Category: English

When Alayna Williams married me, Colton Walsh, she was carrying millions of dollars in debt. For her sake, I worked three jobs simultaneously for five years, paid off her “debts,” and supported both her and our son Mark Walsh. I never complained once, always believing that better days lay ahead. Last week, our company finally secured a massive investment. We celebrated in each other’s arms, and I thought our good days had finally arrived. Today, I saw her again on the financial news. She was dressed in an elegant gown, introduced as “the sole heir to a billion-dollar business empire,” laughing and chatting with her “investor” Finn Walsh. The headline read: [Alayna Williams completes five-year “poverty trial,” proving her exceptional self-made capabilities to the board of directors.] I returned home in a daze. Five-year-old Mark was playing with the latest limited-edition robot. He looked up at me with eyes identical to his mother’s—cold and unfamiliar. He said, “Mom told me everything. Dad, you failed the test. You love money too much.” Those words hit me like an icy bullet, piercing through my eardrums and exploding in my mind. I looked at Mark, who was playing with that limited-edition robot I’d earned by pulling three all-nighters doing freelance design work. That face, so much like Alayna’s, showed a coldness no five-year-old should possess. “Mark, what are you talking about?” My throat tightened, each word struggling to escape. He said, “Mom told me everything. Mom said real men don’t talk about money all the time. You calculate living expenses every day, run two blocks for supermarket discounts, and get angry when I break a toy.” I quickly said, “I wasn’t angry, I was…” “Mom says you’re small-minded,” he interrupted, his tone cold and mechanical. “She said you only see small gains in front of you. Your love is too cheap and too heavy.” My heart was seized by an invisible hand, the pain making it nearly impossible to breathe. Every penny I’d saved for this family, all the comforts I’d given up to pay off her millions in “debt,” my arm burned at the late-night convenience store job, nearly collapsing on the roadside after dozens of consecutive overtime hours at the design firm… All these sacrifices had become “small-minded” and “money-obsessed” in their eyes. I crouched down, trying to hold his hand, but he recoiled in disgust. “Don’t touch my robot. You can’t afford it.” I can’t afford it? The receipt was still lying quietly in my wallet. I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. I stood up in a daze, staggering backward until my back hit the cold wall. My gaze swept across the living room and finally stopped at the table. There lay a document and a check. Divorce papers! Alayna’s name was already signed, the handwriting elegant and composed, just like her appearance on the financial news. Next to it was a check—my “severance pay” earned through five years of youth, multiple jobs, and countless sleepless nights. Ironically, just last week, we had embraced right here as she said, “Colton, our hard times are over. We’re going to be the happiest family!” Looking back now, that was just the final line before the test ended. My phone rang sharply, the screen showing “Darling” as the contact name. I numbly answered the call. “Did you see it?” Alayna’s voice came through the receiver, devoid of any warmth. “Colton, our ‘poverty trial’ is over. Congratulations on making it through the entire process. But unfortunately, you’ve been eliminated.” “A test?” I managed to croak out, my voice extremely hoarse. “Yes, a test.” She laughed lightly, her laughter full of mockery. “I needed to prove to the board that even in the most desperate circumstances, I could attract a loyal partner and succeed in business. Finn Walsh is my investor and my real fiancé. And you were my randomly chosen ‘husband’ role to complete this social experiment—it just happened that you’re also named Walsh.” I quickly said, “So that millions in debt…” She said, “Oh, that was another way of saying startup capital. If I hadn’t said that, how could I have tested your character under extreme pressure?” “Alayna!” I said through gritted teeth, my nails digging deep into my palms. “You’re such a bitch!” “Am I? But this ‘bitch’ is now the heir to billions in assets.” Her tone remained calm. “Colton, take the check and leave gracefully. Don’t make me despise your final moments.” She paused, then added something even more cruel: “Oh, and Mark isn’t your son. He’s Finn’s and my child. I was never pregnant with your baby. You were just a performer in the ‘socialized parenting’ phase of his upbringing. Now the real man of the house is coming back, so please move out of this house that belongs to the Williams family immediately.” In that moment, I felt like I’d fallen into an ice cave. Alayna continued, “Finn and the Williams Group legal team will be there in half an hour to handle the transition. Remember, be graceful about it.” The call ended. I held the phone as if gripping a red-hot branding iron. Socialized parenting? So even my qualification to be a father was something they had granted me, only to take it away.

I didn’t move. I wouldn’t just leave like this. What belonged to me, I would take back piece by piece with my own hands. When the doorbell rang, it was ten minutes earlier than Alayna had announced—urgent, as if Christian couldn’t wait any longer. I opened the door to find Finn standing there, the same polished business elite with his perfect smile from the financial news. Behind him stood a man and woman in crisp suits, likely members of Williams Group’s legal team. “Mr. Colton Walsh, hello.” Finn spoke, his voice calm yet like a stone dropped into still water, creating ripples across the surface. He didn’t look down on me from above, but rather surveyed me up and down with a somewhat pitying gaze. “These five years have really been hard on you. Honestly, you did better than I expected—very convincing performance.” After speaking, he walked straight past me into the living room, as if he were the true master of this house. “Mark, Daddy’s here.” Mark, who had been playing with his robot, immediately dropped his toy and pounced into his arms like a happy kitten. “Daddy! You’re here!” Finn nodded to his secretary, who promptly handed over a box of the latest limited-edition luxury toys. “Of course, I promised you that once Mommy’s ‘game’ was over, I’d take you home. We’ll go abroad this weekend, okay?” Mark exclaimed excitedly, “Yes! I love Daddy and Mommy the most!” They interacted intimately, as if they were the real family, while I was just a temporary actor whose role had ended and who should exit the stage. My heart had long since gone numb beyond feeling pain. Finn held Mark while his gaze swept across the living room, finally settling on the fabric sofa set I’d found at the secondhand market. He frowned slightly, as if seeing something unsightly. “Really, how could Alayna live in a place like this, using such cheap furniture? These things aren’t worthy of her.” He turned to the lawyer Jeffrey Lakin behind him. “Make a note—have a cleaning company come later and dispose of all the furniture here. Alayna’s home shouldn’t have any cheap items.” Jeffrey replied, “Yes, Mr. Finn Walsh.” Every word Finn spoke precisely negated all my efforts over the past five years. I had scrimped and saved for our shared “future.” In his eyes, it was merely “cheap junk” that tainted his fiancée’s noble status. Jeffrey walked up to me and handed over a pen with an expressionless face. “Mr. Colton Walsh, please sign the divorce papers. Five million dollars in compensation is already the industry’s highest standard for a five-year ‘role-playing’ project. Miss Williams and Mr. Finn Walsh are being very generous.” “Industry’s highest standard?” I repeated those words, finding them utterly absurd. They actually treated my life as a transaction with a clear price tag. “Yes.” Jeffrey adjusted his glasses. “Additionally, Mr. Finn Walsh is kindhearted and specifically asked me to remind you not to engage in any harassment. Any harassment from you will be viewed by our legal department as malicious provocation against Williams Group. I assume you wouldn’t want to see those consequences.” His words carried undisguised threats. Finn walked over holding Mark, wearing his signature perfect smile. “Colton, don’t misunderstand—we’re not threatening you. You’re a smart man; you should know how to make the right choice, right?” He looked down and said gently to Mark in his arms, “Good boy, say goodbye to him. He’s leaving our home.” Mark peeked out from his embrace to look at me. Those eyes that had once been full of dependence now held only strangeness and impatience. “Daddy, let’s go quickly. I don’t want to look at him. Mommy said his poor smell would affect me.” The words “poor smell” completely shattered the last trace of warmth in my heart. I looked at them and suddenly laughed.

My laughter left both Finn and Jeffrey stunned. They probably expected me to explode in anger, curse hysterically, or fall to my knees begging. The one thing they never anticipated was laughter. “What are you laughing at?” Finn frowned. “Nothing,” I stopped laughing, my expression completely calm. “I just think you both put on quite a performance.” I turned and walked into the bedroom, dragging several storage boxes out from under the bed. I’d bought these a few days ago, originally planning to use them for organizing seasonal clothes as we welcomed our beautiful new life together. “Well, well, have you finally come to your senses and decided to pack up and get lost?” Finn crossed his arms, leaning against the doorframe, his voice dripping with mockery. I ignored him. I began systematically organizing all my expense records from the past five years. Over five years, I’d printed out every single bank statement from three different jobs. Among them were my own credit card bills and every transaction detail from Alayna’s “debt-ridden” supplementary credit card. Finn’s expression shifted from mockery to confusion, then to a hint of wariness. “Colton, what the hell are you doing? You’re not thinking you can use these scraps of paper to demand money, are you? Let me tell you, it won’t work. We have the best legal team money can buy.” I still said nothing. From a dedicated file folder, I pulled out a thick stack of receipts. Then I retrieved the final item—the purchase record and invoice for Mark’s limited edition robot. The invoice was made out in my name. The payment account was my salary card. I gently placed this invoice on top of all the evidence, like stamping a final seal on my absurd five years. After finishing all this, I closed the box lid. Three large boxes in total. Not a single personal item among them. Just my five years of blood, sweat, time, and my trampled, worthless life. I looked up at Finn and Jeffrey. “I’m taking these with me.” Jeffrey clearly found my behavior incomprehensible too. “Mr. Walsh, these are household consumption receipts from your shared family life. You have no right to take them unilaterally. Moreover, this cannot serve as grounds for demanding additional compensation.” “Who said I want additional compensation?” I asked back. I looked at Finn, who was staring at me like I was insane, his lips curled in undisguised mockery. “A leopard never changes its spots—you really are all about money. Colton, you’re beyond saving.” “Yes,” I nodded, accepting it openly, “I never change, and I am all about money.” Because in this world, only money won’t betray me. I dragged those boxes of heavy “waste paper” to the entryway and changed my shoes. Throughout it all, I never looked at Mark again. I only took my driver’s license, passport, bank cards, and these boxes of things more important to me than life itself. As I opened the door, preparing to leave this “home” I’d poured five years of my heart into, Finn spoke behind me in a voice just loud enough for me to hear clearly, saying to Mark: “See? I told you so, didn’t I? A man like that doesn’t deserve to be your father. Money is all that matters in his world.” The moment the door closed, I heard their laughter. I dragged three heavy suitcases behind me like a homeless vagrant, wandering through the city streets. As darkness fell, every warm light glowing from windows seemed to mock my homelessness. I found a budget hotel, planning to use the few thousand dollars left on my card to settle in temporarily. The front desk clerk said, “I’m sorry, sir, but your card has been frozen.” I tried another card. The clerk said again, “I’m sorry, it still won’t work.” I tried every card in my wallet, including all my credit cards, but they were all frozen. A chill ran from my feet straight to my head. I thought, “Alayna is really ruthless. She didn’t just kick me out of the house—she cut off all my escape routes.” Just as I was about to drag my suitcases away, a black Mercedes pulled up at the hotel entrance. “Mr. Walsh, we meet again.” Jeffrey’s expression was emotionless, like a precision machine. “What do you want from me?” My voice was hoarse. “There are some matters that need to be explained to you.” He handed me a document. “Given that you maliciously stole financial materials related to the Williams Group’s ‘heir trial’ project this afternoon—specifically those boxes of invoices and receipts you took—your actions have created potential risks for the project. Therefore, Ms. Williams has decided to revoke your five hundred thousand dollar ‘severance package.’” My mind went blank. I thought, “Malicious theft? She’s calling the evidence I personally organized ‘theft.’” “Furthermore.” Jeffrey seemed to enjoy my expression at that moment as he pulled out another document—one I knew all too well, because I had signed my name on it five years ago. At the time, Alayna told me it was our prenuptial agreement, designed to ensure I would still have some protection after we went “bankrupt.” My breathing nearly stopped. Jeffrey flipped to a specific page, pointing to a supplementary clause in small print, reading it to me word by word: “Supplementary Clause 3.1: Colton’s role as ‘father’ and his performance of ‘paternal’ duties are both part of this project. The child he is raising, Mark, is actually the child of Alayna and project investor Finn. Colton serves only as the caregiver and has no legal parental rights.” My world completely collapsed in that moment, crumbling to dust. I had always believed that Mark was the son I had raised with all my strength. It turned out that even this most basic blood connection was a lie. My body shook violently, and I could barely stand. Jeffrey didn’t pause. He flipped to the most devastating final page: “Supplementary Clause 7.4: All of Colton’s contributions over five years, including but not limited to household labor, emotional support, and childcare activities, are essentially defined as Colton’s ‘labor.’ His compensation was to be a five million dollar trust fund established by Alayna upon project completion.” He paused, then delivered the final verdict with the tone of a death sentence: “However, since Colton’s final evaluation was deemed ‘unsatisfactory,’ according to clause 7.5, the beneficiary of said trust fund was legally and properly transferred to Finn at three o’clock this afternoon.” He closed the document and held it in front of me. “So all of this was just for a test you failed to pass. “You now have nothing. The son you thought you had, the love, and the money you thought you deserved—none of it exists. “You are nothing.” I stared at him, at that agreement, at my own signature on it. It turned out that my life, the love I had been so proud of, the family I had given everything to maintain, was nothing more than an elaborate, carefully planned commercial experiment that I knew nothing about—one that was ultimately judged a “failure.” And they used the “legal” agreement I had signed with my own hand to cast me into irreversible hell. I could no longer hold myself up. My legs gave out, and I fell straight to my knees. All the sounds around me disappeared, leaving only the sound of my heart shattering. Despair swallowed me completely like a tidal wave. I don’t know how I left that hotel. I only remember Jeffrey and his colleague looking at me kneeling on the ground like I was trash, then getting in their car and driving away. Like a walking corpse, I dragged those three heavy boxes of “jokes” through the late-night streets with no destination. My bank cards were frozen due to a failed business project, I had less than a hundred dollars in cash, couldn’t afford a hotel, and couldn’t go home. The world was so vast, yet there was no place for me. As my sanity teetered on the edge of collapse, just when I thought I might go insane or collapse on the street, an image suddenly flashed through my mind. I thought, “Alayna, you like playing poor, don’t you? Then let’s see how you like being truly poor!”

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The day my mother Lucy Morris was branded as a homewrecker, I, Aurora Morris, hurled the family’s authority seal right into my father Peter Morris’s face. On the flight back home, I stumbled across a video with the headline: “Billionaire’s Son Defends Mother, Beats Up Mistress.” In the video, Lucy was dressed in tattered clothes, surrounded and beaten by my several brothers. They tore her clothes apart, calling her a shameless mistress. With tears in her eyes, she desperately tried to explain herself, only to be met with mockery from the crowd. A strange woman in haute couture stood behind them, protected, saying coldly: “Alright, I know you’re doing this for me, but we don’t need to waste time on someone so ungrateful.” The guests around her wished her happy birthday and praised her magnanimity. “This is the grace a Morris wife should have! Look at that woman’s shabby appearance—how could she possibly be Mrs. Morris?” “A mistress dares to call herself Mrs. Morris? Doesn’t she know the power of the Morris family? Where’s even a hint of aristocratic elegance about her?” Hearing the title “Mrs. Morris,” I gripped my phone tighter. The screen reflected my icy expression. I’d only been away from home for three years—when did we suddenly gain this pathetic excuse for a “mother”? This video made my blood boil with rage. Right after landing, I immediately called my eldest brother Joseph Morris, but no one answered. Then I tried my second brother Oliver Morris and third brother Jeffrey Morris—no response from either. Finally, my fourth brother Jason Morris picked up, asking impatiently: “Aurora, what do you want? It’s Mom’s birthday today, we’re busy, so don’t bother us!” I sneered: “Which mom?” “Aurora, are you insane? Do we have any other mom?” Jason angrily told me to stop making trouble and hung up directly. Given his attitude, I even wondered if this video was AI-generated, specifically designed to drive a wedge between our family. Indeed, the Lucy in the video was completely different from the one in my memory. After all, everyone knew that the Morris family’s assets all belonged to my mother. Although Peter was Lucy’s husband, the Morris family fortune didn’t belong to him. All his prestige came from Lucy, so he’d always been obedient to her. How could he possibly allow Lucy to be humiliated into the trembling mess shown in the video? I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger, and decided to personally check out the banquet hall from the video. When I took a cab to the entrance, a girl got out with me. She glanced at me and immediately stood in front of me, her face full of disdain: “You’re here for my mom’s birthday party too? Isn’t this place reserved by the Morris family? How can just anyone get in?” She wore the latest designer dress with a diamond necklace the size of a pigeon egg around her neck. Seeing my simple t-shirt and pants, she looked disgusted. Thinking I’d come to the wrong place, I politely asked: “You mean the Morris family, New York’s wealthiest?” She lifted her chin and scoffed: “Since you know that, why are you still here? Be careful or my dad will make your family disappear from New York completely!” I pulled out my phone and showed her Peter’s photo for confirmation: “Who is this?” She looked at me like I was an idiot: “My dad! Oh, I get it now! You’re another mistress trying to seduce my dad! My dad absolutely adores my mom, so give up now! The last person who tried this—now my mom can make her kneel and beg for mercy with just a look!” I had my suspicions. I opened that video to show her. The girl Sarah Morris laughed until tears came out: “Since you already know and you’re still throwing yourself at him, isn’t that a bit pathetic? Since we’re about the same age, let me give you some advice—that woman claimed to be my dad’s legitimate wife, but my brothers dumped her in the wilderness. Even with a broken leg, she crawled back, insisting that my dad return her daughter. So ridiculous! Looking like that, my dad would be disgusted just seeing her! How could he possibly have a child with her!” After hearing her words, I clenched my fists tightly. So during these three years I was away, Lucy had endured plenty of humiliation from these people! But my brothers were Lucy’s biological sons—why would they help outsiders bully her? Although Lucy had a gentle nature, they knew she never let herself be taken advantage of. Moreover, Grandpa Martin Morris had long said that when I returned, I would officially take over the Morris family! How dare these people! I pushed past Sarah in front of me, ignoring her screams, and charged straight into the banquet hall. The moment I entered, I witnessed a scene I would never forget—Lucy was kneeling in the center of the hall, held down by my several brothers, being forced to lick that strange woman’s shoes.

“Stop!” I rushed forward and kicked Joseph away. He instinctively roared in anger, but the moment he saw me, he swallowed his curses. Sarah, however, slapped me across the face. “You pushed me and hit my brother—do you really think the Morris family is easy to bully?” “Sarah, she pushed you?” Hearing Sarah’s words, Joseph’s eyes instantly turned vicious. He cursed at me furiously, “You bitch, you’re just as vicious as your mother!” I was about to step forward to argue when Lucy on the ground grabbed my arm. “Aurora, let’s go.” Her face showed humility, caution, and even fear. “You pushed me and think you can just leave? As expected, a mistress’s daughter is also trash with no manners!” After saying this, Sarah grabbed a wine bottle nearby and hurled it at us. Lucy stood up to shield me, but that’s when I noticed the bruised and festering wounds all over her body. “Mom!” She was cut on the arm by the wine bottle shards, blood streaming down, yet she kept urging me to leave quickly. I stared hard at my four brothers. They quickly surrounded Sarah, looking at me provocatively. “What’s wrong? You barged in here uninvited—we’re being generous by not holding you accountable!” “Take your useless mother and get out! Even letting her lick shoes would be a gift from our mother!” Hearing their words, I was so angry my whole body went numb. “She’s your mother too!” The entire room burst into mocking laughter. “This woman must be crazy! Isn’t Mrs. Morris standing right here?” “Hilarious! First her mom pretended to be Mrs. Morris, now she’s pretending to be Miss Morris. Don’t these two have any shame?” Sarah looked at me arrogantly. “You’re so pitiful. You’ve probably never seen your father since childhood! “Well, of course—a woman like your mother has probably slept with so many men that even she doesn’t know who your father is. That’s why she’s barking at my dad like a mad dog!” The cold expressions on my brothers’ faces made it clear they thought the same thing. They spoke in unison, “You two get out of here! Don’t ruin our mother’s birthday party! “Not just anyone can be Mrs. Morris!” I laughed bitterly in my rage. “You don’t even recognize your own mother? Do you still remember who really runs the Morris family?” “Of course it’s my dad! You psycho!” Sarah sneered proudly. I couldn’t help but laugh mockingly, thinking, “Peter, that waste? An outsider who can’t even enter the family’s inner circle—has he ever seen the family’s seal of authority?” “Peter?” I snorted coldly. “Everyone in the industry knows his background. When is it Peter’s turn to speak for the Morris family?” My words made Sarah furious. Clearly, some people at the party were in the know. “That’s right, it’s only because Mrs. Morris doesn’t like managing business that Mr. Morris helps out. Even if he has some say now, he can’t control the entire Morris family, right?” Just then, the woman who had gone to change her shoes appeared again at the banquet hall entrance. She said, “I’ve already handed over all Morris family affairs to my husband. This is our family business—naturally, an outsider like you wouldn’t understand.”

“What proof do you have that you’re Mrs. Morris?” I stared directly at the woman before me. She laughed softly. “Do I really need proof? I’ve been by Peter’s side throughout all his business dealings these past few years, and my sons have been there too.” As soon as she finished speaking, guests around us immediately chimed in. “That’s right, Mrs. Morris has always been present during Peter’s negotiations. Unlike your mother, who’s so timid and withdrawn—nothing like a wealthy family’s matriarch.” “Don’t the Morris sons even know who their own mother is? How ridiculous!” Everyone nodded in agreement, their expressions certain, making my heart tighten. I immediately pulled out my phone, ready to call Peter. However, Joseph suddenly slapped the phone out of my hand, and the screen shattered instantly. “You want to call the police? You and your mother are the ones causing trouble!” he said. The group was clearly nervous, sweat beading on their foreheads. Could they have secretly found Peter a fake wife behind his back? Lucy trembled all over, instinctively wanting to kneel down and apologize to that woman. “I’m sorry, now that I’ve found my daughter, we’ll leave right away,” she said hurriedly. Leave? There was no way I was walking away! If they dared humiliate Lucy like this in front of so many people, they’d definitely be worse in private! I picked up the broken phone and looked at that woman again. “Are you certain you’re Peter’s wife?” She sneered back, “Of course!” Too bad the phone could barely make voice calls now, or I would’ve definitely made a video call to confirm. The call went through. A familiar voice came through: “Aurora? Are you studying hard? Why are you calling me?” Hearing this voice, Sarah’s eyes widened, and those at the scene who knew Peter recognized it too. I laughed coldly. “Dad, exactly how many daughters do you have? How many wives?” The voice on the other end grew stern: “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re obviously my only daughter. Who’s been filling your head with nonsense?” Just as I was about to explain the situation at the banquet hall, Sarah’s mother, Hazel Morris, snatched my phone away. She stomped on it hard with her high heel, a disdainful smile playing at her lips. “You even got someone to impersonate my husband? It’s just a similar voice—you really think you can fool everyone?” The guests, who had been wavering moments before, heard her words and looked at Lucy and me in our disheveled state again, sneering smiles appearing on their faces. But my four brothers’ faces grew even paler. They roared: “Aurora! Your mother is just a maid at Morris Manor! It’s bad enough you have delusions, but don’t come disrupting the birthday party! Get out!” The more agitated they became, the more suspicious I grew. Had they long wanted to pamper Sarah as their sister, even deceiving Peter? Just then, butler Jay Wells walked in pushing a cake. Seeing him, my eyes lit up. But Lucy frantically grabbed my sleeve, tears nearly falling: “Aurora, let’s just go…” When Jay saw me, his eyes flickered, clearly avoiding something. Sarah immediately ran over and clung to Jay’s arm, acting coquettish: “Jay, you’ve worked at Morris Manor for so long. Tell us, who’s the real impostor here!” I stared intently at Jay, waiting for his response. However, Jay pointed decisively at Lucy: “She’s a maid at Morris Manor. Three Christmases ago, she had a mental breakdown and has been believing she’s Mrs. Morris ever since. Mr. Morris took pity on her and let her stay in the house.” Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood: “No wonder Mrs. Morris never showed her face before—she was afraid this crazy woman would impersonate her!” Listening to their cold mockery of Lucy and me, Sarah lifted her head proudly: “Still pretending? The Morris family isn’t something just anyone can latch onto!” Hazel nodded, signaling for people to restrain Lucy and me again. Sarah walked up smugly and slapped us both hard. Her ring cut my cheek. She sneered: “Do you still dare claim your mother is Mrs. Morris and you’re Ms. Morris? Letting your mother stay in the house was my mother’s mercy. Now, we’re just asking her to lick my mother’s shoes, and she hasn’t even complained. What gives you the right to hit my brother?” With that, she suddenly burst into laughter: “If my father knew you two were being so disrespectful to my mother, he’d probably throw you to the sharks! But I’m kind-hearted—if you kneel down and kowtow right now, a hundred times, I’ll forgive you!” Hazel smashed the cake violently on the ground: “Sarah, didn’t she just push you? The Morris family has always repaid evil with kindness. Let them eat the cake before they kowtow!” They were so arrogant and domineering, and even Jay was on their side. Without a doubt, that bastard Peter must have betrayed us! I suddenly broke free from my restraints and delivered a hard slap to Sarah, who was closest to me. She was knocked straight to the ground. Having been trained in combat by Martin since childhood, these people were no match for me. I fought hard to pull Lucy, who was being pressed to the ground, back up. But she looked at the woman impersonating her with red eyes, pleading: “Mrs. Morris, I apologize to you. I’ll eat the cake. Could you please spare my daughter?” Laughter erupted throughout the banquet hall. But my heart felt like it was being torn apart. How had Lucy, once so gentle and strong, become like this? Sarah crawled up from the ground, gritting her teeth: “Not a chance! This bitch dared to hit me—I’m going to kill you both today!” “Just you?” I raised my hand, and she scrambled to hide behind her four brothers. The four stood in front of me, roaring: “How dare you bully our sister? You shrew, we won’t let you get away with this!” I punched each of them once, and they immediately shut up and hit the ground. Seeing me walking toward Hazel, Sarah quickly pulled out her phone. The four brothers tried to stop me but were knocked down and left unable to move. Sarah screamed frantically: “Dad! Some bitch is causing trouble at Mom’s birthday party—come quickly!” Taking advantage of this moment, I knocked Hazel to the ground as well. The scene immediately fell silent. I helped Lucy up and found a chair to sit down. The sound of an engine roaring came from outside, and Sarah shouted excitedly: “Aurora, you’re finished! My dad’s here—you and your mother can prepare to die!” A man in a black suit walked in. Our eyes met, and shock flashed in both our gazes. I then smiled slightly and walked forward without hesitation. Under everyone’s astonished stares, I delivered a resounding slap across his face.

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My sister skipped out on her wedding, and my parents threw me into the bed of a powerful man. I huddled under the covers, trembling, as the soft whir of a wheelchair approached. A voice, chillingly devoid of warmth, cut through the silence: “Look up.” With a sigh of resignation, I slowly raised my head, only to be met by two identical faces. One sat in a wheelchair, the other stood behind him. The standing man smirked, his voice dripping with cruel amusement: “Guess who you’re actually marrying?” My mind went blank, a loud buzz echoing in my ears. Two identical faces, strikingly handsome, yet each exuded a distinctly different aura. The one in the wheelchair had sharp, cold eyes, an intimidating aura that warned people to keep their distance. He was the infamous, unpredictable Dante Hayes, the feared head of the Hayes empire. The man standing behind him wore a mocking grin, his eyes sharp and predatory. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?” That was Adrian Hayes, Dante’s twin brother. He leaned in, his hot breath ghosting my ear. “Pick. Get it right, and you’ll be rewarded. Get it wrong… and things will get interesting.” My teeth chattered. My parents had only told me that if I married Dante Hayes in my sister’s place, our family business would be saved. But no one mentioned there’d be a life-or-death choice involved. My gaze flickered between the two of them, my palms slick with sweat. Dante in his wheelchair didn’t even glance at me, as if I were invisible. Adrian, standing behind him, watched my terror with an amused glint in his eyes. It was a death sentence, no matter which way I turned. I closed my eyes and pointed wildly. “I… I choose him.” I pointed at Dante in the wheelchair. I figured, if I had to die, at least he seemed less… twisted. A derisive chuckle filled the room. Adrian straightened up, clapping his hands together. “Congratulations, you picked wrong.” He grinned wider, “Looks like you’ll be spending the night with me.” My body stiffened, and my blood ran cold. He reached out, his hand already moving to snatch away my covers. I shrieked, scrambling back against the headboard. Just then, that cold, silent voice spoke again. “Enough.” Dante finally looked up, his gaze like daggers aimed at Adrian. “Get out.” Adrian’s smile froze. He seemed resentful but dared not defy him. He shot me a vicious glare, as if to say, “You’ll regret this.” Then, he turned and left. Only Dante Hayes and I remained in the room. The wheelchair glided slowly to the bedside, those eyes fixed on me. “Remember this: from today forward, I am your husband.” His voice was devoid of warmth. “But, don’t touch what isn’t yours, don’t ask what isn’t your business.” “Be an obedient puppet, and you’ll survive.”

The next morning, I was woken by my phone ringing. It was my mom. Her shrill voice pierced my ears. “Skylar! How did last night go? Are the Hayes satisfied? When can we expect that contract to be signed?” A barrage of questions, not a single one about my well-being. My heart sank to rock bottom. “Mom, I…” “You what, you what! I’m telling you, if you mess this up and ruin our family, I’ll be the first to disown you!” My dad snatched the phone from her, his tone equally cold. “Skylar, just be good. The Hayes family isn’t someone we can afford to offend. Just be obedient, and your father won’t treat you unfairly.” The call ended abruptly. I gripped the phone, my entire body cold. And just like that, the reality of my ‘family’ crashed down on me. The door burst open, and Adrian strolled in, a coffee cup in his hand. Without a word, he casually flung the scalding hot coffee onto the carpet right in front of me. “Deaf? Didn’t you hear my brother call you?” I flinched, startled, and quickly scrambled out of bed. “I’m sorry…” “Don’t apologize to me.” He pinched my chin. “Go. Clean that carpet. With your hands.” I bit my lip, knelt on the floor, and used my sleeve to wipe at the scalding coffee stain. Adrian stood nearby, looking down at me. “Tsk, tsk. What an obedient little dog.” He nudged my shoulder with his foot. “My brother’s waiting downstairs. Don’t keep him.” Swallowing my humiliation, I cleaned the carpet and hurried downstairs. Dante was already seated at the dining table, breakfast laid out before him, untouched. He merely glanced at me when I arrived. “Sit.” I cautiously sat opposite him. Throughout the entire breakfast, he remained silent, the only sounds being the clinking of cutlery against plates. The oppressive atmosphere made it hard to breathe. I could feel Adrian’s malicious gaze from across the room, making my skin prickle.

That afternoon, Adrian claimed I’d somehow sullied his morning suit and, as punishment, ordered me to tend to the villa’s rose garden. It was the very garden Dante’s late mother had cherished most. The butler handed me a large pair of shears, his face impassive. “Young Master Adrian instructed that all the thorny branches must be trimmed.” I looked at the blooming roses, feeling a pang of reluctance. “No ‘buts.’ It’s an order.” The butler cut me off coldly. I could only take the shears and step into the rose bushes. The thorns were vicious, sharp as needles, and within minutes, my hands were a canvas of bleeding scratches. Adrian sat on the nearby terrace, sipping red wine, enjoying my misery. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my fingertip. A thick thorn had deeply pierced beneath my fingernail. I gasped, tears instantly welling up. Just then, a crisp white handkerchief appeared before my eyes. I blinked, then slowly looked up, realizing Dante was suddenly beside me. He sat in his wheelchair, his expression still cold, but his eyes were fixed on my bleeding finger. “Fool.” He uttered a single word, sharp and clear, then pressed the handkerchief into my hand. Before I could react, he had already turned his wheelchair and left. I clutched the fragrant handkerchief, feeling a sudden sense of disorientation. It was the first time he’d shown me anything other than utter indifference. “Well, well. Already making moves, are we?” Adrian’s sneering voice cut through the air. He walked up, snatched the handkerchief from my hand, threw it on the ground, and ground it under his foot. “Skylar, you’re nothing but a stand-in for your sister, a bought dog for the Hayes family!” “How dare you try to seduce my brother? Do you think you’re worthy?” He grabbed my wrist, dragged me to a nearby fountain, and brutally plunged my head into the icy water. The freezing water instantly filled my nose and mouth, and the suffocating sensation made me thrash wildly. “Time to rinse that foolishness out of your head and remind you of your place!” My vision blurred. Just as I thought I was going to die, he yanked me out. I clung to the edge of the fountain, coughing violently. “Remember, if you ever dare to have such thoughts again, I’ll dump you in the river for the fish.” Adrian’s voice was a chilling whisper, like a demon straight from hell. That night, I huddled in the corner of my room, soaked and shivering. My phone buzzed, vibrating violently in my damp hand. A strange number. I answered, and a familiar voice trickled through the receiver. “Skylar, it’s me.” It was Chloe, my sister. My grip on the phone tightened, nails digging into my palm. “You actually have the nerve to call me?” “Oh, come on, sis, don’t be so dramatic.” Chloe’s voice was annoyingly light. “I’m just checking in, you know. How are things at the Hayes mansion?” Rage surged within me. “Thanks to you, I’m having an ‘absolute blast’!” “That’s good then.” Chloe seemed to miss my sarcasm entirely. “Skylar, you know, I only ran away to find my own happiness. You helping me is helping our entire family.” “Oh, and by the way, my boyfriend’s startup is a little short on funds. Since you’re Mrs. Hayes now, just a little something from your pocket change would be more than enough for us.” I trembled with anger, unable to utter a single word. The sheer audacity of her! Just then, the door burst open with a violent kick. Adrian stood in the doorway, a malicious grin on his face. “Well, well, who are you talking to?” He snatched my phone and saw “Sister” on the call screen. “Ah, so it’s the runaway bride herself on the line.” He put the call on speaker, and Chloe’s voice came through clearly. “…Skylar, why are you so quiet? You absolutely have to help me. My boyfriend and I are truly in love…” Adrian’s face grew darker and darker. He ended the call and smashed the phone against the wall. “Oh, how touching. Such sisterly devotion.” He took a step closer to me. “One ran away, the other’s an inside accomplice. Are you Hayes girls just an ATM for the Hayes family?” “No, I didn’t…” “Looks like you need a painful reminder to stay in line.” He suddenly smiled, a terrifying, chilling smile. “Tomorrow is the Hayes family dinner. I’m excited to see how well you, the stand-in, can play the part in front of everyone.”

The Hayes family dinner was held in the grand, old-world mansion. The long mahogany dining table was filled with Hayes relatives. Every single one of them eyed me with scrutiny and disdain. I stood there in an ill-fitting dress, feeling like nothing more than a grotesque clown. Adrian, seated beside me, slipped a tiny earpiece into my hand. “Put it on,” he commanded. “You’ll do and say exactly as I tell you. One wrong word, and your entire family will vanish from this city, understand?” My heart leaped into my throat. The dinner began. Relatives took turns verbally attacking me. “So you’re the second Miss Hayes? Funny, I’ve never heard of you before.” “Your sister ran away, and you just stepped in? Your family’s etiquette is certainly… unique.” I was about to speak when Adrian’s voice came through the earpiece. “Smile. Tell them I fell in love with you at first sight and insisted on marrying no one else.” I forced a stiff smile and repeated his words. The relatives burst into laughter, their disdain growing even deeper. Next, an elder instructed me to serve Dante some food. As I picked up my forks, the command came through the earpiece: “Shake your hand. Drop the food onto his trousers.” My body went rigid. Dante, with his notorious obsession with cleanliness, would be furious. “Hurry up!” Adrian’s voice was laced with menace. I had no choice. My hand ‘trembled,’ and a greasy, sauce-covered piece of roasted meat tumbled onto Dante’s pristine white trousers. The air instantly froze. Dante’s face turned as dark as a storm cloud. I was terrified, quickly apologizing. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Through the earpiece, I heard Adrian’s satisfied chuckle. “Now, stand up. Proclaim loudly that you’re madly in love with my brother and would do anything for him.” The humiliation was a crushing wave, threatening to drown me. I stood up, and under everyone’s watchful eyes, like a puppet, I recited those mortifying lines word for word. The mocking laughter and whispers pierced me like needles. I caught a glimpse of his eyes—a flash of cold, undeniable disgust. Just as I felt myself about to crumble under the weight of this endless degradation, Adrian’s most vicious command came through the earpiece. “Excellent. Now, walk up to my brother and tell everyone.” His voice vibrated with a cruel, undeniable glee. “Tell them that the man in the wheelchair is nothing but a useless cripple. Tell them you truly want me, his strong, healthy brother. Beg me to replace him.” My mind went completely blank. This command was beyond outrageous. Make me trample Dante’s last shred of dignity in front of everyone? That would be worse than killing me. I froze, my blood turning to ice. All eyes in the room were on me, filled with eager anticipation for the show. Adrian whispered beside me, his voice only audible to us, “Say it! What, are you scared?” I looked up at Dante, who was still seated at the head of the table. He had kept his head down, his expression unreadable, but his tightly clenched hands, knuckles white against the armrests of his wheelchair, betrayed his turmoil. A surge of courage, unlike anything I’d ever felt, rose from deep within me. To hell with the Hayes, to hell with Adrian! I was done playing their game. I took a deep breath, and made a decision that stunned everyone. (Paywall) I abruptly reached up and ripped the tiny earpiece from my ear. Under everyone’s astonished gazes, I slammed it onto the floor and crushed it to pieces with the heel of my shoe. “So annoying,” I uttered, my voice icy. A deathly silence fell over the entire dining hall. Adrian’s smile completely froze, replaced by shock and fury. “Skylar, you have a death wish!” he roared in a low voice. I ignored him, turned, and walked, step by step, towards Dante at the head of the table. Everyone held their breath. I walked up to Dante, and under his intensely cold gaze, I slowly knelt down. I didn’t say the vicious words from the earpiece.

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Julian Blackwood demanded three vials of my blood, five thousand strands of my hair, and a jar of my happiest tears. Using these as his raw materials, he created a world-renowned masterpiece, “Beloved.” On our wedding day, I chose that very painting as our backdrop, my heart brimming with joy, waiting for Julian to come and claim me. Until a woman who looked eerily like me slashed the canvas with a small knife. “Julian Blackwood, how much longer until you finally let me go?! I stopped loving you ages ago!” “Don’t you dare find a stand-in to sicken me! You know I despise fakes! Why did you use *her* blood to paint *my* face?!” It turned out the woman in the blood-red wedding dress, shedding tears of happiness in the painting, was her. “I’d marry a dog before I’d marry you!” The woman tore into Julian, verbally eviscerating him. He, usually so proud and quick-tempered, stood with his head bowed, looking as helpless as a child caught misbehaving. Silently, I removed my veil. No tears, no shouts, no mention of the six wasted years of my youth. I simply dug my fingernail into the mole beneath my eye – the one Julian had placed there himself. “Julian Blackwood, we’re done for good.”

I returned to the villa, grabbed a baseball bat, and headed straight for the art studio on the third floor. The studio had been locked for years. I was never allowed inside. Not even on the third floor. “Mrs. Hayes, you can’t go in there!” Marcus desperately tried to stop me. I swung the bat, knocking him down, then smashed it against the lock with all my might. My hand throbbed, numb and agonizing. *Click!* The blood-splattered lock fell to the floor. My palm was a bloody mess, but I felt nothing. Pushing the door open, the sight before me stole my breath, and tears instantly welled up. The room was filled with portraits. Lying down, standing, clothed, nude – even intimate bedroom poses were captured. It was my body, but her face. At the bottom of each canvas, in elegant script, were the words: “To Genevieve.” “Mrs. Hayes!” Marcus rushed in, frantic. He scanned the room, then quietly let out a sigh of relief. “See? They’re all paintings of you. Mr. Blackwood just didn’t want anyone to come in and damage them.” I had believed that lie for six years. All the past events flashed clearly in my mind. Julian had never once said the woman in the paintings was me. He never explained why, with his extraordinary skill, he couldn’t even paint my face accurately. “Everyone has been lying to me.” I wasn’t particularly tall, and my face was only moderately pretty, the kind you’d easily lose in a crowd. A golden boy like Julian, a man as unattainable as the moon itself, how could he have fallen for me at first sight, showered me with endless affection, and spent a fortune just to see me smile? And a man like him, abandoning a brilliant future, to become a renowned art forger. His forgeries were indistinguishable from the originals, yet miles apart in truth, much like the beauty mark he’d placed beneath my eye. I suddenly thought of a pathetic mimicry. Tragic. Laughable. The scars from giving blood still marred my wrist, refusing to heal, and stacks of anemia reports had been gathering dust on my bedside table for half a year. The five thousand missing strands of hair hadn’t grown back either. And tears of pure happiness? I probably wouldn’t shed those ever again. “Get someone to cover this up immediately!” “Delete all photos and videos of the wedding!” Marcus, seeing the trending news, was frantically instructing his subordinates to deal with it. I gave a bitter laugh. “It’s no use.” It was streamed live. Everyone saw it. My dignity and pride were ripped to shreds along with the painting, right there on the spot. If Julian truly cared, how could he bear to let me suffer such public humiliation? He didn’t care. All the love I’d thought I had these past years—it had all been stolen.

As I reached the door, Julian returned. He leaned against the hood of his car, a cigarette butt dangling from his lips, and a swollen handprint marred his cheek. I ignored him, dragging my suitcase forward. “I’m sorry.” Julian grabbed me. “Don’t go.” His hands clamped around my waist like iron vises, tight and painful. He buried his head in the nape of my neck, as if trying to merge his entire body into mine. “I’ll reschedule the wedding. Everything will be exactly as you…” I cut him off. “No.” Julian spun me around, and then I saw his eyes, brimming with tears. They held a desolate, hopeless sadness. “She’s completely abandoned me, Rory. What am I going to do?” “She promised me we’d spend our lives together…” He rambled on about his past with that woman. I was forced to listen, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. “Stop it! I don’t want to know!” Julian cried too. It was the first time I’d ever seen him cry, and the first time I realized that woman was the very meaning of his existence. “Rory, stay with me. It doesn’t matter if you’re the real thing or a fake. I’ll still love you.” I stopped struggling. My heart was pierced by countless tiny thorns, a throbbing agony that made my limbs numb and my vision swim with every move. It was, quite possibly, the most disgusting thing I’d ever heard in my life. “Fine, I won’t leave…” I choked back the nausea. “Just let go of me first.” We went back to how we always were. He cooked for me, massaged me, and emptied my online shopping carts promptly every night. Playing the dutiful girlfriend, I offered him a glass of milk. “Drink this, and then we can go to bed.” Julian took the glass, stared at the milk for a long moment, then emptied it. As soon as he lost consciousness, I fled the villa. Late autumn. A strong wind whipped fallen leaves into a frenzied dance, blinding me. I found a random food truck and sat down. “A case of beer, please.” In the dead of night, the suppressed emotions came back to haunt me. What had these six years even meant? Had Julian ever had a moment of true feeling for me? I couldn’t even begin to guess. I drank until I vomited, then drank again, until I couldn’t force down another drop. All my memories seemed to be purged with every heave, leaving me hollow. Only muscle memory remained. My fingers, beyond my control, habitually pressed that speed-dial button. “Beep—beep—” No answer. I tapped my phone, muttering, “That’s weird, is it broken?” One call after another. “Julian, I feel so awful…” “Julian, why aren’t you coming to get me…?” I don’t know how long I waited. A pair of heels stopped in front of me. A woman crouched down. “You’re… Rory Hayes?” “The sun’s almost up. What are you doing sleeping in a ditch?” Her gaze fell on my bleeding wrist, and a flicker of pity, and a hint of guilt, crossed her face. I only vaguely registered that her face looked a lot like mine. I immediately lost consciousness.

When I woke up, the woman was sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, reading. “The fever reducer is by the bed. Take it yourself.” I pushed my scorching body up, fumbled for the pills, and found the water in the glass still warm. Only when I’d taken the medicine did she speak. “I’m Genevieve Dubois.” “Rest up for a bit, then you should go. I have an auction to attend this afternoon.” Genevieve closed her book, smoothed her hair and clothes. Every movement was elegant, a stark contrast to the woman who had caused such a scene at the wedding. Her room was filled with paintings. Their style was unique and consistent. Even I, who had seen countless true masterpieces, was momentarily mesmerized by them. “They’re all Julian’s paintings. If you like any, feel free to take them.” “There’s a whole warehouse full. They’re no use to me.” I froze, my thoughts drifting. The first time Julian gave me a portrait, I was overjoyed for months. Even though it barely resembled me, I cherished it like a treasure and hung it above my bed. Because he said he’d only ever paint true masterpieces for one person. I, in my foolish self-importance, believed he meant me. “Julian, I don’t have a mole here. Don’t just make one up.” I pointed to the corner of the woman’s eye in the painting. “It’s one thing if you can’t get my face right, but a simple mole? How could you mess that up?” He pinched my cheek, then took a ballpoint pen and pricked a tiny hole right where the mole was. The ink seeped in, and when it healed, it became a permanent mark. He said, “There, perfect. My favorite look.” I swallowed my anger, all for his promise to paint me a portrait every six months. In six years, I’d received a total of eight. Not even close to filling this one wall here. Genevieve walked over to me. I noticed the bracelet on her wrist. A one-of-a-kind piece, globally. Yet, at this very moment, I was wearing an identical one – a complete and utter fake – given to me by Julian. She didn’t notice my subtle movement to hide my hand. “Last night, Julian and I finally had it out. He promised to let go and stop bothering me.” The words caught in my throat. A sharp pain pierced me, but I couldn’t swallow them, nor could I spit them out. How could I tell her? That he saw her as his only one, his reason for living. That her importance in his heart was beyond a thousand of me, a million of me. I couldn’t say it. It would be like tearing me open, exposing my raw vulnerability and wounds for all to see. I picked up my phone and realized I’d called Julian over three hundred times and sent over five hundred texts last night. Not a single call answered, not a single message returned. Genevieve frowned. “His talkative habit hasn’t changed. I was so exhausted, but he just kept talking. He even wanted to talk on the phone while sleeping. You absolutely have to make him break that habit later.” I didn’t answer. Because around me, Julian had always been that quiet, reserved man, with a touch of arrogance. My smart watch, synced with his, showed he’d slept soundly last night, better than any night in the past six years. After Genevieve left, I cried silently into the blanket.

I prepared a feast, a table laden with dishes, fresh from the stove, steaming hot. Genevieve, changing her shoes in the entryway, looked surprised. “You’re still here?” I shook my head. “I have nowhere else to go.” “I’m so sorry for the trouble.” She sat beside me, her gaze sweeping over all the dishes. “How did you know my dietary restrictions?” she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice. “There are so many things I don’t eat. It can’t be a coincidence that you don’t either, can it?” The spare rib I’d just picked up slipped from my forks and splashed back into the soup. Hot broth splattered onto my wrist, but I didn’t flinch. Julian had cooked these very dishes for me for six years. He never let me cook, nor would he let me eat food made by anyone else. Every dish had to be his creation. “Watch closely. You’ll have to cook exactly like this when you make your own meals in the future.” “That’s how you make the most delicious food.” To go to such elaborate lengths for a stand-in, Julian, you truly put in a lot of effort. Suddenly, a tear fell into my bowl. I frantically shoveled several mouthfuls of plain rice into my mouth, trying to hide my breakdown. It tasted bitter, acrid, utterly disgusting. I choked it down, only for it to rise back up my throat. Genevieve suddenly tugged at my sleeve. “Your bra strap is showing.” “We really do have similar tastes. I used to have a matching one, but I haven’t worn it in ages.” All my lingerie had been personally chosen by Julian. From my underwear to my outerwear, he had controlled every aspect of my appearance. *Knock, knock—* The knocking was urgent. Before we could reach the door, Julian had already let himself in, standing in the entryway. The overhead light cast a shadow across his low-set brow, making him appear even more ominous. “Rory, it’s time to come home. Don’t disturb Ms. Dubois’s rest here.” He walked towards me. His expression suddenly softened, and he gave Genevieve a slight nod before taking my hand, attempting to pull me away. I stood my ground. His grip tightened abruptly, almost crushing my hand. Yet, on his face, he maintained a polished, gentle smile. The pain made me gasp, but I was forced to let him drag me. Just as we reached the door, Genevieve suddenly spoke. “Ms. Hayes, do you need help? You don’t have to go with him.” The pressure around Julian intensified again. He was at his limit. To avoid causing Genevieve any trouble, I shook my head. “I’m fine.” She cast a sidelong glance at Julian. “Trespassing, and acting like a brute — that’s exactly why I can never take you back.” Julian’s body stiffened. He mumbled an apology, then quickly closed the door. He dragged me, stumbling, all the way downstairs. Genevieve wasn’t here now, so he dropped the smile. His features were harder than steel. “Did I ever tell you that a forgery can stay anywhere, except right next to the original?” “Only then does a fake have value, only then can it bask in the attention of others, instead of being treated like trash and scorned when it’s next to the real thing.” He often said this when he was making his forgeries. The blood drained from my face. “Rory, let me tell you one more thing.” “Who in the world cares most about a forgery?” He smiled. “The original, of course.” Whether it was forging art or finding a stand-in, from the very beginning, his sole purpose was to capture Genevieve’s attention. That was all. Suddenly, I felt a sense of release. After all, I’d never truly possessed Julian. Why grieve a loss that was never mine to begin with? The wind outside was still fierce, tangling my hair, carrying away my shattered heart. It was so cold. Like snow falling on me, melting and draining away all my warmth. It was late autumn just moments ago, but in a blink, it felt like the dead of winter. Julian forcefully brought me back home. He acted as if nothing had happened, never mentioning the drug I’d given him, nor my words about breaking up.

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Six years later, Julian and I reunited. I was squatting outside a Dairy Queen, and I caught him rushing past. “Hey! BOGO sundaes. Wanna go halfsies?” He lowered his phone, his gaze coolly sweeping over the banner advertising a couples’ special. “Oh,” I said, “so… are we back together?” Julian’s eyes crinkled into a smile. “Sure, but let’s keep it off social media.” “I have a… ‘canary’ at home. She gets really possessive.” I froze. He turned to leave. “Oh, and pack up the ice cream. She loves it.” I hadn’t even processed it. The store employee was already beaming, packing two sundaes. “You two are so perfect together! May you grow old and happy!” Julian didn’t react, just grabbed his cup and walked out. His Rolls-Royce was parked by the curb. It was scorching hot, so I hung out by the fruit stand, enjoying the AC, slowly licking my sundae. Before he drove off, he gave me a half-smile. “So, ‘girlfriend,’ need a ride?” I glanced at his passenger seat: a plush pink seat cover, cute stuffed animals — screaming ‘occupied’. I slowly mumbled, “No, thanks. My place is close…” Before I could finish, he sped away. “Hey, don’t block the entrance!” “Ah, sorry.” My legs were aching from squatting. When I stood up, I wasn’t careful, and my sundae splattered on the ground. Ugh, what a waste. All for a boyfriend. I clicked my tongue, disappointed, and turned to walk home. My cramped apartment was simple but clean. I quietly took down the old school photo from the wall. The boy in the picture had eyes that crinkled when he smiled, a radiant expression as he tenderly held the girl’s hand. Compared to him, the girl was expressionless, looking cold and distant. I stared at it for a few more seconds, then tossed it into the trash. Ugh, I looked so awful when I smiled. No wonder he broke up with me back then. “Meow.” My rescue tabby rubbed against my leg. I opened a can of tuna for her. I’d gotten it from the supermarket yesterday, a buy-one-get-three-free deal. Being broke means every penny counts. Not snagging a deal feels like a personal loss. I almost regretted not asking for some severance pay when we broke up. Just then, an unfamiliar number called. I answered. It was Julian. His voice was as cold as ever. “We’re back together, and you still haven’t added me back on SnapChat? “Don’t you know calling is a hassle?” I just mumbled, “Oh.” Before I could say anything else, I heard a soft, playful groan in the background. “Mr. Julian, I’m hungry…” He hung up immediately. The familiar beep of a disconnected call filled my ear. Honestly, that “getting back together” line was just a joke… I was actually going to tell him to forget it. But after the noise in the background, I didn’t want to call him back. I typed in his SnapChat ID. Account deleted. His phone number? Also disconnected. I slowly lay on my bed, clutching my phone. Julian himself had forgotten that he was the one who deleted me back then.

Later, I remembered to add him using the number he’d called from. He accepted quickly but didn’t say a word for ages. I quietly scrolled through his social media, trying to peek into his life over the past six years. His feed was quiet, monotonous. Until last year, when a vibrant, red-dress-wearing girl appeared — so much like his old self, full of life. From that day on, Julian’s posts became more frequent. His smile wasn’t as unrestrained as before, but it was filled with a subtle happiness. I stared, a little dazed. Then, halfway through, my screen went black. He must have remembered and blocked me. I slowly finished my last bite of instant ramen. Tossed my phone aside, wrapped myself in my blanket. And didn’t sleep a wink. The next few days, it was as if we’d both forgotten about it. I prepped for class, went to school, fed my cat. My life was a simple routine. He was busy with his company, flying overseas for business negotiations. On TV, his name would occasionally flash across the screen. Julian, the self-made tech titan, acquiring one company after another. Maya would sometimes swing by with groceries. We’d share a watermelon, sitting on the sofa, watching the news. All his success had countless socialites in a frenzy, eager to ‘catch’ him. “Mr. Julian, you’ve turned down all the prestigious match-making proposals. Is there a reason?” A bold reporter asked. Julian narrowed his eyes, composed and distant. Yet, a fleeting tenderness flickered in their depths. “I have a girlfriend.” Everyone assumed it was the girl living in his mansion. Only Maya poked me, hesitantly asking, “Didn’t you just say you two got back together? He’ll marry you, right?” “After all, his pursuit of you back then was epic, the whole campus knew about it.” I stared at his polite, cold face on the screen. And shook my head. I tapped her on the head. “Silly, who gets a girlfriend just for a BOGO ice cream deal?” Julian hadn’t really put me in his heart. “I know, but he was Julian, the guy who loved you more than anyone!” She counted on her fingers, “You skipped class together, played claw machines, had your first kiss.” “Every time you just looked at him, that brilliant, aloof guy would follow your every whim like a loyal puppy.” The memories felt distant, almost blurry. “Seriously, tell me the truth. You didn’t cheat on him and then dump him, did you?” I hummed, honestly shaking my head. Maya was silent for a moment, then changed the subject. “It’s fine, don’t be sad. We don’t need that one guy.” I looked up, slowly saying, “I’m not sad.” She choked, then tied on her apron and headed to the kitchen to cook. “Ugh, I knew you had no heart. Get over here and help!” I thought things would continue as usual. Until one evening, he proactively sent me a SnapChat message. [Let’s have dinner tomorrow night.] [I’m waiting downstairs.] I saw the message after I got out of the shower. Right. Since we broke up six years ago. Maybe I’m just getting older, or lazier. I still lived in this small apartment where we once lived together. After staring blankly for a while, I remembered to refuse. [Can’t, I have plans tomorrow.] His reply was still brief. [I’ll wait three minutes.] Indifferent, distant, impatient. It hit me then. He wasn’t the Julian who used to cater to my every whim anymore. But I really didn’t want to have dinner with him. I thought for a moment, then typed. [Oh, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. It was just a rare deal on ice cream, and it was so hot out…] [You were the only person I knew on the street; asking a stranger to split the order would be awkward. At least we used to date…] [How about we just break up again? Good for you, good for me, good for everyone.] It was getting increasingly messy. I deleted it all. And sent only one message. [I was joking about getting back together that day. My apologies.] I held my phone, waiting a while longer. He didn’t reply. I sighed. Those regrets from six years ago, let’s just let them go.

I didn’t think much of it. He probably couldn’t be bothered with me and had just blocked me. But when I came back from class that afternoon, I happened to run into Julian by the entrance. He leaned casually against his car, attracting a crowd of girls. “It’s Julian! He’s still so handsome!” “Yeah, he was the top student eight years ago!” Julian stared blankly at the sycamore trees on campus. I quietly tried to walk around him, but he called out, “Aubrey.” “Long time no see. So you’re teaching here at Northwood High School?” Northwood was our alma mater. A flicker of teasing crossed his eyes. “What, memories? Can’t let go?” I blinked, “Ah, yes, I can’t let go. They offered me double salary.” Julian’s expression darkened. “Hah, still as money-hungry as ever.” Unable to read my expression, He opened his car door and got in. “Get in.” I slowly said, “I really don’t want to go…” Julian smoothly rolled down the window. “Spicy seafood platter is 50% off today.” I mumbled, with little conviction, “Can I get it to go?” He seemed to be laughing, but it was humorless. “Suit yourself.” I readily got into the backseat. He’d changed cars today, a Cayenne. It looked like he rarely drove it; the passenger seat was free of pink decorations. Julian drove in silence. I leaned against the window, neither of us speaking. I actually didn’t understand why he bothered to come. I’d clearly said it was a joke, and he wasn’t the type to cling. After he inadvertently glanced at me in the rearview mirror, He irritably pulled out a cigarette. My eyes flickered. I started to open my mouth. He was holding the cigarette pack when he accidentally hit a button. A sweet, childlike female voice chimed. “My dearest Mr. Julian, are you sad again?” “Please don’t smoke. I’ll sing you a song.” “Two little tigers, two little tigers, dancing around…” I froze. He also stiffened. He instinctively put the cigarette back in the pack. A terrifyingly warm smile spread across his eyes. Leaving me truly, utterly uncomfortable. The car arrived quickly. It was a bustling beachside grill by the ocean. Julian went in to order, and I leaned against the railing, enjoying the sea breeze. A drunk, portly man came up, putting a hand on my shoulder. “Well, hello, beautiful. Where’s your boyfriend?” I quietly pushed his hand away and stepped back. He persisted, and as he pestered me, my eyes met Julian’s, who was not far away. He watched silently. It wasn’t until a few college guys nearby couldn’t stand it anymore and stepped in to intervene. Only then did Julian slowly approach. Perhaps they recognized him, because the man sobered up considerably. “Mr. Julian, she’s your girl! I had no idea…” Julian smiled, patting the man on the shoulder. “You harassing her? That has nothing to do with me.” I stared at him. He shrugged, his eyes full of chilling indifference. “What, I said we’d get back together, but I didn’t say I’d be nice to you again.” With that, Julian walked away, carrying the seafood and beer.

He leaned back in a rattan chair. I stood, refusing to sit. “Eat something first, or the doggy bag won’t fit it all.” I finally felt something was off and quietly asked, “Mr. Julian, did you see my messages?” He looked at me calmly, nonchalantly. “What messages? I don’t have time to stare at your chat box all day.” I still didn’t move. He became impatient. “Are you going to eat or not?” I looked down. These were all my favorite dishes. My stomach was rumbling. I reached for a skewer and took a bite. It was so spicy that tears immediately welled up. “Cough, cough.” “Not good?” He looked me over, a brazen stare. “Oh, I forgot. This is *my* favorite flavor.” “I used to always eat mild flavors because of you. This time, you can put up with it, right?” I remained silent, dipping the skewer in my water glass. It was still spicy, but the seafood was incredibly fresh, the meat tender. He narrowed his eyes, watching me for a moment, then raised a hand to call the waiter. “Bring everything on this table again, but not spicy.” He paused. “And a strawberry mousse.” I pulled out a wet wipe and slowly said, “No need. I want to go home.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “What, already feeling sorry for yourself?” It wasn’t that bad, but my stomach burned from the spice, and that burning sensation slowly spread to my chest. It was just uncomfortable. I wanted to go home immediately, too lazy to even bother with a doggy bag. He stood up too, pushing away the plates. Casually, he said, “Alright, let’s go. I’ll drive you.” I opened my mouth. As if guessing my next refusal, He added, “This is Seagrove. It’s ten miles away.” “And you have no sense of direction. Want to walk until dawn?” Julian naturally took my hand. I tried to pull away uncomfortably, but he held on tighter, as usual. Unable to break free, I gave up. As we were leaving, I took out my phone, intending to take a picture to share this gem of a restaurant with Maya, when Julian, who had been staring blankly, suddenly reached out. He smacked my phone right out of my hand. “Don’t take pictures!” His voice was loud, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby. All eyes were on us. He said coldly, “If *she* sees that photo, I have ways to ruin you.” I froze, then processed it a moment later. My phone lay on the ground, the screen shattered. I bent down to pick it up, wiping off the dust. It was a shame; it was a brand-new phone. I slowly said, “I wasn’t trying to take a picture *with* you, and I certainly wasn’t going to post it online.” “I just thought this place was pretty good, and I wanted to come back with my friends sometime.” 4 Julian’s eyes flashed with a hint of guilt, which then quickly turned to cold indifference. He pursed his lips. “I’ll buy you a new phone.” “Yours was old anyway, from last year.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298801”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Celeste, a renowned surgeon recently returned from abroad, made a reckless bet with her colleagues, claiming she could perform open-heart bypass surgery with just one hand. The surgery failed. Celeste, humiliated, threw down her scalpel and fled the operating room. My mom, however, fell into a coma and became a vegetable because of that mistake. My brother, a lawyer, sued Celeste. But in just two days, his law license was revoked. He was even sent to prison for three years, charged with perjury, bribery, and defamation! I filed an official complaint, using my real name, but my identity was exposed, turning me into a target for online harassment. And the man behind it all was my husband of seven years, Daniel—a powerful figure who held immense sway over the entire city. At the hospital. My mom’s vital signs were steadily dropping, and the monitors blared constant alarms. I pressed the call button countless times, searched for doctors everywhere, but no one appeared. My heart pounded with anxiety. Just then, Daniel appeared at the door of the room, impeccably dressed in a tailored suit. He held his phone out to me. “I’ve already dropped the police case. Record a video, apologize publicly, and Mom can have her surgery.” “Vegetative state or death, you choose.” His voice was deep and steady, but his eyes held a sharp intensity that brooked no refusal. I opened my bloodshot eyes, trembling all over. Finally, I managed to squeeze out a few words. “Why?” I didn’t understand… Why was he helping Celeste when we were supposed to be a family? Tears, clear and unbidden, streamed down my face. This was only the second time I had cried in front of Daniel. The first time was on our wedding day. A flicker of something akin to pain crossed Daniel’s eyes. His hand, so used to wiping away my tears, started to reach out, then froze in mid-air, retracting awkwardly. “Aubrey, Celeste and I grew up together. The surgery was an accident. Even if I hadn’t done it with one hand, Mom might not have made it.” “Now, the internet is flooded with news trashing me. Just be a good girl, record a video clarifying things, and this will all blow over. The doctors are already waiting in the operating room. Afterward, I’ll get your brother out too, okay?” Daniel’s tone was solicitous, but his eyes held an unyielding stubbornness that wouldn’t take no for an answer. Could I refuse? Did I have the right to refuse? If I didn’t agree, would I be the next one to end up in prison or a vegetative state? A profound sadness settled in my heart. For seven years of marriage, Daniel had always doted on me. He never once raised his voice. Anything I glanced at or mentioned, no matter how expensive or hard to find, would appear in my hands the next day. I thought he would be my rock. But ever since my mother’s accident, I had pleaded with Daniel countless times, begged him for help. Yet, he always looked conflicted, as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t. I initially thought he couldn’t interfere, but later I realized it was because it involved Celeste, and he couldn’t bear to hurt her. After a long silence with no response, Daniel’s patience wore thin. “If you don’t agree, your mother won’t live past today, and your brother will stay in prison forever.” “Aubrey, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Celeste grew up with me; she’s the one who pulled me out of my autism. I promised I’d always protect her. So, not even you can stand in my way.” No sooner had he spoken than my mom on the hospital bed began to convulse. The monitors screamed alarms. Several doctors rushed in through the door and immediately wheeled my mother’s bed out. “Mom!” I leaped off my bed, trying to follow, but Daniel’s arm blocked me. “Record the video, and your mom can have surgery.” I stared at him in disbelief. “Daniel, have you lost your mind?!” Daniel pushed my hand away, his brows furrowed, an oppressive aura radiating from him. “Thirty seconds, Aubrey. Last chance.” A chill spread through my heart. For the first time, he seemed utterly alien, terrifying. It was as if all our past affection had been an illusion, had never existed at all. I used to be Daniel’s personal assistant. He pursued me fiercely, writing 99 love letters and sending 999 bouquets of flowers before I finally agreed to give him a chance. Two years into our relationship, he went to great lengths to keep me. When I first entered high society, the elite crowd looked down on me, making snide remarks about my humble background. But Daniel, he bought every single item at an auction and gave them to me, publicly acknowledging our relationship. He would drop multi-million dollar deals to stand up for me whenever I was challenged. When I wasn’t feeling well, he’d fly thousands of miles to be by my side and personally care for me. My family was very ordinary, and Daniel’s family disapproved. They demanded he break up with me and get engaged to Celeste, his childhood friend. He fought back desperately, was confined, sent abroad, but he refused to give up. He even voluntarily gave up his right as the family heir just to get his family’s approval. Eventually, his family compromised, and we got married. I thought after all our struggles, we’d finally be together forever. That was until Celeste returned from studying abroad a year ago. Celeste was spoiled and arrogant, and he indulged her every whim. He helped manage everything in Celeste’s work and personal life. When Celeste failed several surgeries, Daniel, worried I might face harassment from angry patient families, picked me up and dropped me off for my night shifts every day. Still not at ease, he moved me back home without consulting me. Three months ago, my mom was rushed to the hospital with a heart condition. Celeste, eager to prove herself, insisted on performing the surgery personally. She even bet with another doctor who had returned from overseas, claiming she could do it with one hand. That night, my mom was taken into the operating room. By the time I rushed to the hospital after hearing the news, I saw Celeste crying and running out, leaving several doctors scrambling to fix things. But it was too late. My mother became a vegetable. I begged Daniel to help me. But he avoided the topic, watching me suffer, watching me break down. After three months of struggle, Celeste faced no consequences, while I lost my family; my brother was sent to prison. “Have you thought it through, Aubrey?” He impatiently furrowed his brow and glanced at his wristwatch. “Mom can’t wait any longer.” I felt utterly hopeless. The tears I had been holding back finally streamed down my face. My hand trembled as I reached for his phone, biting down hard on my lip. “I’ll record the video. I won’t press charges. I’ll agree to everything you want. Just save my mom. I really can’t lose her.” My hand was shaking as I took the phone from him. Daniel gently wiped away my tears, personally opened the SnapChat app, and started recording for me. A thirty-second video. In it, I dropped all charges, admitting everything was an accident. After handing him the phone, I asked weakly, “Can my mom have her surgery now?” Daniel finally seemed to ease up. “Start…” Before he could finish, Celeste from the operating room suddenly cried out, “Ah, I feel so dizzy!” With that, she collapsed. Hearing the commotion, Daniel rushed over in a panic, scooping Celeste into his arms and heading out. The attending doctors swarmed around Celeste, leaving my mom, still on her bed, unattended. The alarm on Mom’s monitor continued to blare. Tears instantly gushed from my eyes. I screamed frantically, “Don’t go! Save my mom…!” “Daniel, you promised you’d save my mom! You can’t leave!” I lunged forward, blocking Daniel’s path, but his eyes were solely on Celeste. He didn’t even glance at me, rushing with the doctors into the adjacent room. Urgent footsteps trampled over me one after another, the pain so intense I couldn’t even utter a coherent word. It was too late. I sobbed hysterically, throwing myself at Daniel’s feet without a shred of dignity, but the frantic man kicked me aside. “Don’t be scared, Celeste, I’m coming.” Daniel, in his haste to get rid of me, kicked me with immense force, sending me flying. My head slammed hard against the wall. My gaze fell upon my mom, now barely clinging to life on her bed. I felt my heart tear into a million pieces. “Mom! Mom!” The sound of my head hitting the wall made Daniel spare me another glance. He pointed at my mom’s room, sending two intern doctors in. “Your mom won’t die. I promised you, and I’ll keep that promise.” “But right now, no one can stop me from saving Celeste.” Suddenly, my vision blurred. Before I passed out, only one thought remained in my mind: I had to leave. I had to vanish completely from Daniel’s world, never to see him again! 2 When I opened my eyes again, a card lay on my nightstand. Beneath it was a note: “Mom’s surgery will have to wait. Celeste has been emotionally fragile lately and can’t be away from me for too long. Such a long surgery would be too much for her.” One sentence, but I understood only one thing: For Celeste, Daniel could wait for anything. My heart throbbed with pain. Suddenly, I laughed. A mournful, sarcastic laugh. Clutching my chest, I pulled out my phone and made a call. “Mr. Davidson, I agree to the divorce.” “But I have one condition: help me fake my death… I want to take my brother and my mom and disappear from here forever.” The day I left the hospital, I brought the divorce papers my lawyer had prepared. Back at the villa, Daniel was getting ready to pick Celeste up from the hospital after her shift. “You’re back?” Seeing my pale face, Daniel paused, a flicker of concern in his eyes. “Why do you look so ghastly?” My mother was a vegetable. My brother was in prison. How was my face supposed to look? I didn’t answer. Holding the papers, I expressionlessly handed them to him. “Sign them.” Daniel was momentarily taken aback. “What is this?” Just as he was about to open it, his phone vibrated in his hand. He glanced at the message, a hint of urgency in his eyes. He didn’t even read the contents of the agreement, just casually scrawled his signature on it. “Celeste is waiting for me. Just leave any work contracts in my study from now on.” The words were barely out before he was already walking away. Staring at the divorce papers, signed so easily, a mocking smile twisted my lips. I said nothing, turning instead towards the courthouse. After filing for divorce, I returned to find Daniel massaging Celeste’s hands. She had just gotten home from her shift. “Celeste has been harassed by angry patient families lately, and I’m worried. She’ll be staying with us until things calm down, then I’ll take her home.” His voice was calm, as if he was simply informing me. The divorce was happening anyway, and this wouldn’t be my home much longer. I didn’t have the energy to argue or protest. “Whatever.” Daniel hadn’t expected me to give in so easily. Seeing the calmness on my face, he frowned, about to say something more, when Celeste suddenly spoke. “I… I just finished my night shift and haven’t even had dinner. Could you make me something?” Celeste smiled, but her eyes held a hint of challenge. “Daniel says you’re an amazing cook. I’ve never tried your food.” “Call the staff.” I turned, intending to leave. But Celeste let out a whimpering, aggrieved sound, and Daniel reached out to stop me. “Aubrey.” He didn’t need to say more. The meaning was clear. I had no right to refuse. Even as Daniel’s wife, a simple “I’m hungry” from his childhood friend meant I had to play the role of a maid. Not wanting to argue at such a crucial moment, I forced a smile and shuffled towards the kitchen. The scalding hot soup simmered in the pot. Mechanically, I ladled it into a bowl and placed it on the table. “That’s all? It looks disgusting.” Celeste stood by the table, frowning and pinching her nose. My patience snapped. “You don’t have to eat it.” The words had barely left my lips when I saw a calculating glint in Celeste’s eyes. The next second, Celeste suddenly grabbed my wrist and plunged my hand into the scorching soup. “Ah—!” A searing burn spread from my palm throughout my entire body. I instinctively tried to pull away. But Celeste held my hand down firmly. In my struggle, the ceramic bowl wobbled and crashed to the floor, splashing hot soup everywhere. I quickly yanked my hand free, but it was already red and blistering. “What happened?” Daniel rushed in at the sound. Celeste, her eyes red, held up her hand, revealing the soup splattered on its back. “Daniel, Aubrey didn’t want to cook for me. She got angry and deliberately poured the soup on me. My hand hurts so much…” Daniel’s face instantly changed. He grabbed my wrist, his grip like a vice. “Aubrey! What is wrong with you? Apologize to Celeste immediately!” My face was deathly pale from the pain. Biting my lip, I wrenched free from his grasp, holding up my swollen, blistered hand. “You want me to apologize? Daniel, look closely! Who purposely poured the soup? Who actually did this?!” Daniel froze. He turned his head, looking at Celeste with suspicion. Celeste’s face went white. Suddenly, she clutched her stomach and wailed, “Ah, my stomach hurts so bad! Daniel, there’s beef in the dish! I’m allergic to beef!” “I just asked her one question, and she got angry and poured the soup on me. Daniel, if you don’t believe me, check the security cameras. I never lie.” “Ah, my stomach, my stomach hurts so much…” The suspicion in Daniel’s eyes was replaced by fury. His icy gaze fell on me. Celeste was allergic to beef; he had told me that! I frowned. “I didn’t! We can check the cameras to see who’s lying!” Daniel’s rage completely ignited. He abruptly scooped Celeste into his arms, cutting me off with a harsh voice. “Aubrey, that’s enough!” He called for the butler. “Lock my wife in the basement. No one is to let her out without my permission!” The basement. It was where Daniel kept Celeste’s exotic pets—a dark, damp, windowless room filled with hundreds of snakes… I shuddered, resisting instinctively. “No, I don’t want to go…” “Let go of me!” I struggled with all my might, but Daniel didn’t look back. I was thrown into that basement. 3 The basement door slammed shut, and a suffocating heat immediately enveloped me. A faint hiss occasionally broke the silence, sending goosebumps crawling up my skin. The moment my feet touched the floor, I felt a strange sensation, accompanied by a faint breathing sound, slowly crawling up my leg. “Ah—!” I shrieked, jumping violently, trying to shake off the unknown creature. “Open the door! Let me out, now!” “Open the door!” I pounded on the door, desperate. But no matter how much I screamed, no one answered. Red rashes broke out on my skin from the stifling heat, itching and stinging. My head swam with dizziness. After struggling all night, my voice eventually gave out. I panted, curled up in a corner, my eyes filled with despair. I don’t know how long passed, but just before I lost consciousness, the door opened. Daniel stood silhouetted in the doorway, saying nothing for a long time. I thought I could finally leave. I pushed myself up against the wall, stumbling a step forward. “Hold her down.” A cold, male voice came out. Before I could react, two bodyguards grabbed my arms, pinning me. Then, my jaw was forced open, and a cup of an unknown liquid was poured down my throat. “Cough, cough, cough!” I choked, my head throbbing. “What did you give me?!” Before Daniel could answer, my body did. Rashes quickly erupted on my skin, and a powerful suffocating sensation gave me a feeling of impending death. I was having an allergic reaction. “Because you deliberately put an allergen in Celeste’s food, I’m still at the hospital getting my stomach pumped! I warned you not to mess with Celeste, but you never learn. Today, I’ll make you feel her pain, to teach you a lesson.” Daniel’s eyes were ice cold. He watched me writhe in agony, not a trace of compassion in his gaze. I clutched my stomach, the intense discomfort making every breath a struggle. “I told you I didn’t…” No one would listen to my explanation. Daniel stood there, watching me writhe, watching me cry out, and finally, watching me lose consciousness… “Aubrey? Wake up.” “Aubrey?” A familiar male voice pulled me back to consciousness. When I woke again, I saw Daniel standing by my bedside. Seeing me awake, he let out a sigh. He reached out to brush a strand of hair from my face, but I instinctively turned my head away. His hand froze in mid-air, then slowly retracted a few seconds later. “Aubrey, I know you’re upset, but you were wrong this time. I won’t indulge you anymore.” Daniel’s voice carried such clear condemnation that even in my groggy state, I understood it perfectly. “Indulge?” “Daniel, did you even investigate the truth? Do you believe—?” Daniel hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from me. His face instantly darkened. “You know what you did. I’m not here to argue.” “Because of Mom’s surgery and your recent stunt, Celeste’s reputation in the industry is terrible. When you’re discharged, host a banquet to apologize to her, mend fences, dismiss the outside rumors as a normal surgical risk, and clear her name.” I almost thought I’d misheard him. But seeing his expression, I knew he was serious. “What did you say?” My mom was in a vegetative state because of Celeste, and now he was here, demanding I clear Celeste’s name? Was he insane?! “No way!” Daniel completely lost his patience. “I’m not discussing this with you. Think carefully before you say such things out of anger.” “Don’t forget, your mom’s life hangs by a thread, and your brother is still in prison.” In that instant, my heart turned utterly cold. It was always like this… I had no power to resist, no right to refuse. I was still under Daniel’s control, at least until my brother was free and I could finally leave. I closed my eyes numbly, no longer bothering with futile struggles. “Fine, I’ll host the banquet, but I have one condition: release my brother first.” Daniel hesitated for a moment, then quickly agreed. But he set a deadline: one month from now. 4 The day of the banquet arrived, and Daniel sent a car to pick me up. Daniel stayed by Celeste’s side throughout the event. The moment I entered, his eyes constantly gestured, signaling me. I gripped my palms tightly, my face calm, and walked onto the stage. “Today, I’m hosting this banquet because I want to apologize to Dr. Celeste. The recent public outcry online was all due to my misunderstanding. Here, I apologize to her.” Instantly, the hall erupted, everyone blaming me for wrongfully subjecting Celeste to online abuse. I offered no explanation. After apologizing, I prepared to leave. Just as I turned, Celeste suddenly called out to me. “Oh, Aubrey, I left something really important in the car. Could you go get it for me?” I refused without hesitation. “You can ask a waiter.” “I wouldn’t trust anyone else. I trust you to do it.” Celeste tugged on Daniel’s arm, pouting dramatically. Daniel patted my hand reassuringly, then turned to me, his eyes giving a commanding look. I knew I couldn’t refuse. I turned and walked out of the banquet hall. As I reached the car, a shrill engine roar suddenly pierced the air. Aubrey sensed something was wrong and turned, but it was too late. The next second, a car screeched to a halt in front of me, and a man leaped out, charging towards me with incredible speed! Meeting the dark-clad man’s sinister gaze, a chill ran down my spine. I instinctively tried to run, but he roughly grabbed my hair, yanked me back, and slapped me across the face. “Who are you people?!” A metallic taste welled up in my throat. I bit down hard. “There are security cameras everywhere here! How dare you lay a hand on me?!” The man narrowed his eyes, a menacing darkness in his gaze. “We’re the grim reapers sent to teach you a lesson! You messed with Ms. Celeste, so not only can we touch you, but killing you would be what you deserve!” “Bang—” The man yanked my hair, slamming my head against the car window. “Ah—!” With a crash, the car window shattered, leaving a bloody hole. That was just the beginning. Then came the second, the third… Until the window glass, mixed with blood, lay scattered everywhere. I struggled desperately, but the man held me down with an iron grip. I couldn’t break free. “Help… help me…” The only sound in the quiet air was my own desperate whimpers. Blood streamed down my forehead, blurring my vision. Just as I thought I was dying, the man finally stopped, tossing me carelessly to the ground. But then, the headlights flared, and the car slowly started to move. All I could hear was my own faint breathing, as the car prepared to drive over me. “Stop!” Through my blurry vision, I suddenly saw a figure rushing towards me. Before I could make out who it was, I completely passed out. I regained consciousness amidst agonizing pain, smelling the familiar scent of antiseptic. I knew I had been sent back to the hospital. My forehead was heavily bandaged, and my eyes felt raw. I tried to move my body, but even the slightest movement sent throbbing pain through my head. “Aubrey, you’re finally awake…” A familiar male voice reached my ears. I opened my eyes to see Daniel, his eyes bloodshot and weary, with dark circles under them. Seeing me awake, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re okay.” “I’ve already investigated. It was disgruntled patient families. They mistook you for Celeste. I’ve already sent them to prison, don’t be scared.” “Does your head still hurt? Try to move, see if there’s anything else bothering you.” As he spoke, Daniel’s phone chimed a few times. It was Celeste’s custom ringtone. But surprisingly, this time Daniel didn’t answer it. His deep-set eyes stared at my wounds with concern, gripping my hand tightly, as if only that could calm his inner unease. I wanted to pull my hand away, but Daniel held it firmly, and I couldn’t break free. “Daniel, if I told you this wasn’t disgruntled patient families, that I heard the man explicitly say Ms. Celeste ordered it, would you believe me?” Daniel’s brow furrowed, and he released my hand. “Aubrey, that’s going too far.” “Celeste is a victim too. If it weren’t for you, she’d be the one lying in this hospital bed. How could she have orchestrated this? You’re overthinking.” My eyelashes fluttered, and I let out a sarcastic little smile. Perhaps I hadn’t held out much hope for him in the first place, so hearing those words from his mouth didn’t surprise me much. Too tired to waste any more breath, I closed my eyes, seeking rest. “Aubrey, I know you’re angry with Celeste. I promise you, once everything is back on track, I’ll limit my contact with her, okay?” Daniel gently stroked my hair. Perhaps out of guilt, he stayed by my bedside all night, comforting me just as he used to. But looking at him, my heart no longer stirred with any emotion. Because I knew, he couldn’t do it. Celeste called Daniel several times. When she couldn’t get through, she felt strange and walked to his hospital room. Seeing him carefully tending to me, her face twisted in a sneer, a calculative glint flashing in her eyes. 5 The next day. I was still in a deep sleep when the hospital room door was violently kicked open from the outside. Immediately after, I was yanked from my bed. “Celeste? Where did you take her?!” I was utterly bewildered. Daniel’s face was grim. He violently flung a blood-stained necklace at my face. “Aubrey!” His voice was squeezed out through gritted teeth. “I want to see how you’ll try to deny this now!” The necklace hit my face. I picked it up. It was mine. The necklace I lost at the scene when the man in black attacked me. I didn’t understand what he meant. “Isn’t this yours? Celeste suddenly sent me a SnapChat message last night with just two words: ‘Help me!’ By the time I rushed to the hospital, she was gone! Only this necklace was left on her bed!” I numbly handed him the necklace. “It has nothing to do with me.” “You still say it has nothing to do with you?!” Daniel grabbed my throat, his expression ferocious. “Last night, you claimed Celeste was behind your attack, and today she’s gone! You’re trying to get revenge, aren’t you?!” I gasped for air, but my eyes refused to show any weakness. “I told you, I don’t know. I didn’t do it…” But Daniel didn’t believe me. He was convinced I was responsible. To force me to reveal Celeste’s whereabouts, he actually dragged my brother out of prison and tied him spread-eagled in the middle of the road! A car was parked in front of him, its headlights flashing repeatedly. Before I could figure out what he intended to do. Suddenly, the car started, accelerating and driving straight over my brother’s legs! “Ugh—!” Blood rushed to my head, and my eyes instantly turned crimson. “Leo!” “What are you doing to my brother?!” “I told you I don’t know! I really don’t know! Why can’t you believe me? Why can’t you just believe me once?!” I never imagined Daniel would be so insane. To protect Celeste, he was actually threatening my brother’s life! He was truly mad! “Aubrey, I’m starting a countdown. In one minute, the car will move again, starting with his limbs. If you haven’t told me Celeste’s location in three minutes, the last pass will be over your brother’s head.” “Tell me where Celeste is, and your brother lives.” I trembled uncontrollably, looking at my brother, barely clinging to life on the ground. I was on the verge of a breakdown. “I don’t know… I really don’t know anything, Daniel, please, just let my brother go. You’ve already sent him to prison, why won’t you leave him alone?!” My pleas only earned Daniel’s cold laugh. One minute passed, and the car started again. This time, it drove over my brother’s hand. “No, no!” *Thump!* I fell to my knees, crying and swearing to Daniel. “Daniel, please, I beg you, don’t hurt my brother. I swear, I can swear, this really has nothing to do with me. If I did it, then let me die. Would that satisfy you?” “Believe me, please believe me…” My desperate pleas did not earn Daniel’s trust. He merely frowned impatiently and waved his hand. The headlights of the distant car lit up again. My pupils trembled, and even my voice shook. “No, no—” Seeing the car about to crash into him, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I broke free from my restraints and rushed forward, throwing myself in front of my brother, who was forced to his knees. “Aubrey!” A flash of panic crossed Daniel’s eyes. But it was too late to stop the car. The next second. A searing impact hit my waist, sending me flying. I felt my internal organs shift, the pain making it hard to even breathe. Suddenly, my stomach cramped, and bright red blood gushed from my mouth. “Aubrey!” Daniel rushed over and scooped me up, his fingers frantically wiping the blood from my lips. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I…” Just then, his secretary rushed over and whispered. “Mr. King, she’s been found.” “She’s out in the suburbs, traumatized and injured. No one can get near her; she’s just calling your name.” Daniel’s body stiffened. He looked at the blood-soaked figure in his arms, still barely conscious, and then heard Celeste’s frantic screams on his phone. The moment the ambulance arrived, he made his choice. “Take my wife to the hospital. Get the best doctors. Make sure she’s absolutely fine.” “I… I’ll be there soon.” 6 The ambulance sped through the streets, taking me and my brother to the hospital. Just as I was about to be wheeled into the operating room, a commotion erupted at the entrance. “Doctor! Call a doctor, quickly!” “Celeste, just hold on. I’ll get a doctor to treat your wound immediately. Don’t be scared.” “Mr. King…” The secretary hesitated, walking up to Daniel and stammering, “The emergency room only has two attending doctors. One is still performing surgery on your wife’s brother. The other… should we save your wife first, or Ms. Celeste…?” “We’ve already called other doctors, but the fastest one will still take half an hour…” The choice, once again, fell to Daniel. I could no longer speak. Only my blurry vision, stained red with blood, allowed me to see the hesitation on Daniel’s face. One with a scratched right hand. One bleeding from a car crash, spitting up blood. He was still hesitating. I wanted to laugh sardonically. I tried to pull at the corner of my mouth, only to find I lacked the strength to even twitch my lips. Blood drained from my body, and I distinctly felt my consciousness fading. Daniel clearly sensed it too. Celeste suddenly raised her hand, crying out in terror. “Daniel, I’m a surgeon. My hands cannot be injured.” “Please save me! If my hand is ruined, I’d rather just die. I was supposed to die today anyway; escaping was just a fluke…” Celeste’s words seemed to wake Daniel up. Right. Everything was my fault. I deserved to pay for my actions, and Celeste was innocent. She had been kidnapped and almost died; if she lost her hand too… “Celeste is a surgeon. Her hands cannot be damaged. Save Celeste first.” Daniel’s gaze lingered on me, on my clothes stained crimson with blood, before he reluctantly looked away. “Aubrey, you’ll have to wait.” “This is what you owe Celeste.” I had no strength left to argue. Time ticked by, second by agonizing second. For several moments, I truly believed I was dying. But my body’s will to survive was too strong. I held on until the doctors pushed me into the operating room. After six grueling hours of surgery, I survived. As I awoke in the familiar hospital room, I suddenly received a call from Mr. Davidson. “Aubrey, all the paperwork is ready. We’re at the final step now.” “You won’t regret this, will you?” “Of course not,” I said hoarsely. “I’d leave right this second if I could. Book two tickets for me. Once this is done, I want to leave immediately.” Just as I was about to confirm the fake death plan, the room door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. “Aubrey, where are you going?” Daniel was standing in the doorway; I hadn’t realized he was there. My words caught in my throat. I hung up the phone, my face instantly turning cold. “Your body still needs time to recover. Don’t run around before your injuries heal; I worry about you.” Daniel walked over to me, reaching out to touch my head. “Thankfully, Celeste’s hand wasn’t fractured, just needed a bandage. Otherwise, you’d be unforgivable.” Not fractured? So he had let the hospital’s only emergency doctor spend the night tending to a minor scratch on her hand, completely disregarding whether I lived or died? This was what he called worry? It was ridiculous. I recoiled, avoiding his touch, my expression icy. “Get out.” Daniel froze for a moment. “What?” I repeated coldly, “I told you to get out. I don’t want to see you.” 7 Daniel hadn’t expected me to lose my temper so fiercely. His face instantly darkened. “Aubrey, I haven’t even settled things with you, and you’re already throwing a fit?!”

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Just because a photo I shared on social media unintentionally showed my stepsister Veronica’s dog in heat, AI-generated explicit images of me were fabricated and spread across the entire internet, branding me as public property, a target for everyone’s mockery. I reported the malicious defamation to the cops, but I was repeatedly told they were “handling it.” Desperately, I called my husband, Julian Thorne, who I’d been married to for three years. His voice was utterly devoid of warmth. “It’s AI, not you,” he said dismissively. “Why are you so worked up?” Yet, in the blink of an eye, he specifically held a press conference to clear up the scandal surrounding Veronica’s dog. At the same time, I received a message from my step-brother, Alex Thorne: “Our agreement is up in a month. You can decide then whether you want to stay or go.” “I’m leaving.” This time, there wasn’t a trace of hesitation in my voice. “Three years of marriage, and you truly have no feelings for him?” Alex looked stunned, but a flicker of something akin to satisfaction crossed his face. After all, everyone believed I loved Julian to the point of desperation, with no shred of self-respect left. “Yes, I don’t love him.” And I don’t love you, either. That last part, I kept to myself. Above, flocks of geese were flying south, a migration mirroring my own. I tipped my head back and smiled, a feeling of pure release washing over me. I could finally leave. Not just Julian, but Alex too. Three years ago, the Thorne family’s finances had imploded, teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The only way out was a strategic marriage alliance with the Sterling family, one of the most powerful and affluent dynasties in the city. Alex found me, kneeling on one knee. “Serena, please, big brother is begging you, help our family just this once. Do it for me.” My heart shattered as I looked at the man before me. “Alex, but you know I love *you*, yet you’re asking me to marry another man!” His eyes darted away. “Serena, we’re siblings. It’s impossible for us. Julian Thorne, he has money, power… marry him, and you’ll be happy, I promise.” I let out a cold laugh, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. Yes, Julian Thorne, the Sterling family’s eldest son, was wealthy and powerful, and he had a face so stunningly handsome, it could have been sculpted by a Greek god. But everyone in this city knew he harbored a deep, undying love for Veronica—his childhood sweetheart, the girl who was forever his ‘white moonlight,’ his unattainable first love. They had grown up together, everyone assumed they would naturally marry. But the Thorne family went bankrupt overnight, and Veronica, unwilling to become his ‘kept woman,’ disappeared completely after leaving a farewell letter. After Veronica left, Julian drank himself into oblivion every day. The Sterling family was heartbroken, so they arranged this marriage, hoping it would help their son move past his grief. But after marrying me, Julian frantically searched for replacements for Veronica, never even glancing my way. On our wedding night, he brought one of those substitutes into our marital bed. Julian ignored me completely, so the Thorne family naturally lost any chance of a comeback. Alex came begging to me again and again. I had no choice but to swallow my pride, acting like a desperate, pathetic fool, mimicking Veronica’s style and hobbies, all to win Julian’s attention. Veronica loved extreme sports, so I overcame my fear of heights, sweating profusely as I bungee jumped from thousands of feet in the air. Veronica loved to drink, so I, allergic to alcohol, injected myself with countless anti-allergy shots just to drink with Julian. Veronica loved to cook, so I traveled all the way to France to learn culinary arts. My relentless efforts finally paid off. Julian eventually dismissed all his other replacements, focusing his attention solely on me. In moments of intimacy, he’d even kissed me deeply, whispering, “Just be yourself, Serena.” Everyone thought Julian had finally moved past his old love, and that our marriage would finally turn a corner. But then, Veronica suddenly returned. Julian started bringing me to various events frequently. People laughed, calling us a deeply loving couple, but only I knew he was just using me to make Veronica jealous. He would abandon me at a club, only to be found passionately kissing Veronica in the restroom. He’d buy out an entire store of clothes for me, then brutally take Veronica in the fitting room. Even my own birthday party was nothing more than an excuse for him to meet Veronica. I quickly became a laughingstock, but I didn’t care. Because I had never loved Julian. Ten years ago, my mother remarried into the Thorne family, bringing me with her, and soon after, she passed away from an illness. The Thorne family treated me like an annoying mouse, but only my step-brother Alex was kind to me, day after day, for a decade. He was more than just a step-brother; he was like a father to me. Alex even, blushing furiously, taught me how to handle my very first period, then gently made sure I had clean clothes. Forbidden desires tore at me, but I couldn’t help but fall irrevocably in love with my step-brother. To ensure his happiness, I was willing to give everything. Through those excruciating 970 days and nights, I clung to the slivers of kindness Alex threw my way. Until that day, I stood outside the Thorne family’s window, holding a freshly packed box of Alex’s favorite wontons. “Everyone thinks I’m madly in love with Julian, but who would have guessed my true love is you?” Alex’s voice was flippant, a stark contrast to his usual gentle tone. “Just a few crumbs of attention from me, and who knew she’d be so devoted?” “Our 1000-day agreement is almost up. If I insist on a divorce, will you take me in? After all, my life has been utterly miserable, and it’s all thanks to you.” “No way,” he scoffed. “She’s already used up, damaged goods. You’re welcome to her if you want her.” The warm wontons in my hand suddenly slipped and crashed to the ground. My blood ran cold. It turned out, everything had been a scam. “Then why, after all these years, have you never had a woman by your side?” The room instantly fell silent. I held my breath, tense. After a long pause, Alex finally spoke: “Just haven’t found the right one.” I felt like a condemned prisoner, gasping for air. My phone suddenly rang, pulling me from my memories. “Is this Miss Sterling? Your biological father is gravely ill. As he has no other children, there’s a fortune of twenty billion dollars for you to inherit.” “However, the condition is that you must change your legal name and revert your family ties.” 2 Once I agreed, a private jet itinerary for a flight to Paris a month later was quickly sent to my phone. The flood of AI-generated images of me online was also taken down by my father’s people. But I knew the damage they had inflicted on me would never truly disappear. Composing myself, I went out for a walk. But strangers on the street were already pointing and whispering. “Isn’t that the girl from those nude photos online recently?” “She’s actually quite pretty in person. Go ask her how much she charges.” “No way! She’s disgusting. That kind of trash probably does it for free.” My chest tightened with pain. I lowered my head and hurried away. Reaching my company building, I thought about going inside to rest my feet and wait until dark before heading out again. But strangely, I found the massive company building completely empty. The elevator went straight to the CEO’s office on the top floor. Before I even opened the door, I heard a cacophony of voices. *POP!* Confetti cannons exploded above my head. Julian pushed a cake, and the employees behind him held all sorts of gifts. The entire top floor was decorated like a fairytale castle. The moment they saw me, the whole room fell silent. Julian’s face was terrifyingly grim. “Why are *you* here?” Before I could speak, another elevator chimed open. Veronica stepped out, her eyes wide with surprise. “Wow, is all this for me?” Julian’s sullen face instantly softened with tenderness. “Yes, darling. Happy birthday to our sweetest little girl!” Everyone around laughed and stepped forward to offer their blessings. Watching the joyous scene unfold, I suddenly remembered Julian was always too busy to come home during our first year of marriage. To take care of him, I would bring him lunchboxes and fruit every day, staying at the company with him until midnight, even on my own birthday. When my friends found out, they ordered a cake to be delivered at midnight, but Julian casually tossed it into the trash. “This is a company, not your home. If you want to celebrate, go home.” Suddenly, all the lights in the room went out. Veronica, blushing, closed her eyes and made a wish amidst the chorus of “Happy Birthday.” The man beside her gazed down, his eyes filled with an unbearable tenderness—a stark contrast to the distant, arrogant look he usually gave me. Without a word to anyone, I let out a bitter laugh and quietly left. I hailed a cab to the Thorne family estate. When I arrived, the lights were bright, but not a single one was left on for me. The lively conversation inside instantly died the moment I pushed open the door. Everyone stared at me in silence. Alex cleared his throat, breaking the quiet. “Serena, what are you doing here?” I ignored their scrutinizing gazes. “You once said that if I helped you, you’d grant me one wish. Does that still stand?” “Of course,” Alex frowned. “But nothing too outrageous.” I didn’t need him to say it. I knew what he was worried about—that I’d use it to force him to marry me. How pathetic did he think I was? “I want to legally separate myself from the Thorne family, and change my last name back to Sterling.” Changing my name was easy enough, but only the head of the household could process the legal separation. I had no choice but to rely on Alex. Alex paused for a moment, then nodded. As I walked out the door, whispers immediately erupted from the room. “I just wanted to leave the Thorne family so we could be together legitimately, and you agreed?” “Go ahead, I won’t marry her.” I curled my lips into a self-mocking smile. It didn’t matter. I didn’t care anymore. Back home, Julian sat on the black leather couch, long legs crossed. Hearing the door, he lazily looked up. “Where were you so late?” I knew he didn’t really care where I’d been, so I casually brushed him off. “Just went to the Thorne estate for a bit.” He narrowed his eyes but didn’t ask further. “Veronica wants to attend tomorrow’s recital too.” I was a cellist, and I’d already made a name for myself in college. Tomorrow’s recital was a carefully prepared concert, both a debut and a farewell. After this one, I would change my name and identity and start anew. *Just consider it a last-minute additional accompanist*, I told myself, nodding my agreement. I was leaving soon; I didn’t want any more complications. Julian seemed surprised I agreed so easily. He thought back to what his friend had told him that afternoon: “Julian, I truly envy you. You have a wife at home who’s devoted to you, works tirelessly without complaint, and a childhood sweetheart outside.” “Just forget about it. It’s easy to find a first love, but I guarantee you won’t find another woman as foolish as her anywhere in the world.” His friend envied him, and he should have been happy, but hearing someone talk about me like that left him with an uncomfortable feeling he couldn’t quite place. He watched me, the woman who had just walked in and, without even resting, headed to the kitchen to prepare his dinner. He raised an eyebrow. He had wondered more than once, if Veronica hadn’t been his savior, he would have fallen hopelessly in love with me. But there were no ‘ifs.’ He lifted his gaze and handed me a gift he had originally intended for Veronica. “Here, for you. Don’t embarrass me at tomorrow’s recital.” Julian walked towards me, embraced me, and fastened the necklace around my neck. An intimate tension instantly enveloped us. I looked at the man before me in surprise, about to speak, when I was interrupted by a frantic, distinctive ringtone. “Julian, darling, I’ve had too much to drink and I miss you so much.” The woman’s voice on the other end of the line was soft and sweet. Julian’s throat bobbed. Without another thought, he turned and left. I heard the door click shut, my face expressionless. I put down the knife in my hand and walked into the study to practice for tomorrow’s performance. In the study, my gaze was suddenly drawn to a confidential document tucked away in the bookshelf. Normally, I had no interest in anything related to Julian, but this time, an inexplicable curiosity compelled me to open the file. The moment I saw its contents, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. It turned out Julian’s unwavering devotion to Veronica all these years was due to him mistakenly believing she was his savior. Yet, on the very same day, at the very same location, the commendation for *my* rescue was still safely tucked away in my drawer. My mood suddenly lifted. I yearned to see the day Julian discovered the truth. Smiling, I took out the contract I’d signed three years ago and the commendation, sending them both to a secure storage facility. “Deliver these to Julian Thorne in one month.” That contract clearly stated that I, as the乙方 (Party B), willingly married Julian Thorne as repayment for Alex’s kindness, for a period of 1000 days. 3 The next evening, I arrived at the concert hall on time. Veronica’s piano was already placed prominently on the stage. I didn’t say much, assuming Veronica was just rehearsing. After all, this was *my* recital; Veronica wouldn’t try to steal the show, would she? But that piano remained on stage until the performance began. When I tried to confront Veronica, I was locked inside the dressing room. By the time I was let out, the recital was already nearing its end. I directed the staff to bring my cello onto the stage, but the moment I stepped out, I was met with a barrage of curses. “Refund! Refund!” “Refund! Refund!” The boos and shouts from the audience pierced my heart like arrows. I saw that the seat reserved for Julian was already empty. My meticulously prepared recital, ruined so easily, left me only with a profound sense of shame towards my fans. Guards escorted me through the furious crowd and safely back home. Pushing open the door, the house was dark, and the temperature was chillingly low. Julian sat on the sofa, his eyes unfathomably dark. Anyone familiar with him knew that the young master was furious. A smart person would steer clear. “Did you touch my documents?” But instead of躲避 (avoiding), I nodded, frankly admitting it. Julian froze for a moment, then laughed, enraged. “It doesn’t matter if you know. It just helps you understand your place. You’re nothing more than a tool for a marriage alliance, and you’ll never be able to compare to Veronica.” I watched him calmly, saying nothing. Julian’s brow furrowed, a strange sensation flashing through him. Before he could question it, the master bedroom door clicked open. Veronica emerged, rubbing her eyes, wearing my pajamas. I always thought Julian, being born into such privilege, had no empathy. Even when I was gravely ill and confined to bed, Julian would still throw parties at home. When I stumbled out, dizzy and clutching my head, to question him, I only received a casual reply from the man: “What’s it to me?” But now, merely to avoid disturbing Veronica’s sleep, the entire household was silent, and no lights were allowed. Julian waved his hand, lazily instructing me, hoping to see a twisted expression on my face. “Veronica’s staying for dinner tonight. Go prepare it.” But I didn’t react with the expected rage. Instead, I simply stood up obediently and walked towards the kitchen. Watching me walk away, Julian unconsciously rubbed his fingers. That unidentifiable feeling from before resurfaced. He had brought Veronica home, yet I was still cooking without complaint. I must love him to this extent, with no bottom line. He admitted that even his love for Veronica wasn’t this selfless. In the kitchen, I skillfully took out ingredients, washing and chopping them. No one would have guessed that just a few years ago, I was a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger. “Sister, let me help you.” The knife in my hand was suddenly snatched away. Veronica smiled innocently at me, but in the next second, she turned the blade towards herself. Tiny beads of blood instantly welled up on Veronica’s delicate arm. Before I could react, a huge force suddenly slammed into me, knocking the knife from Veronica’s hand. The knife flew with the impact, barely grazing my cheek before embedding itself in the wall. My heart instantly skipped a beat. A sharp pain bloomed on my face belatedly, followed by the warm sensation of blood trickling down. Julian finally noticed me. Guilt flickered in his eyes. “I’m sorry, Serena, I didn’t mean to.” I was about to speak, but Veronica interrupted. “Julian, I just wanted to help my sister cook, but she…” She didn’t finish the sentence, but her hesitant expression spoke volumes. The guilt in Julian’s eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a dark frown. “So, you deliberately hurt Veronica?” Before I could explain, Julian pulled the knife from the wall. He narrowed his eyes, staring intently at me, his tongue pressing against his molars. “You just used my recital to play a few songs, and you’re so vindictive you’d hurt someone in revenge?” I shook my head, backing away. “It wasn’t me, it was her.” Julian scoffed. “Veronica is a pianist; she treasures her hands more than anything. You’re telling me she hurt herself?” I defiantly raised my head, meeting his gaze, and repeated, “Yes, it was her.” I took a deep breath. “I’m a cellist. If I were capable of hurting my own hands, would you believe me then?” I didn’t care if Julian misunderstood me, but that didn’t mean I would let myself be wrongly accused. Julian was stunned, not expecting me to say that. “You…” Before he could react, I picked up the knife and, gritting my teeth, slashed across the palm of my hand. Blood instantly pooled on the floor. A flicker of emotion crossed Julian’s eyes. He was about to reach out to stop me, but he was interrupted. Veronica suddenly spoke, “Sister, why go to such lengths? Harming yourself just to hurt me?” As soon as she spoke, Julian’s face indeed hardened. My knife hand trembled, and I closed my eyes in despair. The intense pain made me gradually lose consciousness. Just before I completely blacked out, I heard Julian’s cold voice: “If you weren’t so much like Veronica, do you think I would ever have looked your way?” 4 To punish my disobedience, Julian instantly withdrew all cooperation with the Thorne family. I was jolted awake from my unconsciousness by the frantic ringing of my phone. I endured the pain and answered Alex’s call. “Serena, I’ve submitted your legal separation paperwork, but if anything like this happens again, I’ll retract it.” My blood instantly froze. “You can’t do that! You promised me!” I was just one step away from finally being free, and I wouldn’t let all my efforts go to waste. Alex’s voice on the other end of the line was weary. “Then for this last month, just be obedient and take good care of Julian.” After hanging up, my door was suddenly pushed open. Julian walked in, his voice cold and hard as he looked down at me. “Veronica, to mend your relationship, has invited you bungee jumping. You have five minutes to pack and come with me.” With that, he slammed the door shut and left as quickly as he’d appeared. But I hated bungee jumping, and I had no interest in mending any relationship with Veronica. Thinking of the consequences of my disobedience, I numbly closed my eyes. Giving me no room to refuse, five minutes later, a bodyguard kicked open the door and dragged me all the way to the car. In the extended limousine, I sat alone, hugging my arms, curled up by the window, closing my eyes to rest. My arm wound hadn’t even been re-dressed today, but I gritted my teeth, enduring the pain, convincing myself that if I just fell asleep, it wouldn’t hurt. Soon, I drifted off in the gently rocking car. Across from me, Julian and Veronica were kissing and cuddling as if no one else was there. The driver and his assistant in the front seat whispered to each other. “I almost feel sorry for Mrs. Thorne. If my husband did that in front of me, I’d be furious.” “Oh, Mrs. Thorne just loves the Young Master too much. I once heard her say she’d endure anything as long as they didn’t divorce.” Julian lazily lifted his gaze, thoughtfully observing me, as compliant as a kitten, across from him. He wasn’t a stone. After all these years, how could he not see how good I was to him? As long as I remained this obedient, he wouldn’t mind indulging me, giving me the title of Mrs. Sterling for life. And where he couldn’t see, a flash of murderous intent crossed Veronica’s eyes. After an unknown amount of time, the car finally stopped. Looking at the bottomless cliff, my teeth chattered with fear. Veronica fluttered her big eyes. “Julian, darling, it’s been so long since I’ve bungee jumped, I’m suddenly a little scared. Will you hold me and jump with me?” Julian stroked her head indulgently, drawing out his reply. “Of course.” Julian gripped Veronica’s waist, and without a blink, he leaped. Her delighted scream and his deep laugh echoed from the valley below. The two of them, like a deeply loving couple, exchanged passionate confessions amidst the thrilling adrenaline rush. “Julian! I love you!” “I love you too, Veronica.” The driver looked at me with pity, but I was expressionless, even wishing them eternal happiness. Just a little longer, and their endless affection would have absolutely nothing to do with me. After the staff fitted me with the equipment, I frowned, recoiling. I turned to say, “Maybe not,” but before I could speak, a force shoved me forward. “My apologies, but Miss Thorne simply can’t tolerate you.” I squeezed my eyes shut, feeling the freefall, cold sweat instantly drenching my entire body. As I reached the lowest point. *SNAP!* One of the ropes suddenly gave way. My heart leaped into my throat. I screamed for help, “Julian, save me!” But he had his back to me, pressing his lips against the back of Veronica’s head, kissing her. My heart sank as I saw Veronica smiling, shaking a knife in her hand. *She* had cut the rope. With only one rope, it was impossible to maintain balance. Despite my desperate prayers, I inevitably crashed into sharp rocks. The inertia combined with my body weight instantly left my head gushing blood. The sticky warmth seeped into my eyes. My trembling hand reached for the wound, but instead, I felt the hard bone beneath. Through my blurring vision, I saw Julian finally turn, running towards me like a madman. I closed my eyes, exhausted. *It’s okay, Julian. You just don’t love me. You haven’t done anything wrong.* *And I don’t care if you love me.* *I only hate Alex, who, under the guise of love, pushed me into this abyss.* 5 I woke up in the hospital. Julian Thorne was huddled miserably beside my legs. A searing pain flared across my forehead, and I couldn’t help but let out a soft gasp.

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“What did you say? A sperm donation?” My mind went blank as I stared at Summer Davies’ tear-streaked face. “Yes, the baby I’m carrying… it’s Julian Vance’s.” Summer dabbed at her eyes, timidly turning to Julian Vance, who stood beside her. “Julian, surely you haven’t forgotten? Five years ago, when we were studying abroad together, you volunteered for a local sperm donation program…” “I just never imagined that the seed you left behind would… germinate inside me.” Summer’s tears streamed down, her voice choked with sobs. I sat opposite her, numb, Summer’s words a lightning bolt striking my ears. I never imagined that after so many years of heartfelt prayers, my husband, Julian Vance, would finally be blessed with a child. Except, I wasn’t the one carrying it. I don’t remember how I got home. All I could see was Summer’s tear-stained, crumpled face. The steam in the bathroom was thick, almost suffocating. Unconsciously, I had been in there for two hours. Julian’s pacing silhouette was visible through the frosted glass door. Clutching my chest, I spoke first, “Is everything handled?” “Mmm.” Outside the bathroom, Julian’s head was bowed as he softly hummed a reply. His mind was a tangled mess, unsure how to explain the situation to his wife. “Are you sure it’s—” I finally mustered the courage to ask, “—your child?” “I’m so sorry, Willow. I didn’t know it was an unscrupulous little clinic back then. Now, they’ve sold all the donor information just to make a quick buck…” My heart clenched sharply, and I squeezed my eyes shut. “So, what are you going to do?” Julian, who had been quick to explain moments before, suddenly fell silent. He sighed heavily, words catching in his throat, unable to be spoken. The longer the silence stretched, the faster my heart pounded. “Willow! I want to keep this child.” I already knew the answer in my heart, yet the moment Julian’s voice reached me, tears gushed out. My fingers traced the long scar on my lower abdomen, pressing hard enough for the tips to sink deep into my skin. Three years ago, it was this scar that had brought me into Julian’s heart. Back then, I was just a junior stunt performer in his crew. Driven by a love that had blossomed since childhood, I’d silently dedicated myself to him for a decade. For ten years, I’d abandoned a comfortable, respectable job to work as a stunt double in Julian’s film crew. Soaking in icy lake water night after night for retakes in winter, a wire rig malfunctioned, and I nearly fell from a rooftop… I’d lost count of how many injuries I’d sustained. But witnessing Julian’s journey from an industry newcomer to a well-known director brought me genuine happiness. I had never thought Julian and I would have a deeper connection. Until that time, when a large-scale explosion scene was being filmed for a movie Julian was directing. Due to an oversight by the props team, there was a miscalculation with the explosion point. When the flames erupted near Julian, I instinctively dove forward without a second thought. When I woke again, staring at the sterile white hospital ceiling, the tearing pain in my abdomen made it almost impossible to breathe. “The patient’s uterus was severely damaged. Whether she can conceive in the future depends on her recovery.” The doctor’s conversation with Julian outside the door echoed clearly in my ears, word for word. He had only suffered minor scratches, but I had thrown myself over him to protect him, landing on sharp construction materials used for the set. A piece of jagged metal had pierced my abdomen. Lying alone in the hospital bed, silently crying at night, it was Julian who held my icy hands, his eyes full of pain. He said it was his turn to protect me. He promised to protect me for a lifetime. Now, I braced myself against the bathroom wall, barely standing, recalling Julian’s vows from the day we got married. Because of the scar on my stomach, I had once refused Julian’s proposal. But Julian had promised again and again: “Willow, I don’t care if we have children or not. I’ve seen all your sacrifices over the years. I love you, and this scar will only be a testament to our love!” But now, precisely because of that scar, I couldn’t refuse Julian’s request to keep the child. The doctor had said that if I couldn’t get pregnant within three years, I would never have children. Now, the three-year mark was almost here, and my womb remained silent. Julian loved children so much. How could I bear to watch him give up this hard-won baby? I choked back a sob, forcing the words out of my throat as if it took all my strength. “Okay.” ### 2 Julian’s head shot up at my answer, his voice laced with unconcealed joy. “Thank you, Willow.” I watched the man’s retreating figure leave the bathroom, and I could no longer stand. My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor, tears silently falling. Julian was going to have a baby. This was what I had dreamed of for three years. I should have been happy. But right now, my heart ached, so deeply, so terribly. After Julian and I got married, to aid my recovery, I took a job as an instructor at a nearby children’s equestrian club. Sometimes, when his crew filmed period dramas, they would borrow horses from the club. I was happy to act as a liaison between the crew and the club. “Willow! Willow!” A few pats on my back startled me, and I realized my colleague, Brenda, had called me many times. Brenda took the comb from my hand, grooming the horse while sizing me up. “What’s wrong with you? You’ve been so distracted lately.” I lowered my head, sighing quietly. Julian hadn’t been home for days, busy taking care of Summer. All of it agitated me, but who could I tell? I forced a smile, swallowing my grievances. “Nothing, maybe just a little low blood sugar.” “Low blood sugar? You need to be more careful then!” Brenda playfully patted my back, joking, “If anything happened to you, your husband would blame me for not looking after you properly.” To outsiders, we were a loving couple. Julian treated me like his most precious possession, instructing everyone to take care of me, and I was often teased about it. But now, those words felt like sharp thorns, pricking at my uneasy heart. “Oh, by the way, the crew just called. The saddle is broken; can you take a new one over?” Brenda handed me the items and arranged for a driver to take me. Watching the scenery flash past the car window, I was flooded with emotions. In these three years of marriage, I couldn’t point to a single flaw in Julian. Even when he worked until midnight, he’d send a goodnight message in advance. This was the first time in three years he’d gone days without a word. “Maybe Julian really is too busy,” I told myself, rubbing my temples, trying to find comfort. I had just finished unloading the items when I saw my best friend, Natalie, walking out of the actors’ entrance, looking utterly dejected. “Nat? Are you getting off early today?” I checked my phone; it was only three o’clock. Natalie should still be filming. She was the second female lead in this show, with a lot of screen time. “Off early? What job do I even have anymore? My role was recast.” Natalie’s voice suddenly choked, her red-rimmed eyes welling with tears. I froze. “Recast? No way!” Natalie had auditioned herself back then, and the entire production team thought she was the perfect fit for the second female lead. It was I who had brought her the good news from Julian and witnessed her sign the acting contract. Ignoring the items in my hands, I rushed into the crew’s makeup room. At that moment, Summer was sitting in front of the mirror, trying on a costume, laughing and talking with Julian. I recognized it instantly; it was Natalie’s character’s makeup and outfit. “So, you’re the one who replaced Natalie?” “Willow!” Julian nervously stepped in front of Summer. The moment our eyes met, his smile faded. “It has nothing to do with Summer. It was entirely my decision.” I looked at my now-stern husband, my eyes filled with shock. As a director, Julian couldn’t possibly be unaware of how desperately Natalie wanted this hard-won opportunity. She had auditioned day and night, finally securing this role. And just like that, Julian dismissed it with a casual remark. “What about Natalie?” I clutched the hem of my shirt. “You know how much she was looking forward to this show.” “I’m willing to offer Natalie double compensation.” Julian’s face was grim, his answer indifferent. The atmosphere grew tense. Summer, who had been shrinking behind Julian, suddenly cautiously tugged my arm. Her eyes were red, looking utterly pathetic, her voice tinged with a sob. “Sister Willow, please don’t be angry with Julian. It’s all my fault. I didn’t know Natalie was your friend. Julian just wanted to find something for me to do. I won’t act, just please don’t argue because of me…” Tears silently slid down her cheeks, her aggrieved look making it seem as if I were the unreasonable one. But these tears clearly struck a chord with Julian. His tone became irritable. “Summer just returned from abroad and hasn’t adapted to the work environment here yet. She also likes acting, and crew work is the most suitable.” “Natalie always said you were understanding, so why are you arguing with Summer over such a small matter?” “She’s pregnant; where else do you want her to suffer?” With that, he let out a long sigh, took Summer by the hand, and left the makeup room. I stood there stunned, Julian’s words like a rope twisting tightly around my heart. I was certain now; it seemed that the day Summer appeared, something had fractured. ### 3 “So, who is the second female lead after all?” “Definitely not Sister Summer. I heard the previous actress brought her friend to cause a scene, so Sister Summer gave way.” “Sister Summer is so nice, I still hope she acts.” “Yes, yes, she even brought me coffee this morning…” “I think Director Vance really likes her too!” I stood in the corner, quietly listening to the chattering extras. Following their gaze, Summer was bent over, helping the crew move props. Her sleeves were half-rolled, revealing a slender, pale forearm. Behind her, Julian stood, his eyes full of concern, following her every move. The moment Summer lifted a box, he suddenly turned his back, hastily lowering his head, and a few tears silently fell. I took it all in, a wave of bitterness rising in my heart. Because of Natalie’s role, it felt like a thick wall had risen between Julian and me. We hadn’t spoken for days. “Maybe Julian is just worried about the baby,” I thought, feeling a little better, and turned to slip into the stable in the corner. Mike was munching on the hay from the ranch. Seeing me enter, he obediently lowered his head and nudged me. This horse had been with me since I first joined the club. Strong and well-built, he was a good prospect, but unfortunately, he had injured his front leg and could no longer compete in equestrian events. Luckily, Mike had good looks and was noticed by the crew, so it was a good place for him. “Sister Willow!” A sweet gasp suddenly came from behind me; it was Summer. “I heard this is your horse?” She slapped Mike’s back twice with force. Mike was visibly startled, nervously stepping backward into the stable. Seeing her heavy-handedness, I kindly warned, “Summer, you’re pregnant; it’s better not to get too close to Mike. You might get hurt…” “Sister, you’re so petty. It’s just a horse; you won’t even let me touch it? Your husband, Julian, even…” Summer’s words trailed off. She seemed to have suddenly remembered something and smiled shyly at me. Her innocent, pure face clearly held a hint of defiance. My fingers trembled slightly, instinctively clenching. Of course, I understood what Summer meant. It was fine. Once Summer had the baby, she would have no further ties to the Vance family. Julian had said that once the child was born, he would entrust its upbringing to me. I took a deep breath, suppressing my emotions, and ignored her. “Little white horse, Julian said you love carrots the most. You like me too, right?” Summer picked up a few carrots, hopefully offering them to Mike’s mouth. But Mike didn’t even turn his head, simply munching indifferently on the hay I had just given him. Summer looked a little flustered and moved closer. This time, Mike impatiently shook his head, snorting at her. “Where did you get such a temper, you ungrateful horse?” Summer raised the carrots in her hand and swung them, intending to hit Mike. “No!” I frantically shielded Mike. But Summer, in her anger, swung her hand wildly, striking Mike’s injured front leg hard. A sharp, pained whinny filled the air, and Mike’s front hooves buckled in pain. He nervously spun in place, hooves flailing, and the stable instantly became chaotic. I tried to grab Mike but was thrown to the ground by the panicked horse. “Ah—” A piercing shriek echoed across the entire film set. Summer was violently kicked in the chest by Mike and fell to the ground with a thud. “Quick, someone! This horse has gone mad!” The crew also noticed the situation in the stable and rushed over in a panic. A tall, upright figure suddenly pushed through the crowd. I recognized him immediately: it was Julian. I suppressed the dizziness in front of my eyes, wanting to stand up, not wanting him to worry. But Julian, without even a glance in my direction, knelt beside Summer! He was so nervous his face was pale, his hands trembling. “Summer, we’re going to the hospital right now!” Julian scooped Summer into his arms and turned to leave. “Julian, I—” My voice trembled, and I reached out, grabbing the hem of his jacket. “I—!” Julian cut me off, his gaze icy cold. “How could you let her come to such a dangerous place? Why didn’t you protect her?” My body stiffened, and I numbly released my grip, watching their figures grow smaller and smaller. A dull ache swept through my heart. My lips trembled as I softly uttered the rest of my sentence: “—My stomach hurts so much too, I think I’m bleeding…” ### 4 “Boss, can’t you make an exception? Mike has always been very gentle…” I tried to explain, my back drenched in cold sweat. But the club owner just shook his head impatiently. “I’ve already told you, if word gets out that this horse injured someone, who would send their kids here to learn riding?” “Is there really no other way? Mike has been with me since he was little.” My eyes teared up, my voice hoarse. Seeing my distress, the owner sighed. “Willow, this is a last resort. The stable needs to make a profit. Selling him to the scenic area is the best arrangement.” He handed me the car keys. “How about this? Since he’s your horse, you can take him there.” I gripped the keys, standing in the scorching sun for a long time before starting the car and driving Mike to the exchange location. The buyer was a well-known horse dealer from the scenic area. He circled Mike a few times, looking very satisfied. “This horse is indeed good. Good-looking horses are more popular in scenic spots; they can earn a lot. Come with me!” Listening to these words, my heart was a mix of emotions. I looked back at Mike; he was still obediently following me, full of trust. As we reached the foot of the mountain, a team of horses carrying cargo descended from above. Their thin backs were laden with mountain-like bundles, their legs trembling. I could tell these horses were exhausted. The man seemed to read my thoughts and quickly chimed in, “Don’t worry, the ones that pull cargo are the ugly ones. Your horse has good looks; he’ll be taking guests for photos up ahead. That’s much easier.” I nodded. This was as far as I could take Mike. Mike lowered his head and gently nudged my chest. It was our secret signal, Mike asking for his owner’s touch. I instinctively raised my hand but stopped in mid-air, my throat completely choked with bitterness. “Mike needs to get used to it. There won’t be an owner’s touch anymore.” I lowered my hands, but my gaze lingered on Mike with tender affection, my heart pulled by an invisible chain, unable to let go. Not getting a response from his owner, Mike suddenly became agitated and nudged me again. This time, I simply turned away. I heard Mike’s hurried hoofbeats behind me. He whinnied softly a couple of times, as if he had realized something. I didn’t dare look back, quietly listening as the sound faded further and further away. Ahead, a few people were leading a white horse, dressed in the same uniforms as the man who had taken Mike. They were clearly from the same group. They cursed at the white horse, “This damn horse! Threw a customer off, made me pay so much money!” *Smack!* The whip in hand fiercely struck the horse’s back. A shocking red welt immediately appeared on the horse’s white back, beads of blood seeping into its fur, staining it red. The horse cowered in the corner, silent, its eyes filled with terror. As the whip was about to fall again, another person intervened. “How can it take customers if it has scars? Two days without food, and it’ll behave.” A wave of panic washed over me, my heart feeling torn. I pulled out my phone, looking at the dozen uncalled numbers on the screen, then tremblingly dialed Summer’s number. The call connected, and Summer’s sweet voice came through, “Sister Willow, what’s up?” “Summer, can you let Julian answer the phone?” I choked, “I can’t reach him.” A moment of silence. “What’s wrong?” The moment I heard Julian’s voice, my tears broke free completely. For three years of marriage, Julian had been like my salvation. In every crisis, his presence brought comfort. “Julian, can Mike stay with the crew? I don’t want him to suffer at the scenic spot.” A cold laugh suddenly came from the other end. “I thought you were calling to apologize to Summer.” Listening to Julian’s reply, a chill instantly spread through my body. “Don’t you like Mike too?” “Willow, what’s more important, a person or a horse? I can’t risk Summer’s safety.” “Julian, I want some fruit,” Summer’s voice drifted through from the other end. “Okay, I’ll wash some for you.” “If there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now. Summer’s still shaken and needs rest.” The moment the call was disconnected, my heart felt like ashes. I used the nearby rock to stand up, my mind hazy, the workers’ curses buzzing incessantly in my ears. A voice in my heart told me I couldn’t lose Mike again. I turned around and ran frantically, screaming with all my might, my voice tearing. “Mike! Mike!” Down the mountain path, a white horse whinnied, its steady, powerful hoofbeats thundering. Mike galloped forward, head held high, like a whirlwind rushing toward me. I hugged Mike tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. Mike whinnied softly, constantly nudging and licking me with his head, his dark, shiny eyes filled with glistening liquid, as if scolding his owner for being so heartless. I gently wiped away his tears. “In this world, you’re the only one who cares about me. My little horse, we’ll never be separated again…” ### 5 “Sister Willow, these are Summer’s things. Can you take them back for her?” I took the bag of items handed to me by the crew member and immediately spotted the familiar pair of knitted gloves. I asked, puzzled, “Are you sure these are all Summer’s?” The crew member nodded. “Can’t be mistaken. They were all found in her belongings box. Director Vance said Summer won’t be coming to work on set anymore, and asked me to sort her things.” I didn’t ask further and took the bag home. The empty room was silent. Julian still hadn’t returned today. I lay on the bed, staring at the moonlight filtering through the window, tossing and turning. Finally, I couldn’t resist getting up. I pulled the gloves from the bag and examined them closely under the lamp. On the faded wash tag inside the glove’s cuff, there was a worn red heart. I was certain. These were the very gloves I had given Julian when we were in school. Memories flooded back, and I saw again the cold, slender silhouette of the boy cycling. In my freshman year of high school, my mother passed away unexpectedly, and my father remarried, quickly starting a new family. I was like the extra piece, tacitly ignored by everyone. I rented an old apartment, going to school, eating, and living alone. But walking through the dark alleyways by myself, I couldn’t help but cry from fear. After school, I always lingered, waiting for classmates going my way. Eventually, I realized that Julian Vance, from my class, had a similar route. Julian rode a bike, and to keep up with him, I always ran, arriving home drenched in sweat every time. Somewhere along the way, Julian seemed to deliberately slow down, and I no longer had to run to keep pace. One of the class brown-nosers heard that Julian’s family was well-off and asked him why he didn’t ride in their luxury car. I listened quietly from the side, feeling a gaze on me that quickly shifted away. “I just like cycling, it’s refreshing,” Julian replied nonchalantly. “Pfft!” I heard a sneering laugh from behind a classmate. “What a show-off. Cycling is ‘refreshing’ in winter?” I blushed in the corner. I saved three months’ worth of pocket money and bought the most expensive pair of gloves at the convenience store, secretly slipping them into Julian’s desk drawer. During my loneliest three years, Julian’s cycling silhouette was like a beacon in a long, dark alley. But why did his figure seem to get further and further away, no matter how hard I tried to catch up? “Julian, wait for me! Julian!” I jolted awake from a nightmare, my forehead covered in a fine layer of cold sweat. “Just a dream, thankfully.” I clutched my chest, surprised I had fallen asleep like that. Perhaps I had been truly exhausted lately. I had bought Mike myself but struggled to find a place for him. Running around these past few days had left me feeling worn out. I touched my slightly aching stomach, deciding to find something to eat. Opening the fridge, I found only a few wilted mini cabbages. Julian and I were both busy with work, often needing to work late, so Mrs. Vance usually bought groceries and stocked the fridge. I stared blankly at the empty fridge, realizing I hadn’t seen Mrs. Vance in a long time. *Buzz—* My phone vibrated, snapping me back to reality. It was Julian. I quickly answered. “Willow, Sam said you took Summer’s things?” “Yes.” “Then make sure to keep them safe. Summer’s documents are in there.” Summer, Summer, Summer. Always about Summer. I swallowed my disappointment and softly agreed. “Julian, come here and help Summer with this form!” Mrs. Vance’s voice suddenly came through the phone. I was a bit startled. “Is Mom there too? Does Mom know about the baby?” “Yes, it’s more reassuring with her looking after Summer.” Julian sounded a bit impatient, wanting to hang up. “Julian,” I called out, clutching the gloves in my hand. “Do you remember where the gloves I gave you are? I can’t find them.” There was a long silence on the other end. Julian’s voice was cold: “I don’t remember. It’s nothing valuable; just buy another pair…” My eyelids drooped, and a few silent tears traced lines down my cheeks. It turned out some things meant nothing to Julian, whether it was Mike or me. ### 6 “Willow, your husband isn’t here to watch the competition this time?” Brenda handed me my riding boots, muttering, “Didn’t he always come before?” “Maybe the crew is too busy,” I forced a bitter smile. I opened my phone and scrolled to Julian’s chat, the screen still showing the message I had sent him. [Julian, I have an equestrian competition this weekend. Are you coming to watch?] The competition was only 15 minutes away, and Julian still hadn’t replied. “Just focus on the competition. You’ve got a good foundation; you’ll be fine!” Brenda patted my shoulder. I turned off my phone, my face pale. In truth, I hadn’t been feeling well lately and hadn’t wanted to participate in this competition. But the owner said if I signed up, he would agree to let Mike stay at the stable for a while. I gazed blankly at the audience area, a sliver of hope still lingering in my heart. A familiar figure suddenly flashed through the crowd, and my eyes lit up instantly. It was Julian! He really came! I waved my hands frantically to greet him, but in the next second, following Julian’s gaze, I saw another familiar face. Summer was here too. The crowd surged, and Summer, like a docile rabbit, was cradled in Julian’s arms. I slowly lowered my hand, my eyes dimming, tinged with self-mockery. “Quick, it’s your turn to enter.” Brenda hurriedly urged the team participants. I had no time to react, mounted my horse, and entered the arena. This horse was competing for the first time and was particularly excited. We hadn’t had time to acclimate, and I already felt a struggle as the competition began. The atmosphere grew tense. Some spectators yelled excitedly. My palms were sweaty. Despite the surrounding noise, my heart seemed to remain fixed on Julian and Summer. The view from horseback was especially open. I saw Summer lean into Julian’s embrace. “Watch out!” A gasp from a teammate behind me snapped me back to reality. My mind went blank. I realized I had given the wrong command. The horse beneath me crashed wildly through the obstacle ahead, galloping frantically across the arena. Screams erupted around me. I felt the world spin, and boundless fear, like a suffocating net, enveloped me. *Thud!* I fell heavily from the horse’s back. Confused hooves trampled over me, and pain, like sharp steel needles, mercilessly pierced my nerves. Medical personnel rushed over in a panic, forming a circle. With a last shred of consciousness, I opened my eyes and looked towards the audience section. Julian’s face was pale, shouting hoarsely through the crowd, “Medics! Where are the medics?!” He seemed terrified, but his gaze never once turned towards the arena. In his arms was Summer, who had fainted from heatstroke. My eyes, filled with desolate pain, watched Julian’s retreating back, an agonizing ache piercing my very core. “Julian!” I screamed silently in my heart, “Just one glance! Even if just one glance…” ### 7 I awoke to the strong smell of disinfectant in the hospital room. I couldn’t help but cough, but every breath seemed to pull at every painful sensation, making my body involuntarily curl up. But I was so thirsty. I struggled to raise my hand to reach for the glass on the table, my face contorted in pain. “Oh my gosh, Willow! You have to be careful!” Caleb Vance rushed into the room from outside, handing me the glass of water. “See? It’s great having a cousin who works at the hospital.” I glanced at the empty room and gave a self-deprecating laugh. Caleb busied himself, his mouth chattering nonstop. “Willow, I’ve warned you countless times; you shouldn’t do such dangerous work. Do you know your spine was almost fractured by that horse?” “And you shouldn’t have told Sister Summer about the competition, or she wouldn’t have insisted on going. Then Julian, that busy man, wouldn’t have had to take time to accompany her.” “Look at you two now, both in the hospital. One’s his wife, the other’s his childhood sweetheart. One on the first floor, the other on the sixth. Julian has to run back and forth between you two…” Caleb’s words came too fast, and I couldn’t process them all at once. My room was on the first floor; that meant Summer was on the sixth. “You mean Julian is at the hospital?” I interrupted him. Caleb was a bit puzzled by the sudden question. “Yes, Julian and the others are all in Sister Summer’s room right now. Didn’t he come to see you first before going up?” I froze, a bitter taste rising in my throat. My husband wouldn’t even visit me when he was on his way, preferring to climb directly to the sixth floor. If Summer hadn’t demanded it, he wouldn’t even have come to the competition. After Caleb left, I, knowing everything, could no longer hold back. I hid under the covers and sobbed uncontrollably, desperately muffling my mouth, not wanting anyone to hear. A knock sounded at the door. A nurse came in, carrying a report. “Ms. Hayes, I regret to inform you that the tests show fetal demise. For your health, we recommend a D&C as soon as possible.” “What did you say?” I threw back the covers and sat up abruptly. “Fetal demise?” “Yes, didn’t you know you were pregnant? Your injury this time was too severe; the baby couldn’t be saved.” My head buzzed, my thoughts completely stalled. The door opened, and Julian, seeing the nurse, his face grim, said, “Please excuse us for a moment. I need to speak with her.” The nurse said nothing more and left. I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Julian, however, suddenly pulled out a few sheets of paper from behind his back and handed them to me. The words “DIVORCE AGREEMENT” stared back at me. “Willow, I’m sorry. To better protect the child, I need to marry Summer and get the baby a proper birth certificate. You don’t want my child to be branded as illegitimate, do you?” Listening to his words, I felt as if my entire being had been frozen. I couldn’t feel any emotion anymore. Should I be happy that I could get pregnant? Sad that the baby was lost? Or angry about the divorce? I didn’t know. The heart in my chest felt as if it had stopped beating, utterly cold. “Willow,” Julian hugged me, “don’t worry. I’ll divorce Summer as soon as the baby is born. The child will live with us, and we’ll be a happy family of three!” I held the pen, my fingertips trembling. My voice was hoarse, my expression blank as I asked, “Julian, what if we had a child?” Julian shook his head. “Willow, we can’t have children.” “Right,” my heart felt like ashes, and I forced a bitter smile. “We don’t have a baby anymore.” I lowered my head, my eyelashes fluttering, my handwriting messy. “Thank you, Willow! I’ll go arrange the paperwork immediately!” Julian took the signed agreement and quickly left. I sat there numbly, unable to cry, unable to speak, as if all strength had been drained from my body. My knuckles, gripping my phone, turned white. Finally, I sent that message. [Leo, I’ve decided. I’m leaving the country with you.] ### 10 “Don’t hurt my baby! No!” I awoke from a nightmare, sitting up abruptly, drenched in sweat. Before I could recover from the fear, the unfamiliar decor around me made me disoriented for a moment.

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Everyone in the West Coast’s most exclusive circles knew I was utterly obsessed with Julian Thorne, the orphan my family had sponsored. I defied my family for him and faced their bitter fury, risking everything I had. I spent a fortune to buy him an island and orchestrated a spectacular city-wide fireworks display to propose to him. But five years into our marriage, at Julian’s birthday party, I strapped our four-year-old son to the deck of the yacht. “Julian, tell me, where have you hidden Caleb?” My voice was low, my gaze fixed on Julian, chilling to the bone. “I don’t know where he is!” Julian was forced to his knees, sweat already soaking his suit. “Ellie, please, can you just unstrap Leo first?” Julian tugged at my dress, his eyes welling up. “Mom… Mommy… Leo… Leo feels sick…” At that moment, our son’s weak voice echoed from the deck. Seeing Leo’s face grow pale, Julian’s voice verged on breaking. “Ellie, that’s our son, the boy you cherished since he was born!” But I, sitting calmly on the sofa, merely put down my drink, then reached out and pinched Julian’s chin, my voice icy. “Where is Caleb?” “I don’t know, I really don’t know…” Julian desperately shook his head, tears streaming down, his voice softening with desperation. “Ellie, I beg you, please give Leo his medicine. He has asthma, you know that.” With that, Julian pulled a bottle of medicine from his pocket, holding it out to me with trembling hands. But I only frowned at the sight of it, waving my hand to knock the bottle to the floor. “Julian, I told you, Caleb and I are just playing around. When I get bored, I’ll come back to you. Why are you so disobedient? Why do you insist on hiding him?” As I spoke, the grip on his chin tightened, my nails digging deep into his skin. “If you keep acting like this, our son will suffer because of your disobedience, you know!” Before Julian could react, I raised my hand, signaling my men to lower the ropes binding Leo further towards the ocean. “No!” Watching our son about to plunge into the sea, Julian screamed in a raw, desperate cry. He couldn’t understand why I, who once cherished him above all else, would do this to him for another man. “Ms. Montgomery, Caleb has been located.” Just then, one of my men approached, handing me a phone. Caleb Blackwood’s voice immediately came through. “Ms. Montgomery, please stop looking for me. I don’t want to be an obstacle between you and Mr. Thorne.” “Caleb, don’t say that. Tell me where you are! You’re not an obstacle, you’re the man I love most in this life!” “Really?” “Of course. I told you, you’re truly the only one I’ve ever loved.” “Then come to the place we first met.” Caleb hung up. Listening to the dial tone, I let out a long breath of relief. My gaze turned to Julian, still kneeling on the floor, and a hint of tenderness entered my eyes. I placed my hand on his head, gently caressing his hair. “Julian, I was wrong to doubt you.” “Don’t worry, Leo is my son too. How could I ever harm him?” “You stay here and enjoy your birthday. I’m going to see Caleb.” With that, I released Julian and walked away without a backward glance, not even sparing a look at our son still dangling precariously above the waves. Watching my retreating back, Julian finally scrambled to the bow of the yacht. He pulled Leo back onto the deck and poured out the remaining medicine from the overturned bottle. “Be a good boy, Leo, open your mouth and take your medicine. You won’t feel sick anymore after this!” He tried to feed the medicine to his son. But no matter how hard he tried, the medicine wouldn’t go in. “Leo, Leo…” Julian repeatedly called out to his son in his arms, but no matter how he cried out, there was no reply. “Help! Please, someone help my son!” Julian cried out to the guests at his birthday party, but without my permission, no one dared to help him. Clutching his son’s rapidly chilling body, Julian could no longer cry. This was the son I carried for ten months, the son I painstakingly gave birth to. Our little prince, born with our hopes and dreams. But now, he was killed by his own mother’s hands. Carrying his son, Julian walked step by painful step towards the funeral home. With each step, his heart grew colder, until all love for me vanished entirely. The moment he held Leo’s urn in his arms, Julian’s trembling hand reached for his phone. “Director, do I still have a chance with the lab?” “Yes, you do, but will I let you go?” “I’ll fake my own death.” “Alright, I’ll arrange a new identity for you and submit your资料 (documents) to the lab. I’ll have someone pick you up in a week.” “Thank you, Director!” Julian was about to hang up when he heard the Director’s regretful sigh on the other end. “Ah, I told you back then not to trust the affections of the wealthy, but you wouldn’t believe me…” Julian hung up before the Director finished. Yes, the Director had pleaded with him for so long, but at that time, he loved me, he believed in me. He just never imagined that it would lead to such a devastating end. If that was the case, then he didn’t want me anymore either! Thinking this, Julian tightened his grip on the urn and walked away. But the next second, his vision went black, and he collapsed heavily to the ground. 2 I woke up in a hospital, the pungent smell of disinfectant making me frown. “Oh, you’re finally awake!” A nurse on rounds walked over. She checked me carefully, and only after confirming I was truly alright did the nurse visibly relax. “You’ve been unconscious for a day and a night. The funeral home brought you in, and we couldn’t reach your family. You should call them to let them know you’re safe!” The nurse turned to leave, but I suddenly remembered something and urgently called out to her. “My… my things?” “What things?” The nurse looked at me, puzzled. “It’s… it’s…” I opened my mouth, but the word caught in my throat, I couldn’t say it. My son, my beloved son. “Oh, you must mean this!” The nurse picked up the urn from the bedside table and handed it to me. “You were clutching it so tightly when you arrived, it took us a lot of effort to pry it from your grasp.” The nurse paused, her eyes filled with sympathy. “I don’t know who’s inside, but I hope you find peace!” With that, the nurse left the room. Holding the urn, my eyes welled up again. I pulled out my phone, instinctively about to call Eleanor, but the moment I opened it, a flood of messages poured in. They were all provocative messages from Caleb Blackwood. There were photos of his hands intertwined with mine, photos of me shyly nestled in his arms, photos of us deeply kissing, and even photos of used condoms after our intimate moments. Looking at these photos, I suddenly let out a bitter laugh. What was I still hoping for? Eleanor always said Caleb and she were just playing around, that she’d come back to me when she got bored. But her repeated hurts, her constant favoritism, had pierced my heart again and again, leaving it riddled with holes. This time, I wouldn’t wait for her anymore. Clutching Leo’s urn tightly, I checked myself out of the hospital. Looking at the dazzling sunlight outside, I didn’t know where to go. I was an orphan, only able to attend college because of the Montgomery family’s sponsorship. I had no father, no mother, no home. I once believed that anywhere Eleanor was, that was my home. But now, it seemed it was only my wishful thinking. In the end, I was still left with nothing. Watching the bustling street, I eventually turned my steps toward the mansion. Back at the mansion, the moment I opened the door, I heard Eleanor’s gasps. “Caleb, you’re so good!” “Caleb, you’re amazing!” “Caleb, I love you so much!” … Eleanor’s loving words echoed in my ears, but my heart was utterly devoid of any ripple. I glanced indifferently at the two in the living room and walked upstairs. I gently placed Leo’s urn on the table, changed my clothes, and was about to lie down for some much-needed rest when Eleanor walked in from the bedroom. “Where were you yesterday? Why didn’t you come home? And where’s Leo?” Hearing her barrage of questions, I had no desire to answer. I got into bed and pulled the covers over my head. I didn’t even want to look at her anymore. But Eleanor, standing at the doorway, frowned deeply. She yanked the covers off, pulling me up from the bed. “Are you deaf when I speak?” Seeing my somewhat pale face, she paused, then raised her hand, her fingertips tracing my cheek. The cold touch made me involuntarily flinch. 3 Seeing my reaction, Eleanor merely offered a faint smile. “Look at you, I’m not some man-eating monster, why are you so nervous?” “Did Leo go to daycare?” She hooked her finger under my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze. “You know, if you were just a good boy, nothing like this would happen.” She paused, then continued. “By the way, I want Caleb to move into the mansion with me for a while, so you and Leo will have to make do with the staff quarters for now. He’ll leave once I get bored.” Her eyes were gentle, but every word she spoke pierced my heart. I froze. I never imagined she would relegate me and our son to the staff quarters for another man. “Julian, I’ll only ever love you.” “Out of a thousand loves, you’re the only one for me!” The vows of yesteryear still echoed in my ears, yet in the end, her love was not solely for me. My gaze drifted to the urn on the table. After a long silence, I finally uttered the word. “Okay.” “Good, that’s my sweet boy!” Eleanor said, gently ruffling my hair, a satisfied smile on her face. “Julian, trust me, you’re still the one I love most. The Montgomery family’s esteemed son-in-law position will always be yours!” She smiled faintly, turning to leave, then, as if remembering something, turned back to me. “Caleb is new to the mansion, so you’ll have to take care of a lot of things.” “He loves spicy food but hates cilantro, and he’s allergic to milk. You need to remember all of this!” A flicker of a familiar tenderness passed through Eleanor’s eyes, a tenderness that no longer belonged to me. “Okay.” I replied. Satisfied with my answer, Eleanor nodded and went downstairs. Watching her leave, I finally collapsed onto the bed. No gut-wrenching sobs, no gushing tears; only a heart as cold as death. She once treated me the same way. She remembered all my favorites, remembered what I was allergic to, and what I disliked. But now, she remembered nothing about me. She said she would love me for a lifetime, but it turned out her lifetime was just a few short years. I got up and moved my belongings, along with Leo’s urn, to the staff quarters. “Julian, you really have it rough!” I had just finished organizing my things when Caleb Blackwood stood at the doorway. He waved a hand dismissively under his nose, looking around the room with distaste. “This room is really small!” Then, he sauntered over to me, looking directly into my eyes. “Actually, I didn’t really want to bother you guys, but Ellie said she can’t live without me, so what can I do?” “Julian, you should know, Ellie can be quite willful.” Caleb’s eyes, as he spoke, were full of blatant provocation. “Whether you’re willful or not, it has nothing to do with me.” I glared at Caleb, then turned towards the bed. All I wanted now was a good night’s sleep. But then, Caleb seemed to notice something, walking straight to the urn on the table. “Oh? What’s this?” “Give it back!” Watching Caleb pick up the urn, I was a step too late. “What is this? Julian, don’t be so stingy, let me see.” Caleb raised his hand, intending to open the box. “Don’t touch it!” At the same time, I lunged forward in a panic. “Ah…” “No…” I tackled Caleb to the ground, both of us crying out simultaneously. 4 “What happened?” Eleanor’s voice called out from the doorway as she walked in. Seeing the messy room and the two of us on the floor, she frowned. She quickly walked over and helped Caleb up. “Caleb, are you okay?” Eleanor looked at Caleb with concern, her eyes filled with worry. “Ellie, my stomach… I think I hit my stomach earlier…” Caleb clutched his stomach, leaning painfully against Eleanor’s shoulder. “Julian Thorne, I told you to take good care of Caleb, and this is how you do it?” Eleanor’s face darkened as she looked at me, still on the floor. But I seemed not to hear her, just kneeling, desperately scooping the white ash from the floor into my arms. “Don’t be afraid, Leo, Daddy’s here. Daddy will protect you.” I murmured, kneeling on the floor, my voice too soft for Eleanor to hear clearly. “Julian Thorne, I’m talking to you.” Eleanor’s voice grew colder. Her eyes narrowed, giving off a dangerous, oppressive aura. But I still ignored her, as if possessed, continuing to scoop the white ash into my arms. “Julian Thorne…” “Ellie…” My chilling words were interrupted by Caleb. Sweat beaded on his forehead. “Ellie, I… I’m in so much pain!” His weak voice echoed again, and Eleanor’s frown deepened. “Okay, I’ll take you to the hospital now.” She lowered her head, softly comforting Caleb, but the moment she looked up, her eyes were filled with disgust for me. “Julian Thorne, you are too disobedient.” With that, she took a step forward, deliberately stepping on the white ash. “You pushed Caleb down, just for this thing?” “It seems I’ve spoiled you too much!” She pressed down with her foot, grinding it over the white ash several times. “No!” Seeing her foot, I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around it. “Please, please don’t! This is…” “Nothing is more important than Caleb!” Eleanor coldly cut me off. “Julian Thorne, I want you to remember, if you’re obedient, you’ll always be the Montgomery family’s son-in-law. If you’re not, I have many ways to torment you.” With that, she kicked hard, sending me sprawling to the floor again. Watching Eleanor support Caleb and walk away, I trembled, curling myself into a ball. Blood flowed steadily from my hands, injured by the broken urn, but the pain in my palms was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. After crying for an unknown length of time, I finally got up and placed Leo’s ashes into another box. Clutching the box tightly, I fell into a deep sleep on the bed. It was deep into the night when the staff quarters door was suddenly burst open. I startled awake. Before I could react, I was already being pressed into a car by several bodyguards. The car sped to the hospital. When I came to my senses, I was already being held down in front of Eleanor. “Caleb suffered a major hemorrhage because of your push. He’s still in surgery now.” Eleanor paused, her voice growing even colder. “This is because of your disobedience. You need to atone.” Her gaze on me was dark and ominous, the prelude to a furious outburst from someone in power. “No! I… I didn’t push him, he fell on his own!” I struggled desperately, but the men holding me were too strong; my struggles were useless. “I… I really didn’t! You can’t do this to me…” My resistance continued, but Eleanor had already waved her hand, summoning someone. They pressed me onto a table, instructing a nurse to draw my blood. Watching the blood flow out through the long tube, I finally stopped struggling. Once, if I merely pricked a finger, she would lovingly summon the best doctors in the city. But now, she was drawing my blood for another man. As the bright red blood was drawn drop by drop, my consciousness gradually blurred. The last thing I remembered before fading was Eleanor anxiously rushing towards the doctor who had just emerged from the operating room. 5 Again, I woke up in a hospital, again to the pungent smell of disinfectant. Listening to the steady beeps of the heart monitor, my heart was silent, like death. Just then, the door to the ward suddenly opened, and Caleb Blackwood, his face pale, walked in, leaning against the wall with each slow step. “What are you doing here?” I merely glanced at him indifferently and turned my face away. “Mr. Thorne, I’ve come to thank you.” Caleb walked over and sat down in front of my bed. “Mr. Thorne, thank you for donating blood to me. Without you, I might have died on the operating table!” As he spoke, Caleb was already by my bedside. “I don’t need your thanks.” I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see Caleb anymore. “Don’t be like that, Mr. Thorne, I sincerely want to thank you!” Caleb turned, picked up the glass from the table, poured some water, and offered it to me. “Mr. Thorne, I heard… Leo passed away, didn’t he?” Caleb’s words were barely out before my eyes snapped open. “That black box, that was Leo, right?” Caleb held the glass, a mocking smile playing on his lips, a glimmer of cunning flashing in his eyes. “It truly was…” Caleb paused, and the glass in his hand began to tilt. “It truly was, what he deserved!” With that, the scalding water from the glass poured out entirely. “Ah!” The hot water spilled all over my hand. I quickly pulled my hand back, pushing Caleb away. “Caleb Blackwood, what are you doing?” Seeing my reddened, scalded hand, Caleb sat on the floor and burst into laughter. “Hahahaha, Julian Thorne, someone like you actually thinks you’re worthy of Eleanor? You’re delusional!” Caleb then raised his hand and waved something in front of my eyes. “You should be very familiar with this, shouldn’t you?” “Ellie gave this to me. I told her I want to have many more children with her in the future.” Looking at the locket in Caleb’s hand, my eyes widened in shock. That was the locket Eleanor personally placed on Leo’s neck the day he was born, saying it would protect him for a long and healthy life. Later, because it was so precious, I put it away. I never imagined she would give it to Caleb. Remembering the day Leo died, and how Eleanor didn’t even spare him a glance, my heart instantly sank to rock bottom. I used all my strength to push myself up from the hospital bed. I had to get back what belonged to Leo. “What are you two doing?” Just as I struggled to get out of bed, Eleanor’s icy voice cut through the air from the doorway. “Ellie… Eleanor…” Seeing her appear at the door, Caleb instantly changed his expression. His eyes reddened, and his voice choked. “Eleanor, I… I just wanted to come thank Mr. Thorne for donating blood, but he wouldn’t accept my thanks and even tried to take the locket you gave me.” As he spoke, tears sparkled in Caleb’s eyes. “Eleanor, this is the locket you gave for our future children. I don’t want Mr. Thorne to have it.” “Eleanor, could you please ask Mr. Thorne not to take my locket…” Frowning, Eleanor quickly walked over to Caleb, who was still sitting on the floor, and helped him up. After making sure Caleb was steady, she turned to me. “Julian, is what he said true?” 6 Her voice was icy, but not as cold as my heart. I looked up, meeting her dark, furious gaze, my voice horribly hoarse. “Eleanor, that was *your* gift to Leo! How could you give it to this man?” “Sigh, still haven’t learned your lesson.” Hearing my accusation, Eleanor didn’t get angry; she just shook her head helplessly, then turned to Caleb, whom she was still holding. “And you, why are you so naughty too? I told you to stay in your room, why are you running around?” She gently tapped Caleb’s nose, her eyes filled with tenderness. “I just…” “Alright, don’t say anything else.” She gently cut Caleb off, reaching out to affectionately ruffle his hair. “There’s no turning back once I’ve given something away, is there?” “Since I gave it to you, it’s yours. No one, not even the Montgomery family’s son-in-law, can take it from you.” She glanced indifferently at me, still sitting on the hospital bed, then turned back to Caleb, her voice laced with intimacy. “If you don’t listen to me again, I might have to punish you, you know!” As she spoke, her eyes involuntarily drifted lower. “Eleanor, Mr. Thorne is still here!” Caleb’s gaze swept over me, his eyes full of provocation. “What does he matter? Come on, I’ll take you back to your room.” With that, Eleanor gently helped Caleb and left the ward. Watching their intimate backs, my heart was utterly still. Sitting weakly on the hospital bed, looking at my scalded, bright red hands, and remembering Eleanor personally placing the locket around Leo’s neck, I found I couldn’t even shed a single tear. It turned out that when a person reached the pinnacle of sorrow, there truly were no tears left. Staring blankly at my hands, after an unknown amount of time, the ward door opened again, and Eleanor walked in, her face grim. “Julian, why still can’t you learn to be obedient?” She came up to me, reached out, hooked my chin, and looked at me with chilling eyes. “If you like lockets, I’ll have someone buy you another one. Why do you have to fight with Caleb?” “I already told you, once I get bored, I’ll naturally come back to you. And the locket is no different.” As she spoke, her grip on my chin tightened. She forced me to meet her gaze, a helpless curve to her lips. “Julian, you’re making things very difficult for me!” “I don’t want anything to happen to Leo, but if you keep being so willful, I can’t guarantee that something won’t happen to him!” Seeing the sudden fear in my eyes, she released me, satisfied. “Julian, I’m giving you one last chance. If you bully Caleb again, don’t blame me for disregarding our marriage!” With that, she cast one more glance at me, then turned and left the ward. Eleanor didn’t notice the blood seeping from my tightly clenched hands at my sides. *Eleanor, don’t you know? Leo is gone. Our Leo died by your hands.* For several days after that, Eleanor didn’t visit me again. Even my discharge was something I handled alone. Looking at the mottled tree shadows outside the hospital, my grip on my phone tightened. Today was the day I was supposed to leave. Director Davies had sent me the address of my rendezvous. I just needed to go home, pick up Leo, and disappear from Eleanor’s life forever. 7 Back at the mansion, the moment I opened the door, I saw Caleb Blackwood lounging on the sofa, and Eleanor was feeding him medicine. “Ellie, this medicine is so bitter!” Caleb frowned at the medicine in front of him, then looked up at Eleanor. “Be a good boy, sweetie, good medicine tastes bitter!” Eleanor gently pushed the medicine closer to Caleb, coaxing him softly. “I won’t, unless…” Caleb paused, then suddenly leaned closer to Eleanor. “Unless you feed it to me with your mouth!” Looking at the man before her, Eleanor chuckled softly. “Okay, I’ll feed you!” She took a sip from the bowl, then leaned in, covering Caleb’s lips with hers. Caleb, being kissed, let his eyes wander to me, standing at the doorway, his eyes full of unconcealed pride and triumph. Watching the scene unfold, I suddenly remembered four years ago, when I was sick, the doctor also prescribed medicine for me. That medicine was too bitter, I really couldn’t drink it. Eleanor also coaxed me to finish it in the same way. At that time, she looked at me with such tenderness, saying she would never let me suffer again in this life. I never imagined that later, all the suffering would be brought to me by her. Not wanting to see the intimate pair on the sofa any longer, I turned to go back to the staff quarters, but then Eleanor’s low voice reached me. “You’re back?” She got up from Caleb’s side and walked over to me. “Have some water!” “Your health isn’t great to begin with, and you donated blood to Caleb, so you must still be very weak.” She picked up a glass of water from the table and offered it to me. I looked at the glass in her hand, then looked up at her, my eyes utterly cold. “No need.” Her concern, I didn’t need it anymore. With that, I turned to go back to my room, but the next second, I was restrained by her men. “Julian, how many times do I have to tell you? You need to be good, to be obedient. That’s how I’ll love you, that’s how Leo won’t suffer.” Before I could resist, she pinched my cheeks and forced the cup of water down my throat. Only when the water entered my throat did I realize it wasn’t her concern for me at all, but her mockery. “Cough, cough, cough…” The burning chili water made me cough uncontrollably. But seeing me in such a pathetic state, Eleanor, standing before me, and Caleb, sitting on the sofa, both burst into uncontrollable laughter. “Are you feeling better now?” Eleanor turned to Caleb, her eyes full of pampering. “Much better!” Caleb walked over and wrapped his arms around Eleanor. “But Ellie, you promised me, from now on, you’ll only love me!” “Yes, I’ll only love you from now on.” Eleanor looked up and kissed Caleb’s lips again. Then, she looked at me with cold indifference. “Don’t blame me, Caleb was injured because of you. This is just a punishment for your disobedience!” With that, she waved a hand, and I was released. Looking at Eleanor, who seemed like a demon before me, I glared at her fiercely, then turned and went back to my room. Watching my retreating back, Eleanor frowned. She didn’t know why, but that look in my eyes made her incredibly uneasy. “Ellie, what’s wrong?” Seeing her staring blankly at my retreating back, Caleb’s lips proactively sought hers again. Wrapping my arms around the man in front of me, I closed my eyes in satisfaction. Back in my room, I began to pack, but I couldn’t find Leo’s urn anywhere. Caleb’s words in the hospital suddenly flashed through my mind. In an instant, a terrible premonition surged in my heart. Without thinking further, I quickly got up and rushed to the living room. 8 The two in the living room were still entwined, but my unease only grew. I pulled them apart, and before either could react, I punched Caleb in the face. “Caleb Blackwood, where are my things?” “Wh-what things?” The desire in Caleb’s eyes hadn’t faded yet. Taken by surprise by the punch, he froze. “Where’s my box?” I looked at Caleb, tears almost spilling from my eyes in desperation. “Oh, you mean that white ash!” Caleb seemed to remember something, his eyes filled with disgust. “Mr. Thorne, where did you find that stuff? It’s… it’s not clean…” “I asked you, where are my things?” Before Caleb could finish, I grabbed the lapels of his half-open shirt. “I… I threw it away.” “Threw it away?” “Yeah, that stuff was what hurt me, and what made you have to donate blood to me. It wasn’t clean, so I threw…” Caleb tried to say more, but he was silenced by my furious gaze. “Where did you throw it?” “Just… just in the trash can…” Before Caleb could finish, I quickly got up and ran out. I frantically searched through trash can after trash can, but I couldn’t find Leo’s ashes anywhere. Watching me, frantically rummaging through trash cans like a madman, Eleanor frowned. She quickly walked over to me, grabbing me forcefully. “Julian Thorne, that’s enough!” She roared. “Look at yourself! What kind of state are you in? Where’s the dignity of the Montgomery family’s son-in-law?” “Dignity? Montgomery family’s son-in-law?” Hearing her words, I suddenly laughed. “Hahahaha, Eleanor, don’t you know? He, Caleb Blackwood, threw Leo away!” “You… what?” Hearing my words, Eleanor’s frown deepened. “Eleanor, that box, it was our Leo! It was Leo!” I grabbed her arm, screaming in near-collapse, but the next second, a stinging pain erupted on my face. Looking at me, finally silenced by her slap, Eleanor’s expression was terrifyingly dark. “Julian Thorne, how dare you curse Leo? That’s your son!” “Caleb already told me he sent Leo to my mother’s place. You’re busy taking care of him, so you couldn’t manage, and my mom’s taking care of him for now.” “Julian Thorne, I’m warning you, if you dare to curse Leo again, I think Leo should get a new daddy!” “Your mother?” Hearing her words, I laughed even harder. “Hahahaha, Eleanor, your mother never liked Leo. Do you really think she’d agree to take care of him?” “Eleanor, the one who killed Leo wasn’t me, it was *you*!” With that, I pushed Eleanor away and ran towards the sea. “Julian Thorne, where are you going?” Watching my figure disappear into the distance, Eleanor suddenly panicked. She quickly chased after me, but in the end, she was still too late. “Julian, come back, I’ll take you to pick up Leo!” She looked at me, standing at the edge of the cliff, a ominous premonition suddenly filling her heart. She slowly approached me, but the next second, I stopped her. “Eleanor, Leo is gone. He can’t be brought back!” “I watched his body being cremated with my own eyes. I collected his ashes myself. Eleanor, our Leo is dead.” Hearing the word “dead,” Eleanor’s heart suddenly clenched. She reached out to me, her voice anxious. “Julian, don’t say foolish things. We’ll go get Leo back right now!” “It’s too late. Eleanor, everything is too late!” I looked at her, despair filling my eyes. “Eleanor, the biggest regret of my life was falling in love with you.” “If there’s a next life, I never want to love you again!” With that, I turned and jumped into the sea without hesitation. “No!” Eleanor rushed forward, but she only managed to touch a corner of my clothes. The waves roared, and in this world, Julian Thorne was no more. 9 “Have they found him?” Inside the mansion, I lay semi-recumbent on the bed, my pale face devoid of any color. It had been three days since Julian jumped into the sea.

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To save Liam Sterling’s life, I had to be the one to utterly crush him. Liam hated me for my betrayal. Later, when he made his stunning comeback, the first thing he did was seek revenge. He kept me captive, then brought different women home every day, forcing me to clean up after them and buy their morning-after pills. Even my own sister! He shattered my dignity into a million pieces. But Liam had no idea I had terminal liver cancer, and my days were horribly numbered. I’d already bought my burial plot, arranged my affairs, and prepared myself for death… “Anya, are you sure you want to be reassigned as a war correspondent in Congo-Kinshasa?” “This mission is different. The situation there is highly volatile. Seven war correspondents were sent previously – six died, one was critically injured. The chances of survival are almost zero…” Mr. Peterson laid out all the risks clearly, but I still nodded firmly. Returning to war reporting, I was prepared to die on that land. At least, it wouldn’t be from illness. I could still make some final contributions. The moment I stepped out of the station, I received a SnapChat message from Liam. “The Velvet Club. Pick up two packs.” I immediately hailed a cab and rushed to the club, suppressing a sharp pain in my abdomen. From inside, I could hear a woman’s moans and a man’s teasing voice. “Mmm… ah… you’re so bad~” “You look so damn hot tonight. I’m gonna make sure you’re well-satisfied.” I was used to it. Liam played out this scene almost every day in front of me. A different woman every single day, never the same face twice, and I always had to watch. Liam had an arm wrapped around a woman’s slender body, his hand casually roaming over her, but there was a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. That is, until he saw me push open the door. I’d braced myself mentally. As I walked in, I saw Liam on the sofa with a woman straddling him. A pink camisole, a white lace bra, fishnet stockings, and a bunny tail peeking out from under her mini-skirt. The woman had her back to me, so I couldn’t see her face. But she was probably another young college student. In the year since we’d reconnected, I’d learned his preferences. He liked college girls, innocent yet seductive, just like I was back then. Seeing me, he looked displeased. “What took you so long?” “It’s far. Traffic was bad.” “Then it’s time for a penalty. Three bottles.” He casually pointed to three bottles of Ace of Spades champagne on the table. The pink lighting in the club’s private room couldn’t hide my pale face. I pulled out the two packs, and as I walked over to hand them to him, I finally saw the face of the woman straddling Liam. My eyes widened involuntarily. “You’re not short on women. Why did you choose *her*?” “Why couldn’t I?” Liam sneered. He knew perfectly well that the person I hated most in this life was my half-sister, Chloe Hayes. On the surface, she was pure and sweet, but ever since we were kids, she loved to steal my things, once even stuffing rocks in my backpack, secretly messing with my college applications. She’d tormented me my whole life. The closer someone is, the more they know exactly where to hit to cause the most pain. Liam swirled his glass, lifting his eyes slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over me. His voice was low, hoarse, and laced with boundless hatred. “When I went bankrupt, you got involved with my dear brother, and when I begged you not to leave, you even personally broke my leg!” “You said it yourself, you couldn’t stand useless people. So why couldn’t I be with your sister?” I froze. Those memories flooded back, and my body trembled uncontrollably.

Liam and I were desk partners in middle school. I was the unwelcome extra in my father’s remarried family, and he was the illegitimate son cast out by his family. Two people with dark, troubled lives, we agreed to go to the same high school, the same college, escaping our broken homes to become the only light in each other’s darkness. We thought we’d never be separated, but then Liam was diagnosed with leukemia, and I decisively walked away. Even when he knelt on the ground, begging helplessly for me not to leave, to stay with him through his final days. I didn’t look back. Instead, I linked arms with the man beside me and said coldly: “Liam Sterling, I don’t waste my time with losers. I belong to him now.” Then, as if it were a joke, I had someone break his leg. “Consider that leg a blessing for our relationship.” Every word was a dagger to his soul, driving Liam to the brink of spitting blood. That night, Liam didn’t utter a sound when his leg was broken. The night rain was cool, and I could see the bone-deep hatred in his eyes. When Liam found a successful bone marrow match and was cured of leukemia, he returned to the place he least wanted to be – the powerful, old money Sterling family. He bided his time for three years, consolidating absolute power within the Sterling empire. Even his half-brother, Noah Sterling, was driven out of the country with ruthless efficiency. In three years, the Sterling family saw a complete change of guard. Once in power, Liam immediately found me, now a journalist, and made me pay for what I’d done. Thinking of this, I let out a bitter laugh. It wasn’t that I couldn’t endure hardship, or that I wanted to curry favor with the powerful. It was that when Liam had leukemia, the only match for his bone marrow transplant was his half-brother, Noah Sterling. But Noah hated Liam, the illegitimate son, for shattering his family and claiming a piece of his inheritance. Why would he ever agree to donate bone marrow to save him? To beg Noah to donate bone marrow, I once knelt through a brutal autumn storm all night. The cold seeped into my bones, leaving me with chronic ailments even now. But all that earned me was a single meeting with him. “Liam and his damn mother ruined my family. He’s the original sin! He deserves to die!” However, Noah, looking at me, a stubborn young woman fresh out of college, seemed to find a cruel game in mind. “I can save him, but on one condition.” “He’s starting a company, right? Steal his bid proposals and project plans for me. I want to see him go bankrupt! Leave him with nothing, like a stray dog!” I was strongly against that condition at the time. But Noah’s next words forced me to compromise. “Listen, sweetheart, or should I say, ‘sister-in-law’? Company bankrupt or death for him—you choose!” In utter desperation, I made the deal. Liam, despite his poor health, had an excellent career. His company was thriving in the city. Unfortunately, at the peak of his ambition, he was personally brought to his knees by the person he loved most. Liam’s hand roamed over Chloe Hayes’s chest, but his gaze remained fixed on me. Seeing the tears in my eyes, he scoffed, “Don’t act like you’re some big victim. Getting involved with Noah and helping him get rid of me must have brought you plenty of benefits, didn’t it?” The loud music in the private room drowned out an almost imperceptible tremor in his voice, betraying the intense, suppressed emotion beneath his cold exterior. I opened my mouth, but in the end, said nothing. What good would telling him do? I stole the bid proposals and project plans. I was indeed the culprit who caused his bankruptcy. “No victim here. I did it willingly. Your judgment was just terrible, you picked the wrong guy.” “My judgment was terrible? Yours wasn’t much better, falling for Noah Sterling!” He stared at me, unblinking, then pushed Chloe Hayes aside and lunged, grabbing my neck. “Now the Sterling family is firmly in the hands of the man you personally destroyed, and you, Anya, will pay for your choices!” “This is what you owe me!”

He choked me, and my face flushed crimson. Intense suffocation washed over me, but I didn’t resist. Instead, I closed my eyes, waiting for my fate to be sealed. Seeing me like this, Liam violently shoved me onto the table. Gasping for air, I leaned against the table, coughing. Then, Liam opened the three bottles of champagne and set them before me. “Drink.” Just as I picked up a bottle, preparing to chug it, a dull ache in my abdomen made my hand freeze in mid-air. The smell of alcohol brought a fine sweat to my forehead. In my current condition, I couldn’t drink alcohol at all. “Anya, what are you playing at? Drink it, now!” Chloe Hayes also got up, wrapping her arms around Liam’s waist, constantly whining. “Liam, darling, don’t get angry over someone not worth it.” She rubbed her soft chest against Liam, then stood on tiptoes and kissed him passionately in front of me. After a long moment, Liam held Chloe Hayes and tossed his car keys to me. “Forget it, don’t drink. Drive us home.” I could only obey. In the car, they made no effort to be discreet. Even with the partition raised, I could still clearly hear the sounds from the back. “Baby, you’re so beautiful tonight.” “I love you so much.” “Will you marry me?” I felt a little distant. Liam used to whisper those exact same sweet nothings to me. When I was nineteen, Liam and I took our first taste of forbidden fruit. He promised me then that he would marry me, love me forever. Now, Liam repeated those words to countless pure, lovely women. He wouldn’t even let me keep those once-beautiful memories. In the rearview mirror, their entangled bodies reflected back. “I forgot to grab the condoms earlier. Go find a drugstore and buy me some morning-after pills.” Hearing this, Chloe Hayes pouted, “Liam, darling, don’t you want to have a baby with me?” “Baby, I want to take things step-by-step with you – dating, engagement, marriage, then kids.” As he spoke, Liam tried to catch my expression in the rearview mirror, but I had already opened the car door and was heading towards the drugstore. Inside the drugstore, my body trembled, and I frantically searched for painkillers. Everything in front of me blurred, large beads of sweat formed on my forehead, and the excruciating abdominal pain made me collapse to the floor. The pharmacist, seeing my distress, quickly came over to help me up. “Pain… painkillers, fast-acting, anything…” The pharmacist quickly found some fast-acting painkillers. I snatched them, swallowed them dry, and gasped for breath. A few minutes later, I, clutching the morning-after pills, paid and thanked the pharmacist, then hurried back. My steps halted as I reached the car. The car was rocking. Clearly, the two inside were at it again, seemingly tireless. When I had gotten out earlier, I’d heard their words clearly. Every single word was like a sharp knife, piercing my chest, slicing through my heart, an icy, bone-chilling pain spreading through my entire body. Even the abdominal pain felt insignificant now. In the past, he’d found women, but he’d never offered a marriage promise. Now, he did. And it was to my own sister. The evening breeze was cool. I stood outside the car, not getting in until the rocking stopped. Only then did I open the door and hand the pills to Liam. As I got out, I accidentally dropped the painkillers I’d just bought. I quickly picked them up, clutching them tightly, terrified Liam would notice. “What medicine are you taking?” Liam noticed the bottle was completely different from the morning-after pills and frowned, asking. “Cold medicine.” I tucked the bottle into my pocket. Liam’s gaze lingered on my pocket. Just then, Chloe Hayes let out an ill-timed sneeze, drawing Liam’s attention. “Right, bad weeds never die. What kind of illness could *you* possibly have…” Outside the mansion, Liam took off his jacket, draped it over Chloe Hayes, and said softly, “Be careful, don’t catch a cold.” Chloe Hayes linked her arm through Liam’s, her voice sweet and soft. “Let’s go inside, quickly.” Liam turned to me. “Remember, you still owe me. It’s not over yet.”

The next morning, I went to the hospital for my follow-up appointment and medication. Before I left, Dr. Miller stopped me. “Your current condition isn’t good. The cancer cells are spreading very rapidly. If you don’t undergo chemotherapy promptly, it might…” I understood the doctor’s unspoken words, simply smiling faintly. “Dr. Miller, how much longer do I have?” “Three months. But with timely surgery and treatment, there’s a chance to live a few more years.” I shook my head. It was pointless. No one in this world cared about me, and I cared about no one. After that, I went to the outskirts of the city. “Hello, I need to select a burial plot.” The attendant efficiently took out a pen and notepad. “Miss, are you choosing for an elderly family member? Any specific requirements?” “It’s for myself. A sunny spot, if possible. As for when it’ll be used…” I paused. “Three months from now.” Hearing the date, the attendant stopped writing, looking up, somewhat incredulous. Such a young and beautiful woman, choosing her own burial plot. “Understood, Miss. We’ll do our best to meet your requests.” Truth be told, if I died in Congo-Kinshasa, no one would retrieve my body or bring it back home. So, setting up a headstone for myself in advance, even if my ashes never make it back, at least I’d have a place. That evening, I returned home. Under the dim light, a person stood at my front door. It was Liam. He seemed drunk, his sharp, alluring eyes wet and fixed on me, unblinking. I tried not to look at him. The moment I opened the door, he pulled me inside. My head spun, and then he bit hard into my shoulder. “Anya, I hate you so much!” He tore at me. I tried to pull away, but Liam was crying. I’d seen Liam smile, triumphant and arrogant. I’d seen his bitter, bone-deep laugh. But I’d never seen him cry so heartbrokenly, as if he’d lost something incredibly important. “Anya, this is what you owe me!” It hurt, but I didn’t struggle. I didn’t sleep a wink that night. When I woke up the next day, I only saw Liam’s cold, distant profile. He nonchalantly buttoned his shirt, then tossed the morning-after pills Chloe Hayes had left on the bed. “Remember to take your pills. I was drunk yesterday. You don’t deserve to have my child.” I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down. Liam seemed to feel that wasn’t enough, smiling as he said, “There’s an auction tonight. I’m officially announcing Chloe Hayes. You should come too.” I instinctively refused. “No, I need to go…” Before I could finish, Liam grabbed my wrist fiercely. His eyes were filled with resentment and furious anger. “Are you really that busy? You still owe me, it’s not repaid!” A faint ache spread through my entire body, and my hand trembled a few times uncontrollably. I swallowed the words, *I don’t have much time left*, and only asked Liam one question: “Do you really like Chloe Hayes that much?” Liam sneered, “After all, *I* was the one by my side when I hit rock bottom.” In a haze, I heard my own voice, bitter and difficult to articulate. “Fine.”

That auction was specifically arranged by Liam for Chloe Hayes. He kept me by his side, introducing Chloe to every acquaintance as his fiancée. I noticed that Liam actually seemed to be treating Chloe Hayes differently. Before, it was always just a game, never serious. This time, he seemed to be truly considering marriage. And Liam liked to let me witness his endless glory, attempting to make me regret the decision I had made to abandon him. So, he gave Chloe Hayes all the spotlight, bidding on countless precious jewelry pieces for her, making her the envy of every woman present. Meanwhile, Liam required me to wear a janitor’s uniform and clean the banquet hall. At the entrance of the banquet hall, Chloe Hayes found me, flaunting her victory. “You’re so jealous of me, aren’t you?” “After all, you were with him for so many years, you spent the darkest days of his life with him, but now he still wants to marry me, right?” “Anya, don’t you want to know why?” I continued sweeping the peanut shells off the floor, remaining silent. “You’ve always been like this, from childhood. At home, no matter what mean things I did to you, you’d act like you didn’t care, but deep down you must have hated me, right?” I fell silent, memories resurfacing. “You’ve always been this way, from childhood. Anything I liked, you had to steal.” Chloe Hayes scoffed. “You’re just an extra. Everything should rightfully be mine. Why should it be shared with you?” “Actually, he only planned to treat me like those other women, give me some money and send me away. But I told Liam that from the first time I saw him in middle school, I had a secret crush on him. I told him the money for his bone marrow transplant surgery was earned by me working multiple jobs, and the matching bone marrow was begged from Noah Sterling!” “I did so much for him silently, while you betrayed him at his peak and abandoned him in his toughest time, leaving him homeless. He hates you even more now!” My eyes widened. Not just because Chloe Hayes had taken credit for my efforts, but more importantly, she knew all the details of what I had done back then! “How do you know…” After I turned adult, my father kicked me out of the house, and I cut off all ties with my family. I certainly wouldn’t have told Chloe Hayes those things. Chloe Hayes leaned close to me, whispering in my ear. “Because, I secretly snuck into your house and took your diary and all the payment receipts from Liam’s hospitalization back then.” “Now all the evidence is with me. Even if you run off and tell him the truth, he won’t believe you. He’ll just think you’re making it up to get his attention.” I quickly regained my composure. The past didn’t matter. Anyway, I wasn’t planning to tell him. It didn’t matter who Liam thought did it. I didn’t want to get involved with her anymore and tried to leave, but Chloe Hayes wasn’t done yet. My eyes darted. Suddenly, she grabbed my hand and placed it on her waist. Then, her body fell backward, crashing into a champagne tower nearby.

The shattering glass of the champagne tower attracted everyone’s attention in the hall. The wine stains on Chloe Hayes’s white dress were strikingly obvious. Not far away, Liam noticed the commotion and rushed over. He knelt down to check if Chloe Hayes was hurt, his face filled with tenderness and concern. He practically checked every inch of her, and only when he found only a slight bruise on her from hitting the table did he finally breathe a sigh of relief. The next moment, Liam stood up and angrily reprimanded me. “Anya, are you sick? How could you lay your hands on her? Apologize to Chloe, right now!” Hearing this, I actually laughed out of anger. I *was* sick. So sick I was almost dead! “Liam Sterling, are you blind?” My words instantly enraged Liam. He raised his hand and slapped my face. The sharp slap echoed through the banquet hall. Chloe Hayes, with red eyes, tugged on Liam’s arm, looking utterly pitiful. “It’s alright, Liam darling, I’m fine. Don’t blame my sister. I didn’t mean it.” But her eyes met mine, full of blatant provocation. The more she acted this way, the angrier Liam became. He embraced Chloe Hayes and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll take care of this. I’ll make sure the person who bullied you pays!” I frowned, then spoke up in my own defense. “I really didn’t do it.” Liam saw that I refused to apologize and ordered his bodyguards to sweep all the glass shards into one spot. “Kneel on it. Kneel until Chloe is satisfied.” My eyes reddened. My hands instinctively clenched the hem of my dress, desperately trying to hide the tremor in my voice. “You… you truly want me to do this?” I tried to find a flicker of trust in Liam’s eyes. Liam spoke coldly. “You will pay for your mistakes. It was true then, and it’s true now.” My eyes were bloodshot. Liam’s distrust chilled me to the bone. Finally, as if resigned to my fate, I took off my shoes and, barefoot, in front of everyone, knelt on the shattered glass. The tiny shards instantly pierced my skin, blood flowing onto the floor, the red glistening eerily in the reflection of the glass. I don’t know how long I knelt, until my legs were numb and I couldn’t feel the pain, until my blood congealed on the cold floor. This banquet was attended by prominent figures, and their expressions varied as they watched the scene unfold. “Please excuse the scene tonight. Next week will be my engagement party. I hope you all will join us.” Liam scanned the room, then spoke slowly. The banquet hall buzzed with activity again, filled with congratulations from all sides. My numb gaze suddenly flickered. Liam had once promised he would only marry me. But now, he was going to marry someone else. Stubborn Anya finally spoke. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” A flicker of emotion crossed Liam’s eyes, but it was only for a moment. Chloe Hayes, nestled in Liam’s arms, looked at me with triumph, though her words were, “It’s alright, Liam darling, my sister has already apologized. Don’t blame her. Please get a doctor to clean her wounds. They might get infected.” My seemingly understanding demeanor touched Liam. “No need. I can take care of myself. We don’t need to worry about her.” “Since Chloe has forgiven you, let’s put tonight’s incident behind us.” With Liam’s permission, I finally stood up. But because I had knelt for so long, my legs were numb. The moment I stood, my body swayed uncontrollably, and I fell heavily onto the pile of shattered glass again. The congealed wounds started to bleed afresh, adding many new cuts. Even the bodyguards nearby couldn’t bear to watch and wanted to help me, but Liam stopped them with a stern look. I staggered, forced to grab a table leg to get up, then limped out of the banquet hall, leaning against the wall. All along the way, I left a trail of my blood. Stepping out of the hotel, my phone rang. It was Mr. Peterson. A heavy sigh filled the line. “Anya, your war correspondent application has been approved. It’s scheduled for next week. Use this week to pack up your things and spend some time with your family…” “Everyone acknowledges your capabilities. I hope… you return safely.” “Anya, take care of yourself.”

For me, this was undoubtedly good news. “Thank you, Mr. Peterson. Thank you for your guidance all these years.” I might not come back, but I’d still accept Mr. Peterson’s blessing. The news came so timely that I was so happy, most of the pain in my body disappeared. After a few days of rest, though not fully recovered, I could walk normally. Liam’s phone call soon summoned me back to the mansion. “What? Did you forget what you did? Did you think an apology would fix everything?” Knowing I was about to leave, my mood had improved considerably. Facing Liam’s deliberate provocation, I greeted him with a smile. “Mr. Sterling, what can I do for you?” “Take care of Chloe until we get married.” Hearing the words “get married,” I opened my mouth, but finally only managed one word: “Okay.” After Liam left, I clutched my chest, gasping for breath. I thought I was leaving soon, and whatever Liam and Chloe Hayes did, I could accept it calmly. But hearing “marriage” still made my heart ache terribly. I kept reassuring myself that I didn’t have much time left. Even if the truth came out, and Liam forgave me, it would only cause him more trouble. It was better this way. If I died, Liam wouldn’t be heartbroken. In his earlier life, Liam had suffered enough. Now, he could at least marry, have children, and live a peaceful, stable life. And I could use my remaining time to live life more fully, making some final contributions to the world. “Anya, I want some rich, homemade chicken noodle soup. Go make it.” Chloe Hayes stood on the second floor, ordering me around imperiously. Liam didn’t intervene, which only made Chloe Hayes worse. At dinner, Chloe Hayes deliberately complained the food was too salty, making me cook it again. Every morning, I was responsible for cleaning up the used tissues and wrappers scattered after their passion. Before, I would argue a few times. Now, I accepted everything without a word. Liam watched my submissive behavior, frustrated by my passiveness.

I spent three hazy days at the mansion, dragged by Liam to help Chloe Hayes choose a wedding dress. I didn’t know if Liam was doing it on purpose, but he specifically chose the boutique where we used to custom-order dresses three years ago. The manager, Ms. Evelyn, greeted them warmly. “Mr. Sterling, Ms. Hayes, you two haven’t been here in ages! Come right in.” I politely replied, “This young lady is getting engaged in a few days. We’re here to look at dresses.” Ms. Evelyn winked, and a staff member, Mark, immediately pulled Chloe Hayes inside to look at dresses. Ms. Evelyn invited Liam and me to wait in the tea room outside the changing rooms. While walking, she spoke to me, “Ms. Hayes, the dress Mr. Sterling ordered for you three years ago was never picked up. I thought you’d never come back.” “But we’ve kept it safe for you. I’ll get it out for you to see now.” Before I could say anything, another staff member wheeled out the dress, displaying it before us. The most outstanding feature of the entire dress was its design. A three-year-old design that still looked timeless today. I seemed to recall the days when we attended various formal events together. Back then, Liam would often have custom dresses made for me. My first formal dress was designed by Liam. On the day of the school’s formal dance, the Hayes family had a special dress custom-made for Chloe Hayes. I was completely forgotten, left to watch enviously from the side. Liam, somehow, found out. He drew the sketches himself, searched all over the city for a tailor, who worked overtime for three nights to rush the dress into completion. From then on, every formal dress I wore had Liam’s input. Liam’s eyes were full of love when he looked at me then. “My dear Ms. Anya, it’s truly an honor to invite you as my date.” I would tease him back, smiling, “I think it’s *your* honor.” I looked at the dress, my eyes welling up. “Yes, it’s beautiful.” Ms. Evelyn smiled. “Of course. Mr. Sterling personally drew the design, and we rushed to make it.” I looked at Liam, my heart filled with mixed emotions. Just then, Chloe Hayes, wearing a dress, broke the silence. “Liam darling, let’s try another store. I think the dresses here are just so-so.” Suddenly, Chloe Hayes spotted the dress in Ms. Evelyn’s hand, her eyes lighting up. “Wow! Liam darling, this dress is so gorgeous!” Liam asked, “You like it?” Chloe Hayes nodded. “Yes! I love it! Liam darling, let’s wear this one for our engagement party, okay?” My face was complicated as I looked at Liam. Liam merely glanced at the dress, then dotingly nodded. “Mhm, if you like it.” I couldn’t help but mock myself in my heart. “He’s about to get engaged. Why would he cling to old affections? Anya, don’t be delusional anymore.” Ms. Evelyn’s gaze flitted between Liam and Chloe Hayes, a little confused. I explained, “This young lady will be Mr. Sterling’s fiancée in a few days.” After speaking, I glanced at the calendar on my phone. Four more days. Liam had a major business deal at his company these past two days, so the engagement preparations were left to Chloe Hayes. Aside from the occasional affectionate photos Chloe Hayes sent me, generally, no one bothered me. On the fifth day, Chloe Hayes found me again. “For the engagement, I need a ring. I want that one you’ve kept treasured.”

I was silent for a moment, then shook my head. “I don’t know what ring I have that would be to your liking.” Chloe Hayes knew I was playing dumb and scoffed, “Don’t act foolish, my dear sister. I could guess your ancient password with my eyes closed. I saw it last time I went to your place. It’s the ring Liam darling gave you, right?” “I want that one!” I knew she was talking about that gold ring. Liam had bought that ring for me in college, saving every penny. It was only a little over two grams. It wasn’t worth much, but it had been my only keepsake all these years. “Your engagement ceremony, using my ring for him to propose with—doesn’t that make you sick?” Chloe Hayes curled her lips into a triumphant smile. “It doesn’t make *me* sick. Someone else will be sickened. Anyway, Liam darling said whatever I want, you have to provide. Besides, he’s marrying me now, why would you keep that ring? To pine over your sister’s husband?” I could only compromise. She was right. Since I had decided to leave, I should sever ties completely with the past. “Fine. You can use that ring for the fiancée.” As the engagement date drew closer, I accelerated the process of arranging my final affairs. I placed some of my favorite books and a camera inside my cremation urn. I had already arranged with the cemetery staff to bury these items. Finally, I made one last trip to the hospital to pick up my medication, mostly painkillers, to ensure they wouldn’t interfere with my work. For me, the late-stage cancer cells would spread increasingly fast, so other medications were largely irrelevant. Dr. Miller handed me the medicine. He was my primary physician and knew my condition best. “If you continued treatment, there might still be hope. Going abroad is effectively giving up on life.” I knew his kind intentions. “Thank you.” Watching me leave, seeing my thin figure, Dr. Miller admired my courage. Even with life ticking down, I didn’t immerse myself in sorrow and despair, choosing instead to live life more fully within my limited time. On the day of the engagement ceremony, I was busy for half the day. When the ceremony officially began, I was already at the airport. The grand ceremony was being live-streamed online. At the airport, I watched Liam, holding the jewelry box containing the wedding ring, his loving eyes gazing at Chloe Hayes. “Will you marry me?” Before Chloe Hayes’s answer came, I looked at Liam on the screen and whispered softly: “I do…” After a moment of surrender, I immediately regained my composure and quickly turned off my phone. The airport announcement boomed that my flight was about to depart. I dragged my luggage towards the boarding gate. This time, I would bid farewell to all past happiness and sorrow, heading towards an inevitable end. At the engagement site, Liam casually produced the ring. For him, this engagement was merely a means of revenge against me.

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