Category: English

I was heading to a hotel to discuss wedding plans with Liam’s family when a mysterious package arrived. Inside was a diary. The handwriting was messy, but every word screamed anguish, chronicling my tragic and difficult latter half of life. The little girl who wrote it called me “Mom.” It began: If I could, I’d never let Mom marry Dad, and certainly not give birth to me, because they are both devils! But my fiancé was so devoted to me, and his mom treated me like her own daughter. We were about to become a family… The diary had no ending; the “mystery” waited for me to decipher. As my experiences slowly began to overlap with the diary’s entries, I started my furious counterattack! The name, birth date, teacher profession, and love for dance recorded in the diary perfectly matched mine. I was completely shocked, a cold dread seeping into my heart. I couldn’t help but flip another page. The diary read: “Before Mom died, she told me about her tragic life. She couldn’t protect me anymore and urged me to seize every chance to escape.” “Back then, Grandma and Dad promised Mom an engagement gift of $68,000. But after they found out Mom was pregnant, they not only didn’t give her a single penny but also secretly took all her dowry and drained years of Mom’s savings.” My mouth fell open, goosebumps prickling my skin, a shiver running down my spine. Because it was true. I was pregnant; I’d just found out this morning. And I was actually planning to tell them the happy news of my pregnancy when we met later. My mind felt like it had crashed, a total blank. Before this, I’d even suspected the diary was a cruel prank from my psycho ex. But no one else knew about my pregnancy except me. What the hell was going on? Before I could sort things out, my phone rang with an irritating chime: “~Babe’s calling, babe’s calling, your honey is calling!~” It was my personalized ringtone for my boyfriend, Liam. I instinctively pressed the answer button, and Liam’s incredibly gentle voice came through: “Honey, we’re on our way. Have you and your parents left yet?” Liam and I met through a mutual friend. He was sunny, handsome, ambitious, well-mannered, and had a respectable, high-paying job—the perfect match for all my fantasies about a partner. After we started dating, he was even more devoted, gentle, and considerate. In a society where fear of marriage and parenthood was rampant, I felt incredibly lucky to have found such wonderful love. Because of all this, I simply couldn’t connect him with the word “devil.” “Hello?honey?” I shook my head sharply, clearing my mind a little, and replied: “Yeah, I’m here. We’re about to arrive. Drive safe, you guys.” I closed the diary, pocketing my confusion, and headed out with my parents. As soon as we met, Liam gave me a big hug and gently kissed my forehead. He was also incredibly polite to my parents, fetching them drinks and water without being asked. My parents beamed, thrilled with their dream son-in-law. At the dinner table, both sets of parents exchanged pleasantries before getting to the main topic of the day: the engagement gift and wedding arrangements. Brenda, Liam’s mom, looked at me, her face all smiles: “Chloe’s a good girl. It’s a blessing for our family that Liam gets to marry her. We discussed it, and we’ll give an engagement gift of $68,000. The rest of our savings will go towards a down payment for a new house for them, with both their names on the title.” “Young people these days don’t like living with their elders, I understand that. I also have some savings left to help them with the mortgage so they don’t have too much pressure. What do you thinkm, dear?” My parents’ faces were filled with relief and surprise. They hadn’t expected my future in-laws to value me so highly. In our area, an engagement gift of $40,000 was already considered very generous. Liam’s dad passed away early, but he’d left them a good sum of money from his early business ventures, which allowed Liam to complete his education and achieve what he had today. Now, they were offering $68,000 and buying a house with my name on it—it was the utmost sincerity. Anyone would be moved to offer their heart. But as I heard “$68,000” for the engagement gift, my body began to tremble slightly. It matched. It matched the contents of the diary…

My mom smiled warmly: “It’s also Chloe’s good fortune to have met such a wonderful future mother-in-law like you.” My dad raised a glass to Brenda: “It wasn’t easy for you to raise Liam alone, dear in-law. As parents, all we want is for our children to be happy. For Chloe’s dowry, we’ve prepared $70,000, showing our sincere commitment as well.” Liam and his mom exchanged a glance, sharing a knowing smile. But now, looking at their smiles, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Brenda spoke again: “We hope to move forward with the wedding as soon as possible. They’re not getting any younger. How about the sixteenth of next month? I consulted a psychic, and it’s a very auspicious day.” Liam and I had been together for a year. I thought I knew everything there was to know about him. However, all I knew was what he told me; I hadn’t actually verified anything. Though the timing was a bit rushed, my parents discussed it briefly and readily agreed. “Then it’s settled,” Brenda said, beaming. The dinner table was filled with laughter, but I sat quietly, head bowed, my mind a tangled mess. Liam took my hand and squeezed it gently in his palm: “honey, what’s wrong today? You seem distracted. Are you feeling unwell?” “Oh, uh, no, it’s just… it’s so sudden.” Liam smiled triumphantly: “honey, we’re about to become a real family! I’m so happy and blessed.” Until I could unravel the doubts in my heart, I didn’t want to rush into marriage. Looking at Liam’s expectant eyes, I still gathered my courage, stood up resolutely, and said: “I’d like to postpone the wedding for now.” Liam’s brows furrowed slightly. His mom’s smile instantly vanished, and she quickly said: “Chloe, is there something we’ve done wrong? Today was meant to discuss your wedding. If there’s an issue, just tell us. We’ll do our best to accommodate you.” Liam pulled me back down, patting my hand to reassure me: “honey, do you have any worries or concerns? Tell me, and we’ll face them and solve them together.” With words like that, anyone halfway sensible wouldn’t refuse, right? My parents also looked at me, puzzled. After all, I often told them how wonderful Liam was to me, and I’d even planned out our life after marriage. My mom often teased me, saying I was so eager to get married she was afraid I’d forget my parents once I had a husband. All eyes were on me. I felt like I was on pins and needles. Canceling a wedding just because of a diary—it seemed absurd. But what if it was true? I hid my pregnancy news and said softly: “I… Brenda, Dad, Mom, I’m sorry, I’m just not ready yet. Could you give me a little more time?”

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After my husband, Landon, called away all the doctors from my delivery room, just because his secretary had a minor emergency and I was a few minutes late for hers, I knew something was deeply wrong. “You said a little late was fine. I’ll have them come back and deliver your baby tomorrow!” Three days later, he came to the hospital. Seeing a cute newborn in someone else’s arms, he suddenly remembered me. “It’s been three days. Where did she go with the baby? Why isn’t she home yet?!” ‘dr. Hayes died in the operating room that day due to difficult labor, along with her baby…” “Impossible! I left five specialists there! I told them to go in the moment Amelia screamed in pain. How could she die?!” A young nurse, trembling beside him, spoke up cautiously. “The moment you left, Ms. Vance claimed her old back injury flared up and took away all the specialists you left behind…” “Actually, Ms. Vance’s back was never injured. We only found out when we checked Dr. Hayes’s medical records that the person who saved you from the fire eight years ago wasn’t Ms. Vance, but Dr. Hayes…”

‘smack!’ Landon’s hand lashed out, hitting the young nurse across the face. “Nonsense! Do you really think giving birth to a child for the Thorne family makes you special?! Now you’re spreading lies about that fire right in front of me?! Shameless!” “seraphina fell from the third floor saving me. Now, every time the weather changes, her back hurts. I’m with her every day; how could I not know?” The nurse clutched her red, stinging cheek, trembling as she placed a report on the table. “But Ms. Vance’s medical reports over the years have never shown any back injury.” “However, Dr. Hayes’s records show over a dozen comminuted fractures in her lower back, accompanied by severe burns…” “The date of her treatment was the very day the fire happened eight years ago…” “It’s all clearly written in this report. Please, take a look.” The nurse, with a hint of pleading, gently pushed the report on the table closer to Landon’s hand. Landon glanced down, then casually swept the stack of reports into the trash bin. He let out a sneering laugh. “Amelia’s tricks are getting more elaborate! Now she’s learned to hide and have you fight her battles! But I’m not an idiot! Eight years ago, on the day of the fire, I called her hundreds of times, and she never picked up! If it weren’t for Seraphina, I would have died in that fire long ago!” “And we’ve been married for years. I know her body as well as my own. Whether her back was fractured or burned, how could I, her husband, not know? Bringing up an eight-year-old incident now, your Dr. Hayes is truly becoming both wicked and foolish!” My soul floated above Landon’s head, a piercing pain radiating from my hollow chest. He truly never believed me. Not even after all these years, seeing me swallow countless pills, or noticing my unusual reactions during our intimate moments. He even saw me being rushed into the operating room while he recovered in the hospital eight years ago. Yet, he still refused to believe. He stubbornly insisted that the one who saved him from the fire eight years ago was Seraphina, not me. “Mr. Thorne…” “Enough! I don’t want to hear it! Tell your Dr. Hayes, she can come home or not; if she doesn’t, she can just die outside with the child for all I care!” ‘dr. Hayes really is dead…” Landon slammed the door shut with a thunderous bang! The deafening sound drowned out the nurse’s tearful whisper. As soon as he got home, Landon saw all the baby things I’d prepared. He kicked them aside like trash, then pulled out his phone and called Seraphina. ‘seraphina, I’m having the driver send all that baby stuff over to you. Amelia and that illegitimate brat in her belly don’t deserve anything I prepared!” Watching the driver haul away those obnoxious items, Landon let out a sigh of relief. He poured himself a glass of red wine, switched on the TV, and sank into the couch. Just as he brought the glass to his lips, the somber voice of a news anchor filled the room. [Three days ago, a renowned obstetrician from our city tragically died during childbirth, along with her baby, on the operating table she loved most. May she rest in peace.] Landon dropped his wine glass and sprang from the sofa. He stared intently at the large news headline: Obstetrician? Difficult labor? His brow furrowed, but after a few seconds, a smile spread across his face. In a huge city like this, you could throw a stone and hit an obstetrician. Besides, Amelia’s medical skills were always top-notch. She surely wouldn’t die on the operating table, she could even deliver a baby with the help of a janitor. The truth was, I wouldn’t have died that day. A mother’s fierce instinct kicked in, and I screamed myself hoarse, but no one came. I had no choice but to push through and deliver the baby myself. The baby’s head was already crowning, but my frantic pushing tore at my back injury, which still had a dozen steel pins in it. I simply couldn’t exert any more force… Landon sank back onto the sofa, pondering for a long moment, as if something had just occurred to him. He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Go, send some money to the family of that obstetrician who died. It’s a tough job, dying on the operating table. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad for her…” The assistant on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then spoke timidly. “Mr. Thorne, my friend told me that obstetrician was from our hospital, and her last name was… I think…” “Landon~” Seraphina’s sweet, cooing voice from the yard made Landon hang up the phone and head outside. The assistant had already started to say my name, but Landon was already walking away from the phone, engrossed in Seraphina in the yard…

I had been gone from this world for five days. Landon, returning home drunk one night, finally seemed to remember me when he saw the empty house. He called my office. “Tell your Dr. Hayes to stop playing games and come back. Even if she doesn’t want me as a husband, the child needs me as a father.” “And don’t try to fool me with those lies about being dead or alive again. That day, I left the five most authoritative specialists in the entire hospital. She’ll be fine.” The person who answered was Maya, the nurse he had slapped earlier. Her polite tone carried a hint of impatience. “As I told you, all the specialists you left were taken away by Ms. Vance!” Landon paused, mid-lighting a cigarette. “The specialists were taken by Seraphina?” The nurse on the other end seemed to see a flicker of hope. “Yes, they were all taken! Dr. Hayes was left completely alone in the hospital, so…” ‘did Seraphina’s back injury flare up? Did you examine her? How serious is it?” Landon’s eyes were filled with urgency as he cut off the nurse. The nurse on the other end froze after hearing Landon’s words. After a long pause, she spoke again. “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Vance’s back was never injured. It was Dr. Hayes who…” “Enough! Are you done or not?! You work for the Thorne family hospital; don’t keep calling her Dr. Hayes every time you talk to me! It’s bad enough she’s acting out alone; are you all joining in?!” The nurse tried to say something else, but Landon had already hung up. A flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Five days. This was the first time he’d called my number. But no one would answer now. He impatiently tossed his phone onto the sofa, only to pick it up again a few minutes later. He found our chat window, which had been blank for days, sighed, and sent a message. “Amelia, can you please stop this? I was genuinely worried and upset with you that day Seraphina had her baby. If someone close to me got hurt, how could I do business out there? Especially Seraphina; you know she saved me eight years ago. We can’t be ungrateful.” “I always act with discretion. I asked Dean Miller about your condition beforehand, and he said a natural birth would be no problem for you. Besides, I left five specialists outside that day. We’re married, and you’re carrying my child. How could I bear for anything to happen to you?” “Please, come home with the baby. The baby is small, and you need someone to take care of you. I’ll wait for you at home.” After sending the message, Landon sank into the sofa. Outside, a sudden thunderstorm raged. He quickly stood up and called Mike, his driver. “Get ready, take me to the hospital. Amelia is terrified of thunder. I’ll go keep her company.” The phone rang again as soon as he hung up. Landon hesitated for two seconds when he saw the caller ID but answered anyway. Seraphina’s tearful voice came through. “Landon, It’s thundering outside, and the baby won’t stop crying. I’m so scared…” Mike had already come in, braving the rain. “Mr. Thorne, the car is ready.” Landon got into the car through the rain. As Mike started driving towards the hospital, Landon spoke in a low voice. “don’t go to the hospital. Go to Ms. Vance’s place.”

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My bestie and I were notorious at the orphanage, our resident bad girls, a notorious duo. I was a master of the venomous tongue, could reduce grown men to tears with my words. Skylar had brute strength that bordered on superhuman, always ready to ‘reason’ with her fists. No one in the entire orphanage dared to cross us. Even the guard dog knew better than to cross us, slinking along the walls with its tail between its legs whenever we passed. That year, when we were eight, we were busy messing with an ant hill by the wall when Director Evans walked over with a couple. They said Skylar was the Sterling family’s long-lost real daughter and had come to take her home. But Skylar insisted on bringing me. She sat on the floor, kicking her legs, and bawled, “If it wasn’t for Chloe all these years, I would’ve been bullied to death! If you don’t adopt her, I’m not going back either!” I quickly dropped my stick, put on my sweetest smile, and stepped forward to introduce myself: “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, I’m the best-behaved, most obedient kid in our whole orphanage. Adopting me would be a total win-win!” Director Evans’s face twitched. He looked like he’d just swallowed a whole lemon, or worse. Bullied? Most obedient? Did they even hear what they were saying?! As if terrified of leaving our little devils behind, Director Evans closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and made a desperate, unheard-of decision that probably made his ancestors spin in their graves.

“That’s right! Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, Skylar and Chloe are the best-behaved children in our orphanage. They’re very close and don’t want to be separated, so why don’t you take them both?” The wealthy couple seemed to waver. “It wouldn’t be difficult to raise another child, but we already have an adopted daughter at home…” My bestie and I immediately exchanged an alert glance. A fake daughter? Then there was no way I was letting Skylar go back alone. What if that was a manipulative green-tea wannabe? My sweet, innocent Skylar wouldn’t stand a chance against her! “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, Skylar gets depressed easily and might do something drastic if she’s alone in a new environment. If you take me too, I promise to stay with her and take good care of her!” The Sterling couple flinched at my words, and Skylar immediately started to cry on cue. “Exactly! If you don’t agree, I’ll hang myself at your front door tonight, boohoohoo…” They immediately caved. Mrs. Sterling looked at me and said, “We can take you back, but there’s another sister,Brittany, at home…” “I’ll get along well with her, Mom, don’t worry!” Director Evans was so moved he had tears in his eyes, practically waving us off with cheers. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, on gaining two lovely daughters!” After they went to complete the paperwork, I was incredibly touched and grabbed my bestie’s hand: “Skylar, you’re so loyal! You didn’t forget our pact to get rich together!” She rolled her eyes. “I was afraid you’d get yourself beaten to death for offending people with that mouth of yours after I left.” I cackled low. “Love you! That fake daughter didn’t come today; she probably doesn’t want you back. If she’s really a green tea, I’ll deal with her for you!” All these years, we’d been unstoppable in the orphanage because our combined power was unmatched. I’d provoke them until they were spitting mad with my sharp tongue, and she’d just knock them flat. When it came to dealing with manipulators, she had zero experience. My bestie squeezed my hand gratefully. “Chloe, our fortune for the rest of our lives depends on you!” “Don’t worry, I’ve got this!” When the Sterling couple emerged after finishing the paperwork, they smiled, seeing our hands clasped together. “You two sisters are so close. That puts our minds at ease.” Once in the car, Mrs. Sterling gave us a rundown of the family situation. That’s when we learned that, besides the fake daughter Brittany Sterling, Skylar also had a biological brother who was two years older. Skylar went missing when she was three, and it was because of him. The culprit himself hadn’t even come to pick her up, showing he clearly wasn’t thrilled about Skylar coming home. Sure enough, as soon as we got out of the car, we saw a gloomy-looking teenager standing with his arms crossed by the villa’s main entrance. When he saw Skylar and me holding hands and calling him “Brother,” Derek’s face looked like it might crack. “You adopted another one?” He only relaxed when he heard that I, as an adopted daughter, had no claim to the inheritance. “I’m warning you two, don’t you dare bully my sister from now on, or you’ll regret it!” I immediately hid behind Skylar and said timidly, “Skylar, why is he so biased? If he had protected you like that back then, you wouldn’t have suffered so much in the orphanage all these years…” My unspoken meaning was: You idiot, you have no remorse for your biological sister, whom you lost, and now you’re making threats to protect the fake daughter? What is wrong with you?* Sure enough, the Sterling couple’s faces darkened. Derek was furious and wanted to retort, but I quickly pinched Skylar’s waist. She immediately caught on, covering her face and crying, “Since Derek doesn’t like me, I’d better go back to the orphanage. Chloe, let’s go!” Richard Sterling panicked and slapped Derek across the face. “You scoundrel! Is this how you welcome your sister?! Get out of my sight!” Derek clutched his face, glaring at us resentfully, but dared not speak again. Skylar and I exchanged a look. Yes! First round goes to us! However, the moment we stepped into the house, we saw the fake daughter, Brittany, crying dramatically, standing on a stool, about to hang herself. Oh no, a pity play! Before anyone could react, I stepped forward and roared, “Hold it! No swinging from the chandelier indoors!” Skylar executed a perfect sliding tackle, kicking Brittany and the stool out from under her.

Brittany hadn’t even managed to get the rope around her neck before she sprawled on the ground, limbs flailing. “Ah!” She cried out in pain, and the whole family rushed to help her up. Seeing the knot she’d tied and the stool beneath her feet, the entire family surrounded her, tense with worry. “Brittany, what are you doing?!” Brittany looked at me, standing there, tears streaming down her face, looking like a tragic heroine: “Skylar, it’s all my fault for usurping your identity for so many years, for making you suffer so much. I’ll make amends with my life now!” “Please, don’t blame others. Will you promise to take good care of them in my place?” Evelyn hugged her tightly, heartbroken. “Don’t be silly, child. In our hearts, you’re our own daughter, raised by us!” Derek glared at us from the side. “Don’t be stupid, this has nothing to do with you. Let’s see who dares to blame you!” Brittany cried rivers of tears, shrinking into Evelyn Sterling’s arms, her eyes challenging me. Definitely a manipulative green-tea wannabe! Trying to sow discord? No way!* I immediately activated my sharp tongue. “So, this is the adopted sister, Brittany? My bad, my bad, I thought some ill-mannered person was swinging from the chandelier indoors!” “Speaking of which,Brittany,were you actually trying to hang yourself? But who hangs themselves from a crystal chandelier? And with a loose knot that would just slip open? What if you didn’t succeed, and the chandelier fell down, hurting someone?” Skylar picked herself up from the floor and chimed in, “Yeah, how dangerous! Luckily, I stepped in… I mean, kicked in.” Everyone looked up at the ceiling and saw that it was indeed as I had said. Richard’s face darkened. “Nonsense! What if it had fallen on others?” Seeing that both her pity play and her attempt to sow discord had failed, Brittany could only continue to cry at me: “I’m sorry, Chloe, I only wanted to atone…” “Brittany, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m your adopted sister. She’s the sister you should be apologizing to.” I pushed Skylar forward. “Now, apologize again.” Derek, puffed up with anger, stood in front of Brittany and said, “Dad! Brittany only did this because she wanted to atone. It was clearly Skylar and Chloe who intentionally made her fall! They have no manners!” My anger flared instantly. Damn it, you can insult me, but I won’t stand for you insulting my bestie! “Derek, I know you want to be Mr. Protector, but you can’t just open your mouth and spew garbage, can you?” “Why does Skylar have no manners? Isn’t it because you lost her all those years ago? You, the culprit, dare to complain about her lack of manners?” “Skylar’s rightful place as a Sterling heiress was usurped by this thief, so how could she have ‘manners’?” “From your logic, is your brain directly connected to your mouth, or what? Honestly, your thoughts are so repulsive, even a dung beetle wouldn’t touch them!” “If you can’t say anything smart, then just keep your mouth shut and stick to barking!” After I unleashed a torrent of words, the whole room fell silent. Only Skylar was holding my hand, tears in her eyes, full of gratitude. “My girl, I love you!” Derek’s face turned ashen after he processed my words, his voice changed. “You dare to insult me?!” “So what if I insult you? I’m going to insult her too!” I put my hands on my hips and pointed at Brittany. “What are you, some vintage wine trying to act all precious? You’re faker than a three-dollar bill! Even a trash can isn’t as full of BS as you are!” “Didn’t you claim to be too sick to show your face? Your little hanging performance just now certainly didn’t look like it!” “Isn’t your ‘discomfort’ just because Skylar’s back, and you can no longer comfortably be the only little princess?” Brittany, her secret exposed, wanted to argue, but I mercilessly cut her off. “Faking illness, faking suicide, trying to sow discord? Did my bestie ever ask you to atone? We’re all princesses here, why are you the only one with something wrong in your head?” Brittany’s face turned pale from my scolding, and she could only stammer, “You, you, you!” I scoffed, cutting her off, “You what? If you stutter, go to a doctor. If your brain’s acting up, maybe try reading a book or two!” Seeing she couldn’t out-argue me, Brittany started to act the part of the fragile, manipulative green-tea girl again. “Skylar, I’m sorry, I’m just so stupid. I was afraid you’d hate me, that’s why I did that.” “Chloe, you can scold me all you want, just don’t take it out on Brother and Mom and Dad.” Here we go again, this manipulative phony never had any new tricks. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore. I turned to the gobsmacked Sterling couple and asked: “I heard we’ll be in the same class as Brittany from now on?” They nodded quickly. “That’s great, then we can help Brittany more. Oh, by the way, where are our rooms?” Evelyn Sterling quickly led us upstairs to see the rooms.

Brittany followed behind, red-eyed, pretending to be generous as she pushed open her bedroom door. “If you don’t mind, you can stay in my room. It originally belonged to you anyway…” Derek rushed over, blocking our way, acting up again. “Brittany, this is the princess room Mom decorated for you! Those ill-mannered bumpkins aren’t fit to live here!” Seeing that I was about to unleash another round of insults, Evelyn quickly shot him a glare and gently told Skylar: “Skylar, you can pick any room in the house. Consider it our way of making it up to you.” Skylar gave Brittany’s overwhelmingly pink room a look of distaste, then turned and pointed innocently at another room, larger and with better lighting. “Then we’ll take this one! It’s big enough for Chloe and me!” Derek was nearly insane with rage, his voice rising, “Are you serious?! That’s Mom and Dad’s room!” I smiled sweetly at Evelyn Sterling. “Mom, you just said we could pick any room. You’re not going to go back on your word, are you?” Evelyn’s mouth twitched, but she still nodded. “Great! We’re exhausted from a full day of traveling. Mom, Dad, you two should get some rest too!” With that, I pulled Skylar and slammed the door shut, leaving the petrified family members standing there. For the next week, Skylar and I went on a crazy shopping spree. After eight years of hardship, we finally got to experience the joy of buying whatever we wanted without looking at the price tag! We hauled back several carloads of exaggerated shopping bags, dressed like a pair of opulent socialites. Whenever Brittany would make snide remarks, dripping with envy, about us wasting money, I’d shut her down with my sharp tongue. Unable to win with words, she resorted to dirty tricks. On the first day, she deliberately played weak, throwing a vase from upstairs to try and hit us, but Skylar casually caught it with one hand. On the second day, she intentionally knocked over a soup bowl at the dinner table, trying to scald Skylar, but my bestie flicked it back with a backhand, and Brittany would yelp like a scalded cat. On the third day, she secretly tucked her diamond necklace under our pillow, then brought the whole family to “catch us red-handed,” only for me to pull out surveillance footage of her sneaking into our room. Left with no choice, she had to grudgingly give it up, crying and saying she just wanted to give us a “surprise.” Unable to outwit us with words or dirty tricks, Brittany became much more subdued. But we knew she was plotting something. Sure enough, a month later, at the class assembly at our prestigious private school, she stood there with red eyes and introduced Skylar and me to everyone: “These are the sisters my parents recently brought home from the orphanage. Please take good care of them!” With that single sentence, she made it clear that we were the adopted ones, making it seem like we were the ones who had usurped a place. The students looked at her with sympathy. “Oh, is the Sterling family really that whimsical? Just adopting two more out of nowhere.” “Poor Brittany, how much love will she have to share now…” I smiled and urged Skylar to pull out the paternity test results, then said sarcastically, “Brittany, your words are so interesting. You’ve been here for eight years, stealing someone else’s spot, and you’re still playing the victim? “You’re an adopted daughter just like me, so why the act?” “Hello everyone, I’m Chloe, the best friend of Skylar Sterling, the real heiress! I’m also an adopted daughter of the Sterling family! They adopted me not because they had too much money, but because they were afraid my bestie would be bullied by certain people, so they hoped I would protect her, just like today.” The class instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at Brittany with contempt. “What? So she was just the pot calling the kettle black all along?” Girls who usually didn’t get along with her started to jeer, “Exactly! She acts like she’s the real heiress all the time, but she’s just someone with no class trying to pass herself off as royalty.” The laughter was like a slap in Brittany’s face. She was so angry and humiliated, she almost burst into tears on the spot. From then on, she completely became the school’s resident manipulative fake daughter. To prove herself, she started frantically learning piano and dance, hoping to outshine us with her elegance. Meanwhile, I started taking lessons in stand-up comedy and public speaking. Skylar, on the other hand, signed up for martial arts and Tai Chi, taking her strengths to the extreme. Over the next few years, Brittany’s attempts to outshine us always fell flat. Every time there was a school performance, my stand-up comedy and Skylar’s performance of breaking cinder blocks on her chest always overshadowed Brittany’s carefully choreographed acts. On campus, I gained a huge following with my sharp wit and humor, and Skylar also helped many people with her brute strength. With us around, the school’s atmosphere improved significantly. Bullying and fights almost disappeared. The two former little devils finally grew into well-adjusted and universally admired young women by the time we were sixteen. The Sterling couple grew to love us more and more, planning to hold a press conference to formally announce our presence. “Skylar should be given some shares in the company for her eighteenth birthday. After all, she is our biological daughter. Our group has been heavily impacted by Everhart Industries these past two years, and we desperately need a strategic marriage alliance to stabilize the situation. Fortunately, Julian Everhart isn’t against meeting. We’ll see what kind of connection the girls have then…” Brittany, who had overheard their conversation, clenched her fists. A malicious smile flickered across her face; she seemed to have hardened her resolve.

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Candace’s house caught fire, and it spread to ours. I suffered severe burns all over my body trying to save my son, Justin. Afterwards, I was furious and wanted to hold Candace legally responsible. But Brad and Justin kept stopping me, even scolding me for being heartless. Brad said to me impatiently, “Candace didn’t do it on purpose. Her house is completely burnt to the ground, she’s suffered a huge loss. Can’t you just not make things worse for her right now?” Justin also pouted, looking at me with disdain. “Ms. Candace has always been nice to me. Now that she’s going through such a terrible mess, even if we can’t help, we shouldn’t add to her troubles!” They forced me to promise not to sue Candace. But while I was undergoing skin graft surgery, I saw Candace’s latest SnapChat update. The photo showed her with a father and son entering an amusement park, looking like a happy family of three. That father and son were none other than Brad and Justin. Furious, I filed for divorce. Brad smiled as if relieved, then quickly married Candace. And Justin proudly boasted to his friends, “Candace is my new mom now! That disfigured ugly woman has nothing to do with my family anymore!” Five years later, I picked my daughter up from preschool. My handsome and charming husband,Ryan,handed me an invitation, smiling, “The Qin family sent this through someone. Brad’s son, Justin, is having his 18th birthday celebration in a few days, and they’ve cordially invited me to attend.” “They don’t seem to know about our relationship yet. Do you want to come with me and give them a ‘surprise’ gift?”

I looked at the gold-embossed invitation, a flicker of complex emotions in my eyes. Five years had passed in a blink. The memory of them abandoning me was still vivid. Even now, thinking back, I admire how I managed to survive that painful period. I shook my head, telling Ryan, “No, I won’t go. You go alone.” Ryan tossed the invitation directly into the trash can. He gently pulled me into a hug, his voice soft. “If you’re not going, then neither am I.” “They’re getting off easy. I was planning to publicly humiliate them, but I guess I’ll let them slide this time.” I hated Brad, and I hated Candace for taking him and my son from me. But now, I had my own happy life, a loving husband who adored me, and a sweet, sensible daughter. I no longer wanted to dwell on those toxic people and that messy past. However, what I never expected was that while I wasn’t looking for trouble with Brad and Candace, they actively provoked me. The day before Justin’s 18th birthday celebration happened to be a weekend. I took my daughter, Lily, to an amusement park. This park was a gift from Ryan to me when Lily was born, personally designed and built by him, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. To my surprise, I actually ran into Brad, Justin, and Candace here. Candace was looking around, pouting sweetly to Brad, “Honey, are you sure CEO Ryan will be here today?” Brad said confidently, “I bribed Ryan’s driver and got some important information.” “Ryan loves his wife very much. This amusement park was built specifically for her, and his wife and daughter come here every weekend.Ryan also often takes time to come to the park with them, so us ‘accidentally’ running into him here won’t seem too out of place.” Justin pouted, his voice impatient, “We can’t just spend the whole day in this park, can we? What if that Ryan doesn’t show up today? Wouldn’t we be waiting for nothing?” Brad frowned, scolding Justin, “What do you know? Even if we don’t see Ryan today, we still have to stay in this park. We need to find his wife and daughter and make sure we leave a good impression on them so they’ll speak highly of us to Ryan.” Candace gently told Justin, “Our family business needs to diversify, and we have to rely on the Ryan family.” “You accidentally offended Ryan’s distant niece last time. Luckily, Ryan didn’t pursue the matter, otherwise, our family would have been in deep trouble.” “Tomorrow is your 18th birthday celebration. Your dad pulled some strings to get an invitation to Ryan, but we heard a few days ago that Ryan wasn’t planning to attend. So, we came here today to try our luck…” Justin grumbled, “The problem is, we don’t even know Ryan’s wife and daughter. How are we supposed to curry favor with them?” Brad snorted, “Ryan’s driver said that he had a secret marriage to protect his wife.” “To be his wife, she must be an extraordinary woman, her presence surely something special.” “Ryan’s daughter, her demeanor and image will definitely be exceptional compared to other little girls. I heard she just started preschool. As long as we look carefully, we’ll definitely be able to…” At this point, Brad suddenly froze. Because he saw me! Candace and Justin also noticed me, both showing looks of surprise. Especially when they saw that my face had completely recovered, and I was holding my daughter’s hand, their expressions became even stranger. I didn’t want to deal with them, so I turned and walked away with my daughter. But Brad and his group blocked our path.

Candace flashed a fake smile at me, pretending to be friendly. “Claire, what a coincidence! We haven’t seen each other in five years, have we? I can’t believe your face has completely recovered!” “I thought that disfigured face of yours would never heal!” She pretended to be happy for me, but her eyes held undisguised mockery. Brad’s brow furrowed as he looked at me holding my daughter’s hand. He said in a deep voice, “Is this your daughter? You got married after we divorced?” “Claire, you really didn’t waste any time, did you? When you called me a jerk back then, I still felt a little guilty. But now it looks like you must have been cheating during our marriage too, otherwise, how could you have found a new man so quickly?” “Who’s the father of that little brat? What kind of man is so blind he’d marry you…” Before Brad could finish, I slapped him directly. Brad clearly hadn’t expected me to strike him so decisively. He instantly raged, screaming at me, “You damn bitch, how dare you hit me?” I looked at him coldly. “Brad, watch your mouth! I don’t want to dwell on your betrayal five years ago, but don’t you dare test my patience.” My daughter was scared by Brad’s menacing look and started crying. “You’re bad people! I’m going to tell Daddy! Daddy won’t let you get away with this!” While I was comforting Lily, Brad glared at my daughter fiercely. “Shut up, you little brat!” “What is your daddy anyway? Marrying my leftovers, he must be a loser, not even fit to tie my shoelaces!” With that, Brad prepared to lay hands on us. Candace quickly stopped him, whispering, “We can’t cause a scene in this amusement park. What if Ryan’s wife and daughter see us? We’ll be in trouble.” Brad nodded, agreeing. Then he glared at me viciously. “I’ll let you off the hook today. Get out of here with that little brat. Don’t let me see you again, or don’t blame me for what happens next.” Candace looked at me with even more mockery and disdain, laughing sarcastically. As for Justin, he continuously looked at me with disgust, impatiently telling Brad and Candace, “Mom, Dad, why are you wasting time with her? Let’s stop messing around here and go find Ryan’s wife and daughter!” Watching them leave, seeing my daughter’s pitiful, tear-streaked face, my heart felt heavy. I gritted my teeth, muttering to myself, “I didn’t want to bother you, but you just had to walk straight into the firing line.” “Since you’re so intent on seeking your own demise, I’ll grant you your wish!” I pulled out my phone and called Ryan. “Honey, let’s go to Justin’s 18th birthday celebration tomorrow!”

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On the Family Reunion Show, I ripped up the DNA test with my billionaire parents right on stage. Eighteen years after I went missing, my billionaire parents finally went on the Family Reunion Show to find me. I was filthy, my clothes ragged, hadn’t showered in ten days. When they saw me, they burst into uncontrolled sobs, their voices breaking: “Lily!We are so sorry for what happened to you!” I looked down, catching the scent of Mom’s Hermès perfume and seeing Dad’s Rolex watch glinting. Looking up again, my older sister, a top concert pianist, and my older brother, an astronaut, were also weeping uncontrollably. The entire audience was deeply moved, a collective gasp echoing through the studio. Yet, I simply and calmly pulled the DNA test results from my parents’ hands. RIIIIP! I tore it in half, my face utterly blank. “You’ve got the wrong person.” My parents froze. “Y-you…what did you say?” I took a step back, my voice cold. “I’m not your daughter.” Hearing this, they frantically bent down to pick up the shredded DNA test from the floor. “99.999%… The results are 99.999%!” “How could you not be our daughter?!” Mom’s swollen eyes widened, her limited-edition crocodile-skin purse clattering to the ground. I shrugged, stating casually, “The sample you sent for the DNA test was just hair I picked out of a trash can.” “And honestly, if you hadn’t offered a thousand bucks for a strand of hair, I wouldn’t even be here.” The tears on Mom’s face seemed to freeze. Next to her, a trembling voice spoke: “Lily, are you… are you blaming us?” “Are you mad at us for losing you, and that’s why you don’t want to recognize us, right?” Dad’s voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot. I frowned, annoyed. “I already told you, you have the wrong person. I’m not…” “No! You are absolutely our daughter!” Dad suddenly became agitated, staring intensely at me. “You’re just… you’re the spitting image of your mother…” At that moment, all the cameras swiveled to point at my face. I instinctively raised my hand to cover it, but Mom grabbed my wrist. She brushed aside my ten-day-old bangs, pulled a Chanel silk scarf from her pocket, and gently wiped away the grime from my face. By the time I realized what was happening, my face was exposed to millions of viewers. Everyone gasped, even the host couldn’t help but exclaim: “The daughter and the mother… they truly look identical.” Mom’s hand trembled more and more, her sobs growing louder: “Lily… you are my Lily!!” Just as she lunged forward to embrace me, I took another step back, declaring firmly: “I told you, I’m not your daughter, and certainly not ‘Lily.’” “Since I got my thousand bucks, I should be going.” After my third denial, the entire studio erupted in gasps and angry whispers: “Whoa! What’s wrong with this girl?!” “The DNA results are out, the mother and daughter look identical, how can she still be so stubborn?!” “I’m seriously done… her biological parents are the world’s richest, I can’t even dream of this, and she’s rejecting them!” On stage, the two multi-billionaires quietly wept. “Lily… I’m so sorry…” “It’s my fault,I lost you back then, and made you suffer for so many years!” I rolled my eyes so hard they almost popped out, a sneer twisting my lips. “Two psychos.” Just as I turned to leave, I lifted my foot and saw a hole in my grimy, caked-on shoes, my black-stained big toe peeking out, and flakes of dead skin were everywhere on the stage. Mom followed my gaze and nearly fainted. Dad’s eyes turned red again, and he looked away. “Lily please, let us make it up to you, okay?” Mom sobbed, pulling a black card from her purse. “Just call us Mom and Dad, and you can spend the two hundred billion dollars on this card however you want.” “Whether it’s a skyscraper in New York or a resort villa on a private island, you can live wherever you wish.” “Please?”

“Holy moly! That’s insane wealth!” “Those damn kidnappers! These are my real parents!” “Please switch me back to the rural channel…” No sooner had they spoken than not only the entire audience erupted, but the show’s live chat exploded with 999+ messages. [OMG, the dirty beggar turned into a real rich missy.] [Hey, why isn’t she moving? This girl must be going crazy with happiness!] [Then she should just accept! It’s making me so anxious!] [If I were her, I’d be absolutely losing it, after all, these are the world’s richest people! The richest!] … I slowly scanned the stage. Hundreds of cameras were aimed at me. The live audience held their breath, leaning forward in anticipation. I met my parents’ hopeful gazes and gently pushed away the black card they offered. “I’m saying this one last time…” “I! Am! Not! Your! Daughter!” I declared definitively, then immediately turned away. The two-hundred-billion-dollar black card clattered to the floor. My parents were stunned. The audience instantly erupted in angry shouts: “Oh my god!” “Her brain must be squashed! Does she even know what she’s doing?!” “Am I crazy or is she crazy?! Two hundred billion! My ancestors eight generations back didn’t have this much money!” I didn’t hesitate, lifting my foot to leave. “Five hundred billion! Five hundred billion!” Mom’s urgent, choked voice came from behind me. “Lily, please, let me use five hundred billion to make it up to you.” “I am begging you.” I paused. “Five hundred billion?” Seeing me stop, Mom’s eyes instantly lit up. “Yes, yes, yes!” “Just call me Mom… no, just talk to me, and I’ll immediately send someone to get the money!” Hearing that, I grinned. “Fine.” “Give me one hundred million dollars right now, or I’m leaving.” Mom froze. I sneered, asking, “What, regretting it already?” She quickly shook her head, as if terrified I’d change my mind, and stumbled off. “I’ll go make the call right now…” At that moment, the entire audience buzzed with whispers: “Tsk, I thought this girl was really stupid, but turns out she’s pretty clever.” “Heh, calculating even her own biological parents. Just looking at her, you can tell she’s no good.” “Exactly! She’s really taking advantage. How does she deserve to get wealth so easily that others couldn’t earn in several lifetimes?!” As the audience’s angry murmurs grew louder, the host calmly announced: “Please, everyone, settle down.” Simultaneously, the large screen on the stage slowly lit up. “Perhaps after watching this video, everyone can understand Ms. Vance’s actions a little better.” I remained silent, looking up. The videographer in the clip seemed to be filming a cave, and outside the cave entrance, mountains of scrap and trash were piled up. Wait, isn’t this… “What is this? A junkyard?” “No, a junkyard isn’t this dirty and messy. It looks more like a landfill.” “Oh my god, someone’s coming out… people actually live here?!” “My god, isn’t that Lily Vance?!” The screen’s image shifted, and all the audience members collectively turned to watch. And there I was in the video, tiptoeing, rummaging through a trash can. Losing my balance, the trash can toppled over with a heavy thud, scattering leftover food mixed with greasy slop all over the ground. I squatted down and began to eat it with my hands. Everyone gasped, their brows furrowing in disgust and revulsion. Just then, Mom, panting and out of breath from rushing back with the money, saw this exact scene.

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When the emergency call came in, the dorm manager, Mrs. Peterson, blocked my way. “A man? In the girls’ dorm? Over my dead body!” I was anxious, “In front of medical staff, there’s no distinction between men and women.” I ran as fast as I could and finally saved the girl. But then she tried to extort me. “This unethical doctor didn’t rescue me in time, which is why I have these complications.” “And when he was saving me, his hands weren’t honest; he touched me inappropriately.” Throughout the holidays, my family and I were cyberbullied because of this. Unable to bear the pressure, I jumped from the building. When I opened my eyes again, I saw Mrs. Peterson. This time, I wasn’t in a hurry. After all, the person lying upstairs was Mrs. Peterson’s daughter! “I said no, and that’s final. How can a man go up there?” Mrs. Peterson stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, refusing to open it. “You’re all thinking with your dicks, every last one of you! Letting you in would be like letting a creep through the door” I looked at Mrs. Peterson, masking the regret and surprise churning inside me. “Dr. Stone, please think of something! The patient is suffering from respiratory alkalosis,” Chloe, the nurse behind me, urged anxiously. I snapped back to reality. “She won’t let us in. What can we do?” Chloe looked at me, completely taken aback. I knew why she was surprised. This was completely unlike my usual behavior. In my previous life, I had stormed that door with the others, smashed it open, and rushed upstairs to save the girl. I’d snatched the patient back from the jaws of death, but then she’d tried to extort me, leading to my tragic end. Back again, I was determined to avoid that outcome. However, thinking of this family’s true colors, I quietly whispered to Chloe, “Get out your phone, and discreetly record this.” Watching her open her camera, I stepped forward to negotiate. “If we miss the optimal window for rescue, this girl could very likely suffer permanent complications.” Mrs. Peterson looked at me with disdain. “You can talk all you want, but I’m still not letting you into the girls’ dorm!” She scanned us, then pointed at me, spitting, “You don’t look like a good person! Are you some shifty-eyed fraud pretending to be medical staff?” I bit back a sarcastic remark, but my face showed only anxiety. “If we miss the rescue window, can you take responsibility for that?” She said smugly, “That’s just according to school regulations. Her life or death is her own destiny.” Chloe couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, “You’re just a glorified doorman! Not letting us up there is practically killing someone!” How could Mrs. Peterson tolerate her authority being challenged? Her eyes narrowed. “Are you his side piece or something, getting all worked up?” “And you look down on me? You’re just a servant yourself!” Our nurses were all new young women, no match for Mrs. Peterson. Hearing her words, Chloe’s eyes immediately welled up. I stepped in front of Chloe. “What ‘side piece’ are you talking about? Just because you’re that kind of person doesn’t mean everyone else is. Let us in, a student upstairs needs urgent care.” Mrs. Peterson’s face turned red, and she started spewing insults. “I’m not letting you up! Do you want to save a student, or just ogle the female students? You’re shameless!” I raised my hands to calm her. “Don’t get excited, just calm down.” Chloe quietly reminded me, “Dr. Stone, time is running out.” I sighed, putting on a conciliatory look. “What exactly will it take for you to let us in?” Mrs. Peterson puffed up her shoulders, munching on sunflower seeds. “You can call the principal. If he agrees, then I will.” I tried to reason. “Then give us the principal’s number.” She simply stopped talking. Chloe and I started contacting everyone we knew, and finally found the number. “Dr. Stone, it’s not going through.” Mrs. Peterson said triumphantly, “Can’t get through, can you? Well, there’s one more way.” I didn’t speak. Chloe urged, “Just tell us!” She pointed at me: “Make this man kneel down and beg me.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted to save someone? What’s kneeling down for a life?” Mrs. Peterson pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds and started cracking them. I said in a low voice, “The student upstairs is a fresh, young life.” Chloe was indignant. “You wait. I’m going to report you.” I was secretly pleased; this was a godsend. People like Mrs. Peterson, once they hear “report,” would explode like a powder keg. Sure enough, Mrs. Peterson directly flung sunflower seed shells onto our faces. “I don’t need him to kneel. You kneel for me, and I’ll let you up.” Chloe’s face turned beet red with anger. “You’re just a filthy lowlife!” Mrs. Peterson stomped her foot, sneering, “Aren’t you supposed to be an angel in white? Well, someone’s waiting for you to save them, so why aren’t you doing it? You’re just faking it!” Chloe looked at me helplessly. I subtly shook my head. Mrs. Peterson mocked, “I think all this talk about saving lives is fake. You just want to show off in front of this man.” I was about to say something when a frantic voice interrupted me. A student came flying down the stairs, panting heavily, and stumbled in front of Mrs. Peterson. “Peterson, she’s really not doing well.” Mrs. Peterson pulled her arm away. “Even so, we have to follow the rules.” The student stomped her foot anxiously. “Peterson, the one who’s sick is…” Mrs. Peterson put on a business-like face. “Even if it were my own parents, we’d still have to follow the rules.” The student looked at me with pleading eyes, then rushed to the door. “Doctor, please come in! My roommate is really bad. I’ll open the door for you.” With that, she lunged at the door to open it. Mrs. Peterson grabbed her, gave her a shove, and the young girl’s body hit the ground like a ragdoll. We all gasped. “My hand hurts so much,” the girl’s face was contorted in pain. “Can’t you keep your hands off men? Wanting to open the door for him, you’re truly shameless!” Seeing the pained expression on the student’s face, I felt a pang of pity. The female student struggled to her feet. “Peterson, the one upstairs waiting to be rescued is Hai…” Before she could finish, Mrs. Peterson interrupted her again. “Get back to your room, or I’ll give you a major disciplinary warning!” I couldn’t stand it anymore and shot back, “What authority do you have to give out disciplinary warnings? You’re just a dorm supervisor!” Hearing me, the student plucked up her courage. “Exactly! I’ll tell my parents you pushed me like this! And, the one waiting upstairs is Hailey Peterson!” Mrs. Peterson’s face flushed with anger when she heard the student mention telling her parents. But when she heard that the one needing rescue was Hailey, her face instantly went ashen. “What? Hailey is sick? You silly girl! Why didn’t you say anything sooner?” No more nonsense this time. She immediately flung open the door, glaring fiercely at me. “You’re entering the girls’ dorm, so keep your eyes to yourself. Don’t even think about looking around, or I’ll call the police!” “If Hailey doesn’t make it, I won’t let you get away with it!” There was no elevator in the dorm building, so we had to climb. Mrs. Peterson kept ranting behind us, “Can’t you go any faster?” “You’re a man, and you’re running so slowly? Are you even a man?” I scoffed, “If you hadn’t blocked us, we’d have been treating her already. This is all on you.” “If you really wanted to save her, you would have knelt for me already. You’re not genuinely trying to save anyone, and you still have the nerve to call yourselves doctors and nurses!” The dorm was on the seventh floor. I was already out of breath and didn’t have the energy to deal with someone like her. Good thing her every word and action had been recorded. This time, let’s see how she tries to manipulate public opinion and cyberbully me! The dorm room door was wide open. I quietly reminded Chloe, “Keep the camera rolling.” The girl lying on the ground was still conscious. Hearing the sound, she weakly fluttered her eyes open and looked at me. “Why is it a male doctor? I want a lady doctor.” Chloe tried to reassure her. “Sweetie, your situation is very serious right now.” I said in a deep voice, “In our eyes, there are only patients, not genders.” “But I don’t even have a boyfriend yet! How can a male doctor touch me?” Mrs. Peterson said anxiously, “Oh, daughter, stop talking!” She shoved me. “What are you standing there for? Do something!”

Even knowing what this mother and daughter were like, I was a doctor; I couldn’t just stand by and let a patient die. After a quick examination, I turned to Chloe and said, “Alright, let’s get her onto the ambulance.” Mrs. Peterson trailed right on my heels. “Is Hailey okay? You’ve treated her, so why go to the hospital? You’re not just trying to milk us for money, are you?” I stopped walking. “She’s out of immediate danger, but she needs further observation.” She muttered quietly, “I know your type. You just want us to spend more money.” At the hospital, after further checks, it was confirmed by noon that Hailey Peterson was fine. Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. “It was a bumpy road, but at least we saved her.” Mrs. Peterson was not happy. “Hailey was fine already! You insisted on dragging her to the hospital just to make us spend more money!” “I’m discharging her!” I subtly signaled to Chloe to keep recording. Only after she nodded did I speak. “Keeping the patient hospitalized is to ensure she’s completely out of danger. If you want to discharge her now, you’ll need to sign a liability waiver for us.” As soon as Mrs. Peterson heard “liability waiver,” she refused point-blank. “A waiver? I’m not signing it!” I was all business. “Then she needs to remain under observation in the hospital for another week.” Mrs. Peterson immediately threw herself onto the floor, wailing loudly, “This hospital is bullying people!” Soon, a crowd gathered. Seeing people arrive, Mrs. Peterson put even more effort into her performance! “This hospital is trying to extort money! Hailey wants to leave, but they won’t let her!” Was I going to let her twist the facts? I looked around and said loudly, “According to regulations, she needs to stay for a full week. This is for the patient’s own good.” Mrs. Peterson scrambled to her feet, lowered her head, and bumped into me. “Bullshit rules! You just want to make money!” I let her bump me, but I didn’t reach out. “You can be discharged, just sign the liability waiver.” The people around us also chimed in, “Yeah, you have to follow the rules! If you don’t sign the waiver and something happens, who’s responsible?” I held the waiver out to Mrs. Peterson, enunciating each word. “Ma’am, aren’t you the one who values rules the most? Sign it.” Mrs. Peterson glared at me, gritting her teeth. She snatched it, tore it into pieces in a flash, and tossed them into the air. “I’m not signing!” With the drama over, the crowd started to disperse. After Chloe sent me the video, she asked worriedly, “Dr. Stone, do you think Mrs. Peterson will pull another stunt?” I smirked sarcastically. “Just wait.” Sure enough, the next day, Chloe rushed to find me. “Dr. Stone, that dorm manager ran off with her daughter!” Nothing these two could do would surprise me. “Were the fees paid?” Chloe checked and said indignantly, “She still owes $500.” I immediately transferred $500. “I’ll cover it for her.” After Chloe completed the transaction, she said sincerely, “Dr. Stone, you’re too kind.” I just smiled faintly and said nothing. It wasn’t that I was stupidly rich; that $500, along with those videos, would all come in handy later! After waiting a few days, this good-for-nothing mother and daughter didn’t show up again. I even thought they wouldn’t reappear. Just as I was lamenting that my prepared videos would go to waste, Chloe rushed in, panting. “Dr. Stone, you need to come out! That dorm manager is causing a scene!” I put down the patient’s chart and ran out, only to see the main lobby packed with people. Mrs. Peterson’s voice could carry for miles. “Hailey was treated by this quack doctor, and now she has complications!”

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I was locked in the trunk, the scorching air burning my throat. Every breath felt like swallowing a ball of fire, stifling and painful. I regretted it. I shouldn’t have put that blanket on Leo. I pounded on the trunk lid, my palms hitting the burning metal, producing dull thuds and searing pain. “Dad! Mom! I’m sorry! Let me out!” “I’m so hot… Mia knows she was wrong… I’ll never do it again…” But my voice was completely muffled. I remembered when Dad bought the car, he’d proudly shown me: “Look, Mia, the soundproofing on this trunk is amazing. When I drive, your music back here won’t bother me at all!” Back then, I clapped my hands and laughed, thinking Dad was so clever. Now, that proud feature had become my living hell. I screamed and pounded until my palms were raw and my throat hoarse, but I got no response. The car was moving. I could feel the bumps as the tires rolled over gravel, Each jolt sending my head slamming against the cold, hard inner wall. I don’t know how much time passed before the car suddenly stopped. A flicker of hope ignited in my heart. Had Dad finally cooled down? Was he going to let me out? I strained my ears, trying to catch any sound from outside. “Wow, the scenery here is beautiful. Arthur, quick, take some pictures of Leo!” It was Mom’s voice, full of excitement and joy. “Alright, come on, Leo, look at me, smile!” “That’s it, my good boy, you’re so photogenic!” Dad’s voice followed, dripping with affection. I heard the camera’s “click-clack” shutter, and Leo’s happy giggles as they played with him. They hadn’t stopped for me. Only because the roadside scenery was nice. My heart sank, bit by bit. No, they wouldn’t abandon me. They’re just still angry. I pounded harder on the trunk, my nails scratching against the inner wall with an awful screech. In the chaos, my hand brushed against a teddy bear tucked into a corner. It was a birthday gift from Mom, and if you pressed its belly, it would play a recording of my voice. “Mommy, I love you, Mommy is the best mommy in the world!” My clear child’s voice echoed in the cramped space. They must hear it outside! Mom would surely soften if she heard it! Clutching this last hope, I pressed the bear’s belly again and again. Sure enough, Dad’s impatient roar came from outside. “What’s all that noise?! Can’t you even behave in there?!” “Keep it up, and I’ll throw you into these mountains for the wolves to eat! That’ll teach you!” Dad’s voice was like ice water, drenching me from head to toe, extinguishing all my hope. Fear and the heat wave engulfed me, making me dizzy. The car was like a giant oven. My skin was searing, and sweat soaked my dress. My consciousness faded, and hallucinations flickered before my eyes. I saw myself as a tiny girl, Dad lifting me high above his head, through a crowded street. Brilliant fireworks exploded in the night sky, and he pointed to the brightest one, telling me: “Mia, you are my brightest star in the night sky, my most precious treasure.” Dad, your treasure is about to be cooked alive. When will you finally turn around and look at me? When I “opened” my eyes again, I found myself floating outside the trunk. The afternoon sun was dazzling. I looked down at myself; my body was semi-transparent. Am I dead? Not far away, Dad and Mom were walking back from a mountain path with Leo. They looked like they’d had a wonderful time. Dad fanned Mom with his hand, and Mom blew a small fan at Leo. Both were sweating profusely, but their faces were beaming with contented smiles. “Mom!” I rushed towards Mom, wanting to hug her like I used to. But my body passed right through her arm. I couldn’t touch anything. They couldn’t see me, couldn’t hear me. Mom walked to the car, opened the door to get some water, and gulped it down. She wiped her mouth, her gaze briefly sweeping over the trunk, and hesitated before speaking: “Arthur, Mia has been in the trunk for so long. What if something happens? It’s so hot…” My heart leaped with joy. Mom remembered me! She still cared about me! I floated beside Mom, looking at her eagerly, silently screaming: Open the trunk! Save me! Dad was wiping sweat from Leo, and at Mom’s words, his face instantly darkened. He snapped: “You feel sorry for her? Have you forgotten Leo almost died because of her?! I think she deserves this lesson!” He glanced at the trunk with disgust: “Let her stew in there! It’ll teach her a lesson! She’ll live. It’s a lesson she needs.” “It’ll stop her from getting any more twisted ideas about harming my son! So young and already trying to hurt my son. I’m being merciful by not breaking her legs!” “Say one more word, and you can join her in there!” Dad’s tone was full of disgust and icy coldness, as if I weren’t his daughter, but some sworn enemy. Mom trembled with fright, immediately shutting her mouth, not daring to utter another word. She just cast another worried glance at the trunk, then turned her head to continue doting on Leo in her arms. They got back in the car, started the engine, and drove towards the mountain villa. Soon, the car stopped at the villa’s entrance. Brenda Evans, my aunt, was already waiting there. As soon as they got out, she greeted them with a wide smile. “Oh, my sweet big nephew,Brenda has missed you so much!” Brenda took Leo from Mom’s arms and gave him a big kiss on the cheek. Then, she squinted at the car and said sarcastically: “Where’s that little troublemaker? You didn’t bring her along, did you?” “Arthur, I’m telling you, you should have gotten rid of that wasteful girl ages ago, she’s nothing but bad luck for our precious Leo!” I knew she was talking about me. From a young age, Aunt Brenda had never given me a kind look. She’d always say, “Girls are just a temporary expense, a placeholder until they marry out. But a son? A son carries on the name, he’s the family’s future, its true legacy.” Dad listened to Brenda and actually laughed, his voice full of agreement: “Leo is so well-behaved. Unlike some ungrateful brats, who after all these years, only harbor jealousy and can’t stand their own brother.” Mom also forced a smile, not daring to refute a single word. “Arthur, Eleanor, come inside quickly, dinner’s ready.” Dad nodded, about to walk towards the trunk, but Brenda grabbed his arm. “Oh, Arthur, it’s so hot outside, you can get the stuff later!” “I’ve made chicken soup, it’s getting cold. Hurry and bring my precious nephew in for soup!” Mom also chimed in: “Yes, Arthur, let’s eat first. We’re all hungry.” Dad looked at Leo, who was giggling in Brenda’s arms and smiling at him, his face filled with doting affection. “Alright, you’re right. Dinner first.” Without looking back, he casually pressed the car key. “Beep-beep,” the car lights flashed, and the doors locked. Dad didn’t spare the car another glance. He, Mom, and Brenda, crowded around Leo, walking happily into the villa as a family. They chatted about the day’s fun, planned tomorrow’s activities, their laughter echoing without end. After dinner, they sat in the living room watching TV. Leo was cuddling with Mom, and Dad was peeling an apple nearby. I floated by the cold car, watching the warm light stream from the door, feeling like a joke abandoned by the whole world. It turned out, without me, they were still a complete family.

That night, I floated into their bedroom. Dad was already fast asleep, even snoring softly. Mom tucked Leo in, kissing his forehead. As she stood up, her gaze instinctively drifted towards the window, towards where the car was parked. My heart leaped into my throat. Mom, did you remember me? But she only stood for a second before reaching out to pull the curtains shut, blocking out all the darkness and cold from outside. All night, I stood by their bed, watching their peaceful sleeping faces. Dad and Mom slept so soundly, as if they had completely forgotten me. The next day, the sun rose as usual. Dad walked into the yard, stretched, and prepared for his morning exercise. Passing by the car, he frowned, sniffing the air. “What’s that smell? So awful. A dead rat?” He muttered in disgust, walked around the car, showing no desire to investigate further. To celebrate Leo’s “recovery,” Brenda and Mom had prepared a lavish lunch. In the living room, Dad and Brenda were chatting on the sofa. “Arthur, I swear, you’re too soft-hearted. For a girl like that, you need tough love!” Brenda proudly shared her wisdom with Dad. “You did the right thing this time. You need to discipline her severely, so she knows who’s in charge in this house. Otherwise, what will happen?” “She’ll think she can run wild in this house!” Dad’s face showed his agreement. “If Leo hadn’t been so lucky this time, I would have broken her legs!” Seeing this, Brenda became even more animated, bringing up things from my childhood. “Exactly! Don’t you remember how she ‘accidentally’ pushed Leo’s bottle off the table when he was little?” “How she ‘accidentally’ put salt in Leo’s porridge?” “I always said, she’s rotten to the core, naturally jealous of our Leo!” In her mouth, I became a malicious older sister, constantly plotting to harm my brother. “I told you before, that girl is cunning, but you wouldn’t believe me.” “See? Now her true colors are showing!” “Thank goodness we found out early, otherwise my precious nephew would have suffered even more!” Dad’s face grew darker and darker. He gripped his wine glass, gritting his teeth as he said: “That ungrateful brat!” “I should have listened to you back then and sent her away! Keeping her around is nothing but trouble!” Mom was sweating profusely in the kitchen, bringing dishes to the table one by one. Dad saw that all the dishes were ready and called out to the kitchen: “Eleanor, stop working, come and eat with us.” Mom came out with the last plate of braised pork, a hint of hesitation on her face. She glanced at the dining table, then towards the door, and whispered: “Arthur… Mia… she hasn’t eaten since yesterday, will she be…?” My heart leaped. Mom, you still remember me, right? “Clack!” Brenda slammed her fork down on the table, cutting Mom off. “Eleanor, what foolishness are you talking about?! She almost killed Leo, and you still feel sorry for her?!” “If we don’t teach her a lesson now, make her feel the pain, she’ll never learn to protect her brother!” “Skipping a few meals won’t kill her! Let her reflect properly!” Brenda turned to Dad, her tone becoming earnest: “Arthur, don’t go soft now. Leo is the only one that matters, the one who’ll carry on the Miller name, your legacy. Mia? She’s just a girl, she’ll marry off and be someone else’s problem. You need to show her who’s boss now, or she’ll ruin Leo, everything you’ve worked for!” Dad glared fiercely at Mom, angrily scolding her: “You’re always making trouble! Always too soft-hearted!” “If you feel sorry for her, then get out there and stay with her now!” “I’d like to see how long your mother-daughter bond lasts!” “If you dare to say one more word for that ungrateful brat, you can leave this house too!” Mom’s face turned ashen, and her hand, holding the bowl, began to tremble. She immediately placed the dish on the table, forcing a smile that was worse than a cry, and dared not mention my name again. Dad and Brenda were drinking and chatting jovially. Mom continuously served food to Leo. They started planning their afternoon activity: a BBQ at a charming local spot. Leo clapped his hands with delight. Dad and Brenda laughed, and Mom joined in their laughter. No one mentioned me again, as if I had never existed. As they prepared to leave for the BBQ, an indescribable, faint stench of decay wafted out the moment the car door opened. Dad frowned deeply, cursing in disgust: “That rotten girl, she must have peed in there! What a nuisance, so dirty and smelly!” He said, opening all the car windows, hoping to air out the smell. The wind rushed through the windows, blowing through my semi-transparent body. How I wished this wind could also carry away my despair and pain. Dad stood outside the car for a while. When he thought the smell had dissipated enough, he got into the driver’s seat. He never opened the trunk again, never even glanced at it. Soon, Mom, holding Leo, and Brenda, carrying snacks, got into the car, chatting and laughing. “Oh, what’s that smell? Don’t let it stink up my precious little one!” Brenda exaggeratedly pinched her nose. “Arthur, whatever you do, don’t open the trunk! If that smell gets out, we won’t be able to enjoy dinner tonight!” “Don’t worry,” Dad impatiently started the car, “I couldn’t care less about her.” And so, the family drove off, taking my lifeless body wit

The third day was the day of my piano recital, which I had looked forward to for half a year. For this recital, I practiced three hours every day after school, my fingertips developing thin calluses. Dad had promised me that if I performed well, he would take the whole family to the mountain villa for a vacation after the recital. Now, we were on vacation, but I had missed the stage forever. At ten in the morning, the recital was about to begin, but I had still not appeared. Ms. Carter, my teacher, called my mother’s phone again and again. Finally, the call connected. “Hello, Mia’s mom? This is Mia’s piano teacher.” On the other end of the line, the background was noisy with the clatter of poker chips and Brenda’s laughter. Mom’s voice carried an unnatural hesitation: “Ms. Carter… is, is something wrong?” Ms. Carter asked anxiously: “Mia’s mom! The recital is about to start! Mia isn’t here yet! We’re waiting for her! Where is she?” Mom paused, then her tone became impatient: “Oh, her? She’s throwing a tantrum, locked herself in her room and won’t come out.” “This child is getting more and more disobedient, we don’t know what to do!” I floated in the living room, watching Mom deal poker chips while lying on the phone, my heart tearing. Just then, Brenda snatched the phone from Mom and yelled into the receiver: “What’s this about a recital? What’s the point of a girl learning all these fancy things? Can she eat it?” “She’s just going to get married and have kids anyway! Our Mia isn’t coming! She won’t be coming anymore! You can just cancel the lessons!” With that, Brenda abruptly hung up the phone. On the other end, Ms. Carter stood frozen, clutching her phone. She felt something was terribly wrong. She knew how much I valued this recital. I could practice a complex musical phrase all afternoon without eating or drinking. How could I possibly be “throwing a tantrum” at the last minute? The more Ms. Carter thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. She immediately opened Mom’s social media. She found the name of the villa community and its location. She then clicked on Dad’s social media. Two days ago, Dad had posted a series of scenic photos with the caption: “Mountain air is good, brought Leo out for some fresh air.” Ms. Carter scrolled through the photos, and when she saw the last one, her heart plummeted. Ms. Carter didn’t delay any further. She decisively called the police. “Hello, 911? I need to report something. I suspect a child might be illegally detained in the trunk of a private car!” Upon receiving the report, the police swiftly mobilized. Following the location provided by Ms. Carter, they quickly found Dad’s family playing cards in the villa community’s game room. Facing the sudden appearance of the police, Dad still looked arrogant and dismissive. “Officers, have you made a mistake? Our family is just here playing cards, what law have we broken?” A police officer sternly showed his ID: “We received a report that you might be illegally detaining your daughter. Please, where is your daughter, Mia?” Dad scoffed, disdainfully throwing his poker chips onto the table. “Is it a crime to discipline my own daughter?” He pointed upstairs, saying indifferently: “She’s in her room upstairs, reflecting on her actions!” “Kids throw tantrums, they’re disobedient. You have to ground them for a couple of days, or they’ll get out of control!” Mom sat beside him, her face ashen, clutching the hem of her clothes, not daring to say a single word.

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In my past life, Liam’s beloved Maya died because of me. Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family’s empire, driving us into ruin. He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building. In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes. “Chloe,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, “if there is another life… if you ever meet me and Maya again… do us all a favor and stay away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day. In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me. Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically. “Chloe! We’re over here!” My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I’d seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran! “Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?” I ignored my classmates’ shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms. The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again. It felt so good! Being alive felt so good! Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain… they were gone. Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies. Healthy, lively, radiant. Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting. From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life. Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me. He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn’t even sure when. Then, during the school’s freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary. From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me. They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about. I slowly became their constant shadow. In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus. Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred. “Chloe Davies, remember this! It’s your fault I’m doing this!” Then, with a resolute leap, she didn’t even give anyone a chance to stop her. She didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind. He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up. “Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?” “This… only you knew about this!” “I…” My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words- “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me.” But no one believed me. Maya’s unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer. Any defense, when faced with the victim’s direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless. As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation. Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student’s eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way. Especially Liam. Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed. It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness. I thought, finally, Liam believed me. Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle. “Chloe, let’s get married.” The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back. Until the Davies family’s confidential information fell into Liam’s hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family’s businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home. Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence. Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me. “Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too.” “Chloe, why don’t you just die? If you die, perhaps… I can forgive you.” As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair. … I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears. The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam’s cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind. “Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life – mine and Maya’s – do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us.” I let out a long, shaky breath. This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya. Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.

“Chloe? Shouldn’t you be in class right now?” As I burst through the door, my mom was sitting in the backyard, leisurely sipping coffee. She looked surprised to see me. My eyes welled up, and I rushed to hug her tightly. In my past life, their life’s work was destroyed, and they were forced out of Westlake by Liam, a boy they had watched grow up. Before I died, I didn’t even get to see them one last time. “You’re so grown up and still clinging to your mom. What will you do when you get married?” My mom’s gentle, complaining voice drifted down from above. But that word, “married,” sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hugged her even tighter. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Dad, looking after the family business, and being a carefree heiress with no ambition beyond enjoying my family’s wealth…” Mom feigned helplessness but her smile deepened. “Oh, is that so? I suppose we’re stuck with our little moocher for life, then.” After a night of trying to compose myself, I went back to school normally the next day. Our driver, Mr. Clark, dropped me off at the school gate. As I got out, I caught a glimpse of Liam and Maya standing at the intersection nearby, laughing and talking. That was our usual meeting spot; they were waiting for me. Fearing they would spot me, I quickly buried my head, clutched my backpack, and hurried into school. The school path, the three of us walking together. My eyes were on Liam, but Liam’s eyes were always on Maya. This unspoken crush, it should have ended long ago. But in my naive youth, I always secretly rejoiced that I could steal another glance at Liam on this path. After school, I dawdled, slowly making my way out. Liam and Maya were waiting at the school gate. There was no escaping them, so I had no choice but to push through. Maya didn’t ask about me running away the day before; she still linked her arm through mine, as affectionate as ever. “Chloe! We waited for you so long at the intersection today, why didn’t you come?” I tried my best to resist, but couldn’t. I subtly pulled my arm away from hers. Maya’s expression froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her smile unwavering. “It’s my birthday today, Chloe. Aren’t you going to celebrate with me?” My heart suddenly trembled. In my past life, it was on Maya’s birthday night that she got drunk, and with teary eyes, we confided in each other. She unintentionally told me about being abused by her stepfather when she was young. This time, how could I dare to listen to her secrets? I avoided looking at Liam, who stood beside her, and stammered, looking down. “I… I have something at home. I can’t go. Happy birthday.” Then, without waiting for Maya’s eyes to instantly redden, I turned and walked away quickly. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. “Chloe Davies.” It was Liam. My heart seized up, and I hurried even faster, head still down. Liam caught up to me in a few strides, blocking my path entirely, his shadow instantly falling over me. “Why are you running?” Finally, for the first time, I lifted my head to look at the just-turned-eighteen Liam. He was wearing the familiar school uniform, his face sharp and chiseled, but the deep, distant look in his eyes, unbefitting his age, was identical to the Liam of my past life. Suddenly, I realized that the eighteen-year-old Liam wouldn’t look at me like that. I was startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces, almost losing my balance. But the Liam before me stepped closer, his shadow following mine. “Chloe, you seem… afraid of me?”

The next second, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always had. “Chloe, are you feeling unwell? Why are you hiding from Maya and me?” “It’s Maya’s birthday today. She’ll be really sad if you don’t come. How about we go celebrate with her, okay?” Liam was smiling, but I detected a hint of suspicion. It made sense; since yesterday, I had been acting completely out of character, avoiding them whenever possible, and not showing Liam the same eagerness as in my past life. If… Liam wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Liam, he would definitely suspect if I was truly the seventeen-year-old Chloe. After three years of marriage, my feelings for Liam had long vanished, replaced by all the mental torment. Now, I both hated and feared Liam. “I… I…” I managed a strained smile, but Liam had already spoken first, addressing Mr. Clark, who was waiting by the road to pick me up: “Mr. Clark, it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’ll take Chloe to celebrate for a bit and then bring her home.” Mr. Clark, aware of the Davies and Hayes families’ close ties, smiled and nodded before driving off. I could only follow silently behind them. In the past, when the three of us were together, I mostly watched Liam and Maya talk and laugh with perfect synchronicity, my heart aching. But now, I simply watched them, my emotions flat. I was even calculating what excuse I could use to leave midway.

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After I fell down the snowy mountain, no one in my family even noticed I was missing. I tried to reach my brother on the walkie-talkie, but he just snapped impatiently. “Do you have to make a scene right now? Luna lost one of her gloves. We need to take her back. Stop trying to play the victim!” Luna. My sister-in-law. I connected to my fiancé, Daniel. His voice was even colder than Alex’s. “Luna lost a glove. I’m not in the mood to deal with your jealousy. “I bet you stole her glove, didn’t you? “If anything happens to her, you and I will be enemies for life!” With my last ounce of strength, I tried to reach Mom and Dad. My parents’ answer was to hurl the walkie-talkie into the abyss. The line went dead forever. A month later, they finally remembered me. “Luna’s fine, she doesn’t need to be so jealous. Tell Summer to come back quickly.” “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Miss Summer’s body has been recovered from the snowy mountain. “She didn’t make it, as she gave her own warm gear to Miss Luna. “She carved this final plea into the ice:” “ In the next life, never be a Harrison.” …

“She’d give her gloves to Luna?” Alex snorted coldly. “If she’d even thought about it, even if she hadn’t actually done it, I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time being her brother!” “It’s true, Mr. Alex! Miss Summer not only gave up her gloves, but she also swapped her down jacket with Miss Thorne! That’s why Miss Summer didn’t make it!” “Enough!” A ceramic cup shattered at Mr. Peterson’s feet. Dad fumed with indignation. “If she just didn’t try to bully my foster daughter, that would be a miracle. How could she swap gear with Luna? Doesn’t she always complain that we only give good things to Luna and not her?” “We gave her the best equipment for this trip. What more could she be unhappy about?” My soul rushed forward, trying to shield Mr. Peterson from the flying shards. But the pieces passed right through me, cutting the back of his hand. Tears welled in my eyes instantly. “Mr. Peterson speaks the truth! Luna said her glove had a hole, so I offered to swap with her! Don’t take this out on him! He’s the one who helped raise your own children!” My sister-in-law Luna’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Peterson, I know Summer’s gloves are the warmest. How could I let her swap them with me?” Luna sighed as she spoke. “I know Summer likes to be jealous, but stealing my gloves on the snowy mountain was really too much.” “You’re lying!” I gritted my teeth so hard they ached. But I was just a ghost. My anguish couldn’t reach anyone’s ears. “But as her sister-in-law, I won’t really blame her. She shouldn’t be playing with her own life like that! “Mr. Peterson, stop getting worked up with her.” “Tell her to come back immediately, I’ll apologize to her.” A voice interrupted her. “Why should you apologize to her?” My soul looked at my fiancé, Daniel Hayes. He stared coldly at Mr. Peterson. “She’d scheme for Luna’s gloves even in minus fifty-degree weather, and now she’s playing the victim? Tell her, we’re not falling for her tricks. If she doesn’t come back today, she should never come back!” I stared at him, stunned, a tear tracing a path down my face. Daniel…even you? Mr. Peterson’s wrinkled face was filled with helplessness. “But… Sir, Ma’am… she is still your daughter. Your sister. Your fiancée.” Mom sneered. “I don’t have a sweet daughter who’s out partying it up while I’m on my deathbed.” “Exactly,” my father cut in. “When my wife was fighting for her life, all she wanted was one last look at her girl. And Where was Summer? It was Luna who stayed by my wife’s side!” Dad added. Alex also snorted. “We raised an ungrateful wretch for all these years!” No… That’s not true! I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Mom, I didn’t know you were in critical condition that day! Luna used Alex’s phone to text me, saying you were perfectly healthy! That’s why I went to celebrate my best friend’s birthday! With a sorrowful sigh, Luna wiped the corner of her eye. “Summer hates me, I know. I won’t stay at home anymore, let her come back. Don’t worry, with her around, I’ll never appear to annoy her.” “Wait!” Mom stopped Luna. She turned to Mr. Peterson. “Daniel is right. In this family, our foster daughter is much more important than our biological daughter. If she can’t come back today, she’ll never be a Harrison again!” My heart seized with a painful spasm. I clutched my hollow chest, gritting my teeth. Don’t worry. I didn’t want to be one anyway. Hadn’t I written it in my own blood before I died? “In the next life, never be a Harrison.”

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I was in a car accident with Dylan, my wife’s childhood sweetheart, on our trip to the shooting competition. When I woke up, my eyes were bandaged. My wife Scarlett, who happen to be my attending doctor, told me my left eye was severely injured and I would be permanently blind. Meanwhile, Dylan won the gold medal at that shooting competition. At the celebration dinner, slurring his words, he confessed, “If Scarlett hadn’t transplanted Liam’s cornea to me, I would have gone blind. I’d never have made it to that podium.” Scarlett hugged him tight, “Liam lost one eye, I can spend the rest of my life making it up to him. All I want is for you to be well, standing in the spotlight.” That’s when I realized my blindness wasn’t a cruel twist of fate. It was a deliberate, human evil. A dull ache still pulsed behind my left eye, the wound not yet healed. Yet the conversation flowed around me. Dylan raised his glass to Scarlett, “I’ve known I was an orphan since I was a kid. Scarlett grew up with me, she always looked out for me, giving me the best of everything.” “I never thought that in such a crucial moment before the competition, when my eye got injured, she’d be so generous as to transplant Liam’s cornea to me.” “Scarlett, without you, my future would be nothing.” Scarlett, tears welling in her eyes, downed the wine in Dylan’s glass and said, “Silly boy, who else would I help if not you?” “I was Liam’s attending doctor. I had to assess the situation at the time. If your eye hadn’t received a cornea transplant then, you wouldn’t have been able to compete.” “You trained so hard. How could I let your career be ruined?” The family and friends inside murmured with admiration, “Your relationship is truly special. Scarlett is amazing to Dylan.” “Exactly. But Liam was also supposed to compete, wasn’t he? I can’t believe he was willing to donate his cornea to Dylan. That’s unexpected.” “He practically gave Dylan his future.” Scarlett scoffed, “Liam’s scores were nowhere near Dylan’s. It was better to ensure Dylan’s success. See? It just proves my decision was the right one.” Outside the door, I clenched my fists, a hollow, icy dread filling me. It felt like the dead of winter. I remembered before we left for the pre-competition training, Dylan, who had just gotten his driver’s license, insisted on driving. I disagreed. Scarlett said, “You don’t trust Dylan? I do. He does everything perfectly. If you’re scared, just take a cab yourself. Dylan, let’s go.” My wife pulled Dylan into the car. I had no choice but to get in with them. Dylan, trying to show off for Scarlett, kept speeding and doing drifting maneuvers. Finally, at a sharp curve, we collided with a freight truck. I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, it was a few days later. Scarlett, wearing her white coat, sat by my bedside. My left eye was covered in thick bandages. Before I could speak, Scarlett said with a pained expression, “Honey, don’t worry. We were in a car accident, and both you and Dylan were injured. Your left eye… it’s gone blind.” Scarlett hugged me, comforting me, “Honey, don’t be scared. No matter what you become, I’ll always be by your side.” At the time, even though I was devastated by the blindness, I felt a twisted sense of relief to have such a ‘good’ wife. It never once crossed my mind that my blindness wasn’t caused by the accident, but by human malice. Scarlett’s dad’s booming voice filled the room, “Liam is such a clueless simpleton. His shooting scores are nowhere near as good as Dylan’s. I never approved of him pursuing Scarlett. If Dylan hadn’t been abroad back then, I would have preferred my daughter marry Dylan.” Scarlett blushed, “Dad, stop talking.” Dylan chimed in, “Sir, if you give me the chance, I promise I’ll treat Scarlett well. I have the ability to give her happiness now. Liam is blind in one eye; how can he possibly take care of Scarlett?” Scarlett whined playfully, “What are you saying? Liam and I aren’t divorced yet.”

In front of our relatives and friends, Dylan loudly declared, “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. I will wait for you, marry you, and give you happiness.” Amidst the cheers and teasing, the two actually embraced. Dylan was an orphan, two years younger than Scarlett. When they first met, Scarlett’s family treated him like their own son. Her dad always said I was no match for Dylan and that his daughter was unlucky to marry me. But Scarlett would always stop him from badmouthing me, then she’d reassure me, “My dad treats Dylan like a son, don’t take it to heart. You’re the one I love. I only see Dylan as a younger brother.” Yet, every single time something involved Dylan, Scarlett’s priority was always him. When we first got married, I also believed they had a simple brother-sister bond. But as time went on, I realized their feelings had long crossed that line. Still, I loved Scarlett, and I kept wanting to give her one last chance to salvage our marriage. But I never would have imagined that when my life hung in the balance, Scarlett would leave me to fend for myself, even willfully taking my cornea and giving it to Dylan. This kind of marriage? Good riddance. I stepped back, silently leaving the hotel’s celebration banquet. I went to the hospital. Since I was Scarlett’s husband, the doctors there recognized me. I had no trouble finding the ophthalmologist who performed our surgeries. The doctor looked at me with a sigh, “I never thought you and your wife would go to such lengths for Dylan.” “You’re also a marksman, and your eyes were perfectly fine. Donating your cornea to Dylan was completely unnecessary. In fact, his eyes could have recovered naturally within a year or two.” “But Dr. Scarlett insisted that Dylan needed to compete and couldn’t wait that long. And since you were unconscious, and she was your wife, she had the right to sign the donation consent form on your behalf.” My hand trembled, my heart plummeted to rock bottom. I gritted my teeth, forcing the words out, “So, Scarlett signed the donation form for me while I was unconscious, donating my cornea?” The doctor nodded, “Yes. This normally requires your personal consent, but Dr. Scarlett claimed you had a moment of lucidity, and she asked you, and you vehemently insisted on donating it yourself.” “You supposedly said your scores weren’t as good as Dylan’s, and you were willing to donate your cornea to him so he could achieve good results for the team.” “She was your wife, and she insisted so strongly, there was nothing we could do.” “What? Are you regretting it now?” I couldn’t utter another word. Ha, I vehemently insisted? She took advantage of my unconscious state, spinning a web of lies to manipulate everyone, and transplanted my cornea to Dylan. I sat on the hospital curb, my left eye throbbing faintly. My phone rang. The special ringtone was one I had specifically set for Scarlett’s calls. “Honey, where are you? Dylan’s celebration is almost over, and you’re still not here.” “Remember that watch I mentioned Dylan liked last time? Make sure you buy it as a gift for him. You know, he’s famous now; he needs some status symbols.” “That watch perfectly suits his style. Buy it, then come over, and on your way in, settle the bill for our room first.” Ha. I hadn’t attended the celebration, and she didn’t ask if I was feeling unwell. She only demanded I buy a gift and pay the bill. That watch cost over half a million dollars. Scarlett saw it and said it should be for Dylan. In the past, with my old temperament, I would have bought it without a second thought at Scarlett’s request. But now, I wouldn’t pay another cent for them. I said coldly, “I’m busy; I can’t make it. You two can pay for it yourselves.” Scarlett was momentarily stunned, then immediately exploded, “You’re not coming? If you don’t come, who’s going to pay? Tonight’s celebration, we used the best wines, and the seafood was all air-shipped today. You *have* to pay this hundred-thousand-dollar bill!”

“If you can’t come, just transfer the money to me.” I chuckled, “Scarlett, my eye hurts, I’m not feeling well. Besides, it’s Dylan’s celebration. Doesn’t he have a million-dollar prize? How can he not afford the bill for such an expensive meal?” Scarlett sounded frantic on the other end, “Dylan’s prize money is for something else; he needs to buy a house! As your brother-in-law, what’s wrong with buying him a watch and a meal?” “Liam, why have you become so petty?” Dylan interjected from his end, “Scarlett, don’t pressure Liam. He might be upset because I won the medal.” “If it’s really that difficult, I won’t buy a house for now. I’ll pay the bill first. And I don’t need the watch.” “I was actually thinking of using the prize money for a down payment on that house you liked. I was going to buy it for you, I want to be able to give you a home, protect you from the elements.” Scarlett’s voice choked with emotion, “Silly boy, how can I let you pay for this? I’m the one who suggested the celebration. I’ll pay. If Liam won’t, I will.” After she finished speaking, she said coldly into the phone, “Liam, just hoard your money. Don’t think everyone is as obsessed with money as you are.” “What do you have now besides money? Don’t forget, you’re blind in one eye, and only I’m here, sticking by your side. I thought my sincerity would be rewarded, but I never expected you to be such a narrow-minded person.” With that, she slammed the phone down. I then called the bank and froze all the secondary cards associated with my accounts. The reason Scarlett could constantly bankroll Dylan was because she always used my secondary cards to buy him various designer brands, curating his image as a successful, well-to-do young man. But outsiders didn’t know that every single thing he wore and used, every cent, came from my money. After all, the shooting club only provided basic stipends each month, barely enough for Dylan to splurge on a team dinner. Under Scarlett’s indulgence, he squandered money recklessly. They had long forgotten that everything they possessed was given by me. Less than ten minutes later, Scarlett’s call came in, “Liam, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you freeze my card?” I said coldly, “I didn’t freeze your card. I only froze *my* cards. Scarlett, the secondary card is still *my* card, remember?” “Isn’t your own card with you? If you want to pay Dylan’s bill, use your salary card. We’ve been married for years; haven’t you touched a single cent of your salary? Paying this hundred thousand should be easy for you.” Scarlett shrieked, “Use my salary card? I have no money! Liam, why have you become like this? You’re so petty about money! You were injured, hospitalized, had surgery, lost an eye… who stayed by your side through thick and thin? How can you be so heartless?” I cut her off, “Scarlett, was my eye really blinded in a car accident?” Scarlett went silent on the other end, then said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your eye was injured in the accident. I tried my best to get you treatment. This is the best outcome.” “Don’t be absurd. Unfreeze my card immediately.” “Scarlett, there’s nothing left between us. My lawyer will contact you. Let’s get a divorce. I’m making way for you and Dylan.” After saying that, I hung up. No matter how many times she called me afterward, I didn’t answer. I went home, packed my bags, and moved to a hotel. Scarlett couldn’t reach me by phone and kept sending me messages, but I ignored them all. But I never expected her to find out my follow-up appointment time from the hospital and intercept me there.

She slapped a bill onto my chest, “The celebration bill, a total of one hundred and ten thousand dollars. You pay me back immediately. Do you know how humiliated I was to scrape together that money to pay it?” “You’re my husband, half of your money is mine. What right do you have to stop me from using it?” “I stuck by your side through thick and thin; how can you treat me like this? Where’s your conscience?” I let the bill fall to the ground, looking at her, “I told you I want a divorce. Didn’t you hear me clearly? The divorce papers have already been sent to your address.” She looked at me disdainfully, “Playing games? Do you think that will scare me? Liam, don’t say things you don’t mean. You said no matter what I did, you would never leave me.” “You’ll keep your word, won’t you?” I looked at her with utter disappointment, “So, you felt you could do whatever you please? Scarlett, how did my eye go blind? Can you tell me?” Scarlett turned her head away, “Your eye was severely injured in the car accident; that’s how you went blind.” I said softly, “Is that so? But why did I hear that my cornea was forcibly removed and donated to Dylan?” “And the person who signed the consent was you, Scarlett. You deliberately took my cornea and gave it to Dylan. You are the reason I can no longer see.” “The doctor said his eyes could have recovered. Why would you do this to me!” Scarlett suddenly became agitated, “What do you mean ‘could recover’? That would take two years! Dylan couldn’t wait that long.” “He’s in his prime right now. You couldn’t win the competition anyway, so it was better to donate your cornea to him. See, it proves my decision was right, he won the competition.” “I promise you, even if you’re blind, I’ll still be by your side, I won’t leave you. I’ll spend my entire life making it up to you.” I laughed mockingly, “Not leave me? Aren’t you staying because you need my money to support your family and Dylan?” “Without me, where would you get the money to buy all those luxury goods for your precious Dylan?” Scarlett’s face flushed crimson. She shouted, “When did I ever use your money to buy Dylan luxury goods? I used my own salary!” “Besides, I treat Dylan like my own brother. What’s wrong with buying my brother a few things?” “As his brother-in–aw, shouldn’t you buy him something too?” I laughed in exasperation, “Scarlett, you know in your heart whether you really treat him as a brother. No one goes this far for a brother.” “No matter what you say, I won’t spend another cent on you or your ‘good brother’.” With that, I turned and walked away. Scarlett yelled behind me, “Liam, who else will want you now? You’ll regret this!” I ignored her. Before leaving her, I had many things to do. The first thing I did was go to the shooting club and process my withdrawal from training. As I left the club, I ran into media interviewing Dylan. He was surrounded by reporters and various streamers and influencers chasing trending topics. “What do you have to say about winning the gold medal this time?” Dylan’s face softened as he looked at Scarlett by his side, “This time, I especially want to thank someone who has always been by my side – my best sister, my best confidante, Scarlett.” “She’s also a doctor at the Central Hospital. I was in a car accident before the competition, and she saved me. She selflessly allowed me to regain my sight.” The reporters murmured with admiration, microphones pointed at Scarlett, “Dr. Scarlett, we also heard that your husband went blind in the car accident. He’s also a marksman, isn’t he?” Scarlett’s face showed a hint of sadness, “Yes, I’m very upset about it. I’ve been staying by his side, taking care of him, hoping for his swift recovery.” “Although his scores are far worse than Dylan’s, he’s still heartbroken about losing the chance to compete. I hope everyone won’t bother him.” A reporter asked, “Excuse me, was your husband’s eye blinded in the car accident? Since Dylan had the opportunity for a cornea transplant, Dr. Scarlett, why didn’t you keep that opportunity for your husband?” Scarlett’s face turned grim. She stammered awkwardly, unsure how to respond. “Because, Dylan’s cornea, is mine.”

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