut off all my escape routes, force me to stay in this house, serve Luna like a slave, and raise her child. As I started typing a response, I was abruptly kicked out of the group. Rage and resentment burned through my mind. After calming down, I called Mr. David, who had always wanted to work with me. I agreed to join him, but asked for a favor. “Excellent, Chloe! With you on board, I’ll dominate the market!” I had to get out of this disgusting house. I would make them pay for what they’d done. But when I got home, the scene stunned me. The living room was cluttered with luggage. A man sat on the couch, legs crossed, picking at his feet and spitting sunflower seed shells everywhere. A woman next to him was wearing my clothes, eagerly trying on my necklaces and bracelets. Frowning, I suppressed my anger. “Who are you? Why are you in my house?” The foot-picking man looked me up and down, his tone dismissive: “Oh, you’re Alexander’s barren wife?” The woman put down the jewelry box, hands on her hips: “We’re Luna’s parents, here to enjoy life with our daughter!” Luna emerged from the bedroom, pretending to be sweet as she took my hand: “Chloe, don’t mind them. My parents worked hard all their lives in the countryside and haven’t seen much.” “Since I’m pregnant and you’re taking care of me anyway, I thought I might as well bring them here. It’s just two more people.” I shook off her hand coldly: “I agreed to take care of you for Alexander, not your parents!” Her mother strutted over, sneering: “What? A barren woman like you dares to be picky?” “Don’t you know who’s in charge here? My daughter is the lady of this house!” Luna’s father sprawled on the couch, wiping his foot-picking hand on the cushions, and pointed at me: “Stop yapping and get me some tea! I’m thirsty. And bring out all the fancy food rich people eat—I want to try everything!” Luna dropped her act, a nasty smile spreading across her face: “Chloe, my parents are old. Cut them some slack.” “If you don’t take good care of them, I can’t promise Alexander won’t get angry again…” Until David helped me with my plan, I couldn’t afford more trouble. Gritting my teeth, I stormed into the kitchen. But then I heard Luna’s mother’s loud, poorly hushed voice from the living room: “You stupid girl! Why are you so slow?” “If Alexander won’t divorce her, why not make her mess up so he hates her for good?”

“Once they’re divorced, Alexander’s money and house will all be yours! You’ll be the rightful Mrs. Alexander, and your dad and I can live in luxury!” “Ugh, you’re too dumb to pull it off. I’ll call your aunt and have your cousin Bobby come help.” Hearing their blatant scheming, I dug my nails into my palms until they nearly bled. But what confused me more: didn’t Luna have cancer and limited time? Why did they not seem concerned at all? Suspicion coiled in my mind like vines. I immediately took out my phone and contacted a private investigator online. Just as I put my phone away, Luna’s mother yelled again: “Hey, Barren! Why isn’t food ready yet? Trying to starve us?” I swallowed my anger and started cooking. But when I served the meal, Luna’s father threw his fork down: “What is this crap? No flavor at all! Are you messing with us?” I said it was standard nutritious meals for pregnant women. But Luna frowned: “Chloe, my parents are here for once. Can’t you make something they like?” When Alexander came home, he saw this scene. Without asking, he yelled at me: “Useless! Can’t even take care of Luna and her parents properly! What good are you?” With Alexander’s backing, Luna’s parents grew bolder: “Alexander, I really like that big master bedroom. Let your dad and me have it.” Alexander agreed without hesitation: “Fine, the master suite is spacious. You two take it. Chloe, move to the servant’s room tonight.” Looking at his cold face, the last flicker of hope in my heart died. In the following days, Luna’s family ordered me around, making unreasonable demands. To avoid complications, I endured the disgust and complied. One evening, Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, her eyes suddenly tearing up: “Alexander, I’ve never had a proper birthday my whole life. With my time running out, I really want to celebrate one before I go.” Alexander held her tightly, his heart aching: “I’ll arrange it. You’ll have a grand birthday party.” Luna’s birthday was set for the weekend. I thought I could finally rest. But near midnight that day, Alexander called. When I answered, it was Luna’s voice: “Chloe, I’m suddenly craving the sour plum drink from that old shop in the south district. Go buy it for me now.” I rubbed my temples irritably: “It’s almost midnight. The night market will be closed by the time I get there.” “No! I want it now!” Luna’s voice sharpened: “Alexander, I really want something sour right now! Sour means it’s a boy! If Chloe refuses, does she hate our son?” Before I could respond, Alexander took the phone: “Chloe, if Luna wants it, you go buy it! Deliver it within an hour!” I hung up, looked at the divorce papers I’d prepared on the nightstand, and felt resolve harden inside me. I jumped out of bed, grabbed the papers, and ran out.

The shop in the south district was closed, but I had the owner’s contact from before. After much pleading, he agreed to get up and make a batch for me. When I delivered the sour plum drink to Luna, she was playing games with friends and said she didn’t want it anymore. Suppressing my anger, I handed Alexander a resignation document: “My resignation papers. You need to sign them.” He gave me a suspicious look. I said expressionlessly: “It’s company procedure. Your signature makes the resignation official.” Just then, Luna called out: “Alexander, I lost the game! Come help me!” He frowned, took the pen, and signed quickly. He didn’t notice the divorce papers hidden underneath. I picked up the documents and let out a long breath. Step one, finally succeeded. But as I turned to leave, Luna stopped me: “Chloe, wait. My jacket is in the lounge. Go get it for me.” Seeing her sly expression, I felt a twinge of alarm. Luna softened her tone, even sounding “considerate”: “Chloe, once you get my jacket, you can go home and rest.” I glanced at the lounge—it was just across from the living room, with Alexander and Luna playing games nearby. It should be safe. “Fine.” Pushing down my unease, I walked to the lounge. The room was dark. In the dim light, I could make out a tall, bulky man lying on the bed. The jacket was draped over a chair behind him. I reached for it. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes. A rough hand grabbed my wrist, and he grinned stupidly at me: “Cousin was right! Pretty lady is here! Bobby wants kisses…” I froze in shock, trying to pull away, but his grip was iron-tight. He dragged me toward the bed, puckering his lips. “Let me go!” I slapped him across the face, but he seemed unfazed, still grinning. He tore at my clothes with more force. In that moment, I understood what Luna and her mother meant by “make her mess up.” I struggled desperately, screaming for help. But the noise from the living room drowned out my cries. In desperation, I kneed him hard between the legs. “Ah!” He cried out in pain, finally releasing me. I scrambled up, my clothes disheveled, and burst out of the room. I saw Luna nestled in Alexander’s arms, a triumphant smile on her face. “Luna! You bitch! You’ll pay for this!” Eyes red, I charged over and slapped her across the face. The sharp crack cut through the party noise. Alexander jumped up, shoving me away: “Chloe! Are you fucking crazy?!” He held Luna protectively, his eyes filled with hatred. Just then, my phone vibrated. A message from David: “Done.” Good. I didn’t have to put up with these two anymore!

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On the second day of my wife Elsie Snyder’s business trip, I, James Stewart, was cleaning while casually telling the smart speaker at home, “Play some music.” A deep, unfamiliar male voice came from the speaker. “Alright, I’m your Sunshine. Also, a reminder for Elsie not to forget Leonel’s birthday surprise tonight.” I froze, the music suddenly piercing. I thought, “My wife is Elsie, so who is Leonel?” I immediately called Elsie. “Did you mess with the smart speaker at home?” There was a brief silence on the other end, followed by her casual laugh. “Oh, a friend came over a few days ago, maybe she connected her account. What’s up?” I laughed it off, said it was nothing, then hung up. Afterward, I pulled up the speaker’s login records and took a cab straight to the company address linked to that unfamiliar account. The taxi stopped below Solar Design. I looked up, the glass facade shimmering in the sunlight, dizzying, much like its overwhelming momentum in the industry over the past two years. Solar Design is the biggest competitor of Dream Builder Design Studio, which I founded. The receptionist was very professional, showing no discourtesy despite knowing I was the boss of a rival company. She simply handled it formally and dialed the internal line. A few minutes later, a man in a casual shirt hurried out of the elevator, looking clean and innocent. He is Leonel Mason. The moment he saw me, his eyes clearly showed a flash of panic, but he quickly composed himself and forced a very fake smile. He asked, “Hello, may I know who you are?” “The smart speaker issue,” I got straight to the point, looking at him calmly. “The login record shows it’s your account.” “Ah! That speaker!” He suddenly realized and then scratched his head awkwardly, saying, “That’s my roommate’s. A few days ago, he used my phone to log in, said his membership expired and wanted to borrow an account for a couple of days. Did it cause you any trouble? I’m really sorry!” His words were flawless, both distancing himself and appearing innocent. If I didn’t know Elsie, I might have actually believed it. She’s arrogant and sensitive; there’s no way she’d allow an unrelated intern to log into her home devices with a personal account. My gaze slowly shifted from his innocent-looking face to his wrist. He was wearing a silver bracelet. Two irregular rings intertwined, with one engraved with a tiny letter E. That was last year’s wedding anniversary gift I designed myself and had a craftsman friend make for Elsie. E is the first letter of Elsie. It’s one of a kind. Leonel noticed my gaze and instinctively tried to hide his hand behind his back. I smiled, took a step forward, and spoke gently. “That bracelet is quite special. Did your girlfriend give it to you? Nice taste.” His face turned pale instantly, his lips trembled slightly, and he couldn’t say a word. That’s enough. I stopped looking at him and turned to leave. Sitting in the taxi on the way back, I called my friend Alex Wood. He’s the best divorce lawyer in the business. As soon as the phone rang, his loud voice came through. “Yo, Mr. Stewart? You finally remembered me?” “Do me a favor.” I stared at the city streets rapidly retreating outside the window, my voice unnervingly calm. “Look into someone, an intern at Solar Design, Leonel Mason. Also, dig out all of Elsie’s financial transactions and hotel records from the past six months. Don’t miss a single detail.” Alex was silent for two seconds, then dropped the joking tone. “Did they cross you?” “Something worse,” I said. The call ended, and the car fell into dead silence. It wasn’t long before Elsie called. On the screen, the word “Honey” felt particularly ironic. I took a deep breath and answered. “James, what’s wrong?” Her gentle voice came through the receiver, as considerate as ever, with just the right amount of concern. “I heard from Alex that you asked him to look into something. Are you having trouble at work?” See, she even planted her informants this quickly. I suppressed the surge of emotions in my heart and replied in the most casual tone, “No, I just suddenly missed you.” On the other end, there seemed to be a sigh of relief, followed by a soft laugh. “Honey, I miss you too. Once I finish this project, I’ll fly back to be with you right away, my Sunshine.” The word “Sunshine” clearly drilled into my ears. My grip on the phone suddenly tightened. So, I wasn’t her only sunshine. Or maybe, I never was.

Alex’s efficiency was astonishing; in less than half an hour, I received a message. He sent a link along with a comment: [Performance of the year by the best actor, with such a complete chain of evidence that I feel bad charging you full price. Enjoy.] I clicked it open; it was Leonel’s social media account, set to public. The latest post was a close-up of a wrist wearing that oh-so-familiar bracelet, captioned: [Sunshine coming your way, Ms. S.] My “Sunshine” nickname, my bracelet, have now become another man’s trophies. I scrolled down expressionlessly. A photo’s background was our home study. Leonel held his face, smiling innocently, with the rare architectural books I brought back from Italy behind him. Caption: [Soaking up knowledge in Ms. S’s study, I feel like I’m getting smarter too!] In one photo, he held a pen sketching on a blueprint—that was the limited-edition pen I gave Elsie for her 30th birthday. Caption: [The pen Ms. S gave me is amazing. She said my hand deserves the best pen.] Another photo was taken at the private kitchen we often visited, featuring my favorite dishes. Caption: [At Ms. S’s secret spot, she said I’m the only harbor where she can completely relax.] Every photo, every word, felt like a precise scalpel, cutting into the softest parts of my memories. Until I came across the post updated three days ago. In the photo, Leonel held a printed design blueprint, smiling boldly and proudly. Caption: [Ms. S stayed up late helping me revise the design. She said I’m the most talented designer she’s ever met and will definitely win the Summit Center project. Go for it!] Summit Center is the project Dream Builder poured its heart into and prepared for six months, marking the most important milestone in my career. I suddenly jumped up from the sofa, grabbed my car keys, and rushed out the door. The company was empty late at night. I unlocked the door with my fingerprint and headed straight to Elsie’s office. Her computer screen was still lit with a screensaver—it was a photo from our wedding day, where she smiled gently and tenderly. I just felt a wave of nausea. I tapped on the keyboard, the screen lit up, and a password input box popped up. I tried my birthday—wrong. Tried our wedding anniversary—still wrong. I let out a cold laugh and entered Leonel’s birthday. The password was correct. The desktop was clean and tidy, and I immediately spotted the encrypted folder. I opened it, and inside was the final plan for “Summit Center,” with every detail embodying countless days and nights of hard work and inspiration from my team and me. Next to it lay another folder, quietly named with just one letter, “L.” I opened it and found that the plan was almost identical to ours, with only a few key load-bearing structures and design highlights slightly adjusted to avoid core patents while retaining the essence of the plan. The plan was signed under Leonel’s name. So it turns out Elsie not only cheated but also planned to steal my hard work and our company’s future to pave the way for her lover. My stomach churned violently, and I gripped the cold desk tightly to keep myself from collapsing. Turns out, jealousy and betrayal can truly change a woman beyond recognition.

The Summit Center project bidding event was bustling with noise and excitement. I found an inconspicuous corner to sit in, my eyes fixed on the figure of Solar Design’s representative walking onto the stage. It’s Leonel. He’s wearing a sharply tailored business suit today, with polished leather shoes and his hair neatly slicked back, shedding his previous innocence and exuding the sharpness of a corporate elite. He took a deep breath and began explaining the design concept. “My inspiration comes from ‘The Eye of the City.’ We hope it’s not just a cold building but a living entity that breathes with the city and witnesses the pulse of the times…” Every single word of this was what I had once told Elsie, night after night, over countless cups of coffee, with bloodshot eyes. I once thought it was the deepest soul connection between us as a couple. Now I realize it was just a one-man show, and she was the most patient thief. What’s more ironic is that Elsie is sitting in the guest seat on the judges’ panel. Her long hair is neatly tied up, her face adorned with delicate makeup—exactly the elite look I know so well. She listens intently, nodding frequently, and when her gaze falls on Leonel, it sparkles with a light I’ve never seen before—a glow that treasures him and longs to show him off to the world. She completely ignores me in the corner of the audience, as if I’m just an insignificant backdrop. The phone buzzed in my palm—it was a message from Alex: [Need me to drop in with a baseball bat?] I looked at the screen, and the corners of my tense mouth curved slightly as I replied: [Wait.] On stage, Leonel’s speech reached its climax, and the final render appeared on the PPT—the very one stolen from my computer. The room filled with low murmurs of astonishment. The speech ended with thunderous applause. The host took the stage. “Thank you, Mr. Mason, for the wonderful presentation. Next, let’s welcome the special judge of this competition, the highly respected industry veteran, Ms. Snyder from Dream Builder Design, to give a brief review of this proposal.” The microphone was gently handed to Elsie. She nodded slightly, cleared her throat, and her gentle gaze fell on Leonel as she slowly began, “To be honest, I’m quite surprised. “Mr. Mason’s design perfectly combines artistic aesthetics with practical functionality. Especially the subtle adjustments in several key load-bearing structures—very bold, very ingenious.” She used “ingenious,” the word she used to describe Leonel, the word she used to hurt me. She paused, her gaze calmly sweeping across the room. “I believe this piece is undoubtedly the best today.” Applause erupted again, even more enthusiastic than before. At that moment, my world fell silent, leaving only the dull thud of my heart pounding in my chest. The host smiled and took over, saying, “Thank you, Ms. Snyder, for such high praise! It seems Solar Design is determined to win this time. So, is there any guest or judge here who would like to ask Mr. Mason a question?” The venue fell silent. After Elsie’s “authoritative” high praise, it seemed there was nothing left to ask. Leonel stood on stage, bowed deeply, his face unable to hide the pride and joy. I put away my phone and slowly stood up just as everyone was about to applaud again. My movement was subtle, yet it instantly drew everyone’s attention. The host was slightly stunned and asked, “Sir, may I ask who you are?” Elsie’s smile froze.

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When I, Amber Lynch, returned from a business trip and just stepped into my home, I found the water was out. After contacting the property management, the repair personnel quickly came to check. But as soon as he walked in, he looked at me with a puzzled expression. “The owner’s group sent a notice yesterday saying there would be a water outage today, and you even replied. Don’t you remember?” My heart skipped a beat, and an inexplicable unease quietly arose. Because we found it troublesome, my husband Leon Burton and I never joined the owner’s group. After the repair personnel left, I immediately joined the owner’s group, opened the chat history, and found a woman claiming to be the owner of unit 1206 constantly speaking in the group. But 1206 is my home, how could she possibly be the owner of 1206? I immediately called Leon. He sounded relaxed. “It’s probably just a mistake. With so many buildings in the neighborhood, mixing up unit numbers is normal. Want me to remind her to correct it?” I smiled slightly and told him not to bother, it wasn’t a big deal. After hanging up, I immediately used another phone number to send a friend request to that 1206 owner. It’s only 8 p.m., and shortly after I sent the request, the other party accepted it. She sent a message: [Who are you? Do you need something from me?] My fingers quickly tapped the screen, sending a message: [Hi, I’m your downstairs neighbor. There’s been noise from your place, like someone walking around. Could it be a break-in?] The other party quickly replied: [I’ll go check right away.] I put away my phone, walked to the door, entered the password skillfully, and pushed the door open. This apartment is near the airport. Leon and I don’t stay here often; it’s just a temporary stopover when we’re in a rush during business trips. At this moment, Leon is in the downtown penthouse, and this place should be empty. A few minutes later, the crisp sound of high heels echoed in the hallway. I quietly looked over and saw a young woman standing at the door, naturally entering the password and pushing the door open. Now I’m finally sure she didn’t make a mistake with the note; my guess was right. The phone vibrated, and her message came: [Did you mishear? The water’s out today, there’s no one at our place, and the sound didn’t come from our house.] I replied perfunctorily with a couple of sentences, said nothing more, and walked out through the fire escape, re-entering my home. “Who are you? Why are you in my house?” I spoke first before the woman could react. Her face instantly turned red, her lips trembling slightly. “You must be Leon’s wife, right? I’m Ariana Roberts, his hometown friend.” “He said this house is vacant for a long time and was worried about thieves breaking in. Since I work nearby, he asked me to drop by occasionally to check and do some cleaning.” I don’t stay in this house often, but I specifically hired a cleaning service to come regularly. There’s no need to trouble anyone else. However, I didn’t expose her. Instead, I patted her shoulder, smiled, and said, “Thank you so much. It’s getting late today, so you should head back. I need to rest now.” Ariana nodded and dashed out quickly, as if something was really chasing her.

After she left, I sat on the sofa and scrolled through her Instagram. She had three pinned posts. The first was of her slender wrist wearing a men’s watch, captioned: [Let me play with it.] I instantly recognized the watch on her wrist as the gift I gave to Leon. Looking at the post’s date, I remembered tidying up the closet at home that day and noticing the watch was missing. Leon said he left it at the office, but turns out he used it to please another woman. Her second post was tagged in another city, captioned: [The hotel’s soundproofing is terrible, I don’t dare sleep alone.] That day was my birthday. Leon and I were having a candlelight dinner when he suddenly got up and told me the company had arranged a business trip, and he had to leave immediately. I was a bit upset and asked if he could leave tomorrow instead. He frowned at me and said he was working, telling me not to be unreasonable. The third post was a huge bouquet made of cash, almost engulfing Ariana entirely. If I’m not mistaken, this bouquet must have cost a total of $520,000. This money was withdrawn from my supplementary card. He really went all out, giving his lover a $520,000 bouquet, while all I got was a cheap bunch of roses. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, lamenting how blind I was to have liked that idiot Leon. He even dared to let his lover live in the house under my name, not fearing I’d find out. I just feel like my intelligence has been insulted. Thinking of this, I immediately contacted my good friend Ella Stone. She’s a lawyer, specializing in divorce cases. After hearing my story, Ella angrily said, “Leon, that freeloader living off your family, actually dared to cheat?” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure he leaves with nothing.” I nodded with satisfaction. This is exactly what I want. I don’t want a tainted man, and more than that, I’ll make him pay. I had just hung up Ella’s call when Leon’s call came through. He said, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming back? I could’ve driven to pick you up. The house near the airport has no water, so it’s inconvenient for you to stay there tonight.” “Also, you’ve met Ariana, right? She’s from the same place as me, and her parents know mine. She’s working hard here alone, so her parents asked me to look after her.” He brought it up on his own to ease my doubts, not knowing their little secret was already exposed. I pretended to be casual and said, “Yeah, I met her. I’ve been really busy lately, and I have an early flight tomorrow. I’ll just make do here for the night. You should get some rest too.” As I said this, the tablet in my hand was streaming the live surveillance of the downtown flat. I didn’t expect Ariana to be so bold. She had just met me and then turned around to go to the flat to act coy with Leon. Leon sat on the sofa, holding her in his arms, one hand playing with her hair, looking like a loving couple. On the other end of the phone, Leon clearly let out a sigh of relief upon hearing my words. “Alright then, it’s getting late. You should rest early.” “Next time you come back from a business trip, let me know in advance. No matter how late, I’ll drive to pick you up. Nothing is more important than you.” If I were still in the dark at this moment, I might feel touched hearing these words. But now, looking at the scene before me, all I feel is mockery.

After hanging up the phone, Ariana immediately gave Leon a kiss on the cheek. “I was so scared today, I thought we were going to get caught.” Leon pinched her cheek with a smile and said dotingly, “What are you afraid of? I’m here. Even if we get caught, so what? I’ll protect you.” “In a couple of days, there’s an auction. I’ll take you there for some fun. Buy whatever you like.” Ariana’s eyes lit up instantly. “Thank you, you’re really the best!” I contacted the assistant to freeze Leon’s supplementary card, ensuring he couldn’t spend a single cent. I want to see how he’ll “buy whatever” without my money. Ella is always efficient; before dawn, a complete timeline was sent to my inbox. Leon didn’t lie; Ariana is indeed his childhood friend, and they grew up together. A year ago, after Ariana came to this city, the two started getting close. He treated her extremely well, providing the best in food, clothing, and essentials. The spending records alone filled a fifty-page PPT. I roughly calculated, and the amount reached tens of millions of dollars. What’s more ironic is that many of those items are familiar to me. For example, the sapphire necklace he gave me on our wedding anniversary, which he claimed was bought for a fortune at an auction. Because the necklace was too extravagant, I mostly kept it in the cabinet and rarely wore it. But I just realized that everything he gave me was fake, and the real ones are all around Ariana’s neck. Looking at the pages of spending records, I was so angry that I laughed. Thinking about how touched I felt when I received those gifts before, I now feel nauseous. And Ariana, who owns the real ones, has built a “rich wife” persona online, showing off her jewelry, designer clothes, and bags every day. With these things, she’s gained hundreds of thousands of followers online. I clicked into her account and found her latest post, where she filmed me and Leon’s downtown marital home. Not only that, she even went into my walk-in closet, casually picked up my clothes, and said to the camera, “I have too many clothes at home, let’s pick a few lucky followers to give them away.” “Don’t worry, these clothes have never been worn, some even still have tags. I’ll give them away for free in a raffle. For those who don’t win, don’t be upset, there will be more of these events in the future.” The screen was flooded with pop-up likes, filled with envy and praise. Some even asked her why she was so wealthy. She replied, “It’s all my husband’s money. We grew up together, and he always gives me the best.” “In a couple of days, he’s taking me to an auction. I’ll make a video for you when we’re back.” I left a comment with my new account: [Can you livestream the auction tomorrow? We ordinary people have never seen what a real auction looks like.] Many people liked my comment, asking Ariana to livestream and let the fans broaden their horizons. Ariana quickly replied, “Alright, I’ll livestream tomorrow and let everyone join the auction immersively.” Seeing this, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Leon wants to use my card to let her buy whatever she wants; it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t show up.

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On our wedding night, just as Dax and I were about to make love, his secretary, Serena, burst in. She slammed a domestic servitude contract on the table in front of me. “One, no freedom! No days off, available to the mistress 24/7!” “Two, no dignity! You’ll remove the mistress’s shoes, wash her feet, and provide kneeling service every night at the mistress’s bedroom door!” “Three, no shame! You’ll sleep with the master periodically to fulfill his needs!” “…” “Nine, the mistress is afraid of childbirth, so you must bear the master at least one son. The child will call the mistress ‘Mom.’” “Employer: Serena, Employee: Aria.” My mind froze the moment I finished reading. I felt completely numb. Not only did the mistress want to take my place, but she also wanted to hire me as her maid? Had she gone completely insane? “Serena, stop this nonsense!” Dax’s angry shout had barely faded when two burly bodyguards rushed in. “Mr. Dax, our young miss was swapped at birth. She’s just been found today, the true heiress of Silverwood City’s illustrious Silverwood Group.” “The young miss is still willing to marry you; you should be honored.” I was stunned again. Silverwood City’s Silverwood Group? Wasn’t that the company founded by Mr. Harrison Sr., the most powerful among my thirteen sponsors?

“Darling, do you still think I’m making a scene?” I was about to speak, but Dax, who had snapped out of his daze, embraced Serena, trembling with excitement. “No, not at all!” “Absolutely not a scene!” “My precious, I… I’m so madly in love with you!” As he spoke, they completely ignored me, as if I were invisible, and began passionately kissing. My heart felt like it was being slowly tortured, torn to shreds. I had planned a huge surprise for Dax on our wedding night, during our sweetest moment. Instead, I’d been struck by a bolt of lightning that left my mind blank. They grew more and more lost in each other, clothes shedding one by one. Just as they were about to take the final step… “Oh, dear!” Serena purred, pushing him away quickly. Dax paused, then awkwardly scratched his head. “My bad, my bad, I almost lost control. I completely forgot you’re on your period today.” I let out a self-deprecating, utterly desolate laugh. Dax could never remember when his wife, me, was on her period, but he knew hers. It seemed they had been intimate countless times behind my back, in the office, in the car. Serena jutted her chin at me, then added, “It’s fine. If you’re really desperate, isn’t there a ready-made option right in front of you?” Dax looked a little uncomfortable. “I’m about to divorce her. It wouldn’t be right…” “What’s wrong with it?” “The domestic servitude contract clearly states that when I’m unavailable, she’s your personal pleasure girl, there to fulfill your needs!” “Anyway, you’ve used this woman so much she’s practically worn out. I don’t mind you continuing to sleep with her. Better to sleep with your ex-wife than to look for someone random outside, right?” My anger flared. I tore the domestic servitude contract into tiny pieces. “You disgusting couple, I’m not interested in your sick role-playing games.” “Dax, we’re done.” I turned to leave, but the two bodyguards rushed over and held me firmly. “What are you doing? Let me go!” Slap! Serena slapped me, her voice haughty. “My word is law. Since I’ve chosen you as my maid, you have no right to refuse.” “You’ll accept whether you want to or not!” She then ordered the bodyguards to pry open my mouth. From her pocket, she pulled out a small pill and forced me to swallow it. That bitch, she came prepared! Soon, I felt like I was burning up, my cheeks flushed crimson, and my eyes grew hazy. “Darling, have fun tonight.” “Go wild, don’t hold back!” Bang! The bedroom door closed. Dax lunged at me like a madman, pinning me beneath him. He ignored my struggles, my screams, and was even more fervent and violent than ever before. Every previous time, I felt surrounded by happiness. But now, there was only pain. Endless pain! That night felt endlessly long… When I woke up in the morning, Dax was gone. Every cell in my body screamed in agony, as if torn apart. I could barely move an inch. A moment later, Serena pushed the door open. She smiled broadly. “You performed well last night. According to the contract, the ‘sleepover service’ is billed per session, $100,000 a pop.” “You know, many actresses in Hollywood don’t even get that price. You should be ecstatic!” With that, she pulled out a check and threw it at my face. I was instantly overwhelmed by extreme humiliation, feeling like a prostitute who had just finished with a client, utterly filthy! I don’t know how much time passed. After crying until no tears were left, I laboriously picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t touched in ages. “Lilia, spread the word: I’m making a comeback.” “Also, help me organize a sponsors’ meeting. And make it quick!” I hung up, all pain and humiliation vanished from my eyes, replaced by boundless cold fury. The Black Phoenix, who once stirred countless storms in the global investment world, had returned from the ashes. And some misguided relatives, bringing home all sorts of undesirables, it was time for a purge.

The next day, I went to the company to finalize the divorce with Dax. As soon as I reached the lobby, I ran into Serena. “Oh? Well, look at you, resilient! I thought you’d be bedridden for at least three days.” “Where’s Dax? Tell him to come out. We’re finalizing the divorce today.” Serena frowned and snorted. “Who do you think you’re ordering around? Still acting like the boss’s wife?” “Get it straight! Our roles have reversed!” “I’m the master, you’re the maid!” The receptionist looked utterly astonished, clearly unaware of Serena’s new status. She immediately started frantically posting messages in the company’s WhatsApp group. “Oh my god! The boss’s secretary has lost her mind! She’s actually making the boss’s wife her maid!” Seeing more and more curious colleagues gathering, Serena clicked her tongue. “This awful pollution in Newport City is so annoying. My new shoes are dirty after just one day.” With that, she extended one foot toward me. “You, kneel down!” “Use your sleeve to wipe the dust off my shoes.” Seeing everyone stare, gaping in shock, Serena held her head high, a triumphant smirk on her face. I didn’t get angry; instead, I smiled. That bitch, she wanted to use me to establish her authority? As if I’d let her! I immediately stepped forward and stomped hard on her foot. “Ah!” “Aria! You’re dead!” She shrieked and raised her hand to slap me, but I was faster. Slap! I landed a brutal slap across her face and said coldly, “You’re just an employee. What right do you have to strut around in front of me?” “No matter what, I’m still the legitimate boss’s wife.” “Good slap!” “Serena is way too arrogant, she deserved it!” Employees cheered, but the next second, a cold shout suddenly came from the elevator. “Not anymore!” Dax walked out of the elevator, his face cold, and threw a divorce agreement at me. I casually glanced through it. My gaze lingered for a moment on the words ‘leave with nothing,’ then I immediately signed it. I didn’t care about his paltry possessions. Seeing this, the employees became anxious. “Mr. Dax, Serena provoked her first, the boss’s wife did nothing wrong!” “The boss’s wife knew you had stomach problems and brought you lunch every day, without fail.” “She always prepared milk and medicine for you before every business dinner. Even some of the company’s most profitable projects were led by the boss’s wife.” “It’s so unfair for you to treat her like this!” “…” My frozen heart trembled slightly again. All these years, my efforts had been seen by every employee. Only Dax, he never cared. Dax sneered, took Serena’s hand, and declared loudly, “Serena’s true identity is the heiress of the Silverwood Group!” “Now that she’s reunited with her family, I will marry her, and with the strong support of the Silverwood Group, our company will achieve even greater glory!” After a brief, dead silence, the entire hall erupted! “Silverwood Group? The famous conglomerate that set the record for the fastest IPO?” “With the Silverwood Group backing us, our salaries will at least double, right?” Everyone’s expressions instantly changed when they looked at me. The righteous indignation was gone, replaced by cold sarcasm. “What good is a domestic trophy wife, no matter how dutiful? Worthless in front of a wealthy heiress!” “Mr. Dax’s decisive action, that’s the style of a man who gets things done!” “…” Looking at their ugly, greedy faces, I shook my head and scoffed. As I turned to leave, a sharp pain shot through my calf. Thump! Dax kicked me, and I fell to my knees. I twisted my head, staring at him with bloodshot eyes, but he ignored me, pressing my head down to repeatedly bash it against the floor to apologize to Serena. “Serena, are you satisfied?” “No.” Serena pouted. “A mirror isn’t shiny unless you polish it; a wicked servant needs a beating!” “Darling, I want you to make this wretched slave kneel in front of everyone, to break her spirit!” A flicker of reluctance crossed Dax’s eyes. He whispered, “Serena, isn’t that a bit much? She is my ex-wife, after all…” Serena immediately raised an eyebrow. Just as she was about to speak, her phone buzzed. After reading it, her eyes lit up with fierce ambition, and she became even more arrogant.

“Serena, what’s wrong?” “In two days, Mr. Harrison Sr.’s boss is hosting a high-profile banquet in Silverwood City. Over a dozen of the nation’s top moguls will be attending.” “My dad wants to take you and me to experience it, but it seems you still have lingering feelings for this wretched slave, don’t you?” “I’ll tell my dad not to take you now, and I’ll reconsider our engagement.” As she spoke, she made a move to reply to the message. Dax snatched her phone, his eyes blazing with desire and ambition. “Serena, I think you’re absolutely right!” “This kind of wretched slave really does need a beating! She needs to know her place!” “Guards!” Soon, several security guards bound my hands and hoisted me up. I exploded, “Dax! How dare you!” “I am Serena’s grandfather’s boss!” Before I could finish, my legs were pinned to the ground. Serena glanced at the assembled employees and said, “You all praised her so much for being dutiful before. It seems you know her quite well, don’t you?” “Alright then, now start spilling her dirt!” Dirt? Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Though they all wanted to curry favor with the wealthy heiress, they couldn’t think of a single thing. Seeing their hesitation, Serena publicly pulled out a wad of cash and slammed it on the reception desk. “$10,000 for each piece of dirt, unlimited.” “Get paid on the spot!” Under her ‘power of money,’ the atmosphere instantly became feverish. A female manager, who usually called me “Aria” and even wanted to be my ‘adopted sister,’ was the first to jump out: “I’ll go first! I’ve had enough of her for a long time!” “Before, she used to boss me around like a servant just because she was the boss’s wife. She often made me carry her bags, give her massages, and even feed her dog during work hours!” “She saw I was handsome and said she wanted to make me her sugar baby. When I refused, she slapped me in front of all the employees!” “I had it even worse! She knew my family was struggling, and my parents desperately needed surgery money. She threatened to fire me unless I became her boy toy!” “For my parents, I tearfully accepted, but I never expected her to be a pervert! She tortured me in various ways when I was with her…” “…” Serena giggled, opening a live stream on her phone, pointing the camera at me. She cooed, “Please, dear netizens, tell me what you think.” “Does a person like this deserve a beating?” The live stream comments quickly scrolled wildly. “Absolutely!” “We working people are already struggling enough every day. We serve the boss, and now we have to serve her, the boss’s wife? Does she think we’re animals?” “She’s even sexually harassing her own employees, that shameless bitch! She’s not even trying to hide it anymore!” “She’s the definition of a filthy rich socialite! Can’t your husband satisfy you? Are you that desperate for a man?” Serena contentedly ended the live stream, walked over, and pinched my chin. “Do you realize your mistake?” “Do you know what to do now?” Ptooey! I spit a bloody phlegm onto her face, my voice weak. “Bitch… you’re finished.” “Your father, your grandfather, your entire family will fall with you… I swear it!” “Ah!” “That’s disgusting! You bastard!” Serena snatched a belt and, enraged, splashed coffee all over me. “Still defiant when death is at your doorstep! I’ll teach you to be defiant!” Employees looked away, unable to bear the sight of me in my ragged, pathetic state. Watching Serena’s appreciative gaze, my lips trembled wildly. “You… you’re a psycho…” “You’re a maniac…” “Psycho?” Serena burst into another round of mad laughter. “This is just the beginning. The real madness is yet to come.” With that, she waved her hand. “Tonight, it’s company team-building, and I’m treating everyone to sushi.” “Bring this wretched slave along too. We’ll arrange the sushi on her body. A perfect way to ‘utilize’ her.” My mouth twitched violently. My eyes, filled with rage and disbelief, were like knives, wishing to gouge her out on the spot. “You… you wouldn’t dare?!” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through the back of my head, and my consciousness plunged into darkness.

When I woke up again, I was lying on a cold, large table. Everyone was gone. Mint leaves, sushi rice, and caviar pearls were scattered haphazardly on my bloodied, naked body. I stared blankly at the ceiling, replaying the humiliating scenes from not long ago. Every second I thought about it, my nerves felt like they were being pierced by venomous needles. The pain was nearly suffocating! I don’t know how long passed. Dressed in a work uniform given to me by a kind server, I returned home. Seeing my mom, Brenda, there, my numb nerves finally found a moment of solace. Then I noticed she was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging a pair of bare feet. My gaze slowly moved upward. It was none other than Serena. Before I could fully process it, I saw my brother, Kevin, running over with a basin of hot water, smiling eagerly. “Miss Serena, I’ll draw your foot bath.” Serena looked utterly delighted, then smugly turned her head to glance at me. “See? You didn’t want to be my servant, but plenty of others do.” “I just offered $200,000 a month, and your mom and brother were scrambling to try out. Tsk tsk… the power of money is truly effective!” I staggered, nearly falling. I couldn’t believe my eyes or my ears. “Mom, Kevin, what have you…” “Do you even know that I divorced Dax because of her!” “All these injuries on my body are also thanks to this disgusting couple. They even… they even made me into a human sushi platter!” Kevin shrugged indifferently. “Yeah, we know. Miss Serena told us everything when she got back.” “You can’t blame Miss Serena and Dax for the divorce. They’re a perfect match. You should have stepped aside a long time ago.” Brenda even admonished me, “You disobeyed Miss Serena earlier, so it’s only right that she taught you a lesson. From now on, you need to serve her diligently.” Then, she handed me a book. The Premium Domestic Service Handbook. Brenda continued, “Aria, you’re not the rich madam you used to be. You’re a nobody now, with no money, no home, no prospects.” “Now Miss Serena is even willing to hire you for $500,000 a month, plus the per-session payment for sleeping with Dax, your monthly income would exceed a million dollars!” “What more could you want? Hurry up and thank Miss Serena!” Listening to Serena’s grating, mad laughter, I gave a desolate smile. The little color left in my face completely drained away, leaving not a trace. As I turned to leave, Brenda shouted again, “Stop!” “If you walk out that door, we’re disowning you!” “Fine.” I replied, and without looking back, I left. Walking out of the complex, the biting night wind made me tremble uncontrollably, and the tears I had been holding back burst forth like a broken dam. “Aria…” “From now on, you have no family.” I murmured to myself, then contacted Lilia, my assistant, to book a flight, flying to Silverwood City overnight. Two days later. The ballroom on the top floor of a five-star hotel in Silverwood City was packed with celebrities and wealthy elites. Serena and Dax were among them, being led by Mr. Davies, weaving through the crowd, toasting. During this, Serena’s gaze kept flicking toward the majestic gilded armchair at the head of the table. “Dad, that chair is so beautiful. I wish I could sit in it.” Mr. Davies jumped in alarm, rebuking her quietly. “That chair is prepared for your grandfather’s boss. It’s beyond your reach.” “Oh, come on, I was just saying!” “But who exactly is grandpa’s boss? Must be over a hundred years old, right?” Mr. Davies’s face filled with admiration at her words. He sighed, “That is a legendary figure in the investment world, the Black Phoenix who once caused countless storms in global finance.” “Your grandpa says she’s quite young, probably around your age.” Serena and Dax secretly gasped. When they looked back at the gilded armchair, they saw someone was already sitting in it. After seeing clearly, both of them gasped in shock. “Aria?!” The next second, Mr. Harrison Sr. and the twelve other most powerful moguls in the room approached me, bowing in unison with faces full of reverence. “Boss!”

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The day I was released from the mental hospital, my family watched me with nervous care. “Are you still looking for Lucas?” I widened my eyes in confusion. “Lucas? Who’s that?” Their relief was instant. They threw a welcome home party. They set up blind dates. The tension shattered into forced cheer. Everyone told me Lucas didn’t exist, that I’d fallen in love with someone purely imaginary. I played my part perfectly. Humoring them was the price of my freedom, the key that unlocked the hospital doors. But I knew. Lucas was real. I would find him, then escape. “How’s Summer’s mental state now?” “She’s good, very stable. But doctor, we’re worried she might be faking it, that she hasn’t forgotten that imaginary person. Is there any chance of that?” Over the phone, the doctor’s tone was firm: “Absolutely impossible. I used the most brutal psychological torment. I forced her to forget everything except her family. A fake, imaginary person couldn’t possibly leave any trace.” “But remember, you must not let her encounter any related people or things, or it could awaken some of her memories.” “Understood, thank you, doctor. The payment we agreed on will be transferred to your offshore account tonight.” With that, my brother, Michael, hung up. From behind the door, I heard Michael let out a sigh of relief. “Finally, it’s done.” His footsteps approached the door. I quickly backed away, fumbling my way back to my bedroom in the dark, trying to process everything I’d just heard. It was clear: my family had bribed the doctor and wiped out most of my past. My memory was a blank slate, save for information about my family and a vague recollection of assaulting someone on the street two years ago, being diagnosed with a mental illness, and locked away in a psychiatric hospital. Everyone was lying to me! Only I wouldn’t lie to myself. I had no memory of my treatment in the mental hospital, but on the wall hidden by the desk in my room, I found three lines of small, carved words. “It’s a setup! Summer, your family bribed the doctor, they’re torturing you.” “I’m barely holding on, many memories are fading, but remember this: Lucas is real. Go to New York and find him, that’s your only way to freedom.” “An iPhone, red high heels – these are gifts from Lucas, proof that he exists.” Less than a hundred words, stained with what looked like dried blood. Through the frantic handwriting, I could feel the panic and despair I’d experienced when I’d scratched those messages into the wall. Knock, knock, knock! A sudden knock startled me. Only then did I realize I’d forgotten to turn off my lamp. I quickly went to open the door. “Summer, why are you still awake so late?” It was Michael. His eyes held a look of concern and affection, which made me feel instinctively conflicted, sending a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know their motive for torturing and deceiving me. But Michael was the CEO of a successful corporation, and Mom and Dad, though retired, had extensive connections. I, on the other hand, didn’t even know my own identity. I couldn’t fight them. The only thing I could do was bide my time, cooperate, lower their guard, and look for an opportunity to find Lucas. I forced a faint smile. “Tomorrow’s Mom’s birthday. I was just thinking about what to get her.” “Oh, don’t worry about it,” Michael said, ruffling my hair. “Don’t you know what Mom and Dad really want? They just want you to get married soon. The guy they’ve set you up with for tomorrow’s date is young and accomplished. Just try to be enthusiastic, okay? Don’t resist so much.” The man was named Julian Sterling, the future heir of the Sterling Group. He was cultured, gentle, thoughtful, humorous, and had no bad habits. After a while, I almost fell for him. In front of Mom and Dad, I often brought up Julian, feigning interest. They were overjoyed, saying it was time to pick a good day for both families to meet. No one mentioned Lucas anymore, as if he had truly been forgotten, as if he never existed. Michael also stopped having people constantly watching me like before. At least, when I went out on dates with Julian, there were fewer pairs of eyes following me. On Thanksgiving Eve, both families met for the first time. The atmosphere was warm and harmonious. The wedding was set for a lucky day three months later, sealed with a kiss between Julian and me. My eyes sparkled with feigned happiness as I drank myself into a stupor. Michael helped me back to my bedroom. Thinking I was passed out drunk, they celebrated loudly in the living room: “Phew, finally done. He’s completely won Summer over.” “Just three more months, and once the wedding happens, this whole thing will be over!” So. They wanted to use me as a tool for a strategic marriage, which was why they’d used such cruel methods to erase my memory? I reached under my bed, pulled out a storage box, and looked at the iPhone and red high heels inside. My eyes narrowed, my gaze hardening. “Lucas.” “I will find you!”

I couldn’t reveal my true thoughts to anyone, not even Julian. But I loved dating Julian. When I was with him, I could escape Michael’s surveillance. And Julian often had to leave me for a while to attend to company matters. These were my moments of absolute freedom. I wasn’t sure what awaited me after marrying Julian, so I had to execute my escape plan and head to New York before the wedding. I pawned off Julian’s gifts for quick cash. Once I’d saved enough, I planned to buy an untraceable used car and disappear without a trace. A month later, my chance came! While Julian was with me trying on wedding dresses, he took a call, his face instantly changing. “Another problem? Things always go wrong when I’m not there. I’m losing more than I’m making from the Vance family! Wait for me, I’m coming now…” He rushed out and got into his car. Usually, when there was a company emergency, he’d be gone for at least an hour or two. I wasted no time, quickly changed, hailed a cab, and headed to the used car lot I’d scouted beforehand. I paid a fortune for a beat-up clunker that was almost ready for the junkyard. I had no choice. My time was limited, and I couldn’t leave any information that my family could trace. As soon as I got the keys, I threw my phone away and drove towards New York. I had no idea how I’d find Lucas. Once I reached New York, to make a living, I leveraged my looks and got a job as a massage parlor attendant in a run-down part of the city. No ID required, which was perfect. It was strange. I seemed to adapt quickly to this job. I’d serve customers at night, trying to subtly gather any information about Lucas, and sleep in the staff dorm during the day. I dumped the car too, confident that my family wouldn’t find any trace of me. Two weeks later, I got a strange customer. He introduced himself as Julian’s driver, on vacation back home for a wedding, and just wanted a foot rub. But I’d met all of Julian’s drivers, and I had no recollection of this man. I decided to probe. “I heard Mr. Sterling’s fiancée went missing. Are you guys looking for her?” The driver blinked, confused. “What are you talking about? Mr. Sterling’s fiancée is Ms. Davis, from the Davis family. She was just photographed drinking at a nightclub last night. She’s not missing.” He pulled out a photo, claiming it was Julian and Ms. Davis at their engagement party. The room was packed with guests. Michael and Mom and Dad were there too. But the Julian in the photo wasn’t the Julian I knew at all! My scalp prickled. A cold dread seeped into my back. If Julian was also a lie, then my family’s initial plan-to separate Lucas and me through cruel means for a strategic marriage-made no sense. What was the truth then? What did they really want to do to me? In a daze, the door to the private room was kicked open. Michael’s figure abruptly appeared. His face was dark as he charged towards me, grabbing my collar and yanking me up. “You’re really hiding in a massage parlor! Summer, you’re the Vance family heiress! Do you really enjoy this kind of disgusting job?” I didn’t even have time to think. My muddled brain hadn’t even started working before Michael roughly dragged me out and into a car. Mom and Dad were waiting inside. All their past concern and affection for me were now replaced by deep disappointment. “Summer, what do we have to do for you to believe that Lucas doesn’t exist, that he’s fake?” I shook my head frantically, unable to speak. I just kept telling myself in my heart: they’re liars. I can’t believe a single word they say. Soon, Michael’s patience ran out. He grabbed a handful of my hair. “Summer, you’ve only ever had one boyfriend.” “You want to see him, don’t you?” “Fine, I’ll take you to him right now!”

The car sped through the city and stopped at a dilapidated old apartment complex in New York. Michael led me to a door and knocked. A disheveled, one-legged drunkard opened it. Seeing us, he trembled with fear, shrinking back. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, Summer!” “I was wrong! I shouldn’t have treated you like that!” “You’ve already punished me! Please, let me go, stop torturing me, okay?” I, too, recoiled, shaking my head frantically. “I don’t know him! He’s not Lucas! He’s definitely not Lucas!” Michael scoffed, a mixture of anger and disbelief on his face. “Then tell me, who is Lucas? What does he look like?” I didn’t know. I couldn’t say. But I knew this depraved drunkard was not the man I had longed for, the man I dreamed of even in my despair within the mental hospital. “Enough, Summer! Can’t you just be clear-headed for once?!” “Lucas isn’t real! Those words you carved in the hospital wall? They were lies you planted yourself, back when you were still sick!” “HE is your only reality. The one who broke you. Your mind just couldn’t handle it, so it invented a perfect savior to escape to!” “Do you know why we found you in that massage parlor?” “Because he forced you to work in a place like that for six months…” The rest of his words faded. A sudden, tearing pain erupted in my brain. A memory was violently forced back into my mind, agonizing me. Then, the memory gradually became fluid, clear. I remembered everything. This pathetic drunkard was Caleb, a con artist. He had faked his identity, manipulated me, exploited my feelings, and then lured me to New York. He drained all my money, forcing me to work in a massage parlor to support him. The parlor owner was his relative. I was held captive for six months before Michael tracked me down and rescued me, punishing Caleb severely with his own methods. No wonder Michael found me. When the carvings in the mental hospital were discovered, he had focused his search on New York. Based on my past experience, he’d searched massage parlor after massage parlor. If this memory was real. Then was Lucas real or fake? I suddenly wavered. I recalled the soul-crushing pain and breakdown after being deceived by Caleb. Such intense suffering could indeed have triggered my mental illness. But my family were also liars! They bribed doctors and subjected me to brutal torment to make me forget everything. Even Julian was a fake. My entire life was a massive lie! “Summer, are you remembering some things?” Seeing my breakdown and fear, Michael clasped my hand, his gaze becoming earnest. “Now can you believe I wasn’t lying to you? We’re family. I don’t understand why you refuse to trust us.” “Come back home with us, and explain things properly to Julian. He still has feelings for you, and with our help, your wedding can still go ahead-” My emotions, at that moment, could no longer be contained. I erupted, yelling, “Enough!” “I don’t know if Lucas is fake, but Julian is fake!” “The man I saw wasn’t the real Julian at all! You’re all liars, you’re trying to deceive me too!” “Michael, please, just tell me the truth! What do you actually want from me?”

Back in the car, Mom, Dad, and Michael showed me many photos and screenshots of chat logs. A flood of information that painted a general picture of the years after I met Caleb. After graduating college, I ignored my family’s objections and went to New York with Caleb, then went completely off the radar. The three of them went frantic, searching everywhere for me. But when they finally found me and rescued me, I was already insane, unable to care for myself. I had forgotten Caleb, fantasizing about a nearly perfect man named Lucas, frantically searching for him, even becoming violent enough to injure someone. “Summer, Dad admits, we bribed the doctor and put you through some pretty harsh treatments to cure you.” “But what else could we do?! Regular medication couldn’t cure you. Only by completely erasing your memories could we help you escape the shadows of your past.” “After you were discharged, to prevent a relapse, we thought about finding you a perfect man, someone as close to the ‘Lucas’ in your imagination as possible. But where in the world does such a man exist? Julian was the best we could find.” “We pleaded with him. He was already engaged, so, desperate, we found someone to impersonate Julian…” Their eyes reddened as they spilled all the truth. Including some information I didn’t know. For example, the person playing Julian was Trevor Vance. Although not the heir of the Sterling family, he was an independent entrepreneur, a young and successful CEO worth millions. He had known the truth all along, helping my family deceive me in exchange for our Vance family’s resources and assistance. Michael swore to me that as long as the Vance family stood, Trevor would always treat me well. He would become the Lucas of my imagination. “Summer, because of you, we haven’t had a single peaceful night’s sleep in years.” “Do we have to tear our hearts out for you to see that we truly mean well?” Their tears seemed genuine. The memory of Caleb in my mind wasn’t fake either. And everything they had done now had a logical explanation that tied together. How could I not believe them? I sobbed uncontrollably, embracing them. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t have made you sad. But I lost my memories, and then those lines in the mental hospital… I was so scared, so scared, I couldn’t stop overthinking everything.” “Can you give me a little more time, please? I promise I’ll get through this…” After that, Mom, Dad, and Michael became even kinder to me. And they watched me even more closely. When I went out on dates with Trevor, the Vance family bodyguards didn’t even try to hide, openly shadowing and monitoring me. Occasionally, when I showed discomfort, Trevor would take my hand to soothe me. “Summer, your family is just looking out for you, afraid you might do something foolish again.” “All the misunderstandings have been cleared up, right? Promise me you won’t overthink things anymore, okay?” “We haven’t stopped you these past few days. We’ve been helping you search. Is there even a single trace of Lucas existing in your life?” I nodded silently, squeezing his hand back. “Yes, if Lucas truly existed, he would have left a trace.” “Anyway, thank you for coming with me to New York. It felt good to personally teach Caleb a lesson and get some much-needed revenge.” Behind me, Caleb lay battered, unable to stand. Trevor hadn’t heard what I’d said to Caleb while I was beating him. “If you want to live, help me find that iPhone I took to be repaired in the run-down part of the city.” No one knew I had already found the proof of Lucas’s existence! The iPhone, and those red high heels. I was incredibly thankful that before being discharged, I’d managed to scratch out the third line of text. Otherwise, they would surely have found a plausible explanation for those two items too. A few days later, I feigned waking up from a nightmare. Mom and Dad rushed in immediately, asking what was wrong. I said, “I dreamed of Caleb again.” “Is Trevor free? Can he take me to New York one more time?” I didn’t know what methods they had used to erase all traces of Lucas. But I knew that iPhone must contain information from Lucas, or from me before my amnesia, left for me…

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They said I stole the song from the fake heiress, Seraphina. A mob dragged me into an abandoned factory and beat me nearly to death. My parents and brother found the best doctors to save me. But outside the hospital room, I heard their cruel whispers. My dad, Arthur, said, “She deserves to lose her voice. A spoiled little thief.” My brother, Julian, said, “She’s too jealous. She needs a lesson.” The pain hit me hard, tears streaming down my face. I never expected my own family to treat me like this. Seraphina stole my work. I don’t want this family anymore. At the operating room door, the doctor looked pained as he advised, “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, while Willow’s vocal cords are severely damaged, artificial replacement could still save her voice. The injuries to her hands and legs also need immediate attention or she’ll be permanently disabled.” “Willow is a singer. Her career depends on her voice and hands. We need to schedule her surgeries now.” Arthur cut him off. “Just delay it!” My mother Eleanor sounded hesitant. “Arthur, Willow has already received her punishment. She won’t be able to go to the awards ceremony the day after tomorrow. She’s our biological daughter, after all. Do we really want to see her become permanently disabled?” Julian’s voice was full of disdain. “Let her be crippled. A ruined voice means she can’t steal Seraphina’s spotlight. Shattered legs will keep her home. Useless fingers will stop her from copying songs. The Sterling family will feed her. What do we have to fear?” “If she dared copy Seraphina, she should know the consequences. The Golden Music Award is Seraphina’s. She’s our diva. We need to break Willow completely, or she’ll never stop stealing Seraphina’s spotlight.” “No artificial vocal cords. Just give her a dog’s vocal cords; anything that lets her speak will do!” Eleanor sighed and quietly instructed the doctor. “Just give her the strongest painkillers. As for her hand and leg injuries, just keep them from getting worse and make sure she’s not in pain. My daughter has always been afraid of pain…” Hearing those words, I couldn’t stop trembling, and tears gushed out. The vicious attack wasn’t random malice from strangers. It was a calculated move by my own family, designed to remove me, their own blood, from Seraphina’s path. But they never even asked me, simply believing Seraphina’s side of the story. A tearing pain spread from my heart throughout my entire body. I stared blankly at the ceiling. Eleanor, who had just walked into the operating room, noticed my hands, still bleeding and trembling. Her eyes welled up with tears. “Willow, it’s me, Mom! Are you in a lot of pain? Don’t be scared, we’re calling the doctor to save you right away!” Julian, standing by, made a call, his voice cracking with sobs. “You must find the best vocal cords for my sister. Her lifelong dream can’t be destroyed!”

“Willow, don’t worry. I’ll definitely catch those haters and make them experience what it’s like to have their hands and feet broken and their vocal cords ripped out!” Arthur watched me, his eyes filled with guilt. “Willow, the world’s top medical team is already on their way. You have to hold on…” “When you’re better, I’ll personally write a song and sing it with you, telling everyone that you are my most talented daughter!” I watched their flawless performance numbly, painstakingly typing with my palm on my phone. “I really didn’t copy Seraphina.” Blood soaked the screen. Julian quickly took my phone away. “Okay! We all believe you! Just focus on recovering for now!” They nodded, but their eyes refused to meet mine. They didn’t believe me at all, which was why they were so ruthless, letting me become this way. Julian, who found me ten years ago, and Arthur and Eleanor, who hugged me, sobbing, saying they’d spend the rest of their lives making it up to me- They were the ones who personally shattered my dreams and cast me into an inescapable hell. All for the sake of Seraphina, the impostor daughter who had enjoyed all their love and affection. Tears blurred my vision. I couldn’t tell who their real daughter and sister were anymore. I could never measure up to Seraphina’s place in their hearts. This family, there was no place in it for me, their biological daughter. The doctor pushed the painkiller into my body. Looking at the horrific blood hole in my neck and my twisted limbs, he looked pained. “Willow, the specialists might be a bit late. Please try to bear it for now.” But no matter how strong the painkiller, it couldn’t stop the agony in my heart. I whimpered, biting my lip hard until my mouth filled with blood. Arthur and Eleanor saw me like this, their eyes red with heartache. Julian put his arm to my mouth. “Go on, Willow. If it hurts too much, bite me. Don’t hurt yourself.” They looked like the most caring family in the world, but all I felt was bone-chilling cold. When I slowly woke up again, it was already the next day. Before the specialists Arthur arranged arrived, I heard Julian and Eleanor talking. “Julian, Willow has already been punished. Do we still need to arrange for those reporters to come to the hospital today and expose her plagiarism? After all, we don’t have concrete evidence…” Julian sighed, his tone resolute. “What’s the harm in exposing her? She’s already lost her voice and her career is over. A little more scandal won’t hurt. This is how we secure the judges’ sympathy for Seraphina and guarantee her the Golden Music Award.” “Seraphina was raised by us. She wouldn’t lie. Even without evidence, I’ll find a way to make people believe it.” Arthur instructed Julian, “When the reporters come, don’t defend Willow. Let this be her lesson in humility.” Julian solemnly agreed. I lay on the hospital bed in despair, my tears long since dried up. Ten years ago, Julian found me because of that video of me singing in the orphanage talent show. They recognized me. After bringing me home, I worked much harder than Seraphina to get into the most prestigious music academy with her. Later, I even created “Moon Under the Sea,” the song nominated for the Golden Music Award. Yet Julian was convinced by Seraphina’s words and intended to give false testimony to ruin my reputation! My heart was being twisted by a knife. If I had known this, I would never have come home with them back then. “Bang!” The hospital room door was violently pushed open, and a crowd of reporters armed with their cameras and microphones swarmed in. I lay on the bed, unable to move, watching them openly slander me. “Willow Sterling, we hear you’re suffering this retribution from haters because you plagiarized your sister’s work. Do you regret it now?”

“We hear they cut out your vocal cords and broke your hands and legs. Are you going to be mute and crippled now?” The furious female reporter in the front row suddenly pulled back her microphone and laughed. “Oh, I almost forgot you can’t speak now. Well, let everyone see then!” She roughly pulled back the blanket covering me, exposing my mangled and twisted hands and feet for all to see. “Now that your hands and feet are broken, you shouldn’t be able to plagiarize your sister’s songs anymore, right?” “You never know. Maybe she’ll become a handicapped but persistent plagiarizing dog! Haven’t you heard of people typing with their tongue?” A male reporter next to her sneered mockingly. Everyone crowded around me, snapping photos relentlessly, their contempt and ridicule like sharp knives piercing my heart. I was utterly humiliated, but couldn’t utter a word in protest, my swollen eyes welling up with tears again. “Willow Sterling, even now, you’re still playing the victim. Aren’t you going to apologize to your sister?” Seeing me like this, the female reporter shoved her camera right into my face, starting a live broadcast. “Renowned singer-songwriter Willow Sterling, left permanently injured by fans seeking revenge for stealing her sister Seraphina’s original song…” Tears blurred my vision. I wanted to hide, but realized even moving was a luxury. Flashbulbs popped continuously, capturing my humiliated and pathetic state for all to see. “This is a private hospital! Who allowed you to trespass into a patient’s room?!” Julian rushed in, roaring and trying to drive them away. Eleanor quickly pulled the blanket back over me, and Arthur yelled at the reporters: “Get out now, or I’ll sue you all! Scram!” “Mr. Sterling, Mrs. Sterling, as respected pillars of the music industry. Are you really choosing to cover up plagiarism?” “Clearly, your biological daughter matters more than the one you raised, doesn’t she?” The reporters wouldn’t let up. Then, a clear, sweet female voice spoke. “Arthur and Eleanor are both respected pillars of the music industry. I wouldn’t be who I am today without their meticulous nurturing.” “They’ve never played favorites. It’s just that my sister was always jealous of how good they were to me.” Seraphina, dressed exquisitely and looking pure and noble, parted the crowd and walked gracefully towards us. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying for a long time. “Willow, please don’t make one mistake after another. Arthur and Eleanor have already been implicated enough by you, isn’t that enough?” “If you want the Golden Music Award, I’ll give it to you! If you want Arthur and Eleanor’s and Julian’s love, I’ll give you all of that too!” “Please stop doing these foolish things, okay? I really can’t bear to see you like this…” Tears streamed down her face as she dropped to her knees by my bedside. My emotions became agitated, and I painfully typed a line with my palm: “You’re lying! That song was clearly mine. I have proof!” A hush fell over the room, then reporters began snapping photos, but they still didn’t believe my claim. Julian pulled her up, his brows tightly furrowed. “It’s not your fault, Seraphina. Don’t be like this.” He turned, his gaze like steel, and looked at me. “Willow, don’t try to argue anymore. I don’t want to see you go further down the wrong path.” With that, he whispered a few words to Seraphina. Seraphina’s face turned pale, and she bit her lower lip, shaking her head vigorously. “No, Julian, you can’t. That would completely ruin Willow’s reputation…” “It’s come to this, and if you don’t show the evidence, she’ll still be stubborn and refuse to let go!” Julian grew agitated, his voice rising sharply. Everyone understood Seraphina held undeniable proof of my plagiarism. Arthur and Eleanor urged Seraphina to present the evidence immediately.

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One month after I was taken back into the Sterling family, my private nudes got leaked online. My brother Liam promised whoever was behind it would pay—big time. I showed him the proof that Chloe, the fake heiress, was the one setting me up. But instead of backing me, he slapped me across the face. “You’re shameless, trying to hurt Chloe? How can you be so cruel?” Then he stripped me and locked me in a freezer at minus twenty degrees to ‘make me think about what I’ve done.’ “I wish you weren’t my sister. I’d rather you disappear and never come back.” But in the end, they all came crawling back, begging for forgiveness. The day I left the Sterling family, I was running a high fever. My body was already frail. I’d been running on empty for a week, and then Liam had slapped me. Drained and aching, it was only natural I’d gotten sick. Even as I walked towards the river, Liam’s accusing words echoed in my ears. “Is that you in those pictures?” “Aubrey Sterling, have you really slept with that many men?” “Do you have no shame?!” While he interrogated me, Chloe, the fake heiress, was right there, twisting the knife even deeper. “Liam, you don’t think Aubrey has… you know, one of those diseases? I heard they can be contagious.” Liam’s face darkened, his brows furrowing in displeasure. “Stop spouting nonsense. Go back to your own room, Chloe.” Chloe clicked away on her heels, but Liam just pursed his lips and headed to the bathroom. When he came out, he was wearing gloves, and he meticulously disinfected every surface I’d touched. My pupils trembled. I clenched my fingers, humiliation burning through me. I watched him patiently sanitize the entire villa, then toss the gloves away. Only then did he turn to me, his voice cold. “Have you gotten tested?” I tried to keep my voice steady. “I’m not sick.” He clearly didn’t believe me, but he wouldn’t discuss it further. His face was a mask of cold fury as he warned me. “Don’t let Mom find out about this. I’ll handle the PR. Just stay home for a while.” As he spoke, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, but didn’t answer. He grabbed his jacket and started to leave. At the door, he paused and added. “Stay in your room.” The front door clicked shut, and a sharp pain squeezed my chest, like it had been slammed shut on my heart. Liam hadn’t yelled at me once. But his silence hurt more than a hundred insults. For the next week, I listened to Liam and didn’t leave my room. I spent all my time in my bedroom, trying to find out who had leaked those photos. Was it someone from the old town? No way. That would be a crime. They wouldn’t. Was it a rival company to Liam’s? Also unlikely. I’d only been back for a month. Many people didn’t even know about me. It couldn’t have been that fast. Finally, I zeroed in on one person. Chloe. Just two days ago, Mom had talked to Liam about sending Chloe back now that I was home. The person who hated me most had to be her. I stayed up day and night, using all the money Liam had given me to hire hackers. Liam, on the other hand, wasn’t idle either. He was swamped, frantically trying to suppress the scandal. But fifty million dollars just vanished into thin air, like water splashed on a stone. Nothing worked. Within three days, the company’s stock crashed, wiping out hundreds of millions. Mom still saw the photos, collapsed on the spot, and was rushed to the hospital. The scandal exploded, becoming the talk of the town. Under the manipulation of malicious individuals, the Sterling family’s reputation and finances suffered immeasurable losses. The internet was filled with vile insults aimed at me. Thankfully, a week later, I found the original ID that leaked the private photos. It was Chloe. I held my phone out to Liam. “She’s the one who leaked them, Liam. You need to make her clarify immediately and cut our losses!” “Just, just say they’re AI-generated. We can still salvage the damage!” I desperately racked my brain for solutions, completely missing the chilling rage that had settled on Liam’s face. He asked, his voice cold, “Isn’t that you in those pictures? Aubrey, are you asking me to lie for you?” I froze. “Right now, the most important thing is to salvage our losses.” “I can’t believe you’re this kind of person!” Liam’s face was grim as he cut me off. “Aubrey Sterling, you being swapped at birth was a mistake by the hospital staff.” “But I truly regret ever finding you!” With that, he delivered a brutal slap. And just like that, he shattered what little fragile connection we had.

The river in November was freezing. I walked into the water, shivering uncontrollably, Liam’s words replaying in my mind. But inside, a profound calm began to settle. Maybe I should have died years ago. Back when those monsters crawled all over me, one by one, that’s when I should have just given up and let myself disappear. I used to cling to life, always believing I still had a family. But now, I had nothing. No family left. Liam wouldn’t even listen to my explanation. No one in this world would believe me, would understand me. I forced a bitter smile, letting the icy water engulf my head, my body slowly sinking. But through the haze of suffocation, I heard a raw, tearing cry. “Aubrey!” Then, someone grabbed me. When I opened my eyes again, I was in a hospital bed. Liam sat beside me, soaked and pale from the cold. Seeing me awake, his voice was a mix of anger and urgency. “How could you jump into the river? If I hadn’t found you in time, you would have died!” “You’re the one who messed up, aren’t you? I just slapped you, and now you’re trying to punish me by taking your own life?” My chest tightened. I suddenly didn’t know what to say. After a long moment, I managed to ask, “Is not wanting to live… wrong?” His brows furrowed. His eyes locked onto mine, scrutinizing me, as if trying to discern if I was telling the truth. Finally, he sighed. “I admit I shouldn’t have hit you. But you really have no self-respect.” “Aubrey Sterling, from now on, you’re not allowed to be involved with any men. When Mom wakes up, apologize to her properly!” I suddenly felt so tired. My gaze drifted emptily to the ceiling, and I stopped talking. Perhaps worried I’d run off again, Liam didn’t leave. His phone rang constantly. He handled work nearby, looking utterly exhausted. We sat there, not exchanging another word, not bothering each other. Two hours later, Chloe pushed open the door and walked in. She was wearing a mask, as if I were some kind of plague. Standing a safe distance from me, she whispered to Liam. “Liam, the photos are still trending. A lot of people are trying to dox Aubrey.” “The company’s lost so much, and Mom isn’t awake yet. What are we going to do?” Liam glanced at her, his fingers still rapidly typing on his phone screen. “You don’t need to worry about any of that. I’ve already arranged to send you away in three days.” Chloe’s eyes widened in shock. She gasped in disbelief. “You still want me to leave? With everything happening, how can I possibly leave?” “Aubrey caused such a huge mess, the family needs me right now!” Liam’s fingers paused. “I know you don’t want to go, but Aubrey is my biological sister. Having you here will always affect her.” “Don’t worry, I’ll still provide for your expenses as before. You won’t be mistreated.” Chloe’s eyes stared, wide with alarm. She instinctively glanced at me, then pleaded urgently. “Liam, I really don’t want to go back! All my family and friends are here. I won’t have anyone to talk to if I go back!” “Can you really bear for me to be alone?” “But Aubrey spent twenty years living like that.” Liam was growing impatient. “That’s where you were supposed to be. She lived your life for twenty years.” Liam’s impartial words made Chloe despair. Her eyes reddened, and after a long moment, she said, “Fine, I’ll go back. But I want to wait until Mom wakes up to say goodbye!” “And the company’s problems still need to be solved. I want to help you!” A flicker of relief passed through Liam’s eyes, and he agreed. “I know you’re caring and sensible. You can stay for now.” With just a few words, she stayed. I watched, expressionless, interrupting the tender moment between them. “Chloe, why did you send those pictures?” “Did you want to kill me, or destroy this family?”

Chloe faltered, then stammered softly. “I… I sent them out by accident.” I scoffed, “Why didn’t you ‘accidentally’ fall off a cliff then?” In her haste, Chloe ripped off her mask, revealing her pale face. “Aubrey, it really was an accident! Someone sent them to me, and I meant to delete them!” “Besides, if you hadn’t actually done those things, how would those pictures even exist?” I stared at her, about to press her further, but Liam cut me off, his voice low and firm. “The priority now is to find a solution. The company’s predicament is a minor issue. The most critical thing is your reputation!” “I believe Chloe wouldn’t do it on purpose. She’s not that kind of person.” “I’ve already discussed it with the PR department. You’ll go live and explain everything. Just tell the truth.” “Say you were young, naive, uneducated, and didn’t understand the seriousness of it all. Issue a public apology.” The words struck me like a physical blow, and the blood in my veins turned to ice. From start to finish, the creation and spread of those photos had made me the victim. But now, the victim was expected to stand before the cameras and apologize to everyone. It was laughable. Utterly, sickeningly laughable! I clenched my fingers, my eyes burning as I asked, “What if I don’t apologize?” Liam’s face turned icy. “Then you’re no longer my sister. The Sterling family cannot have a daughter like you!” I could almost taste blood in my throat, and tears streamed down my face. “Fine. Then I won’t be your sister. I won’t be a Sterling.” He froze, then grew even angrier. “It’s just an apology! Is it really that big a deal?!” “This whole thing is your fault to begin with, and you still want to-” “Yes! It is a big deal! I am not apologizing!” My emotions erupted. I was trembling all over, like a cornered animal. “I didn’t do anything wrong! I’m the victim here! I absolutely will not apologize!” Liam hadn’t expected me to lose it like this. His eyes widened. Chloe, with chilling composure, dropped to her knees. “Aubrey, it was my mistake to accidentally send those photos, but the company is the Sterling family’s lifeblood, and it’s on the brink of collapse. They really need you to step forward.” “I’m begging you. Go live. Apologize!” Her calm demeanor only made me seem more like a lunatic. As Liam’s disappointed gaze fell upon me, I felt a bone-deep sense of powerlessness. My nails dug deeply into my palms, and I heard my own voice, devoid of all hope. “Then let it all burn. I’ll die with the Sterling family.”

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After my third miscarriage, some crazy woman barged into my hospital room yelling, “I’ve been with Julian for 13 years! How dare you get pregnant with his baby?” Julian stood by me, shouting, “I don’t even know you! Stop lying about me and my wife!” She kept screaming even as they dragged her away. I thought it was just a freak show— until I found a box of old photos and a massive letter in a safe. Hundreds of pictures of them together over the years. A 5,000-word letter spilling all their dirty secrets. I didn’t cry. Didn’t yell. I just sat frozen for hours. I kept the photos for proof and hid the letter. Then I called Julian. “Care to explain?” Julian, who had just walked in, clearly froze for a second when he saw the photos. Then, his face blank, he sat on the couch. “Explain what?” “What’s your deal with this woman?” He glanced at the photos on the table again, then spoke after a long pause. “We were just friends. She was pursuing me, but I never agreed.” Yet, that letter detailed thirteen years of their intimate relationship. I didn’t tell him about the letter. I was about to speak, using the photos as proof. But he waved his hand, sweeping all the pictures into the fireplace. “If you’re bothered by them, then we don’t need these things.” Before I could say anything, he turned his back to me and lit a cigarette. This was his usual tell when he was hiding something. Just then, his phone rang. Only one name appeared on the screen: Valerie. All his other contacts were saved with full names, except this one. Julian answered calmly. Before he could speak, Valerie’s voice, thick with tears, shrieked from the other end. “Julian, I’ve been with you for so many years. How can you just walk away?” “You only married her for her status, but your heart still belongs to me!” “Julian, stop lying to yourself. I don’t care that you’re married. I just… I love you.” A shock ran through me. Julian’s hand trembled slightly. Then he said, his voice deep. “My wife and I have a great relationship. If you dare spread lies again, I’ll make sure you can never recover.” Without waiting for a reply, he hung up. Then, right in front of me, he deleted and blocked her number. Seamlessly. But after he did all that, he was slightly out of breath. His eyes held an emotion I couldn’t quite read. All these years, he had always been calm and elegant around me. I looked at him and suddenly asked. “Julian, did you marry me for money, or because you love me?” He didn’t hesitate. “Of course, I love you.” Before seeing that letter and the photos, I would have believed him wholeheartedly. Before bed, he came to hug me, but I pulled away. Julian didn’t say anything. As usual, he handed me a warm glass of honey milk and watched me drink it. After finishing it, I surprisingly didn’t sleep soundly. When I opened my phone, I received a message from someone named Valerie Reed. “Skylar Vance, do you know why you haven’t been able to get pregnant all these years?”

“It’s all Julian Hayes’s doing!” “Because he doesn’t want you to have his child at all!” “He’s been putting something in your drinks, ensuring you miscarry every single time!” I froze, looking at the empty nightstand. Julian had already taken the glass. I tiptoed into the kitchen and found the cups and bowls all wiped clean. Julian was a clean freak, so he always made sure things were tidy, and he usually handled the chores. My first instinct was disbelief. The next day, I sent a screenshot of the chat to Julian. Without a word, he contacted his lawyer, sued Valerie Reed, and had her charged with defamation. But within three days, Valerie appeared, red-eyed, outside our company building. “Julian, I knew you couldn’t bear it. I was inside for less than three minutes, and you immediately bailed me out.” “You still care about me, don’t you?” I looked, stunned, at the man beside me. “Julian, is this true?” Julian remained expressionless. “This was just a warning. I won’t tolerate this more than twice. One more time, and you’re done.” Valerie smiled. “See? You still can’t let me go.” She skipped towards Julian, trying to get close, but I slapped her hand away. “Valerie, please have some self-respect.” “Julian is married. He is my husband now.” “If you insist on being a homewrecker, don’t blame me for being unpleasant.” I don’t know which words stung her, but Valerie’s eyes instantly reddened. “What right do you have to marry him? Just because you have a couple of measly bucks? Let me tell you, Skylar Vance, he doesn’t love you at all. You’re the real homewrecker!” Passersby started staring, some even employees from our company. Julian, however, cupped my chin and kissed me. I froze, feeling only a bitter irony. Since our marriage, Julian had kissed me only twice. The first was at our wedding, an act for the crowd. The second was on the street, an act for Valerie Reed. Seeing Valerie’s cries grow louder, Julian pulled me into the car. Valerie chased after us, but he ignored the traffic officer’s warning, speeding all the way home. That night, the usually elegant Julian actually got drunk. When he rolled over and pinned me down, the heavy scent of alcohol sprayed against my ear. It was the first time I’d been kissed so hard I couldn’t breathe. When I tried to push him away, Julian murmured deeply. “Haven’t you always wanted a child with me? Fine, I’ll give you one.” “Julian, are you crazy? I’m pregnant!” He frowned in confusion. “Valerie, stop being a child. Just kissing won’t make you pregnant.” In an instant, my entire body turned to ice. But the man continued rambling, a smile even playing on his lips. “You, you’ve always been so innocent. Let Skylar Vance go through the suffering of pregnancy. That’s enough.” “But I won’t let her have a successful pregnancy. After all, her parents threatened me, forced me to marry her. Of course, I have to make her pay a price!” “For you, I can endure…” Looking at the man I had secretly loved for three years, I suddenly laughed. At the time, all of New York knew I loved Julian enough to give my left arm. Even when my parents introduced him to me, I still thought it was a gift from God. Little did I know, it was Julian’s scheme. After a wave of heartache, I slowly spoke. “Where is the medicine you’ve been using?” His mind was still hazy. “It’s behind the wedding photo in the living room, at the bottom of the velvet box.” That box held a global limited-edition diamond, his confession gift to me. I cherished it like a treasure, never daring to open it casually. Groping my way to the living room in the dark, I opened the box and carefully took out the medicine. Then I threw the box out the window. And with a crash, I smashed our wedding photo.

Julian finally sobered up. He came into the living room, saw the shattered wedding photo, but said nothing. “If you’re not happy with it, we can always take new ones later.” “No need,” I said softly. “You should take wedding photos with the person you love.” Julian looked a little surprised. I simply went to another room to sleep. But the next day, he dragged me to retake a set. Then, he took me to a lavish party. Jewelry covered the tables, and the hall was filled with my favorite pink roses. Julian knelt dramatically. “Today is my wife’s and my three-year anniversary. This is a special surprise I arranged for her.” Guests cheered, but all I felt was the man’s hypocrisy. He was clearly using this as a way to make me pay for his guilt. Just then, a voice spoke up. “Julian, you’re so generous with Skylar!” “Unlike how you used to be with Valerie Reed, so stingy! You even had to share one bowl of beef noodles!” Another drunk guest loudly agreed. “Exactly! You used to live with her in that rundown storage unit. That cramped, narrow bed—you two actually slept there for three years! I really admire your perseverance. No wonder you succeed at everything you do!” Heartbreak mixed with shock. Julian was a clean freak; our home was always spotless. Sometimes, if I accidentally drank from his cup, he’d frown and lecture me afterward. I was about to confront him. “Slap!” A loud slap landed on his face. The entire hall fell silent. It wasn’t me who slapped him, but Valerie Reed, who had emerged from a corner. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but filled with an unyielding defiance. “Julian Hayes, you coward who can’t own up to his actions!” “I walked with you from nothing to everything for seven years. You didn’t end up with me, and I don’t blame you.” “But you disappointed me, and you won’t disappoint Skylar Vance again!” Julian was uncharacteristically silent. A few bystanders shook their heads. “Valerie, you’re really too generous! Julian treated you like that, and you’re still thinking about him!” “It’s truly his loss that he didn’t marry you…” I smiled. “Alright, Julian. We’re getting a divorce.” “I’ll take back all the house and company equity. You can be with the woman you love.” Julian panicked. “Skylar, don’t be angry. They were just joking!” But just then, a server accidentally bumped into the champagne tower. Countless champagne glasses instantly toppled, glass shards flying everywhere. I instinctively protected my stomach, but a sharp pain made my vision blur, and I felt a gush of warmth down below. Before losing consciousness, I heard urgent voices. “Julian, Valerie only has minor injuries, we’ll take care of her! Your wife is having a miscarriage, hurry and get her to the hospital!” But as my eyes closed, I saw Julian rush towards Valerie without hesitation. He carried her into the ambulance. When I opened my eyes again, the doctor looked at me, his gaze full of sympathy. “Ms. Vance, your baby… couldn’t be saved.” “After this miscarriage, it’s likely you won’t be able to have children again.” I touched my empty, faintly aching abdomen. It was just as Valerie Reed said—I could never have Julian’s child. I saved the miscarriage report and placed it with the letter. Just then, I heard the nurses at the door murmuring. “Did you know? Mr. Hayes got a long scar on his back trying to save Ms. Reed!” “He’s not even fully recovered, but he’s rushing to bring Ms. Reed food and soup, constantly taking care of her.” “My goodness, his wife probably doesn’t get that treatment! I heard he and Ms. Reed were a couple before. Could it be that Skylar Vance interfered in their relationship?” I said, my voice heavy, “What are you talking about?” They jumped in fright and awkwardly scurried away. Julian then hurried out of the adjacent room and came to my side. “I’m sorry, you heard it at the party. I owe Valerie… too much.” “This time, let’s just call it even for the past.” Listening to his sickening lies, I calmly handed him a document. “Sign this guarantee, and I’ll forgive you.” Julian didn’t even look at it, quickly signing his name. But if he had bothered to glance, he would have seen that it was actually a divorce agreement. When I was discharged, I wanted to walk out myself, but he insisted on driving me home. I couldn’t argue with him and was forced into the passenger seat. But halfway there, his phone rang. The number he supposedly blocked long ago now displayed on his screen. “Julian, the hospital has a power outage, I’m so scared!” “I remember before, whenever our rental had a power outage, you’d hold me close and comfort me…” Julian was silent for a moment, then turned to me. “Skylar, go home by yourself.” I looked at him, astonished. “But Julian, this is the countryside. You can’t even find a ride here!” Valerie Reed heard my voice and started crying again. “Julian, don’t worry about me. It’s snowing, and it’s raining heavily outside. Skylar will surely have her old injuries flare up if she goes back alone!” “I’ll be fine… alone!” Julian, clearly resolute, forced me out of the car and sped off in the opposite direction of my home. I was left alone in the rain, my body aching. After waiting a day and a night, a kind old man on a three-wheeled bike finally gave me a ride home. I lay in bed, burning with a fever of 100 degrees, yet I saw Valerie Reed’s SnapChat update: 【Thirteen years of deep affection, finally achieved.】 She was holding a man’s hand—a hand still wearing *my* wedding ring. I immediately called him. “Julian Hayes, come back now and divorce me.” “You committed adultery, misused medication, and committed numerous other crimes. I’m reclaiming all the money I invested in you!” There was a several-second pause, no one answered. A moment later, Valerie Reed’s smiling voice came through. “Skylar, why don’t you check the headline news?” You’ve reached a gripping point in the story! Want to find out what explosive news Skylar discovers and how she finally gets her revenge? Unlock the rest of the chapters to continue reading this thrilling tale of betrayal, schemes, and unexpected twists.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “305505”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic