Category: English

Before my best friend Mia Sanchez married the wealthiest man in town, Weston Thomas, she asked me, Emma Jackson, to help her with her premarital medical examination. After the tests, I discovered she had contracted AIDS. Considering patient privacy rights, and since Mia told me that Weston didn’t mind her having AIDS, I didn’t tell Weston about the test results. Later, Weston also contracted AIDS, but Mia went online crying and blaming me. She said, “If Emma hadn’t deliberately withheld our test results, my husband wouldn’t have gotten AIDS. This is all her fault.” Even my boyfriend Asher Wood came forward to accuse me. He said, “This isn’t the first time Emma has hurt Mia. The reason Mia got infected with AIDS is because Emma used a needle that had been used on an AIDS patient to draw her blood.” No matter how I tried to explain, no one believed me. To escape the overwhelming online attacks, I had to move to another city with my parents. But Weston was furious and drove his car into our family, killing us all. After Weston was sentenced to death, Mia inherited all of his wealth. Then she and Asher lived a luxurious life like the wealthy elite. Unexpectedly, when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Mia came to me for her premarital examination. Mia said, “Emma, hurry up and draw my blood. Weston and I are still waiting to get our marriage license.” Seeing Mia extend her arm toward me, I was stunned for a moment, then instantly realized I had been reborn. “Emma, you need to be thorough with the examination. If Mia didn’t trust only you, I wouldn’t have brought her here,” said Weston, Mia’s boyfriend. Weston’s family had assets worth over a hundred million dollars, and he was extremely demanding about his partner. He absolutely wouldn’t allow his girlfriend to have lived with anyone else before marriage. Mia had pretended to be an innocent girl for over half a year before finally getting Weston to agree to marry her. In my previous life, hearing Weston say this moved me deeply. I really thought Mia had deep feelings for me, but I never realized she came all this way to find me for the examination solely to pin the blame for Weston getting AIDS on me. Thinking about this, I refused without hesitation. I said, “You just ate something, and blood draws require fasting. You two should go do other tests first.” As soon as I finished speaking, Asher came running over quickly. He said, “Why are there so many rules? Mia is waiting to apply for a marriage license. Emma, can’t you be flexible? Just finish their blood test quickly so we can get the results sooner.” Seeing his face, the hatred in my heart instantly reached its peak. I still clearly remember that before I died, he walked up to me and stomped hard on my head with his foot. He said, “Emma, are you regretting not telling Weston about the test results now? “Actually, your regret is useless. Even if you had told him about Mia having AIDS back then, preventing her from marrying Weston, we still could have taken you to court for violating patient privacy rights. Your fate wouldn’t have been any better than it is now. So just go die in peace.” So since I’m living again, I must make sure they get the punishment they deserve. I suppressed the intense hatred in my heart and looked at Weston. I said, “If you get blood tests now, the results might not be accurate. Mr. Thomas, you came all this way, so you certainly don’t want the blood test results to be problematic, right?” Hearing me say this, Weston nodded seriously. He said, “Mia, Emma is right. Let’s go do other tests first.” After watching them walk away, I immediately sent a text message to the director, Hudson Ortiz, telling him I wanted to resign. Only after doing this did I breathe a sigh of relief. But looking at Asher, who had been staying by my side the whole time, I still frowned. I said coldly, “Why do you keep staring at me? Don’t you have to go to work?” Asher flashed a cheerful smile, but it made me feel incredibly afraid. He said, “I took the day off, perfect for spending time with you.” Asher said he was keeping me company, but even when I went to the bathroom, he followed me every step of the way. Obviously, he was afraid I would escape and ruin his and Mia’s scheme. Finally, at noon, Mia came rushing over with Weston. She said, “Emma, hurry up and draw my blood. I’m starving to death.”

I pretended to feel dizzy and said to Mia, “Sorry, I didn’t eat breakfast this morning and I’m feeling a bit hypoglycemic. I can’t draw blood for you right now. How about I get someone else to do it?” “No.” Two voices spoke in unison. I looked at Mia and Asher in surprise. “What’s wrong?” Asher quickly smiled and put his arm around me. “Emma, Mia came all this way to find you because she trusts you. You wouldn’t want to disappoint her, would you?” Trust? I couldn’t help but smile bitterly to myself. In my past life, it was because I believed in that word that I lost my life. It was out of trust in Mia that after discovering she had AIDS, I didn’t tell Weston about the premarital examination results. But what about her? After Weston was infected with AIDS by her, she desperately cried and accused me of ruining her. She said, “If Emma had told us the results on the day of the premarital examination, I definitely would have broken up with my husband. I love him so much, how could I bear to let him get infected with AIDS? This is all Emma’s fault. She just wanted to destroy all of us!” What made me even more desperate was that even Asher, who had been with me for so many years, actually stood against me. He said, “This isn’t the first time Emma has harmed Mia. Mia got infected with AIDS because Emma used a needle that had been used on an AIDS patient to draw her blood.” With Asher’s testimony, all my explanations and rebuttals seemed powerless. No one believed me. The hospital fired me, and my house was burned down by arsonists. Finally, to survive, I had to take my family to live in another city. But at Mia’s instigation, Weston drove a big truck and killed our entire family. After I died, I saw Mia move into Weston’s villa with Asher. Only then did I finally understand that these two had been together behind my back all along. Coming back to my senses, I coldly pushed away from Asher’s embrace. “Since Mia trusts me so much, I need to be in my best condition. It’s lunchtime anyway, so I’ll go eat first.” “I have a protein bar.” Afraid I would leave, Mia immediately took a protein bar out of her purse. I didn’t take it, and Mia looked a bit embarrassed. Weston said, “Since I’m getting married today, let me treat you all to lunch.” This was exactly what I was waiting for Weston to say. Because of my insistence, Weston drove us to a restaurant. As soon as the server saw Mia, she enthusiastically approached us. “Ms. Sanchez, welcome! How come you didn’t come with your boyfriend today?” Weston looked at Mia with confusion. Mia glared at the server angrily. “What’s wrong with you? My boyfriend is standing right next to me!” “But…” the server wanted to say more. But Mia pushed her and said angrily, “This is my first time at this restaurant. You must have mistaken me for someone else.” Hearing this, the server could only keep apologizing. I almost laughed out loud. I chose this restaurant precisely because Mia used to date her ex-boyfriend here frequently. But that alone wasn’t enough. I immediately took out my phone and anonymously sent a text message to Mia’s ex-boyfriend, Dylan Cook. He probably still didn’t know that he had been infected with AIDS by Mia. After all the dishes were served, Mia finally spotted Dylan, who was constantly looking around at the restaurant entrance. Her face immediately changed. “Mia, what’s wrong?” Weston looked at her with concern. Mia lowered her head and buried her entire face in her arms, pretending to have stomach pain. She said, “Honey, I think my period just started. Could you go to the pharmacy and get me some painkillers?” I took out the ibuprofen I always carried in my bag and handed it to her. I said, “I happen to have some. Take this.” Mia glared at me fiercely, her eyes full of resentment. But she still forced a smile. “Emma, thanks for your kindness. But ibuprofen doesn’t work for me. I need naproxen.” Then she acted coquettishly toward Weston. “Honey, please. Didn’t you say you’d spoil me and love me forever?” “Alright, I’ll go right now,” Weston said. He took the car keys and left the restaurant. Just then, Dylan, who had been looking around, finally spotted Mia. He rushed over with a kitchen knife. Then he roared, “Mia, you b*tch! You infected me with AIDS!”

Mia quickly hid behind Asher in terror. However, she didn’t admit it. “Don’t make things up. I don’t have AIDS at all, so how could I possibly infect you? If you don’t believe me, just ask Asher. He works at the hospital.” Hearing Mia mention his name, Asher raised his hand and swore. He said, “That’s right, I can swear that Mia absolutely doesn’t have AIDS.” “If it wasn’t you, then why are you hiding?” Dylan roared. He was a notorious bully who had always been the one picking on others, never the one being schemed against. Even when Mia dumped him back then, he only let her go after taking tens of thousands of dollars as breakup money. After I sent him the text, he immediately went to get tested for AIDS. As soon as the results came out, he rushed over with a knife. Not wanting to be exposed, Mia quickly defended herself: “You’ve slept with so many women, what makes you think I’m the one who infected you? Besides, if I had AIDS, how could the richest man Weston still marry me?” But Dylan’s rationality had long been drowned by hatred. He raised the knife and slashed down. The blade struck Asher’s shoulder. Instantly, blood splattered everywhere, covering Mia’s face. Realizing he’d hit the wrong person, Dylan finally came to his senses. Seeing all the blood on the ground, he panicked, dropped the knife, and ran out of the restaurant. Witnessing this, the waitstaff immediately called 911. Looking at Asher who wasn’t quite dead yet, I felt disappointed. I thought to myself, “Why wasn’t he killed on the spot?” After getting the news, Weston rushed to the hospital. Mia threw herself into his arms crying, saying, “Honey, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for saving me, Asher wouldn’t have been slashed like this by that thug.” “What exactly happened?” Weston pressed. The waiter who came to the hospital with us eagerly spoke up: “That thug said Ms. Sanchez infected him with AIDS, so he came with a knife to kill her.” Upon hearing “AIDS,” Weston’s eyes widened instantly. He pushed Mia away and his expression became extremely grave. Weston asked, “You have AIDS? Didn’t you say you were a virgin?” Mia cried even louder. She said, “Honey, how could I possibly have AIDS? That man is framing me. He pursued me multiple times before and I rejected him every time. I don’t know how he found out about my wedding, so he made up this excuse to try to kill me. If I really had AIDS, wouldn’t you know once Emma finishes my pre-marital medical exam?” Mia cried pitifully. Seeing her like this, Weston gradually let his guard down. He said, “You’re right. If you really had AIDS, you would have been eager to infect me long ago.” Watching their loving display, I just thought Weston was an idiot. However, Mia’s fabricated lies were about to be exposed. After learning about the surgery from the doctor, I put on a distressed expression. I grabbed Mia’s hand and pleaded, “Mia, you must save Asher. Asher has lost too much blood, but our hospital doesn’t have enough Type B blood in stock. Among all of us here, only you have Type B blood. You’re the only one who can save him now.” A nurse immediately stepped forward and said to Mia, “Ms. Sanchez, to ensure blood safety and patient health, please come with me for a blood test.” “No. I can’t go!” Mia looked terrified and without thinking, shouted out loud. For a moment, everyone looked at her in confusion. Even Weston frowned. Suppressing my inner satisfaction, I asked her in confusion, “Mia, are you unwilling to take the blood test because you really do have AIDS?”

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Years after my husband James Lewis’s brother Daniel Lewis passed away, Daniel’s wife Grace Lewis claimed that their child Luca Lewis was the reincarnation of Ares, the god of war. She insisted that Luca was blessed by heaven with an incredibly resilient body that couldn’t be harmed. But in reality, Grace was transferring all the injuries Luca should have suffered onto my daughter Ruby Lewis. Luca was born with a congenital heart condition, yet this disease miraculously disappeared within a single day. Despite being so young, he could participate in all kinds of extreme sports without getting hurt at all. Meanwhile, my daughter Ruby’s originally healthy body grew weaker and weaker. She would suffer inexplicable full-body fractures, leaving not a single part of her uninjured. I couldn’t help but connect these two events. So I shared my suspicions with my husband James and James’s mother Hannah Lewis. But they said I was mentally unstable and accused me of being jealous that Grace had given birth to a genius son while I only had an ordinary daughter. Later, Luca challenged himself to trek across the Sahara Desert and became a hugely popular child star. But my daughter Ruby mysteriously developed heat stroke and suddenly died. Grace even posted on her social media platform, accusing me of slandering her out of jealousy. Because of this, I was stalked by Grace’s fanatical fans and eventually dismembered by them. When I opened my eyes again, I had somehow returned to the day Grace claimed Luca was a genius. This time, in my capacity as an expert physician, I put on my gloves and said to Grace, “Grace, let me examine whether Luca’s condition has truly been cured.” Grace replied, “Penelope, are you suggesting I’m lying? What would be the point of faking something like this?” Penelope Moore is my name. She held the hand of Luca, who had just emerged from the ICU looking energetic and bouncing around, and gave me a mocking expression. I clenched my fists tightly but tried my best to appear calm. I said to Grace, “I’m just concerned about Luca. After all, he needed IV fluids yesterday, and today he’s suddenly fine. I’m worried about him.” Grace said dismissively, “Fine, examine him all you want. Don’t you think I know whether my son is cured or not?” With that, she patted Luca’s back and had him walk over to me. I gave Luca a comprehensive physical examination, but the results sent chills down my spine. Luca was now four years old and had been kept alive in the ICU until now. He was born with a congenital heart condition and was so frail that he might go into shock the moment he left the hospital. But to my amazement, all his test results were now normal. His previously thin arms had grown thicker, as strong as a calf’s legs. Seeing my shocked expression, Grace impatiently pulled Luca back to her side. She said, “I told you my son is the reincarnation of Ares, the god of war. His body is incredibly resilient and can’t be harmed. What’s a heart condition to him?” How was this possible? A patient nearby couldn’t help but laugh, not quite believing Grace’s words. He said with a chuckle, “Can’t be harmed? Are you kidding me? He’s still just a little kid.” As soon as he finished speaking, Grace whispered something in Luca’s ear. Immediately, Luca ran to the window and jumped straight out. The patient shouted, “Oh my God! Someone go check if he’s okay!” Even James and Hannah were worried, but Grace wasn’t anxious at all and leisurely walked downstairs. Incredibly, Luca was standing completely unharmed at the hospital entrance. Everyone who had followed downstairs was stunned: “How is this possible? He fell from the fourth floor and doesn’t have a scratch on him?” But just then, I received a call from the kindergarten teacher. Ruby had suddenly collapsed. Moreover, after Ruby fainted, the teachers had only gently moved her, which somehow caused both her legs to fracture. I quickly asked James to go to the kindergarten and bring Ruby to the hospital. But Grace wasn’t having it. She said, “My son just recovered from his illness and wants to try something thrilling. James already promised to drive us bungee jumping.” Thinking of Ruby’s tragic fate in my previous life, I instinctively shouted, “No! You need to go pick up Ruby first!” Suddenly Hannah slapped me across the face. Hannah glared at me angrily and said, “You go get your daughter. We’re taking my grandson out to have fun. If you don’t agree, I’ll cause a scene here until you lose your job.” I was so angry my chest ached. The car at home was bought with my money, but James had been hogging the car keys, claiming he needed to frequently drive Grace to the hospital. Grace’s son had just recovered, and Ruby had an accident. What are the odds of such a coincidence? Grace must have done something. After what happened in my previous life, I knew I couldn’t count on James and Hannah to help me. I had to find the truth and ensure that Ruby and I wouldn’t die such tragic deaths again. I didn’t want to waste time arguing with them here, so I borrowed a colleague’s car and rushed to the kindergarten. I opened my phone and saw that Grace had already started a live stream. In the video, Luca leaped from a fifty-meter-high platform, and the bungee cord wasn’t properly secured, making me feel both scared and anxious. Sure enough, when Luca descended to about ten meters, the rope came loose. But Luca landed smoothly on the safety mat, completely unharmed. At that moment, I arrived at the kindergarten and saw Ruby, unconscious and with blood all over her legs.

After I rushed Ruby to the hospital, the chief of staff was worried I might make mistakes due to my panic over Ruby’s condition, so he personally came to examine her. He emerged from the examination room with a troubled expression and asked me reproachfully, “Does your daughter have congenital heart disease? Then why did you let her participate in PE class?” I was on the verge of tears and quickly said, “That’s impossible!” Ruby was born at our hospital. Right after her birth, I had my colleagues run comprehensive tests on her. She was perfectly healthy with no congenital conditions whatsoever. He continued, “Also, your daughter’s fracture was caused by significant impact force. You should ask the kindergarten teachers what happened and get to the bottom of this. This poor little girl will need at least three months to recover.” A chill ran through my entire body. I had actually already reviewed the kindergarten’s surveillance footage. But strangely, the video showed no one had touched Ruby at all. The other children were just running normally. Ruby simply started crying and complaining of pain halfway through her run. A teacher quickly called the school nurse, but the nurse couldn’t find anything wrong and had to call me immediately. Shortly after, Ruby completely passed out on the kindergarten’s couch. When the teachers tried to move Ruby to a bed, before they could even lift her, Ruby’s leg started bleeding externally, looking as if it was broken. My head was splitting with pain, and I couldn’t figure out how Grace had managed to do such a thing. When Ruby woke up, I hurried to her bedside and asked, “Baby, how do you feel? Are you still in pain?” Instantly, Ruby burst into tears, saying, “Mommy, my hands hurt too, and my body hurts. Everything feels uncomfortable.” Only then did I notice her hands and saw they were already swollen. I instinctively opened Grace’s social media and found her account had become incredibly popular. She now had around 500,000 followers. The video clips of Luca bungee jumping were still gaining traction online. Everyone was shocked by this four-year-old child taking on extreme sports. [Did evolution skip the rest of us? That’s a 164-foot platform!] [Not only did he land smoothly, he wasn’t hurt at all. This is absolutely incredible.] Riding this wave of popularity, Grace launched a series featuring Luca challenging 100 extreme sports. One fan suggested that since Luca wouldn’t get hurt, they should have him arm-wrestle with a giant lobster. I’d seen videos online showing lobster claws crushing phone screens. But Grace agreed to the suggestion without hesitation. In the video, Luca used just his chubby little hands to fend off the lobster’s attacks. His hands didn’t have a single pinch mark. I could only quickly bandage Ruby’s wounds. Then I took a deep breath, tried to calm myself, and organized what I knew so far. Grace had transferred Luca’s congenital heart disease to Ruby, and even the injuries Luca should have sustained could be transferred. Even when Ruby did nothing, the pain would still transfer to her. This was utterly bizarre. How was Grace doing this? Was it simply because Ruby and Luca were related? I had no choice but to call James directly. I said coldly, “Let’s get divorced.” James’s impatient voice came through the phone: “Just because I didn’t pick up Ruby, you want to divorce me? Do you know how many people are sending Luca gifts? You’re truly narrow-minded and ignorant. I’m thinking about our entire family’s future. You’re just unreasonably jealous of others.” To expedite the divorce, I even agreed not to take any property with me. The house and car were all purchased by me. James’s salary over the years wasn’t even enough to cover his cigarettes and alcohol. So James came back without hesitation to divorce me. Afterward, he moved into the mansion Grace had rented with the money earned from Luca’s livestreams. James even told me, “You stupid woman, even if you beg me in the future, I won’t spare you a second glance.” Grace even made our divorce a topic for her livestream. She said, “Because Luca is so talented, I wanted him to earn more money so everyone’s life could be easier. But I never expected Penelope to have such a dirty mind, actually suspecting something between James and me, and wanting to divorce James. She even lied to James about her daughter having a serious illness. I think she just doesn’t want Luca to succeed and wants to steal their affection for Luca.” Grace also said I lacked medical ethics and that I was incompetent and only knew how to be jealous of others. Suddenly, the label of being “jealous” was pinned on me. My work information was also posted online, and no one wanted me to treat them anymore. The hospital had no choice but to put me on temporary leave. But work was no longer important to me. Looking at Ruby covered in injuries, I took her back to my home and even changed her surname to mine, Moore. We had severed all ties with the Lewis family. I didn’t believe Grace could still transfer Luca’s injuries to Ruby.

I kept a close eye on Grace’s livestream activities. I learned that in three days, Grace would have Luca challenge waves dozens of feet high. But Luca was only 4.6 feet tall, not even as tall as a surfboard. Three days later, my parents and I watched the livestream with tense expressions. After hearing my suspicions, they didn’t show a hint of disbelief, completely different from James. My eyes slowly welled up with tears, and I felt deeply regretful. I should have listened to my parents from the beginning and never married that poor guy James, let alone work so hard to earn money to improve his life. Just then, sounds came from my phone. Grace and the others had already reached the beach. Luca, holding a surfboard taller than himself, rushed quickly into the sea. As expected, he was soon knocked down by the waves. But after just a moment, he swam back up without any sign of choking on water. I immediately went to check on Ruby in her room. Seeing her still sleeping peacefully, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. But the next second, Ruby started crying and spitting up water, her face instantly turning pale. I quickly called my parents over to help perform CPR on Ruby. However, Ruby continued showing signs of drowning. I hurried to check the livestream and realized that Luca had been falling and getting back up in the water until he finally succeeded at surfing. Being so small, he failed hundreds of times before succeeding. Everyone praised him as a true child prodigy, with perseverance and determination, saying even such deep seawater couldn’t harm him. I was filled with confusion. Why was this happening? How exactly was Grace doing this? Listening to Ruby’s painful cries, I truly couldn’t forgive this. After much thought, my parents and I pooled all our savings to buy the right to designate Luca’s challenge projects. To avoid exposing ourselves, I even used my friend’s account. Our family was fairly well-off, so we put up $10 million at once. Grace was tempted by the money, so the challenges she arranged for Luca next were harmless projects like “picking out ten thousand green beans.” Ruby was finally able to recover gradually and no longer had to suffer. But I still didn’t expect that despite taking my money, Grace would still decide to have Luca trek across the Sahara Desert on foot a week later. I was so angry that I immediately went to confront her, only to be blocked by her. Grace even said: “$10 million is only enough to buy naming rights for ten projects. Everyone finds these current projects boring as hell. Someone has already offered $50 million to watch Luca trek through the desert.” Rational people tried to persuade Grace after hearing this: “He’s such a small child, having to cross such a vast desert. Even if he truly won’t get hurt, his body won’t be able to handle it.” But Grace just shrugged, saying carelessly: “Don’t worry about it. Just save up money to send Luca gifts. Wait and watch Luca, this ‘God of War Ares,’ cross the desert.” I was instantly plunged into despair. What could I do? As long as Luca went to the desert, Ruby would definitely die again. Looking at Ruby lying in bed, her whole body wrapped in bandages, I cried out in grief. But Ruby reached out her little hand to comfort me: “Mommy, don’t cry. It’s my fault for always being sick.” “No, it’s not.” I said through my sobs, a flash of determination in my eyes. I couldn’t let Ruby die inexplicably again after being given a second chance at life. I convinced my parents to sell our house in the city and move to the countryside. Then I took out $5 million and contacted Grace again. Grace replied: [This amount isn’t enough to make me give up the desert challenge.] I quickly responded: [You don’t need to give up the challenge. I just want to see up close how the ‘God of War Ares’ crosses the desert. Just have Luca bring a phone mount and livestream in first-person view in real time.] This was basically free money, so Grace immediately agreed. On the day of the challenge, I stared intently at Luca’s first-person livestream on my phone. He walked step by step across the desert, and you could feel the heat waves even through the screen. Even Grace, sitting in an air-conditioned car, was sunburned red all over her face from the scorching heat. But Luca showed no reaction at all. At that moment, Ruby’s voice came from the room: “Mommy, I’m so hot, I feel so uncomfortable.” Even though the air conditioning in the room was set to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, Ruby’s face was still flushed red, her whole body looking as if it had been sunburned. Then I looked at Luca’s feet in the camera feed. I finally knew exactly what Grace had done, and how she was transferring Luca’s pain and illness to Ruby.

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I wasn’t pregnant at all, yet I was popping abortion pills like candy. In my previous life, after my husband Joseph Price’s brother Cooper Price died, his wife Sofia Price got pregnant and somehow transferred all her pregnancy symptoms onto me. She’d happily munch on seafood tacos with her growing belly while I’d be rushed to the hospital from severe morning sickness and stomach pain. She’d strut around in crop tops all day, showing off her smooth, flawless skin, while my stomach was covered in ugly stretch marks. When I went to Joseph and told him what was happening, he impatiently shoved me away. He said, “Even if you want my attention, there should be limits. Cooper’s dead, and Sofia’s carrying Cooper’s only child. It’s perfectly normal for me to be good to her. Do you really have to cause trouble on purpose?” After that, Sofia’s behavior became even worse and more vicious. During her pregnancy, she started doing crazy dangerous things and even ate mango cake that she was allergic to. From the severe allergic reaction, I went into shock and was hospitalized, my life hanging by a thread. When I went to the hospital for tests, the doctors couldn’t explain why I was sick and could only conclude that my intense jealousy was causing psychosomatic symptoms. Later, to create her image as a hot single mom, Sofia started livestreaming workout sessions while heavily pregnant. After she danced frantically for three hours, my uterus literally fell out, I bled profusely, and died. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Sofia announced her pregnancy. ***** After Cooper’s death, Sofia used her pregnancy with Cooper’s child to demand that Joseph take care of both her and me simultaneously. Joseph’s mother Ella Price was naturally thrilled and immediately agreed, even bringing Sofia corn chowder that had been simmering for hours. But the moment Sofia took a tiny sip of the corn chowder, my stomach immediately felt terrible. I couldn’t help but dry heave. Sure enough, living through this again, my situation hadn’t changed. I wasn’t pregnant at all, yet the morning sickness that should have been Sofia’s was happening to me instead. While I was lost in thought, Sofia pushed away the corn chowder in disgust, demanding super spicy seafood tacos. She said, “Joseph, this soup is too bland. I’m carrying a baby and want something with more flavor. Please?” Joseph looked at Sofia’s coquettish behavior with indulgent eyes and sighed helplessly. “Fine. Besides seafood tacos, what else do you want?” Sofia smiled and said, “Great! I also want mango cake and pickles.” Hearing Sofia rattle off a list of unhealthy foods, I immediately stepped in front of her. If I let her mess around like this, just one bout of morning sickness would torture me to the point of not wanting to live. I quickly said, “Joseph, Sofia’s pregnant now. How can you let her eat these nutritionally empty foods?” Ella, who had expected me to make a scene about her making Joseph care for both Sofia and me, was stunned when she heard me showing such concern for Sofia’s health, then immediately agreed with me. She said, “Exactly. When a woman’s pregnant, she should eat light, nutritious foods. How can she eat such unhealthy junk? Joseph, don’t spoil Sofia.” But after hearing this, Sofia’s eyes immediately welled up with tears and she started crying loudly. She said, “Ariana, why do you have to deliberately make things difficult for me? I’m just pregnant and want to eat something that’ll help my appetite.” Ariana Myers is my name. After a pause, Sofia continued, “Are you mad that I stole Joseph from you, so you’re treating me this way? Fine. I’ll schedule an abortion right now, get rid of the baby, and leave.” It was the same situation as my previous life. Ever since Sofia got pregnant, I’d been experiencing all sorts of pregnancy symptoms, so I immediately suspected Sofia was behind it. But because Sofia was pregnant and really good at playing the victim, Joseph didn’t believe a word I said. He said, “Are you making up these lies because you’re jealous that I’m paying more attention to Sofia, trying to get me to believe you? Even if you want my attention, there should be limits. Cooper’s dead, and Sofia’s carrying Cooper’s only child. It’s perfectly normal for me to be good to her. Do you really have to cause trouble on purpose?” After that, Joseph moved out with Sofia and took care of her attentively. Whenever he caught me going to their place, he’d ruthlessly kick me out. Several times, I collapsed from morning sickness right at their doorstep. Joseph would carefully hold Sofia while mocking me, “When you’re done with your act, get lost. Sofia’s carrying a child and can’t see someone as unlucky as you.” Joseph and Sofia lived outside for three months. During this time, I was hospitalized fifty times for strange reasons like morning sickness, allergic reactions, and signs of miscarriage. Later, to create her image as a hot single mom, Sofia started livestreaming workouts at six months pregnant. After she danced frantically for three hours, my uterus literally fell out, I bled profusely, and died. When I opened my eyes again, I had actually been reborn. This time, I had to find the key to solving this predicament. With that thought, I met Sofia’s currently hateful gaze and proactively bowed my head to apologize. I said, “Sofia, I didn’t mean to make you angry. Since you want those things, I’ll personally go buy them for you.” Though I said this out loud, I secretly decided to pick up a bottle of abortion pills while I was at it. Since Sofia could use pregnancy side effects to torture me, I might as well give her an even harsher taste of her own medicine.

Joseph didn’t expect me to be so cooperative and swallowed back the harsh words he was about to say. Even Ella and Sofia standing nearby were stunned. Before they could react, I grabbed my things, turned around, and ran out of the house to the supermarket 3 miles away. When I returned carrying a large bag of groceries, Sofia frowned. She inspected the snacks in the plastic bags one by one. Then she said with disgust, “Ariana, I wanted the extra spicy seafood taco. Why did you only buy the mild one? And this cake—I wanted mango flavor, but you bought strawberry. Are you deliberately going against me?” But I completely ignored her complaints, staring intently at her belly instead. Because on my way back, I had already drunk an entire bottle of abortion pills. I wanted to see if she would be affected by my taking the medication. But Sofia remained calm with no reaction whatsoever. Was the dosage I took not enough? Just as I was puzzling over this, Sofia smiled maliciously, “Ariana, it seems you didn’t take my words seriously at all.” She deliberately put on a pitiful act: “Sigh, it’s all my fault for only discovering I was pregnant after Cooper died. If I had known you hated me this much, I shouldn’t have kept this child.” With that, Sofia began frantically hitting her own belly. Immediately, sharp, needle-like pain shot through my abdomen. She was doing this on purpose. I endured the pain and put on a sincere apologetic expression: “Sofia, I was thinking about your health. I remember you became allergic to mangoes after getting pregnant, so I switched to a different flavor cake. You’re pregnant now—if you had an allergic reaction and it affected the baby, that would be terrible. Cooper only left behind this one child, so please don’t be stubborn.” Hearing me say this, Ella remembered her deceased eldest son Cooper and quickly urged Sofia not to go too far. Ella even praised me for being thoughtful and considerate. Sofia wanted to act coquettish and seek help from Joseph, but he was also worried about something happening to the baby, so he went along with persuading her not to make a fuss. He said, “Ariana is doing this for you and the baby’s good. Be good—once the baby is born, I’ll take you to eat whatever you want.” Watching them interact intimately right in front of me, I fought back nausea and ran to the bathroom, where I swallowed another entire bottle of abortion pills. But Sofia still showed no reaction. How infuriating! I hadn’t expected this side effect transfer to be one-way only. By this time, Joseph had already unwrapped the seafood taco for Sofia and was hand-feeding her the strawberry cake. Fortunately, I had switched everything Sofia wanted to eat to relatively safe options this time, so the morning sickness wasn’t as severe as before. I also didn’t go into allergic shock from the mango cake again. I finally breathed a sigh of relief and dragged my exhausted body back to the bedroom to rest. But lying in bed, I couldn’t sleep at all. As long as I couldn’t figure out what was really going on, Sofia could control me at any time. Just as I was thinking about how to solve this predicament, my stomach began to feel uncomfortable. The next moment, I suddenly threw up. The vomit even contained blood streaks and bile. I hugged the toilet, vomiting continuously, carefully trying to recall if I had eaten something I shouldn’t have. Just then, I suddenly remembered something and quickly opened my phone to find Sofia’s Instagram account. I discovered she had actually gone out alone with her big belly to eat barbecue. She had even posted a video showing off, with the caption: [Got cravings while pregnant with the baby, so I had to sneak out alone to eat something delicious.]

In the video, Sofia held spicy barbecue in one hand and an ice-cold Coke in the other, laughing with pure joy. My usual preference for bland food, combined with morning sickness, had already left me breaking out in cold sweats. Seeing this, I angrily called Sofia directly. When she answered, Sofia pretended she knew nothing. She said, “Ariana, it’s so late—why aren’t you asleep yet? I’m still out having barbecue. If there’s nothing important, don’t bother me. Oh, and I hope you’ll keep this secret from Ella. You know how she tends to worry about everything.” Before she could finish, I lowered my voice and snapped, “Sofia, what exactly did you do to me? Why are all your pregnancy side effects transferring to me after you got pregnant?” But Sofia on the other end deliberately ignored my question, even calling out to the owner for several more orders of extra-spicy barbecue. I felt incredibly nauseous, vomiting violently, my whole body trembling with weakness. Sofia pretended she had no idea what I was talking about: “Ariana, do you have some kind of persecution complex? What could a pregnant woman like me possibly do to you? You’re not trying to compete with me for Joseph’s attention by pretending to suffer because I’m pregnant, are you? Just admit you’re putting on an act, and I’ll stop eating all this stuff.” Hearing her deliberately order more spicy, greasy barbecue, my stomach cramped violently. I could only cry and admit, “Yes, you’re right. I’m just acting. Please stop messing around, okay?” Unexpectedly, the next second, Joseph’s angry voice came through the phone: “Ariana, you’ve disappointed me beyond words.” Immediately after, Sofia hung up with a loud laugh. After another bout of violent vomiting, I used my last bit of strength to call 911. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived in time. After being unconscious for 8 hours, I finally woke up. This time, I had gone into shock from severe dehydration due to the morning sickness. However, looking at my medical chart, the doctor couldn’t find any cause for my illness. He said, “I performed an endoscopy and ran blood tests, but found no problems. Do you have any thoughts? Any idea what might be causing this?” I didn’t answer the doctor’s question. Instead, I immediately asked him to process my discharge papers and rushed straight home to confront the person who had really made me this way. The moment I saw Sofia, I pressed a knife to her throat. Sofia screamed, “Ariana, what are you doing?” I stared intently at her belly. Then I said coldly, “I don’t have time for your games. Tell me now—why do all your pregnancy side effects transfer to me?” Sofia said pitifully, “Ariana, what are you talking about? Do you really have a persecution complex?” I moved the knife closer to her belly: “Stop pretending. Talk.” Sofia screamed in terror: “Okay, I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you.” But the next second, she put on a pitiful expression and started crying, shouting, “Joseph, come save me!” Joseph actually snuck up behind me while I wasn’t paying attention, snatched the knife from my hand, and kicked me in the chest. He roared, “Ariana, you dare hurt Sofia? Do you want to die?” Ella also rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face. She cursed, “Damn it! You evil woman! I thought you’d finally grown up. Turns out you had such wicked intentions all along. You actually dared to harm my grandchild? I’ll beat you to death!” Joseph and Ella immediately called the police, saying they had to teach me a lesson. Facing a room full of police officers, Joseph directly played the recording from that night when he accompanied Sofia to eat barbecue. He said, “My wife Ariana insists that Sofia transferred all her pregnancy side effects to her. But she clearly admitted with her own mouth that all these reactions were fake. She was deliberately trying to compete with Sofia for my attention. Today she even dared to threaten Sofia with a knife. Please arrest this vicious woman immediately.” The police were initially somewhat skeptical of Joseph’s claims. But when they clearly heard me say in the recording, “Yes, you’re right. I’m just acting,” their expressions immediately changed. They put handcuffs on me directly and warned me sternly, “Just because of jealousy, you actually went this far. You’re truly incomprehensible.” I struggled desperately, trying to explain to the police, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Sofia smiling as she bit into a piece of mango. Instantly, a severe allergic reaction gripped my throat like invisible hands. My limbs began convulsing uncontrollably, and I could only tremble as I begged everyone present for help. But Joseph just sneered coldly, completely indifferent. He said, “Look, this woman is acting again. Today I’ll let you all witness it firsthand.” I clenched my fists tightly, mustering my last breath of strength as I collapsed into the arms of the female officer beside me. I told the officer, “I’m not acting. Please, get me to a hospital.” Seeing my pale complexion, the officer finally realized something was seriously wrong and quickly moved to support me as we prepared to leave. However, Joseph and Ella blocked our path, demanding that I apologize to Sofia before I could go anywhere. Joseph even said to me, “If I ever catch you trying to hurt Sofia again, we’re getting divorced immediately.” After hearing his words, I completely lost consciousness. When I woke up in the hospital again, the doctors were frantically scratching their heads. They couldn’t understand why all my test results came back normal when I had clearly suffered from anaphylactic shock for no apparent reason. In the end, they could only recommend that I see a psychiatrist. I let out a bitter laugh and told them to just prescribe me some sleeping pills and painkillers. Having no other options, they reluctantly complied, giving me a handful of pills before discharging me. The police classified our incident as a domestic dispute and didn’t pursue any serious charges against me. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I quickly packed my belongings and decided to return to my parents’ house. Fortunately, my parents believed me completely. They took me to the hospital for comprehensive tests, but once again, no problems were found. Afterward, they patiently comforted me and told me to rest well. I smiled and nodded in agreement. But suddenly, a sharp, dropping pain shot through my lower abdomen. It felt like invisible hands were violently tearing at my uterus. Blood began flowing out as well. Instinctively, I searched for Sofia’s social media account online. There, I saw she had started a weight-loss livestream under the banner of “Single Hot Mom.” In the video, Sofia, nearly five months pregnant, wore a tight corset and was jumping around energetically in front of the camera. She even said to the camera, “If women don’t stay thin, men won’t love them. Even when pregnant, we need to maintain good body management.” Clutching my agonizing stomach, I trembled with rage, wanting nothing more than to kill Sofia. Just then, I received a mysterious phone call. This time, I finally understood what was really going on.

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After the class reunion ended, my good friend Olivia Greene naturally expected me, Adeline Moore, to be the designated driver and take everyone home. I agreed, but halfway through, we got rear-ended by a limited edition Rolls-Royce. The owner claimed to be a wealthy overseas businessman. He said filing an insurance claim would be too much trouble, and that hitting my car must have been fate’s arrangement, so he generously gave me the car. Later, when Olivia saw me driving the luxury car every day, she went crazy with jealousy. She tampered with my car when I wasn’t looking, causing me to crash and die. My boyfriend Noah Thomas not only didn’t help me, but insisted I had been driving while fatigued. My parents couldn’t handle the shock and died of sudden heart attacks. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of the class reunion. ***** “Let me drive this car. I’m more familiar with the roads around here, so it’ll be safer if I drive and take everyone home.” Olivia’s voice reached my ears. I snapped my eyes open to see her holding the car keys in one hand, looking at everyone with eager eyes. I realized that Olivia had also been reborn. Seeing my silence, she tentatively pushed my shoulder. “Adeline, I’m only offering to drive your car because I can see everyone’s tired from tonight. Don’t read too much into it.” In my previous life, Olivia knew I was allergic to alcohol and couldn’t drink, which is why she kept convincing me to drive to the reunion. Whenever classmates said they were worried about missing the last train and wanted to leave early, she would point at me with a cheerful smile and say: “Don’t worry, Adeline will take us all home. She used to be student council president, so I’m sure she’d be happy to serve us. In the future, when you guys have emergencies, feel free to call her for rides like I do. She’s so kind, she won’t refuse.” Back then, I thought she was just speaking casually, and since I considered her a good friend, I was genuinely willing to help her. But now, hearing those words again, they sounded nothing but sarcastic. It took dying once to understand that she had simply been treating me like a servant. I snapped back to reality and snatched the car keys back. “This is my car. If you’re really so considerate, you can pay to call rides for everyone.” Olivia froze for a moment, then turned to everyone with a hurt expression: “So Adeline deliberately drove here tonight just to show off her money! Her car isn’t even that expensive anyway. Does she really need to be so precious about it…” As soon as she finished speaking, everyone turned to look at me, whispering among themselves. “She’s always been pretentious. Even after graduation, she’s still like this.” “Olivia is so kind, being friends with someone like that for so many years.” “It’s just a car. If you love it so much, why don’t you just lock it up at home and never drive it!” Noah also pulled me aside and said: “Come on, Adeline. Olivia’s just being nice, wanting to take everyone home. Just let her do it.” I looked at him, fury burning in my chest. If I hadn’t been reborn, I would never have known that he had been hooking up with Olivia all along. I jerked my hand away from his. “Did you forget that Olivia just had alcohol? If she drives my car and something happens, who’s going to take responsibility?” The air fell silent for a few seconds, and everyone began exchanging glances. “That’s actually a good point. Forget it, Olivia. Since she won’t let you use her car to drive us, let’s just call rides home.” Hearing this, Olivia panicked and quickly waved her hands. “No! I have to personally drive everyone home! I only had a tiny sip of alcohol! Besides, it’s past 1 AM now – there are no DUI checkpoints. Trust me.” As she spoke, she pressed down on my car keys with considerable force. Of course I knew why she was so insistent. In my previous life, while I was driving, I got rear-ended by a Rolls-Royce. The owner claimed to be a wealthy overseas businessman who didn’t want to deal with insurance and just gave me the car. But how could she believe that such good fortune really existed in the world – a luxury car worth millions of dollars just given away like that? Seeing that I still wouldn’t agree, she suddenly started crying: “It’s so late now, and we have several girls here. Taking rides would be so dangerous! It’s safer if we drive ourselves back. Adeline, if you think we’re taking advantage of you, I can transfer gas money to you for everyone.” She pulled five hundred dollars from her purse and handed it to me. “Is this enough?” Noah grabbed the money and placed the car keys in Olivia’s palm, his tone mocking. “Just agree already! Olivia is genuinely worried about everyone’s safety. I think you’re just jealous that she’s prettier and more popular than you.” I was about to argue back when Olivia had already plopped down in the driver’s seat. The others pulled me toward the back row. “Hurry up, I’m dead tired.” After getting in the car, I clearly heard Olivia lower her voice and say excitedly: “Just wait. This time, that luxury car will be mine!” I took a deep breath and sneered inwardly. Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll grant your wish.

Olivia hit the road with excitement written all over her face. I could see her eyes in the rearview mirror—they were gleaming in a way that was honestly kind of scary. “Olivia, slow down!” the passenger in the front seat couldn’t help but remind her. She chuckled and said, “Relax, I’m a great driver!” Maybe she was too excited, or maybe the alcohol was getting to her, but she’d barely made it out of the parking lot when she suddenly took a sharp turn. My heart jumped, and before I could say anything, I heard a loud “BANG!” An electric bike got knocked over, and the middle-aged woman riding it, Riley Sanchez, hit the ground. Everyone in the car instantly panicked. “Olivia, what the hell was that driving?” “Can you even drive? Maybe we should let Adeline take over!” Hearing everyone’s complaints, Olivia went pale as a sheet, gripping the steering wheel with trembling hands. Noah panicked too and quickly helped Olivia unbuckle her seatbelt: “Olivia, get in the back seat, now!” He lowered his voice, his eyes darting around: “When the cops get here, just say Adeline was driving.” I stared at him in disbelief: “You want me to take the fall for her?” Noah stuck his neck out defiantly: “Olivia’s your best friend—what’s wrong with helping her out? You haven’t been drinking, and the car’s insured. What are you worried about?” With that, he yanked Olivia out of the driver’s seat: “Olivia, hurry up. I won’t let anything happen to you.” But Olivia suddenly snapped back to reality and glanced down at her watch. She shook her head frantically, broke free from Noah’s grip, and ran over to the electric bike. Crouching down in front of Riley, she asked: “How much do you want? Name your price—as long as you don’t call the police, I’ll pay whatever you ask!” Everyone started whispering among themselves. “What’s gotten into Olivia? A private settlement’s gonna cost a fortune.” “Yeah, what if she asks for a ton of money?” “Olivia, Adeline’s car has insurance. You should just come back.” Olivia completely ignored them and urgently pressed Riley: “Come on, show me your payment code. I’m in a hurry!” Riley struggled to her feet and looked her up and down: “You’re just gonna leave like that? How do I know there won’t be any complications later?” Olivia pointed at my car: “If you’re worried about complications, then take pictures of my license plate. But I really have something urgent to deal with. Just name any amount—I’ll make it worth your while.” Noah looked completely confused and quickly grabbed her: “Olivia, are you drunk out of your mind?” Olivia quietly pulled Noah aside and whispered something in his ear. Noah’s expression changed instantly, and he immediately turned to shout at Riley: “Olivia’s right—the license plate’s right there. If anything comes up later, just track down this car. We really need to leave right now!” I thought they were being absolutely ridiculous. This was my car! I quickly pulled out my phone to secretly record, then got out of the car: “I’m calling the police and the insurance company—” Before I could finish, Noah clamped his hand over my mouth: “No way!” Seeing everyone staring at him, he stammered: “Olivia was kind enough to give everyone a ride home today. We can’t throw her under the bus. If the cops arrest her, she’ll have a criminal record. What about her reputation?” How ridiculous—what about my reputation? Before I could respond, Noah leaned close to my ear with a nasty tone: “Adeline, you’re gonna get this car deregistered tomorrow. When I have money later, I’ll get you a new one.” Olivia pulled him over and said coldly to me: “Enough. You just want to squeeze some money out of me, don’t you? I suggest you think bigger—there’s nothing money can’t solve.” Hearing this, Riley didn’t hesitate to hold up five fingers. Olivia breathed a sigh of relief, immediately scanned Riley’s payment code, and transferred fifty thousand dollars. Riley was stunned. Olivia looked completely relaxed: “I thought it was gonna be more than that. It’s just fifty grand.” Everyone was even more shocked. “Olivia, didn’t you say your family’s financial situation wasn’t great? How do you suddenly have so much money?” “Yeah, that person doesn’t even seem badly hurt—just some scraped skin at most.” “Did you pay too much?” Riley swallowed hard, quickly got back on her electric bike, and rode off: “Well, in that case, this matter ends here. This was voluntary on your part—don’t come looking for me later!” Everyone wanted to chase after her, but Olivia stopped them. She looked smug and said mysteriously: “After tonight, I’m gonna be rich. That fifty thousand was just buying peace of mind—no big deal.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Olivia settled back into the driver’s seat, muttering under her breath: “Good thing that woman didn’t mess things up. My luxury car should be showing up any minute now.” Noah was equally excited, rubbing his hands together as he said: “This is great! We’re about to become rich!” The passengers in the back seat ignored them completely, thinking these two had lost their minds. Sure enough, ten minutes later, when Olivia drove to the stretch of road where she’d been rear-ended in her previous life, a limited edition Rolls-Royce slowly appeared behind them. Seeing that car, Olivia trembled with excitement: “That’s it!” Before she’d even finished speaking, she slammed on the brakes. The next second, the Rolls-Royce crashed hard into them. The classmates in the back seat finally couldn’t take it anymore and started yelling at Olivia: “Why are we so unlucky tonight!” “Olivia, if you can’t drive, don’t take someone else’s car out to show off!” “Let us out right now! We’re not riding in this car anymore!” “Olivia, you didn’t do that on purpose, did you?” Facing their accusations, Olivia just sneered: “Really? When I become a millionaire, don’t come crawling to me.” After saying this, she pushed open the car door and put on a panicked act, walking around to the back of the car to check: “What happened…” A man in his thirties quickly got out of the Rolls-Royce, wearing quite a bit of gold jewelry on his hands. He frowned and demanded: “Why did you suddenly brake?” Olivia looked innocent as she said: “Huh? I didn’t notice. Isn’t there a crosswalk up ahead? I just wanted to slow down a bit.” She blinked her eyes, putting on a pitiful expression. Noah stared intently at that Rolls-Royce, barely able to look away: “Olivia, you were right, it really…” He looked up at the car owner, and his tone immediately became aggressive: “Either way, rear-ending means the car behind is fully at fault, right? How can you yell at her? So tell us, how do you plan to compensate?” I spoke up at the right moment, pretending to be flustered: “This is my car, and now it’s damaged like this…” Olivia immediately glared at me: “What do you mean yours? I’m driving the car, so it’s mine! I was just being nice since we’re good friends and let you drive it all this time. I never thought you’d actually claim the car was yours now.” Noah chimed in with a laugh: “That’s right, I can testify to that. I’m Adeline’s boyfriend, so I know better than anyone. Olivia was just being considerate of her feelings and never called her out on it.” Hearing this, the people around started pointing at me and making snide remarks: “So Adeline loves to put on airs like this.” “She drives Olivia’s car but now claims it’s hers. How fake.” “This is so embarrassing.” Just then, the Rolls-Royce owner looked down at his phone, and his face instantly turned pale. He stumbled as he interrupted everyone, looking directly at Olivia: “You said you’re the car owner, right? Look, I just got back from overseas and I’m not familiar with the domestic police and insurance procedures. Besides, my family has plenty of cars like this.” His voice was trembling: “Since I hit you, I’ll just give you this car.” As soon as he said this, the entire scene fell silent, with everyone discussing in shock: “No way! Olivia’s luck is incredible!” “That guy just gave Olivia a luxury car worth millions of dollars!” “Oh my God, she’s so lucky!” Olivia was so excited her eyes were red, but she still tried to appear composed as she waved her hand: “Actually, you don’t have to do this…” The car owner turned to look at me: “I could give it to you instead.” As soon as he said this, Olivia immediately rushed over and grabbed the car owner’s arm: “In that case, I’ll accept it! Let’s handle the transfer paperwork tomorrow. When would be convenient for you?” The man was sweating profusely and hurriedly handed her a string of numbers: “Tomorrow at 3 PM, I’ll wait for you at the DMV.” After saying this, he quickly hailed a taxi and left in a hurry. After that man left, Olivia circled the Rolls-Royce like she was possessed, muttering nonstop: “I got it! This time it’s finally mine!” She turned to show off to everyone: “Did you see that? This is destiny!” Noah was so excited he could barely speak coherently: “Olivia, you’re amazing! This is a luxury car worth millions of dollars! We’re really going to be rich!” I took a deep breath and carefully examined my car’s trunk. Although this car looked a bit old, it was an imported car my parents specifically bought for me back then. Once damaged, many parts would need to be imported for repairs, and the repair costs could even exceed buying a new car. I looked up at this group of excited people and said calmly: “You promised him you wouldn’t go through insurance, so please cover my repair costs.” As soon as I finished speaking, Noah pointed at me mockingly: “Why is everything about money with you? I never realized you were so materialistic, Adeline. You really disappoint me.” He shook his head with disgust: “Let’s just break up.” The others also cast disdainful looks at me. “Didn’t you say the car wasn’t yours? What are you pretending for now?” “I think you’re just jealous that Olivia suddenly got a luxury car and you’re psychologically unbalanced.” I laughed in anger and directly pulled out the vehicle registration: “Look clearly – that’s my name on it.” Olivia just snorted coldly without concern: “The car is indeed registered under her name, but the person who bought her this car was me. Adeline used to always bully me and forced me to give her a car after graduation. That’s probably why she’s saying this. But whatever, it’s just an old discontinued car – how much could it be worth?” Hearing this, everyone looked at me with even more contempt. “So you forced Olivia to buy you a car? You’re shameless.” “Are you money-crazy? Noah, you did the right thing – you should have broken up with someone like this long ago!” I didn’t bother addressing her slander and just smiled faintly: “The entire trunk is deformed. Repair costs will be at least five hundred thousand dollars.” Hearing this, Olivia turned red with anger: “Five hundred thousand dollars? This car costs five hundred thousand! Adeline! You’re seeing that I have money now and deliberately trying to scam me!” I shrugged indifferently: “If you don’t believe me, I’ll file an insurance claim right now.” Noah quickly grabbed my hand: “Don’t file! If you file insurance, that car owner might not give me that car!” Olivia gritted her teeth and operated on several platforms using her and Noah’s phones. A few minutes later, she actually transferred five hundred thousand dollars to me. I caught a glimpse of their phone screens, clearly showing they had borrowed from several online lending platforms. After I discovered this, she said proudly: “Once I get the car tomorrow, I’ll sell it. This small amount of money means nothing to me.” Noah also laughed and said: “Just a few hundred thousand dollars – consider it charity for you.” I smiled without saying more, watching Olivia excitedly drive away in that Rolls-Royce. That night, she took hundreds of photos with the Rolls-Royce and uploaded them to social media. To show off, she even invited everyone in our class group chat to watch her pick up the car, boasting she’d give each attendee ten thousand dollars for travel expenses. The next afternoon, I went too. As soon as I arrived, I saw Noah intimately holding Olivia. When he saw me, he looked disdainful: “I thought you were so high and mighty, but you still came running for a little money.” Others also made snide remarks. “Exactly, she acted so aloof yesterday.” “Sure enough, no one can resist the temptation of money.” I didn’t respond. I wasn’t there for the ten thousand dollars, but to see how they would handle what came next. Quite a few classmates had gathered at the DMV entrance, all waiting to see Olivia become the owner of a luxury car. She wore designer clothes and exquisite makeup, looking radiant. She proudly waved the Rolls-Royce keys: “Everyone’s here! After we finish the paperwork, we’ll go to the most expensive restaurant to celebrate! My treat today!” Everyone chimed in with various compliments and flattery. Finally, at three o’clock in the afternoon, after the Rolls-Royce was sent for inspection, Olivia confidently dialed the other party’s number. However, the number turned out to be disconnected. Olivia was stunned and dialed again. The same message played. Her face began to turn pale: “What’s going on…” Just then, a DMV employee ran out in panic: “Who’s Olivia? There’s a problem with your car – we can’t process the paperwork!”

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“Asher, please, just let me go.” Chloe was pinned against the dining table, biting her lower lip to evade the man’s kisses. She had just found out she was pregnant today. The doctor said her constitution was very fragile, and it was a miracle she’d conceived at all, so she needed to be extra careful in her daily life. Any slight jolt, bump, or fall could easily lead to a miscarriage, and if that happened, she’d never be able to be a mother. Hearing her plea, Asher scoffed, his eyes bloodshot and blazing. He reached out, clamping her jaw and forcing her to look him in the eye. “Let you go? Chloe, weren’t you always scheming to seduce me? Weren’t you always hoping to get pregnant with my child to solidify your claim as my wife? Why the sudden act now? Or is this your new trick to play hard-to-get?” “I didn’t!” Chloe shook her head, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes. She had never wanted Asher this way. A child should be a symbol of love, not a tool. “You didn’t? You think I’d believe that?” Asher sneered, a chilling coldness in his eyes and brows. He stared into her tear-filled eyes, mocking, “If it weren’t for this face of yours, identical to Izzy’s, do you really think I’d ever touch you?” “Asher, I’ve told you countless times! I never pushed Izzy down the stairs; she jumped on her own!” “She jumped on her own? Chloe, that was from the fourth floor! Izzy and I were about to get married. Why would she jump? You must have forced her, you’re the one who put her in a coma all this time!” Chloe desperately shook her head in denial, but in Asher’s drunken eyes, she was simply making excuses. His gaze grew even colder, thick with disgust. “Do you know why I’ve kept you around and haven’t sent you to jail?” Chloe’s breath hitched, the last hint of color draining from her face. She knew. Of course, she knew. Izzy had a heart condition. Asher had said it more than once: Izzy needed a heart, and as Izzy’s biological sister, Chloe was a 100% match. “Soon, Izzy will be able to have her heart transplant surgery.” Asher said it softly, but his tender tone was like a cruel saw, tearing at her heart with every agonizing word, leaving her bleeding and broken inside. Asher had never once considered that without her heart, she’d die. “Asher, haven’t you ever thought about believing me, just once?” Asher sneered, “Hah, what about you is worth *any* trust?!” Chloe’s entire body stiffened and grew cold. He would never believe her, of course. Faced with Asher’s misunderstanding, she couldn’t explain anymore. She could only beg. Whatever happened, her only wish now was to protect this baby. “Asher, please, I’m begging you, let me go! I don’t feel well today, I really don’t feel well.” “Sick?” Asher scoffed coldly, a flicker of sarcasm in his eyes. “Chloe, if you were to die from illness, I wouldn’t even bother to bury you.” Asher roughly tore open Chloe’s clothes. “From now on, shut your mouth. I don’t want to hear your voice!” Her voice was different from Izzy’s. Izzy’s voice was like a sweet songbird, while Chloe’s vocal cords had become hoarse and unpleasant due to a severe cold in the past. Because of this, Asher always demanded she remain silent during their encounters. Chloe painfully closed her eyes. Just then, the dining room door suddenly burst open. Isabelle stared incredulously at the two in the room, clutching her chest. “You…!” “Izzy! You, you’re awake?” Asher panicked, roughly pushing Chloe away and rushing towards Isabelle. The push sent Chloe sprawling, her lower abdomen slamming hard against the table’s edge. A sharp, violent pain instantly ripped through her. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively clutched her stomach, terrified something had happened to the baby inside her. She wanted to call out to Asher, but he was already gone, cradling her twin sister, Isabelle. Chloe struggled to her feet, numbly picking up the torn pieces of her clothes and wrapping them around herself. Enduring the dull ache in her lower abdomen, she limped back to the small, neglected room he’d assigned her. Asher said a vicious woman like her only deserved to live in the staff annex. Back in the room, she immediately pulled out the prenatal medication hidden under her pillow and took two pills. After a while, the pain in her stomach gradually subsided. Chloe gently stroked her belly, thinking, *This child, I absolutely must protect this child.* At the hospital. Isabelle, her face deathly pale, wept silently. “Asher, how could you be with Chloe? Don’t you know, she’s the one who forced me to jump, so I couldn’t marry you.” “Izzy, you’ve misunderstood. I’ve never loved Chloe; you’ve always been the only one I love.” Asher gently stroked Isabelle’s head, his voice tender. “Ever since you saved me when I was seven, you’ve been the only one in my heart.” Isabelle lowered her head, a flash of coldness and disgust in her eyes hidden beneath her dark lashes, but on the surface, she maintained her fragile act. “But… if you don’t love Chloe, why would you do such a thing?” Isabelle’s tears streamed down her face. “I’m in so much pain. I wish I hadn’t woken up. Just thinking about the person who harmed me being with the person I love… I’m breaking down, especially since that person is my own sister!” Tears slid down Isabelle’s beautiful face, and Asher immediately became anxious. “It… it was Chloe who seduced me. I won’t be with Chloe anymore. She hurt you so badly; how do you want to get back at her?” Isabelle, her eyes red, looked at Asher. “Asher, I don’t want to see her face.” Asher clenched his fist, a dangerous glint in his eyes. “I understand. Don’t overthink it. I love you, I don’t love Chloe at all. Your priority is to get well, understand?” Isabelle lay obediently in Asher’s arms, her eyes gleaming with undisguised triumph. After spending several hours with Isabelle at the hospital, coaxing her to sleep, Asher left with a grim expression. He returned to the villa, found the small, neglected room Chloe lived in, and violently kicked the door open. The loud “bang” startled Chloe awake from her uneasy dreams. The moment she saw Asher, Chloe instantly became wary. “You, why are you here?” Shouldn’t he be at the hospital with Isabelle, who had just woken up? Asher stood by the bed, looking down at Chloe. Then he pulled a small dagger from his pocket and tossed it onto the nearby table. The blade hit the tabletop with a sharp clang. Asher’s gaze was calm. “Izzy said she doesn’t like your face. You should know what to do.” Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You want me to ruin my own face?” “Chloe, blame it on that face of yours!” Asher took a step forward, his large hand clamping down hard on Chloe’s jaw. “And, later, you’re going to kneel before Izzy and apologize, telling her you seduced me!” “Asher, have you lost your mind!” “I haven’t. If you don’t apologize, I recall you have a grandfather who raised you from childhood, right? I’ll make him slash his own face and kneel to apologize to Izzy.” Chloe’s heart was ripped apart, her emotions crashing down in an instant. She looked painfully at the man before her, his face tight, his gaze cold and unfamiliar. She screamed hysterically, “Asher, if you dare touch my grandpa, I’ll fight you to the death!” Asher watched her, his expression indifferent. “You can try.” Chloe took a deep breath. She knew she couldn’t fight Asher. Her gaze turned icy as she stared at him. “Asher, don’t touch my grandpa. I’ll do as you say!” Chloe closed her eyes in despair, taking a deep, shuddering breath. *It’s fine. It’s just a face. What’s there to be afraid of? Being disfigured is better than death.* With a surge of strength, she pressed the blade, and a gush of blood erupted from her right cheek. It hurt so much, but even that agonizing pain couldn’t compare to the coldness in her heart. Blood dripped onto Chloe’s clothes, staining them. Her beautiful, delicate face now bore a gruesome, disfiguring wound. Asher looked at the jagged cut on Chloe’s face, and at the desperate look she’d given him moments ago. For some reason, a strange, tight grip squeezed his heart. Chloe, still holding the bloodied dagger, tried to slash her left cheek, but Asher grabbed her wrist. “That’s enough. Now, go apologize to Izzy.” … In the chilling silence of the hospital room, only the crisp sound of slaps could be heard. Chloe had no idea how many times she had slapped herself. She just numbly raised her hand and brought it down again, repeating the motion. With each slap, she muttered, “I’m sorry, I seduced Asher. I’m sorry, I seduced him.” She didn’t dare stop; her grandpa’s life depended on it! Before her eyes was the sight of Asher and Isabelle nestled together, Asher constantly comforting Isabelle, telling her that once she recovered and had her heart transplant, he would marry her. Chloe listened to Asher’s tender tone that seeped into her very bones, feeling a pain in her heart as if it were laced with poison. Suddenly, her arm went limp. She couldn’t lift it anymore; it dropped weakly to her side. Asher watched Chloe’s bloodied face, his eyes cold, his emotions completely unmoved. “Why did you stop? Izzy hasn’t forgiven you for seducing me yet.” “Asher, I think my sister knows she was wrong. Let’s not push her anymore. Sister, you should go back and rest well.” Isabelle said, seemingly out of mercy, but to Asher, it sounded like Chloe was being ungrateful. He walked up to Chloe and raised his hand, fiercely slapping her. The slap landed squarely on her injured wound, and Chloe let out a piercing scream of pain. The sound was utterly desolate, causing her to instantly lose consciousness. “Chloe, don’t you dare pretend to be dead.” He instinctively thought Chloe was faking it. It was just a slap; how could she pass out? But the only response was a deathly silence. Asher finally realized something was wrong. He quickly turned Chloe over and cursed under his breath when he saw the raw, open wound on her face. “Damn it!” Asher scooped her up and rushed to the emergency room. Half an hour later, the doctor emerged. He pulled down his mask and spoke. “Mr. Asher, Ms. Chloe fainted from excessive blood loss. The wound on her face has been treated, but it will likely leave a scar. There’s also something else: Ms. Chloe is pregnant.” The doctor’s words made Asher’s hand, holding a cigarette, tremble. “What did you say? She’s pregnant?” The doctor looked confused. “Yes, she’s about a month along.” “I understand.” Asher pursed his lips, his deep-set eyes instantly growing dark and profound. Isabelle sat in her hospital room, her mind filled with the words the bribed nurse had whispered to her earlier. She hadn’t expected Chloe to be pregnant! *That bitch, how could she carry Asher’s child!* Isabelle gritted her teeth in furious resentment. Then, a spark ignited in her mind, and an idea formed. Asher sat by Chloe’s bedside, gazing at her sleeping face. He didn’t know why, but he found himself absurdly conflating the image of the little girl who saved him with Chloe’s face. *Impossible!* It was Izzy who saved him, not Chloe. He must just be sleep-deprived lately, which was why he was having such a ridiculous intuition. Just then, Chloe vaguely stirred from her unconsciousness. “Where am I?” Chloe’s voice pulled Asher abruptly from his thoughts. Remembering that Chloe was a month pregnant, Asher’s eyes turned utterly cold. “Chloe, I can’t believe you secretly got pregnant?” “I…” Chloe was still groggy, her mind not yet clear from confusion. Reflexively, she grabbed Asher’s hand, wanting to explain. But Asher didn’t give her the chance, immediately dialing his assistant. “Arrange an abortion, now!” “Asher, how can you be so cruel? You’re going to kill your own child! I’m begging you, please, just let him live!” Chloe pleaded, her eyes red. “He won’t threaten Izzy. If you just let me give birth to him, I’ll give my heart to Izzy right away. I’m begging you!” Asher gripped Chloe’s chin, then harshly kicked her in the stomach. A sharp, violent cramp immediately shot through Chloe’s abdomen. She looked at Asher in disbelief, his eyes filled with icy disdain. “Chloe, don’t think for a second I don’t know what you’re thinking. Do you believe by secretly having this child you can keep me?” “I’m telling you, that’s never going to happen!” Hearing his words, Chloe laughed, tears instantly streaming from her eyes. She should have known this would be the outcome, shouldn’t she? Chloe thought, *It was all her fault. She made a terrible mistake loving him, and now she couldn’t even protect her own baby.* Asher stood nearby, and when he saw the utter despair in her eyes, his breath hitched. His heart felt as if something had just pierced it. A deathly silence spread through the hospital room… Just then, the door to the room suddenly burst open. The nurse attending to Isabelle rushed in, panicked. “Mr. Asher, Ms. Isabelle is not doing well! The doctor says Ms. Isabelle needs immediate heart surgery!” “What did you say?” “The doctor said Ms. Isabelle’s condition was stable and her heart could wait, but she was agitated two days ago, and her emotions are unstable, so the surgery must happen immediately.” Asher’s eyes deepened upon hearing this. “Alright, I understand.” As soon as the nurse left, Chloe nervously clutched the bedsheets. Her eyes, filled with dread, stared at Asher, her heart pounding frantically. Meeting Asher’s gaze, Chloe’s lips trembled as she asked, “Asher, what are you going to do?” “Izzy’s heart isn’t well. You should know what needs to happen next.” Asher stared at her, his eyes devoid of any emotion. “You want me to give her my heart? Right now?” Chloe looked at Asher in disbelief, her right hand tightly gripping the fabric over her lower abdomen. She was still carrying his child; how could he be so heartless? Asher looked up at her. “Why not now? Whether the child is aborted or not, the final outcome is the same. Both of you have to die! Isn’t that right?” Chloe felt as if something inside her had shattered. *Yes, long ago, when she had suffered so much she wanted to die but couldn’t, she had already been told that Asher wouldn’t let her die.* Because she was still useful: Izzy needed her heart! She had known the outcome for so long, so why, now that this moment had truly arrived, did her heart ache so much? “Asher, no, I won’t! I’m still pregnant; I can’t have heart surgery, I can’t!” Chloe rose from the bed, her mind in a daze. She only knew to beg Asher not to do this, completely forgetting that this man had just said he would never let her go. Asher gave the order mercilessly. “Guards, take Chloe to the operating room. Give Izzy her heart.” After giving the command, he immediately left. As Asher walked out, a group of bodyguards and nurses swarmed through the door, rushing to Chloe’s bedside and hauling her up. “No! Let go of me! How dare you? I’m still alive, I don’t want to donate my heart! This is illegal!” Chloe struggled, twisting her body, trying to break free from the nurses’ grip. “Ms. Chloe, Mr. Asher has already spoken with his lawyer. This heart surgery is a voluntary donation of the organ source. It’s not illegal.” The nurse explained, a hint of pity in her eyes as she looked at Chloe. Chloe heard this and gave up struggling, a self-mocking laugh escaping her lips. Their words meant that no matter how much she resisted, the outcome wouldn’t change! But even if she died, she would watch Izzy and Asher, remember their faces, and return as a vengeful spirit to haunt them and claim their lives! “You don’t need to hold me. I’ll go myself.” Chloe stopped struggling. She lowered her head and placed her hand on her abdomen. *Baby, I’m sorry. Mom couldn’t protect you. In our next life, even if I have to work like an ox or a horse, I’ll repay what I owe you!* Raising her head, Chloe took a step, then another, walking towards the operating room. In the operating room, Chloe, dressed in a sterile gown, lay desperately on the operating table, her gaze fixed with hatred on Izzy on the adjacent table. Looking at that face, identical to her own, Chloe wanted to tear her apart! “Surgery begins.” As the doctor announced, Chloe felt a sharp, icy prick on the skin of her arm. She had endured so many injections to protect her baby, but none had hurt like this one. As the injection finished, the tubes on Izzy’s operating table were pulled out. Immediately, Izzy rose and walked over to Chloe’s side. “You, how can you be…?” Chloe’s eyes widened as she stared at Isabelle, who showed no signs of weakness, a look of utter astonishment in her eyes. Isabelle smiled, her arms crossed. “What? Is my sister surprised to see me like this?” Watching her smile, Chloe suddenly realized. She turned to look at the doctors nearby, and sure enough, they had all put away their surgical tools, standing impassively as if they hadn’t seen anything happening. Chloe’s cold sweat immediately broke out. “What did you inject me with?” “What do you think?” Isabelle’s lips curved into a smirk. She reached out and pressed hard on the wound on Chloe’s face. A searing pain shot through Chloe’s face, and the blood, which had just stopped, began to flow again. “What a shame, such a beautiful face, ruined just like that.” Isabelle said with a feigned sigh, her face devoid of any actual pity! Chloe was about to say something when a sudden, sharp pain ripped through her lower abdomen. Isabelle had picked up a glass bottle and pressed it down hard on her stomach. Chloe’s eyes widened, her eyeballs bulging, blood vessels crawling through them. *Her baby, her baby!* A warm gush flowed down her thighs, and the smell of blood began to fill the operating room. “Baby… my baby…” The agonizing, heart-wrenching pain drowned out Chloe’s desperate cries. The torment in her abdomen was so suffocating she wished she could die instantly. Her baby, just like that, was gone! That was her precious baby, her very soul! “Isabelle, why don’t you just kill me? Why?!” Chloe struggled frantically, her reason completely lost, glaring fixedly at Isabelle. Isabelle, however, just laughed. “Kill you? That would be too easy, Chloe. How does it feel to watch your baby slip away? Does it feel good?” “What’s the point of all this? You’ve gained so much, why won’t you just leave me alone?” She didn’t understand. They were supposed to be the closest of kin, yet Isabelle had hated her so much since childhood. What had she ever done to offend her? “Leave you alone?” Isabelle laughed as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Chloe, do you have any idea how much I hate you!” “We both learned to dance, but you were so talented while I could never learn. I hated you for it!” “And Mom and Dad, too. Growing up, no matter what, they always favored you. And me? I was always ignored!” “And Asher, why was it you who saved him, and not me?!” “What did you say?” Chloe didn’t understand the meaning of her last sentence. Seeing Chloe’s bewildered expression, Isabelle’s smile grew even colder. “Do you know why Asher is so utterly devoted to me? Because I’ve always told him that I was the one who saved him from the fire when he was a child. But actually, that day, I originally planned to set you on fire, but unfortunately…” “!!!” So the little boy she saved as a child was Asher. Chloe stared blankly at the ceiling. Why was fate playing such a cruel joke on her? Isabelle looked at the blood continuously gushing onto the operating table, a soothing sense of pleasure surging through her heart. But this wasn’t over yet. A glint flashed in Isabelle’s eyes, and then she suddenly screamed. “Ah—” Asher heard Isabelle’s scream and immediately pushed open the operating room door. The moment he entered, the smell of blood hit him. The scene before his eyes froze him in place. Chloe lay slumped on the operating table, wearing a white gown, her body covered in bright red blood. Even her dangling hair was dripping with it. Asher’s brows furrowed in a sharp frown, but before he could dwell on it, his thoughts were interrupted by Isabelle’s cries. **截断点** “Asher, what do we do? Is my sister having a baby? Asher, quickly call the obstetrician!” Isabelle clutched the edge of the bed, weak and frail, her face utterly haggard. Asher immediately rushed over, scooping Isabelle into his arms. “Izzy, your heart isn’t well; how can you get out of bed?” “I saw my sister bleeding heavily, I’m scared…” Isabelle seemed to be at a loss. “Asher, forget about me for now, quickly call a doctor to save my sister! Even if she’s not good to me, I don’t want anything bad to happen to her.” Asher immediately made a call. However, the next second, Chloe suddenly sprang up, then violently lunged at Asher, pulling Isabelle from his arms. Isabelle was caught off guard. She never expected Chloe to have so much strength while bleeding heavily, so she fell unprotected to the floor, hitting her head. Stars instantly exploded in her vision. She wanted to scream, but the searing pain that followed made it impossible. Chloe’s eyes were filled with overwhelming hatred. She straddled Isabelle, pouring all her strength into every brutal punch, hitting Isabelle’s chest again and again. She wanted Isabelle to pay for her baby’s life; she wanted Isabelle to die in agony! Chloe’s vision was consumed by darkness, for her world had already been plunged into blackness. Asher had been stunned for a moment by Chloe’s sudden actions. By the time he reacted, he saw Isabelle on the verge of unconsciousness from Chloe’s blows. He immediately lifted Chloe away from Isabelle. Chloe struggled desperately, turning her head and biting hard into Asher’s bicep. No matter how tough his muscles were, they were no match for her teeth. Chloe only thought of avenging her child, and Asher, in pain, immediately flung Chloe away. Chloe fell to the floor, her vision blurring for a moment, unable to sit up. She braced herself with her hands, glaring with gritted teeth at the two people before her. “You despicable, cheating pair! You murdered my baby! I will avenge my child!” Asher’s face was so dark upon hearing Chloe’s words, it almost dripped ink. He shook the blood from his arm, his voice cold and sharp, his eyes piercing. “Chloe, you’re absolutely insane.” “I’m insane?” Chloe lay on the floor, laughing, her heart bleeding endlessly. “Asher, you’re right. I am insane. I was utterly insane to have ever loved you, but you don’t deserve it. You don’t deserve it at all!” Asher glared at her. “You’re completely irrational! Guards, lock Chloe in the ICU! No food or water without my permission!” With that, Asher picked up Isabelle and left. Chloe was restrained by Asher’s bodyguards and locked in the ICU. She remained perfectly calm throughout, offering no struggle. She was imprisoned by Asher for seven days. Asher didn’t visit her once. On the eighth day, someone entered the ICU, but it wasn’t Asher. Chloe stared blankly at the person standing at the doorway. “Liam…” Liam was a medical student senior she knew from university. They had been good friends. She had thought she’d never see him again after graduation, but who would have thought they would meet under such circumstances. “Chloe, I finally found you. I’m taking you away.” A flicker of surprise crossed Liam’s eyes. “No… I’m not leaving.” Chloe struggled to move Liam’s hand away, a faint smile on her face as she looked at him. “Liam, I appreciate your kindness, but if I leave, Asher won’t let my family go.” “Chloe… your grandpa…” “What about my grandpa?” Liam lowered his eyes. “He… he passed away.” Hearing this, Chloe froze completely. Her vision instantly went black, and only a buzzing sound filled her ears. “You… what did you say?” The air seemed to be sucked out of the room. Chloe’s face went stark white. She gripped Liam’s arm tightly, her voice trembling in a way that twisted his heart. “Why? How could this happen?” Liam said gravely, “Your grandpa passed away from a heart attack. I was passing by his house yesterday and found him collapsed on the floor. Even though I immediately administered aid, he couldn’t be revived.” Chloe desperately shook her head. Grandpa Arthur had always been so healthy; how could he have a heart attack? This was impossible, impossible! Pain slowly spread across Chloe’s face, as if a thousand needles were simultaneously piercing her heart, causing her to sob loudly. “Liam, please, take me to see Grandpa.” “Okay.” At the funeral home. The moment Chloe entered, she saw the portrait of her grandpa in the mourning hall. In that instant, her vision blurred, and a sharp pain from her chest immediately triggered her tear ducts. Chloe’s tears gushed out, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably, collapsing onto the soft cushion. “Grandpa, Grandpa, I’m here. Why did this happen?” Chloe’s voice was hoarse, her breath ragged. The intense emotional shock ravaged her entire being, making her wish for death. Liam looked at Chloe, his heart aching. He knelt down to comfort her. “Chloe, please accept my condolences.” Chloe’s vision was a blur; she felt the taste of blood in her throat. She couldn’t understand. She had only not seen her grandpa for a week, and now they were separated forever by death. Just then, a group of burly men in black suddenly barged into the mourning hall. The man in charge spoke, giving an order, “Smash this mourning hall! Whoever smashes it the worst, I’ll give them twenty times their pay.” Chloe heard this and immediately panicked. “Who are you? What are you doing?” The leader glanced at Chloe, said nothing, but raised his hand and gestured. The group of burly men behind him began to tear apart the mourning hall. Liam stepped forward to stop them, but how could he be a match for these men? The moment he rushed forward, two men in black immediately hauled him away. Chloe’s eyes were bulging, unable to stop them. Her grandpa’s mourning hall was completely demolished. Despair spread through her heart, and even her breathing came with convulsive pain. *Why was she so useless? She couldn’t even protect her grandpa’s last shred of dignity.* Just then, one of the thugs, carrying her grandpa’s urn, ran out through another side door. Chloe almost shrieked, “What are you doing?!” She immediately gave chase, following him to the back door of the funeral home, where she saw the thug hand her grandpa’s urn to Isabelle! In that moment, a chilling realization dawned on Chloe: Isabelle was involved in her grandpa’s death!!! Isabelle raised her chin, watching the tormented expression on Chloe’s face as if it were the most delightful thing to behold. “Chloe, want to know how Grandpa Arthur died?” “You know?” “Of course, I know. He was killed by you, by his most beloved granddaughter!” Isabelle said, opening her phone, and pressing play on a video. “Chloe, look closely. Do you see it? Grandpa Arthur, he was so shocked by *that* that he died. The expression on his face at the time, it was truly…” Isabelle savored the memory, her face alight with pleasure, repeating the scene word by word to Chloe. Chloe’s eyes widened, staring at the phone screen, at her own tormented appearance at Asher’s hands. She clutched her heart in pain, her eyes bloodshot, tears streaming uncontrollably from her eyes. “Isabelle, how could you be so cruel! He was your grandpa too!” Chloe yelled, pointing at Isabelle, one hand clutching her heart. Over the past six months, all the pain she had endured, along with all the kindness her grandpa had shown her, flashed through her mind like a horrific film. Chloe completely broke down, slumping numbly to the ground, letting her tears fall. It was all her fault. She was the one who dragged Grandpa Arthur into this; she was the one who killed him! “So what if he was my grandpa? That old fool, all he ever did was care about you, never even asking about me. And in the end, he even wanted to leave the ancestral home to you! I’m his granddaughter too; why didn’t he consider me more?” Chloe felt like she was crying blood, not tears. She glared at Isabelle. “Isabelle, you’re not human! You’re an animal!” Isabelle laughed maniacally, completely unaffected. “Whether I’m human or not is none of your concern, but I know that once you give me your heart, you’ll soon stop being human, Chloe. Are you full of hatred? Utterly broken?” Hatred? Of course. She had lost her child, lost the grandpa who had loved her since she was a baby. How could she not be full of hatred? Despair? Absolutely. Asher didn’t love her, he tormented her, trampling her heart into the dirt. How could she not be utterly broken?

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“Look at these photos! You disgust me!” Julian leaned down, snatched an envelope from the coffee table, pulled out a thick stack of pictures, and hurled them at me. Dozens of photos scattered instantly, fluttering wildly before landing all over the floor. I stared at Julian, utterly bewildered, then picked up one that had landed on the sofa in front of me. “This…” My voice died in my throat the moment I saw the picture, my wide, innocent eyes staring, round as saucers. I quickly gathered all the photos around me. Each one showed a naked man and woman passionately entangled in a luxurious King-Size hotel bed, doing things that made my face burn with shame. And the woman in the photos was me. “What ‘this’? I never would have thought that Chloe Davis, the heiress of the mighty Davis Empire, would stoop to such shameless acts!” Julian roared, his voice deafening, laced with uncontrollable fury. “No, I didn’t, Julian. I’ve never done anything to betray you…” I reached out, tugging at the hem of his jacket, pleading pitifully, tears welling in my eyes. He violently my hand away and took a few steps forward. “Enough! The evidence is right in front of me. Stop your act; it makes me sick.” I slumped onto the sofa, sobbing helplessly. “Mrs. Jenkins, bring the medicine over for her.” Julian’s thin lips pressed together as if he’d made a grave decision, then he suddenly called out. Mrs. Jenkins walked straight over, holding a small white porcelain bowl in her hands. “What medicine?” I lifted my head at his words, my swollen eyes questioning Mrs. Jenkins. “Young Master, this…” Mrs. Jenkins looked at Julian, a hint of difficulty in her expression. “Abortion pills,” he pronounced, the words chillingly firm. Boom! It felt like a thunderclap had exploded in my mind. I slapped the bowl out of Mrs. Jenkins’ hand and stood up. “Julian Thorne, are you insane? You’re making me drink abortion pills!” “Why else would I keep that bastard child?!” Julian was clearly enraged by my outburst. He turned, his voice dark and menacing. “It’s your child, it’s not a bastard! It’s not!” I shrieked, my voice raw and hoarse. “Enough!” Julian roared. He took a massive stride forward and suddenly gripped my neck. “Today, you will drink this medicine, whether you want to or not!” I struggled desperately, but I couldn’t break free from his iron grip. My face turned crimson from lack of oxygen. Soon, Mrs. Jenkins brought another bowl, and Julian finally released his hand from my throat. “Cough, cough,” I gasped, sucking in fresh air, but Julian roughly shoved me back, pinning me beneath him. “You… you can’t do this to me!” My hands were firmly pressed down by his leg, unable to move. Only my feet flailed wildly, but it was useless. “Why can’t I? Who do you think you are?” Julian’s eyes gleamed with a chilling coldness. He pinched my chin with one hand, forcing my head up, and took the medicine bowl from Mrs. Jenkins with the other. “Julian, I beg you, don’t do this to me! Please, don’t!” My tears gushed out like a broken dam. I pleaded, my voice hoarse from crying. But the man was heartless, completely unmoved. He ignored my pleas, not even a flicker of emotion crossing his face. He brought the bowl to my lips and forcefully poured the liquid down my throat. “Cough, cough, cough…” I choked violently, the bitter concoction spilling over me, though most of it was forced down. “Mrs. Jenkins, from today onwards, without my permission, my wife won’t be allowed to step foot outside this villa.” Julian stood up, casting a disdainful glance at me crumpled on the sofa, issuing his command like an arrogant king. “You!” I started to speak, but a knife-twisting pain suddenly erupted in my lower abdomen. I clutched my stomach and curled up on the sofa. Blood seeped from beneath my dress, quickly staining the fabric. I felt a wet warmth spreading, and I struggled to speak to Julian, “Please, save my baby…” But the man remained completely indifferent, not even sparing me a glance before he stormed out the door. The pain was so intense that my whole body slid from the sofa to the floor, large beads of sweat trickled down my forehead. Mrs. Jenkins had quietly retreated at some point, and in the vast villa, only my agonizing moans could be faintly heard. I felt as if my child was slipping away with every passing second, yet I was utterly helpless, my lips parched and pale. There was no one to even call for help. The intense pain spread from my stomach throughout my entire body. Tears mingled with sweat and the blood on my dress, soaking my clothes in a truly horrific sight. Before long, the pain consumed me, and I lost consciousness. When I woke again, I was in this familiar room, dressed in clean clothes. This had once been our bridal suite, every corner filled with memories of our happy moments. But now, the entire room felt chillingly cold, like a faded painting devoid of color, lifeless and desolate. Instinctively, I placed a hand on my lower abdomen, but my flat stomach was a cruel reminder: my baby was gone. Tears sprang from my eyes again, soaking the pillow beneath me. I longed to cry my heart out, but at that moment, I could only weep silently, my sobs almost imperceptible. Since I woke up, Mrs. Jenkins had brought me three meals a day on a small tray, but I hadn’t touched a drop of food or water. I felt like a hollow shell, a walking corpse. I’d open my eyes and simply stare blankly out the window for an entire day. And so, on the third day, Julian appeared. Still half-asleep, I felt a massive jolt. When I opened my eyes, I was already being dragged from the bed, my weak body roughly pressed against the dining table by Julian. “Eat,” he said, his voice cold, as he leaned one hand on the table, standing inches from me. I didn’t even lift an eyelid, my gaze still vacant and distant, my face utterly devoid of emotion. “You’re going to eat, do you hear me!” Julian snarled, grabbing the bowl of porridge from the table and shoving it into my hands, his intensity as if he could devour me whole. But I slowly, deliberately, placed the bowl back on the table, a slight curve to my lips. “What, are you afraid I’ll starve to death?” “Afraid? You think too highly of yourself. You gave me such a huge slap in the face; I haven’t tormented you enough yet. How could I let you die so easily?” Julian’s voice echoed like a demon’s in my ears. For a moment, my eyes widened. I couldn’t understand where the loving, tender Julian I once knew had gone. The man before me was so cold, it was as if we were strangers. He picked up the bowl again, scooping a large spoonful of porridge, and brought it to my lips. But I suddenly recoiled, standing up and putting distance between us. When Mrs. Jenkins called him, telling him I hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for two days, he’d dropped everything and rushed back without a thought. This foolish woman, trying to go on a hunger strike. Fine, she thought this would set her free, did she? Dream on! Julian took a large sip from the porridge bowl, then closed the distance between us in a few quick strides. Seeing him approach, I instinctively backed away, my eyes wide, as if I were looking at something utterly repulsive. “Ah!” My lower back hit the window railing, and I cried out in pain. Before I could react, Julian had me cornered against the floor-to-ceiling window. I looked up into his eyes. “What are you doin’…” My words were cut short as Julian’s kiss landed precisely on my lips. I struggled fiercely, but he held me tight against him, my hands pinned behind my back, his arm clamped around my waist. Then, slowly, he forced the porridge from his mouth into mine, making me swallow every drop. “You!” I glared at him indignantly, frantically wiping my lips. “Well, are you going to finish the porridge obediently, or do you want me to keep feeding you?” Julian asked playfully. “I’ll drink it myself!” I glared back at him. “Good, saves us both trouble.” And so, under Julian’s watchful eye, I finished the entire bowl of porridge. Afterward, Julian didn’t linger. He gave a couple of instructions to Mrs. Jenkins and then left. Having witnessed this man’s ruthless methods, I sat motionless at the dining table, a bitter smile on my face. Was this truly the same man who had once sworn eternal love to me? It was all so unbelievable… Unexpectedly, Julian returned for dinner, sitting upright at the dining table. Seeing me descend the stairs, ready to eat, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touched his lips. It seemed I was still obedient. Perhaps it was due to the days without food or water, but my face was pale. My once form-fitting loungewear now hung loosely on my frame, making me appear even more fragile and bony. Looking at Julian’s still handsome face, my heart ached. I walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down. “Let’s get a divorce,” I said calmly, without anger, as soon as I was seated. “What did you say?” Julian was visibly startled; he hadn’t expected me to say that. “Divorce,” I repeated, my face expressionless. He tugged at his tie with long fingers, clearly irritated. “Chloe Davis, have you lost your damn mind?” “You…” I closed my eyes in pain, as if recalling something terribly hurtful, and whispered, “You could lay hands on your own flesh and blood. Why keep me by your side?” “My own flesh and blood?” Julian sneered, lifting his gaze to my face. “Even now, you’re still trying to deny it? If the woman in those photos isn’t you, then who is it? Go on, explain it to me. Do you have a long-lost sister?” “…” I pressed my lips together, unable to utter a single word in my defense. I had been the Davis family’s only darling daughter since childhood; how could I have a sister, let alone an identical twin? Yet, I swore I had never done anything like that with another man… Unbeknownst to me, Julian had risen and walked behind me. He suddenly lifted me from the chair. “What are you doing?” I demanded, shaking myself awake. The next moment, his handsome face filled my vision, then he leaned down and claimed my lips. “Mmmph…” I desperately pounded on his chest, trying to push him away, but the man held my hands behind my back with one hand and tightly embraced my waist with the other, pressing me close against him. He had only intended to punish me slightly, to assert his undeniable dominance. But the moment he drew near and inhaled my unique fragrance, he was lost in it. The feeling of him intimately exploring my mouth made me feel even more humiliated, and my eyes welled up with fresh tears. *Plip!* A single hot tear dropped onto Julian’s chest, searing through his thin shirt. He looked down to see me, the woman in his arms, pouting and crying, and he instantly sobered. He roughly pushed me away, then turned and said, “Listen to me, woman. Even if we divorce, it’ll only happen when I’m tired of you. Otherwise, you’ll never leave me in this lifetime!” I staggered where he pushed me, his words leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. “Hello? Be at the Thorne mansion in half an hour. Now.” Julian said coldly into his phone, then turned and left the dining room. “Damn it!” Julian cursed under his breath as he walked into the living room and sat on the sofa. The president of the mighty Thorne Corporation, flustered and agitated over a woman? It must be because he hadn’t touched a woman in too long, so he called for Serena Price, a prominent socialite from Olympus City’s elite circles. There had been countless women who pursued him, but his reputation as a doting husband was also well-known throughout Olympus City, breaking many young women’s hearts. But now, this woman, whom he had once held so dear, dared to betray him. He would make sure she understood the consequences of betrayal! He had told himself more than once that he absolutely couldn’t fall for such a woman again! Yet, he had to admit, for a fleeting moment just now, he had truly lost himself. A short while later, the doorbell rang urgently, and Mrs. Jenkins quickly went to open it. “Julian, did you miss me?” A syrupy sweet voice cooed, and a woman in a tight black dress sashayed in, her voluptuous figure swaying provocatively, the body-con design accentuating her curves. It was Serena Price, the mayor’s daughter. Her chestnut-brown waves cascaded over her shoulders, and the strapless design exposed her alluring collarbones. Her bright, expressive eyes fixed on Julian, who was seated on the sofa, from the moment she entered. She walked directly towards the man she had admired for so long, wrapped her arms around his neck, and settled onto his lap, leaning in to offer her vivid red lips. Julian frowned, his handsome brows furrowing in displeasure, and subtly shifted, expertly dodging her advance. The woman in his lap froze, looking at his action. Hadn’t he called her here himself? For some reason, he felt no interest in the woman eagerly offering herself to him. In fact, he felt a slight resistance. But then, his eyes caught a glimpse of my figure standing in the dining room doorway, looking on, and a harsh glint flashed in his eyes. He took control, gripping the back of the woman’s neck and pressing his lips to hers. Tears streamed down my face. The scene in the living room assaulted my eyes and nerves. I turned my head, wanting to avert my gaze from this revolting live-action show, yet my legs felt like lead, stuck to the spot. “Oh, I want you~” Serena cooed, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. My red, swollen eyes followed the sound. Feeling my gaze, Julian looked at the stunning woman beneath him, a husky laugh escaping his throat as he playfully chided, “You little tease~” Julian stood up, still holding the woman in his arms, and swept her into his arms, heading towards the bedroom on the second floor. As he passed the dining room doorway, he didn’t even glance at me, completely ignoring my living presence. Only the woman in his arms looked at me standing there, every expression on her face oozing with blatant provocation and triumph. She tightened her arms around Julian, proudly asserting her claim. Watching their retreating figures, my heart turned to dust. If everything before had been a misunderstanding, perhaps there might have been some faint hope of forgiveness. But now, he was intimately involved with another woman right in front of me! I felt as though my heart was being stabbed by dozens of knives, suffocating me. All the love between us, at that moment, was extinguished and vanished completely. I stared at the closed bedroom door upstairs, wiped the tears from my face, and returned to my own room. Back in the empty bedroom, although the soundproofing was excellent and I couldn’t hear a single sound from next door, my mind kept replaying the horrifying image of my husband being intimate with another woman on the bed. A splitting headache pulsed through me, and I slid down the wall, sinking to the floor. I frantically pounded my head, trying to force these sickening thoughts away, but the more I tried to escape, the clearer the images became. “Oh no! The young madam has tried to kill herself!” With Mrs. Jenkins’ scream, the entire Thorne mansion erupted in chaos. Julian rushed out of the adjacent room. When he saw me lying in a pool of blood, he felt his vision darken, utterly lost and bewildered. His crimson eyes blazed with a murderous rage, his heart pounding erratically. He had never been so rattled; he wouldn’t even blink when signing billion-dollar deals for the corporation, but now, seeing this scene, he was truly panicked. He was terrified of losing me like this. On the floor beside me lay a blood-stained fruit knife. There was a long, deep gash on my slender wrist, and bright, startling blood continued to gush out… “Ah!” Serena, who had arrived shortly after, shrieked, her face turning ashen as she stumbled back a few steps. Just then, the wail of an ambulance sounded from outside the villa. Julian’s furious eyes shot a glare at Serena. Without a word, he scooped me up from the pool of blood and stormed out the door. *Chloe Davis, you can’t die. You’re not allowed to die without my permission! You foolish woman, do you think this is how you’ll get away? If you dare to die like this, I’ll haunt you even as a ghost!* The ambulance quickly arrived at the hospital. I was lifted from the stretcher by the accompanying doctors and nurses and rushed into the hospital. Julian clung tightly to the railing of the stretcher, jogging alongside as we moved towards the operating room. “Patient name: Chloe Davis, female, attempted suicide by wrist laceration, severe blood loss. Emergency hemostasis was performed in the ambulance…” The accompanying nurse calmly and swiftly reported my condition to the emergency doctor walking towards them. “Understood. Notify the blood bank to prepare for transfusion.” Julian’s heart, like the slowly closing operating room doors, rose higher and higher, lodged in his throat. He couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Mrs. Jenkins hadn’t gone to my bedroom to bring me food, worried that I hadn’t eaten dinner, and found me… If she had waited until the next day, all that would have awaited him was a cold corpse. *Chloe Davis, how could you be so cruel!* Soon after, my adoptive parents, Mr. and Mrs. Davis, also arrived at the hospital, waiting anxiously outside the operating room. *Bang!* The operating room doors burst open, and a disoriented young nurse stumbled out. A crowd of people immediately surged forward. “The patient has a rare RH-negative blood type. Our hospital’s blood bank is currently low on this blood. Are there any relatives here? We need a family member to donate blood,” the young nurse anxiously looked up at the surging crowd. But they only looked at each other, their faces filled with complex expressions. “How can Chloe have RH-negative blood? No one in our family has this blood type…” Mr. Davis turned to my adoptive mother, Mrs. Thompson, his face bearing an unquestionable authority. “Why are you looking at me? How would I know?” Mrs. Thompson’s face was tinged with sharp indignation. The atmosphere instantly turned hostile. A dark secret of the elite was about to spill. — Cut-off Point — “Sir, Madam, let me donate blood for Chloe. I am RH-negative,” Maria Miller, a housekeeper, suddenly spoke from behind. Everyone turned to look. A woman in her forties, her expression heavy, slowly walked forward. “You?” Mrs. Thompson’s face showed a hint of intriguing suspicion. Mr. Davis, however, seemed to suddenly remember something, his eyes widening as he looked at Maria, but then he abruptly shook his head, finally letting out a deep sigh. “Go and donate blood first. Saving a life is urgent.” His voice turned old and hollow, filled with a palpable sense of weariness that struck anyone who heard it. The nurse quickly led Maria into the operating room. But Mrs. Thompson suddenly acted as if she’d gone mad, grabbing Mr. Davis and shouting, “What’s going on? Why does she have the same blood type as Chloe! Mr. Davis, you better explain this to me!” “I don’t know either, I just asked her to go and donate blood for Chloe first,” Mr. Davis replied dismissively, his thoughts drifting back to that stormy night over twenty years ago… It was a night of pouring rain and fierce winds. The Davis Corporation was still on the rise back then, and Mr. Davis, having just lost a multi-million-dollar deal, was utterly devastated. He returned to the Davis mansion utterly drunk. He swayed at the entrance, struggling for a long time to take off his shoes. “Sir, you’re back.” Maria Miller, then just a girl in her early twenties, had not yet been called Mrs. Miller. “Maria, it’s you. Where’s Mrs. Davis?” Mr. Davis squinted his drunken eyes, trying to steady himself as he spoke to her. Maria saw him struggling with his shoes and quickly knelt down to help him take them off. “Sir, why did you drink so much? Mrs. Davis had an afternoon tea appointment; she hasn’t returned yet.” “Oh,” Mr. Davis secretly let out a sigh of relief. Maria looked at Mr. Davis’s dejected state, her heart aching for him. He always treated the staff so well, and he was so charming and dashing. Over time, she couldn’t help but develop some feelings for him. Mrs. Thompson’s family held immense power, openly and subtly assisting his career for years. If she found out he’d messed up such a huge deal, he couldn’t imagine how much she would scold him. But after so many years of marriage, they still had no children, and the thought alone gave Mr. Davis a splitting headache. Yet, he dared not express his frustration. The alcohol’s effects wore off considerably. Mr. Davis, with a droopy head, walked forlornly upstairs and went directly into his bedroom. *Knock, knock, knock…* A knock sounded at the door. “Sir, I’ve warmed you a hangover tea,” Maria called from outside the door. But there was no sound from the room for a long time. Maria knocked again hesitantly, then, worried, pushed the door open and entered. As soon as the door opened, a pungent smell of alcohol assailed her. Maria frowned, waved her hand in front of her face a couple of times, and walked into the room. “So thirsty, thirsty…” Mr. Davis, completely passed out from drinking, lay sprawled on the bed, mumbling incoherently. Maria quickly walked over and placed the hangover tea on the bedside table. “Sir, wake up, wake up.” Maria knelt by the bed, gently shaking the drunken Mr. Davis. “Get up and drink some hangover tea.” Mr. Davis groggily half-opened his eyes and, with Maria’s help, sat up. Perhaps truly thirsty, he took the hangover tea and drank it all in one gulp. Maria had just set the empty teacup aside when she turned around to find Mr. Davis had already fallen back asleep, his head lolling to the side. She smiled helplessly, stood up, and slowly helped him lie down, even tucking the blanket around him thoughtfully. Just as she picked up the teacup and turned to leave, a sudden dizzy spell hit her. A strong hand pulled her onto the bed. The teacup clattered to the floor with a *thump* at the same moment Mr. Davis’s kiss descended upon her… *Bang!* The operating room doors slowly opened, interrupting Mr. Davis’s thoughts. I was wheeled out on a hospital bed, and Maria also emerged, supported by a nurse. At this moment, my adoptive mother, Mrs. Thompson, didn’t immediately rush to embrace me, her eyes filled more with scrutiny. She looked at my face, then at Maria, who had just emerged, and her suspicions solidified. “The patient is out of danger. She should wake up after some rest, but will need to stay for observation for two days,” the doctor said, taking off his mask and advising the family. The group followed my bed to a VIP room. Julian had to leave due to other engagements, and this was clearly a Davis family matter, so even as a son-in-law, it was inappropriate for him to stay. Mrs. Thompson was the first to sit in the chair by my bed, while Mr. Davis and Maria stood by. Watching the doctors and nurses busy themselves attending to me, who had just been transferred to the room, I felt an indescribable mix of emotions. It had taken so many years of marriage to have a daughter, so I had been given boundless love and care since childhood. But now, after more than twenty years, and with me already married, they discovered… After the doctors and nurses had left, only Mr. and Mrs. Davis, and Maria remained in the large hospital room, apart from me, who lay unconscious on the bed. “Start talking. What exactly happened?” Mrs. Thompson’s eyes narrowed, making Maria shiver. “Darling, listen to me…” After a long silence, Mr. Davis slowly began. “You shut up! I want to hear what *she* has to say!” Mrs. Thompson exclaimed, pointing at Maria. The atmosphere instantly became tense. She and Mr. Davis stood by the bedside, looking at me lying there, feeling utterly heartbroken. A secret kept for over twenty years, it seemed, could no longer be hidden. “Madam, it’s all my fault. That year, I took advantage of Sir when he was drunk…” *Slap!* Mrs. Thompson suddenly stood up and delivered a stinging slap across Maria’s face. “Darling, what are you doing?” Mr. Davis quickly stepped forward, shielding Maria behind him. “What am I doing? Mr. Davis, this is all your doing! How dare you even ask me?” Mrs. Thompson reached past Mr. Davis and grabbed Maria’s arm. “So, Chloe is your daughter?” “Yes… yes, she is,” Maria replied, clutching her red and swollen face. “Then where is my daughter? Where is my daughter now?!” Mrs. Thompson’s eyes bulged with fury, as if spitting fire. She unconsciously tightened her grip on Maria’s arm, as if she wanted to crush her bones. “She… she…” Maria stammered evasively. “What happened to her?!” Mrs. Thompson demanded urgently, her voice carrying an irresistible authority. “Actually… Victoria is… your daughter…” Mrs. Thompson first froze, then suddenly burst into two harsh laughs before delivering another slap. “Oh, wonderful! My daughter suffered for so many years because of you, and you actually made me raise *your* daughter for over twenty years?” “Darling, you…” Mr. Davis started to speak, but meeting Mrs. Thompson’s furious gaze, he swallowed his words and said no more. “You shut up!” Mrs. Thompson turned and swung her fists at Mr. Davis. “Did the two of you plan this? Have you known about this all along? Have you?!” Mr. Davis gripped Mrs. Thompson’s wildly flailing hands, his brows furrowed in pain, and said, “What are you talking about? How would I know?” “How would you know? How could you *not* know where Chloe came from! My poor child suffered for over twenty years with this lowly woman!” Mrs. Thompson cried hysterically, her eyes red as she accused Mr. Davis. After learning such a shocking secret, any normal person would struggle to accept it, especially Mrs. Thompson, who was usually proud and arrogant. At that moment, she was utterly distraught. “Dad? Mom?” I was awakened by the arguments in the room. I slowly opened my tired eyes, propped myself up on one arm, and with difficulty, sat up in bed. Mr. Davis strode over, picked up a pillow, placed it behind me, and helped me sit up properly. “Mr. Davis, what are you doing?” Mrs. Thompson stepped forward, knocking his hand away from me and pulling him aside. “Mom?” I looked at my adoptive mother, confused. “Don’t call me Mom, I’m not your Mom!” Mrs. Thompson turned her face away, tears streaming down. After all, I was the daughter she had raised for over twenty years, cherished in her hands. Even though she now knew I wasn’t her biological child, twenty years of affection couldn’t be erased in an instant. “This… Mom, what’s wrong?” Seeing Mrs. Thompson’s distress and Mr. Davis’s hesitant expression, I was so anxious I almost leaped from the bed. “I told you, don’t call me Mom. *She’s* your mother!” Mrs. Thompson pointed at Maria. It was then that I saw Maria standing near the hospital room door, her slender frame huddled, her head bowed. Though I couldn’t clearly see her expression, I could vaguely see her trembling. My eyes widened in horror. I threw back the covers and got out of bed, but perhaps due to severe blood loss, I felt dizzy and fell to my knees on the floor. “Mom, what are you saying? How could she be…?” My eyes instantly blurred with tears. Mrs. Thompson looked at me, fallen to the floor, with a worried glance, instinctively reaching out to help, but immediately dismissed the thought and withdrew her outstretched hands. Maria heard the *thump* and looked up, her heart twisting like a knife to see her biological daughter kneeling on the cold floor. Her feet, as if by some ghostly force, moved a few steps forward, but Mrs. Thompson’s cold stare stopped her dead in her tracks. Only Mr. Davis knelt down, trying to help me up from the floor, but I tightly gripped his hand. “Dad, did you hear what Mom just said? She’s just kidding with me, right?” Looking at my hopeful eyes, even though the aging father’s heart was filled with boundless reluctance, he could only lower his head helplessly. “Dad, say something! What is going on? You’re all just playing a trick on me, right?” The hospital room fell silent. No one was willing to shatter my last hope. Even though Mrs. Thompson detested Maria, she opened her mouth but couldn’t bring herself to say anything that would hurt me further. “Let me tell you.” With a *bang*, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open from outside. Almost simultaneously, everyone looked up towards the door. Victoria Thompson elegantly entered, walking to my front and kneeling down. Her slender hand grazed my haggard cheek, a hint of indescribable amusement on her face. Mrs. Thompson looked at Victoria walking in, her heart filled with joy, tears streaming down her face. This was her daughter, her *biological* daughter! “Victoria, why are you here?” Maria’s voice, thick with tears, sounded from behind. “Why am I here? How could I miss this wonderful show?” A flicker of hatred crossed Victoria’s eyes, suddenly making her look terrifying. She paused, staring intently at me. “What an arrogant young madam, thinking you’re still the cherished heiress of the Davis family?” My eyes were bloodshot, staring unblinkingly at Victoria. “What do you know? Tell me.” Apparently not expecting my calm, Victoria paused, then stood up and took a step back. She looked at me, still on the floor, and suddenly clapped her hands. “Indeed, you’ve been a fake heiress for over twenty years. You’ve certainly learned how to stay composed.” “What did you say?!” The words “fake heiress” pierced my ears like daggers. I gasped, my face instantly turning pale. “I said you’re fake. Did you hear me clearly?” Victoria declared, looking down at me, enunciating each word. These words also deeply wounded everyone present. I violently shook off Mr. Davis’s hand and stumbled to my feet. Meeting Victoria’s gaze, “You’re lying!” I screamed, using every ounce of my strength, swaying precariously. “I’m lying?” Victoria’s eyes were bloodshot, her expression suddenly becoming fierce and vicious. “Do you really think you’re a Davis heiress? You’re nothing but a bastard born to *that woman*!” I felt as if my soul had been ripped out; my whole body suddenly wilted and I staggered backward. But Victoria wouldn’t give up. She stepped forward, grasping my shoulder. “The real Davis heiress is me! You, Chloe Davis, stole the life that rightfully belonged to me!” “No, this isn’t true, this isn’t true!” Tears streamed down my face. I stood there lost, mumbling to myself. “Chloe!” Maria could no longer hold back. She stepped forward and grabbed my arm. “Don’t touch me!” I recoiled as if I had been contaminated by something unclean, distancing myself immediately, my eyes wary as I looked at this woman who was both familiar and a stranger. “What, Chloe Davis, you won’t even acknowledge your own mother?” Victoria’s mocking voice echoed in the room. I staggered to Mrs. Thompson, cautiously asking, “Mom, tell me, they’re not telling the truth, are they?” Mrs. Thompson looked up at my tear-streaked face, her heart aching. After all, I was the child she had raised for twenty years; how could she have no feelings for me? “Mom, tell me!” I asked again, my voice hoarse. “What she said… is… all true,” Mrs. Thompson slowly admitted. Upon receiving the answer, I suddenly fell back onto the floor. The waves of pain from my body had long numbed my nerves, because the pain in my heart at that moment was far more unbearable. I sat on the ground in despair, my eyes vacant, tears streaming down relentlessly. “It’s all my fault, all my fault! If it weren’t for my selfish moment…” Maria stood there, consumed by self-reproach. She looked at me sitting on the floor, then at Victoria standing before her, her heart feeling as if dozens of knives were slowly cutting into it.

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Everyone in their circle knew Asher Blackwood had a kept woman, an almost identical copy of his first love, Seraphina Thorne. Early one morning, at the city airport, I rushed out, dragging my suitcase, dusty and exhausted. My eyes lit up when I spotted that limited-edition Mercedes sedan. Pulling open the door, Asher Blackwood was indeed waiting for me inside. “How do you have time to pick me up?” I asked, my bright, lively eyes on my delicate, pale face seeming to hold the entire starry sky as I looked at Asher. Asher Blackwood always hated my eyes. My face was at least ninety percent similar to Seraphina Thorne’s, but my eyes were different. Seraphina’s gaze towards him had always been cold and detached. “Close your eyes.” I obeyed, closing my eyes, a hint of allure curving my lips. Asher stared at my face, so like Seraphina’s, and kissed me fiercely. My soft lips were bruised and tormented, as if he could, through me, possess the other woman. The car started smoothly, slowly pulling away from the airport. Half an hour later, Asher Blackwood forced me out of the car. I stood by the street, clutching my suitcase, watching him in the car with a pang of hurt. “Drive.” Asher’s face was cold, unmoved. The car door slowly closed. I watched the black Mercedes drive further and further away, until it merged with traffic and vanished. I wiped my eyes, swallowing my grievance. I called for a ride. After more than ten hours of flying, I was utterly exhausted. Back home, I showered, removed my makeup, then chugged a large glass of red wine before crawling into my soft bed, ready to sleep. My phone rang. I opened it to see a message from Asher: “9 PM tonight.” I smiled and replied, “Waiting for you in bed.” It was as if the unpleasant morning had never happened. It was our unspoken agreement. At 9 PM, Asher Blackwood was always punctual. There was never any tenderness between us; he was direct, almost brutal. “You’re hurting me,” I whispered, but still, I moved to meet Asher’s force. Asher didn’t say a word, just drove into me harder. My body was like a ripe peach, soft and juicy, or perhaps a fresh-baked cake, warm layers enveloping him, giving him the most comforting solace. He didn’t love me, but I had to admit, he loved this body. I often felt that Asher’s feelings for Seraphina were incredibly complex. Beyond unrequited love, there seemed to be a hint of hatred. In bed, Asher shed his usual restraint and coldness. His heat threatened to consume me. I could only cling to him weakly, letting him carry me into a dizzying whirlwind. I felt like a leaf caught in a storm, lost and disoriented. The room echoed with the most beautiful music a man and woman could make, even the air grew scorching hot. Over an hour later, the symphony finally struck its last note at the climax. Asher withdrew abruptly. “I’m going to shower.” I lay softly on the bed, watching his muscular back. I couldn’t help but inwardly appraise him. Asher Blackwood truly was a catch: broad shoulders, narrow waist, long legs, a strict, controlled aura when dressed, but pure primal release when not. Especially that face… Just as I was lost in my thoughts, Asher’s phone rang. I picked it up and glanced at the screen. “Seraphina?” I walked to the bathroom door, holding the phone. “Boss, your goddess is looking for you~” Asher, wrapped in a towel, opened the door. His eyes, cold and piercing, glanced at me as he took the phone. “Hello?” Naked, I brushed past Asher and closed the bathroom door, starting my shower. I didn’t want to hear what they were saying. Anyway, by the time I came out, Asher would certainly be gone. Sure enough, when I emerged, toweling my hair dry, Asher had left. I picked up my phone to find a massive transfer, as usual. In that moment, I felt incredibly cheap, but also incredibly valuable – the kind of cheap that costs a fortune. I pocketed the money and tucked away the lingering bitterness in my heart. What did I have to complain about? I tapped a few buttons on my phone, transferring the money I’d just received back out. Checking the time, it was midnight – the perfect hour for some fun. Slipping into a sparkling slip dress, high heels, smoky eyes, and a bold red lip, I transformed into the most captivating siren on the dance floor tonight. In the noisy club, I effortlessly became the center of attention. I stretched my body with abandon, releasing my charm with the rhythm of the music. Tonight, everyone loved me! “Boss, look at that chick, isn’t that the one Asher Blackwood likes?” a man in a VIP booth pointed at me on the dance floor. “Boss, I think it actually is! The one called Seraphina something!” another man chimed in. “I’ve seen photos! It’s her!” “Why would Seraphina Thorne be here?” Redmond glanced at me. “Most likely his stand-in.” “A stand-in? Then she’s no use! I thought we could snatch her and get some revenge for you, Boss!” Redmond stroked his chin, his eyes leering as they swept over my body. “Forget it, let’s not provoke Asher Blackwood.” “Redmond, are you scared?” A young man appeared outside the booth, smiling innocently under the flashing, multi-colored lights. I emerged from the club, pulling on my jacket. I was always sober; I could have my fun, but I never touched alcohol at bars. “Sweetheart, why don’t you come play with us?” Redmond’s men shouted from behind me. I knew instantly that something was wrong. I turned, gave them a slow, alluring smile, and leisurely slipped off my high heels. “Well, look at you, eager! No wonder Asher Blackwood keeps you around!” The men chuckled obscenely, and my heart sank. These weren’t ordinary thugs; they were after me because of Asher Blackwood. Clutching my high heels, I flashed a dazzling smile. “Asher~ are you here to pick me up?” The men froze, instinctively turning their heads. I seized the moment, spun around, and ran. “Get her!” A hunt began. I ran like a terrified doe, scrambling along the deserted streets at three in the morning. My heart pounded furiously, threatening to burst from my chest. The footsteps behind me grew closer and closer. “I can’t outrun them,” I thought in despair. I could only duck into a narrow alleyway, hiding behind a pile of junk. Carefully, I pulled out my phone and called Asher. He was the only person I could think of who could save me. “Please! Answer the phone!” I bit my lip, silently pleading. My body trembled uncontrollably. I didn’t want to be caught, didn’t want those men to touch me, didn’t want to… With a harsh rip, the torn tarp above me was yanked away. Several men laughed as they dragged me to my feet. Redmond smirked menacingly, his rough hand tracing my thigh. “Those long legs sure can run.” I bit back the disgust, staying silent. Any struggle or scream would be pointless now. I had to stay calm; only then would I have a chance. “Asher Blackwood not answering your calls?” Redmond took a phone from one of his men and dangled it in front of me. “Want me to give you another chance?” “What do you mean?” I felt like a helpless lamb caught in a den of wolves. “Call Asher Blackwood,” Redmond’s expression hardened, his eyes fixed on me with a vicious glare. “Tell him you’re with Redmond, and tell him to give me back my merchandise.” I took the phone, looking at the missed call from earlier. A chill spread through my heart. Asher Blackwood wouldn’t answer my call. My fate, I knew, was sealed. I took the phone, looking at Asher’s number, but I didn’t dial. “Why aren’t you calling?” Redmond watched me impatiently. “Or would you rather spend some time with my men?” “Redmond, may I say something?” I put the phone away, offering a sweet smile. Redmond squinted at me. This girl was truly captivating. “Go on.” “You just said Asher Blackwood has some merchandise of yours. Was it impounded at the docks?” I didn’t know much about Asher’s business, only vaguely remembering his influence there. “That’s right.” “If this merchandise is legitimate, you could call the police, sue him, and then hold a press conference to drag his name through the mud. If it’s not legitimate…” I paused. “Then you should definitely call the police, be a good citizen and report him, and then hire a PR firm to launch a smear campaign. Either way, the merchandise is currently in his hands, and he’ll have a hard time explaining it.” Anyone capable of being a boss wasn’t a fool. Redmond, though getting on in years, usually stuck to old-school methods—direct and unsubtle. After I finished speaking, he thought for a moment. After all, it was a lawful society now. If Asher Blackwood could stab him in the back, why couldn’t he? “Aren’t you Asher Blackwood’s woman?” Redmond looked at me suspiciously. He wasn’t easily fooled. “His woman? His heart is only for Seraphina Thorne. I’m just his plaything.” My clear self-awareness seemed to make Redmond regard me more highly. “Smart girl. Instead of being someone’s stand-in with Asher Blackwood, why not follow me?” Redmond raised an eyebrow. He liked smart women, especially beautiful ones. I laughed, truly laughed, until I shook, a bitter, acidic feeling churning in my gut. To think, as a kept woman, I actually had market value… “Redmond, that would be a different price,” I said, stopping my laughter and handing him my phone. “Here’s my number. Redmond, you can call me anytime you need me.” Redmond chuckled. This girl was interesting. He took my phone, dialed his own number, then glanced at the darkness behind me and nodded. “Alright. Since you’re so sensible, I’ll let you go today.” “Thank you, Redmond.” I took back my phone, lowered my head, and kept my eyes down. Only after Redmond and his men had left did my legs give out, and I sank to the ground. I glanced at my phone. No missed calls, no messages. I wiped my eyes, a bitter, self-mocking laugh escaping my lips. “What’s there to cry about? Wasn’t this all expected?” In the darkness behind me, a dark silhouette watched me, a knowing smile playing on his lips. *** **截断点** Since that terrifying night at the club, I hadn’t left the apartment. I was just an ordinary woman, capable of fear and psychological trauma. But I couldn’t tell anyone. I had no friends; my entire world revolved around Asher Blackwood, and he had no interest in hearing my stories. “Get up!” Just as I was drifting off to sleep after taking a sleeping pill, Asher Blackwood burst in and dragged me up. A glass of cold water was splashed onto my face. I shook myself awake, looking through my dripping hair at Asher. “Boss? What brings you here today?” “Did Redmond touch you?” Asher’s face was cold, his eyes blazing with a fury that threatened to consume me. “Do you believe me when I say no?” I blinked, holding back the burning tears. “You still dare to lie to me.” Asher’s gaze grew even more dangerous. He dragged me from the bed onto the floor and tore off my nightgown. My pale body was exposed to the cold air, water dripping onto my skin. I couldn’t stop trembling. My lips, now white, mumbled the words again: “Do you believe me when I say no?” Asher stared at my face, almost identical to Seraphina’s, and grew even angrier. In his mind, I was Seraphina. This woman had allowed his goddess to be defiled by Redmond. He would never forgive me. “Since you like being touched, I’ll satisfy you!” “What are you doing…?” Asher tore open his shirt and pushed me beneath him, taking me again and again with brutal force. The thought of me being touched by another man ignited an uncontrollable rage within him. He told himself it was only because he saw me as Seraphina. With each merciless thrust, I felt no pleasure, only humiliation, injustice, and boundless pain… Finally, Asher finished venting. I breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear him say, “You think this is over?” I looked up at Asher, repeating the same words, “Do you believe me when I say no?” “Hmph.” Asher scoffed dismissively. He looked towards the door and slowly spoke. “There are ten more men outside waiting for you to serve them.” I stared at Asher in horror. “Asher Blackwood, why won’t you just believe me?” Asher looked down at the woman on the floor. I had the most beautiful, most alluring body; no man could see it and resist. He knew Redmond too well. That old fox would do anything for his merchandise. How could I have escaped unscathed from his clutches? Looking at my face, he still softened. “Don’t leave the apartment without my permission.” I watched his retreating back, biting my lip to hold back my tears. After all, my tears were just an act in his eyes. Only after the front door slammed shut did I finally curl up and sob uncontrollably. In the following days, Asher Blackwood didn’t come back. I was truly caged. I sat on the balcony lounger, gazing at the blue sky outside the window. “Perhaps, it’s time to leave.” Late that night, at Redmond’s villa, Asher Blackwood sat on the living room sofa. “I thought Redmond, who’s dominated the city for years, would be a smart man.” Redmond was pinned to the ground by Asher’s men. He glared at Asher hatefully. “Mr. Blackwood, you probably don’t know, but Jasper Sterling has a share in this merchandise. You’re not afraid to offend me, aren’t you afraid to offend him?” Asher Blackwood sneered. “You don’t seriously think I impounded this merchandise just because of you, do you?” Redmond suddenly understood. Asher Blackwood was after Jasper Sterling. And he had listened to me, holding a press conference and blowing the whole thing wide open. “Damn you! Your woman is as despicable as you are!” Asher Blackwood’s eyes instantly turned dangerous. “You dared to go after Seraphina Thorne.” “Seraphina Thorne? You don’t deserve her! I’m talking about that bitch you keep around!” Redmond continued to curse. “I should never have let her go that day!” Asher Blackwood’s gaze darkened. Redmond hadn’t touched me? After dealing with Redmond, Asher Blackwood left the villa. After a moment’s thought, he pulled out his phone and typed something. I had just finished showering and was about to go to bed when I saw Asher Blackwood’s message: “Come downstairs.” Asher Blackwood took me to the Grand Allure Club. I sat in the private room, unsure what Asher wanted. Asher didn’t say a word, leaning back on the sofa, looking incredibly tired. The door suddenly opened, and a young man entered with several bodyguards. Asher Blackwood glanced at the man, his expression darkening. “What are you doing here?” “Mr. Blackwood impounded my merchandise, so of course, I have to reciprocate.” The man sat casually on the sofa opposite Asher Blackwood. “I, Jasper Sterling, am not one to take a loss silently.” “Jasper Sterling…” I blinked. Could this be the legendary Mr. Sterling who dominated the city? “I’ve already spoken with the patriarch of the Thorne family. He’s agreed to give me Seraphina Thorne in marriage,” Mr. Sterling looked at Asher Blackwood. “What do you think, Mr. Blackwood?” “You dare touch her!” Asher Blackwood’s eyes turned vicious at the mention of Seraphina Thorne’s name. Mr. Sterling raised an eyebrow. “If Mr. Blackwood hadn’t pulled the rug out from under me, I wouldn’t have resorted to such extreme measures.” Asher Blackwood was silent for a moment. “I’ll return your merchandise.” Mr. Sterling smiled. “I want more than just the merchandise; I want a person.” He paused, his gaze landing on me. “Since Mr. Blackwood can’t bear to part with Seraphina Thorne, then let this beauty entertain me.” Hearing Asher Blackwood offer me up like a gift, my heart ached. Was I truly so worthless in his eyes…? “Go.” Asher Blackwood’s voice was low and icy. “Asher Blackwood… by what right?” My eyes welled up. Asher Blackwood gave me a cold glance. “Isn’t this what you’re paid for?” My heart gave a sharp pang. Yes, in his eyes, wasn’t I just a woman who sold her body for money and clung to wealth…? I walked over to Jasper Sterling, and in a sweet, demure voice, I called out, “Mr. Sterling.” Jasper Sterling nodded in satisfaction, pulling me onto his lap. We drank and played drinking games right in front of Asher Blackwood, having a grand time. Asher Blackwood watched my jacket being removed, revealing my beautiful collarbone and smooth back. His eyes darkened, a nameless irritation churning within him. I sat in Jasper Sterling’s arms, my slender arm resting on his shoulder. In the dim light, I looked at Asher Blackwood opposite us, and my heart felt a little sore. He wouldn’t care about me anyway. In his eyes, I wasn’t even a pet, just a cheap object to be given away and played with. Fighting back tears, I downed a large glass of red wine. I didn’t care anymore. I should have known how insignificant and laughable I was to Asher Blackwood. He wouldn’t even believe I was with him because I loved him. Jasper Sterling’s breath fell on my ear, and his hand explored under my dress. I didn’t even struggle; I lay submissively on the sofa, turning my head as tears finally streamed down my face, unstoppable. Asher Blackwood didn’t see my tears. All he saw was my submission and willingness towards Jasper Sterling. Asher Blackwood’s anger surged uncontrollably. He strode over, grabbed me, and slapped me. “You slut!” I fell to the floor, my cheek burning with pain. I subtly wiped away my tears, looked up at Asher Blackwood, and laughed. “Don’t you know I’m a slut, Mr. Blackwood? Isn’t that why you make me do these things?” “Get out! Don’t let me see your face again!” Asher Blackwood’s mind was a mess. He told himself he definitely didn’t care about me; he just cared about my face, which was so similar to Seraphina Thorne’s. Lost and distraught, I stumbled out of Grand Allure. Barefoot on the asphalt, wearing only a short skirt, my provocative figure drew unwanted attention. “Boss! It’s her!” I heard the voice and looked back. It was Redmond! “Grab her!” Redmond’s expression turned vicious when he saw me. I turned and ran. I knew if I fell into Redmond’s hands this time, my fate would be dire. I ran into the parking garage and bumped into Asher Blackwood. “Asher Blackwood! Save me!” “What game are you playing now?” Asher Blackwood looked at me impatiently. “No! It’s not! It’s Redmond, his men are chasing me!” I clutched Asher Blackwood’s arm, looking back in terror, but there was no one behind me. Not a single one of the pursuers had followed. “Hmph.” Asher Blackwood sneered. “At least come up with a better sob story.” My heart instantly turned cold. “Asher Blackwood, why won’t you ever believe me…?” “Don’t play any more tricks, and don’t let me see you again.” Asher Blackwood coldly shook off my hand, got into his car, and drove away. “You little bitch, you’ve fallen into my hands this time.” As Asher Blackwood’s car sped off, Redmond and his men emerged from the shadows. I didn’t even have time to run before they surrounded me. Redmond grabbed my neck tightly, lifting me and pinning me against the wall. “You’ve got a lot of nerve, even trying to trick me.” My neck burned with pain, and my breathing grew difficult. I watched the taillights disappear into the night. Asher Blackwood really left… I felt like a broken doll, cruelly tossed aside. Several men swarmed me, tearing my clothes, but I just stared intently in the direction Asher Blackwood had gone. He could have saved me… Why… Why couldn’t he believe me just once…? “Ahem.” Jasper Sterling walked over, coughed lightly, and looked at me, barely clothed on the ground. He raised a hand and slapped Redmond. “Mr. Sterling…” Redmond lowered his head, not daring to speak. “Asher Blackwood gave her to me,” Jasper Sterling said, taking off his jacket and covering me. “Understood, understood. I wouldn’t dare touch Mr. Sterling’s woman.” Redmond, trembling, quickly led his men away. Jasper Sterling looked at me on the ground. Beaten like this, I hadn’t begged or made a sound. This woman was interesting. He picked me up and turned, only to see Asher Blackwood’s black Mercedes parked not far away. Asher Blackwood watched us, gripping the steering wheel. He must have been insane to believe me, to drive back like a fool. His face was cold as he watched Jasper Sterling place me in his car. I didn’t resist at all. Asher Blackwood felt a surge of uncontrollable anger. His phone rang. Asher Blackwood frowned, seeing it was Seraphina Thorne. He took a deep breath, suppressing the inexplicable rage in his heart, and answered as gently as possible. “Seraphina? What’s wrong?” “Asher, Father is going to marry me off to Jasper Sterling, and I don’t like him.” Seraphina’s voice on the phone was filled with such raw hurt. “Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of it for you. Just focus on your recovery abroad.” I slowly woke up to find myself in a car. I looked at the man’s back in front and tentatively called out, “Asher Blackwood?” “Hmph.” Jasper Sterling, who was driving, sneered. “Do you think it would be him?” “Mr. Sterling?” I pursed my lips. “Thank you.” The car drove fast. I leaned against the window, watching the night scenery fly by. I thought of Asher Blackwood. He really hadn’t come to save me. I didn’t believe he hadn’t seen Redmond; he just didn’t care. My innocence, my life or death, meant nothing to him… “Get out.” I froze, realizing the car had stopped. I quickly got out, afraid he’d misunderstand that I wanted to stay. The car drove away, and I realized I was still wearing Jasper Sterling’s jacket. The night wind swept past, and I pulled the jacket tighter. “Forget it. I’ll return it to him next time I get the chance.” In the darkness, Asher Blackwood stared at me like a hungry wolf. He watched me get out of Jasper Sterling’s car, watched me reluctantly pull Jasper Sterling’s jacket tighter. This woman had truly betrayed him! I was completely unaware of Asher Blackwood standing in the shadows. I turned and walked into my apartment. As the elevator doors opened, someone shoved me inside. “Ah!” I screamed, pinned against the elevator wall, terrified. “What? You don’t want me to touch you now?” Asher Blackwood pressed against my back, his voice low as he spoke into my ear. “Asher Blackwood! You bastard!” I struggled desperately. This was an elevator, there were cameras! I didn’t want this here! But Asher Blackwood completely ignored my resistance. He ripped off the jacket I was wearing. My body was covered in bruises, full of injuries. In his eyes, these were all marks of my depravity with Jasper Sterling. My knees were forced apart. I bit my lip, shaking my head violently. “No… Asher Blackwood, please don’t do this here…” “Hmph.” Asher Blackwood thrust into my tight warmth. “Ah!” A tearing pain ripped through my lower body. “Asher Blackwood! You bastard!” Asher Blackwood pinned me ruthlessly in the elevator, thrusting and grinding without mercy. Neither of us found any pleasure; it was only for punishment, for torment, to erase any other man’s marks from my body. I was in agony. My dignity, my love, were all crushed by Asher Blackwood. My lips were bitten raw, the metallic taste of blood constantly irritating my throat. Finally, after Asher Blackwood’s last thrust, I vomited. Asher Blackwood watched me, cold and sinister, sprawled on the floor. “You utterly disgust me.” The elevator doors opened. Asher Blackwood walked out, leaving me disheveled and slumped inside. The camera above flashed its red light, recording everything… After a night of torment, I developed a fever. I lay weakly in bed, thinking that if I could just die like this, it wouldn’t be so bad. My phone pinged. I saw the message: “Evergreen Care Center.” I forced myself to sit up and read the entire message. A relieved smile appeared on my face. My fingers gently caressed the phone screen, which displayed a photo of an elderly woman. She looked very well. “It seems the care center is taking good care of Grandma.” Thinking of Grandma, I found a new will to live. The hospital was bustling with people. I, all alone, forced myself to stay strong, underwent examinations, collected reports, and sat before the doctor, feeling uncontrollably dizzy. “Just a common fever,” the doctor said, glancing at the reports. “But you’re pregnant, so you need to be careful with medication.” “Wait, what did you just say?” I rubbed my temples, suspecting I’d misheard. “You’re pregnant,” the doctor repeated. I froze on the spot. I was pregnant with Asher Blackwood’s child? I walked out of the hospital in a daze, my hand instinctively resting on my lower abdomen. I still couldn’t quite believe it—a life was growing inside me… The taxi stopped at the apartment building. As I got out, I saw a pile of clothes on the ground, thrown out like trash by the street. “These are my things…” I stared blankly at my luggage. Asher Blackwood walked out of the building, his two bodyguards throwing the remaining boxes at my feet, their contents spilling onto the road. “Asher Blackwood, what are you doing now…?” My face was pale, and I felt even dizzier. The bodyguards stood in front of me, blocking me from going up. “Ms. Hayes, Mr. Blackwood requests that you move out.” I looked up at Asher Blackwood, standing imperiously on the stairs, my eyes red. “Asher Blackwood…” Asher Blackwood didn’t even glance at me. He walked down the stairs, got into his car, and sped away. The bodyguards looked a little regretful. “Ms. Hayes, Ms. Thorne is back. She’s not happy with your presence, so… please don’t blame Mr. Blackwood.” After saying that, they got into the car behind him and followed Asher Blackwood away. I stood there, stunned. The sun was so bright, yet I felt cold, a coldness that seeped from my very core. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. “So, the real owner is back.” I crouched on the ground, picking up my clothes one by one. People came and went on the street, pointing and whispering, but I ignored them all. My dignity had already been crushed by Asher Blackwood anyway… I slept in the hotel until evening before finally getting up. I touched my forehead; the fever had broken, and I felt much better. I picked up my phone and saw a breaking news alert. “Late-Night Elevator Affair: Beauty’s Scandalous Performance!” My hands trembled as I clicked on the notification. The news article featured many screenshots from the video: it was Asher Blackwood and me. Only Asher Blackwood’s face was pixelated, while mine was disturbably clear. “Who did this…?” *Ring! Ring!* My phone suddenly rang. I looked to see it was Asher Blackwood. “You’re the one who leaked the footage, aren’t you?” Asher Blackwood’s voice was frigid. “I underestimated your cunning. Unfortunately, you targeted the wrong person.” “It wasn’t me…” I mumbled, my voice barely audible. I was the victim, wasn’t I? Why could Asher Blackwood accuse me so righteously, unwilling to even hear my explanation? “Seraphina saw the news, and her old illness flared up again. If anything happens to her, I’ll make you pay with your life!” Asher Blackwood hung up, leaving me alone, clutching the phone and silently weeping. At the hospital, Seraphina Thorne’s pale face looked at Asher Blackwood with a hint of apology. “Asher, I don’t blame you. I know how hard it must have been for you all these years I was gone. I just…” Before she could finish, tears streamed down her face. Asher Blackwood held her protectively. “It’s all my fault.” “I don’t blame you.” Seraphina Thorne shook her head, blushing as she leaned into Asher Blackwood’s embrace. “Now that I’m back, you won’t need to look for other women.” Asher Blackwood was silent for a moment. “Your health isn’t good, we’re not in a hurry.” Seraphina Thorne’s eyes darkened. “Asher, before I went abroad, you said we’d get married when I came back. So… does that still count?” “Of course it counts. We’ll get married next month.” Asher Blackwood hugged Seraphina Thorne tightly, but for some reason, the tighter he held her, the emptier he felt inside. Asher Blackwood left. Seraphina Thorne sat on the hospital bed, shedding her frail demeanor. She looked at the video screenshots on her phone, her eyes growing increasingly vicious. She dialed a number. “Find out who that woman in the video is. I want all her information.” I locked myself in the hotel room. I didn’t dare to go out, didn’t want to go out, just hoping this whole thing would blow over quickly. But someone seemed to have leaked my hotel information, and every night, men would knock on my door. I called the hotel to complain, but they would only implicitly hint at my supposed fault. I called the police, but when they arrived and saw it was me, they would just shake their heads and leave. I would scream for the people outside to go away, but they would only grow more excited, laughing louder. I could only cover my ears, hiding in the corner of the room. I bit my lip, trying not to cry. I couldn’t understand what I had done wrong. Was loving Asher Blackwood my biggest mistake…? My phone rang. I gripped this single point of light in the darkness. “Tomorrow afternoon at 2 PM, Moonlight Cafe.” “Who is this…?” I looked at the number; it wasn’t Asher Blackwood’s. There was no reply. I wearily buried my head in my knees. Forget it, whoever it was, I had nothing left to lose anyway. At the cafe, I looked at Seraphina Thorne sitting opposite me, feeling a little lost. Why was she looking for me…? The ‘real owner’ looking for the ‘stand-in’ usually meant she wanted me to leave Asher Blackwood, but I had no relationship with him anymore… “Leave Asher.” Seraphina Thorne cut straight to the point. “I think you might be mistaken,” I tried to explain that I had no connection to Asher Blackwood anymore. “Mistaken? I’ve seen plenty of people like you abroad.” Seraphina Thorne scoffed derisively. “How much money will it take for you to disappear?” I bit my lip. “I don’t want money…” “Don’t tell me you love him.” Seraphina Thorne paused. “You don’t deserve him. Just take the money and leave.” Leave? How I longed to leave this city that had brought me so much pain. But I couldn’t go. Grandma still lived in the care center here. Her mental state had only just stabilized; if she were moved to an unfamiliar place and stimulated, who knew what might happen. I shook my head. “Ms. Thorne, you’re really mistaken. I’m not…” Before I could finish, Seraphina Thorne slapped me. “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit.” My head snapped sideways from the blow. I closed my eyes. Why was I enduring all this humiliation?! I stood up. I didn’t want to say anything more to Seraphina Thorne. If we couldn’t agree, it was better to leave quickly. “Ms. Hayes, please don’t hit me! I truly love Asher…” Seraphina Thorne opposite me suddenly burst into tears. Before I could react, someone grabbed me from behind. It was Asher Blackwood. “Who gave you permission to bother Seraphina?” His gaze at me was colder and more ruthless. “You truly have so many tricks up your sleeve, woman.” “I didn’t…” I didn’t want to explain anymore. Whatever I said, Asher Blackwood wouldn’t believe me, so why waste my breath? “If you dare to go near Seraphina again, I won’t hold back.” Asher Blackwood darkly threw me to the ground. I watched Asher Blackwood gently embrace Seraphina Thorne and leave, finding it somewhat amusing. I tilted my head back, trying to hold back the flowing tears, but failed. My heart truly ached, so much… I looked at the collection notices on my phone and sighed. Grandma’s care center fees were due again. I checked the money in my card, feeling a bit heavy-hearted. It seemed I’d have to go to the care center and negotiate with the director; maybe I could defer for a while. The care center was in a remote location, but the environment was excellent—nestled by mountains and rivers, secluded from the world, perfect for Grandma. I talked with the director for a long time before he agreed to defer for three months. I breathed a sigh of relief. I then went to see Grandma. She still didn’t recognize me, but she would affectionately hold my hand and tell me, “I have a granddaughter, about your age. She’s a very good girl.” After returning from the care center, I started looking for a job. All I wanted was to make money now. Although I didn’t have much work experience, my university design projects had won awards. But for some reason, all my job applications seemed to vanish into a black hole. I waited three more days, but no company called me, not even for an interview. The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed, so I simply called one. The person on the other end expressed great interest in my resume, but after hearing my name, they hung up. I listened to the dial tone, and instantly understood. It was Asher Blackwood, wasn’t it? Was he truly trying to push me to the brink of despair…? *Ring! Ring!* My phone rang. I quickly answered, afraid of missing a job opportunity.

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My mom, Lorelei, couldn’t handle my dad David’s cheating. She tried to take her own life by opening the gas valve. She didn’t die, but I, Aubrey, was burned and disfigured saving her from the fire. Seven years later, Lorelei found a new boyfriend, handsome and rich. A week before her wedding, she started packing my bags. “Look, don’t blame me for being heartless, okay?” she snapped. “You look like a monster. What if you scare my boyfriend’s daughter?” “I’ve raised you for years; I’ve paid my dues. It’s your dad’s turn to take responsibility now.” Then, she dropped me and my luggage at my dad’s apartment complex. I was terrified waiting there because I’d dropped my mask and hat in Lorelei’s car. When I thought to chase her, she sped up, eager to get rid of me. I stumbled and fell while desperately trying to catch her, making my already disfigured face look even worse. After scrambling back to my feet on all fours, Lorelei’s car was gone. So I could only crouch on the ground, burying my face deep in my knees. But thankfully, it wasn’t long before a middle-aged man ran over, panting. He called out tentatively, cautiously. “Aubrey.” I quickly looked up. What met my eyes was a stranger. Seeing my face, the man paused for a moment. But after a brief second, he said, “Hello, I’m Mr. Thompson, your dad’s good friend.” “Your dad’s away on a business trip today, so he asked me to pick you up.” The man’s voice was quite loud at first, but maybe it was because I was staring at him. His voice grew softer, almost a whisper. I’d encountered this scenario many times. Ever since I was disfigured saving Lorelei from the fire, it’s always been like this. The first time I returned to school after being discharged from the hospital, with my face covered in twisted scars, Ms. Davies, my homeroom teacher, was on the podium, trying to prepare the class emotionally. She was telling them not to give me strange looks or treat me differently. She spoke passionately and fiercely, but the moment I stepped into the classroom, Ms. Davies was just like this man; her voice hitched, then she stammered a few times, finally forcing the words out to the class. “Okay, cl-classmates… let’s give Aubrey a round of applause for re-returning to school.” A scattered applause echoed through the classroom. But no amount of clapping could hide the shaken, terrified stares that followed me. After that, there were two kinds of people in my class. Some felt sympathy for what I’d been through. Others were terrified, saying I looked like a horrifying monster and were scared if I even looked at them. But no matter what kind of person they were, in the end, no one was willing to interact with me. Even my best friend, my best deskmate, grew distant. I once overheard them talking in the restroom. “Ugh, it’s not that I don’t want to be Aubrey’s friend anymore, but I’m genuinely scared. Every time she looks at me, I have nightmares when I get home.” So, already used to such gazes, I calmly bent down, picked up my luggage, and said, “Let’s go.” The man paused for a second before snapping out of it and quickly followed me. “Aubrey, is your suitcase heavy? Uncle Thompson can help you with it, okay?” I simply shook my head slightly and then lowered my head again, pulling my collar up to hide my face. Seeing my action, the man quickly rushed ahead of me. Watching him, I felt a pang of derision. I wondered why he was so silly. Did he think his large build would somehow make me less noticeable? But he didn’t know that every step of the way, I was met with stares from children and adults alike, stares that openly labeled me a monster.

The man took me to a two-bedroom apartment. It wasn’t large, but it was exceptionally clean. The room was filled with family photos of my dad, a woman I didn’t know, and a little boy. Even with a quick glance, I could tell it was a warm, loving home. It was exactly like the cozy scene with Lorelei, her boyfriend, and his daughter eating at McDonald’s. As soon as we entered, the man invited me to sit on the sofa and eagerly went to pour me some water. But he fumbled around, but couldn’t find the kettle. Seeing his frantic search, I calmly spoke up. “I don’t like interacting with strangers. You can go now.” The man froze slightly, the smile on his face stiffening. But after a moment, he tried to appease me. “Alright, alright, if that’s the case, then I’ll head out.” Then the door slammed shut. It wasn’t until I heard the man’s footsteps fade away that my rigidly upright posture finally softened. After a moment of daze, I pulled out my phone, intending to send Lorelei a SnapChat, to tell her I had arrived at my dad’s. But as soon as I opened my phone, I saw Lorelei’s SnapChat post. “Waiting for my daughter to get out of school.” The accompanying picture was of a little girl with a backpack walking out of school. My fingers tightened around my phone. A suffocating, bitter ache rose in my chest. I held it back, forcing myself to switch from the SnapChat interface to a food delivery app. Just as I was about to order some masks and hats for myself, I remembered Lorelei hadn’t given me any money. Three days ago, she told me she’d already spoken to my dad, and that he would be responsible for all my future tuition, miscellaneous fees, and living expenses. So, she wouldn’t be giving me my allowance for the month. My eyes felt raw, and I had to lie down on the sofa to swallow back my tears. With nothing else to do, I started to daydream. Thinking of nothing, yet seemingly everything. It wasn’t until the sun had set that a little boy’s voice suddenly echoed from outside. “Mommy, is my big sister really coming to live with us? That’s great! I’m definitely going to show her my new Ultraman!” Hearing the noise outside, I immediately sat up on the sofa, straightening my back. Remembering I wasn’t wearing my mask, I frantically pulled my collar up, trying to hide my face in a messy scramble. But I was too late. As a hurried sound of the door opening echoed, It was immediately followed by a startled scream. “Ah! A ghost!” Then came the sound of a boy wailing. My heart seized, and I scrambled to my feet. The woman who entered was a bit plump, dressed in clothes that weren’t particularly trendy. She glanced at me frantically, then picked up the wailing child. She must have been scared too, her voice trembling slightly. “I… I’m so sorry, Aubrey. I… I didn’t know you were already home.” “Your dad called me and said… said you weren’t coming until tonight.” After saying that, she turned to gently comfort the little boy in her arms. “Leo, don’t cry. What did Mommy tell you before? Do you remember?” “This is your big sister, Aubrey! Weren’t you most excited for her to come?” The boy’s crying subsided with the woman’s soothing, but after cautiously peeking at me, he clung to his mom’s neck even tighter and started crying again. His mom looked at me apologetically. “I… I’m so sorry, Aubrey. Your little brother, he’s just a little boy, he doesn’t understand yet.” Actually, she didn’t need to explain. After Lorelei found a boyfriend, she once brought his daughter home. That day, I was sick with a cold and hadn’t gone to school. As soon as the little girl saw a “ghost” in the house, she was so scared she started wailing like a banshee. Lorelei immediately panicked, rushed over, slapped me, and angrily picked up the little girl, storming out of the house. When she came home that night, she made a rule for me. Whenever I was home, except for using the restroom or eating, I had to stay in my room. Not wanting to be annoying anymore, I spoke up amidst the little boy’s cries. “Where’s my room?” The woman’s eyes flickered slightly, then she pointed to the bedroom closest to the bathroom. I pursed my lips, said nothing, and turned to drag my suitcase to the room Elara had assigned me.

For the next three days, other than eating and using the restroom, I hardly left my room. I spent my days either studying or reading. Occasionally, the happy shouts of the little boy from outside would make me pause my pen. It made me think of when David hadn’t cheated yet. Back then, every day when he came home from work, my dad would carry me on his shoulders, and I’d hold a doll in my arms, shouting with joy that Dad’s shoulders were my very own pumpkin carriage. Then, from the kitchen, I’d hear Lorelei’s nagging. She’d ask David why he wasn’t taking me to clean up yet. She’d say I was always getting into mischief all day long. Back then, I’d always giggle with laughter on Dad’s shoulders. Perhaps life was too beautiful back then, so beautiful that even now, tears welled up in my eyes. Staring at the blurred words, I hastily pulled at my sleeve to wipe them away. But the more I wiped, the more the ink bled on my homework, the more the words blurred on my page. It seemed I don’t deserve good memories. Two more days passed. One afternoon, there was a knock on my door. The moment I heard it, my body instinctively tensed. I straightened up, stood, and went to open the door. Elara was standing there, holding the little boy’s hand, looking at me with an appeasing smile. “Aubrey, Auntie Elara bought you something.” Saying this, she handed me a plastic bag. I looked down and saw sanitary pads. She saw my expression and quickly said, “Aubrey, Auntie Elara saw you were using toilet paper in the bathroom, I’m sorry, so I took the liberty of getting you some.” “Oh, and do you not have any money on you? Can I get your SnapChat to send you some money via PayPal?” I looked at her plastic bag, hesitating. But thinking about how uncomfortable it was using toilet paper, I finally took the plastic bag from her hand. I also complied, pulling out my phone to add her on SnapChat. After doing everything, I closed my door. But within a few minutes, Elara knocked again. “Aubrey, Auntie Elara made you a warm herbal drink for your cramps. Would you like to open the door and drink some? It can really help ease the pain.” “Girls your age often get bad cramps.” Listening to Lorelei’s voice through the door, I clenched my fists tightly. This reminded me of two years ago, when I first started my period. My periods were irregular, and the cramps were so bad I’d be rolling on the floor in agony every time. Back then, I cried and begged Lorelei to take me to the doctor. I told her I was in so much pain, so much pain. My mom snapped at me, annoyed: “You’re so dramatic! It’s just period pain, what’s the big deal? “When do I have time to take you to the doctor? Even if I did, I wouldn’t want to. “Ever since you were disfigured, every time I take you out, I feel like a criminal. Strangers stare at me all the time; it’s utterly humiliating! “And besides, I’m going on a trip with my boyfriend today, I don’t have time.” “If you’re really in so much pain, there’s some brown sugar in the fridge. Just mix it with hot water and drink it.” After saying that, Lorelei grabbed her bag and walked out the door. That night, due to severe cramps and a persistent high fever, I almost died at home. It wasn’t until I crawled out and knocked on a neighbor’s door that she took me to the hospital, and I barely clung to life. When Lorelei was called to the hospital, Her first reaction wasn’t to comfort me. It was anger. “Aubrey, why are you so much trouble? I leave for a second and something happens to you.” “I must have been cursed in a past life to have such a jinx for a daughter!” Thinking of the despair I felt lying in that hospital bed back then, A sudden surge of anger, I don’t know why, erupted in my chest. Loudly, angrily, I yelled at the woman outside the room. “I don’t want it! Go away!” It was a long time before I heard the woman’s retreating footsteps outside. And the moment those footsteps disappeared, tears streamed down my scarred face. That night, I didn’t go out for dinner. Elara came to my door several times. Each time, I thought she was going to knock. But each time, she only stood at my door for a moment before leaving. It wasn’t until midnight that I suddenly saw a SnapChat post from her. “Hey ladies, any advice on how to communicate with a teenage daughter?” My fingers tightened around my phone. The word “daughter” hit me like a ton of bricks, stabbing deep into my heart. Ever since I was disfigured, Lorelei had never publicly acknowledged me as her daughter. Even when she took me out, she wouldn’t let me call her mom. When others asked, she would only introduce me as a relative’s child. When we were alone, she explained it to me. She said if people knew she was my mom, they would condemn her, saying what kind of mother lets her young child get so horribly burned. She also said that my disfigurement was all David’s fault. If David hadn’t cheated and divorced her, she wouldn’t have tried to take her own life, and I wouldn’t have become… this monster. So, I couldn’t guilt-trip her, my mother. If I wanted to hate someone, I should hate David. And hate the woman who was now posting on SnapChat, calling me her daughter.

I initially thought after I yelled at Elara yesterday, She wouldn’t bother with me anymore. After all, she and I were essentially rivals, and now I was like a burden, intruding on her happy family. But to my surprise, the next morning, she knocked on my room door again. First, she told me breakfast was by the door. I didn’t answer. Around mid-morning, she knocked again, saying she’d prepared some fruit for me and left it outside my door. I still didn’t answer. It wasn’t until almost noon that the door was knocked on again. I was incredibly annoyed. I climbed out of bed and went to open the door, ready to shout, when I saw the little boy standing there, looking pitifully, his eyes brimming with tears, holding an Ultraman figure. “Big sister, my Ultraman’s leg is broken! Mom won’t fix it for me, but she said you can!” With that, the little boy rushed forward and clung tightly to my leg. “Please, big sister, help me fix my Ultraman! My Ultraman is broken, I’m going to be so heartbroken!” My pant leg was smeared with the boy’s snot and tears. Just as I stood there, flustered, Elara stood at the end of the hallway, holding a spatula, yelling at me. “Aubrey, quickly go comfort your brother! He’s being so annoying!” “I’m cooking right now, I don’t have time!” With that, Elara disappeared back into the kitchen. My hands clenched slightly. It took me a few seconds to find my voice. “Give me the Ultraman.” The boy, like a seasoned actor, instantly stopped crying. Fearing he’d see my face and start crying again, I took two steps back, ready to close the door. The boy, however, zoomed past me, darted into the room, kicked off his shoes, and rolled twice on my bed. “Big sister, come here quickly! Fix my Ultraman on the bed!” My fingers tightened around the Ultraman figure again. But seeing that the boy hadn’t been scared into crying, I sat down sideways on the bed, my feet on the floor, my upper body stiff. As soon as I picked up the Ultraman, the boy suddenly launched himself into my arms. “Big sister, I want you to hold me while you fix it!” The sudden warmth against my chest made my body instantly tense. Even my fingers holding the Ultraman trembled. Ever since I was disfigured, I hadn’t had such close physical contact with anyone. After all, Lorelei wouldn’t even look at me after I was disfigured, let alone hug me. And everyone else just found me repulsive, a monster. They would even walk several feet away from me if we were on the same path. But before I could react, the boy kissed my scarred face. “Big sister, I like you.”

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At the party, my asthma flared up. I fumbled for my emergency inhaler. But the bottle was empty. Brandon explained: “Layla said she had a really scratchy throat, so I just handed her your inhaler. You know, for a quick fix. Chew on some throat lozenges, it’ll help.” My breathing was already getting harder and harder. “She has a dry throat, can’t she just drink some water? You guys are trying to kill me!” He frowned, annoyed. “Can you just stop being so dramatic? You always make yourself out to be some delicate flower. Layla’s right, you’re just playing victim.” I didn’t argue anymore. I sent a message to my mom: “My asthma’s acting up, but Brandon gave my inhaler to Layla.” Brandon saw the message and brushed it off. “You’re doing this again? Always running to your mom, are you in elementary school?” He snatched my phone, held it high above his head, looking down at me. I tried to get it back. The moment I stood up, my vision went black, and I stumbled back down. “My asthma’s attacking, please, help me!” I gasped, trying to explain. Just then, Layla walked over, not forgetting to wave my inhaler in her hand. “Oh, Avery, my little princess, are you *really* that bad off? Or are you just trying to get some attention?” “Ugh, I told Brandon we shouldn’t have girls at our guy’s night. Always so emotional, always trying to stir up drama between each other.” I gasped for air, staring intently at Layla. She was Brandon’s childhood friend. She was always one of the guys, super comfortable hanging out with them, even calling them “bros.” Brandon had mentioned Layla to me more than once, always praising her for being a “true tomboy.” At first, I actually had a good impression of the easygoing “guy’s girl” Brandon talked about. After our relationship became stable, Brandon took me to meet his circle of friends. Layla would always act so friendly towards women. “Oh, Brandon, you’ve got good taste! Where did you find this little angel?” “Aww, girl, come here for a hug! Let’s ignore these stinky boys.” But I always felt Layla’s eyes on me, subtly, with a hint of malice. Her methods were clever. She talked about female solidarity, but her actions always subtly isolated me. For example, she would always bring up their childhood memories at parties. I couldn’t interject and could only sit silently to the side. Then, she’d casually joke with me. “What’s wrong, princess? Are you upset because I’m talking to Brandon?” I had mentioned to Brandon that I felt uncomfortable. But Brandon would just call me petty. He’d say Layla was just trying to lighten the mood, and I was too sensitive. Now, however, Layla’s malice was completely undisguised. “A princess will always be a princess, won’t she? Are you upset that we’re not all fawning over you, so you’re faking being sick?” The guys around us burst into snickers at her words. “I’m really not feeling well, give me the inhaler!” I raised my voice. Seeing my state, the room went silent for a second. Then, a more explosive round of jeering erupted. Layla placed her hand on Brandon’s shoulder. She watched me struggling to breathe, laughing so hard she almost fell over. “Oh, wow, she’s putting on quite a show, Brandon. Are you actually feeling sorry for her?” The others egged Brandon on. “Yeah, Brandon, you’re not going to be scared of your wife after you get married, are you?” “Don’t embarrass us, man! You’re the one in charge. If your girl acts up, you gotta put her in her place!” Brandon couldn’t stand being provoked like that. He stiffened his neck, not looking at me. “Who feels sorry for her? She needs to be taught a lesson, always looking for trouble.” I couldn’t breathe. I desperately pulled at Brandon’s sleeve, guttural “hoarse” sounds escaping my throat. “Help… me…” Seeing me like that, Brandon hesitated. But Layla spoke up again. “Alright, alright, Avery, we’re all just straight-up guys here. Nobody’s falling for your damsel-in-distress act.” Knowing it was useless to talk to him, I tried to leave the room. But as soon as I managed to get my body up, Layla shoved me back down. “The party’s not over yet, how can you leave? That’s just rude!” Her grip was strong. Before I knew it, the back of my head hit the wall. *CRACK!* My head spun even more. I didn’t even have time to react. Layla screamed first.

She covered her mouth, speaking dramatically. “Oh? You’re so manipulative, aren’t you?” “I barely touched you, and you intentionally hit your head against the wall just to frame me.” Hearing that, Brandon’s eyes grew even more impatient. “Avery, you’re going too far.” I bit my lip, trying to stay conscious. “I have severe asthma. If you don’t want someone to die, then stop this right now.” My throat burned, every breath felt like inhaling shards of glass. But Layla dangled the inhaler in front of my eyes, tauntingly, then dramatically took a deep puff. “Can’t give it to you, my throat’s dry.” “And I gotta say, you get what you pay for. This thing feels amazing.” I struggled to raise my hand to snatch it. She laughed, raising her hand high to avoid me. “No. Not giving it to you.” I was so enraged that my vision went black again. Brandon stood by, arms crossed, watching. “Look at you, acting like a beggar. Layla’s just using it for a bit, don’t be so petty.” “Layla’s seen your medical report. You don’t have asthma; you’re just a little short of breath.” I forced myself to calm down. “Brandon, you’ve seen me during an asthma attack, haven’t you? Why would I lie about something like this?” Before Brandon could answer, Layla interjected. “Of course, for attention! In this day and age, there are always those attention-seekers faking illnesses.” “Heh, Avery, are you like those ‘little angels’ online who also claim to have depression?” Hearing that, Brandon’s friends burst into even louder laughter. Someone whistled. “Brandon, your girlfriend is so petty and uptight. She’s nothing like Layla’s easygoing vibe.” “Yeah, you’ll have your hands full if you marry her.” I gasped for air, using my last bit of strength to reach for the inhaler in Layla’s hand. But just as my fingertips were about to touch it, she deftly dodged backward. I lost my balance and fell forward onto the carpet. “Oh dear, what a realistic performance!” Layla exclaimed dramatically. Then she crouched down and whispered, in a voice only I could hear. “Hehe, hurry up and die. Once you’re gone, Brandon and I can finally be together.” She stood up, intentionally raising her voice. “Avery, stop messing around, get up! Everyone’s waiting for you and Brandon to do a shot together!” Brandon started to feel something was wrong. He stepped forward and helped me up. “What’s wrong with you? Are you really not feeling well?” “Help… me…” I struggled to utter a few words. My hand gripped Brandon’s wrist hard, only broken gasps escaping. “In… inhaler…” Brandon’s brows furrowed tightly, his eyes finally showing a hint of panic and struggle. He looked at Layla. “Layla, maybe give her the thing.” Layla’s face immediately fell. She stubbornly hid the inhaler behind her back, stamping her foot in annoyance. “Brandon, are you blind? She’s clearly faking it! Have you forgotten how she used to throw tantrums like a spoiled brat?” Then, she suddenly yelled at the others. “See? These women always act like this to compete with each other. Brandon totally fell for it!” The guys around us immediately chimed in. “Brandon, Layla and us grew up together. She wouldn’t try to hurt you, would she?” “Girls like her, you know, they just like to make trouble. Can’t spoil her.” Brandon’s expression changed. His hand supporting me loosened a bit. I could feel his hesitation. On one side, my agonizing illness. On the other, Layla and their provocations. “But… her face looks really pale…”

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**Chapter 1** On Valentine’s Day, I slipped and fell in the bathroom. My husband, Daniel, said he was on a business trip and couldn’t come with me to the hospital. As I was about to be wheeled into the operating room, I received a notification for my exclusive black card membership with the airline. “Dear Black Card member, thank you for booking a first-class family suite with our company to the Maldives. Points have been credited to your account.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I sat straight up on the examination table. Just as I was about to send my assistant to investigate, a new post popped up on her SnapChat story. “Thought I’d be stuck living in someone’s shadow forever. Thank you, my darling husband, for giving me and our child a sweet night, just the three of us.” The accompanying picture showed two large hands cradling a tiny one. On the wrist of one of the larger hands was the Rolex watch I’d given Daniel for Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t believe it. The girl I had sponsored and promoted to be my assistant was having an affair with my husband. The doctor’s urgent voice broke through my daze. “Ms. Evans, if we don’t start the procedure soon, the baby’s life could be in danger.” “Perfect. Schedule an abortion for me.” I was just getting ready for the doctor to wheel me in for my check-up. My phone vibrated several times in quick succession. “Dear Black Card member, thank you for booking a first-class family suite with our company to the Maldives. Points have been credited to your account.” After reading the message, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I hadn’t booked a flight to the Maldives. And besides, my baby wasn’t even born yet; how could I have booked a family suite? I thought the airline had made a mistake, so I called them to inquire. “Hello, ma’am, the points were indeed added to your black card. The passengers are a Mr. Daniel Hayes and…” Before she could finish, the surgeon sternly urged, “Ms. Evans, we can’t delay any longer. Even though it was just a bump and there’s no bleeding, we still need to do a thorough check-up.” At her words, my mind was a chaotic mess. I opened Chloe Miller’s SnapChat, intending to ask her to help me look into it. But then, her latest post suddenly popped up on her story. “Thought I’d be stuck living in someone’s shadow forever. Thank you, my darling husband, for giving me and our child a sweet night, just the three of us.” The accompanying picture showed two large hands cradling a tiny one. But before I could look for another second, the post was deleted. In an instant, I couldn’t even see her previous SnapChat stories. Even so, I had clearly seen one of the men’s hands. On the wrist of one of the larger hands was the Rolex watch I’d given Daniel for Valentine’s Day. Just because Daniel had casually mentioned his wrist felt bare. I had pulled every string, spent all my savings, and sent someone to buy that one-of-a-kind, limited edition Rolex. This sudden news left me utterly disbelieving. Immediately, I dialed Daniel’s number. My heart was pounding frantically. He answered quickly. “Wife? What’s wrong? I’m about to take off. I’ll call you back when I land.” He hung up in a hurry before I could say anything. But I still heard a familiar female voice gently coaxing a child in the quiet first-class cabin. “Lily! Don’t bother Daddy while he’s on the phone!” My heart turned cold. In an instant, I dialed Chloe Miller’s number. She didn’t answer for a long time. The next second, another message from the airline came through. “Thank you, esteemed Mr. Daniel Hayes, Ms. Chloe Miller, and young Lily Hayes, for flying with us. We wish your happy family of three a pleasant journey.” *** **Chapter 2** Seeing that message, my eyes widened. I couldn’t believe it. Chloe Miller, the girl I had sponsored and promoted to be my assistant, was secretly involved with my husband, Daniel Hayes. “Ms. Evans, if we don’t start the procedure soon, the baby’s life could be in danger.” I gave a wooden, hollow laugh. “Perfect. Schedule an abortion for me.” After the procedure, I returned home, feeling the emptiness in my womb. My heart was utterly frozen. This child was supposed to be born into Daniel’s and my hopeful anticipation. But now, Daniel had betrayed everything. He was the one who had been ecstatic when he found out I was pregnant, cheering, shouting my name from the streets of Barcelona. He was the one who promised to love me and our baby forever. That’s why I, despite my deep-seated fear of pregnancy, willingly carried his child. But now, he didn’t deserve it. I hired a private investigator, sending him on an overnight flight to the Maldives, to where Daniel and Chloe were staying. Looking at the photos the private investigator sent back, my heart plummeted. There was Daniel, holding a little girl, about three years old, in his arms, while Chloe smiled sweetly, linked to him by the hand. The Maybach I had gifted him during our honeymoon in the Maldives, which we’d driven together, was parked quietly nearby. I had given him more than one car in the Maldives, but he specifically chose this one with its special license plate. He had paid a fortune for that custom “Our Love” plate, and now it felt like a searing brand on my soul. He had insisted, no matter the cost, that he had to have that plate, and he’d personally promised that this car was exclusively for picking up his wife. Now, he was holding another woman’s hand, with another woman’s child, getting into that very car. The pain in my heart was unbearable. Immediately after, Daniel checked Chloe into the overwater villa I owned in the Maldives. That night, the smart assistant in the overwater villa was activated multiple times throughout the night. Having spent my honeymoon there, I knew exactly what that meant. Suppressing the fury raging inside me, I dialed Daniel’s number again. It took a long time for him to answer. Then came Daniel’s slightly breathless voice. “Wife? What’s wrong?” “Where are you?” “On a business trip.” My voice turned icy. “Is that so? Because I received a message from the airline about a flight to the Maldives.” “On Valentine’s Day, you’re on a business trip to the Maldives?” Daniel clearly froze, then a hint of panic crept into his voice. “Ava, listen, let me explain. I was actually preparing a surprise for you. You’ve been so down these past few days with the pregnancy, I thought I’d get everything ready and then bring you over.” Listening to his pathetic lie, I laughed out loud. “Daniel Hayes, have you forgotten? I own that overwater villa.” The moment those words left my mouth, Daniel surprisingly got angry first. “Ava, I know you’re mad that I wasn’t with you at the hospital on Valentine’s Day, but after all these years of marriage, are you really just going to accuse me like this? Is this all the trust you have in me?!” At his words, I laughed, but it was a bitter laugh. My heart ached terribly. I could abandon my own flesh and blood, so what was one Chloe Miller? I could nurture one Chloe Miller; I could cultivate many more, even better talents. “Daniel Hayes, don’t you dare play the victim card with me. And while you’re at it, tell Chloe Miller she’s fired.” “As for you, when you’re done playing around, come home and we’re getting a divorce.” With that, I hung up. I looked at the DNA test results sent by the private investigator. Upon seeing that Lily, the child, had a 99.99% match with Chloe Miller and Daniel Hayes, I scrambled out of bed and retched into the toilet. Daniel and I had been married for two years, yet he had a three-year-old child with Chloe. *** **Chapter 3** Daniel rushed back home that very night. When he opened the door, Chloe Miller stood beside him, her eyes red from crying. I frowned, about to close the door. Daniel barged in. “Ava! Listen to me, it’s not what you think!” Chloe cried, “That’s right, Ava! It’s really not what you think!” “It’s true that I flew to the Maldives with Daniel yesterday, but I only did it because I’m your closest assistant, Ava. I know your preferences, so I was just helping him prepare the surprise for you!” “Exactly, Ava! I only got to go because I was helping Daniel with *your* surprise! I was just lucky enough to see the beautiful scenery of the Maldives because he needed an extra pair of hands.” Listening to their rehearsed back-and-forth, I felt nothing but intense irritation. Suddenly, Chloe dropped to her knees in front of me. She was sobbing, her face a mask of pitiful vulnerability. “Ava! I can’t lose this job!” “You’ve sponsored my education all these years, you know my family situation. If I lose this job, my gambling addict father will surely beat me to death!” Daniel frowned, looking conflicted. “Ava, this is just a misunderstanding. Are you really going to abandon an assistant you’ve poured so much effort into cultivating for years, all because of a misunderstanding?” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh. But my heart felt incredibly bitter. I could give up my own unborn child, so what was one Chloe Miller? I could nurture one Chloe Miller, and I could cultivate many more, even better talents. “Yes, Ava, I’ve been working with the company’s core confidential information with you. Are you really sure you want to just dismiss me like this?” “Are you threatening me?” Seeing my expression change, Chloe cried even harder, terrified. “No, I didn’t mean that. I’m not.” She looked up at Daniel pitifully. “Mr. Hayes, I didn’t mean it that way.” Chloe suddenly slumped to the side, revealing her bruised and scraped knees. She instinctively glanced at me, then quickly pulled down her skirt. Daniel’s face softened with concern. He pulled her up. “Alright, Ava, Chloe has apologized. It’s just a misunderstanding, why drag it out like this?” “A misunderstanding?” I threw the photos taken by the private investigator at his face. “Holding hands? A misunderstanding?” “Chloe Miller, do you dare to show me the SnapChat story you posted?” At my words, Chloe’s face went white. Daniel, too, looked utterly humiliated after seeing the photos I’d thrown at him. I forced myself to calm down. “Do you have anything else to explain? That overwater villa also has 24/7 surveillance recordings.” “Should I pull them up for you two to enjoy?” Chloe and Daniel’s faces completely panicked. My heart ached with unbearable pain. Actually, there were no surveillance cameras installed in the overwater villa. I was just testing them, lying to them. But now, their panicked faces had thoroughly betrayed them both. Looking at the man I had deeply loved for two years, I smiled in disappointment. “Daniel Hayes, let’s get a divorce.” At my words, Daniel, who had been momentarily stunned, exploded. His eyes blazing red, he grabbed my neck, pinning me against the wall. “Divorce? Ava Evans, what right do you have to talk about divorce?!” Daniel calmed down and pushed me away abruptly. “Ava, don’t be unreasonable.”

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