Category: English

“Dad went to pick up sis today,” my son, Leo, said from the backseat. “What sis?” My hand tightened on the steering wheel. “Just sis!” He fiddled with his backpack. “Dad said I couldn’t tell you, Mom.” Red light. I slammed on the brakes. “Honey, what does sis look like?” I tried to keep my voice steady. “She’s really pretty, with long hair. And she has a big Mickey Mouse backpack.” “How old is she?” “I don’t know. A little bit older than me, maybe.” My son is five and a half. “Mom, what’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I forced a smile. “Mommy’s just a little tired today.” My phone rang. It was Mark. I didn’t answer. Friday, 5:30 PM. As soon as we got home, I asked Leo directly, “Where is this sister?” “Over on Willow Creek.” He said innocently. “Dad took me there, and he bought me fries.” “What’s the address?” “I don’t know the house number, but it has a really big slide.” Willow Creek. That’s an upscale neighborhood in the East District. Properties there cost a fortune. “How many times have you been?” “Three times, I think.” Leo mused. “Oh, wait, four! Last time Dad even bought sis a cake.” My hands were shaking. “Go to your room and play with your toys, sweetie.” As soon as I closed the door to his room, I called Mark. It connected on the third ring. “Amelia.” “Willow Creek?” Silence on the other end for three agonizing seconds. “How…how did you know?” “So it’s true?” “Amelia, I can explain…” “Explain what? That you have a daughter? Or explain how long you’ve been hiding her from me?” “It’s not what you think…” “Then what is it?!” I sneered. “How old is the child?” “Five.” His voice was barely a whisper. Five. We’ve been married for six years. “Who is she?” “That…” “Tell me!” “You don’t know her.” “Her name.” “Sarah Harris.” My mind went blank. “I’ll go see the child this weekend.” I heard myself say. “Send me the address.” “Amelia, please don’t get agitated…” “I’m perfectly calm.” I hung up. My phone immediately rang again. It was him. I turned it off. Just then, the front door opened. It was my mom, Eleanor. She’d said she’d come over to help with Leo today. “What’s wrong, honey? You look awful.” “Mom…” I burst into tears. An hour later, I’d told her everything. My mom’s face went from red to white, then white to red. “Divorce.” She uttered only one word. “Mom…” “Divorce immediately.” Her voice was eerily calm. “I’ll have your brother, David, come over tomorrow.” “But what about Leo?” “Leo stays with you. You take the house, the cars, everything.” She spoke with absolute certainty. “And that woman and her child? They won’t get a single penny.” Just then, the sound of a key turning in the lock. Mark was home. He saw my mom and froze. “My mother-in-law is here too.” “Too?” My mom scoffed. “Wouldn’t it be more convenient if I wasn’t here?” “Mother-in-law, please let me explain…” “Explain what? Explain that you’re keeping a mistress and a child outside our home?” “It’s not like that…” “Then what is it like?” My mom stood up. “Tell me clearly, what exactly is going on with that child?” He glanced at me. “Speak!” My mom slammed her hand on the table. “She’s an old girlfriend.” He finally began. “After we broke up, she found out she was pregnant, but she didn’t tell me. Not until the child was three, and she found me…” “And then?” “And then I… I couldn’t just abandon them.” “Couldn’t abandon them?” My mom laughed, a chilling sound. “So you secretly kept them, mother and daughter, behind my daughter’s back?” “I only gave her child support…” “How much?” I cut in. “What?” “How much every month?” He stayed silent. I opened my banking app and typed in my password. In the transaction history, on the 15th of every month, there was a fixed transfer: $8,000. “Eight thousand.” I said. “Eight thousand a month, for five years. How much is that?” “Four hundred eighty thousand.” My mom calculated for me. “Four hundred eighty thousand! Your son’s kindergarten costs $20,000 a year, and he’s giving that bastard child eight thousand a month?” “Mom, don’t talk about the child like that…” He pleaded. “I’m not your mom!” My mom pointed to the door. “Get out. Get out now!” “Mother-in-law…” “I said get out!” Just then, Leo’s bedroom door opened. My son stood in the doorway, his eyes red-rimmed. “Mommy, why are you fighting?” My heart sank. “It’s nothing, sweetie…” “Is it because of sis?” He started to cry. “I shouldn’t have said anything, Daddy said not to tell…” Mark’s face changed. “Leo, you…” “You taught your son to lie?” My mom looked utterly disgusted. “I didn’t…” “You made a five-year-old child keep your secret. What is that if not lying?” I picked up Leo and retreated to the bedroom. I closed the door, but the arguing outside continued. My phone rang. An unknown number. I answered. “Is this Mrs. Miller?” A woman’s voice. “It is. Who’s this?” “This is Sarah Harris.” My hand trembled. “We need to talk.” She said. “Tomorrow at 3 PM, at the Starbucks on Willow Creek.” “Okay.” I heard myself say. After hanging up, my phone vibrated again. It was a bank text: “Your joint account just had an outflow of $100,000. Current balance: $23,678.” One hundred thousand?! I immediately stormed out of the bedroom. “You just transferred a hundred thousand dollars?” He froze. “To whom?” “I…” “Tell me!” “Sarah needed to change apartments. She was short on the down payment…” I laughed. I finally laughed. “Mom, you’re right. Divorce.” My voice was eerily calm. “We’ll go tomorrow.” “Amelia…” “Don’t call me Amelia.” I looked at him. “From now on, we’re strangers.” “Just listen to me…” “I won’t.” I grabbed my purse. “Tomorrow at 3 PM, I’m meeting Sarah. After that, I’m going to see a lawyer. The day after tomorrow, we’ll go to the courthouse.” “What about Leo?” “He stays with me.” “I have parental rights too…” “You want parental rights?” My mom sneered. “Fine, we’ll see you in court. Let’s see if a judge will award custody to a man who has an illegitimate child, transfers marital assets, and deceives his wife!” His face went white. “And,” my mom continued, “this house was bought by my daughter before marriage. You have no claim to it.” That was true. When we bought the house, I paid the down payment. He only added his name to the deed. “Mom, let’s go.” I took Leo’s hand. “Where are we going?” “A hotel.” “Good.” The moment the door closed, I heard him say, “Amelia, I’m so sorry.” I didn’t look back. In the elevator, my mom suddenly asked, “Can we get that hundred thousand back?” “Probably.” I said. “It’s a joint account; large expenditures require both parties’ consent.” “Good.” She nodded. “Tomorrow, I’ll have your brother, David, go with you to see that woman.” “No need.” I said calmly. “I’ll go by myself.” The elevator reached the ground floor. As we walked out, Leo suddenly asked, “Mommy, will I not have a sister anymore?” I crouched down, looking at him. “Honey, you’ll always be Mommy’s only precious one.” “What about Daddy?” I didn’t answer. I didn’t know how to. Friday, 9:30 PM. In the hotel room, Leo was already asleep. My mom was on the balcony, making a call, probably to David. I stared at my phone. Thirty-seven missed calls, all from Mark. And SnapChat messages, 99+. I didn’t look at a single one. My phone rang again. This time, it was Mark’s mom, Brenda. I hesitated, then answered. “Amelia, dear…” Her voice sounded a little panicked. “Mom.” “Did you… have a fight?” More than just a fight. I sneered. “Mom, do you know about that child?” Silence on the other end. “You knew?” My voice rose. “Amelia, listen to me…” “You knew all along?” “I… I only found out last year…” Last year. Last year, the child was four. “So you hid it from me for a year?” “I was doing it for the good of the family…” “For the good of the family?” I laughed. “So letting me stay in the dark, letting my husband transfer eight thousand to another woman every month, was for the good of the family?” “But after all, that’s also our family’s child…” I hung up. My mom came in from the balcony. “Who was that?” “Brenda.” “What did she say?” “She knew all along.” My mom’s face darkened. “She knew and didn’t tell you?” “She said it was for the good of the family.” “For what family?” My mom laughed, bitterly. “Her son has another woman and child outside, and she thinks that’s good? Letting my daughter be a fool, that’s for the good of the family?” I didn’t speak. My phone rang again. Still Brenda. I didn’t answer. She sent a SnapChat message: “Amelia, please don’t get upset. Can we meet and talk tomorrow? Some things aren’t what you think…” Not what I think? Then what are they? I threw my phone onto the bed. “Mom, I want to sleep for a bit.” “Okay, you sleep.” She sighed. “You’ve been through so much these past years.” I closed my eyes. Been through so much? It was more than that. I thought of these six years of marriage. I thought of our wedding, when he told me he would take care of me for a lifetime. I thought of the day Leo was born, when he said, “Thank you for giving me a family.” I thought of every month when he said he was handing over his entire salary, and I believed I had everything. Turns out, all I had was a lie. No. I didn’t even have a lie. All I had was ignorance of the truth. My phone vibrated non-stop. I opened my eyes, picked it up, and looked. It was Mark’s SnapChat messages: Amelia, please don’t be like this. I really know I messed up. Can we just talk this through? Leo is still small, we can’t get divorced. I swear, I’ll never see Sarah again. I’ll get that hundred thousand back. Amelia, we can’t just end like this. I read them, deleted the chat history. Blocked him. At 2 AM, my mom’s phone rang. She answered, then handed it to me. “It’s David.” “Hey sis.” My brother’s voice was grave. “Mom told me everything. Don’t worry, I’ll go with you tomorrow.” “No need, I can handle it myself.” “Don’t be stubborn.” “I’m not. I’m calm. I just want to face this alone.” “Alright then, but I’ve already contacted a lawyer for you. Tomorrow at 5 PM, after you see that woman, go to the law firm.” “Okay.” “Also, about that hundred thousand, go to the bank and freeze the joint account first.” “I know.” “Sis, don’t be scared. You still have me.” After hanging up, I suddenly started to cry. For six years, I thought I had a family. Only now did I realize, my real family had been behind me all along. Saturday, 10 AM. I went to the bank. “Madam, freezing a joint account requires both parties to be present…” the staff member said. “Here’s a lawyer’s letter.” I handed it over. “My husband is suspected of illegally transferring joint marital assets.” The staff member read it, and their attitude immediately changed. “Please wait.” Half an hour later, the account was successfully frozen. And the $100,000 transfer? A recall request had been initiated. Stepping out of the bank, I sent Mark a SnapChat message: Account frozen. $100,000 recall initiated. After meeting Sarah at 3 PM, I’m seeing a lawyer. See you at the courthouse the day after tomorrow. After sending it, I blocked him again. My phone immediately rang. It was Brenda. “Amelia, how could you freeze the account?!” She yelled into the phone. “That’s my money.” “That’s your joint marital property!” “Exactly. So he can’t unilaterally dispose of it.” “But if you do this, how will he live?” I laughed. “Mom, are you worried about how he’ll live, or are you worried he won’t be able to transfer money to Sarah anymore?” “Amelia, how can you talk like that?” “How am I talking? Mom, I ask you, these six years, have I ever wronged your family?” She fell silent. “I haven’t, have I? Every holiday I give you money, I take care of your daily needs, I gave you a grandson, and I still have to work to support the family. Have I ever complained?” “No, but…” “But what? But I shouldn’t have found out about his illegitimate daughter? But I should have pretended not to know and continued to be a fool?” “That’s not what I mean…” “Then what do you mean? Mom, just tell me directly.” A long silence on the other end. “Amelia, can you please, for Leo’s sake, give him another chance?” “I can’t.” “Why not?” “Because he’s not worth it.” I hung up. Back at the hotel, my mom had already packed Leo’s things. “Honey, how about going to the amusement park with Grandma today?” “Yay!” Leo jumped for joy. “What about Mommy?” He suddenly asked. “Mommy has something to do, I’ll pick you up tonight.” “Is Mommy going to see sis?” I froze. “No.” I crouched down, looking at him. “Honey, how much do you remember about sis?” “I remember!” He tilted his head, thinking. “Sis lives in a very beautiful house, and there’s a very gentle auntie there.” “What does the auntie look like?” “Very pretty, long hair, and she speaks softly.” “Dad and the auntie…” I gritted my teeth. “How do Dad and the auntie interact?” “Dad hugs the auntie.” Leo said naturally. “And he kisses her cheek.” My heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. “Just like Daddy used to kiss Mommy.” He added. Used to. Yes, used to. Now he barely touched me. I thought it was because of work. Turns out, there was someone else. “Alright, honey, go have fun with Grandma.” I stood up, trying to keep my voice normal. “Mommy, are you crying?” “No, something got in my eye.” After seeing my mom and Leo off, I started to get ready. Makeup, change of clothes, organize my purse. The woman in the mirror looked perfectly calm. But only I knew, my hands were shaking the whole time. 2:30 PM, I arrived at Starbucks early. Ordered a coffee, sat in a corner. Every second of waiting felt like a year. Exactly 3 PM, a woman walked in. She was young, looked no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight. Long hair, white dress, carrying an LV bag. She saw me and walked over. “Mrs. Miller?” “Ms. Harris.” She sat down and ordered a latte. Then, she looked at me and smiled. “You’re calmer than I expected.” “You’re younger than I expected.” I smiled back. We stared at each other for a few seconds. “So?” I spoke first. “What did you want to talk about?” “I think we need to talk.” She was very calm. “About Mark.” Mark was my husband’s name. “Talk about what?” “His allegiance.” She was direct. “Mrs. Miller, you must know that Mark is in a lot of pain right now.” “Oh?” “He’s stuck between us, it’s very difficult for him.” I laughed. “He’s finding it difficult? He didn’t find it difficult when he was secretly keeping another woman and child from me, did he?” “That’s because he hadn’t figured out how to tell you yet.” “Hadn’t figured it out? For five years, hadn’t figured it out?” She fell silent. “Ms. Harris, I don’t want to beat around the bush.” I looked at her. “What exactly do you want?” “I want a complete family.” She said. “I want Chloe to have a father.” “Chloe is the daughter’s name?” “Yes.” “Pretty name.” I nodded. “But, that’s not my problem.” “What do you mean?” “Your daughter needs a father. That’s between you and Mark. It has nothing to do with me.” “But Mark is your husband.” “Yes, so?” “So you divorce him, and he can marry me.” I finally understood. “You want me to initiate the divorce?” “Yes.” She was very frank. “Mrs. Miller, I know this sounds impolite, but we’re both adults. Let’s just be straightforward.” “Fine, let’s be straightforward.” I leaned back in my chair. “What do you want to say?” “Mark says your marriage has been a sham for a long time.” “Oh?” “He says you haven’t had marital relations for over a year.” “And?” “And he says he’s always wanted a divorce, but you wouldn’t agree.” I chuckled aloud. “I wouldn’t agree?” “Yes, he says you threatened him that if he divorced you, you’d make him leave with nothing.” “What else did he say?” “He said you’re very materialistic, and you only married him because of his house.” My smile froze. “He said that?” “Yes.” She was serious. “Mrs. Miller, I have no ill will, I just want you to know that your marriage is meaningless. It’s better to part amicably.” “Part amicably.” I repeated. “And then let him marry you?” “Yes.” “You know, Ms. Harris.” I suddenly said. “Not a single word you’ve said is true.” She flinched. “I bought the house, I paid the down payment, and I’m paying the mortgage.” I spoke slowly, distinctly. “These six years, I handed over every cent of my salary to him. He said he wanted to start a business, and I used all my savings to support him. Marital relations? We were intimate just last month. A sham? Last week he said he wanted to take me on a trip.” Her face changed. “You…” “And there’s more.” I cut her off. “Do you know where that eight thousand dollars he gives you every month comes from?” “It’s… it’s his salary…” “No, it’s my salary.” I smiled. “He’s been unemployed for a long time. I’m supporting him now.” “Impossible…” “You can choose not to believe me.” I pulled out my phone. “Here are our bank statements. See for yourself.” She took my phone, her face growing paler and paler. “How could this be…” “How could this be? Because he’s a liar.” I took my phone back. “Ms. Harris, I don’t know what he told you, but I can tell you that every word he said was a lie.” “I don’t believe it!” She stood up. “He wouldn’t lie to me!” “Then ask him.” I said calmly. “Ask him if he’s unemployed, ask him if the money he gives you every month is my salary, ask him if that hundred thousand dollars was from my savings.” “You…” “And, I’ve already recalled that hundred thousand dollars, and the joint account is frozen.” I stood up. “Ms. Harris, it was nice to meet you, but I’m afraid we won’t be seeing each other again.” “What do you mean?” “It means, your business with him, you two solve it yourselves.” I picked up my bag. “I’m getting a divorce, but not to make things easier for you two. I’m doing it for myself.” “Wait!” She grabbed my arm. “What about Chloe?!” “Your daughter, you’re responsible for her.” I pulled my arm away. “Just as I will be responsible for my son.” Stepping out of the coffee shop, my legs were shaking. But I forced myself to walk to my car, got in, and closed the door. Then, I collapsed onto the steering wheel and cried. Saturday, 5 PM. The law firm. “Mrs. Miller, based on your description, this case is quite straightforward.” The lawyer was very professional. “Firstly, the house was purchased by you before marriage; it’s your personal property. Secondly, your husband had an affair and unilaterally transferred joint marital assets, which is legally very advantageous for you.”

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On the night of my 50th birthday, after years of our marriage being little more than a formality, my husband, Michael, actually came to my bed. I thought it was his birthday gift to me, but as soon as he was done, he said: “Let’s get a divorce. Just like last time, you can have all the assets.” Tears streaming down my face, I nodded in agreement. The woman he’d been seeing five years ago was back, and she had a child with her. The day we finalized the divorce, I handed him a paternity test report. This wasn’t the first time Michael had asked for a divorce. The last time was five years ago. He claimed he’d racked up gambling debts and wanted a “fake” divorce to protect our family assets. But there’s no such thing as a “fake” divorce in this world; a divorce certificate is always real. Back then, I was foolish enough to believe him, mostly because we divorced but didn’t separate. I still stayed home, managing the household and caring for our large family. Only, he rarely came home, and his phone was often unreachable. I worried, but then I thought, *this is just how it is when you’re hiding from debt*, and I settled my mind. About half a year later, he told me the gambling debts were sorted, and we remarried. I always thought he’d handled the whole thing quite cleverly. Until one evening, Michael’s friend, David, called, saying Michael was too drunk and I needed to pick him up. I stood outside the private room and overheard their conversation: “Dude, I told you long ago, those massage parlor girls are unreliable. It’s normal for them to run off.” “Exactly, those kinds of women are just for fun, not worth getting upset over. Move on.” “I can’t! I poured ten grand into her ‘services’ to boost her numbers! She just left, treating me like a fool!” “Come on, Michael, stop drinking. Sarah’s so good to you – sweet, understanding, and she keeps your home perfect. Go back to her.” The sound of a glass shattering inside jolted me awake from my dream of a happy marriage. My lip was bleeding where I’d bitten it, and tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably. So, there had been *her* between us. Who was she? When did it start? So many times, I wanted to ask, but the words caught in my throat. I was terrified that if I asked, this family would truly fall apart. That incident became a knot in my heart, a constant ache in my chest. Now, who was he divorcing me for this time? My grandson’s cries pulled me back to reality. I was about to go comfort him when Michael grabbed my arm. “Why aren’t you asking *why*? Why are you agreeing so easily?” It seemed he had a whole list of excuses ready, but I couldn’t be fooled a second time. I pretended to be concerned and asked: “How much do you owe this time?” He didn’t answer directly. Instead, he hugged me tightly: “Those bastards ganged up on me. This time, I might have to hide out for a while. The family’s all on you.” Seeing my tears, he seemed convinced he’d fooled me. He let out a sigh of relief and fell peacefully asleep. Soon, his snores filled the room. I quietly picked up his phone. There were no strangers on SnapChat. But on TikTok, all his recent likes were for the same woman. I tapped on her profile. Her videos were almost all daily clips of a little boy. Just as I was wondering about it, the woman’s profile picture flashed.

“Baby’s birthday tomorrow. Can you come be with him?” My heart pounded. I didn’t need to think twice; the woman from five years ago was back. The next morning, Michael whistled as he combed his hair, shaving his beard with unusual care. I quietly followed him out the door. He, who was usually so stingy, actually walked into a high-end department store. After buying two sets of kids’ clothes, he entered a fancy bakery, pointing to a cake decorated with an Ultraman figure and asking the price. The clerk enthusiastically asked: “Is it for your grandson’s birthday, sir? How many candles do you need?” Michael’s face flushed, embarrassed, and he nodded, holding up four fingers. Watching his face, beaming with happiness, my heart ached as if pierced by needles. He’d lecture Chloe if she bought clothes for Leo that cost more than twenty dollars, but he ordered a hundred-dollar cake without batting an eye. Afraid I’d be suspicious if he didn’t come home for dinner, he arranged to have lunch with Jessica and her son. The moment he saw the boy, his face lit up, and he picked him up, spinning him around. They went into the children’s play area at the mall. I stood by the entrance, looking at the price list, a bitter feeling rising in my chest. Two adults and one child: $39.99. My hands trembling, I sent him a text: “Let’s go to the courthouse to schedule our divorce tomorrow.” His reply came quickly: “Okay.” I stared at that single word, stunned and numb for a long time. All these years of our marriage, ultimately, couldn’t compete with their mere six months together. The next day, Michael took my hand as we walked out the door. When the city hall clerk asked the reason for the divorce, Michael blurted out: “Irreconcilable differences.” The clerk smiled, shaking her head: “Sir, you’re just discovering irreconcilable differences after 30 years of marriage? Marriage isn’t easy; maybe you should think it over before deciding.” But I couldn’t wait. The thought of that woman’s face made it hard for me to breathe. “I have cancer. I don’t want to burden him. Just get it done for us.” At that, the room fell silent. The clerk looked at Michael, shook her head, and sighed deeply. The moment I walked out of city hall, I suddenly felt a wave of relief, as if a huge boulder had been lifted from my chest. Michael grabbed my hand, tentatively saying: “Then I’ll move to David’s place for now, to hide out. With a grandson now, we can’t let those people find our home.” “Okay. Will you come back in 30 days?” “Of course, I will. Without the divorce certificate, those guys won’t believe me.” “Alright, I’ll wait for you right here then. You must come.” That night, Michael packed some personal belongings and hurried out of the house. Before he left, he even reminded me not to forget to change his paralyzed mother’s adult diapers. The very next day after he left, a group of men suddenly showed up at our recycling yard, carrying bats. They shouted loudly, “Michael! Come out!”

I was inside, doing the accounts, when the shouting outside startled me. As soon as I reached the door, the men surrounded me, their faces menacing, as if ready to strike at any moment. Seeing me, the bald leader barked: “Get Michael out here!” “He’s not here.” “Not here? Then *you* pay the money he owes!” With that, two men grabbed my arms, while the others started rummaging through everything. A drawer full of cash and the money from my fanny pack were taken to their boss. The man looked at it—all small bills, only a few hundred dollars in total. Enraged, he grabbed a handful of money and savagely flung it at my face. “Tell Michael, if he doesn’t pay up, I’ll kill him!” As soon as he spoke, a black bag was thrown over my head, and I was shoved to the ground. “What are you doing!” I shrieked, but no one answered. A flurry of punches and kicks came without warning, pain assaulting me from every part of my body. A heavy kick landed on my stomach, and I gasped, unable to make another sound, one thought repeating in my mind: *Maybe I was wrong about Michael. This time, he really is in debt.* My consciousness slowly blurred, and I lay motionless on the ground. They took the black bag off my head, checked my breathing, confirming I wasn’t dead. “Boss, I think she’s passed out.” “Alright, Old Michael just said to scare her a bit, not kill her.” The footsteps gradually receded into the distance. But my heart ached more than my body. Michael would go to such lengths, even having me beaten, just to make me believe he was truly in debt. Five days in the hospital, my phone was eerily silent. Only Daniel called once, about Leo. Hearing I was in the hospital, he just said he’d visit when he had time, but he never showed up. After being discharged, I immediately bought a plane ticket.

The plane landed in an unfamiliar southern city. Humid air washed over me. I went to my best friend Brenda’s house. She had just retired, her husband had passed away, and she had no children. It was the freest time of her life. It had been years, but Brenda was as warm as ever, holding my hand and asking endless questions. When she heard I was divorced, she cheered: “You should’ve left him ages ago! That jerk never deserved you.” Her words surprised me. For 30 years, I’d always felt like I had married above my station. Michael and I both came from humble backgrounds, introduced and married. Everyone in our village said I’d hit the jackpot; Michael’s family was one of the wealthiest there, and he was tall and good-looking. In front of him, I always felt a bit insecure, so I just tried my best to take care of him. Not long after we married, we followed his father thousands of miles away to the city to start a business. After Daniel was born, the recycling yard business thrived, and more and more rumors of Michael’s shenanigans reached my ears. But they were always just rumors. Michael had always been gentle and attentive to me, so I never truly doubted him. Brenda poured me a glass of red wine and asked about my plans. “Take me to a spa. I want to know what a foot massage feels like.” “No problem.” In the private room at the spa, the lights were dim, the music soft. Brenda saw my cautious demeanor and couldn’t help but tease: “Don’t tell me you’ve never been to a spa before.” My face flushed, and I gave an embarrassed smile. Brenda scoffed in disbelief: “A guy like Michael, he’s probably had hundreds of massages outside, if not thousands. You, Sarah, you’re just too naive.” The masseur was a young guy in his twenties. Every time he called me “ma’am,” I got goosebumps. *Is this how Michael got caught, with all those “sirs” from the massage parlor girls?* Lost in thought, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, my phone had a dozen missed calls and dozens of messages. Daniel and Chloe were frantic: “Mom, Leo’s still crying after his milk. What should we do?” “Mom, Grandma Martha’s adult diapers are gone. Where do you buy them?” “Mom, when are you coming home?” Before I could finish reading the messages, Daniel’s call came through again: “Mom, where are you? When are you coming back?” Leo’s crying could be heard in the background. My nose tingled. “I’m out enjoying myself for a few days. I’ll be back soon. You two handle it for now.” Daniel fell silent. The sound of Leo’s crying and dishes clattering grew clearer. Afraid I’d give in, I immediately hung up, but tears still flowed stubbornly. After three days of fun with Brenda, Daniel’s messages started to change. From anxious inquiries, they turned into subtle reproaches. The last message was a direct accusation: “How can you be so selfish, Mom? At your age, you’re still not home, not acting like a grandmother should.” Reading those words, my heart felt like it had been brutally stabbed. Since marrying Michael, I had never rested. Even with a fever, I would get up in the middle of the night to feed Leo and change his diapers. I raised Daniel, and then came Leo. Both Daniel and Chloe worked, so Leo had slept with me since he was born. Every two hours, I’d get up to warm the breast milk Chloe had stored in the fridge for him. After six months, half my hair was gone. I touched my thinning hair and asked Brenda: “Where can I get a hair treatment?” Brenda laughed at me: “Hair treatment? Seriously, Sarah? That’s so old school. Leave it to me.” Brenda took me to a hair salon. Soon, my hair was dark again, making me look 10 years younger instantly. When it was time to pay, I suddenly thought to check my bank balance. Seven figures! I stared at the number, counting it several times. I couldn’t believe Michael was so rich! Yet I’d been picking through discount vegetables at the supermarket, waiting until 8 PM for meat sales, taking the bus instead of a taxi, haggling with grocers over a few cents. All these years, Michael and I had been living in two completely different worlds. As Brenda and I were binging a show with face masks on, Michael showed up. “You’ve had your fun. Come home with me. Everything’s a mess.” Seeing Michael’s anger about to boil over, Brenda stepped between us, smiling at Michael. “Oh, it’s all my fault. I asked Sarah to stay with me for a few days, I forgot she had a whole family to take care of.” She politely invited Michael in and specifically brewed him tea. “Michael, have some tea first. I’ll help Sarah pack her bags.” Brenda winked at me, and I followed her into the bedroom. I thought she was going to encourage reconciliation, but instead, she leaned in and whispered: “You haven’t gotten the divorce certificate yet, don’t burn your bridges too soon. Figure out a way to make him leave with nothing, otherwise, won’t that woman and her kid just get everything?” “But he gave me all the assets, didn’t he?” “You’re naive! He definitely didn’t give you everything. He’s tricking you into this divorce so he can be with that woman. If he gave *you* all his money, how would he support his child?” Her words hit me like a revelation. I quickly packed my bags and went home with Michael. I didn’t have proof of his infidelity, but I was going to make sure he left with nothing. Back home, Michael was still out all the time. I hired a daytime housekeeper and stopped doing any chores myself. With my free time, I followed Michael and found Jessica’s house. After two days of staking out their apartment complex’s recycling room, I successfully retrieved the trash she’d thrown out. With only a week left until the final divorce, the DNA test results for her child came back. The result was a huge shock! 6 I arranged to meet Jessica at a coffee shop, and she readily agreed. She was wearing a dress, her figure curvy, looking around 30 years old, with a composed demeanor.

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On the third day my son went missing, I hacked into every smart system in our building. All 202 residents, from octogenarians to infants, were locked inside their homes. I sent my first message to the residents’ SnapChat group: “My son, Leo, is somewhere in this building. From now on, every hour, I’ll expose one family’s secret. If we don’t find Leo, we all die.” A multi-millionaire CEO in the group exploded in rage: “Are you insane?! What does your son being missing have to do with us?! I demand you stop this immediately!” I typed out my second message, attaching a screenshot of an encrypted financial statement. “@Mr. Henderson from 1502, you have fifty-nine minutes left. Friendly reminder: check your offshore accounts. See if the IRS would be interested.” I knew my son was watching someone in this building. … Three minutes earlier, the group chat was still full of fake sympathy. “@Sarah Miller from 801, any news on Leo? We’re all so worried.” “Yeah, Sarah, just say the word if you need help. We can even crowdfund for you.” “Did building management check the surveillance footage? What did the police say?” I leaned against the cold wall, staring at the warm words on my phone screen. Leo had been missing for 72 hours. Three days. The critical hours were slipping away, second by second. The police said the last surveillance footage showed Leo in the ground floor lobby. He was waving, seemingly at someone he knew, then skipped into the elevator of Tower B. “The Zenith Tower” is one of the most exclusive residential buildings in the city, with tight security; you need facial recognition to get in and out. The police checked all visitor logs. Nothing. So, whoever took Leo had to be a resident of this building. They went door-to-door, but everyone claimed they hadn’t seen him. The officer tried to calm me: “Please, don’t get too agitated, ma’am. We’ll expand our search.” Expand the search? My son was in this cage of steel and concrete! I took a deep breath, typed the last string of code into my laptop, and hit Enter. Instantly, the entire building emitted a low hum. All elevators stopped, all electronic door locks engaged automatically, the central air conditioning ceased, and I physically cut off the internet signal, leaving only a private network I’d set up. The residents’ SnapChat group blew up. “What the hell?! Did the power go out?!” “It’s not a blackout! All smart home systems are haywire!” “The doors won’t open! Management! Where the hell is building management?!” I calmly sent my first message to the group. After a second of dead silence, curses and panic erupted like a burst dam. Mr. Henderson from 1502 was a flashy CEO who’d made his fortune in fintech. He was the first to lash out: “You’re effing crazy! This is illegal detainment! I’m calling the police right now!” I sent out the screenshot I’d prepared. It was an internal financial statement from his company, showing a massive sum of money routed through a dozen shell companies, ultimately ending up in an offshore tax haven. I typed: “Mr. Henderson, you can certainly call the police. But when they arrive, they might want to talk to you first about commercial fraud and tax evasion. After all, the amount looks like enough to get you a life sentence.” Mr. Henderson went silent instantly. The group fell quiet again. I looked at Leo’s photo on the wall; he was smiling, showing his adorable little fangs. “Fifty-eight minutes left,” I whispered to the empty air. “Mommy will find you.” Chapter Two Ten minutes later, police sirens wailed downstairs. Detective Hayes, leading the team, shouted through a megaphone: “Sarah Miller! Calm down! Your actions constitute a serious crime! Restore the building’s systems immediately, and we can discuss everything!” I walked to the window and pulled open a sliver of the curtain. Downstairs, police lights flashed, the area was cordoned off, and media reporters, like sharks smelling blood, were trying to break through the perimeter. I didn’t respond to Detective Hayes. Instead, I sent my second message to the residents’ SnapChat group. “Dear neighbors, I know you’re innocent, and I don’t want to hurt anyone. I just want my son back. From now on, I need you to do three things. First, you can knock on each other’s doors to confirm if your neighbors are okay. Then, think back carefully to three days ago, between 4 PM and 6 PM. Who did you see? What unusual sounds did you hear? Finally, send any clues to me or hand them over to Detective Hayes downstairs.” “Remember, you’re not just saving my son; you’re saving yourselves. After all, no one wants their deepest, darkest secrets to become everyone’s favorite scandal.” Those words hit a raw nerve for everyone in this building. What kind of people lived in The Zenith Tower? Entrepreneurs, doctors, lawyers, celebrities… Everyone wore a dazzling mask, but how much filth and disgrace lay hidden beneath? Someone in the group immediately responded. “@Professor Thorne from 1204, why is there so much noise from your place? Are you renovating?” “@Mrs. Davies from 1808, isn’t your husband away on a business trip? I thought I heard a man’s voice from your apartment.” “@Everyone, who can get into the building’s surveillance room? I can’t possibly see every corner on my own!” Panic and suspicion began to spread. The thin facade of neighborly harmony was ripped apart by my single act. Detective Hayes was still pleading downstairs: “Sarah Miller, we understand how you feel, but you can’t solve problems the wrong way! You’re defying the law!” I picked up a Bluetooth speaker, placed it by the window, and turned the volume to maximum. “Detective Hayes, you heard them. The power of the people is immense. My neighbors will find the clues you couldn’t find in three days, in just one hour.” “And don’t even think about breaking in or cutting the power. The building’s fire safety system and gas lines are also connected to my network. I wouldn’t want any ‘accidents’ to happen.” Detective Hayes went silent instantly. A young officer next to him whispered: “Detective, the tech team says the subject is a top-level expert. The firewall is too complex; it’ll take at least six hours to crack.” Six hours? It’ll be too late by then. Detective Hayes picked up his megaphone, his voice hoarse: “Alright! We’ll search! We’ll help you search! Just don’t do anything reckless!” I watched the countdown on the screen: thirty-five minutes. Chapter Three The first hour’s countdown ended. In the residents’ group, there were over a dozen clues, some believable, some not, but none pointed to Leo. Mr. Henderson sent an angry emoji to the group: “Sarah Miller! Time’s up! What the hell do you want?!” Many people chimed in, thinking I was just bluffing. I didn’t reply. Instead, I dropped a link directly into the group. It was a cloud drive with only one video file. The video’s thumbnail showed Mr. Henderson from 1502 and a new female intern from his company. The location: his office’s breakroom. The time: last week, when his wife was abroad visiting their daughter. The entire building heard a roar of rage and crashing sounds coming from unit 1502. I calmly typed the next line. “Next up, @Dr. Reed from 2101. Fifty-nine minutes left.” Dr. Reed from 2101 was a famous cardiac surgeon in the city, highly respected, and often appeared on TV shows. He immediately replied in the group: “Ms. Miller, I don’t know why you’re targeting me. Everything at my home is normal, and I’m willing to cooperate with any police investigation.” His posture was humble, seeming completely above board. Detective Hayes shouted downstairs again: “Sarah Miller! You’re already breaking the law! Publishing someone else’s private information is a crime!” I sneered. Talk about privacy with a scumbag who might have killed my son? I replied to Detective Hayes: “If Dr. Reed’s privacy can buy back my son’s life, I’m willing to go to jail.” “Detective Hayes, I advise you not to just focus on me. Check my neighbors too. The killer might be among them.” That statement instantly shattered any semblance of shared outrage that had just started to build in the building. Yes, someone in here, or a group of people, took my Leo. Who was it? My gaze fell on the most insignificant clue. It was from Chloe, a young tenant in 703. She said that three days ago in the afternoon, she thought she heard the faint, intermittent sound of a child playing with marbles in the hallway. It was very clear. Marbles? Leo’s favorite toy was a set of glass marbles. I remembered he had a few in his pocket when he left that day. What floor did the sound come from? The girl said she wasn’t sure. It sounded like it was coming from upstairs, or maybe downstairs. The soundproofing in this building was excellent. Hearing it meant the source wasn’t far. I immediately pulled up the hallway surveillance for the 7th, 8th, and 6th floors. But just like what the police had seen before, there was nothing. No, wait. I rewound the surveillance footage from my door at 801, back to 4:30 PM, three days ago. In the frame, the rug by my door was empty. I fast-forwarded the timeline. 4:40 PM. A cleaning lady pushed her cart past. 4:41 PM. The cleaning lady left. And on the edge of the rug by my door, something new appeared. A blue glass marble. Chapter Four My heart pounded. This marble was the first physical evidence since Leo disappeared! Why was it at my door? Was it a signal left by Leo himself, or a taunt from the culprit? The cleaning lady! I immediately @ the building manager in the group: “Send me the list and photos of all cleaning staff on duty recently! Now!” The building manager was terrified and didn’t dare to delay. Within seconds, a list came through. The cleaning lady in the photo was Mrs. Stone, in her fifties, with an honest, trustworthy face. I sent the surveillance screenshot to the group: “@Everyone, who knows this Mrs. Stone? Which floors does she clean? Where is she now?” Someone in the group immediately replied. “Mrs. Stone is a lovely lady, very hardworking.” “She usually handles the higher floors, 12th to 22nd.” “I don’t think she came in today?” I immediately had a bad feeling. I switched my computer screen and began to hack into the city’s traffic surveillance system. My husband, Ryan, is a cybersecurity architect. Over the years, being around him, I’d picked up a few things. And the tools he left on his home computer were top-notch. I entered Mrs. Stone’s ID number, which I’d gotten from the building manager. Soon, I located her address: an old, run-down neighborhood. At the same time, Detective Hayes’s team was in motion. “Sarah Miller, we’ve sent officers to find this cleaning lady! Don’t get agitated, it might just be a coincidence!” A coincidence? There aren’t that many coincidences in the world. While tracking the police car’s route to the old neighborhood, I kept a close eye on the residents’ group chat. Only ten minutes remained on the second hour’s countdown. Dr. Reed from 2101 suddenly posted a very long message in the group. He said: “Ms. Miller, I understand your feelings as a mother. How about this: I’m willing to offer a one-million-dollar reward for anyone who can provide information about Leo. I’ll pay for it myself, just please stop doing things that harm everyone.” His words instantly won him a lot of goodwill. “Dr. Reed is such a good person!” “Sarah Miller, did you hear that? Dr. Reed said he’d pay! What more do you want?” If I didn’t have dirt on him, would he be so kind? I ignored him and said to my computer: “Ryan, are you ready?” From the computer’s speakers, my husband’s tired but resolute voice replied: “Ready. Can activate anytime.” Ryan was in the USA, across the Pacific. He was my backup, and my last resort. Countdown, final minute. In the group, everyone held their breath, waiting to see what earth-shattering scandal would be exposed about Dr. Reed. Dr. Reed himself was so nervous he sent countless “please” emojis in the group. Time was up. I didn’t send any link. I just sent one sentence. “@Dr. Reed from 2101, your wife just threw all three of your computers and all your hard drives out the window.” Downstairs, there were gasps and the loud crash of heavy objects falling. Immediately followed by Dr. Reed’s hysterical roar from unit 210 I closed the residents’ SnapChat group. I knew Dr. Reed was finished. The records of all the illegal organ transplants he’d performed over the years were enough to get him a life sentence. Finally, I got a call from Detective Hayes. His voice was filled with shock and disbelief. “Sarah Miller… we found the cleaning lady.” “She hanged herself… in her home.” Chapter Five My mind went blank with a loud 嗡. The lead was gone, again. Detective Hayes’s urgent voice came through the phone: “Sarah Miller! Listen to me! This might be more complicated than we thought! You need to lift the system lockdown immediately! We need to get in and investigate! Mrs. Stone’s death might be directly connected to your son’s disappearance!”

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It was the thirtieth day of our cold war. Serena, my wife, suggested a trip together to mend our relationship. But the moment we landed, she snapped my ID card in half, smashed my phone, and abandoned me on a deserted island to die. Someone asked if she’d gone too far. She just caressed her belly, a look of disdain on her face. “It’s his own fault for being so petty. I just wanted to use IVF to give Derek a child before he died, and he threw a fit, demanding a divorce.” “The baby’s due in eight months. The island has fresh water and food; he won’t starve. It’s just a little taste of hardship for him.” Eight months later, Serena, cradling her newborn son, felt utterly content. For the first time, she asked her assistant, Mark: “It’s been so long. Hasn’t he caused a fuss about wanting to come back?” She had no idea I died on the very first day I landed on that island. The next thing I knew, my soul was in Serena’s delivery room. Serena, her face pale, gently held the baby, her eyes brimming with maternal love. Her childhood friend, Derek, wiped the sweat from Serena’s forehead, his gratitude overflowing. “Serena, thank you. We have a son now.” I felt a little dazed. So, I’d been dead for this long already. She and Derek’s child had even been born. Serena was just wheeled out when a crowd of people swarmed around, celebrating the baby’s arrival, cheering and showering her with gifts and congratulations. “Serena, this baby is absolutely adorable! He’s the spitting image of you and Derek. He’ll be a heartthrob when he grows up!” These were the same people who used to call me ‘brother-in-law’ with deference, who’d vehemently claimed Serena’s IVF was wrong and accused Derek of faking his illness. Oh, right. They only sucked up to me before because I was Serena’s husband. Serena’s lips curved into a smile, but her gaze kept darting towards the end of the hallway. She picked up her phone and checked it. Then, she frowned, asking Mark, “Didn’t I tell you to buy him a new phone? Why hasn’t he contacted me these past few months? And he hasn’t even complained about wanting to come back?” Mark lied without batting an eye. “Mr. Julian keeps cursing you and Mr. Derek, saying he doesn’t want any contact with you.” The furrow between Serena’s brows deepened. “So stubborn. His temper is truly pig-headed.” “Tell him I’ve had the baby; the mission is accomplished. If he sincerely calls to apologize and agrees to be the baby’s godfather, I’ll bring him back.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. She still had no idea I was long dead. Nine months ago, Serena aborted *our* baby to make room for her and Derek’s IVF child. She claimed Derek was dying soon and wanted to leave him a child. My spirits crushed, my will broken, I asked for a divorce. Serena gave me the cold shoulder for a month. The first time she initiated contact, she suggested we go on a trip to mend our relationship, promising to abort the IVF baby when we returned. I believed her, only to be left on a deserted island to die. Coming back to myself, Derek said pitifully, “Serena, if Julian comes back, he won’t hit me again, will he? He can hurt me, but please, don’t let him hurt our baby!” He lowered his head, adjusting the angle to specially reveal the tiny scar on his forehead. That scar was from when Derek had deliberately slammed his head against the wall to get that cut when he tried to provoke me, after I’d found out about Serena’s IVF. Because of that, Serena hated me, convinced I’d even bully a terminally ill patient. Serena was devastated, her voice sharp with anger. “If he dares lay a hand on you or our son, I’ll make sure he never comes back!” The others burst into laughter. “Serena, you’re still as protective of Derek as ever. Now that the baby’s born, I remember you and Derek had a childhood pact. You two should be together!” “That’s right, Serena! A child needs a complete mother’s and father’s love most of all! Julian’s so petty and extreme; I’m truly afraid he might harm the baby!” Serena didn’t respond to that. She just clenched her fingers, then looked up at Mark. “Did you send the message? What did he reply?” The next second, Serena’s phone, which was lying beside her, rang. Her eyes lit up. She thought it was me, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “Julian, you finally…” The voice on the other end froze her. “Excuse me, are you Julian’s wife? We were wondering if you have time to come to St. Jude’s Chapel to pick up a longevity lock.” Serena countered, “What longevity lock?” The person sighed. “A year ago, Mr. Julian came to our chapel, bowing on his knees with every step, wishing for his seriously ill wife to recover. Later, he returned, saying his wife was well and even pregnant. Our abbot said he had a profound connection with the divine and specially wanted to give him a longevity lock to wish his child peace and safety. But we haven’t been able to reach him for months.” Back then, when Serena was diagnosed with late-stage heart failure, I tried everything to treat her, even begging the heavens for mercy, praying on my knees until my forehead was raw and bleeding. Later, I returned to the chapel, full of joy, believing we had overcome our difficulties and welcomed a new dawn. But in the end, I lost everything. I had nothing. I clutched my chest, a sharp pain radiating from my artificial heart, and let out a bitter laugh. Turns out, even a synthetic heart can ache. The others were stunned by the news. “I can’t believe Julian was so devoted. When you had heart failure, we all thought he’d run away, afraid of the responsibility. It seems we misunderstood Julian…” Suddenly, Serena also clutched her heart, her teeth, white as seashells, biting her red lip. After regaining her composure, she scoffed. “No need. A longevity lock? Just throw it away.” She hung up. She lowered her gaze, gritting her teeth. “This is the difference between Julian and Derek.” “Julian only performs superficial gestures, but Derek directly saved my life! If it weren’t for Derek giving me his heart, I’d be dead already!” “Derek won’t live much longer because of it, but Julian? He only knows jealousy, even causing a fuss about divorce over such a minor thing!” My mouth tasted bitter. I was the one who donated my heart to Serena. The doctor told me that even if I paid a high price for an artificial heart transplant and took medication daily, with current technology, I’d only live another year or two. I didn’t regret it; instead, I was grateful for the time. But when I woke from my coma, I found Serena tearfully thanking Derek for his sacrifice. I tried to explain, time and again, but she just dismissed it as a pathetic attempt to mimic Derek’s sacrifice. It wasn’t until Serena became pregnant that our relationship softened. All because when Derek came to visit Serena, he clutched his chest, his face etched with sorrow, and said, “It’s a shame. I don’t have long left. I probably won’t be able to have my own children, or even see yours, Serena.” Serena immediately and unequivocally decided to give Derek a child. That led to the subsequent tragedy. Listening to Serena’s accusations, the others exchanged glances, and the air immediately thickened with tension. To ease the atmosphere, they all laughed and switched on the TV. “Serena, you just gave birth, don’t get too angry. Just relax a bit.” Coincidentally, a news report came on: “A skeleton of a male was discovered on a deserted island in the Pacific during a drone patrol. This marks a new milestone in drone technology…” Serena suddenly looked up, her pupils contracting. “Which island?”

Someone meekly said, “Serena, I heard the island you sent Julian to is somewhere around that coordinate…” Serena’s brows furrowed, nearly tying themselves in knots. Derek’s eyes flashed. He gently patted Serena’s back. “There are many similar islands, aren’t there? But that skeleton looks remarkably complete, almost like a medical model.” Serena snapped back to reality and scoffed. “Ha, Julian used to fake heart conditions to deceive people. Now he’s even using a skeleton model to scare me? He’s truly enjoying himself too much!” She turned and instructed Mark, “From now on, you are not allowed to agree to Julian’s unreasonable requests! I told you to just give him basic survival supplies, and you still played along with his nonsense!” Mark was drenched in cold sweat, nodding in affirmation. I knew why he was feeling guilty. After tossing me onto the deserted island, Serena had flown off in the helicopter without a second thought. My body and mind were exhausted, and my artificial heart couldn’t bear the strain. I had just pulled out my medication, intending to take it. But that assistant deliberately kicked my life-saving medication, sending it tumbling into the ocean. He’d even sneered, “Ms. Serena is right; you really are a drama queen, still acting like you have a heart condition!” “You, you’ll spend the rest of your life on this deserted island. Ms. Serena and Mr. Derek are having a baby; why would she ever come back for you!” After saying that, he led everyone away from the deserted island with a look of disgust. In the end, I painfully clawed at the ground, my fingernails bloody and torn, my heart stopped, and I died miserably in a foreign land. My body was weathered by wind and sun, torn by scavengers. Even now, the sensation of my heart being squeezed seems vivid before my eyes. Serena’s mood suddenly worsened for some reason. Her expression turned cold, and she rolled over, pulling the covers over herself, beginning to dismiss her visitors. “You can all leave now; I’m tired.” Everyone exchanged confused glances and left the hospital room one by one. Only Derek remained, cooing at the baby and gently holding Serena’s hand, which lay outside the covers with an IV drip. Because it was a natural birth, Serena was able to get out of bed and be discharged in just two days. Derek followed Serena home step by step, cradling the baby and making a pitiful promise. “Serena, I know you’ve hired a postpartum nurse, but I am the baby’s biological father. I have a responsibility to take care of you and our son.” Afraid she wouldn’t agree, he quickly added, “I’m very understanding; I won’t touch anything in the house, and Julian will never find out I’ve been here!” Serena’s fingers, clutching her purse strap, turned white from the force. She seemed conflicted. Derek then clutched his chest, tears welling in his eyes as he weakly said, “Serena, I don’t have long to live. Opportunities to be with you and our son are few. Can you give me this chance?” After a long silence, Serena finally nodded slowly. I watched Derek’s face twist into a sly, triumphant smirk. I lowered my head and gave a bitter laugh. Serena and I used to have a pact: no matter what, we would never bring outsiders into our home. But now, she was letting Derek walk right in. It seemed he was always the exception. As soon as the door opened, the little dog at home rushed forward to welcome Serena. Upon sensing a stranger, he immediately barked a warning, standing protectively in front of Serena. The baby, startled by the barking, began to cry loudly. Serena frowned. “Buddy, settle down!” Derek, however, smiled gently, though his eyes held no warmth. “It’s alright, Serena, I like dogs too.” With that, he crouched down and ruffled Buddy’s head. Buddy was usually gentle; his barking was just his way of deterring strangers, so he didn’t bite Derek’s hand. Serena couldn’t help but sigh. “Derek, you’re still as kind as ever.” Only I saw clearly that Derek’s palm was clutching a handful of Buddy’s yellow-white fur. How much pain Buddy must have been in! Hearing Buddy whimper in pain, Serena’s face changed, and she instantly grew angry. “This dog is just like its owner—an ungrateful, disloyal creature that can’t be tamed!” She pulled Derek away, cradling the baby. Buddy was still whimpering, squatting by the door, biting the bouncy ball I used to play with him, seemingly waiting for me. My nose stung. Buddy was just a little stray, but Serena and I had rescued him together when we were dating. He’d just been abandoned after birth, and Serena and I had taken turns staying up all night, feeding him milk, nursing him until he was grown. He was like our own child. He still didn’t know that his daddy was never coming back. Upstairs, Serena handed the baby to the postpartum nurse and then called for Mr. Henderson, instructing him carefully. “Mr. Henderson, Derek can’t have anything spicy, and no onions, ginger, or garlic. Please tell the kitchen to be mindful. Also, he only sleeps on silk sheets; otherwise, he gets rashes…” Serena rattled on, remembering Derek’s preferences as if they’d been married for ten years. I used to be jealous of her and Derek’s childhood connection, but now it seemed I had thought too little of it. Derek, however, pretended not to know these things. He used the excuse of needing the restroom to sneak into Serena and my bedroom. Buddy, seeing the stranger enter his parents’ room, tilted his head and followed Derek upstairs. Derek sneered at our wedding photo on the table, picking up a marker and drawing all over my face. He jumped when he felt Buddy nipping at his pant leg. The next second, he lashed out with a violent kick. Buddy, a small ten-pound dog, was sent flying against the wall by the heavy kick, then fell to the floor. His limbs twitched a few times, blood spreading from the corner of his mouth, and he whined softly. I was furious. I lunged towards Buddy, but my soul only passed through his body. Derek’s pale, gaunt face twisted into a crazed expression. He scoffed. “Loyal dog, are we? Then I’ll send you to your owner in heaven!” I froze. Derek actually knew I was dead. Could Mark be working for him? Recalling Mark’s disgust for me and his attempts to slander me, I clenched my fists. Just then, Serena, hearing the commotion, walked into the room. She immediately saw Buddy still faintly twitching by the wall.

Derek instantly feigned tears. “I’m so sorry, Serena! The dog bit me, and my heart suddenly ached. I accidentally kicked him. It’s all my carelessness! The dog won’t be hurt, will he?” Serena pressed her lips together, forcing herself to look away from Buddy. “As long as you’re alright. How are you feeling right now? Where did he bite you?” “Pets carry so many germs; it’s not good for the baby. I’ve wanted to have him sent away for a long time. You’ve actually done me a great favor.” With that, she ordered Mr. Henderson to take the dog to the vet, a look of disgust on her face. Derek, however, wasn’t satisfied, his lips twisting into a pout. But he quickly composed himself and tugged on Serena’s sleeve. “As long as the dog’s okay. If Julian found out, he’d probably tear me to shreds. I couldn’t even pay him back if I died!” Anyone who didn’t know better would think I’d somehow bullied him in the past. But Serena’s eyes filled with concern, and she gently cooed, “If he dares do that, I’ll make sure he knows what it means to wish for death.” Derek paused, then tentatively asked, “Serena, my parents want to see our little one a few more times. Will you come with me to visit them tomorrow?” Serena nodded. “Of course. The child will eventually be raised by your parents anyway.” Derek’s chest heaved. He reached out to grab Serena’s hand, whining, “Serena, why are you becoming so distant with me? We—” But Serena pulled away, her tone somewhat cold. “The guest room is ready. You should get some sleep. The baby’s been restless these past few days, and you haven’t been sleeping well either.” But it was Serena who lay awake all night. She kept pulling out her phone, opening our SnapChat chat. When she saw my last message was from eight months ago—my reply of “Okay” to her invitation for a trip abroad—she grew restless. I worried for Buddy’s health, but my soul couldn’t stray too far from Serena, so I could only stare at Buddy’s dog food and toys. The next moment, Serena suddenly walked over to me. My heart skipped a beat. I saw her crouch down and open Buddy’s favorite can of dog food. Then she opened my SnapChat chat. “Julian, I’ve handled everything. Come back. Buddy misses you very much.” Serena had rarely softened like this. This time, I didn’t instantly reply. I could never reply to her messages again. Just then, Mr. Henderson opened the door and returned. Serena saw his empty hands and asked, “Where’s the dog?” Mr. Henderson hesitated. “Six ribs were broken, piercing his heart. He didn’t make it to the hospital… Miss, should we have him cremated?” My heart clenched in agony. When we named our puppy, Serena had said so sweetly, “Of course, we’ll call him Buddy! We’re his parents in his little world, the closest people he has. We’ll protect him and keep him safe always!” Buddy, Buddy… yet he couldn’t even live a safe life. Serena froze, her fingertips trembling. After a long moment, she finally found her voice. “Yes.” “Mr. Henderson, please find me another dog that looks exactly like him. In a few days, when Julian comes home and doesn’t see Buddy, he’ll definitely cause a scene again.” My heart spasmed. She had money; she could find a similar dog. But our feelings? They were irreplaceable. The next day, Serena seemed miles away on the way to Derek’s place, barely patting the crying baby’s back as a mere formality. She pursed her lips, messaging Mr. Henderson, urging him, “Haven’t you found one yet? Hurry up.” When she looked up again, Serena was stunned by the decor of Derek’s house.

I looked at the scene before me and found it absurd. The surroundings were decorated with streamers. A red carpet was laid on the floor. A Bluetooth speaker blared a proposal song. And most striking of all, a banner directly facing the front door read: “Serena, please marry me!” The house was packed with Serena’s and Derek’s friends and family, all looking at the two of them with eager eyes. Serena tightened her grip on the baby, who struggled and cried out loud. Derek’s father chuckled. “Serena, you and Derek had a childhood pact, a promise of marriage. Someone from Julian’s ordinary background simply isn’t a match for you. Now that you’ve had the baby, isn’t it time you married Derek?” Derek immediately dropped to one knee, pulling out a sparkling diamond ring. “Serena,” he declared, his voice full of feigned emotion, “I know I don’t have long to live, but I want to give our child a complete father’s love. I want him to know he was born from love, not some nameless, illegitimate child! Please marry me. I want to protect you and our son until my dying breath!” Seeing this, the crowd, as if on cue, began to loudly chant, “Say yes! Marry him!” My heart felt bitter. So, it had come to this. But Serena’s face darkened. She smacked the diamond ring out of Derek’s hand. “Derek, are you crazy?” Then, without another word, she shoved the baby into Derek’s parents’ arms and stormed out. The atmosphere instantly turned awkward. Derek’s face flushed alternately green and pale. He rushed after her. He grabbed Serena’s arm, his eyes bloodshot. “Why can’t you marry me? Serena, refusing you back then was just my pride. Weren’t you with Julian just to spite me? What’s gotten into you now?!” Serena yanked her arm away, her gaze more resolute than ever. “Julian would be furious! If another man even showed up near me, he’d get so jealous, so petty and stubborn.” “I had an IVF baby with you, and he’s already furious about that. If he found out I accepted your proposal, he’d never forgive me!” Hearing that, I felt a pang of surprise. Derek gritted his teeth, taking a deep breath. The next moment, he clutched his chest, struggling to speak. “But, Serena, what if this is my dying wish? I don’t have much time left. Please, just agree to marry me, just a wedding. After I’m gone, you can still be with Julian. I won’t hold you back for long!” Serena’s eyes flickered with internal struggle. She instinctively reached out, wanting to comfort Derek. Just as her hand was about to touch his chest, she seemed to snap out of a dream. “I’m sorry, Derek. Even if it’s your dying wish, I can’t.” “I know you’re my benefactor, but giving you a child has already repaid you. I hope you won’t overstep.” With that, she turned and walked away. On the way home, she stared intently at the message she had sent last night, which had fallen silent as a stone. Serena irritably questioned Mark, who was following behind her. “Are you sure Julian’s phone can connect to the internet? Why is he still not replying to my messages?” Mark continued to lie. “Ah, well, the people patrolling the deserted island told me Mr. Julian is doing just fine; he’s just deliberately ignoring you.” Serena was furious. “Useless! Go book me a plane ticket, now!” Mark seemed flustered, trying desperately to stop her. “But you’re still recovering from childbirth… Shouldn’t you at least tell Mr. Derek about this?” Serena gave him a scrutinizing look, her voice icy. “What does it have to do with him? Who exactly is your boss?” Soon, Serena boarded the plane. When she finally arrived at the island, fueled by rage, my bare bones still lay exposed on the beach, my clothes long since tattered and ripped by the sea winds. Serena walked towards the makeshift wooden cabin. *Snap*. She stepped on it without a second thought, and I heard a sickening *snap* as my tibia bone broke beneath her heel. Her gaze was suddenly caught by something glinting. Disbelieving, she slowly turned her head. There, on the skeleton’s ring finger, was a gleaming silver men’s wedding band.

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My fiancé dumped me after a mix-up with our health check-up results. We’d gone for a routine comprehensive health check-up before the wedding, and somehow, our phone numbers got swapped. So, his cancer diagnosis was sent to me, and my clean bill of health was sent to him. I hadn’t even had a chance to tell him the truth. When he showed up at my door with his entire family to break off the engagement. They demanded I return the wedding budget and compensate them for emotional distress. My usually kind prospective mother-in-law looked at me with utter contempt. “You jinx! If we hadn’t gone for that check-up, our family would have been doomed!” I returned the wedding budget and all the gifts Liam had given me during our relationship. Silently, I deleted the cancer diagnosis report from my phone. I was on the phone with my boyfriend, Liam, discussing our wedding plans. He sounded a bit hesitant. “Honestly, I don’t think we need such an expensive reception. We have a long life ahead, and plenty of other expenses will pop up. This is all for you, you know. Wouldn’t it be better to save that money and buy you a designer bag? Don’t you agree?” I felt a pang of annoyance. Ever since we got engaged, Liam had become incredibly stingy, and he always used the excuse that it was “for me,” putting me in a position where I felt obligated to agree, as if refusing would make me the villain. I was about to say something when I suddenly received a text message. I opened it to find a notification from the health center. 【Mr./Ms. Davis, your results from our health center are in. Your examination indicates mid-stage stomach cancer. We recommend you seek further medical review and treatment as soon as possible. We wish you a speedy recovery. For any questions, please call our center.】 How could I have cancer? I was too stunned to speak. Liam called out “Hello?” a few times from the other end of the line. Thinking I was upset, he continued, “Okay, we can go with your plan then, but your parents will have to cover the costs. My mom…” I cut him off. “Check your messages. I… I just sent you a screenshot.” I hung up abruptly and quickly called my parents to explain what happened. My parents dropped everything and rushed me to the health center to get the official results. Once there, after a quick check, we realized it was all a huge misunderstanding. Our phone numbers were just one digit off, and he’d accidentally entered my number during registration. Coupled with a clerical error in the system, the reports had been mixed up. So, it wasn’t me with cancer. It was Liam! My heart, which had just settled, tightened again. I reached for my phone to tell Liam, but then I noticed he hadn’t replied to the message I sent him earlier.

My parents drove my distraught self back to my apartment near the office. But my mind was a mess. Liam hadn’t replied. He must be researching treatment options and trying to figure out how to raise money for my supposed illness. He’d always been like that, always responsive to everything. I remembered one time I got my period in the middle of the night and had terrible cramps. I casually complained to him, and he showed up at my building with freshly brewed ginger tea. After that, I was careful about what I said, afraid he’d go overboard. Sigh! Why was I so impatient? I told him before even confirming the situation. Now, how was I going to delicately tell him that *he* was the one with cancer, not me? Before I could think it through, my dad patted my shoulder. “It’s okay, Clara. Stomach cancer isn’t untreatable. The doctor just said it can be managed, especially with that new treatment they mentioned, some kind of targeted therapy. Didn’t they say it’s very effective?” My mom nodded in agreement. “Yes, exactly. I always told you to keep your wealth under wraps, to see if he was truly after you or just your money, but now this involves a human life, it’s incredibly serious. We should just tell him the truth. We can cover the costs and make sure Liam gets the best treatment.” As she spoke, my dad picked up his phone, leveraging his network to find the best stomach cancer specialists. After a few calls, the experts reassured us, saying the situation wasn’t too severe, not to worry too much, and that the prognosis was good. Right, so many people get cancer these days. It’s not an insurmountable obstacle. And Liam was always so optimistic and cheerful; he’d definitely beat it. My mind was a jumble of thoughts. I imagined that when I told Liam, he’d hug me, overjoyed, perhaps even tear up, saying how lucky it was that it was him and not me. I nodded. “Okay. I’ll go see him tomorrow. We’ll take him directly to a top specialist to discuss treatment options. I’ll just figure out exactly what to say tonight.”

Early the next morning, my parents and I were still asleep when a knock sounded at the door. My dad opened it, only to find Liam and Brenda, along with a group of people I didn’t recognize but who, judging by their appearance, were Liam’s relatives. Everyone looked grim, especially Liam and Brenda. They had worried expressions and dark circles under their eyes, clearly having been up all night. I knew it. He hadn’t replied to my messages because he was busy trying to raise money from his relatives. Tears and laughter mingled as I rushed forward, wanting to embrace Liam. But before I could touch him, Brenda pushed me away with a dark look on her face and started ranting like a machine gun. “You cancer hag! Stay away from my son! Don’t infect him with your disease!” “I thought she was such a good girl. She looks decent on the outside, but she’s rotten to the core!” “You jinx! If we hadn’t gone for that check-up, our family would have been doomed!” “It’s not just about you dying, you almost dragged my son into a second marriage, did you know that?” These words hit me like thunderclaps, making my ears ring. But Brenda wasn’t done yet. “I’m here today with my son to call off this engagement! If you dare to refuse, I’ll take this to court and let the whole world know you’re clinging to my son even when you’re on your deathbed!” My parents and I froze, especially me. The smile on my face instantly stiffened. Brenda had always been so gentle and kind to me before. I used to think I was incredibly lucky to have found such a wonderful boyfriend and such a good prospective mother-in-law. I even told my best friend, “Liam’s mom is so open-minded; she’ll definitely approve of our marriage.”

My parents’ faces were livid with anger. My mom held my dad back, afraid he’d lose his temper and physically lash out. My mom, in her usual good-natured way, said, “Let’s talk this through calmly. Even if you want to break off the engagement…” Brenda cut my parents off. “Who wants to talk calmly with you? Don’t even think about clinging to my family!” I ignored Brenda and turned to look at Liam. After all, he was the one I was supposed to spend my life with. Brenda was undoubtedly upset after hearing about my supposed illness, but Liam just kept his head down, refusing to look at me. I still wanted to give Liam a chance. After so many years together, so many wonderful memories—as long as he was willing to stand by me, I wouldn’t care what Brenda said. At worst, I just wouldn’t associate with her in the future. So, I spoke in a hoarse voice, “Stomach cancer can be treated, and Liam and I, after all…” Brenda heard me and, with a knowing look, cut me off. “I knew you’d try to cling to my son! I don’t know if cancer can be cured, but I do know that cancer can be hereditary. Even if you’re cured, it’ll still be in your genes.” “My son is the only male in our family to carry on the name. If he marries you and has an unhealthy grandchild, what will I do?” “Before, I was just putting on a show for you, because you were an only child from a prosperous background. I thought marrying you would help my son in the future, and your parents could provide financial and practical support!” “But who would’ve thought, after all that careful selection, we’d end up with a cancer hag!” “I was dissatisfied with you long ago! A girl who’s constantly drinking milk tea, eating takeout, always wanting to eat out! Well, serves you right now, even heaven is punishing you for your lifestyle, giving you cancer!”

Liam stood there as if he wasn’t even present, still staring at his shoes. I found it utterly ridiculous. All my fantasies from yesterday now seemed like the most pathetic jokes. I ignored Brenda’s incessant rambling and just stared at Liam. “Is that what you think too? Are you here to break off the engagement?” Liam knew he couldn’t hide any longer. He looked up at me, his eyes devoid of any former affection, and said coldly, “Yes!” I stumbled, and my parents quickly steadied me from behind. “Liam, have you forgotten what you promised me?” Liam scoffed. “Clara and I are only engaged, not married. I have no legal responsibilities or obligations to her. Besides, I’m not looking for someone to take care of; I want a supportive partner, a warm harbor to care for *me* and *my mother*, to make my life and work free from worrying nuisances!” “I’m a normal man; of course, I’d put myself first. Can you honestly say that if *I* were the one with cancer today, you wouldn’t break off the engagement?” But the truth was, we wouldn’t have. After all, I had just been thinking about how to tell you, how to get you treatment, how to care for you. I never once considered abandoning you. My heart shattered into a million pieces, yet I also felt incredibly fortunate to see his true colors now. I smiled and nodded. “Fine, then the engagement is off. We’ll go our separate ways from now on.” Liam probably hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He looked a bit awkward, then habitually tried to morally blackmail me. “And you talk about loving me? If you truly loved me, you wouldn’t drag me down. I just bought a house; how could I possibly have spare money to pay for your cancer treatment?”

As soon as he said that, Liam quickly fell silent, but I’d already heard it. I couldn’t help but look up. “I only told you about my ‘cancer’ yesterday. How could you have bought a house today?” It wasn’t like me to be so curious. Liam and I had planned to buy a house together after the wedding. I had always discouraged him from buying a house beforehand, intending to surprise him by having him move into the spacious apartment I’d already bought. Liam looked embarrassed. Perhaps out of habit from our years of dating, he still explained after I asked. “The house was bought a few months ago, not yesterday.” But Brenda felt no awkwardness at all. Shielding Liam, she said with a hint of pride, “What are you afraid of? Our buying a house is our business. Why should we have to tell you?” “Besides, do you think we’re stupid? Buying a house after marriage makes it joint marital property. The moment you suggested that, I immediately saw through your intentions. We paid the down payment right away and put the house in *my* name.” Ah, yes. Property acquired before marriage. Then they’d have expected me to cover the renovation costs, and if things went south, I’d end up with nothing in the property division. What a deeply calculating mind. I smiled bitterly and nodded. Now, I wasn’t sad at all. After all, not only was I healthy and cancer-free, but I’d also avoided marrying into such a conniving family. My parents couldn’t take it anymore. My dad stormed over and flung the front door open. “Then you can leave. Don’t make a scene in my house.” Brenda sneered. “Your house? This is the landlord’s place! You’d better return it quickly. Don’t go dying in someone else’s rental; that would be incredibly bad luck!” The assembled relatives burst into laughter, as if Brenda had just told the funniest joke.

I wasn’t angry, and I couldn’t be bothered to explain that this was, in fact, my own apartment. After all, these people were strangers to me now. Why should I get angry at a bunch of strangers? Still, I didn’t understand why they were still here. Brenda stood for a moment, seeing that my parents and I weren’t “playing along,” and decided she couldn’t wait any longer. She spoke directly, “That wedding budget we gave you for the engagement last time? You *must* return it to me. Don’t think about using my family’s money to treat your illness.” So, it was about that $26,000 wedding budget. My dad didn’t waste time. He pulled out his phone and transferred $26,000 directly to Liam. “Now, get out!” “Not enough! There’s also the money for the banquet! We didn’t get married, and ultimately, it’s your daughter’s fault for being sick. You can’t let us lose money; you wasted our family’s funds!” My dad scoffed, pulled out his phone, and transferred another $7,000. “Is that enough? The venue you picked would’ve cost at most $4,100. Here’s $7,000; now get out.” Brenda stared at her phone for a long time, counting the money several times. Once she confirmed it was all there, she still wouldn’t leave. She nudged Liam, who then snapped out of his daze and spoke, “The rings, bracelets, bags, clothes, and shoes I gave you during our relationship – you have to return those too!” Brenda and the relatives behind her nodded in agreement. “Exactly, those are all good things! You’re going to die anyway, what good are they to you?” “Yeah, we can give them to his next girlfriend!” Brenda also nodded. “To be honest, yesterday, when I found out you were gravely ill, I immediately contacted the matchmaker to recommend some girls for my son. We’re just waiting to arrange meetings. It wouldn’t do to go empty-handed on the first date, so those items would make perfect gifts.” “I honestly don’t care about those things.” At my signal, Brenda and Liam started taking things from a box, item by item, confirming whether they were indeed gifts from Liam. It took a long time. In the end, they even packed away a small collectible figurine. Once I saw they had finished packing, I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed a broom and literally swept them out the door.

After they left, my dad said angrily, “Clara, don’t tell anyone about Liam’s cancer. Don’t bother with him. He made his own bed; he’ll have to lie in it.” I hummed in agreement, stubbornly deleting the health report from my phone. But secretly, I planned to wait a few days, let things cool down, and then tell him, or at least inform the health center to contact him. I figured that was the extent of my goodwill. A few days later, before I had a chance to reveal Liam’s cancer diagnosis, he and his mother showed up again. This time, they didn’t bring a crowd of relatives for intimidation. Instead, they brought a bespectacled, scholarly-looking man. I didn’t open the door. I frowned at the video doorbell. “What do you want now?” The man with glasses stepped in front of the camera and cleared his throat. “Hello, Ms. Davis. My name is Sterling. I’m the attorney Mr. Hayes has retained. We’re here today to request repayment for the expenses incurred during your relationship. We have a detailed list. Please open the door so we can discuss this civilly. If you refuse, we’ll have no choice but to take legal action.” Liam nodded too. “Clara, you’re going to die anyway. I invested that money in my future wife. Since you won’t be my wife, I need it back.” Brenda laughed. “Yes! Instead of giving that money to you for your illness, it’d be better for my son to use it for his mortgage! I’m telling you, if you don’t return it, I’ll sue you, and you’ll die in prison!” Lunatics! They were truly lunatics. Fine! Let’s tally it all up. Just don’t come crying to me afterward. I didn’t open the door. Instead, I spoke into the intercom. “Then you’ll have to wait. I’m also getting my lawyer. You can come in once my lawyer arrives.” Brenda scoffed. “You should save what little money you have for your cancer treatment, not for a lawyer!” But I said no more after that. The three of them had no choice but to wait in the hallway for half an hour, sweating profusely from the heat. It wasn’t until I called my parents’ company’s legal team, and six senior attorneys arrived in full force, that I finally allowed Liam and his companions inside.

nce inside, Liam’s group was sweltering, especially Mr. Sterling, the lawyer in the suit jacket, who looked on the verge of heatstroke. But he still dutifully handed me a stack of papers. Brenda and Liam, meanwhile, stared at my formidable legal team, whispering, “Where did she get all these lawyers? They’re probably just homeless people she hired to pretend!” I quickly scanned the papers. They listed petty expenses. Takeout he ordered for me, movies he treated me to, drinks he bought, and even that ginger tea I’d remembered—it was all meticulously recorded. The ginger tea alone was listed at $2, with a $7 delivery fee for the middle of the night. All in all, beyond the roughly $8,000 in actual expenses, there was $21,000 for emotional distress and another $21,000 for wasted youth, totaling over $50,000. I nodded. “I’m willing to pay this $50,000, but only if you return everything I gave you!” Liam and Brenda exchanged glances, then quickly nodded. Liam then spoke, dismissively, “The things you gave me were just fakes, worthless. $14,000 should be enough, right?” I shook my head. Probably not enough, actually. But I didn’t need to say anything. My legal team stepped forward with their evidence. “Ms. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. Davis anticipated this situation, so they had us prepare everything in advance. Please confirm if it’s all here.” I gave a perfunctory “Hmm.” “It’s fine, whatever.” My legal team handed the evidence to Liam. His face grew darker and darker. “How is this possible? You’re lying! Everything you gave me was fake; how could it be so expensive?” Liam looked utterly shocked, but quickly regained his composure. “You must have cancer and are deliberately trying to deceive me, trying to use my money for your treatment.” Liam’s face registered disbelief, but he quickly returned to his normal expression. “You must have cancer and are deliberately trying to swindle me, just wanting my money to pay for your treatment.” So, that was the root of it. I smiled. “Actually, there’s something else I’ve been hiding from you. You’ve always thought I was the one with cancer, but that’s not true.” I recovered a photo from my phone’s trash bin, a picture I’d taken of Liam’s cancer diagnosis report. “Actually, you’re the one with cancer, not me.” Liam and Brenda snatched my phone, their expressions instantly changing. “How is that possible?”

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After I died, I became a ghost, constantly hovering around my ex-boyfriend, Caleb. I thought he couldn’t see me, so I shamelessly slept beside him, even swiped his underwear, and chirped away while he was in the shower. Until that day, when his utterly exasperated voice came from the bathroom: “Elara, are you done messing around? Give me back my briefs.” I died, a hundred days after breaking up with Caleb. A freak car accident. Quick and definitive. When I opened my eyes again, I was floating in mid-air, watching my cold body being covered with a white sheet and loaded onto an ambulance. Then, an unseen force tugged at me, pulling me through countless walls, before finally depositing me in a familiar apartment. It was Caleb’s place. And just like that, I became a ghost. I floated in front of Caleb. He was sitting on the couch, a bottle of whiskey in hand, drinking mouthful after mouthful. The coffee table was littered with empty liquor bottles and takeout containers. The whole apartment reeked. He was a shadow of his former self, cheekbones sharp, eyes sunken, a scruffy beard dusting his jaw. Those eyes, which once always held a spark when they looked at me, were now utterly vacant. My non-existent heart felt like it was being squeezed tight, an excruciating pain. We’d been together for three years, from college sweethearts to navigating the real world. Everyone just assumed we’d end up getting married. Six months ago, he suddenly became distant, always busy. We argued, gave each other the silent treatment, until finally, he called it quits. He just said, “Elara, I’m exhausted.” Back then, I just thought he didn’t love me anymore. But seeing him in this state now… I wasn’t so sure anymore. “Caleb,” I floated to his ear, unable to stop myself from chattering, “Look at you, what a mess. You can’t even bother to shave, or sweep the floor. The garbage is practically burying you alive!” He didn’t react at all, just lifted the whiskey bottle and took another long swig. Fine. He really couldn’t see or hear me. My heart sank, yet a strange sense of relief washed over me. At least, I could still be by his side like this.

Deep into the night, Caleb drank himself into a stupor and passed out on the couch. His brow was furrowed, and he was muttering something I couldn’t quite make out. I leaned my ear closer. “Elara… don’t go…” My non-existent heart ached. Ghosts don’t shed tears, not literally. But his words made my very essence feel like it was unraveling. Well, well, Caleb. So you haven’t forgotten me after all. My courage grew, and I floated to his side, curling up next to him just like I used to. I couldn’t touch him, but I could smell his familiar scent, just as it always was. I stared at his sleeping face, extending my translucent hand to trace the line of his eyebrow, his eyelid. As if possessed by a sudden urge, I leaned down and brushed my lips against his. They were cold, utterly devoid of a living person’s warmth. We never got a proper goodbye when I was alive. Consider this my last, silent farewell. He seemed to sense something. His eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes. Our gazes met. My ghostly form instantly froze. He… he saw me? His eyes were hazy, still clouded by alcohol. He looked in my direction and reached out a hand, as if trying to grasp something. “Elara…” My heart leaped into my throat. But the next second, his hand dropped, his head lolled, and he sank back into a deep sleep. A crushing wave of disappointment washed over me. It was just drunken ramblings. I sighed, settling down beside him. “Caleb, you know what? I regret it. If I’d known this would happen, on the day we broke up, I wouldn’t have been so stubborn. I would have held you, begged you not to leave.” “But it’s too late for anything now.” “You have to live well, for both of us. Find a good girl, get married, have adorable kids. Then, slowly, forget about me.” As I spoke, my ghostly form seemed to grow fainter. *Forget about me.* Those three words stung more than the thought of simply fading away.

The next day, Caleb was woken by his phone ringing. He rubbed his aching head, still battling a hangover, and answered, his voice hoarse, “Hello, Mom.” His mother said something on the other end, and he impatiently cut her off, “I know, I know, I’ll clean up.” After hanging up, he looked around, his brow furrowed so deeply, you could have squeezed a coin between them. He started resignedly cleaning the apartment. I floated beside him, giving directions. “Yep, that stinky sock? It’s trash time.” “Are you planning to collect these takeout boxes forever?” “Seriously? You missed a spot. Over here, there’s still a footprint.” I kept yammering on, not even realizing that Caleb’s actions were mirroring my words perfectly. If I said east, he wouldn’t go west. It wasn’t until he finished cleaning the place and collapsed on the couch that I realized. Something was off. This was too much of a coincidence. Were we really still so in sync? My heart fluttered with a strange joy. With the apartment clean, Caleb seemed to be in a slightly better mood. He turned and headed for the bathroom, apparently to shower. My eyes lit up, and I immediately followed. Heh, he never let me watch before, but now I was a ghost. How was he going to stop me? Suddenly, *wham*, the bathroom door slammed shut right in front of me. I slammed right into it, feeling my ghostly essence ripple from the impact. “What the heck? Is there a protective charm on the door?” I rubbed my non-existent nose, not giving up, and tried again. Still couldn’t get in. I could only lean against the door, listening to the sound of the shower and letting my imagination run wild. “Caleb, showering alone is so boring. Want me to scrub your back?” “Hey, say something. Are you shy?” No sound from inside, but the shower seemed to pause for a moment. I didn’t think much of it and continued to tease him, “Oh, is your back still okay? You used to complain about the pain all the time. No one to massage it for you now, huh?” Inside, the shower suddenly stopped.

A moment later, the door opened. Caleb emerged, wrapped in a towel, his hair still dripping, his face flushed with an unusual redness. He didn’t even glance in my direction, heading straight for the kitchen and yanking open the fridge. It was empty. He sighed, settling for a packet of instant noodles. Seeing him like that, my heart twisted. I was feeling weaker too, my ghostly form almost transparent. Even ghosts need to “eat,” and for us, that means absorbing the essence of offerings, like burning incense. But I’d only just died. My parents were distraught, and they wouldn’t have thought about making offerings yet. “Starving…” I mumbled, leaning on the table. “Someone burn me some food. I want fried chicken, the original recipe. Two servings.” Caleb’s hand, stirring his noodles, stopped. He froze, turning his head in my direction. His gaze was odd—was it tentative? Or… fear? I froze too. What was his deal now? But he said nothing, turning back to his noodles. After finishing his meal, he changed clothes, grabbed his car keys, and headed out. I quickly floated after him. I was getting weaker, feeling like I was about to dissipate if I didn’t get some sustenance. I had to stick with him. What if he went to see my parents? I could potentially ‘mooch’ some spiritual energy.

Caleb didn’t go to my parents. He drove aimlessly through the streets. The radio was playing *our* song, that old ballad we used to adore. “If I never knew you, never saw you…” The lyrics twisted a knife in my non-existent gut. I floated in the passenger seat, looking at his profile, my heart heavy. The car drove past a boutique hotel, the one where we’d spent our first night together. Instinctively, I blurted out, “Oh, this place is still around?” As soon as the words left me, I saw Caleb’s ears turn red. Wait, *what*? No way. Could he actually hear me? Must be a delusion, absolutely. I shook my head, trying to clear away the crazy thought. As I was lost in thought, the car stopped. I looked up, stunned. “Funeral Home & Cremation Services.” Dude, what are you doing here? Caleb walked into the store, his face expressionless, and spent a long time browsing the extensive selection of funeral supplies. Finally, he bought a pot of marigolds. Back home, he said nothing, just carefully placed the pot of marigolds on the living room coffee table. The beautiful flowers carried a fresh, clean scent. The scent hit me like an oasis in a desert, and I instinctively lunged towards it. I opened my mouth and greedily inhaled the fragrance of the marigolds. A warmth instantly flooded my entire being, solidifying my ethereal form. It was heavenly. A true feast for the spectral! I let out a satisfied, non-existent burp and looked at Caleb on the couch. He was holding his phone, staring at a picture. The girl in the photo, smiling brightly, was me. He took that picture when we went to the beach last year. He used to say I was the most beautiful view he’d ever seen. So, you still kept my photos. My heart ached, a painful swell of emotion. He looked at the picture, his fingers gently tracing my face, his eyes slowly reddening. “Elara…” He whispered my name, as if talking to the picture. “I miss you so much.” I floated over, wanting to hug him, but my hand, of course, passed right through him. Right. There was life and death separating us now.

The next day, I was woken by the ring of a phone. Caleb answered, his tone impatient. “Mom, I told you I’m not going!” “What do you mean I *have* to go? I’m thirty, I make my own decisions!” “Fine, fine, I’ll go, okay? Just send me the address.” He hung up, tossing his phone onto the couch in frustration. A date? My heart dropped. Of course. He was thirty; it was time for him to settle down. My mom used to constantly nag him, saying he’d end up a lonely old bachelor if he didn’t settle down soon. I even joked that when he got old, I’d push his wheelchair in the park, and we’d watch the retirees playing board games. But now, I wouldn’t even have the chance to grow old with him. Even though my heart was aching fiercely, seeing Caleb reluctantly rummage through his closet for clothes, I couldn’t help but float over to offer advice. Ugh, that one’s so drab. This one’s good, blue. It really suits your complexion. He actually picked up the blue shirt and held it against himself in the mirror. Then, he shaved, and styled his hair. Looking at the handsome man reflected in the mirror, my heart twisted. He was going to meet another girl looking like that. The thought made me want to cry. I followed him all the way to a coffee shop. The girl was already there. Long hair, white dress, two delicate dimples when she smiled. She was exactly the type I used to envy when I was alive—gentle and elegant. They sat together, looking truly compatible. I felt like a pathetic voyeur, hiding in the corner, watching them chat. The girl was quite talkative; Caleb said little, occasionally offering a perfunctory response. My heart slowly sank. Maybe he’d quickly fall for this girl. Then, they’d get married, have children. My name, Elara, would soon be a forgotten chapter in his life.

The date ended quickly. Less than half an hour, start to finish. Caleb saw the girl into her car, then returned to his own with an expressionless face. I couldn’t read him. Was he pleased, or not? The car didn’t head home but drove out to the suburbs. Finally, it stopped in front of a quiet, unassuming spiritual retreat. I followed him out of the car, but as I tried to step through the entrance, an invisible force bounced me back. A golden aura enveloped the entire retreat, like an invisible wall to me. I couldn’t get in. I could only watch as Caleb walked inside. I floated frantically outside the door. Why was he here? To seek guidance for his love life? At the thought of that possibility, my essence began to flicker, and the air around me noticeably chilled. I don’t know how long it was before Caleb finally came out. His face was even darker than before, radiating a heavy gloom, as if he’d just been in a brawl. He was clutching a small, yellowed paper charm. I didn’t dare get too close, just followed him from a distance. Back home, he taped the charm to his bedroom door. Then, without a word, he walked into his study and closed the door. My heart was racing, filled with dread. Was that charm meant to banish me? Did he go to that spiritual retreat to find Elder Finn and get rid of me? Did he really… hate me that much? Couldn’t even tolerate my ghost? A massive wave of panic and hurt washed over me. I curled up in the corner of the living room couch, feeling a chilling cold for the first time. It turned out that even after death, a heart could still ache.

I sat in the living room all night. The next day, Caleb finally emerged from his study. He had heavy bags under his eyes. When he saw me, his gaze flickered away, a complicated mix of emotions in his eyes. He said nothing, just lit another stick of incense. I hesitated, but couldn’t resist the lure of “food,” so I floated over and inhaled a couple of breaths. My strength returned somewhat, and the ache in my heart lessened. Can’t be sad on an empty stomach, right? I floated to his side, wanting to see what he was up to. “Caleb, what’s wrong with you? What’s that charm for? Are you trying to get rid of me?” He ignored me. A moment later, he got up and went into the bathroom. The sound of water began. My curiosity was reignited. Heh, that charm on the bedroom door keeps me out, but the bathroom should be fair game, right? I brazenly floated into the bathroom, ready for a private viewing of my ex in the shower. Instead, I was met with a tightly drawn shower curtain. I was fuming. Guarding against me like I was a thief! I floated around the shower curtain and suddenly glimpsed his discarded pajamas and… underwear. A pair of black boxer briefs. A mischievous idea popped into my head. I let out a little ‘hehe,’ floated over, and scooped up his pajamas and—yes—his underwear, clutching them to my chest. “That’s what you get for not letting me see! I’ve got your clothes, let’s see you come out naked now!” I hummed triumphantly, holding his garments, and floated to the door. Just as I was about to go out and show off my spoils, a man’s voice, laced with gritted-teeth irritation, suddenly came from behind the shower curtain. That voice, I knew it all too well. He said— “Elara, are you done messing around?” “Give me back my briefs.”

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The Chief of Staff’s daughter had fallen from the fourth floor, and I was ready, waiting to head into surgery. The ambulance screeched into the hospital, and the patient was rushed to the operating table. But in that critical moment, my husband, Dr. Marcus Thorne, the Chief Physician, suddenly called a halt. He did it just to wait for his first love, Dr. Serena Wells, the acclaimed doctor who supposedly studied abroad, to be the lead surgeon. It was the same exact scenario in my previous life. But that celebrated overseas specialist had no real surgical skills – all theory, no practical experience. She almost missed the golden hour for the surgery. It was only my insistence on the original treatment plan that turned the situation around. Humiliated, Serena jumped from the hospital’s rooftop, ending up a quadriplegic. And my husband? He had me exiled to a struggling clinic in a neglected neighborhood, even arranging for thugs to assault me there. I tried to hide and call for help, but his reply was chilling. “Vivian Vance, it was just one surgery. Did you really have to steal Lili’s thunder?” “Then you, too, deserve to experience torment.” My location was exposed through the phone call, and I was ultimately brutalized to death. When I opened my eyes again, the gurney was already being wheeled in front of me. This time, I didn’t rush. Hands in my pockets, I waited. Let his overseas specialist show off her supposedly masterful surgical skills and save that patient.

“Why is this overseas specialist taking so long? We’re racing against death here!” “The patient’s body temperature is already rising, and her limbs are swelling.” “If she starts convulsing, we might not be able to save her.” The surgical team huddled behind me, frantic with worry. But no matter how anxious or how much they urged, all they got was Marcus’s harsh reprimand. “What’s the rush? Do you really think any of you can save this patient?” “Lili graduated with a PhD from the best hospital abroad. As long as she’s on the table, there won’t be any problems.” Marcus’s shouting left the team bewildered and unsure what to do. But he always had full control over major surgeries, and no one dared to question him. Chloe, my university roommate from Neurosurgery, who was standing behind me, couldn’t help but speak up. “If we wait any longer, we might not save her at all. Let’s get her into the OR and intubate her; at least that’ll buy us some time.” Doctors from every department across the hospital had rushed over for this consultation, hoping to finalize the best surgical plan immediately. But Chloe’s words didn’t sway Marcus; they only irritated him further. “This surgery falls entirely under my discretion. You Neurosurgery folks just wait for my orders.” Chloe bristled. “How dare you speak to me like that? All medical staff are colleagues here!” “Besides, I’m giving you professional advice!” But Marcus’s face turned cold. He glared at the Chief of Neurosurgery. “Replace her. Send her back to Neurosurgery. We don’t need her here!” Chloe spun around in a rage, stomping away, but not before shooting Marcus a furious glare. Then, Marcus’s gaze fell on me. “Vivian, what do you think?” Chloe was my college roommate. He’d just chastised her and sent her away, yet only after she left did he ask me. The implication was clear. I looked at him, a faint smile touching my lips. “You’re the Chief of the department and the one in charge of this surgery. I’ll naturally follow your lead.” Marcus hadn’t expected me to be so compliant today. He gave a satisfied chuckle, then looked at the consulting doctors behind him. “See? This is the obedience a doctor should possess.” I stood calmly behind him, watching it all unfold. In my previous life, I chose to fight him to the bitter end, and what did I get? He had me killed in a deprived area, all for Serena Wells. This time, I certainly wouldn’t be that foolish.

In the midst of everyone’s eager anticipation, Serena Wells finally arrived. She wore perfectly applied makeup and sauntered along, completely unhurried. The Chief of Staff’s daughter’s body temperature was steadily climbing. Serena approached, glancing around. “Did you get X-rays? Without them, how can I determine the fracture points?” The nurse promptly handed her the imaging scans. Serena’s words were stuck in her throat. But she still didn’t admit she couldn’t do the surgery. “Just images aren’t enough. I also need to know the blood loss volume and if it’s suitable for an incision.” Nurse Miller finally lost her patience. She looked at Serena, her eyes filled with undisguised contempt. “Dr. Wells!” Nurse Miller emphasized the “Doctor” with biting sarcasm. She continued, “Can you actually perform this surgery?” “This isn’t the time to assess blood loss! We need to get her into the operating room immediately. Every minute she’s out here increases the danger.” Serena bristled. She glared at Nurse Miller, her voice cold. “Am I the lead surgeon or are you?” “You’re just a head nurse; how dare you speak to me like that!” Nurse Miller had worked in the hospital for over twenty years, accumulating knowledge and experience no less than any doctor. Serena, acting like she owned the place, then turned to Marcus, with a hint of playful reproach. “Marcus, since everyone here looks down on me so much, I might as well leave.” Marcus quickly stopped Serena, then glanced at me. He whispered something in Serena’s ear. Whatever they exchanged, Serena finally conceded. “Fine, let’s go into the operating room.” Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, swiftly wheeling the patient into the operating room. But then, another long wait ensued. The surgical team looked at me, hoping I would take charge. I looked at the girl’s weakening heartbeat on the monitor, feeling helpless. “Dr. Vance, at least get her breathing so her lungs don’t suffer any more damage.” I hesitated for a moment, just about to nod. Serena, now dressed in surgical scrubs, walked in. All eyes turned to her, their gazes filled with an unspoken resentment. If a life was lost because of this incompetent quack, they would surely tear Serena apart. But Serena remained oblivious. She arrogantly strutted forward, glanced at the girl’s body, and spoke indifferently. “It’s not as serious as I thought. You called me here for this? I hadn’t even finished my face mask.” Nurse Miller gritted her teeth in rage, but she bit back her retort. Marcus then walked in. Serena scoffed, then went to Marcus’s side. “Marcus, with you here, this surgery is bound to be a success.” Marcus gently caressed her cheek. “Of course, darling. You’re the best doctor in the world.” Their intimate familiarity made the other surgeons in the room exchange glances, their eyes inevitably settling on me. My mask hid my face, but the turmoil in my eyes was still visible. It wasn’t for their private affections, but for the life on that operating table. I finally couldn’t help but speak. “Can we start now?” Serena shot me a disdainful glance, then scoffed. “What, you want to take over?” “Now you’re bossing me around? I’m the lead surgeon!” “If you’re so capable, why don’t you go get a PhD abroad yourself?” I didn’t reply, but the heart monitor suddenly screamed. Nurse Miller shouted in panic. “No! The patient is in ventricular fibrillation!”

The atmosphere in the operating room instantly turned desperate. “Quick! Prepare the defibrillator!” “Asynchronous cardioversion, 200 joules!” “One! Two! Three! Clear!” The nurses moved frantically, everyone working in tandem to extend a life. Serena, however, was terrified by the chaos. She ran into Marcus’s arms, whimpering and crying. “Waaah, Marcus, this is too scary.” “I don’t want to be here anymore, I want to leave.” The surgical team had no time for her overly dramatic performance, and neither did I. Marcus, however, protected Serena like a precious treasure. “It’s alright, darling. Just wait for them to revive her, then you can continue.” Finally, after more than two minutes of CPR, the girl’s heart resumed beating. But there was no more time to waste. Nurse Miller could barely control her internal panic. “Dr. Wells, can you or can’t you operate on this patient?” “If not, then get out of here, now!” Serena shot her a venomous glare, then turned to me. “This surgery isn’t worthy of my touch.” “You.” She raised a hand, pointing at me, “You do it.” I frowned slightly. A jolt of alarm went through me. I had been keeping a low profile, waiting until the very last moment when I absolutely had to intervene. But not only had Marcus pointed me out earlier, now Serena seemed to have a GPS tracker on me too. She had her sights on me. I pressed my lips together. In my moment of hesitation, Marcus also spoke. “Vivian Vance, since Lili wants you to do it, then you do it.” Marcus’s face was impassive; I couldn’t discern their intentions. But the other people in the operating room, hearing Serena name me to perform the surgery, felt a glimmer of hope. Nurse Miller quickly ushered me to the operating table. “Dr. Vance, we truly can’t let them mess around anymore.” “This is a human life! They’re just wasting precious time!” I subtly reassured Nurse Miller with my eyes, then began to prepare for surgery. Incision, intubation – seamlessly and efficiently. Nurse Miller stood by, handing me the surgical instruments. I didn’t need to speak; a mere gesture would bring me the perfect tool. Although I had performed this surgery once in my previous life, I still dared not be careless this time. The child was severely injured. She had fallen from the fifth floor, suffering skull damage and comminuted fractures in both arms and legs. I could only proceed slowly, step by step. My forehead was already beaded with sweat. I waited for the neurosurgeon to complete the skull repair, then I would take over for the arms and legs. Skull complete, the neurosurgeon passed the baton to me. I nodded, ready to pick up an instrument to open the arm, when Serena, who had been silent, spoke again. “Marcus, I want to learn from Vivian how to perform surgery.” I looked at Serena, confused. Her face held a smirk of pure provocation. Marcus didn’t hesitate. “Of course, darling. Lili can go wherever she wants, see whatever she wants.” “Vivian, you don’t mind, do you?” I couldn’t refuse, nor could I. Serena came to my side, squeezing Nurse Miller away. “Vivian, let me be your assistant.”

I knew the person beside me wasn’t truly interested in watching my surgery, despite what she said. But I looked at the monitor; the patient’s vitals were gradually worsening. There was absolutely no time to waste. I forced myself to focus all my attention on the surgery. “Forceps.” I spoke coldly, reaching my hand to the right for the instrument. But I waited and waited, and the tool never came. Serena’s shrill voice cut through the air. “Oh, Vivian, there are so many forceps here. Do you want the toothed forceps or the non-toothed ones?” “Non-toothed.” Only after getting a definitive answer did she pick up the forceps and place them in my hand. And that was just the beginning. Anything else I requested after that wasn’t immediately provided. Finally, on the fifth time, she asked me. “Sister, do you want the laser scalpel or the ultrasonic scalpel?” I shot her a cold glance. The triumphant look on her face made me want to plunge my scalpel into her heart. How could anyone have such a blatant disregard for human life? “Can you do this, or not? If not, just stand aside and watch.” I spoke calmly, “Nurse Miller, please, you take over.” I didn’t have time for her childish antics. Since this surgery had fallen to me, I was determined to complete it and save this child’s life. Serena scoffed dismissively. She stomped over to the other side and wouldn’t stop chattering while watching my operation. “Vivian, I wonder, if all the doctors in this country were as professional as you, would our national medicine have long been leading the world?” “Vivian, why don’t you teach me? I’ve only studied these things; I haven’t actually practiced them.” I frowned, not looking at her. “If you haven’t practiced, watch videos and train.” She was put in her place, biting her lip before scoffing disdainfully. “If you won’t teach, you won’t teach. Why so arrogant?” “You’ve just been in the hospital longer, that’s all. You’re not even half as capable as Marcus.” “He’s the Chief Physician now, and you’re just some broken surgeon.” I completely ignored her, which only made Serena even more defiant. She raised her hand and gave me a shove. “Hey, I’m talking to you! Why aren’t you answering?” The shove itself wasn’t the problem; the problem was that she pushed me just as I was about to excise the necrotic tissue. My hand was jostled by her force, and the scalpel accidentally nicked an artery. Blood immediately began to spray, throwing everyone in the room into a panic. “Quick, stop the bleeding!” “No! The patient’s blood pressure is down to 60! We need to stop the bleeding immediately!” Such an unexpected turn of events even shocked Serena. She froze, not daring to move. And Marcus finally spoke up. “It’s fine, as long as we stop the bleeding.” Serena seemed to gain some comfort. She continued her insolent and unreasonable chatter in my ear. “Oh, Vivian, what a colossal mess you’ve made!” “If the Chief of Staff finds out you further injured his daughter, do you think you’ll get punished?” I finally wasn’t indifferent anymore. My eyes glared at her. “What do you mean?” Just then, more bad news came from the anesthesiology team. “Dr. Vance, the patient’s blood oxygen is dropping rapidly! We need to suture the wound immediately!” Serena bent close to me, whispering in my ear. The warning beeps of the instruments and her words sounded like a whisper from hell. “I don’t think this kid will make it.” “But it’s okay. Even if the surgery fails, you’ll be the one taking the fall.

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Ten years into my marriage, Marcus Hayes’s first love, Chloe White, suddenly returned from abroad. He brought her straight to our home. Marcus looked at me, his face etched with guilt. “Chloe left the country for me all those years ago. She went through so much.” “I have a responsibility to take care of her.” Even my stepson, whom I’d raised and painstakingly nurtured, now looked at me with open resentment. I calmly suggested a divorce. He sneered, reminding me, “Don’t forget our prenup. If you’re the one who files for divorce, you’ll walk away with absolutely nothing. Every cent of the assets in your name will be forfeited.” He was so certain I’d never give up the wealth and prestige I’d worked ten years for, that I’d never dare to leave. But what he didn’t know was that while he was spending all night with that woman, I was signing away every last penny, preparing to gracefully exit the Hayes family. I already had what I truly wanted. And him? I was done with him. When Marcus Hayes walked into the living room of our house with Chloe White, I was in my study, reviewing the foundation’s quarterly report. His face held a plea. “Vivian, Chloe was forced to leave the country because of me back then.” “She’s been alone all these years, suffering so much. I can’t just abandon her.” Chloe, by his side, wore a simple, elegant dress. She instinctively recoiled behind Marcus, making her appear even more delicate and helpless. “Marcus, don’t make things difficult for Vivian… I can stay at a hotel.” Marcus immediately shielded her, and his gaze towards me sharpened with annoyance. I closed the file in my hand, my eyes calmly sweeping over the two of them. This scene felt eerily familiar. Years ago, Marcus’s grandfather, old money through and through, fiercely disapproved of Chloe’s lack of social standing. Marcus had an explosive fight with his family over it. Ultimately, Chloe took a sizable settlement and quietly left for another country. At that time, my family, the Reeds, was facing a major financial crisis. We desperately needed the Hayes family’s connections and resources to overcome it. When the strategic marriage proposal was presented to me, I initially refused. Vivian Reed’s life had never required her to rely on anyone else. But seeing my parents’ hair graying with worry, I finally nodded. On our wedding day, Marcus Hayes’s face showed no joy. He looked at me coldly and said, “Vivian Reed, this is just a marriage of convenience. Don’t expect me to love you.” I replied calmly, “I understand. I will fulfill my duties as Mrs. Hayes. I also hope you remember our agreement, Marcus.” Ten years. We went from mutual annoyance to peacefully sharing a dinner table. He gradually recognized my capabilities, entrusting me with the full management of the foundation jointly established by Hayes and Reed Corporations. We were like a pair of perfectly synchronized business partners. Four years ago, Marcus even brought a child back to the house—a son he’d had from an affair years ago. When that timid child stood in the living room, looking at everyone with hostility, it was *I* who reached out to him first. His name was Leo Hayes. No one else in the Hayes family liked him. I was the one who patiently taught him manners, staying up all night when he was sick. When other kids at school mocked him for being an illegitimate child, I was the one who unhesitatingly stepped up to protect him, telling him, “You are Leo Hayes, the future of this family. No one can look down on you.” I never imagined this delicate balance would one day be shattered.

I watched Marcus shielding Chloe, and my heart sank, piece by agonizing piece. In the suffocating silence, a light, quick footsteps echoed from the entryway. “I’m home!” Leo Hayes had just returned from school, his eyes sparkling as he searched for me. However, when he saw the scene in the living room, his steps abruptly halted. The moment Chloe saw Leo, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. She covered her mouth, her voice trembling as she murmured, “Leo… Is that my Leo?” The next second, Leo lunged towards Chloe, burying his face in her embrace. “Mommy! Mommy, you came for me!” I stumbled backward, caught off guard, frozen in place. I whipped my head around to Marcus, my voice raw and husky. “Marcus Hayes, what is going on?” He first calmed the two, who were now crying in each other’s arms, then escorted them upstairs. As I watched the two figures, one large, one small, disappear up the stairs, my voice turned cold as ice. “Now, you can explain.” Marcus turned to me, his guilt deepening, but now mixed with a resigned, almost defiant honesty. “Leo is Chloe’s son.” “She was already pregnant with my child when she left back then.” “Later… she couldn’t raise him, so she contacted me and sent him back.” “And why didn’t you tell me?” I could barely control the volume of my voice. “I treated him with genuine sincerity, I raised him as my own son!” Marcus offered a bitter smile, about to speak, but I cut him off. “Leo knew everything, didn’t he?” Marcus was silent for a moment, his silence a confirmation. “Last year… Chloe occasionally FaceTimed him. A child’s longing for his mother is natural…” So that was it. No wonder, for a while last year, Leo kept hiding to make calls and started acting strange around me. This was why. Marcus took a step forward, trying to soothe me. “Chloe is only staying temporarily. Once I find a suitable place, I’ll send them away.” “You’re always so generous and understanding, don’t make things difficult for me, okay?” My chest ached, a deep, suffocating pain. Suddenly, I didn’t even have the energy to question him further. I simply pulled at the corner of my mouth, a smile utterly devoid of warmth. “Marcus Hayes, you both make me sick.” With that, I walked straight back to my room. The world fell silent, and only then did I feel a faint, heavy ache in my lower abdomen. I leaned against the door, taking a deep breath, trying to ignore the subtle yet undeniable pain. Over the next few days, Chloe and Leo stayed in the guest room on the second floor. Leo seemed like a completely different child. When he saw me, his eyes held a stubborn hostility, completely lacking the closeness and dependency he used to show.

A few days later, the Hayes family hosted a corporate gala. As Mrs. Hayes, I had no choice but to force a smile and socialize. Marcus stayed by my side, playing the part of an affectionate husband, but his gaze constantly drifted to a corner of the room. Chloe sat there, Leo nestled close to her, forming a bond that no outsider could penetrate. Midway through the evening, feeling a bit tired, I headed to the terrace for some fresh air. Just as I reached the edge of the pool, Leo, who I hadn’t noticed following me, appeared behind me. I turned around. His face held a hatred and coldness utterly unsuited for his age. “Vivian Reed.” He called me by my first name for the first time, his voice sharp and cruel. “My mom is back. This family doesn’t need you anymore. Why aren’t you leaving?” I looked at his face, contorted by fury, and felt only weariness mixed with a chilling disappointment. “Leo, do you know what you’re saying?” “Of course, I do!” He suddenly became agitated, taking a step forward and pushing me hard! “You took my dad! And now you’re trying to bully my mom! I hate you! Get out of my house!” I was caught off guard, my high heel twisted, and I tumbled backward! *Splash!* The icy pool water instantly enveloped me. A sharp, agonizing pain shot through my lower abdomen. I could feel a warm, uncontrolled gush of fluid beneath me. Gasps and commotion erupted around us. Marcus quickly heard the noise and jumped into the pool, pulling me out. I was soaked, shivering violently. My hands instinctively clutched my lower abdomen, the pain so intense I could barely speak. “Vivian! Are you okay?” Marcus’s voice was urgent, laced with a hint of panic. He wrapped his jacket around me. I gripped his arm, my voice broken. “Marcus… the baby…” I was pregnant. I had only found out yesterday, and I planned to tell him once the pregnancy was stable. Just then, Chloe rushed over. Marcus’s gaze was drawn to her. She grabbed the equally stunned Leo, weeping dramatically, her voice even louder than my faint moans. “Marcus, Leo didn’t mean it…” “It’s my fault, all my fault for coming back and upsetting Vivian. The child just acted on impulse…” She hugged Leo tightly, as if I were some terrifying monster. “Leo is so scared, he’s so small, he was just so upset…” Marcus looked at the sobbing Chloe and Leo, then at my pale face. The brief flicker of panic and shock in his eyes was replaced by irritation and disappointment. He cut me off before I could finish speaking, his voice cold and stern, laced with责备. “Vivian, Leo is still young. He didn’t do it on purpose.” “Can’t you… just be a little more understanding?”

At his words, the guests’ eyes filled with surprise, and then thinly veiled mockery. They watched me, the usually poised and elegant Mrs. Hayes, sitting there by the pool, utterly disheveled. “A little more… understanding?” I gritted out the words through clenched teeth. The agonizing cramps in my lower abdomen made cold sweat stream down my face. The warm, trickling sensation below grew more distinct. “Mr. Hayes, perhaps you should take Mrs. Hayes to the hospital first?” Finally, a bystander, unable to watch any longer, whispered a suggestion. Chloe, however, sobbed even harder, clutching Marcus’s arm tightly, terrified he would leave her side. “Marcus, Leo really didn’t mean it…” “Vivian, I apologize on Leo’s behalf. Please don’t blame him…” Leo, hidden in her embrace, showed no fear in his eyes, only a triumphant stubbornness and hatred. Marcus’s brows were deeply furrowed, clearly annoyed by the chaos. He looked at the pale Chloe and the frightened Leo. Then he looked at me, curled up in pain, unable to speak. The brief flicker of panic at my potential injury was completely replaced by pity for the mother and son. He sighed, his voice carrying an undeniable finality. “Enough! It was just a small accident. Vivian isn’t that delicate.” “Mr. Jenkins, help Mrs. Hayes upstairs to change into some dry clothes. She’ll be fine after resting.” His callousness and stupidity utterly crushed me. I didn’t even have the strength to argue. I let the butler and maids, who had rushed over, clumsily help me up. I was escorted back to the master bedroom, but the bleeding beneath me showed no signs of stopping, staining the sheets crimson. The pain intensified with each passing moment, and I couldn’t help but cry out. The maids were terrified. This time, they didn’t dare to delay and immediately called an ambulance. I was rushed to the hospital. The constant wetness below me told me I was losing something precious. When I woke again, the doctor stood by my bed, his voice filled with regret. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Hayes, we couldn’t save the baby.” “You’re still young. Please accept our condolences.” Outside, the sky had shifted from dark to light, and then back to dark. The phone on my nightstand was eerily silent. No calls from Marcus, not a single word. Later, from Mr. Jenkins’s hesitant report, I learned that Marcus had calmed the frightened Chloe and the momentarily clumsy Leo. He hadn’t even followed me to the hospital to check on my condition. In his eyes, perhaps it truly was just an accident caused by my lack of generosity. After recuperating for a week in the hospital, I discharged myself. Instead of returning to the Hayes estate, I had my driver take me directly to the company.

When I returned to the office, a subtle silence hung in the air. Employees quickly lowered their heads, pretending to be busy. I pushed open the door to Marcus’s office. He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone. His tone was one I’d never heard from him – gentle and patient. “Make sure you spend time with him… Don’t overthink things, it’ll be okay…” He didn’t even notice my arrival immediately. It wasn’t until I walked to his large desk and tapped my finger on the surface, creating a sharp sound, that he turned around. Seeing me, a flicker of surprise, then a brief, almost imperceptible shame crossed his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by his usual calm, tinged with a slight distance. He hung up the phone before looking at me again. “You’re discharged? Why didn’t you rest a few more days?” His voice was a perfunctory greeting as he walked around his desk and sat down. “Everything’s normal here at the company, no need to rush back.” I didn’t sit. I slammed the divorce papers onto his desk. My voice was utterly flat, as if stating an unrelated fact. “Marcus Hayes, we’re getting a divorce.” The air thickened for a few seconds. He looked up, as if he’d heard the most absurd joke. “Divorce?” “Vivian, do you know what you’re saying?” My gaze didn’t waver. “I’m very clear.” Marcus leaned back in his chair, his posture relaxed and confident. “What kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Is this about the gala?” “Leo didn’t mean it, he’s just a child.” “Chloe has already apologized on his behalf. What more do you want?” He tapped the divorce papers with his finger, his eyes cold and contemptuous. “Don’t forget the prenup we signed.” “It’s in black and white, crystal clear. If you, Vivian Reed, initiate the divorce, it’s a breach of contract, and you must walk away with nothing.” “You won’t take a single penny of anything related to the Hayes family, including all the assets you’ve acquired over these years in your name.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice, full of threat and absolute certainty. “Are you willing to lose it all?” “Are you willing to give up everything you’ve fought for these ten years? Without the Hayes family, what is Vivian Reed?” I looked at the absolute conviction on his face, the way he thought he controlled everything, and suddenly, I gave a faint, soft laugh. My laughter seemed to anger him. Marcus picked up the divorce papers from the desk, tore them into shreds without even looking, and flung them at me. The white pieces of paper scattered at my feet. “I’m busy. I don’t have time for your self-pitying drama.” “Just say what you want directly, but divorce? Absolutely not!” With that, he didn’t spare me another glance. He grabbed his jacket and phone, striding out of the office. I slowly knelt down, picking up the torn pieces of paper.

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The Mayor’s son was held captive by a serial killer in an abandoned slaughterhouse. I set up my sniper rifle, the crosshairs steady on the killer. But just as I was about to pull the trigger, my husband, Commander Ryder Hayes of the SWAT team, suddenly cut off my comms. “Hold your fire! Wait for Dr. Monroe to arrive for psychological negotiations!” It was just like in my past life. After the criminal psychologist rushed to the scene, she droned on for forty minutes with her long-winded psycho-babble. That only enraged the madman, and he cut off one of the hostage’s ears right there. I couldn’t stand it. I took the shot, killing the killer instantly. Dr. Monroe immediately threw up and fainted, her reputation as an “incompetent expert” irrevocably tarnished, leading to a complete mental breakdown. And my husband? He transferred me to an organ trafficking team, undercover. On the night of the operation, he deliberately called my burner phone. “Love showing off, don’t you? Let’s see how tough you are when you’re vivisected!” In my final moments, I saw him with Celeste Monroe, his arm around her, his face twisted in feigned grief. Reborn to this exact moment, the killer’s blade was still pressed against the hostage’s neck. I slowly lowered my sniper rifle, a cold sneer playing on my lips. This time, let’s see how you two manage to put on your show.

Over the comms, Celeste Monroe’s voice reached each of our ears. Her tone was soft, as if soothing a tantrum-throwing child, not a mentally unstable kidnapper holding a sharp blade. “I understand you’re in a lot of pain right now… a lot of anger. We’ve all heard your demands…” “But harming others won’t truly solve your problems. We can find a better way, together…” “Damn it!” In my earpiece, an assault team member, hidden on the flank, couldn’t help but snarl, his voice thick with suppressed rage. “What the hell is she talking about? Can’t she see that son of a bitch is about to slice him open?!” “Command, target’s emotional state is clearly deteriorating! Negotiations are ineffective! Requesting authorization to fire!” Another urgent voice cut in, it was Hawk, the spotter. Silence hung on the channel for a second, then Commander Ryder Hayes, my husband and the mission lead, spoke, his voice unnervingly calm. “Maintain patience. Dr. Monroe is establishing trust! No one moves without my direct order!” “Screw his trust! If we wait any longer, the hostage will be dead!” The team member’s voice was low, but the fury was unmistakable. Celeste’s voice resumed, still slow and deliberate. “Your current actions… perhaps they are a repetition of the trauma you experienced in childhood? We can talk about that…” “F**k!” Someone in the channel couldn’t hold back a curse. The kidnapper seemed enraged by her words, letting out a hoarse scream. “Shut up! What the hell are you? One more word, and I’ll kill him right now!” The killer’s blade pressed another fraction deeper into the Mayor’s son’s trembling neck, a thin line of blood snaking downwards. The young man let out a choked sob, his pupils dilated with extreme terror. The Mayor’s hoarse roar practically blew out our comms, followed by a chorus of frantic pleas for him to calm down. “Ryder Hayes! If my son loses a single hair, you can kiss that badge goodbye! Shoot! Save him!” After a brief silence, Ryder’s voice finally returned. “Layla, report target’s real-time dynamics.” Everyone’s earpiece went silent for a moment. In the past, I’d provide the calmest, most professional assessment, giving him the basis for his decisions and often shouldering the heaviest burden of responsibility. But now… Through my high-magnification scope, I watched the trembling young man. And I watched the madman, visibly growing more agitated with every word Celeste spoke. I spoke, my voice steady, without a hint of tremor. “My expertise is marksmanship, not psychoanalyzing a madman.” “That judgment, Commander, is yours to make.” The channel went dead silent. I could imagine Ryder Hayes’s expression right then. His usual calm facade would’ve instantly frozen, perhaps even a flicker of incredulous shock crossing his face. “Layla! Watch your tone! This is an active operation!” His voice was laced with reprimand, attempting to regain control. I responded instantly, my tone respectful, but my words hard as steel. “Yes, Commander. My finger will not touch the trigger until you give the order.” “After all, I wouldn’t want to be responsible for disrupting Dr. Monroe’s ‘trust-building process.’”

In my past life, my shot was clean, a headshot. The hostage was rescued, the Mayor was endlessly grateful, and I became a hero. That life-saving act earned me a promotion and commendations, but it also became the catalyst that pushed me into hell. Ryder couldn’t tolerate a wife who was uncontrollable, too competent, and might even overshadow him. Especially since I’d humiliated his idealized Celeste Monroe and caused her mental breakdown. So, he threw me into the dirtiest, most dangerous organ trafficking syndicate as an undercover agent. Then, during the critical take-down operation, he deliberately exposed me. I still remember that last look he gave me, full of hypocrisy and malice. A scream pulled me back to reality. It was Celeste. Her face was frantic. “You… you mustn’t get agitated! I’m only trying to help you, if you act like this, it’s hard for us to communicate…” “Help me?” The kidnapper let out a grating, insane laugh, and the tip of his knife slashed violently! “Ah!” A shrill, distorted scream echoed in the air. The next second, a bloodied finger rolled onto the ground. The Mayor’s son’s left pinky finger had been severed. He rolled his eyes, almost passing out. “You psycho! You absolute madman! How could you?” Celeste’s shriek echoed, laced with sobs and incredulous condemnation, her professional demeanor completely shattered. “I was trying to help you! Why didn’t you listen?” Her screaming undoubtedly fueled the fire. The kidnapper’s facial muscles twisted frantically, seemingly utterly enraged by her accusation. His blood-stained knife was raised again. This time, it was aimed at the hostage’s eyes. “Help me? Sending some bitch to lecture me? Are you messing with me? Believe me, I’ll gouge out his eyes right now!” Everyone’s blood seemed to freeze in that moment. However, the expected decisive order from Commander Ryder Hayes for a full assault or a shot didn’t come. “Celeste, fall back! Watch your safety!” His priority was protecting the woman whose incompetence was actively sabotaging the mission and endangering the hostage. The Mayor’s frantic roar almost shattered our eardrums. “Ryder Hayes! My son’s hand! Did you see it?! Shoot! Kill that madman now!” “Otherwise, I’ll relieve you of your command! Without mercy!” Ryder’s breathing grew heavy over the comms. “Celeste, immediately retreat to a safe distance!” He prioritized her safety again, then, as if forced, gritted his teeth and squeezed out an order. “Sniper team, prepare…” “Ryder!” Celeste’s tearful voice cut in, full of indignant protest, stubborn certainty, and a hint of calculated desperation. “They just don’t understand, this is classic trauma response!” “Violence will only escalate the tragedy! We need empathy, we need to build a bridge of trust!” “Enraging him now will only make him more extreme!” She seemed to conveniently forget whose ‘empathy’ had enraged him enough to make him lop off a finger just moments ago. “Everyone’s yelling at me… even you don’t trust my professional judgment anymore?” She even had the nerve to pout and whine at Ryder. Just then, Hawk’s urgent voice broke through. “Commander Ryder…” “Recon team just reported, the area around the perp, under his feet… might be booby-trapped with explosives!”

“Explosives?!” A collective gasp went through the channel, and Ryder Hayes’s breath hitched. Hawk’s voice was urgent and clear. “Wires extend from his feet, covering an unknown area! A direct assault is extremely risky!” The situation instantly escalated. This wasn’t just a hostage crisis anymore; it was a powder keg threatening to blow us all to smithereens. “Damn it…” A team member cursed under his breath, his voice heavy with helplessness. Celeste seemed terrified by the news. Her sobbing stopped abruptly, leaving only faint, startled whimpers. But the next second, her voice suddenly took on that infuriatingly professional tone again. “See…? See? I told you not to provoke him!” “He lacks security, he’s terrified, that’s why he resorts to such extreme measures for protection!” “We must first understand his inner turmoil, build trust…” “Screw his trust!” A furious, barely contained roar exploded over the comms – it was Captain Diaz, from the forward assault position. “I wanted to put a bullet in that son of a bitch moments ago! Now look! This damn shrink has dragged us all into a death trap!” “Shut up!” Ryder snapped, but a faint, undeniable tremor of panic was in his voice. He took a deep breath. “Celeste, continue to attempt communication, keep him calm!” “Bomb squad! Assess the situation! Assault teams, fall back and find cover!” His orders were chaotic, both telling Celeste to approach and ordering the teams to retreat, clearly rattled by the sudden turn of events. Celeste, receiving her directive, seemed to swell with self-importance, her voice rising several decibels. “You actually don’t want this, do you? We can help you…” “Just release the hostage…” The kidnapper’s facial muscles twitched, his eyes wildly scanning his surroundings. He pressed the knife harder against the hostage’s neck, beads of blood oozing out. The kidnapper’s wild laughter ceased, replaced by a furious rage, a man completely humiliated. “Understand me? Help me? That’s pure bullshit!” He spat, his emotions boiling over. “You’re all a bunch of hypocrites! Is there anything in your heads besides how to kill me?!” “Sending some bitch to drone on endlessly? Do you really think I’m an idiot?!” Celeste’s face paled from his yelling, and she instinctively took a half-step back. But then, as if to prove something, she forced herself forward, her voice shrill. “How can you speak like that! I am trying to save you! You, with your antisocial personality…” “To hell with your antisocial personality!” The kidnapper violently kicked a rusty metal frame nearby, creating a deafening clang. “Get away from me! Or I’ll slit his throat right now!”

He pressed down on his wrist, and the hostage let out a whimper. “Ah!” Celeste shrieked, terrified by the direct death threat, her composure completely gone. She whirled towards her comm, her voice shrill and piercing with tears, utterly devoid of any semblance of professionalism. “Ryder! Did you hear that? He cursed at me! He actually cursed at me like that! I was trying to help him!” “He’s just an irredeemable psycho! A barbaric, vulgar animal!” “Go arrest him! Teach him a lesson!” The channel went dead silent. Only her aggrieved, furious sobs and the kidnapper’s heavy breathing intertwined. Ryder’s voice immediately came back, full of bias and urgency. “Celeste, evacuate now! Assault Team One, cover Dr. Monroe’s retreat!” His order was clear and decisive, a stark contrast to his hesitation during the initial hostage crisis. Several assault team members quickly moved, forming a protective barrier. They escorted Celeste rapidly back behind cover. The kidnapper watched the scene, letting out a string of mocking, wild laughs. “Hahahaha… Aww, did the little princess get her feelings hurt? Her knight in shining armor is so upset!” “Damn it! You phony, self-righteous bastards are what I hate most!” His gaze returned to the almost-collapsed hostage, the madness in his eyes growing more intense. “Show’s over, little rich boy. Looks like your life isn’t worth as much as the expert’s whimpering.” He licked his chapped lips, the blood-stained knife tip slowly moving down, sliding from the Mayor’s son’s neck to his chest. The Mayor’s roar in the comm channel had turned into a guttural scream. Ryder’s voice was taut as a wire, desperately trying to suppress the chaos. “Bomb squad! Report! How much longer?!” “The wiring is complex, coverage area too large. At least ten minutes to locate the core detonator!” “Ten minutes!” Ryder’s voice was almost a shriek. Celeste was practically dragged back behind the makeshift command cover by the assault team members. Her hair was disheveled, her face still streaked with tears, her eyes filled with humiliation and resentment. “He dared… he dared to treat me like that!” Her voice trembled as she clutched Ryder’s arm. “Ryder! I can’t let this go! He has to pay!” Ryder’s brows were deeply furrowed. He watched the bomb squad’s progress while trying to soothe her. “Celeste, just calm down for a moment, it’s very dangerous here…” “No!” Celeste violently shook off his hand, a flicker of madness in her eyes. “I want to finish him myself!”

She suddenly pointed at me, where I was concealed at my sniper position. “Layla! Give me your sniper rifle!” Every team member in the channel held their breath for a moment. Ryder was stunned too. “Celeste, stop. This isn’t a time for games!” “I’m not playing games!” Celeste straightened her back, trying to project a professional, calm demeanor, but couldn’t hide the tremor and excitement in her voice. “Criminal psychology involves behavioral prediction!” “I’ve studied his micro-expressions and body language; I know what his next move will be! I’m confident I can hit him!” She looked at Ryder, her tone pleading. “Ryder, make her assist me!” “Layla’s the best sniper, right? Have her calculate wind speed, distance.” “Together, we can take him down before he hurts the hostage!” “Nonsense!” Over the comms, Captain Diaz couldn’t help but snarl. Ryder, however, fell silent. He looked at Celeste’s stubborn, tear-streaked face, his eyes filled with a blind indulgence and trust. He was actually considering it. In his mind, perhaps this was the only way to salvage Celeste’s pride and confidence? Or maybe he simply couldn’t refuse any of her demands? “Layla.” Ryder’s voice came through the channel, a tone of undeniable command. “You will assist Dr. Monroe in the shot. She will determine the timing, and you will provide data support.” “Ensure a clean shot, and rescue the hostage.” The sheer absurdity almost made me laugh out loud. Me? The three-time consecutive SWAT sniper champion, assisting a psychologist who probably couldn’t even hold a rifle steady? In my past life, he caused my brutal death. In this life, he wanted to drag everyone down to sacrifice for Celeste’s ego. “Commander, I refuse.” My voice was cold as ice. Ryder’s voice instantly rose, laced with anger. “Layla! That’s an order!” My words were steady, each one clear. “Dr. Monroe lacks sniper qualifications. Her emotional state is highly unstable. Allowing her to lead this shot would be tantamount to murder.” “Layla! You…!” Ryder was furious. Celeste’s shrill voice cut in, tearful and accusatory. “Ryder! Look at her! She’s just jealous of me!” “She’s afraid that if I succeed, she’ll look incompetent! She doesn’t want to save the Mayor’s son at all!” “I don’t have time to listen to your arguments.” I coldly cut her off, my scope never leaving the target. “Commander, if you insist on Dr. Monroe taking the shot, please inform all active personnel and the Mayor himself.” “This shot will be entirely Dr. Monroe’s responsibility, and all consequences will be jointly borne by you and her.” My words were like a bucket of ice water, instantly dousing Ryder’s impulsive idea. Jointly borne consequences. Did he dare? He didn’t. He knew better than anyone that Celeste couldn’t do it. He just wanted her to try; if she succeeded, it would be his credit. If she failed… he would likely push the blame onto me. Sure enough, Ryder fell into a dreadful silence. Celeste continued to whine incessantly. “Ryder! You promised me! Make her help me, I can do it…” “Enough!” Ryder finally roared, his voice filled with irritation and internal struggle. Just then, Hawk’s urgent voice broke through again. “Commander Ryder! The kidnapper has pulled out the detonator! He’s counting down: Ten! Nine! Eight…” The bomb squad’s alarmed shouts came simultaneously. “No! Too late!” “Seven! Six! Five!…” Everyone’s hearts were in their throats. “Four! Three!…” In that split second. “Bang!”

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Julian got a girl pregnant one drunken night. By the time I found out, she was already six months along. He told me to keep the baby, and that everything between us would go back to how it was. I shook my head, stubbornly asking him: “Me or the baby, who do you choose?” That day, he remained silent for a long time, unable to give me an answer. But after I disappeared, he regretted it. Married to Julian for five years, I never imagined we’d end this way. At the hospital entrance, Julian was tenderly supporting a young, beautiful girl down the steps. I stood not far away, my eyes meeting Julian’s, which were filled with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in a long time. He flinched, his gaze quickly darting away from mine. The heavily pregnant girl beside him also looked my way, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. After safely getting her into the car and whispering a few careful words, Julian finally walked towards me. His steps were calm and composed, completely lacking the panic I expected after being caught. He first touched my hand, which was cold as ice, holding it tightly in his palm. “Why are you at the hospital? Are you not feeling well?” He spoke with concern, reaching out to touch my forehead. I pulled away. “Who is she?” Julian didn’t answer my question. Instead, he pulled me into a comforting hug. “Someone unimportant. I’ll explain everything when we get home, okay?” His gentle words, at that moment, finally brought tears to my eyes. I stubbornly lifted my head, desperate for an answer. If he just said it, I would believe him. Julian sighed softly, then slowly wiped the tears from my eyes. “The baby is mine.” My tears froze on my face. I felt like I’d forgotten how to breathe. I bit my lip until it bled, then struggled free from his embrace, stepping back, one pace at a time. It was then that a hint of anger finally crossed Julian’s face. He pulled me close again, looking at me with pained eyes. “Nora, you can blame me, but don’t hurt yourself.” I couldn’t understand why he was acting so loving after doing something like this. As we stood in silent confrontation, The girl from the car got out. “Get back in!” Julian’s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. The girl looked timidly at him but didn’t leave, a newfound determination in her eyes. “Miss Shen, Julian and I aren’t what you think. This baby was an accident.” She finished with a bitter smile. “If I could, I’d want him gone more than anyone.” My vision blurred with tears, so I couldn’t clearly see Julian’s expression. But knowing him as I did, I could sense that his initial coldness had already softened. “Enough! Stop talking!” Jealousy and resentment surged through me. I screamed, my voice breaking. The girl flinched, swaying, almost falling, but Julian quickly caught her in his arms. I stared at the scene, a thought flashing through my mind. I lunged towards them. Just as I was about to touch the girl’s swollen belly, a powerful force shoved me away. I landed on the ground, lifting my scraped palm, and managed a bitter laugh. Julian looked at his outstretched hand in disbelief, frozen. That day, Julian left the six-month pregnant girl and took me home. But I knew there was no future for us.

Back home, Julian tried to explain. I sat on the bed, motionless, for a long time. He, meanwhile, stood on my room’s balcony, smoking cigarette after cigarette all night. I knew he was trying to make me feel sorry for him, torturing himself. He always knew my weaknesses. As dawn broke, Julian turned and came inside, walking over to me. “Hungry? What do you want to eat? I’ll make it.” I stopped him with a hoarse voice. “Julian, we need to talk.” Julian’s steps faltered. He didn’t turn around for a long time. I knew he understood my personality. I cared about this kind of thing. A lot. Even if he was drunk that night, even if his encounter with that girl was unintentional, I couldn’t forgive him. So, Julian kept it a secret. But no one expected that the stranger he’d met just once would get pregnant. Due to a unique medical condition, she couldn’t terminate the pregnancy. Which led to this situation. Julian eventually left. He was afraid to face what I was about to say. I knew he loved me. If he didn’t, we wouldn’t have been together for so many years. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have spoiled me into someone who easily got emotional and cried at the drop of a hat. For the next week, Julian didn’t come home. But he still meticulously asked Maria, our housekeeper, every day how I was doing. Maria tried to persuade me: “Madam, you and Mr. Sterling are the most loving couple I’ve ever seen. Just talk things out. “Mr. Sterling, he’s lost so much weight recently.” Maria had been with us for years, and she had never seen Julian and me have a single argument. Even Julian’s mother, who had been displeased with me in the early years, gradually accepted me as her daughter-in-law because Julian and I were so happy together. My phone rang. It was Julian calling. “Nora, Julian’s completely wasted. Could you come pick him up?” “Don’t bother with him!” After hanging up, my inner frustration only grew. Julian’s retreating figure, seemingly hunched, kept replaying in my mind. I still couldn’t bring myself to leave him there alone. After a struggle, I grabbed my car keys. And walked out purposefully.

The VIP room door was ajar. I stood outside, not going in. Julian was indeed drunk, sprawled out on the sofa, completely without dignity. In front of him stood the heavily pregnant girl. One of Julian’s friends looked embarrassed. “Selena, Nora wouldn’t come, and Julian wouldn’t leave, so I had to call you.” The girl smiled faintly and helped Julian lift one arm. He abruptly pushed her away. A few gasps pulled Julian out of his drunken stupor. He looked at the woman in front of him, a smile more painful than a grimace on his face. “Selena, it’s all because of you. Nora doesn’t want me anymore…” Julian kept repeating the same phrase, then started looking for more alcohol. Everyone tried to stop him, but he grabbed a bottle and started guzzling it down like he had a death wish. Suddenly, Selena snatched the bottle from his hand and smashed it on the floor. The room fell silent instantly. Even Julian, who had been throwing a drunken tantrum, stared blankly at her. “Julian, you’re scaring our baby with all this shouting. “Get up. I’m tired. Take me home.” Julian, who practically ruled the city, had never been ordered around like this by anyone except me. Everyone assumed he was furious and held their breath. But in that oppressive silence, Julian said nothing. He slowly got up, picked up his jacket, and quietly followed Selena out. They left together. I hid in the corner, watching the man and woman in front. Suddenly, I laughed. But that laugh was laced with a bitter taste. I followed their taxi to an upscale apartment building. I watched Julian get out of the car and go upstairs with the girl. A light flickered on in one of the higher floors. I sat in my car all night, and Julian never came out. At seven in the morning, he walked back in, carrying breakfast. I watched that incredibly familiar figure. And quietly drove away.

I called Julian back, but I didn’t mention divorce. I looked at the man, who had lost a lot of weight, and quickly averted my gaze. “I didn’t pick you up last night. Where did you stay?” Julian’s fingers trembled slightly. After a moment, he said: “I stayed at the office.” I couldn’t quite describe the feeling in my heart—not much bitterness, But mostly disappointment. When did Julian start lying to me? The man who once promised to be honest with me forever had changed. I didn’t expose him because, to me, it no longer mattered. “She, how many months along is she?” Julian’s voice paused for a few seconds, as if he couldn’t bear to hurt me. “Almost seven months.” After saying that, he knelt before me, burying his head deeply in my lap. His tears soaked my dress. “Nora, I’m sorry. Please don’t leave me.” In my memory, Julian had never cried before. Now, his sobs were violent. Watching him cry, my heart ached too. But I knew, at this moment, I couldn’t soften. “Arrange for me to meet that girl.” We met at Selena’s apartment. Julian waited for me outside the door. Selena gently stroked her belly, her eyes filled with anticipation for the baby. “That night, the lights were off, and I was really terrified. “But the next day, when I saw Julian lying beside me, I actually felt a moment of relief.” Selena chuckled as she spoke. She looked up at me, still maintaining that gentle, lovely demeanor. “Miss Shen, Julian’s and my baby is almost due. Why don’t you just let us be?” With Julian not present, the girl in front of me seemed to transform. Honestly, I wasn’t too surprised. Because the night I went to find Julian, Selena had glanced towards the door. I knew she had seen me that day. She slowly stood up and pushed open a closed bedroom door. Inside was a cozy nursery. “Everything in here was personally chosen by Julian, and he decorated the room himself. “He’s not without hope for this child.” I desperately wanted to maintain my last shred of composure in front of Selena, who was flaunting Julian’s fatherly love to me. But she still provoked me. So, Julian *did* have expectations for this child. He wasn’t indifferent at all. All the strength seemed to drain from my body. I leaned a hand on the dining table, knocking over a water glass. It hit the floor with a crisp *clink*, a sound that echoed in my heart, shattering it into cracks. Julian heard the noise. When he looked, he saw me swaying, and Selena on the floor crying out in pain. That day, I will never forget, Julian’s first choice was no longer me. Selena shot me a triumphant smile, believing she had won. As he brushed past me, Julian hesitated for only a second. Then he went past me, picked Selena up, and rushed her to the hospital.

Julian didn’t look at me as he left. I stood there for a long time, slowly accepting the fact that he had abandoned me. I followed them to the hospital. By the time I arrived, Mrs. and Mr. Sterling were also there. It turned out they had known all along, only keeping it a secret from me. Seeing me, Mrs. Sterling slapped me across the face. “If anything happens to my grandson, I swear I’ll make you pay!” Julian immediately shielded me, pulling me behind him. Seeing this, Mrs. Sterling became even angrier. “Julian, it’s fine if you protect her usually, but now she’s trying to harm your son!” Julian laughed, his voice tinged with suppressed defiance. “So what? If he’s gone, he’s gone.” If they hadn’t kept this child behind his back, why would Nora be so heartbroken and upset? No one knew that when he saw Selena fall, His first reaction was actually relief. He regretted this unexpected arrival. The doctor came out of the room, saying the baby was saved. Mr. and Mrs. Sterling hurried in, showering Selena with concern. Selena, however, kept looking towards Julian, who stood by the door, her expression fragile and pitiful. She dared to scheme against me, so why should I let her have her way? I showed him my swollen left cheek, letting him feel a pang of sympathy, and told Julian: “I don’t want to stay here anymore.” Julian left with me. As I walked out, I looked at Selena, lying in the hospital bed, and returned her smile with one of my own. At least for now, Julian still sided with me. Even if I no longer wanted that favoritism. In the days Julian thought I had accepted the baby, I had already begun preparing to leave. I packed my belongings and prepared the divorce papers. Just waiting for the day I’d leave. That’s right, I would leave on the day Selena gave birth. She wanted me to complete their family of three, didn’t she? Then I would fulfill her wish.

Recently, I’d been having a vague discomfort in my lower abdomen. I went to the hospital that day for a check-up, but I didn’t expect to run into them. I rescheduled my appointment and had the check-up. The moment I got the results, I laughed through my tears. Julian and I had tried for a baby for five years without success. Now, this baby seemed to have come at the most inconvenient time. I walked through the hospital, clutching the pregnancy test results, lost in a daze, unsure how to treat this little life inside me. I knew I should terminate it, but I couldn’t bear to. This decision was harder than letting go of Julian. Then I looked up and saw Julian and Selena emerging from her prenatal check-up. These past few days, neither of us had mentioned Selena’s situation again. He thought my silence meant I had tacitly accepted her presence. “Julian, our baby is so healthy. I’m so happy.” Julian’s voice betrayed no emotion, but his slightly raised eyebrows revealed his good mood. “Hmm, you’re taking good care of him.” They chatted about the baby, neither noticing I had stopped in front of them. The moment Julian saw me, he immediately let go of Selena’s hand, creating a distance between them. After a silent pause, I spoke first. “What a coincidence. Well, I’ll leave you to it. I’m going now.” Julian frantically grabbed me, unwilling to let me go. “Nora, let me explain.” I calmly pulled my hand away from him, without a hint of anger. “I’m not mad. This baby is your responsibility. I understand.” At my words, Selena’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Miss Shen, do you really agree to keep this baby?” Since our last confrontation, I didn’t feel like giving her any pleasantries. “Miss Selena’s baby is due in a few days. Does my disagreement even matter anymore?” The woman immediately panicked, her voice catching with a sob. “I… I was forced.” Saying all this now was meaningless. Without letting Julian follow, I turned and went back to the doctor. Someone had just made the decision for me. On the day Selena went into labor, Julian was called away at four in the morning. Before he left, he leaned close and whispered in my ear:

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299246”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #惊悚Thriller