Category: English

I couldn’t snag a regular flight back home for the holiday, so I had no choice but to book first class. The moment I found my seat, I saw a brat bouncing all over it. I patiently smiled and said, “Hey there, little one, this is my seat. Where’s yours?” He made a face at me. “It’s mine now! You old hag!” I grabbed his collar, intending to lift him off the seat. Just then, a shrill female voice shrieked from behind me, “What are you doing? Let go of my son!” I released him, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. “Please, control your child. This is my seat.” Her volume abruptly escalated. “He’s just a child! Can’t you, an adult, just let it go?” “You’re all dressed up and look decent enough, but you have no compassion!” Her twisted version of the truth made me laugh, but it was a cold, angry laugh. “If you’re so compassionate, why couldn’t you afford a first-class ticket for your child?” Seeing that I wouldn’t give up the seat, the brat’s mother pointed a finger at me, lecturing: “Even my son knows about respecting elders and caring for the young, but you? You’re arguing with a child over a seat.” “What’s a selfish person like you doing in first class? You’re an insult to the other passengers here!” I was about to call a flight attendant. But she pressed the call button first, then imperiously waved at the chief flight attendant who rushed over. “Chief Flight Attendant, I want to file a complaint! How can your airline let just anyone into first class?” “This woman, she not only snatched my son’s seat, she assaulted him! I demand you kick her off this plane immediately!” Mrs. Davies, the chief flight attendant, maintained a professional smile, but a hint of impatience flickered in her eyes. “Ladies, the plane is about to begin its takeoff procedures. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.” “We can discuss any issues once we’re airborne and stable, alright?” I was about to nod and sit down, but the woman behind me beat me to it. She shoved her son into my seat and buckled him in. “Discuss? There’s nothing to discuss! She’s an adult, and she attacked my son over a seat, scaring him! This isn’t over!” I was almost laughing again at her shamelessness. “When did I attack anyone? I didn’t even touch a single hair on his head from start to finish, the surveillance cameras can prove it!” “And this is *my* seat! I paid for it!” I turned to Mrs. Davies, forcing down my anger. “Chief Flight Attendant, this is my seat. Please make her and her child leave.” Mrs. Davies just opened her mouth to speak, “Ma’am…” But the woman raised a hand, signaling Mrs. Davies to shut up, then yelled at me: “You have the nerve to say that! Didn’t your family teach you any manners? Do you even know how to write ‘respecting elders and caring for the young’?” “My son is only four years old! Can’t you show a little class and just give up the seat? What’s the big deal?” All eyes in the cabin turned to me, filled with scrutiny and blame. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her any longer. I directly pulled out my ID and boarding pass from my bag and showed them to Mrs. Davies. “Excuse me, but I paid twelve thousand dollars for this first-class ticket. My name is clearly written in black and white on the ticket.” “I paid for this service, so why should I give it to an ill-mannered brat?” “I could absolutely file a complaint against you. Why aren’t you verifying boarding passes before letting just anyone come in and take seats? This is a serious lapse in your work!” Mrs. Davies’s face went completely ashen. She knew the seriousness of the situation. She quickly turned to the woman, offering a placating smile. “Ma’am, I’m truly sorry.” “How about you take your child back to your own seat for now? The plane is about to take off, and safety comes first.” The woman scoffed, pulled out her phone, opened her electronic ticket, and shoved it right in Mrs. Davies’s face. “Look closely! This seat, 1A, whose name is on it?!” “My husband bought this ticket for me, how could it be wrong? I was giving you a chance to back down gracefully, but you chose to make a fool of yourself!” Mrs. Davies stared at it, and her face grew even stranger. My heart sank, and I immediately pulled out my own phone, opening my booking app. However, the moment I saw the electronic ticket information, I froze. Under seat number 1A, a completely unfamiliar name was displayed — Tiffany Gao. But I had definitely used my own account, my own card, and paid a solid twelve thousand dollars! What in the world was going on?!

“Please, check the airline’s backend system again.” I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down, and handed my phone to the bewildered chief flight attendant. Mrs. Davies took the phone, then looked at Tiffany’s ticket, her face etched with difficulty. She contacted ground staff via internal comms. A few seconds later, she looked up, her gaze complex. “Ma’am, the system indeed shows Ms. Tiffany’s name.” Tiffany let out a harsh, triumphant cackle, looking at me smugly. “Shocked, aren’t you? Let me tell you, this is an employee family ticket my husband got for me!” “My husband is the captain of this very flight, Julian Gu!” “I was being nice earlier, not wanting to expose you for occupying the seat, but now you’re digging your own grave, and I’m more than happy to help you finish.” She deliberately raised her voice, ensuring everyone in first class could hear. My entire world imploded. Julian Gu… wasn’t he my husband of five years? And who was this arrogant woman in front of me? The moment Mrs. Davies heard the captain’s name, her attitude did a complete 180. She handed my phone back, offering a polite smile. “Ma’am, please return to economy class. Let’s not delay our normal takeoff, alright?” My mind was a chaotic mess; I couldn’t calm down at all. “I won’t go to economy class.” “I paid for first class. My payment records can prove this ticket is mine.” Tiffany looked like she’d heard the funniest joke in the world. She crossed her arms, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “Oh, so you’re making fake tickets just to sit in first class?” “Technology is so advanced these days, it’s easy to doctor a photo, right? I’d say you’re quite young, but your vanity is just… wow.” “Is there no one at home? Can’t even afford a first-class ticket, so you resort to such shady tactics?” The surrounding passengers immediately began whispering, pointing fingers at me. “Oh my god, faking a ticket? That’s incredibly brazen!” “And grabbing a child’s seat too, how embarrassing. Does she think kids are easy targets?” “Now she’s really bit off more than she could chew, the husband’s a captain! Let’s see how she gets out of this one!” Seeing their reaction, Tiffany grew even more smug. She lifted a hand to brush her hair back, and a necklace around her neck flashed before my eyes. My pupils abruptly constricted. That necklace. I found it in the pocket of Julian’s jacket, hanging in his closet, the day before my business trip. At the time, I thought it was his five-year wedding anniversary gift for me. My heart had been so sweet for so long, thinking I’d finish my trip early and come back to surprise him. Turns out, the surprise had already been given to someone else. And I, like a fool, had been played for a fool the entire time. I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms. “Chief Flight Attendant, I’m asking you one last time, can you really not resolve this?” My voice was icy. Tiffany seized the opportunity. “Oh, why are you making it hard for the staff?” “They’re just doing their jobs here, it’s not easy for them. You faked a ticket, got exposed, and now you’re feeling guilty, so you want to complain your way out of it, seriously!” “Not only do you not respect your elders or care for the young, you have no basic respect for service personnel! Where’s your class?” Mrs. Davies’s face completely darkened, and her tone became stiff. “Ma’am, I advise you to just take the high road and not make things difficult for us employees.” I gave a cold laugh, no longer bothering with them. I walked straight up and reached out to unbuckle the brat’s seatbelt. “You dare touch my son!” Tiffany shrieked, raising her hand, and a loud slap landed squarely on my face! I staggered, my cheek burning with pain. The entire cabin fell silent. “You actually dared to hit my son! Help! Air marshals! Someone’s assaulting people on this plane!” Tiffany screamed hysterically. Mrs. Davies’s face changed drastically. She immediately called for the air marshals via intercom.

Two tall air marshals quickly arrived, grabbing me from either side, my arms twisted behind my back, leaving me unable to move. Tiffany put on a pained expression, pointing at me and lecturing: “Look at you! All this over one seat, is it worth it?” “Do you know that because of you, the travel plans of hundreds of people on this flight are being delayed! Can your conscience bear that?” “As an airline family member, I can’t stand selfish, inconsiderate people like you!” After she finished, she even patted her son’s shoulder meaningfully. The brat, understanding, jumped up from the seat and loudly recited: “My dad is the coolest captain in the world! He always tells us to respect our elders, care for the young, and follow public transport rules.” “Always put the collective interest first! Don’t let your own matters affect everyone else!” These words instantly ignited the anger of the surrounding passengers. “What’s going on?! Get this woman off the plane! We’re in a hurry!” “Exactly! So self-centered! Who does she think she is? Causing trouble here!” “Even a child understands this, how can such a grown-up be so clueless!” “What’s wrong with the airline, letting someone like this on board? It’s bad luck!” Insults and accusations rained down on me. I was held tightly by the two air marshals, trembling with rage. This airline. I had acquired it five years ago. I bought it because Julian said he loved the sky and wanted to be a free-spirited pilot. For him, I used my family’s connections, allowing him to skip the lengthy process of accumulating seniority and become a captain at a young age. But now, I’d been such a fool, pouring my efforts into an ungrateful snake, and he’s letting this woman bully me! “This seat was mine from the start!” “She’s the one who forcibly occupied it with her child, twisting the truth is what’s actually delaying the flight!” I stared fiercely at Mrs. Davies and the air marshals. “I want to see your captain. Get Julian Gu out here!” “You still dare to see my husband?!” Tiffany was enraged. She lunged forward, slapping my face several more times and even kicking my shins hard. “Your mom didn’t teach you how to behave, so I’ll teach you today!” “Who the hell do you think you are to even *ask* to see my husband? Take a good look in the mirror, honey, you’re not even in his league!” I endured the blows, my face and legs stinging, but I merely sneered, my eyes like daggers fixed on her. “Let him come. He knows who I am.” Tiffany froze, then became even more agitated, yelling at the air marshals: “What are you waiting for?!” “This woman, first she occupied a seat and hit a child, now she’s threatening staff and demanding to see the captain!” “She’s a lunatic! Get her off this plane!” Mrs. Davies’s face was also filled with disgust. She waved her hand at the air marshals. “This woman is severely disrupting public order and endangering flight safety!” “Take her off the plane and hand her over to ground police!” “Yes, Ma’am!” The two air marshals increased their grip and began pushing me towards the cabin door. Tiffany stood with her arms crossed, a triumphant smile on her face. Just as I was being pushed to the cabin door, I pulled out my phone and quickly dialed a number. “This is Aria Ling! Immediately notify Air Traffic Control! Your airline system has been hacked, passenger ticket information has been maliciously altered!” “Taking off now will endanger the lives of all passengers! Immediately send the group’s highest-ranking executive to handle this!” After hanging up, a brief silence was broken by Tiffany’s sharp, piercing cackle.

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I’d faced death countless times alongside Julian Blackwood for seven years. Everyone knew I was his absolute favorite. He’d even told me more than once that he’d marry me. But when I returned home, my heart brimming with joy after completing the mission he’d assigned, I walked right into his engagement ceremony with his idealized first love. Seraphina Thorne leaned shyly into his arms, asking, “Maya Shaw saved your life, didn’t she? You even said you’d marry her. Are you really sure you won’t regret this?” Julian just chuckled, utterly dismissive. “If saving my life meant I had to marry her, I’d have a long list of wives by now. Besides, a mercenary living paycheck to paycheck like her? Marry *me*? That’s a joke!” His contemptuous tone hit me like a wave of icy despair. But after I left, Why did that man, who swore he wouldn’t regret it, desperately search for me, claiming he did? It was drizzling the day I returned home after completing Julian’s mission. The sky was hazy and indistinct, making everything seem unclear. As usual, I instinctively headed to his villa. This time, I’d even brought him a birthday gift from overseas. But the moment I reached the villa, I froze. The usually quiet villa was buzzing with activity, many people coming and going. At first, I thought they were all guests for his birthday party. But as I listened to snippets of conversations from the passing crowd, I finally realized it was Julian Blackwood’s engagement ceremony today. Through the villa’s glass window, I immediately spotted him in the crowd, and the woman by his side. She had long, dark hair and was wearing a stunning, elegant deep-red gown. Both held champagne flutes, celebrating with the well-wishers. “Congratulations, Mr. Blackwood! After all these years, you’ve finally got your wish and are with Ms. Thorne!” Receiving the blessings, they exchanged a sweet, knowing smile. It hit me then – this woman was Seraphina Thorne, the idealized first love Julian had always pined for. They were engaged? What did that make me? A side piece? A fling? Or maybe just utterly disposable? A sudden urge to storm in and confront Julian flared within me. How could he get engaged to another woman when he’d promised to marry me? But just then, Seraphina leaned shyly into his arms and asked, “Maya Shaw saved your life, didn’t she? You even said you’d marry her. Are you really sure you won’t regret getting engaged to me now?” Julian just chuckled, utterly dismissive. “If saving my life meant I had to marry her, I’d have a long list of wives by now. Besides, a mere mercenary like her, wanting to marry *me*? Do you think that’s even possible?” “Even if *I* wanted to, my family would never allow someone of her standing into our elite circle!” My foot, mid-step, instantly froze. So, that’s how Julian truly saw me all along—worthless. He’d been lying to me this whole time; he never intended to marry me! It felt like I finally saw him for who he was. He’d tricked me into going overseas with a mission, all so he could have an undisturbed, peaceful engagement. And here I was, foolishly rushing back, risking injury and death, completing the mission early. All because I didn’t want to miss Julian’s birthday. “Maya, you’re back today? Well, perfect timing! You can join the young master’s birthday party and engagement ceremony!” I’d been standing outside the villa for a long time before Mr. Davies, the butler, recognized me. I used to frequent the villa, so Mr. Davies knew me well. He immediately pulled me inside. Julian, who’d been smiling, scowled the moment he saw me. He looked as if he feared I was there to cause trouble. I knew my timing was terribly off. But my feet wouldn’t move; they were rooted to the spot. Finally, Seraphina led Julian over to me. She looked at me with an air of superiority and said, “Ms. Shaw, the mission is complete, right? Please hand over the item.” I instinctively looked at Julian. He, however, impatiently urged, “What are you looking at me for? Just do as you’re told!” My nose stung, and I bit down hard, forcing myself to retrieve the box Julian had instructed me to bring back from overseas. Inside was a necklace. Seraphina eagerly had Julian put it on her. I was completely rigid. Before I left, Julian had repeatedly stressed how important this box was, telling me I had to protect it and bring it back, even if it cost me my life. Only now did I realize. The box I’d nearly died for, shedding blood and sweat to retrieve, was nothing more than a gift for Seraphina!

Julian and I met seven years ago. I’d failed a mission and was being hunted by enemies. Julian saved me. I still remember the surprise in his eyes when he rescued me. He’d said something about a woman daring to take on a suicidal line of work like being a mercenary! Because I feared leaking information, he was the one who nursed me back to health for over two weeks. Once, when I ran a high fever, Julian pulled an all-nighter watching over me. Later, he chuckled, saying he’d never cared for anyone so diligently in his entire life. He then said he wanted to hire me, as a way to “get back at me” for all the trouble. At the time, I thought it would be some incredibly difficult task. Only after I agreed did I realize they were two extremely simple missions. They weren’t torture at all; strictly speaking, it was just him handing me money. Later, as I grew closer to Julian, I became his dedicated mercenary. For seven years, I knew he secretly admired Seraphina. There was even one time when he chased after Seraphina overseas and ran into an ambush. It was I who fought desperately to get him back home safely, taking two bullets for him. That day, on the plane back home, Julian’s eyes were red from crying. He gripped my hand tightly and said, “Maya, you’re my mercenary. You can’t die without my permission!” “As long as you live, I’ll marry you!” The moment I heard those words, my heart actually fluttered with shyness. I never thought he knew about my feelings for him. It was because of that promise that my raw survival instinct dragged me through that crisis. When I woke up in the hospital, my first question was to ask Julian if he was serious. He nodded very earnestly then. “Of course, it’s true! I said I’d marry you, and I will!” But now, he’d chosen someone else. Looking at Seraphina, who was admiring the necklace before me, I could no longer control my emotions. I lowered my head and turned to leave when the birthday gift box in my arms slipped out. I bent down in a hurry, but a sharp pain from my abdominal wound made me flinch. Seraphina picked up the gift box. She opened it to reveal a rather inexpensive bracelet. It even had “JB,” Julian Blackwood’s initials, that I had carefully woven into it. “Maya, this is for Julian, isn’t it? With his initials and everything, you really put a lot of thought into it.” Then, her tone shifted, laced with disdain. “But this doesn’t look very valuable, does it? Julian wouldn’t wear such a cheap bracelet. There’s no brand logo; did you make it yourself?” I bit my lower lip so hard I tasted blood. “It’s his birthday present!” The words had barely left my mouth when a chorus of laughter erupted. Julian, tears in his eyes from laughing, seemed amused. He casually took the bracelet, glanced at it, then indifferently tossed it onto a nearby table already stained with cream and red wine. Finally, he spoke, utterly nonchalant. “Alright, I get it.” In that moment, I almost wished he’d mock me hysterically, or scoff at my foolish infatuation. But that detached, indifferent expression was like a sword piercing my heart, an unbearable pain. I looked up, asking Julian, word for word, “Don’t you have anything to say to me?” He frowned, then slowly patted his head, pretending to just remember. “Oh, right. You worked hard on this mission too. I’ll have Mr. Davies transfer the remaining payment to you later.” I forced a laugh. It was a brittle, ugly sound. The strong taste of blood filled my mouth, and the wound in my abdomen ripped open again. But no physical pain could compare to the ache in my heart.

After leaving the villa, I went to a small cottage. This was the same cottage where Julian had nursed me for two weeks after he saved me seven years ago. Later, I bought this cottage, holding it as my most cherished memory. Seven years passed, and all the decorations in the cottage remained unchanged. Not even a speck of dust could be found. I knew this was because Julian had people clean it every day. I had once told Julian. If we ever got married, I would choose this place as my bridal home. Since then, he would often come to check on it. He said he would always protect everything I cared about. But now, it seemed like my own words were coming back to haunt me. The wedding day would likely never arrive. Lying on the bed, I changed into my pajamas, preparing to clean my abdominal wound. The sound of the lock turning on the door echoed, and Julian, smelling faintly of alcohol, walked in. Seeing the wound on my abdomen, his eyes immediately filled with concern. “Maya, how did you get hurt again? This mission was just to retrieve a necklace!” Then, he familiarly pulled out the first-aid kit from the bedside cabinet, expertly wiped the wound with alcohol, disinfected it, and finally applied a fresh bandage. Julian performed the entire sequence of actions with practiced ease. It felt as though I was back in the past. I subconsciously reached out to gently caress Julian’s face. But my hand brushed against a deep red hickey on his neck. In that second, it felt like a knife was lodged in my throat, and I couldn’t utter another word. Not until Julian put the first-aid kit away, ruffled my hair, and continued, “Don’t push yourself so hard next time. You’re a woman; you don’t need to risk your life like men do. If anything were to happen to you, what would I do?” I looked up at him. Julian’s downcast eyes were full of tenderness for me. Yet this was the very man who had broken his vows to me! “Julian Blackwood, did you get engaged to Seraphina today?” After a long silence, I finally asked the question. He frowned slightly, and his voice suddenly turned cold. “That’s my private business. Why are you asking so many questions?” I pressed my lips together, stubbornly meeting Julian’s gaze. It was the first time I had ever looked at him like this. And it was the first time Julian had ever brushed me off with “private business.” In the early days of our relationship, Julian hadn’t been like this at all. He would go to great lengths to make me understand him, even sharing confidential contracts with me without reservation. Fearing I might inadvertently cause problems, I instinctively kept away from his study. One day, Julian held me close, telling me he would always be transparent with me, always have no secrets! Now I knew his “always” had only lasted a mere five years! His so-called transparency with me was, in fact, highly selective. The pressure in his eyes grew, quickly turning to cold indifference. “Come on, don’t be difficult.” “The Maya I know is a very obedient woman; she wouldn’t make me unhappy!” With that, Julian left without a second thought. A moment later, the roar of a sports car engine echoed from downstairs. I couldn’t hold back anymore; my nose stung, and tears streamed down my face. A chill of despair seeped into my soul. Now, he wouldn’t even spare me a flimsy excuse.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking, I was woken by the searing pain from my abdominal wound. I’d only slept three hours, and dark circles bloomed under my eyes. I wanted to go back to sleep, but my injuries wouldn’t allow it. The pain persisted until full daylight, when Mr. Davies, the villa’s butler, arrived at the cottage with a doctor to check on my injuries. My type of gunshot wound usually requires a private doctor; it’s not something to show up at a regular hospital for. So, for the seven years I’d been with Julian, he had always secretly arranged for doctors to treat me. The doctor quickly gave me anti-inflammatory medication, re-dressed the wound, and applied new bandages. Before leaving, he specifically instructed me not to engage in strenuous activities for a while, to prevent the wound from reopening and risking a severe hemorrhage. “Ms. Shaw, you see, the young master still cares about you deeply. He called me before dawn to arrange for your treatment.” “However, sometimes, darling, there’s a clear line between us due to our different statuses. It’s best not to overthink other matters.” Mr. Davies chuckled and told me many things. I knew what he meant. He was warning me, in no uncertain terms, not to entertain any improper ideas. I remained silent, my mind a blank. I used to be so certain Julian loved me. But now, I couldn’t find any trace of his love. Perhaps there was a glimmer of it once, but it wasn’t enough for him to defy his entire family’s wishes and choose to be with me, no matter the cost. After all, I was just a low-class mercenary, living paycheck to paycheck! After the treatment, I lay idly in the cottage for the entire day. My mind was filled with everything Julian had ever told me. Lost in a hazy stupor, my phone suddenly rang. Looking at the screen, it was Julian calling. I hadn’t expected him to contact me today. “How are your injuries?” “I’m fine, nothing major.” “Then come over.” Julian asked me to meet him at a club. I hadn’t expected him to call me to a place like this. “Maya, you’re here.” He had Seraphina in his arms, looking completely calm when he saw me. Seraphina, however, walked up to me, curiously sizing me up. “They say Ms. Shaw is Julian’s most formidable mercenary, so it’s no wonder you successfully retrieved this necklace for me.” She toyed with the very necklace I had risked my life to retrieve. Then she took my hand, eagerly saying, “Speaking of which, I’ve never seen a real spar before. How about Ms. Shaw gives me a little demonstration today?” I froze for a moment. A demonstration? I’m a mercenary, not some circus monkey to be put on display. I bit my lip, my gaze fixed on Julian in the distance, hoping he would say something, anything.

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  Three years after I announced my death due to illness. My son ran into Simon Sander, who had just returned to the country, at the airport. He let Simon lead him along, blinking his eyes and speaking to him, “Uncle, you look just like my dad.” Simon squatted down, smiling as he ruffled his hair. “But your mom didn’t choose me in the end, did she?” ***** Today was my fifth anniversary with Simon, and his idealized first love, Lydia, suffering from depression, called again. Her voice was soft and sweet, as if it held a magic, easily stirring up deep memories and emotions within Simon. “That ocean view we saw before, it was so beautiful. Will you remember Lydia in the future, Simon?” Simon’s hand, which had been fiddling with his hair, froze. His voice trembled slightly, “Lydia, what are you saying? Simon really likes you.” “I’ll come pick you up. Shall we go to your favorite seafood restaurant for crab, okay?” Simon’s voice carried a tension others might not have noticed. I watched him turn away without hesitation. My phone smashed onto the floor. Simon heard the sound and turned back, looking apologetic. He rushed over to me and knelt down. “Baby, I’m so sorry. I’ll make up our anniversary to you another day.” “You’ve always been an understanding girl. Lydia has been by my side all this time.” “I can’t just leave her alone.” I looked at his almost pleading eyes, slowly, imperceptibly, I loosened my grip on his sleeve, though my heart was screaming. Still, I couldn’t help but demand, “If you walk out that door today, we might really be over. Don’t you care?” “Even if her leg can’t dance anymore because of you, it’s been so many years. Whatever you owed should have been paid back long ago.” Simon’s eyes hardened instantly, sharp as a blade. “Hilary, stop being unreasonable. You shouldn’t be so jealous.” My vision blurred as his figure shrank, disappearing into the distance. Lydia was his untouchable. No one could mention her, no one could touch her. His words from when he was deeply in love still echoed in my ears, “You’ll always be my first choice. I’ll never let you be sad.” Simon, you broke your promise.

  I couldn’t help but recall our college days, me, Simon, and Lydia. I always thought Simon and Lydia had met through me. It wasn’t until the second year Simon and I were together that I accidentally overheard a conversation between them. That’s when I found out they had known each other for a long time and shared some unforgettable memories. “Now that you’re with Hilary, treat her well. She’s a very good girl.” “As for me, a cripple won’t have a bright future.” Her face was devoid of expression, utterly bleak. Lydia’s words successfully stirred up Simon’s guilt. He hugged her tightly. “Lydia, I’m so, so sorry! I’ll stay with you until you truly find your own happiness.” “Hilary won’t mind.” Many things I didn’t realize at the time. He called her Lydia, he called me Hilary. I actually wanted to rush out then and ask, “By ‘forever’ staying with her, do you mean the three of us will live together?” But as an understanding girlfriend, I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t until I returned to the dorm that night, looking at each other, us two girls who shared a strange similarity. Lydia spoke with a triumphant sneer, “See? Just a few words, and he can’t bear to leave me. You’re just a disposable replacement.” “You probably don’t know this, but Simon studied medicine because of me. He came to this university because of me too.” I said nothing. Lydia slowly, leisurely, stood up from her wheelchair and limped towards the bathroom. “He’s with you out of guilt, unable to get past a hurdle in his heart, that’s why he found you.” She smiled sweetly as she said that. A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. I vaguely guessed they had a complicated history. Looking at the wheelchair Lydia had left aside, I chuckled, “Well, you’re in the past, after all. Does Simon know your leg is almost healed?” Simon came from a prominent family. Lydia’s father was a murderer, and her mother was a gambler. Simon’s father was obsessed with appearances, so as long as he was alive, he would absolutely never let Simon and Lydia be together. At the time, when Simon’s father found out that Simon, still in high school, was dating a girl from a troubled background, he was furious. He went straight to the school and took Simon home. Lydia was lost and desolate all day until the news of Simon going abroad broke. She got into a car accident on her way to the airport. “For a dancer, not being able to dance is like taking my life.” She went on hunger strike, cut her wrists, took sleeping pills. And Simon stayed by her side through it all. In the end, her voice choked. “But your appearance gave me a sense of crisis. Hilary, I’m not like you. I only have Simon.” The next day, Lydia was found having cut her wrists in the dorm. I was scared by the blood everywhere and instinctively stepped back. She looked at me, her face pale. “Do you think Simon will blame you for provoking me?”

  Less than half an hour later, Simon burst into the hospital room, breathless. He slammed into me, sending me sprawling. My arm hit the nearby metal cabinet. “You were supposed to have moved out. Why were you even here, near Lydia?” He took out the soup from the meal tray and carefully fed it to Lydia. He then thoughtfully propped a pillow behind her back, before fixing me with a cold stare, his voice laced with accusation. “You knew Lydia’s situation was delicate. Why didn’t you stay away from her?” Lydia gently wrapped her arms around his neck, whining softly, “Simon, it hurts so much. I can’t walk like a normal person anymore.” But her triumph was impossible to hide in her eyes. Someone genuinely suffering from depression wouldn’t have that look in their eyes. Yet Simon hugged her tenderly, gently rubbing her leg. “Lydia will get better. Simon’s here for you.” His entire focus was on Lydia, he didn’t notice my bleeding arm, covered in cuts. I comforted myself countless times, telling myself Simon was only acting out of guilt. Every time, I compromised. I knew exactly what he was thinking. He knew Lydia’s illness wasn’t severe to this extent. But later, on a mountain drenched in a downpour, amidst a howling blizzard, on a deserted highway in the dead of night, even at our own wedding, Simon abandoned me without a second thought and chose Lydia. This was his last chance. I ran after him. “Simon, have you really thought this through?” Simon’s footsteps faltered. From a distance, I saw guilt in his eyes. “Hilary, I’m sorry. I can’t abandon Lydia. Her leg is like this because of me.” The outcome was clear long ago. For the first time, I used a hidden ability and heard Simon’s inner thoughts: “Hilary, I’ll make it up to you properly when I get back.” I shook my head, my voice raw and strained. “Simon, no need. We’re breaking up.” Simon finally turned and walked towards me, his brows furrowed, his tone filled with displeasure. “Stop being unreasonable! Our relationship and helping Lydia recover aren’t mutually exclusive. Why do you have to make it a competition?” “Lydia’s by the ocean, it’s dangerous. Her life is on the line, what are you even thinking about?” The atmosphere between us instantly solidified. People around us cast curious glances, eager for drama. A lump formed in my throat, choking back the words. It was useless because Simon’s mind was completely consumed by Lydia at the beach. I managed a faint smile, opening my mouth to speak. But before I could say anything, Simon’s phone rang. It was our mutual friend, saying Lydia’s condition was very bad. In just a few seconds, Simon made his choice. He abandoned me again without a second thought. Right then, I thought my decision to give up a prestigious university’s exchange program for Simon was absolutely terrible. I dialed that number, hidden at the very end of my contacts for a long, long time. “Rex, I’m giving in. I accept your offer.”   Back home, I threw away all my things that were connected to Simon. I only took a few pieces of clothing. Yes, I left. I walked away from Simon. My name is Hilary, because my mom hoped I’d live my life open-minded, optimistic, kind, and proactive. But I failed not only to do that, I even lost myself. “Hilary, long time no see.” Rex, long time no see. I looked at the man before me. He was still as radiant as he’d been years ago. “How did you end up so miserable without me around?” Rex took my suitcase, a hint of schadenfreude in his voice. Hearing his familiar voice, my nose stung, and my voice involuntarily caught in my throat. “Yeah, I’m pretty miserable. And I’ll have to trouble the great Rex, top influencer, for a while.” Rex haughtily snorted twice. “Hilary, I told you long ago to leave him.” “Rex, I’m pregnant.” Rex’s grip on my hand tightened abruptly. He seemed agitated. “And you? Do you want to keep it?” I pulled my hand from Rex’s grasp. “I’m ready to start a new life.” In the following days, I steadily began my new life. I paid no attention to the chaos that had erupted back home. When Simon returned home the next day, he unexpectedly noticed many things missing from the house. He called our mutual friends. “Has Hilary contacted any of you?” All he got were words of advice: “Simon, I’m just telling you, in this toxic relationship with Lydia, you might as well let Hilary go.” Everyone’s consistent answer was that they had no idea where Hilary went, until Hilary’s family was asked. “Hilary has a really good friend overseas. You actually know him – Rex.” Simon didn’t understand why everyone thought he had wronged me. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the prenatal check-up results on the vanity table. Simon left the country that very night, taking Lydia with him. The next time I met Simon was at the supermarket downstairs. “Hilary!” Rex reacted faster than I did, swinging a punch at Simon’s face. “You bastard! How dare you show your face?!” They wrestled, their identities too prominent. If no one pulled them apart, tomorrow’s headline would be “A-List Celebrity and Corporation Heir Brawl in Public: What’s the Real Story?” “We broke up. Don’t come looking for me anymore.” I shielded Rex behind me, casting a cold gaze at the man and woman opposite us. Simon pulled out the prenatal check-up results. “Hilary, stop messing around. You can’t let our child grow up without a father.” “I terminated the pregnancy.” He froze. He threw down the suitcase he was holding and clamped my arm tightly. “You’re lying to me, aren’t you?”

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I could see everyone else’s final exam scores and college acceptances floating above their heads, but never my own. Didn’t matter to me, though. I was practically top of my class; if I said I was second, no one would dare claim first. The day before the final exam results were released. My fiancé, Julian, had a perfect 700 hovering above his head, along with the name of the prestigious university we’d promised to attend together. The maid’s daughter, Chloe, had a measly 250 and some low-tier community college. But the very day after the exam, Chloe’s score inexplicably changed to 720, and her college admission was suddenly the same as Julian’s. I thought exhaustion was making me see things. Turns out, I wasn’t wrong. The day the official scores were released, Chloe really did get a 720, with countless elite universities practically begging her to enroll. Meanwhile, no matter how many times I refreshed the score checker, my own score remained a pathetic 250. “Rich Prodigy Flunks with a 250, While Poor Innocent Girl Defies All Odds”—the headline instantly plastered everywhere, spreading like wildfire. Everyone, absolutely everyone, claimed my previous stellar grades must have been achieved through cheating. Even Julian, who had always spoiled me rotten, distanced himself, turning to hold Chloe’s hand instead. As I was spiraling into a mental breakdown, the maid’s daughter delivered the final, crushing blow. “My 720 is actually *your* score. And your fiancé, Julian, personally helped us swap them. Too bad no one will ever believe you.” I finally cracked, completely lost my mind, and was committed to a mental asylum where I was tortured until I died. Only on my deathbed did I discover that Julian was linked to a grade-swap system. The next thing I knew, my eyes fluttered open, and I was back. Back to the day before the scores were released. This time, I was going straight to live streaming my college entrance exam predictions!

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you’ve activated the Live Prediction System!” The moment I opened my phone, a huge screen popped up in front of me. Turns out, my ability to see scores was also due to being linked to a system—it just hadn’t been fully activated in my previous life. A robotic voice echoed from the system. “Host, please accept your mission: Before scores are released, successfully predict the scores of 10,000 live call-ins. Mission success reward: Julian’s grade-swap system will malfunction. Mission failure penalty: Host will die.” My eyes widened, and I trembled with excitement. My original goal for going live was just to use public opinion to force Julian and Chloe to confess the truth about the score swap. Now, things just got a whole lot easier. “So, if I succeed, my scores will come back?” “Yes, Host.” Remembering that hellhole of a mental asylum from my last life, I didn’t hesitate to hit the confirm button. That hellish place. I swore I’d never set foot in it again. I quickly opened my live stream, and the system began its countdown. “Mission countdown: 24 hours begins!” Ten minutes had already ticked off the 24-hour clock on the screen, but my live stream was completely empty. Even if someone clicked in, they left just as quickly. To get 10,000 live call-ins before the scores were released, I’d have to stream non-stop, without eating or sleeping. Otherwise, I wouldn’t just lose my scores again; I’d die. Again. I quickly logged onto the school forum and posted anonymously: “SHOCKING! Top Senior Student Going Live to Predict College Entrance Exam Scores – 100% Accuracy!” In less than ten minutes, over twenty people flooded into my live stream. [Can she really predict scores?] [She’s a fraud, the scores aren’t even out yet.] [Isn’t that Stella Sterling, the number one student?] I took a deep breath and tapped the ‘Join Call’ feature. “Welcome to my live stream. I can accurately predict your college entrance exam scores and which university you’ll get into. If you don’t believe me, call in and verify.” The comments section was filled with skepticism, but soon, the first call-in request popped up. I accepted it, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Ryan, the basketball team captain. A notorious troublemaker, always looking for a fight. “Well, well, if it isn’t our number one student,” Ryan smirked, his eyes full of mockery. “You claim you can predict scores? So tell me, what did I get?” I gazed at his head; a clear number floated there: 423 points, with the name of a local sports college beneath it. “423 points, Sports College.” I said calmly. Ryan’s face changed dramatically, then he burst out laughing. “Bullshit! I can get at least 500 points! My practice tests were always over 500!” The comments section blew up: [LOL! What a trainwreck!] [Ryan actually has decent grades though] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time] I simply smiled. “You’ll see when the scores are out. Next?” Muttering curses, he slammed the ‘End Call’ button, but the number of viewers in my stream had already climbed to over 300. Looks like controversy really does bring traffic. The second call-in was from an unfamiliar girl, wearing a mask that only revealed her eyes. “I… I want to see if you can really tell?” I looked at her head: 586 points, State University. “586 points, State University.” The girl’s eyes widened. “That… that’s actually the school I want to apply to.” The tide of comments began to shift: [OMG, how is she so accurate?!] [It’s a setup, right?] [Let’s keep watching, maybe she’s just guessing.] Over the next hour, I predicted scores and colleges for over twenty more people. Some believed, some didn’t, but my viewer count had already surpassed 2,000. My live stream became so popular that even Julian, who lived next door, stumbled upon it.

He barged into my room, his usual gentle and caring demeanor replaced by a terrifyingly dark expression. “Stella, aren’t you worried that live streaming rumors will affect your final exam scores?” I looked at Julian’s face, and it felt like a lifetime ago. The old me would have thought he was concerned for my well-being. But now, I knew perfectly well that he wasn’t afraid of my scores being affected. He was afraid for Chloe’s swapped score. My gaze turned ice-cold. “Who gave you permission to enter my room? Get out!” Julian was stunned, clearly not expecting me, usually so mild-mannered, to suddenly be a completely different person. But in a flash, he brushed past me, reaching for my laptop, clearly intending to shut down my stream. I quickly stepped in front of him. “Julian, was I too easy on you before? Don’t forget, you’re merely my fiancé, part of the Sterling family. Without the Sterling name, you’re nothing!” Julian’s pride was legendary; there was no way he could tolerate such humiliation. He would surely storm out. I didn’t have time to waste on him; I needed to get him out of here fast. At that moment, the comments section exploded: [Fiancé?!] [What kind of high-society scandal is this?!] [Quick, record this! Big news!] Julian’s face flushed crimson, but he still wouldn’t leave, stubbornly trying to close my stream, lecturing me all the while. “Stella, I’m doing this for your own good. I know you’ve been a pampered princess since childhood, and this is just a game to you, but if your predicted scores are fake, have you considered the consequences? Results come out tomorrow. What if something happens to you? What about our agreement?” I never thought Julian would sacrifice his pride for Chloe’s score. “Agreement? Are you talking about your agreement with the maid’s daughter, Chloe?” Julian’s pupils constricted, his face instantly turning ashen. In my previous life, I only found out at the very end that he and Chloe had been together all along. The live stream audience had already surpassed 500,000, comments scrolling wildly: [Too much information!] [Maid’s daughter? Fiancé?] [This is a real-life high-society drama!] I seized the opportunity to accept more call-ins, and the number of predictions rapidly exceeded 5,000. System prompt: [Mission progress 50%]. And Julian, seemingly afraid I’d reveal more, quickly threw out a parting shot before leaving. “Stella, don’t you dare regret this!” After Julian left, to prevent anyone else from disturbing me, I quickly locked my bedroom door and wedged a heavy object against it before settling back in front of my stream. Just then, I connected with a total academic superstar, which significantly boosted my stream’s traffic. I accepted the call, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Daniel, the second-ranked student in our grade, known for his meticulousness. “Stella, can you really see our final exam scores?” Daniel pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose, his gaze sharp as a knife. I looked at his head; a clear number floated there: 705 points, with Harvard’s name beneath it. “705 points, Harvard.” Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Impossible. My self-assessment puts me at 685 at most. There’s no way it could be over 700.” The comments section immediately exploded: [OMG, the number two student is personally stepping in to expose this scam!] [Daniel is famously meticulous; if he says 685, he must have a reason.] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time, right?] My heart pounded, but I maintained a calm exterior. “You’ll know when the scores are released.” Daniel scoffed. “I participated in the Physics Olympiad and got 20 bonus points. But even with those 20 points, it’s only 705. How could you possibly know I had bonus points? Unless…” He suddenly stopped, a flicker of shock in his eyes. The comments section went even crazier: [Wait, if Daniel really has bonus points, then 705 matches up?!] [This is too mind-blowing! She even knows about competition bonus points?] [She must be guessing! Daniel himself said it’s impossible.] I seized this moment. “Daniel, you know in your heart if what I’m saying is true. Your Physics Olympiad bonus points are for a national first-place award, which grants 20 points, correct?” Daniel’s face changed. He opened his mouth, but said nothing, simply disconnecting the call. The live stream viewer count instantly surged to 200,000, comments almost entirely covering the screen: [Daniel just defaulted!] [OMG, Stella really can see!] [This is unbelievable!] Riding this wave of traffic, I quickly accepted many more call-ins.

System prompt: [Mission progress 70%]. But then, an uninvited guest arrived. Chloe’s account entered the live stream and successfully connected. “Stella, big sis, can you check my final exam score too?” On screen, Chloe was wearing a limited-edition dress I’d bought her just last month. In my previous life, I had poured my heart out for her, yet she wished me dead. I stared at the number above her head – 720 points, Harvard. Exactly the same as my previous life. But what came out of my mouth was: “250 points, some low-tier community college.” Chloe forced herself to suppress a smirk, feigning innocence. “I think Stella, big sis, is lying. Before the final exam, Julian tutored me every single night. There’s no way I could get a score like that. Maybe my college will even be the same as yours.” The moment Chloe’s words fell, the live stream instantly exploded. [OMG! Tutored every night? So much info!] [Isn’t that the maid’s daughter? Is she the one the princess mentioned earlier?] [Stella applied to Harvard; everyone in our school knows. Chloe’s grades were never that good, how could she possibly get in?] Chloe’s face subtly changed, but she quickly put on that pitiful, innocent expression again. “Stella, big sis, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t just hire trolls to slander me like this. Julian said I did really well this time…” The live stream comments scrolled wildly, and the online viewership had already passed two million. The system’s chime sounded in my ear: [Mission progress 80%, Host, please hurry.] Chloe’s face showed a hint of panic as the stream’s viewer count soared, but she quickly composed herself. “Stella, big sis, the scores come out tomorrow. Then we’ll know who’s lying.” “Oh yeah? How about we make a bet? If your score truly is 720 tomorrow, I, Stella Sterling, will quit the internet forever. But if your score is 250, then you’ll get out of the Sterling household.” Chloe hesitated, thinking about all the luxuries she’d enjoyed at the Sterling mansion over the years. I added fuel to the fire. “Are you scared, perhaps?” “How could I be?!” “Then bet,” I challenged, looking at her provocatively. “Or do you have something to hide?” Chloe’s face went pale, her lips trembling, unable to speak. Just then, a flood of paid trolls suddenly poured into the live stream. [Stella Sterling is a bully!] [Being rich doesn’t make you superior, bullying the maid’s daughter!] [I heard Stella Sterling’s grades were always faked!] I sneered. These troll accounts were clearly Julian’s doing. In my past life, he used this exact tactic to turn public opinion against me. Seeing these comments slandering me, Chloe immediately regained her confidence. “Bet it is. When the scores are checked tomorrow, I’ll definitely meet Harvard’s admission line.” I curled my lips. “Then we’ll see.” Just then, Julian appeared behind Chloe. He earnestly tried to advise me. “Stella, don’t keep making mistakes. If you can even get Chloe’s score wrong, let alone others’, give up now. If something goes wrong, I’ll face the consequences with you.” What superb acting. But I could still detect a hint of mockery in his eyes. He was laughing at me, unaware my score had been swapped, laughing at me about to plummet from heaven to hell, to be trampled under his feet, completely clueless. But I didn’t care now; I just wanted to use him to hit my target number. Because Julian had hired trolls, my stream lost quite a few viewers for a moment. Now, I was only one thousand people short of completing the mission, and only an hour remained on the countdown. I didn’t care if he wanted a prediction or not; everyone in the stream counted. I directly stated his score and college. “700 points, Harvard.” Julian paused for a moment but quickly recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean? We grew up together; it’s not surprising you’d know my score, is it?” With my fiancé’s arrival, the number of curious onlookers in the stream began to climb again, and with it, the number of score predictions. I directly uploaded a custom-coded system app; users could upload a selfie to get their score predicted. Efficiency immediately skyrocketed. To keep the momentum going, I dropped a major bombshell. “You guessed right. My fiancé has been secretly messing around with the maid’s daughter for a long time.” The live stream instantly erupted, comments scrolling like a raging torrent. [!!! I’m actually witnessing a live high-society drama?] [OMG, this is more exciting than a novel!] [So Julian tutoring Chloe was fake, and their secret affair was real?] Along with this came rapidly soaring prediction data. Just one more person needed, with only 30 seconds left on the clock. But then, the official score check system suddenly went live, *early*. Just then, Chloe triumphantly flashed her score: 720 points. “Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Everyone was cursing me out.

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I never in my wildest dreams imagined that the ruin of my ten-year marriage to Daniel Sterling wouldn’t be a well-connected socialite, or a formidable rival, but the innocent darling he’d personally groomed – Scarlett Hayes. Two months ago, my latest A-list fantasy screenplay, *Nine Heavens*, had just wrapped principal photography and was entering intense post-production. Daniel had urged me to rest, assuring me he’d handle everything at Starlight Entertainment. I believed him. I was a top-tier screenwriter, responsible for seventy percent of Starlight Entertainment’s blockbusters. I thought Daniel and I were comrades, partners, our relationship built on shared ideals and struggles, unshakeable. Until my assistant, Chloe, a fresh graduate, hinted subtly, “Maya, lately, Scarlett… and Mr. Sterling have been getting too close. The resources the company is allocating to her already exceed the standards for A-list artists…” I just smiled then, telling her not to overthink it. After all, Daniel had personally scouted her from obscurity, and she was Starlight Entertainment’s face for the coming years. Investing more in her seemed normal. Until that day. I came home early from my studio for a crucial soundtrack detail. The villa was eerily quiet. I stood by the half-open door of the upstairs study, where a soft, intimate glow spilled out. Then I saw it. Scarlett was sitting on Daniel’s lap, wearing a sheer silk nightgown, clinging to him like she had no bones. Daniel had just showered, his bathrobe loosely tied. Scarlett’s hand was tracing circles on his chest, far too boldly. “Daniel, I still can’t quite grasp this scene… could you explain it to me again?” Her voice was syrupy sweet, dripping with an almost childish vulnerability. Daniel laughed, a rare, genuine laugh, not the fake business smile he used for investors, but one filled with indulgence and affection. “Little siren, always trying to charm me.” He pinched Scarlett’s cheek. “Can’t even memorize your lines, and you want to be Best Actress?” “With you, Daniel, I’m not afraid of anything.” Scarlett tilted her head back, her eyes hazy. “Daniel, don’t you think my ‘experiential’ approach has more soul than Maya’s scripts, which are just built on pure technique?” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins at that instant.

I waited for Daniel to refute her. Six years ago, Starlight Entertainment was on the brink of bankruptcy. I had poured in my mother’s entire inheritance and pulled all-nighters for three days and nights writing three screenplays, just to rescue him from the brink of ruin. He swore in front of all the shareholders: “Maya Linwood’s talent is the soul of Starlight. Anyone who dares to question her, questions my very existence.” The local media had labeled him “the doting husband.” He would remember. But the next second, I heard Daniel say, in a voice I had never heard before, tender to the core: “Of course. You’re unpolished jade, a natural talent, a born genius who doesn’t even have to try. Maya… she’s just a mature, excellent craftswoman. You’re different.” Craftswoman. Ha. Ten years of my hard work, in his eyes, I was just an artisan drawing blueprints and hammering nails. My heart felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on it, then thrown it into an ice bath. The pain was so intense my vision blurred. Scarlett, emboldened, buried her face in his chest, her voice laced with a sob: “Daniel, I’m so scared… I’m scared that one day Maya will dislike me, will think I’m stealing your attention, and then she’ll drive me away…” Daniel patted her back, his voice soothing: “Silly girl, with me here, no one can touch you. Starlight will always be your rock.” Always Scarlett’s rock? I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Daniel probably forgot that Starlight Entertainment was founded on my blood, sweat, and talent. Without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. The last flicker of warmth in my eyes died out, like a candle flame extinguished by a cold wind, leaving only a wisp of smoke. I didn’t cry, nor did I make a scene. I just quietly, step by step, turned and walked down the stairs. “Mrs. Linwood, you’re back.” Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, looked surprised to see me. “Mm.” I didn’t stop. I knew that the “devoted” pair upstairs had already heard me. Good. I’d wait for them in the living room downstairs. I had no interest in watching them scramble to get dressed. I simply turned on the living room’s home theater system, connected to the cloud server, and pulled up the past two months of indoor surveillance footage. When I wasn’t home, Scarlett acted like the lady of the house. Drinking from my cups. Wearing my slippers. Even sitting in my exclusive creative studio, on my chair, ordering Daniel to peel her fruit. And Daniel, the man who was so attentive to me outside the house, didn’t refuse her at all; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it. On the monitor, Scarlett pointed at my award-winning interview on the TV, pouting to Daniel: “Daniel, look how amazing Maya is. When will I be as great as her, so you’ll only have eyes for me?” Daniel turned off the TV, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered, “You don’t need to be like her. Just be yourself, that’s enough.” I watched it all, expressionless. My heart was a barren wasteland. I even saw how Scarlett subtly manipulated my five-year-old son, Leo. She’d hand him cheap toys and say, “See, Aunt Scarlett bought these for you. Your mommy only works; she doesn’t even know what you like.” She’d also point towards my study, asking with feigned innocence, “Leo, does Mommy not like Daddy playing with you? She’s always alone in her room, it’s so strange, isn’t it?” And Daniel? He just watched from the side, silent, implicitly condoning it. An icy dread snaked up my spine, chilling me to the bone.

Footsteps echoed from the stairs. Daniel and Scarlett descended. Scarlett had changed into a modest long dress, her face a mask of perfectly calibrated panic and innocence, eyes red-rimmed, clinging tightly to Daniel’s arm like a terrified fawn. Heh, impressive acting. No wonder she’s hailed as the next big thing. Daniel’s face was grim, his brows furrowed, with a hint of displeasure at being caught. “Maya, why didn’t you say you were coming home?” He walked towards me, his tone carrying a trace of accusation he probably hadn’t even noticed himself. I ignored him. I raised my hand and pressed pause. On the enormous screen, the image of Scarlett nestled in his arms, calling me a “craftswoman,” was frozen. The air instantly became dead silent. Scarlett’s face went white as a sheet, and she swayed as if she might faint any second. Daniel’s face turned ashen. He strode to me, blocking the screen, his voice low and warning: “Maya, what is this? What are you trying to do?” “What am I trying to do?” I finally looked up, my gaze calm. “Daniel Sterling, that’s what I should be asking you.” “I…” Daniel was speechless. Behind him, Scarlett had already started crying, her tears, like a string of pearls, began to fall. “Maya, please don’t blame Daniel; it’s all my fault… I just admire you so much, and I wanted Daniel to give me some acting tips, we…” “Shut up.” I bit out two cold words. Scarlett’s sobs hitched, and she looked at me in disbelief. She probably hadn’t expected the usually gentle me to speak to her in such a tone. Daniel’s temper flared. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Maya! Come at me! What does this have to do with Scarlett? She’s just a kid, she doesn’t understand anything!” A kid? A twenty-four-year-old actress was a kid in his eyes? I looked at his furious face and suddenly found it ridiculous. “Daniel, look closely at what she’s wearing.” I yanked my hand free and pointed at Scarlett’s sexy silk nightgown on the screen. “Wearing that to ‘practice lines’ with you? In your study, sitting on your lap, until your bathrobe was practically open?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was like an ice-cold knife, striking both their faces. Daniel’s face flushed red, then pale. Scarlett’s dramatic streak kicked in again. She cried harder, rushing to cling to Daniel’s arm. “Daniel, I didn’t mean to… I just felt comfortable wearing something casual at home… Maya, I truly didn’t mean to ruin your relationship, I… I’m leaving now! I’ll never bother you again!” With that, she covered her face and ran out, looking heartbroken. Just as expected, Daniel immediately felt a pang of sympathy. He shot me a furious glare, an expression that saw me as nothing but an unreasonable lunatic. “Maya, do you have to make such a scene?!” He chased after her. I heard the car engine start outside, followed by a deadly silence. He was gone. He’d left me alone in this house, empty as a tomb, for that “wronged” Scarlett. Slowly, ever so slowly, I walked to the massive floor-toceiling window. Outside, was the rose garden I had personally designed and planted. It was right here, years ago, that Daniel held the first script I had ever written and told me, “Maya, marry me. I’ll spend my life protecting you and your talent.” Ten years. How many decades do you get in life? I’d given him my best ten years, given them to Starlight. What I got in return was being called a “craftswoman.” I picked up my phone and dialed my private lawyer. “Mr. Davis, prepare something.” “Prepare what, Ms. Linwood?” “Divorce papers, and also… a full audit for copyright divestment and asset liquidation for all film and television projects under Starlight Entertainment where I served as screenwriter or held the original creative concept.” Mr. Davis on the other end was silent for three seconds, clearly stunned by the news. “Ms. Linwood, are you certain? This is almost half of Starlight’s empire.” “I am.” I hung up, looking at the roses outside the window. Daniel, you think Scarlett is unpolished jade, a genius? Fine. I’d like to see what kind of castles in the air your unpolished jade can build without me, the “craftswoman,” laying the foundation. This play needed a new ending.

The next day, I didn’t go to the office. Daniel hadn’t returned home all night, not even a phone call. I guessed he was busy comforting his startled “innocent angel.” Good. I’d use this time to settle all the messy accounts between us. I had Mr. Davis’s team move into Starlight, beginning the copyright and financial audit. The news spread like wildfire, sending the entire company into an uproar. Daniel’s call finally came through at noon, his voice thick with suppressed fury. “Maya! What the hell are you trying to do?! Bringing lawyers into the company, do you want everyone to laugh at us?!” “Laugh at us?” I leisurely applied lipstick in the mirror, the vibrant red like a battle flag. “Mr. Sterling, what’s left between us besides a joke?” He choked, his breathing growing heavier. “Stop messing around! Get your lawyers out of there! We can talk about this at home!” “Home?” I chuckled. “Which home? The one with you in it, or the one with Scarlett?” “Maya!” he practically roared. “Are you really trying to destroy ten years of our lives together?!” “Our lives?” I pulled a cold smile at my reflection. “Daniel Sterling, from the moment you put Scarlett and me on a scale, calling her a genius and me a craftswoman, there was nothing left between us but business.” “And I, Maya Linwood, never do business at a loss.” I didn’t wait for his reply; I hung up directly. My phone rang again almost immediately. This time, it was my assistant, Chloe. Her voice was utterly frantic: “Maya! It’s bad! Something huge has happened!” “Slow down,” I said, remarkably calm. “Scarlett… Scarlett gave a live interview today, and she said… she said that the new script you’re working on, *Begonia*, the lead character ‘Begonia,’ is based on her!” My hand, applying lipstick, froze. *Begonia*. That was the script I wrote for my mother. My mother’s childhood nickname was Begonia. She was the most resilient, gentle woman I had ever known, and she passed away in an accident when I was ten. This script was my elegy to her, the softest, most sacred place in my heart. I had never mentioned it to anyone, not even Daniel. Scarlett… how could she know? “Not only that,” Chloe’s voice was tearful, “she also implied in the interview that many details of the character resembled her own life experiences, and she ‘thanked’ you for tailoring it for her… Now the entire internet is calling you a ‘genius screenwriter’ who, to promote Scarlett, even ‘copied’ her life story!” “Copied” her life? Heh, she wished. A wave of nausea and pure rage surged up from my gut. “Maya, the PR department is losing their minds, and Mr. Sterling’s phone is unreachable, what should we do?” “Don’t panic.” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, my gaze was icy. “Tell the PR department to do nothing. Wait for my message.” After hanging up, I immediately logged into my Ins account. That account, which had been dormant for almost a year, still boasted millions of followers. I didn’t post a long rant, just a photo and a single sentence. The photo was a black-and-white picture of my mother when she was young, holding a幼年的 me, smiling gently and serenely. In her eyes, one could vaguely see the shadow of the ‘Begonia’ character. The caption read: “*Begonia*, written for my one and only muse, my mother. She’s gone, but she lives forever in my stories. #BegoniaLivesOn” Not a single word mentioned Scarlett, but every word was a resounding slap across her face. Ins exploded instantly. #MayaLinwoodBegoniaIsMyMother #ScarlettHayesScam #FeelSorryForMaya These topics shot to the top three trending lists with unstoppable momentum. The tide of public opinion turned instantly. The marketing accounts that had previously praised Scarlett as “naturally talented” and “the chosen one” were left utterly exposed and humiliated. Countless netizens flooded Scarlett’s Ins, calling her a “fake innocent girl,” a “scheming manipulator,” and accusing her of “exploiting the deceased for fame.” I watched the comments, feeling no joy. Only a vast emptiness. I knew this was just the beginning. The war between me, Daniel, and Scarlett had just begun. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Daniel, just a few short words. [Are you satisfied?] I stared at those words and laughed. So, in his eyes, my act of clarifying the truth, of defending my mother’s dignity, was merely for my “satisfaction.” I didn’t reply. Because I knew he wouldn’t think that way for long. Sure enough, half an hour later, Chloe’s call came again, this time her voice filled with despair. “Maya… we’ve been hit by a backlash…” “What do you mean?” “Mr. Sterling… Mr. Sterling himself intervened.” Chloe’s voice trembled. “He ordered the company’s online smear campaign to claim that you… that you are exploiting your deceased mother, seeking sympathy, and deliberately suppressing a newcomer…” “He said Scarlett is just a naive young girl who misspoke out of pure admiration for you, and that you, as a senior, are being ruthless and utterly graceless!” “Now… now the tide has turned again, and many people are calling you malicious, calling you a publicity-seeker…” I gripped the phone, my knuckles turned white from gripping the phone. For a moment, I felt like I was choking on glass. Daniel Sterling. To protect Scarlett’s so-called “innocent darling” image. He actually stepped in personally, directing an online smear campaign, using the most vicious language to defame me and my deceased mother. He was trampling me into the mud, just to build a pure, unblemished wall around that ‘innocent’ woman he cherished. I finally understood. My talent, my efforts, my ten years of selfless love, even my most sacred family bonds. In front of Scarlett, they were utterly worthless. This man was no longer the boy who had weathered hardships with me. He had become a lunatic who would twist facts and sacrifice anything for his “precious darling.” And I was the price to be sacrificed at will. I opened my contacts and found a number I had saved but never thought I’d dial. The contact name was – Julian Thorne. The head of Aura Media, the man whom even Daniel Sterling had to treat with caution in the capital market. The call connected quickly. A deep, magnetic male voice, with a hint of lazy amusement, answered. “Ah, Ms. Linwood, finally remembered me?” “Mr. Thorne.” My voice was calm, without a ripple. “I want to discuss a business deal with you.” “Oh?” He seemed interested. “Tell me more.” “I want to start my own company, a new film and television production house.” “I have three A-list projects in hand: a sci-fi blockbuster, a suspense crime thriller, and one that’s currently at the center of controversy, *Begonia*.” “I need funding, distribution channels, and top-tier promotional resources.” “In return, you’ll own thirty percent of the new company’s shares, and… exclusive distribution rights for all projects overseas.” Silence fell on the other end of the line. It lasted so long I thought he would refuse. Then, Julian Thorne laughed, a deep chuckle, like the resonance of a cello. “Maya, do you know you’re declaring war on Daniel Sterling?” “I do.” “He’ll tear you apart.” “So what?” I looked out the window. The sky was darkening, a storm was brewing. “I have nothing left, so I have nothing to lose.” “Interesting,” Julian Thorne said. “I accept your terms.” “However, I have a condition too.” “Name it.” “I don’t want shares.” Julian Thorne’s voice, transmitted through the phone, carried an undeniable authority. “I want you.” I froze. “Mr. Thorne, I don’t…” “Don’t misunderstand,” he interrupted. “What I mean is, I want Maya Linwood to become the future head of production for Aura Media. Your new company, Aura will acquire it entirely. You’ll have one hundred percent creative freedom and decision-making power. I’ll give you the platform, the resources, everything I can give.” “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think betting on a genius’s revenge is far more thrilling than betting on a businessman’s marriage.” “Besides,” he paused, his voice dropping lower, imbued with a strange seduction, “I also want to see Daniel Sterling’s expression when the jewel he personally destroyed blossoms with even more dazzling brilliance in someone else’s hands.” “It’ll be quite a show, won’t it?” I had Mr. Davis send the divorce papers directly to Starlight’s board of directors. Attached was a fifty-page list for copyright divestment and asset liquidation.

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  My wife had always hated stuffed animals. But recently, she bought a giant teddy bear—and started cuddling it to sleep every night. As for me, I was left to the side, completely ignored. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, during our daughter’s first birthday banquet, I asked for a divorce. The entire room went silent in shock. Cora splashed a glass of wine in my face and shouted, “You’re jealous of a teddy bear?! Are you out of your mind?” I calmly wiped my face and said coldly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to spend the rest of your life with that teddy bear? I’m just making it easy for you.” —— “Jason!” she seethed. “Our daughter just turned one—and you’re divorcing me over this? What kind of heartless bastard are you?” Cora’s eyes turned red with fury, her body trembling. “Sign the papers,” I said, throwing the divorce agreement on the table. “See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine tomorrow morning.” I didn’t bother explaining, and just turned and walked away. The guests were stunned again, exchanging confused glances. We were the couple everyone admired—the so-called perfect match. No one understood how things could fall apart so suddenly. There was a flash of panic in Cora’s eyes. Her parents frowned, their expressions darkening. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be this decisive. Her assistant, Amos, grabbed my arm and pleaded, “Come on, all girls like stuffed animals—are you really making a scene over this? Apologize to Ms. Cora.” “Have you forgotten how she nearly died giving birth to your child? She refused anesthesia and passed out from the pain, just to deliver your daughter.” “She sleeps in a separate room and takes care of the baby herself, so she doesn’t disturb your rest. Can’t you see how much she’s sacrificing for you?” More guests chimed in, rebuking me. “He’s right! You two had a good thing going. So many people envy you for marrying such a good woman.” “If there’s a problem, talk it through. What kind of man uses divorce as a threat? You can’t just take it out on your wife.” Cora took a deep breath and steadied herself. Then she rushed over and hugged me tightly. “Honey,” she said softly, “we’ve been through twelve years together—from strangers to soulmates. You’ve always been gentle and patient. You never lost your temper.” “Is it something at work? Are you trying to protect me by pushing me away? Tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.” Hearing her speak up for me so earnestly, the guests began to side with her. They looked at me with increasing disappointment. “Jason,” her father finally spoke up. “I may be retired and out of the business world, but I still carry some weight.” “We’re all family. If something’s wrong, you should say it. Don’t bottle it up.” Even Cora’s parents chose to believe in me. After all, I was the son-in-law they had hand-picked. But I didn’t care about any of them. Without a glance around, I shoved Cora off me. My voice was cold. “It’s simple. I don’t love you anymore.” A dead silence ensued. “…What?” Cora froze. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes. “I said—I don’t love you anymore,” I repeated. “Did you hear me clearly this time?” I stepped past her, ready to leave. “Stop right there!” Amos grabbed me by the collar and yelled, “Enough with this nonsense! Even as her assistant, I can’t stand watching this anymore!” “Have you forgotten how hard you chased after her for three whole years?” “And it took another six just to finally walk down the aisle with her!” “Have you forgotten what you said at your wedding? To hold her hand and grow old together. To never leave her.” “And your kid is already one year old! Do you want him to grow up in a broken home?” Watching him defend her so passionately, I smirked and said with a mocking tone, “Why are you so worked up? What—don’t tell me… you have feelings for her?”

“Anyone with a conscience would be disgusted by a thankless bastard like you.” Amos clapped back. His tone was growing even more arrogant. “You came from nothing, and yet Cora didn’t look down on you. She even arranged a job for you in her family’s company.” “If it weren’t for theCronin family, would you be living the good life you have now? Would you even be sitting in the president’s chair?” Smack! I slapped him across the face without hesitation. “You’re just an assistant. Know your place and keep your mouth shut.” Seeing him hurt, Cora instantly panicked. “Jason, are you insane?! What gives you the right to hit Amos?” She shoved me aside and hurried to help Amos off the ground. Her eyes were full of concern. “He deserved it,” I said flatly, clenching my fists, utterly unapologetic. The crowd instantly turned against me. They began to think my usual calm demeanor was all just an act—deep down, I was nothing but a violent hypocrite. Amos lowered his head and said quietly to Cora, “I’m sorry, Cora. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. I must have upset Mr. Jason. Please don’t blame him.” He looked so guilty and remorseful. “It’s not your fault,” she replied gently. “I dragged you into this.” Then she turned to me, her voice low and humble, “Honey, this is between us. Don’t take it out on others.” “Today is our daughter’s first birthday. Can’t we just get through the day without drama? I’m begging you.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. Her softness. My aggression. The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Naturally, the guests sided with her. Her father, Franco, took a deep breath and tried to mediate once more. “Jason, over the years, you’ve always been hardworking, devoted to the family, and respectful to your elders.” “There’s no need for things to get this ugly.” “If you really feel wronged, bring out the evidence. I promise I’ll stand up for you.” He was giving me an out, but I didn’t take it. I remained cold and firm. “This marriage is over. I’m divorcing her no matter what.” At that instant, his expression changed, and a hint of gloom clouded his face. Cora looked at me through tears. “Is there someone else?” she asked, voice quivering. “Think whatever you want,” I said indifferently. “If that’s what you believe, go ahead.” “That’s enough!” Franco finally exploded. “Jason, I’ll give you three days to think this through.” “Either you go home and act like a husband and father—” “—or we’ll see you in court. And don’t expect to leave with a dime.” “Don’t forget, everything you have now came from me.” The words were harsh and final. Everyone thought I’d finally give in. But instead, I turned and walked out without hesitation. Outside, my junior from university, Kelly, was already waiting for me. “I’ve already sent someone to Europe,” she said with a smile. “The answers you want—won’t take long now.” “Thank you.” I leaned wearily against the backseat, exhaustion soaking into my bones. “I’ll be facing Cora in court in three days,” I added. “I’ll need you to represent me.” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and opened a video clip. In the surveillance footage, Cora’s beloved teddy bear walked straight out of the side bedroom. Then—it began dancing in front of the living room camera. That footage alone was enough to upend everything. Three days. That’s all I needed. Originally, I planned to check into a hotel. But all my bank cards had been frozen. Only then did I remember—over the past year, control of our finances had slowly shifted back into theCronin family’s hands. Even the bank account was now registered under Cora’s name. I had thought I was living in a warm and happy family. In reality, I was completely alone. That night, I crashed at Kelly’s place. The next morning, I returned to the company to collect my things. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I was bombarded by gossip and whispers from the employees.

“A live-in son-in-law asking for a divorce? Doesn’t even know how lucky he is—he’s dumber than a pig.” “So what if PresidentCronin likes cuddling a teddy bear to sleep? That’s not weird. I do it too!” “He probably got bored of her after she gave birth and her figure changed a little. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s keeping a harem of mistresses on the side.” The way they looked at me was full of disgust as though I were some vile criminal. I hadn’t even opened my mouth to respond when a familiar voice rang out from behind. “Enough! Who gave you permission to speak like that? Get back to work!” It was Cora. Only then did the employees reluctantly scatter. She walked up to me with a warm smile. “Honey,” she said, “I bought you a new watch. Try it on.” From her bag, she took out a pristine wristwatch. Gasps erupted around us. “A Patek Philippe limited edition! Only three were ever made—rumor is, they were all snatched up by mysterious collectors!” “PresidentCronin must’ve gone to great lengths to get her hands on this. She’s so thoughtful…” Everyone looked on with admiration and envy. But my response remained cold. “I came to collect my family heirloom,” I said, stepping back. “You can save the watch—for your teddy bear.” The words hit like ice water. Cora froze, stunned. The crowd erupted again, only now with outrage. “What an ungrateful bastard!” “He doesn’t deserve anything good!” I ignored every word and headed upstairs. When my parents passed, they left me with only one thing—a pendant they said would ward off evil. I’d worn it around my neck ever since. A while ago, Cora had complained that her office felt eerie, that strange noises kept happening. So I’d taken off the pendant and hung it in her office. From that day on, everything went quiet. But now? She didn’t deserve to keep it. As I entered her office, I saw Amos playing with a little girl. “President Jason,” he greeted with a grin. “You’re finally back. Nothing matters more than a happy family. Come, take a look at your daughter.” “She’s adorable—how could you bear to walk away from her?” He walked over with the child in his arms. “Move,” I said with a frown of pure disgust. “She’s your daughter,” Amos insisted, his voice rising. “You won’t even spare her a glance?” “Get out of my way!” I shoved him aside impatiently and walked straight in to retrieve the pendant. I turned. Amos and the girl had both fallen to the floor. At that exact moment, Cora walked in with several senior executives and saw everything. She rushed to the child, checking her from head to toe. Only when she confirmed there were no injuries did she breathe a sigh of relief. “What happened?” she asked, eyes darting between me and Amos. Amos hung his head. “I just wanted President Jason to look at his daughter, but he refused. He pushed me… I wasn’t steady on my feet, and I fell.” What? Before I could react, Cora slapped me hard across the face.   “You’ve become heartless!” she screamed. “That’s your own daughter!” “She’s barely a year old. What if she had been seriously hurt?” My face remained indifferent. “Say whatever you want. Even if she had died from the fall—it’s not my problem.” Her expression collapsed. Tears streamed down her face. Amos pointed at me, shaking with rage. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Cursing your own daughter to die? You’re beyond help!” “Enough,” Cora choked out, trembling with fury. “I’m done.” “Get out.” “Get out of my life! I can raise our daughter on my own. She doesn’t need a father like you.” “We’ll settle this in court.” Cora’s final words were practically screamed at the top of her lungs. I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked away. Not long after, news of my divorce with her exploded online. One exposé after another flooded the internet. Some claimed I was keeping dozens of mistresses. Some said I was a regular at shady clubs. Others even alleged I had an illegitimate child. Photos were posted as so-called evidence. I was crucified on the internet—labeled a heartless scumbag who abandoned his wife and child. Still, I remained silent. No explanations. No statements. Until three days later, when I appeared in court. Because the trial was public, the gallery was packed—not just with friends and family, but with reporters as well. “Jason,” Cora said, fists clenched tightly, “I’ll give you one last chance. Admit your mistake, and let’s move on with our lives.” Amos chimed in beside her. “You don’t have a leg to stand on. You’ll lose everything in the divorce. What then? Who’s going to want anything to do with you?” “Just give in,” he sneered. “Unless you want to end up sleeping on the street.” Cora’s parents sat stiff-faced. “Jason,” her father said sternly, “think carefully about the consequences.” “If your whole argument for splitting assets is that Cora sleeps with a teddy bear, you have no chance of winning.” In the face of their criticism, I said nothing. I simply walked to my seat beside Kelly. The entireCronin family scoffed in unison. The hearing began. After reviewing Cora’s submitted evidence, the judge turned to me. “Sleeping with a teddy bear doesn’t constitute a fault in a marriage,” he said. “However, the plaintiff has submitted over fifty photos of you in intimate situations with other women.” “If you cannot provide new evidence, the court will rule you at fault based on the current facts.” I stood up calmly. “I have evidence.” Now the real show was about to begin.

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On the eve of our new song’s release, I vanished, taking the lyrics with me. Julian called me 999 times. “We said we’d get married after this song dropped. What is this, then?” “Someone saw the lyrics online. Are you trying to dump me?” He didn’t know. I was in prison, accused of accidentally killing a thug while intervening to help someone. Both my ears had been pierced, leaving me deaf. I couldn’t hear a sound. I signed to a guard, pleading for them to send a message on my behalf. 【I don’t want to be a burden to you anymore. I’m going solo.】 When I saw Julian again, he was the owner of a major record label. After the holidays, the sanctuary was bustling with visitors. Important clients were coming to seek blessings for a new venture, so I quickly pulled on my yellow vest to help. I’d only been out of prison for two months. No one would hire an ex-con like me. Luckily, Father Michael took me in as a volunteer, providing food and lodging, plus a modest stipend of a few hundred dollars a month. I was saving diligently, hoping to afford a better cochlear implant. I looked up and saw Julian. He hadn’t changed. He was still the man I deeply loved in my memories, instantly overlapping with the present. “This place is so stuffy, let’s just donate and go!” The girl beside him looked impatient, fanning her hand in front of her nose. “Didn’t you say you wanted the new album to be a smash hit?” Julian playfully tapped her nose. “I told you about the traditions and superstitions of this industry. Don’t blame fate if things go south!” His voice was patient and gentle. His eyes were practically glued to her. “Fine, I’ll just get my blessings and leave.” “You need three incense sticks… I’m talking to you, are you deaf?” It wasn’t until the girl raised her voice that I noticed the anger in her brows. I hurried to take out the incense, lit it, and handed it over. Julian didn’t even glance my way. Was it my current appearance that kept him from recognizing me, or was he simply unwilling to have anything to do with a betrayer like me? “Ah!” A scream shattered the air, and before I could even react, a slap sent me sprawling to the ground. “Are you trying to burn me alive?” The girl clutched her red hand. I fumbled to pick up my old, broken cochlear implant and put it on, bowing repeatedly in apology. “It hurts so much.” The girl leaned into Julian’s embrace. “I have a photoshoot tomorrow for promotions. What if it leaves a scar?” Julian’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he gently blew on her hand. “It’s okay, baby. When we get home, I’ll apply my special scar-fading cream. If it does scar, we’ll just get a tattoo to cover it. I’ll get one with you.” He rolled up his sleeve and patted his arm. The tattoo of my name, “Cassie,” was gone. Once, I’d cut my arm badly on glass, and the doctors warned it might scar. Julian knew how much I loved wearing sleeveless tops, so he researched old remedies and made a special scar cream. Even with nightly applications, a faint scar remained. He, worried I’d be upset, suggested I get his name, “Julian,” tattooed on my arm, and he’d get “Cassie” on his. Now, my last trace had been erased. His exclusive affection, once mine, now belonged to someone else. I tugged at my burned sleeve, desperate to hide my embarrassment. My cochlear implant seemed to be damaged again. I watched their lips move, but I couldn’t quite hear their voices. I just kept tapping it. “I’m talking to you!” The girl shoved me hard. “Is ‘sorry’ all you’ve got? A volunteer, listening to music with headphones on duty?” Julian glanced at me, his expression distant and cold. Father Michael rushed over to intervene, but I stopped him. “I’m sorry.” I bowed deeply again. “If you want to get even, you can burn me back.” I exposed my un-tattooed arm and straightened my back. “Forget it.” Julian wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder. “No need to waste time on insignificant people. It wouldn’t look good if the media caught us.” He leaned in and whispered something to her, and she immediately blushed, her tears turning into a smile. “Okay, I’ll wait for you in the car.” Even her glare at me softened a little. Julian pulled out a check and waved it. “Father Michael knows, Starlight Records donates the most to this sanctuary every year.” “I hope you’ll be more discerning when hiring volunteers. Don’t let people who slack off and mooch off you work here, understand?” Father Michael looked at me with a pained expression, then nodded. It was then I understood the emotion in Julian’s eyes. It wasn’t love, not even hatred. It was a profound disgust that he could never forgive. He was the kind of gentle person who’d just brush himself off and say he was fine, even if he got knocked over… His hatred for me—wasn’t that exactly what I’d hoped for five years ago when I made my decision? Cassie, you’re just a deaf ex-con. What more are you hoping for?

Father Michael, in his kindness, allowed me to stay in the dorm until the new volunteer started. I began to pack my luggage. Two blocks from the dorm was the dark alley where my fate had been rewritten five years ago. It all started with how Julian and I met. We’d met at a bar, kindred spirits. I carried my guitar, accompanying him as we chased our dreams in New York. He played keyboard and composed, I played guitar and wrote lyrics. After countless rejected resumes and failed songwriting competitions, we spent a year painstakingly perfecting a masterpiece. We showed it to a producer we knew, who said it had a high chance of becoming a massive hit. Julian promised me that no matter the song’s reception, he would marry me as soon as it dropped. That night, I was returning to our studio with the final revised lyrics. Passing through the dark alley, I suddenly heard a faint cry for help. I immediately recognized Chloe’s unique way of expressing herself—Julian’s sister, who had autism. I grabbed an iron rod from the alley entrance and charged in. “Let her go! Or I’ll call the police!” Chloe’s clothes were disheveled, and she looked at me with pleading eyes. “Well, isn’t this convenient? One for each of us.” There were two burly men. Outnumbered and outmatched, I could only shield Chloe behind me. As they grinned menacingly and lunged at me, I frantically swung the weapon in my hand. Suddenly, a scream ripped through the air as one of the men slipped. The iron rod pierced his chest, and blood gushed out. Seeing that someone was killed, the surviving assailant fled the scene. Chloe collapsed from exhaustion. Her mother received an automatic alert message from Chloe’s phone and arrived even before the police. She knelt before me. “Cassie, I know you’re a good girl.” “Chloe has autism. Her life is already difficult enough. If her reputation is stained, her life will be ruined forever.” “I’ll take her away. When the police arrive, please don’t mention her presence.” Julian and Chloe had lost their father at a young age and were raised by their mother. Mrs. Davies was right; Chloe was emotionally unstable due to her autism and unsuitable to testify in court. I didn’t think much of it then, believing I was simply intervening to help, and that the man had just accidentally slipped. But I never imagined that the man I’d accidentally killed was Blake, a notorious playboy from a powerful family in the city. On my very first day in prison, a fellow inmate pierced my eardrums, leaving me deaf. When I woke up in the infirmary, a guard handed me a phone. It showed 326 missed calls from Julian. And a stack of messages. One voice message was from Mrs. Davies. “Cassie, I’m so sorry. I can’t let Chloe testify. That family is too powerful for us to cross. I hope you can forgive me.” “As for Julian, I made up a lie to deceive him.” “If Julian knew the truth, with his temper, he’d blow things out of proportion. I hope you can willingly break up with him.” “If you want compensation, I’ll sell everything we own to give it to you… I just want my two children to live safe and happy lives.” I touched my bandaged ears. The doctor said my hearing was severely damaged, with only 5% left. I would have to live with a cochlear implant for the rest of my life. The beautiful sounds of this world would be forever lost to me. How could I, like this, continue to chase musical dreams with Julian? So, I asked a guard to help me send a message. I used the most decisive method to become a betrayer, to vanish completely from Julian’s life. From then on, I served my sentence peacefully until my release. I heard Julian left New York not long after. He returned five years later. He became the owner of a record label, and I was an ex-con scorned by everyone. I just never expected to see him again at a production company after leaving the sanctuary. I’d finally found a company willing to accept my lyrics, so I went to apply with my resume. I waited in the reception room for a long time when the door suddenly opened. A familiar face—it was Marcus, our old bandmate who’d chased dreams with us in New York. “Well, if it isn’t the infamous plagiarist, Cassie! This lyric sheet of yours—you didn’t scam it from some gullible fool, did you?” “Julian, you’re here. Take a look for me, will you?”

“Marcus, who’s here?” A couple, arm-in-arm, walked out of the recording studio. Julian stiffened when he saw me. “Aren’t you that girl from the sanctuary the other day…?” Stella frowned slightly. Marcus smiled at me. “Let me introduce you. This is Stella, Julian’s heavily promoted new singer and his current girlfriend.” “And as for this one…” He looked at me meaningfully. “Julian’s former bandmate, the notorious plagiarist, Cassie.” The word “plagiarist” hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. I looked up and saw a twisted amusement playing on Julian’s face. “So, it’s you.” Stella sneered. “Julian’s downfall was all because of you… If I’d known, I would have slapped you twice more at the sanctuary!” “The sanctuary?” “Cassie, have you changed your ways?” Marcus scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re repenting your sins and thinking of becoming a nun?” “No, I was just volunteering there…” Before I could finish, Stella’s palm connected with my face. Julian grabbed her tightly, a flicker of panic in his eyes. “Don’t hold me back! I want to get revenge for you!” She was furious. As I bent down to pick up my cochlear implant, she stomped down. “Still listening to music? Is it the song you stole?” Stella lifted her foot, cruelly crushing my last shred of dignity. My cochlear implant shattered into pieces under her shoe. Julian watched with a twisted amusement, not saying a word to stop her. But then he suddenly bent down and grasped Stella’s foot. “Does it hurt?” He used his hand to brush away the fragments of my cochlear implant, his expression one of utter disgust. “Why get so angry? It’s not worth it to bother with someone like this.” Someone like this? Yes, I was a plagiarist, an ex-con, and deaf. My cochlear implant was destroyed, but even without ears, I could discern the overflowing tenderness in Julian’s voice. After five years of being deaf, I had long since learned to read lips. “It doesn’t hurt… I just feel bad about these shoes. You had them custom-made for me from abroad…” Stella’s face was filled with regret. “It’s okay, I’ll order you another pair.” Julian casually tossed the broken high heel into the trash. He swept Stella into his arms and carried her away, not even sparing a glance for me. I stared intently at the trash can, wondering how many pairs of cochlear implants that one pair of shoes could buy. Marcus threw the lyric sheet at me. “Our small studio can’t afford to be associated with an acclaimed plagiarist like you… Take your stuff and get out. Don’t you dare linger around Julian again…” I bent down to pick up my shattered dignity scattered on the floor. My cochlear implant was utterly destroyed. No matter how I tried to piece it together, it could never be restored, just like my image in Julian’s heart. He hated me so much. I sighed softly, a bitter smile playing on my lips as I entered the elevator. A hand blocked the elevator door. Julian backed me into a corner, his gaze piercing. “Can’t you take it?” I turned my face away. “Aren’t you supposed to be so resilient?” he scoffed. “Running off with our love song to a sugar daddy… Didn’t your sugar daddy keep you well-hidden? Why are you showing your face here?” “That’s right, he got bored and dumped me.” I lifted my head and smiled. “So I’m really broke now. Is that answer satisfactory, Mr. Davies?” Julian’s lips pressed into a tight line, his gaze deepening. “Why don’t you give me some money? Consider it payment for the three years I spent chasing dreams with you… I can give you anything you want, even my body…” I grabbed Julian’s hand and pressed it to my chest, but he flung my hand off. “Shameless!” His breath hitched, and he turned his face away, trembling. “I wouldn’t touch a body as dirty as yours.” “Tomorrow morning at eight, at The Blue Note. We need a guitarist for the new song release… Fifty thousand for one night. Will you come?” “Yes.” At seven-thirty, I arrived at The Blue Note early. The decor was identical to where Julian and I first met. Only the neon sign outside and the banner above the stage were different.

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After I was reborn. I clutched my ID and stormed into the bank. I made sure that savings card, the one ending in 666, was canceled, completely and irrevocably. In my past life, Gareth always claimed he was short on cash for his business, constantly borrowing my card to funnel money through. I was so blinded by love back then; I even set the password to his birthday. It wasn’t until the debt collectors kicked down my door that I saw my name listed as the emergency contact on all the loan agreements. Every deposit in my bank statement flowed straight into Gareth’s gaming accounts and luxury boutiques. I took the transfer records to confront him. He was there, arm around his new girlfriend, trying on a Rolex he’d just bought with *my* card. During our argument, he shoved me. The moment my head hit the sharp edge of the counter, I saw a message pop up on his phone: “Mr. Evans, the online loan applied for using Ms. Reed’s information has been approved.” Then, I opened my eyes again. The calendar on my office desk had just flipped to the day Gareth first asked to borrow my card. His SnapChat was still flashing on my phone: “Baby, can I borrow your card for a quick transfer? I’ll pay you back immediately.” Would I be that stupid this time? Gareth Evans, you just wait. You’re about to reap what you sow!

My fingertip hovered over the ATM screen for three seconds. Finally, I pressed confirm. The moment the machine swallowed that savings card, the one ending in 666, I heard my heart pound like it wanted to burst from my throat. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Gareth. My fingertips tingled when his name flashed on the screen. Scenes from my past life suddenly flooded back. He stood with his new girlfriend in front of a luxury counter, the Rolex on his wrist glinting under the lights. It was bought with my card. I rushed over, tugging at his sleeve. The impatience in his eyes when he turned, it was like shards of ice. “Are you done making a scene?” He pushed me hard. I stumbled backward, my head hitting the sharp edge of the counter. Did it hurt? I don’t think so. My vision just suddenly went black. The last thing I saw was his phone screen glowing. The text message was etched into my mind, as clear as day: “Mr. Evans, the online loan applied for using Susan Reed’s information has been approved.” Susan Reed. That’s my name. My phone was still buzzing. The vibration grew more frantic. I took a deep breath and hit ‘decline’. As I turned to walk out, the glass doors of the bank lobby reflected my face. Pale, with dark circles under my eyes. It was the lingering image of being tormented by nightmares from my past life. But my eyes were bright. Bright, like a look forged in fire. Gareth Evans, this time. Everything you owe me, I’ll make you pay back, little by little, tenfold. Just as I stepped out of the bank, my phone rang again. This time, it was a landline. The caller ID showed it was from the city. I stared at the screen for two seconds. Then, I swiped to answer. “May I speak to Ms. Susan Reed?” A robotic female voice came from the other end. “This is Summit Financial. Mr. Gareth Evans has applied for a loan in your name, and we need your confirmation…” I hung up immediately. And blocked the number. My actions were swift, without a trace of hesitation. It was this exact call in my past life. Back then, I foolishly asked, “What loan? I don’t know anything about it.” The voice replied, “Mr. Evans provided your ID photo and bank card information. If you don’t confirm, it will affect your credit score.” I panicked. I called back, desperate to explain. And from that moment on, I fell into a bottomless pit. My phone went silent. The sunlight felt warm on my skin. I looked up at the sky. It was blindingly blue. Today is Friday. Gareth’s first request to borrow my card is still three hours away. The day he tricks me into signing that “guarantee contract” is seven days away. The day my parents are forced to flee overnight by debt collectors is three months away. Everything is still in time. I clutched the bank card cancellation receipt in my pocket. My knuckles were white. Gareth, the game has begun. This time, I set the rules. Chapter 2 Testing the Waters When I returned to the office, the front desk intern gave me a strange look. “Susan, you look terrible.” I forced a smile and said nothing. In the elevator, I ran into my department manager. He patted my shoulder. “Reed, make sure you stay on top of Gareth’s partnership deal this afternoon.” I nodded. But my fingertips were trembling. It was this very deal in my past life. Gareth said the client required a personal account for the transfer and asked to borrow my bank card for a day. “Just a quick transfer, I’ll return it immediately.” He smiled so gently then, his eyes sparkling like stars. I was tricked by those very stars. Tricked into losing everything. In the office, Gareth was already sitting at the cubicle opposite mine. He wore a white shirt today, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Revealing the watch on his wrist. I bought that. Last year for his birthday, I saved three months’ salary to buy him an Omega. Now, looking at it, I only felt a sharp pang of irony. He looked up, saw me, and smiled. “Susan, you’re here.” His voice was still so pleasant. Like the low notes of a cello. I used to love listening to him talk. Now, it just grated on my ears. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the dark circles under my eyes. “No,” I replied, pulling out my chair and sitting down. I deliberately slowed my movements as I opened my laptop. I was waiting. Waiting for him to ask for the card. Sure enough, he tapped on my desk. “Oh, by the way, the client’s transfer is coming in this afternoon. Could I use your card for it?” Here it comes. My hand tightened around the mouse. A document popped up on the screen, a marketing plan I hadn’t finished revising last night. I stared at the screen, not looking at him. “My card was eaten by the machine yesterday.” My voice was perfectly calm. Gareth froze for a second. “Eaten?” “Yeah, the ATM glitched.” I turned to him, forcing a smile. “I just went to the bank to cancel it.” The smile on his face stiffened for half a second. Then, it quickly returned to normal. “That’s unlucky.” “Tell me about it,” I lowered my gaze, pretending to flip through files. “You’ll have to use someone else’s.” He didn’t speak. I could feel his gaze on me. Full of scrutiny. As if he was trying to figure out if I was lying. After a moment, he spoke again. “Alright, I’ll ask someone else.” His tone was unreadable. But I knew. He was suspicious. Good. It’s better he knows early that I’m not the same fool I used to be. At three in the afternoon. The client’s payment arrived. Gareth used another girl’s card from the same department. I watched him, phone in hand, smiling so tenderly at her. Exactly the way he used to smile at me. It felt like a needle pricked my heart. Not painful. Just a little numb. Her name was Maya Chen. In my past life, she was also scammed by Gareth. He took fifty thousand dollars from her. Later, she came to me in tears, saying Gareth had disappeared. At that time, I was too deep in my own troubles to help, I could only watch her cry. This life. I wouldn’t let her fall into that same trap. As I was leaving work, Maya called out to me. “Susan, Gareth said he’s taking me out to dinner tonight, to thank me for helping him out this afternoon.” My steps faltered. I turned back to her. The young woman’s eyes sparkled, clearly showing her interest in Gareth. “Why is he taking you to dinner?” I asked. “He said… he thinks I’m a really nice person.” Maya lowered her head, a little shy. I took a deep breath. “Maya,” I looked straight into her eyes, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, “Stay away from Gareth.” She was stunned. “Susan, you…” “Just listen to me,” I cut her off. “Don’t ask why.” With that, I turned and walked away. I didn’t look back. I didn’t know if she would listen. But I had said what I needed to say. Walking out of the office building, my phone rang. It was my mom. “Susan, are you coming home for dinner tonight? Your dad bought ribs.” The moment I heard her voice, my nose stung. Tears almost fell. In my past life, the last time my mom spoke to me was at the entrance of the nursing home. Her eyes red, she cursed me: “How could I have raised such an ungrateful monster?” Later, she fell ill. When I went to the hospital to see her, she kept her eyes closed, not even lifting an eyelid. “Mom,” I clutched my phone, my voice a little hoarse, “Yes, I’ll be home.” “Okay, then I’ll wait for you.” After hanging up, I stood by the roadside, watching the busy traffic. The sunlight stretched my shadow long. It felt so good. They were still here. Still calling me home for dinner. Gareth. See? This is what I’m protecting. If you dare to touch it again. I’ll make sure you regret it in the most painful way imaginable. Chapter 3 The Transfer When I pushed open the door, the aroma of ribs wafted towards me. My dad, wearing an apron, poked his head out of the kitchen. “You’re back?” “Yeah.” I changed my shoes and walked over. The gray hairs at his temples were fewer than I remembered. I felt a pang of relief. In my past life, he’d turned completely white overnight from the stress of debt collection calls. “Dad, let me help you.” “No, no, you just sit and rest.” He gently pushed me away. “Your mom’s in the living room prepping veggies.” My mom was on the couch, string beans in hand. She smiled when she saw me. “Tired? Have some water first.” A glass of cool water sat on the coffee table. I picked it up and took a sip. It was sweet. Just like it tasted when I was a child. During dinner, my dad suddenly brought up Gareth. “That young Gareth, he seems quite taken with you.” My hand, holding my fork, paused. “Dad, how do you know?” “Last time I went to your office building, I saw him bringing you a coffee.” My mom chimed in. “He’s a good-looking young man, and so polite.” My heart tightened. So, it started this early. “Mom, he and I are just colleagues.” “Colleagues?” My dad raised an eyebrow. “The way he looks at you, it’s more than just colleagues.” I put down my fork. “Dad, Mom, I need to tell you something.” They both looked at me. “Gareth, you two need to keep your distance from him in the future.” My mom looked puzzled for a moment. “What’s wrong? Did he offend you?” “No,” I shook my head. “I just don’t think he’s a very good person.” I couldn’t tell them that this man would later make it impossible for them to even live in their own home. “You, child,” my dad frowned, “You can’t just talk bad about people.” “I’m not talking bad,” I looked at them. “Just listen to me. Don’t have any dealings with him, especially when money is involved.” My mom thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, Mom will listen to you.” My dad didn’t say anything, but he didn’t object either. I felt a little more at ease. At least, they wouldn’t easily trust Gareth now. After dinner, I helped clear the table. My phone rang in the living room. It was Gareth. My mom answered. “Hello? Oh, you’re looking for Susan? She’s doing the dishes… Okay, I’ll tell her to call you back.” She hung up, then looked at me with a slightly suggestive expression. “Young Gareth is looking for you.” I dried my hands, picked up my phone. I walked out onto the balcony before calling him back. “Hello?” “Susan, you’re home?” Gareth’s voice was laced with a smile. “Yeah.” “Maya just told me you told her to stay away from me?” Of course. Maya had told him. I leaned against the railing, watching the streetlights below. “Yes.” “Why?” His voice deepened slightly. “No reason,” my tone was flat. “I just don’t think you’re good for her.” “Then who am I good for?” he suddenly asked. I paused for a second. Then chuckled. “Definitely not me.” Silence hung on the line for a few seconds. “Susan, you’re acting strange today.” “Am I?” I fiddled with the hem of my shirt. “Maybe I’m just tired.” “Tomorrow’s the weekend. Want to catch a movie?” He changed the subject. “No, I have plans tomorrow.” “What plans?” “None of your business.” With that, I hung up directly. And blocked him. The whole sequence of actions was smooth and effortless. In my past life, I was too concerned with his feelings, which made me easy to manipulate. This life, there’s no need for that. Just as I tucked my phone back into my pocket, I received a text message. It was from the bank. Alerting me that my savings card ending in 3791 had a deposit of five thousand dollars. I paused, confused. I’d only opened this card today. No one but the bank knew the number. Who would transfer me money? I tapped to open the transaction details. The sender was an unfamiliar name. But the memo read: “Gareth asked me to transfer this.” My heart lurched. Gareth. What was he up to now? Five thousand dollars. Not too much, not too little. Exactly the amount he first borrowed from me in my past life. Back then, he said his mom was sick and needed money urgently. Without a second thought, I transferred him my freshly paid salary. Only later did I find out he used that money to buy his new girlfriend a bag. I stared at the text message for a long time. My fingertips were icy cold. He was testing me. Testing to see if I was truly guarding myself against him now. If I transferred the money back, he’d know I had indeed changed. If I kept it… He’d think I was still the same fool he could easily control. I took a deep breath. Opened the transfer details. Found the sender’s bank account number. Then, I transferred the five thousand dollars back. The memo had only two words: “No loan.” After doing all that, I set my phone to silent. And returned to the living room. My mom was sitting on the couch, watching TV. She smiled when she saw me. “Who were you talking to for so long?” “Just a colleague.” I walked over and sat beside her. “Mom, how about we go for a picnic next week?” My mom’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that sounds wonderful! Your dad has been wanting to go for ages.” Seeing her smile warmed my heart. Gareth. No matter what tricks you try to pull. I won’t let you ruin my life again. Chapter 4 Evidence I woke up early on Saturday morning. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting a ribbon of light across the floor. I picked up my phone and opened SnapChat. Gareth’s name was still on my block list. A sense of calm settled over me. I got up, washed, and changed. Before I left, my mom handed me a bag of pastries. “Eat these on the way.” “Thanks.” I was going somewhere today. In my past life, Gareth had a secret hideout. An apartment he rented. He kept a lot of things there. Including the loan agreements he’d taken out using my information, and chat logs with other women. I only discovered the place by accident after he died, when I was clearing out his belongings. I remembered the address clearly, even now. It was in an old, rundown apartment complex on the outskirts of the city. It took forty minutes to get there by cab. An old man sat in the security booth by the complex entrance. He squinted at me and asked, “Who are you looking for?” “Gareth Evans,” I gave his name and the apartment number. The old man eyed me up and down, then waved me in without another question. It seemed Gareth brought different women here often. The old man was used to it. As I stepped into the stairwell, a musty smell wafted over me. Paint was peeling off the walls, and the stair railing was rusty. I gripped the railing and walked up. Third floor. Apartment 302. The door was closed. I stood in front of it and took a deep breath. In my past life, I had to pry the lock open. This time, I came prepared. I took a set of keys from my bag. I had them specially made yesterday. In my past life, I’d found Gareth’s spare key for that apartment hidden in the fire hose box by the door. And sure enough, I found it there again. The key slid into the lock, a gentle turn. *Click.* The door opened. A faint scent of perfume mixed with cigarette smoke hit me. Exactly the same as I remembered. The apartment was small, just a living room and one bedroom. The decor was simple. But everywhere, there were women’s things. Lipsticks, earrings, dresses. Clearly, more than one woman had been here. I walked into the living room, my gaze falling on the coffee table. A laptop sat on it. It was Gareth’s. In my past life, it was on this very laptop that I found all the evidence of his crimes. I walked over and opened the laptop. It required a password. I typed in my birthday. Wrong. Then I tried his birthday. Also wrong. I frowned. In my past life, his computer password was my name spelled out. Had he changed it? A flicker of panic. If I couldn’t open the laptop, I wouldn’t find the evidence. I took a deep breath, trying hard to recall. How did I open it in my past life? I think it was… I tried Maya Chen’s name. The screen lit up. The password was correct. My heart gave a sharp lurch. He actually used Maya’s name as his password. Did that mean he was truly serious about Maya? Or was it just a new novelty for him? No time to think about that. I clicked open a folder. Inside, there were indeed many things. A folder named “Contracts.” I opened it. It was full of scanned loan agreements. The “Borrower” field clearly showed my name. Susan Reed. The emergency contact was my parents’ phone number. The date was one month before I was hounded by debt collectors in my past life. There were many other women’s names too. Maya’s was among them. Loan amounts ranged from five thousand to fifty thousand. My hand was trembling. This evidence was more than enough to ruin him. I took out my phone and started taking pictures. One by one, making sure they were perfectly clear. Then, I backed up these photos to the cloud. And sent them to another one of my email accounts. After doing all that, I opened another folder. Inside were screenshots of chat logs. Gareth’s flirtatious conversations with different women. He said pretty much the same things to every woman. “You’re the only one for me.” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll introduce you to my parents.” “Those other women? They’re just casual flings.” My stomach churned as I read them. My past self had truly been blind. To believe such garbage. I kept scrolling down. And found chat logs with an unknown number. The contact was saved as “Mr. King.” “Gareth, that loan for Susan Reed needs to be repaid.” “Mr. King, please give me a few more days, I’ll have the money soon.” “Don’t play games with me. If you don’t pay up, I’ll go to her parents.” “No, no, Mr. King, I’ll definitely pay.” The date was three days before I was first hounded by debt collectors. So, he knew all along that the collectors would come. But he didn’t tell me a single thing. Leaving me completely in the dark. Even watching as I was pushed to the brink by the debt collection company. Tears suddenly fell. Splashing onto the keyboard. Spreading a small wet stain. I quickly wiped my tears away. Can’t cry. This wasn’t the time for tears. I took pictures of these chat logs, too, one by one. My fingertips brushed the keyboard, accidentally knocking a photo frame on the corner of the desk. The glass shattered on the floor. In the photo, Gareth had his arm around a woman, smiling brightly. I knew that woman. She was our company’s director. Lydia Hayes. Thirty-five, divorced, with a lot of connections. In my past life, after I was fired, I found out Gareth had already hooked up with her. Using the money he’d scammed from me. To buy her bags, buy her a car. It was truly ironic. I knelt down, carefully picking up the photo. And slipped it into my bag. This was also evidence. Suddenly, the sound of keys turning came from outside the door. My heart leaped into my throat. Someone was back. Was it Gareth? Or another woman? No time to think. I quickly shut down the laptop, restoring everything to how it was. Then, I hurried into the bedroom. And hid inside the closet. The closet was filled with women’s clothes. The perfume scent was even stronger in here. I covered my mouth and held my breath. The door opened. Footsteps entered the apartment. A man’s voice. He was on the phone. “Got it, Mr. King, I’ll definitely pay that money back next week… Don’t worry, Susan Reed, I’ve got her handled… She’s still head over heels for me…” It was Gareth. My nails dug deeply into my palms. Head over heels? He really had the nerve to say that. “Alright, that’s it for now, someone’s here.” He hung up. Then, a woman’s voice. “Who was that?” It was Lydia. “Nothing, just debt collectors.” Gareth’s voice was impatient. “Debt collectors again?” Lydia’s voice sounded a little worried. “How much do you even owe?” “Not much, I’ll pay it back soon.” Gareth reassured her. “By the way, could you lend me some first?” “Didn’t I just transfer you fifty thousand last time?” “That’s not enough.” “Gareth, what are you doing?” Lydia’s voice rose. “If you keep this up, we’re done.” “No, don’t say that, Lydia.” Gareth’s voice softened. “I’m working on a huge project, you know? Once it’s successful, I’ll pay you back ten times, a hundred times over.” “What project?” “That… I can’t talk about it yet.” “I think you’re just scamming me.” “I’m not…” Next, there was a sound of a struggle. Then, Lydia’s scream. “Let go! Gareth, you’re hurting me!” “Lydia, just help me one more time, just one.” Gareth’s voice was desperate. “I don’t have any more money!” “How can you not have money? Didn’t you just sell your apartment?” “That’s for my son’s tuition!” “Just lend it to me for a bit, I’ll pay you back as soon as I have money.” “You wish!” “Then don’t blame me for being unpleasant.” Gareth’s voice turned harsh. I trembled in the closet. In my past life, how could I have not seen he was this kind of person? Manic, obsessive, ruthless for money. The commotion outside grew louder. The sound of something shattering. And Lydia’s cries. I pulled out my phone, switched it to record. And extended it slightly through the closet gap. Trying to record as clearly as possible. After about ten minutes. The outside grew quiet. Only Lydia’s sobs could be heard. “Gareth, you animal!” “The money, I can give you.” Gareth’s voice was calm. “But you have to do something for me.” “What?” “Help me get Susan Reed transferred to the branch office.” My heart plummeted. He wanted to transfer me? Why? “Why transfer her to the branch office?” Lydia asked, confused. “She’s been a little disobedient lately.” Gareth’s voice grew cold. “Keeping her far from me will make her easier to control.” “What do you want to do to her?” “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.” Gareth cut her off. “Just tell me, will you help me or not?” Lydia was silent for a long time. “Okay, I’ll help you.” “That’s more like it, Lydia.” Gareth’s voice turned gentle again. “Once my plan succeeds, I’ll definitely reward you handsomely.” “No need. I’ll transfer the money to you, and from now on, we’re even.” “Lydia…” “Don’t call me.” Footsteps sounded. Lydia left. The door slammed shut with a heavy bang. Only Gareth was left in the apartment. He seemed to be drinking. The clink of bottles. Then, his soliloquy. “Susan Reed… You think canceling your card made a difference?” “You think telling Maya to stay away from me means I have no options?” “So naive.” “Your ID copy, your bank card information, I have all of it here.” “You want to get rid of me?” “Dream on.” “This life, you’ll still be my obedient ATM.” My heart sank, little by little. So that was it. He had already prepared a backup plan. He still had my information. Did that mean everything I did today was for nothing? No. I can’t give up. I still have the evidence. I recorded his conversation with Lydia. I found his loan contracts. These were all proof of his crimes. Gareth. Just you wait. I won’t let you get away with this. After a while longer. Gareth seemed to have left. The apartment was completely silent. I stayed hidden in the closet for a long time. Only daring to come out when I was sure he was really gone. The apartment was a mess. A vase lay shattered on the floor. The table was overturned. There were also bloodstains on the floor. Was it Lydia’s? A chill ran through me. I walked into the living room, grabbed my bag. And hurried out. The moment I closed the door, I heard my own heart pounding. Like a drum. When I reached downstairs. The sunlight was blinding. But I felt utterly cold. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a text message. From the company HR. “Susan Reed, the company has decided, after deliberation, to transfer you to the branch office for a new assignment. Please report on Monday.” It came. Gareth’s moves were swift. The branch office was in a neighboring city. Over two hundred miles away. He wanted to move me away from my parents. Then, he could freely use my information to take out loans. Leaving me no one to turn to, nowhere to go. He wished. I looked at the text message. A cold smile played on my lips. Gareth. You want to play games. I’ll play along. Transfer me to the branch office, you say? Fine. I’ll just have to see. What kind of tricks you can pull. Chapter 5 The Transfer Order It was afternoon by the time I got home. My mom saw me and gasped.

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Julian and I had been tearing each other apart for six years, a constant war fought both in the open and in the shadows. His cruelty had driven my mother to fall, leaving her paralyzed. In return, I leaked confidential information that led to his bankruptcy. Everyone expected us to be locked in this cycle of torment forever. When we met again, he had already made a spectacular comeback, effortlessly fielding reporters’ questions. “Back in college, we all joked about finding love at 18, getting married by 25, and having a kid before 28. Julian, how far along are you?” “Almost engaged.” “Wow, you’re definitely ahead of the game!” I twirled the ring on my left hand. Funny, I’d already hit all three milestones myself. The girl who walked in was Julian’s fiancée. She was young, beautiful, and polite. She gave a polite nod to everyone, including me, before settling beside Julian. He didn’t look at her, though. His gaze was fixed solely on me. I could feel the probing glances from everyone around us, sharp and curious. In the past, Julian and I had created enough public drama to make our story a household name. I picked up my bag and started to leave. The two people next to me, however, clearly thought I was about to storm the stage and claw that girl’s face off. They instinctively held me back. I raised an eyebrow at them. “Ah, haha, Ava, where are you going?” “Restroom.” “Oh, haha, alright.” They chuckled nervously, settling back into their seats. Before I left, I overheard their whispered comments. “Two years, and Ava’s definitely reined in her temper.” “Seriously, I almost died of fright. Given her old personality, she’d have been up there clawing Chloe’s face to ribbons, wouldn’t she?” “Still can’t let him go after two years. She sees Chloe and immediately has to escape, can’t stand to be in the same room.” “Since nothing’s happening, tell them to pull back security.” Only when I stepped outside did I see the two rows of bodyguards standing by the door. They looked a little tense when they saw me. The one in charge tapped his earpiece, then motioned his team to stand down. I sat on the outdoor lawn, calling my daughter. She was telling me a new story she’d learned today. Julian’s interview also moved outside. We always found each other in a crowd. “Mr. Julian, regarding your previous bankruptcy, do you have anything to say to the person responsible?” He chuckled softly, looking at the camera. “I saw her today. Her eyes are still as beautiful as ever. If I get the chance, I’ll personally gouge them out and make them into a necklace for my fiancée.” Everyone present was stunned by his words. It was just a cruel threat, nothing out of the ordinary after six years of us hating each other’s guts. “So, did you take any revenge back then?” “Does crippling her mother count?” I casually swirled my drink, watching a children’s story on my phone, gently coaxing my daughter to sleep. My utterly nonchalant attitude clearly infuriated Julian. Or perhaps, between the two of us, no reason was needed to wish for the other’s agonizing demise. Julian sat down beside me, one finger pressing against my phone. He glanced at it, then let out a snicker. “Still pushing that ‘zen’ act, huh? Maybe a mindfulness podcast would be more your speed.” Julian gestured to the person behind him. “Chloe, this is Ava, our former class president from college.” Chloe smiled sweetly, extending her hand towards me. “Ava, it’s so lovely to meet you! I’m Chloe, Julian’s fiancée.” While they were all anticipating me to completely lose my mind, I simply offered a casual, “Hi there.”

Julian narrowed his eyes, as if he wanted to see right through me. Then he scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips, clearly believing I was overdoing the act. While Julian was being interviewed, Chloe pulled my hand. “You’re so gorgeous! I heard Julian’s ex-girlfriend, the one he dated for six years, is also here today. Do you happen to know who that is?” I couldn’t be bothered to decipher the sincerity behind her words. I pulled my hand away, a touch of my usual germaphobia kicking in, and wiped it with a tissue from my bag. Chloe looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Ava, what’s with the act? You’ve been a total mess since college. Two years gone, and you’re still as fake as ever.” Leo slouched opposite me, radiating his usual arrogant idleness. “Leo, don’t say that! Ava isn’t like that.” “Chloe, you’ve only met her once, and she’s already got you fooled. I’ve known her for six years! If it weren’t for her, my brother wouldn’t have gone bankrupt!” “What do you mean?” “Chloe, still clueless? She’s my brother’s trashy ex-girlfriend.” Leo, with a defiant smirk, spat his gum in my direction. I used my bag to block it, then stood up and slammed the bag into Leo’s face. “Ava! What the hell was that?! Do you think I’m some commoner like you? I’m Leo Sullivan, the second son of the Sullivan empire! Who do you think you are, touching me? My brother will have your fingers chopped off, I swear!” “Your Sullivan family means nothing to me. If I could make him go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” This sudden, ugly confrontation completely derailed their interview. Julian rushed back. I looked down at the candy stain on my white bag. I had germaphobia. I held up the bag, looking him dead in the eye. “Ten grand.” “You seriously expect my brother to pay you ten grand for that? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Looks like you haven’t been doing so hot these past two years, but your talent for seducing men sure has improved.” I raised the bag again, ready to strike, but Julian clamped down on my wrist. “What was the last thing you said?” “Ten grand.” “The one before that.” I thought for a moment. Unsure if that was the line he wanted. But if he wanted to hear it, then he would. “If I could make you go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” Julian smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen on his face all night. “I prefer you when you drop the act. You’re much more… tolerable.” I pulled my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing. But he actually leaned his face closer. “If that hand lands, I’ll make sure your mother’s upper body joins her lower one in paralysis.” I was so disgusted I didn’t want to touch him, but the moment he finished speaking, my palm connected solidly with his face. Leo rushed forward first. “She actually hit you! Are you insane?!” He grabbed my neck; I yanked his hair. A clear glass stool crashed against Leo’s body, blood streaming down his head. I picked up a shard of glass and slashed Julian’s arm. Julian, with absolute force, shoved me into the pool. We tumbled into the pool, our fight a chaotic, undignified mess. “I heard you’ve been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be exhausting, right? How about I arrange a little ‘accident’ for her? Then you won’t have to be tired anymore.” “Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouge them out and propose to Chloe with them; it would be stunning.” I didn’t have as many meaningless words as he did. I stared intensely at his chest and plunged the knife down. I wanted to see him try to act tough and talk big then. And then maybe, just maybe, I’d see him tremble and beg me to make it quick. But the scene I imagined didn’t happen. Chloe shielded him. Blood bloomed on her white dress. “What is wrong with you? Take your rage out on me! Why hurt her?! Don’t you know she has a condition, she can’t stop bleeding?!” I twisted the knife even deeper. “I do now.” “Ava! Don’t you dare involve family!” “Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed then?”

Without a shred of mercy, I shoved Chloe into the pool. Then I wiped the blood from the knife onto Julian’s shirt. No one dared to step forward at the sudden turn of events. Julian called me a psycho, but his eyes… they were clearly alight with a disturbing thrill. “Psycho?” “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” He’d been pushing my buttons from the moment I arrived at this party. Julian and I had fought for so long that I’d even forgotten what it felt like when we were in love. On the day Julian proposed, I sold off his company’s top-secret files. On the day I agreed to marry him, he had someone disconnect my mother’s oxygen tank. That day, after his car accident, when he was being flown abroad for emergency treatment… He was hooked up to countless tubes. When he saw me, he ripped off his oxygen mask and bit savagely at my lips. “Ava, if I die, promise me you’ll marry me in our next life. Let’s not torture each other anymore, okay?” He slowly slumped, gasping for air, as I watched his hopeful eyes and shook my head. “There is no ‘next life’ for us.” At the hospital, Julian rolled up his sleeves. “We’re the same blood type. Take mine. If it’s not enough, drain me dry.” When he stumbled out of the blood donation room, he was swaying on his feet. He pressed on my shoulder, desperately wanting to prove himself. “Ava, do you see? I know how to love now.” “Bro, you’ve given too much blood. You’re not thinking straight. Let me help you.” Julian pushed Leo away. “Get lost!” “I’m not that out of it.” He looked at me again. “Do you see now? I *can* love someone deeply! I can pick anyone, *anyone*, and love them with all my heart! Don’t you get it?!” Red and blue police lights flashed across our faces. I pushed him towards Leo, then, with my usual germaphobia, brushed off the spot where he’d touched me. “The police are here. Time for statements. I’ll cover her medical bills.” “Ava, I’m giving up first. Let’s just let each other go.” I didn’t answer him. I had already let him go two years ago. At the precinct, we were placed in separate interrogation rooms. After giving my statement, I just sat there. The murmurs from the next room grew louder. “Bro, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me. Is this another one of your schemes? You know she won’t marry you, so you’re trying to force her hand, just to spite her.” “What about Chloe then? Oh, right, Chloe’s so obedient, she’d probably even be happy just being your mistress.” “I’m serious. But until she agrees, I won’t break it off with Chloe. She’s young; it would be too much for her if I suddenly did.” “Bro, she won’t hear us, will she?” After a long silence, Julian’s voice finally came through. “If she heard, she’d be in here in a flash, slapping us both without mercy. She’s not here, so she clearly can’t hear.” I found it amusing. I lowered my head and made a call. “Hey, come pick me up.” Less than ten minutes later, a police officer called my name. “Ava, your family is here for you.” “Okay, thank you.” “You can leave after you sign.” I walked out of the room, passing theirs. Leo scoffed. “Family? Doesn’t she only have her paralyzed mother?” “Probably a friend.” Leo suddenly couldn’t resist. He pushed the door open with a grin. “Officer, who came to pick up Ava just now?” “What business is that of yours? Go back inside.” “Officer, don’t be like that~” Leo stood on his tiptoes, peering around the hallway corner.

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I was born with an uncanny ability to attract wealth. Anyone who marries me is guaranteed a life of endless prosperity and luxury. In my previous life, desperate to marry Brandon Stone, I foolishly told his mother this secret. To save their failing company, she personally drugged Brandon, forcing him to consummate our marriage. That very night, when Tiffany Roberts heard the news, she threw herself from a building and died. Brandon, enraged by the death of his childhood sweetheart, dragged me into his basement and locked me in a dog cage. “This is all your fault, you bitch! Tiffany died because of you. I’ll make you wish you were dead!” Every day, his bodyguards whipped me a hundred times. There wasn’t a single spot of good skin left on my body. Finally, Mrs. Stone arrived. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when she saw me. “Just keep her breathing,” she ordered coldly. “As long as she’s alive, our family’s business will flourish.” With my last breath, I bit my tongue, ending it all. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Mrs. Stone came to formally propose. … She arrived with her bodyguards, carrying a tattered old blanket as an engagement gift. The Stone family, with their vast empire, actually thought a worn-out blanket was enough as a marriage offering. But even then, in my past life, I had happily agreed. This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. “This is our offering from the Stone family. Given your family’s situation, I certainly wouldn’t have agreed in the past.” “But seeing your genuine affection for Brandon, I’ll overlook it.” She spoke with disdain, scrutinizing our home. Mom knew how deeply I adored Brandon and turned to ask for my opinion. “I already have someone I like,” I declared, looking Mrs. Stone dead in the eye. “And you clearly look down on me. We won’t stoop to marry into your family.” With that, I pointed to the door, gesturing for them to leave. She was taken aback by my attitude. After all, I had always been so meek and subservient around them before. They had always hated that I was too loud, too boisterous, like some commoner. But now, I didn’t care. I grabbed their pathetic blanket, marched upstairs, and threw it straight out the window. Mrs. Stone stamped her foot, pointing at me, her dignified ‘lady’ facade completely crumbled. “Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for your special ability, why would I ever let you into our family?” “Honestly, this place makes me sick; it reeks of… well, poverty. I can’t stand to be here for another minute!” Hearing that, Mom grabbed her arm and pushed her out of the house. Then, she turned to me, her eyes filled with heartache. “My darling, they’ve been treating you this way all along? Why didn’t you ever say anything?” In my previous life, after I died, the Stone family’s business plummeted. They actually came to demand answers from my parents, eventually driving them to suicide. This time, I would make them pay. On the TV, the news was broadcasting about Stone Corp. and Thorne Enterprises battling for a major contract. Last time, it was my marriage to Brandon that saved Stone Corp. from ruin. And Thorne Enterprises had gone bankrupt, their entire family forced to jump to their deaths because they couldn’t repay their debts. Looking at Julian Thorne’s handsome face on the screen, I decided to change the game. I hailed a cab and went straight to Thorne Enterprises. Coincidentally, I ran into Julian there. “I need to talk to you.” To my surprise, he showed no reaction, no ripple of emotion. He simply led me into his office. “I was born with an ability to attract wealth. Believe it or not, if you marry me, you’re guaranteed to win this bid.” “So, will you partner with me to take down Brandon Stone?” He didn’t hesitate for a second. He just nodded. “Alright. Let’s set the wedding for the day after tomorrow.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. In that moment, I knew. He had been reborn too. Chapter 2 Since he already knew, there was no need for further explanations. The wedding itself wasn’t important to me; a simple ceremony would suffice. My sole purpose was to make the Stone family suffer a fate worse than death. Julian dropped me off at my company, right as Brandon Stone happened to be passing by. Seeing me with his sworn enemy, Brandon immediately pointed a finger at me and started yelling. “Are you that desperate for a man? Just a few days ago, you were madly in love with me, practically obsessed! Now, after just a few days, you’ve found a new lover, huh?” Julian, seeing how aggressively Brandon was acting, immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me. Brandon then adopted a sneering expression. “Wow, you’re really not picky, are you? So desperate you’ll take my sloppy seconds?” Hearing that, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped forward and delivered a hard slap across his face. The force of the blow was considerable. Brandon stared at me, his face contorted with rage. Tiffany Roberts, seemingly out of nowhere, rushed over. Seeing the red mark on his face, she started to drip with sarcasm. “Oh, Sister, I know the news of our wedding must have upset you.” “But you shouldn’t hit people! My security guard’s son is only 40 this year; I could introduce him to you, if you’re interested.” I couldn’t stand her sickening act for another second. I snapped my hand back and slapped her too. Tiffany clutched her cheek and buried her face in Brandon’s chest, sobbing theatrically about the pain. “Apologize to Tiffany, right now! Are you deliberately trying to disfigure her so you can take her place at the altar? I’m telling you, it’s never going to happen. I will only marry her!” I rolled my eyes at them. What a pair of twisted psychos. “I’m getting married very soon too. You two just lock yourselves together and spare the rest of the world!” Brandon stared at me in shock as I took Julian’s hand and walked away. That evening, to my surprise, Brandon sent me a barrage of messages. [My wedding with Tiffany is the day after tomorrow. Don’t cause any trouble!] [Were you intentionally trying to make me jealous by going with Julian today? Forget it!] [Don’t bother me anymore…] It felt like our roles had suddenly reversed. Before, I was the one chasing after him, constantly texting and calling him. I never imagined I’d receive a non-stop text bombardment from him one day. It was utterly annoying. I just blocked him. Finally, the world was quiet. As fate would have it, Julian’s and my wedding was scheduled for the same day, at the same hotel, as Brandon’s. His face turned black when he saw me appear in a wedding gown. He pushed me into a corner, screaming hysterically. “I told you, today is my wedding with Tiffany, don’t you dare ruin it! Are you deliberately trying to embarrass my family by wearing that?” With that, he reached out, trying to rip off my wedding dress. I struggled relentlessly, but I was no match for his strength. My wedding dress was torn to shreds. He shoved me into a dark storage room and locked the door. “You can stay in there. No one is interrupting my wedding today!” The darkness in there, the claustrophobia, it brought back vivid memories of the basement I was locked in during my last life. Suddenly, painful memories flooded back, and my head began to throb violently. I hammered on the door, but everyone was at the wedding. No one was coming to save me. My phone had no signal down here. I felt myself fading, unable to hold on much longer. Just then, I heard Julian’s voice from the hallway. A wave of hope washed over me, and with my last ounce of strength, I called his name. The moment the door opened, I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. Chapter 3 When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Julian, seeing that I was awake, asked if I was still uncomfortable. Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I found myself a little unaccustomed to it. His assistant, Leo, suddenly burst through the door. “Mr. Thorne, we won the bid! We won!” He quickly turned on the TV, and Julian’s eyes were alight with excitement. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I picked it up and saw it was Mrs. Stone. “Did you, you witch, reveal our confidential bidding price to the Thorne family? Do you have any idea that if we didn’t win this bid, we’re completely finished?” “Didn’t you say you loved Brandon? I’ll agree to you two being together! Just get that bid back for us, right now!” They truly were mother and son; their greedy faces were identical. Annoyed, I hung up on her. Not long after, Brandon, I don’t know how, found his way to my hospital room. Seeing Julian taking care of me, he charged in, intent on dragging me away. “What exactly did you tell Julian? Did you leak our bid price to them?!” He yanked me straight off the bed. I hit the floor with a thud, wincing in pain. Seeing my pain, Julian helped me up and then turned to his bodyguards, ordering them to remove Brandon. Tiffany, playing her innocent victim routine, stood at the doorway. “Sister, what did you tell Mr. Thorne? Last time, I saw you sneaking around outside Brandon’s study.” Brandon, hearing this, became even more furious. He stood at the hospital room doorway and cursed my entire family tree. He had never allowed me near his study, yet Tiffany was always free to come and go as she pleased. Suddenly, I remembered it had been the same in my previous life. Company documents were leaked. Brandon, believing Tiffany’s words, accused me and forced me to kneel on shards of glass for three days and nights. My knees were a mess, completely ruined. Later, it was found out that Tiffany’s subordinate was the real culprit, but he never apologized, only saying I should “be more careful next time.” I glanced over at Tiffany, who was watching with a smug, entertained look. “Brandon Stone, when have I ever been in your study? Why don’t you check Tiffany’s computer?!” At that, Tiffany’s expression shifted. Brandon immediately told Leo to check her computer. They stormed out of the hospital, still arguing noisily. After three days in the hospital, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Julian said that we would have a proper wedding ceremony once I was better. For now, I went home. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. I opened it to see Mrs. Stone, accompanied by a scowling Brandon. “Anya, I know you were just jealous, so I’ve specifically brought Brandon here to make amends.” “Brandon and Tiffany only had a wedding ceremony; they haven’t legally married yet. It doesn’t count as being married! As long as you agree to legally marry Brandon, I’ll promise you anything!” Brandon, hearing this, looked utterly annoyed. “Mom, do you really believe she’s some kind of money-magnet? Tiffany has a Master’s in finance! Is there any problem Tiffany can’t solve?!” Mrs. Stone, looking disgusted, told him to shut up and continued to plead with me, trying to appeal to my softer side. “Alright, if you agree to legally marry Brandon, half of Stone Corp.’s shares will be yours.” Brandon kept interjecting, calling her crazy. “Okay,” I said, a sly smile playing on my lips. “But I have one condition.” “Tomorrow is my wedding with Julian. If Brandon can livestream a ‘wedding raid’ in front of the entire city, then I’ll agree to marry him.” “Are you insane?! Mom, she’s only in it for the money! What is our family’s reputation? How can we do a livestream? It’s so embarrassing!” Mrs. Stone shot me a venomous look, then gritted her teeth and agreed. The next day, just as the wedding was about to begin, Brandon finally appeared. His livestream quickly went viral. He stood on the stage, holding a ring, and knelt before me, looking completely forced. “Marry me!” I gave a knowing smirk and pulled Julian closer. “No way, I’m not marrying you. I already have a husband.” Chapter 4 Brandon’s face instantly contorted. He threw the phone he was livestreaming with. “You dared to trick me! You conniving bitch, I’ll kill you!” Julian grabbed him by the collar.

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