Category: English

Three years after I got out of prison, I ran into Seraphina Rowe on Sycamore Lane, the place where our story began. She was taking a leisurely stroll with her new husband. I was just standing under a plane tree, lost in thought, wearing an old jacket that had been washed so many times it was nearly white. She walked right past me without a second glance. But ten minutes later, she came back. Alone. “Adrian… It’s been a long time.” My nails dug into my palms. I forced a calm smile. “You have the wrong person.” A flash of pain crossed her eyes. She grabbed my shoulders, her composure cracking. “Adrian, sending you to prison… it was never what I wanted.” “You have money, you have looks,” she pleaded, her voice tight. “You could still have a great life after getting out. But Leo is different. He’s an orphan, he has nothing. A criminal record would have destroyed him!” I brushed her hands away, my voice flat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Please don’t harass me, or I’ll call the police.” I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a look of stunned disbelief. The boy she once knew, the rich kid Adrian Vance who had seen his entire world in her eyes, had died three years ago. He died the moment she submitted the false evidence that sent him to prison. 1. A soft rustle, the sound of something light hitting the ground. I turned to look and saw a folded piece of paper lying on a fallen sycamore leaf. My release papers. Ever since I got out, finding a job has been next to impossible because of my record. I’d gotten into the habit of carrying them with me everywhere. I bent down to pick them up, but a slender, pale hand was faster. Looking up, I saw Seraphina staring at the document, her eyes wide. “Adrian…” She started to say something else, but I snatched the papers from her hand, cutting her off. “Thanks,” I said, my voice cold and distant, before walking away. How strange. She was the one who destroyed me, and now she was playing the part of the long-lost lover. The sycamore leaves drifted down around me, but I could still feel her gaze burning into my back. I felt nothing. I just kept walking until I rounded the corner. I passed by our old university and saw a large banner hanging over the main gate, thanking Seraphina Rowe for a generous donation. I couldn’t help but stop, taking in the familiar campus. Just then, two figures I knew well walked out of the gates. It was Leo Foster and Mr. Davison, our old homeroom teacher. They both froze when they saw me. “Adrian? Is that you? It’s been so long! Where have you been all these years?” Mr. Davison still recognized me; I guess I hadn’t changed that much. A genuine smile touched my lips, but before I could speak, Leo cut in. “You probably didn’t hear, Mr. Davison. After graduation, Adrian here went to prison.” A flicker of shock crossed our old teacher’s face, but he quickly masked it. My gaze shifted to Leo. Just as I expected, the look in his eyes was a toxic mix of smugness and contempt. “Oh! That reminds me!” Mr. Davison suddenly exclaimed. “I still have some of your old things I confiscated in my office. They were too valuable to throw out. I’m heading there now, I can give them back to you.” When we got to his office, I saw what he meant by “valuable.” He handed me a small box. I sorted through the yellowed pages inside. They were all love letters I had written to Seraphina. As a teenager, I must have written her name a thousand times. “And this,” he said, pulling out a small red jewelry box. “I kept it safe for you.” I took the box and opened it gently. Inside, a silver necklace still glittered. I felt a pang in my chest and turned it over. There, engraved on the back, were my initials. It was one half of a matching set I had given her seven years ago when I was trying to win her over. Back then, when I liked someone, I wanted to give them the best, the most expensive things. I’d seen the set in a magazine and knew I had to have it for us. I even had them custom engraved with our initials. But she had turned it in to the teacher, claiming it was a distraction from her studies. I gave her the one with my initials. The one with hers, I wore all through my youth. I snapped back to the present with a silent, bitter laugh. A laugh at my own naivety back then, and at the wreck I had become. “It’s nothing valuable,” I said, my voice hollow. “You can just throw it all away.” And just like that, the necklace that had once held all my hopes and dreams was dropped into the trash can by my own hand. 2. After saying goodbye to Mr. Davison, I left the school. I didn’t expect to see Leo still waiting for me outside. I tried to ignore him, but he chased after me, shedding any pretense of dignity. “Adrian! Why did you have to come back?” I stopped. “What’s the matter? Does this city have a new rule against ex-convicts?” At the mention of prison, I saw a flicker of superiority in his eyes. “So you do know your place. Good. You’re not some golden boy anymore. Seraphina and I are married now.” He took a step closer, his voice a low threat. “You’d better stay away from my wife.” This arrogant posture was so different from the timid boy who used to hide behind Seraphina’s back that I almost didn’t recognize him. I looked him straight in the eye, a cold smile playing on my lips. “Shouldn’t you be the one who remembers I was in prison?” “After all, Leo,” I murmured, “aren’t you afraid of ghosts?” The color drained from his face. A few years of comfort had made him careless. He was seething, but he had no comeback. He just ran a hand through his hair in frustration and stormed off. I stood there for a long time, lost in thought, until dark clouds gathered overhead, and I hurried back towards my shabby rented room. My shoes were cheap and ill-fitting, and the back of my ankle was rubbed raw and burning with pain. I had just made it inside when the sky ripped open and the rain began to fall in sheets. I shut the old glass window, but water still seeped in through the cracks. To be honest, I’ve only lived in a place like this twice in my life. Once is now, in this rundown little room I’ve called home for the three years since my release. The other time was seven years ago, at Seraphina’s house. Seven years ago, I was a different person. I had money and I had love. I acted without thinking of the consequences. And someone like me, against all odds, was completely captivated by Seraphina Rowe. I was surrounded by beautiful faces, but there was something unique about the girl who always had her nose in a book. It was no surprise I fell for her. I tried everything to get her attention. I knew she loved to study, so I bought her entire libraries of textbooks and research materials. I knew she only ate at the cafeteria, so I bribed the staff to give her extra portions. But she was untouchable, an ice queen. Every time I got close, she would just give me a look of pure disdain. Then, a friend told me her grandfather was sick in the hospital. I found out she was scrimping and saving every penny to pay for his surgery. The hospital bills were piling up, and they were about to turn him away. Without a second thought, I took a fraction of the trust fund my father had left me and paid for everything. When my mother found out, she was furious. We had a massive fight. I’d never been treated like that by my own family. I ran out of the house, swearing I would never go back. And that’s where she found me, on Sycamore Lane, huddled under a tree in the pouring rain. Through the downpour, I heard her voice, a strange mix of anger and concern. “Adrian, are you an idiot? Hiding under a tree in a thunderstorm? Are you trying to get struck by lightning?” Tears welled in my eyes. I heard myself choke out the words, “Seraphina… this idiot has nowhere else to go.” That was the first time she let me get close. She took me back to her home. 3. That night, the rain beat against her windowpane just like it was now. I had never been in a house so small, so sparse. But when I saw her sitting at her desk, a strange sense of peace settled over me. The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them. “Seraphina, be with me. I know you need money. If you’re with me, I promise you’ll have it.” The lamplight flickered across her face, hiding and revealing her expression. She was silent for a long time. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke. “This is just for the money.” It was a strange, disconnected statement, as if she were saying it as much for herself as for me. The words should have stung, but they didn’t. Because in that moment, I knew. She was finally letting me in. Later, she got into Northwood University’s prestigious law program. I used my family’s money to get into the same school. I was deliriously happy then. I believed we were in love. We were like any other couple, holding hands, kissing in the campus gardens. I was so naive, thinking our story was a real-life romance novel. I was her hero. It wasn’t until our sophomore year that another boy started appearing by her side: Leo Foster. Seraphina told me he was just a friend from her hometown, a freshman in her department. When I learned that, like her, he was an orphan raised by relatives, I didn’t press the issue. But the way he looked at me was anything but friendly. He would take gifts I gave Seraphina and show them off subtly, trying to make me jealous. He would invent excuses to pull her away from our dates. He would “accidentally” break my things, trying to embarrass me. In any story, he was the villain. I played the part of the magnanimous boyfriend and never said a word to her about it. But the worst thing he ever did was hire a group of thugs to assault me in an alley. He had asked to meet me at a coffee shop that day. I was running late because I was visiting my mother at our old family estate. That small delay, that one twist of fate, changed everything. The thugs he hired mistook Leo, who also happened to be wearing a pink shirt that day, for me. They dragged him into the alley instead. In the struggle to defend himself, Leo killed one of them. By the time I arrived, all I saw was a blood-splattered Leo and a body on the ground. I told Seraphina everything. She was the one person I trusted. But I never imagined that I would be the one charged with murder. I thought there had been a mistake. I tried to explain, frantic, desperate. I told her I was innocent, that I wasn’t even there. But Seraphina just stood there, shielding Leo behind her, and gave me a single, chilling look. “Does it matter if you’re innocent?” she asked, her voice light as air. “What matters is that Leo won’t be the one going to prison.” In that one, sickening instant, I understood everything. Why she wouldn’t believe me, even though Leo was the one covered in blood. Why she identified me as the killer, even though I had an alibi. She knew. She knew from the very beginning that Leo had killed that man. She was just playing dumb, pinning the crime on me. The so-called evidence against me? She submitted it herself. She was protecting him. And she was willing to send me to prison to do it. All along, it really had been just for the money. In the end, she chose him, the boy from her world, not mine. A loud clap of thunder outside jolted me awake. I was slumped over on the edge of my bed. I wiped the tears from my eyes and rubbed my temples, my head throbbing from the nightmare. Just then, there was a knock on the door. It was late. A knot of suspicion tightened in my gut. I peered through the peephole and saw Seraphina. Her hair and shoulders were soaked with rain.

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My new roommate, Becky, asked me for a thousand bucks the moment we met. She pointed at my bed and said, “It took me three hours to clean that. A grand should cover it.” I was dumbfounded. “I didn’t ask you to clean it. Why should I pay you?” She put her hands on her hips, her voice rising. “Doesn’t matter if you asked or not. I put in the labor, you pay the cash! If you don’t, you’re exploiting the poor!” I refused. So she bullied me. She isolated me. She turned the whole dorm against me. I fell into a deep depression and, in the end, took my own life. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on move-in day. Becky was standing there, hand out, asking for money. Chapter 1 “You must be Lily.” As soon as I rolled my suitcase into the dorm room, a girl came up to greet me. It was just the two of us. Only one bed had sheets on it. I glanced at the nametag on that bed: Becky Wilson. “Hi, I’m Lily.” Becky gestured around the room. “Pretty clean, right?” I looked around. It was spotless. Top to bottom, inside and out. It looked freshly scrubbed. “Yeah, it’s really clean.” She grinned. “Of course it is. I just finished cleaning. You have no idea how much dust was in here when I arrived! Especially on your bed.” My heart skipped a beat. “You cleaned my bed too?” She nodded. “Duh. We’re roommates. No big deal. You don’t have to give me much, just a thousand dollars.” Before I could process that, she shoved a QR code in my face. I froze. “What? A thousand?” She squinted at me. “From your tone, sounds like you don’t want to pay.” I was caught between a rock and a hard place. “My family isn’t well-off. Every cent my parents gave me is budgeted. I really can’t spare a thousand dollars for a cleaning fee. Besides, I didn’t ask you to clean. I could have done it myself.” Before I could finish, she started yelling. “Are you serious? You’re really not going to pay? What kind of person are you? Exploiting my labor like that!” Her voice was so loud it attracted students from the hallway. Just then, our other two roommates walked in. She grabbed them, playing the victim. “Guys, come look at this! Someone’s trying to scam me out of my hard work! I spent three hours scrubbing this place so she could walk into a nice, clean room. And now? She flips out and won’t even give me a little tip for my effort.” I was frantic. “You’re twisting everything! I never asked you to clean for me. If you’re so mad, put the dust back! I’ll clean it myself. Or next time it’s your turn for chores, I’ll do it for you.” Becky sneered. “Next time? You just don’t want to pay!” The tension was thick. Then, one of the new roommates spoke up. “Alright, chill out. I thought it was something serious. It’s just money? I’ll pay.” She dropped her designer bag onto the bed labeled “Sophie”. She pulled out her phone and scanned Becky’s QR code. “Honestly, people should get paid for their work. It’s basic decency.” She was dressed head-to-toe in luxury brands I’d only seen on TV. The fourth roommate, Chloe, followed suit. “It is pretty clean. Thanks, Becky.” “A thousand isn’t much. My family pays our cleaning lady three grand a visit.” “Here, I’ll send you two thousand. Consider the extra a welcome gift.” “Oh my god, thank you guys! You are so sweet. I’m so lucky to meet you!” Becky gushed. The three of them exchanged smiles. Then, they all turned to look at me. Their eyes were full of silent pressure. Waiting for me to pay up. Chapter 2 Staring into those familiar, judging eyes, the fog in my brain finally cleared. I realized I was living this nightmare for the second time. In my past life, I caved under the pressure and sent Becky 150 bucks. She didn’t accept it. Instead, she went around telling everyone I was a cheapskate who exploited her labor. Sophie and Chloe were rich kids; money meant nothing to them. They couldn’t understand why I wouldn’t just cough up a thousand dollars. They decided I was ruining the dorm vibe and started freezing me out. The other students followed their lead. If the rich girls didn’t like me, there must be something wrong with me. I was excluded from group projects, leading to failed classes. No one wanted to room with me on trips. I finally snapped and applied to move off-campus. The counselor called me in. Her opening line was brutal. “Becky comes from a similar background as you, yet she’s helpful and optimistic. Look at yourself—antisocial, selfish, running away at the first sign of trouble.” “The world doesn’t revolve around you! If you keep acting like this, maybe you should just drop out.” Those words haunted me. I spiraled into self-doubt and severe depression. I became a ghost in my own dorm room. The final push came from Becky. She found my diagnosis papers. She laughed. “A parasitic leech getting depressed? How dramatic. What kind of parents raise such a disgusting person?” At that moment, all I could see were my parents’ faces as they sent me off to college. Their hair graying from overwork just to pay my tuition. And I was failing them. In a moment of heat, I jumped from the seventh floor. I regretted it before I hit the ground. Seeing this scene again, my heart pounded. This time, I was going to give Becky back everything she gave me, with interest. Chapter 3 I whipped out my phone and scanned Becky’s code. I sent her three thousand dollars—every cent my parents gave me for the semester. “I just came from the countryside, I didn’t know the rules. Don’t take what I said to heart. Thanks to Sophie and Chloe for showing me the way!” “This is all the money my parents gave me. Take it all. I realized money isn’t important, our friendship is. I can always earn more money, but I can’t let your hard work go unrewarded.” Becky was stunned. Sophie smirked, satisfied. She liked being the leader. Becky was overjoyed, her finger hovering over the “Accept” button. Then Sophie spoke up. “Wait, you’re actually going to take it?” Becky paused. “Huh? Well, she sent it to me.” Sophie laughed, a weird, high-pitched sound. “Wow. Some people really have no shame. Taking a poor farmer’s blood money.” Chloe, Sophie’s loyal sidekick, chimed in. “Even my maid donates 800 a month to charity.” Becky’s face turned red. “Fine, I’ll send back two thousand then.” Sophie cut her off. “Are you that desperate for cash? We gave you four grand already. Isn’t that enough? You think I don’t know the dorms are professionally cleaned before we move in?” Becky turned purple. Her face darkened. “Fine! I’ll send it all back! Why are you yelling at me?” The money bounced back to my account. I asked innocently, “Are you sure? But you cleaned my bed.” Becky rolled her eyes at me and went to unpack her stuff without a word. Sophie wasn’t done. “Don’t be so petty. Giving us attitude just because we called you out? I hate people who hold grudges. If you don’t want to live here, move out.” Becky snapped. “Why should I move? You move! I was here first!” Maybe she got too worked up, but she suddenly collapsed to the floor. She laid there for a few seconds, eyes fluttering, then snapped them open. She looked around, confused. Finally, her gaze landed on me. She smirked. Then she climbed up, put on her headphones, and started crying loudly. “I even prepared gifts for you guys! My kindness is wasted!” Sophie loved being the center of attention. Hearing about gifts piqued her interest. “Really? You got us gifts? What are they?” Becky sobbed. “Nothing! You guys don’t see me as a friend, so I won’t bother you!” It sounded like she was cutting ties, but her tone was soft, inviting comfort. Sophie walked over. She didn’t apologize, but she tossed Becky a tissue. “Stop being dramatic. Show me the gifts.” Becky sniffled. “My family are farmers too, so it’s nothing expensive. Just some clay figurines I made over the summer.” “Oh, handmade? That’s cool,” Sophie said, eyes lighting up. She had a thing for “authentic” crafts. Becky quickly steered the conversation toward me. “My little gift is nothing compared to Lily’s. She said she was going to treat us all to a meal at the biggest restaurant near campus.” Becky shot me a challenging look. If I guessed right, she was reborn too. She used this trick in my past life. I immediately denied it and argued with her. It saved my wallet, but it deepened the misunderstanding. Sophie and Chloe thought I was a liar and a flake. She was trying to do it again. If I refused, I’d repeat the past. If I agreed, she’d order the most expensive items on the menu and stick me with the bill. I’d be broke and humiliated. But she forgot option three. Facing Sophie’s skeptical look, I denied half of it. “You must have misheard. I’m a farm girl, I can’t afford a fancy restaurant. I said I’m a pretty good cook. If we had a kitchen, I’d make you guys a home-cooked meal. Too bad I can’t afford to rent a place with a kitchen.” Sophie and Chloe exchanged smiles. The doubt vanished, replaced by their natural, breezy arrogance. They believed me over Becky. “A kitchen? That’s easy. My parents bought me a condo in the complex next door. I’m sick of takeout anyway. Let’s do it tonight.” Chloe nodded enthusiastically. Becky bit her lip, forcing a sinister smile. “That’s great! I can’t wait.” I knew she was plotting something. Buying expensive ingredients behind my back and making me pay. Or tampering with the food. She wanted to drive a wedge between me and the others. Sure enough, she “accidentally” sent me a text, deleting it two seconds later. But I saw it. [You think you can win just because you came back? I’ll make everyone hate you again! You’re too stupid to beat me. Kneel and apologize, and maybe I’ll go easy on you. Heehee!] I mentally gave her the finger. This time, I’m not losing. Chapter 4 After unpacking, we all went our separate ways. At 5 PM, Becky tagged me in the group chat. [@Lily, babe, where are you? Everyone’s here! We’re just waiting for the chef!] [So sorry, the guys from the class next door heard you were treating us and insisted on coming. I tried to say no, but they just wanted to join the fun. They said they won’t eat if there’s not enough food.] [Don’t worry, I bought them some snacks. They won’t touch your cooking.] She spammed a few photos. Sophie’s luxurious apartment was packed with people. Our entire department seemed to be there. And on the counter sat piles of premium seafood. [The seafood you asked me to order arrived! Come prep it before it goes bad!] Jesus. That was at least seven or eight grand worth of food. She claimed the extra guests wouldn’t eat, but could we really let them stand there watching us feast? She was setting me up to fail. I didn’t panic. I sent a “shocked rabbit” emoji and went silent. Because my Chopped Chili Fish Head was ready. I walked out of the kitchen with the dish. I heard Sophie screaming into her phone. “Becky! Why did you bring a crowd to my apartment? Did I say you could?” “Do you know how many germs that many people carry? I am speechless!” “And Lily changed the location at 2 PM! Why are you still at my place?” “The food is on the table, we’re not waiting for you. Don’t come! Since you brought everyone there, you host them. Don’t make me look cheap!” “You and Lily are both farm girls, you must know how to cook. Make them something! Don’t let them starve!” “What? You can order it but you can’t pay for it? You took four grand from us! Stop acting poor.” I placed the last dish on the table. Sophie hung up, following the scent to the table. Her eyes lit up. “It smells amazing! Is that wild mushroom soup?”

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Julian Sterling drove over to pick me up. The man was usually an iceberg—cold, ascetic, untouchable. But there he was, letting his brand-new secretary sit in his passenger seat. That was the moment I knew: this marriage was dead in the water. 1 That day, Julian pulled up to the curb. When I opened the passenger door, I froze. A young, pretty girl was already occupying the seat, flashing a sugary sweet smile at me. “Hi, Mrs. Sterling!” She greeted me politely enough. But she made zero move to get her ass out of the seat. My eyes narrowed, shifting to Julian. He was looking down, finishing a call, completely oblivious to the silent warfare happening two feet away from him. We had plans to go to an exclusive auction tonight. I had been looking forward to this date. I’d spent hours getting ready, hair done, dress perfect. I didn’t expect to find a squatter in the front seat. “Hi, Mrs. Sterling. I’m Lola. I’m Mr. Sterling’s new Executive Assistant.” Her smile widened, revealing two cute little dimples. “I heard you guys were going to a private auction tonight, so I begged Mr. Sterling to let me tag along. Just to broaden my horizons, you know? Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you two at all.” My heart instantly dropped into the basement. I knew this man. He was distant. He had boundaries made of steel. He didn’t just let people into his personal space. We got together through a merger—a strategic union. We weighed the pros and cons and chose each other. Outsiders joked that I was marrying a monk. But after we made it official, Julian would hold me with a gentle look in his eyes. In our most intimate moments, the corners of his eyes would turn a flushed red. He once told me, “You are my wife. We are one entity. You are different from everyone else.” Today, it felt like the fine print on that contract had changed. 2 But I wasn’t some shrinking violet trained to swallow insults. I was Summer Vance. I didn’t cater to anyone’s mood but my own. “Get out.” I ordered her out cold. Zero mercy. The girl froze. She clearly didn’t expect me to slap her down so publicly on our first meeting. Maybe my tone was too harsh, because Lola looked completely lost. “I… I’m sorry, Mrs. Sterling.” Her voice trembled with unshed tears as she scrambled into the back seat, looking like a kicked puppy. Julian finished his call and finally looked over. He realized I was pissed. A look of helpless indulgence crossed his face. He leaned over to buckle my seatbelt. Feeling that the seat position had been changed, I adjusted it back with aggressive, impatient jerks. The whole ordeal made my blood boil. “Annoying as hell. Who gave anyone the nerve to mess with my seat settings?” The air in the car turned to ice. The girl in the back didn’t dare make a sound. Julian frowned slightly. His tone was calm, reasonable. “If you’re in a bad mood, we can just go home.” In the rearview mirror, I saw the woman silently wiping away tears. I was over it. “Lola, was it? I’m not in the mood anymore. Call yourself an Uber. Julian and I are going home.” Her face went pale. She looked weakly at Julian. He made no move to save her. She got out of the car, looking like her soul had been crushed. 3 Julian would never embarrass me in front of outsiders. He knew how to control the room. That’s why he suggested going home. Issues get solved behind closed doors. That was our unspoken rule. “She’s just a college grad fresh out of school. Why are you lowering yourself to bicker with her?” Back home, Julian pulled me into his arms. “First time.” Julian looked confused. “What?” “In all these years, this is the first time you’ve let another woman sit in your passenger seat.” He didn’t expect that to be the trigger. Everyone in our circle knew how exceptional Julian Sterling was. Countless women threw themselves at him. But he was clean. He walked through a garden of flowers and never let a single leaf stick to him. Julian chuckled softly, rubbing my hair. “I can’t believe I actually made you jealous.” He leaned down to kiss me, his nose grazing my cheek. “She is my subordinate. That’s it. “There will never be anything else between her and me.” Julian cupped my face, staring deep into my eyes. His voice was low, heavy with a promise. 4 A woman’s intuition is basically a sniper rifle. Even though I’d only met Lola once, my gut screamed that this girl had designs on Julian. I thought my little power move at the car would be enough. I was wrong. The diamond necklace from the auction—the one meant for me—was around her neck the very next day. Harper, Julian’s Chief of Staff, sent me a photo and a screenshot of a social media post. In the photo, the crescent moon diamond necklace sat on Lola’s pale neck, making her look delicate and precious. Her eyes were red and puffy, but the corners of her mouth were turned up in a smile. Presumably, she cried all night and received a consolation prize from a certain someone. The screenshot was from Lola’s timeline: [The Big Boss said girls need to be strong even when they’re wronged! Wiping my tears. Yes, sir, my Captain!] xoxo Followed by a few “fighting” emojis and a picture of the necklace in its velvet box. My blood turned to slush. I hate to admit it, but she got to me. It felt like finding a squashed mosquito on my favorite white silk scarf. It was a strange feeling. I wanted to drive my yellow Ferrari 180 mph straight to the office and slap her twice across the face. But looking at my manicured hands, I realized that engaging with a low-tier “Pick Me” girl was beneath my tax bracket. I called my SA at Hermès. Her voice practically vibrated with joy. “Mrs. Sterling, don’t worry! I will empty out Shanghai if I have to. I’ll get the stock allocated and delivered immediately!” That afternoon. Before the workday ended. Every female assistant and employee in the CEO’s office—forty-six people in total—received a gift from the President’s wife. Everyone except Lola. A Hermès necklace worth about $15,000. Sure, the unit price didn’t match the $300,000 auction piece, but I won on volume. Harper handled it beautifully. The condition for receiving the gift was a mandatory social media post with specific copy: [The Boss’s Wife says every girl deserves the best! Clenched fist emoji. Yes, ma’am, my Queen!] The girls were more than happy to cooperate. As assistants in the CEO’s office, they were the hub of all corporate gossip. Receiving a five-figure gift from the Lady of the House? They posted that sh*t instantly. Some smart ones even added their own flair: [Mrs. Sterling plays chess, not checkers!] These executive assistants might not have executive power, but their influence on the company grapevine was terrifying. In less than thirty minutes, the entire company knew the CEO’s wife had dropped a bomb of generosity. And everyone knew why. Lola’s face went white. She felt the humiliation burn. Red-eyed, she hid in the bathroom to take off the diamond necklace. Two colleagues came in to touch up their makeup, saw her, and let out a meaningful snicker. Lola wished the ground would swallow her. She put the necklace back in the box and marched it back to Julian’s office. 5 Julian had just finished a video conference with a partner. He saw the girl, obviously crying again, clutching the velvet box and staring at her shoes. “What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled. Lola’s tears fell before she even spoke. “Mr. Sterling, please take this back. I don’t dare to keep it.” A frown creased Julian’s cold face. He knew something had happened. He didn’t ask directly. He just waited. Lola bit her lip, hesitated, and then poured out the whole story of what happened in the office. “I’m sorry, sir. I’m always causing trouble. I just posted to encourage myself… I didn’t know Mrs. Sterling would see it.” She sobbed quietly. “I didn’t think she would be so angry.” She looked as pitiful as a wet rabbit. “Mr. Sterling, I want to apologize to her. I can explain everything to her face.” Julian never looked at social media. His life was consumed by work. But as a CEO, he knew how toxic office politics could be. His expression turned frosty. “I understand,” he said, his voice deep.

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1 Everyone said my husband, Rovan, and his childhood sweetheart, Selina, were sworn enemies. On our wedding day, she was the one person he pointedly didn’t invite. That all changed the night I went into labor. Rovan gently placed a pill in my mouth, whispering that it was for the pain. As my senses blurred, a sob broke through the door. “Rovan, the puppy you gave me… she’s not going to make it.” Rovan’s voice, softer and more tender than I had ever heard it, flowed like honey. “Don’t worry, Selina.” “I gave her something. She’ll be able to nurse soon. Bring your puppy in.” Selina’s voice was laced with worry. “But she hasn’t even had the baby yet. Forcing it with medication… it could be dangerous for her and the child.” Rovan’s tone turned to ice. “Then she shouldn’t have taken so long to give birth, leaving our puppy without milk. This is her own fault.” “As for the baby,” he added with chilling finality, “if he can save our dog’s life, it will be his greatest honor.” Every word was a needle piercing my heart. When I woke again, the searing pain in my chest confirmed the nightmare was real. I wiped the tears from my face and dialed the encrypted number. “Dad,” I choked out, “I’ve changed my mind. I’m ready to leave him and keep the baby.” … The next day, I was jolted awake by a fresh wave of agony. My eyes flew open to the garish splash of crimson staining the sheets beneath me, a brutal confirmation that this was no dream. I dragged myself to the door, my hand hovering over the handle when the voices outside froze me in place. “Offering a bounty for your own son’s heart’s blood… you’re really something else, Rovan,” Selina’s voice purred. Rovan let out a contemptuous laugh. “What choice do I have?” “After last night’s medication, the thing in her belly is probably defective. The Sterling family can’t have a stain like that on its name. I’m just cutting my losses.” Selina playfully punched his chest. “Just because I was going abroad, you had to marry someone else? And get her pregnant? What am I to you, really?” Rovan caught her hand, pulling her into his arms. “Are you jealous?” he murmured, kissing her forehead. “She’s just a placeholder. Besides, the kid isn’t even mine. On our wedding night, I paid some homeless guy off the street.” My body, pressed against the door, went rigid. My blood turned to ice. “Two hundred bucks, and she got knocked up with some stray’s kid,” he added, his voice dripping with the kind of disdain you’d reserve for trash. The sharp cramps in my belly were nothing compared to the agony ripping through my heart. The conversation outside continued. “I even recorded it.” “The way she acted… if she ever dares to disobey me, I’ll make sure the whole world gets a look.” “Send it to me! I have to see what the prim and proper Mrs. Sterling looks like behind closed doors,” Selina said, her voice giddy with excitement. “What’s the rush? Good things are meant to be shared. The guys are all waiting for a copy.” “All seven of them? You’re that generous?” “She’s just a toy. I never thought of her as my wife. Selina, the only one I’ve ever loved is you.” Each word was a poisoned blade, hacking my heart to pieces. I slid down the door, a warm, slick feeling spreading between my legs. The sounds of their grotesque panting filled the air; they couldn’t even wait to find a room. A violent pain tore through my abdomen. I tried to stand, but my limbs were useless. I don’t know how much time passed before the door was thrown open. Rovan saw me in the pool of blood, his pupils shrinking. “Eleanor!” he yelled, scooping me into his arms. In the last moment before darkness consumed me, I saw the panic etched on his face. I managed to twist my lips into a silent, bitter sneer. Rovan, who are you still performing for? When I woke again, the world was a blinding, sterile white. Rovan immediately grabbed my hand, his voice thick with fake concern. “Eleanor, how are you feeling?” The sight of his face made my stomach churn. I yanked my hand away. My other hand flew to my belly, a desperate, searching motion. I didn’t care who the father was; this was my child. Rovan misunderstood my panic. “The baby’s fine,” he rushed to assure me. “The doctor said you were just overwhelmed by stress.” I stared at him, my gaze as cold as a tombstone. “My due date is today. Why haven’t I delivered?” A flash of panic crossed his face. “Maybe… maybe the baby wants to stay with mommy a little longer.” I let out a hollow, mocking laugh. Just then, the hospital room door opened. Selina walked in, cradling a tiny puppy, her eyes fixed on Rovan with a look of pure distress. “Rovan, our puppy… she’s not doing well again.” He instantly took the dog from her and turned to me. “Eleanor, this dog means the world to Selina. Can you… can you please help her?” A cold smirk touched my lips. “How? By taking another one of your lactation pills like last night?” Rovan’s face paled. “You know?” I didn’t answer, just kept my eyes locked on him, a silent accusation. Suddenly, Selina fell to her knees in front of me, banging her head on the floor. “Eleanor, please don’t blame Rovan for last night! It was my fault, all my fault!” she wailed. “This puppy was his coming-of-age gift to me. I can’t just watch her die! Please, help me, I’m begging you!” Her forehead was already starting to bleed. Rovan, his face twisted with pain, pulled her up and glared at me. “I never knew you could be so cruel, just watching her beg you like this,” he snarled. “It’s just a little milk. It won’t cost you anything.” I clenched my jaw, refusing to let them see me break. “Never.” Selina’s eyes welled up with fresh tears. Suddenly, Rovan’s hand shot out, clamping around my neck as he forced another white pill into my mouth. It dissolved instantly, impossible to spit out no matter how much I gagged and struggled. A wave of unnatural heat washed over me. He approached with the puppy, ripped open my hospital gown, and exposed my chest. “Rovan, you can’t do this to me! You can’t treat me like some animal!” I screamed. His hand trembled for a second, but he still brought the whimpering puppy to my breast. When I thrashed wildly, he actually produced a pair of handcuffs and locked my wrist to the bed frame. I was completely powerless. I looked down in horror as the tiny animal latched on, its sharp teeth tearing at my sensitive skin. A searing pain ripped through me. I shrieked, my cries echoing in the sterile room, but Rovan just watched, his expression cold and unmoved. When it was finally over, I stared blankly at the ceiling, my spirit shattered. Rovan started to speak, but Selina suddenly went pale, swaying on her feet. “Rovan, my head… it hurts so much.” Without a second’s hesitation, he spun around, caught her as she fell, and rushed out of the room, carrying her in his arms. He never gave me a single backward glance. My heart plunged into an icy abyss. The drugs forced my due date back, day by day. With every check-up, the doctor’s eyes were filled with a pity I couldn’t bear. When I was finally discharged and returned home, I found Selina lounging on the living room sofa as if she owned the place. Rovan wasn’t surprised to see me. “Selina was injured and needs someone to look after her. She’ll be staying here from now on.” His words were a final, decisive blade, severing the last thread of hope I had left. “Fine,” I said, my voice utterly devoid of emotion. Arguing was pointless. He wouldn’t listen anyway. Why waste my breath? I ate my dinner in silence and went upstairs. That night, Rovan came into the room, reeking of Selina’s cloyingly sweet perfume. He cleared his throat and held out a bracelet. “I know you’ve had a rough few days. I bought this especially for you.” He tried for a softer tone. “I’ve always seen Selina as a sister. That dog is just… so important to her. I couldn’t let it die.” I took the bracelet without a word. He immediately pulled me into an embrace, his lips finding mine. “I knew you’d understand, honey. You’re the best.” I stared at a dark corner of the room, a glacial smile forming on my lips. The next morning, Selina blocked my path at the top of the stairs. She was holding that wretched dog, her hand outstretched. “The bracelet Rovan gave you last night. Give it back.” I took a step back. “My husband gave that to me. Why should I give it to you?” She let out a derisive snort. “It was a free gift that came with the necklace he bought me. They’re a set. I thought the bracelet was ugly, so he gave it to you. Now I’ve changed my mind. Hand it over.” Her voice was triumphant, completely certain I would bend to her will. Even though I thought I was prepared for anything, her words felt like a thousand tiny needles piercing my heart. The warmth he’d offered was nothing more than someone else’s discarded trash. “He gave it to me,” I said, my voice hoarse. “It’s mine now. If you want it back, have him ask me for it himself.” Before the words were even out of my mouth, she did the unthinkable. She hurled the puppy down the marble staircase. A sickening thud, and the yelping stopped. “Baby!” Selina shrieked, stumbling down the stairs. She collapsed beside the dog’s lifeless body, cradling it in her arms. Rovan rushed out, drawn by the commotion. The moment she saw him, Selina scrambled to her feet, clutching the dead dog, and started for the door. “I’m going home,” she whimpered. Sensing something was wrong, Rovan grabbed her arm. “Selina, what is it? What happened?” That was all it took. She collapsed into his chest, sobbing hysterically. “Rovan… our baby… our dog… I know she hates me, but she should have taken it out on me! Why… why did she have to do this to my puppy? He was my life!” Her grief was a spectacular performance. Rovan froze for a second, then his gaze shot to me, instantly turning venomous. He lunged, grabbing a handful of my hair and dragging me in front of Selina. My scalp screamed in protest. “Apologize to her!” he roared. I hung my head, my silence a defiant refusal. His patience snapped. “You brought this on yourself,” he hissed, his eyes flashing with a brutal light. He kicked the back of my knee, hard. I collapsed, my kneecaps slamming against the cold floor with a dull crack. The next moment, his leather shoe was grinding into my spine, forcing me to my knees. Selina’s sobs grew louder. “Baby was my child! She killed my child! Even if she apologizes, I’ll never forgive her!” “Then what do you want, Selina?” Her voice was pure poison. “A life for a life. She killed my child, so she’ll pay with hers!” My pupils contracted. A raw scream tore from my throat. “Rovan, this is my baby!” A flicker of something—doubt? regret?—crossed his face, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “A life for a life, Eleanor. This is all your fault.” He yanked me to my feet. In a moment of pure, desperate rage, I lunged forward and bit down on his hand, hard. The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth. He roared in pain, his face contorting, and backhanded me across the face. I fell to the floor, stunned. Then his foot came up, slamming into my chest. Pain exploded through me. I curled into a ball, unable to move, unable even to draw a breath without a tearing sensation. Selina calmly handed him a thick wooden rod. “Rovan, she dared to attack you. Use this. Get rid of the bastard in her stomach.” Rovan gripped the rod, his knuckles white. For a heartbeat, he hesitated. “Selina, maybe we should just… let it go. This isn’t easy for her.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Rovan, do you love her now?” she whispered brokenly. “Have you forgotten? This was your gift to me. This was our baby.” His resolve hardened. “Fine. Then just let her apologize.” Selina smiled, a slow, cruel curve of her lips. She lifted her foot, showing me the dirt on her expensive shoe. “If you want me to forgive her, fine. Let her kneel down and lick my shoe clean. Then I might consider letting her and that thing in her belly live.” The thought of my baby, who hadn’t even had a chance to see the world, spurred me into action. I pushed through the agony, my body screaming in protest, and began to crawl towards her. A sharp, twisting pain shot through my abdomen, as if my child was silently begging me to stop. But this was my baby. And I had failed to protect him. I closed my eyes, squeezed them shut against the humiliation, and lowered my head. I licked her shoe clean. When I was done, she nodded with satisfaction. “You’re certainly good with your mouth. No wonder you got pregnant with a bastard on the first try.” She laughed, a sharp, ugly sound, tugging on Rovan’s arm. “Rovan, darling, we can let her live, but she has to pay. She’ll stay here all night and pray for my little baby’s soul.” Rovan didn’t object. He simply turned and left with her. I collapsed onto the floor, every ounce of strength gone. The pain in my stomach intensified, and the bleeding grew worse. “Don’t be afraid, little one,” I whispered, fumbling for my phone. “Mommy’s going to get us help.” My fingers trembled as I tried to dial, but the screen was dead. No signal. The next second, a flicker of orange caught my eye. Flames were leaping up from a corner of the room, and thick, acrid smoke began to fill the air. I bit my tongue, the sharp pain clearing my head for a moment. I crawled towards the main door, banging on it with what little strength I had left, but it wouldn’t budge. It was locked from the outside. The heat was becoming unbearable, sweat pouring down my face. The fire crept closer, a hungry, roaring beast. The door remained sealed. I slumped against it, my hand resting on my belly. I’m so sorry, baby. Mommy couldn’t protect you. My vision blurred, the world dissolving into smoke and shadows. I couldn’t hold on any longer. I passed out. As Rovan was led away by Selina, a profound unease settled over him. He turned his head and saw a sight that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

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The day I left the Lu mansion, Logan Lu leaned against the doorframe. Watching me pack my bags, he gave a mocking half-smile: “What’s wrong?” “Did you realize that even giving birth to my kid couldn’t force me to marry you?” “So you decided he’s useless now, and you’re not taking him with you?” Before I could speak, Leo Lu, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, walked in. He carefully poured the money from his piggy bank into my hand. “Mom, you need to take good care of yourself.” “And, can you please promise me that you are never coming back?” “Aunt Stella said she’ll only agree to be Leo’s mom if you leave for good.” Chapter 1 Leo finished his plea. His dark, round eyes blinked up at me, practically bursting with hope. Logan lowered his voice, the tone laced with warning. “Leo Lu.” “Is that how your school taught you to speak to your mother?” Leo hung his head, pouting. “But last time, Aunt Stella asked Dad if he was falling for Mom, and you said you weren’t.” “And I don’t really like her either…” “So if Mom wants to leave, just let her go, okay…” His words no longer hurt me. A week ago, on his sixth birthday, he insisted on celebrating with Logan and Stella Song. I realized I was suddenly free of my anxiety and attachment. I didn’t try to stop him at all. Even when I passed that restaurant in the evening. And heard him introduce Stella to the violinist as his mother, my heart remained calm. Chapter 2 Because I was packing, I was squatting. My eyes were level with the small figure of Leo. I accepted his piggy bank money and gave a slight nod. “Okay, I promise you.” I didn’t refer to myself as “Mom” anymore, quietly stating: “I won’t ever come back to this house.” “And I am no longer your mother. Leo, you’re free.” He seemed surprised that I agreed so easily. He stared at me blankly for two seconds. Then he burst into a smile. “Yay!” “Aunt Stella will be my mom now!” He ran out, shouting that he was going to call Stella with the good news. I packed my last item of clothing. I closed the suitcase and stood up. Logan had been silent the whole time. But as I walked past him, he grabbed my arm. His eyes were half-closed, unreadable. “Ava Tang, ‘not loving you’ doesn’t mean ‘hating you.’” “I’m used to you after all these years.” “What’s the point of this dramatic exit?” By the end, his voice was tinged with irritation. I wanted to explain, but it felt pointless and overly sentimental. So I simply pulled my arm back and instructed him: “Take care of Leo.” I dragged my suitcase out of the Lu mansion. It was a long walk out of the gated community. The weather was poor. A cold wind swirled the fallen leaves onto me. It felt easy to let myself look pathetic. But I didn’t look back, not even once. Chapter 3 I had rented an apartment in advance and quickly found a job. Based on my old major, I applied to be an art teacher for an after-school kids’ program. On my first day of work. I walked into the office and saw several female teachers huddled around a little girl. “Chloe, darling, does your Uncle Ace like desserts?” “And, tell me, what kind of girls does he go for?” “Oh, Chloe sweetie, is he picking you up tonight?” The girl was expressionless. “Teachers, you asked me to come here to discuss issues with my painting style, didn’t you?” The teachers exchanged embarrassed glances. “If there are no issues, I’ll head back to class.” The girl turned, saw me. She gave a brief greeting, “Hello, Teacher.” And then walked straight out. Chapter 4 The teachers were very friendly to the new arrival. After showing me the ropes, they brought up the girl again. “You wouldn’t know it, but that kid’s uncle is Ace Harrington.” “He and Logan Lu are known as the city’s most eligible bachelors.” “Oh, wait, I heard Logan Lu is already with his girlfriend, Stella Song, who just got back from overseas.” “So now, it’s just Ace Harrington left.” Hearing Logan’s name again, I felt calm, as if he were a stranger. But Ace Harrington… I sighed silently. He was Logan’s business rival. He always disliked me, and every time we met, I was guaranteed to be the target of his sarcasm. “Pathetic, aren’t you? Logan and Stella’s kissing photo is trending, and you don’t even dare to speak up.” “What did you get from being with Logan? A title? Status?” “Ava, why the hell don’t you look around at other people?” I’d better stay away from the girl named Chloe. If Ace found out I worked here, he might use his connections to get me fired. Chapter 5 Logan called while I was packed into a subway train on my way home. “Hello?” The noise on my end made him pause. After a few seconds, he asked, “Where are you?” “On the subway.” He gave a barely audible laugh. “Riding the subway?” “Ava Tang, this is what you get for being stubborn.” I gripped the overhead bar and only asked, “Do you need something?” The sound of his footsteps, even distorted by the poor connection, was slow and measured. Just like him. I could almost picture him walking from his desk to the floor-to-ceiling window. “Leo has a fever.” He said, “Tell me your address. I’ll come pick you up and bring you home.” “No need.” I looked down. “The Lu family will take good care of him.” “He doesn’t need me.” Logan’s voice deepened slightly. “Are you really going to abandon him?” “Ava Tang.” He sounded incredulous. “Just because he said he prefers Stella?” Logan never seemed to understand my feelings for Leo. Even though I explained countless times. I took the morning-after pill after the accident, but he never believed me. Because I had been in love with him for years. So he was convinced I deliberately got pregnant with Leo to force him to marry me. In his mind, my feelings for Leo weren’t deep. He was just a tool, a bargaining chip. He couldn’t know that my fear of Leo growing to prefer Stella had driven me to countless nights of heartbreak and anxiety. The subway reached the transfer station. The carriage suddenly emptied. “That’s not it, Logan.” I found a seat, my aching legs finally getting a rest. I said softly: “It’s because he genuinely prefers Stella.” “And I don’t want to force myself anymore to try and win him over.” Logan tried to say something else. The next second, Leo’s voice came through the phone, confirming my words. “Dad! Leo’s fever is gone!” “Can we go see Aunt Stella tomorrow?!” Logan cleared his throat. “Ava Tang, listen to me…” I hung up the phone. And got off at the next stop. Shaking off the phone call.

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1 It was our anniversary. I’d been waiting at the restaurant for three hours when Rosalind finally appeared. But she was with her ex, Evan. And her roommate, Karen, was with them. I raised my hand to call her name, but she walked straight past my section, heading for a table on the other side. They hadn’t seen me. They were separated from my table by a decorative partition screen, completely oblivious that the person in the next booth was me. With Evan there, I couldn’t just go over. I sent Rosalind a text. “Where are you?” “The food’s all here. If you don’t come soon, it’ll get cold.” Her reply was clipped. “In the lab.” My hand tightened around my phone. I fought the urge to call her out and instead typed back, “You’re in the lab?” The questioning tone seemed to set her off. Her next message was a furious tirade: “Lucas, what is your problem? Don’t you have anything better to do? Do you just spend all day watching me? You might have all the time in the world, but I’m busy. I don’t have time for your childish drama!” I stared at the screen full of accusations, silence falling over me. I thought back to all our other fights. If I hadn’t seen her with my own two eyes, sitting with her ex, wouldn’t I have already apologized, convinced I was in the wrong? Just then, I heard Evan’s voice from the next table. “What’s wrong, Rosie? Your new boyfriend checking in?” Karen chimed in with a teasing laugh. “Yeah, after she broke up with you, she found a new one. Lucas Hayes, from our department. He’s a rich kid, you know? Sweet and naive, with a fat wallet…” “He’s completely wrapped around her little finger.” Then came Rosalind’s voice, cold and dismissive. “Don’t talk about him.” “I don’t want him ruining my mood.” The words hit me like a physical blow. Her voice, so full of disdain, was a knife in my heart. All this time, I’d been walking on air, thinking I had finally won her over, that the goddess I’d worshipped from afar was finally mine. But to her, I was just an annoyance. Like a zombie, I slowly got up and walked to the edge of the partition. Through the gauzy fabric, I could almost see the cold indifference in her eyes. Karen giggled again. “He’s probably calling to remind you about your anniversary, right? He was asking us about your favorite foods a while back, said he was planning a surprise.” Rosalind’s voice was sharp. “I said I don’t want to talk about him.” “Some surprise. He’s just delusional.” The irony was crushing. I’d just gotten out of the hospital after a small car accident. I’d had my stitches removed early just so I could be with her on our anniversary. She’d once mentioned missing the food from her hometown, so I had spent days scouring the city for the perfect restaurant. And to her, it was all just me being “delusional.” Karen shrugged. “Well, you were never really into it from the start, were you?” That sentence was a blunt instrument, slamming into my chest. She was right. Rosalind had never willingly agreed to be with me. From the very beginning, she and Evan were the ones who were meant to be. Rosalind came from nothing. Her father was severely disabled, confined to a wheelchair, and her mother suffered from mental illness. She’d been a local celebrity when she got into our university with the highest scores, hailed by the media as a model of triumph over adversity. I met her on the first day of orientation. She was wearing simple, worn-out clothes, her expression cool and distant. Standing next to the wealthy students and their beaming parents, she showed no trace of insecurity or envy. She captivated me instantly. She was like a wildflower, fierce and resilient, and she took root in my heart. But I soon learned she wasn’t available. She had a boyfriend. His name was Evan. They were from the same small town. He was a few years older and had just started his own small company in the city. In our sophomore year, tragedy struck Rosalind’s family. Her mother, terrified by a thunderstorm in the middle of the night, ran out of the house. By the time the neighbors found her, she had drowned in the local reservoir. Her father, searching for his wife in the storm, slipped down a hillside and was critically injured. He was rushed to the local ICU. When Rosalind got the news, she nearly collapsed. And Evan, her boyfriend, vanished. He wouldn’t answer her calls. I was the one who went back to her hometown with her. I helped her arrange her mother’s funeral. I paid her father’s medical bills. But his injuries were too severe. On his deathbed, he mistook me for her boyfriend. He took both our hands, and with tears in his eyes, he entrusted his daughter to me. Throughout it all, Rosalind called Evan countless times. He never picked up. Only after we had settled everything and returned to the city did he finally show up. He fell to his knees in front of her, his face a mask of guilt and regret. He claimed his parents had forbidden their relationship, threatening to disown him if he didn’t break up with her. He said they had already arranged a marriage for him with a girl from a wealthy family. So, they broke up. I was by her side through all of it. Eventually, she seemed to be moved by my devotion and agreed to be my girlfriend. I thought she had forgotten that scumbag Evan. I thought she had finally fallen for me. I never realized that, in her heart, this was just her way of repaying a debt. And now, Evan was back. So, of course, her heart was starting to stray. At the next table, Evan was still putting on a show. “A man needs to have some backbone. You can’t just be clinging to a woman all the time,” he said with false authority. “Typical rich kid, born with a silver spoon. No real ambition.” Rosalind said nothing. She just kept eating, not refuting a single word. My heart felt like it was bleeding, but I sent one last, hopeful text. “I know the lab is important, but you have to take care of yourself. Please, come get something to eat.” Perhaps she saw it as an interruption of her reunion with Evan. She snapped. “Are you sick? When would I have time to eat?” I couldn’t hold it in any longer. “You don’t have time for our anniversary dinner, but you have time to go out with Evan?” That’s when it dawned on her. She shot up from her seat and rushed over, finally seeing me standing behind the screen. Even caught red-handed, she showed no guilt. Instead, she frowned, her voice filled with annoyance. “Lucas, are you following me?” The pain in my chest intensified. I held up my phone, showing her the location I’d sent her hours ago. “I booked this restaurant first. If you had paid any attention to my messages, you wouldn’t have brought them here.” By now, Karen was so embarrassed she couldn’t speak. But Evan, ever the actor, stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Rosalind. “Lucas, don’t be like this. I was the one who asked to see her.” “If you’re angry, be angry with me. Don’t take it out on a girl.” I looked at him with pure contempt. “Cut the act, Evan. If you had an ounce of this so-called courage when Rosalind’s family needed you, none of this would be happening.” His face twisted in an ugly grimace. But Rosalind pulled him back, shielding her ex behind her. She turned on me. “That’s all in the past. Why do you have to bring it up?” “Yes, Evan and I broke up. But that doesn’t mean we have to be enemies forever! What’s wrong with having a meal together?” Something inside me snapped. I pointed a shaking finger at Evan. “Have you forgotten how he treated you? The moment things got hard, he disappeared. Are you really going to let him back into your life? Are you ready to get hurt all over again?” “Fine! Just say the word, and I’ll step aside. Is that what you want?” The next thing I knew, a sharp, stinging slap landed across my face. Rosalind glared at me, her face flushed with shame and anger. “You’re the one with the filthy mind, Lucas! Don’t you dare accuse us!” “If anyone’s leaving, it’s you!” My cheek burned. But the pain in my heart was a thousand times worse. Humiliated in front of her and her ex, I choked back the grief and nodded slowly. “Okay. I get it. I’ll go. I won’t bother you anymore.” I left the restaurant and went home. I locked myself in my room and stared at the red thread tied around my wrist. Rosalind and I had gotten them from a soothsayer at a street festival a while back. They were a matching pair, meant to bless our relationship. When I had tied it on her wrist, she had been dismissive. She was a scientist, a pragmatist who scoffed at superstition. But I had smiled, tying the knot securely. “The woman said these threads will keep us together, forever.” She had pouted, muttering, “It’s so ugly.” I had to coax her for ages before she agreed not to take it off. Our relationship had always been like that. Her slightest frown could cause a tidal wave in my heart. I picked up my phone, opening and closing her chat window over and over, fighting the desperate urge to contact her. Have some pride, I told myself. I rubbed my throbbing temples and collapsed onto the bed, falling into a heavy sleep. In the middle of the night, a text woke me up. It was from her. “Still mad?” I stared at the words for a long time, unable to believe my eyes. Rosalind never initiated contact. She was too proud, too cold. Our daily conversations were always me, desperately racking my brain for something to say. She had strict rules for me. No texting during her classes. No calling when she was in the lab. And she went to bed early, so no bothering her at night. But the rules never applied to her. When I didn’t reply, another message came through. “You asleep?” I waited a few moments, then typed back: “What do you want?” She sent a voice message. Her tone was soft, coaxing. “I was wrong today. I booked a table. Can we have dinner tomorrow?” Whenever we fought, even when it was clearly her fault, she would give me the silent treatment until I caved and begged for her forgiveness. But now, she was admitting she was wrong. It was the first time she had ever offered an olive branch. I admit it, my resolve crumbled. I was weak. But I never, ever expected her to bring Evan with her. They sat side-by-side at the table, her hand resting nervously on his. “Lucas,” she began, her voice tentative. “Evan and I have something we need to ask you…” “You know Evan started his company from scratch. His latest project just lost its funding. I was wondering… could you help him?” Rage, pure and hot, erupted inside me. All the self-pep talks, the decision to forgive her and give us another chance—it all became a colossal joke. So that’s why she was suddenly being so nice. I shot Evan a cold look. “Sorry, I can’t. My parents run the company. I don’t have that kind of authority.” Rosalind’s face hardened. “Lucas, how can you be like that? I’m asking you nicely. He only needs five hundred thousand. That’s nothing to you. Why won’t you help him?” “Evan might be my ex, but he’s also my friend. You’re not going to let him fail just because you’re jealous, are you?” I shot to my feet. “Do you have any memory of what he did to you? He’s a user who abandoned you at your lowest point, and now you’re bending over backward to help him? Have you no self-respect?” Her eyes turned to ice. “It wasn’t his fault,” she hissed, defending him. “His parents forced him. Besides, he never went on that blind date they set up. That proves he was serious about me.” “It wasn’t his fault we broke up. It was mine. It’s my fault I wasn’t born into a better family.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. How badly had Evan brainwashed her? This was the same girl who could stand tall in her worn-out clothes among a crowd of luxury cars, the same girl who told reporters she had never once felt ashamed of where she came from. And now she was saying this? She paused, then delivered the final blow. “Besides, this is between me and Evan. I’ve moved on. Why are you, an outsider, making such a big deal out of it?” An outsider. The word sent me plunging into an abyss. I let out a harsh laugh, my eyes burning. “I’m an outsider?” She looked away, unable to meet my gaze. “You’re being petty and unprofessional,” she said coldly. “I’m just telling the truth.” Finally, she lifted her chin, issuing an ultimatum. “Do you want to be in this relationship or not? If you won’t help Evan, then we’re done.” “I don’t want a selfish boyfriend like you!” Just then, Evan stood up again, playing the noble martyr. “Lucas, I only came to you and Rosalind because I had nowhere else to turn. I never realized my presence would bother you so much…” “This is all my fault. Please don’t make things difficult for her. She agreed to be your girlfriend, and as a man, you should protect and understand her.” His sanctimonious speech made me sick. “Save it, Evan,” I sneered. “Anyone can pretend to be a saint. Let’s see if you stick around the next time there’s a real problem, or if you’ll just go crying to mommy and daddy again.” That did it. Rosalind pulled Evan behind her protectively. Her face was dark with fury. “Don’t you go too far!” “This is between us. Don’t drag innocent people into it.” I raised an eyebrow. “You think he’s innocent?” I had chased after Rosalind for three years. In that single moment, I was just… tired. I didn’t want to fight anymore. I didn’t want to humiliate myself anymore. All the anger drained out of me, replaced by a profound, chilling calm. I looked at her. “The red thread we got from the soothsayer broke. She said it was a sign we weren’t meant to be.” “Rosalind, let’s break up.”

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I wanted to buy my husband’s favorite Tang Sancai porcelain horse as an anniversary gift. But a mysterious buyer appeared mid-auction, immediately “lighting the sky lantern” (a term for an all-or-nothing, no-limits bid) and snatching the horse. As I was leaving, I received a notification that my husband’s supplementary credit card had been used at the auction house to purchase the exact Tang Sancai horse. In a panic, I immediately called the bank and froze the card. At the collection counter, a stunningly beautiful woman with a graceful figure fled amidst the mocking laughter of the crowd. Two weeks later, my husband, Liam Stone, and I went on a vacation abroad. Right after getting off the plane, I was drugged and abducted. I woke up to find myself locked inside an iron cage. The emcee on site spoke in broken English: “Today, we auction this woman! Highest bid wins!” And Liam Stone was sitting in the audience, his gaze dark, sinister, and vicious. “Chloe Vance, you love stealing other people’s thunder when they ‘light the sky lantern,’ right? Well, today, you can have your fill of stealing!” 1 I stared, horrified, at the dense crowd below the stage, my scalp tingling. Everyone held a copy of my body scan report, examining it and whispering judgmentally: “Look at this woman, she must be very well-maintained. Every part of her body is healthy. She’d be a prize, whether you bid on the whole package to take home and enjoy, or bid on individual parts for a sick relative.” “I’m shocked that Mr. Stone from the States would be so generous, putting such a fine woman up for auction. We can’t miss this rare opportunity.” “I heard the lady on stage is actually Mr. Stone’s wife. Once a man finds a new favorite, he doesn’t need the old one anymore.” Following their meaningful glances, I looked at Liam Stone, who was seated in the middle of the crowd. A chilling dread washed over me. My body, tied to the iron cage with ropes, continuously rattled against the bars, making a violent noise. I dug my fingernails so hard into my palms that blood trickled between my fingers. Just yesterday, we were sweetly planning our trip, full of affection. But now, Liam’s “casual friend” who supposedly helped him bid on the porcelain horse, Summer Lin, was nestled sweetly and gently in his arms, smiling victoriously. “Liam, why are you doing this to me!” My voice was hoarse with breakdown, and I was already sobbing uncontrollably. Liam leaned back lazily in his chair, a mischievous, shallow smile playing on his lips. He spoke nonchalantly: “My wife is so graceful and generous, of course, I can’t keep her all to myself. Good things are meant to be shared, right?” The crowd erupted in cheers of impatience, urging the emcee to start the auction immediately. Big shots from different countries gathered together, holding up their black number paddles, frantically waving them and shouting whether they wanted my heart or my kidneys. Liam turned and kissed Summer, then stood up and walked onto the auction stage. He delivered a hard kick to the iron cage holding me. The impact split my lip instantly, and a metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. “Chloe Vance, as the organizer of this auction, I’ll give you special treatment. I’m granting you the right to bid on yourself—to ‘light the sky lantern’ for yourself—so you can get your fill of stealing other people’s thunder, and finally experience the embarrassment our Summer felt at the last auction!” His exquisite, refined eyes were full of mocking malice. The barely hidden murderous intent meant he had no intention of letting me leave the auction hall alive. “If you’ve got the guts, why don’t you ‘light the sky lantern’ then?” I shouted. Everyone burst into laughter, standing up to look at us. “What’s she going to light the sky lantern with? Didn’t Mr. Stone register all the joint funds under his name when he entered the venue? Unless Mr. Stone is willing to chip in, Mrs. Stone is completely broke.” Liam feigned a look of sudden realization: “Oh, my bad! I forgot that the auction rules only allow one person per joint account. That’s truly a shame, darling. I have to buy a necklace for Summer today, so I’m afraid I can’t help you out.” I widened my eyes in disbelief, unable to grasp that these words were coming from the mouth of the man I had loved for eight years. “You tricked me into going abroad, drugged me, kidnapped me, and specifically organized this black-market auction to sell me off here?” “Why, Liam? Just because I froze the supplementary card when Summer tried to ‘light the sky lantern’?” Liam looked down at me coldly, savoring my pain. “Of course! Do you know how helpless Summer was that day? She endured all that mockery. You can do the same, can’t you?” With that, he gave me no more chance to question him and turned to step off the stage. He coldly tossed back one last sentence: “Put the restraints on Miss Vance! Let her sit among the bidders and watch herself sink step-by-step into the abyss, helpless—that’s the best revenge!” Summer Lin, standing below the stage, winked at me with a malicious smile: “Miss Vance, I won’t compete with you today, okay!” ________________________________________ 2 The entire auction hall was filled with cruel cheers. Someone whistled and shouted: “Mr. Stone, are you really heartless enough to let someone abuse your beautiful wife to death? Ha ha ha…” Liam raised an eyebrow, his expression indifferent. “If my wife doesn’t want that, she can ‘light the sky lantern’ herself. If she can’t, that’s her choice. I’m a very democratic man.” The crowd nodded in agreement, their voices playful: “That’s true. I heard the little sister-in-law ‘lit the sky lantern’ herself when bidding on that Tang Sancai horse, but Mrs. Stone shut her down. She clearly has resources. We should witness it tonight.” Amidst the noise, the auction bell rang. I was pulled out of the cage, the iron chain around my neck dragging me like a dog. I was tied to a chair in the front row, directly facing the large screen. My body report and photos scrolled across the screen. The feeling of utter humiliation instantly consumed me. My hands trembled as I clenched them together, my mind racing. Liam had registered all of our joint assets under his name. According to the black market auction rules, one account could not be used by two people simultaneously. Right now, I couldn’t even produce a hundred dollars, let alone ‘light the sky lantern.’ Liam had precisely calculated this. He knew all my financial details. If even one part of my body was successfully bid on, it would be enough to utterly destroy my life. I was a lamb to the slaughter, tied to the gallows with no retreat. We had been married for eight years. I stood by him as he went from a nobody to the CEO of Stone Industries. I never once complained about the hardships along the way. After he achieved success, I willingly stepped back to be his supportive wife. Now, Liam was personally sending me to hell just to appease a mistress. The discussions around me never stopped, with all sorts of vulgar remarks flying back and forth: “Mr. Stone is such a player; the women he trains in bed must be spicy. I’m going to bid on Mrs. Stone whole in a bit and get a good taste.” “No way, I’ve been eyeing Mrs. Stone’s perfect feet for a long time. I’ll chop them off and turn them into art.” I bit down hard on my lower lip, using every ounce of effort to keep myself steady in the chair. Finally, the auctioneer walked onto the stage, took the microphone from the emcee, and announced that the auction was about to begin. I abruptly stood up, making the iron chains rattle loudly: “Wait a minute! I need to go wash my face!” Liam slowly turned to look at me, his eyes full of obscure mockery: “Chloe, don’t bother trying to escape. Security here is tight; not even a fly can get out. Save your energy.” I endured the physical pain and stared intensely into his dark eyes. “If not even a fly can get out, is it too much for me to wash my face and calm down? Or are you too stingy to even give me that much time?” Everyone in the room held their breath, watching us. Our eyes met, and an undercurrent of tension flowed between us—a silent battle. Several of his acquaintances frowned: “Don’t delay, Mr. Stone. We can’t wait any longer. Don’t listen to her; let’s start now.” “Exactly! She’s just wasting our time. My bathwater is ready at home; I’m just waiting to take Mrs. Stone back with me.” Finally, under everyone’s expectant gaze, Liam’s face turned cold, his eyes dark and sinister. “Shut up, all of you!” ________________________________________ 3 The host’s fury silenced everyone. The staff switched my shackles to handcuffs, and I walked with a straight back, stumbling toward the water basin outside the door. It wasn’t until the cold water hit my injured hands that the tension in my whole body instantly eased. I collapsed, exhausted, next to the water basin. The tears I had held back for so long finally streamed down my face. My phone was still in my pocket, but all the money in the account had been transferred out—the balance was $\$0.00$. If I were to be sold off tonight, I couldn’t even begin to imagine the torture that awaited me. I could be played with and then brutally dismembered and sold off, never finding peace even in death. And my mother, who was in a coma from a car accident and lying in a hospital back home, would have her medical funding cut off immediately upon my death, leaving her to die in absolute despair. At the end of my rope, I finally made a decision. Gritting my teeth, I opened the encrypted email and clicked on a long-dormant contact account. The rushing water forcefully beat against the stone basin, and the surrounding silence was terrifying. In this dilapidated, crisis-ridden venue, a giant devil seemed to be hiding, ready to rush out at any moment and tear me to shreds. I hit send on the encrypted text, and my hand dropped heavily. Five minutes later, I dragged my chained feet back to the venue. When I pushed open the door, everyone looked up with excitement. There was astonishment, mockery, and impatient mischief. Liam Stone was holding a cigarette between his fingers, the swirling smoke briefly obscuring his vague expression. He then pulled Summer Lin closer and, looking down at me, spoke word by word: “My darling, I love you, so anyone who dares to bully you will pay the price!” I walked back to my seat, not looking at him, a trail of bright red footprints staining the floor. My voice was raw and broken as I said: “Start the auction now.” The crowd buzzed. The auctioneer looked at Liam questioningly. He chuckled and nodded: “Since Chloe is so impatient herself, let’s officially begin.” The moment he finished speaking, the lights in the auction hall shifted. The first set of auction information flashed onto the large screen: my hands. From my wrists to my fingertips, every inch was captured in high-definition detail; even the pores were clearly visible. I was still ridiculously wearing my ten-carat wedding ring on my right hand. Like a Shakespearean tragedy, everyone was witnessing my utter patheticness. Sitting below the stage, I already wished I were dead. Liam took Summer and sat down in the seat next to mine. Leaning close to my ear, he whispered: “As husband and wife, my Summer is generous. If you apologize to her and agree to divorce with nothing, I’ll help you this one time.” My lips curled into a cold smile. So, he didn’t just want my life; he wanted to steal our joint assets. And then, he would proudly marry his mistress, all while acting like the victim of a failed marriage. I remained silent, answering his provocation with indifference. The bidding shouts soon started: “Mrs. Chloe Vance’s hands start at five million, with a minimum bid increase of one million.” As soon as he spoke, people raised their paddles, the price quickly escalating to twenty million. Liam’s voice continued beside me. “Think carefully, darling. It might be too late soon.” The bidders were already leaning closer, their eyes full of greed, staring at my tightly clenched fists, waiting for the final gavel. Just then, I, who had been silent all this time, slowly raised my hand. My eyes were filled with desperate resolve. I spoke firmly: “I ‘light the sky lantern!’” ________________________________________ 4 Everyone in the auction hall was stunned. “What’s going on? Where did she get the money to ‘light the sky lantern’?” “She’s still trying to put on a show at a time like this. This woman is something else.” I held my neck stiffly, my gaze never leaving the screen. Liam sneered coldly, clearly convinced I was faking it. Summer Lin whined, pressing her full chest against him and speaking in a high-pitched, affected voice: “Mrs. Stone is hilarious. Liam said he could help her, but she’s still stubbornly holding onto her pride. She really must want to jump into another man’s bed. What a tramp.” Liam pulled a contemptuous face, his voice as casual as a stranger who couldn’t care less. “She wants to put on a show, so let’s watch the show. She’ll only lose more miserably later.” “Don’t forget I set the rule: if someone ‘lights the sky lantern’ but can’t afford to pay, they have to serve guests for free for a week in the auction house’s underground club.” The auctioneer heard Liam’s words and immediately straightened up: “Miss Vance, are you sure you want to ‘light the sky lantern’? Please do not disrupt our normal procedure, or you will face the penalty.” My fingers wouldn’t stop trembling. My jaw was tightly clenched. Layers of dry, stinging pain welled up in my eyes. I forced myself to reply: “I’m sure. Light the sky lantern.” The whole room roared with laughter. They clamored for immediate on-site verification of my funds. “She has to verify her funds right now! We can’t all be fooled by her playing games!” “Mr. Stone just showed us your account balance—not a single penny! And you still have the nerve to pretend.” Liam shrugged indifferently amidst the laughter. “Chloe, why are you doing this? Since you’ve made your choice, you can’t back out now. I can’t help you anymore.” With that, he crossed his arms, settled back firmly into his chair, and mockingly waited for the auctioneer to organize the verification. The crowd began rhythmically clapping their hands. Louder and louder, the sound grew into a huge, invading wave that battered my eardrums. “Verify! Verify! Verify!” I sighed, pulled out my phone, entered the password, and handed it to the verification officer who had approached me. “Take it and check. Just remember to return it to me later.” The verification officer took the phone with bad grace, a mocking curve on her lips, and grumbled resentfully. “What a joke. We already checked your account. Why go through all this trouble? No wonder people dislike her; it serves her right that even Mr. Stone hates her.” The others pointed and discussed. “Exactly, exactly! This is so funny. If this were in bed, I’d cure all her defiance.” “Look, everyone! Her legs are shaking so much the chains are rattling. When her balance comes up zero, she better not wet her pants. I’m still waiting to bid on her legs.”

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My fifty-year-old Dad, George, finally found love and married Lana, a trophy wife ten years younger. Month one: She batted her lashes and sweet-talked Dad into giving her $\$100,000$ for her son’s new house. Month two: She cuddled up to Dad, convincing him to hand over another $\$100,000$ for her daughter’s new car. My wife, Mia, was annoyed, worried about the growing list of claimants to the family fortune. I reassured her: “Dad’s struggled for years. He finally found someone he likes. Let him be happy.” Then, month three: The stepmother, wearing a lace nightgown, conveniently “slipped” and fell right onto me. Hold up. I thought she was after our money. Turns out, she wanted to challenge my wife for me? 1 I was doing my weekend workout. After stretching, I was ready for a shower when my stepmother, Lana, walked out of the bathroom. I frowned. She was wearing a skimpy lace slip. Her head was still dripping wet, the water running down her front, making the lace translucent. I looked away immediately to avoid any awkwardness, pretending to be busy arranging my clothes. As I passed her, she “slipped,” tumbling right into me. I was fatigued from the workout, my muscles not yet relaxed. I was completely knocked off balance, landing with her pressed against me near the sofa. Before I could push her away, she ran her hands slowly up my abs. “Oh, Jay. You have a beautiful body.” “You know, your father, he…” She leaned closer, her hot breath on my neck. I shivered. Seriously? Was she trying to seduce me? Did a 45-year-old woman think she was irresistible, trying to catch both father and son? I finally understood, and just as I prepared to hit her, the front door opened. It was my wife, Mia. Lana sprang up with lightning speed, smoothing her skirt, looking utterly “bashful.” “I just slipped, Mia. Jay caught me.” My heart hammered. What the hell, lady? Why are you blushing? I couldn’t hold back the scream. “You crazy old lady! Get your slobber off your mouth!” 2 The scene ended with Lana retreating, face red with rage, and my wife, Mia, leading me back to the bedroom, pinching my ear, looking like she wanted to kill me. I knelt miserably on the keyboard. “Honey, I swear I’m innocent!” “I was about to shower! I turned around, and she just flew at me!” “God knows why she was dressed like that!” I didn’t react quickly enough, and she definitely groped me. The thought of her slightly wrinkled skin touching my abs made me shiver, and my stomach churned. If Mia hadn’t walked in, I don’t know how much more she would have taken. Mia shot me a look. “Do I look like an idiot?” “Of course not!” I yelled. “Exactly,” Mia said. “That means you couldn’t possibly be interested in that old hag. I’m mad because I told you to deal with her, and you didn’t. Now she’s making a move on us!” I sighed deeply. Who could have seen this coming? Since my mom died fifteen years ago, Dad never remarried. As a man, I understood the appeal of a loving partner, so after I became an adult, I constantly encouraged him to find someone. But he never wanted to—until Lana. In just a few days, she completely charmed him. Every day was “Your Lana this” and “Your Lana that,” sometimes with a blush on his face. The man looked years younger. When I saw them acting sweet, I even played matchmaker. When they got married, I gave Lana a generous wedding gift, thanking her for rescuing my perpetually single father. She initially played humble, saying, “Thank you for your generosity, Jay, but I only care about your father. Taking money would cheapen it.” But a month later, she batted her lashes and asked Dad for $\$100,000$ for her son’s house. Month two, she leaned on him and asked for another $\$100,000$ for her daughter’s car. Dad always happily transferred the money without a word. Mia often warned me, “I don’t trust Lana. You need to watch her.” “What respectable middle-aged woman demands money right after getting married?” “She’s too obviously greedy.” Though I agreed she was greedy, I defended her. “It’s fine. She just got married and wants to take care of her kids first. She’ll focus on Dad later.” “Besides, Dad saved up a lot over the years. It’s fine for him to spend some on his wife, as long as they’re happy.” But the reality was a slap in the face. Lana didn’t seem to want a quiet life at all! Now I remembered. She was always “accidentally” touching me before. Bumping my hand while handing me water, or grazing my shoulder in the hall. I thought it was just coincidence in our small house. Turns out, she was lonely and after my body! “Honey, what do we do? Tell Dad everything?” Mia was cautious. “They’re still in the honeymoon phase. It might be hard for him to believe us.” I threw myself onto the bed, covering my head with a pillow. This involved a man’s dignity. Even as his son, telling him his wife was a fraud would be incredibly difficult. 3 The next morning, only Mia, Dad, and I were at the breakfast table. I asked, “Where’s Lana?” If she was absent, I could test the waters with Dad. Dad took a sip of soup and said slowly, “Her daughter woke up sick this morning. She went to look after her.” I blurted out, “Dad, you didn’t transfer her more money, did you?” “That’s not the point,” he said, pausing. “Jay, you need to be more careful at home. We have a woman living here now, and you need to be mindful.” I was completely confused. “What do you mean?” He coughed awkwardly, sounding displeased. “Yesterday, you were changing and ran into Lana after your shower, didn’t you?” “You’re a man, she’s a woman. She didn’t want to look, but you need to be more conscious. She felt awkward telling you, but you need to pay attention.” The food in my throat felt stuck. I hadn’t even exposed her yet, and she had already twisted the story and complained about me! The smear campaign was effective. Even if I told Dad the truth now, he’d be skeptical. That old hag was not only shamelessly aggressive but also incredibly calculating. I considered arguing, but Mia secretly kicked my leg and jumped into the conversation. “No problem, Dad. I’ll remind Jay to be more mindful.” Fine. Listen to the wife. First battle lost. After Dad left for his walk, I looked at Mia and raised my hands in surrender. “Wife, I respect your judgment. You are a genius. Please tell me what to do. I’m launching Operation: Protect the Family!” 4 Lana didn’t show any unusual behavior when she returned. She acted like a normal stepmother. Mia and I hadn’t figured out a full plan yet when she started causing trouble again. Dad said, “Your Aunt Lana’s granddaughter needs a spot in kindergarten. I need to pull some strings.” Lana married early, having a son and daughter. We met them once for a family dinner. Her son, older than me, had a daughter who was now kindergarten age. When Dad was playing with the kid, he asked about school. Lana’s son, calling him “Dad” constantly, said he was waiting for George to help them arrange it. Dad, flattered, promised he would handle it. Finding a good school wasn’t the issue. Public kindergartens are popular but not impossible. I didn’t mind. “Go ahead and find one.” Dad looked awkward. “It’s going to cost a bit. Most of my money is in term deposits. Can you loan me some?” “What kind of school costs that much?” Lana quickly grabbed Dad’s hand, looking upset. “It’s my fault. I told my son not to ask for too much, but he said he knew an old manager who owed him a favor. The manager could arrange it, but he just needed a bit of cash.” “George, I only mentioned it in passing. Don’t worry about the money. If it’s too much, the child can go to a regular school. I don’t want to cause trouble for you or Jay.” She poured on the sweet talk. But Dad ate it up. “Nonsense. Lily is my granddaughter now. Jay, just give me $\$50,000$. I’ll add another $\$50,000$. I’ll pay you back when the deposit matures next year.” “Dad, I think Aunt Lana’s being scammed!” Mia covered her mouth in shock. “Getting into kindergarten is easy! What kind of connection costs this much?” “I have a friend who teaches at Dual Star Academy!” “A friend of mine used her to get her kid into school. It cost a bit, but nowhere near $\$100,000$!” “I think your old manager might not have strong connections and is trying to charge an insane amount. I have a cheaper option. We could save money, and you could take Aunt Lana on a trip with the savings.” “Besides, you promised my stepbrother you’d help. It would be embarrassing to ask him to find another way! Why don’t you let me handle it? We can save the ‘old manager’ favor for later.” Dad thought about it and agreed. “That makes sense, Mia. I’ll leave it to you.” “I’ll handle it!” Mia smiled sheepishly. “But Dad, about the money…” I finally used my brain. “Dad, just transfer the money to Mia. Her friend will need some payoff. We can’t expect Mia to pay for it, right?” Dad nodded. “Of course. Is $\$50,000$ enough? I’ll transfer it now.” 5 Lana’s face fell as Dad pulled out his phone. She tried to salvage the situation. “Maybe we should still pay the old manager, just in case? Two options are better than one.” Mia smiled, stopping her. “Aunt Lana, this isn’t the kind of thing you want more people involved in. What if both connections go through? It would be awkward! They might think we don’t trust them.” Mia was right. Dad, a veteran in the business world, understood the social rules around favors. “Mia is right. We’ll follow your plan.” He patted Lana’s hand. “Don’t worry. My daughter-in-law is reliable. We’re family; she wouldn’t scam you.” I smiled inwardly. Dad, open your eyes. We are all scamming each other! Lana was internally fuming but could only manage a fake smile. “Thank you, Mia.” That night, Mia and I looked at the $\$50,000$ transfer on my phone, delighted. “Good thing you were quick, honey! Otherwise, Lana would have pocketed that money.” But now, we were officially at war with Lana. Mia and I started planning how to drive her out without hurting Dad. “But honey, do you really have a friend at Dual Star?” She rolled her eyes. “Of course not! It was just something to say.” “The kid won’t start school for at least three months. If we can’t expose Lana in that time, we deserve to fail.” “Even if they don’t split, I can just say the connection fell through. Always have a backup plan, Jay. You have a long, difficult road ahead of you!” Mia tilted her head, looking adorable. If it weren’t for her, Lana would be $\$50,000$ richer today. “You really are a genius! I’m so lucky to have married such a smart, beautiful woman!” I hugged her and kissed her fiercely. “The old saying is true: listen to your wife, and you’ll get rich!”

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1 The Hilton Corporation’s long-lost heiress had been found. As the family’s adopted daughter, I was just about to step forward to welcome her when a tiny, indignant voice echoed in my mind. This brain-dead heiress has been reading too many trashy novels. She’s going to frame my mom as the wicked adopted daughter, turning this into some cheap drama! My poor mom has no idea she’s about to be shoved down the stairs! She doesn’t even know I exist… and our time together is about to be cut short! It’s true, I’m the Hiltons’ adopted daughter. But my own parents are every bit as powerful as the Hiltons, if not more… And… wait a minute. Am I… pregnant? I’m carrying the sole heir to the Vance family—a decorated military legacy four generations in the making. I watched as Isabelle Hilton took two deliberately clumsy steps toward me. Just as she lunged, I took a sharp step back, my eyes cold as I watched her let out a shriek. And tumble down the grand staircase. … Isabelle, the girl who had meant to push me, was now a crumpled heap at the bottom of the stairs. Her face was a mask of pain, but her eyes, when they met mine, were blazing with theatrical fury. “I can’t believe it,” she declared, her voice ringing with manufactured disbelief. “The whole ‘real vs. fake heiress’ drama from the novels is actually happening to me.” “Nora,” she said, her voice dripping with accusation, “I know you’re upset that my parents found me. I know you’re terrified I’m here to steal the life of luxury you schemed your way into!” She pushed herself up, wincing. “But have you ever stopped to think that this was always my home? You’re the one who stole my parents, who stole eighteen years of my life! And I haven’t even blamed you yet! How dare you treat me with such hostility!” Her eyes glistened with a ‘defiant’ light, as if her every word was a righteous truth. But when did I ever steal her life? The little voice in my head scoffed. Isabelle dropped out of middle school, fantasizing about being a secret heiress. Now that her dream’s come true, she’s determined to play the part. My poor, innocent mom is being forced to swallow this crap. I gently touched my stomach, a faint flutter confirming it. There really was a baby in there, and somehow, I could hear its thoughts. While I stood there, stunned, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton rushed to Isabelle’s side, their faces etched with concern. “Isabelle, darling, get up. No one is trying to take your place.” “Nora would never push you on purpose. She has her own…” They were trying to explain my background. My grandmother and Mrs. Hilton’s mother had been the dearest of friends. When the Hiltons’ daughter vanished, my grandmother, heartbroken for her friend, had me spend time with them, even calling them ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ to comfort the grieving family. The tradition continued even after our grandmothers passed, a testament to the bond between the Hayworth and Hilton families. But Isabelle cut them off before they could finish. “Mr. Hilton, Mrs. Hilton! Stop!” she cried out. “I know that compared to a stranger like me, Nora is the one you truly have a bond with! I’m not trying to compete with her, so you don’t have to make excuses for her!” The formal address was like a knife to their hearts. They had spent years searching for their daughter, and this reunion was everything they had dreamed of. Their hearts ached for her, but I wasn’t about to be her stepping stone. “You’ve misunderstood, Isabelle,” I said, my smile vanishing. My voice was calm but firm. “I have my own parents. I have no need to steal yours.” I tilted my chin toward a security camera in the corner. “And as for whether I pushed you or you fell… the camera recorded everything.” I mimicked her earlier sarcastic tone. “I know you just got here, and you’re feeling insecure, worried you won’t be loved. But you can’t build a connection by framing others for sympathy, can you?” She wanted to play the strong, misunderstood victim. I was going to expose her pathetic little game. Isabelle’s face froze. She clearly hadn’t expected me to call her out so directly, disregarding the Hiltons’ feelings. I crossed my arms, my gaze unwavering. “So, are you going to apologize, or should I have the butler pull the security footage right now?” Whoa! A tiny cheer erupted in my head. I thought Mom was going to be a pushover to keep the peace with the Hiltons, but she’s a total badass! Looks like this is gonna be an easy win! A small smile touched my lips. My mother always taught me to avoid trouble but never to run from it. Now that I had my own baby to protect, I had to be an even better role model. Isabelle’s neck stiffened, but before she could retort, the Hiltons had regained their composure. “Isabelle, dear, Nora has her own family. She just comes to stay with us from time to time,” Mrs. Hilton explained gently, trying to smooth things over. “You must have lost your balance and thought she bumped you. It’s all a misunderstanding…” They reached down to help her up, offering her an easy way out. But as soon as they touched her, she let out a pained cry, “Ouch!” Isabelle had deliberately rolled up her sleeves, revealing a canvas of horror on her arms: ugly purple bruises, the circular scars of cigarette burns, and the faded white lines of old cuts. The Hiltons gasped. Before a word of pity could escape their lips, Isabelle began to tremble violently. The next second, she threw herself at my feet, groveling. “Mom and Dad are right, it was all my fault! I was just so nervous, I thought my sister pushed me. It’s all my fault! Please, Nora, forgive me…” She seemed to have snapped, frantically slapping her own face. “It’s my fault!” “I’m so sorry! I’ll do anything to make it up to you!” “Think whatever you want of me, sister! Just please, don’t let this little incident upset Mom and Dad. Don’t make things difficult for them…” I stared at her, utterly bewildered by her sudden transformation. Did she hit her head and develop a split personality? A moment later, a diagnostic report fell out of her purse, seemingly confirming my theory. Stress-induced psychosis. Dissociative identity disorder. She really did have multiple personalities. Through her sobs, Isabelle recounted a story of abuse after being abducted. “Every time I was hurt, I wished someone would protect me… and then… ‘she’ appeared.” The weaker Isabelle collapsed into Mrs. Hilton’s arms, whispering, “She told me to hide… that she would protect me, like a parent… I know she can be harsh and sometimes lashes out… but when I had no one, she was the one who kept me safe… Mom, if she does something wrong, can you promise not to blame her?” Clutching the report, the Hiltons held her tight, their hearts breaking. “It’s okay, baby, you’re home now!” “You’re safe in your own home!” “With Mom and Dad here to protect you, no one will ever hurt you again!” Isabelle peeked at me timidly. “Nora… sister… I need to apologize to you, too. Please, be the bigger person and forgive me!” She started bowing her head to the floor again, and Mrs. Hilton’s eyes filled with tears as she tried to stop her. Mr. Hilton, however, fixed his gaze on me, his brow furrowed. “Nora, Isabelle hasn’t had the same life you have. She must have endured unimaginable horrors to become this ill. If you’re going to hold a grudge over something so small and force her to apologize… then I will apologize to you on her behalf!” He actually bowed to me, his voice holding a cold distance I’d never heard before. Mrs. Hilton was openly weeping now. “Nora, please, for the sake of all the years your father and I have cared for you, show some compassion for Isabelle. I’m begging you!” It was as if I was the one who had driven her to this state. As the Hiltons escorted Isabelle to her room, I felt like I’d been force-fed poison. But how could I argue with someone who was clearly mentally ill? I was about to say something to comfort them when I looked up and a chill ran down my spine. As Isabelle turned her head, our eyes met. A cold, mocking smirk twisted her lips. For a second, I couldn’t tell if I’d imagined it or if her other personality was back online. Just as fear began to grip me, the angry little voice in my head snapped me back to reality. Those bruises are self-inflicted! She pinched herself to look pathetic! The burns and scars are from her edgy teen phase! Mom is the one who was wrongly accused and humiliated, so why is she being treated like the bully?! I placed a hand on my roiling stomach, trying to soothe my unborn child. I didn’t know if Isabelle’s illness was real or fake, but one thing was certain: anything that upset my baby was something I needed to get away from. After all, my husband, Ethan Vance, came from a family that had given three generations to this country. When he chose to follow in their footsteps, our lives became complicated. We’d married in secret due to the classified nature of his work, and I’d longed for a child, but it never happened. To my astonishment, this little miracle was conceived just before he left for his latest mission. I would let nothing and no one disturb its peace. Besides, no matter why Isabelle was targeting me, her goal was simple: she wanted me gone. I called my assistant. “Have the villa cleaned and prepared. I can’t stay at the Hilton manor any longer.” I’d only been staying here because my parents were overseas on business and Ethan was away. It was meant to give everyone peace of mind. But the moment I announced my departure, Isabelle was the first to object. She fell to her knees before me, weeping. “Sister, are you leaving because you’re still angry with me? I know you’ve been pampered your whole life and can’t stand the slightest grievance! If you’re still upset about the other day, please, just slap me again!” She gritted her teeth, a picture of grim determination. “I’m used to being hit! I’m not afraid of pain!” Her melodramatic performance sent a ripple of murmurs through the household staff. “Miss Hayworth is so petty! Miss Isabelle is sick! How could she blame a patient?” “An adopted daughter, bullying the real one into a corner like this!” “This isn’t even her house! Who is she trying to threaten by storming out?” Isabelle’s act of noble suffering made it seem as if she were the one who had been tormented these past few days. But in reality, her constant personality-switching had been exhausting. The “strong” Isabelle claimed she wasn’t used to being “served.” “I’m not a useless parasite like Nora Hayworth! I don’t need someone to clean my room!” she’d shouted, snatching a rag from the cleaning lady and throwing it in my face. “Do it yourself! A fake heiress with a princess complex!” Then, when the Hiltons returned, she would dissolve into tears, snatching the rag from my hands and kneeling at my feet. “I’m so sorry, sister! When I get scared or stressed, I just lose control… Let me scrub the floors for you…” The “weak” Isabelle was no better. Complaining that the house lacked warmth, she invited a mob of the staff’s children into my room. They tore apart my limited-edition collectibles and rare designer toys, leaving a trail of destruction. Then she’d ask me with wide, innocent eyes, “Don’t you like children, sister? They say their innocence is healing. I just adore them.” In front of the staff, she was all gentleness. But when I coldly kicked them out, her face would contort with malice. “Toys are meant for kids to play with! Are you really going to be a bitch and fight a child for a toy, Nora?” My specially ordered prenatal supplements were “gifted” away. The gentle Isabelle would say, “Mrs. Gable’s mother is in the hospital and needs nutrition. It was an emergency… I’m so sorry, sister! Blame me!” The strong Isabelle would spit at my feet. “I know you look down on the ‘help.’ You think they don’t deserve nice things! But you’re just a leech sucking the Hiltons’ blood! What gives you the right to be such a snob?” The vintage convertible my boyfriend gave me for my birthday? The weak Isabelle “kindly” lent it to the driver’s son to impress his girlfriend. It came back with deep scratches down the side. The strong Isabelle then blocked my path, arms crossed. “The car has full insurance coverage! Just let them handle it! Why make things difficult for him? Does seeing someone suffer over a little money satisfy your rich-girl ego?” No matter which “Isabelle” was on display, her calculated acts of generosity quickly won over the staff. “The real heiress is so much better than the fake one!” they’d whisper. Now, their whispers had turned into a chorus of condemnation, solidifying my reputation as an “arrogant, entitled bully.” The weak Isabelle was sobbing, her voice thick with despair. “It’s all my fault that sister is leaving! If you have to leave to make a point, to worry Mom and Dad, then I won’t stop you! I will simply die to atone for my sins!” In front of the Hiltons, Isabelle put on a life-or-death performance. Mr. Hilton’s voice was heavy with disappointment. “Nora, you’ve always been such a sensible girl. You and Julian always got along so well.” Isabelle wasn’t their only child. They had a son, Julian. He and I were raised together by our grandmothers and were as close as real siblings. He was the main reason I ever stayed at the manor. I never expected them to welcome a newcomer while he was away on a business trip. For the first time ever, Mr. Hilton’s voice held a note of reprimand. “Why is it that when it’s your sister, you become so difficult? Isabelle just came home, full of hope, and you’ve already scared her into a relapse. Now you’re using this ‘leaving home’ stunt to terrify her even more? You know she’s ill, yet you keep pushing her! Are you really so jealous of the affection we show her? You need to remember, Nora—Isabelle is our biological daughter!” Mrs. Hilton’s eyes were full of pain. “Nora, if you insist on throwing a tantrum and leaving now, Isabelle will be consumed by guilt. Please, I’m begging you. Can’t you stop competing with your sister for attention, just for now?” I felt a furious churning in my stomach and fought back a wave of nausea. “Mr. and Mrs. Hilton,” I began, my voice steady, “it’s perfectly understandable that you dote on your long-lost daughter. But you cannot demand that I sacrifice my well-being for her. I am my parents’ treasure, too, and they would be heartbroken to know I was being mistreated.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “And if, as Isabelle claims, my presence truly puts her under so much pressure, then my leaving is the best thing for her. It will save her the daily paranoia of competing with me and prevent her condition from getting worse.” They still didn’t know me. I don’t respond to emotional blackmail. As I walked toward the door, I paused. “And Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, if you truly care about Isabelle’s well-being… you should really consider getting her a second opinion.” After leaving the Hilton manor, the little voice inside me let out a sigh. You’re not supposed to wrestle with a pig… but seeing Mom put up with so much crap still makes me furious! A smile tugged at my lips, but the baby’s sigh grew heavier. And when I think about the huge blow Mom is going to suffer at the Hilton’s recognition banquet in a few days… I wish I could just jump out right now and tell her the truth! A blow? The truth? My eyebrows shot up. I didn’t know what my little one was referring to, but after all the humiliation Isabelle had forced on me, I never said I would just let it go. A recognition banquet, you say? Sounds like the perfect stage for a comeback. According to my little informant, I had a few days. That should be more than enough time to uncover the truth my baby couldn’t tell me. Once I moved out, life without Isabelle’s constant drama was blissfully peaceful. My brother-figure, Julian, even called me. “I heard everything,” he said, his voice warm with concern. “Don’t you worry, Nora. I don’t care if she’s a Hilton—even if she were the queen of England, she can’t bully my Nora.” He suggested I unwind at a new private spa he’d opened. “Wait for me to get back, and I’ll make things right for you.” But I never imagined I’d run into my nemesis there. It was the sharp-eyed, aggressive Isabelle, her face a mask of contempt. “I almost thought you had some backbone and actually left. So my brother is keeping you on the side, is he? No wonder he called my parents, reading them the riot act. You’ve been whispering poison in his ear behind my back!” Behind her stood a gang of her ‘friends,’ who immediately cornered me. My baby informed me these were her old crew from her rougher days. A bunch of girls who used to pool their money to buy one cup of lemonade. Now that Isabelle’s hit the jackpot, they’re all riding her coattails. One of them, with nails like talons, blew a puff of smoke in my face. “So you’re the shameless fake who stole Isabelle’s place?” “You took advantage of grieving parents and leeched off them for years! You really think that makes you a lady?” another one jeered, poking my cheek. The others chimed in, their words like venomous darts. “Isabelle is the real daughter! She comes home and has to walk on eggshells around a fraud like you!” “I hear you were all buddy-buddy with the young master, Julian, calling him ‘brother.’ How come you’re so threatened by a real sister?” “You’re a woman, yet you’re pulling this pathetic mean-girl crap! You have no shame!” “Did you think you could push Isabelle around because she just got back and doesn’t have anyone to back her up? Well, think again! We’re here now, and we won’t let you bully her!” Isabelle glanced at a nearby security camera and gave her friends a subtle nod. “Take her to a private room.” Mom! Run!

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After bombing my SATs, I changed my number, deleted my socials, and ghosted everyone I knew. Eight years later, at our high school reunion, the class president leaned in and whispered a secret: “Finn Sterling had a crush on you.” I spent days digging through boxes until I found my old phone and logged into the messaging account I had abandoned years ago. And there it was. A message sitting quietly in my inbox, unread for eight years: “Which college are you going to? Can I come with you?” But now? Finn Sterling is a world-famous superstar. 1 The sun was brutal today. I felt dizzy from the heat, and if you looked closely, you could probably see steam rising from the pavement. Traffic was a nightmare. To avoid being late, I bailed out of the cab and sprinted the rest of the way to the airport. Thirty minutes until Finn Sterling’s flight landed. He was the big shot our company spent a fortune to sign—a red-hot A-list celebrity. He was also my high school classmate. Two days ago, at the reunion, I laughed off the class president’s secret. “Finn Sterling? Having a crush on me? Yeah, right! That wouldn’t even happen in a fanfic. He’s Finn Sterling. If every one of his fangirls just spit once, I’d drown.” Anyone could like me, but not Finn. We were never on the same wavelength. High school Finn probably couldn’t stand me. 2 Finn Sterling was number one in everything. He dominated the trending topics, had zero scandals, and was the golden boy for every major brand. But he was an anomaly in the entertainment industry—focused solely on acting, never doing commercials. So when he suddenly agreed to collaborate with our company, it sent shockwaves through the industry. Countless massive corporations were lined up ahead of us, but he chose us. My boss was so excited he called emergency meetings all night. Somehow, the task of picking him up from the airport fell on me. The boss patted my shoulder earnestly. “Sarah, you have to take good care of Finn. Whatever he says, goes. Make him feel the warmth of home while he works with us.” I thumped my chest and promised, “Don’t worry, boss. I’ll do my best.” I said it with confidence, but inside, I was freaking out. In my memory, we weren’t close in high school. We barely interacted. But I was terrified of him because he looked scary as hell. Finn didn’t talk much. He always slouched in the back row, chin resting on his hand, dark eyes, high nose bridge, looking at people with indifference. That was high school Finn. 3 Stepping into the airport, I checked the time. Just made it. But what I didn’t expect was the crowd. It was packed. Fans everywhere. Before I could even process it, someone started screaming. “Finn’s here! My god! My god!” “Ah! It’s really him! He’s so handsome!” “He looked at me! He looked at me!” I sighed. The charisma of a top star was no joke. Finn was popular even in high school. Even though he always had a face like someone owed him money, that face was blessed by the gods. People couldn’t help but look at him. I was drawn to him too. But every time I looked, he’d avoid my gaze and frown slightly. After a few times, I stopped looking. I figured I should know my place. In high school, I was the class academic rep, but I was the type who only knew how to study hard. Since childhood, the phrase I heard most was: “Sarah, you have to work hard. You have to work harder than everyone else. We don’t have connections. Only by studying hard can you compete for a future with those who were born at the finish line.” So my childhood was dull. I didn’t know if I was happy, I was just used to it. Like this was how I was supposed to be. My classmates called me a nerd behind my back. So at the time, I thought someone like Finn must hate a student like me the most. Lost in my memories, the screaming around me suddenly stopped. A shadow fell over me. I looked up. The handsome man in front of me merged with the face in my memory. Unlike the brashness of his youth, he was now composed and elegant. Security and staff surrounded him. Finn looked relaxed. He extended a hand to me, his cool voice hitting my ears: “Hello, I’m Finn Sterling.” I reached out dumbly. He didn’t remember me. Makes sense. I was basically invisible in high school. But the moment our hands touched, Finn chuckled softly. His large hand enveloped mine. Finn rarely smiled on screen, so the fans around us went crazy again—screaming, shutters clicking like machine guns. Despite the noise, I heard him clearly. He said, “Sarah, long time no see.” His lazy tone made my heart tingle. Maybe it was the heat, but my face was burning. I wiped the sweat from my face and whispered, “Long time no see, Finn. I’m the pickup personnel from Zenith Group.” 4 We left the airport, but the luxury car the company sent was stuck in traffic. The sun was blinding. Suddenly, Finn took a step forward, his shadow shielding me from the glare. I looked up at him. His expression hadn’t changed much. I had to admit, he’d changed a lot. The guy who used to be so arrogant was now so steady. When we finally arrived at the company, Lily and her team were already waiting in the conference room. Lily, the hottest actress of the moment. Seeing Finn, Lily immediately stood up and greeted him familiarly. She’d worked with Finn on three dramas, all as leads. Even though they weren’t romance dramas, plenty of people online shipped them. This time, they were collaborating on our company’s perfume commercial. Seeing them talking together, I had to admit, they looked good. With everyone present, the boss called a meeting. After some pleasantries, Finn suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Sullivan, my assistant is on leave for a while. I was hoping your company could arrange a staff member to fill in temporarily.” Finn was a VIP. A small request like this had to be granted. The boss scanned the room and met my eyes. I suddenly had a bad feeling. No, boss, please no! I’m scared, don’t pick me! I frantically winked and shook my head at him. But he acted like he didn’t see it and pointed right at me. “How about Sarah? I heard you were in the same high school. You should be familiar with each other.” Familiar my ass. We barely spoke. Bad memories of high school flashed through my mind. I slammed the table in panic, my voice loud and firm: “I’m not worthy!” Finn looked up at me, danger in his eyes. “Reason.” Realizing everyone was staring, I stammered an excuse. “I feel like someone of Mr. Sterling’s status deserves a more excellent assistant. My abilities aren’t up to par.” I sat down nervously. The room was silent. Everyone looked at Finn. Finn leaned back in his chair, tapping his long fingers on the table, his tone indifferent. “Mr. Sullivan, I’m a nostalgic person. I like working with old classmates. If your company can’t even show this much sincerity, there’s no need to continue our cooperation.” He was talking to my boss, but his eyes were fixed on me. I squirmed in my seat. At this point, the boss didn’t care if I lived or died. He beamed at Finn. “Of course, of course. It’s Sarah’s blessing to be Mr. Sterling’s assistant. Don’t worry, Sarah is just modest. She’s very capable. She’ll do her best to make Mr. Sterling feel the warmth of home here.” Meeting adjourned. Finn stayed in his seat. I tried to sneak out with the crowd, but as I passed him, he grabbed my wrist. Finn said quietly, “We were in the same class. Do you have to avoid me like the plague? Sarah, you hid from me in high school, but we’re not in high school anymore. Tell me why.” I took a step back. People were watching. One photo and I’d be trending. But Finn wasn’t letting me go. He leaned in closer, his voice seductive. “Hm? Old classmate?” I looked down, avoiding his eyes. My face was probably redder than a monkey’s butt. Seeing me cower, Finn tutted in displeasure. His hand slid from my shoulder to the back of my neck. The cold touch of his watch sent shivers down my spine. I struggled uncomfortably and looked up at him. Finn’s face was terrifyingly dark. I heard him grit his teeth. “Your boss said you have to do your best to make me feel the warmth of home. Sarah, nothing less will do.” 5 I’ve always bowed to life’s pressures. After flunking the SATs, I went to a mediocre college. Getting into Zenith Group was dumb luck. To keep my job, I gave Finn a sweet smile. “Of course, Finn. I’ll do my absolute best to make you feel at home. It’s an honor to be your assistant.” I looked him sincerely in the eyes. We were very close. Finn suddenly looked away uncomfortably. “Yeah, well, it’s not like it has to be you, but since we’re old classmates, it’s better to be familiar.” I nodded outwardly, but inside I was screaming. Familiar? We barely spoke! He frowned every time we made eye contact! I didn’t know him at all! But since I was his personal assistant now, I had to learn his preferences and habits. I stayed late to organize the info. By the time I finished, it was dark. I shut down my computer and got up to leave. In the hallway, a familiar figure caught my eye. Finn. In the dim light, he was leaning against the wall, a cigarette in his mouth. The metal lighter in his hand glinted cold. He occasionally checked his phone, the screen’s faint light casting shadows on his face. I called out, “Finn?” He turned, instinctively snuffing out the cigarette. “Off work?” I nodded. “Why are you still here?” Finn explained awkwardly, “Oh, your company is huge. Lost track of time touring.” Lame excuse. Only an idiot would believe that. But I didn’t dare call him out. “Yeah, it is pretty big.” Silence. I looked calm, but I was practically shredding my bag strap. Awkward. What to say? Finally, Finn spoke. “Heading home? I’ll drive you.” I waved my hands, refusing a bit too loudly. “No need! No, really. I’ll just grab a cab. Don’t want to trouble you.” Finn looked at me and chuckled softly. He pinched the back of my neck and guided me forward. “Old classmates. No trouble. Don’t overthink it. I drove, it’s on the way.” 6 Just like that, I was in Finn’s car. My first time in a luxury ride. But before I could even tell him my address, Finn started the car and drove straight towards my place like he already knew where it was. He actually found it! He parked right downstairs. I was about to ask how he knew where I lived, but Finn spoke first. “Sarah.” “Yeah?” Finn didn’t look at me. His gaze was fixed ahead, hands on the steering wheel like he was bracing himself. “Do you still use that QQ account?” I was confused. “Which QQ account?” (Note: In this localized version, QQ refers to an old messaging app popular back then, like how Americans used AIM or Kik). “The one in the yearbook.” Finn turned to look at me. If you looked closely, there was nervousness hidden in his dark eyes. I shook my head. “Nope. After the scores came out, I changed everything.” Finn seemed to let out a long breath. He muttered, “So you just stopped using it. You didn’t intentionally…” “Huh?” I was confused. “What?” Finn looked at me, unable to hide the smile in his eyes. “Sarah, I wanted to take it slow with you, but I changed my mind. We’re adults. Being coy is ridiculous.” I was even more confused. “Finn, what are you talking about?” Finn leaned back in his seat, relaxed. “Go home and log into your old account. You’ll understand.” 7 Finn was being cryptic. As soon as I got home, I tore the place apart looking for my old high school phone. I couldn’t remember the username or password, or even the phone number tied to it. An hour. It took a full hour to find the old phone. It was in a small box, covered in dust. Inside the box, besides the phone, were my high school certificates. Seeing these things again made me sigh. I was actually a great student in high school. I worked harder than anyone. While others played, I studied. I was always first in exams. My parents were proud. But the SATs… I choked. Everyone expected me to ace it, but I bombed. I wasn’t surprised though. I knew it the moment I walked out of the exam room. I knew how bad my mental state was. I was too nervous. Everyone’s expectations were crushing me. Everyone told me to do well, or I’d be letting them down. My hands shook uncontrollably during the test. I hyperventilated. I kept checking the clock, terrified I’d run out of time. I left huge chunks of the test blank. I didn’t dare tell anyone. My parents had high hopes. When the results came out, they signed me up for a prep school to retake the year without even asking me. They looked at me with disappointment. “Do you know how much we sacrificed for your education? Sarah, you’ve disappointed us so much. Do you know how much face we lost?” That’s when I realized my grades were the only thing about me they cared to show off. Everyone assumed I’d retake the year. But that summer, I quietly packed my bags, changed my number, cut off everyone from high school, and had my first real fight with my family. I went to an average college, but I was happy. It was the first time I chose my own life. Do I regret it? Not at all! I’d do it again. I was a teenager. I deserved to be happy. Grades weren’t everything. I missed out on a lot, and I didn’t want to do it over.

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