Category: English

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 his crush moved in pregnant, my husband Liam turned into a stay-at-home good man, rushing back the moment he got off work. Colleagues and neighbors envied me for marrying such a great guy. But I could only force a bitter smile in silence. Because he wasn’t rushing home for me—he was taking care of his pregnant crush. I cried and argued, but he just said, “Why can’t you understand my dilemma? I just want to make up for past regrets.” I couldn’t win the argument, so I left home, heartbroken. Then, a figure blocked my path. “Zoe, long time no see.” I looked up in disbelief—James, the guy I’d had a crush on for years, was leaning awkwardly on crutches, but his eyes were still gentle and soft. Tears instantly welled up in my eyes. In that moment, I finally understood my husband. I couldn’t help but grab his hand and say, “Come home with me. I’ll take care of you.” “Why are you back so late? Hurry inside—don’t let the cold air in. Isabella can’t handle the chill.” “Also, Isabella has bad morning sickness, so her diet needs extra care. I’m making special meals for her, and you should stop eating those…” Liam, wearing an apron, froze in place. I didn’t have time to notice him, carefully supporting James. “Be careful with this step. I’ll get the door replaced tomorrow—the threshold is too high.” James didn’t move. He let out a deep sigh and said, “Zoe, I appreciate your kindness, but it’s not right for me to move into your home.” “I can manage on my own…” Before he could finish, his left leg trembled weakly. I quickly let him lean on me, my heart aching. “How can you manage alone?” “Your leg is in such bad shape—how could I not worry?” James stubbornly stayed at the doorway, refusing to enter. He was too cautious to move freely, a far cry from the confident guy he used to be. Seeing him like this broke my heart. I followed his gaze and saw Liam scowling as he said, “You want to let another man live in our house?” “Did you even ask for my opinion?” James’s leg gave way slightly, and he leaned on me again. My heart clenched, and I snapped, “What’s wrong with him staying?” “He’s disabled—what could he possibly do?” “He’s already in this state—don’t you have any sympathy?” Liam sneered coldly. “What does his disability have to do with me?” “If people find out my wife brought a man home, openly cuckolding me, I’d be the laughingstock.” “No way! I won’t allow it!” I was about to retort when a frail voice called from inside. “Liam, where did you go? I feel awful—come here now!” I felt a wave of relief and said sarcastically, “If people find out my husband brought a pregnant woman home, I wonder if they’d tear him apart behind his back?” Liam glared at me. “How dare you? How dare you slander Isabella?” I shot back without hesitation, “Why wouldn’t I dare?” The woman inside began to sob softly. Liam panicked, gritting his teeth. “Don’t disturb Isabella.” With that, he hurried toward the inner room. I knew he was backing down for Isabella’s sake—he’d agreed. I helped James inside; his feet could barely hold him up. Once we were in, I quickly had him sit on the couch. He still whispered, “Zoe, I really shouldn’t be intruding on your life…” “Zoe, I just wanted to see you from afar, but I… it’s all my fault…” “I think it’s better if I don’t burden you.” A scoff came from the kitchen. “If you know you’re disrupting someone’s marriage, why the fake sympathy act?” I ignored Liam, helped James with his crutches, and said gently, “Don’t mind him—he’s always like that.” “Just settle in and rest easy.”

I carried James’s things straight into the guest room. Liam barked, “Stop!” “You want another man living with you?” “Letting him into the house is my limit—are you pushing your luck?” “Absolutely not!” I didn’t stop, dragging the luggage inside. Liam rushed over, soap suds still on his hands, and grabbed my wrist, demanding, “Are you insane?” I shook him off and asked, “Isabella isn’t feeling well, and she needs the big bed to sleep comfortably.” “I’ve already given up the master bedroom. Didn’t you say I could do whatever I wanted with the guest room?” When we first married, we weren’t too picky about the house. But we wanted our own space after tying the knot, so we bought a small place. There are only two rooms, and Isabella had whined and pleaded her way into taking the master bedroom. My stuff was in there, and she complained it was too cluttered and suffocating. So, I was forced to move into the guest room, me and all my things. Liam paused for a moment, seeming to remember that, and his tone softened, though he still frowned. “It’s not about what you do with the room.” I asked, confused, “Then what is it?” “James can’t get around easily—his legs are still healing. Where else is he supposed to sleep?” Liam’s temper flared again: “But he’s a man!” Seeing Liam’s flushed face, it hit me—wasn’t that my old line? I sighed; we needed to talk this out. “Liam, I was wrong.” Liam toned it down: “Glad you see that.” I looked him in the eye and said sincerely, “I mean, I finally get how you feel.” “Isabella is your crush, and seeing her suffer hurts you.” “Today, I felt the same way about James. I can’t just abandon him.” “How about this: you take care of Isabella, and I’ll take care of James. We’ll coexist peacefully.” “You fix your past regrets, and I fulfill my old self—it’s a win-win.” But Liam blurted out, “Ridiculous!” “This is utterly ridiculous!” I was baffled. “Isn’t it perfect? Besides, you were the one who let Isabella move in first. If anyone’s being ridiculous, it’s you!” Liam stood there, speechless for a long moment, his face still red—clearly not convinced. Isabella made noise from the master bathroom. “Liam, come quick!” Surprisingly, Liam didn’t rush in immediately like he usually did. He stayed put, studying me quietly. “Zoe, are you doing this to get back at me?” Isabella’s voice grew louder, and I didn’t have time to argue, so I pushed him away. “What revenge? Just go. Isabella’s pregnant—if something happens, it’ll be bad.” Liam finally left, half-reluctantly. I breathed a sigh of relief and hurried to finish tidying up. James is sensitive—I needed to get back to him fast.

The next morning, as I brought breakfast out of the kitchen, I ran into Liam coming from the master bedroom. He stammered an explanation. “Isabella was restless at night—I stayed up with her later.” I gave him a puzzled look. Wasn’t that his routine lately? Why was he explaining to me? I nodded flatly and moved to walk past him. But as I stepped away, I heard Liam’s cheerful voice. “Zoe, I knew it—you still care about me most.” “These dumplings are my favorite.” I swatted his hand away. “What are you doing?” “Doesn’t Isabella get sick from the smell of meat?” “I made these specially for James.” With that, I brushed past him and headed to the living room. I love meat, but since Isabella moved in, I’d been banned from eating it at home. At one point, I ate lamb outside, and she threw a fit over the slight smell. Isabella seemed to have a radar for meat on me. She never yelled—just covered her nose and made a scene in the bathroom with the water running loud. But later, I kept seeing her order meat snacks online. Liam just said, “She’s pregnant—why bother arguing?” I shook my head, clearing those unhappy memories. In the living room, James, who’d been smiling at me, suddenly turned cautious again. I turned and saw Liam had followed me. “Zoe, you’ve worked so hard!” “I’m so useless—if only my legs weren’t injured!” “You stayed up all night with me, and now you’re making breakfast… I just…” Seeing his guilty look, I rushed to comfort him. “Of course not! I’m happy to do it.” “And your legs—you saved that kid from traffic because of you.” I was about to say more when Liam exploded. “I thought we agreed I’d sleep on the couch and give you the study?” “Zoe, you stayed in the guest room with him all night?” At his words, James lowered his head. I felt a surge of anger. “Liam, his legs were hurting—of course I had to stay.” “Isn’t that the same as you staying with Isabella?” Liam froze, reflexively rebuting, “It’s not the same…” “What’s different?” I cut him off. “I don’t care about Isabella, so don’t bother with James.” That shut Liam up. He stood there, lost in thought. I ignored him and handed the plate to James. “James, this is from your favorite spot. I got the ginger and vinegar—it’ll be delicious.” James finally grinned and said, “Thank you, Zoe.” But Liam snatched it away. “Zoe? What Zoe?” “Why are you eating what my wife bought?” “Why are you calling her Zoe? She has a name—it’s Zoe, not your pet name!” James murmured, “But she’s always been my Zoe…” I glared at Liam. “What’s your problem?” Isabella called out from inside again. For once, Liam didn’t jump to attention—he just stared at me, refusing to back down. As tension mounted, Isabella walked out, eyes red.

“Liam, didn’t you hear me?” “Or do you think I’m a burden too?” “Maybe I should just leave. I’m only holding you back here.” If I’d seen Isabella’s tearful act before, I’d have rolled my eyes. But now, I felt a pang of pity too. Liam quickly denied it. “Isabella, how could you be a burden?” “I just didn’t hear you. Wait, I’ll get your breakfast ready.” Liam scurried off to the kitchen. Watching him rush off for Isabella, I relaxed, grateful she’d shown up at the right time. After breakfast, a new problem arose. I had to go to work, but I worried about leaving James alone with them. James seemed to sense my concern and said understandingly, “Zoe, focus on your job.” “I’ve been on my own before—you know I can handle basic things.” I glanced toward the kitchen. Liam came out and sneered, “What do you take me for?” “Some monster who’d attack a disabled person?” I smiled awkwardly. Was I doubting my own husband’s character? Though Liam had been moody lately, he was undeniably a good person. I married him because he was kind. In life, he respected his parents, was loyal to friends, and before Isabella, we had a happy marriage. At work, he was always voted favorite teacher by his students. He often donated to charity and volunteered. I shouldn’t have doubted him. Once I cleared my head, I felt okay leaving for work. At the office, I was still anxious. Colleagues noticed my distraction and asked what was wrong. Finally, counting down the minutes till getting off work, I rushed home. As I walked in, I saw James collapsed on the floor, a complete mess. I ran over to check on him. James insisted, “Zoe, I’m fine.” Liam sneered, “Of course he’s fine—he’s faking it.” “Zoe, don’t fall for his act.” James hung his head, lips tight, eyes reddening. “Zoe, I’m just a burden. I cause trouble here—please let me go.” That word sounded familiar, but I didn’t have time to think where I’d heard it. Liam immediately agreed, “He’s right—he’s too much trouble. Zoe, let him leave.” Anger flared, but as I was about to argue, I caught the red rim of James’s eyes. Almost instantly, I calmed down. Honestly, thinking it over, my marriage with Liam was already dead. Maybe it was time to end it. James’s legs were injured—if he stayed, I dreaded what might happen to him when I wasn’t around. Leaving was the best choice. I nodded. “Okay.” Liam brightened. “Zoe, glad you see sense.” I looked at him seriously. “We’re not in a good place now—we should separate.” “Liam, let’s get a divorce.” Liam was stunned. “Zoe, what are you saying? You’d divorce me for a cripple?”

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The day I found out my wife had a three-year-old son with another man, I planted explosives in our mansion, ready to end it all with her. But that night, Isabella never came home. As despair consumed me, I heard my ten-month-old daughter call out “Daddy” for the first time. In that moment, I no longer wanted to die. I took the most expensive car from the garage and detonated the bombs outside the mansion. Amid the flames, I drove to the airport. From then on, the man once known as Harbor City’s laughingstock—Isabella’s husband—vanished without a trace. Five years later, we met again at a heritage-town inn. She stared at me as I politely handed her the room key, her expression dazed. “Lucas, you seem… different from before.” I didn’t respond, only smiling as I wished her family of three a pleasant stay. 01 The room key hung in the air, but Isabella made no move to take it. My wrist grew sore, so I spoke again. “Ms. Isabella, your key.” “I’ll take it.” A clear voice cut through the tension from behind her. It was her legally wedded husband, Adrian. My gaze brushed against the glaring wedding band on his finger, then collided with those familiar eyes—the ones that haunted my nightmares. “I told you to wait on the sofa. Why won’t you listen? You worry me.” Isabella instinctively took his belongings and melted into his embrace. She pressed her hand to his forehead, her voice softer than I’d ever heard: “Good, no fever.” “You must be tired. Take our son upstairs to rest. I’ll buy some warm congee.” Adrian nodded gently, his eyes sweeping over me with scrutiny: “Alright, I’ll wait for you.” As they embraced, I looked away—only to see a deliveryman hauling in cat litter. While checking the pickup code, Isabella bent to lift the bags. “Let me help. Where should these go?” “No need.” I reached for the bags, deliberately keeping my distance. Noticing the dust smudges on her dress, I walked to the counter and handed her two bills. “For dry cleaning. I’ll cover the cost.” “Really, it’s fine. I offered to help.” Isabella reached to stop me, her fingers nearly brushing my wrist before I pulled back. Her hand froze mid-air, her voice tinged with unspoken bitterness: “Don’t trouble yourself. I should go.” As she turned, she nearly collided with Chloe, the staff member returning with sugar-roasted chestnuts. Chloe stared at Isabella’s retreating figure, then tugged my sleeve excitedly: “Lucas, wasn’t that Isabella Smith from Harbor City’s Smith Group? She’s stunning! “I’ve seen her interviews—she built her empire from nothing and never stops praising her husband. “Talented and devoted? She’s perfection!” Other guests chimed in: “True! I heard her ex-husband was insane—should’ve been jailed for assault.” “She showed mercy by paying him off, but she finally divorced him after enduring so much.” Hearing these slurs again, I felt nothing—my heart was a stagnant pond. Only the scar on my thumb webbed with a dull throb. 02 Rubbing the centipede-like scar on my thumb, memories surged back. Isabella was never some self-made entrepreneur—she was the bullied scholarship student no one noticed. I found her cornered by rich kids in the freezing wind, forehead bleeding through her faded uniform. I grabbed a wooden pole and fought them off. In the chaos, glass sliced my thumb to the bone—eight stitches to stop the bleeding. Isabella slipped away from the hospital because she couldn’t afford the medical bill. Her father was a drunk; her mother, mentally unstable. After that, I protected her instinctively. She remained quiet but tutored me in math after school. When she aced the high school entrance exam as the city’s top scorer, she couldn’t afford tuition. I begged my dad to fund her education until she started working in college. During her internship, those same rich kids harassed her. My dad brought her into our family company and mentored her himself. Isabella had a gift for business—complex data reports made sense at a glance. I’d sit beside her, chin in hand, admiring her focused profile. My dad saw my feelings. Even knowing Isabella only felt gratitude, he helped her start a company after graduation. Within a year, Isabella built a name in Harbor City. Then my mom fell ill. Dad made reckless decisions trying to save the company. When bankruptcy loomed, Isabella turned things around. Dad always said she was our family’s savior, that she owed us nothing and should live freely. But she knelt before him, swearing with fierce determination: “Lucas, I can never repay your kindness. Please entrust your son to me—I’ll care for him forever, never letting him suffer.” The old scar on my thumb throbbed again. I lowered my gaze to the ugly mark and almost laughed. How naive I was—mistaking gratitude for love. After that, I called myself her husband without any formal title. I lingered at her company, silently staking my claim. Isabella never objected. She even let me choose her personal assistant, noting: “Pick a sharp woman.” But during interviews, Adrian’s resume stood out—not for being divorced, childless, or professing to be “child-free.” It was his eyes—identical to Isabella’s late mother’s. In her lucid moments, Isabella’s mother was her only light in a bleak childhood. So I hired Adrian without question. When Isabella saw him, her eyes reddened with emotion. That night, she held me, trembling through tears, thanking me repeatedly. I pitied her, often inviting Adrian over, creating chances for them to bond. I thought I was helping—never realizing I was digging my own grave. 03 The gossips dispersed. I picked up my daughter’s photo frame, wiping it absently. Chloe nibbled chestnuts and asked casually: “Lucas, why don’t you ever eat these? They’re delicious.” My hand stilled. Painful memories engulfed me. My mom and I loved chestnuts. Dad always brought home a warm bag after work. Mom would peel them, blowing gently before feeding me. But the year Mom was dying, in her final lucid moment, she craved chestnuts. Dad drove to buy them—then got a call that Mom was critical. In his panic, he sped into an oncoming truck and died instantly. The freshly bought chestnuts scattered, stained with his blood. That first snowy winter day, I lost both parents. Chloe’s eyes welled up, flustered. She moved the chestnuts away, voice cautious: “Lucas, don’t be sad. Chloe and Mia will always be here for you. “Mia’s school bus will arrive soon. Let’s explore the heritage town tonight—” She broke off, staring at my daughter’s eyes in the photo, mouth agape. “Lucas, Mia’s missing mother… it’s not…” I nodded confirmation. Chloe hesitated, then asked softly, eyes brimming with pity: “Then… those rumors… Lucas, how much did you suffer?” I froze, nose stinging at her concern—but it passed. I smiled faintly. We did have happy years once. The day my parents died, Isabella proposed. She had lawyers transfer all her company shares to me—no strings attached. Kneeling, she vowed to give me a new family, to care for me forever, begging me to stop crying because it broke her heart. I collapsed from grief. Isabella arranged my parents’ funeral alone. When I recovered, we registered our marriage. No wedding, just college-era promise rings—but I was content, feeling like the luckiest man alive. I poured all my love into Isabella. I knew she was busy, so I never demanded much. I waited up for her in the lit living room when she worked late. I packed my bags to accompany her on business trips. And she didn’t disappoint. At first, Isabella adored me—her obsessive love became Harbor City’s envy. Newspaper headlines and billboards bore her declarations: “I love Lucas”—her public love letter to the city. Just as I healed from losing my parents, news of her affair with Adrian trended online. My “brother” embraced and kissed her in a rooftop garden restaurant. It was my birthday. I’d cooked all Isabella’s favorite dishes, wearing the suit she gifted me, waiting all night. I called repeatedly—she always answered, soothing me gently: “At a work event, be good. I’ll be home soon.” Adrian spent his entire bonus on a luxury watch for me, with a note: “Happy birthday, my best friend.” That night, I thought I had the world. I didn’t know my deepest wounds would come from those I cherished most. 04 Seeing the trending news, I drove off in a rage. Tears blurred my vision—I nearly rear-ended cars twice. But I didn’t care—I needed answers. At the restaurant, I saw Adrian holding the car door for Isabella. I stormed over. Isabella shielded Adrian, her gaze icy, unrepentant: “Lucas, what’s your problem?” Adrian peered over her shoulder, greeting me warmly. Around his pale neck was the Smith family heirloom necklace I’d always loved but never worn. Beside it, a deep red hickey burned my eyes. I lunged at him, fists flying wildly. “Why? I treated you like a brother! Why betray me?” Adrian sobbed dramatically, cowering behind Isabella—but his eyes gleamed with triumph. Isabella shoved me away, fussing over Adrian, soothing his fake tears. I crumpled to the ground, clutching my aching stomach, watching them embrace—heart shattered. When Isabella turned to confront me, she saw blood seeping through my shirt. I was hospitalized. The stab wound I’d taken for her days earlier had reopened because of her. She rushed me to the hospital, staying by my bed, her worried devotion mirroring the past, apologizing repeatedly: “Lucas, I’m sorry. I swear I’ll never hurt you again.” I slapped her, kicked and cursed her, wishing her dead. Isabella took it all, eyes red as she coaxed: “Calm down. Your health matters.” Enraged, I screamed I’d make Adrian pay. Isabella snapped—slapping my face, voice venomous: “Lucas, harm him, and I’ll make your life hell!” Watching her defend her lover, hatred festered in me. After that, Isabella stopped visiting. She flaunted Adrian everywhere. My phone flooded with their bed photos—anonymous taunts. I trashed our home, shredded anything of Isabella’s, burned our wedding album. After recovering, I used my dad’s connections to blacklist Adrian across Harbor City. I exposed their affair publicly. Suddenly, Adrian was a social pariah; Isabella lost major contracts. She retaliated wildly, confining me to a hotel for months, tying me down, forcing herself on me—all recorded. She blurred her image but left mine clear, releasing the video online. Adrian’s scandal faded; I became the joke. Those who once flattered me cut ties overnight. My dad’s failing company lost its last client—bankrupt for good. The day my reputation died, Isabella freed me. Seething with hatred, I stormed her company with a knife. I injured Adrian, cut Isabella’s arm. In my frenzy, she signed papers selling my dad’s company shares for peanuts. His life’s work—destroyed in an instant. I begged on my knees, invoking my dad’s kindness, pleading for her conscience. Isabella looked down, sneering: “Lucas, any debt I owed your family was repaid when I saved your dad’s company.” “Hurt Adrian, and I’ll destroy you slowly.” That day, I saw their son, Ryan. I realized their affair began when I hired Adrian. I had no wedding, no ring—because Isabella feared upsetting Adrian. Even those public love letters were Adrian’s decoys to deceive me, hiding their family. I was their clown for years. My heart felt nothing—only seething hatred. That night, I planted bombs, ready to die with her. That night, my daughter’s voice saved me. I triggered the explosion, faked my death, and vanished from Harbor City. Chloe sobbed uncontrollably. I wiped her tears and went to meet Mia’s school bus. Chloe followed, voice hoarse from cursing Isabella as a monster. But as I held Mia’s hand, I met a familiar gaze. Isabella dropped her congee, pupils dilating as she stared at my daughter: “Whose child… is this?”

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After the SAT Test, the school belle posted my pregnancy test results in the class SnapChat group. “She’s really desperate for money! Selling herself right after turning eighteen. Do you even remember who the father is? Probably some gross old man.” Everyone else joined in mocking me, and someone even shared a photo of me kneeling in the field, digging up sweet potatoes with my hand on my lower back. Just then, the always aloof wealthy heir from the city’s elite circle said, “I’m the father. Got a problem with that?” 1 A few months ago, my grandma suddenly had heart failure. I couldn’t scrape together enough money, so I took a job as a server at a nightclub. That’s where I ran into Liam, a classmate who had been drugged. His handsome face was flushed red, and he was barely conscious. He grabbed my hand and shoved it under his shirt. I hesitated for a second, then took him back to the staff locker room. All the other staff were on shift, so he and I stayed in the back room, tangled up in passion for most of the night. The next morning, Liam just said, “Here’s fifty grand. Don’t cause any trouble.” I took the money and rushed to the hospital to pay the bills. But in the chaos, I forgot about taking the morning-after pill. By the time I remembered, I realized my period was way overdue. I bought a test kit, saw the two lines, and felt my heart sink. I kept putting off dealing with it, and my belly kept growing. I tied it down with cloth strips to take the SAT Test, but I ended up so exhausted I landed in the hospital. That’s when Bella, the school belle, snapped a photo of me and mocked me in the group chat. Liam showed up at my place the next day. His grandma came with him. Liam’s face was expressionless, his eyes scanning over my stomach. His grandma, though, was kinder. She held my hand and asked how old I was, where my parents were, and if I had any other family. I honestly told her both my parents were dead, and I only had my grandma left. The old woman’s eyes welled up. “What a poor child,” she said. She offered to take me in. I couldn’t leave my paralyzed grandma behind, so she said she’d arrange for her to stay at a nursing home owned by Liam’s family. “To be frank, families like ours don’t usually take in people from your background. But you’re carrying our family’s first grandchild, and you’re Liam’s first woman. We thought it’d be wrong to just leave you out here alone.” On the way back, Liam kept his eyes closed and didn’t say a word. I couldn’t tell if he liked me or hated me. He tossed my clothes on the sofa and told me to sleep there every night. That’s when I knew—he definitely hated me. Liam’s house was huge, with three separate bedrooms just in his wing. He put me in the smallest one, and when I looked up, I saw a bright, elegant photo of a ballet dancer. Liam walked in, hands in his pockets. “Pretty, right? I’ve liked her for a long time.” He said it while glancing at me, a faint disgust in his eyes. I lowered my head but stole another look. So graceful. No wonder he looked down on me. 2 After moving in, we started sharing a room. I couldn’t sleep, so I tilted my head to look at him. Then he said, “Stop moving around when you sleep.” “I wasn’t,” I said. “Yes, you were. Your breathing is too loud.” “Sorry.” Liam went quiet after that and slowly fell asleep. I’d had trouble sleeping for ages, but somehow, I drifted off too. That night, I had those awful nightmares again—Mom’s screams, Dad’s roars, and finally, the bloody knife. When I woke up the next morning, Liam was already up. He didn’t wait for me, so I couldn’t find the bathroom and ended up brushing my teeth and washing my face in his. When I went downstairs, the ballet dancer was sitting at the dining table, elegantly sipping milk. She saw me and smiled sweetly. “Oh, you must be Liam’s fiancée. You’re so pretty.” Angels are angels—even their compliments are kind. I’d spent years under the sun farming, so “pretty” was the last word I’d use for myself. Liam sat next to her, and I found out her name was Chloe, a lead dancer in a famous international ballet company. They’d grown up together, and to everyone else, she was like Liam’s caring older sister. But I knew Liam was in love with her—under the bed in that small room were piles of her photos. It must feel amazing to be loved like that. I couldn’t help the jealousy, but I pushed it down. After breakfast, Liam’s grandma, Eleanor, sat me down to discuss terms for the baby. She said Liam was too young to marry, especially not me. The baby would be raised as his sibling. As the mother, I’d get a huge payout—a villa in the city and ten million in cash. If I wanted, the family would even send me to study in Europe. The catch? I could never see the child again. While Eleanor was talking, Liam was nearby, flicking a lighter, giving me that same faint, mocking smile. I sighed softly and nodded. “Okay, I agree.” Liam’s hand, spinning the lighter, froze. After the exams, we had a long break with nothing to do, so both Liam and I were free. I thought he’d avoid me, but he didn’t seem to care. Besides his morning and evening workouts, he mostly read in his study. But while I was practicing French, he suddenly said, “Your pronunciation is off. The nasal sounds are too heavy—it’ll tire you out.” I stared blankly before realizing he was talking to me. “Huh? Oh, okay.” “Aren’t you tired sitting like that?” Liam pointed at my lower back. “Won’t it… crush the baby?” I followed his gaze. “No, he’s still small.” “Okay.” Liam took a sip of water. I thought he’d leave, but he invited me to study with him in the library. “The room’s big enough, and there’s an extra chair. Come on.” “Don’t crush the baby,” he added, as if worried I’d misunderstand. I grabbed my books and followed him. Liam’s library was ridiculously huge but neatly organized. As he said, he only used one corner. I picked a spot far from him and spread out my books. For hours that afternoon, I focused on studying, even forgetting the bird’s nest soup the nanny brought. Liam frowned, pushed the cup with his finger, and tapped the desk. “Hey. Drink it.” I glanced at him and obediently drank the soup. Then I went back to my book. Liam clicked his tongue. “Ava.” “Yeah?” He ruffled his hair in frustration. “Why aren’t you angry?” 3 “I… I don’t have anything to be angry about.” “Liam, I know I’m not on your level. If it weren’t for that mistake… I wouldn’t have messed up your life.” Before I knew it, tears of frustration were streaming down my face. Liam turned away. “Stop crying!” But his tone wasn’t actually harsh. After Bella posted my pregnancy test results and everyone found out Liam was the father, the class SnapChat group went eerily quiet. But I knew she wouldn’t let me off easily—not after bullying me for so long. Sure enough, a few days later, I saw Bella and her friends in the living room at Liam’s house. They were talking to Eleanor. When Eleanor saw me coming downstairs, she wasn’t as warm as before. Instead, she called a doctor to do an amniocentesis. “Your classmates say you’re always picking up men at clubs. I was careless to believe Liam without verifying first.” Bella and her friends chimed in, “Yeah, Grandma, Ava slept with almost every guy in our class. She’s no good.” “Did you know? When she was nine, her mom stabbed her dad to death and paralyzed her grandma. What kind of family raises a kid like that?” “Don’t let her looks fool you—she’s cheap. Fifty bucks will buy her. I heard several old men in her village have had her.” Bella’s words stabbed at my nerves. All the terrible memories came flooding back. I bit my lip hard, forcing myself to stay calm. I’d survived worse—dark, painful days. I was so close to my goal; I couldn’t ruin it now. I kept my head down, trying to steady my breathing. I didn’t notice Liam watching everything from upstairs. He came down slowly, about to speak, when the doctor arrived. Eleanor had someone hold my arm still for the blood draw. When the needle pierced my skin, I flinched. Liam’s eyes darkened from across the room. After it was done, Eleanor waved me away upstairs. “If you’re lying, I’ll make sure you have nowhere to run.” Rich people are like that—they can’t stand being deceived or slighted. I kept my head low and left, ignoring the laughter behind me. As I passed Liam, he grabbed my arm. “Why didn’t you defend yourself?” I looked at him through tears. “What?” “Why didn’t you argue, get angry, fight back?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Liam, are you kidding? Someone like me has no right to argue.” How could I dare offend his grandma? It was just a DNA test. I knew the baby was Liam’s, so I wasn’t worried about their lies. Bella looked smug, giggling in a fake sweet voice until she saw Liam, then softening her tone. “Liam, you’re so unlucky to be stuck with a shameless girl like her.” Liam didn’t get angry. He watched me for a moment before glaring coldly at her. “Yeah, seeing you is the real misfortune.” 4 That night, Liam finished washing up early and lay in bed on a call. After updating his parents, he hung up. I had headphones on, watching a soap opera. Suddenly, he scooped me up and put me on his bed. I’d been crying over the show, and he lifted my chin. “Why are you crying?” I was annoyed but didn’t dare say it, so I pouted and glared. Liam took my phone and tossed it on the nightstand, then climbed under the covers. “No more crying. Sleep.” What was he doing? Sharing a bed with me? I stared wide-eyed, too shocked to be mad. Liam seemed to realize how it looked, his face flashing with embarrassment before he coughed. “I just don’t want you rolling over and crushing the baby.” He said it so confidently I didn’t push it. Fine, we’d slept together before. I turned over, clinging to the edge, and fell asleep. I had no idea Liam was in and out of the bathroom all night. After that, Liam changed—he became clingy and softer. He insisted we share the bed. He said my belly was growing, and the small bed might hurt the baby. The hospital results came back, and Eleanor was relieved, adding a few million to my payout. The thought of becoming rich after the birth made me giddy. But Liam seemed down lately. He’d complain my French practice was too loud, but when I offered to study in the closet, he refused. He moped around like someone owed him money. I avoided conflict, giving in to keep peace, but it only made him sulkier. One night, he went out for dinner and came back late. He’d been drinking, stumbling a bit. The staff tried to help, but he waved them off. I heard the door click open and saw Liam slumped on the sofa, groaning about feeling sick. I had to help him change and clean up. I thought it’d be hard with him drunk, but when I tugged his collar, he sat up and shrugged off his sleeves. …Not bad for a drunk guy. Liam had a great body—defined abs, pecs, and biceps. And he was restless, grabbing my hand to feel his chest, making my heart race. I pinched him. “Liam, you’re drunk. Let me wash your face.” Eyes closed, he mumbled, “No, don’t.” Nothing like his usual cold self. I teased him, “Then I’ll touch you?” I slid my hand into his pants. Liam’s eyes flew open, and he pulled me into a tight hug. His right arm wrapped around my waist, left under his head. “Ava, you’ve got nerve.” I felt a rush of shame. “Let me go. I won’t do it again.” “No way. I finally caught you not being icy. Why would I let go?” “Unless you kiss me.” Since when did the cold-hearted heir talk like this? I didn’t hesitate, planting a loud kiss. Hey, I’d been craving this too. The physical attraction took over—two young people losing control. Only Liam’s self-restraint kept things gentle, so we didn’t go too far. Before falling asleep, he kissed my forehead, his voice unusually soft. “Sleep well, sweetheart. Sweet dreams.” Liam and I had a rare, warm period together. Like a normal couple, we went everywhere together and slept in each other’s arms. It almost made me forget it was all a transaction. Until the day Liam’s mom, Victoria, walked in, followed by Chloe and Bella. Chloe had lost weight, her foot bandaged. She saw Liam and threw herself into his arms. “Liam, I’ll never dance again.” Turns out Chloe had a car accident in Vancouver, injuring her ankle, ending her dance career. Liam held Chloe, comforting her softly. Bella smugly pushed forward. “Ava, listen up. If I can’t have him, neither can you.” “Liam loves my cousin Chloe, not trash like you. Don’t think a bastard child will get you into the family.” Gotta admit, Bella was spot-on. After just one afternoon with Chloe back, the family started pushing me out. Victoria came to my room, sat on the bed, and frowned at the nightstand. “You’re sleeping together?” I nodded, fighting back tears. Victoria rolled her eyes. “So shameless.” I’d heard insults like that before—I shouldn’t cry. But the baby kicked, and I couldn’t hold back the tears.

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The night before my wedding, I stumbled upon a post: 【I’m getting married soon, but my mom is furious and cries constantly. She can’t accept me and my wife having children. What should I do?】 Someone replied: 【Then don’t get married. Don’t ruin that girl’s life.】 He replied: 【But she’s great. She’s my best choice for marriage, though only for marriage.】 Another person said: 【Tell your mom to have her own baby!】 He actually replied: 【Even though my mom is pretty and has a good figure, she’s old now. The quality of the child definitely wouldn’t be ideal.】 Another netizen commented: 【Just find someone else to have a baby for you. Still get married. If your wife asks, tell her you’re doing it to spare her the pain. She’ll be touched to tears, I guarantee it.】 I thought these people were all insane. But then, the next second, my boyfriend pushed open my door: 【Baby, I think having a baby is too hard. I don’t want you to take that risk. How about we get someone else to have it?】 I honestly thought I’d misheard him, just staring, dumbfounded. He knelt in front of me, gripping my hands tightly, his eyes filled with an unnerving sincerity: “Baby, I just watched a video online about childbirth. “It was bloody, and the mom was screaming in pain. It sounded absolutely agonizing. “And that wasn’t even the worst of it. The key thing is, she later had a massive hemorrhage, an amniotic fluid embolism, and just died. “Baby, just thinking about all that scares me. I would never let you go through such a dangerous situation.” My mind was reeling from that post I’d just read, and I broke out in a cold sweat. Was *he* the one who posted it? Seeing my lack of reaction, he continued: “Baby, I truly can’t lose you. I can’t let you take even the slightest risk. I’m thinking…” “Then let’s just be DINKs. No kids.” I cut him off, testing him. He immediately let go of my hands and jumped up: “How could we do that? I’m a traditional guy. I want babies! I would never be a DINK; I can’t let our family line end.” “Baby, how could you even think that?” Before I could speak, he went on: “My mom wouldn’t agree either.” I’m not actually a DINK. I was just trying to gauge his reaction. But his response only fueled my suspicion. To confirm my hunch, I pressed him: “You want kids, you don’t want to be DINKs, but you’re too worried about me to let me have them. So where would the baby come from? “Popping out of a rock?” He knelt before me again: “Baby, I’ve looked into it. It’s really simple to find someone else to have a baby now. I even asked about the price—it’s only around thirty to forty thousand dollars.” Thirty to forty thousand dollars. He was actually willing to spend that much. Just a few days ago, when I mentioned our wedding should be around $20,000, he was complaining about money, saying his mom worked so hard alone and didn’t have that much. But now, thirty to forty thousand dollars was fine? To avoid alarming him, I pretended to nod. He excitedly kissed my cheek, then grabbed his phone and turned to his study. The next second, I saw the post update: 【Guys, my wife agreed! I can’t believe how easy she was to convince.】 The comment section was buzzing with people asking him for advice, and he replied smugly: 【Just tell her it’s for her own good, tell her you’re worried about her! Hahaha, women, they’re so easy to trick!】 The netizens collectively liked the comment: 【Exactly! Women, heh, they’re all idiots!】 【What do they understand beyond makeup, handbags, and jewelry? It just takes a few words from us men.】 【Right? If I want to sweet-talk them, I can get them into bed for free in minutes.】

A bunch of trash. After confirming that the post was definitely made by Ryan, I quickly packed my bags. He was messing with me like this behind my back? I wouldn’t let him get away with it. As I walked out with my suitcase, Ryan happened to come out to use the restroom. He paused, surprised: “Baby, where are you going in the middle of the night? With luggage?” To avoid raising his suspicions, I had to say: “My mom isn’t feeling well. She wants me to stay for a few days, and we can discuss our wedding details. “Ryan, you should talk to your mom about the money situation soon too.” He didn’t suspect a thing. He even drove me home himself. But as soon as I put my luggage away, I saw his post update again: 【Guys, in my situation, since I’m not making her have a baby, does that mean I don’t have to give her any money for the wedding?】 Someone replied: 【Of course! Don’t they always say money is for the ‘baby fund’? So if she’s not having the baby, why would you give her any money?】 【I say, even if she *did* have the baby, you shouldn’t have to give her money. The baby is for *her* to have, why should she get paid for it?】 【Exactly, it’s an outdated tradition! When I get married, I won’t give any woman a single cent. Marry me or die!】 Ryan liked all their comments. I clenched my phone tightly and told my mom: “The wedding’s off, Mom. Please tell all our relatives not to come.” My mom didn’t understand why. She worriedly stroked my hair: “What happened, sweetie? Tell me.” I handed her my phone. Halfway through reading, she became furious: “I’m so mad! What is Ryan thinking? Messing around with his mom and then wanting to find someone else to have a baby? “What does he intend to marry you for? Purely to ruin you? “Sweetie, don’t worry, we definitely can’t go through with this wedding, but we’re definitely not letting them get away with this.” Of course, we wouldn’t. So I only notified my side of the family to cancel. As for Ryan’s family, the wedding would proceed as planned! While my mom was still calling relatives one by one, Ryan called me: “Baby, my mom wants you to come over. She said she wants to talk about the money.” Remembering Ryan’s words in the post, I still went. Brenda sat primly on the couch in a tight-fitting mermaid dress. Ryan leaned back against the sofa behind her, playfully twirling her curled hair. They used to be this close, and back then, I’d just thought of it as the most normal mother-son affection. But now, it just looked utterly disgusting to me! “Chloe’s here, huh? Before, you mentioned $20,000 for the wedding gift. “I was originally fine with that, but yesterday, Ryan told me you don’t want to have children. So that price isn’t quite right now. “What do you think?” I glanced at Ryan: “You told her I don’t want to have kids?” He averted his gaze for a second, then quickly said: “Baby, I just can’t bear for you to have to go through it, but my mom’s right too. Maybe we can discuss taking a little less money.” I forced a smile: “How much less is ‘a little less’?” “Eight dollars and eighty cents!”

Brenda spoke up: “For good luck, right? Originally, I thought we shouldn’t give you anything at all, but I didn’t want people to say you’re cheap, so I’ll give you eight dollars and eighty cents. “After all, *you’re* not having the baby, and we have to find someone else to have one for us, which will cost hundreds of thousands. All that money should come from you.” I was seething. My fingers clenched into tight fists behind my back. “So, Ryan, in your family’s eyes, I’m only worth eight dollars and eighty cents?” He tried to come over and soothe me, but Brenda gripped his hand tightly: “Chloe, you’re a modern woman now, and the standard for a good modern girl is *not* wanting money, isn’t it? “But what *you* give can’t be less; that’s the rule. “Originally, it was agreed you’d give $20,000 and a car, but now we have to find someone to have a baby for us, so you must give $50,000 and a car. “$30,000 for the baby, and $20,000 plus the car for me. These are for your future security.” I almost flipped the table right then and there. I quickly excused myself to the restroom. I heard Ryan asking Brenda: “Mom, won’t she agree to such harsh conditions? After all, she’s so amazing; there’s a line of guys who want to marry her.” “Hmph!” Brenda wasn’t scared at all: “If she agreed to let someone else have a baby for you, would she really dare to disagree about giving a little less money? “If she makes a fuss, just tell her you don’t want her. The wedding date is set, the invitations are out. Let’s see if she’s willing to lose face like that. “Son, I’m telling you, respectable people care more about their reputation. If you grasp that, you’ve got her weakness!” I stayed in the restroom for over ten minutes. When I came out, Brenda’s face was flushed. I told them: “I can accept all your conditions. But on one condition: the wedding must be grand. All our relatives, friends, and neighbors must come, or I won’t marry.” On the way back, Ryan updated his post again: 【Guys, my fiancée is unbelievably obedient! Hahaha, she just listens to everything I say. She really loves me too much!】 Those jerks immediately lined up to ask him: 【Seriously, no money at all?】 He quickly replied: 【Hahaha, my mom gave her eight dollars and eighty cents, and she’s even giving us $50,000 and a car as part of her dowry. She actually agreed!】 The jerks groaned enviously: 【Dude, what’s your secret? How did you get her to marry you even with all that?】 【Give me a dozen women like her, please! I’m begging you!】 【Bro, you *have* to share your wisdom! My wedding’s soon, and I don’t want to give my hard-earned money to those gold-digging women.】 Ryan quickly replied to everyone: 【Well, she’s probably after my body, my looks, and my generous assets, hahaha!】 The comment section was filled with countless other disgusting remarks. Truly sickening. I quickly took a screenshot of the link, ready to exit, when I suddenly saw a new comment: 【Something’s off with you and your mom. I bet the other woman having the baby is also fishy. Bro, how many “good sisters” do you actually have?】

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The day Caleb and I got married, his first love overdosed on 108 sleeping pills and ended her life. In her dead hand, she clutched a photo of herself and Caleb, leaving behind only one sentence: “May I be your wife in the next life.” When Caleb heard the news of his ex’s suicide, he said nothing. Instead, he smiled and went through with our wedding. But on our wedding night, He took his own life, a sacrifice to join his first love. The media fell over themselves, sensationalizing their great love story, a romance so profound it transcended death. They smeared my name, painting me as the wicked homewrecker who tore apart their epic love. Reborn into this life, both Caleb and I returned. This time, he chose his first love. I chose Oxford… On our wedding day, Caleb leaped from the top floor of the hotel. Behind him, a cascade of fluttering papers declared his boundless love for Tiffany. When a lover’s suicide for love was no longer just an ancient legend, the media easily traced everything back to its source: me. They shoved microphones in my face, aimed cameras at me, and condemned me as the vicious bitch who broke up Caleb and Tiffany. “It’s this whore! She slept her way into his bed, broke up true love! Let the whole world see her despicable face!” “Maliciously destroying someone else’s relationship, may you die a terrible death!” “Bitches who ruin relationships deserve to burn in hell!” I stared blankly at the scene unfolding before me, letting the rotten eggs and vegetables pelt my body. I wanted to explain. I didn’t sleep my way into anything. I didn’t break them up. I was drugged and sent to Caleb’s bed. It was after Tiffany had married someone else that Caleb proposed to me… But no one gave me a chance to speak. I was cornered on the rooftop. My father, always so proud, knelt on the ground, begging the media to let me go. His pleas only enraged them further. In the ensuing chaos, my foot slipped. Along with the baby in my belly, I fell from the 101st floor, hitting the ground in a mangled mess. My regret and anguish were so intense, I couldn’t even close my eyes in death. Then, the pain completely vanished. Laughter echoed in my ears. I looked up and found myself sitting in a high school classroom. Tiffany was holding a love letter, confessing to Asher. Her overly dramatic declaration made the whole class erupt in laughter. My ex-husband, Caleb, was glaring at me with malice. “Aubrey, you are absolutely relentless, aren’t you?!” “This time, if you dare to mess with Tiffany, I won’t hesitate to ruin you all over again.” Seeing the dark, chilling malice in his eyes, far too old for a teenager, I dared to guess. It wasn’t just me. Caleb had also been reborn into our senior year of high school. My eyes welled up with tears as I looked at the graduation countdown on the blackboard. Thank goodness, I had a chance to do it over again. I chuckled, pretending not to understand. “What ‘this time’ or ‘next time’? Anyway, I wish you and Tiffany all the happiness in the world!” On the other side of the room, just like in my previous life, Asher rejected Tiffany. Tiffany stood there, mortified, stubbornly holding back tears. She looked so pitiful. “But during our last Truth or Dare game, you clearly said you liked Tiffany from our class. Wasn’t that…” Unlike the last life where he’d cited focusing on studies, this time, Asher put down his pen, smiling as he interrupted her. “But the Aubrey I was talking about was *you*.” The classroom instantly buzzed with excitement. After all, my crush on Caleb was an open secret. Now that Asher was involved, everyone waited for my reaction. It was from this day in my previous life that Caleb, who had always ignored me, suddenly became attentive. I thought it was because Tiffany had someone else in her heart, and he had given up. That was, until I saw the diary pages scattered when he jumped. “I know Asher’s secret. If you truly love him that much, I will stop at nothing to bring him to your side.” The “secret” he was referring to must have been that Asher liked me. So, to help Tiffany get Asher, Caleb had agreed to be with me. Just as he’d wanted, by graduation, I became his girlfriend. And Tiffany, she and Asher had made plans to meet at Oxford. But in the end, Asher, unable to bear Tiffany’s constant harassment, dropped out and left the country. Asher and I were both pawns in his twisted game to prove his ‘devotion’. This time, I was taking Asher with me, far away from that toxic jerk and his malicious accomplice.

Looking at the gossiping faces of my classmates, I smiled at Asher. “But you haven’t actually asked me out yet.” “If we end up in the same university, then let’s officially be together.” Asher gazed at me, his eyes shining like a sky full of stars. My classmates cheered and clapped, while also pointing fingers at Tiffany. Mortified, Tiffany stood rooted to the spot, the tears she’d held back for so long finally falling. Caleb slammed his dictionary onto his desk. “Everyone shut up! What’s so funny about this?!” He then grabbed a tissue from my desk and handed it to Tiffany. Unlike his hidden affection in the previous life, his blatant love now seemed to overflow from his chest. “Don’t cry, he’s not worth it!” Tiffany looked at Caleb, her eyes full of gratitude. Caleb’s eyes glowed. In the previous life, at this very moment, Tiffany never spared him a single glance. He seemed emboldened. He kicked my chair, sending it toppling over. “Aubrey, are you enjoying this? Making Tiffany look bad, isn’t that just your pathetic way of getting my attention? Well, too bad, you failed. You just make me hate you even more!” Tiffany cried even more pitifully. “Don’t say that about Aubrey, Caleb. She’s really smart, beautiful, and has a great personality. Her family is well-off too. I’m just not worthy…” Caleb sneered dismissively. “Her? She’s a complete waste of space. In my heart, she’s not even one-tenth of what you are.” Asher stepped in front of me, shielding me. He shot Caleb a quick glance, his voice soft but laced with authority. “Pick up the chair.” Asher was the only son of the Ashford family, the wealthiest in New York. In the previous life, besides Tiffany, none of us knew this until many years after college graduation. But Caleb, with memories from the last life, naturally didn’t dare to confront him directly. Caleb begrudgingly complied, an even deeper layer of disgust in his eyes as he looked at me. The drama finally ended with Asher and Caleb swapping seats. Asher leaned back casually in his seat, then suddenly turned, leaning closer to me. The fresh, clean scent unique to teenage boys enveloped me. “Miss Aubrey, I’ll see you at Oxford.” I nodded vigorously. Life became simple: classes, homework, tests, day after day. One evening after our late study session, I lingered for a few extra minutes, as was my habit. As I passed a corridor corner, I heard Tiffany’s voice, thick with tears. She pecked Caleb’s lips gently, her face flushed. “Caleb, you’re so wonderful. Of course, I don’t dislike you. It’s just, we really need to focus on our studies…” Caleb spun around, pinning her against the wall and kissing her passionately. His fingertips lightly traced her cheek, wiping away her tears. The regret of unrequited love from the previous life seemed to find its completion in this moment. After a long moment, he leaned his forehead against hers, a desperate plea mixed with intense possessiveness. “Tiffany, forget Asher. Be my girlfriend.” Tiffany shook her head. “I’m not good enough for you. Your family would never accept me, unless…” Caleb’s family? Did they even have the right to be picky? His parents were just my family’s driver and housekeeper. I’d begged my dad to get him into this elite prep school. To make him happy, I’d bought him limited edition clothes, shoes, and watches, sending them to his house like a never-ending stream. He took them all, then lectured me. “Aubrey, besides insulting people with money, what else can you do?” But the very next day, he’d wear the things I’d given him to school, marveling at his classmates’ awe. He was the mysterious, low-key scion of an old money family. In my previous life, I loved him so deeply, I couldn’t bear to expose his true background. As soon as we graduated, I convinced my dad to fund his company. To protect his fragile ego, I secretly channeled several multi-million dollar contracts his way. He became Mr. Caleb, adored by everyone. No one, not even Tiffany, knew about his humble origins. Back then, dressed head-to-toe in designer labels, she’d smiled at me faintly. “I don’t love him, but I can’t leave him. To be precise, I can’t leave his money.” I truly wished I could see Tiffany’s reaction when the money-hungry girl discovered Caleb was just a driver’s son. My thoughts drifted back, and I saw Caleb, seemingly impatient, ask, “Unless what?” “Unless I can get into Oxford. Caleb, only by getting into Oxford will I have the courage to stand by your side. Do you understand?” “I can’t give you any promises now, because if I don’t get into Oxford, my parents will force me to marry some old divorced man…” “There are only two spots. Asher will definitely take one. For the last one, I really don’t know if I can beat Aubrey, after all, she has all the resources my family can provide, and I have nothing.” Tiffany sounded so pitiful, but I knew the truth. She wanted to go to Oxford to pursue Asher, to marry into the Ashford family, and become truly rich. Caleb pulled her into his embrace, his heart aching. “You have me. I’ll make sure your dreams come true.” Tiffany stood on her tiptoes and kissed Caleb passionately. In my previous life, the day before my Oxford entrance exam, Caleb had suddenly asked me, looking utterly crestfallen. He was going to Harvard, and I to Oxford. Did this mean we would be in a long-distance relationship for four years? Talking about the hardships of being apart, he even shed a few tears. I loved him to my very core and couldn’t bear to see him sad, so I voluntarily gave up on the exam. In the end, Tiffany got the spot. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish.

On the day of the exam, Caleb blocked my path. “We need to talk.” I flat-out refused. “There’s nothing for me to talk about with you.” Caleb, with that infuriatingly condescending tone, continued. “If you drop out of the exam, I’ll give you another chance. You can treat me to lunch, I’ll allow you to keep sponsoring me, and I’ll even let you go to the same university as me.” I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. I had no idea where he got such confidence. I retorted sharply, “Sorry, but I refuse. Because, one, I don’t want to have lunch with you. Two, I have no intention of continuing to sponsor you. And three, I have no desire to go to the same university as you.” Caleb maintained his haughty demeanor. “You refuse? You actually dare to refuse? Aren’t you afraid I’ll never forgive you?” “Whatever.” I didn’t want to argue, so I turned and ran. “Just because I like Tiffany, you target her like this? You have everything. Why are you still fighting her for one spot?” I scoffed, “I don’t target anyone. The exam is about proving your own ability. If she has the skill, no one can take it from her.” Caleb’s eyes narrowed, a dark, sinister glint within them. “It’s your own jealousy, don’t blame me!” He grabbed my wrist, covered my mouth and nose with his other hand, and dragged me into the nearest classroom, locking the door. Because of the exam, most of the students were off from school, making this area particularly deserted. I glared at him furiously. He calmly asked, “Aubrey, you’re reborn too, aren’t you?” “You’re mad because I died for Tiffany, that’s why you’re treating me like this, right?” I sneered. “You guessed half right. So why do you think I’d let you manipulate me like I did in the last life?” The next second, several bodyguards burst in, restraining Caleb. They addressed me respectfully. “Miss Aubrey, we’ll take you to the exam room.” Having learned my lesson from the previous life, I had made thorough preparations. I had bodyguards follow me 24/7, ensuring I could smoothly attend the exam. The exam results came out quickly. Asher and I were accepted into Oxford early. Caleb, for attempting to prevent me from taking the exam and disrupting the exam process, was expelled from school. While my classmates cheered for Asher and me, Tiffany cried uncontrollably. “Caleb, didn’t your dad donate to build so many of these school buildings? How can they expel you? Go talk to him!” Just then, Caleb’s father arrived to pick me up. I pointed to the car not far away, my voice not loud, but clear enough for everyone to hear. “Caleb, your dad’s here. Do you want him to talk to the school?”

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Ten years ago, I saved a drowning boy. He fixed me with an unsettling gaze and declared, “I’m going to marry you.” I laughed it off. Ten years later, that boy had become an obsessive CEO. He crashed my wedding with an army of men. They broke my fiancé, shattering his legs before dragging me away.  “I told you I’d marry you,” he whispered, his voice a deadly promise. “I am the only man you will ever call husband.” He held my family’s lives over my head and forced me into a marriage. He locked me in a private villa and forbade any contact with men. He tried everything to make me love him. I never did. Furious and humiliated, he found a stand-in whose face perfectly mimicked mine. Drunk on his favor, she invaded my villa with her guards. “You surgical imitation! How dare you wear my face to seduce my man? I’ll destroy you!” She ripped me, cut out my tongue and ordered her guards to violate me, to break me completely. By the time the CEO finally arrived, I was already gone. The substitute presented my corpse to him as a trophy. “Look, baby! I took care of this surgical freak who was lurking here, trying to tempt you!”

Tristan Blackwood was both devoted and insane. He said from the moment I saved him, he decided he would marry no one but me. To win my heart, he imprisoned me for three years. Every day he tried new ways to please me. But I didn’t love him. I could never accept him. Recently though, he found a substitute who resembled me. They’d been all over each other for months now. To provoke me, Tristan often sent me videos of their intimate moments. I was sitting in the courtyard, watching one of their videos, when suddenly a commotion erupted outside. “Tristan comes here every other day. Today I’m going to see what treasure he’s hiding in this villa!” “But didn’t Mr. Blackwood say this villa is his private sanctuary? No one’s allowed inside.” “Yeah, Melody. I heard someone just looked inside once and Mr. Blackwood broke their limbs and gouged out their eyes. Isn’t it bad if we sneak in without his permission?” “What are you afraid of? Tristan adores me. He’d never blame me.” Hearing the noise outside, I frowned. An ominous feeling washed over me. I knew better than anyone how crazy Tristan could be. He was extremely possessive. He treated me like his property and kept me imprisoned in this villa. Once, someone got curious and snuck into the villa to catch a glimpse of me. Tristan broke their arms and legs, gouged out their eyes, and the next day they vanished without a trace. At first, he was only jealous of men. But then he noticed I treated the housekeepers more gently than I treated him. In a fit of rage, he fired all the housekeepers. He’d rather bring me three meals a day himself than let anyone else look at me for more than a second. If those people outside came in, they’d be in serious trouble. I quickly stood up, wanting to warn them to leave immediately. But the moment I opened the door, a face ninety percent identical to mine appeared before my eyes. Before I could speak, she slapped me hard across the face. “Where did you come from, you bitch? How dare you get surgery to look like me and hide in Tristan’s villa? Are you trying to steal my man?”

The sudden slap made my face burn with pain. “You cheap plastic surgery freak! Do you know where you are? How dare you barge in here?” “You deliberately got surgery to look like Melody to seduce Mr. Blackwood. You’re so desperate to climb the social ladder, you’ve lost all shame!” Only then did I realize who this person was. The woman who burst in and hit me was Tristan’s substitute-Melody Winters. Because of Tristan’s pathological need for control, I’d always been cold toward him. Even though I was forced to marry him, I remained distant. I never let him touch me even once. Perhaps to spite me, or maybe to fill the void in his heart, he searched everywhere for someone who resembled me. And Melody was the substitute he found. The one who looked most like me. Right now, Melody’s face was filled with rage. Her eyes could shoot flames. “You bitch! You know Tristan loves me madly, so you went through all that surgery to look like me. You want to be my substitute and take my place, don’t you?” Melody was arrogant and vicious. But considering she didn’t know the truth, I decided not to hold this slap against her. Instead, I tried to warn her kindly. “This isn’t a place you should be. Leave now, before Tristan gets here. Otherwise, no one can help you.” However, Melody showed no appreciation. Instead, she grabbed my hair and snarled, “Tristan is MY man. What place of his can’t I go? You’re just pretending to send me away because you’re afraid I’ll ruin your scheme. Afraid you won’t even get to be the mistress, right?” “Today I’ll show you what happens when you try to steal my man!” With that, Melody kicked me to the ground. I stumbled and hit a rock. My forehead split open instantly. I touched the blood on my forehead and looked at the aggressive Melody. My voice turned cold. “Aren’t you afraid of what Tristan will do when he finds out?” Melody snorted disdainfully. “I’m the destined soulmate Tristan has been searching for all this time. If my face gets even slightly scratched, he can’t sleep for days. So what if he finds out? Would he blame me because of an insignificant bitch like you?” Melody’s friends laughed coldly in agreement. “Exactly. Everyone knows Mr. Blackwood fell for Melody at first sight. You’re just a plastic surgery copycat. How dare you compare yourself to her?” “Melody, Mr. Blackwood is so powerful. There must be plenty of vixens like this one trying to seduce him. Let’s make an example out of her today and crush those scheming sluts’ fantasies!” “Right! Let those bitches know who Mr. Blackwood’s real wife is!” These women were all vicious with their words and looks, as if they wanted to tear me apart. My expression grew serious. I spoke coldly. “You’d better go ask Tristan who I really am.” Melody lifted her chin, full of disdain. “You’re just a plastic surgery freak who snuck into the villa. Why would I bother finding out who you are?” “I’m the woman Tristan treasures most. My family, the Winters, is the Blackwood family’s biggest business partner. What are you compared to me? How dare you compare status with me?” Her eyes turned vicious. She ordered her friends behind her, “Strip this bitch naked. I want to see if she had surgery on her body to match mine too.” Immediately, her friends rushed over and violently tore at my clothes. I desperately tried to protect my clothing while shouting, “Stop! I’m Tristan’s wife!”

Hearing my words, everyone froze. Melody stood to the side, narrowing her eyes at me. “You’re saying you’re Tristan’s wife?” I said seriously, “That’s right. You’re just the substitute he found. If he finds out you hurt me like this, he’ll never forgive you.” I revealed the truth, thinking Melody would back down. But instead, they all burst into laughter at the same moment. “This bitch has lost her mind trying to climb the ladder!” “Just because she looks somewhat like Melody, she dares to twist the truth and call OUR Melody her substitute?” “Everyone knows Mr. Blackwood takes Melody everywhere. You snuck in here, you plastic surgery freak, and you dare call yourself his wife?” Melody smiled with sinister amusement. “I thought you’d have some tricks up your sleeve since you managed to get surgery to look like me and seduce Tristan. Turns out you’re just a brainless idiot.” “I’ve been with Tristan all this time. I didn’t know he had a wife. How many lives do you have? How dare you tell such an outrageous lie?” “If you’re really Mrs. Blackwood, why would you be completely unknown? Why would you live alone in this deserted villa?” With that, Melody snorted and ordered her friends, “Keep stripping. Leave nothing on her!” Her friends didn’t hesitate. They violently tore at my clothes again. Clearly, they had no idea that this entire area was deserted because Tristan had bought all the land for miles around. No one could enter without his permission. Originally this villa had bodyguards and housekeepers. But because Tristan was insanely jealous, he dismissed everyone. He never announced my identity publicly because he didn’t allow others to look at me. Even discussing me was a violation in his eyes. I never imagined these facts would become reasons for them not to believe me. Seeing my clothes torn to shreds, I panicked. I shouted again, “I really am Tristan’s wife! Call him if you don’t believe me!” Hearing this, they didn’t stop. They became even more violent. While frantically tearing my clothes, they slapped me repeatedly. “You lying bitch! Still lying? We’ll beat some sense into you today!” Soon my face was burning hot and swollen. My hair was disheveled and my clothes barely covered me, exposing large areas of skin. Seeing this, Melody’s eyes gleamed. She spoke slowly, “This bitch’s hair is an eyesore. It’s blocking the view of her body.” With that, she smiled wickedly and pulled out a lighter. She set my hair on fire. The flames spread rapidly across my head. Intense burning pain engulfed me. My cheeks, ears, and entire scalp felt the searing agony. The pain was unbearable. I instinctively tried to pat out the flames, but my hands were held down firmly. In moments, my hair was completely burned away. My scalp was covered in burn marks. Finally satisfied, Melody laughed triumphantly. “Hah! Let’s see you seduce men looking like a bald freak!” Her friends laughed and applauded too. I glared at them, trembling all over. “You’ll regret this!” For years, Tristan threatened me with my family’s lives and kept me prisoner. I lost my freedom. Day after day, I could only stare at the empty villa in a daze. This left me with pent-up frustration. And now I had to endure this torture from his substitute. The frustration in my heart instantly transformed into deep hatred. Melody walked up to me and pressed her foot heavily on my face. “Still dare to challenge me? Since your filthy mouth can’t say anything I want to hear, you won’t need to talk anymore.” “Cut out this bitch’s tongue!”

With one command, a bodyguard behind Melody immediately walked toward me holding a knife. Seeing this, one of the more timid friends spoke nervously, “Melody, this is Mr. Blackwood’s territory after all. If we go this far, won’t it be… inappropriate?” Melody said without hesitation, “What’s inappropriate about it? Tristan is my man. His home is my home. I’m just teaching a shameless bitch a lesson in my own home. Who dares say anything?” “Besides, Tristan adores me so much. Even if I killed this bitch, he wouldn’t frown at me.” The other friends chimed in, “Exactly. Our Melody is the woman Mr. Blackwood treasures. What can’t she do?” “Mr. Blackwood will only feel sorry that Melody worked so hard teaching this bitch a lesson.” With their encouragement, even the timid friend felt reassured and watched the show. I lay on the ground, watching the knife in the bodyguard’s hand come closer and closer. I was terrified. I screamed in panic, “I really am Tristan’s wife! If you do this, he’ll never forgive you!” But my threats had no effect. The bodyguard moved like a heartless machine. He reached me and thrust the knife into my mouth. I tried to escape, but Melody’s friends held me down firmly. I tried to dodge, but the gleaming blade had already pried deep into my mouth. The knife fell. Through the haze, I saw massive amounts of blood and my severed tongue falling from my lips. The pain reached its peak. It felt like every nerve in my body had snapped. I was on the verge of passing out. I lay in a pool of blood like rotting flesh, unable to move, barely breathing. Melody crossed her arms, admiring the scene from above. “With your pathetic looks, even if you got surgery to look like me, Tristan would never spare you a glance. He loves ME as a person, understand?” “Not everyone has my good fortune. Not just anyone can make Tristan fall for them.” “Since you’re so desperate for men, I’ll give you a few.” She looked at the bodyguards behind her coldly. “I’m giving this bitch to you as a reward. Whoever performs best gets two hundred thousand dollars!” Hearing this, the bodyguards’ eyes lit up instantly. They rubbed their hands together eagerly and pounced on me like wolves. I lay limp on the ground with no strength to resist. I wanted to cry out, but without my tongue and with my mouth full of blood, I couldn’t make a sound. I could only let them violate me. Though Tristan obsessively kept me imprisoned here, he never hurt me or touched me. Even when I refused to be intimate with him, he never forced me. He said he would wait until I willingly gave myself to him. He said I was destined to be his woman for life. But now I was drowning beneath these bodyguards, helpless. Despair and hopelessness engulfed me completely. I couldn’t make a sound. Only tears streamed down my face. Tristan, is this the outcome you wanted? Melody’s friends watched the show while flattering her. “Our Melody was born to be Mrs. Blackwood. You really know how to handle people.” “Right? Look at this bitch. She was so cocky at first, but now she’s crying. Haha, she’ll never dare seduce men again.” “Congratulations, Melody, on successfully eliminating another slut. Let’s see who else dares compete with you for Mrs. Blackwood’s position!” Melody beamed with pride, like a victorious general. Her triumphant smile never faded. But suddenly, the excited bodyguards showed strange expressions. The next moment, one bodyguard stood up and reported, “Miss Winters, this woman is dead!” Hearing this, Melody grimaced in disgust. “What wretched luck! Just dig a hole and bury her. The last thing we need is that filth polluting Tristan’s view.” The words had barely left her mouth when Tristan stepped into the courtyard.  “What are you doing?” his voice cut through the air, cold and demanding.

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I was willing to throw myself from a building to escape my own wedding. Yet my fiancée was the one I had secretly loved for years. I had been reborn. In my previous life, we were married for over twenty years. Everyone saw us as the perfect couple. Then, on our anniversary, the illusion shattered. She took her own life in a final, tragic pact with her “soulmate,” Ryan. Standing before her grave, I whispered. “Did you regret marrying me?” Silence. So I answered for her. “I regretted it.” When I woke up again, I was back before our wedding. I decided to run. This time, we would be strangers. But she found me anyway, her face pale and desperate. And what she said shattered everything. “I never regretted marrying you, not in this life, not in the last. You were the only one I ever wanted.” … My eyes fluttered open. Someone patted my shoulder. In a daze, I saw the grand doors swing open. Chloe, who had died ten years ago, stood on the stage in her wedding gown. Bathed in light, she looked ethereal, like an angel descended from heaven. A collective gasp of awe rippled through the audience, a sound even the music couldn’t drown out. Everyone was praising the bride’s beauty. But I was drenched in a cold sweat. Someone nudged me, reminding me it was time to walk towards the bride. I had specifically requested this part of the ceremony myself. But now, as my gaze met Chloe’s from across the hall, she curved her lips into a smile. My resolve, however, only hardened. I spun around and bolted for the exit. “The wedding is off! I’m absolutely not marrying her!” The venue erupted into instant chaos. The hotel was huge, and in my panic, I couldn’t find the right way out. Chloe’s relatives and friends started chasing me. My future father-in-law’s face was stormy. He frowned, glaring at me with displeasure. “Liam, the wedding has started. Don’t be foolish. Get back there and finish the ceremony.” I shook my head, firm. I never imagined I would be reborn, especially not right into my own wedding with Chloe. But since fate had given me a second chance, there was no way I would marry Chloe in this life. A relative tried to reason with me, their voice filled with concern: “Whatever it is, talk about it after the wedding. Chloe is waiting for you.” What? Chloe waiting for me! Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw a white figure actually chasing after me. It felt like a death knell. Without another moment of hesitation, I pushed open a nearby window. I jumped straight from the third floor. Luckily, there was an awning below that broke my fall. Even so, when I stood up, I felt a biting pain. But this slight ache was nothing compared to the heartbreak of the twenty years she’d fooled me in my past life. Clutching my waist, I limped away, desperate to leave. People from the hotel peered out the windows, their faces aghast. “Liam, you’re insane! You actually ran away from your own wedding!” Chloe was among them, her face etched with anxiety and unease. “Liam, what are you doing…? If you leave, what about our wedding?” The Liam of my past life would never have done such a thing. But now. “Chloe, marrying you was the biggest mistake I ever made. I’m correcting that mistake.” “Remember this: I’m the one who doesn’t want you.” I didn’t bother to look at Chloe’s reaction. I hailed a taxi and drove off, feeling a twisted sense of triumph. I knew better than anyone that Chloe’s pristine white wedding dress wasn’t meant for me. She never wanted to marry me at all. Memories flooded my mind. I still remembered rushing to the police station. The officer asked me: “Do you have any information about the man, Ryan, who committed suicide with your wife, Chloe?” How lost and helpless I had been then. I spent over two decades in my last life failing to truly see that woman. This life, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistake.

To escape the commotion, I conveniently used my injuries as an excuse to check into a hospital. My phone was constantly ringing with calls-I knew they weren’t checking in on me; they were either looking for drama or ready to chew me out. The messages proved it. “Liam Thompson, how dare you treat Chloe like that! She cried herself unconscious! You need to get over here and apologize now!” I couldn’t have cared less. Chloe crying over me running away? Impossible. She was probably thrilled I was gone. In this life, she and that Ryan finally had their chance to be together. They should be thanking me, honestly. If you ask me, they owed me a massive thank you. Just as I was lost in this fantasy, my hospital room door swung open. My mom and dad stood there, both furious. “Liam Thompson, you’ve really got some nerve! Running away from your wedding, jumping out of a window? Who are you trying to make a fool of?!” I hadn’t expected them to track me down so quickly. I instantly felt like shrinking into the bed, quickly begging for mercy. “Stop yelling, I’m in the hospital already.” I pitifully revealed my bandaged arm, hoping to stir some parental love. But they just scoffed. “Your injuries are your own fault. Chloe is also in the hospital because of you. You need to take responsibility.” Only then did I understand why they’d arrived so fast. Wow, Chloe’s acting was truly next level. This way, no one would suspect she didn’t want the wedding either. Then I heard my parents issue a direct order: “As soon as you’re discharged, you’re having the wedding with Chloe again.” “No way.” My firm refusal left my parents momentarily bewildered. After all, my marriage to Chloe had been largely my doing. I transferred to Chloe’s school in senior year, fell for her at first sight, and spent five years secretly crushing on her. It wasn’t until her family’s company faced a crisis that the Millers approached my parents, proposing an alliance between our families. At the time, I was overjoyed by the news and worked hard to convince my parents to agree. Now, though, I was a completely different person. They couldn’t accept it. “Why?” The question came from a female voice. My parents quickly stepped aside, revealing Chloe. She had changed out of her wedding dress and into a hospital gown. Her figure was already slender, but now she looked especially frail, as if a gust of wind could carry her away. She swayed, a fleeting pang of tenderness and sadness piercing my heart for a split second. Her eyes were fixed on me as she asked again: “Why won’t you marry me?” I frowned, my heart still hard. “Because I don’t love you anymore.” At my words, Chloe’s body seemed to lose all support. She collapsed weakly, passing out cold. My parents shot me a fierce glare, then rushed to help the nurse get Chloe back to her room. For a moment, I considered following them, but I resisted. Still, I couldn’t shake the thought: when did Chloe become so fragile? Was she acting? For the next few days, my parents were furious with me and didn’t visit again. My friend came to see me, giving me a thumbs-up. “You’re something else, Liam. You really pissed Chloe off. I thought you were crazy about her, chased her forever. Why give up now, right before the wedding?” I waved him off. “Too easy. Lost interest.” “Then, it’s my turn to chase you now.” I looked up. Chloe, just discharged, stood smiling at my doorway. “I don’t want to see you.” I didn’t hold back, practically kicking her out. She didn’t seem offended. She walked in, carrying a thermos, and started pouring soup for me. “I made you some bone broth. Drink it while it’s hot.” My friend, sensing the awkward atmosphere, quickly made his escape. Leaving me alone with Chloe. I kept a stony face. Chloe brought the bowl closer to me, coaxing me like a child: “Smell it. It’s delicious.” A familiar aroma wafted into my nostrils. In my previous life, Chloe and I had been married for over twenty years, the ‘model couple’ in everyone’s eyes. Even I thought so. She was meticulous in everything she did, though she often missed holidays and anniversaries due to work. But she’d always apologize and prepare gifts-without fail, things I liked or had mentioned offhand. Chloe, a pampered girl who had never lifted a finger in the kitchen, had even learned to cook. When she was home, she’d make the meals herself. She said she worried about my sensitive stomach, so she’d specifically learned to make all kinds of soups. This bone broth was my favorite. I once believed this was a sign of her love for me, but later, I learned the truth. The thought made the soup lose its appeal. I turned my head away. “I don’t want it, and I don’t want to see you. Just leave.” Chloe bit her lip, trembling slightly. After a long moment, she managed a faint, strained smile. “You don’t have an appetite now. I’ll put it aside. Remember to drink it when you’re hungry.” I didn’t want to hear her speak, so I pulled the blanket over my head. Chloe didn’t leave for a while; I heard her tidying up outside. Only when the door clicked shut did I peek out. The room had been cleaned by Chloe. She’d even placed a bouquet of fresh flowers where I could see them the moment I looked up. I scoffed. “What an actress.”

For the next few days, Chloe reported punctually every morning, noon, and night, bringing carefully prepared meals. I never touched them, though. I ignored her. She would tidy up the hospital room, making it feel cozy and home-like, even subtly mirroring how our room used to be in my past life. This only made me feel more uncomfortable. As soon as Chloe left, I checked myself out of the hospital. Time to go home! But I was too optimistic. I had barely stepped through my front door when Chloe showed up at my house. She doted on my parents, eagerly offering them shoulder rubs. “Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, if your shoulders are sore, I can always come over and massage them for you.” My parents glanced at me as I came downstairs, then called out: “Liam, you just got out of the hospital. Why don’t you let her give you a massage first?” Chloe immediately looked at me, her eyes seemingly filled with anticipation. There was no mistaking it. My parents had completely sided with her. I could understand why my parents were suddenly so fond of Chloe. Before I knew her true face, I, too, was fooled by her gentle thoughtfulness. But what exactly was Chloe after? I slapped my forehead in annoyance as it suddenly clicked: the Miller family’s company was facing a funding crisis, which was why they sought a marriage alliance. Chloe was probably afraid my family wouldn’t help. She worried for nothing. In my past life, after the Millers overcame their crisis, their company indeed flourished. It was a completely sound investment. With that understanding, my gaze toward Chloe softened considerably, becoming more like an evaluation of an investment target. My parents, seeing my attitude had relaxed, quickly nudged Chloe towards me. Chloe lost her balance, stumbling towards me like a feather. I instinctively caught her, only to realize how alarmingly thin she was beneath her clothes. She felt weightless, like she was nothing but bones, as if she might break if I squeezed too hard. My brow furrowed. Her eyes met mine, her face flushed with embarrassment, filled with what looked like pure joy. But I felt only irritation and pushed her away, somewhat roughly. Chloe swayed for a moment before steadying herself, but she still looked delighted. Even my parents gave me knowing looks, as if my resistance was just a childish display of defiance. I couldn’t stay in this house. “I have plans. I won’t be home tonight.” I grabbed my phone and walked straight out. Chloe, ever persistent, jogged after me. Everywhere I went, she followed. When I headed to my car, she even tried to open the passenger door. I snapped, losing my patience: “Stop it! Can you just leave me alone?” My voice was sharper than I intended. Chloe seemed startled, freezing in place, her shoulders involuntarily trembling. Seeing her so fragile only agitated me more: “I know you want my family’s money. Don’t worry. Even without marriage, I’ll invest. Are you satisfied? If so, just leave.” Seeing no reaction from her, I slammed the accelerator and drove off. Inside the bar’s VIP room, acquaintances-some not even close friends-were all discussing my exploits. “Liam, you’re a legend! Dumped the school queen you chased forever, just ran from the wedding!” “I knew it, our Liam isn’t some desperate lovesick puppy. It was all an act to reel Chloe in. She totally lost face this time.” “Serves her right, honestly. All high-and-mighty before, looking down on us party-goers. Now she’s the one being played.” Listening to their snide remarks, I realized my runaway wedding had made Chloe the laughingstock of our social circle. Her former ‘school queen’ glamour was shattered, and now she was fair game for anyone to mock. But I didn’t want to engage in their gossip. I just kept drinking.

I stumbled home in the morning, my head still hazy. My parents sat on the sofa, waiting for me, their faces grim. “You’re getting worse, staying out drinking all night. Chloe is such a good girl, and you just tossed her aside. You were the one who insisted on marrying her!” “You are going to give me a reason today, or else.” At my parents’ words, my drunken haze began to clear. They were right. I had been the one to push for it. It took living a lifetime of pain to understand that a forced relationship never ends well. … My memory flashed back to the day I heard about Chloe’s death. It was our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The day before, I had, for once, stood my ground with Chloe. Not for anything else, but to make her come home and spend our anniversary with me. Because that day also marked thirty years since I first fell in love with her. “If you don’t come back, we should just get a divorce.” That’s what I said then. But such a threat must have seemed laughable in Chloe’s eyes. That evening, I waited for her at the restaurant, full of anticipation, only to receive the news of Chloe’s death. I hung up the phone and rushed to the police station like a madman. “Are you Chloe Miller’s husband?” The officer confirmed my identity, his eyes filled with sympathy. They told me Chloe had committed suicide, and that she had done so with another man named Ryan, suspected to be a tragic lovers’ pact. “Do you have any information about Ryan?” It was the first time I had ever heard that unfamiliar name. I shook my head, bewildered. I found out who Ryan was at Chloe’s funeral. Her best friend cried inconsolably over her coffin. “If I had known you loved Ryan, I would have stopped you from marrying Liam, even if it killed me.” That’s when I learned Ryan was Chloe’s university senior. All those years, they had never truly broken off contact. All the holidays and annivers Chloe missed? She had spent them with Ryan. Eventually, only I remained at the funeral. I stood before Chloe’s tombstone, murmuring to myself. “Chloe, did you regret marrying me?” The tombstone wouldn’t answer, but I knew the truth. “I regretted marrying you too. If I had another chance, I would never have gotten involved with you again.” With that thought, my eyes cleared, and I looked at my parents with newfound resolve. “I just can’t go through with this marriage. I can’t tell you why. But I will help the Miller family.” My mom finally sighed. “You’ll regret this. Fine, we won’t interfere anymore. Do whatever you want.” I went back to bed and slept for what felt like an eternity. Once my mind finally felt clear, I texted Chloe to meet me at my office. Chloe arrived quickly, dressed with care. Her hair was styled in soft waves, and she wore a white dress, as if heading to a date. “Liam, you haven’t asked me out in ages.” Her face held the shy, delicate charm of a young girl in love, her lips pursed in a demure smile. I tossed a contract onto the table and spoke in a purely business-like tone. “I know the Miller family needs sixty million in funding. Sign this contract, and I’ll give you what you want. But after this, you must never come looking for me again.” Chloe stared down, no reaction. I urged her. “Hurry up. I’m giving you what you want, don’t get greedy.” At my words, Chloe looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. She bit her lip, throwing the contract back at me. Then she rushed to my side, grabbing my shirt, demanding I look deeply into her eyes. “Liam Thompson, I’m not asking for an investment at all. I’ve only ever wanted you. Haven’t I made that obvious enough?” Large tears streamed down her face. She pounded my chest with her fists, but it didn’t hurt at all. “We were married for over twenty years. Now you’ve been reborn, and you’re treating your wife like this? You weren’t like this in the last life…”

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My husband died suddenly, and then his visibly pregnant first love showed up with his will, ready to claim her inheritance. My daughter wanted me to stand my ground, to fight that homewrecker tooth and nail! But my in-laws told me, “Just let her have it. After all, she’s carrying our family’s bloodline. Even though our son wronged you, our family can’t be without an heir.” I nodded, agreeing to my in-laws’ demand. Ignoring my daughter’s furious objections, I took her and moved abroad. When my daughter fumed at my apparent weakness, I stayed silent. But when I received that familiar call, I smiled with satisfaction… Julian’s funeral drew a sizable crowd. Besides his family and friends, there were also many of his colleagues and business partners. When they saw Luna, Julian’s first love, show up visibly pregnant, clutching a will, their faces flickered with a myriad of expressions – it was quite a show. Many of them discreetly watched me, silent, seemingly waiting to see my reaction. It looked like everyone was ready for some drama. “Sarah, I know Julian and I both wronged you, but… I’m carrying his child. I have to live for this baby, right? I know what I did wasn’t right, but this is the last gift Julian left for me and our child. You can’t be so cruel as to strip us of our rights, can you?” “Ugh! You utterly shameless witch! You secretly hooked up with my dad behind my mom’s back! And now you have the nerve to show up pregnant, demanding an inheritance? I’ve never seen anyone as brazen as you!” My daughter, Mia, screamed at Luna. Her face was crimson with fury, veins throbbing in her neck, as if she wanted to tear Luna limb from limb. “Mia! Do you have no manners? I don’t remember your mother raising you to be such a wild banshee!” It was Mrs. Davies, my mother-in-law, who spoke. She shot me a glare. “How have you been raising this child?” “She ruined my parents’ relationship, she came between my mom and dad. If you won’t help my mom, fine, but now you’re siding with an outsider to accuse Mom and me? What do we even mean to you?!” Mia, usually so compliant, transformed. She shielded me like a mama bear protecting her cub, which touched me deeply, though it also filled me with shame. Mrs. Davies was stunned by Mia’s outburst, then her expression turned to anger. “This is outrageous! This little girl is starting to lecture her elders?! The adults in this family are still alive; it’s not your place to speak, young lady!” She turned back to me. “I always said daughters were useless!” Mr. Davies, my father-in-law, stepped forward. “This is adult business, Mia! Don’t you dare interrupt! If you don’t behave, don’t blame me for getting rough with you!” He finished, giving Mia a harsh glare. Mr. Davies then looked at Luna, then back at me. “Sarah, I know you’ve been married into our family for thirteen years. We’ve seen your character, and we’ve always treated you as one of our own. I hope you can consider our feelings now.” Listening to Mr. Davies, I calmly asked, “What do you mean?” “It’s just…” Mr. Davies hesitated, then continued, “Luna told us the baby is a boy. Our family has only ever had one son per generation, and we truly hope she gives birth. But now Julian is gone, and it will be difficult for Luna to raise a child alone. We hope you won’t contest the inheritance with her.”

Mrs. Davies chimed in, “Just let her have it. After all, she’s carrying our family’s bloodline. Even though our son wronged you, our family can’t be without an heir.” My daughter blurted out before I could speak, “Then am I not Dad’s child? Am I not? In your eyes, what am I?” Her eyes reddened as she looked at my in-laws, her voice trembling. I knew my in-laws didn’t truly value my daughter, but I never imagined they’d say something like this to her face. I realized then that their previous displays of affection for her had all been an act; in reality, they still saw no worth in their granddaughter. Hearing Mia’s words, Mrs. Davies dropped all pretense. “I never said you weren’t, but… you’re a girl. How can a girl carry on our family name? After all your father did for you, and you can’t even think of him? You’re so ungrateful!” Mr. Davies sternly said, “We’re talking to your mother now, young lady, don’t interrupt!” He then looked at me. “Sarah, for the sake of our years as a family, I hope you can understand us!” I looked at them, calmly stating, “So, you knew about Julian and Luna all along?” My words caught both my in-laws off guard. Embarrassed expressions crossed their faces as they exchanged uneasy glances. Seeing this, my daughter’s face twisted in disgust. “I used to respect you so much, and you always talked about decency and self-respect. I can’t believe… I can’t believe… you’re just as shameless!” “What did you say, you rotten girl?! Are you looking for a fight?!” Mrs. Davies lunged forward, trying to hit Mia, but I quickly shielded my daughter behind me. “Why are you hitting her? Was she wrong?” I asked, my voice chilling as I stared at Mrs. Davies. Mrs. Davies looked at me, then at Mia, who was safely behind me. She sneered. “Fine, fine, you two! Just because my son isn’t here, you think you can disrespect your elders, ignore me completely, is that it?” Mrs. Davies then dramatically collapsed in front of Julian’s memorial picture. “Julian, you left us too soon! Your wife and daughter are ganging up on us two old people now! They won’t listen to a word we say, and they even accuse us! All we want is for Luna to give us your heir. Why… why won’t they understand our elderly wish?” The friends and relatives sitting nearby watched Mrs. Davies’ hysterical wailing. Some looked on with disdain, others nodded in agreement, and a few, seemingly not finding enough drama, pulled out their phones to record. Mrs. Davies’ heartbroken wails sounded utterly pathetic, and Mr. Davies seized the opportunity to approach me. He said earnestly, “Sarah, I know our family has wronged you, but… we truly want to have an heir for the Davies family. And we also need Julian’s inheritance to raise the child. We hope you can agree.” “Mom! Don’t listen to them!” Mia gripped my hand tightly, as if encouraging me. Seeing my daughter trying so hard to protect me, tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes. I reached out and stroked her hair. “It’s okay, sweetie. Let Mom make the decision. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Hearing my words, my daughter nodded obediently. I looked at my in-laws, then at Luna. “You want the company Julian left behind?” Mrs. Davies spoke up. “Luna used to work there, she naturally knows how to manage the company. To put it bluntly, even if you founded the company with Julian, didn’t you withdraw after you got married? This company… in fact, it’s my son’s personal property.” I stared at her. “You even know that? So, you’ve known about her relationship with your son all along? You and Julian conspired to keep it from me? Oh, and why didn’t you mention Julian also owns a house? Though, it’s registered under your names, so I suppose you had that planned out too, didn’t you?” Hearing my words, Mrs. Davies coughed awkwardly and said no more. Luna guiltily averted her gaze and gestured to the lawyer beside her. “You go talk to her.” The lawyer’s eyes also flickered with a hint of embarrassment, but he still braced himself and walked over. “If you voluntarily give up your claim, you can sign a voluntary waiver here, agreeing not to pursue further action.” I looked at them, then nodded. “Alright, if that’s what you want, then I agree!” “Mom!!!” My daughter stared at me in disbelief, and the surrounding onlookers also showed surprised expressions. My in-laws’ faces lit up with joy at my reaction. Mrs. Davies beamed, “Really?! You said it, no backing out now!” Luna and her lawyer also looked surprised, then wary, as if afraid I might retaliate. Luna looked at me. “What are your conditions?” Hearing her speak, I nodded. “Of course, I have conditions. From now on, I will have no further ties with the Davies family. Don’t ever contact us again.” I looked at my daughter, asking for her consent. “You’ll live with Mom, won’t you? Is that okay?” My daughter looked at me with a mix of frustration and anger, as if hating my weakness. She said, heartbroken and furious, “Mom, I’ll live with you, but… but… Dad’s money shouldn’t go to that witch! Mom, please don’t be so weak! Pull yourself together! Even if we have to live on scraps, I don’t want them to have an easy life! If we go down, we all go down together!” My daughter’s words once again infuriated Mrs. Davies. “You deadbeat girl, try saying that again! I told you girls are useless, just look at them, only brave when they’re attacking their own family!” Looking at my daughter, I remembered my younger self, kind and impulsive, never keeping anything bottled up. My heart swelled with both comfort and regret. “Sweetie, please, do this for Mom, okay? Your dad stopped loving us a long time ago. He even schemed to leave his property to his first love, regardless of what happened to us… and your grandparents are no different. So, why should we cling to your dad’s inheritance?” My daughter looked at me with tear-filled eyes. “Mom, even if you think Dad’s money is tainted, let’s donate it rather than leave it for that witch! Don’t be so foolish, please!” “You deadbeat girl!” Mr. Davies, enraged, raised his cane to hit my daughter, but I blocked him. Crack! The cane struck my arm with such force that I winced in pain. It seemed Mr. Davies wasn’t holding back, even on his granddaughter.

“You…” Mr. Davies stared at me in shock. “You’ve hit me, you’ve cursed me. Isn’t it just Julian’s company you want? I’m letting you have it, isn’t that enough?” I choked out, “Julian betrayed me, and you all conspired with him to keep it from me. Now Julian is ‘dead,’ and you’re ganging up on my daughter and me… Isn’t giving up enough?” I looked at the visibly troubled lawyer. “I will sign the agreement.” Then I turned to the surrounding friends and relatives, and those holding up phones to record. “You all can be my witnesses here. From now on, I have no relationship with the Davies family, and neither does my child. The responsibility of caring for my in-laws will fall to Luna from now on.” Luna’s face flashed with a hint of embarrassment when she heard my words, but she dared not speak. My in-laws, on the other hand, watched eagerly as I signed the agreement. A young onlooker couldn’t stand it anymore. “Sarah, why put yourself through this?” “Yeah, why be so foolish? Isn’t this just benefiting someone else?” “Exactly! Even if not for yourself, at least think of your child.” “Forget it, just look at how those old folks have been treating her!” My daughter couldn’t help but tug my hand, crying, “Mom, can’t you stop being so silly? Isn’t this just making it easy for them?” I stroked her forehead. “Honey, we’re cutting ties with them. From now on, it’s as if we have no grandparents. If you still love Mom, then do this for Mom. Cut them off, and don’t get entangled with them anymore!” Hearing this, my daughter didn’t speak but glared angrily at Luna and the Davies. After signing the agreement, I took my daughter and left. Even though she was extremely unwilling, I practically dragged her away. Some busybodies had already filmed the scene and uploaded it online. Many netizens expressed outrage on my behalf, and some legal professionals offered to help me fight for my rights. However, many others were furious at my apparent weakness, calling me a naive pushover, saying I was a saint for enabling the mistress, and destroying my and my daughter’s interests. They accused me of not being fit to be a mother. Some even used me as a cautionary tale, making videos about my story to gain views. Luna and Julian’s parents didn’t fare much better. They were also cyberbullied by outraged netizens, condemned as shameless people with no morals. I was aware of the online buzz, and my daughter argued with me about it for a long time. Facing netizens’ mockery, sarcasm, or well-intentioned advice, I decided to respond. I recorded a video explaining that I had decided to move abroad and that everyone should live their own lives in peace. Of course, this “saintly” approach, as I expected, once again provoked netizens’ mockery. Although my daughter was very reluctant, she eventually compromised and moved abroad with me. As time passed, her initial dissatisfaction with me gradually turned into reconciliation. With the help of my brother, David, who owned a company overseas, I registered my own company, bought a small apartment, and started a new life. Everything progressed smoothly and methodically; life became relatively easy. Until one day, someone called me, shattering the peace— “You damn bitch! How dare you pull a stunt like this on me!!!” A familiar voice roared hysterically from the other end of the line, as if he wanted to reach through the phone and strangle me. Hearing that voice, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “Oh, you’re not dead, are you? How are you able to call me? What a miracle!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “305255”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #重生Reborn #校园School #励志Inspiring