Category: English

One day, a long-term client of mine hit me up. [15k to meet my online boyfriend for me? You can keep everything he buys you.] I was about to type out a polite “no thanks” when she sent the next message. It was a picture of my nemesis. My face went blank. [Are you telling me you’ve been using my photos and videos to date him?] 1 [You’ve been scammed, girl,] I typed back, trying to be gentle. [Impossible,] she shot back instantly. [He’s sent me so much money. He has to be the real Julian Henderson, the heir to the Henderson fortune.] I sighed. I dragged the photo she sent of Julian into a Google search. It was a stock image, used and abused by dozens of gossip blogs. I took a screenshot and sent it to her. She was unmoved. [We’ve worked together for ages, would I lie to you? My online boyfriend is the Julian Henderson.] I let out a slow, frustrated breath. From what I knew of the insufferable Julian Henderson, the swarm of women he dealt with in real life was more than enough to handle. The idea of him bothering with an online romance was laughable. Especially one where he had to look at my face. He wouldn’t fall in love behind a screen; he’d probably just throw up. [He saw my—well, my—photos and didn’t say anything?] I asked. [He said they were beautiful. I mean, you are,] she said, then quickly added, [I even used your voice notes! He sends me ten grand every time I use one!] Oh, dear god. If Julian actually heard my cutesy, high-pitched voice from those recordings, he’d lose his appetite for a week. That settled it. There was absolutely no way the guy she was talking to was Julian Henderson. With that comforting thought, I scrolled through the photos and videos I’d sold her. The pictures were just standard selfies, nothing too crazy. The videos, however… Me, in a series of tight mini-dresses, complete with a cutesy kitten-ear filter. Whatever. It wasn’t the real Julian. No harm done. My client’s messages turned desperate. [Please, babe, just help me out. It’s a totally safe, public meetup! I told him I’m not ready for anything physical. We’re meeting at the downtown galleria, it’s always packed.] When I didn’t reply, she sent another barrage of texts. [If you’re nervous, just stay for one minute and leave! Please? If he thinks I’m a catfish, how am I supposed to keep getting money from him?] A few seconds later, a notification popped up. A direct deposit of $50,000 had just landed in my bank account. The fingers I’d been using to type my refusal froze mid-air. Then again, what kind of person uses Julian Henderson’s photos for a dating profile and then has the guts to meet in person? Wasn’t he afraid of getting called out for false advertising? This client could hire me to be her stand-in, but nobody could order the real Julian Henderson around. You know what? I was curious. I wanted to see what kind of train wreck this guy was. I deleted my half-written rejection. [Fine.] This client was playing with serious cash. Honestly, the fake Julian sounded more generous than the real one. Fearing I’d change my mind, she immediately sent a flurry of screenshots of their chat history. It was a cringe-fest of “Hubby, kisses!” and “I only love you, hubby!” peppered with gifs of spinning cats and blushing kittens. The fake Julian’s replies were always the same. [You’re so beautiful, baby.] Transaction Notification. [You’re so cute, baby.] Transaction Notification. Transaction Notification. Transaction Notification. Holy moneybags. She quickly sent me the location. [This mall.] I glanced at the address. Well, what do you know. The Crown Prince actually did frequent this place; it was near one of his family’s villas. Maybe… I pulled up Julian’s contact and hit dial. Wouldn’t it be perfect to have the imposter see the real Julian Henderson show up right in front of him? Scare him half to death. Ah. Right. I forgot. He blocked me. I silently closed my phone. 2 After a thousand last-minute instructions from my client, I got dressed to the nines and arrived at the galleria half an hour early to scope the place out. I never expected to actually run into Julian Henderson himself. He was lounging near the central fountain, one hand casually tucked in his pocket. A girl was chattering away at his side, and while he wasn’t really listening, he wore a lazy, detached smile. The fact that he wasn’t showing any sign of annoyance was a miracle in itself. I just stood there, stunned. Then his eyes found me, and the smile vanished from his face. He muttered something under his breath. “Just my luck.” I heard him loud and clear but kept my expression neutral. The girl beside him instinctively tightened her grip on his arm, glaring at me. “And who are you?” When I didn’t answer, she turned to Julian with a wounded look. Julian sneered. “A charity case.” He wasn’t wrong. If I wasn’t broke, I wouldn’t be here to meet a fake Julian Henderson. I let out a small, dry laugh, my voice light. “To be hated by the great Julian Henderson… I must be doing something right.” His face instantly darkened. He crossed his arms, his words dripping with contempt. “Thea, what in this mall can you actually afford?” “As long as you can afford it, that’s all that matters,” I replied with a breezy smile, gesturing to a luxury boutique nearby. “Didn’t you buy me a purse from that very store once?” The girl’s eyes widened. “What’s your relationship?” What was our relationship? We were first loves. And dating this spoiled prince was the single biggest mistake of my life. Julian didn’t say anything, and I wasn’t about to embarrass myself further. I adjusted my bag and turned to leave. “Thea.” His voice was soft, but it carried the same arrogant, condescending tone it always had. “Which poor sucker did you trick into paying for your things this time?” I turned back. “Don’t worry, Julian. I haven’t managed to trick anyone more generous than you yet.” Of course, the guy my client was tricking didn’t count. Julian had been coddled his entire life; he never bothered to hide his emotions. So I knew, right then, that he was in a very bad mood. Worried he’d ruin my upcoming meetup, I decided to placate him. “You were right before,” I said softly. “Someone like me will never be happy. But as long as you’re happy, that’s what counts.” Honestly, I think the “nemesis” thing was one-sided. I never go out of my way to make enemies, especially not with a wealthy ex who used to be an open wallet. But the spoiled boy who was once so hard to please was even less receptive now. He curled his lip, his voice laced with venom. “Don’t you go anywhere. I want to see what kind of trash you’ve managed to catch this time.” I froze. I had no idea what kind of persona my client had created with this guy. What if it was some pure, innocent flower? My cover would be blown in seconds. Julian’s personality was tailor-made for exposing lies; he’d tear me apart with a few pointed questions. I swallowed my pride. “He’s not as handsome as you, and he’s not as rich. Julian, why do you have to humiliate me like this?” The girl beside him nodded. “Yeah, Julian, let’s just go.” Julian didn’t even glance at her. He pulled a black card from his pocket. She took it, her entire demeanor shifting as she turned and walked away briskly. “Okay, I’m going shopping then. Text me if you need anything, Julian!” “She’s cute,” I commented with a faint smile. Julian ignored me but made no move to leave. He just stood there, staring down at me. That was him, though. Impulsive and willful. I remembered a time he had a fever. I was frantic with worry, but he just lazily held my hand and whispered, “Want to see what 104 degrees feels like?” My eyes went wide, and my face turned beet red. Not from embarrassment, but from sheer rage. “Are you sick in the head?” He just smirked, a low chuckle rumbling in his chest. In the end, we did try. And he ended up in the emergency room. Such childish memories. I lowered my gaze. Julian’s patience was wearing thin. He looked at me, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. “You didn’t just make someone up, did you?” I stayed silent. His patience finally snapped. He answered a call from a friend. “Yeah, I’ll be there in a bit.” Then he shot me one last look, his eyes swimming with mockery. “Instead of carrying that cheap canvas tote, you should’ve just swallowed your pride and kept the bags I gave you.” With that, he turned and strode away, his long legs carrying him further and further from me. I watched his tall figure recede. Even the way he walked was infuriatingly nonchalant. After Julian and I broke up, I packed up every single luxury item he’d ever given me and shipped them back to his family’s estate. His only reply was a text with four words: [I don’t want trash.] Then he blocked me. As for the gifts, a friend told me he threw them all in the dumpster outside his villa. My phone buzzed incessantly. N: [Hey, are you there yet?] [Maybe we should meet in the coffee shop? I’ll just tell him I’m waiting for him there?] [Babe, please answer me!] I took a deep breath, composing myself. [Okay, heading to the coffee shop now.] I walked in and scanned the room. I sent a text to my client: [Babe, bad news. Your Julian Henderson isn’t here. Even worse news, there’s only one handsome guy in the entire place.] [Impossible! He said he’s already there!] she replied frantically. I sighed. Just then, the one handsome guy stood up and started walking toward me. His eyes were almond-shaped, tilting up slightly at the corners, and a tiny beauty mark sat just beneath his left eye. He smiled, a gentle, warm expression that somehow radiated the charm of a cunning fox. I instinctively took a step back. He spoke, his voice a low, magnetic hum. “Thea.” My blood ran cold. I looked down at my phone and furiously typed: [Your name isn’t ‘N,’ is it? You didn’t use my real name, did you?] She replied instantly: [Uh, yeah. I was too scared to use my real name, and we were negotiating prices for the photos, so I just sent him yours. Sorry!] [Wow.] I shut off my phone, took another deep breath, and looked up at the handsome stranger. “Hi there.” Up close, he was even more striking. His features were exquisite without being feminine. A high-bridged nose, thin lips curved into a slight smile, and a single, sparkling stud in his left ear. He was far better looking than I had imagined. Stunning, even. Wait a minute. Why would this guy need to use Julian’s photos? I gave a weak smile. “You look a little different from the photos you sent me.” He raised an eyebrow. “I don’t recall ever sending you any of my photos.” My face twitched. This guy never even sent a picture, so how on earth did my client become so convinced he was Julian Henderson?! “Oh, my mistake,” I said through a clenched jaw, forcing another smile. “Would you mind if I used the restroom really quickly?” “Of course,” he said, his smile never wavering. The second I was inside the restroom, I dialed “N.” The moment the call connected, I exploded. “I TOLD YOU, YOUR ONLINE BOYFRIEND IS NOT JULIAN HENDERSON! NOT JULIAN HENDERSON! But you wouldn’t listen. I figured he was just a catfish, but it turns out HE NEVER EVEN SENT YOU A PHOTO! How in the hell did you decide he was Julian?!” There was a long silence on the other end. Finally, a stunned “Holy shit” echoed back. It was a man’s voice. I froze. “He’s not Julian Henderson? How is that possible? Then who is he?” a torrent of panicked questions came pouring out. “You’re asking me?!” I practically screamed back. “Where did you even find this guy? This is so unprofessional!” I thought I was dealing with some girl running a romance scam. Who knew it was a guy? No wonder he had to buy my voice notes. “What does he look like? Describe him, quickly!” The guy on the phone sounded even more panicked than I was. “He’s actually really handsome, so you don’t have to worry about that,” I said. Another silence. After a long pause, his voice came back, devoid of all life. “He doesn’t have a beauty mark under his eye, does he?” “He does.” “AHHHHHHHHH! I’M SO DEAD!” Right, now he’s dead. Where was this fear when he was scamming money off the guy? If he had been scamming the real Julian, he really would be dead. Julian would have had him skinned alive. A moment later, he asked mournfully, “So what do we do?” “I’m curious,” I said. “This guy seems a lot nicer than Julian. What made you think Julian was such a great catch anyway?” “No, you don’t understand. This guy—my brother—is way scarier than Julian. If Julian wanted to kill me, my grandma might step in. If my brother wants to kill me, no one will lift a finger to help!” He started sobbing. My eyes widened. “What did you just say?” He was clearly in despair. “No wonder Julian said I was an idiot. Am I really that stupid?” “So what now?” I asked. “Should I just make a run for it?” “NO!” he yelped. “If you run, he’ll investigate. He’ll one hundred percent trace it back to me!” I was speechless. “You know what? Just take over my account,” he said decisively. “Just pretend it’s been you two talking this whole time. My brother’s not bad-looking, and he’s loaded—” My jaw dropped. Before I could answer, he started muttering to himself. “I never knew he’d be so generous in a relationship. Shit, why isn’t he like this with my allowance?” “Forget it,” I said flatly. Ever since breaking up with Julian, I’d learned one thing: what doesn’t belong to you will never be yours. Especially not these wealthy young masters. Don’t waste your time fantasizing. Besides, if I actually got involved with this guy and Julian found out, who knows how he’d freak out. No, wait. He’d probably just sneer at the guy: “Your taste is terrible, getting involved with a girl like Thea.” I sighed. The guy on the phone wasn’t happy. “Hey, doesn’t your service include after-sales support?” Wow. They really were related. That twisted logic was just like Julian’s. “I’m hanging up,” I said. “Fifty grand! I’ll add another fifty!” he pleaded. “That’s all my New Year’s money! My brother can’t find out!” “One hundred.” “You’re a loan shark! You know you can get plenty from my brother, and you’re still trying to bleed me dry?” “Then forget it,” I said. “DEAL!” he cried, defeated. “What’s your brother’s name?” I asked. “Sebastian Henderson.” My head shot up. “You mean Julian’s cousin? The one who’s always been abroad?” “Yeah.” 3 I smoothed down my dress in the restroom mirror, reapplied my lipstick, and took a final, deep breath before walking back out. Sebastian was waiting for me. To be honest, Sebastian didn’t seem as prim and proper as his name suggested. He had an air of effortless confidence, like someone who existed outside the rules. That constant, gentle smile made him look like a fox. Why would someone with his kind of money and power bother with online dating? I took the initiative and linked my arm through his. He stiffened for a fraction of a second, then his smile widened. “Anything you want to buy? Or should we eat first?” he asked. “Either is fine,” I said. He then led me from one boutique to another. Unlike Julian, he would patiently comment on how each bag or dress looked on me before buying everything. Julian would just find a chair, play on his phone, and pay when I was done. It was strange. It felt like a perfect boyfriend had just fallen from the sky. But I knew Sebastian wasn’t as easygoing as he appeared. The more perfect they seem, the more dangerous they are. For now, though… He even had two bodyguards following us, their arms laden with shopping bags. “Thea, I made a reservation at that restaurant you said you wanted to try,” Sebastian said, his lips curling into a soft smile. “Let’s go!” I agreed cheerfully. “Do you remember which one it was?” he asked, his gaze dropping to me, deceptively casual. He looked like a cat watching a mouse in its paws. Which one. I had no idea. And I couldn’t exactly pull out my phone and ask my male-client-who-is-now-my-fake-boyfriend’s-brother. The silence stretched. My heart hammered against my ribs. I bit my lip, a sudden chill creeping over my skin. I finally understood what the kid meant when he said Sebastian was scarier than Julian. Julian wore all his emotions on his sleeve. If you pissed him off, you knew it immediately. But Sebastian… I couldn’t read him at all. I had no idea what he meant by asking that question. I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, he chuckled, his voice a warm, deep timber. “It’s okay. You’re busy, it’s normal to be forgetful. You’ll know it when we get there.” I nodded frantically. Sebastian was actually a nice guy! If Julian had known I’d forgotten something about him, he would have spent the next five hours delivering a non-stop monologue of creative insults. 4 When we arrived at the restaurant, the maître d’ bowed respectfully. “Mr. Henderson.” He led us to a private room in the back, an elegant space complete with its own koi pond. I sat across from Sebastian. He had the cuffs of his shirt loosely rolled up, revealing well-defined wrists. The pale skin made the blue veins stand out even more. “You can order,” I said, not even looking at the menu. “I’m not a picky eater.” Sebastian smiled. “Alright.” I took the opportunity to text the kid, Noah. [You told Sebastian you wanted to eat at a French place? I almost got caught. Are there any other details I need to know? Tell me now.] Suddenly, the door to our room was pushed open. A familiar voice rang out. “Sebastian? You’re back in the country?” I froze. Julian clicked his tongue, his voice bored. “I thought this room was empty, so I didn’t bother making a reservation. The others are full. Mind if we share?” I ducked my head, trying to shrink into nothing. But I forgot what Julian once told me: he could recognize me even if I was reduced to ashes, just so he could scatter me to the wind himself. “Thea?” The lazy drawl in his voice instantly turned to ice. I didn’t dare look up. Worse, my phone lit up with a reply. [Huh? No way. I never told my brother where I wanted to eat. I hate French food. I like rotisserie chicken.] My eyes widened in horror. “Look at me, Thea,” Julian growled, his voice a low threat. Sebastian’s fingers tapped lightly on the table. “Is that any way to speak to your sister-in-law?” “My what?” Julian’s voice shot up an octave. Only then did I slowly raise my head, offering a weak smile. “What a coincidence.” Then, taking Sebastian’s cue, I added, “Little brother.” “Who the hell is your little brother?!” Julian exploded. He pointed a shaking finger at me, then turned to Sebastian. “You don’t know she dated me?” Sebastian sipped his coffee, completely unbothered. “I didn’t. Are you two still together?” “No, no! We broke up a long time ago,” I interjected quickly. “Shut up,” Julian snapped, his voice tight with suppressed rage. Each word was ground out from between his teeth. His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles white. “Sebastian, didn’t you run a background check on me when I was dating her? Don’t you dare lie to my face and say you don’t know who she is.” Sebastian crossed his legs, his posture relaxed. In the suffocating tension, he actually managed a lazy smile. “I did. So what?” Julian’s eyes were red with fury. I sighed and decided to intervene. “Don’t be mad. Maybe we just weren’t meant to be. Why don’t you have some water and calm down?” I started to get up to pour him a glass. “Thea.” Sebastian’s voice was light, but his gaze was sharp. My heart seized. I immediately sat back down, perfectly still. Julian looked at me in disbelief. “You argue with me about everything, but you listen to him like that? Did he put a spell on you?” I didn’t answer. To be honest, Sebastian was just more intimidating. A long silence passed. Finally, Julian’s voice was hoarse. “When did you two get together?” I couldn’t answer that. Sebastian answered for me, his tone even. “End of last year.” “When, exactly?” Julian pressed, relentless. “The day after Christmas.” My smile froze on my face. A cold, mocking sneer spread across Julian’s lips. “Wow, Thea. You really are something else.” Julian and I had broken up on Christmas Day. But I wasn’t the one who started talking to Sebastian on the 26th! I kept my mouth shut, swallowing the bitter truth, and let him think I was the kind of girl who moved on in a day. Seeing my silence, Julian slammed the door on his way out.

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My eight-year-old brother, Max, said he was reborn. He led five-year-old me, the girl with zero sense of direction, to a lost, simple-minded boy picking through garbage in a suburban field. The boy was looking for a rag doll. Max pointed to the doll hairpin in my hair and said, “She is the doll. She’s yours now.” With that, Max walked away without looking back. I waited and waited. From noon until sunset. My brother never returned. Then, a strange, echoing voice cut through the air: “The villainess doesn’t know that the male lead has been reborn. In this life, he will only cherish the tragically deceased female lead of the previous life as his own sister.” … I didn’t understand the words. My eyes filled with tears, and I stood trembling in confusion. The lost boy slowly finished flipping the last bit of trash. He wiped his grimy hands on his clothes. Then he tugged the doll hairpin in my hair. “Rag doll, do you want to come home with me?” 1 The end of the road. The silhouette that had walked away never reappeared. I bit down hard on my lip, my eyes red, and pushed the boy’s hand away. My voice trembled despite my best effort. “I can talk! I am not your rag doll!” My mother died in childbirth. My father was long gone. My brother had carried me, still a baby, into the orphanage. Since then, he was the only one who had ever been kind to me. He told me children shouldn’t follow strangers. I stood rigidly by the stinking pile of garbage, waiting for him to return. Five years. Since the day I was born, he had never once left me behind. I didn’t understand why he suddenly left me here. I didn’t understand the strange voice in the air, or what “reborn” meant. I only believed that my brother would come back soon. The sky grew dark. The sun slowly sank behind the woods. A wetness blurred my vision. I wiped my eyes furiously and kept staring down the road. The boy stood before me, studying me intently. I stared back, my eyes wide and cautious. “My brother is coming to pick me up! I won’t go with you!” The boy looked startled, watching my lips move. He seemed to realize that I wasn’t just a doll. He looked disappointed. “Then you stay here. I have to go home now that it’s dark.” The last edge of the sun disappeared behind the trees. The surroundings grew darker. The boy walked away, leaving me alone. 2 The last light faded. I looked down, barely seeing my own feet. Strange bugs and birds chirped. The grass rustled—I didn’t know what it was. I suppressed my tears, afraid to cry out loud. I crouched, curled into a ball, hands clenched, sticky with sweat. It felt like forever. I was sleepy, my eyelids heavy. But I didn’t dare to close them. I kept my eyes wide and my ears straining against the dark. Then, a shadow appeared before me. A familiar height, taller than me. The tears I’d been fighting finally burst out. I stood up, finally letting out the breath I’d been holding. My lips trembled violently. I wailed, rushing into his embrace. But the scent was unfamiliar. Not my brother. I immediately stopped crying and stepped back. In the dim light, I recognized his dirty clothes. The boy who was picking through the trash. He looked at me in the dark. After a long pause, he said foolishly, “Your brother definitely doesn’t want you.” I was furious and ashamed. I clenched my fists. “You’re lying!” The boy was serious. “He said he was leaving you for me, like a rag doll. No one picks up something they threw away.” I bit down hard. I wanted to argue, but no words came out. I could only make small whimpering sounds. The boy looked around. “No one wants you. If you stay here, the monsters will eat you.” He turned to leave. I couldn’t hold back the tears, shaking uncontrollably. “You’re lying! Brother will come for me!” But my feet moved on their own, chasing after him. I was truly terrified of the monsters behind me. I cried louder. Unconsciously, I reached out and grabbed his sleeve. I held on tightly, sobbing. “Brother is coming! He promised to buy me a cake today! It’s my birthday! He saved up for months!” Last night, he had gently held my hand and said, “Little Jane, tomorrow I’m going to give you the biggest surprise!” We walked for a long time. When I hiccuped from crying, I suddenly noticed the light ahead. The strange voice in the air returned: “Isn’t this the Military Base? The place where the female lead will soon be adopted and live. How did the stray idiot bring the villainess here?” “I told you he’s an idiot. Why are you surprised?” “Trespassing on a military base is a crime. Now the villainess, who caused so much trouble in the past life, might be eliminated at five.” I finally saw the light. The wide, imposing gate, topped with a red star. Guards in crisp uniforms stood outside, holding rifles, their faces stern. My crying stopped in my throat. This time, I understood a little of what the voice was saying. I gripped the boy’s sleeve. Just as I was about to say we couldn’t go in there, a young couple rushed out of the Military Base, looking straight at us. The man wore a military uniform, his face stern and angry. The woman, in a smart dress, rushed towards us, her eyes red with tears. She embraced the boy next to me. “You ran off again! We’ve been looking all over the base for you! You’re trying to worry us to death!” I clutched my skirt, afraid to speak. The woman noticed me and paused. “Who… who is this child?” 3 The boy lifted his head proudly. “Someone gave her to me. She can talk and cry.” The woman’s face froze. The stern man behind her stepped forward, his face dark with anger. “Nonsense! You’ve caused trouble!” He controlled his anger and knelt down, speaking gently to me. “Little girl, do you remember your family and where you live? Uncle will take you home immediately.” I was too scared. I stammered, “I’m from the orphanage. I have a brother. He lost me by accident.” The couple handed the boy to the guard and offered to drive me back to the orphanage. Outside the orphanage, I immediately recognized my brother. He was talking to the director under the streetlamp. My eyes welled up. I urgently pushed open the military jeep door and ran toward him. The couple saw I found my family and stopped following. I ran to the gate and met my brother’s eyes. I saw shock, quickly followed by disgust and warning. I thought I was mistaken. Then I heard his urgent voice talking to the director: “You always said she was stupid, that she couldn’t remember the way even after walking it a hundred times. She’s sickly and causes the orphanage so much trouble.” “I accidentally lost her this time. It has nothing to do with you.” “The Colonel’s wife was considering Jane but also Sarah. Let them adopt Sarah. Sarah is smart and will remember to come back and thank you…” I stood rigid, unable to believe what I was hearing. The Colonel and his wife had visited the orphanage recently. They said Sarah and I were the best behaved and they wanted to adopt one of us. My brother tried to make me look good, and the Colonel’s wife decided on me. Sarah was the daughter of an acquaintance of my mother. Her father got into trouble, and she came to the orphanage. She often tried to get close to my brother, but he ignored her. Yesterday, when she came to wish me a happy birthday, my brother angrily sent her away: “Jane’s birthday has nothing to do with you!” Now, just one day later, he was changing his tune. I didn’t know why. Just like I didn’t know why those strange voices kept appearing in the air. The director listened to my brother, then smiled with satisfaction. “Boy, remember what you said. You lost your sister.” “Sarah is clever. If she gets adopted by the Colonel, she will definitely come back to thank me…” I stood there, gripping my hands, unable to process the words. When the director left, my brother walked toward me, his face dark. He asked coldly, “How did you find your way back? Did that idiot teach you the route?” My eyes ached. I fought back tears, but my voice cracked with misery. “Why did you abandon me?” “Why?” My brother sneered. His eyes were filled with a strange, intense hatred toward me. “If I hadn’t been softhearted and remembered our sibling bond, I would have killed you the moment I saw you!” 4 I stared at him, bewildered and terrified. He moved closer, his hateful gaze stabbing me. “In the past life, Sarah just joked about selling my Harvard acceptance letter. You created a huge scene at the college and the military base, humiliating her and sending her to jail, where she killed herself…” I barely understood his words. He stopped talking, sneering with rage. “Why am I wasting my breath? Jane, I spared your life. That’s more than enough. You live or die on your own terms!” “Never appear in front of Sarah and me again, or you’ll regret it!” My whole body trembled. Instinctively, I reached for his arm. He violently pushed my hand away. He turned and shoved me hard. I didn’t know he could push so hard. My body flew backward. My vision blurred. My forehead hit something. Blood flowed, dripping into my eyes. Through the bloody haze, I saw my brother’s cold, resolute back as he walked away. I finally understood. He truly didn’t want me anymore. Because of some confused, incomprehensible reason, he was gone. The young couple who had brought me back led me back to the Military Base. I saw the idiot boy sitting on the sofa in the foyer. He was staring at the door, looking anxious. When he saw me, his eyes brightened. He rushed over and grabbed my wrist. He looked furious, staring at the couple. “She is mine! Don’t you dare take her away again!” He turned to me, carefully checking me over. “Are you hungry? Are you tired? I’ll take you to eat and sleep.” He spoke to me like I was a genuine rag doll. The woman sighed. “That’s my son, Alex. He had an accident six months ago and… lost his mind when his sister died.” So, he wasn’t a stray. He was looking for a doll because he missed his sister. The woman took my other hand, speaking softly. “He won’t hurt you. If you’re afraid, I’ll move him to another room…” I remembered how he came back for me at sunset, even though I drove him away. I looked at her, shaking my head firmly. “I’m not afraid.” The woman’s eyes reddened. She stroked my hair. “Good. Since he brought you back, this is your home now, as long as you want to stay.”

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The million-dollar deal was dead, and for the first time, Caleb turned his fury on me. In front of the entire office, he tore me to shreds. When we got home that night, his tone was cold and clinical. “At work, there’s no room for personal feelings. You screwed up. It’s your fault.” My phone buzzed. It was a text from his new favorite intern, his junior from college. Clara, I’m so, so sorry. It’s all my fault the deal fell through. Caleb bought me a cupcake to cheer me up—it’s actually really good. Should I order one for you? The next morning, Caleb mechanically scraped the breakfast I’d made into the trash. “How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t eat breakfast.” Later at the office, Brenda from the next cubicle leaned over, a conspiratorial glint in her eye. “That new intern has some nerve. She actually went up and talked to Mr. Hayes this morning. Even brought him a coffee and a bagel. And you know what? He not only ate it, he told her it was good.” I was so done. Forget it. On my phone, another man was still trying his best to poach me. “Hey, if all else fails, I’m not above being the homewrecker. Say the word.” I pressed my lips together. No need for that, I texted back. You’re getting a promotion. 1 One second, I was handing my resignation letter to HR. The next, I was being summoned to Caleb’s office. The moment I walked in, a cup of coffee hit me square in the chest. The force of it felt like a slap to the face, stinging my skin. Over on the leather sofa, a woman was crying, her eyes red-rimmed, the picture of pitiable innocence. “Caleb, please don’t blame Clara,” she sobbed. “It’s my fault. I was responsible for that deal falling through, too. I’m the one who should be leaving, not her.” Caleb’s voice was thick with a rage I rarely saw him display. And it was, once again, because of Jenna. “Is this because I criticized you yesterday? Are you trying to pressure Jenna by running to HR and threatening to quit?” he snarled. “You were her supervisor. Botching that deal was your responsibility. How dare you shift the blame onto her?!” “Do you have any idea what people in the office are saying about her now? They’re saying you couldn’t stand working with the ‘disruptive intern’ and that she drove you out! I want you to go out there right now and clear the air!” I thought he might actually be upset about his girlfriend of seven years leaving him. I should have known better. He was just worried that after I left, people would look down on his precious Jenna. Jenna sniffled dramatically, blew her nose into a tissue, and casually tossed the snot-filled wad onto the other end of the sofa. Caleb’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. After a three-second pause, he walked over, picked up the tissue with his fingertips, and dropped it into the trash can. I froze. A tight, sharp pain clenched around my heart and spread through my chest. In our second year together, we were at home watching Hachi: A Dog’s Tale. I was a wreck, sobbing uncontrollably, tears and snot everywhere. He shoved me out of his arms in disgust. “Sorry, I’m a germaphobe. You need to clean yourself up.” He then disappeared into the bathroom and scrubbed himself from head to toe, at least three times over, as if he’d just touched something contagious. A cold laugh escaped my lips. So, his germaphobia was selective. I took a long, hard look at Caleb. “I’m resigning because I don’t want to work here anymore. It has nothing to do with anything else.” He didn’t believe me. “Then why today? Why not yesterday or tomorrow? It has to be about the deal.” He took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low threat. “Clara, don’t you dare pull your petty little games on Jenna. If you do, don’t blame me for forgetting our history.” I sighed, feeling none of my usual desire to argue with him. When it came to Caleb, my emotions were like a sieve. They poured in and drained right back out. He had been there when the deal imploded. We were at the final stage, the client had all but agreed to our terms. Then Jenna burst in, insisting on personally toasting the CEO. The CEO was already visibly annoyed. But she acted like she couldn’t see it. A brand-new intern, forcing a CEO to drink with her—I still don’t know where she got the audacity. When the CEO lost his temper, I held her back and plastered on a smile, apologizing profusely. I told her to drink three shots as an apology, but she burst into tears, louder than anyone. “Clara, why are you doing this to me? Women shouldn’t tear each other down! Why do you always force me to do things I don’t want to do?” At the time, Caleb’s face was so dark he looked murderous. I thought it was because of the deal we’d just lost. I never imagined it was because I’d told Jenna to apologize. I was just so tired. “I’m not playing games, Caleb. Let’s break up.” Without waiting for his thunderous expression to change, I turned, gathered my things, and walked out of the company. Back at our apartment, I started packing. This was the downside of breaking up—so much stuff, it would take forever to pack. Suddenly, my hand froze. In the back of a drawer, I found a pair of red stockings that weren’t mine. They were torn to shreds, a testament to a very eager, passionate encounter. I tossed them into the trash, snapped a photo, and sent it to Caleb. My phone was already buzzing with his texts, full of explanations I didn’t bother to read. Instead, I dialed another number. “Didn’t you say you wanted a promotion?” 2 On the other end of the line, Wyatt was practically screaming with excitement. He offered to come help me move, but I turned him down. If Caleb saw him, I was afraid he’d start a fight. It was better to keep things simple. I had a condo on the west side of town. Once this month’s bonus came in, I could finally pay off the mortgage completely. I would finally have a place of my own. The thought warmed me, chasing away some of the chill. The doorbell rang. I thought it was the movers and opened the door to find Caleb standing there. For a second, I was so surprised I thought I was imagining things. Last year, my appendix burst. I was in so much pain I passed out. I called him, begging him to come home and take me to the hospital. His voice was ice. “I’m at work, Clara. You’re a grown woman. Can’t you dial 911?” But last week, when Jenna spilled some warm water on her leg at the office and yelped in pain, he had scooped her up in his arms in front of everyone and driven her to the hospital himself. He never left work early. Unless it was for Jenna. She was the exception to all his rules. I guess today I was lucky enough to be an exception, too. His eyes scanned the packed boxes, and a flicker of panic, barely perceptible, crossed his face. “What is this?! What are you doing? Are you trying to force my hand by threatening to break up?” “Didn’t you see my texts? I explained everything. Jenna left those here by accident. It was raining that day, so I told her to come up for some ginger tea. Her stockings got snagged, so she just changed before she left.” I narrowed my eyes, thinking back. That was the week before last, when I was on a business trip. I’d flown back into a torrential downpour and asked him to pick me up from the airport. He’d said he was working late and told me to get a cab. When I got home, I saw the half-finished mug of ginger tea on the coffee table. I thought he’d made it for me. Turns out I was just drinking someone else’s leftovers. Maybe the same thought occurred to him, because his expression turned awkward. “Don’t overthink it.” I shook my head, my face calm. “I’m not. It doesn’t matter anymore.” A strange look crossed Caleb’s face. He stared at me for a long time. Finally, his voice was raspy, testing the waters. “Why aren’t you angry anymore?” So he knew I’d been angry before. He just hadn’t cared. Instead, he’d always scolded me, called me petty, said I had a dirty mind that saw the worst in everything. I was about to tell him I was moving out when his phone rang. It was Jenna, crying hysterically on the other end, claiming someone was bullying her. Caleb shot me a furious glare and sneered. “So this is your game. Nice move, Clara.” Before I could figure out what was happening, he grabbed my wrist, his grip like iron, and hauled me out to his car. The car smelled of a woman’s perfume. It was the same scent Jenna wore. Dangling from the rearview mirror was a cute little monster keychain, the same one as Jenna’s profile picture. I hadn’t been in his car since I started working at his company. He’d said he didn’t want people to gossip, so we had kept our entire relationship a secret. The territory that had once been off-limits to me was now completely occupied by someone else. I no longer felt that familiar ache in my chest. There was only a dull sense of inevitability. The moment we arrived at the office, Caleb roughly yanked me out of the car. My heel twisted, and I fell to the ground. He acted as if he didn’t even see it, letting out a cold laugh. “What’s with the act?” He grabbed me by the back of my collar and dragged me into the building like a bag of trash. 3 He dragged me all the way to my old desk. My wrists and knees were scraped and bleeding. I was on all fours on the floor, like a stray dog. Caleb pulled Jenna into a protective embrace, his voice a low warning to the onlookers. “I don’t care who put you up to this, but this is still my company, not Clara’s. Bullying an intern is not acceptable.” “If you want to keep your jobs, you’ll show me where your loyalties lie.” Brenda’s face was white as a sheet. She stood frozen, not daring to move. She had already texted me on the way over. After I left, Jenna was assigned to her team. An intern who loved to slack off and cut corners—what good could she possibly be? She’d messed up a simple lunch order for a client, and Brenda had said a few words to her. That was all it took for Jenna to call Caleb and tattle. Jenna buried her face in Caleb’s chest, the two of them oblivious to the world. “Caleb, I don’t even know what I did… I just saw the client was a little overweight, so I ordered him a salad. And Brenda just started yelling at me…” Caleb stroked her hair, promising to get her justice. His cold eyes swept across the room. “I know Clara was good friends with many of you. You saw she left, and you wanted to stand up for her. But she left because of her own professional failure, because she was too ashamed to stay. It has nothing to do with Jenna.” “I’ll say it one more time. Show me you want to be here, or you can all get the hell out.” Everyone’s face paled. They all understood his ultimatum. Amy, a junior associate I had personally trained, walked up to me. She squeezed her eyes shut, whispered, “I’m sorry,” and slapped me across the face. Caleb stood there, unmoved. “And the rest of you?” A line formed. One after another, they stepped forward, slapping me. Some were people I had helped, others were people who had helped me… Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth. My head was spinning, my ears were ringing, and the world was starting to go fuzzy. Jenna let out a giggle. “Caleb, look at her. She’s so pathetic. She looks like a swollen pig.” Caleb’s eyes were like ice. His words were even colder. “Someone this manipulative, who only knows how to play office politics, doesn’t deserve to be in our company.” “Her resignation is denied. She’s fired. And this year’s bonus is forfeited. It will be transferred to Jenna.” My eyes widened in disbelief. Rage, like a spider’s web, spread through my body, trapping my heart. “Caleb! I earned that! On what grounds?!” Company policy was to calculate bonuses based on the projects each person landed. From negotiations and drafting proposals to closing the deal and haggling with clients, I had done it all myself. To secure one more percentage point, I had drunk until the early hours of the morning. That bonus… that was the money I was going to use to pay off my mortgage. My parents divorced when I was young. Neither of them wanted me. They passed me back and forth like a soccer ball. I was left with my uncle, whose wife hated me. She was always threatening to kick me out if I didn’t behave. As a result, I grew up with a deep-seated fear of having nowhere to go. After I got with Caleb, I clung to him desperately, terrified he would leave me. I had to know where he was at all times. But even the most passionate love can be extinguished. I started putting my faith in money. I would use it to buy a house of my own. That way, if Caleb and I ever broke up, if he kicked me out, I wouldn’t be homeless. I worked like a madwoman, scraping together a down payment. All these years, I had scrimped and saved to make the mortgage payments. The stress was immense. I was losing hair, finding gray strands far too early. Caleb saw it all. He knew exactly how much this bonus meant to me. But now, his voice was mocking. “On the grounds that I own this company. And on the grounds that you bullied Jenna. You owe her this as compensation!” The words were stuck in my throat. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, rising up my esophagus. A fifty-thousand-dollar bonus. He handed it over to an intern who had done nothing, just like that. I gritted my teeth against the dizziness as Caleb’s security guards threw me out of the building. The moment I was outside, a text from him arrived. What happened today was your fault. When I didn’t reply, another one came through. Fine, maybe I went a little too far. But that was because you showed Jenna no mercy. She’s my junior, after all. When you let people bully her like that, of course I’m going to get angry. I’m leaving for a business trip tomorrow. To France. That new bag you wanted is launching there. How about I buy it for you to make it up to you? He didn’t know that just a minute earlier, Jenna had already posted on her Instagram story. “Someone’s pulling some strings and taking me on his business trip, just because I said I wanted to see the Eiffel Tower~ Such a good boy~” I blocked them both without a second thought. A week later, Caleb returned from his trip. He held the new designer bag in his hand, a nervous feeling churning in his gut. He had planned to be gone for three days, but Jenna had dragged him from one sight to another, and he had completely forgotten to let Clara know. He’d come back today hoping to surprise her. The thought of Clara waiting for him at home warmed him, and he quickened his pace. He pushed open the door, calling her name twice. Silence. The boxes Clara had packed were gone. Everything that belonged to her was gone. Caleb’s breath hitched. His face went white. An unbelievable thought clawed its way into his mind. 4 A massive wave of panic washed over him. “No…” He knew how much Clara cared about him. Over the years, she had brought up marriage more than once. When a woman does that, it means she’s decided to spend her life with you. That’s why Caleb had always seen her as a sure thing. He never worried she would leave. All he had to do was say the word, and Clara would drop everything to meet him at the courthouse. Where else could she go? She had cut ties with her parents long ago. She was in touch with her uncle occasionally, but she knew his wife didn’t like her, so she would never go there. What about that small condo she’d bought with her down payment? Caleb’s eyes lit up for a second. He grabbed the bag and drove towards the west side of town. But when he got there, he stopped. Where was her condo? He didn’t know. A flash of annoyance crossed his face. He’d never thought she would actually move into that little place, so he had never bothered to learn the address. She had asked for his opinion when she was buying it, but he had just glanced at the brochure and said he didn’t know. And now, he had no way of finding her. It was only when he was driving that he realized Clara had blocked him on social media. He had no idea when she had done it. He hadn’t messaged her all week. Had she done it because she was jealous? He couldn’t be sure. He pulled out his phone and called her. The robotic voice of an AI operator that answered sent a jolt of pure panic through him. He had never dreamed that she would actually block him on everything. His mind flashed back to her face in his office that day, her calm expression as she’d said they should break up. He finally realized she had been serious. Caleb felt a thick rope slowly tightening around his chest, suffocating him. He clutched his shirt, squatting on the sidewalk, gasping for air. “Clara…” He was about to call in a favor to find her address when his phone rang. Wyatt’s triumphant voice filled his ear. “Caleb, I’m getting engaged. My girl just said yes.” “We’re having a party tonight. You should come.” A throbbing pain started in Caleb’s temples. He could hear the gloating in Wyatt’s voice, but he was in no mood for an engagement party. “I have something to do, I can’t…” But the man on the other end seemed to have anticipated his refusal. “You have to be there. You’re looking for someone, right? Come, and I’ll help you find her.” Caleb ignored the uneasy feeling in his gut and agreed. He didn’t know Wyatt that well—they’d just been classmates in college—but he knew Wyatt was the youngest son of the wealthy Nash family. He had resources. Finding one person should be easy for him. That evening, Caleb had planned to go to the party alone. But Jenna had somehow heard about it and insisted on coming along to “see the world.” After a moment’s thought, he agreed. I watched with amusement as Wyatt, like a peacock in full display, tried on five or six different suits in front of me. “Which one looks best?” I thought for a moment. “They all look good.” “Why did you have to invite Caleb?” Wyatt looked a little flustered. He quickly came over and took my hand. “You heard that? Are you mad? I’m just so happy…” I shook my head, smiling as I linked my arm with his, and we walked out together. The moment we entered the ballroom, a pair of eyes locked onto me. I followed the gaze and saw Caleb, trembling, all the color drained from his face. Under the bright lights, he looked like a ghost that had just been pulled from the water.

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I have a brother and a sister. For eighteen years, my parents had the master bedroom, my siblings shared the second room, and I slept on the balcony. So when my parents finally decided to upgrade to a four-bedroom house, I cried tears of pure joy. After the housewarming party, we chose our rooms. My parents took the master suite. My brother, Ross, picked the room next to theirs. My sister, Mia, smiling, moved into the northern bedroom. Excited, I headed toward the last room—but Mia stopped me. “Alex, wrong way. Your room’s over there.” She pointed to the balcony, where my familiar wooden bed waited. It hit me then: the problem was never the house size, but my place in their hearts. As I stood frozen, the others gathered in the last room—now a game room. Mia squealed with delight. Ross admired his sneaker shelf. My mom showed my dad his new ergonomic chair. “I finally don’t have to work at the dining table,” he said, touched. “Thanks, Mom! We love you!” they chorused. I watched them—a perfect, happy family—through the doorway. Tears streamed down my face. Even after ten years on the balcony, in this new house, there was still no room for me. An hour later, the novelty of their new shared space wore off, and they trickled out of the room. They finally noticed me, still standing in the same spot, my eyes red and swollen from crying. Mia, oblivious as ever, came over and poked my arm. “What’s wrong, Alex? Did the new house break your brain or something?” Ross let out a short laugh, but it died in his throat when he met my gaze. He walked over, trying to sound magnanimous. “Look, if you really don’t want the balcony, I guess we could switch.” Before I could even speak, my parents shot him down in unison. “Absolutely not! You’re studying for your grad school exams. You need proper rest.” A bitter wave washed over me. So they knew. They knew sleeping on the balcony meant you couldn’t rest properly. “But I have my college entrance exams coming up,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. I thought that might spark a flicker of guilt, but their expressions remained unchanged. “You’ve done it for ten years, you’re used to it,” my mother said. “Your brother isn’t.” My father’s stern gaze was laced with reprimand. “He’s a light sleeper, Alex. You know that!” My mother chimed in, her tone scolding. “Honestly, this boy. Always has to compare everything. You’re being so immature!” The tears I’d just managed to stop started flowing again, hot and unstoppable. Immature? How much more mature could I possibly be? There were three kids, and I wasn’t even the oldest, yet I was the only one who ever did chores. Even during my middle school finals, studying until midnight, I still had to find time to wash the dinner dishes, do the laundry, and mop the floors. With Ross’s offer vetoed, all eyes turned to Mia. She shrieked instantly. “You even think about making me sleep on the balcony, and I’ll make sure none of you get a wink of sleep, ever!” My mother stroked her hair with a look of helpless adoration. “Don’t you worry, my little princess. We’d make anyone sleep out there before you.” “That’s more like it,” Mia said, smugly. “I’ll let you off the hook for now. No need to call Grandma and Grandpa to complain.” I stood my ground, refusing to move my things to the balcony. The silence in the hallway was thick with tension. The urge to just turn around and walk out, to leave it all behind, pulsed through me, but I forced it down. Eight years of living as a guest in my aunt’s house had given me a desperate, bottomless craving for a real home. Even if this family didn’t cherish me the way I’d imagined, at least it was my home. At least I wasn’t a beggar living under someone else’s roof. Swallowing my hurt and resentment, I tried one last time, my voice trembling. “But what about the last room? Can’t I just stay there for a little while…?” “No!” This time, all four of them said it at once. The last, fragile flicker of hope for their affection died in my chest. With a furious roar, I swept my arm across the dining table, sending the carefully constructed pyramid of soda cans crashing to the floor. “If that’s how it is,” I choked out, my eyes burning, “then there’s no reason for me to be in this house at all.” I grabbed my worn-out duffel bag and stormed out without a backward glance. Just as I reached the elevator, a hand clamped down on the back of my collar. “Stop right there! Where do you think you’re going?!” my father yelled, his face purple with rage. “None of your business!” I shot back, my voice cold. It was the first time in my life I had ever spoken back to him, the first time I had ever defied him so openly. He froze for a second, stunned. Then, the sound of the slap was deafening. I stumbled backward, the force of it sending me crashing to the floor. The contents of my duffel bag spilled out around me. “Over a single room? You’d abandon your own parents over a room? Is it really worth it?!” he roared. I looked up at his furious face and screamed back, my voice even louder than his. “Yes! It is!” In the past, no matter how wronged I felt, I would have only offered a quiet, timid defense. I was weighed down by the shame of being the outsider, the latecomer to the family. I thought being obedient and invisible would earn their acceptance. But now I saw it clearly. All it ever got me was more pain. There was no point in trying to fit into a space where I would never belong. My mother rushed out after him. “What is wrong with this child? Do you only get happy when you’re making your parents miserable?” Her anger escalated until she was pointing a shaking finger at me. “Fine! You want a room so badly? You can have the master bedroom! Your father and I will sleep on the balcony! Are you happy now?!” She spun around as if to start packing, but Ross and Mia grabbed her arms. “Mom, you and Dad are the elders. We can’t have you sleeping on the balcony,” Ross said, then shot a resentful look at me. “Seriously, this was supposed to be a happy day, and it’s completely ruined by one selfish person.” Mia’s glare was pure poison. “Just keep it up, Alex. Maybe Mom and Dad will send you away again!” A violent tremor shot through my entire body. The hellish memories of my life at my aunt’s house before I was eight flooded back, replaying in horrifying detail. When I was four, I accidentally broke my cousin’s doll. My uncle’s face darkened, and he shoved me out the door. I spent the entire night curled up in the corner of the stairwell, sobbing until the sun came up. When I was eight, my cousin was playing with matches and burned half the apartment down, but she blamed it on me. My aunt and uncle tied me up and beat me with a leather belt until I was half-dead. That was the year my parents finally took me back. I thought the nightmare was over. I never imagined I would still be the one who didn’t belong. I couldn’t take it anymore. “You don’t have to send me! I’m leaving myself!” I tore myself from my father’s grasp, my face streaked with tears, and slammed the down button for the elevator. I ran out of the building, out of the complex, just ran. It was ten o’clock at night. All I had was a cheap phone that could only make calls. Not a single change of clothes. I stared at the thousands of warm, glowing windows in the distance, then collapsed onto the curb, sobbing uncontrollably, letting out all the years of bottled-up misery. “Alex? Is that you?” A familiar voice cut through my grief. I looked up. It was my classmate, Leo. Standing beside him were his parents, a kind-faced middle-aged couple. I’d been so excited about the new house that I’d told practically everyone I knew, so of course, he knew. “I thought you guys were moving in today,” he started, confused. “What are you doing out here so late…?” His mother cut him off. “Leo, didn’t you say you had some tough homework problems you needed Alex’s help with? This is perfect. Why don’t you invite him over?” Then she turned to me, her voice gentle. “Alex, our place is just around the corner. Would you mind coming over to help Leo out for a bit?” Leo, who knew bits and pieces about my family situation, caught on immediately. “Please, Alex? You’ve gotta help me,” he begged. Thinking of my cold family and my empty pockets, I numbly accepted their kindness and went home with them. Later that night, Mrs. Dallas sent a text to my parents for me, explaining that I’d be staying with them for the month leading up to the final exams. I overheard her on the phone with my mother. I heard my mother’s shrill voice rattling on about how immature and shameless I was, how I shouldn’t be imposing on another family just to “tutor.” She never once mentioned the balcony. She never once asked me to come home. For the next month, I became part of the Dallas family. Leo and I ate together, slept in his room, and went to school together. We studied late into the night, quizzing each other. I silently etched their kindness into my heart and swore I would ace my exams. I had to build a future for myself, a bright one that didn’t depend on anyone else’s approval. The month flew by, and the exams were over. In all that time, my parents had made a few half-hearted calls to Mrs. Dallas, offering to transfer money for my expenses, which she refused. When she did, they never tried to send it to me directly. They never called me once. But I saw them. Whenever I used my phone to look up study materials, their social media posts would pop up. Ross posted: Mom’s been making me a different kind of gourmet soup every day to keep my strength up for GRE prep. Best mom in the world. Mia posted: Dad promised me the new-gen console no matter what my final grades are! Love my family! Best parents ever! My parents were the first to like and comment: Our little family of four, always together. I also saw on my mother’s page that she had dismantled the wooden bed on the balcony and replaced it with two tiers of flower shelves. Her caption was heartfelt: Finally cleared out that eyesore. Now it’s just birdsong, fragrant flowers, and my two wonderful children. My life is finally perfect. So that was it. The days without me were their happiest. I finally understood that from the moment I was born, I was destined to be the extra piece that never fit. A sharp pain lanced through my chest, but it vanished as quickly as it came. The exam results were out. “Alex, did you see it? You’re number one! You’re the top scorer in the entire state!” Leo yelled, grabbing me in a hug and spinning me around. “You’re not so bad yourself,” I said, grinning. “Eighth in the city.” Leo’s parents walked over, smiling warmly. “It’s all thanks to you tutoring him this past month. With his old grades, he would’ve been lucky to get into any state college.” Leo stuck his tongue out sheepishly, then turned to me with genuine gratitude. “Seriously, man. Thanks.” “By the way,” Mr. Dallas said, “we’re planning Leo’s graduation party at The Grand Regency Hotel. If you don’t mind, we’d love for you to celebrate with us, as our guest of honor.” I immediately tried to refuse. I’d already imposed on them for a month; I couldn’t possibly crash their party. But Leo got angry. “You said yesterday you thought of me as a brother, and now you won’t even celebrate with me? Fine! I’m not talking to you anymore!” He pouted, turning his back on me. I was cornered. I had to give in. “Okay, okay, Leo, don’t be mad. I’ll be there.” “You know,” I added wistfully, “I’ve never had a party like that.” Leo’s face was a mask of disbelief. “What are you talking about? You were first in the city in middle school…” He trailed off, suddenly realizing. The three of them looked at me for a long moment. Their eyes held no surprise, no pity. Only a deep, aching sympathy that warmed me to my core. The emotions I had suppressed for so long surged up again. Strangers could see my pain, could care for me, could feel for me. But my own flesh and blood saw me as a burden, something to be ignored and mistreated. It was clear then. Blood isn’t what makes a family. I knew, with absolute certainty, that some people weren’t worth holding on to. On the day of the party, wearing a new shirt and slacks Mrs. Dallas had bought me, I went with them to The Grand Regency. During a trip to the restroom, I took a wrong turn and ended up in a different ballroom. I was about to leave when four familiar figures caught my eye, and I froze. There, on the main stage in the center of the room, were my father, my mother, Ross, and Mia, huddled together, beaming. “This son of mine has been brilliant since he was a boy,” my father announced, slinging an arm around Ross’s shoulders and holding up his grad school acceptance letter for all to see. “He’s bringing honor to the Clarke name!” “And our Mia is incredibly talented too!” my mother added. “Even if her grades weren’t the best, she’s a genius at dance. Just yesterday, she won a national junior dance award!” She finished by planting a proud kiss on Mia’s forehead. “You will always be your mother’s greatest pride, sweetie.” The room erupted in applause. Guests swarmed them, congratulating my parents on their good fortune, praising Ross and Mia for being so accomplished. The atmosphere was electric; everyone was radiant with joy. And then there was me, a lonely shadow in the doorway, completely out of place. I panicked, desperate to escape, but just as I turned to leave, a voice called out. “Alex? What are you doing here?” It was Ross. He was standing right in front of me, and behind him were Mia, and my parents. It had been over a month, and the look in their eyes wasn’t happiness or surprise. It was pure, undiluted disgust. As if I wasn’t their son, but the filthiest, most repulsive thing in the world.

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I just finished my finals, the ink barely dry on my SAT bubbling sheet, when I blinked and woke up ten years in the future. I’m wearing my backpack, staring at a tombstone. My tombstone. The corner of my mouth won’t stop twitching. Cell service is garbage, bars flickering in and out. I rack my brain until I remember exactly one landline number. It belongs to the most depressed, anti-social, toxic-tongued pretty boy in my homeroom. The call connects fast, accompanied by the hiss of static. A voice—familiar but strange—answers. “…Babe?” I freeze. “Who?” 1 The voice on the other end pauses for half a second. “Chloe?” Okay, maybe he just mistook me for someone else. Terrified the signal would drop, I rush to speak. “It’s me. Don’t yell at me, I can’t explain right now, but if you aren’t married, don’t have a girlfriend, and happen to be free… can you come pick me up at the cemetery?” Wait. He called me “Babe” earlier. Doesn’t sound single. I backpedal hard. “Ah, haha, sorry to bother you! Actually, could you just call someone else to get me? Like Julian…” Julian. The guy I’ve been low-key crushing on. My social standing in high school was mid at best. I only kind of knew these two by accident. They count as friends, right? “…Wait for me.” It’s been—God knows how many years—but Liam is still a man of few words. I blink, staring at the screen as the call drops from bad service. Bored, I squat in front of my own grave. It hits me late: Did I just make a prank call claiming to be a zombie? I wonder how Future Me and Liam got along? He probably thinks this is a scam… His guard was always insanely high. Whatever. My legs go numb from squatting, so I hop up and sit on top of my tombstone. It’s polished to a shine, reflecting the sunlight. There’s a huge bouquet of sunflowers in front of it. They aren’t wilted yet. Someone must have visited “me” a few days ago. Guess I was popular? I swing my legs, bored out of my mind. Not long ago, I was celebrating the end of high school. Classmates were tossing papers, screaming “Freedom!” and “I’m dyeing my hair green!” I was quietly asking the teacher if I could take the leftover papers to the recycling center for cash. I wanted to buy treats for the kids at the group home. Liam had helped me pack up, silent as usual. I told him to go home early so his dad wouldn’t beat him. He bristled like a stray cat. Stood up, glared at me coldly. “None of your damn business.” And walked off. I spent hours haggling with the scrap yard guy, and finally caught the last bus before total darkness. I took a nap… and woke up here. At a graveyard. At noon. Finding out I’m dead is shocking. It’s like finding out I flunked out of high school when I was tracking for the Ivy League. …I wonder which college I got into? The sun is blinding, but my phone says it’s midnight. This phone was a gift from the group home director. Cheap, prepaid. She told me not to worry about paying her back, just to study hard. They must be freaking out that I’m missing. I sigh. “Beep-beep!” A text notification sound. Footsteps approach from behind, soft and slow up the stairs. I pivot on my butt, spinning around on the tombstone. A man in a fitted black suit crashes into my line of sight. It’s too hot, so I’ve got my school blazer over my head like a hood. I squint at him. Is that… Liam? I barely recognize him. This man is a galaxy away from the boy who cursed me out yesterday. He freezes, his pitch-black eyes locking onto mine. It seems like he stopped breathing. High school Liam was pretty—pale skin, sharp features—but gloomy. His eyes were always cold, his words poisonous. Current Liam is still good-looking, but the boyish awkwardness is gone. He’s solid, stoic, distant. He’s staring so hard I stop swinging my legs. I hop down from the tombstone. “Hi?” 2 Liam’s breath hitches. He strides forward and crushes me into a hug. My face slams into his rock-hard chest. My nose actually hurts. …When did he get so tall? Wait, if he has a partner, he shouldn’t be hugging me like this! I try to push him away, but his strength has grown with his height. I can’t budge him. Maybe he’s just excited to see a dead friend’s ghost? I let him hug me for a minute, then whisper, “I’m not interrupting anything, am I? Your dad isn’t…” No, wait. It’s been ten years. He looks successful. I correct myself. “I’m not causing trouble, am I?” He buries his face in my neck and rubs against me like a puppy. “I missed you so much.” I stiffen. This is wrong. Is this really Liam? We were “friends,” sure, but this is way too intimate. Does his partner know? I turn beet red from my ears to my toes. I smack his back. “Liam! Let go! Off, off!” He finally loosens his grip but insists on interlacing his fingers with mine. I try to shake him off. He holds tight. …Maybe Future Me and him were really close. “Doesn’t your ‘Babe’ mind us doing this?” I ask awkwardly. “?” He looks at me, then smiles. “You are my Babe.” Me: “…” What the hell did I do in the last ten years? I can’t process this. He takes my backpack. Since I sold all my books, it’s empty and light. Liam, looking like a CEO, slings my high school bag over one shoulder and holds my hand with the other. He asks zero questions about how I’m here. His acceptance level is suspiciously high. I chatter nervously as he leads me away. “What year is it?” He smiles secretly. “2035.” Damn! I really time-traveled ten years. The tombstone said “2032.” I’ve been dead for three years. …Why did I die so young? Twenty-five? That sucks. I frown. “What was my SAT score? Class rank? Which college?” “Never mind, you probably don’t remember the details. just tell me the college.” His voice is soft, melting into the wind. “1560. Top 1%. Z State University.” My eyes go wide. I grab his arm. “That good?! So I…” I stop. I see the ring on his left ring finger. It glints in the sun. I drop his hand like it’s radioactive. “Liam, you’re married?” 3 He grabs my hand back, tightening his grip. He smiles, but he looks away. “Yeah. I married my Babe.” Me: “…” Why is he so calm?! Let go of me! I don’t want to be blasted on TikTok by his wife as a homewrecker. I’m technically 18. Standing next to him, I look like his little sister, but we aren’t siblings. “Just drop me off at a bus stop,” I say, frowning. “I’ll go back…” He tightens his grip again, helping me down the stairs. “Go back where?” Anywhere but with him. “Home…” I need to check on the group home. The director might recognize me even if I’m supposed to be dead. Liam relaxes. He smiles again. “Then let’s go home.” His smiling creeps me out. The Liam I knew didn’t smile. Julian was the one who always smiled. Liam was the one who looked like he wanted to murder everyone. “Let go of my hand…” He stuffs me into the back seat of a car. He climbs in right after me. His face screams “pity me.” I choke on my words. Liam has always been stubborn. If he wants something, he’ll smash through a brick wall to get it. Now he’s looking at me with puppy dog eyes, gripping my hand. “Babe…” My scalp tingles. What is this?! Why is he calling me Babe?! Is this future slang? Who is this dog wagging its tail? I push his face away with my free hand. “Liam, chill! I know you’re excited to see your dead friend, but I just finished high school!” “And you’re married! We can’t do this!” He freezes. Just when I think I got through to him, he pulls me into a hug again. “Sorry. You probably won’t believe me, but once we get home, you’ll see.” Your home, I think blankly. How am I going to explain this to his wife? “…Mr. Lu? Are we leaving?” The driver asks, terrified. I make eye contact with the driver in the rearview mirror. The awkwardness is palpable. Great. I’ve time-traveled and immediately become a mistress. Liam holds me tight. His wedding ring digs into my skin, pricking my conscience. He gives a low “Hmm,” and the driver relaxes. Just as the engine starts, there’s a knock on the window. A man holding a massive bouquet of red roses leans down. He knocks again. He’s smiling. He looks older, but that mole under his lip is iconic. My eyes widen. “Julian?” Liam slams my face into his chest, hiding me. “Drive,” he orders coldly. “Wait! Don’t drive!” I scramble against him. “Liam, that’s Julian!” He knows I had a crush on Julian in high school. He pushes my head down again. “Drive.” I don’t want to be kidnapped to his house to be accused of adultery. I struggle and manage to hit the window button. I try to pop my head up to say hi, but Liam shoves my face into his lap. I freeze. “Well, long time no see,” Julian says. His voice is deeper, smoother. He sounds amused. “Saw you from a distance. You… you’re hiring lookalikes now?” Liam sneers. “If you have nothing to say, get lost.” “Can’t say hi to an old classmate? You’ve gotten cute again since Chloe died.” Hearing my name makes me wince. I try to move, but Liam presses down harder. Now my face is pressed against… something. I turn bright red. I want to die again. To Liam’s unknown wife: I am so sorry! Wait, Liam is the scum here. Why should I die? I wiggle cautiously. Liam groans. I freeze instantly. “Ah, my bad. Didn’t realize you were busy,” Julian laughs. No shame at all. Dude! He definitely misunderstood! Julian leans on the window, chatting casually. “Making out right outside Chloe’s grave? Trying to piss her ghost off?” The air smells like gunpowder. Liam ignores him. “Drive.” The driver hesitates. “Mr. Su… his hand is on the car…” Is everyone a “Mr. CEO” or “Mr. Heir” now? And I’m just “The Dead Girl”? “Hey, little sister,” Julian says, seemingly talking to me. “Still wearing a school uniform…” He sighs dramatically. “Don’t do this kind of work. If you need money, name your price. I’ll beat it.” Julian is still so gentle. I should go with him! I struggle free from Liam’s claws and lunge for the window. “Julian—” Julian’s pupils earthquake. He stares at my face. His smile cracks. “…How much is Liam paying you? I’ll double it. No, name any price. Will you come with me?” 4 What are they talking about?! I open my mouth to say I am Chloe, but Liam yanks me back. His face is ice cold. He glares at Julian. “If you want a substitute, go find your own. Stay away from her.” Julian chuckles, ignoring him. He pulls out a black and gold business card and flicks it at me. Liam tries to block it, but I snatch it mid-air. “If you get bored of Liam… if you want a change of pace…” Julian smiles deeply. “Call me.” I want to put it in my bag, but Liam might confiscate it. I memorize the number instantly and shove the card in my pocket. “Okay, I’ll call.” Assuming he isn’t married too. Liam is grinding his teeth beside me. I can’t believe the guy who wouldn’t talk to anyone in high school grew up to be a cheater! Men ain’t shit. “I’ll be waiting,” Julian says, dropping his eyes. My heart skips a beat. He steps back, waving, holding those roses. He doesn’t look like he’s visiting a grave. He looks like he’s waiting for a date. “Too bad these flowers aren’t for you… Next time, I’ll bring you your own.” The driver hits the gas. I tumble back into Liam’s arms. He feels warm, but his vibe is freezing. I break away easily this time and buckle my seatbelt. The car interior is luxurious. Even a broke kid like me knows this leather is expensive. I glance at Liam. He’s staring straight ahead, looking like he’s built a fortress around himself. The driver is driving like a maniac. “Liam…” He snaps his head to look at me, eyes wide with hope. “…Put your seatbelt on?” His eyes dim. He buckles up. I’m terrified of meeting his wife. I run through a dozen scenarios in my head until the car stops. I step out nervously. Liam grabs my hand again. I try to shake him off. “What are you doing?!” He purses his lips. Silence. He drags me to the elevator. Beep. He drags me to the door. Beep. I close my eyes, preparing to be yelled at by a angry wife. He lets go and pushes me gently inside. “Look.” I peek through one eye. There, on the wall, is a massive wedding photo. My eyes pop out of my head. My face catches fire. Liam stands behind me, sounding hurt. “I told you, you’re my Babe.” “Who else would I marry?” Oh my God. This is scarier than being dead. I’m eighteen. I’ve never dated. I only know the sour taste of a secret crush. And now I’m looking at this? Also… at my age… I like Julian.

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I was in the middle of a sheet mask when my son came running in, crying, and shoved my husband’s phone in my face. “Mom, Dad’s texting another woman! He called her ‘baby’!” he sobbed. “Are you and Dad getting a divorce? Am I going to lose my dad?” I quickly clamped a hand over his mouth. Hearing the shower running in the bathroom, I snatched the phone from his little hands and put it back exactly where it was. “Shh, not so loud,” I whispered urgently. “Listen to me. That lady… she’s a good person. The prestigious international school you go to? She arranged it. The new car we have, this big apartment? She bought them. Mom and Dad’s promotions at work? She made them happen. You cannot let your father know that we know. Do you understand?” My son looked up at me, his eyes wide and shimmering with tears. “Mom, are you speaking English? I know all those words, but when you put them together, they don’t make any sense.” 1 I led my son out to the balcony and gently wiped his tears away. “Honey, all you need to do is focus on your studies. Your dad and I are not getting a divorce, and you are not going to lose your father,” I reassured him. “That lady is a very kind person. She’s not here to wreck our family. In fact, everything we have right now, she’s the one who gave it to us. Do you get it now?” “So just put your worries away and be a good boy. Do your homework.” He was only ten, and he still looked confused. But my calm demeanor seemed to soothe him. He wiped his eyes and stopped crying. “Okay, Mom. I get it. I’ll pretend I don’t know anything.” I ruffled his hair. “Good boy. Finish up your homework and get to bed. Mommy has to work tomorrow, too.” He turned to go, then paused. “Mom? You said that lady arranged your promotions. Is she really that powerful?” I smiled. “Of course, she is, sweetie.” “She’s my boss. And your dad’s.” A look of surprise, then worry, flashed across his face. “Will she… bully you?” Now it was my turn to be surprised. “Why would you ever think that?” He bit his lip. “I just thought… you’re supposed to be enemies. And since she’s your boss, I figured she’d probably be mean to you.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t worry, son. She won’t. Now, go on. Homework.” He didn’t ask any more questions and scampered back to his room. I stood alone on the balcony, a cool breeze washing over me, my mind a complete blank. I never thought the day I discovered my husband was cheating would turn out to be the biggest windfall of my life. 2 Discovering Mark’s affair was a complete accident. We both worked at the same company, started at the same time, and had comparable skills. Yet, he was climbing the corporate ladder at lightning speed while I was stuck. At first, I blamed it on my pregnancy and maternity leave. Then I realized the real reason. Mark had climbed his way into our boss Isabella Hopper’s bed. It all clicked at the annual company gala. Isabella didn’t just shower Mark with awards; she handed him a fifty-thousand-dollar bonus check. Even for the group photo, she insisted Mark stand center stage, while she subtly positioned herself right next to him. That alone wasn’t definitive. But then, during dinner, Isabella came and sat at our table. In the middle of a toast, she casually picked up Mark’s glass and took a sip of his wine. Then she handed it back to him. Without missing a beat, Mark lifted it to his lips, right where her red lipstick stained the rim, and took a drink. Everyone else was caught up in the festivities and didn’t notice the little exchange. But I did. I felt a tremor run through my entire body. A few minutes later, Isabella, supposedly drunk, was being helped to her feet by Mark, who announced he was taking her home. No one objected, and neither did I. But as soon as they left, I slipped out and followed them, determined to find out the truth. I thought it would be a covert mission, but they made it laughably easy. Thinking no one was watching, the moment they were out of the main banquet hall, Mark pinned Isabella against a corridor wall. “Ms. Hopper,” he murmured, his voice low. “You were trying to seduce me tonight, weren’t you? Drinking from my glass in front of everyone, leaving your lipstick on it like a promise.” Isabella, flushed from either the wine or the proximity to Mark, looked thrilled. “You caught me.” Mark pecked her hard on the cheek. “Aren’t you afraid someone would see? What if your husband found out? Luna was right there, for God’s sake.” Oh, that’s me. I’m Luna. Isabella just giggled. “I know. Doesn’t that make it more exciting?” 3 My hands and feet started to tremble, a hot surge of fury rising from the soles of my feet. I was about to storm out and confront them when Mark spoke again. “You’re a reckless little minx, but I love it. I know I’m playing with fire, that your husband would destroy me if he found out. But I can’t stay away from you.” He sighed dramatically. “Even though I know I’m betraying Luna and my son.” Isabella cupped his face, pouting. “Then just compensate them. If there’s no love, give them money. And lucky for you, I have plenty of that.” She ticked off the points on her fingers. “You can’t divorce her yet, and I can’t divorce him, so we have to keep them happy. That bonus tonight? That was from a project I landed and gave you the credit for. Give the whole fifty grand to Luna.” “I’ll wire you another fifty thousand and raise your salary to fifteen thousand a month. Just make sure you give Luna a bigger allowance. And that car and apartment of yours need an upgrade. I felt so cramped the last time I was over.” “The Vice President of the Projects Division is about to retire. I’m thinking of Luna for the position. Consider it another form of compensation. And I’ve already arranged for your son to be enrolled in that bilingual international school. All fees paid. Just come up with an excuse to send him.” My foot, which had been ready to charge out, froze in place. I swallowed the hurricane of emotions swirling in my gut and kept listening. Mark was visibly stunned. “Ms. Hopper… you’re doing so much for me. I… I don’t know what to say. I’m overwhelmed.” Isabella pinched his cheek. “Don’t be silly. As long as you’re good to me, I’ll take care of your wife and child. We need your home front to be stable so we can be together in peace. The last thing I need is a messy public divorce. If my husband cuts me off without a penny, we’re all screwed. Victor would never let me go that easily.” Mark nodded. “It’s so hard, having to sneak around like this, always afraid of being caught. Ms. Hopper, when can we finally be together openly? I hate this.” Isabella’s eyes narrowed, a flash of steel in them. “Victor may be paralyzed, but he’s not dead yet. And he’s paranoid about me cheating. He has people watching me, you know. He even sent his stepsister, Jessica Thorne, to work in Luna’s department. She’s not blood, but she’s completely loyal to him. So, yes, I was being reckless tonight. If any of them found out, we’d both be finished.” 4 Mark’s face fell. “It’s a shame we can’t just quit our jobs. Then we could be together.” Isabella laughed. “Are you kidding? Quitting is not an option. Victor is still the majority shareholder. If I quit, how would I get his money? And if you quit, how would you earn it? This is actually the perfect setup. We get to bleed him dry together. It’s the only thing that makes me feel better.” Mark’s expression brightened. “You’re right. I’d never have this position at any other company. And Luna would certainly never get to benefit from my success.” Isabella smiled softly. “Well, what can I say? I fell for you. That means accepting your family, right? I’ve thought about it, you know. I wish you weren’t married. But then again, if you were single, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed you. I’ve seen plenty of single, ambitious young guys trying to use me to get ahead. You were different. I had to drop all the hints, do all the chasing.” That line clearly stroked Mark’s ego. He lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. “I never imagined you’d be interested in me,” he murmured between kisses. “I thought I was reading the signals all wrong.” They were lost in each other. I quickly backed away and scurried off. Standing on the hotel balcony, I finally took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. I never, ever thought Mark would cheat on me. And certainly not like this. Thinking of the fifty-thousand-dollar bonus, my son’s new school, Mark’s raise, and my own upcoming promotion, my initial rage began to morph into a strange, giddy excitement. These were things I’d never dared to dream of, and now they were all falling into my lap in the most bizarre way possible. It was utterly mind-boggling. Suddenly, the fact that my husband was having an affair didn’t feel devastating. It felt… profitable. Even if he divorced me later, I’d be set for life. 5 But Isabella’s words about her husband, Victor, sent a chill down my spine. He wasn’t just her husband; he was the big boss, and he had spies in the company watching her every move. His stepsister was in my department, practically breathing down my neck. How was I going to play this without raising her suspicion? If she found out, it wouldn’t just be Mark who was finished. My beautiful, newly acquired cake would be snatched away. That was absolutely not an option. Now that I knew about the cake, I couldn’t let it go. To lose it would be a regret I’d carry for the rest of my life. To protect my cake, I knew what I had to do. I had to protect their affair. Just as Isabella had promised, after they left the hotel, a notification popped up on my phone. A transfer of fifty thousand dollars from Mark. The note read: All my bonus money for my amazing wife. I love you. If I hadn’t just witnessed him declaring his undying love for Isabella, I might have actually believed him. But that was fine. His love was gone, but the money was here. Isabella moved fast. Soon enough, we were living in a spacious new apartment and driving a new Mercedes. My son was enrolled in the international school without me spending a dime. Mark’s excuse was that he had “connections” and had pulled some strings. Of course, I nodded and played along with whatever story he spun. I knew it was all a lie. That’s why I’d told my son not to blow his cover. But you can’t keep a secret forever. If I could figure it out, so could someone else. Someone like Isabella’s stepsister, Jessica Thorne. Lately, she’d been dropping by my desk with pointed questions. “Luna,” she’d say, feigning concern. “Has your husband been acting strange lately? Coming home late? Suddenly flush with cash? A little distant? I’ve noticed he barely comes to see you anymore. If you didn’t tell people you were married, no one would ever know.” 6 Victor must have been paying her extra, because for someone with such a junior position, she certainly had a lot of time to meddle. If Isabella hadn’t warned me, I’d never have known she was the big boss’s sister. Her questions sent a jolt of panic through me, and a cold sweat broke out on my back. But I kept my expression calm. “Jessica, since when are you so interested in my private life?” I asked with a light laugh. “Mark’s been great lately, nothing strange at all. Are you asking because of the new car and apartment? Oh, I can tell you a little secret. His parents’ old property back home was bought out by the city for eight million dollars. He’s their only son, so they gave it all to him. He’s just been really busy with work, that’s all. It’s perfectly normal.” Jessica’s face was a mask of suspicion. “Eight million? I find that hard to believe.” My smile faded. “Jessica, why would I lie about something like that? I was keeping it quiet, but since we’re friends, I thought I’d let you in on it. Please don’t spread it around. If you don’t believe me, you can always ask Mark yourself.” That shut her up. She returned to her desk without another word. Watching her go, I immediately shot Mark a text to get our stories straight. Hubby, that Jessica Thorne is being weird again. She keeps dropping by and asking strange questions. Today she asked how we suddenly got so rich. I got annoyed and told her your parents’ property sold for 8 million and they gave it all to you LOL. You should have seen her face. A few minutes later, he replied. Wife, you’re brilliant. That’s exactly how you handle people like her. Don’t worry. If anyone else tries to poke around, just brush them off and let me know. I’ve got your back. A transfer notification followed. Payoff: 1,000.00 For my wife, to buy something nice. I know I’ve been busy lately. As soon as things calm down, I’ll take you and Leo on a vacation. Seeing the money, I couldn’t help but smile. I hit ‘accept’ immediately. Thanks, hubby! Love you! Mwah! It seemed my little performance had averted a crisis. I thought that would be the end of the rewards for the day, but then my office phone rang. It was Isabella. “Luna, darling. Meet me after work. We’re going shopping at the Galleria.” 7 At the Galleria, she ignored all my protests and proceeded to drape me in Chanel from head to toe. Clothes, shoes, a handbag, even a bottle of perfume. I was floored. “Ms. Hopper, this is too much,” I stammered. “Why are you buying me all this? I’m getting scared.” She looked me up and down, a satisfied smile on her face. “Don’t you dare say it doesn’t suit you. It’s perfect. And don’t be scared. You’ve earned it. The deal with the Apex Group that your department just landed? This is your reward. The bonuses for your manager and the others will be paid out later.” My mind reeled. The Apex project was handled almost entirely by my manager. I was just a gofer, running errands in the background. If anyone deserved a reward, it was him, not a small fry like me. Then, in a flash, it all made sense. This wasn’t about the Apex project. This was about me handling Jessica. This was her way of saying thank you. A huge, genuine smile spread across my face. “Thank you, Ms. Hopper! I love it!” She adjusted the silk scarf around my neck, her tone casual but deliberate. “From now on, if Jessica tries anything funny, you come straight to me. I’ll deal with her. Don’t confront her yourself. I don’t want her holding a grudge against you.” Her words were a wake-up call. In my haste to cover for Mark, I had forgotten who I was dealing with. Jessica was still Victor’s sister. If I really got on her bad side, and Victor decided to target me, I’d be in serious trouble. Isabella knew her husband’s cruelty better than anyone. Over the next few weeks, to completely throw Jessica off the scent, Mark started making a point of visiting me at the office. He’d bring desserts for the team or a bouquet of flowers just for me. Suddenly, I was the most envied woman in the office. I would blush and lower my head, hiding the triumphant gleam in my eyes from their congratulatory gazes. I knew that behind all this performative affection was a much, much bigger cake waiting for me. And the strategy worked. Jessica finally stopped snooping around.

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My sister, Vanessa, wanted to take a job doing private in-home massages. I tried to talk her out of it. “The world is full of creeps,” I told her. “If something happens, you’ll be trapped.” She grumbled, but she listened and didn’t take the job. But then her best friend, Tanya, landed a wealthy husband through that exact line of work and became a trophy wife. Vanessa grew to resent me, convinced I’d blocked her path to riches. She invited me hiking… and pushed me off a cliff. I was shattered to pieces. The next time I opened my eyes, I was staring at my sister, her face lit with excitement as she talked about the incredible money she could make. I just nodded. “Get rich, and don’t forget your little sister.” She had no idea about the living hell her friend was about to endure. This time, I wouldn’t interfere in her life. I would just let her rot. 1 Vanessa slapped my shoulder. “Look at you, always ready to leech off me. Why don’t you drop out of school and come work with me?” I was in grad school, working on a project with my professor, and money was tight. A cold sweat broke out on my skin as I saw the glint in her eyes. I forced a self-deprecating laugh. “With all these freckles? A client would probably see my face and demand I pay them.” Vanessa roared with laughter, preening in her handheld mirror. “You’re right. You’re so plain, you’d never make any real money. You’re just a bookworm, Bella. Destined for a life of thankless drudgery after graduation.” She’d been beautiful her whole life, and the constant praise had gone to her head. She was convinced she’d grow up to be a star or get scooped up by a millionaire. She believed her looks alone entitled her to that life, blind to the fact that success is built on hard work, not just a pretty face. Last time, I’d stopped her from taking that job, and her friend Tanya had reaped the rewards. Vanessa’s hatred for me festered until it boiled over, and she killed me. She never knew the unspeakable nightmare Tanya’s life became. Now that I’m back, I won’t lift a finger. I’ll just watch her self-destruct. 2 Vanessa suddenly lowered her mirror, a troubled look on her face. “Bella… you don’t think it’s… unsafe, do you? What if I get some gross, fifty-year-old creep?” Her intentions were never pure, so of course she was worried. I blinked, feigning innocence. “What do you mean? It’s not like they’re massaging you. What’s there to be afraid of?” A blush crept up her neck. “You’re too young. You wouldn’t get it.” “Huh?” “It’s the kind of thing where… the massage goes both ways.” She started pushing me toward the door. “You don’t understand, just get out of my room. Stop hanging around.” At the doorway, she leaned in and whispered, “Don’t you dare say a word to Mom and Dad, or I’ll rip your mouth open.” I clamped my lips shut and nodded like an obedient dog. She had ripped my mouth open before. More than once. There was the time she was caught holding hands with a boy by the dean, and she hired actors to pretend to be our parents. And the time she was watching porn with another boy and agreed to spend the night at his place. I’d told our parents about those things, about all of it, stopping her just in time. After her scoldings, she’d attack me, full of rage. The searing pain as her nails tore at the corners of my mouth is something I’ll never forget. But she was my sister. My own flesh and blood. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. I tried to save her from ruin, and she pushed me into the abyss. As expected, when I went into the living room, my parents asked what we were talking about. I lied smoothly. “I was just asking Vanessa for tips on how to get rid of my freckles.” My father shot me a look of disgust and turned away, as if I were some kind of hideous beast. My mother scoffed. “That face of yours? You’d need a skin transplant to fix it.” She sighed dramatically. “How could I have given birth to two daughters—one so beautiful, and the other so ugly?” In this house, my parents always loved Vanessa more. It made sense. Who would choose the ugly child over the beautiful one? It hurt, but I never fought it. I was grateful to them for giving me life. That’s why I always tried to help Vanessa. I knew if anything happened to her, the grief would destroy them. All their hopes were pinned on her—that she would marry rich and provide for them in their old age. All I could do was claw my way up on my own. I handed over the $500 for my monthly contribution to the household expenses, grabbed my suitcase, and left. Before walking out the door, I told them I wouldn’t be living at home anymore, and the payments would stop. My father called me an ungrateful brat. My mother threw a slipper at me and screamed for me to get out. They never wanted me to go to grad school. The only way they’d allow it was if I paid for my own tuition and living expenses, and gave them $500 a month. They pretended to make Vanessa pay too, but I’d overheard them admitting it was just a lie to milk me for more. She didn’t pay a cent, living at home for free, while I was only there one day a week. In my past life, I swallowed my pride and endured it. This time, I wouldn’t. I finally understood that parents who played favorites like that weren’t worthy of my love. 3 I moved into the dorms at school. Vanessa called me. “What’s this? The good girl is finally rebelling?” “I’m only home a few days a month, and they still wanted five hundred bucks. I got tired of it,” I said. “Hahaha! You’re finally getting a brain! If you want to make some real money, you should come work with me.” She started bragging about how much she was already earning. “Did you see the new purse I posted on Instagram? Just bought it, cost a few grand. Nice, right?” It was clear she’d already started the massage job and was doing well. Let her. She was still gloating. “It’s amazing. A little touching, a little chatting, and a thousand bucks just falls into your lap.” “Bella, you’re my sister. I can’t stand seeing you so dowdy. Why don’t you come work part-time with me on the weekends? If I recruit you, the company gives me a five-hundred-dollar bonus. I’ll even give you a hundred of it, how about that?” What a generous offer. I quickly refused. “I’m too clumsy. I’d be terrible at it.” “Don’t give me that. I’m picking you up this Friday night. If you dare stand me up, you just wait. I’ll make sure you get kicked out of your program!” To avoid her, I went home on Friday night. My parents screamed at me until I thought my ears would bleed. Vanessa stood by, smirking, enjoying the show. When the time came, she made a call. “Oh, Mr. Lee? Yeah, my sister can’t make it. She’s getting an earful right now… maybe some other time.” “Yeah, I know she’s not much to look at, but I’m her sister, I just wanted her to earn a little extra cash… Okay, fine, we’ll forget the interview then.” I watched her sashay out the door and finally let out a breath of relief. My parents were still yelling. I shot to my feet. “Are you done? If you’re done, I’ll get out of your sight!” That only made them angrier. I scrambled out the door and ran. 4 That night, I was sound asleep when my phone rang. Groggy, I fumbled to hang up but accidentally answered. The sound of Vanessa’s sobbing instantly woke me up. “This old man… he almost forced himself on me tonight, Bella… sob…” “I don’t want to do this anymore! It was so scary… I couldn’t push him off… If I hadn’t kept fighting, I… I would have been…!” I crept out into the dorm courtyard to take the call. I pretended to comfort her, but my words were carefully crafted to keep her from quitting. “Sis, didn’t you sign a contract? You should get your boss, Mr. Lee, to compensate you!” She choked back a sob. “You think I can do that?” “Of course! This is a workplace injury! You were on the job and a client assaulted you. Mr. Lee has to take care of it. He’ll probably have to pay you thousands in compensation.” At the mention of money, her crying stopped. “Okay… I’ll try.” After we hung up, I lay in bed for a long time before finally falling asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I checked my phone. As expected, Vanessa didn’t disappoint. “Bella! Here’s a little something for you! I really owe you one. I never would have thought to go to Mr. Lee.” “He said the old bastard paid three grand in damages, and he gave me two thousand of it! Oh my god, this is the easiest money I’ve ever made.” I opened the digital red envelope she sent. Five dollars and twenty cents. “Thanks, sis.” She replied, “Next time something happens, I’ll call you. You need to keep your phone on 24/7. Be ready whenever I call, you hear me?!” She was as bossy as ever. I played along. “Okay, okay, I will.” She was pleased. “Good girl. Good dog.” She still thought I was the same little puppy that followed her everywhere. She was wrong. 5 After that, Vanessa started talking to me a lot more. She told me she’d developed a new tactic: deliberately letting clients get handsy so she could squeeze more money out of them. Most guys would pay up to avoid a scene. She’d complain about one guy’s stinky feet, another’s body odor, all while swearing she’d quit as soon as she’d saved up enough. She would never quit. She would only sink deeper. A few days later, she sent me a cryptic message. “I’m about to become a millionaire’s wife.” “What?” “Can’t you read? Get ready to be the aunt of a trust-fund baby!” Sure enough, Vanessa soon had a boyfriend. She posted a picture on her socials—not of his face, but of his wrist. He had a tattoo of a pair of wings. I remembered my past life. Just before Vanessa pushed me, she’d shown me a picture Tanya had posted. The man in the picture had the same tattoo. I remembered it vividly. It seemed Vanessa was using her memories of the last life to get to him first. From this point on, her real nightmare was about to begin. 6 Vanessa’s new relationship seemed to be going smoothly. She arranged a dinner for her boyfriend to meet our parents. I told her I had to work that night, but she called my professor directly to get me out of it, then showed up in a luxury car to pick me up. I climbed in, my face flushing with embarrassment. I finally saw him, the man with the wings tattoo—Ethan. He was handsome in a polished way, wearing glasses that he pushed up his nose, revealing a shrewdness in his eyes that sent a chill down my spine. “So you’re the little sister in grad school,” he said, his voice smooth. “That’s impressive. We should talk about some business ventures sometime.” Vanessa narrowed her eyes, feigning jealousy. “Ethan, this is my sister. Are you trying to get a two-for-one deal?” Ethan just smirked. “Of course not.” I listened to their shameless flirting, feeling sick to my stomach. That, combined with the overpowering cologne in the stuffy car, made me gag. Vanessa whipped her head around, her eyes wide with excitement. “Are you pregnant? How far along? Who’s the father? Is he rich?” My face darkened. “I’m carsick.” “Ugh, boring.” The dinner was certainly interesting. The food was good, and the entertainment was even better. I got a front-row seat to watch my parents fawn all over Ethan like he was a king. As soon as I finished eating, I faked a phone call and made my escape. 7 Vanessa got richer. She moved out of our parents’ house and into Ethan’s villa. When she tried to quit her job, Ethan wouldn’t let her. He kissed her earlobe and whispered, “Baby, I can support you, of course. But you need your own career. You’ll get bored at home, and I can’t be with you every second. I have to work. You’ll just sit around overthinking things, and that’s not good for our relationship.” Vanessa pouted. “But I’m so tired.” Ethan’s smile turned wicked. “Oh, my baby’s tired? Then let me take good care of you.” Lost in his sweet talk and buried under his affection, Vanessa forgot all about quitting. Soon after, she was pregnant. She was overjoyed. First, it meant she could finally stop working. Second, she was carrying the heir to the ‘family fortune.’ Her dream of being a wealthy wife was within reach. Drunk on her success, she took the positive pregnancy test and went straight to her friend, Tanya. Tanya smiled brightly, but the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Congratulations! You’re so lucky, I’m honestly so jealous. Does your fiancé have any single friends? You should introduce me.” Vanessa sneered, her face a mask of contempt. “Introduce you? Take a good look in the mirror. You think you’re worthy?” “You can only dream of being me,” she spat, then turned and strutted away, triumphant. She had avenged herself for the humiliation Tanya had inflicted on her in their past life after Tanya had gotten with Ethan. She felt on top of the world. Vanessa didn’t see the small, relieved smile that played on Tanya’s lips as she watched her go. 8 Vanessa came to my university, but she didn’t come to see me. She went straight to my professor’s office and brazenly demanded that I be withdrawn from my program. I only found out when my professor called me. I sprinted to his office. From down the hall, I could hear her shouting. “I’m pregnant now! If you don’t do what I say, you’ll regret it!” “My sister is dropping out to come take care of me! I’ll pay her fifty thousand a month. Can you do that? Can her boss pay her that much after she graduates? “Just process the withdrawal papers!” I rushed in, breathless, and managed to calm her down by reminding her that stress was bad for the baby in the first trimester. I promised her I would drop out, and she finally left. I went back and apologized profusely to my professor, who was thankfully very understanding. Of course, I didn’t drop out. Vanessa called me an ungrateful, spineless loser. “If your brother-in-law wasn’t here with me, I’d make you pay.” The two of them were disgustingly lovey-dovey. Vanessa’s social media was flooded with posts about how attentive Ethan was, how obsessed he was with her body. “Ugh, I can’t take it anymore, but he just wants more, and that gets me going too.” “I’m so worried, doing this in the first trimester.” Time passed, and Vanessa entered her second trimester, her belly starting to show. She posted: “Finally in the second trimester! Now we can really go at it.” Some people in the comments warned her to be careful. Others shamed her for not thinking of the baby. A few crassly asked if her husband was home at night. Then one evening, I got a sudden message from Tanya. “Tonight, do not answer your sister’s phone calls.” I stared at the message, about to reply, when another one came through. “If you don’t want to die, turn your phone off.” At that exact moment, my phone started ringing. It was Vanessa. I answered it.

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I am the long-lost daughter of the richest family in the city. The day my biological brother brought me home, I had mud on my hands from sculpting. My foster sister, upon seeing me, immediately pushed me to the ground in disgust. Before I could even react, my biological mother slapped her across the face. “Who do you think you are? An adopted daughter dares to hit my own flesh and blood!” Damn! I like this mom. She’s cool. I’ve decided right then and there—I’m staying. 1 I am the daughter of the city’s wealthiest man, lost for twenty years. When my brother, Liam, found me, I was knee-deep in clay, working on a sculpture. He waved the fresh DNA test results in the air, hugging me excitedly. “Serena, you really are my sister! I knew I wasn’t wrong! Come with me! I’m taking you home.” I actually had an important mission to complete, and getting into the richest family would make things a lot easier. So, going back to “claim my birthright” and check out my new family was killing two birds with one stone. I got into the car with Liam, still a bit dazed. On the way, Liam briefed me on the family situation multiple times, terrified he’d miss a detail. He said the family had more money than we could ever spend, with businesses in fashion, food, real estate, and transportation. Mom called the shots at home, and she was a big deal in the business world too. Honestly, it sounded like he was just humble-bragging and hyping up Mom. “Besides Mom and Dad, there’s just me and you. Oh, and the staff—maids, cooks, drivers.” “Wait, there’s also the daughter of one of Dad’s friends. But she doesn’t matter. Just pretend she doesn’t exist.” My brow furrowed. I’d heard stories about lost heirs returning home—the first step is usually a power struggle. Life in a billionaire’s family is never simple. I looked down at my clothes, still stained with clay. Walking into a mansion looking like I just rolled in the mud? What kind of welcome was I in for? Thinking about it, I felt a strange sense of anticipation. From what I knew, this foster sister wasn’t just some random girl. 2 As soon as we walked in, a girl dressed head-to-toe in designer brands came running towards us. She beamed at Liam. “Liam, you’re back!” This must be the foster sister Liam mentioned, Chloe. Believing in the principle of “don’t slap a smiling face,” and considering we’d be living under the same roof, I put on a sweet smile and raised my hand to greet her. “Hi, I’m…” Before I could finish, she took a step back and shoved me hard. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell. Sharp pain shot through my ankle. “Liam, is she the new cleaning lady? Eww, she’s so dirty! Make her leave!” Liam rushed to help me up, looking at my swollen ankle with distress, then turned to Chloe, shaking with anger. “Chloe! She is not a cleaning lady! She is my sister, Serena! Show some respect!” “And you just pushed her for no reason! Apologize to her now!” Chloe’s eyes widened. She looked me up and down with disdain. “Sister? Her?! Liam, you’ve only known her for a few days. Who knows if she’s a scammer!” “Not just anyone can walk through our front door!” Liam helped me stand and shielded me, his gaze sharp. “She is my biological sister. I don’t hit women, but if you don’t apologize today, don’t blame me for being rude.” Chloe stomped her foot, indignant. “Liam! You’re yelling at me for her? I’m telling Dad!” What? What kind of logic is that? She was rude first, and now she’s playing the victim? I was pissed. Growing up, my adoptive dad never even raised a hand against me. Before I left, he told me I didn’t have to endure everything. Being a little feisty would actually fit my cover better. Nothing a good fight can’t solve. I steadied myself, rolling up my sleeves, ready to slap her. But a fierce figure rushed past me. Before I could react, Slap! Slap! Chloe took two hard slaps to the face. “Who do you think you are? An adopted daughter dares to hit my own flesh and blood!” My own flesh and blood? Is this my biological mom? Her swift, precise movements were cooler than an action movie star. Even cooler than my adoptive dad. I almost applauded. “Mom!” I blurted out. 3 “Aye!” She responded instantly, her face transforming into a loving smile. As if the fierce warrior from a second ago wasn’t her. She put her hands on my shoulders, looking me over again and again. Then she pulled me into a tight hug, tears welling up in her eyes. “Serena, you look just like me! Baby, Mom has been looking for you for so long!” “You’ve suffered all these years. Don’t worry, Mom will make it up to you.” Liam said I was lost when I was three. Mom and he never gave up looking for me. Finally, their efforts paid off. I was found and raised by my adoptive dad. He was a workaholic bachelor. Since I could remember, I never knew what motherly love felt like. I used to envy classmates who said “My mom said this” or had moms picking them up from school. Now, suddenly having a biological mom felt… amazing. Maybe it was blood instinct, but I didn’t reject her. I felt warm inside. Liam turned away, secretly wiping his eyes. I patted Mom’s back, comforting her. “Mom, Liam, I’m back. Thank you for not giving up on me.” Liam hugged both of us. “It’s good you’re back. We’ll never be separated again.” This scene triggered Chloe. Her face twisted in anger, muttering: “You’re all bullying me! I’m telling Dad!” Mom laughed, hearing this. She grabbed Chloe’s chin, looking at her with disdain. “Oh? Really? Go ahead. See who calls the shots in this house!” Just then, noise came from the door. A voice preceded the person: “I’m home.” Hearing this, Chloe ran to welcome him, throwing a glare at me before she left: “Dad’s back. You’re in for it now!” 4 Chloe threw herself into Dad’s arms, sobbing. “Dad, you’re finally back! Mom and Liam are bullying me!” Dad, let’s call him Richard, looked at Chloe’s face. “Chloe, what happened to your face? Who hit you?” “Come, let’s get some medicine. It won’t look good if it swells up.” He tried to take Chloe to find the first aid kit, but the three of us blocked their way. Chloe lowered her head, sniffing. Mom crossed her arms, staring them down. “I hit her.” Liam stood in the exact same pose as Mom. I looked at their expressions, a bit confused, and decided to stay silent. Liam spoke, his tone cold: “Dad, this is my biological sister, Serena. She came home today.” As soon as he finished, Richard pushed Chloe aside and trotted over to me. He squinted, looking me up and down with an expression weirder than an old man reading a phone screen on the subway. Then he looked disgusted and conflicted. “Th-this is my daughter? For real? Is she another gold digger coming out of the woodwork?” “And why are you all bullying Chloe? Don’t you know how pitiful her background is?” Huh? What? What kind of twisted logic is that? What does Chloe’s pitiful background have to do with me? I didn’t make her pitiful. Isn’t being separated from my mom for twenty years more pitiful? I was speechless at his reaction and looked at Liam for help. Liam shielded me, giving me a reassuring look. “Serena, don’t be scared. Just watch Mom.” Before I understood what he meant, Mom exploded. She grabbed a baseball bat and started chasing Richard around the living room. “Richard! Did a donkey kick you in the head today? Did you forget your meds?” “Gold digger? Liam personally handled the DNA test!” “Even without the test, look at her face! Anyone with a brain can see she’s my daughter!” “And you! Your daughter comes back and you don’t even care? You side with an outsider? Looks like you need a beating to straighten you out!” My jaw dropped. I could fit two eggs in there. Liam looked like he was used to it, signaling me not to worry. Richard was begging for mercy in no time, looking absolutely pathetic. It was hilarious. But I didn’t miss the flash of malice in his eyes when he looked down, or the venom in Chloe’s gaze. My suspicion was confirmed. These two were not as simple as they seemed. 5 That night, after updating my adoptive dad on the situation, I went downstairs to find some food. I heard rustling outside my door. Looking through the peephole, I saw someone lurking. As I walked down the stairs, I deliberately didn’t turn on the lights. I pretended not to see the stuff scattered on the steps or the person hiding in the corner. My foot slipped. Instinctively, I reached for the handrail. But a sudden push from behind sent me tumbling down the stairs. Shutterstock When I opened my eyes, I was in a hospital room with Mom and Liam looking anxious. “Serena, you’re awake! How do you feel?” “Does it hurt anywhere? You scared us to death!” Mom’s eyes were red as she hugged me. Liam was calmer. “Serena, do you remember how you fell?” I didn’t answer, but asked, “Where are Richard and Chloe?” “They said there was an emergency at the company and would come later.” I paused before speaking. “Mom, Liam, my fall wasn’t an accident. It was deliberate.” “What?!” they exclaimed in unison. I pulled out my phone and showed them the surveillance footage. “I was worried about conflicts with Chloe, so I installed a micro-camera at my door just in case.” The video clearly showed Chloe scattering beads on the floor. And when I slipped, she pushed me from behind. Mom and Liam were furious. “Chloe is evil! We can’t keep her in the house. She has to move out.” I held Mom’s hand, looking serious. “Mom, Liam, listen to me. Chloe isn’t as simple as she looks.” “Moving her out is just step one. She needs to be removed from the company too.” “This involves another reason for my return, but I can’t reveal too much yet. Please understand.” “Use our conflict as a reason to kick her out first. When I recover and join the company, I’ll slowly strip her of her power.” “There’s more to my disappearance years ago. I’m still investigating. Let’s not alert the enemy yet.” Mom and Liam exchanged a serious look. In the end, they agreed to my plan.

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My boyfriend, Hank, and I waited two years to get the factory’s housing allocation quota. A cozy 800-square-foot two-bedroom apartment with a balcony. Perfect for our upcoming wedding. The day before we were set to register our marriage, I had ten bucks in my pocket. I was planning to buy Hank a nice Dacron shirt for our wedding photos tomorrow. But as I walked past the factory school gate, I heard a few female workers whispering: “Did you hear? Judy got an apartment this time.” “For real? Those quotas are like gold dust. Everyone’s been eyeing them.” “I know, right? Heard Hank gave it to her. Judy’s been walking around with her nose in the air for days.” My heart sank. This wedding… might not be happening. 1 Judy was Hank’s apprentice. From the day she joined the factory, she’d been following him around like a lost puppy, “Master” this, “Master” that. Anyone with eyes could see what she was after. Ideally, Hank had always kept things professional with her. He shouldn’t be causing a scandal like this right before our wedding. I quickened my pace towards the workshop. From a distance, I saw Hank standing by his lathe. Judy had her head down, talking to him, shoulders shaking like she was crying. Before I reached them, Judy looked up and saw me. She forced an awkward smile. “Hey, Sarah.” Hank walked over and took my hand. “Sarah, what are you doing here? I thought you took the day off?” I stared at him and asked bluntly: “I heard Judy got the housing allocation.” “We waited over two years for the factory to release one quota. She’s been here six months. Why did she get it?” Hank quickly covered my mouth. “Keep it down. It’s not good if people hear.” “Judy’s quota… is ours.” I forced a smile. “Quotas aren’t just handed out. Even by seniority, it’s not her turn.” “Don’t worry about that. I made it happen.” Hank lowered his voice. “Judy’s family is in a tough spot. Her brother needs to get married ASAP, and the fiancée’s family doesn’t want an older sister hanging around. So they kicked her out.” “She’s just a girl, she can’t be homeless. I’m just helping her out.” I laughed in disbelief, stepping forward and forcing him back a half step. “Helping her out?” “You used my quota to help her. Did you ask me?” Hank’s face flushed red, his voice rising. “What’s yours or mine?!” “The factory gave that apartment to me. I can give it to whoever I want!” “Besides, we just registered the marriage for show. It’s not like I’m actually gonna live with her!” “Once her brother gets married, I’ll divorce her immediately…” Divorce? A nameless fire burned in my chest. My eyes widened, trembling with rage. “You’re talking about divorce? So you not only gave her the apartment, you married her?” “No wonder. I said that apartment wouldn’t change hands easily.” Seeing I was truly angry, Hank softened his tone. “Don’t be mad. Once the apartment stuff is sorted, I’ll divorce her and marry you properly.” “Then I’ll give you a grand wedding, okay?” “Not okay.” I took a deep breath, my voice cold. “Hank, a marriage certificate isn’t a joke. That makes you legally husband and wife. If you married her, what am I?” “You’re my girlfriend.” He said it so matter-of-factly, even a bit impatiently. “Why are you so hung up on this?” “Sarah, you’re usually so reasonable. Why are you being so stubborn about this?” “It’s just a piece of paper. Can you eat it?” I sneered. He really wasted his high school education. “You can’t eat it, but it can send you to jail.” “Do you think a sham marriage is a small thing?” “If the factory investigates, you’ll lose your senior technician title, maybe even get fired!” Hank scoffed. “Investigate what?” “We just tell everyone we broke up.” “Give it a year or two, Judy and I get divorced, then you and I register again. Problem solved.” His nonchalance made me sick to my stomach. “Hank, where do you get the nerve to think I’d still marry you?” “And where do you get the confidence to think I won’t expose this crap?” Hank pouted. “We’ve been together for years. Who in the factory doesn’t know we’re a thing?” “Besides me, who else would marry you?” “And if you expose this, my reputation is ruined, but do you think yours will be clean?” “A woman dumped by a man… people will talk behind your back wherever you go.” 2 Looking at the man in front of me, I suddenly felt cold all over. I almost spent my life with him. He looked down on women, mocked marriage, and was using my reputation to threaten me. Blood rushed to my head. I raised my hand and slapped him. Smack! Hank held his face, eyes wide with disbelief. “You dare hit me?” “Damn right I dare.” I looked at him coldly. “Hank, from today on, we are done.” “Sarah!” He roared. “Don’t you regret this!” I gave him a look of disdain and turned to leave. Suddenly, Judy popped out from behind him, blocking my path. Her eyes were red, tears falling like broken pearls. Her voice was as quiet as a mosquito, meant only for us. “Sarah, don’t blame Master.” She leaned closer. “Master still has you in his heart. He just pities a country girl like me.” “Look at you. Born in the city, educated, have a job, and a good man like Master willing to marry you. What’s one apartment quota?” “Besides, the factory will have more allocations. Maybe you’ll get one next time.” “But I’m different. If I don’t have this apartment, my dad will force me to marry the cripple in the east village…” I stepped sideways, putting some distance between us before raising my voice. “Judy, are you addicted to playing the victim?” Workers around us looked over. “Last winter, your mom took all your money, and you were crying at the factory gate at midnight. I was the one who took you home.” “My mom got up in the middle of the night to cook you noodles. I saw you shivering and gave you my new sweater. Did you forget all that?” Judy’s face went pale. I ignored her act. I wasn’t the one with a guilty conscience. I wanted everyone to know that Judy was the one who wronged me. “You acted all pitiful to gain my sympathy.” “I was even worried you’d get fired for being slow, so I asked Hank to mentor you personally. What did you say then?” I mimicked Judy’s voice: “Sarah~ You’re so good. I’ll definitely repay you someday.” Laughter erupted around us. Judy’s eyes filled with tears. I smirked. “Looking at it now, you really know how to repay people.” “Everyone take note. Helping Judy comes with a price. Look at me—boyfriend stolen, apartment snatched.” Hank frowned and stepped forward, shielding Judy. “Why bring up those petty past events?” “Who hasn’t helped someone before?” “Sarah, you’re being so petty. It’s beneath you.” I kicked him in the shin. “You two team up to bully me, and you have the nerve to call me petty?” Someone chimed in from the side. It was Lisa from the next group. “Just a few days ago, Judy was telling people that since Sarah is an only child and her family is well-off, helping her is expected.” Another female worker added: “Exactly. Last time you said your mom was marrying you off, Sarah went to the factory manager to plead your case so you could stay. And you turn around and do this?” Judy couldn’t lift her head, swaying like she might faint. Hank’s face was livid. He reached out and pulled her into his arms. He pointed at me coldly. “Sarah, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Just to embarrass her?” “I’m embarrassing her? Weren’t you two the ones who disgusted me first?” “If your Judy is so easily embarrassed, maybe stop doing embarrassing things.” With that, I ignored them and pushed through the crowd. 3 As soon as I reached the workshop door, Lisa chased after me. She grabbed my arm, looked around sneakily, and whispered: “Sarah, be careful.” “Just now, Judy was telling people you bully her because you’re a city girl.” “She said Master lost feelings for you ages ago and was just waiting to break up.” “What else did she say?” “She said… you’re fat and mean, not good enough for her good Master.” Lisa pouted. “Unlike her, who can do laundry and cook for Master.” “It makes me so mad!” “You’re a Model Worker! Women hold up half the sky, what’s so special about doing laundry and cooking!” “When she first came, she followed Hank around all day, calling him ‘Master’ so sweetly. Who couldn’t see what she was up to?” “A few days ago, Hank even took her brother to buy a bike.” Lisa held up two fingers. “Heard it cost two hundred bucks. Judy’s family is broke, how could they afford that?” Hank came from a regular family. For our wedding, he only offered $166 as a dowry. Yet he casually gave away a $200 bike. My anger peaked, then faded into a cold clarity. “I know. Thanks, Lisa.” 4 Back home. My mom was busy making dumplings. Seeing my face, she rushed over. “What’s wrong? Why the long face?” She craned her neck to look behind me. “Where’s Hank? Why didn’t he come back with you?” I didn’t speak. “Did the apartment thing fall through?” Her voice tightened. “Shouldn’t be. We waited the longest. Plus, didn’t your factory say key personnel get priority this year?” It was priority for key personnel. But last year, I helped Hank fix two machines. Now he was a grade above me. So the housing quota fell to him. “He gave the quota to Judy.” I sank into the sofa, speaking weakly. “They registered a marriage. Said it’s fake, just until Judy’s family situation stabilizes, then they’ll divorce.” Mom gasped. “What kind of nonsense is that? Are they crazy?” Just then, a bicycle bell rang outside the courtyard gate. I peeked out. It was Judy. She had changed out of her work clothes into a brand-new floral shirt. Holding a mesh bag with a few apples. Peeking around the gate. Seeing me, she gave a timid smile. “Sarah, I know I wronged you and Auntie about the apartment.” “These fruits are…” She planned to trade my apartment for a few rotten apples? My anger flared instantly. I jumped off the sofa and shoved her towards the exit. “Take your rotten apples and get out!” Startled by my shout, her tears fell instantly. “Sarah, I know you’re mad, but I really had no choice.” “I didn’t want to be dragged back home or sold for a dowry.” She sobbed, shoulders shaking. “My family thinks I got an apartment and married in the city, so they won’t come looking for me for a while.” “Master and I just borrowed the quota. Once my brother gets a wife and things settle down, I’ll divorce him immediately…” I didn’t buy a single tear. My eyes were fixed on her new shirt. Light blue with a white belt. Last month, an old classmate sent me one just like it. I was busy helping Hank fix machines, so I asked him to pick it up. He said he lost it on the way. Turns out it was lost onto Judy’s body. I curled my lip in a mocking smile. “You really like ‘borrowing’ things, don’t you?” “Borrowing a quota requires wearing a new shirt? Borrowing a quota requires Hank buying your brother a bike?” Judy’s face went white. She bit her lip and glanced inside. “Is Auntie home? I want to explain to Auntie…” “No need to explain!” Mom walked out, her face pale. “Our family doesn’t need your rotten apples! If you want to apologize sincerely, give the quota back to my daughter and get out of the factory.” Judy stepped back in fear, crying harder. “Auntie, please don’t be like this… I really…” Mom was breathing heavily, her finger shaking as she pointed at Judy. “Really what? Really shameless?” “My Sarah and Hank have been together for five years. She gave up a chance to go to the provincial capital for him.” “And you, here for six months, steal her man and dare to show up at my door!” Judy suddenly squatted on the ground, hugging her knees and wailing. “I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to live…” “I’m just a country girl, bullied at the factory. Only Master would help me…” 5 Before I could scold her, Hank came running. Frowning, he threw his precious bike aside and rushed to help her up. “What’s wrong? Who bullied you?” The tenderness in his voice felt like needles in my heart. Mom’s face went cold. She looked at me instinctively, patting my hand. Judy threw herself into Hank’s arms, crying harder. “Master, I just wanted to see Auntie, but Sarah and Auntie scolded me…” “Did I do something wrong? Maybe I shouldn’t take the quota. I’ll just go back to my village…” “Nonsense!” Hank stroked her hair and glared at me. “Sarah, what is wrong with you and your mom? Is it easy for a young girl like her? Do you have to drive her to death?” Mom was trembling with rage, pointing at Hank, speechless. I supported her, watching Hank hold Judy, coaxing her softly. “Don’t cry. I’m here. No one can bully you.” He took out a handkerchief and gently wiped Judy’s tears. Once she stopped crying, Hank glanced at Mom perfunctorily. “Auntie okay? Need to go to the hospital?” “Save your fake kindness!” Mom pointed at the door. “Take her and get out! Don’t ever come back!” Hank frowned, didn’t speak, helped Judy up, and said softly, “I’ll take you back.” He pushed his bike. Judy leaned against him. As they left, she looked back at me. There was a hint of triumph in her eyes. I watched their backs. Then looked at Mom’s pale face. Whatever feelings I had for Hank snapped right there. I helped Mom inside. She grabbed my hand. “Sarah, you can’t have a man like that. We don’t need that apartment. Mom will save up for you. We’ll live on our own capability.” I nodded. “Mom, don’t worry. Your daughter isn’t a pushover.” “I have to let them know who deserves that quota.” Mom looked at me and suddenly smiled, wrinkles gathering at the corners of her eyes. “Good. My daughter has grown up, has a mind of her own. Do whatever you want to do. No one bullies us.” “If your factory doesn’t listen to reason, I’ll… I’ll hang myself at their gate!” I quickly comforted her. “Mom, relax. Our Factory Manager hates underhanded tricks the most.” “Just rest at home and wait for my good news.”

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The moment the pregnant woman showed up at my door to stake her claim, I let out a slow, quiet breath. No one knew how long I had been waiting for this day. Her eyes, dripping with contempt, scanned me from head to toe. “Adrian loves—” I cut her off with a swift raise of my hand. “He loves you. I know.” In the next second, I pushed a wheelchair out from behind me. “Which is why she is now your problem.” The woman’s face went bone-white. “No! That’s impossible! Adrian told me his mother died years ago!” I waved a dismissive hand. “You misunderstand. This is his father’s mistress.” 1 The woman stared, utterly baffled. “Are… are you insane? What does his father’s mistress have to do with you?” I nodded in agreement. “You’re right, she has nothing to do with me. But now, she has everything to do with you.” I pulled the divorce papers from a folder and tucked them neatly into the collar of her shirt. “From now on, you’ll be responsible for this woman’s medical bills, caregiver fees, and living expenses. Oh, and child support for my daughter and me.” Without another word, I grabbed my packed suitcase and strode to the door. The pregnant woman was too stunned to even react. Ever since I’d found out about her, I’d been plotting my counterattack. His money? No, Adrian had moved all his assets long ago. His guilt? No, a man with no morals is incapable of guilt. “You stop right there!” she shrieked, finally finding her voice. “Why are you dumping his father’s old mistress on me?” “Because Adrian loves you,” I called back, my hand on the doorknob. “You won the prize. You’re the new lady of the house now!” The door slammed shut with a satisfying thud. I exhaled a long, heavy breath. The security lock on that door required a fingerprint to open from either side. She wasn’t getting out. She wanted to force me out? I just saved her the trouble. My phone buzzed the moment I stepped into the elevator. It was Adrian. I quickened my pace. I had just messed with his precious new love; he wouldn’t let this go. Over thirty missed calls. I answered none of them. A text message followed immediately: “You have thirty minutes to get your ass back home and give me a reasonable explanation!” An explanation? “There’s nothing to explain,” I typed back. “What goes around comes around. A stepmother is still a mother. It’ll be a beautiful story for the papers: your new love taking care of your father’s old love!” When we first got married, Adrian told me about his tragic childhood. His father’s mistress had moved into their home when he was fifteen, driving his mother to suicide. He swore he hated that adulterous pair with every fiber of his being. But fate has a way of balancing the scales. Less than two years later, his scumbag father died suddenly after a night of heavy drinking. And the stepmother, the one who had tearfully promised to take care of him, vanished overnight, taking every penny the family had. All that was left was the house that had belonged to his mother before the marriage. I thought my love could heal the scars of his past. Only now did I understand. He became the very man he swore he hated: his father. “What the hell are you talking about?” his angry reply came. “What does this have to do with Chloe? Why should she have to take care of that bitch?” His rage bled through every word. I replied instantly: “Because she loves you. Because she’s your soulmate. Because she isn’t with you for your money, she just wants a simple life with you.” If their love was that pure, what was a little sacrifice? I had once tearfully asked him why. Why, when he hated cheaters more than anything, was he walking down his father’s path? He was silent for a long time before delivering an answer that pierced my heart. “You’re a good woman, Ava. But Chloe… she makes my heart race. When I’m with her, I feel like all my hard work means something. I finally understand now that you can’t force love. I… I finally understand my father.” Looking at his shameless face, my world went dark. He said he understood his father. Understood the irresistible pull of “true love.” But he had forgotten his own mother, who had thrown herself from a building. Of course. A son can never truly empathize with his mother. But he will always find a way to excuse his father’s sins. Since you understand your father so well, Adrian, allow me to help you relive the pain you’ve so conveniently forgotten. 2 Adrian ran a small company. I had no idea what he actually earned. For the first few years of our marriage, he gave me a fixed amount for household expenses every month. But after that woman started working for him, he changed. He was constantly complaining about the business failing. He mortgaged our home—his pre-marital property—for $280,000 to get a cash injection. And I was the guarantor. It only got worse from there. Business was bad, so he canceled our daughter’s extracurricular classes. Business was bad, so he cut off all financial support for the family. “Business is bad” became his universal shield. And yet, his mistress was always dressed in designer clothes, a picture of wealth and leisure. Only my daughter and I were part of the slowly collapsing world he was leaving behind. I couldn’t just wait for the inevitable. One day, he would kick us to the curb. A plan began to form in my mind. It went more smoothly than I ever could have imagined. His father and the mistress had never officially divorced. After some digging, I found her. Seeing her in person was a shock. She was covered in a roadmap of strange scars, as thin as a skeleton. Her medical report listed a host of infectious and chronic diseases. It seemed her life after running away with the money hadn’t been easy. She studied me, a flicker of cunning in her clouded eyes. “You’re… you’re Adrian’s wife?” I didn’t answer. For women like her, I felt nothing but a deep, visceral hatred. Legally, she was Adrian’s stepmother. Matrimonially, she was his father’s spouse. So when the local social services agency failed to get a response from Adrian, they delivered the old woman directly to our door. I completed the paperwork as quickly as possible. The moment she was inside, her dull eyes lit up. She wheeled herself around the apartment, her gaze sweeping over everything as if she were already preparing to take her place as the new matriarch. What she didn’t know was that Adrian hadn’t set foot in this home in over six months. Still, I took excellent care of her. I raised money for her treatments. After all, the best punishment for a mistress is to let her reap what she sowed. She thought she was coming to claim her throne. She had no idea she was just coming to take out the trash. 3 I pulled out my phone and opened the live feed from the security cameras at home. Adrian was back. He looked completely bewildered. The pregnant woman was sobbing in his arms, while the woman in the wheelchair was wailing, slumped over the armrests. Adrian just kept pinching the bridge of his nose. Soon, a second text arrived: “Ava, don’t think you can control me by bringing this woman back. Drop your pathetic little schemes. I was going to give you a decent settlement, but now, I see you don’t deserve a damn thing.” A small smile played on my lips. “You’re overthinking it. We’ll talk about settlements later. For now, you need to pay off the medical and caregiver bills that woman has racked up. All the invoices are clipped to the divorce papers.” On the camera feed, Adrian slowly began to flip through the stack of documents. His expression twisted into a mask of rage. “Late-stage syphilis?” “AHH—” The woman beside him shot up from the couch. “What did you say? Who has late-stage syphilis?” Yes. That was the real reason social services had brought her to us. No nursing home would take her, the hospital wouldn’t keep her, and nine out of her last eight caregivers had quit. The only option left was direct family care. So, you see, I was looking forward to this day even more than she was. “All of your mother’s expenses during this time were covered by personal loans,” I texted. “The total is $12,000. Please settle it as soon as possible.” On screen, Adrian kicked the coffee table, sending it flying. Glass shattered. The two women shrieked in unison. The woman in the wheelchair flinched, and a dark puddle began to form beneath her, dripping down her pant leg. No one moved. The pregnant woman caught the smell, gagged, and threw up. A moment later, she grabbed her purse and ran. Adrian followed right behind her. I kept my eyes on the woman in the wheelchair. Just as I expected, she shakily pulled out her phone. The people from social services had instructed her very carefully. If her children refused to support her, she could call the police. The police would charge Adrian with abandonment. For the past few weeks, her threats were all I heard: “If you don’t get me the imported medicine, I’ll sue you!” “If you don’t hire me a caregiver, I’ll sue you!” “If you don’t cook me decent meals, I’ll sue you!” To prepare for today’s performance, I had catered to her every whim. The expensive supplements in her bowl, the gold jewelry on her wrists—all of it fed her confidence and her greed. “Hello? Police?” her voice crackled through the monitor. “My son and daughter-in-law have abandoned me, a sick old woman, to die at home! I want to press charges!” Two hours later, Adrian was escorted back by two police officers. The once proud and arrogant man now looked like a beaten dog. He collapsed by the door, digging his fingers deep into his hair. “Mr. Hayes,” one of the officers said sternly, “abandoning a seriously ill relative is a criminal offense. We expect you to resolve this family matter appropriately. If we receive another call, we will be forced to file a formal case.” And what about the pregnant Chloe? Legally, Adrian had no obligation to her. But this woman—the one who stole his family’s money and drove his mother to her death—he was legally bound to support her for life. That’s the law. I used his own weapon against him. I used his responsibilities to block his path to “true love.” He finally understood his father, did he? Then in the dead of night, he could explain to his mother’s ghost just how noble this inherited “true love” of theirs truly was. The wheelchair rolled over. The stepmother reached out a hand, her face devoid of any remorse. “Adrian, sweetie, why dwell on the past? Mommy’s back now, isn’t she? That Chloe girl, she’s not the reliable type. Listen to me, Ava is much easier to handle. You need to go get her back.” “Shut your mouth!” Adrian shot up. “When you ran off with all that money, did you ever stop to think if I would starve to death? Now that you’re sick and have nowhere else to go, you remember you have a son? Who the hell do you think you are to tell me what to do?” Seeing his resolve, the woman just shrugged. “Fine. If you want to disown me, I have nothing to say. But I’m still your mother. I raised you for two years, so you have to support me for life! I don’t like that Chloe bitch. Get Ava back here now!” She wheeled herself into the master bedroom and slammed the door. My phone buzzed again with a message from Adrian: “You brought her here, you deal with her! I don’t have time for your drama. This has nothing to do with Chloe. She has no obligation to be involved!” 4 See? That is the calculation of a scumbag. To him, marriage is a game to be exploited. He found the perfect loophole. Let Chloe, in the name of true love, enjoy all the benefits. And let me, in the name of duty, bear all the risks. Social services, just doing their job, delivered the foul-smelling woman right to my doorstep. The entire world seemed to be conspiring with him to screw over his wife. He wasn’t stupid. Not at all. He knew exactly how to use the shackles of marriage to legally plunder the person sleeping next to him. I sent him the $12,000 bill again. “Pay your debt. This was for your mother’s treatment.” His call came instantly. “I’ll say it again, that woman is not my mother! She’s a bitch, and I’m not paying a cent for her. You treated her without my consent, so that’s your personal debt!” He hung up. A ringing filled my ears. Fine. If that’s how he wanted it. I forwarded the recording of our call to his stepmother. “Mona, you heard him. Adrian refuses to acknowledge this debt. That means the $12,000 is on you.” She panicked. “Ava, you know I don’t have any money! If I had that kind of cash, I wouldn’t be in this mess…” I cut her off. “You’ve forgotten. When Adrian’s father passed, he left behind a house. You are the legal heir to 25% of it.” She was stunned. “A house?” “Yes. It was his mother’s personal property. After she died, Adrian and his father each inherited 50%. When his father died, his 50% was split between you and Adrian. That gives you 25% and Adrian 75%.” “Adrian would never recognize your share. You ran away with the money; to him, your claim is worthless. But if you sign that share over to me to cover the debt, it’s a different story. Not only will I continue to pay for your future treatments, but your current debt will be wiped clean.” She was silent. The only reason Adrian had held onto that old house was because his stepmother’s disappearance had made it impossible to finalize the inheritance. “Fine!” she texted back. “I’ll sign! But you have to put it in writing that you will be responsible for my treatment! Don’t let me end up homeless again!” “You have my word.” The next day, after dropping my daughter at school, I went back and she signed the Debt Assumption Agreement. The entire process didn’t require Adrian’s consent. That 25% property right was the first trophy in my war. It came from the hands of a woman I despised, but in that moment, I truly believed: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. However, the debt I incurred was still legally marital debt. Next, I moved Adrian’s stepmother into a new rental apartment. Her infectious diseases meant I had to keep her isolated to protect my daughter. This new rent, just like her medical bills, became another clear marital debt in Adrian’s name. After all, I was fulfilling his legal duty. Back at home, I began a systematic liquidation. I sold off any valuable items at a discount. The cash went to paying down the loans I’d taken out for her treatment. Then, I listed the apartment for rent. This house, which he’d bought before our marriage, brought in $4,500 a month—just enough to cover his mother’s ongoing expenses. My parents started helping with my daughter’s school runs. You see, sometimes fate has a bitter sense of irony. He thought he had set the rules of the game, and I was the player destined to be trapped. But he forgot that rules are a double-edged sword. He could build walls, but I could carve out an escape route. With these maneuvers, I had turned the pile of liabilities he’d left me into a self-sustaining system. After a few days of silence from me, he grew smug, assuming I had finally accepted my fate. Until he tried to open his front door and found his fingerprint no longer worked. A strange tenant answered. When he saw that every trace of me and our daughter had been erased from the home, real panic finally set in. He called me frantically, but my phone was turned off. Soon, a thick envelope arrived for him. The first document was the Deed of Gift for the 25% share of the ancestral home. I’d attached a sticky note: “Friendly reminder: No need to find her for a signature, the title has already been transferred. Awaiting partition. If you wish to sell, please consult with me.” Next was his stepmother’s one-year lease agreement for $36,000, attached with a doctor’s note recommending strict isolation. Then came the caregiver contract, for $12,000 a month. The notes section read: “Specialized care for infectious diseases, high-risk hazard pay included.” Finally, there was a meticulously itemized Summary of Advanced Payments: medical bills, living expenses, nutritional supplements… the total was staggering. He threw the documents to the ground and roared in public. “Ava! If I ever give you another damn cent, I’m a dog!” Finally, he sued me for damages to his property. He demanded I immediately cease my infringement and return his pre-marital property. He demanded I return all rental income. He demanded I pay all legal fees. I checked the court date. What a coincidence. His mistress was about to give birth. A true double blessing. Then let this trial be my wedding gift to them both.

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