Category: English

“That red dress looks *so* good on you.” For three days straight, I kept getting these creepy texts from an unknown number. But I *never* wear red dresses! Just now, I felt a puff of air on my neck. I snapped my eyes open, and suddenly, there was breathing, right next to my ear… **Chapter 1** In the dark, there was a faint dripping sound, and what felt like light breathing right next to my ear. I forced my eyes open. The breathing stopped. The room was dead quiet. I flicked on the light and scanned around. Nothing. But the window next to my bed was open. I distinctly remember closing it before I fell asleep! I walked around the room, checking every corner. Nothing. So what was that breathing sound just now? I’m an atheist, so my mind didn’t jump to ghosts. Ghosts don’t have body heat, but my ear had felt distinctly warm, almost burning. It wasn’t my imagination; someone was definitely in my room! Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I caught sight of something near the window – a footprint. It was only half a print, but by its size, it looked like a man’s! My heart immediately leaped into my throat, and every pore on my body felt like it was oozing ice. One thought screamed in my mind: *Someone got in!* The atmosphere instantly grew heavy with tension. *Ding-ding.* I jumped, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest. I grabbed my phone. It was another unknown number, and the message made my skin crawl. It was a photo. A photo of me walking around my room. This person knew I was searching for them, and even took a picture! They were hiding in the shadows, watching me! “Your scented candle smells incredible. I wish I could wake up to that every single day.” A chill ran through me, despite the summer breeze. I pulled out my phone and called security, asking them to check the surveillance cameras for my building to see if anyone had climbed in through my window. Their reply was that the cameras were down and hadn’t been fixed yet. What are the odds? I summoned my courage and walked to the window, peering out. Outside was a patch of greenery. Aside from that half-footprint on the windowsill, there was nothing. I called the security office again, asking them to come up and search with me. A security guard arrived quickly. He was tall, maybe 5’9″, wearing a mask that only revealed his eyes. “Hi, I’m the new guard.” I couldn’t help but stare for a moment. A new guard? I hadn’t heard anything about it. “Are you sure someone got into your room?” His question made my heart skip a beat. I changed what I was about to say: “I’m not sure, which is why I was hoping you could help me check things out.” “Alright.” “It’s really not safe for a single woman to be living alone. Don’t you have a boyfriend who could stay with you?” He was rummaging through my room, chatting casually. His questions made me uncomfortable. But out of politeness, I answered him. “No.” “Oh.” It was just a one-bedroom apartment; if someone was hiding, they couldn’t stay hidden for long. But there was definitely no one there. After searching, the guard left. I couldn’t sleep no matter what, constantly feeling like he might pop out from somewhere. I decided to go stay at Chloe’s for the night and find someone to install security cameras tomorrow. But as soon as I opened my door, Mr. Henderson was standing there. He was the night shift security guard. He looked apologetic. “I was in the restroom earlier, missed your call. I saw you called twice and worried something happened, so I came by. Is everything alright?” “Didn’t your security office get a new guy? Didn’t you run into him when you went out?” Mr. Henderson looked confused and said something that filled me with dread: “Our security office hasn’t hired anyone new.” No one new? Then who was the person who just came in?! Could the guy I’d just let into my apartment be the same person who was texting me and got into my room?! I asked Mr. Henderson to check the main surveillance footage at the security office, but he told me it was still broken and would take a few days to fix. I was still wondering how this could all be such a coincidence when I felt someone touch my hand. I looked up to see Mr. Henderson’s wrinkled face, staring at me with a leering, unpleasant look. His greasy, lecherous eyes scared me, and I quickly recoiled, backing away from him. **Chapter 2** I slammed the door shut, my heart pounding. I heard him curse loudly outside my door before he grumbled and left. Mr. Henderson had been harassing me, subtly, ever since I moved in. Usually, I’d avoid him whenever possible. But today, I was so shaken that I let my guard down for a moment. I rushed to the bathroom and scrubbed the back of my hand where he’d touched me, rubbing until it was raw and red before I stopped. After Mr. Henderson left, I double-locked all the doors and windows. I didn’t dare go out, fearing the person might still be hiding outside. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, too terrified to close my eyes, staying awake until dawn. I considered moving out. But I’d just paid six months of rent, and having only recently started my job, I had no savings. My finances simply wouldn’t allow me to find another place. As soon as it was light, I called the police. Two officers arrived quickly. The first one in was an older officer, Detective Miller, followed by a younger officer, Officer Ben Carter, with a notebook and pen. “You said someone got into your apartment last night, took your photo, and sent you harassing texts?” “Yes.” I handed them my phone, showing them the texts and photos, my heart still racing with lingering fear. “About a week ago, I felt like someone was following me, but I never saw anyone. Then last night, they somehow got my number and sent me that photo of me searching my room.” “I immediately called security, but the person who came up was a tall man, about 5’9″, wearing a mask. He claimed to be a new guard. I strongly suspect he’s the one who’s been stalking me!” My voice was shaking, my fists clenched, fear still etched on my face. Detective Miller looked at the photos and texts, his brow furrowed. “This person knows a lot about you… To know where you live, they must have been watching you for a long time. And judging by the angle of the photo…” He stood up, still holding my phone, and walked around the room, finally stopping at my bedroom door. What he said next made my blood run cold. “That person took the photo from right here.” He was pointing at my bedroom door, directly facing my bed! I sat on the couch, my face ashen. I slowly stood up, my legs trembling, and pushed open the door. If he was standing there last night when I woke up, I would have seen him. It was impossible not to. My hand on the doorknob shook uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. “But last night, when I woke up, I didn’t see anyone standing here.” Detective Miller took a quick glance around the room, then focused on the door itself, specifically the lock. It was a solid mahogany door with a standard lock. I moved aside, and the officer knelt down, examining the lock closely. “Do you have a star-shaped screwdriver?” “Yes! I’ll get it.” I brought him a small screwdriver. I watched as he unscrewed the lock, taking off the inner cover from my side of the door, revealing… a tiny camera! One of the small screws on the lock was missing, and that pinhole camera was perfectly wedged into its place. And from that position, it could capture me holding my phone and searching the room last night. When did that camera get installed?! “It seems this person had a plan. Who else has keys to your apartment?” “Besides me, only my landlord.” I called my landlord, talked for a moment, and then hung up. “My landlord said that before me, the apartment was rented by a girl, but she only stayed for three months before leaving.” “We’ll need to take the camera for evidence. That person might come back for you. It’s best you don’t stay here until we catch them.” I nodded. I had already planned to stay at Chloe’s for a few days. I’d asked Chloe to pick me up even before I called the police. I left them my number. They said they’d call me when they had results. **Chapter 3** I didn’t start packing until the police left. Suddenly, my phone rang, making me jump. It was Chloe. As soon as I answered, her loud voice burst through. “Stella! I just saw two cops leaving your place! What the hell happened?” I explained everything to her. She sounded shaken. “Thank God you were okay last night. Those sick, twisted freaks! I’m coming up in the elevator now!” The next second, she screamed, and before I could ask what was wrong, the call disconnected. My nerves instantly frayed. I dialed her back frantically. It rang twice before she answered. “What happened? Why did you scream?” “Oh, I just bumped into some old guy coming out of the elevator, dropped my phone by accident and hung up.” An old guy? For some reason, Mr. Henderson was the first person who came to mind. I knew it wasn’t right to speculate behind someone’s back, but every time I thought of the way he looked at me, the idea just popped into my head. “I’m at your door. Are you ready?” “Yeah, I’m ready.” Chloe’s interruption broke my train of thought, and I quickly grabbed my bag and headed out. As I stepped out, I saw Mr. Henderson again. He was directing people to fix the surveillance cameras. He greeted me, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I walked quite a distance with my head down, still feeling his greasy, burning stare on me. Chloe shot him a fierce glare, then put her arm around my shoulders, fuming. “He’s the one who bumped into me in the elevator! I thought he was just old and clumsy, but the way he ogled pretty girls was absolutely disgusting!” I said worriedly, “Don’t go near him. He’s not a good person.” “Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. If he even *tries* anything, I’ll kick him so hard he won’t be having kids ever again!” I let out a shaky laugh and, linking arms with her, we left. I stayed at Chloe’s for a week. Then, the police called to say they’d caught the person—it was Mr. Henderson. I remembered that one time I lost my keys and found them at the security office. He must have secretly made a copy then! I couldn’t believe how disgusting he was! In the end, Mr. Henderson was arrested, fined a thousand dollars, and spent a few days in lockup. The security company also fired him. I moved out of Chloe’s place. The whole ordeal had terrified me. I bought two pinhole cameras and installed them in my apartment, and had all the locks changed before I finally felt safe again. Just when I thought everything was okay… That day, I came home from work as usual. But when I turned the doorknob— Something was wrong

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The scion of a powerful family, Caleb, was pushed down the stairs by his sister and fell into a coma. Caleb’s parents demanded that his sister marry into their family and take care of Caleb for the rest of his life. His sister, dreaming of becoming the lady of a prominent household, eagerly agreed. Little did she know, she’d be tormented so relentlessly, she’d wish she were dead. In my past life, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s doting affection, got into the State University, and after graduation, became an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. My sister, consumed by jealousy, killed me. She sent me back to the day Caleb fell down the stairs. This time, she pointed a finger at me, accusing me of pushing Caleb. “She’s the one who hurt Caleb! Make her marry him!” She thought she had cleverly swapped our fates, unaware of who truly pulled the strings. My sister stood at the top of the stairs, her finger pointed viciously at me. “She’s the one who pushed Caleb! Make her take care of him and pay for her sins!” Before anyone else could speak, Scarlett lunged into Mom’s arms, tears welling up as she promised, “Mom, I’ll get into the State University, I’ll earn so much money, I’ll take care of you and Dad, I’ll make sure Blair honors you both.” Eleanor shot me a glare, then spoke the words Scarlett had been longing to hear. “Blair hurt my son, so she’ll marry my son and take care of him for the rest of his life. Otherwise, you’ll all face a lawsuit.” Mom broke down, sobbing, and nodded. Just then, the ambulance arrived, rushing Caleb to the hospital. Outside the operating room, Mom clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face. “Blair, even though you made a mistake, you’ll always be my child. Remember that Mom will always be thinking of you, even when you’re in the Lin household.” I nodded, meeting Scarlett’s triumphant gaze. She believed she had chosen the right path, but she had no idea a bottomless abyss awaited her.

The Lin family was incredibly wealthy; they certainly didn’t lack housekeepers. In my previous life, the Lin family tried to groom Scarlett as an heiress, but she was utterly incapable. Despite pouring endless resources into her, she never improved. Eventually, the Lin family gave up on her, making her serve them like a mere servant. Just then, Caleb woke up. Learning he’d never walk again, his personality completely transformed. He relentlessly tormented Scarlett, the sister who had caused his injuries. Caleb’s parents turned a blind eye, never interfering. Meanwhile, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s affection, consistently ranked first in my class, received scholarships, and secured a spot at the State University. After graduation, I was hired as an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy my wealth for long before Scarlett killed me. Reborn into this life, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to make me take the fall. She might not have had jewels, luxury goods, or a massive allowance, but she had Mom and Dad’s love, and a future full of hope. She leaned in, whispering with a smirk, “Sister, this time, it’s my turn to enjoy everything.”

Mrs. Eleanor, just like in my previous life, held high expectations for her future daughter-in-law. She scheduled me for grueling classes, hired countless top tutors, and packed every single minute of my day. “As a daughter-in-law of the Lin family, this is your duty.” Mrs. Eleanor’s strictness and displeasure were barely veiled. I simply nodded, accepting her arrangements. A flicker of surprise crossed Mrs. Eleanor’s eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. But her surprise quickly turned to disgust. “Your teachers will report your progress to me. Don’t even think about pretending to comply while secretly undermining me.” Why would I ever do that? I wished I could split myself in two, devouring every bit of knowledge, determined to forge a beautiful future with my own hands. I didn’t even waste my breaks, either buried in a book or grinding on exercises. Scarlett, arm in arm with her boyfriend, Dylan, sauntered over to taunt me. “Hard work, isn’t it, sis?” she purred. “Your precious youth, all wasted on these dull, boring things. No time to relax, no chance for fun. But me? I have a boyfriend who adores me, parents who spoil me, and a brilliant future ahead.” I looked up and met Dylan’s eyes. I recognized him instantly. He was the same Dylan from my past life. He had pursued me back then, but I’d turned him down. Later, I learned he’d borrowed a ton of high-interest loans to fund his lavish lifestyle, constantly dating rich girls to find a sugar mama to pay off his debts. Back then, Scarlett was trapped in the Lin household, cut off from the outside world, so she naturally wouldn’t have known. I had no intention of telling her. Consider it a thank you for making me take the fall. “Congratulations, Scarlett, on getting everything you wished for.” Their love was fervent and thrilling. Dylan would sneak into the school radio room and declare his love for Scarlett over the loudspeaker. Scarlett would skip class, climb over the school wall, and buy Dylan his favorite snacks. They would share cigarettes on the rooftop, passionately kiss with no regard for anyone else. They would go to bars, get wasted, and couldn’t wait to be intimate. They documented it all, posting every moment on SnapChat. Scarlett, fearing I wouldn’t have time to check SnapChat, shoved her phone in my face, smugly telling me, “Look, this is what living your youth to the fullest looks like. Too bad you’ll never get to experience it again.”

As she said, I really didn’t have the chance to experience it. Because I had secured a spot in the provincial math competition by ranking first in the entire school, and I needed to focus entirely on preparing. This opportunity was mine in the previous life too; I even placed third in the provincial competition and successfully advanced to the national level. So, Scarlett rushed up to me, utterly bewildered, demanding, “Why? That opportunity should have been mine! Why are you stealing what belongs to me?” I paused my problem-solving, speaking calmly, “This was the school’s decision. If you think I stole it from you, feel free to try and take it back.” Scarlett confronted the school principal, intending to make a scene. Unexpectedly, the principal gave her a past competition paper, promising her the spot if she could score ninety points. Scarlett couldn’t solve a single problem. She just guessed on a few multiple-choice questions, then slunk away. For several days, Scarlett didn’t come to school. Rumors about her only grew, with whispers that she was now living with Dylan. I just felt a lot more peace. My hard work paid off; I achieved first place in the math competition. Victor and Eleanor were so delighted, they specially came home to celebrate with me. After dinner, Eleanor excitedly told me, “Blair, it’s time to set a date for your wedding with Caleb. We plan to hold the engagement party next week and announce your marriage.” I nodded obediently. “Thank you, Aunt Eleanor.” In my previous life, Scarlett had been with the Lin family for years, yet Victor and Eleanor never publicly acknowledged her as their daughter-in-law. This time, with the Lin family’s resources behind me, I would go much further. Victor and Eleanor booked the largest hotel in the city, hired a designer to remodel the venue, and invited all the prominent families in the area, along with many media reporters for coverage. I wore a custom-made gown, exquisite makeup, and confidently socialized beside Eleanor. After the banquet, I instantly dominated every headline. Yet, my life didn’t change at all; it was still endless classes and grinding on practice problems. A classmate, seeing my dedication, sighed, “No wonder Blair is so lucky to have the Lin family’s approval. She’s just so hardworking and exceptional.” Scarlett swaggered over to me, a smug look on her face, and touched her stomach. “No matter how hard you work, how obedient you are, the Lin family will only ever see you as Caleb’s stepping stone, his punching bag. But I have Dylan’s devoted love, and his baby. I’m going to marry him and live the pampered life of a powerful family’s young madam.” I couldn’t help but let a slight smile curl my lips. Well, congratulations to you. If I hadn’t subtly fed information to Dylan’s creditors, they wouldn’t have hounded him so quickly, and he wouldn’t have gotten her pregnant so soon. I fought to suppress my smile, forcing a calm expression. “So, your wedding with Dylan, is that on the agenda now?” Scarlett’s smile stretched almost to her ears as she proudly bragged, “Dylan said I’m newly pregnant and shouldn’t be stressed. All the tiresome things like wedding photoshoots and engagement parties can wait until after I’ve had the baby. He’s going to plan a grand,世纪 wedding for me, so I can marry him in style.” I feigned concern. “Dylan truly loves you; he can’t bear for you to suffer even a little.” Scarlett beamed, casually replying, “Of course he does.” I pressed the record button on my voice recorder and went back to my practice problems. After school that afternoon, Dylan personally came to pick up Scarlett. They walked out of class, arm in arm. At the school gates, I sat in the Lin family’s luxury car, watching through the window as Dylan and Scarlett were shoved into a minivan. The van swiftly disappeared into traffic.

In my previous life, before the Lin family gave up on her, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to bully me, leveraging their influence. She ordered her little crew to drag me into the bathroom, forced me to drink from the toilet, smeared glue on my chair, and tore up the practice books I’d saved money for ages to buy… She once told me directly, “Sister, why are you living so well while I suffer in the Lin family? Shouldn’t we, as sisters, share our joys and sorrows?” So, this time, I prepared a generous thank-you gift for her. That evening, I received a call from Mom. Crying, she said Scarlett and her boyfriend had been kidnapped, and the kidnappers demanded five million dollars, or they’d kill them. She hoped I could lend her some money, promising Dylan would pay me back when he returned. I didn’t give her money, but I pointed her in the right direction, advising her to seek help from Dylan’s family. Mom must have been quite surprised when she saw the tiny “Dylan’s family mansion,” built of mud and straw. Sure enough, around ten o’clock that night, Mom and Dad called me from a dark, remote village, complaining and demanding I send the Lin family’s driver to pick them up. “Blair, that con artist Dylan isn’t a powerful family heir at all! His house is practically falling apart, the windows and doors are rotting, and it’s colder inside than out! Your sister was completely fooled by him!” I feigned surprise. “Oh? Really? He was so generous with Scarlett; his family shouldn’t be like that, should it?” Mom kept complaining into the phone. I put my phone aside and continued grinding on my practice problems. Mom talked for a long time until Dad impatiently cut her off, grumbling, “Shut up already. Let’s just get Blair to send a car to pick us up first.” Mom finally reacted, urging me to send the Lin family’s driver. I put on a crying voice, sounding wronged and helpless. “Mom, Victor and Eleanor are out, probably at some banquet. All the family drivers went with them to pick up guests. They told me to study hard at home and didn’t take me.” “Mom, Dad, I miss you. Can you pay the Lin family some medical expenses and take me home?” Mom’s attitude immediately did a complete one-eighty. Her voice turned harsh and cold. “You good-for-nothing! Your father and I worked so hard to raise you for over a decade, and before you could even earn money to honor us, you became someone else’s property. Now you want money from us? Do you think we’re a printing press? I’m telling you, right now, immediately send a driver to pick us up, or when I get back, I’ll skin you alive!” I sneered. She finally couldn’t hide her true colors. In my previous life, after Scarlett went to the Lin household, Mom and Dad started living like royalty, quitting their jobs and idling around at home. They dumped all the housework on me, and I barely squeezed in time to do my homework. I scavenged cardboard and empty bottles from their drinks and alcohol, selling them to buy my practice books. A few times, they found out, snatched all the money, accused me of stealing, and tied me to a pillar, whipping me with a belt for ages until they were tired. Later, Scarlett struggled in the Lin family, unable to give them money or the life they wanted. But I won third prize in the provincial math competition. Neighbors who used to gossip about Mom and Dad now came to congratulate them. Mom and Dad found new jobs, feigned being loving parents, and started doting on me. Later, I certainly didn’t disappoint their expectations, becoming a multi-million dollar executive. Mom and Dad never showed their true colors to Scarlett. I guessed it was because of Dylan, her “powerful family boyfriend.” Now that their dream was shattered, could they still keep up the act?

A week later, Scarlett and Dylan returned, battered and bruised. I heard they’d managed to escape when their creditors weren’t paying attention. Scarlett, upon learning that Dylan was not only from a powerful family but also heavily in debt, came to confront me. “Blair, you b*tch, did you know all along that Dylan’s family was broke and he was drowning in debt? You deliberately pushed me into this hellhole, didn’t you?!” “I’ll kill you, you b*tch!” Scarlett’s palm hadn’t even landed on my face before the Lin family’s bodyguards had her pinned down. I spoke, feigning kindness, “Be gentle, please. My sister is pregnant; don’t hurt the baby.” I leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “Scarlett, I know it’s hard to believe, but you’re already carrying his child. You two need to figure out how to pay off the debt and be responsible for the baby.” Scarlett was dragged away by the bodyguards. No sooner had she left than Eleanor sent someone to say she was waiting for me in her upstairs room. Eleanor was as poised and elegant as ever. “You need to give me an explanation.” I understood. She was referring to Scarlett’s situation. My little manipulations might have fooled Scarlett and Mom and Dad, but not her. I explained that Scarlett used to bully me and even blamed me for pushing Caleb down the stairs. I was simply returning the favor. “I don’t want to interfere in your personal affairs, but you need to understand what’s truly important.” I nodded. Of course I understood. I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way. Most of my time was still spent in classes, grinding on practice problems, preparing for the national competition. Half a month later, Scarlett appeared before me, looking exhausted. She seemed to have lost weight, and her gaze towards me was fierce and unsettlingly familiar. In my previous life, she always looked at me that way. “Blair! Tell me, why has everything turned out like this?!” “Dylan extorted a huge sum of money from me before he let me go. Mom and Dad are like completely different people; they hit and curse at me, order me around, and all the chores are piled on me. I remember it wasn’t like this in the last life, why is all this happening!?” I stared at her with innocent, wide eyes. “You and Dylan broke up, so your child will be born without a father.” Scarlett gritted her teeth. “There’s no way I’m keeping that bastard child. I already had an abortion.” I took Scarlett’s hand, speaking gently and kindly. “Scarlett, Mom and Dad are just angry. They thought you were about to marry into a powerful family and live a life of luxury, only to find out you were tricked. You’re still young and beautiful; don’t waste it.” A flicker of light appeared in Scarlett’s eyes. By my calculations, my fiancé would be waking up soon. Don’t disappoint me, you two. Sure enough, Scarlett appeared at school the next day, meticulously dressed. She pretended to study diligently, as if she were determined to turn over a new leaf. She even made a point of asking me for help with problems. Of course, I couldn’t dampen her ambition, but I had to visit my fiancé at the hospital. So, I just had to trouble Scarlett to come with me. Coincidentally, Caleb woke up. Scarlett’s eyes welled with tears, and she covered her mouth, softly sobbing, whispering, “Caleb, you’re finally awake.” I made an excuse about asking the doctor about Caleb’s condition and quickly left the room, giving them space alone. Before his accident, Caleb and Scarlett had already been a couple. That day, it was because they had an argument that Scarlett accidentally pushed him down the stairs. Now that Scarlett had faced Mom and Dad’s cold shoulder, would she choose to rekindle things with Caleb, and continue her dream of being the lady of a powerful family? I was rather looking forward to it. In the days that followed, Scarlett often came to me with questions, but every time I explained something, her mind seemed elsewhere. I knew her heart wasn’t in her studies, but on Caleb. I decided to grant her wish. “Scarlett, I’m preparing for the national competition now, so I probably won’t be able to pay much attention to you. You can go ask Caleb to explain problems to you. You can also keep him company for me, so he doesn’t get bored alone in the hospital.” Scarlett hesitated for a while before reluctantly agreeing. She certainly didn’t disappoint my expectations. She visited the hospital more and more often, even taking time off school to be with Caleb during his check-ups. Through my daily efforts, I achieved first place in the national competition, securing guaranteed admission to the State University. When I brought fruit to visit Caleb at the hospital, I happened to see Scarlett nestled in his arms, looking up and passionately kissing him. I pulled out my phone and snapped several pictures, then silently handed the fruit to the nurse and left the hospital. Victor proactively brought me into the company to learn from him. Eleanor stopped many of my classes, giving me time to study at the company. At school, Scarlett, beaming, approached me, a triumphant look on her face. “Sister, you just keep learning from Victor. Later, you’ll work for the Lin family, helping Caleb and me manage the company. The lady of the Lin family can only be me. No matter how capable you are, Caleb doesn’t like you.” I nodded, feigning an appearance of knowing when to retreat. “Scarlett, you’re right. Caleb doesn’t love me, and forced love never lasts. I’ll make sure to tell Victor and Eleanor and step aside for you.” Would Victor and Eleanor choose the capable me, or the incompetent Scarlett? There was no need to even ponder it.

That evening, I showed Victor and Eleanor the photos of Scarlett and Caleb embracing, kissing, and being intimate. “Uncle Victor, Aunt Eleanor, Caleb has someone he loves. I think I should step aside.” Eleanor’s breathing quickened with anger. It took her a while to compose herself. “Blair, in a family like ours, feelings are the least important thing. The daughter-in-law of the Lin family can only be you. I’ll make Caleb break up with her.” I stopped Eleanor. “Aunt Eleanor, Caleb loves Scarlett. His body hasn’t fully recovered yet. If you suddenly separate them, it might upset Caleb, which isn’t good for his recovery. A gentle reminder should suffice.” After all, Scarlett still had a big task to accomplish; she couldn’t withdraw so easily. The next day, Scarlett stormed up to me, yelling, even raising her hand to hit me. I caught her wrist, then slapped her back. The sharp smack drew the attention of all our classmates, and a glaring red handprint appeared on Scarlett’s fair face. “Caleb and I are engaged. You, a mistress, dare to challenge me? You clearly don’t know your place.” Scarlett clutched her face, glaring at me, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long moment. Finally, she burst into tears and ran away. Within a minute, I received an angry call from Caleb. “Whoever I love will be the daughter-in-law of the Lin family. What right do you have to hit my sister? Apologize to her immediately, or I’ll sue you for assault. You pushed me down the stairs and caused severe injury; that’s enough to send you away for years.” I retorted calmly, “Caleb, aren’t you clear on who actually pushed you down the stairs? If you want your beloved to pay for hurting you, then go ahead.” Caleb hung up, fuming. The doctor told me Caleb demanded to be discharged and return to school. Not because he loved learning, but because he wanted to protect Scarlett. What surprised me was that this time, his legs could recover completely, just like a normal person’s. But this was even better for my plan. Victor and Eleanor were naturally overjoyed to hear their son wanted to go to school, thinking their precious boy had finally come to his senses and was willing to improve. Caleb knitted scarves during class, and during breaks, he and Scarlett were all over each other, hugging and kissing. During lunch, they went to the rooftop to make out. Scarlett taught Caleb how to smoke and drink with her, experiencing a passionate and thrilling youth. On the first day of school, Victor and Eleanor personally went to pick Caleb up, but they waited until the very end and Caleb never showed. Victor and Eleanor searched anxiously for a long time but couldn’t find him. It wasn’t until past midnight that Caleb finally returned home, thoroughly drunk. The next day, Caleb eagerly rushed back to school to see Scarlett. Soon, Victor and Eleanor learned of Caleb and Scarlett’s scandalous behavior at school and immediately had bodyguards forcibly bring Caleb home. “Caleb, I’m telling you, break up with Scarlett immediately, study hard, and after graduation, you’ll start training at the company.” Caleb violently stood up and protested, “What right do you have to control my life? I’m not a puppet you can manipulate at will! You can’t control me!” Victor threatened coldly that if Caleb didn’t agree, he would cut off his allowance. In the end, Caleb couldn’t stand up to Victor and Eleanor. Eleanor arranged many classes for Caleb, but he didn’t attend a single one. He secretly climbed over the school wall and disappeared. It wasn’t until past ten at night that he irritably called, saying he was out with friends for a party and it was too late, so he’d just stay at a hotel. But I knew that the so-called party was just him and Scarlett. Because Scarlett sent me several pictures in the middle of the night of her and Caleb lying in bed, wearing pajamas. I immediately saved the pictures and screenshotted the chat history. Just as I finished, Scarlett recalled the message and sent a new one: Sorry, sent it to the wrong person. I pretended not to see it and didn’t reply. Scarlett, you really need to step up your game. Don’t disappoint my expectations.

Victor and Eleanor stormed the school, personally tied Caleb up, and dragged him home. They even ordered someone to whip him a few times, but Caleb stubbornly refused to back down, insisting on being with Scarlett. When Scarlett found out, she was moved to tears, yet also incredibly smug. I sternly reprimanded Scarlett, then specifically chose a time when Victor and Eleanor were home to advise Caleb to break up with Scarlett. This precisely triggered Caleb’s rebellious streak. He adamantly stated that he would not only refuse to break up with Scarlett but also wouldn’t study hard and certainly wouldn’t take over the company in the future. News of Caleb’s falling out with his family over a woman quickly spread. This wasn’t my doing, as I knew Victor and Eleanor cared too much about appearances; they dreaded family scandals becoming public. It was Scarlett, eagerly wanting everyone to know Caleb’s favoritism towards her, who frantically spread the rumors. I heard Eleanor specifically went to the school to inquire about Scarlett’s grades and behavior. After she returned, she never again mentioned arranging classes for Caleb. Instead, she urged me to study hard and manage the company. After these incidents, Scarlett and Caleb’s relationship seemed to grow even stronger. Every time I saw them at school, they were joined at the hip, constantly intimate without a care in the world. Scarlett even seemed to have bribed Mom and Dad. Mom specifically called to lecture me, saying I was useless, and that the position of the Lin family’s young madam would eventually be Scarlett’s. She told me to defer to Scarlett and help her, otherwise, Scarlett wouldn’t make my life easy after marrying Caleb. Scarlett, emboldened by Caleb’s love and Mom and Dad’s support, started to provoke me. “Sister, Caleb told me he hates boring bookworms like you most of all. He likes me; I’m passionate and wild, and I bring excitement to his life.” I picked up the hot water on the table and splashed it in her face. “What are you being so arrogant about? Victor and Eleanor will always be on my side. Once I have a Lin family child, you’ll completely lose any threat to my position.” Scarlett seemed to realize something, throwing herself into Caleb’s arms for comfort. This time, however, Caleb didn’t come to bother me. He simply took Scarlett to a hotel room to comfort her. Aside from classes, most of my time was spent learning the business of the Lin Group. A little over a month later, Scarlett, predictably, bounced back into my life. Caleb said he had something important to discuss with everyone and summoned Victor, Eleanor, and me. Caleb wrapped his arm around Scarlett, placed a paternity test report in front of Victor and Eleanor, and solemnly announced, “Scarlett is pregnant. I’m breaking off my engagement with Blair and getting engaged to Scarlett.” Eleanor stated flatly, “Impossible.” I grabbed Eleanor’s hand, speaking gently and gracefully. “Aunt Eleanor, it is the Lin family’s child, after all. Your own grandchild.” She pulled me up to her second-floor bedroom, asking me with a hint of guilt, if I was truly willing to accept this child.

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My sister has always been a liar, always setting me up since we were kids. She stole money, got caught, and said I took it. She accidentally tumbled down the stairs, but claimed I pushed her. She ran off with strangers who turned out to be traffickers, just for a cellphone. When she was rescued, she swore I’d abducted and sold her. My brothers called me a born evil. My parents’ brutal beatings became a daily occurrence. Until one day, I heard my sister’s inner thoughts: “Hahahaha, a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death. Next, it’s the brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” Everyone stared at my sister, disbelief etched on their faces. She was so screwed. When my sister, Willow, was in her senior year of high school, she faked being sick for a whole week, all for a cellphone. She’d hide under her covers, playing games all night. One time, she was cursing out her teammates so loudly that Mom caught her. In a fit of rage, Mom confiscated her phone. Willow immediately threw a massive tantrum, battling our entire family. After her inevitable defeat, she stormed out of the house. It was snowing that day, and our whole family split up to find her. Mom and Dad called almost everyone in their contact list, asking all our relatives, teachers, and classmates. They came up empty-handed. Finally, I found Willow at a downtown spot. She was about to get into a stranger’s car. I ran over and pulled her, trying to get her to come home with me. But then, two burly men got out of the car, claiming to be Willow’s friends. They roughly pushed me to the ground, telling me to mind my own business. Willow stood behind them, a phone in her hand, a smug look on her face as she told me, “See? Anyone is better to me than Mom and Dad. I don’t want to spend another minute in this messed-up home. I’m cutting ties with all of you and going to live a good life.” With that, she willingly got into the car and drove off without a care. Later, I found out Willow had been abducted and taken to a remote, isolated compound. When we finally found her, she was in a dilapidated shack, forced to care for an old, disabled man. The moment she saw us, she burst into uncontrollable sobs, throwing herself into Mom’s arms. Mom took one look at the surroundings and, completely overwhelmed, hugged Willow and cried herself unconscious. Dad leaned against the wall, slapping himself repeatedly, consumed by regret. My brothers watched the scene in silence. Over the years, our family had searched high and low for my sister. Through countless sleepless nights, Mom and Dad were heartbroken with guilt, even imagining the worst possible outcome. What we saw now, though unbearable, was still our greatest comfort: Willow was alive, safe and sound, standing right in front of us.

That night Willow returned, she whispered threats in my ear. “Alice, your good days are over. I’m going to take everything precious from you.” My smile froze, and I stared blankly at Willow, wondering if I’d misheard. Because just moments ago, she had told Mom and Dad that all these years she was gone, I was the one she missed most. “What? Scared? I’ve got even scarier things to show you, want to see?” Before I could react, Willow grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard across the face. My palm went numb. Her lip was busted, her cheek swelled rapidly, and her mouth was full of blood. I snatched my hand back in a panic, staring at her in disbelief. “Willow, what are you doing?” The smile was gone from Willow’s face. She suddenly looked at me in terror, backing away as if she’d seen a ghost. “Sister, why did you hit me? All I wanted was to come back to Mom and Dad. Was I wrong? Why can’t you stand me?” Willow’s voice was loud enough to alert the whole family. Dad came out of his study. Seeing Willow’s terrified look, he quickly shielded her behind him and asked me what was going on. Liam and Noah, my brothers, rushed out of their bedrooms. They grabbed my arms, roughly pulling me into a corner, creating distance between me and Willow. Mom, who was in the kitchen, stormed out with a wooden spoon in her hand. Everyone watched Willow tremble as she hid in Dad’s arms. She looked at me with horror, as if I were a monster, continuously pleading, “Sister, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me, Sister, please don’t hit me.” I was utterly speechless. I knew Willow had always been dishonest and loved to lie since she was little. But before, she’d only lie and make me the scapegoat when she got into trouble and was afraid of the consequences. This was more than just lying, though. She was clearly making trouble, intentionally framing me. Sure enough, everyone fell for Willow’s performance. Mom’s chest heaved with anger. Without a word, she rushed over and slapped me across the face. The blow was so hard that half my face went numb. They stared at me, their faces etched with disappointment, as if I were a death row inmate. A flash of triumph flickered in Willow’s eyes. As expected, she had won again. She tugged at Mom’s sleeve, putting on the most pitiful, vulnerable act. “Mommy, am I really unwanted? Did Alice really trick me into getting into the trafficker’s car all those years ago? She told me you had enough with just one daughter, and I was redundant…” Willow was lying again. But her words successfully sent shockwaves through each of us.

Everyone stared at me. Their gazes were filled with disappointment, but mostly with rage. Willow had loved causing trouble since she was little. She’d broken dishes in the kitchen, snapped Mom’s lipstick, killed the fish in the tank, stolen the neighbor’s packages… whatever she did wrong, when the truth came to light, she’d always lie and make me take the blame. I was never good with words, so I became the bad kid in Mom and Dad’s eyes, the born evil in my brothers’ words. Being beaten was a daily occurrence for me. In the years Willow was gone, I’d finally had a moment of peace. But now, I was terrified. I glared at her, retorting, “Willow, I never said anything like that! I tried to stop you back then, but I couldn’t. *You* were the one who said you were cutting ties with us.” “Alice, of course, wouldn’t admit it.” Willow was a weeping mess. She cut me off, feigning weakness and understanding. “It’s all in the past now. Those nightmarish years are over. I don’t blame Alice. I just beg you, Sister, for the sake of being my blood sister, please don’t try to hurt me again, okay?” I frantically explained, “I didn’t! I really didn’t!” Willow nodded. “Right, right, you didn’t. Such a big deal, let’s just say I framed you. After all, murderers never admit their crimes, do they?” Mom hugged Willow tightly, her whole body trembling with anger. Dad clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. He stepped forward, grabbed my collar, and cursed at me. “You ungrateful daughter! I always knew you were competitive, always wanting to win against your sister, but I never imagined you could be so evil!” Liam and Noah just stood by. Like countless times before when Dad had disciplined me, they watched coldly, letting Dad beat me without saying a word. A storm of blows rained down on me. I convulsed with pain, crying until my voice was hoarse, repeatedly explaining, “I didn’t! It wasn’t me!” But my words were too weak, and no one believed them. They even thought I was lying, calling me unrepentant, just like countless times in my childhood when faced with Willow’s undeniable accusations that I refused to admit. Mom, like a hen protecting her chick, screamed at me with pure hatred. “You’re a born evil! Might as well kill you! How dare you abduct and sell your own sister? I won’t find peace until I break every bone in your body!” When I was covered in injuries, Dad finally grew tired of hitting me. He pressed his hard leather shoe onto my ankle and cursed, “You’re worse than an animal! Willow just shared her gifts with you, calling you her only sister, she’s so kind, yet you try to destroy her like this.” Liam frowned, looking at me. “Alice, you’re utterly heartless. Why wasn’t it *you* who got abducted by traffickers?” Noah’s eyes were also filled with disappointment. “Alice, when you do something wrong, there’s a price to pay.” Everyone, without knowing right from wrong, shielded Willow. Their regret and anger, as if finally finding an outlet, turned into violence unleashed upon me. I coughed up blood. Even breathing hurt. I could only open my mouth, feebly and weakly arguing, “I didn’t… I really didn’t…” Willow cried even harder. She had become the family’s favorite. In a few words, she had completely ruined my reputation. Just as I closed my eyes in despair, I suddenly heard Willow’s voice. “Crushing it, hahahaha! Alice, that loser, is still as stupid as ever. A few simple tricks and I’ve got her utterly defeated.” “Hahahaha, what a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death, then I’ll be the sole favorite. Next, it’s the two brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” “Everyone can just die, not a single good person among you. After you’re all gone, I’ll inherit everything.” I looked up in terror. Willow was quietly cowering in Mom’s arms, timid as a frightened kitten. Her mouth hadn’t moved at all. What was going on? Why could I hear her voice? Just as I wondered if I was hallucinating, I noticed everyone’s gazes had shifted from me to Willow. Their eyes were still filled with raging fury. But this time, it wasn’t directed at me.

Willow didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. In her mind, she was still thinking: “I’m so badly hurt, Mom and Dad must be heartbroken. If only Alice could just die! Why should she enjoy life here when I suffered so much out there? Unless I chop her into a thousand pieces, I won’t appease my hatred.” “What’s with them? Why are they all staring at me? Are they retarded? Well, yeah, if they weren’t idiots, they wouldn’t have confiscated my phone back then and gotten me abducted to the countryside, making me suffer so much. It’s all your fault, I hope you all die a terrible death.” “Mom’s slap on Alice was too light. Was it really that hard to knock out all her teeth with two slaps? Dad was more effective, though. Looks like my trick of feigning injury worked. Ouch, it hurts so much. If I’d known it would hurt this much, I wouldn’t have been so hard on myself.” The house was deadly silent. Willow’s mental curses against our entire family echoed exceptionally loud. Mom stared at Willow in disbelief, still unsure if those vicious inner thoughts had truly come from her. Dad’s eyes were red-rimmed with anger. Both my brothers looked at me, their faces full of shame and guilt. I was expressionless. The pain throughout my body made me feel utterly hopeless. Dad still seemed to think he was hallucinating. He asked Willow, uncertainly, “Willow, was it really your sister who abducted and sold you all those years ago?” Willow quickly nodded. But after glancing at me, she shook her head in feigned terror. “No, I don’t blame Alice. It must have been something I did wrong for Alice to sell me. It must have been my fault…” Her words undeniably sealed my fate. Dad’s anger, which had finally extinguished, flared up again. He seemed to think my beating just now was not undeserved. But soon, I heard Willow’s thoughts again: “Hmph! I’m not stupid. How could I tell them I basically sold myself for a crappy phone? It’s all Alice’s fault for not stopping me back then, she’s useless. Today, I’ll make sure she takes the blame fully.” “But Alice, that idiot, is quite pretty. Maybe I’ll find a chance to sell her to some rural area. Butch, that pig, still needs a wife. Just thinking about him defiling Alice, hahahaha, it’s so satisfying!” Mom let out a shout of anger. “You wouldn’t dare!” Dad stared at Willow with a complex expression, and my two brothers quickly rushed to help me up. Everyone came to my side, shielding me. The hatred and resentment they had felt towards me moments ago were now replaced with guilt and self-reproach. I shook them off and walked to my bedroom without a word, my heart cold and desperate. “Alice,” Dad called out to me, his voice soft. “We’re a family. There’s no misunderstanding that can’t be cleared up. I’ll take you both to the hospital first. We can talk about everything else later.” On the way to the hospital, our entire family’s faces were grim. Mom sat between Willow and me. She looked at me, then turned to glance at Willow. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally reached out and pulled Willow into her arms. But to my surprise, Willow was ranting wildly in her mind. “So fake! Why didn’t they just kill Alice? What’s the point of going to the hospital? Was that beating for nothing?” “Ugh, my stomach hurts so bad. Mom’s cooking is still as disgusting as ever, like pig slop. A family of taste-blind idiots, how can they swallow this? To be stuck with a mom like this, what a total downer!” “Dad’s gifts are ugly too. And the bedroom my brothers decorated, pink? Seriously? I’m the Queen of Revenge, are they treating me like a three-year-old? Annoying!” Willow continued her mental rant. Mom’s face was grim. She released Willow and turned to look at me. I angrily turned my face away, refusing to look at her. No one had expected that all their painstaking efforts to make amends to Willow were, in her eyes, completely fake and worthless. The doctor examined my injuries, and Mom immediately arranged for my hospitalization. In the hospital room, Mom hugged me with tenderness, apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Alice. I never thought Willow would use such a method to frame you. Our whole family was used by her. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

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For the sake of the kingdom and its people, the Crown Prince sent his heavily pregnant wife to the enemy. And I was his wife. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. My body, merely a discarded battlefield casualty. That very day, he returned to the capital with the transmigrator woman, ascending happily to the throne. When I opened my eyes again, I woke up in the body of a palace maid. He stared at me. “I feel like you resemble someone I once knew.” When we marched off to war, I was already three months pregnant. The King was advanced in years then, already hinting at abdication. The political currents were turbulent in court. My parents were caught in the crossfire, both thrown into the royal dungeons. My mother gripped my hand, her eyes swimming with tears. “Elara, the royal family knows no mercy, my dear. Don’t get too deeply entangled.” To serve a King is like walking with a tiger. We had long foreseen such an outcome. I comforted my mother. “Mother, Dorian will soon ascend to the throne. When he does, I’ll have you released from the dungeons.” Dorian – my childhood sweetheart, the Crown Prince, and the future King. My mother couldn’t speak, just wept incessantly. My status had become sensitive. When Dorian led his troops to war, he took me with him to protect me. He comforted me. “Don’t be afraid, Elara. Just stay in the camp, and be careful not to overexert yourself and harm the baby.” I nodded, not refusing. If all went as planned, after this war, our return to the capital would be the day the King abdicated. As the Crown Princess, I was naturally the future Queen. Then, I’d find some reason to clear my parents’ names, and our family could be reunited. I believed this without a shadow of a doubt. It wasn’t until we reached the battlefield, seeing the armies clash, that I realized things weren’t as simple as I’d imagined. Heavily pregnant, I could do nothing. And in the camp, besides me, there was another woman. Her name was Skylar, a field medic traveling with the army. Every day, she would leave with Dorian and return with him. Whispers began to circulate in the camp behind my back. They said the Crown Prince was about to take a new woman. I understood the look in Skylar’s eyes when she gazed at Dorian. She liked him. Her medical skills were astonishing, almost miraculous. She was different from me; she said she came from another world, a transmigrator. I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but every time she spoke, Dorian would listen intently. A focus in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a long, long time. Skylar was free-spirited and unconventional; she claimed everyone was equal. So, she dismissed the maids who attended me. She declared that women are just as capable as men. And so, heavily pregnant, I found myself standing on the battlefield. That was the day the enemy general saw my face. My beauty was famed across the kingdoms, my dances legendary, my beauty unmatched – a true siren, rare in this world. The enemy army was strong and well-equipped, pushing us back relentlessly, causing heavy casualties. Dorian was forced to surrender. The enemy general, wanting to humiliate him, demanded me from Dorian. I sat on the plush divan, despair washing over me, my tears long since dried. I understood the look in Dorian’s eyes. He wanted to agree. That day, I looked at him, my eyes filled with utter disappointment. He gripped my hand, promising solemnly: “Elara, be good. It’s just a feigned surrender. I’ll lead the troops back to rescue you immediately!” Skylar also urged me. “Your Royal Highness, for the sake of the kingdom, please consider the bigger picture.” If I didn’t go, the city would fall, all its people would die, and so would our soldiers. They piled on the pressure, painting me as the kingdom’s only hope. I had no choice but to agree. And so, heavily pregnant, I was lifted into a sedan chair and carried into the enemy camp. That day, I was forced to dance barefoot on a mosaic of broken pottery. My soles were pierced, blood flowing freely. Several times, I nearly fainted, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn’t collapse, couldn’t harm the baby in my belly. Dorian promised he would come for me. Inside me, our child was still alive. When I returned to the city, my parents were waiting for me to rescue them. I ignored the enemy soldiers’ taunts. Dorian said he would come to save me soon. Clinging to that hope, I danced until past midnight, but Dorian never came. The enemy general grabbed my arm, dragging me onto the divan. His voice was laced with mockery. “Waiting for someone to save you, perhaps? “Your husband has already returned to his capital with his little beauty.” It was then that I truly despaired. I had been abandoned. That night, I didn’t survive. All I knew was the numb agony, blood staining the divan crimson, and the child in my belly dissolving into a pool of blood, gone from me forever. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. Dorian returned to the capital with that transmigrator woman. On the very day my body was discarded, he donned his King’s robes and held his coronation. The new King, devoted to his realm, had sacrificed his wife for peace and prosperity. Skylar, with her miraculous healing, had earned great merit. And I? I was merely a footnote in their tale of glory, an insignificant detail. My parents, unable to await my return, died in the royal dungeons. All my despair gradually transformed into hatred. I opened my eyes, unwilling to accept my fate, only to see Skylar now dressed in fine silks and luxurious robes. The woman who once preached equality now had an army of maids at her beck and call. And I had become one of them. She stepped on my head, forcing me to gnaw on the leftover bones she had discarded on the floor. “You’re just an illegitimate daughter. Eating my leftovers is already a privilege for you.” My hair was disheveled, and I knelt on the floor, saying nothing. Skylar lounged on her plush chaise lounge, laughing hysterically, pointing at me and chattering with Gemma, her head maid.

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My wife, Chloe Miller, was a dance teacher. Sweet-faced, with a figure that could kill. To make her mine, I agreed to three cohabitation demands during our first meeting. For the dowry, her mother didn’t mince words: two houses and two million dollars in cash! Back then, I was head-over-heels in love. My family was well-off, so I agreed without a second thought. After we married, I spoiled her rotten, treating her like a little princess. She didn’t have to worry about anything, inside or outside the house. I always let her have her way. When she said she didn’t want kids, I nodded, even convinced my parents to go along with it. I admit, at first, I was a total pushover around her. But I really did love her. Her gentleness, her innocence. Later, I learned that her gentleness and innocence were just a mask. I’d just gotten home after a three-month business trip. The project had kept me away, and the moment I walked through the door, Chloe threw herself at me, radiating passion. That night, she didn’t want me to use protection. That surprised me, because normally, she’d never let me go in without it. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? I didn’t think much of it. Not long after, she was pregnant. When I saw those two red lines on the pregnancy test, I nearly cried tears of joy. Truth be told, I’d always longed for a child. My parents had been subtly pushing for grandkids, but Chloe had always refused. I was so overwhelmed, I could barely string a sentence together. I asked her several times if she was *really* pregnant. Chloe, however, didn’t seem thrilled about the pregnancy. She snapped impatiently: “Are you done? Of course it’s real. Do you think I’d fake something like this?” I chalked it up to pregnancy hormones and gently coaxed her: “Honey, since you’re pregnant, let’s keep it. Don’t worry, you just carry the baby. I’ll take care of everything once it’s born.” I expected her to refuse, but to my surprise, she sighed and said: “Fine. But remember, you’re raising it. I’m not doing anything.” I was so happy, I kissed her several times. She pushed me away, looking disgusted: “Gross, your spit stinks.” Then, she went to the bathroom to wash her face. I knew she was a germaphobe, so I didn’t take it personally. I immediately called my parents to share the good news. They were ecstatic and booked flights from out of town that very night. As soon as they arrived, they gave Chloe a generous cash gift. It was a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills, a full ten thousand dollars! My parents cheerfully said it was for her prenatal care, so she could focus on keeping healthy. They promised that once the baby was born, boy or girl, they’d directly reward her with a house. Chloe’s face, which had been overcast, finally brightened. She wasn’t as resistant to the pregnancy anymore. From that moment on, Chloe became the queen of our house. Even though we had a housekeeper, my mom still cooked for Chloe every day, preparing all sorts of delicious dishes. I canceled all my work to stay home and be by her side. But as time went on, her temper grew worse. She’d snap at me constantly. She said having too many people in the house made her irritable. To keep her happy, I had to ask my parents to temporarily go back home. Then she told me to go back to work, saying my idling around the house bothered her even more. I reluctantly agreed, but I didn’t realize it was all just an excuse to get rid of me and my family. It was so no one would be watching her, and she could go out and party again. Two months into her pregnancy, she went clubbing and nearly lost the baby! 2 She called me from the hospital, and I rushed over. The doctor said Chloe was pregnant with triplets and showed signs of miscarriage. When I heard that, my heart nearly leaped into my throat. She stayed in the hospital for a month to stabilize the pregnancy. During that time, Chloe wouldn’t let me tell my parents, saying she didn’t want them to worry. She had her mom come to take care of her instead. By the time she was discharged, her belly was significantly larger. A three-month pregnant belly looked like she was six months along. I thought it was a bit strange, but figured it was probably due to carrying triplets, so I didn’t dwell on it. After leaving the hospital, she moved straight back to her mother’s house, claiming it was easier for her mom to look after her. Her temper was explosive. I walked on eggshells every day, trying to manage her moods. She was still irritable and prone to fits of rage, complaining that I’d made her pregnant, making her body swollen and ugly. When she got emotional, she’d grab whatever was nearby and throw it. One time, she threw a glass at me, splitting my head open. Afterward, she didn’t even apologize or offer a word of comfort. Eventually, my mother-in-law, tired of me being around, told me to go to work and stop hovering. I had no choice but to leave, but I visited her every day. Still, her attitude towards me was incredibly cold. Sometimes when I spoke to her, she wouldn’t even glance my way. I told myself that she was carrying triplets for me, so it was understandable that her emotions were out of whack. After all, she was so vain; pregnancy had made her body bloated and changed, so she must have blamed me, the culprit. To cheer her up, I gave her gifts every day: designer handbags, lipsticks, jewelry—anything she liked, I bought. After that, when I visited, she finally had a smile for me and a hint of her old tenderness. I told her I had to go on a business trip to close a big deal and would probably be gone for a month or two. She seemed unusually happy, telling me to go and not worry about her. I then said I missed her and wanted to stay the night. She flatly refused, saying her belly was too big and I’d press on the babies. Frustrated, I went home alone. I’ve always been a faithful man. Since Chloe got pregnant, I’d handled my needs myself. But I never imagined that Chloe was finding *other* ways to handle hers. What happened next completely unmasked her true colors. I wished I could slap myself silly. I hated myself, hated myself for bringing such a disgusting person into my home. I was away on business when I suddenly received a call from Chloe’s best friend, Mia. She said Chloe had gone into early labor and told me to rush back. Without a word, I booked the first flight home and immediately headed to the hospital where Chloe was delivering.

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While Julian was with the woman he always loved, at her prenatal check-up. I was scheduling my own abortion, alone. Our eyes met. I forced a small smile. “What a coincidence.” Later, I wished them a long and happy life together, but he wasn’t pleased. “Julian!” The familiar name caught my breath, and I looked up sharply. A man and a woman stood facing each other a short distance away. The woman was delicately pretty, with a subtle curve to her belly. The man was tall and handsome… It was my husband, just a month after we got married. My mind went completely blank at the sight. I quickly ducked around the corner, and by the time my brain started functioning again, I couldn’t hear their voices. She was pregnant. The woman Julian loved was pregnant. He was there with her for her prenatal check-up, and the scene was so perfectly harmonious, so beautiful. A baby should be born into the eager anticipation of its parents. I gently stroked my own abdomen, then after a long moment, I walked to another part of the clinic. The nurse mentioned needing a family member to sign off on the procedure, but I was firm. “No, thank you. I can be responsible for my own body, and I have the right to decide whether or not to have a child.” I signed my name and went out to wait. Serena’s voice drifted closer. “Not at all, I haven’t had any morning sickness. Maybe the baby’s just a little angel, a blessing.” I turned my head. Julian and Serena were walking side-by-side. Julian held a bag in his hand; it must have been Serena’s. Our eyes met. He paused, looking surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to see me there. I stood up, forcing a small smile. “What a coincidence.” Julian’s expression quickly returned to normal. “What are you doing here?” he asked, his voice low and casual, with a hint of indifference. I just smiled, retorting, “You?” Julian: “Just picking something up. Are you done?” “I still have to wait a bit.” “Then I’ll get going.” Julian said, then walked past me and left. Serena gave me a small nod and a gentle smile, then followed Julian’s pace. I sat back down. The plastic chair felt cold. Finally, I was on the operating table, the surgical light bright above me. I closed my eyes, and hot tears streamed down my face. It was dark by the time I left the hospital. I called an Uber home to our new house. Mrs. Gable told me Julian had been back for a while, waiting for me for dinner. I had no appetite; all I wanted to do was sleep. I told Mrs. Gable I wouldn’t be eating and headed up the stairs. Mrs. Gable quickly followed me. “Mrs. Davies, you look very pale. Are you ill? I’ll call Dr. Evans right away.” I forced a smile. “I’m fine, just a little tired. A good night’s sleep will fix it.” “Mrs. Davies, if you’re not feeling well, you must tell me. I’ll get Dr. Evans,” Mrs. Gable insisted from behind me. “Mhm.” I mumbled, then went upstairs to our room. I washed my face and brushed my teeth, skipping a shower and even my skincare routine. I was out of the bathroom quickly. Julian opened the door and came in. He walked over, studying my face. “Not feeling well? I’ll call Dr. Evans.” “No need, a good night’s sleep is all I need.” I walked to the bed and pulled back the covers. Julian followed, watching me silently for a moment. Then he smiled and asked, “What were you doing at the hospital today?” I honestly hadn’t expected him to ask and was unsure how to answer. But then I realized, he probably wasn’t genuinely curious about why I was there. I looked at him. A smile still played on his lips, eternally cynical and distant. I lowered my head, shaking it gently. “I wasn’t following you.” “I know,” he said, reaching up to gently stroke my cheek. “You’re always so well-behaved. I personally chose you, so you wouldn’t disappoint me.”

I was indeed Julian’s personal choice. Countless families wanted to form an alliance with him, but mine had the least advantage. In our circle, they called our company a small one, with a market value of only a couple of hundred million. But Julian still chose me because I was “well-behaved” – I had no temper and wouldn’t dare to control him. Even after marriage, he was as free as ever. To him, this marriage was just a formality to appease his family. To me, it was the last lifeline for our family company. I needed Julian. To be precise, my parents, our family company, needed Julian. Our family got everything we wanted. Now, it seemed Julian was quite satisfied with me too. “I’m going to sleep now,” I said, forcing a smile, and got into bed. A moment later, I heard Julian’s quiet footsteps as he left the room. I closed my eyes and curled up, feeling a bit cold. Gradually, my eyelids grew heavy, and I drifted into a hazy sleep. Suddenly, I felt someone wrap their arms around me. A slightly cool hand rested on my stomach, slowly tracing upwards, a shiver ran through me. It was Julian. I instantly woke up, instinctively grabbing his hand. “I don’t feel well today.” “What’s wrong?” His voice was husky, his warm lips brushing my neck. I couldn’t help but flinch. The image of him and Serena standing together flashed through my mind, Serena with her growing belly. A surge of revulsion washed over me. “I’m really not feeling well. Not tonight.” I pleaded. Julian’s hand remained on my stomach. He held me quietly, and after a moment, he tightened his arm. “Go to sleep.” After we got married, whenever he stayed home for the night, he would always hold me as we slept. At first, I clung to a sliver of hope, telling myself it was his way of showing affection. But no matter how naive I was, the moment I saw him with Serena at the hospital today, I couldn’t lie to myself anymore. I just didn’t understand. If he loved Serena so much, why did he marry me? If he loved Serena so much, why did he hold me every night? I fell asleep. When I opened my eyes again, the room was still pitch black, and Julian was no longer beside me. I picked up my phone and saw it was already past nine. I went to the bathroom for a hot shower, dried myself quickly, put on warmer clothes, and went downstairs. Mrs. Gable wasn’t there, only Chloe, the house staff, was cleaning. She stopped what she was doing and looked at me. “You’re awake. Would you like something to eat now?” I nodded. In the open-plan kitchen, Chloe busied herself for a bit, then called out, “Dinner’s ready!” I ate quickly at the kitchen island, then got ready to go back to my room and rest. Just as I stood up, there was a *ding*, and the elevator doors opened, revealing Julian’s tall figure. I looked over. His expression was icy, his gaze locked onto me as he walked toward me. The oppressive presence of the tall man made my breath catch. I looked up to meet his eyes, wanting to ask what was wrong, but no sound came out. “What’s wrong with you?” Julian suddenly asked. In that instant, I understood. He had gone to the hospital. He knew everything. “Amelia Miller, you have some nerve,” Julian’s voice was a low rumble, chilling me to the bone. I lowered my head, unsure what to say. I didn’t even understand why he was so angry. Did he want me to have this baby? I wouldn’t allow my child to be born into a family devoid of warmth or affection. Julian grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up into his eyes. His usually charming eyes held no trace of their former playfulness, only a cold ruthlessness. His thin lips parted, each word a hammer blow. “Amelia Miller, you aborted my child.”

***CUTOFF POINT*** “Do you have anything to say?” Julian asked, his voice chilling. I opened my mouth, my dry throat struggling to form two words: “No, nothing.” “Good.” Julian released me, his icy gaze lingering for a moment before he turned and left. I heard Chloe gasp. I turned my head slightly, and she immediately looked away. I went upstairs to my room, standing at the doorway of the huge bedroom in silence. Then I went into the walk-in closet and started packing. There weren’t many things that were truly mine. Everything I used here, Julian had bought. He didn’t even have to buy them himself. Every day, deliveries arrived—clothes, shoes, jewelry. Just the title of “Mrs. Davies” made major brands clamor to send things over. I packed the few things I had brought with me into my suitcase. It was pathetically little, leaving half the suitcase empty. I sat on the couch, staring blankly at the suitcase. I knew I’d stirred up trouble. Maybe I should call my dad and tell him I probably wouldn’t be able to help our family company out of its difficulties. Mom and Dad would be so upset, so heartbroken. I don’t know how much time passed, but then I heard Mrs. Davies’ gentle voice from outside. “Amy!” I quickly went out. When Mrs. Davies saw me, she immediately came over, took my hand, and asked with concern, “What happened? You aborted the baby?” I hadn’t expected Julian to act so fast. “Mom, I’m sorry.” Mrs. Davies’ brows drew together. “How could this happen? Amy, why? Why didn’t you say anything about something so big? You went to the hospital by yourself? Don’t you know any surgery has risks? What if something happened to you, how would I explain it to your parents?” “Mom, I’m sorry.” Besides that, I didn’t know what else to say. Mrs. Davies sighed, pulling me back into the room. “You need to lie down right away. This is a critical time for your recovery. You must take care of yourself properly, or it could cause problems later. Stay home for the next couple of weeks; I’ll have the chef prepare nourishing meals.” Mrs. Davies’ attitude toward me hadn’t changed at all. She even wanted me to stay and recover. I was a little surprised and hesitated before asking, “Mom, what did Julian say?” “He didn’t answer my calls. I haven’t even seen him yet.” Mrs. Davies sighed repeatedly. “Is something wrong between you two? It’s only been a month since you got married…” “Mom, Julian didn’t tell you?” Mrs. Davies paused. “Chloe told me.” So that’s how it was. I was even more confused about Julian’s attitude. “Amy, tell me, is something wrong between you and Julian? Is it him…” Mrs. Davies sighed again at that point. “He likes to play around, I thought he’d settle down after marriage, that scoundrel! Amy, don’t worry, I’ll teach him a lesson for you. You just focus on recovering, don’t overthink anything.” I nodded. “Okay, thank you, Mom.” Mrs. Davies stayed with me until dark. She called Julian, urging him to come home, then left after hanging up. Before she left, she told me not to get angry, not to argue with Julian, and to call her if anything happened. Mrs. Davies must have been very sad too. But I couldn’t have the baby just because she was kind to me, because I was grateful to her. A knock sounded at the door. Before I could speak, Chloe came in, carrying a tray. “This is chicken soup. Have some. I’ll leave it here for you.” I didn’t say anything. Chloe placed the chicken soup on the nightstand, glanced at me, pursed her lips, and left. From the day I arrived here, I knew Chloe didn’t like me, even looked down on me. I didn’t care. Ultimately, she was just an outsider. All I cared about was Julian’s attitude towards me, but now, I should let go of that obsession. Some things aren’t mine. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never get them. So, I’ll let go. Let go of Julian, and let go of myself.

After finishing the chicken soup, I took the bowl downstairs. Mrs. Gable immediately came over. “Mrs. Davies, why are you down here? You should be resting and recuperating.” Mrs. Gable took the bowl from my hand. “Dinner will be ready soon, Mrs. Davies. You should go upstairs and put on another layer.” Chloe was cleaning, glanced at me, and continued her work. I looked away and gave Mrs. Gable a small smile. “I’m not cold.” Mrs. Gable looked down at my feet. “Mrs. Davies, please put on your socks. Don’t catch a cold.” “Okay.” I paused. “Is Julian coming back for dinner?” “I just called him. Young Master said for you to eat first, no need to wait for him.” Mrs. Gable finished, then sighed. “Mrs. Davies, this is normal, Young Master is just upset right now, but he still cares about you.” Actually, I didn’t understand why Julian was so angry. Someone was already having his child, wasn’t she? Did he really like children that much? I went back upstairs, put on socks, and came down. Mrs. Gable had already set dinner on the kitchen island. I ate quietly alone. I heard the elevator ding, Julian must be back. “Young Master!” Mrs. Gable’s voice was warm. “You’re back! Perfect, Mrs. Davies just started eating.” “I’m not eating.” Julian said coldly, then went upstairs. I heard Mrs. Gable sigh again. She pitied me, felt sorry for me. I must have looked truly pathetic. After dinner, I went upstairs to my room. Julian wasn’t there. I didn’t look for him; I just washed up and got into bed. Julian didn’t come in all night. The next morning, when I went downstairs, he was sitting on the couch, looking at his phone. He didn’t even look up when Mrs. Gable spoke to me. He didn’t say a word during breakfast either, and left as soon as he was done. Shortly after he left, Mrs. Davies and Audrey, Julian’s sister, arrived. Audrey was already four months pregnant. Her husband was away on a business trip, so she’d been staying with her mom recently. But how could she come? “Mom, you told Audrey?” Audrey pursed her lips and playfully chided me, “I’m not that superstitious. But you, making such a big decision all by yourself, you’re becoming quite something.” Her words were reproachful, but her tone was full of concern. I lowered my head. “Audrey, you shouldn’t have come.” I had just had a procedure. Even though I wasn’t superstitious, there were traditions. My not caring didn’t mean others wouldn’t. Audrey looked around. “Where’s Julian? Not home?” “He just left.” “That rascal!” Audrey pulled out her phone. I quickly raised my hand to stop her. “Audrey, he’s busy. Besides, Mrs. Gable is here.” Mrs. Davies sat on my other side. “Amelia, did you tell your parents about this?” I paused, then shook my head. Mrs. Davies said, “I think you should tell your parents.” Audrey also nodded in agreement. I replied, “I’ll call my parents later.” After chatting for a while, I urged Audrey to leave quickly and come back after my recovery period. Once Mrs. Davies and Audrey left, I went back to my room and called my mom. Her reaction was as I expected. Over the phone, she complained about me being too headstrong and what if something had gone wrong. She quickly hung up. Less than an hour later, she and Dad arrived. “Why would you do this?” My mom was angry and heartbroken, her eyes glistening with tears. My dad sat quietly to the side. My mom sat on the bed, holding my hand. “Amelia, tell me the truth, are you being mistreated here?” “No,” I said, forcing a smile. “I knew it!” Mom’s tears fell. She wiped them away, choking back sobs. “It’s all for the family, making you suffer so much.” Dad sighed heavily from the side. Actually, I wasn’t hurt at all. In fact, when I found out I could marry Julian, I was overjoyed, feeling like the happiest person in the world. I liked Julian. I had liked him since middle school.

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In my past life, my wife framed me as a serial killer. No matter what I did, I couldn’t prove my innocence. The victims’ families retaliated against my loved ones with the same ruthless methods. Some were brutally murdered, others were left unrecognizable, and I could do nothing but rot in prison. Then I opened my eyes again. I was back on the very day my wife went to the police station to file her report. Knowing that someone would die today, as in my past life, I tried to investigate the truth behind my wife’s accusations, only to find she had vanished into thin air. On my way home, I stumbled upon a bank being robbed. An idea sparked in my mind. “Yes, I’ll voluntarily take the pregnant woman’s place as a hostage.” … Detective Miller, the lead negotiator, froze for a few seconds. “You know those robbers inside have homemade guns, right? This could actually get you killed!” His eyes showed excitement, but mostly deep concern. He worried I didn’t understand the situation, or that I’d back out once I knew the real danger. But I just shrugged indifferently. “Doesn’t matter. If I die, just give me a Good Samaritan award or something.” I’d already died once, a death so utterly unjust. This time, I didn’t crave a heroic end. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t branded a serial killer again, and that my family wouldn’t suffer needlessly. That would be enough. “Alright, we’ll definitely make the most of this hostage exchange. Please, try not to be too nervous!” Detective Miller said earnestly, handing me a bulletproof vest. It was my first time wearing one of these things, and it felt strangely new. I almost thought I was playing some kind of military cosplay game. The police were already negotiating with the robbers inside the bank. I waited behind the line, ready for the exchange. “No! A woman should be exchanged for a woman!” “That guy clearly looks like your undercover!” The robber’s voice boomed. I rolled my eyes so hard. With my scrawny arms and legs, did I really look like a highly trained cop? “Stop messing around, watch this!” I bypassed the officers and walked directly into the center of the scene. Then, I started stripping, piece by piece. My jacket, bulletproof vest, sweater, pants, socks, even my shoes – everything came off until I was just in my boxer briefs. “Buddy, need me to take off more?” I asked, as the officers cuffed my hands behind my back. This move stunned not just the robbers, but even the police hadn’t seen anything like it. “This pregnant woman already has it hard enough. Why do you think she’s at a bank instead of a hospital? Probably because she has no one to look after her, right? She’s suffered enough, clinging on for her baby’s sake, and now you won’t even swap hostages? Are you trying to kill her?” I took two steps closer. The robber just stared, completely dumbfounded. With me looking like this, who could suspect I was up to something? “I’ve got nothing on me, and these handcuffs are on tight! If I *were* an undercover, you should be thrilled – you’d have a cop as a hostage! They’d have to be extra careful!” I continued to persuade the robber. Many onlookers were holding their breath. If even *this* didn’t work for a hostage exchange, then nothing would. Finally, a few minutes later, the robber shouted. “Walk in here with your hands up, no tricks!” Hearing that, I breathed a massive sigh of relief. I wanted to rush in immediately. In just a few hours, it would be the time “I” supposedly committed the crime in my past life, and then my loving wife, Eleanor, would go to the police station to give her false testimony. The police would find the murder weapon at my house, with my DNA on it. And there would be witnesses claiming to have seen me near the crime scene. ### 【Chapter 2】 Even surveillance cameras along the route, from when I left my house to the crime scene, would capture my face. But this time, I was going to find an alibi that would shatter all those lies! As I walked in, Sarah, the pregnant woman, was being released. She was trembling as she walked, but kept thanking me profusely. “You’re a good person, thank you!” “If you really want to thank me, help me out once this is all over.” I raised an eyebrow. Sarah looked stunned. She had no idea what I wanted her to do yet. But I was sure she’d find out soon enough. “Get in here!” The robber was cautious, always staying in a blind spot where the outside couldn’t see clearly. He dragged me inside, and the moment I entered, I felt a sharp blow to the back of my head. “You really aren’t a cop?” I could feel the cold barrel of a gun pressed against me. “Seriously, I’m not. See these handcuffs? Real enough for you?” I struggled a bit, and the cuffs only tightened. Only then did he come around to face me. He didn’t look like a vicious criminal. He scrutinized me. “Kid, aren’t you scared of dying?” the robber asked, frowning. “Scared of dying? Why? If I’m scared, I’m scared of dying unjustly. But I’m saving someone here, so this isn’t an unjust death!” I shrugged, looking at him. The robber stared blankly, then after a moment, he said, “You talk like you’ve died before. Let’s see if you’re still so tough when death is staring you in the face!” “You’re right, actually. I have died once before!” I sighed deeply. Remembering being executed as the most heinous serial killer of the century in my past life, the resentment in my heart threatened to burst. “You’re crazy, aren’t you? Get over there and sit quietly!” The robber gave me a weird look. I couldn’t be bothered to explain. All I needed was to stay here until nightfall. That way, no matter if someone died tonight, it would have nothing to do with me. Countless people could testify to my whereabouts! Time ticked by, minute by minute, and dusk began to fall. Outside, the police continued to negotiate with the robber, and the standoff intensified. “Stop your damn talking! Give me what I want, or I’ll kill one of them right now to show you I’m serious!” The robber’s emotions were clearly escalating. Even though he was alone, the three other hostages, besides me, were all women, tied together and completely helpless. “Chill out, man. You don’t seem like a bad guy. No need to go to such extremes, right?” I casually tried to dissuade him. The robber glared at me, then grabbed me and pushed me towards the bank entrance. “Listen up! I want a bulletproof SUV!” “I’m giving you five minutes to decide. One minute late, and I’ll break one of his legs!” By now, people outside were live-streaming the entire event, and a large crowd had gathered. The situation had dragged on for too long; even if the police wanted to control public opinion, it was useless. “Wait, isn’t that guy who stripped down Julian Sterling, the head of the Sterling Group?” “Holy moly, I think it really is him! I interviewed him once on the business channel!” Hearing the clamor of voices outside, I finally smiled. Come on, make sure my close-ups look good! The news spread rapidly online. The robber, too, unexpectedly learned my identity. His eyes widened in disbelief. “You, you’re the son of that huge company owner?” ### 【Chapter 3】 Along with his excitement, there was a hint of fear. While he might get a lot of money, it also meant much greater risk. I shrugged, unfazed. “Don’t worry, who I am doesn’t change anything.” At the same time, my dad got the news and rushed over, his heart pounding. His car hadn’t even fully stopped before he bolted out, trying desperately to break through the police tape. Seeing this, the officers quickly moved to stop him. “Sir, you can’t go in, it’s too dangerous!” Several officers managed to hold him back. “Our company pays so many taxes every year, contributes so much to society!” “And now you’re letting my son go in there to die? What kind of job are you doing?!” my dad roared furiously. The police understood his distress and didn’t fault him, patiently explaining the situation. “Mr. Sterling, your son volunteered to go in. He said he wanted to help others, and we’re doing our best to ensure his safety.” My dad froze at these words. He knew my personality well and couldn’t comprehend why I would make such a decision. But he didn’t dwell on it. He just grabbed a megaphone nearby and shouted into the bank. “Listen, robbers inside! Whatever amount of money you want, I’ll give it to you!” “Just please, don’t hurt my son!” “Or how about this, I’ll go in as a hostage, and you let my son out!” My eyes welled up. In my past life, he was just like this – no matter what I faced, he was always the first to step forward and shield me from the storm. In this life, I couldn’t let him suffer any harm again. I looked at the robber and said directly, “Don’t listen to him!” “Think about it, in this world, fathers save their sons, but do sons save their fathers? If you let me go, you can do whatever you want with *the old man*, and all the family fortune will be mine, won’t it?” The robbers exchanged glances, clearly stunned by my words. But after thinking it over, it seemed to make a strange kind of sense, so they didn’t agree to my dad’s exchange proposal. At this point, the robbers were even more curious, asking me why I was doing this. A rich kid like me, why not just enjoy life instead of getting mixed up in this mess? No matter how they looked at it, they couldn’t understand. “Are you really crazy?” They could only guess. Seeing their expressions, I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Nothing much, just wanted to experience a different kind of life.” “You guys probably aren’t trying to kill anyone, just after money, right? Don’t worry, I’ll cooperate, and I’ll even get you the money.” They exchanged puzzled looks. While they couldn’t grasp my motives, they didn’t say anything more. By now, many small influencers had set up their equipment and started live-streaming online. On the internet, countless people were curious why I would willingly become a hostage. Some thought I had ulterior motives, that it was a stunt or some secret agenda. But most people praised me, seeing me as a selfless hero. My mom, Mrs. Vivian Sterling, had also arrived. After learning the situation, she broke down crying, pleading with the robbers from outside. “Please, don’t hurt my son! I’ll give you any amount of money, I beg you!” Hearing my mother’s voice, a pang of sorrow hit my heart. Remembering how tragically she died in my past life because of me, I became even more determined to protect her.

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On my birthday, I found a hidden playlist on Liam’s phone. It was titled: “Lost.” And the cover? His ex-girlfriend’s picture. He’d lost the girl he loved most. For three years, while we were together, Liam never truly forgot her. I was just a distraction for his loneliness. A compromise. A habit. Right in front of me, Liam deleted the playlist, his voice flat. “Happy now?” I stayed silent. He dismissively ruffled my hair. “That’s enough, Chloe.” “Be a good girl. I’ll take you home to meet my parents for the holidays, okay?” But Liam, I was going home for the holidays to get married. … Seeing my stunned face, Liam’s lips curled into a playful smirk. He flicked my forehead. “What, speechless? So happy you’ve gone silly?” We’d been together for three years, and he rarely even introduced me to his friends, let alone his family. I was genuinely surprised, taking a moment to speak. “I already told my parents for the holidays, they…” They’d set me up on a blind date. “Forget it if you don’t want to go.” Liam cut me off, casually. He was always like that – uninterested in anything about me, never patient enough to hear me out. Maybe my reaction wasn’t what he expected, and it annoyed him. He mechanically wished me a happy birthday. Liam grabbed his jacket and left, not even touching the cake. “I’m heading out.” I hummed, not clinging to him or begging him to stay a little longer, like I usually would. Liam paused at the door, glancing back at me. I was already clasping my hands, eyes closed, making a wish, completely absorbed in myself. He slammed the door shut. The deafening bang was followed by an eerily stretched silence. A little empty, but surprisingly, not sad. The sky slowly darkened. I looked in the mirror at my perfectly applied makeup and the outfit I’d carefully chosen. It felt like a waste not to use them. I met Harper, my best friend, at a trendy new bar nearby. After a few rounds, she leaned in, her voice serious. “You know, Seraphina is coming back to town.” That name hit me like a hammer blow straight to my chest. Seraphina. Liam’s ex-girlfriend, the one he hadn’t forgotten in five years. All our countless fights, silent treatments, and breakups, they were all because of her. She didn’t even need to be physically present; her existence was a thorn, tearing me apart. Liam said couple avatars were childish, but he used them with Seraphina. Liam disliked public displays of affection, but his old Ins profile picture and bio were all about her. The same starry nights we shared on campus, he’d already had with her in high school. The meals he cooked for me were always her favorite flavors. He complained about picking me up from the train station, yet he used to take six extra bus stops just to walk her home. … I’d pieced together their past from every little hint, every crumb of evidence. Again and again, I’d fall into endless self-torment and doubt. Was I not good enough? Not pretty enough? Not someone he could be proud of? Was that why he treated me this way? Across the table, Harper looked at me, her eyes full of pity. “Just today, I heard Liam went to the airport to pick her up.” “My Jax wanted me to keep it from you, so you wouldn’t fight again…” My best friend and Liam’s best friend were also a couple. Their relationship was solid; they were seriously talking marriage. “Chloe, what are you going to do? Are you going to keep dragging this out?” “I told you long ago you two weren’t a match. You’re such a catch, why waste yourself on a man who doesn’t love you?” I lowered my eyes, sipping my drink. “Why else? Stubbornness, I guess.” But this time, no matter how stubborn I was, it was time to let go. There was no dramatic breakup. Just me, slowly detoxing, peeling myself away from this relationship. Turns out, real goodbyes are always quiet. 2 In the early hours of the morning, Harper’s boyfriend picked her up. “Oh, my little wild child, how did you get so drunk…? By the way, Chloe, are you okay alone? Or maybe…” I smiled, waving him off. I didn’t quite catch what he said next before my stomach lurched. I used to envy their relationship so much. Why couldn’t Liam and I be that sweet, that in love? Why? Simply because he wasn’t that into me. Liam had told me himself that he wasn’t interested in the overly affectionate, clingy type. But he still got together with me. I thought I was special, but it turns out he was just lonely. After what felt like an eternity, a familiar voice, one that shouldn’t have been there, reached my ears. I lifted my head, my vision blurred. Liam was helping an elegant woman in a trench coat and high heels. “Seraphina, wait for me a moment, I’m picking someone up.” I crouched by the roadside, quietly watching Liam carefully steady her. Then he pulled out his phone and dialed a number. The next second, my phone rang. He looked over, following the sound. His face, in the dim night, was unreadable. Our gazes locked for a long moment. I didn’t rush into his arms and act cute like I usually did when drunk. He was the one who spoke first, calling my name. “Chloe.” “Hmm?” “Do you have anything to tell me?” I thought about it. “No.” Liam walked closer, looking down at me. I finally noticed his brows were furrowed. I couldn’t tell what he was annoyed about. “Then let’s go.” Liam grabbed me, pulling me into the car without a word. He didn’t say anything else. He didn’t care why I was so drunk. And I didn’t question him about the woman beside him. The silence in the car was unsettling. Seraphina observed me through the rearview mirror. Her cheeks were flushed, a perfect hint of tipsiness. “Liam, I’m feeling a little dizzy.” Liam rolled down the window for fresh air, his voice helpless, laced with a tenderness I’d never heard before. “Always pushing yourself when you can’t even drink.” Seraphina chuckled, her words hinting at something. “Well, my mood’s good today, so a little drink won’t hurt, right?” “After all this time, why are you still so controlling?” They were high school classmates, from the same hometown. They broke up less than three months after getting together because of the long distance in college. The first time I sensed Seraphina’s presence was when I found Liam’s old QQ password was her initials. He said he hadn’t used it in a long time and forgot to change it. Initially, I didn’t think much of it. Everyone has a past, right? Just an ex-girlfriend he’d dated for three months. They had even broken up two years before he and I got together. I never thought I’d lose to her. But actually, the moment I subconsciously started comparing myself to her, I had already lost. They chatted about old times, you and I, back and forth, while I sat in the backseat like a ghost. The wind howled through the open window. Outside, the city streets, which I’d seen countless times, flew by in reverse. As we passed the shopping mall, the movie theater’s sign was still lit. Liam and I had watched our first movie there. I remembered being so sleepy in the car after the movie. My hand, hanging at my side, accidentally brushed his. Liam thought I was asleep and secretly held my hand the whole way home. My heart had pounded the entire ride. Fuzzy memories, like fragments of a dream, flashed through my mind. They were all from the暧昧期 (ambiguous period) before we made it official. When I loved Liam the most, I used to wish I had met him first. Later, when I was hurt the deepest, I wished I had never met him at all. Now, I didn’t want to think about anything. When I vaguely opened my eyes, we were at my doorstep. Seraphina was no longer in the car. Liam’s fingers, resting on the car window frame, held a cigarette, its cherry glowing faintly. “Chloe,” he asked, “was that necessary?” I sat up straight, not understanding. “I spent time with you today, didn’t I? Did you really have to pull this stunt tonight?” Liam’s voice was low and deep, suppressing an unknown anger. I didn’t know what he was mad about. After much thought, it must be because I’d interrupted his long-awaited reunion with his idealized ex. “I didn’t ask you to pick me up.” He scoffed. “Oh, so you getting this wasted, looking like a total mess, was for ghosts?” “I’m not drunk,” I said softly. “Even if you hadn’t come, someone else would have taken me home.” 3 Liam raised an eyebrow, his tone mocking. “Who? Some random guy you just met at the bar?” He eyed me up and down. “Chloe, can you stop being so childish? You’re dressed like that, out there… don’t you know what those guys are after?” “If I hadn’t come, you would’ve ended up getting ‘picked up’.” “If you want me to care about you, can you stop using such stupid methods?” I used to get myself drunk, hoping to see a flicker of concern for me in his eyes. But I wasn’t that foolish anymore. “Liam, you’re overthinking it.” Liam didn’t believe me, his frown deepening. “You know I hate it when girls drink. I don’t have time to baby you.” Maybe the alcohol numbed my nerves, making the pain less acute. Or maybe, I genuinely just didn’t care anymore. “Next time, even if Jax calls me, I’ll pretend I didn’t see it.” “Okay.” I turned, walking steadily upstairs on my own. The hangover headache kept me in bed until late morning the next day. My phone had several unread messages. None from Liam. He rarely texted me first, but every time my phone buzzed, I always hoped it was him. Eventually, I just put him on ‘do not disturb’. That way, I wouldn’t get my hopes up. Harper sent me a screenshot: Seraphina’s Ins story from last night. No ambiguous text, just a casually snapped photo of the moon. Liam, who never liked posts, instantly liked hers. And commented: “Goodnight.” The doorbell suddenly rang. I opened the door and saw Liam standing outside. For a moment, I wondered if I was still half-asleep. “What are you doing here?” Perhaps the surprise on my face was too obvious; Liam’s lips curved, and he reached out to pinch my cheek. “Here, for you.” I silently looked at the hangover medicine in the bag. He was still like this, hot and cold, impossible to figure out. Too tired to bother figuring out why, I took it and politely said thanks. “That’s it?” Liam leaned against the doorframe, his initially smiling dark eyes slowly darkening. “Is there anything else?” I asked. Breaking character, he actually explained, “I picked her up yesterday because she didn’t know anyone else in town.” I hummed, “That makes sense.” Liam stared at my face as if trying to see through me. “Chloe, she and I are over. We’re just friends now.” “You don’t need to be mad at me.” “I booked a restaurant. I’ll take you out for dinner later, to make up for your birthday yesterday.” I shook my head. “No need. It’s already passed. Nothing to make up for.” “Besides, I already have plans today.” Liam looked a little taken aback. He clearly hadn’t expected me to refuse a chance to go out with him. His face turned cold. “Whatever you want.” But I never expected such bad luck. Liam had booked a table at the same restaurant as me. Beside him, Seraphina blinked, asking softly, “Liam, isn’t that your girlfriend, eating with another guy?” Liam and my eyes met in the air, then quickly darted away. He glanced at the man across from me, impeccably dressed in a suit, seemingly unconcerned. “What’s it to me?” Seraphina laughed, a hint of subtle triumph in her voice. “Aren’t you jealous?” “Back then, if I even talked to a male classmate for too long, you’d corner him after school and warn him to stay away from me.” “I called you the king of jealousy, and you’d get so mad.” You only get jealous if you care. Liam wouldn’t even bat an eye if he saw me sharing an umbrella with a male friend. He was an unmoving mountain, never changing his stance for me. Never reacting. However, that night, that long-dormant profile picture suddenly popped up with a question mark: “?” “Is that your new guy?” “Did you really meet him at the bar?” “Chloe, you’ve got some nerve.”

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That year, I was ten. I begged my brother to come home for my birthday. He died in a plane crash. Not a single trace of his body was ever found. From that day on, I became a festering wound, a constant source of their agony in my parents’ eyes. They resented me, blamed me for Caleb’s death. Every year, on the anniversary of his passing, they’d drag me to the cemetery and force me to my knees before his empty grave, a grim ritual of repentance. Eight years. Eight agonizing years. I thought I’d spend the rest of my life atoning, but on my eighteenth birthday, I was stalked and murdered by a killer. Before I died, I desperately tried to message Mom for help, but her voice was sharp, full of accusation. “You just don’t want to atone for what you did to your brother, do you? You’re a pathological liar! If you hadn’t forced him to come home, my son wouldn’t have died. This is nothing but the karma you deserve!” The call was mercilessly cut short. I stared blankly at the dark screen, and suddenly, all will to live drained out of me. She was right. What face did I, a jinx, a destroyer, have to live on? But then, eight years later, my brother, who everyone thought was dead, returned. And he brought his pregnant fiancée with him. When they learned of my death, they both shattered. **Chapter 1** On my tenth birthday, I made a fatal mistake. I caused the death of my own brother. Growing up, I lived in a happy home. Loving parents, an amazing older brother. I was everyone’s darling. But all of it, everything, was irrevocably ruined by a single phone call. It was my birthday that day, and I called Caleb, wanting him to come home to celebrate with me. Instead, he lost his life. A plane crash. Not a single trace of his body. From then on, Mom and Dad hated me with a burning intensity. They said it to me more than once. “Why did you force Caleb to come back? Why wasn’t it you who died instead?” That accident didn’t just kill Caleb. It killed me too. Guilt, regret, the constant accusations from my own parents – they pushed me deeper and deeper into an abyss. I must have asked myself a thousand times why I called Caleb back, why I caused his death, why God would take him away. If I hadn’t called him that day, would he still be alive? But there are no ‘if onlys’ in this world. And no one was willing to give me an answer. From that tenth birthday, my life was reduced to two words: atonement. Every year, on the anniversary of Caleb’s death – which was also my birthday. Mom and Dad would send me to the cemetery, making me kneel before his tombstone, begging for forgiveness. This kneeling went on for eight years. Just when I thought my life couldn’t get any bleaker, I was found by The Rain Reaper, and brutally murdered. Honestly, in that moment, I fought like hell to live. I pulled out the taser Dad had given me, disguised as a cute white lamb keychain. Dad worked a dangerous job, and he’d made a lot of enemies over the years. Once, Mom and I were kidnapped. Mom, trying to save me, was dragged for dozens of yards by the kidnappers’ car. Dad, fighting for us, was stabbed in the chest. With the help of the police, we eventually got out alive. So, from then on, Dad, worried for my safety, specially gave me that keychain, which concealed a high-voltage taser. After teaching me how to use it, he told me, “Dad can’t always be by your side. You have to protect yourself.” But for some reason, when the killer grabbed me, and I desperately fumbled with the pendant, trying to activate it and stab him— It just… didn’t work. It was broken. I lost my last chance to survive. Even now, I vividly remember everything I went through. A wrench, pliers, an axe – tool after tool, mercilessly used on me. My horrified expression only seemed to fuel the man’s twisted excitement. It hurt. It hurt so much that I sobbed uncontrollably, losing control of my bladder and bowels. I never imagined the sound of bones breaking could be so loud, echoing so clearly in my ears. Flesh tearing from bone, my vision blurring crimson. I drifted into unconsciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was a spirit. To my astonishment, I found myself in the police station. Thunder and lightning crashed outside. Dad, dressed in his work uniform, his eyes filled with a deep, weary sorrow. Several young forensic pathologists were gathered around. On the examination table, there was a bag filled with expertly cut pieces of a body. This was what Captain Miller and his team had painstakingly recovered, the only body bag not completely washed away by the relentless rain. I never thought. That my death would be discovered so swiftly. Perhaps it was heaven’s pity for my tragic life. A homeless man rummaging through a dumpster found a bag, opened it, and thinking he’d stumbled upon some free meat, saw human fingers instead. A torrential downpour had just begun to uncover the gruesome dismemberment case. Outside, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain poured down. Every officer, along with their K9 units, scoured the city. Captain Miller’s face was livid. He couldn’t control his emotions. The brutal dismemberment case mirrored the methods of The Rain Reaper, a serial killer from seven or eight years ago. “Dave, doesn’t this case remind you of The Rain Reaper’s methods from eight years ago?” Dad’s expression darkened. The Rain Reaper was a killer who specifically targeted rainy nights, with a particular fondness for torturing and murdering young women. He had shattered countless happy families. Back then, Dad had finally gathered enough evidence to apprehend The Rain Reaper. But the killer, sensing he was cornered, escaped first. Then, for revenge, The Rain Reaper tampered with the plane Caleb was on, killing him in that accident. Neither of their bodies had ever been found. So Captain Miller immediately thought of that madman. If he hadn’t died, he would surely return for revenge. He couldn’t help but warn Dad. “Dave, if this really is The Rain Reaper, you have to make sure Eleanor and Skylar stay indoors. Most importantly, protect Skylar. She’s often The Rain Reaper’s preferred target!” But hearing my name, Dad’s anxious face instantly cooled. He spoke in a chillingly flat voice. “She should have died a long time ago.” Hearing those words. My heart ached. He was right. I should have died a long time ago. These past eight years, they were stolen years. Captain Miller knew about what happened back then. He wanted to offer comfort but could only frown, a deep crease forming between his brows. Back then, after learning of Caleb’s death, my parents searched the mountain where the plane crashed for three days and three nights. Finally, with bloodshot eyes, they knelt by the roadside, begging heaven to return Caleb to them. The pain of losing a child in their prime was something my parents could never move past. Thinking of this, Captain Miller sighed. “Dave, don’t think about it too much. The precinct is urgent; this case is high-priority!” Dad knew his duty and began his work. He carefully took out the pieces of flesh from the bag. But in that instant, he couldn’t help but curse under his breath. “Goddamn his whole ancestry.” “Is this even human?” Some of the younger forensic pathologists, seeing such a body for the first time, turned red-eyed. But for now, the most crucial task was identifying the victim. After the officers brought back all the body fragments they could find. Dad began piecing together the body. I floated beside him, watching him spend an entire day assembling a skinless torso. I felt a strange sense of relief. I knew how gruesome my death was, and I was afraid Dad would be scared if he recognized me. I was also relieved that my life, filled with so much guilt, was finally over. Captain Miller looked at the crimson body on the table. Even after years as a police officer, his face was disturbingly pale. He asked Dad the killer’s motive: was it to hide evidence, or was it a deliberate act of a psychopath? Dad’s face was grim. After a long silence, he spoke in a hoarse voice. “It’s not about hiding evidence. Our tests show the victim was flayed alive.” He clenched his fists, trying to control himself. “This was purely for revenge!” He pointed at my body. “Look, on this body, there are even traces of salt corrosion! The killer, to torment the victim, carved her flesh off piece by piece!” As he spoke, Dad’s face was filled with unbearable pain. He choked out, his voice thick with grief. “And she was just a young girl, sixteen to twenty years old! What kind of hatred, what kind of grudge could cause this?!” I floated beside Dad, silently applauding him. He truly was the best forensic pathologist in the city, able to accurately determine how I died. Captain Miller’s eyes grew colder and colder. “That sick bastard! A soulless monster!” His chest heaved with rage. Then he asked again. “We’re currently searching for missing females aged sixteen to twenty from the past two days. We hope to find the victim’s information as soon as possible.” Hearing this, Dad seemed to recall something and spoke again. “Right, the bag where the killer stored the victim’s remains is missing the right leg bone. It’s highly probable that the victim’s leg bone has congenital or acquired scars, deformities, or surgical marks that could identify her.” “And because the victim’s face was destroyed by acid, it will take time to restore her appearance.” He sighed, taking off his gloves. Next to Dad’s hand lay the blood-stained lamb keychain. Clearly, he had forgotten this was the very tool he had given me to protect myself. Having finished his work. My dad glanced at his phone, but seeing the content, he angrily called Mom. “Did you see Skylar Hayes’s calls? That liar, how could she say such a thing? I think she’s doing it on purpose, trying to provoke us!” Dad was clearly furious. “Doesn’t she know that if she hadn’t insisted Caleb come back, he wouldn’t have been killed by The Rain Reaper? And now, Skylar Hayes claims she was being stalked!” I watched Dad’s face, red with anger, and felt a pang of sadness. Dad, I wasn’t lying. I was really dying. How could I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, intentionally provoke you? How could I do such a thing? I was utterly helpless at that moment, which is why I sent you those messages, begging for help. But Dad couldn’t see me. Neither could Mom. I heard her on the other end of the phone, sounding just as angry. “I saw her messages too. I ignored them. She must just be trying to get out of her penance. That deadbeat girl, she doesn’t care about atoning for anything!” I listened to their accusations against me. Sadly, I covered my ears. Just when I thought my death would go unnoticed by them. My best friend, Chloe Jensen, rushed into the police station. She said I had been missing for two days. But just as an officer was about to take down my name. Dad stopped them both. “No need. Skylar Hayes is my daughter. She’s not missing; she’s just trying to blackmail me and her mother…” Hearing this, the officer looked awkwardly at Chloe Jensen. He knew Dad’s rank and could only turn and leave. I watched Chloe Jensen leave the police station, her face utterly distraught, tears streaming down. I wanted to chase after her, but I was bound to Dad’s side. Watching him process my skull, following him home after work. On the dining table, without fail, were roasted lobster, garlic butter shrimp, and baked salmon. Mom remembered Caleb’s preferences but never remembered that I was allergic to seafood. Once at dinner, Dad asked me why I wasn’t eating, and I thought he finally cared. I clutched my forks, gathering courage, “Dad, I’m allergic to seafood…” Mom slammed her fork down on the table, pointing it straight at my nose, her voice a furious hiss, “What sin did I commit to give birth to such an ungrateful child! I worked so hard to make this feast, and now I’m the bad guy?” I looked helplessly at Dad, the hero who used to protect me whenever I made Mom angry when I was little. This time, my hero just put a large piece of lobster onto my plate, “Eat your food, don’t make your mother angry.” Their gazes enveloped me, as if not eating would make me a sinner. In the end, all the seafood ended up in my stomach. That day, my throat swelled so much I could barely breathe, my eyes were so puffy I couldn’t see, and my whole body was in agonizing pain and itching. “H-help… help me…” My voice was terribly hoarse. I stumbled to the door, trying to open it, but the doorknob wouldn’t turn. Panic seized me. I pounded on the door, struggling to make a sound. “Help… help me… Dad, Mom… help me… I don’t want to die…” In a daze, I heard Mom’s voice from the living room. “It’s just an allergy; no one ever died from an allergy. Good thing I locked the door, she always fakes being pathetic, it’s disgusting! Last night, Caleb came to me in a dream and said he wanted the newest gaming console. Hurry, let’s go, the mall will close soon.” No! Mom, Dad, don’t leave me! I don’t want to die, save me… The living room door slammed shut with a bang, and I was utterly abandoned. Let it be. Maybe if I died, it wouldn’t hurt so much. I curled up in the corner, waiting to die. From downstairs, I heard the laughter of a father and daughter, clear through my only working ear. “You clumsy kid, you know you’re allergic to peanuts, and you still ate them! You almost died!” “I’m sorry, Dad, I didn’t do it on purpose, please don’t tell Mom.” “Your mom already knows. She was so worried her back started hurting, and she still made a table full of your favorite dishes for you. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. What parents would truly hold a grudge against their child?” I felt like a sewer rat peeking at someone else’s happiness, greedy and masochistically stealing glances at a joy that wasn’t mine. In that moment, I felt utterly ashamed, with nowhere to hide. I wanted Mom and Dad to love me too, to care about my food allergies, to cook my favorite meals, to fuss over me. But I was just the bad kid who killed Caleb, unworthy of love. But Mom and Dad, I don’t want to die, I really don’t want to die… I didn’t die that day. At the last minute, I jumped out the window and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor said I was lucky to arrive in time; any later and my life would have been in danger. An aunt by the bedside, peeling an orange for her daughter, said to me, “It’s a good thing you’re alright, otherwise your parents would be so worried!” I watched enviously as the aunt fed her daughter orange segments, one by one. My lonely reflection stared back from the glass. I comforted myself, as if announcing to everyone, laughing loudly, “Yes, Mom and Dad love me very, very much.” Suddenly, the hospital room door was violently pushed open. I saw Mom and Dad rushing towards me, their faces etched with urgency. A wave of grievance spread from deep within my heart. Enduring the pain, I struggled to sit up, tears dripping down. “Dad, Mom…” I’m so scared, I’m truly terrified of dying… Will you hug me? Just for a moment, just once… Mom grabbed my collar, yanking me off the hospital bed and onto the floor. The IV needle ripped out, blood spurting. “You damn slut! Faking being pathetic, eating yourself into an allergic reaction, and then deliberately jumping out a window to make a spectacle of yourself, trying to tell everyone your dad and I mistreat you, to ruin our reputation, right? Why didn’t you just jump to your death?!” I curled up, hugging my head, my body getting kicked again and again. I wasn’t trying to hurt Mom and Dad, I just didn’t want to die… I gambled on the three-story fall and won, but I didn’t win against the depth of Mom and Dad’s hatred for me. I saw Dad leaning against the wall on the glass, watching coldly as Mom clawed at me with her nails, while the aunt in the next bed comforted her frightened daughter, soothing her gently. The crowd gathered at the hospital room door looked at me with disdain and scorn, as if I were a vicious child. The fragile illusion that Mom and Dad loved me, which I had painstakingly built up, was completely shattered in front of everyone. I lied to you. Mom and Dad don’t love me. They… they hate me the most… After that, Mom and Dad cut off my allowance, and I applied to live in the dorms. I ate plain bread rolls from the cafeteria for a dollar each, alongside free vegetable broth. I slept in a cramped, bare room with a thin mattress on a metal frame, the kind meant for double the occupancy. The hundreds of dollars for accommodation consumed all my scholarship money each semester. As I moved from middle school to high school, accommodation fees increased, forcing me to study day and night, hoping to score just a few extra points each time to win scholarships and survive. I always thought that if I became outstanding enough, Mom and Dad would eventually love me again. The reality was that when I brought home near-perfect test papers, and visiting relatives praised me, Mom retorted without thinking, “She’s as dumb as a rock, not even half as smart as Caleb. How could she score so well?” Immediately after, her arm swung wide, and she slapped me across the face. “Tell me, who did you cheat off of?” My face burned with pain, and my heart burned with it too, wishing I could disappear. Later, when my homeroom teacher called to confirm my grades, Mom just glanced at the shredded test papers in the trash can and sneered. “What’s there to brag about with such low scores? Your brother got perfect scores in every subject back then. You’re so pathetic, not even ashamed of these scores!” Along with those test papers, my heart was also shredded. Mom and Dad liked smart kids like Caleb, so I worked hard to erase myself, to become like Caleb. I studied even harder. Spring, summer, autumn, winter – prickly heat, chilblains, mosquito bites always found me relentlessly each season. When I walked out of the exam hall after my SATs, I finally had a chance to prove I was as excellent as Caleb. Mom and Dad would start loving me, right…? But I died on the eve of my SAT results being released. Until my death, I never managed to become the excellent child, loved by Mom and Dad, like Caleb. I watched Mom and Dad fill Caleb’s empty bowl with rice, silently adding food to it. This scene repeated day after day for eight years. Wasn’t I, the one who caused Caleb’s death, the reason Mom and Dad became like this? Shouldn’t I also die? A knock at the door. A familiar voice from memory. “Mom, Dad, open up! I brought your daughter-in-law home!” I saw Dad, usually so cautious, stand up and accidentally shatter a bowl. Mom, usually so energetic, collapsed into a chair, tears streaming down, repeatedly asking Dad, “Is it him? Is it really him?” Dad almost stumbled to the door, his hands trembling on the doorknob for a long time before he finally twisted it open. The wide-open door revealed a tall man standing outside. I saw him; he was Caleb, my brother, the one I had supposedly killed eight years ago… He had faked his death eight years ago to elope with the woman he loved. **Chapter 2** Dad’s voice was hoarse as he asked, “Caleb, is that really you?” Caleb nodded emphatically, his eyes welling up too. “Dad, it’s really me. I’m back!” The usually reserved Dad wrapped Caleb in a tight hug, his hands forcefully patting Caleb’s back. “He’s alive! He’s warm! Son… your mom and I have waited eight years for you. You’re finally back!”

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The day before Valentine’s Day, my fiancée, Sera Hayes – who notoriously hated water – suddenly announced she wanted to learn to swim. Right then, a chilling suspicion seized me: she’d fallen for the swimming instructor downstairs. After attending one lesson with her, I calmly informed her: either the engagement was off, or she cut ties with that instructor. Seraphina stormed out in a rage, slamming the door, and didn’t return all night. She came back the next day, her legs shaky, her back aching, swearing she’d only ever be with me. On our wedding day, the city’s elite, the who’s who of high society, gathered. As the officiant declared, “Now, the groom may kiss his bride,” Seraphina abruptly pushed me away, her voice trembling: “I’m sorry, I can’t kiss someone I don’t love.” “I thought I could force myself, but I just can’t lie to my own heart.” With that, she ran, in her pristine white gown, straight into the arms of the red-eyed swimming instructor sitting in the front row. The entire ballroom erupted in gasps, camera flashes blinding us. Overnight, I became the city’s biggest joke. The top trending news? A video of Seraphina and the male instructor kissing passionately right at our wedding. In that moment, my heart died. If you choose to betray me again, then don’t blame me for eradicating you. … Staring at her retreating back, the last shred of hope in my heart evaporated. I swept my hand, shattering the champagne tower, glass shards scattering everywhere. My voice, cold as ice, warned: “If you walk out now, the Thorne empire and the Hayes family will be sworn enemies, utterly relentless!” Seraphina faltered, her eyes instantly brimming with tears. “I’m so sorry, but I can’t betray my own heart. I’ll make it up to you later.” Within half an hour. News of the Hayes heiress running away from her wedding for love had seized every media headline. 【LOL, is this some archaic ‘alpha CEO’ monologue? He totally deserved getting dumped!】 【If he acts this arrogant in public, imagine how despicable he is behind closed doors. They should investigate the Thornes!】 【Go, Sera! Women shouldn’t be pawns in dynastic alliances!】 Instantly, the Thorne family became the laughingstock of the entire metropolis, the talk of every dinner party. Yet Seraphina Hayes, the orchestrator of it all, was being hailed by public opinion as a brave, new-age woman chasing true love. I scrolled through the screen, my face devoid of emotion. Until I saw Seraphina’s latest “apology statement”: 【This decision, though it deeply hurt Alex Thorne, I simply couldn’t accept a marriage without love, destined to drown in numbness for the rest of my life… All the fault is mine. I humbly ask everyone not to blame Alex.】 The accompanying photo showed her with swollen, red eyes. What was particularly glaring was the cheap silver band on her ring finger. It certainly wasn’t the engagement ring I’d given her. Then, Brendan Miller poured gasoline on the fire of public outrage: 【Sera has been so consumed with guilt, she’s wasted away. Love can’t be forced; we’ll still be friends.】 I actually laughed, a bitter, furious sound. If she’d just been honest before the wedding, I would have let her go, wished her well. But she didn’t. She chose this moment, in front of everyone, with the city’s elite gathered. To utterly trample the Thorne family’s dignity! Now she expected to manipulate public opinion into forgiving me? In her dreams! “Immediately issue a directive: withdraw all investments from Hayes Industries, terminate all partnerships.” “Furthermore, mobilize every resource to support Hayes Industries’ competitors.” “If I don’t drive the Hayes family into bankruptcy, then I’ll disown my own name!” My assistant, Flick, broke into a cold sweat. She carefully advised, “Mr. Thorne, public opinion is strongly against us right now. Making a move at this moment might…” I cut her off sharply: “Afraid of what?” “An ungrateful viper, biting the hand that fed them – shouldn’t they be taught a lesson?” “This is the perfect opportunity to make an example of the Hayes family. Let’s see who dares to challenge the Thornes after this!” I massaged my throbbing temples. A cascade of past events flooded my mind. Years ago, when Mr. Hayes Sr. suddenly passed, his fortune was snatched by a conniving illegitimate son, a predator lurking in the shadows. Seraphina knelt in the pouring rain for an entire day and night, just to beg me to save the Hayes family. “Mr. Thorne, if you just help Hayes Industries, I’ll do anything you ask for the rest of my life!” Moved by a moment of weakness, I proposed a marriage of convenience. She agreed without hesitation. After our engagement, I kept my promise. Not only did I help her reclaim her company and put that illegitimate son in jail, I personally mentored her in business. I elevated Hayes Industries from a fledgling startup into a formidable corporate powerhouse across the city. But gradually, things between us changed. She started resisting my closeness, rejecting my plans, yearning for what she called “pure love.” Until that swimming instructor, Brendan Miller, appeared. She poured all her passion and affection onto him, holding nothing back. Actually, half a month ago, I’d given her one last chance. “Seraphina Hayes, if you still want to get married, watch your step.” She merely smiled faintly: “We’re just instructor and student. Your mind’s just twisted, seeing dirt where there’s none.” “Mr. Thorne, you’re not cheating on me, are you? Is that why you’re so paranoid?” My voice dropped to an icy tone: “If you cross the line, I’ll reclaim everything I’ve given you.” She flinched violently, her tone finally softening: “You’ve misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between me and Brendan.” “I won’t see him again.” In that moment, I actually believed we could go back to how things were. Sadly, she ultimately betrayed my final trust.

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