Category: English

“Could you perform liposuction on me?” I was on duty at the hospital when a shy patient approached me. She pointed at her chest, and her request caught me off guard. “Why liposuction? Your breast shape is beautiful; many women seek implants to achieve this look.” The patient grew even shyer. “It’s my husband.” “He loves them too much. Every time he sees them, he loses control. I thought if they were a bit smaller after liposuction, it might help him be more restrained.” I suddenly remembered my own husband, Julian, who never tired of complimenting me. “Clara, your figure is amazing. It’d be even better if your breasts were a little bigger.” It seemed all men were the same. I was about to advise her to calm down when a man walked in. “Good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, were you planning to secretly have the surgery behind my back?” That voice… I almost lost it. The man gently wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist and speaking softly to her was none other than my husband, Julian.

I was too stunned to react. But the conversation in my ear continued. “Chloe, I love you just the way you are. You don’t need to change anything for me.” Chloe giggled shyly, nestling into his arms. “But, darling, I don’t want you to exhaust yourself for me…” “We have a long life ahead of us. I want to take things slow.” Julian chuckled softly. “With my little firecracker by my side,” “We could go on forever… until the end of time.” They continued their flirtation, oblivious to anyone else. My body went cold, my blood turning to ice. Chloe suddenly let out a startled cry. “Oh, darling, the doctor is still here. Don’t let her see us making a spectacle.” Julian looked up. His expression froze when he met my pale face. But only for a second. He quickly composed himself. “Doctors have professional ethics, of course. They won’t listen or watch too closely.” “Dr. Lin, wouldn’t you agree?” I stared intently at the man before me, saying nothing. Julian leaned closer, his voice a low threat meant only for my ears. “Clara, have you forgotten? Your dream is to become the director of a hospital, and I can make that happen.” “—As long as you’re a good girl and do as you’re told.” I clenched my fists, then slowly released them. I was an aesthetic doctor, working at a cosmetic clinic. But Julian had made me a promise. If I was obedient and a good wife, in three months, he would invest in me to open my own cosmetic hospital. I took a deep breath, trying to force my emotions back down. Unexpectedly, the woman next to me yanked my arm hard. “Stay away from my husband!” Chloe glared at me, possessive, like a territorial cat. “Darling, do you know this woman?” Julian cleared his throat, his hand instinctively going to his mouth to hide a knowing smirk. “Just a doctor.” “A friend’s wife recommended her after getting some aesthetic work done.” Chloe murmured “Oh,” but her suspicious gaze remained fixed on me. “Why were you standing so close to my husband just now? Are you trying to seduce him?” Her voice was too loud, drawing strange looks from everyone around. I scoffed, instantly fed up. I pulled out the photo of my marriage certificate from my phone’s album. “Look closely. Who exactly is his husband?” “I am his legal wife, married with a certificate. You’re nothing but a shameful mistress.” Chloe’s face drained of color, inch by inch. She was utterly enraged and lunged at me, tearing at my hair. “You bitch! Don’t you have any professional ethics?!” “That photo must be Photoshopped!” “I’ve been to your clinic several times, and my husband always picks me up. You must have seen how handsome and rich he is and gotten some twisted ideas!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, so I forcefully pushed her away. Chloe stumbled backward, losing her balance. Julian, quick as a flash, caught her, then glared coldly at me: “Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my wife?” “It seems you’re looking to be fired!” It was the first time Julian had ever looked so grim toward me. Turning back, he gently soothed Chloe. “There, there, you know I never bother with those scheming women out there.” Before leaving, he shot me a chilling look. And told the director, “Fire Clara Lin.” My body went rigid. I never imagined Julian would go this far for another woman, knowing how much I loved this job. “What are you staring at?! You pathetic woman no man wants, staring blankly at someone else’s husband, how shameless!” Chloe shoved me viciously. I lost my footing, falling backward, my head hitting a sharp corner with a sickening thud. A nurse shrieked: “Dr. Lin, are you okay?!” “So much blood…” She frantically helped me up. As my consciousness blurred, I watched Julian walk away, his arm still around Chloe. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. From beginning to end. Julian hadn’t even turned his head once when he heard I was injured. I was rushed into the operating room. When I opened my eyes, I heard the attending physician talking to the nurse: “She’s out of danger, and instrument scans show the bruise on her occipital lobe seems to have been cleared by this impact…” The doctor paused, lowering his voice. “Dr. Lin had amnesia before, didn’t she? This time, she might remember everything.”

The attending physician was right. I remembered everything. I remembered the six months of my missing memory. I remembered that in five years of marriage, Julian had kept 99 mistresses. 99 times of his outrageous behavior, and I forgave him. But the 100th time, I’d gathered enough disappointment and left. When he heard I was gone, Julian wasn’t panicked at all. He called me. “Clara, be a good girl. Do you really want to divorce me?” “After all, I’m the man you chose to marry, even if it meant abandoning your parents.” He sounded so confident when he said that. I could hear another woman’s soft, playful voice in the background. Five years of marriage. He was certain I couldn’t leave him. So, time and time again, he carelessly twisted the knife in my heart. But I had already decided I no longer wanted him. “Julian, once we’re truly over, please just let me go.” Even when he had the butler and maids lock me in the villa, not allowing me to leave, I still jumped out the window and ran. But then, I got into a terrible car accident on the road. I fell unconscious and was brought back by Julian. I had amnesia, forgetting who Julian was, forgetting his 100 betrayals. Julian stayed by my side, coaxing me with gentle words. “Clara, you had a car accident on your way to buy clothes for me. We’re very much in love.” “Clara, we’ve been married for five years, a model couple everyone envies.” “Don’t you remember? You even cut ties with your family to marry me. You said you’d be my little sunshine forever…” “And I loved you just as much. The house decor was all your design, and the passenger seat is filled with your presence.” I was moved by his seemingly deep affection. He took advantage of my amnesia, skillfully manipulating me like an idiot. But now, I remembered everything, and the hand wearing my wedding ring trembled violently. Julian came home around eight that evening. He hugged me from behind. “Are you angry?” My body stiffened, and I avoided his touch. Julian chuckled softly, looking at me as if I were a pet throwing a tantrum. He leaned in, carefully examining the injury on the back of my head. “I had no choice today. I had to put on an act.” “Chloe Monroe is the daughter of the Monroe Group’s CEO. If I can keep her happy, I can secure the contract her father is holding.” I remained silent. Julian still didn’t know I’d already regained my memory. All these years, he always had various excuses to justify or embellish his relationships with those mistresses. I had been a good wife for five years. Helping him manage everything. Compromising for him, time and again. But this time, I refused to yield anymore. I pulled out a divorce agreement. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” Julian rubbed the papers in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips. “Clara.” “I advise you to calm down.” “If we actually divorce, you’ll regret it.” He claimed I had used every means to marry him. He also said I’d hit my head and forgotten everything, forgotten how much I loved him. To placate me, he bit my ear, whispering seductively. “Clara, good girl.” “She’s just for my… urges. There’s no real affection. She’s not like you. You’re my family.” Family? I scoffed. Was family just someone you could easily fool? Yet his mistresses outside got whatever they wished for. “Then did you hear? Chloe caused a scene at my workplace today, threatening my boss to fire me.” “Julian, I’m in trouble now. Shouldn’t you, my ‘family,’ do something?” I stared into Julian’s eyes. He sighed slightly, brushing my eyelashes. “That job of yours was too tiring anyway. This is a good chance for you to rest.” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll open a truly *your own* aesthetic hospital for you.” After saying that, Julian took off his jacket and went to shower. He thought I was so easily appeased. That he could dangle a carrot occasionally, and I’d be eternally grateful. I was inexplicably drawn to the safe, the one he usually never let me touch or go near. I hesitated for a few seconds. Then I entered my birthday. “Ding—” The safe door opened.

Inside were Julian’s company secrets, including equity documents, that he had never allowed me to access. Six months ago, I had given up and left, but I had only harmed myself. This time, I would put myself in a position of power. I wanted. To make Julian beg me on his knees. The next day, Julian took me to a banquet. Chloe was there too, even proudly proclaiming herself Mrs. Hayes. She boasted in the crowd about how favored she was. And how much her husband loved her. I sat quietly in a corner, sipping tea, only for them to approach me and taunt me. “Well, well, isn’t this the Dr. Lin who tried to seduce my husband the other day?” “You’re really persistent. Any trash can show up at this banquet, huh?” “Clara Lin, now that you’ve lost your job, have you resorted to seducing men to support yourself?” I scoffed, grabbing a wine glass from the table and splashing it onto her face. “I’ve handled countless mistresses for Julian, and I’ve never seen one as shameless as you.” Chloe shrieked. The surrounding crowd was stunned by the sudden turn of events. “What’s going on? Chloe, aren’t you Julian’s wife? Why is she saying you’re his mistress?” Chloe’s face was a mask of humiliation, her eyes fixed on me. “Clara Lin, you bitch! Wasn’t my husband’s lesson last time enough for you?!” I gave a cold smile. “If you truly believed you had no relation to my husband, why would you proactively provoke me?” “Did you perhaps see my name saved in Julian’s phone?” “Or… did you hear him call my name in his sleep?” With each word I spoke, Chloe’s face grew paler and paler. “You’re lying!” But whether I was lying or not was already self-evident. “Chloe!” Julian arrived, his first reaction to shield her. Chloe, her face stained with tears, threw herself into his arms. “Darling, tell everyone, who is your real wife?” “This woman just threw wine on me!” “And she… she said she’s your wife, is that true?” I looked up, silently staring at Julian. He glanced at me, frowned, then his gaze softened instantly. I remembered how, in those five years, some of his 99 mistresses also thought they could replace me. They would humiliate me in front of others, believing they would earn Julian’s favoritism. But without exception, all they got was Julian’s wrath. “Dare to bully Clara? You must have a death wish.” Within two hours, all those mistresses were banished from the city by Julian, never to be seen again. However, at this moment, Julian withdrew his gaze from me. “I have no connection to Clara Lin. She’s always tried to seduce me, but unfortunately,” “I am devoted to my wife.” Snickers erupted from the crowd. “I’ve never seen such a shameless woman! Trying to pretend she’s someone’s wife, only to show up in front of the real one.” “I thought she was Mr. Hayes’s mistress, but turns out she doesn’t even have that title. He didn’t even want her, how dare she come here to cause a scene?” “Honestly, women these days, they’ll do anything to climb into a man’s bed, they have no shame…” I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, watching Julian lift Chloe into his arms. “She ruined your dress. I’ll take you to get a new one, how about that latest couture gown?” Chloe’s eyes widened with surprise. “But that’s worth millions…” “You’re worth it.” Julian strode away, carrying her. “Julian, after five years of marriage, are you really going to humiliate me like this?” Julian stopped in his tracks. “Clara Lin, you shouldn’t bully my wife in front of so many people.” He signaled his bodyguards to throw me out. But Chloe stopped him. “Wait.” “Darling, she spread rumors at the banquet and made me lose face in front of everyone. How can this just end easily?” Julian looked at her patiently. “Tell me, sweetie, what do you want to do to calm down?” Chloe waved her hand, and someone handed her a whip as thick as a finger. “Just have someone give her thirty lashes, and we’ll call it even.” Julian gently stroked her hair and looked at his bodyguards. “Didn’t you hear what my wife said?” Julian didn’t spare me another glance. Bodyguards rushed over, pinned my arms, and forced me to my knees. I tried to struggle. I tried to speak, but the whip landed heavily on me. I was whipped until my flesh was torn and bleeding, my blood staining my clothes like crimson blossoms blooming on fresh snow. Even the other guests watching gasped. “That’s too harsh, isn’t it?” The voices around me became muffled, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched Julian’s jacket. “Julian, save our baby!” I was pregnant. Julian’s body stiffened, and his steps faltered. But he didn’t turn back. “Ms. Lin, please show some self-respect. My wife is right here in my arms.” “If she misunderstands something and gets upset with me, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

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The day my fiancé got engaged to the true heiress, I wanted to drive my car straight into the ceremony, to die with them. But just as that insane thought consumed me, my phone started ringing relentlessly. I answered. It was the hospital. “Ms. Sera, you’re pregnant…” The car engine died, and I froze in place. Half an hour later, cheerful music drifted from the chapel. I started my car, turned around, and headed to the airport. From then on, the fake heiress of the Sterling family, as everyone wished, disappeared from New York. I went a thousand miles away to a small, quiet town, clinging to life, and gave birth to my blood-related daughter. I never contacted any of them again. Until four years later, when one by one, they reappeared before me. Four years later, I saw Liam again at the kindergarten entrance. I was picking up Lily when a mom next to me suddenly leaned in: “Lily’s mom, look at that guy across the street. He looks just like that singer… what’s his name again…?” I followed her gaze and saw him. “Liam!” The mom snapped her fingers, “Right, Liam!” I pulled my gaze away. “Don’t know him.” She looked a bit surprised. “You don’t listen to music? Liam! He’s the hottest singer-songwriter these past few years! Won so many awards! “Oh, and honestly, his face, it’s a bit like yours, you’re both so good-looking…” I smiled and shook my head, continuing to walk forward, holding Lily’s hand. “Sera Sterling.” Suddenly, his voice came from behind me. I ignored him, just kept walking. “Sera Sterling!” Lily looked up. “Mommy, is that uncle calling you? Why does he call you Sera Sterling?” I shook my head, smiling. “He’s mistaken.” But as we reached the parking lot, just as I was about to open the car door, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I turned around, and it was a breathless Liam. “Sera, you… you’re actually alive?!” His words were as sharp and venomous as ever. Perhaps he’d run too fast, his eyes were faintly red around the edges.

I dropped Lily off at the neighbor’s house. Walking back downstairs, Liam stood with his hands in his pockets. “Why are you living in this dump? Where’s your place? I’m coming up to see.” I shook my head. “There’s no need for that.” Four years ago, he himself had said that his only sister was Celeste. He’d also said that calling someone like me a sibling only disgusted him. When I was expelled from the Sterling family, abandoned by Julian Blackwood, and had nowhere to go, I even thought of finding him, my biological brother. One snowy night, I stood outside his company building all night, nearly frozen solid. But in the end, all I got was him saying his biggest wish was that I had never been his sister. “If you hadn’t been born, Celeste wouldn’t have been swapped, and wouldn’t have suffered so much. “Sister? That’s laughable. The Sterlings don’t want you, and now you’re trying to cash in on our blood ties? “I’d never acknowledge someone like you as my sister.” Only then did I realize that no matter how kind I was to him, he hated me because of Celeste. Now, he still eyed me with a scrutinizing gaze, frowning. “That child of yours, is she Julian’s? Did you run away just to have his baby?” I was silent for a moment. “She’s my child alone.” He scoffed, a corner of his mouth twisting. “Sera, that kid is a spitting image of him. Do you take me for blind? “You wouldn’t actually think that if you secretly had his child, you could win him back? Are you sick or something… “How pathetic, what an idiot…” “I said, she’s my child alone.” I cut him off. “I never thought of going back to New York, nor did I ever think of using my child to compete with your sister for Julian. You can rest assured, and you don’t need to be so nasty. “Just like you said back then, apart from blood relation, we’re strangers. I’m not interested in your life now, and I ask you not to meddle in mine.” He froze. “If you have nothing else, please leave.” I turned. “Wait.” To my surprise, he suddenly grabbed me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “You, you…” I frowned. “What?” “Why… why did you leave back then…?” I looked at him quietly. “You were a pampered heiress who couldn’t do anything. Were a few harsh words really enough to make you play the ‘run away with a baby’ card? “If I hadn’t run into you, how much longer would you have lived this kind of miserable life? And these four years…” He paused. “How… how did you survive?”

I watched his eyes, which were once again turning red at the corners. It was probably out of anger. He likely couldn’t believe I was alive, and my existence was a threat to Celeste’s happiness. How did I survive? Someone else gave their life so I could live. But I had no need to tell him. The old Sera Sterling couldn’t do anything, like a delicate hothouse flower. The current Sera Blackwood had long since stopped crying for help or relying on others. Seeing my silence, he grew anxious. “No, why has your personality become so wishy-washy? Could it be that the massive earthquake in that remote town years ago rattled your brain? “Running off to such a secluded place, it serves you right to face an earthquake.” At that moment, a neighbor walked past and greeted me, “Hey, Sera, not dinner time yet?” I smiled. “Almost.” Liam froze. “You should leave.” I said. But he gripped my arm tightly. “Why did you change your name? Blackwood?! Did you get married? No, whose name is that?” “Whose name it is, is none of your business.” I brushed his hand away, enunciating each word. “What my name is, how I’m living, Liam, has nothing to do with you.”

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During the New Year’s Eve performance, to stop my husband’s assistant from ruining the show, I had to suggest she needed a few more years of practice. Little did I know, she stubbornly acted out of spite, going on stage without permission to perform a sawing a person in half magic trick. She botched it, resulting in a tourist’s death. Jade pointed at me, sobbing, “You ruined my life!” That very night, she jumped to her death. My husband, Damian, covered my eyes, soothing me gently. “It’s not your fault, don’t be scared.” But later, during his next tour, he invited me as a guest to experience a water torture escape trick. As I stepped into the tank, his usually gentle eyes turned icy cold: “Seraphina, I don’t blame you.” “But you still owe Jade an apology.” The next second, countless piranhas devoured me alive, the agony unbearable, until my blood stained the water in the tank crimson. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before the first tour. But Damian stopped me first. I spoke decisively: “Interested… in playing some more thrilling magic games?”

A wave of dizziness washed over me. The organizer’s furious shouts poured into my ears. “Do you even have a brain in that skull of yours? How can you mess up such a simple thing? Are you even Master Damian’s assistant?” “Don’t tell me you’re an undercover agent sent by a competitor?” Jade’s eyes welled with tears, but she didn’t utter a single word. Then, she saw me. Her look of innocent victimhood instantly morphed into angry defiance, and she defiantly snapped back at Mr. Harrison: “I just accidentally picked up the wrong prop, and besides, it didn’t affect the performance! Master won’t blame me!” “You’re deliberately targeting me, I’m going to tell Master!” With that, she turned to enter the backstage area. Mr. Harrison gasped, practically choking on his anger, and pointed at Jade, shouting. “Where is everyone?! Someone! Get her out of here!” The familiar scene, the familiar words, brought my mind into sharp focus, yet I couldn’t help but shiver. I quickly spoke up: “Stop!” When Mr. Harrison saw it was me, his expression softened slightly, but his tone still held undeniable fury. “Miss Seraphina, just look at this… Ugh!” “Mr. Damian still has several magic shows. If things go wrong again like before, affecting the audience’s experience, I won’t be able to invite Mr. Damian to my future galas.” Every word was a thinly veiled hint directed at me. My gaze sharpened as I looked at both of them. In my previous life, to appease Mr. Harrison, And to avoid impacting my husband Damian’s career, I could only pretend to be angry. I fired Jade from her assistant position and spoke harshly to her. A scolding from me, Damian’s wife, was far better than being kicked out of the venue by the organizer and ridiculed by everyone. But I never imagined that Jade wouldn’t appreciate it; instead, when no one was looking, she went on stage without permission and caused a catastrophe. She killed someone herself, then turned around and blamed me for ruining her. Ultimately, if it weren’t for her, how would I have died such a miserable death! Thinking this, I clenched my fists. After a moment of thought, I didn’t scold her as I had in my previous life. Instead, I said assertively: “She didn’t make a mistake. She simply created that commotion deliberately for the show’s effect. Jade is the assistant to a genius magician, how could she mess up a performance?” “Look how much the audience is enjoying it. Mr. Harrison, you can’t just make wild guesses and hurt my husband and his talented assistant’s feelings for no reason.” I shook my head as I spoke. Mr. Harrison started to doubt himself, hesitating, “Really?” Perhaps my tone was too certain. He pondered for a few seconds, then let out a slow sigh of relief, no longer pursuing the matter. Just then, Jade scoffed. “I don’t need your fake kindness! Did I ask you to speak for me?” She was always like that. She held an inexplicable hostility towards me. When I invited her to dinner, she’d pass out after eating and wake up claiming I poisoned her. When I gave her high-end cosmetics as a gift, she’d break out in a full-body rash and say I was jealous of her youth and beauty. When I took her on a trip abroad, she’d disappear that very night. The next day, she’d throw herself into Damian’s arms, claiming I deliberately abandoned her in a foreign country, attempting to kill her. Later, I simply stopped interacting with her. I only took care of Damian’s daily life, and she’d tell others I was a useless woman who only revolved around men. When I complained to Damian, he would just chuckle softly, “She’s young and doesn’t know any better. Why are you getting angry with her? She’ll grow out of it in a few years.” “You’re Damian’s wife, show her some grace.” Before I could say anything more, Damian stared intently at me: “Seraphina, you know.” “I love your thoughtfulness and understanding most of all.” So, I deserved to be bullied by her? Mr. Harrison’s brows furrowed again, and the anger he’d just suppressed spilled out. “Did your mother never teach you not to speak with a mouthful of sewage? Huh? Maybe I’ll just find a scrap yard and sell you off.” I was about to speak. But someone was faster than me, “Jade, don’t listen to Seraphina!” 2. Damian’s voice attracted everyone’s attention. He jogged over, his eyes filled with shock, regret, and relief. Watching Damian’s completely different reaction from my previous life, a terrifying thought formed in my mind. He, too, had been reborn! Damian and I had been in love for seven years. He once shielded me with his body during a car accident, blocking four deadly steel bars, almost losing the career he loved. He also bravely signed up as a volunteer during a pandemic that killed countless people, just to be closer to me, who had already been infected with the virus. I couldn’t believe he had become a madman because of Jade’s death. The bone-chillingly cold water, the tearing of countless sharp teeth. The pain was so intense I bit off my own tongue in agony. Thinking of the suffering before my death, my palms instantly dug into my skin, covered in crescent-shaped indents. In this life, he’d have to chew down and swallow all the suffering I endured for it to be fair. Just then, Damian snapped back to reality. He glanced at me, his gaze growing cold: “Jade, don’t you dare listen to her nonsense.” “To me, you are the best assistant, and my most outstanding partner.” “I’ve always believed in you.” His sincere and earnest tone would move anyone who heard it. Jade was no exception. She smiled, somewhat flattered, “Really, Master?” Damian nodded. They exchanged a smile, as if the entire world consisted only of them. I didn’t interrupt him, but a faint curve played on my lips. Just as I expected. The next second, Jade straightened her back, full of confidence. “Master, let me handle the performance later by myself. If you’re willing, why not be a guest and assist me?” “I believe it will be an unparalleled, spectacular performance!” I couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Then, I nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Yes, Jade is the best assistant. It’s just a magic performance, it won’t be difficult for her.” “Damian, you should agree to her request.” The scene of Jade accidentally killing someone in my previous life still flashed before me. If the innocent tourist were replaced by Damian, how could that not be a good thing? On the other side. Damian’s face instantly fell; he clearly remembered the scene of the tourist’s tragic death. He asked cautiously: “Jade, there’s only one more show left. Changing the magician at the last minute would affect the audience’s experience. Next time, I’ll definitely plan a magic show exclusively for you.” “You will be the sole star.” Seeing Jade lower her head, looking hesitant, I immediately stepped in front of her and began to criticize Damian. “Honey, Jade finally wants to prove herself, why won’t you agree? Do you want her to be an assistant her whole life?” “Future plans are for the future; whether they even happen is another story.” I subtly nudged her, “Jade, don’t miss this opportunity!” Suddenly, Damian’s gaze locked onto me. His eyes subtly changed, and he asked, feigning casualness. “Seraphina, haven’t you always disliked Jade? Why the sudden change in personality today?” Having known each other for years, I naturally understood his probing. But I couldn’t let him know my secret of rebirth so soon. I linked my arm through his as usual and slowly said: “Damian, didn’t you say it? To be nicer to her.” “Just like you, treat her like a little sister.” As I said this, the smile on my face grew even brighter. Damian stared for a long moment, then said flatly. “Let’s hope so.” Hearing my words, Jade’s initial thoughts of backing down reignited. She pouted, somewhat annoyed. “Master, next time’s plan is fine, but this time… I want to perform too. Don’t you believe in me?” As she spoke, tears welled in the corners of her eyes. But Damian, remembering the tragedy of the previous life, still didn’t give in. He tried to persuade Jade patiently, but she pushed his hand away. “Master! You’ve disappointed me so much!” Just then, Mr. Harrison was urging the staff to get ready for the stage. Damian could only watch Jade run off, planning to coax her properly after the show. He decisively turned and walked to the dressing room. At this moment, someone suddenly called Jade’s name. “Where is she? She was just here, how did she vanish in an instant? Where are the props for the stage?” “Every day, why do I keep running into idiots!” My heart skipped a beat. I quickly walked backstage and, sure enough, saw Jade had changed into her costume and was pushing the props, about to go on stage. This time, Jade going on stage without permission had nothing to do with me. What would he do for her now? Unexpectedly, in the very last minute before Jade was about to go on stage, Damian appeared. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from backstage. His voice was laced with uncontrollable panic and fear. “Jade! I told you I’d prepare an exclusive show for you next time, why won’t you listen?!” But Jade refused to give up, retorting: “Why won’t you let me on for *this* show?! You just don’t believe in me!” She covered her ears, refusing to listen to his explanation, and they pushed and pulled for about ten seconds. I leaned back, watching their argument with keen interest. Jade got so furious, she simply turned to leave, but accidentally tripped over a cable. Damian reacted quickly. He reached out and grabbed her, using his body as a cushion. The next second, he kissed Jade. Damian’s eyes melted into a tender gaze, and Jade froze too. After standing up. He looked at her, saying softly: “Just wait until my performance is over, okay?” Jade’s face flushed crimson, she no longer cared about any performance, and whispered a tiny “Mm.” I lowered my eyes, a flicker of self-mockery crossing them. The wedding ring on my ring finger felt strangely hot, burning me with a sense of unease. Without Jade’s interference, the New Year’s Eve magic show successfully concluded. Mr. Harrison immediately invited everyone to a celebration banquet, and the staff cheered excitedly. After stepping off stage, Damian didn’t take his eyes off Jade for a second. He ushered her into the car, completely unaware of me behind him. Mr. Harrison cleared his throat, “Miss Seraphina, why don’t you ride with me?” I nodded. In the car, Mr. Harrison chatted with me. Halfway through, he suddenly asked me. “Miss Seraphina, you’re so capable, why waste yourself on one man?”

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The second year after marrying Damien Knight, the notorious mob boss, I ran into Julian Vance again. He was on the same island, having splurged on buying out a pearl shop for his wife. The moment he saw me, his expression froze. “There was a reason for what happened back then.” “You know, if I didn’t save your stepsister, she would have died…” He was talking about that life-or-death moment years ago when the kidnappers forced him to choose between me and Amelia Sterling. He’d chosen Amelia without a moment’s hesitation. And I? I was taken by those kidnappers and, well, defiled. I simply smiled faintly. “It’s all in the past.” I turned to leave, but he grabbed my hand, his eyes suddenly red. “Did those men… do anything to you back then? I’m so sorry. I won’t judge you. I’m willing to take care of you from now on…” I pulled my hand free and flashed the massive diamond ring on my ring finger. “You’re overthinking things. My husband and I are very happy.” Julian froze. The pity in his eyes deepened. “Summer, you don’t have to pretend to be strong in front of me.” “So many media outlets captured it all back then, how you were… humiliated like that. I know you even suffered from depression.” Julian’s eyes were red at the corners, his lips trembling slightly. “It’s my fault these past two years. I was so focused on taking care of Amelia that I didn’t get a chance to find you—” “But it’s not too late now!” “If you don’t mind, I can keep you close, take care of you just like I take care of Amelia…” Amelia. The very same stepsister, Amelia Sterling, who mixed my mother’s ashes into flour and baked them into a pizza. A sarcastic smile touched my lips. “No thanks. I’m doing perfectly fine.” After three years apart, Julian probably felt awkward too, trying hard to find a topic of conversation. Just then, the waitress called my number. I went in, picked up my steak, and sat at a table outside the restaurant to eat. So many years had passed, but I still only loved this flavor. It was all because the owner of this restaurant made food that tasted almost exactly like my mom’s. Maybe he added a little too much seasoning; it made my eyes water. “Summer—” Julian called out my name. Only then did I notice he hadn’t left, standing there like a statue, staring at me. He approached, his gaze falling on the bowl in front of me. The pity in his eyes was overflowing. “You’re eating *this*? Such a pathetic, cheap meal?” He then looked at my clothes with the same pity, and I finally realized he thought I was living a terrible life. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have betrayed you back then.” His eyes were filled with guilt. “But it’s no use saying anything now… I know you’ve had a bad couple of years. From now on, I’ll take responsibility for you. Will you come back with me?” Julian even excitedly reached out to grab my hand. I stiffly avoided him. “No need. You know Amelia Sterling and I have too much animosity between us. There’s no way we could live under the same roof.” Julian froze, his hand suspended in mid-air. He knew better than anyone the deep-seated hatred between Amelia Sterling and me. Without Amelia and her mother meddling, my mom wouldn’t have died in that engineered car accident. Without Amelia’s repeated false accusations, I wouldn’t have been kicked out of my own home. Even now, my back bears jagged scars. Those were from the glass shards Amelia deliberately hid in my bedding. “Summer, I…” Just then, his phone rang. Amelia Sterling’s saccharine voice came through the phone. “Honey, why aren’t you back yet? Did you manage to buy out that pearl shop for me?” “I’ll be there in 5 minutes, come pick me up quickly.” Julian hung up, wanting to say something, but then silently looked at me. Before he left, he slipped a business card into my hand. “Summer, I truly wronged you three years ago.” “If you change your mind, you can call me. I have an apartment in the suburbs that I can let you—” “Without Amelia knowing.” I was about to speak, but he vanished. How interesting. Was he trying to make me his mistress? Daring to suggest that Damien Knight’s wife be his mistress? Julian has a death wish, doesn’t he? I shook my head, casually tossed the business card into the trash, and continued eating. The restaurant owner came out, smiling as he took off his apron. “Mrs. Knight, do you know that young man who was just here?” I smiled, pondering how to answer. The owner suddenly leaned in and whispered a warning. “Don’t get too close to him, you know. I saw it earlier—he has the slave mark from ‘The Abyss’ on him.” “What does that mean? It means he was born a slave. To have survived this long, he must be ruthlessly cunning.” I put down my forks and chuckled, looking down. “Yes.” “He used to be my slave for five years.” I had saved him time and time again. He’d promised to only be good to me his whole life, to even give me his life. Yet, when forced to choose, he’d chosen my enemy without hesitation. And left *me* to the kidnappers.

The restaurant owner’s interest was immediately piqued. He even ignored his business, grabbed a small stool and sat down by the door to chat with me. “Mrs. Knight, you were only 18 five years ago, weren’t you? You were so brave back then, daring to go to ‘The Abyss’?” “That’s the most famous and terrifying black market in the city. How did you dare go there at such a young age? Weren’t you afraid?” Of course, I was scared. But apart from that path, I had no other choice. Five years ago, to find the murderer who killed my mother, I went to the black market. I heard that 100,000 dollars could buy a single lead. More valuable information would, of course, cost more. I wanted to investigate if there was anything suspicious about the car accident that my father had so quickly covered up. I didn’t find any leads, but I found Julian Vance. Back then, he was an unwanted orphan. A small slave, shoved around by everyone. The chains in the basement had chafed his ankles raw, and the arrogant buyers laughed as they watched him fight three wild dogs to the death. He was covered in bite marks, yet his gaze was still like that of a wolf. It instantly captivated me. That day, I spent 100,000 dollars and bought him. The dealer took the money and handed him to me, still holding the chain. “He’s stubborn and vicious. Give him a few months before you take off the chains, or he might just bite.” After we left “The Abyss,” Julian stared at me warily. Seeing the fear and distrust in his eyes, I felt a pang of sympathy, remembering my own predicament. I immediately unfastened his chains. “What’s your name?” “Ju… Julian Vance.” His voice was hoarse, his Adam’s apple bobbed. “Master.” “Don’t call me Master. My name is Summer Hayes.” I threw him a piece of bread. “From today on, you follow me. I’ll ensure your survival and help you live a decent life.” He devoured the bread, a spark slowly igniting in his eyes. For the next three years, I bought him a gold watch. Sent him to business school. I even handed over half the assets my grandfather had entrusted to me for him to manage. And like all cliché novel stories, we fell in love. I watched him display an astonishing business acumen, every investment yielding tenfold, even hundredfold profits. I saw my assets multiply, branch companies opening one after another. By day, we were the perfect partners, dominating the business world. By night, he transformed into a hungry wolf, devouring me whole, passionately. Countless times, he held me tight, whispering in my ear. “Summer, once I’m stable, I’ll marry you.” I believed him. Until the kidnappers threw me into an abandoned warehouse, a cold gun pressed against my temple. They demanded Julian pay 10 million to ransom me. Julian arrived, panicked, carrying a briefcase full of money. “Let her go!” The kidnappers laughed, pointing to Amelia Sterling, who was cowering in a corner. She wore a white dress similar to mine, tears streaming down her face. “Julian, please save me…” “Mr. Vance, choose one.” A kidnapper patted my face. “Choose her, and this little beauty, Amelia Sterling, goes to ‘The Abyss.’ The big shots there love innocent types!” “But if you choose Amelia Sterling, your little girlfriend here belongs to us!” Julian’s gaze flickered between Amelia and me. Amelia suddenly cried out, “Julian, save me! Sister is so strong, she can definitely escape on her own!” I looked at Julian. He had once said my eyes were like stars, and he would never let those stars extinguish. I thought the answer was obvious. But Julian hesitated for only a moment before blurting out, “I choose Amelia Sterling.” The kidnappers whistled, then untied Amelia Sterling. She lunged into Julian’s arms, then turned back and made a triumphant face at me. He held Amelia Sterling by the waist, ready to leave. I stood rigid, unable to even comprehend when he and Amelia had started their affair. “Julian, don’t go…” I tugged at his pants, begging him. Julian’s steps faltered. He looked back at me, his eyes filled with sorrow. “Summer, I’m sorry, I have to choose this way.” “Amelia, she’s so innocent and kind. Going to a place like ‘The Abyss’ would be her death.” “Wait for me. I’ll arrange for her and then come back to save you!” But he wouldn’t get the chance. Just after he left, Damien Knight, the terrifying mob boss, arrived. He lifted my chin. “Still haven’t figured it out?” “Summer, I told you he wasn’t a reliable choice.” He simply waved his hand, and his bodyguards handed him a stack of photos. “If you don’t believe me, see for yourself. These are all proof of his betrayal.” The photos flashed before my eyes, stabbing fiercely at my heart. Damien Knight’s voice continued, relentless. “While he was swearing to be devoted to you, he was already sleeping with your enemy, Amelia Sterling.” “He said he loved you, that he could spend millions on a necklace for you, but he never spent two months writing a hundred love letters for you.” “But Amelia Sterling got them.” “Not just a hundred love letters, but birthday gifts for every year from age 1 to 23. She has them all.” “Even when you were asleep, he would get up in the middle of the night and sneak into your sister’s room.” “And now, in a moment of danger, he decisively chose Amelia Sterling and abandoned you.” “Summer, can’t you see it?” I remained unresponsive, tears streaming down my face. Damien Knight gently kissed away my tears. “You should choose me.” By the time the story reached this point, my meal was finished. The restaurant owner stared at me, utterly shocked. “That Julian Vance is a business prodigy in the city, but he’s so heartless? What happened next?” I looked up at him, a half-smile playing on my lips. “If you ask any more questions, Damien Knight will shut down your shop and kick you off this island.” As I spoke, I glanced behind him. A tall, well-dressed man, in a sharp suit, was walking toward us, extending a hand to me. “Gossiping about my wife’s business, are we?”

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My sixty-year-old husband took his first love on a thrill-seeking adventure, and they both had heart attacks while bungee jumping. As a lady of means, I’d never witnessed such a chaotic scene. All I could do was call my children for advice: “Your father and Susan are having medical emergencies right now. You need to tell me what to do!” My daughter snapped back: “Dad’s the Chief of Medical Staff! He wouldn’t have a heart attack even if *you* dropped dead!” My son scoffed at me: “I’m taking Jessica, Susan’s daughter, to a specialist out of state for a consultation right now. Don’t you dare cause more trouble.” I stared at the two old people, still tightly embracing each other even in unconsciousness, and dialed 91 The dispatcher, however, said they were too busy and would send someone as soon as possible. I openly wiped away tears in front of the park staff. If that old jerk dies, how am I ever going to spend this immense fortune all by myself? 1 Before Robert left, I reminded him he was getting on in years and shouldn’t push himself when out and about. But just to spite me, he took his first love, also in her sixties, bungee jumping. Watching the two old people still clinging together even after passing out, my heart shattered: “Robert, didn’t you say the hospital was busy with meetings? What in the world is going on here?” Robert grit his teeth, unable to utter a single word. I wiped the tears from my cheeks and looked around. The staff member was visibly trembling: “Ma’am, it’s like this. We tried to dissuade these two seniors, but they insisted they had some promise from their youth to fulfill, and kept talking about an ‘anti-establishment spirit’…” That explained everything. My old man, back in his youth, was smitten with Susan, who lived in the next town over. But his family was poor, and Susan’s family looked down on him. They forced Susan to marry a wealthy man. At the time, Robert had a certain pride, insisting he and Susan should jump off a cliff together to swear their eternal love. But in the end, neither of them dared to jump. And then, Robert met me. He told me that the moment he saw me, he no longer wanted to die. He wanted to live a good, long life with me. Though living with him was exhausting – he often called me stingy. And complained I was too overbearing. Yet we argued and bickered for decades, and both of us lived perfectly fine lives! How could he, in his old age, suddenly remember that “anti-establishment spirit”? It made no sense. Honestly, all my advice to him came from a place of care: “Robert, come home early after your meetings. You have so many pre-existing conditions; don’t go playing on dangerous rides like those young kids at amusement parks.” Oh, it’s all my fault. Perhaps it was my recent refusal to buy Susan a house for her retirement that sparked his rebellious streak. Robert’s face was ashen now, his jaw clenched tight. Gone was the arrogant smirk he’d wear when arguing with me. My gaze shifted to Susan beside Robert, and I sighed again. After living most of my life, I never expected to have a love rival at sixty. At my son’s engagement party, my two children excitedly ushered Susan in, everyone acting as if they were old friends. My good-for-nothing old man, Robert, even readily agreed to give her ten million dollars, plus two villas. Normally, if I bought a new dress, he’d complain for ages about my extravagance. How could he suddenly be so generous now? I sat on a mountain of wealth, yet felt like a useless old woman, so I secretly hired someone to investigate. Guess what I found. Not only did Susan know my children, but she was also having dinner and shopping with Robert every few days. I was furious. I flat-out refused to give them any money. I even drafted divorce papers to separate from Robert and take the fortune I’d built myself. But my children ripped the divorce papers to shreds: “Aunt Susan sees money as meaningless! You’re this old, and your mind is still fixated on that filthy lucre? Are you going to take it to your grave?” “Why can’t you be more like Aunt Susan? Other families discuss things together, but you dared to keep something as big as divorce from us. Don’t ever act unilaterally again!” The thought twisted my heart even more. I quickly pulled away the staff member who was trying to help: “Besides his heart condition, my husband also has high blood pressure, diabetes, and a whole host of other complications. Don’t touch him; it’s not safe for you.” The first responder immediately stepped back two paces. Their gaze, full of gratitude and tears, met mine: “Ma’am, you’re such a kind person. So, what do we do now?” What do we do? My children won’t let me make decisions on my own, so I guess I’ll have to consult them first. 2 I sighed and called my daughter, Chloe: “Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before I could finish, my daughter interrupted with a sigh of her own: “What about Dad and Aunt Susan *now*? They weren’t together back then, is it a crime for them to have dinner and walk in the park together these days?” “Mom, I’m not trying to be rude, but how old are you? Why do you have to obsess over every little thing?” I went through so much pain giving birth to Chloe. When she was born, she was all wrinkled, her little face purple. Because I loved her so much, I used my meager savings to buy rare imported formula, while I drank vegetable broth, just hoping she’d grow up healthy and safe. As I wished, my daughter not only grew up but also became sharp-witted. But I never imagined she’d known about Robert and Susan all along. She even knew that on my birthday, during the national holiday, they were going out to the park together to reminisce and re-enact their “cliff-jumping” dream. Listening to my daughter’s sharp accusations, watching Robert and Susan’s faces gradually turn blue, I couldn’t help but interrupt her: “Um, Chloe, your dad and Aunt Susan had an accident while playing on the rides at the park. What do we do now? Should we send them to the hospital?” My daughter burst out laughing: “You’re almost sixty, can you stop playing these games? Are you trying to trick me into some kind of public spectacle to catch them in the act?” “Why don’t you think about Dad’s age? Even if he wanted to, what could he possibly *do*?” “They’re just reminiscing about their pure youth. You’re the one with the filthy mind…” I hung up before she could finish, under the strange stares of the staff. I stood there, weeping in the wind, my heart torn to shreds. I wanted to call an ambulance directly, but as a helpless old woman who had just been scolded by my daughter, I truly didn’t dare make the decision myself. I shook my head and called my son, Daniel: “Daniel, your dad and Aunt Susan…” Before Daniel could speak, a woman’s voice shouted from the other end: “Daniel, I can’t breathe!” “My chest hurts, and my head hurts too. Can you check on me, what’s wrong with me?” The phone clattered loudly, seemingly dropped. Then came Daniel’s panicked voice: “Jessica, are you still mad at my mom about the money?” “Don’t worry, ten million means ten million. I’ll make sure Mom pays it, not a cent less!” Then it was Jessica’s voice: “Why is your mother calling you now?” Daniel’s explanation was rushed and frantic: “It’s just Mom throwing a tantrum because Dad and your mom went out together for the national holiday. I swear, why can’t my mom be as graceful as yours?” “Aunt Susan is so much better – not only does she look great, but she handles everything so calmly. She’s never stingy like my mom, I really don’t know what goes on in her head.” “Dad’s lived his whole life, and now in his old age, he still has to be controlled by her. What kind of life is that?” As he was talking, my son seemed to realize the call hadn’t ended and quickly hung up. Listening to the dial tone, I felt the world spin. Someone helped me sit on the ground, and I slapped my thighs in despair: “My children don’t care about my husband! What am I going to do?” The staff, feeling sorry for me, came closer to offer suggestions: “Ma’am, how about this? Let’s just call an ambulance for them first?” My eyes lit up. I casually pulled a stack of hundred-dollar bills from my bag to thank them, then dialed the emergency line for Robert’s own hospital. Even though it meant the whole hospital would see their esteemed Chief of Medical Staff, Robert, and the famous retired artist, Susan, embracing each other. But dignity is nothing compared to life itself! Calling an ambulance for this old couple, surely that counts as a good deed, right? As I dialed, I pulled out more money, stuffing it into the hands of the surrounding staff: “My children hate it when I make decisions. I’m only calling emergency services because I’m desperate. If they cause a fuss, you all have to vouch for me…” The staff, counting the large bills in their hands, looked at me with immense pity: “Ma’am, you’ve been through so much. We’ll all stand by you!” With that, they all pulled out their phones to record my “beautiful life,” and I finally felt a sense of relief.

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I was watching a show on my husband’s laptop in his office when an AI assistant notification suddenly popped up. “Hey there, handsome boss! Stop working so hard, you need your rest. We’ve got a big night ahead, you know?” I stared at the cutesy font and the screen full of pink hearts, utterly stunned. Clutching the screenshot, I stormed up to him while he was meeting a client. “Are you seeing someone else?” He paused, then chuckled, pinching my cheek. “Silly. That’s just an AI virtual girlfriend our company developed. I’m just personally testing it.” I calmly nodded, then turned and asked someone to investigate. After getting the IP address behind this virtual girlfriend, I immediately posted it in the company SnapChat group. “Come clean now, and I might just spare you some public humiliation.” Taking my money, treating me like a fool – you should be prepared for your life to be utterly destroyed! The bustling company SnapChat group instantly fell silent. Five minutes later, Alex burst through the door, his forehead beaded with sweat, breath ragged, a desperate look on his face. “Tori, it’s really just program testing, you have to believe me!” Several core senior employees followed him in, all rushing to explain. “Ms. Sterling, it’s just a beta version. There’s absolutely no real person operating it.” “The dialogue content is pre-scripted. It doesn’t mean what you think it means.” Mr. Henderson, the Technical Director, pulled out the meeting minutes and handed them to me. “These dialogue templates were designed by the team together. The goal is to boost user engagement and loyalty.” “Mr.Thorne was personally testing it for our team’s project. If you misunderstand him, we’ll all feel terrible.” Their words were earnest, all of them defending Alex. Alex took my hand, his eyes full of sincerity. “Tori, I’m so sorry I upset you. If you don’t like me using this, I’ll never touch it again.” He knew his sincerity always swayed me. Back when he was dirt poor, I saw something in his character and wholeheartedly backed his startup. To achieve success, he worked overtime for half a month straight, not coming home at night. I never doubted him, instead keeping our home perfectly organized, waiting for his return. When he needed funding, I secured investment from my father, agreeing that he’d have full control over the profits for the first five years. In the end, when the business didn’t take off, I didn’t blame him. Instead, I used his “rich experience” as a reason to recommend him for a position at the corporation my father founded. The day he became CEO, at his celebration banquet, he proposed to me a second time. He told me his love for me would always be as pure and passionate as when we first fell in love, and he would only ever love me. Every wedding anniversary after that, he would propose to me again. To prove he stayed true to his original vows. His loyalty to me, by all accounts, should have been unwavering. I wearily pinched the bridge of my nose, waving them off. “I understand. I won’t pursue this any further.” They left the office, relieved. Alex also visibly relaxed and started to walk over to embrace me. I pushed him away. I had already seen Alex’s chat logs with the AI assistant. It messaged him every few dozen minutes. While most of the content was weather alerts or schedule reminders, the language was always ambiguous, even suggestive. There were also custom, faceless emojis, and it was clear they were all from the same person. Even with all my trust in him, I couldn’t help but feel suspicious. I had to get to the bottom of this. I still had contacts among the corporation’s technical staff. I excused myself to the restroom and sent the IP address to them. The response came quickly. The user was inside our corporation building. Cross-referencing with HR records, I found her name. Chloe Miller. A new intern in Operations Department Two. My heart suddenly clenched. They kept insisting there was no real person behind it, didn’t they? Now I even had her name and profile. I took the elevator straight downstairs, spotting her the moment I stepped out. Everyone else was engrossed in their work, but her screen was streaming a reality show full-screen. Her desk was cluttered with expensive hand creams and snacks, and a personal humidifier just for her. I walked into the office. She saw me from the corner of her eye, seemingly sensing my presence, and quickly reached out and flipped over a framed photo of them together on her desk.

She slowly paused the show only when I was right beside her desk. My hands clenched discreetly. I wondered if Alex had given her such immense privileges. “Excuse me, but are you watching a show during work hours? Is all your work done?” Chloe Miller glanced at me dismissively. “I’m tired from working, so what if I take a break? Are you here to pick up recycling? Breakroom’s just around the corner.” The employees nearby looked like they didn’t want to get involved, but one still quietly reminded her, “This is Ms. Sterling, the daughter of our corporation’s founder, and Mr. Thorne’s wife.” Chloe Miller looked at me with an innocent expression. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I always imagined the President’s wife would be incredibly elegant and beautiful, so I didn’t recognize you. My apologies.” A surge of anger shot through me. Just as I was about to reprimand her, Chloe Miller glanced elsewhere, and her eyes instantly welled up. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Sterling.I’ll go back to work right away.” “What’s going on?” Alex’s stern voice cut in from behind me. Several employees immediately crowded around, all talking over each other. “Ms. Sterling accused Chloe of not working hard, and the poor intern was crying because of Ms. Sterling.” “Chloe’s work is excellent; her team lead specifically allowed her a break. Ms. Sterling is being too strict.” I was surprised. Just moments ago, these people had been silent, fearful of getting caught in an argument between me and Chloe Miller. But the moment Alex appeared, they suddenly knew which way the wind blew and started defending Chloe Miller relentlessly. “Enough.” Alex pointed at Chloe Miller. “You, come to my office tomorrow to report on your work. I’ll personally review your workload.” Chloe Miller lowered her head and agreed, but a subtle smirk played on her lips. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, a sour, churning feeling in my chest. Was he trying to warn her, or was he just creating an excuse to be alone with her at the office? I composed myself, raising my voice. “I’m not here to supervise. I’m here to announce that the corporation will be upgrading equipment. Starting with your department, all computers will be replaced.” At this news, the employees brightened with surprise. Only Chloe Miller pouted, clearly displeased. “Why so sudden? I’m used to my computer. Can’t I keep it?” “No.” Alex directly rejected her protest, then turned to me with a soft smile. “My wife represents me. All of you will follow her plan!” Chloe Miller looked at him in disbelief, her face flushed red, stifling her annoyance. I couldn’t stand her theatrics anymore. I said a quick goodbye to Alex and went home. Not long after, Alex came home early, looking a bit disheveled as if he’d rushed. He had my favorite cake in his left hand and the bag I’d eyed a few days ago in his right, an apologetic look on his face. “Tori, I’m so sorry. The AI virtual girlfriend testing has been handed over to someone else. I absolutely won’t touch anything that makes you feel neglected ever again.” I took his gifts, calmly saying, “For work, I understand.” He sighed, pulling me into a hug, his voice full of tenderness. “I know I’ve neglected you, I’m sorry. My phone password is your birthday. If you’re worried, you can check it anytime.” I nodded, saying nothing more. That evening, while Alex was showering, I unlocked his phone. It was clean, no suspicious activity at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. “Your hot drink delivery for a female recipient has arrived.”

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My mom nearly didn’t make it when I was born, which is why I remained my dad’s only child. So, eighteen years ago, he adopted a poor young boy, raising him as his heir. He wanted someone truly trustworthy by my side in the future, someone who could help safeguard the family business and look out for me. But then, at the peak of his career, my dad suddenly died. I couldn’t handle the shock. I fell terribly ill and spent a whole year recovering abroad. When I returned, I found that the owner of the auction house was now Victor Sterling. All of my dad’s treasured collections had been sold off by him, at rock-bottom prices, to overseas dealers. What he didn’t know, though, was this: My dad adopted more than just him. Victor Sterling twirled a pen between his fingers, his gaze cold and distant, devoid of the tenderness I remembered. “Who said you could come in?” He spoke, the coldness in his voice piercing my eardrums. I took two steps forward, glaring at him. “Victor, this is my dad’s auction house.” He scoffed, leaning back in his chair. Chloe, her bright crimson nails gleaming, lifted her head from his embrace and playfully tugged at his tie. “Cassidy, get it through your thick skull. This auction house is Victor’s now.” She leaned closer to Victor’s ear, purposely raising her voice. “Some people just don’t know when to quit, do they? Couldn’t hold onto what was theirs, and now they’re crawling back, shamelessly begging.” Victor didn’t push her away. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her waist, his eyes turning even colder as he looked at me. Seeing them like this, I felt like a vice was squeezing my heart. “Victor, have you forgotten what you promised my dad on his deathbed?” “You said you’d protect the Preston legacy, that you’d treat it like your own business!” “Have you forgotten who entrusted you with all the Preston collections? Who believed in you and made you the head of the auction house?” Victor idly twirled a strand of Chloe’s hair around his finger, not even bothering to lift his gaze. “Cassidy, your sentimental games? I’m so over them.” “Those collections, those promises, they were just your dad’s wishful thinking,” Chloe added, her voice dripping with mockery. “Did you really think Victor would hold onto that ‘sentiment’?” I searched Victor’s eyes, hoping to find a hint of the man I once knew. Nothing. Absolutely nothing. “It was a setup from the start, wasn’t it?” “You got close to me, close to the Preston family, all for this auction house, for our collections?” My voice trembled, but I forced the words out. Victor finally looked up at me, his lips twisted into a cruel smirk. He didn’t answer directly. He reached out and pinched Chloe’s cheek. “See? She’s only just figured it out. Isn’t that a little stupid?” Chloe shook with laughter, a sickening, theatrical sound. I started coughing, the taste of blood rising in my throat. Every word I spoke dripped with hatred. “You owe the Prestons, you owe my dad, and I swear, I’ll make you pay back every single cent, twice over!” But Victor just chuckled as if I’d told a joke. He stood up and walked toward me. He loomed over me, his eyes full of disdain. “Pay back double? Cassidy, you have nothing left. What are you going to fight me with?” “This auction house? I call the shots now.” He then reached out and brushed his knuckles against my cheek, a gesture so dismissive and insulting it made my skin crawl. “I advise you, be smart and leave Starhaven City. Find some quiet place to live your life.” “Otherwise.” “If I can take your dad’s auction house, I can make sure you have no place to stand in Starhaven City at all!” The pain in my chest intensified, yet I started to laugh. “Victor, do you really think you can take all of this?”

The words barely left my mouth when my wrist was suddenly seized. The next second, Victor’s hand clamped down hard on my jaw. The sharp pain in my bones made me wince. “Cassidy, I’ll say it again.” His eyes were menacing, his grip tightening relentlessly. “This auction house is mine now!” “If you dare make another scene here, I won’t hesitate to have you dragged out.” People around us started to gather, their whispers like needles pricking my ears. “Is that Professor Preston’s daughter? I heard she squandered all the family collections.” “She sure did. Now she’s making a fuss here, acting like a total lunatic.” “Mr. Sterling was kind enough to take over the auction house and clean up her mess. And she’s so ungrateful.” I wrenched my hand free from Victor’s grip. “Squandered the collections? Victor, do you dare deny that you sold my dad’s priceless antique books and paintings to overseas dealers?” Those ancient texts were my dad’s life’s work! Victor scoffed, stepping back and pulling Chloe closer by the shoulder. “Easy there, Cassidy. You can’t just throw accusations around.” “You were the one desperate for cash, secretly selling off the collections. Your dad was so furious, it triggered his illness.” “Now, all of Starhaven City knows that Cassidy Preston is an unfilial daughter.” His tone was calm, but every word he uttered was a dagger straight to my heart. At the same time, Chloe pulled a blue-bound notebook from her bag and waved it in front of me. It was my dad’s Personal Appraisal Log, the culmination of thirty years of his painstaking work! “Your dad treated this log like gold. He never let anyone outside the family even glance at it.” “And what did it get him? He raised an ungrateful daughter like you, who couldn’t even protect the family fortune.” “Give it back!” My eyes blazing, I struggled to snatch it. But Victor suddenly stepped forward and kicked me hard in the knee. My balance instantly gave out, and I fell heavily to the floor. My back slammed into a nearby display stand, making a jarring crash. Bang! A delicate antique vase on the stand wobbled, then crashed straight to the ground. Shards flew everywhere, and a sharp piece of porcelain sliced my arm. Blood instantly welled up. Ignoring the pain, I tried to push myself up. But Victor crouched down, pulled a document from his suit pocket, and tossed it in front of me. “This is the collection custody agreement you signed and fingerprinted.” The signature and fingerprint on it were undeniably mine. But I had never signed anything like this! “This is fake!” I crumpled the paper in my hand, my voice filled with despair. Victor raised an eyebrow, looking at the people around us. “Everyone, take a look. Aren’t these Ms. Preston’s signature and fingerprint?” “Looks like it, I’ve seen Ms. Preston’s signature before.” “Maybe she willingly gave them up and now wants to back out?” “How can Professor Preston’s daughter be so shameless?” Accusations rose in a chorus, like a net, trapping me tightly. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. The bitter taste of being utterly speechless, with no way to defend myself, stung more than the cut on my arm. “Cassidy, what do you have to say for yourself now?”

“Do you have any conscience at all?” “My dad treated you like his own son, raised you as his heir. Is this how you repay him?” Back then, my dad saw he was alone and not only put him through school but also personally taught him how to appraise collections. He even entrusted him with the core operations of the auction house without reservation. Victor scoffed, tugging at his tie. “His own son? Cassidy, don’t you forget.” “When you secretly sold off collections to pay debts, who helped you keep it from your dad?” “And that time you were cornered in an alley by creditors, who got you out of there?” “It was me!” He emphasized the words, as if taking credit. “But you? You turned around and forgot all my kindness, and now you’re here slandering me!” These twisted lies made my blood run cold, then boiled with fury. Then, I abruptly pushed past the bodyguard next to me and lunged at Chloe. “Give me back my dad’s things!” But Chloe seemed prepared. As I charged, she suddenly recoiled, raising her hand high. Rip. The crisp tearing sound was like a knife plunging straight into my heart. The blue-bound log was torn clean in two. Paper scraps fluttered to the ground, my dad’s thirty years of painstaking work, destroyed just like that. Immediately after, Chloe’s legs gave out, and she clutched her stomach, collapsing to the floor. “Ah! Victor, my stomach hurts…” Victor, quick as a flash, caught her. His eyes, when they turned to me, were instantly filled with murderous rage. “Cassidy! You dare push her?” “I’m telling you, from today onward, I’ll make sure you can’t even get a meal in Starhaven City!” I stared at the shredded fragments of the log on the ground, my mind blank. The surrounding clamor faded, leaving only the sound of my own heavy breathing. My dad’s image, bent over his desk, writing in that log, still flashed vividly before my eyes. He used to say, every word in this log was the root of our Preston family. But now, the root was gone. A wave of pure rage surged from deep within me. I bent down, snatched a ceramic shard from the floor, and lunged toward Chloe. “I’ll kill you!” But after just two steps, security guards rushed up from behind, pinning my arms tightly. I struggled desperately, the ceramic shard in my hand digging deeper into my palm. Its sharp edges bit into my flesh. Blood streamed from between my fingers, dripping onto the floor, blooming into blinding crimson flowers. Victor set Chloe down and slowly walked toward me. His dress shoes crunched on the blood droplets I’d shed, making a sickening, sticky sound. “Do you really think those collections can be recovered?” He leaned down, whispering into my ear, his voice laced with venomous amusement. “I’ve already turned them into luxury cars and mansions, bought jewelry for Chloe.” “Your dad’s life’s work? Now it’s just capital for me to spoil Chloe.” I trembled with rage. “Victor, you ungrateful snake! You beast!” “My dad never should have saved you, never should have pulled you out of that gutter!” “You’ll get your comeuppance! You will!”

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In my past life, my twin sister, Lily, saved a mob boss’ life. In return, he became obsessed with claiming her. Terrified of his violent world, she pushed me, her twin sister, into her place. My biased parents also forced me to comply. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” It was true Lily had given me her bone marrow, and for years, I’d been repaying her, an endless cycle. I was sick and tired of that life. Looking at their cold faces, I nodded. Later, the mob boss went straight for me, establishing a legitimate business empire. I became the glamorous wife of a billionaire. Meanwhile, Lily was scammed out of money and herself by some street punks. In a fit of rage, she plunged a knife into my chest. “You stole the life that should have been mine! If you die, I can take your place and have a good life!” I didn’t struggle. Because what she didn’t know was that the mob boss had a serious obsession, twisted and insane. As for me, I had been tortured to the point where I no longer wanted to live. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day before the mob boss was supposed to pick up his bride.

“My poor darling girl, Mom doesn’t want you to be taken by someone like that, but he’s from the underworld, and he’s foreign. He kills people without batting an eye. What are we going to do?” “Lily, if only you hadn’t saved him, it’s your good heart that caused all this trouble. Your life is ruined.” Hearing Mom and Dad’s worried voices, I realized I had been reborn. In my past life, at this very moment, Lily was sobbing dramatically, her eyes intentionally glancing at me. “Why is my fate so cruel? Is being kind my fault? I wouldn’t ignore even a stray animal on the street, and I donated my bone marrow to my sister without a second thought when she was sick. Why do good deeds go unrewarded?” At her ‘reminder,’ Mom and Dad finally noticed me zoning out on the couch. Their eyes immediately lit up. Dad was the first to suggest, “Rose, you and Lily are twins. I sometimes get you confused. Do you think that boss might not be able to tell the difference? After all, he’s only met you once.” Mom understood his meaning. “Are you saying… we should let Rose marry him in Lily’s place?” I immediately refused. “No way!” I had just gotten into my dream university and had my life all planned out. I didn’t want it derailed by one of Lily’s schemes. Lily’s crying suddenly intensified. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair to Rose. Just blame my bad luck!” Mom frowned. “And that’s fair to you?” Then, she glared at me fiercely. “Have you forgotten that your sister donated her bone marrow to save you when you were sick? What’s the big deal about stepping in for her now? You owe her this!” Dad chimed in, “You can’t be so selfish, thinking everyone should revolve around you. You need to give back!” I was speechless. Yes, Lily donating her bone marrow to me was a fact. But all these years, I’d been repaying her, and it felt like it would never end. Anything I owned, if Lily wanted it, she would simply take it. This included, but wasn’t limited to, a limited-edition doll, a dress, and even a boy I had a crush on when I was first discovering love. Whenever I expressed dissatisfaction, she would use the bone marrow incident against me. My parents would side with her, constantly accusing me of being insensible, only knowing how to take and never give back. For years, I’d been suffocated by their expectations. Finally, even my entire life was being thrown away. I knew Mom and Dad’s favoritism stemmed from Lily’s lively and outgoing personality, while I was quiet, withdrawn, and didn’t know how to please anyone. So, to end it all, I eventually agreed to sacrifice myself. The ironic part was, I ended up dying by Lily’s hand. But in this life, I wouldn’t obediently comply again. I was about to speak, but unexpectedly, Lily suddenly declared loudly, “It’s fine! I’m willing to marry him! I believe he’ll go straight for me and live a normal life!” Meeting her determined gaze, I realized she had also been reborn, though I didn’t know how she died. Perfect, it saved me the trouble. I curved my lips into a slight smile. “Well, congratulations, Lily. No more suffering through school. You’ll marry the boss early and reach the pinnacle of life in one step.”

Lily rolled her eyes at me. “Cut the passive-aggressive act. So what if you’re good at studying and got into a good university? After graduation, you’ll probably make three thousand a month, while I’ll be married to the boss with more money than I can spend. It’s normal for you to be jealous.” Me, jealous? Oh, I was so jealous. I hoped she could still smile after she learned about Lucian’s obsessions. Mom and Dad were bewildered by her sudden change in attitude. “Sweetheart, didn’t you say you didn’t want to marry him? You cried for days, your eyes were swollen. Why the sudden change of heart?” Lily quickly put on a show of being understanding. “Mom, Dad, I’m not like Rose, who’s so good at her studies. If I really let her go in my place, her whole life would be ruined. I can’t be that selfish. Even if… even if my life is over, at least Rose can take care of you in your old age.” Mom and Dad were completely swept away by her ‘sacrifice’, the three of them hugging and crying endlessly, making isolated me feel like an outsider. Though I was used to it, this scene still stung my heart. Even if Lily herself was willing to marry him this time, Mom and Dad still couldn’t help but feel resentment towards me. Even though I hadn’t said a word this lifetime, they still blamed me for not actively shielding Lily from this fate. Instead, Lily’s ‘sacrifice’ for the ‘greater good’ filled them with guilt. In my past life, on the day the boss came to pick up his bride, Lily, terrified of being recognized, hid in her room and didn’t show her face. Mom and Dad also lied, claiming they only had one daughter. This time, Lily began to groom herself before dawn, eagerly anticipating a life where the mob boss would cherish her above all else. Unaware of her true feelings, Mom and Dad hadn’t slept a wink, worried about her leaving. In the morning, Lily came to my room and warned me fiercely, “I’ve already told Mom and Dad to keep quiet, saying we only have one daughter. Don’t get any stupid ideas. Don’t you dare come downstairs and be an eyesore later!” I was more than happy to comply. After everything in my past life, I never wanted to see that man again. “I know. I won’t go out.” But Lily still wasn’t reassured. She stubbornly tied me to a chair. Soon, there was a stir downstairs. He had arrived. My dad ran a small business, and while we weren’t poor, we certainly weren’t wealthy. This townhouse was his big splurge, and to save money on renovations, the soundproofing was… well, let’s just say ‘barely there’. I could hear the conversation downstairs clearly. I thought that after being reborn, I wouldn’t tremble at the sound of his voice again, but when he spoke, I still held my breath. “Miss Henderson, it seems you’re ready.” His voice was deep, laced with an authority that sent shivers down my spine. It wasn’t directed at me, but at Lily, yet it echoed the nightmares of my past life, and I couldn’t help but tremble slightly. “Yes, let’s go!” Lily’s voice was jubilant, probably captivated by his appearance. In my past life, it was after she saw Lucian that her hatred and jealousy towards me reached its peak, making her determined to kill me. Lucian, though born and raised abroad, with mixed heritage, was a perfect blend of Eastern and Western features. He was tall and lean, with fair skin and sharp, deep-set features-the dream of countless young women. Just like in my past life, Lucian left Mom and Dad a hefty sum of money for their retirement, enough to astound my small-town dad, who was easily impressed. I prayed for them to leave quickly, to banish the nightmare of my past life far away from me. Suddenly, Lucian asked, “Is she your only daughter?” I froze. Had he asked that question in my past life?

Searching my memories, I found no answer. I wasn’t sure. Lucian couldn’t possibly have been reborn too, could he? A man so careful with his life, so powerful and wealthy-I couldn’t imagine anyone being able to kill him. Mom, Dad, and Lily all said in unison, “Of course. We only have one daughter, and she’s the one who saved you.” “Is that so… Then let’s go.” Lucian’s tone was unreadable. Hearing them leave, I let out a long breath. Soon after, Mom came to untie me. She excitedly told me, “He gave us a check for a hundred million, and it’s US dollars! Can you imagine how much that is in local currency?! Your dad and I can relax for the rest of our lives!” Yet, she had been crying and reluctant to let go of her precious daughter just before Lucian walked in. In my past life, they could have also retired comfortably with this money they got from ‘selling’ me. But Lily, uneducated and irresponsible, got carried away with the money. She spent her days in nightclubs, drinking and partying, and fell in with a group of punks who claimed to be trust fund kids. Whether they were actually rich, I don’t know. But in the end, she was scammed out of money and herself, dragging Mom and Dad back to square one overnight. I forced a smile. “Congratulations.” Mom paused, then changed her tone. “Congratulations for what? Congratulations that your sister was snatched away by a gangster and will never come back? This money is the payment for your sister’s life. Do you even have a heart?” Do I have a heart? I wasn’t the one smiling happily while holding the money. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. Anyway, once I started university, I planned to live on campus. I’d walk my own path from then on, wanting no more ties to them. Four years flew by. My university life was unexpectedly smooth and peaceful. I thought I had completely escaped the shadows of my past life, but then, news came that Lily was returning. Lucian had indeed gone straight for her, moving his businesses domestically, but I knew the suffering she had endured behind the scenes. On the day she came home, she made a grand entrance, escorted by luxury cars, covered in designer brands. I knew her; no matter how miserable she was behind closed doors, she always had to appear superior in public. So Mom and Dad didn’t notice anything amiss. They even called to warn me, “Your sister’s back. Don’t come home for a while. We told our son-in-law we only have one daughter, we can’t let him find out.” I laughed. “Mom, I haven’t been home in two years.” The last time was when Mom accidentally broke her leg and called me back to care for her. My words silenced Mom for a moment. Then, she grumbled, “You’re truly useless. In the future, your dad and I will have to rely on your sister and our good son-in-law.” She hung up after that. I shook my head helplessly. I hoped so too. That evening, I had just gotten back to my rental apartment from work when Mom called again. “Come home. Your sister wants to see you.” It was a command, and she hung up before I could refuse. I didn’t want to listen to her, but considering Lily had also been reborn, if she wanted to see me, she would definitely find me. It was better to humor her and see what drama she was planning.

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I died on my wedding anniversary. My sister-in-law, Chloe, sent three AI-generated intimate photos of me with a homeless man to our family SnapChat group. “Hey, everyone! Look at these pics. Cassidy must love this stuff” “Check out these juicy pics, everyone! Cassidy loves this kind of thing!” My husband, Liam, called me, his voice frantic: “Cassidy, I know it’s fake! I’m coming home right now!” A piercing screech of brakes ripped through the phone, followed by a sickening thud. He died horribly, crushed under a massive truck. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, stormed into the hospital and slapped me hard. “You evil jinx! You cursed my son to death!” My father-in-law, Richard, watched with cold eyes. “Good riddance. This worthless cuckold wasn’t fit to be my son.” What chilled me even more was my own mother, Sarah, sobbing as she said, “Cassidy, just accept it. We can’t let one person ruin both our families’ reputations.” My father, Robert, angrily shook off my hand. “We don’t have a daughter like you! You’re a disgrace!” On the rooftop, the wind was biting cold. Chloe cheered from below, “Jump! Go join my brother in hell!” I plunged down, the last thing I saw was my husband’s sweet, trusting smile. Then, I opened my eyes. I was back the day before the photos were sent.

My sister-in-law, Chloe, was proudly showing off her edited photo. “Hey, check this out! Not bad, right?” This time, I smiled and complimented her skills. “Cassidy, are you awake? Come on, try the warm milk I just made for you, I even added honey!” Chloe’s sickly sweet voice buzzed in my ear. She held out a cup of milk, her smile innocent and harmless. “Cassidy? Why aren’t you saying anything? You’re not really mad at me, are you?” She leaned closer, her tone disgustingly affectionate. “I just thought you were too stressed last night, so I played a joke on you. Who knew you’d get so scared you’d smash your phone?” Last night, while I was showering, she secretly used my phone to post a message in my class SnapChat group: [After being married for so long, I just found out Liam is completely useless in bed. This life of celibacy is killing me. Is there any real man out there who can keep me company?] Followed by a few suggestive emojis! By the time I found out, the message couldn’t be unsent. The group instantly blew up, relatives’ messages flooding the screen. My mother-in-law immediately called, yelling and calling me shameless. My father also texted, accusing me of being disgraceful. I was speechless, unable to defend myself, and in my panic, I dropped and smashed my phone. And Chloe, watching my pathetic state, laughed wildly, saying, “Cassidy, I was just joking! Why are you taking it so seriously?” “Why don’t you just go explain it in the group yourself? Hahahaha…” In my previous life, it was her so-called jokes that slowly pushed me to my breaking point! I took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to strangle her right then and there. “Of course not,” I forced a stiff smile, taking the milk. “Chloe’s jokes… why would I be angry?” “Good!” She immediately beamed, plopping down on my bed and affectionately linking her arm through mine. “Sister-in-law, my AI face-swapping skills are super advanced lately!” “I could not only put your face on a homeless man, but I could even swap you with any guy in an adult video, and no one would know the difference!” She giggled, covering her mouth, a cruel glint in her eyes. “Imagine if my brother saw it—he’d totally freak out. Do you think he’d actually believe it?” “Hahaha, that quiet bore would totally lose his mind, right? That scene would be so funny!” Funny? I looked at her twisted smile, my stomach churning. In my previous life, it was this “funny joke” that led to Liam’s tragic death and forced me to jump. “Chloe,” I tried to make my voice sound worried, “let’s not joke like that. Liam… he’s sensitive, he might take it seriously. Plus, Mom and Dad wouldn’t approve.” She laughed, sharp and mean.”Liam ? That boring loser?” “Mom and Dad don’t care about him anyway! He’s like our family’s ATM—except he doesn’t even charge fees!” “My mother said Liam is a loser, so spineless he barely makes a peep. If he couldn’t make money, they would’ve kicked him out years ago! Not like me, I’m their sweet little angel.” As she spoke, she flashed a new, expensive bracelet on her wrist. “Look, Mom made him Venmo me his whole bonus so I could buy this bracelet! Isn’t it pretty? Don’t feel bad for him; he makes money for us to spend!” Then, as if a brilliant idea struck her, her eyes lit up. “Oh, by the way, Cassidy, I found this super cool place today! I’ll take you there this afternoon, okay? It’ll totally blow your mind!” Here it comes. In my last life, she used the excuse of cheering me up to trick me into going near that underpass where the homeless people gathered. That’s where she took the staged photo that would become the base for her AI mischief. My heart pounded, but I kept my face impassive. “What kind of place? I’m a bit tired today, and your brother is coming home for dinner tonight…” “Come on, come on!” She grabbed my arm and shook it, her voice whiny yet forceful. “So what if my brother comes home? Just leave him a note! A guy like him won’t die from missing one meal!” “You’ve been cooped up at home for days! I promise, this place is so… so ‘full of life’! You’ll find it really interesting!” I looked at her, knowing that if I refused, she would only find some other, more extreme way. Better to play along. “…Okay.” I feigned helplessness. “Then wait for me to change.” “Yay!” She jumped up excitedly. “Hurry up, Cassidy! I’ll wait downstairs!” Watching her cheerful back, my eyes turned icy cold. I walked to the vanity table and took out a tiny, high-definition camera disguised as a button, fastening it to the inside of my collar.

That afternoon, Chloe did indeed take me to the place that had haunted my nightmares in my previous life: the dilapidated West Side district, earmarked for future development. The air stank of rot. A few homeless men crouched under the bridge, just shadows in the dark. “Cassidy, look, these homeless people are so pathetic!” Chloe held up her phone, seemingly taking pictures of the scenery, but her lens kept drifting towards me. “They’re all homeless. We should help them, shouldn’t we?” “Mmm,” I replied absently, my gaze vigilantly scanning our surroundings. I knew the homeless man she’d bribed would appear soon. Sure enough, we hadn’t walked far when a disheveled middle-aged man reeking of body odor shambled toward us. His eyes were cloudy, but his target was clear. “Oops!” Chloe suddenly “slipped,” crying out as she lunged directly into me! In my previous life, it was this bump that threw me off balance, making me fall towards the homeless man. She then seized the chance to snap that staged photo of me seemingly falling into his arms. But this time, I was ready. The moment she lurched at me, I subtly shifted my body, deftly avoiding the main force of her push. At the same time, I flicked my wrist, aiming the camera in my collar directly at her. “Chloe! Watch out!” I gasped, reaching out to grab her, but my fingertips just happened to hook onto the phone charm hanging from her chest. “Ah!” she shrieked. To steady herself, her hand instinctively pushed against the homeless man who had just approached us! “Click!” “Click!” I clearly heard her phone rapidly taking pictures. From her angle, the photos would definitely look like *she* was actively falling into the homeless man! And my button camera perfectly recorded everything—including how Chloe accidentally bumped into me, and how she unexpectedly pushed the homeless man. “Get off me! You stink!” After Chloe steadied herself, she immediately shoved the still-dazed homeless man away with disgust, frantically checking her phone. When she saw the photos on the screen, a look of satisfaction spread across her face. She didn’t notice at all that she was the real star of that little accident. “Cassidy, are you okay? You scared me just now!” She put away her phone and immediately adopted a concerned expression. “This place is too chaotic. Let’s go quickly!” “Okay.” I lowered my head, hiding the cold sneer at the corner of my lips. The evidence was in my hands.

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My parents were renowned music professors. After having my twin sister and me, they poured all their hopes into nurturing us. I was a prodigy, picking up anything instantly. My sister, Seraphina, on the other hand, struggled with everything. The day I won the National Youth Cello Competition, Seraphina couldn’t handle it. She left a diary and jumped into the sea, supposedly taking her own life. Every single word in that diary was a chilling accusation of my supposed sins. Dad lost it. He smashed my trophy into my mouth. Shards cut deep as he forced me to kneel. Mom, her eyes blazing red, stomped on my hands, breaking all ten of my fingers. Then she shoved me into a cello case, demanding I atone for Seraphina. My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs, as blood seeped out of the case, staining the floor. But all I got in return was: “If it weren’t for you, you wicked child, always trying to steal the spotlight, your sister wouldn’t have died! Your selfishness pushed her to her death. Now you’ll stay in there and truly repent, apologize to her!” Seven days later, Seraphina returned, lively and well, at her own funeral. Mom and Dad were overjoyed, embracing her, crying and laughing. They decided to end my punishment. But when they opened the case, they went completely insane.

“Bang!” Dad kicked open the door, grabbed my hair, and threw me to the floor. “You murderer! You killed your sister! How could I have raised something so cruel?” Mom, her hair disheveled, clutched Seraphina’s diary, sobbing hysterically. That’s when I learned that Seraphina had filled the diary with accusations against me, from childhood up. She wrote that I, her gifted younger sister, always loved to show off in front of her, subtly mocking her as worthless. She claimed I humiliated her, saying she didn’t deserve to be a sister, and cursed her for not getting Mom and Dad’s love. So, she didn’t want to compete anymore. She wanted to leave. I froze on the spot. Why would she lie? All my life, Mom and Dad had clearly favored her, cared more for her, simply because she knew how to read their moods and charm them. I, on the other hand, could only gain a little more attention by constantly practicing my cello. Fearing she’d be sad due to her lack of talent, Mom and Dad would practically move mountains to give her the best of everything. To spare her feelings, they missed every one of my competitions, always staying with Seraphina. Today’s finals were crucial for my future, and after much pleading, they finally agreed to attend. But after I won, they went crazy upon hearing Seraphina had jumped into the sea, abandoning me and rushing out. Now, their eyes held nothing but disgust and hatred for me. “Last night, Seraphina told me, ‘Mom, I might never catch up to Elara. My life is a joke’… How did I not realize what she meant!” Mom suddenly crouched down, her nails digging deep into my chin. “She’s your own sister! Is this how you belittled her, drove her to her death?!” Pain made tears well in my eyes. I struggled to speak, “Mom, no, I didn’t…” Before I could finish, Dad, his face a storm cloud, snatched up my crystal trophy and slammed it hard into my mouth. “Still trying to argue after all this?! You used this mouth to force Seraphina to suicide, didn’t you?!” Blow after blow, the heavy trophy slammed into me. My vision blurred, a warm gush erupted from my nose. Bang! The trophy finally shattered against my lips. Several sharp fragments pierced my mouth, and I nearly passed out from the pain. Blood dripped onto my white dress, blooming red where it touched. As if that wasn’t enough, Dad pressed me down, forcing me to kneel on the shards. My knees screamed in agony, the fragments felt like they were piercing my bones. I wailed. The next second, Dad stormed into my room, dragged out all my awards and certificates, and tore them to shreds in front of me. Even the clay sculpture of our family of four that I’d handmade for his birthday was smashed at his feet. No! Dad, why don’t you believe me…? Tears streaming down my face, I lunged to pick up the pieces, but Mom’s foot came down hard on my hand. “You murderer, give me back my Seraphina! Why wasn’t it you who died instead?!” She was hysterical, her high heel slamming down onto my fingers, one by one. “Ah!” The excruciating pain of breaking bones was too much. I couldn’t hold on, and everything went black.

When I woke again, I found myself lying on a soft bed. My face and hands were bandaged. Mom came in, holding a bowl of chicken soup. She blew on each spoonful, then fed it to me. This was the first time in eighteen years she’d been so gentle with me. My nose stung, and tears fell. “Mom, I really didn’t say those things to Seraphina. Please, believe me?” She mumbled a distracted “Mmm,” told me to rest, and left. I quickly drifted into a hazy sleep, but dimly heard someone talking to Mom and Dad: “Time’s almost up. Lock her away now!” My body was lifted and placed into a confined space. The familiar scent of pine wood brought me back to awareness. I struggled to open my eyes and discovered that Mom and Dad had crammed me into my cello case! Behind them stood a man dressed in flowing robes, looking like some kind of spiritual medium. Seeing the fear in my eyes as I tried to struggle, Dad shoved me back into the case with a vicious glare. “Stay there and atone for your sister! The Seer said Seraphina’s spirit can’t find its way back because you drove it away!” Mom, her hands pressed together, murmured, “Don’t be afraid, Seraphina. Your mom and dad have locked this wicked child away to pay for what she did. Please calm down, come back to us soon, just a visit. Tell us where your body drifted off to…” Julian, the medium, waved a hand, signaling them to seal the lid. “The deceased’s spirit will definitely visit in a dream within seven days. After that, you can let her out!” “No, Mom! I hurt so much, please don’t lock me in!” I struggled in terror, but Mom held me down tightly. Dad, with a grim look, snapped the latches shut. The world plunged into darkness. I desperately heard the cello case being locked. “If it weren’t for you—always showing off, always stealing her light—she’d still be alive.” Mom’s cold voice filtered in. Dad’s voice was full of disgust, “It’s just a few days in the cello case as punishment. Is that really more painful than Seraphina being lost to the sea?” My throat burned. I couldn’t breathe between sobs. The wounds on my fingers tore open again, and blood seeped out of the case, soaking the floor. “No… please, I’ll really die in here…” “Hmph! There are air holes in the cello case, and we gave you enough nutrients to last seven days. Don’t you dare try to threaten us with death!” “If only your death, you evil spawn, could bring Seraphina back, how wonderful that would be!” Hearing those last words, I completely gave up struggling. Tears streamed out, stinging the injuries on my face. I started to develop a high fever, my consciousness gradually blurring. I don’t know how much time passed, but then the door to the room where they’d set up Seraphina’s memorial opened. Instantly, my will to survive reignited. Mom, Dad, please save me, I feel terrible… Mom’s anxious voice reached my ears. “The Seer said, as long as we fulfill Seraphina’s wishes from her diary, she’ll definitely visit us in a dream!” “Right, let’s start doing them one by one now!” Dad urged her, and they left again. The door to the memorial room slammed shut with a *bang*. My only hope shattered once more. My body grew colder and colder. My vision began to blur. In the darkness, I seemed to return to my childhood, to a birthday celebration Mom and Dad threw for us. Mom carried a cake glittering with candles, and Dad smiled, clapping his hands. “Happy Birthday to our two adorable little birthday girls!” He smiled, holding out two gifts. “Elara, this is your new sheet music. Seraphina, this is the Barbie doll you wanted…” I smiled, reaching out to take the gift, but their faces instantly twisted. Mom slammed the cake onto the floor. Dad tore the sheet music in his hand to shreds. “You deliberately mocked your sister, forced her to suicide, didn’t you? You murderer!” I cried, shaking my head, “No! I just wanted to tell her, even if she couldn’t follow the path of music, there were so many other possibilities for her future…” “Liar! You killed her! You’ll pay for her life!” I cried, struggled, as if trapped in a long nightmare. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself no longer in that cramped, locked cello case. Instead, I was floating in the air above the memorial room.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299371”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring