Category: English

Three days before our biggest product launch and our engagement gala, I was in a horrific multi-car pileup. The driver’s side door was completely crushed. Shards of glass sliced deep into the back of my right hand, leaving me drenched in blood. As the freezing rain poured down, I shook violently from the agonizing pain. I called Ashton Thorne twenty-three times. When the line finally connected, it wasn’t Ashton’s voice. It was Serena Cole, sobbing hysterically. “Ashton… Pudding ran into that abandoned construction site. It’s so dark, and I’m so scared…” Ashton’s voice cut in, frantic yet incredibly tender. “Don’t move, Serena. I’m coming right now.” Then, he addressed me, his tone turning instantly dismissive. “Chloe, Serena’s cat is missing. She’s out in the middle of nowhere by herself, and she can’t see in the dark. It’s just a fender bender. Call a tow truck and go to the ER yourself. Stop trying to compete with her right now.” Click. He hung up. Six years. For six years, the moment Serena so much as sneezed, he would drop me without a second thought. I looked down at the engagement ring, now stained crimson with my own blood. With my left hand, I slowly pulled it off. This engagement? I didn’t want it anymore.

Heavy rain lashed against the shattered windshield. I was pinned tight in the driver’s seat, unable to move. The impact of the airbag had left my chest incredibly tight, and the metallic taste of blood welled up in my throat. The deepest cut was on my right hand. A triangular shard of glass was wedged deep into my skin. Blood dripped from my fingertips. It stained the steering wheel. It ruined the fresh gel manicure I had specifically gotten for our engagement gala in three days. The bright red against the pale skin made me feel physically sick. Outside, a paramedic was pounding on my window, shouting something, but the roaring storm drowned out his voice. I just stared at my phone. The screen lit up with Ashton’s name. My twenty-fourth call. Finally, he picked up. “Chloe Vance, are you seriously doing this right now?” Ashton’s voice was dripping with annoyance, backed by the loud revving of his car engine. “I told you, Serena’s cat is lost. That construction site has no lights, and you know she has severe night blindness. What if something happens to her?” I parted my lips, wanting to tell him I had been in a terrible crash. I wanted to tell him I was bleeding out, that my hand might be permanently ruined. But before I could make a sound, Serena’s weak whimpers came through the speaker. “Ashton… I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have come looking for Pudding in the dark… Is Chloe mad at you? Please go back to her. It’s fine if I just freeze out here…” Ashton’s breathing grew heavy with panic. “Don’t talk like that! I’m already here. I’m not leaving you.” He turned back to the phone, his voice as cold as ice. “Chloe, I know you like to be strong, but do you really have to play the victim to compete with Serena right now? Even if you got into a crash, you’re not going to die. Go to the hospital yourself!” Beep— The line went dead. The phone slipped from my weak fingers, falling into the puddle of water on the floor mat. The screen went black. Just like my heart, which had loved Ashton for six years, sinking into total darkness. The firefighters finally pried the door open. The freezing rain rushed in, making me shiver uncontrollably. As they lifted me into the ambulance, the paramedic looked at my bleeding hand and frowned. “Where is your emergency contact? You’re losing a lot of blood. We need someone to sign the consent forms!” I stared at the sterile white lights on the ceiling and forced a faint smile. “I don’t have anyone.” “It’s just me.” The paramedic blinked, startled, and didn’t ask further. The ambulance sped toward the hospital, sirens wailing. I closed my eyes, his words echoing in my head: Even if you got into a crash, you’re not going to die. He didn’t know that the glass shard was less than a centimeter away from my main artery. Just then, my phone—which the paramedic had retrieved for me—buzzed. It was a text from Carter, Ashton’s assistant. “Hey Chloe, Ashton asked me to let you know he’s helping Serena find her cat tonight and probably won’t make it home. Get some rest.” I didn’t reply. Instead, my eyes drifted to a new post on Instagram. It was from Serena. It was a photo of a dirty ginger cat snuggled in Ashton’s arms. Ashton’s expensive white designer shirt was covered in mud, but he didn’t seem to care. He was looking down, gently stroking the cat’s head. The caption read: “Even when the world goes dark, he is always my light. 🤍” Underneath, one of our mutual friends had commented: “Ashton is so sweet to you. Chloe really takes a backseat, huh?” Serena had replied with a playful emoji: “Oh, Chloe is way too mature to be petty about a cat! 😘” And Ashton had liked the post. I stared at that little red heart. The nurse came in with tweezers, preparing to pull the glass from my hand before the anesthesia was even administered. “Chloe, this is going to hurt. Squeeze my hand if you need to.” I nodded. The moment the glass was pulled out, blood gushed. The pain was so intense that my fingers clawed into the bedsheets, and my breath caught in my throat. But compared to the agony in my chest, this physical pain was absolutely nothing.

Twelve stitches. The doctor looked at my pale face and sighed. “The laceration is very deep. You cannot use your right hand for at least two weeks, or the stitches will rip. It could lead to permanent nerve damage.” “Thank you, Doctor,” I whispered. At 3:00 AM, the hospital corridor was dead quiet. I sat on the plastic bench, holding the prescription with my left hand, waiting for my meds. Suddenly, Carter appeared at the end of the hallway. He was holding a dripping black umbrella and Ashton’s favorite charcoal-grey wool coat. When he saw my heavily bandaged hand, his eyes widened in shock. “Chloe… you… you actually got into a car crash?” I looked up at him. “Did you think I was making it up for fun?” Carter swallowed hard, looking incredibly awkward. He offered me the coat. “Ashton… he was going to come himself. But Serena got a severe fever from the shock of losing her cat, and Ashton really couldn’t leave her side. So he sent me to check on you.” I didn’t take the coat. Mainly because I could smell the faint scent of orange blossom perfume on it. It was Serena’s favorite scent. “Take it back,” I said, my voice completely flat. “I’m not cold.” Carter stood there, fidgeting. “Chloe, please don’t be mad at Ashton. You know how it is… Serena saved his life back in college. He just feels a heavy sense of responsibility toward her…” Responsibility. I had heard that excuse for six years. Back in college, during a backpacking trip in the Rockies, they were caught in a sudden rockslide. Serena had pushed Ashton out of the way, getting her own leg crushed in the process. She was left with chronic pain and could no longer run or do heavy sports. Since then, Serena had become Ashton’s untouchable queen. Whatever she wanted, Ashton gave her. Even at Novis MedTech, the company Ashton and I had co-founded, Serena held a high-paying, do-nothing title just so everyone could cater to her whims. I used to think that if I was supportive enough, if we finally got married, Ashton would eventually realize who was actually standing by his side for the long haul. But I was wrong. I stood up and walked toward the pharmacy window. “Carter, tell Ashton I’ll see him at the launch tomorrow.” Carter let out a massive sigh of relief, thinking I was letting it go again, just like I always did. “Thank you for being so understanding, Chloe. Ashton said that as soon as the launch is over, he’s going to give you the most lavish wedding this city has ever seen.” I didn’t say anything. I took my meds and walked out into the freezing New York rain. A lavish wedding? No. I was only going to the launch to take back what was rightfully mine. The next morning, Ashton returned to the office. When he pushed open my door, I was struggling to edit our presentation slides with my left hand. The moment he saw my right arm in a sling, he froze. A flicker of genuine guilt flashed in his eyes. “Chloe… your hand…” He rushed over, reaching out to touch me, but hesitated. “Why is it so bad? Why didn’t you explain it to me last night?” I pulled my hand back, keeping my eyes fixed on the laptop screen. “I called you twenty-three times. Did you give me a single second to explain?” Ashton went rigid. He took a deep breath and placed a coffee cup on my desk. “I’m sorry. Serena’s fever spiked to 102 last night, and I panicked.” “Here, I got you your favorite latte. I drove all the way downtown to get it.” I looked at the cup. There was no condensation on it. It was lukewarm. The sticker on the cup read: Decaf oat milk latte, two pumps of vanilla. I let out a soft, humorless laugh. “Ashton, I don’t drink decaf lattes. I drink iced black Americanos.” “Sweetened decaf is Serena’s order.” Ashton’s face turned pale, then incredibly tense. He stared at the label, opened his mouth to explain, then sighed. “I… I must have ordered wrong. I’ve been so stressed about the launch. I’ll buy you another one.” “Don’t bother.” I swept the cup directly into the trash can. “We clearly have different tastes. Forcing it down will only make me sick.” Just like our relationship. It was time to stop forcing it. Ashton stared at the discarded cup in the trash, his eyes darkening. But he didn’t snap. Instead, he softened his voice. “Chloe, our engagement is in three days. It’s also the launch of Project Nova, the AI surgical robot we’ve spent three years developing. This is the most important week of our lives. Please don’t pick a fight right now, okay?” I looked up, staring straight into his eyes. “Okay. I won’t pick a fight.” Ashton let out a sigh of relief and reached out to pat my hair. “Good girl. I have a meeting to run. Let’s do lunch later.” He turned and left. I watched his retreating back, my eyes turning ice-cold. He had no idea that the file I was editing wasn’t just the presentation slides. It was the legal document to revoke Novis MedTech’s authorization to use the patent for Project Nova’s core algorithm—a patent registered solely under my name.

Ashton didn’t show up for lunch. Because Serena came to the office. She was wearing a flowing white sundress, looking incredibly pale and fragile as she pushed open Ashton’s office door. “Ashton… my head is spinning so bad. I don’t think my fever is completely gone…” I was walking over to get Ashton’s signature on some financial papers at the time. Through the glass wall, I saw Ashton immediately drop his tablet, rush over to the couch, and place a hand on her forehead. “Why aren’t you resting at home? Chloe and I have everything under control here.” Serena leaned into his chest, her eyes pooling with tears. “I just didn’t want Chloe to think I’m useless and getting paid for nothing… and I really wanted to help you guys pick out the party favors for the engagement gala.” Ashton sighed, his voice dripping with affection. “You worry too much. Chloe isn’t that petty.” Serena bit her lip, her eyes darting toward the hallway. She saw me. Then, she gasped softly. “Oh no, Ashton, my necklace is caught on your shirt button.” Ashton leaned down to untangle it. They were so close their breaths were practically mingling. From where I stood, it looked exactly like they were kissing. I didn’t knock. I didn’t interrupt. I just stood there, watching them for a quiet moment, and then turned back to my own office. That afternoon, the bridal boutique delivered my engagement dress to the office. It was a stunning, custom-made midnight-blue gown dusted with crystals, designed to look like the night sky. Ashton had picked it out himself. He once told me that blue was my color—deep, mysterious, and elegant. The stylist carefully helped me try it on, but when she saw my bandaged hand, her face fell. “Oh, Ms. Vance… this dress has tight, long sleeves. With your hand bandaged like this, it won’t fit. If we force it, it’s going to rip your stitches.” I stared at myself in the mirror. My makeup was flawless, but it couldn’t hide the dead, exhausted look in my eyes. “Then cut the sleeve off,” I said flatly. The stylist gasped. “Cut it? But this is a two-hundred-thousand-dollar custom gown…” “Cut the right sleeve,” I repeated. Just then, Ashton and Serena walked in. Ashton’s eyes lit up with momentary awe when he saw me in the dress. But when he heard me tell the stylist to cut it, his brows furrowed. “Chloe, the entire beauty of this dress is its symmetry. Cutting it ruins it. Just bear with it for a few hours. Once the ceremony is over, you can take it off.” I looked at him. “The doctor said any pressure on the wound will rip the stitches.” Ashton walked over and grabbed my left hand. “Chloe, there will be major tech investors and media outlets there. If you walk on stage with a ripped, asymmetrical dress, what will that say about Novis MedTech’s attention to detail? For the sake of the company, just deal with it.” For the sake of the company. For the sake of appearances. For the sake of his perfect night. But never once did he consider whether I would be in pain. Serena chimed in from behind him, her voice dripping with fake sweet concern. “Yeah, Chloe, Ashton spent so much time custom-ordering this dress for you. It would be such a shame to ruin it. Besides, the bandage is on the inside, nobody will even notice. You can do it for him, right?” I looked at Serena’s innocent, wide eyes and smiled. “Serena, since you think it’s no big deal, why don’t you wear it instead?” Serena flinched, waving her hands in panic. “Oh, Chloe, don’t play like that, it’s your engagement dress…” Ashton’s face completely darkened. “Chloe Vance, what is wrong with you lately? Serena is just trying to help, why do you have to be so toxic to her?” I ignored him, turning to the stylist. “Take it off. I’m not wearing it.” Ashton exhaled sharply, clearly trying to suppress his rage. “Fine. You don’t want to wear it? I’ll have them send a short-sleeved option. But you better make sure you look flawless on that stage in three days!” He grabbed Serena’s arm and turned to leave. “Let’s go, Serena. Don’t waste your breath on her.” The door slammed shut. The stylist trembling as she helped me unzip the dress. During the process, the heavy fabric dragged across the back of my hand. A sharp, white-hot pain flared up, and warm blood instantly soaked through the white bandages. I closed my eyes, fighting back the tears. Ashton, you always do this. In the name of love, you force me into the most painful compromises. But this is the absolute last time.

The day before the launch, we had a full-dress rehearsal. It was held at the Jacob Javits Center, the biggest convention venue in the city. Project Nova was our baby. If tomorrow went well, we would secure a $50 million Series A funding round, officially making Novis MedTech a unicorn company. I stood on the massive stage, clicking through the slides with my left hand, double-checking the flow. My right hand was throbbing with a dull, white-hot pain, but I had popped three painkillers to numb it. Ashton sat in the front row, frowning at his Rolex. “Chloe, this is going too slow. When is Serena’s segment?” I stopped and looked down at him cold. “Serena is literally just walking on stage to hand us a bouquet of flowers. What is there to rehearse?” Ashton stood up, his voice tight. “Her leg isn’t fully recovered, and those stage steps are steep. I’m not comfortable. Plus, I want to add a tribute video at the end of the presentation to thank everyone who supported us. Serena is going to be the main highlight.” I froze. “A tribute video? That’s not in the schedule. And for the past three years, the people who worked eighty-hour weeks in the lab writing code and debugging were me and the dev team. Serena did absolutely nothing but bring us Starbucks once a month. Why is she the highlight?” Ashton walked up the stage stairs, lowering his voice. “Chloe, don’t be so petty. Serena lost her ability to run because of me. I owe her this. Giving her some recognition on a stage like this will make her feel valued.” “Besides, you’re going to be my wife. You’re the co-founder of this company. Why are you jealous of a silly little highlight?” Always the same excuse. I let out a cold laugh. “What if I say no?” Ashton’s gaze turned freezing. “Chloe, I’m the CEO of this company. It’s already decided.” He turned to the tech booth and shouted, “Cue Serena’s video!” The massive LED screen behind me flickered, and the video started playing. It wasn’t a documentary of our engineering team’s sleepless nights. It was a compilation of Ashton and Serena. Ashton carrying Serena on his back during a hike. Serena feeding Ashton fruit in his office. Even a snapshot from two nights ago—Ashton holding the ginger cat, smiling warmly at Serena under a streetlamp. At the end of the video, text faded in: “To the one who never gave up on me. Thank you for being in my life.” The crew members in the venue looked at each other awkwardly. Everyone knew tomorrow was our engagement gala. Yet this video looked like a public love confession to another woman. A wave of intense nausea hit me. “Ashton, do you honestly think playing this at our engagement is appropriate?” Ashton looked slightly embarrassed, but he doubled down anyway. “This is just a rough cut. I’ll have them add some photos of you in there before tomorrow.” “Add me in? To make it look like a throuple?” I mocked openly. Ashton snapped. “Chloe Vance! Does everything out of your mouth have to be so venomous? Serena cried all night because of what you said yesterday. She was too scared to even show up to rehearsal today! What more do you want?” Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID and picked up immediately. “Serena, what’s wrong?” Serena’s terrified scream pierced through the quiet venue. “Ashton, help me! I’m on the rooftop skywalk… my vertigo kicked in and my legs locked up. It’s so high… I’m so scared…” Ashton’s face went pale. “Don’t move! Close your eyes, I’m coming up right now!” He hung up and bolted toward the exit. I lunged forward and grabbed his arm. “Ashton! The lead investors are arriving in ten minutes to review the rehearsal. If you leave right now, what happens to the pitch?” Ashton violently shook my hand off. The force of his shove threw me off balance, sending me crashing to the floor. My right hand slammed hard against the wooden stage. Thud. An agonizing pain ripped through my arm, and my vision went black for a second. Blood immediately seeped through the bandage, pooling onto the stage. Ashton stood over me, his eyes devoid of any pity—only burning rage. “Chloe, the investors can wait. But if anything happens to Serena, I will never forgive you!” With that, he ran out of the hall without looking back. I lay on the cold stage, staring at the fresh blood on the floor, and suddenly burst into laughter. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. You’ll never forgive me? Ashton, you have it backward. I am the one who will never forgive you. The stage crew rushed over to help me up. “Ms. Vance, you’re bleeding really badly! We need to get you to an urgent care!” I used their support to stand up, then gently pushed them away. “No need.” I picked up the presentation clicker with my left hand, wiped my tears, and stood tall. “Tech booth, delete that garbage video. Restore the original slides.” “Everyone, back to your positions.” “We are continuing the rehearsal.” At that moment, I finally woke up. Depending on a man whose heart was never yours is a fool’s errand. You can only depend on yourself. AsAshton, since you love Serena so much. I’ll gladly let you have her.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “451321”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

My parents raised me with extreme “tough love” since I was a kid. They always said that only in desperate situations can one learn to survive, and only through adversity can one make a comeback. So, in the freezing winters, I scavenged for recyclable cans to pay my rent, getting severe frostbite on my hands. In the summers, I walked miles to save a few dollars on bus fare, ending up with heatstroke. During school, I skipped meals to save money and ruined my stomach. But later, I saw my parents celebrating the birthday of the poor kid who bullied me at school. They held it at a five-star luxury hotel, gifting him a million-dollar luxury watch and a limited-edition supercar. My mother had a look of proud adoration on her face as she spoiled him: “Robert is the most brilliant boy in the world, unlike my own son, who is just fat and stupid.” “Robert, I wish you were my real son!” And on that very same day, which was also my birthday, my parents arrived home late. They brought me cold, ruined leftovers from the banquet and handed me a handwritten card as my birthday present.

Inside the magnificent five-star hotel. Robert, the guy who had been bullying me at school, spitting on me, and dumping trash over my head, was now surrounded by a crowd like a prince. He had a look of pure bliss on his face. “Thank you, Mom and Dad, for planning this amazing birthday party for me. I’m so lucky to have you guys.” Beside him, a woman dressed in a gorgeous designer gown looked at him with adoring eyes. “Robert, having you in our lives is our real blessing.” “You have no idea how fat and stupid my own son is. His grades are always at the bottom of the class.” “I’m too embarrassed to even admit he’s mine. Honestly, I wish you were my biological son.” Next to her, a dignified man in a custom three-piece suit patted Robert on the shoulder, his face full of pride. “Robert is indeed the best! He’s smart, and he looks so handsome.” “Study hard, Robert. Once you graduate, I’ll hand the management of my company over to you.” This wealthy, elite couple was none other than my biological parents. But just this morning, my parents had looked sallow and tired, wearing worn-out clothes from Goodwill. They had looked at me with helpless expressions, saying the family couldn’t afford the $500 fee for my SAT prep class, telling me to figure it out myself. Yet in the blink of an eye, they were gifting a million-dollar watch and a limited-edition sports car to the “underprivileged” student they sponsored. Meanwhile, their own flesh and blood was nothing but an embarrassment in their eyes. Staring at the Snapchat story on my phone screen, I felt a freezing chill run through my body. My chest tightened until it was hard to breathe. Earlier, when Mr. Davis mentioned that Robert was being sponsored by some wealthy philanthropists, I had been so envious. I thought about how struggling our family was. If only I could get sponsored too, it would take the burden off my parents, and I would finally have a quiet place to study. But I never imagined that the wealthy benefactors sponsoring my bully were my own biological parents… Tears streamed down my face. I suddenly remembered that today was my birthday, too. In the morning, my parents told me they had to work overtime tonight and would be home very late. I never expected their “overtime” was celebrating Robert’s birthday, while I, their real son, was completely forgotten. I dragged my exhausted body to the sofa and waited. It wasn’t until the clock ticked past 2:00 AM that my parents finally unlocked the front door. Their glamorous party outfits were gone. They had changed back into their faded, tattered clothes, and their faces wore the familiar masks of exhaustion. But the strong smell of expensive champagne on their breath was impossible to hide. Seeing me sitting on the sofa, my mother immediately put on a guilt-ridden face. “Ethan, I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to miss your birthday.” “My boss kept me late for overtime. But look… I brought you something incredibly delicious!” She spoke like she was presenting a treasure, pulling two plastic takeout boxes from her bag. Inside was a smashed slice of gourmet cake and some cold seafood. I recognized them instantly. They were the leftovers from Robert’s birthday banquet. I suddenly remembered all those times Robert boasted on Snapchat about eating at high-end steakhouses, and how my parents would always happen to bring home “gourmet treats” for me later that night. It turned out that the “luxury meals” I cherished were just the scraps left behind by my bully. My throat tightened, and my eyes stung. I choked out, “No thanks, I’m not hungry.” My mother frowned in confusion. “Ethan, this is high-end food you’ve never even tasted before! Are you sure you don’t want any?” I couldn’t blame her for being confused. In the past, if I saw food like this, my eyes would have lit up, and I would have eagerly shared it with them. But now, I just shook my head. My mother’s face immediately fell into an expression of deep hurt. “Ethan, are you still blaming us for missing your birthday?” “We work ourselves to the bone every single day just to give you a better life!” She sounded so earnest, but it only made me want to laugh. To give me a better life? They clearly already had a luxurious life, but it wasn’t for me. It was for Robert. While their biological son couldn’t even afford a high school prep course. Seeing me smile, my parents assumed I had listened to their lecture and accepted their apology. They both let out a sigh of relief. Then, they mysteriously pulled a small gift box from their bag. “Happy birthday, sweetheart. You’re another year older.” My mom opened the box. Inside was a long, handwritten card. My dad cleared his throat and began to read aloud with dramatic emotion. “To Ethan: Remember what we always teach you. A man must be self-reliant. Only in desperate situations can you learn to survive, and only through adversity can you make your comeback…” Listening to his voice, and comparing it to how they treated Robert, I felt nothing but mockery. As they read the card, the pain in my chest became unbearable, and tears flowed freely down my cheeks. My parents took my tears as a sign of being deeply moved and wrapped me in a tight embrace.

That night, I cried for a very long time. Eventually, in my hazy state of mind, I tried to convince myself. My parents might treat Robert better than me, and they might have denied me material comforts, but I was still their biological son. They had to love me. Why else would they go through the trouble of hiding their wealth and putting on a show in front of me? In my heart, I decided to give them three chances. If they showed me even a sliver of genuine love, I would forgive their favoritism. The next morning, I gathered my courage and spoke to them during breakfast. “Mom, Dad, Mr. Davis said the SAT prep course starts next week. Everyone has to pay $500.” I had actually brought this up multiple times before. Because the fee was unpaid, Mr. Davis had been giving me the cold shoulder at school. But every time, my parents brushed me off with excuses, telling me to find a way myself. Sure enough, hearing this, my dad’s face sank into the same helpless, miserable expression from a few days ago. My mother sighed, looking incredibly troubled. “Ethan, we just don’t have that kind of money.” “Look at how bad the economy is right now. It’s hard enough just putting food on the table. Where would we find spare cash for some prep course?” “Exactly,” my dad chimed in. “Ethan, you’re practically an adult now. You need to understand how hard we have it. You’ll have to figure out this money on your own.” In the past, whenever I asked for money, I would feel overwhelmed with guilt, believing I was placing an unbearable burden on our struggling family. So, I would take on part-time washing jobs and collect cans to scrape together whatever I could. But now, looking at their fake, pathetic faces, I felt a wave of pure disgust. They didn’t hesitate for a second to buy Robert a luxury watch and a supercar, but they wouldn’t spare a single dime for my education. I couldn’t help but raise my voice. “I’m a high school student! I don’t even get an allowance! How am I supposed to ‘figure it out’?” They both froze, clearly shocked that their usually quiet, obedient son was suddenly snapping at them. My dad was the first to recover. “Ethan! How dare you speak to us like that? Is this how we raised you? Have you forgotten everything we taught you about self-reliance?” No, I hadn’t forgotten. They had been teaching me “self-reliance” since I could walk. When I was barely two years old, my dad wanted to make sure I learned to walk properly, so he left me at the bottom of our apartment stairs and made me climb up to the tenth floor by myself. I had cried and stumbled all the way up, my knees bleeding by the time I reached the door. When I was in middle school, they told me I couldn’t live and eat for free, forcing me to pay them $20 a week for “room and board.” To get that money, I scavenged for recyclable cans in freezing winters, getting severe frostbite on my hands that still scarred over every year. There were countless other instances. Before, I truly believed they did it to build my character. Now, it just felt like a sick joke. Robert didn’t have to lift a finger, yet he received all their love and a lavish lifestyle. No matter how hard I tried, I could never be good enough for them. Thinking of this, tears of sheer frustration welled up in my eyes. Why? I was their real child! Seeing my expression, my mother quickly changed her tone. “Ethan, we can give you the money. But you have to sign a promissory note.” A promissory note. An I.O.U. That was indeed something my parents would do. Since I wasn’t Robert, I didn’t deserve their unconditional support. But in the end, I agreed. I wanted to do well in the final stretch before the exams. I wanted to do it for my own future, and maybe, just maybe, to make them look at me with respect.

After bringing the money to school, I was cornered again in the alley behind the school by Robert and his gang. They shoved me around, pulled my hair, and spat on me. They grabbed my newly paid prep books and ripped them to shreds, scattering the pages in the dirt. Then, the sky opened up, and a heavy downpour began. Only then did they decide to leave me alone. “Hey, fat boy, I’ll let you off easy today. See you tomorrow,” Robert sneered. On his wrist was the million-dollar watch my parents bought him, and he wore designer sneakers worth thousands. He gave my head a cruel kick, then turned and walked away with a smug laugh. This time, I didn’t try to hide my bruises or clean myself up before going home to keep my parents from worrying. Instead, shivering in the cold rain, I curled up against the brick wall and called them, sobbing. “Mom, Dad… I got jumped at school. They beat me up really badly, and it hurts.” “It’s pouring rain, and I’m freezing and soaked. Can you please come pick me up?” “I’m in the alley behind the school gates.” My mother’s voice over the line sounded deeply annoyed. “Ethan, what kind of joke is this? Why would anyone just jump you for no reason?” “Did you provoke someone?” My dad’s voice echoed in the background. “Exactly. Why would they target you and not anyone else?” “How did we raise you? Don’t go looking for trouble. Do you think our family can afford to pay for any trouble you cause?” Listening to their barrage of accusations, my heart froze over completely. But I still tried to explain. “I didn’t provoke anyone. It was Robe—” My dad cut me off before I could finish the name. “Enough. We are very busy right now. Deal with it yourself.” “We can’t get involved in school drama. You’re a big boy now, Ethan. I’m sure you can handle it.” With that, he hung up. I was left alone in the alley, waiting. Eventually, I dragged myself and my ruined backpack out into the street. Just then, a sleek luxury SUV drove past. Through the rain-streaked window, I saw my parents sitting inside with Robert. They were laughing, looking incredibly happy and warm—a picture of family bliss I had never been allowed to share. By the time I stumbled back to our cramped apartment, it was late, and my parents weren’t home yet. Every bone in my body ached, and my head felt like it was on fire. I collapsed onto the living room sofa and fell into a feverish sleep. When I opened my eyes again, my vision was blurry, and my parents were standing over me, looking frantic. “Ethan! Oh my god, you have a terrible fever! Are you okay? Do you want some water?” My dad looked guilt-ridden. “It’s our fault, Ethan. We were so caught up in work that we couldn’t get to you in time, and you had to walk home in the rain. Don’t worry, I’m taking you to the ER right now.” He bent down to help me up when his phone suddenly rang. My dad glanced at the screen, immediately covered the microphone with his hand, and stepped aside, whispering, “Robert, what’s wrong?” A moment later, his voice spiked with panic. “What? The power went out at the villa? And you tripped and hurt your leg?” Realizing he had yelled, he quickly looked back at me. Seeing me flushed with fever and barely conscious, he let out a subtle sigh of relief. Then, he spoke into the phone, “Robert, don’t worry, buddy. We’re on our way right now.” After hanging up, he and my mom whispered frantically for a few seconds. Then, he came over and shook my shoulder. “Ethan, listen to me. Mom and Dad suddenly have an emergency at work. There’s fever medicine in the cabinet. Take some and get some sleep.” “If you don’t feel better tomorrow, we’ll take you to the clinic, okay?” my dad said, looking incredibly apologetic. They thought I was too delirious with fever to hear them, but I had heard every single word. My dad was worried about Robert. My mom was even more anxious. And so, I was left behind. After all, to them, a simple fever wouldn’t kill me.

Before they left, I mustered all my strength and grabbed my mother’s sleeve, trying to hold onto her one last time. But my mother’s mind was already at Robert’s villa. She hurriedly told me to rest, pulled her sleeve out of my grip, and ran out the door without looking back. The last spark of hope in my chest died. I felt a cold, dead weight settle in my heart. I didn’t see them again until two days later. They offered me a barrage of guilty apologies, but I only gave them flat, emotionless responses. The warmth and eagerness I used to have were completely gone. In the weeks that followed, I threw myself into preparing for the SATs. I stopped asking where they were going, and I stopped seeking their affection. My parents seemed deeply uncomfortable with my sudden distance. They assumed I was just throwing a tantrum over the fever incident, so they tried to buy my affection with cheap gifts and sweet words. One month before the exams, I was studying in the classroom during free period when Robert and a group of guys suddenly kicked the door open. One of his lackeys marched over and kicked my desk over, shouting at the top of his lungs. “You dirty thief! How dare you steal Robert’s watch? Do you have any idea that watch is worth a hundred grand?” The entire classroom turned to look at me. I was stunned and immediately defended myself. “I didn’t steal anything! I’ve been in this classroom the entire day!” Robert sneered. “Oh yeah? Let’s search your bag and find out.” Before I could stop him, a tall guy grabbed my backpack, unzipped it, and dumped everything onto the floor. To my horror, amid the scattered notebooks and prep sheets, a gleaming gold watch rolled out onto the linoleum floor. I froze, my mind going completely blank. How could Robert’s watch be in my bag? I went out of my way to avoid him every single day! And today, I had been studying at my desk the entire morning, except for a quick five-minute bathroom break… Wait. The bathroom break… I looked up at Robert. Sure enough, he was looking back at me with a victorious, mocking smirk. The whispers in the classroom started instantly. “Oh my god, is Ethan really that desperate? Stealing a watch at school?” “I bet he’s the one who stole my fifty bucks last month too!” Listening to the accusations piling up on me, a wave of hot fury rushed to my head. Robert had stolen my parents. He had stolen the life that should have been mine. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? Did he really have to destroy me completely to be satisfied? Looking at his smug face, I lost control. I lunged forward and slammed my fist right into his jaw, screaming, “I didn’t steal your damn watch! Why are you doing this to me? Why can’t you just leave me alone?!” Robert fell to the floor, but instead of getting angry, he laughed. He leaned close to my ear and whispered: “Why? Because I can’t stand the sight of you. Did you really think your parents loved you?” “Did you actually believe that ‘tough love’ crap was to make you better?” Before I knew about Robert’s existence, I really had believed that. But now… “Let me tell you the truth. They treat you like garbage because you’re fat, ugly, and dumb. Having a son like you is their biggest embarrassment.” “Want to see who they’ll choose between you and me?” Ten minutes later, both Robert and I were sitting in the principal’s office. When the principal called my parents and told them I had stolen a watch and assaulted a student, they coldly told the school to “discipline me as they saw fit” and hung up. But a minute later, when Robert’s homeroom teacher called them, stating that Robert had been injured in an altercation, my parents’ voices erupted with panic and fury. They said they would be there in five minutes. Even though I knew they wouldn’t side with me, a tiny, foolish part of my heart still hoped. Maybe, just this once, they would believe me… but I was destined to be disappointed. The moment my parents burst into the office and saw both of us, their faces paled. Without a single glance at me, they rushed straight to Robert’s side. After listening to the principal’s explanation of the “theft,” my parents turned to me, their faces cold as ice, and demanded I apologize to Robert. I clenched my fists. “I didn’t steal anything. I will not apologize.” But nobody believed me.

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Five years into my relationship with Ethan Vance, I accompanied him and his childhood friend, Chloe Brooks, on an adventure trip to the barren canyons of Utah. When a sudden flash flood hit, Ethan tied the only life-saving rope around Chloe, leaving me behind in the raging, muddy torrents. “Chloe has severe claustrophobia, Summer. I have to pull her up first! Just hold on to the rock and don’t move!” I soaked in the freezing, bone-chilling floodwaters for five agonizing hours, nearly dying in the middle of nowhere. Yet, all I got from him later was a text: “Chloe is severely traumatized. Find your own way back with the rescue team.” I simply threw the engagement ring he gave me into the desert sands, turned around, and left without looking back. The wind in the Utah Canyon carried coarse sand, scraping against my face like a sharp blade. This was the fifth year of my relationship with Ethan. This trip was originally planned as our pre-wedding photoshoot. But there was an extra person on this trip—his childhood best friend, Chloe. The disaster struck without warning. The once-clear sky suddenly darkened, and a massive storm upstream triggered a rare, violent flash flood. The muddy water, carrying broken branches and sharp rocks, roared through the narrow canyon like a wild beast. The water level rose rapidly, swallowing our calves in just a few minutes. “Ethan! I’m scared!” Chloe shrieked, clutching Ethan’s arm tightly. Her face was as pale as paper, her whole body trembling. We were trapped on a slightly elevated rocky ledge, but it was too low. The floodwaters would soon submerge it. The rescue team above threw down a single rescue rope. But because of the wind and the tricky terrain, they could only pull one person up at a time. Without a second thought, Ethan grabbed the thick rope and quickly, expertly tied it around Chloe’s waist. “Ethan…” I stood in the knee-deep mud, struggling to stay upright against the strong current. I instinctively reached out and grabbed his jacket. He turned his head. There was panic in his eyes, but more than that, there was a cold, absolute decision. “Summer, Chloe has severe claustrophobia. The canyon is too narrow and dark; she’s going to have a panic attack. I need to get her up first.” “But the current is getting stronger, and I don’t know how to swim…” My voice was drowned out by the roaring flood, sounding weak and desperate. Ethan forcefully pried my fingers off his jacket and pressed my hand onto a sharp, protruding rock beside us. “Hold on tight to this rock. Don’t move. The rescue team will throw a second rope down soon. You’ve always been the strong one. Just wait for me, okay?” With that, he wrapped his arms around Chloe and shouted to the top: “Pull!” I watched helplessly as he shielded Chloe, slowly rising out of the dangerous muddy pit under the pull of the rescue team. In mid-air, Chloe turned her head and looked down at me. There was no fear in her eyes. Only a smug, barely perceptible smirk. The second rope never came down. Another wave of flood crested from upstream. A massive wall of water slammed against the rock, sweeping me entirely into the freezing mud. “Help…” Mud and sand rushed into my nose and mouth. The suffocating darkness instantly consumed me. I struggled desperately in the water, my fingernails clawing into the cracks of the rock until they bled, just to keep myself from being swept away. Those five hours were a living hell. The freezing water drained the last bit of warmth from my body. My consciousness began to fade, and my life with Ethan over the past five years flashed before my eyes. I thought that after surviving the hard early days of starting his business and spending countless nights supporting him, I would finally become Mrs. Vance. As it turned out, in a matter of life and death, I was just an option that could be discarded at any time. In the end, a local cowboy passing by spotted me half-dead. He used his lasso to drag me back from the grip of death. I didn’t even know how I managed to get back to the desert lodge. My body was covered in cuts and bruises, my clothes soaked in mud. The cold wind made my teeth chatter violently. I pushed open the door of our lodge room. The heater was running high, filling the room with warmth. Ethan was sitting by the bed, holding a warm mug of chamomile tea. He was gently blowing on it before feeding it to Chloe. Chloe had changed into a clean, soft bathrobe, leaning against the pillows with red, teary eyes. Hearing the door open, Ethan looked up. The moment he saw me, his brows furrowed in annoyance. “Why do you look like a total mess? Didn’t I tell you to come back with the rescue team?” There was no relief in his voice. Only blame. I stared at him, my throat so dry I couldn’t make a sound. Chloe shrank back slightly, her voice sweet and innocent. “Summer, please don’t be mad at Ethan. I was so terrified, I couldn’t let go of him. That’s why he couldn’t go back for you. You’re soaking wet, you should go take a hot shower.” I dragged my stiff legs into the bathroom and turned on the faucet. But the water running from the shower head was ice-cold. As it turned out, the hot water supply at this remote lodge was limited. The only tank of hot water had already been used by Ethan to fill the bathtub for Chloe. I slid down against the cold tiles, water dripping down my face. I couldn’t tell if it was the shower water or my tears. Five years. Even if you raise a dog for five years, you develop feelings, don’t you? I dried myself, changed into clean clothes, and pulled out my phone. Silently, I canceled the round-trip flight I had booked for the two of us and booked a single ticket back to Los Angeles for tomorrow morning. This time, I was done waiting.

The next morning, I woke up with a pounding headache. The freezing floodwaters from yesterday had given me a high fever. Every bone in my body felt like it had been crushed and put back together. It was excruciating. Just as I struggled to sit up and pack my bags, the door pushed open. Ethan walked in, wearing a sleek windbreaker, holding two pairs of sand goggles. “Summer, get up and pack. We’re going off-roading in the sand dunes today.” I leaned weakly against the headboard, my voice raspy. “I have a fever, Ethan. I can’t go. I want to go home.” Ethan walked over and touched my forehead. His frown deepened. “You do feel a bit warm. But Chloe has been looking forward to this off-road trip for months. She’s too scared to go alone. Just push through it. The SUV has air conditioning. It won’t be that bad.” I looked at his dismissive face, a cold laugh bubbling in my chest. “Ethan, I almost died in that flood yesterday. I am sick.” “Stop talking about dying all the time. Aren’t you standing here perfectly fine?” His tone carried a hint of impatience. “Yesterday was my bad, I admit it. But like I said, Chloe’s situation was special. We finally got some time off. Can’t you just be a little more mature and stop ruining the mood for everyone?” “Mature?” I whispered. So, when it came to choosing between my actual life and Chloe’s entertainment, choosing to survive made me “immature.” From outside, Chloe’s cheerful voice called out, “Ethan! Is Summer ready? The guide said the sandstorm will pick up if we wait any longer!” Ethan shoved the goggles into my hands and practically dragged me out of bed. “Alright, stop throwing a tantrum. I’ll get you some ibuprofen after lunch.” The SUV sped over the rolling sand dunes. Chloe sat in the passenger seat, squealing with excitement. Ethan kept one hand on the steering wheel, occasionally looking over to gently remind her to hold on tight. Meanwhile, I was tossed around like a ragdoll in the bumpy backseat. The window wasn’t fully closed. Dust swirled in through the gap, making me cough violently. Every bump made my stomach churn and my head throb. “Ethan, look at that dune! It’s so high!” Chloe pointed ahead. Ethan stepped on the gas. The car flew into the air and slammed heavily back down. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I covered my mouth and dry-heaved. Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his voice filled with annoyance. “Summer, if you really didn’t want to come, you could have just stayed. There’s no need to show your attitude in front of Chloe. She was traumatized yesterday, and she’s finally having some fun today.” I closed my eyes, too exhausted to even argue. At noon, the car stopped in front of a roadside diner in the middle of the desert. Chloe took the menu and ordered a table full of greasy, heavy diner food, including a plate of spicy buffalo wings dripping with hot sauce. “Summer, their wings are famous. Have some,” she said with a sweet smile, placing a spicy wing onto my plate. Looking at the red hot sauce, my stomach clenched. I had a high fever and a severe stomach ulcer. Ethan knew this. Back when we were happy, he never allowed a single drop of hot sauce on the table if I was around. “I can’t eat spicy food,” I said, pushing the plate away. “Can I just get a plain oatmeal or some toast?” Before Ethan could speak, Chloe lowered her head, looking incredibly hurt. “I’m so sorry, Summer. I forgot your stomach is sensitive. But… this diner only serves these fast foods. They don’t have oatmeal. If you really hate it, maybe Ethan can drive you to another place?” The nearest town was thirty miles away. Ethan’s face darkened completely. He slammed his fork onto the table. “Summer, enough! You’ve been acting passive-aggressive since yesterday. Chloe was just trying to be nice, and you’re throwing a fit? We’re in the desert. Stop being so high-maintenance!” I looked up, staring straight into his eyes. “Ethan, I have a stomach ulcer and a fever. You’re forcing me to eat spicy food. Do you want me to end up in the emergency room?” “Don’t exaggerate!” He stood up abruptly, grabbing Chloe’s hand. “Since you’re so miserable here, stay by yourself. Chloe, let’s go eat some energy bars in the car. We don’t want to ruin her appetite.” Chloe let him drag her out, turning back to look at me with a face full of innocent triumph. “Ethan, is it really okay to leave Summer here alone…?” “Don’t worry about her. I’ve spoiled her too much. She needs to cool down and get a grip!” With a loud slam of the car door, the SUV kicked up a cloud of dust and sped away. I stared at the plate of greasy wings, and suddenly, I laughed. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. Since he had abandoned me again and again, I didn’t need to treat him as my home anymore.

Thanks to the kind-hearted diner owner, I managed to hitch a ride on a supply pickup truck and made it back to the lodge by sunset. By the time I reached my room, my fever had spiked to 103 degrees. My body felt like it was on fire. Even breathing felt like inhaling hot needles. Ethan pushed the door open, walking in from the outside. Seeing me curled up under the blanket, shivering violently, his expression finally changed. He rushed over, touching my forehead, and quickly pulled his hand back as if he’d been shocked. “How is your fever this high? Why didn’t you call me!” I weakly opened my eyes, looking at his panicked face. It felt incredibly pathetic. “Call you? So I could listen to you call me high-maintenance again?” A flash of guilt crossed his eyes. He hurriedly searched his duffel bag for medicine, pouring a glass of warm water and holding it to my lips. “I’m sorry, Summer. I was out of line this afternoon. I thought you were just playing difficult. Take the medicine first. I won’t go anywhere tonight. I’ll stay right here with you.” I looked at the water and finally swallowed the pills. Because I needed my strength. Tomorrow morning, I had a flight to catch. Right then, the door was pushed open. Chloe stood there, wearing a beautiful bohemian dress, perfect makeup, and holding a glow stick. “Ethan! The guide said there’s a meteor shower deep in the dunes tonight, and a bonfire party! Everyone is waiting for us!” Seeing Ethan sitting by my bed, her smile stiffened for a fraction of a second before turning into a look of deep concern. “Oh my gosh, is Summer really that sick? Then… Ethan, you should stay here with her. I’ll just go by myself. Even though the dark desert is super scary, I’ll try my best to be brave.” Ethan froze. He looked at me, then at Chloe, who stood at the door looking fragile and helpless. “Chloe, going into the desert alone at night is too dangerous. I’m not comfortable with that.” “It’s fine. I’ll just stay close to the guide,” Chloe bit her lip, looking like a brave martyr. Ethan stood up, tucking my blanket in. “Summer, sleep after taking the meds. I’ll just drop Chloe off and make sure she’s safe, then I’ll come right back. Thirty minutes max.” I looked at him, my voice so calm it surprised even myself. “Ethan, if you step out of this room tonight, we are over.” He paused, turning around with a flicker of anger in his eyes. “Summer, can you stop being so unreasonable? What if Chloe gets lost in the desert? You’re lying in a warm room with a heater and water. What danger could you possibly be in? I said I’ll be back in thirty minutes!” With that, he walked out without looking back. The door slammed shut. The room fell into a dead, suffocating silence. I didn’t cry. I just stared quietly at the ceiling. As the medicine kicked in, I drifted into a heavy, feverish sleep. When I woke up in the middle of the night, the room was still empty. I picked up my phone. There were no messages from Ethan. I opened Instagram. The very first post on my feed was an update from Chloe, posted ten minutes ago. In the video, a huge bonfire was crackling. Ethan and Chloe were wearing local flower crowns, holding hands, dancing around the fire to the music. Ethan had a bright, brilliant smile on his face—a relaxed, happy expression I hadn’t seen on him in years. The caption read: [Brilliant stars, endless desert, and the best view is right next to me. ✨❤️] In the comments, a mutual friend wrote: [Omg, Ethan and Chloe look like the perfect couple!] Ethan didn’t deny it. Instead, he had liked the comment. Looking at his casual betrayal, I finally realized that some love is rotten to the core. The next morning, just as the sky was turning gray. My fever had gone down a bit. My body was still weak, but it was enough to get me out of here.

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My company worshiped “wolf culture.” If you wanted your year-end bonus, you had to put on a dog mask, get on a leash, and bark three times on stage. For my son’s life-saving surgery, I swallowed my pride and did it. But the very next day, a video of me barking went viral across TikTok, and I became the laughingstock of the internet—the “Ultimate Simp.” Looking at my boss’s fake, smiling face, I walked out and took a job at our biggest rival. I really want to see how this company survives without me, their top closer. Braden Cole held the microphone, his beer belly stretching his designer suit to its absolute limits. “This year’s top closer—Liam!” he boomed, his voice echoing through the hall. “A hundred-thousand-dollar bonus, paid in cash right here, right now!” The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. My fingers were trembling. My son, Leo, was scheduled for heart surgery next month. I needed exactly one hundred thousand dollars to cover our insurance deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. Just yesterday, Chloe told me that if I couldn’t get the money, she was taking Leo and leaving me. “But—” Braden dragged out the word. The room went dead silent. He waved his hand, and a hostess stepped up to the stage carrying a silver tray. On it lay a cheap plastic dog mask and a heavy iron chain collar. The metal links clanked together loudly. “Our corporate culture is all about hunger! Wolf mentality!” Braden grinned, his gold tooth catching the stage lights. “Liam, put this mask on. Let us clip the leash. Get up here on stage and give us three good barks. Do that, and the cash is yours.” “Mr. Cole, please…” My throat felt like sandpaper. “What? Is a hundred grand not enough for you?” Braden patted the thick stacks of hundred-dollar bills. “If you don’t want it, that’s fine. I’ll just donate it to some charity.” Whispers broke out in the crowd. “Just do it, Liam! It’s a hundred grand!” someone yelled from the back. “Yeah, man! It’s just three barks!” “Liam, think of your kid’s surgery,” Marcus whispered next to me. He was the only colleague who knew about my situation. I stared at the black dog mask. “Hurry up!” Braden tapped his knuckles on the table. “Everyone’s time is valuable here.” Taking a deep breath, I stood up. Walking down the aisle, I could hear my own heart hammering in my chest. People were wolf-whistling. Some were already holding up their phones. I kept my eyes locked on the pile of cash on the stage. My son was only five. He had a congenital heart defect, and the doctor said this month was our last window for the surgery. I reached the stage. Braden personally picked up the dog mask and shoved it over my head. My vision was cut in half. Then, he clipped the cold iron chain around my neck. “Hold the leash!” He shoved the other end of the chain into the hostess’s hand. The young girl’s face flushed bright red. She didn’t dare look at me as she gave the chain a light tug. The crowd burst into roaring laughter. “Take a walk! Do a trick!” Chad was screaming from the front row. The hostess pulled the chain gently, and I stumbled forward. Standing in the center of the stage, the hot spotlights burned my face. “Bark!” Braden shoved the mic right in front of my mouth. “Woof.” The first sound barely slipped out. It was barely a whisper. “We can’t hear you!” the crowd chanted in unison. “Woof!” I roared it out. “Not realistic enough!” Braden tapped the back of my leg with his shoe. “How does a loyal dog bark? Show some enthusiasm!” For the third bark, I closed my eyes and screamed with every ounce of air in my lungs. “WOOF!!!” The sound echoed through the entire venue, followed instantly by wild laughter, clapping, and mocking whistles. Braden patted my shoulder and turned to the crowd. “You see this? This is loyalty! For this company, we do whatever it takes!” He grabbed the stacks of cash and slammed them into my chest. “Take it! You earned it!” I held the money tight. Ten heavy stacks. Inside the plastic mask, sweat was pouring down my face. When I walked off the stage, the chain was still hanging from my neck. Braden had forgotten to take it off. I ripped it off myself and tore the mask from my face. My hair was soaking wet. I ran straight into the restroom. I slammed the door and locked it. Leaning against the sink, I stared at myself in the mirror. My face was pale, my eyes bloodshot. Footsteps echoed outside, and I heard voices. “Did you see that? The golden boy actually barked.” “For a hundred grand? I’d bark like a whole pack of dogs.” “Please, with your sales numbers? Mr. Cole wouldn’t even waste a dog collar on you.” Then came Chad’s voice. “Honestly, Liam really is a king now—the King of Simps!” They all burst into loud laughter. I turned on the faucet. I splashed cold water on my face, letting it mix with the tears spilling over my eyelids. The hundred thousand dollars pressed against my chest felt like a block of concrete, heavy and agonizing. I dried my face, packed the cash into my backpack, and zipped it shut. It’s fine, I told myself. I got the money. My son is going to be saved.

At six in the morning, my Snapchat was buzzing nonstop. I opened my eyes to see 99+ unread messages. The first one was from a college classmate. It was a link to a TikTok video. The caption read: Top closer at a tech firm barks like a dog on stage for his year-end bonus. Where is the dignity? The video was only thirty seconds long. It showed me putting on the dog mask, being led on a chain, and barking. Braden’s face had been carefully cropped out of the frame. The comment section was a absolute dumpster fire. “No dignity left for money.” “This company is sick.” “Top closer? More like Top Simp!” “@everyone, come look at this literal corporate dog!” I closed the app, my hands shaking uncontrollably. Then my phone rang. It was Chloe. The moment I picked up, she was screaming. “Liam! What the hell did you do?! My coworkers just sent me the video! My mom and my friends have all seen it!” “Chloe, let me explain—” “Explain what?! The video is crystal clear! You played dog for a hundred thousand dollars! How am I supposed to show my face in public? How is our son supposed to go to school?!” “Leo needed the money for his surgery—” “So you become a literal dog for money? Liam, you make me sick!” The call clicked off. I tried calling back, but she had already blocked my number. Suddenly, a new notification popped up on Snapchat. It was from Leo’s preschool teacher. I tapped the voice note, and the sound of my son sobbing filled the room. “Daddy… the kids said you’re a puppy… They won’t play with me… they keep barking at me… sob…” My fingers were stiff as I typed. “Ms. Davis, I am so sorry, please—” Before I could finish, she replied. “Mr. Miller, this video is causing a massive distraction. We suggest you handle your family matters at home. Don’t let this affect your child.” I stared at the screen, my eyes burning. The phone vibrated again. It was my dad. “Liam!” His voice was trembling with rage. “You… you put your mother in the hospital!” “Dad, please—” “All our neighbors saw it! Your uncle just called to ask if we were so desperate for money that we let our son beg like a dog on the street!” “I did it for Leo’s surgery—” “I don’t care!” my dad roared. “We didn’t raise a son with no backbone! Your mother said if you don’t make a public apology and get that video taken down immediately, don’t bother calling us family anymore!” Beep—beep— The line went dead. I sat on the edge of the bed. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet, and the room was swallowed in darkness. Then, my phone screen lit up again with an unknown number. “Hello?” “Liam, buddy! It’s Braden.” Braden’s laugh boomed through the speaker. “Have you seen the news? Our company is absolutely viral!” I gripped the phone tightly. “Mr. Cole, that video was edited. That’s not how it happened—” “Who cares?” he interrupted. “Bad press is still press! Our phones have been ringing off the hook this morning with new leads! It’s free advertising!” “But my family—” “Your family will get over it!” he said dismissively. “Tell you what, at Monday’s morning meeting, I want you to do it again. We’ll record the full version this time, high quality. We’ll post it to clarify things for you!” “Mr. Cole—” “Alright, I’ve got a meeting. See you Monday, don’t be late!” He hung up. I opened Instagram. Chad had posted a photo dump three minutes ago. It was a slide of photos from the annual party. Right in the middle was a high-def, close-up shot of me wearing the dog mask. The caption read: Corporate culture! Wolf mentality! Shoutout to our most “loyal” colleague! Below it, the entire company had lined up to leave likes and thumbs-up emojis. I scrolled down. I saw that Chloe had liked the post too. My phone buzzed again. A new text message. It was from Chloe. Liam, I can’t live like this for another second. I want a divorce. I’m taking Leo. If you try to fight me for custody, I’ll make sure this video is sent to every single person in this city. I stared at those words for a very long time. Then, I stood up and walked to the window. The sun was up now. Down on the street, people were rushing to work. A little kid tripped and fell. His mother rushed over, scooped him up, dusted him off, and kissed his cheek. I turned around, slid my back down against the wall, and sat on the cold floor.

At the Monday morning meeting, Braden made me the opening act. “Let’s welcome Liam to share his secrets of success!” He led the applause. Hardly anyone clapped. Most people just stared at me. Some looked amused, some looked sympathetic, but most were just numb. “I…” My throat was completely dry. “Louder!” Braden banged on the table. “Did you lose your voice?” A few people snickered. “Last week… for the company… I put on a performance…” Every word felt like hot coal in my mouth. “Performance?” Braden cut in. “That’s called demonstrating loyalty! Come on, let’s give Liam some encouragement!” He pulled out his phone and started recording. “Give us a couple of barks to start the week off right!” I looked at his camera lens. I thought of the remaining balance for Leo’s post-surgery care. I couldn’t lose this job. “Woof.” “Can’t hear you!” Chad shouted from the back. “Woof!” “No energy!” Braden frowned. “Where’s that passion from the party? You get lazy once you get the cash?” I closed my eyes and screamed. “WOOF!!!” The room fell silent for a second, then erupted into hysterical laughter. Braden stopped recording, looking highly satisfied. “Great! That’s what I like to see! From now on, Liam will start every Monday morning meeting by pumping us up!” When I walked off the stage, my knees were shaking. At noon, I had a lunch meeting to sign a contract with Mr. Miller. I had been nurturing this client for six months. Once this deal went through, the commission would easily cover Leo’s rehabilitation costs. As I reached the lobby, I saw Chad walking out, his arm draped over Mr. Miller’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, Mr. Miller! I’ll personally handle your account from now on!” Chad was shouting boisterously. Mr. Miller saw me and looked slightly embarrassed. “Liam… your boss just told me… you’ve been reassigned?” I froze. Chad grinned. “My uncle said big accounts need to stay within the family. You should focus on internal training from now on, Liam.” He leaned in close to my ear. “Specifically, training people how to bark.” I stormed straight into Braden’s office. “Mr. Cole! Mr. Miller’s account was mine! I’ve been working on it for—” “Oh, that?” Braden leaned back in his leather chair, propping his feet on the desk. “I gave it to Chad. His aunt is married to Mr. Miller’s cousin. They have a family connection, it’s easier to talk business.” “But I worked on this for six months…” “And what did that get us?” He threw a stack of papers at me. “Look at this! Chad signed the contract over one dinner last night. Six months of your work can’t beat one night of drinking with my nephew.” I picked up the contract. The signature line bore Chad’s name. “A dog is a dog,” Braden sneered, lighting a cigar. “You’re good for guarding the house, but don’t think you get to eat the steak.” When I got home, the house was dark. Chloe had texted saying she was staying at her mother’s with Leo for a few days. The fridge was empty. While searching for instant ramen, I noticed a box of expensive cigars in the trash can. Cohibas. I didn’t smoke. My heart dropped. I went into the bedroom. The nightstand drawer wasn’t fully closed. Inside was an old iPhone that Chloe had stopped using a while ago. Driven by a dark instinct, I picked it up. It was charged. I tried our wedding anniversary as the passcode. Incorrect. I tried Leo’s birthday. It unlocked. The photo gallery was filled with screenshots of Snapchat chats. Between Chloe and Braden. “Babe, when are you going to leave that loser and marry me?” “Once the heat from Liam’s viral video dies down. I can’t ruin the company’s image right now.” “He actually thinks Leo is his son. It’s hilarious.” “Of course he does. I got you pregnant while he was passed out drunk. He never even touched you that night.” The latest screenshot was a bank transfer from yesterday. Two hundred thousand dollars. The memo read: For my baby’s new car. I sank onto the floor. The hardwood felt ice-cold against my skin. My phone rang. “Mr. Miller, when will you be paying the remaining balance for Leo’s surgery? Tomorrow is the absolute deadline.” I stared at the screen. Braden’s smiling face was saved as my phone wallpaper. Outside, the sky had turned pitch black. I opened my laptop and clicked on an encrypted folder. Inside were all the records of financial fraud, tax evasion, and corporate bribery that Braden had forced me to assist with over the years. I backed everything up, encrypted the files, and sent them to a secure, anonymous email address. Then, I dialed a number. “Mr. Vance? This is Liam. Let’s meet tomorrow.” I looked around the empty apartment. In our wedding photo on the wall, Chloe was still smiling beautifully. I started to laugh. I laughed louder and louder, until my ribs ached, and I couldn’t stop.

On Monday, Braden threw a massive celebration party. The company had just passed its pre-IPO audit. The banquet hall was packed, and Braden sat at the head table. Sitting right next to him was Chloe, dripping in designer jewelry. Chad started shouting, “Hey Uncle Braden! Aren’t you going to introduce your new assistant?” Braden wrapped his arm tightly around Chloe. “This is Chloe, my new executive assistant. She’s highly capable and knows exactly how to… ‘take care’ of me.” The table erupted into laughter. Chloe smiled, keeping her eyes glued to her plate, avoiding my gaze. Braden pointed a finger at me. “Liam, you owe Chloe a thank you. If she hadn’t begged me to keep you, a loser who ruined our company’s reputation would have been fired a long time ago!” Chloe quickly said, “Braden, let’s not talk about the past.” Braden slammed the table. “Why shouldn’t we? Liam, say it yourself. Do you even deserve a woman like Chloe? Huh? Barking like a dog for a little cash, you’re a disgrace!” I set my fork down slowly. Braden got even louder. “Look at you! Then look at me! The clients you couldn’t keep, the woman you couldn’t hold—to me, they’re just easy pickings!” He whipped out a black credit card and threw it on the table. “Go buy yourself a new bag, Chloe! Don’t be like some people who have to bark on stage for a measly hundred grand!” Chloe grabbed the card, her face lighting up with joy. I stood up. Braden sneered. “What? You got a problem with that?” I walked up to the small stage at the front of the banquet room, where the microphone and the projector screen were set up. Chad yelled, “Get down from there! That’s not a place for a dog!” I plugged my flash drive into the laptop connected to the projector. The video started playing. It was the unedited, full version of the annual party. Braden’s loud voice filled the room: “…Put the dog mask on… clip the chain… bark three times… If you don’t want it, I’ll donate it to charity…” The room went dead silent. In the video, right before I walked onto the stage, I had looked at my phone. The camera zoomed in on my screen. It showed my text messages with the hospital doctor. “The surgery cost is $100,000. It must be paid by next week.” As I barked on stage, the high-definition camera clearly captured the tears streaming down my face. The silence in the hall was suffocating. Chloe bolted upright. “Liam, what is the meaning of this?!” Braden’s face turned purple. He kicked his chair over with a loud crash. “You motherf—er, you set me up!” He waved his hand at his bodyguards. “Beat him! Beat him to a pulp!” Two burly guards rushed the stage. Fists and boots rained down on me as I curled up to protect my head. Braden screamed, “Break his legs! Let him crawl out of here!” One of the guards picked up a heavy metal folding chair and slammed it down hard onto my leg. I heard the bone snap before the blinding pain hit me. Braden walked over, stomping his heavy boot directly onto my hand. “You think you can play games with me? You’re nothing!” He spat directly onto my face. Suddenly, the heavy double doors of the banquet hall were kicked open. Several federal agents in windbreakers walked in. The man at the front held up a badge. “Braden Cole?” Braden froze. “Who the hell are you?” The agent flashed his ID. “IRS Criminal Investigation. We received a detailed whistleblower report. Your company is under investigation for massive tax evasion and securities fraud. You’re coming with us.”

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Three years after my death, Julian found our daughter in a dumpster. The little girl was digging through a rotten trash can, her tiny body turning purple from the freezing cold. With bloodshot eyes, he yanked her up. “Is this how Stella plays mother?! Where the hell is she?!” My daughter trembled in terror. “But… didn’t Daddy throw Mommy out, and didn’t she burn to death?” I floated in mid-air, looking down at this man whom I had loved for ten years and hated for three. Julian, you’re finally here. But it’s too late. Mia had already flushed my ashes down the drain. And your karma has only just begun. Julian’s hand froze in mid-air. My daughter’s words were like a blunt knife, stabbing ruthlessly into his heart. He opened his mouth, trying to say something, but no sound came out. “W-what did you say?” His voice shook violently. Luna shrunk her neck, her tiny, frail body shivering in the biting wind. “Nana said… Mommy was thrown out of the house by Daddy. She had nowhere to go, so she lived in the old, broken cabin. Then… then the cabin caught fire, and Mommy couldn’t get out.” She looked up. Her eyes were red, but she didn’t cry. “Nana also said that Daddy didn’t want Mommy anymore, and that’s why Mommy died.” Julian took a sharp step back, almost stumbling to the ground. “No,” he rasped, his voice hoarse. “It wasn’t me.” “Then why didn’t Daddy want Mommy?” Luna asked directly. Children’s questions are always the sharpest. “Why did Daddy refuse to give Mommy money for her medical bills when she was sick? Why did Mommy have to take me to sleep under the bridge while Daddy lived in a giant mansion?” Every single “why” was like a brutal slap to his face. I hovered in the air, watching the color completely drain from Julian’s face. Karma? This was barely the beginning. I floated a bit lower, wanting to get a clearer view of his expression. Over the past three years, I had seen many of his faces—smiling gently at Mia, screaming in fury at his employees. But I had never seen him look like this. He looked like his soul had been violently ripped out of his body. How amusing. Julian reached out, trying to take Luna’s hand, but she flinched and hid both hands behind her back. “What’s wrong with your hands?” Julian knelt down. Luna shook her head. Julian gently pulled her hands forward. Those tiny hands were swollen red from the frostbite, her fingernails caked with black dirt. On the back of her left hand, there was a jagged, scabbed wound, looking like it had been sliced by something sharp. “How did you get this?” “I cut it on some broken glass when I was collecting plastic bottles,” Luna whispered. “Mommy used to get hurt like this too. She told me to be careful, but I’m just too clumsy.” Tears almost spilled from Julian’s eyes. He remembered that Stella’s hands used to be incredibly beautiful—slender, soft, and fair. When they got married, he slipped the ring onto her finger and promised her that these hands would only ever play the piano and arrange flowers, never to do hard labor. But later, she had to take their daughter to scavenge through trash, and those hands were completely ruined. Ruined by his own hands. I stared at the wound on Luna’s hand. I knew that cut all too well. In the final month before my death, I had an identical one on my hand. I got it while scavenging for broken glass to sell. I didn’t even have money for a band-aid, so I wrapped it in a dirty rag. It got infected later, and it throbbed with excruciating pain for half a month. Now, that very same scar had grown onto my daughter’s hand.

Julian carried Luna into his car, his movements so gentle and cautious, as if he were holding a piece of fragile porcelain. The heater in the car was blasting, yet Luna was still shivering. Not from the cold, but from sheer terror. “Don’t be scared,” Julian said, his voice incredibly soft as he buckled her seatbelt. “Daddy is here.” Luna stared at him, her eyes filled with complete unfamiliarity. “Are you really my daddy?” “Yes.” “Then why didn’t you come find me for three years?” It felt like something was choking Julian. Why? Because Mia told him that Stella had run away with another man, taking the child with her. She told him Luna wasn’t even his blood. At that time, Mia had even produced “proof”—a photo of me standing close to a strange man. The photo was photoshopped, but he believed it instantly. What had he said back then? “A woman like Stella is better off dead anyway.” Looking back now, how utterly pathetic. Suddenly, Luna asked, “Daddy, did it hurt when Mommy died?” Julian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened instantly. “Nana said burning to death hurts a lot,” Luna said to herself. “Mommy said she was always terrified of fire. Once, she burned her hand while cooking and cried for ages. But when she died, she was surrounded by fire.” “Stop it,” Julian cut her off, his voice trembling. Luna looked at him, shut her mouth obediently, and turned her gaze to the window. But her tiny hands were shaking. I was all too familiar with the streets passing by outside the car window. I had walked those streets countless times, holding Luna in one hand and dragging a heavy woven bag in the other, digging through every single dumpster. On a good day, I could collect twenty bottles, cash them in for fifty cents, and buy Luna two small buns. Now, Julian’s luxury car was driving on this exact road. He probably had no idea that right where his tires were rolling, I had taken a terrible fall three years ago. My knees had scraped open, and my blood had seeped into the cracks of the asphalt. The car finally pulled into a gated hilltop estate in Beverly Hills. Luna pressed her face against the car window, her eyes wide with awe. She had never seen such a beautiful house. It looked like a castle from a fairy tale. “Is this… Daddy’s house?” “It’s our house,” Julian corrected her. The grand front door opened, and Mia walked out wearing a silk nightgown, her face adorned with her usual sweet, gentle smile. But then, she saw Luna. Her smile froze instantly. “Julian, who is this…?” “My daughter.” Julian carried Luna down. “She’s living here from now on.” Mia’s face turned pale for a second, but she quickly masked it. “Is this Stella’s child? She looks so much like her.” She reached out, wanting to touch Luna’s face. Luna shrank back, hiding behind Julian’s legs. “She’s not my auntie,” Luna said in a quiet but crystal-clear voice. “She’s a bad person. Mommy told me that because of her, Daddy didn’t want us anymore.” The air froze instantly. Mia’s eyes welled up with tears immediately. “Julian, how can a child say such horrible things?” “Did she say anything wrong?” Julian suddenly asked. Mia froze. “The fire three years ago.” Julian stared at her, enunciating every single word. “You set it, didn’t you?”

All the color drained from Mia’s face in an instant. “Julian, what on earth are you talking about?” “I asked you, did you set that fire three years ago?” Julian took a menacing step forward, his aura terrifyingly oppressive. “The cabin Stella rented had two separate ignition points. It was clearly arson. You were spotted there that night.” “I… I only went there to talk to her! But I didn’t set any fire!” “Then why did you lie to me?” Julian’s eyes were dead cold. “You told me Stella ran away with another man. You told me Luna wasn’t my daughter. You even showed me those photos. I had someone run a forensic analysis on them recently—they were photoshopped.” Mia stumbled backward, her back slamming against the doorframe. “Why did you do it?” Julian’s voice cracked. “What did Stella ever do to deserve this from you? She paid for your college tuition for three years! She treated you like her own sister!” “Because she stole you from me!” Mia suddenly shrieked, tears pouring down her face. “I met you first! I loved you first! Why did you only have eyes for her the moment she appeared?!” “And just because of that, you burned her alive?!” “I didn’t mean to burn her to death!” Mia screamed hysterically. “I only… I only changed her door locks and nailed her windows shut! I just wanted to scare her! I wanted to force her to leave this city! I had no idea a fire would break out that night!” A loud ringing went off in Julian’s head. Locked doors. Nailed windows. That massive fire had raged for two whole hours. Three fire trucks had to be deployed. In the end, what they carried out was a charred, unrecognizable corpse. The coroner said the victim had desperately tried to escape, but because the doors and windows were completely sealed, she was roasted alive inside. “You…” Julian was shaking all over. “Do you have any idea that is first-degree murder?” “I didn’t want to kill her! I just wanted to teach her a lesson!” Mia sobbed, grabbing his sleeve desperately. “Julian, I love you! I did all of this because I love you!” Julian shook her off violently, as if she were some disgusting piece of filth. “Arthur, call the police.” “Wait!” Mia lunged forward, clawing at him. “Julian, I’m pregnant! It’s your baby! You can’t do this to me!” Julian’s footsteps halted. “That night you got drunk… you mistook me for Stella.” Mia cried, her makeup completely ruined. “I’ve been carrying your baby for two months now. Do you really have the heart to let our child be born without a father?” Julian closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his gaze was as cold as ice. “Abort it.” “What?” “I will never acknowledge it,” he said, deadpan. “The only children I will ever have are the ones Stella gave birth to. Whatever is in your womb is nothing to me.” Mia collapsed onto the floor, her face as pale as ashes. I floated in the living room, watching this absolute circus. Mia’s acting was as stellar as always—her tears flowed right on cue. Too bad her audience wasn’t buying it this time. As Julian turned around, I noticed his fingers were trembling. Was he terrified? Terrified of what? Terrified that the child in Mia’s womb might actually be his? It didn’t matter anymore. After all, when I died, I had one in my womb too. Two lives lost in one body. The debt he owed me could never, ever be repaid.

The police arrived incredibly fast. As Mia was being dragged away in handcuffs, she was still screaming and cursing like a maniac. “Julian! You will regret this! I flushed Stella’s ashes down the drain years ago! She doesn’t even have a grave! You will never, ever be able to lay flowers for her!” Julian stood at the doorway, his body swaying weakly. Her ashes… flushed down the drain? Luna tugged at his coat, whispering, “Daddy, what are ashes?” Julian knelt down, looking into his daughter’s innocent eyes, his heart breaking into a million jagged pieces. “It’s… the last thing Mommy left behind for us.” “Then why did that auntie flush Mommy away?” “Because she is a bad person.” Julian pulled his daughter tightly into his arms, his voice cracking with heavy sobs. “I’m so sorry, Luna. Daddy is so sorry. I failed you… and I failed Mommy.” Luna raised her tiny hand and gently patted his back. “Mommy told me that if you make a mistake, you just have to say sorry. Since Daddy said sorry, Mommy will definitely forgive you.” No. I will never forgive him. Julian knew deep down that Stella would never, ever forgive him. The way he held Luna was incredibly awkward and stiff. Luna was three years old, but he had never once held her before. When she was born, he was away on a business trip. By the time he returned, she was already a month old. He had only spared her a single glance, remarked on how small she was, and never touched her again. Now, he held her so tightly, as if she would vanish the second he let go. But unfortunately, the one who was meant to vanish had already gone three years ago. That night, Luna ran a dangerously high fever. Julian stayed by her bedside, constantly changing the wet towel on her forehead. Luna cried out for her mommy in her sleep, and he held her tiny hand, repeating desperately that Daddy was here. “Mommy… fire! The fire is so big!” “Mommy can’t get out!” “Mommy, it hurts!” Julian buried his face into his daughter’s tiny hands, his tears soaking the bedsheets. He remembered that night three years ago. Mia had snuggled into his arms, crying, “Julian, Stella sent me a text saying she doesn’t want to live anymore. I’m so scared. Please go check on her.” At that time, he was in the middle of negotiating a multi-million dollar merger. “She’s just throwing another tantrum,” he had said impatiently. “Ignore her.” “But…” “I said ignore her!” Only much later did he find out that Stella had actually called him seventeen times that night. He hadn’t answered a single one. The very last call was at 11:08 PM. The call had connected, but no one spoke. There was only the sound of violent, agonizing coughing, and the terrifying crackle of roaring flames. What had he said back then? “Stella, are you seriously not done yet? If you want to die, go die somewhere far away. Stop bothering me.” And then, he hung up. That was the last phone call she ever made to him. Luna suddenly bolted awake, her eyes filled with absolute terror. “Daddy… I dreamed of Mommy.” “What did you dream of, sweetie?” “Mommy was in the fire. She kept calling your name.” Luna’s tears spilled over. “She was screaming, ‘Julian, save me!’ But nobody came. Daddy, where were you?” Julian opened his mouth, but his throat was completely paralyzed. Luna stared at him. The confusion in her eyes slowly turned into disappointment, and then into a tragic, heartbreaking understanding that no three-year-old child should ever possess. “Daddy didn’t go to save Mommy, did you?” Julian’s tears fell like rain. “I’m sorry…” Luna turned her body away, presenting her back to him, her tiny shoulders shaking with silent sobs. She didn’t say another word. But Julian knew his daughter now understood everything. I floated beside the bed, staring at Luna’s trembling back. Those fragile, tiny shoulders looked exactly like the last image I had of her before I died. I couldn’t escape the fire, so I had forced her inside a heavy steel cabinet. The cabinet had small ventilation slits, and the fire couldn’t reach inside. I had whispered, “Luna, be a good girl. Close your eyes and count to a thousand. Mommy will come get you then.” She had actually closed her eyes and started counting, “One, two, three…” I heard her count all the way to one hundred and thirty-seven before my world went completely silent. It wasn’t because she stopped counting. It was because my eardrums had been burned away.

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My cat started talking. On the exact day I was planning to propose to my boyfriend, my newly bought diamond ring was swiped off the counter by my cat’s paw, landing straight into the toilet with a splash. [Stupid woman, don’t propose! That cheating scumbag is on a date with your best friend right now! He even told her you’re terrible in bed, like a dead fish!] I froze. [Oh, by the way, he’s not some poor orphan. He’s the son of the richest billionaire in the city. He’s been gaslighting you from day one.] [The two of them have already planned to ship you off to a human trafficking ring overseas next month, just to get you out of the picture.] Looking at the sparkling ring swirling in the toilet bowl, I felt a wave of intense nausea. My name is Chloe Miller. My boyfriend is Ethan Carter. We met at a charity event a year ago. He told me he was an orphan, raised in a shelter, and had only finished college through student loans and working multiple part-time jobs. He was handsome, gentle, and incredibly sweet. Even though he was broke, I loved him with all my heart. My parents were just average, hard-working middle-class folks. To make sure Ethan had a good life, I pinched pennies, spent almost my entire salary on him, and bought almost everything he wore and used. And my best friend, Serena Davis, had been my closest friend since college. She came from a wealthy family, the quintessential trust-fund princess in everyone’s eyes. When I started dating Ethan, she was the first person I told. She offered her congratulations, but she’d constantly drop passive-aggressive comments, telling me Ethan was beneath me and urging me to break up with him. I always thought she genuinely cared about me, worried that I was being blinded by love. But now, my cat was telling me that of the two people I trusted most, one wanted to sell me into slavery, and the other was waiting to take over my life. I fished the ring out of the toilet, washed it thoroughly, and put it back in its box. Loki, my orange tabby, trotted over with elegant steps, rubbing his head against my shin. [That’s more like it. A piece of trash like him isn’t worth your tears.] [But what’s the plan? You’re not just going to let them walk away scot-free, are you? That’s too easy on them!] I let out a cold laugh, stroking Loki’s fluffy head. “Of course not.” Because I had been reborn. I knew everything Loki said was the absolute truth. In my past life, I was a complete fool. I had joyfully planned the perfect proposal, only to walk into my rented apartment and catch them in the act. When I confronted them, crying and broken, Ethan turned the tables on me, calling me crazy, paranoid, and accusing me of stalking him. Serena stood by, sobbing crocodile tears, saying, “Chloe, don’t blame Ethan. It was my fault, I just couldn’t help myself.” Driven mad by the betrayal, I screamed at them, slammed the door, and ran into the street—only to be struck down by a speeding, out-of-control truck. As my life slipped away on the cold asphalt, I saw them step out from the alley, looking down at me with cold, indifferent eyes, as if I were a piece of roadkill. Ethan wrapped his arm around Serena, his voice chillingly detached: “Clean it up. Don’t leave any loose ends.” Having a second chance at life, with the universe throwing in a cat-to-human translator that let me read minds, there was no way in hell I was letting them off easy. I unlocked my phone and opened Snapchat, clicking on my chat with Serena. [Serena! I’m planning to propose to Ethan tonight. Come over and help me pick out my outfit!] Less than a second after sending the message, Serena’s FaceTime call came through. Her voice was filled with exaggerated, high-pitched excitement: “Oh my god, Chloe! Are you serious?! I am so, so happy for you! Stay right there, I’m coming over now!” As the screen went black, Loki’s voice rang in my mind again. [Ugh, what a fake snake. Literally two minutes ago, she was lying in that jerk’s arms, laughing about how brainless and easy to manipulate you are.] The smirk on my lips grew colder. The show was just beginning.

Serena arrived quickly, thoughtfully bringing a bottle of her favorite expensive red wine. The moment she stepped in, she threw her arms around me in a tight hug, though her eyes couldn’t stop darting toward my bedroom. “Did you get the ring? Show me, show me!” I pretended to blush, walking into my room to fetch the jewelry box and opening it in front of her. Seeing the heavy diamond ring, Serena’s eyes lit up instantly. Pure, raw envy flashed through her gaze before she could mask it. “Wow, Chloe, this must have cost a fortune! Ethan really went all out!” I smiled softly. “He didn’t buy it. I saved up for months to get this. I wanted to surprise him.” Serena’s expression instantly shifted from envy to utter contempt. But she covered it quickly with a fake, sweet smile. “Aw, you’re just too good to him. But it’s fine, once you guys are married, he’ll definitely treat you like a queen.” As she spoke, she eagerly poured the wine into two glasses. “Come on, let’s have a toast. To your successful proposal!” I stared at the swirling red liquid in the glass, a dark glint in my eyes. Loki’s voice cut in right on cue: [Don’t drink that! She slipped sleeping pills in your glass!] [That toxic bitch wants to knock you out so the scumbag can come over, steal the ring, and kidnap you!] My heart went cold, but my face remained perfectly calm. I took the glass, smiling warmly. “Thank you, Serena. Honestly, having a friend like you is the best thing that ever happened to me.” “Cheers!” I raised my glass. Just as our glasses clinked, my wrist “accidentally” slipped, spilling the red wine all over her white designer dress. “Oh my god!” Serena shrieked, jumping up. “My dress! This is brand new!” I grabbed some tissues, looking incredibly guilty as I tried to dab at the stain. “I am so, so sorry! I got too excited! Quick, go to the bathroom and rinse it before it sets!” Though furious, Serena could only glare at me before rushing down the hallway to the bathroom. The second she shut the door, I dumped my spiked wine into the potted plant next to the couch, pulled out an identical bottle of red wine from my cabinet, and refilled my glass. Just as I finished, Serena walked out of the bathroom. She had changed into one of my spare silk robes. Seeing my full glass, her eyes flickered. “Chloe, you haven’t drunk yours yet?” I raised my glass, blinking innocently. “I was waiting for you.” With that, I downed it in one go. Seeing me swallow the wine, Serena finally let out a sigh of relief. A smug, victorious smile crept onto her face as she took a small, polite sip of her own glass. For the next ten minutes, she kept talking, babbling about random things, clearly waiting for the drug to kick in. I pretended to listen intently, mentally counting down the seconds. Loki yawned at my feet: [So boring. This chick talks too much.] [Wait, oh my god, is she slurring her words already?] I looked up. Serena’s eyelids were drooping, and her voice was growing thick and mumbled. I asked with “deep concern,” “Serena? Are you okay? You look really tired.” “I… I’m fine…” she muttered, trying to shake her head. “Just… suddenly so sleepy…” Before she could finish the sentence, her head slumped forward, face-planting onto the table as she passed out cold. I cold-smiled, walking over to shake her shoulder. No response. Perfect. The dosage was heavy enough. I pulled out my phone and dialed Ethan’s number. It rang for a long time before he finally picked up, his voice dripping with annoyance. “Yeah? What do you want?” In the background, I could hear the faint, muffled giggle of a woman. Suppressing my disgust, I let out a trembling sob. “Ethan… please come quick… Serena… I think she’s dying!”

By the time Ethan burst through the door, Serena was still slumped over the table, motionless. He didn’t even bother taking off his shoes as he rushed over to her. “Serena! Serena, wake up!” He shook her shoulders violently. Seeing no reaction, he whipped around, glaring at me like a feral beast. “What did you do to her?!” I cowered back, tears streaming down my face on command. “I don’t know… We were just having a drink, and she suddenly collapsed… Ethan, is she going to die? I’m so scared…” Looking at my tear-stained face, the suspicion in Ethan’s eyes faded slightly, replaced by sheer disgust and impatience. “Stop crying and call 911!” “Right, right!” I fumbled with my phone, but my finger “accidentally” hit the voice recorder app instead. While waiting for the paramedics, Ethan paced the living room like a caged animal, constantly checking his watch. Loki jumped onto the sofa, lazily licking his paw. [The scumbag is stressing out. He’s worried that if the ambulance takes too long, they’ll miss the shipping window for their ‘cargo’—which is you. He’d lose a massive payout.] [Yikes. Look at the way he looks at Serena. Like she’s a damaged piece of merchandise, not a human being. They really deserve each other.] The ambulance arrived shortly after. The EMTs did a quick assessment and concluded it was a deep coma induced by a mix of alcohol and heavy sedatives. No immediate danger to her life, but she needed her stomach pumped at the hospital. Ethan visibly relaxed upon hearing this. He climbed into the back of the ambulance with her. Before the doors shut, he glared back at me, his voice a low hiss: “Not a word about tonight to anyone. If this leaks, I’ll make sure you regret ever being born!” I nodded submissively, watching the ambulance drive away. The moment the door clicked shut, the terror on my face vanished. I pulled out my phone and played the recording. Perfect. Ethan’s frantic shout of “What did you do to her?!” was loud, clear, and dripping with raw, hysterical panic—proof enough that his relationship with Serena was far from casual. Next, I packed up the diamond ring and the spiked bottle of wine into a plastic bag, then booted up my laptop. First, I sent an anonymous email to the city’s top gossip outlets with the headline: “Son of Billionaire Charles Carter Caught in Love Triangle: Girlfriend’s Best Friend Rushed to ER After Overdose.” Attached were intimate photos of Ethan and Serena at the hospital—which I had hired a private investigator to take earlier—along with the damning audio clip. Once that was sent, I logged into my old Instagram account, which had over 500,000 followers. It was a beauty and lifestyle account I had poured my heart into during college. After I started dating Ethan, he told me he hated me “putting myself out there,” so I had let it go dormant. Now, it was time to put it to good use. I drafted a long, text-image post detailing the story of a “naive girl gaslit and set up by her fake-poor boyfriend and her snake of a best friend.” The protagonist was, of course, myself. I didn’t name names, but the clues were glaringly obvious. I mentioned meeting my “struggling orphan boyfriend” at a charity gala, my “wealthy best friend who constantly tried to make me break up with him,” and how “I worked myself to the bone to pay for his lifestyle while he used my money to spoil someone else.” At the end, I posted a selfie of my red, swollen eyes. The look of vulnerability and quiet defiance was pitch-perfect. [I thought I found true love. Turns out, I was just the target of a sick, calculated trap. What do I do now?] After hitting publish, I shut my laptop, scooped Loki into my arms, and fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a wild day.

The next morning, I was woken up by a barrage of nonstop calls. My parents, my old college friends, and dozens of unknown numbers. I ignored every single one of them. I got out of bed, did my skincare routine, put on a light layer of makeup, and opened Instagram. As expected, my post had exploded. The hashtag `#ChloeScammedByEx` was trending at number one nationwide. The comment section was a warzone of furious fans and outraged locals. [Oh my god, Chloe! I am so sorry you went through this! Please tell me you dumped him!] [What a absolute leech! Leeching off her and cheating? He needs to be cancelled immediately.] [And that friend? With friends like her, who needs enemies? Absolute snake!] Of course, there were skeptics. [Where’s the proof? Anyone can write a sob story for clout.] [Looks like someone’s just hungry for views.] I was waiting for those doubters. I refreshed the page, and another trending topic caught my eye: `#BillionaireHeirSecretLifeExposed` Clicking on it, major media outlets had already picked up the story. The photos of Ethan carrying a semi-conscious Serena into the ER were heavily blurred, but anyone who knew them could recognize them instantly. The smile on my face widened. I immediately quote-tweeted one of the major outlets, adding: [Thank you for the concern, everyone. I believe this is the proof you were asking for. @Serena_Davis @Ethan_Carter] That single tweet was like throwing a match into a pool of gasoline. My followers went absolutely wild. [NO WAY! Is that Ethan? The ‘poor orphan’ boyfriend? He’s the heir to Carter Enterprises?!] [And that’s Serena! I knew that trust-fund girl looked familiar! Chloe, tell me this is a nightmare!] [So he didn’t just cheat, they literally scammed her together? This is insane…] My comment section was flooded, and my DM inbox crashed from the volume. At the same time, internet sleuths tracked down Ethan and Serena’s personal social media accounts. Within minutes, their pages were flooded with thousands of angry, mocking comments. I set my phone down, completely satisfied. Just then, the doorbell rang. I looked through the peephole. It was Ethan. He was wearing a baseball cap and a black mask, trying to hide his face, but his eyes were bloodshot and burning with pure fury. Loki arched his back near my feet, letting out a low, warning hiss.

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In the seventh year of our relationship, my wife suddenly hooked up with a male model. For a cheap thrill, she replaced our engagement party slideshow with bedroom photos of her and the model. The guests whispered and pointed at the giant screen. Yet, she just grabbed my sleeve, acting as if she were the victim. “I don’t know who pulled this prank, Ethan. But the ceremony schedule is tight, and the media is waiting. Why don’t we let Julian stand on stage for you first?” My friends nudged me, whispering that she wasn’t worth it and telling me to dump her on the spot. Instead, I squeezed her hand and nodded. “You’re right. Let’s do that.” Seeing me agree, Chloe smiled with relief. She promised me that when the actual wedding came, she would definitely let me stand on stage. But what she didn’t know was… We didn’t have a future anymore. I shoved the engagement ring into Chloe’s hand, ignored the whispers around us, and walked out of the banquet hall. Chloe called my name and chased me for a few steps, but Julian quickly grabbed her arm. “The guests are still waiting, Chloe. We can talk about this after the party.” Sitting in my car, I watched their retreating backs through the window as they walked back inside. Right after, the colorful fireworks we ordered for the ceremony shot into the sky. The fireworks formed the initials of their names. I laughed bitterly. A prank? A mistake? This was clearly a “surprise” they had planned all along. If this were the old me, I would have confronted Chloe in a rage, demanding an explanation. But now, I was just exhausted. My love for her had already died in all her previous “accidents.” Back at our apartment, I looked at the cozy home I had personally designed, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. I had chased Chloe for five long years. When she finally accepted my proposal, I couldn’t sleep for days. I even rented the giant billboard downtown to declare my love for her. But last month, she suddenly suggested delaying the wedding and registering our marriage at City Hall first. Though disappointed, I figured it didn’t matter as long as we ended up together. Looking back, she didn’t fear marriage. She just didn’t want to be tied to me. I quietly finished the anniversary cake I bought for her, then crawled into bed and fell asleep. Sometime later, I felt cold hands sliding over my chest. Startled, I snapped my eyes open and saw Chloe sitting on the edge of the bed. She smelled of the damp night air. Instantly awake, I pushed her away with all my strength. She didn’t expect that. She stared at me, shocked. “Ethan, are you still mad about the party? I can explain.” “No need.” There was nothing to be mad about. I had been pathetic in this relationship for too long. Now, I just wanted to let go. Seeing my blank face, Chloe tried to hug me again. “I know it was an important night, and it was ruined by some irrelevant people. You must feel bad. But don’t worry, I’ve already fired the staff responsible. Besides, many of our business partners were there today.” “You know how hard we worked to get our startup to this point. If we made a scene, all our years of effort would have gone down the drain.” Just as she finished speaking, the bedroom door pushed open. Julian walked in casually, holding a glass of warm water. “Chloe, it was windy on the way back. Drink some warm water so you don’t catch a cold.” Chloe took the glass. She didn’t seem to think it was weird at all to bring another man into our home in the middle of the night. “You ran off without saying a word, Ethan. Julian had to help me apologize to everyone, and he even drove me home this late. Why haven’t you said thank you to him?” And whose fault was all of this? Now she wanted me to thank him? Seeing my cold expression, Julian waved his hands politely. “Don’t say that, Chloe. As your assistant, it’s my job to keep you safe and get you home. It’s the least I could do.” Chloe smiled warmly. “I knew I made the right choice hiring you. I wish the other employees in the company were half as caring as you.” I looked away, not wanting to watch their little drama anymore. It was no secret that Chloe favored Julian. Julian was a college dropout who used to work as a bartender. Relying solely on his pretty face and sweet talk, Chloe had brought him into the company and made him her personal assistant. Since he joined, he had become untouchable. When Julian made mistakes, the team took the fall. Even when his negligence leaked a major bid and cost us millions in orders, Chloe only docked the marketing department’s pay. And I was the director of marketing. When I tried to get justice for my team, Chloe just said coldly, “I’ve made my decision, Ethan. Changing it now would make me look weak to the board.” But now, I was done. Since Julian was so sweet and perfect, they deserved to be locked together forever. Seeing my silence, Chloe nudged my shoulder. “I’m talking to you. What’s with the attitude?” I nodded and looked up at her blankly. Only a dim lamp was lit in the room, casting a warm yellow glow over us, yet I felt freezing cold. “I’m sorry. It was my fault.” My fault for sleeping in my own bed. My fault for leaving after my marriage was turned into a joke. Chloe didn’t catch the sarcasm. She smiled, satisfied. “Since you’re apologizing, I won’t hold a grudge. But it’s really late, and I don’t feel safe having Julian drive back alone. You should drive him home.” I let out a cold laugh, got out of bed, grabbed my jacket, and walked toward the door. When Julian tried to follow, I blocked him. “No need. I’m leaving. The place is yours. Do whatever you want.” Chloe froze, then marched over to me, her voice rising in anger. “What did you just say? Where do you think you’re going?” Looking at her arrogant face, I smiled faintly. “Chloe, let’s get a divorce.”

Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you insane, Ethan? Do you even hear yourself? I told you, I’ll make sure nothing goes wrong at the actual wedding. Is this really worth throwing a tantrum over?” I just stared at her quietly. Ever since she met Julian at that lounge, she had spent countless nights with him under the guise of “business.” She even had his name tattooed near her inner thigh. She thought I didn’t know. I just chose not to rip her lies apart. Chloe reached out to grab my hand. “I know today was frustrating, but I’m exhausted. Stop playing games, okay?” Without hesitation, I pulled my hand away, grabbed my car keys, and walked out. My decisive departure said everything. As the door slammed shut, I heard her irritated voice drift through the crack. “So dramatic! Just watch, he’ll come crawling back to me within three days!” I shook my head. Maybe because I had loved her so humbly for five years, she thought she owned me. But she forgot that even the strongest love can be eroded by time and betrayal. This time, I was truly letting go. I checked into a hotel. The next morning, I met with a lawyer to draft the divorce papers. When asked about asset division, I hesitated for a moment before asking, “If I can provide proof of her infidelity during our marriage, can I get her cleaned out of the company assets?” Though we co-founded the startup, I was the one who secured all the investments and clients. Even the seed money came from my own savings. I had every right to take what was mine. Once the lawyer confirmed it was possible, I left the office and sent my resignation email to the company. Though it required Chloe’s final approval, I didn’t care. Since we were divorcing, I had nothing to hide. With that out of the way, I called my older sister, Rachel, who was living abroad. Hearing that I was finally willing to move to New York, she was thrilled and promised to handle all my immigration paperwork. Actually, Chloe never knew that my parents split up when we were kids. My dad took Rachel to the US, where he caught the Wall Street wave and became a financial tycoon. I had stayed with my mom. Three years ago, my mom fell ill. I begged every relative for money to pay her medical bills, but she didn’t make it. Before she passed, she held my hand, expressing her regret that she wouldn’t see my wedding with Chloe. She told me to take good care of Chloe and not to lose such a good girl. But now, I couldn’t keep that promise. The next day, Rachel flew back to the country. We hadn’t seen each other in person since our parents’ divorce, only keeping in touch via FaceTime over the last few years. I took her to visit our mother’s grave first, and then we went to a restaurant downtown for lunch. Because she had cried so hard at the cemetery, Rachel looked pale and weak. I held her arm to support her as we walked into the hotel restaurant. Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind. “Ethan? What are you doing here?” I turned around. Chloe and Julian were standing on the steps, holding hands.

Sensing my gaze, Chloe quickly yanked her hand away. She glared at Rachel. Though she didn’t speak, jealousy and suspicion practically rolled off her in waves. Julian, however, walked up with a smirk. “Hey, Ethan. What brings you here? And who is this lady? You two look pretty close.” “None of your business,” I replied coldly. I wasn’t worried about them misunderstanding. I just didn’t want to waste my breath on Julian. Julian pretended not to notice my hostility. His smirk widened. “But isn’t it work hours? Why are you out here? I don’t recall seeing a leave request from you today.” Chloe stepped forward, her face dark with anger. “Ethan, you’re getting bolder, aren’t you? Hooking up with another woman during work hours? Have you no shame?” Shame? I almost laughed. She was openly parading her male model around, and she had the nerve to talk to me about shame? Ever since she brought Julian into the office, people had been gossiping behind her back. No matter how hard others worked, they couldn’t beat a pretty face. Chloe even called Julian into her office during the day, drawing the blinds for hours while people watched their shadows whisper. The once-professional office environment had turned into a joke. Julian stepped in, pretending to play peacemaker. “Chloe, don’t be so harsh. Maybe Ethan is here to meet an investor? He’s probably doing it for the company.” Chloe sneered. “What kind of investment meeting happens at a hotel restaurant? He’s probably doing something dirty! No wonder your department’s sales have been so good lately, Ethan. You disgust me.” Hearing her insults, Rachel couldn’t stay quiet any longer. “Have you two said enough? Only those with dirty minds see dirt in everything.” She turned to me. “Ethan, let’s go. Talking to people like this is a waste of our time.” Rachel pulled my arm toward the elevator, but Chloe panicked. “Ethan! If you walk away with her today, we are divorcing!” Her threat meant nothing to me. But since she brought it up, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and handed them over. “What is this?” She stared at the document, refusing to touch it. “Divorce papers. You wanted a divorce. I’m giving you what you want.” Chloe’s face went completely pale. Before she could speak, Julian’s phone rang. He looked at it and gasped. “Chloe! The hospital just called. My mom fell on the street. I have to go!” Chloe immediately turned to him. “How is she? I’ll go with you!” Watching them rush out, I felt a wave of irony. Three years ago, my mother was in critical condition after a car accident—an accident she got into while saving Chloe. Yet Chloe claimed her business trip was too important and didn’t even show up for my mother’s final moments. My mother could have lived longer despite her heart condition, but she sacrificed her life for Chloe. Yet Chloe never even said thank you. “Ethan?” Rachel’s voice snapped me back to reality. I took a deep breath, composed myself, and took her up to the room. As soon as we walked in, she asked, “I heard you got married. Was that woman your wife?” My hand paused as I poured her a glass of water. I sighed. “Yeah. But as you saw, I’m ending it.” I knew Chloe wouldn’t sign the papers easily, so I had already handed all the evidence of her infidelity to my lawyer to start the court process. The lawyer assured me that we would win easily. Rachel didn’t pry. She patted my shoulder. “Good. Clean up this mess before we move. You won’t be coming back here anyway.” I nodded and asked about our dad. The next day, I went with Rachel to finalize my immigration paperwork. As we walked out, her phone rang. “I told you, I’m back for personal matters,” she said into the phone, sounding annoyed. “Why did you leak my schedule?” “Do I need to personally approve a project worth only a few million? Am I the boss, or are you?” After she hung up, I handed her a bottle of water. “Problems with the company in New York?” She rubbed her temples. “No. Some local startup has been begging to partner with us. The owner somehow found out I was in town and is desperate to get a meeting.” “But you know how I work. In business, connections are fine, but character is what matters most.” I didn’t ask further. I drove her to the best French restaurant in the city. But of course, fate is a cruel joke. We ran into Chloe and Julian again. They were wearing matching outfits, sitting by the window. Chloe was on the phone, looking tense, while Julian fed her a cherry. Chloe smiled and bit the cherry right out of his hand. To anyone else, they looked like a deeply in love couple. I pursed my lips and turned to leave, but Chloe spotted me. She hung up immediately and ran over. “Ethan, wait!”

I pretended not to hear her and quickened my pace. But Chloe caught my arm. “Did you hear me calling you?” Though she was talking to me, her eyes were fixed on Rachel. “You two—” Before she could finish, Julian walked over, looking at us with a smug grin. “Wow, Ethan. This ‘business meeting’ of yours is taking forever. I guess it was a bedroom meeting before, and now it’s a lunch date.” I ignored his cheap insult, but Chloe’s face hardened. She looked at me coldly. “Ethan, I know what you’re doing. Do you think bringing her around will make me jealous? Are you five?” “Even if the hotel was a coincidence, you can’t tell me meeting us here is an accident. Julian and I are just having lunch. Can you stop being so pathetic and insecure?” I laughed coldly. Me? Pathetic? “I already served you the divorce papers, Chloe. Do you really think I care enough to follow you around?” Mentioning the divorce made her flinch. “I tore those papers up. Don’t bring them up again.” She turned her glare to Rachel. “And you, whoever you are. You heard him. Ethan is a married man. If you have any self-respect, stay away from him!” Julian chimed in, sneering. “Exactly. Clinging to another woman’s husband… didn’t your parents teach you any manners?” “Just because you have a little money doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want.” Rachel crossed her arms, a cold smile playing on her lips. “Watch your mouth. I can easily sue you for slander.” Julian, emboldened by Chloe’s presence, lost all restraint. He stepped forward, raising his voice so the whole restaurant could hear. “A homewrecker talking about lawsuits? How shameless can you get? If I don’t teach you a lesson today, I’m not a man!” With that, Julian rolled up his sleeves and shoved Rachel’s shoulder. Chaos broke out. I rushed forward to stop him, but at that exact moment, Chloe’s phone buzzed with a message from her secretary. It was a photo of the billionaire chairperson of the multinational conglomerate she had been trying to partner with. The woman in the photo was the exact same woman Julian had just shoved to the ground. Chloe’s eyes went wide. “Stop! She’s Chairperson Miller!”

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An avalanche hit the snowy peaks. My foster sister, Clara, had intentionally pushed me, breaking my leg. But my parents abandoned me—shivering with a fever and unable to walk—just to rush Clara to the hospital for a few minor scratches. Limping and desperate, I begged them to take me with them. But my mom coldly slapped my hand away. “Clara is bleeding so much, and you’re still trying to compete with her for attention?” she snapped. “How did I raise such a wicked daughter? Stay here and think about what you’ve done!” They walked away with Clara, never once looking back. Dragging my broken left leg, I tried my best to crawl after them, only to collapse helplessly onto the freezing snow. A few days later, when Clara was discharged from the hospital, they finally remembered me, their biological daughter. Little did they know, I had already been buried deep beneath the avalanche. I was dead. The mountain had collapsed, and I couldn’t escape in time. But after my death, I found my soul floating right next to my dad. He was waiting anxiously in the hospital ward, looking at Clara, who was lying in bed. His face was filled with pity. “Clara, the doctor said it’s a good thing we brought you in early. You’re going to be fine.” “Just rest now. We’ll go home once you’re fully recovered.” Then, he looked out the window at the distant, snow-capped mountains. Anger flared in his eyes. “If it weren’t for Chloe insisting on going to that mountain, you wouldn’t have been hurt so badly!” “When she gets back, I’m going to make her get down on her knees and beg for your forgiveness!” My mom was hovering over Clara, checking the medical monitors every second, terrified that something might go wrong. Her eyes were red from crying. “That miserable brat,” she cursed. “She knew Clara was fragile, yet she still dragged us to that mountain. I actually thought she was finally starting to care about Clara. It was a setup all along!” Watching this, my spectral heart shattered into pieces. Mom, that’s not true. Clara was the one who planned this trip. You both agreed to it! I had been sickly since I was a kid. I never wanted to climb mountains. But Clara said she wanted a family photo in the snow, so you forced me to come, calling me dramatic when I hesitated. Clara was the daughter of my dad’s late military buddy. Her father had died saving my dad’s life. Out of guilt and pity, my dad treated her better than his own daughter. I had to give up everything for her. Anything my parents bought for me would end up in her hands. If I complained even a little, they would yell at me for being selfish. Over time, I became a desperate people-pleaser. I obeyed Clara’s every whim, hoping my parents would love me just a little bit more. This trip was supposed to be different. Clara had intentionally stepped on and shattered the antique gold locket my late grandmother left me. It was the only thing I had left of her. I was so devastated that my parents finally agreed to take me to the beach—a trip they had promised me a thousand times but never delivered. But then Clara suddenly said she wanted to see the snow instead. So, they changed the destination instantly. They forced me to come along just because of one word from her. And now, somehow, it was all my fault. Up on that freezing mountain, I had begged them to take me back. But they only saw the tiny scratch on Clara’s leg and screamed at me. “Chloe, Clara is bleeding! How can you still try to steal the spotlight?” Clara had pretended to cry, whimpering, “It doesn’t hurt, Dad. Chloe didn’t mean to push me.” Looking at Clara’s “bleeding” scratch, my parents went wild with rage. “Chloe, you did this on purpose, didn’t you?” “How did we give birth to such a malicious monster?” With that, they carried Clara and hurried down the mountain. I begged them to take me, but they accused me of faking my injuries to ruin Clara’s recovery. They left me there to “reflect on my actions” and walk down by myself. After they left, I dragged my broken leg, shivering with a raging fever, and crawled through the freezing snow. Just when I was almost at the exit, the mountain roared. An avalanche triggered. I remember the sheer despair. The heavy snow crushed my bones, and the sub-zero temperatures sucked the remaining warmth from my body. As my vision blurred, I looked in the direction my parents had gone. If they knew I died here, would they be even a little sad? Would they finally give me a fraction of the love they gave to Clara?

Back in the hospital, I watched my parents cater to Clara’s every whim. My mom personally cooked gourmet meals for her every day. My dad bought her an expensive, limited-edition designer bag as compensation for her “trauma.” During those days, they completely forgot about me. Their entire universe revolved around Clara. It was painfully pathetic to watch. Only on the day Clara was discharged did they finally remember my existence. “Where is Chloe? Why isn’t that brat here yet?” my dad grumbled, his face darkening. “She knows she messed up, so she’s hiding from us, isn’t she?” My mom sighed, speaking in a tone of supreme indulgence. “We’ve ignored her for days. She must have learned her lesson by now. Call her and tell her to come home.” My dad pulled out his phone and dialed my number. But to their surprise, the call didn’t go through. Usually, I answered their calls within three seconds. But now, after dialing multiple times, there was only a cold, automated voice. My parents frowned. A faint flicker of unease crossed their faces. Clara, walking beside them, suddenly lowered her head and put on a sorrowful act. “Mom, Dad… is Chloe still mad at me? Does she hate me for taking your love away?” My dad’s expression instantly hardened. He shoved his phone into his pocket and sneered. “That ungrateful brat! She actually turned off her phone on purpose!” My mom gnashed her teeth in anger. “She’s throwing a tantrum because we left her on the mountain. What a childish, petty drama queen!” My dad’s eyes flared with rage. “Miserable girl! She’s doing this to make us worry so we’ll go begging for her return!” “Almost fell for her little game!” My mom snorted. “Her manipulation tactics are getting ridiculous.” She took Clara’s hand and walked toward the reception desk, her voice cold. “Let’s go. Don’t worry about her. We’ll do the discharge paperwork for Clara first.” “She likes keeping her phone off? Let’s see how long she can go without crawled back to us.” I glared at Clara. Even now, she was actively poisoning their minds against me. But then again, my parents always chose to believe her. They always chose her. I clutched my spectral chest, feeling a phantom pain so sharp I had to crouch on the floor. As they were finalizing the paperwork, my boyfriend, Ethan, rushed into the lobby. He ran up to my parents, panting and terrified. “Mr. and Mrs. Vance! Something’s wrong with Chloe!”

My parents froze for a second. Ethan continued frantically, “It’s been days! I haven’t been able to reach her at all!” Looking at Ethan’s pale, worried face, my dead heart ached with a different kind of pain. There was no signal on that mountain. Before I died, I couldn’t even send a single text to the boy I loved. The brief worry on my parents’ faces instantly vanished, replaced by sheer annoyance. My mom said dismissively, “That girl committed a crime and is hiding to get sympathy. She’s too ashamed to face us. Ethan, don’t waste your energy on her.” Ethan shook his head quickly. “No, you don’t understand! She promised to go to the movies with me yesterday. She never breaks her promises. But there’s been absolutely nothing…” My dad cut him off sharply. “Enough! She loves playing these pathetic mind games.” “Who knows where she’s hiding right now because of her guilty conscience? She wants us to go looking for her.” Clara chimed in, looking incredibly fragile. “I know Chloe hates me. If she comes back, I’m willing to apologize to her.” Hearing Clara’s voice, my anger boiled over. I rushed to her face and screamed, “For years, my parents gave you everything, and I did everything to please you! Why do you want me dead so badly?” But no one could see or hear me. My dad patted Clara’s shoulder gently. “Don’t blame yourself, Clara. It’s not your fault. Chloe has a twisted character! If she wants to hide, let her. Even if she dies out there, I won’t shed a single tear.” My mom added, “Exactly! When she finally crawls back, she will get down on her knees and apologize to Clara!” Ethan stared at my parents in absolute disbelief. Were these words actually coming from her biological parents? His eyes welled with tears, and his voice shook with pure fury. “Do you even know Chloe at all?! She is nothing like what you’re describing!” “She is kind, honest, and loving! How can you talk about your own daughter like that? Are you even human?!” Hearing Ethan shout in my defense, my eyes watered. I didn’t expect that in this vast world, the only person who truly knew me and stood up for me was my boyfriend. But my dad remained arrogant, letting out a cold laugh. “I know her well enough! She is selfish and jealous. If it weren’t for her, Clara wouldn’t have been hurt!” My mom agreed. “Ethan, you’ve been fooled by her sweet act. She’s a master manipulator. Let’s see how long she can keep up this little disappearing act!” I stood there, feeling the coldness of death seep deeper into my soul. So, this was what I was to my parents. A monster. It felt as if a dull blade was slowly carving away my flesh, piece by piece. Ethan’s anger peaked. He pointed a shaking finger at my mom. “You’re going to kill her! I’m calling the police!” My dad laughed mockingly. “Call them! I’d love to see the police throw that brat in jail for intentionally hurting Clara!” Clara’s face suddenly turned pale. She grabbed my dad’s sleeve, her voice trembling. “Dad… maybe I remembered it wrong. I think I just slipped. Chloe didn’t push me.” Then, she looked at Ethan with a pitiful expression. “Ethan, Chloe is probably just throwing a tantrum. Please don’t call the cops. We shouldn’t waste police resources.” But Ethan didn’t buy her act. He glared at her, his eyes cold as ice. “Why don’t you want me to call the police, Clara? What are you hiding?”

A flash of panic crossed Clara’s face. But when she saw my dad’s face, which was still twisted in anger at me, her confidence returned. She tugged at his sleeve again, looking like an angel. “I just don’t want Chloe to get arrested. Even if she made a mistake, as her sister, I can just forgive her.” My dad’s temper flared instantly. “What is that brat still playing at? Does she hate apologizing to Clara that much?” “She thinks she can escape accountability by turning off her phone and hiding? Not a chance!” My mom was equally furious. “She’s doing this on purpose because she hates seeing us treat Clara well. She’s using this ‘missing’ act to ruin our day!” Listening to their venomous words, Ethan felt a loud buzzing in his ears. He pointed at my parents, his voice cracking with emotion. “Are you really her parents? How can you not care about your own flesh and blood?” “It’s been days! I haven’t heard from her in days! Do you even care if she’s alive?” Tears finally streamed down Ethan’s face. My dad sneered. “We raised her, didn’t we? Who does she think she is, throwing a fit like this?” “Eleanor, call her again. Tell her if she isn’t home in an hour, she is locked out forever!” My mom furiously dialed my number again. Still, nothing. “That little brat actually dares to ignore my calls!” Just as they were about to launch into another round of curses, my dad’s phone rang. Thinking it was me, he snatched it and prepared to yell. But the voice on the other end was cold, official, and utterly detached. “Hello, is this Robert Vance? This is the Rocky Mountain Police Department. We recovered a body from the avalanche zone four days ago. We need you to come down to the county morgue to identify the remains.” My dad froze, his voice suddenly hollow. “What did you say?” The officer repeated the statement. My dad stood paralyzed, and his phone slipped from his hand, shattering on the tiled floor.

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My best friend, Vivian Shaw, had been single for twenty-five years and had never even been in love when the hospital issued a critical illness notice for her. As she lay dying, she spoke her only last wish: “The biggest regret of my life is that I’ve never had one wild, unforgettable romance.” “Sophie, in the last few days of my life, can I borrow your boyfriend for a while?” “Let me fall in love once, so I won’t die with any regrets.” Before I could answer, my boyfriend, Lucas Hale, stepped forward anxiously: “I’m willing!” “Vivian, you’re going to be okay, and I’ll help you find the best doctors in the world!” Considering that this was Vivian Shaw’s only last wish, I had no choice but to agree. But I never expected that this illness of hers would last three years. She could not be cured, and she would not die. At first, Lucas still felt a little guilty toward me, but in the end, he became more and more impatient. It seemed that Vivian Shaw had no intention of returning what she had borrowed from me. Perfect, because I did not want to take back trash either.

On our fifth anniversary, Lucas left me alone at the restaurant. I texted him and asked why he had not come. The next second, his call came in: “Are you insane?” “I told you I had to go with Vivian for her follow-up today, so why are you texting me?” “What if she sees it and starts overthinking?” “Pack up the food and bring it back, then apologize to Vivian, because only when she feels better can her condition recover faster.” The call was cut off, and as I looked at the pouring rain outside the window, I suddenly laughed. For the tenth time, the server walked to my table and tapped on it: “Miss, may we serve the food now?” “The customers waiting behind you have been waiting for a long time.” I lowered my head: “No need, just pack it up.” “My friend had something come up and isn’t coming.” The server froze for a moment, glanced at the candles and roses that had been set on the table in advance, and did not ask anything else. I gripped my phone tightly, picked up the bag, and walked into the rain. The icy rainwater poured down my neck, so cold it cut to the bone. When I reached the door of my home, muffled sobs came from inside. I pushed the door open, and Lucas was kneeling on one knee on the carpet. Vivian Shaw was curled up on the couch, one hand clutching her chest, crying so hard her whole body shook. “It’s all my fault.” “If I hadn’t suddenly felt unwell, you wouldn’t have missed your anniversary.” “If I had known this would happen, I would rather have died in the hospital three years ago than be disliked by Sophie now…” “Don’t say nonsense.” Lucas immediately panicked: “Your illness isn’t something you chose, so what does it have to do with you?” “It’s Sophie who is too petty and refuses to let go of some tiny little thing, so don’t take it to heart.” As soon as he finished speaking, he heard movement in the entryway and turned his head. The moment he saw me, the tenderness on his face vanished, replaced by a face full of coldness. “Why are you still standing there?” “Come over and apologize!” “Do I have to invite you?” “If I hadn’t been home tonight, Vivian would have had no one by her side when her attack happened just now!” “She treated you like her best friend, but look at you, getting mad at me over some stupid anniversary.” “What the hell were you thinking?” I did not speak and bent down to put the takeout boxes on the table. Rainwater dripped from the ends of my hair onto the floor. “You promised this date half a month ago, and I waited at the restaurant for three hours, so am I not even allowed to text and ask?” Lucas’s face instantly darkened.

He walked over, grabbed my wrist, and roughly dragged me in front of the couch. “So what if you waited three hours?” “When Vivian gets better, we’ll have plenty of time to celebrate anniversaries, so do you really need to make a big deal out of this?” “Hurry up and apologize to Vivian.” “Don’t… don’t do this…” Vivian Shaw reached out and weakly tugged on Lucas’s sleeve. “It’s my fault, so don’t blame Sophie, and she doesn’t need to apologize to me…” “I delayed you two, so I’m the one who should apologize…” “You’re just too kind!” Lucas turned around, held her shoulders, and his voice was full of heartache: “She almost made you have another attack, and you’re still speaking up for her?” “You were nearly killed by your own best friend, so how do you not have any temper at all?” I stood where I was. I watched the man I had loved for five years kneel half down in front of another woman. My heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by a hand, hurting so much that I could not breathe. I was just about to speak. Vivian Shaw suddenly let out a muffled groan and clutched her chest. “Vivian!” Lucas’s expression changed abruptly, and without thinking, he picked her up in his arms. He turned and walked toward the bedroom, and when he passed me, he threw out only one sentence: “Look at what you’ve done!” Bang. The bedroom door was slammed shut. I stood outside the door and raised my hand to knock. There was no response. Lucas had always kept the key to the guest room at home. Wind poured in from the balcony, and I shivered from the cold. I walked to the couch and sat down. The couch still held the scent of Vivian Shaw’s perfume, so sweet it turned bitter. Voices occasionally came from the bedroom. I hugged my knees and curled up on the couch, sitting there with my eyes open until dawn. At eight in the morning, someone knocked on the door. I dragged my numb legs over and opened it. Vivian’s parents stood outside, both their faces full of worry. When Vivian’s mother saw it was me, her face immediately fell. “Sophie Reed, where is Vivian?” “How is she?” Vivian’s father frowned tightly, and the first thing he said was an accusation: “You’re supposed to be Vivian’s best friend, so how could you do something like this?” “If Lucas hadn’t called us, we would still be kept in the dark!” “Vivian’s heart has always been weak, and three years ago she almost didn’t make it, so why can’t you just give in to her?” “Why do you have to fight with her?” My hand gripped the doorframe, and I did not even have the strength to explain. Back then, it was clearly Vivian Shaw who cried and begged me, saying she wanted to borrow my boyfriend to fulfill her last wish. I nodded and agreed, giving up my own lover. So how did everything become my fault in the end? “Move!” Vivian’s father impatiently pushed me aside. I lost my balance, and my back hit the wall, the bones aching sharply. They passed me and rushed straight into the bedroom. “My baby girl, are you okay?” “You scared me to death…” “Dad, Mom, why are you here?” “I’m fine, so don’t blame Sophie, because she didn’t mean it…” “Silly girl, you’re still speaking up for her!” Lucas’s voice was mixed in with theirs, gently comforting the two elders and telling a joke now and then to make them happy. The four of them talked and laughed, so harmonious that they looked like a real family. And I stood in my own wedding home, yet I looked like an unnecessary outsider. Before long, Lucas came out of the bedroom. When he saw that I was still standing there, he frowned. “Why are you standing around like an idiot?” “Go pour a few cups of warm water and bring them in, because it wasn’t easy for Vivian’s parents to make the trip here.” His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were ordering around the housekeeper. I did not argue and turned into the kitchen. I carried in one cup after another and refilled the water three times. Every time I went in, they were talking about Vivian Shaw’s condition, and no one looked at me once.

After refilling the water for the last time, I turned to leave. Lucas casually took a key from his pocket and threw it by my feet. “Go back to your room and stay there for now, and stop wandering around here so you don’t upset her parents.” As he spoke, he was busy peeling grapes for Vivian Shaw and did not even raise his head. I lowered my head to look at the key on the floor, bent down, and picked it up. I said nothing and turned to walk out. At noon, Vivian’s parents left. Lucas reminded them to be careful on the road while repeatedly promising that he would take good care of Vivian Shaw. In the end, he even went downstairs personally to see them off. The front door closed, and the sound of footsteps faded away. The master bedroom door did not open, and Vivian Shaw did not come out. I pushed open the door and took one last look at the guest room where I had lived for three years. How ridiculous. The wedding home I once decorated with my own hands now only allowed me to occupy one pathetic corner. The sour ache in my chest surged upward uncontrollably. I opened my suitcase and began stuffing clothes inside. Halfway through packing, a muffled thud suddenly came from the living room. My heart lurched, and I immediately dropped the clothes and ran out. In the living room, Vivian Shaw had collapsed on the carpet in front of the couch. Her hand clutched her chest, and she gasped for breath in huge gulps. The TV on the wall was on. On the screen was an intense motorcycle racing game. The roar of engines was deafening. My heart tightened, and I turned to go to the bedroom to get her medicine. Just then, Lucas returned home after seeing off Vivian’s parents and saw Vivian Shaw on the floor at a glance. His expression changed abruptly, and he rushed over in a few steps, pushing me away without thinking. “Sophie Reed, are you insane?” “You know perfectly well that Vivian has a bad heart and can’t handle stimulation, yet you still played this for her to watch?” “Are you trying to kill her?” I was shoved into the corner of the coffee table, and a dull pain shot through my lower back. I endured the pain and explained: “This game was the anniversary gift I bought for you, and it had been kept in the cabinet the whole time, so I didn’t show it to her…” “You’re still making excuses!” Lucas cut me off sharply: “If you didn’t play it, then did Vivian play it herself?” “She can barely walk, so how would she dig through your things?” “Can you have some sense of responsibility?” “Is it that hard to admit it when you’ve done something wrong?” “Why are you just standing there?” “Go get the medicine!” His yelling made my eardrums hurt. I bit my lip, stumbled into the bedroom, and found the medicine bottle on the nightstand. After taking the medicine, Vivian Shaw’s breathing slowly steadied. She leaned in Lucas’s arms, tears in her eyes, her voice weak: “Lucas, don’t blame Sophie.” “It’s all my fault.” “I just wanted to come out and pour a glass of water, and I accidentally saw it…” “It’s not her fault…” “You’re still speaking up for her!” Lucas was so heartbroken that he held her even tighter. When he turned to look at me, the disgust in his eyes was almost overflowing. “Back then, I wanted to keep two bodyguards at home to take care of Vivian, but you said having outsiders in the house would destroy our privacy and refused no matter what, and now look.” “I stepped out just long enough to see someone off, and something happened to her!” “I think you had bad intentions from the start.” “You’ve been wishing Vivian would die, and all of this was clearly planned by you long ago!” I looked at him and suddenly found it very funny. Three years. I had stepped back again and again and given in again and again. I thought there was still some place for me in his heart, and that guilt had simply blinded him. But it turned out that in his eyes, I had long since become a lunatic scheming to kill my best friend. I looked at him and said, word by word: “Lucas Hale, let’s break up.” He looked as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world and laughed from sheer anger.

He gently carried Vivian Shaw onto the couch. Then he stood up and walked toward me, his eyes dark and vicious: “What, did I hit a nerve?” “You want to break up and walk away?” “It won’t be that easy.” “I’ve put up with you more than once or twice, and every time you target Vivian, so today I have to teach you a lesson and make you remember it.” I instinctively stepped back. “What are you going to do?” He did not answer, took out his phone, and made a call, his tone icy: “Send two people up and get the rooftop safety rope ready.” After hanging up, he looked down at me from above and said coldly: “Don’t you like watching Vivian struggle on the edge of life and death?” “Then you can taste it yourself.” In less than two minutes, two bodyguards walked in. “Mr. Hale.” Lucas’s tone was calm, as if he were talking about something unimportant: “Take her upstairs, tie her to the edge of the rooftop, and hang her there for a full day and night.” “I want her to experience what it feels like to struggle on the edge of life and death.” “No!” “Lucas, you can’t do this!” My face instantly turned pale, and I desperately backed away. I had been afraid of heights since I was a child, and he knew that better than anyone. In the past, whenever we climbed stairs together, he would carry me once we got past the third floor because he was afraid I would get scared. But now, he wanted to punish me like this for another woman. Lucas raised an eyebrow and signaled for the bodyguards to act: “Why can’t I?” “You should taste the suffering Vivian endured too.” The two bodyguards stepped forward and grabbed my arms from both sides. I struggled desperately: “Lucas, I’m afraid of heights!” “Have you forgotten?” “Please let me go!” He turned his face away and did not look at me again. “This is what you deserve.” I was dragged toward the rooftop. My nails dug into my palms until they broke the skin, but I still could not break free. The wind on the rooftop was strong, slicing across my face like blades. A rope was tied around my waist, and my entire body was suspended in the air at the edge of the rooftop. Below my feet was a six-story drop. With one glance down, the world spun around me. Fear drowned me like a tide. I screamed, cried, and begged Lucas to let me down. But there was no response. Only the howling wind filled my ears. I did not know how long had passed. My throat went hoarse from screaming, and my tears ran dry. The sun rose and set again. For a day and a night, I did not drink a single drop of water. My whole body went limp like a puddle of mud. When my mind blurred, the rope began to pull upward. I crashed heavily onto the ground. My vision went black, and I completely lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. There was a needle in the back of my hand, and I was on an IV drip. The hospital room was empty, without a single person inside. I moved my fingers, and my whole body hurt as if it were about to fall apart. Creak. The hospital room door was pushed open. Vivian Shaw walked in. Her makeup was flawless, and she did not look sick at all, while a mocking smile hung at the corner of her mouth. “You’re awake?” “Sophie Reed, I really do admire you.” “For three years, you watched your own boyfriend stay with me every day and act affectionate with me, yet you actually endured it until now.” “Your skin is much thicker than I thought.” My eyes flew wide open: “You…” “What about me?” Lucas was not there, so she simply dropped the act and reached up to smooth her hair. “Haven’t you been suspicious all along?” “Now I’ll be merciful and tell you that my critical illness was indeed fake.” “Three years ago, I knew Lucas was softhearted, and as long as I pretended I was about to die and then brought up a last wish, he would definitely agree.” “Look, over these three years, he has spent far more time with me than with you, so what use is it for you to cling to the title of official girlfriend?” “His heart stopped being with you long ago.”

My whole body went cold, as if I had fallen into an ice cellar. She straightened up, looked at my pale face, and the smile on her lips grew even wider. “Oh, right, I forgot to tell you something.” “Do you know why your parents haven’t come to see you even after you’ve been hospitalized for so long?” My heart suddenly clenched. “They heard that you bullied me and rushed over to apologize on your behalf, but they got into a car accident on the way.” Vivian Shaw spoke lightly as she fiddled with her long manicured nails: “They’re lying in the ward upstairs right now, and the hospital issued a critical illness notice long ago.” “Lucas originally contacted foreign experts to come over for surgery, but, well…” She paused, her smile smug. “As long as I say one word, he won’t sign.” “Sophie Reed, do you think you’ll become an orphan?” “You’re lying!” I abruptly sat up, tugging the needle in the back of my hand, and blood instantly gushed out. “My parents treated you like their own daughter, so how could you do this to them?” Vivian Shaw gave a mocking laugh: “It’s exactly because they treated me pretty well that I didn’t have someone kill them on the spot and left them with their worthless lives.” With a boom, my mind went completely blank. So the car accident had also been arranged by her. This best friend whom I had treated with all my heart for more than ten years. Not only had she stolen my boyfriend, but she also wanted to kill my parents. Rage instantly shot to my head. I threw off the blanket and lunged at her like a madwoman. I pinned her to the floor, straddled her, raised my hand, and slapped her across the face. “Vivian Shaw, you psycho!” “How did my parents ever wrong you?” “Why would you hurt them like this?” The needle rolled far away. Blood from the back of my hand flowed down my fingertips, but I could no longer feel the pain. Bang! Just then, the hospital room door was kicked open. Lucas stood in the doorway, and when he saw the scene in front of him, his eyes turned scarlet with anger. He rushed over and kicked me in the shoulder. I flew two meters away, my back hitting the foot of the bed, and the pain made me suck in a cold breath. “Sophie Reed, are you insane?” He held Vivian Shaw protectively in his arms and checked whether she was hurt. When he saw the slap marks on Vivian Shaw’s face, his chest heaved violently with anger. “Vivian came to see you out of kindness, and you still dared to hit her!” “Looking at it now, your parents’ car accident was karma!” “They raised such a vicious daughter, so they deserved to get hit by a car!” “I was originally going to save their lives, and the doctors from overseas are already on the plane, but now, it looks like there’s no need!” After saying that, he took out his phone and called his assistant. “Have the private jet turn back, and cancel the surgery!” “No!” “Lucas, don’t!” My face instantly went deathly pale, and I scrambled over on my hands and knees to grab his pant leg. “I was wrong, and I shouldn’t have hit her, so please have the doctors come back.” “I’m begging you…” “Too late.” He slapped me across the face with the back of his hand. The blow turned my head to the side, and blood seeped from the corner of my mouth. With all the strength in my body, I shouted the truth: “Lucas, her illness is fake!” “She arranged the car accident too!” “She told me herself just now!” I thought he would be shocked and regretful after knowing the truth. But after he heard it, he became even angrier. “You still want to frame Vivian even now?” He reached out and grabbed my neck, tightening his grip little by little. “I think you really are beyond saving!” “Vivian is kind and speaks up for you again and again, but you keep throwing dirt on her again and again.” “What the hell is your heart made of?” I struggled to breathe, and my vision went black in waves.

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Every time I had sex with Ethan Carter, I noticed he had changed the sheets. Once, I finally pressed him and asked why. Ethan hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell me the truth: “Because every time I have sex with you, your best friend Chloe Reed gets jealous, and she insists on sleeping with me first.” “After meeting her, I finally understood that women really are made of water.” “I can’t exactly let you lie on soaked sheets while we have sex, can I?” I froze, staring at him in disbelief. “What did you say?” He put out his cigarette, half-smiling. “Sophie, your mom was tortured to death in bed by your dad, not by me. So every time you lie there like a dead fish, it really kills the mood. That’s your trauma, and I shouldn’t have to pay for it, understand?” “You should thank Chloe. She’s helping you keep this relationship alive.” The moment he finished speaking, the door was shoved open. Chloe rushed in with red eyes and slapped Ethan across the face. “You bastard! Didn’t you say you’d keep it a secret? Apologize to Sophie!” I looked at them, but all that was left in my throat was bitterness. So all these years, in Ethan’s eyes, I had only been a burdensome buzzkill. This bed was not big enough for three people, and I would never squeeze myself into it again.

I got up, put on my clothes, and walked toward the door. Ethan called after me, “Where are you going?” I did not answer and lowered my head to put on my shoes. Under Chloe’s threatening stare, he finally apologized, though his tone was reluctant. “What I said just now… I guess I went too far.” But I did not stop and walked straight to the door. This time, Ethan completely lost his patience. “Are you done or not? Where can you even go in the middle of the night? Just because of that mess with your mom, the whole world has to tiptoe around you, is that it?” Before I could answer, Chloe ran over and grabbed me, her grip so tight it hurt. Her eyes were red, and tears had already fallen. “Sophie… I’ll give you an explanation. Don’t be impulsive. Don’t do anything stupid.” I lowered my head and looked at her hand, then smiled faintly. Then I pulled my hand out of her palm. “Chloe, the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life was letting you move into this apartment.” My voice was as calm as stagnant water. “Ever since we were kids, I gave you whatever you liked. You said you liked my dress, so I bought you the same one. You said you wanted to get into the same college as me, so I risked getting disciplined to pass you answers. Now, if you like my boyfriend and this bed, I can give them to you too.” Chloe’s tears fell, and she opened her mouth, but no sound came out. I looked at her calmly. “Are you satisfied now? If you are, stop clinging to me. I have nothing left to give you.” After saying that, I opened the door and walked out. The early autumn wind poured into the hallway, and I shivered, but I did not stop. The streetlight shone above me, dragging a short shadow across the ground. I lowered my head and looked at my slippers, where the pink bunny ears were already dirty at the tips. Through my blurry tears, the memories I had tried so hard to hold back surged up on their own. When we first got together, Ethan treated me very well. He knew that after my mom died beside me, I was afraid to sleep alone and did not dare turn off the lights. So he specially bought an apartment in the same complex where Chloe rented. Back then, Ethan said, “Chloe lives nearby, so when I’m on business trips, she can come over and keep you company.” Later, Chloe kept saying she was worried about me being alone, and her occasional overnight stays turned into frequent sleepovers. In the end, she simply ended her lease and moved into the apartment Ethan and I shared. After Ethan found out, he said, “It’s good that you two are together. Saves everyone from running back and forth.” From beginning to end, I never felt anything was wrong. Until the matching couple mugs in the living room somehow became a set of three. The toothbrush holder also gained another spot. The pajamas, slippers, and even the new bedsheet I changed later were all the same style as Chloe’s. She always smiled and tugged at my arm, her voice sweet and sticky. “Sophie, let’s buy them together. Best friends should have matching bestie sets!” Even our mutual friends joked, “Sophie Bennett, you’re so lucky. You got a boyfriend and a girlfriend as a bonus.” I did not understand it back then and wholeheartedly thought I had won both love and friendship. Only now did I realize that even they had been more clear-headed than me. They had realized earlier than I had that there had always been a third person in this relationship. I wiped away my tears, took off those slippers, and threw them into the trash can beside me. Standing barefoot in place, the chill spread from the soles of my feet through my entire body. I took my phone out of my pocket, found a number, and called it. “Aunt Clara, I’ve made up my mind. I’m willing to go abroad with you.”

Aunt Clara’s voice came through the receiver, carrying a cautious joy. “Sophie, have you really made up your mind?” “Before your mom passed away, you were the person she worried about most. What happened back then left such a deep shadow on you, and I was always afraid you’d trap yourself in it. Now that you’ve figured it out, I really…” She paused before steadying her voice. “I’ll book your flight. Is tomorrow afternoon okay?” I blinked my dry, aching eyes. “Yes. I’ll go back and pack some things. I’ll see you at the airport tomorrow afternoon.” After hanging up, I found a nearby hotel and stayed there. The bed was clean, untouched, and held no one’s scent. That night, I slept with an unexpected peace. I slept until the next afternoon before going home. When I opened the door, the living room was empty, Ethan was not there, and Chloe was not there either. I went straight to the master bedroom, ready to pack my luggage. The moment I pushed open the door, I froze in place. Even though I had prepared myself, the scene before me still stabbed hard into my heart. The bedsheet was wrinkled into a heap at the foot of the bed, and the pillow was crooked to one side. A pink lace bra hung over the edge of the bed. It was the style Chloe often wore. On the bedsheet lay a pair of pink panties, with dark and light stains crossing over each other. Every trace announced how intense their battle had been after I left. I took one numb step forward. At a glance, I saw “50 min” written in black marker on the strap of that bra. At that moment, my heart died completely. Because that bra belonged to Chloe. Those glaring numbers dragged me back three years in an instant, to the day Chloe moved into our home. That night, she and I lay on the bed and talked about the secrets girls share. She said she had just gotten a boyfriend, but because his job and status were special, they could not go public and rarely met. But I noticed that there were often numbers on Chloe’s bra straps. Sometimes it was 35, sometimes it was 48, and the highest one said 72. I could not hold back my curiosity and asked her what it meant. At the time, she lay beside me and smiled as she said, “I count how many minutes my boyfriend can last in bed each time. It’s our little code.” Back then, I had even laughed and teased her, happy that she had found a good man. So, from that moment on. That man had been Ethan. But when she showed off to me back then, what was she feeling? Was she watching a joke, playing with me, or pitying me? As if possessed, I turned around and walked into Chloe’s room next door. I opened the closet and immediately saw an entire wall of neatly hung bras. The straps were covered densely with numbers. Some were circled with hearts, and some had been traced over twice in red pen. It looked like a calendar written for one person alone. At that moment, I wanted to cry, but not a single tear came out. My eyes burned and swelled as if they were about to burst. My phone rang, and I answered with red eyes. An urgent voice sounded from the other end: “Are you Chloe Reed’s family member? Her condition is critical right now, and she needs surgery immediately. You are listed as her emergency contact, so please come as soon as possible to sign the consent form!”

I struggled for a long time, but I still took a cab to the address the doctor gave me. After all, it was a living human life, and I could not just stand by and watch someone die… When I hurried to the hospital, I saw a familiar person. It was Ethan, leaning against the wall with anxiety all over his face. When he heard footsteps, Ethan looked up at me. Before I could ask anything, the doctor walked out of the operating room. The moment the doctor saw Ethan, he could not suppress his anger: “You young people are far too reckless! You still have to know your limits during sex. Your girlfriend has a ruptured corpus luteum this time, and fortunately, it was caught early. If it had been any later, she could have had massive internal bleeding, and then it would have been life-threatening!” I stood frozen in place, as if someone had slapped me hard across the face. A ruptured corpus luteum… So I had rushed here in a panic only to be humiliated all over again. Only then did the doctor notice me, and his tone softened a little. “You must be Miss Reed’s family member, right? Her boyfriend arrived in time, and the form has already been signed.” The hallway lights were very white, and they fell coldly on my face. Ethan looked at me, and a hint of nervousness appeared in his eyes. He thought I would go crazy, cry, and make a scene. But I only smiled. “That’s good.” Watching the doctor return to the operating room, I turned around and prepared to leave. But Ethan stood up from the bench. “Don’t go yet. Chloe wants to say a few words to you.” I did not look back. “Say what? Tell me in person what positions you used last night and how long you did it?” Ethan’s voice sank behind me. “Sophie Bennett! Have you made enough of a scene? Chloe never wanted to fight you for anything. These years, she was the one who was wronged. You don’t appreciate what she gave up, and you still want to humiliate her like this?” I could not help clenching my palm. My nails dug into my flesh, leaving only numbness. I closed my eyes and tried to keep walking forward. But Ethan suddenly grabbed my wrist from behind. I tried to break free, but I could not shake him off. After we were locked in a stalemate for a moment, Chloe was wheeled by a nurse from the operating room into the ward. I was also dragged inside by Ethan by force. Chloe leaned against the hospital bed, her face so pale it was almost transparent, and an IV tube was still inserted into her wrist. But when she saw me, she still struggled to lift herself a little. “Sophie, you came…” I did not speak and only looked at her coldly. Chloe’s eyes reddened again, and she gave Ethan a look. Ethan frowned, but he still walked out reluctantly. Only then did Chloe struggle to sit up, pull a piece of paper from under her pillow, and hand it to me. It was a record of an abortion procedure, dated three years ago. She looked into my eyes, her voice trembling. “Sophie, whether you believe me or not, I never thought about ruining you and Ethan.” “Three years ago, I was pregnant with his child. But I didn’t keep it. I had an abortion. And because of that abortion, I might never be able to get pregnant again.” “I admit I wavered back then, but in the end, I still chose the abortion. Because I didn’t want to lose you. Compared to you, an unborn child meant nothing.” As she spoke, Chloe took a breath, as if using up the last of her strength. “Today, I want to selfishly beg you just once. For the sake of the price I paid for my mistake, forgive me. Last night was my last indulgence. Ethan has already promised me that he’ll never do anything to betray you again. I’ll move out. As long as you’re willing, we can still be best friends. And Ethan will still be your boyfriend.”

A huge wave of absurdity rushed into my heart. When a person is in pain to the extreme, they can actually find it laughable. I curled my lips in mockery. “So now you want me to thank you for aborting my boyfriend’s child?” Chloe’s lips moved, and she tried to grab my wrist. I suddenly noticed a silver ring on her ring finger. The silver was unusual, carrying a gray-white matte sheen. My entire body stiffened at once. I knew that ring! After my mom died, I mixed a small pinch of her ashes into molten silver and made that ring myself. On the first night I gave myself to Ethan, I personally put it on his finger. Back then, Ethan promised gently, “Sophie, I’ll always wear it, and when we get married, I’ll move it onto your hand so your mom can watch you find your home.” But now, it was on Chloe’s hand… My whole body began to tremble. “Where did you get this ring?” Chloe’s eyes dodged mine, but she could not say a word. At that moment, I completely lost my mind! Like a madwoman, I lunged at her to snatch the ring from her hand. Chloe was knocked over by me, and a sharp scream rang out. Ethan hurriedly pushed the door open and came in, immediately seeing Chloe collapsed crookedly at the edge of the bed while the needle had already been pulled out of the back of her hand. He rushed over to support her, and when he turned to look at me, his gaze was like frost. “Sophie Bennett, are you insane?” I did not look at him and only crouched on the floor, clutching the ring, my whole body trembling. “You can humiliate me, but you can’t humiliate my mom!” But Ethan stood up and looked down at me. The next second, he reached out and knocked the ring from my palm. The silver band rolled across the floor tiles with a crisp sound. “Sophie Bennett! I’ve had enough! Your mom was tortured to death back then because she was shameless! Your mom died and your dad went crazy, and yes, you’re pitiful, but that doesn’t mean the whole world has to revolve around you. I don’t, and Chloe doesn’t either! Now apologize to Chloe.” I endured the dull pain in my heart, my eyes flashing with determination. “Impossible.” Hearing that, Ethan sneered and took out his phone to make a call. A few minutes later, an orderly pushed a small high-temperature sterilizing furnace into the room. My eyelid twitched, and a bad feeling surged in my heart. Ethan bent down, picked up the ring from the floor, and walked to the furnace opening. “You don’t have to apologize, but I hope you can bear the consequences.” I instantly realized what he was going to do and rushed forward in panic. But it was already too late, because the orderly pinned me down, leaving me unable to move. The furnace door opened, and Ethan placed the ring inside before closing the door. “No! No! Ethan, I was wrong!” But at that moment, no matter how I cried and screamed, it was useless. Through the glass window, I saw the ring begin to melt, then slide down, and finally disappear without a trace. Only after I had cried until my voice was hoarse did the orderly finally let go. I knelt on the floor with my face pressed against the cold tiles, my face smeared with snot and tears. Ethan had already left with Chloe in his arms and did not look at me again. I did not know how long passed before I finally stood up numbly. Holding the wall, I walked out of the hospital step by step. With every step, the dull pain in my heart slowly grew lighter. I did not go home, because in that home, nothing belonged to me. I casually hailed a cab, and it was headed for the airport. The moment the street scene outside the window rushed backward, my tears finally ran dry. Ethan, from now on, mountains and rivers will separate us, and we will never meet again.

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