Category: English

They say no one escapes the seven-year itch in marriage, but Aubrey and Julian Davies’ loving days only lasted five. After five years, Julian fell for someone else. To force Aubrey to donate her bone marrow, he even kidnapped her only living family member. When Aubrey arrived, her younger brother, Liam, was already beaten and covered in blood. Guards had him pinned down, roughly forcing bottle after bottle of alcohol down his throat. Julian looked at her, a smirk playing on his lips. “Here are ten bottles of hard liquor. Every minute, I’ll force one down his throat. But I don’t quite remember which one is poisoned.” “Will you watch your brother drink himself to death, or will you sign the bone marrow donation agreement?” Aubrey’s tears streamed down her face as she looked at Liam, covered in blood. “No!” She shrieked at Julian, “He’s my only brother, my only family! How – how could you do this to him?!” Julian calmly swirled the wine in his glass, his gaze empty of any pity. Instead, he simply raised a hand, signaling the guards to pry Liam’s mouth open and continue forcing the liquor down. Julian pointed to the remaining bottles. “One of these is poisoned!” “Care to guess which one?” Aubrey’s heart pounded, threatening to burst from her chest. Julian stood before her, his eyes lowered, radiating a chilling aura. “Aubrey, your blood type matches Serena’s. Donating a bit of bone marrow won’t affect you at all.” Julian gripped her chin, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “Or are you thinking Liam won’t feel any pain if he drinks this poison after getting drunk? Is that why you’re so unconcerned?” Aubrey bit her lip so hard the metallic taste of blood filled her mouth. Her parents were gone; Liam was all she had left. After she got together with Julian, he had spoiled Liam even more than she did. Yet now, for another woman, he was threatening her with her brother’s life. Seeing her hesitation, Julian grew impatient. “Are you truly willing to watch your brother die right in front of you?” Julian’s eyes hardened. He picked up another bottle and handed it to a guard. “Only one left.” “Julian Davies!” Aubrey screamed, utterly heartbroken. “Are you really going to kill my brother for your lover?!” “Her health is important, but what about mine? Do I deserve to die?!” Julian raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips as he wiped a smudge from her cheek. “Of course not. It’s just a bone marrow donation.” “Or are you afraid Serena will take your place? Don’t worry, no one will ever shake your position as Mrs. Davies.” “Serena is very obedient, just like you used to be. She listens to everything I say.” The moment Serena’s name was mentioned, Julian’s eyes gleamed with the satisfaction of someone who had found a perfect acquisition. Aubrey remembered. She was orphaned in middle school. With nowhere else to turn, a twist of fate led her to be taken in by the Davies family. Back then, Julian’s parents were often away on business, and the nannies didn’t care much for him. He was malnourished, scrawny. That’s why Mr. Davies Sr. used to call him a scrawny kid who couldn’t even stand up for himself. Caught in a cycle of extreme verbal abuse and emotional distress, he spiraled into depression. It was Aubrey who quietly stayed by his side, learning to cook to nurse him back to health. She stopped him from attempting suicide, comforting and caring for his emotional well-being. She stayed with him until he became the celebrated CEO of Davies Corporation. Through countless days and nights spent together, a silent affection blossomed between them. At a Davies family gala, someone had called her a charity case trying to marry into wealth, warning the family to be careful not to be seduced by her. The very next day, Julian had systematically crushed that person’s company, issuing a chilling warning to everyone: no one was to speak ill of Aubrey ever again. He had made her feel completely safe and cherished. … They had walked hand-in-hand through life, Julian’s boundless favoritism protecting her from ridicule and disdain. He had given her and Liam a home, a sanctuary. At their wedding, Julian had declared that only she, Aubrey, would ever be Mrs. Davies. He had kept his word, yet his heart now belonged to another woman. Aubrey clutched the lapel of Julian’s jacket until her knuckles turned white. Fighting back tears, she choked out, “Julian, is Serena truly that important to you?” Julian paused for a moment. “Important, yes. I can’t live without her.” “Serena lacks a sense of security. You should give her half of your shares too.” Every word he spoke was like a knife, twisting deeper into Aubrey’s heart. Those shares had been given to her by Mrs. Davies; they were rightfully hers. Why should she give them to Serena? It was her fault, she had let a viper into her home. When she first met Serena, she was a fresh college graduate, struggling to find work. She had pulled some strings, asking Aubrey for help. Thinking she seemed nice enough, Aubrey hired Serena as her personal assistant. She never expected her to be so impulsive and a law unto herself. Serena constantly disrupted her plans and interfered with her schedule. Aubrey had gotten into trouble with Mr. Davies Sr. more times than she could count because of her. When she finally fired Serena, Serena still believed she’d done nothing wrong. She’d claimed Aubrey was just using her position as Mrs. Davies to lord it over people. Serena swore that once she reached Aubrey’s position, she would make sure Aubrey suffered. Aubrey had dismissed them as empty threats, paying them no mind. But she never imagined Serena would turn around and start an affair with Julian. Still, she didn’t take it seriously. Julian had many lovers; they were always just flings. She was wrong. Things slowly spiraled out of control. Serena was different. Julian was completely obsessed with her, madly in love with her. The thought sent a wave of agonizing pain through Aubrey. She struggled to compose herself. “There are so many people who could be a match for her. Why does it have to be me?” Julian replied, “Because I don’t trust anyone else. But you’re absolutely clean, no diseases.” “You’re holding the position of Mrs. Davies. What more could you be unsatisfied with? It’s just bone marrow. Don’t be so petty.” Aubrey froze. He spoke as if this were some grand favor bestowed upon her. Did receiving these things mean she had to give up her life? Her body was already haggard and frail. After undergoing surgery, she might not make it off the table. Seeing her continued refusal, Julian’s patience ran out. He warned, “Aubrey, don’t forget, without me, you and your brother would be beggars.” “Just as I gave you everything, I can take it all away.” Aubrey fell silent, her eyes filled with a soul-crushing agony. Everything she had done was to stand proudly beside Julian. Yet everyone saw her efforts, everyone but Julian, who, deep down, only ever looked down on her. The young man who, full of vigor, declared his love to him in the rain. The Julian who confessed his love under the spotlight and swore to love only her. He was long gone. Aubrey stubbornly lifted her head. “What if I refuse to donate?” Julian frowned in displeasure, sighing softly before prying Liam’s mouth open again. She panicked, quickly saying, “I’ll find someone else for you, absolutely clean and healthy!” “Three…” “Julian, there are other options! It doesn’t have to be me!” “Two… Aubrey, do you really think your brother isn’t as important as your bone marrow?” His voice was bone-chillingly cold, and the indifference in his eyes tore her in two. “Fine, I agree. I’ll give you my bone marrow.” The words tasted bitter in her mouth. “Good girl. That’s my Aubrey.” Julian took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders, his arm around her firm and warm. He signaled the guards to release Liam, who crumpled to the ground like a broken rag doll. A cold fear bloomed in Aubrey’s heart. Julian had always seen her as an object. Like a helmsman who could steer her emotions at will. She couldn’t endure this life of sharing one man with countless other women. She had to take Liam and leave. She had to get a divorce.

Aubrey shoved Julian away and rushed to the unconscious Liam. She shrieked at Julian, “Quick! Get him to a hospital!” Julian frowned. Just as he was about to call for someone to take Liam to the hospital, His phone suddenly rang. He looked at the screen—it was Serena. The moment he answered, her weeping voice came through. “Julian, my chest hurts so much! I feel like I can’t hold on!” Julian grew anxious, hearing Serena’s cries. He tried to comfort her. “I’m coming right away. Just wait for me.” Seeing him about to leave, Aubrey grabbed his jacket. “Julian, Julian, please, I’m begging you! Get Liam to the hospital first, he’s dying!” Julian’s brows furrowed deeply. He yanked his jacket free. “Call an ambulance yourself. Serena said her condition worsened.” “I have to go take care of her first!” She tried to argue, but he ignored her. Aubrey placed her last hope on the ambulance. When she finally found her phone, it was shattered, utterly unusable. In the end, it was one of the guards, with a pang of conscience, who called for an ambulance. All the way to the hospital, she kept asking the doctors if Liam would be okay. But they couldn’t make any promises. After Liam was wheeled into the emergency room, Aubrey stood outside, pacing anxiously. Less than half an hour after the doctors went in, they suddenly rushed out, looking utterly frantic. She frowned, stepping forward and gripping a doctor’s wrist tightly. “Where are you going? How is the person inside?” The doctor, frantic, explained, “A patient named Serena has had an emergency. The hospital just called us all over.” “We’ll be back here very soon.” Aubrey held the doctor’s arm even tighter, refusing to let go. “No! If you leave, my brother will have no one to save him!” “So many doctors are going. It won’t matter if one of you stays!” Aubrey cried and knelt, pleading with the doctor to stay, but he was torn. If he didn’t go, he could kiss his career at the hospital goodbye. After a moment of agonizing deliberation, the doctor. Still, he pulled his wrist free from Aubrey’s grasp, guilt etched on his face. “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” With that, he abandoned her and left. She peered into the operating room, seeing Liam lying alone on the hospital bed. His breathing grew shallow. Aubrey gritted her teeth and rushed to another emergency room, where she saw Julian standing outside, his face etched with worry. “Did you call all the doctors away?” Julian looked up. “Serena’s situation is critical.” The operating room was packed with doctors. Aubrey cried out in fury, “You don’t need this many! Just give me a few doctors, please!” Aubrey’s eyes were red-rimmed as she tugged at Julian’s sleeve, begging him. But he was unmoved, rejecting her with a stone-cold expression. “Stop making a scene. If anything happens to Serena, I couldn’t bear it.” “It’ll be quick. Just wait a little longer.” Aubrey snatched her hand away and screamed at him, “Liam is really dying! I’ll kneel for you, okay?!” Finally, she knelt down in front of everyone. Julian’s face instantly changed. He pulled her up. His voice laced with impatience, “I just praised you for being obedient, and now you’re going to upset me again?” Aubrey softened her tone, tears streaming down her face. “Liam really can’t wait.” Julian, with a cold look, cupped her face and began to soothe her. “It was just a few drinks. How could anything happen?” “I didn’t put any poison in that alcohol. I knew you were trying to trick me into coming over with Liam.” “This isn’t the time for jealousy. Be a good girl. Serena’s situation is much more serious than Liam’s.” Aubrey could no longer hide her collapsing emotions. She screamed at Julian, “No! I’m not being jealous!” Julian’s brows furrowed slightly, his expression displeased. “Enough. Stop being so disobedient. Once Serena’s surgery is over, they’ll go to Liam.” Seeing that she couldn’t reason with Julian, she decided to transfer Liam to another hospital. Just as she was about to arrange the transfer, the door to Serena’s operating room suddenly opened. Serena’s face was pale, and her eyes, red-rimmed, looked at Julian with an expression that made her appear utterly pitiful. “Julian, I thought I’d never wake up again.” Julian comforted her with a pained expression, his voice full of tenderness. “It’s okay. I’m here. Nothing bad will happen to you.” Aubrey stood to the side, watching the two of them embrace. She felt like a hysterical madwoman. Julian used to cherish her, treating her like a precious treasure. Knowing she was afraid of pain, he had all the sharp furniture and wall corners in their home rounded. If she ever got a scratch or a bump, he would panic as if the world were about to explode. When she faced difficulties, he was always the first to appear by her side. But then, this relationship started to sour. Looking back, it seemed to be from the moment she stopped obeying his every command. After the doctors emerged from Serena’s operating room, they immediately went to Liam’s. Who knew how much time had passed? The doctor came out and shook his head at Aubrey. “It’s too late. If you had brought him a few minutes earlier, he might have been saved.” “Now, he’s in a vegetative state. As for when he’ll wake up, that’s an unknown.” Aubrey’s legs gave out when she heard the news. He was alive, but what was the difference between this and being dead? She walked to his side, gently stroking his pale face. Just a few minutes. If Julian hadn’t called all the doctors away, her brother would be waking up right now! Aubrey collapsed beside Liam, no longer able to hold back her emotions, and cried out loud. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t fallen in love with Julian, you wouldn’t be like this.” “If I had agreed to give Julian my bone marrow earlier, he wouldn’t have been so cruel to you!” If the old Liam had heard her crying, he would have long since wiped away her tears and sought out whoever had made her cry to settle the score. But now, he lay motionless on the bed. Finally, Aubrey coughed up a mouthful of blood, staining the hospital floor.

When she woke again, a doctor stood over her, frowning at her test results. “Your body is very weak. You need to rest properly.” Aubrey smiled faintly. “Doctor, will I die?” “No, but if you keep pushing yourself, you won’t have many days left.” After saying this, the doctor sighed, leaving her with a simple instruction to take care of herself before departing. Ever since Liam became a vegetable, Aubrey had dedicated all her energy to him. One day, the elevator broke, forcing her to climb five flights of stairs. But by the third floor, she was breathless, her chest tight, her legs weak. By the time she reached Liam’s side, she was drenched in sweat. That’s when she realized just how frail her body was. If she went into surgery like this, it would surely be a gamble with her life. She needed to recover properly. After several days of rest and treatment in the hospital, her body finally started to regain some strength. She planned to go home to pick up some things, then rent a room near the hospital so she could better care for Liam. Standing at the door, she overheard words that shattered her heart. “Do you think our baby will be a boy or a girl?” Serena asked, her face full of anticipation. Julian, with a doting expression, replied, “Boy or girl, they’re my child.” A child? A sudden, sharp pain pierced Aubrey’s heart, an unspeakable ache spreading through her entire body. They had been together for five years and never conceived. He and Serena got pregnant in less than half a year? Just then, Serena suddenly began to sob. “Maybe I should just get rid of this baby?” Julian’s grip on Serena’s hand tightened abruptly, his eyes wide with panic. “Why?!” “My body… I can’t carry a baby. Julian, I really want to be a mother, but I…” Julian frowned, his thin lips parting. “It’s okay. I found a bone marrow match for you, and Aubrey has agreed.” Aubrey’s heart clenched in the hallway. The world began to spin. The metallic tang in her throat constantly reminded her that her body was no longer healthy. If she didn’t make it off the operating table this time, what would happen to Liam? What would he do, alone? Aubrey knocked on the door. The two in the living room immediately turned to the entrance. Only then did they realize Aubrey had been listening the whole time. Julian frowned. “What are you doing here?” Aubrey walked over to them. “Can I… can I get my body stronger first… before I donate?” Serena clutched her stomach, tears wetting her sleeves. “But I can’t wait! The doctor said the surgery needs to be done as soon as possible.” “Julian, if Aubrey isn’t willing, then… we won’t have the baby.” Serena said this with a sob in her voice. With just one sentence, she shifted all the blame onto Aubrey. Julian frowned, his voice low and firm, laced with an undeniable command. “You just heard, Serena is pregnant.” “Aubrey, you promised to donate your bone marrow. Or do you want your brother to keep drinking?” Aubrey responded, “It’s not that I won’t donate. It’s just that my body right now…” “Aubrey! You used to agree to everything I said. Why are you constantly refusing me now?!” Julian’s voice was icy, radiating a deep, cold indifference. “Serena and the baby can’t wait.” Aubrey knew she couldn’t escape. So, if that was the case, she would fight for something for herself. “Alright, but I need a sum of money.” Julian was pleased by Aubrey’s sudden obedience, his mood brightening considerably. “I need sixty million.” Julian didn’t bat an eye, nodding. “I’ll have Mr. Sterling transfer it to you.” But Serena, sitting beside him, wasn’t happy. “Why so much money?” “What are you going to do with it?” Aubrey frowned. This mistress, acting like the lady of the house, interrogating her. “It’s just sixty million,” Julian said. Serena pouted. “That sixty million would be so much better for our baby.” Aubrey looked anxiously at Julian. She was terrified he would actually listen to Serena and take the money back. This was the amount she’d calculated for Liam’s future medical expenses. She immediately explained, “No, Liam is in a vegetative state. I need this money.” Julian looked disbelieving. “How is that possible? He just had a few drinks. That wouldn’t put him in a vegetative state, would it?” “I’m really not lying to you.” He let out a cold laugh. “Alright, if you want money in the future, just ask me directly. No need to lie about Liam being in a vegetative state.” “You’re Mrs. Davies. It’s only right that I give you money.” Aubrey opened her mouth, but no words came out. Serena, however, shot Aubrey a venomous look, as if wishing her dead. Just then, she touched her belly, as if an idea had struck her. “Julian, since I’m pregnant now, shouldn’t we find someone to care for me during my pregnancy?” Julian said, “I’ll immediately have someone find a maternity nurse for you.” Serena stopped Julian and looked at Aubrey. “I don’t think that’s necessary. Couldn’t Aubrey just take care of me?” “I only trust family.”

Julian, hearing this, smiled. “That’s a good idea. She’s excellent at taking care of people.” Aubrey’s face drained of color. Her throat felt dry. “Excellent at taking care of people.” Was he talking about how she had acted like a nanny to him throughout their youth? His words made all her sacrifices during her youth feel like a cruel joke. Julian picked up a strand of her hair, twisting it between his fingers. “You’ll agree, won’t you?” Aubrey’s eyes welled up. After they announced their relationship, Julian had never let her do any housework. Now, he was asking her to care for his pregnant mistress. Her mouth opened slightly, but she couldn’t utter a refusal. She could only nod. She couldn’t go against Julian yet. She hadn’t received the divorce papers, and the money hadn’t been transferred to her account. Serena, seeing Aubrey’s humiliated expression, brightened considerably. Just then, Julian’s phone rang. He gave Serena a doting look. “I’ll take this call.” As soon as he stepped out, the pitiful innocence in Serena’s eyes vanished. It was replaced by malice and calculation. “Well, does it hurt to see how much Julian loves me?” Serena looked triumphant, her chin slightly raised, a victor’s pose. “I found out. You were just a beggar picking through trash on the streets. After getting help from the Davies family, you transformed into Mrs. Davies.” “If you can marry Julian, so can I.” Saying this, Serena grabbed Aubrey’s wrist. “I advise you to leave Julian on your own. Otherwise, once I start playing games, you won’t be able to handle it.” Aubrey didn’t take Serena’s threats seriously. She sneered. “Oh really? Then why don’t you just tell him you want him to divorce me?” “Do you know why he loves you so much, yet still hasn’t divorced me?” “Because, to him, you’re nothing but a mistress.” Aubrey’s words hit home, crushing Serena’s pride. “You!” Serena pointed a furious finger at her, barely restraining herself from striking Aubrey. “Don’t get cocky. The position of Mrs. Davies will be mine eventually.” With that, Serena violently shoved the table, spilling a cup of hot water. Then she let out a piercing scream. “Ah!” Julian, hearing Serena’s shriek, burst through the door and saw Serena’s scalded, red hand. He rushed over and pulled her into his arms. “What happened?!” Serena leaned into Julian’s embrace, tears welling in her eyes. She sniffled as she cried. She looked utterly pathetic. “Julian, I don’t know what I said wrong to anger Aubrey.” “She suddenly threw hot water on me.” As she spoke, she clutched her stomach, crying even harder. “Thankfully, I protected my belly. If anything happened to the baby, what would I do?!” Julian’s deep, inky eyes blazed with fury. He let out a sudden roar that made Aubrey flinch. “Aubrey!” “Don’t you know she’s pregnant?! How could you be so vicious?!” It was the first time Aubrey had seen Julian so enraged. She tried to explain, “There are security cameras in the living room. You can check them to see if I did it.” She had been kidnapped once before, and though she was rescued safely, it had left Julian with intense psychological trauma. He’d had cameras installed in every corner of the house. A flicker of panic crossed Serena’s face. She quickly said, “Aubrey, I know you want to say I framed you, but I would never endanger Julian’s baby just to frame you!” Julian held Serena tightly, his heart aching. He looked at her tear-filled eyes and her scalded, red hand. “No need to check. I believe Serena.” “Aubrey, I never thought you could become so malicious.” Aubrey tried to explain again. “I never…” “Aubrey!” His roar was so loud, it made her heart pound. Even Serena flinched at the sound, forgetting to cry. Julian, seeing Serena startled, immediately comforted her. “Don’t be scared. I’m not yelling at you!” Tears spilled from Aubrey’s eyes, uncontrollable. If she had cried before, Julian would have frantically fumbled to comfort her. But now, he was busy soothing another woman. Julian looked up, frowning. “Why are you crying? I guess you don’t understand pain until it happens to you.” He gave a look to the guards, who immediately understood. They grabbed Aubrey’s arms, pulling her towards the basement. Looking at the pitch-black basement, Aubrey immediately struggled. “I’m begging you! I’m scared!” “Don’t do this, Julian Davies! You know I can’t be in confined spaces, you know it!” No matter how much Aubrey pleaded, he ignored her. The basement was just a storage room, not very large. The lights there had broken a long time ago and hadn’t been fixed. Once the door closed, nothing could be seen. In that sealed, narrow space, her fear magnified infinitely. Aubrey couldn’t take it anymore. She hammered on the door, shouting, “Let me out! Please, let me out!” No one paid any attention to her cries for help. Gradually, she felt her breathing grow ragged, and her entire being was consumed by extreme terror. When she finally saw light again, it was three days later. For those three days, she hadn’t eaten or drunk anything. Julian looked at her, covered in dirt, and wrinkled his nose in disgust. Serena, hiding behind him, looked smug. Julian sneered, “If you had just been a good girl and listened, none of this would have happened!” She had no strength left and slowly closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Julian sitting by her bedside. He held a glass of water out to her. “Drink some water.” His voice was incredibly gentle, making her believe the young Julian from years ago had returned. But then she looked up and saw the hickeys on his neck, instantly snapping her back to reality. Julian placed the water glass aside. “Are you worried Serena’s child will steal your inheritance?”

“Once Serena’s surgery is done, we’ll have a child of our own. That way, you’ll feel more secure, won’t you?” Aubrey thought she had misheard him. She looked up at the man she had loved for over a decade. He now seemed utterly foreign to her. She suppressed her nausea and replied, “Understood.” “Then rest well. I’m leaving.” After Julian left, Aubrey rushed to the bathroom and vomited violently into the toilet. A child? If a child were born into this environment, it would be irresponsible of her. She couldn’t continue like this. Aubrey went to Julian’s office door. Julian barely looked up when he saw her. “What do you need?” “This is the contract for an apartment I bought. Liam needs to be hospitalized, so I’ll live near the hospital to take care of him.” Julian took the contract from her hand and read it carefully. When he flipped to the divorce agreement page, Aubrey’s heart tightened. She quickly reached out to cover the content, pointing to the signature line. “Just sign here.” Julian looked up at her, then, without much thought, signed the document. “Take good care of Serena. She’s in a critical period right now.” Aubrey nodded and left the office. Looking at Julian’s signature on the divorce agreement, the reality finally sank in: she was truly divorced from Julian. Next, she would go to the law firm to divide their assets. Mrs. Davies had given her a substantial amount of shares after they married. Once she converted those into cash, it would be enough for her and Liam to live comfortably for the rest of their lives. As she was at home brewing herbal medicine, her phone suddenly rang. It was Julian. The moment she answered, his anxious voice came through. “Where are you right now?” Aubrey frowned. “I’m home.” Julian said, “I’m coming back to pick you up now.” About ten minutes after the call ended, he appeared at her house. Without a word, he pulled her into the car. On the way, Aubrey couldn’t help but ask, “Where are you taking me?” Julian frowned. “Serena fainted. She needs emergency surgery.” Aubrey flinched. Her body wasn’t ready for surgery yet. Her health and weight weren’t up to par. If she donated now, what would happen to her? “Not today. Let me get my strength back…” “Enough!” Julian slammed on the horn, glaring into the rearview mirror. “You just don’t want to donate, so you’re making excuses!” “Don’t you know myelodysplastic syndrome can be fatal? If you don’t donate today, Serena and the baby will be in danger.” Upon arriving at the hospital, Julian pushed her directly to a doctor. “Her bone marrow is a match. Take hers.” “No! You can’t! I’ll die! Doctor, please tell him!” Aubrey looked at the doctor, her face etched with despair. She placed all her hope in him. The doctor frowned. The person before him was skeletal, far from meeting donation standards. He was about to object. Julian’s voice cut in, a warning. “If you don’t want this hospital to go under, then draw her blood!” The doctor’s words were swallowed back down. He could only lead Aubrey into the operating room. Aubrey grabbed Julian’s jacket, crying out, “Julian Davies! What if I really die?!” Her desperate plea made everyone present wince in pain. Julian, however, was unfazed. He gripped her chin. “I’ve looked into it. Bone marrow donation won’t kill you. Stop being dramatic.” “What are you all looking at? Get her in there!” Fearing repercussions, the doctors could only take her arms and pull her towards the operating room. Despite her desperate struggles, she couldn’t resist a single anesthesia injection. The operating lamp switched on, its white glare painfully bright. Then, gradually, she lost consciousness. When she opened her eyes again, she saw Serena clinging to Julian’s waist, her face tear-stained. “Julian, do you know how close I came to never seeing you again?” Julian frantically wiped away her tears, comforting her. “I’m here with you. Don’t be afraid.” In contrast, Aubrey lay unattended. She tried to push herself up to reach the water glass on her bedside table. But her hands were too weak. She couldn’t hold the full glass. The loud crash of the glass hitting the floor seemed to startle Serena, who flinched in Julian’s arms. She cried even louder. Julian let her tears soak his clothes. He looked at Aubrey with an accusing glare. He had severe germaphobia. In the past, if Aubrey accidentally touched his hand with sand, he would wash his hands several times with soap. But now, Serena’s tears were soaking his collar, and he didn’t seem annoyed at all. Julian soothed Serena, then angrily turned to Aubrey.

“What are you whining about? Don’t you know Serena just had surgery and can’t handle being startled?!” Aubrey could only silently endure his accusations. For some reason, her incision was hurting excruciatingly. She was gasping for breath, and she turned to Julian. “Please, call a doctor for me!” Serena, at that moment, said, “Let’s switch rooms. I want a private room.” Julian’s attention was entirely focused on Serena. He’d completely forgotten what Aubrey had said. “Understood! I’ll arrange it right away!” Julian carried Serena away, leaving Aubrey alone in the room. Later, a nurse doing rounds discovered Aubrey had fainted. Acute kidney failure. After the doctors’ efforts, she barely survived. A week later, Serena and Julian reappeared in her hospital room. Looking at Aubrey’s pale face, Serena said, “The doctor told me the technology is mature now. Bone marrow donation has no risks at all.” “Aubrey, even if you want to get Julian’s attention, you don’t need to fake it so badly.” With that, she stepped forward and pinched Aubrey’s face hard, until it turned red. She turned to Julian and said, “See how pale her face is? It’s all makeup.” Aubrey’s body hadn’t fully recovered. Hearing Serena’s words, she coughed fiercely. Julian frowned. “Aubrey, you’re really disappointing me more and more!” “The doctor said you need another surgery. Get ready.” Aubrey looked up, her eyes filled with despair. “What did you say?” “What, you put on such a good act, and now you can’t handle donating a second time?” “Do you know Serena gets a headache if she feels even a slight draft? It’s because you kept delaying the donation, and it left her with lingering issues!” Tears silently streamed down Aubrey’s face. She had barely returned from the brink of death, and now he wanted to push her back in again. “I won’t donate,” Aubrey gritted out. Julian frowned. “What did you say?” Aubrey repeated, “I won’t donate. I’d rather die than sacrifice my life for her.” Julian was about to say something when a nurse suddenly entered. “Aubrey, one dialysis session, and then you’ll recover with medication!” Dialysis? Julian frowned, about to ask what was going on. Serena, beside him, immediately grabbed his arm. “Julian, I suddenly feel so dizzy. Did I not get enough rest?” Julian, hearing Serena hadn’t rested well, quickly supported her, his face filled with concern. “Let’s go rest now.” As for Aubrey, Julian didn’t ask another word. The nurse helped Aubrey out of bed. “Was that your family just now? Why didn’t you ask him to accompany you for dialysis?” Aubrey’s face was numb. “Not family. I can do it alone.” She received treatment at the hospital for half a month. During that time, she had no one to talk to, only watching TV to pass the time. The news lately was all about Julian and Serena. At a new product launch, Serena was dressed elegantly, sitting beside Julian. She greeted everyone like the lady of the Davies household. At a charity gala, reporters asked Julian about their relationship, and he generously admitted they were a couple. He gave Serena all the security she needed, and even the media’s headlines for the three of them were: “The unloved one is the mistress.” Julian’s doting on Serena was known to all: hot air balloon confessions, starting a company for her, gifting her luxury cars and mansions. Seeing these scenes, people couldn’t help but remember that Julian’s pursuit of Aubrey hadn’t been nearly as grand. Everyone was saying Serena was Julian’s true love. Aubrey felt no emotion from seeing these things anymore. All she wanted now was to take what belonged to her and leave with her brother. As far away as possible. When she was well enough to be discharged, her first priority was to find Liam. She hadn’t been around for so long; she wondered how her brother was doing. As she pushed open the door, she saw a group of men in black ransacking the room, throwing things everywhere. They were even trying to rip Liam’s oxygen tube out. Aubrey saw this and rushed forward, using all her strength to push the burly guard to the ground. “What are you doing?! Who told you to touch him?!” Serena, arms crossed, walked out from a short distance away, looking at the unconscious man on the bed. “What’s the point of keeping a living corpse here?” “It’s just a waste of resources!” The term “living corpse” pierced Aubrey’s heart. She broke free from the guard and screamed at Serena, “My brother will wake up! He will!” “He’s not a living corpse!” Serena, seeing her frantic state, raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused. She gestured to the guards. “What are you waiting for? Get him out of here!” With that, the guards moved towards Liam. As their hands were about to touch him, Aubrey lunged forward and bit one of them on the arm, biting so hard she nearly tore off a chunk of flesh. The guard shrieked and recoiled, looking at the crazed Aubrey, daring not to approach. He turned to Serena, embarrassed. “No, she’s too wild! We can’t get near her!” Serena cursed, “You useless fools!” With that, she kicked Liam’s hospital bed. Liam tumbled to the floor with a loud thud. His head hit the ground and began to bleed profusely. Liam was Aubrey’s breaking point. After their parents died, Liam knew she was too proud to beg for food. But dishwashing jobs couldn’t support both of them. In the dead of winter, ten-year-old Liam, who should have been a child pampered in his parents’ arms, instead crouched in the snow, begging. When he returned, his face was chapped and bleeding from the bitter cold, yet he smiled and said they had warmth for the winter. From that day on, she swore she would never let him suffer any harm, but she hadn’t been able to prevent any of it. Aubrey rushed forward, desperate to press down on Liam’s bleeding wound, her eyes blurred with tears. Looking at the motionless Liam, she felt an overwhelming sense of injustice, and her tears flowed uncontrollably.

Serena’s voice rang out, “What are you just standing there for? Get her away from him!” “Throw this useless thing out! Half-dead, wasting money here!” Hearing those words, Aubrey couldn’t take it anymore. She sprang up, rushed to Serena, and slapped her hard across the face. Serena clutched her face, utterly stunned. Then, Aubrey’s next slap landed. “You’re crazy! How dare you hit me!” Serena, holding her face, pointed at Aubrey, seething with rage. “Fine, you just wait!” After Serena left, Aubrey called for a doctor. She breathed a sigh of relief when she learned Liam was okay. Only after he was stable did she return to her apartment. As she opened the door, she heard Julian’s voice from inside. “Grab her.” No sooner had he spoken than a bodyguard emerged from the shadows behind her, grabbing her by the shoulders. He pushed her in front of Julian, while Serena, seeing her, looked utterly heartbroken. She leaned into Julian’s embrace, sniffing as she cried. “Aubrey, I just went to the hospital to give you this gift, hoping we could get along better.” “But you hit me and insulted me. Julian, what did I do wrong?” Serena felt even more wronged, crying louder. Aubrey tried to explain, “That’s not true! She…” *Slap!* Julian’s hand landed cleanly on her face. He didn’t even give her a chance to explain. Julian’s eyes grew cold. “Aubrey, I’ve indulged you in every way, but you cannot touch Serena.” He then looked at Serena. “How do you want to get even?” Serena glanced at Aubrey, then pretended to shrink into Julian’s arms, feigning fear. “I don’t dare say. What if Aubrey holds a grudge?” “Who knows how she’ll torment me later.” “She wouldn’t dare!” “Then… just a few slaps,” Serena said timidly. “Serena, you’re too kind. A few slaps aren’t enough.” Julian raised a hand, gesturing to a bodyguard. “One hundred. Don’t stop until they’re all done.” As soon as he spoke, the bodyguard’s palm slammed across her face. The blow made her ears ring. In an instant, she felt dizzy and disoriented. Before she could recover, the next slap followed. A warm trickle flowed from her nose, blood splattering on the floor. Her vision blurred crimson. Julian stood before her, watching emotionlessly. It wasn’t until Serena grew bored of the spectacle that she whined to Julian, “It’s too bloody, Julian. I think that’s enough.” “No, this is a lesson for her, so she won’t bully you, right?” Serena was touched by Julian’s words. She pressed a kiss to his lips. “Thank you. You’re so good to me.” Julian smiled, wrapping his arm around Serena’s slender waist, and leaned in to kiss her again. As they embraced, Serena shot Aubrey a triumphant glance. She thought this would anger her. But Aubrey had long since given up on Julian. Only after they finished their intimate display did he walk over to her and warn her. “Aubrey, you’re still Mrs. Davies, after all. Don’t do such shameful things again.” Serena, standing nearby, flinched, then looked at Aubrey with utter hostility. *Again*? Did Julian not intend to divorce her? Serena’s eyes darted around, then she looked at Julian. “You go first. I have a few words to say to Aubrey.” Julian didn’t ask any questions, smiling as he agreed. “I’ll wait for you downstairs.” Serena nodded. Once he left, her face instantly changed. She reached out, disdainfully lifting Aubrey’s chin, and frowned. “This is only a few slaps, and you’re already like this? Tsk, tsk, tsk.” “How did you feel when you saw Julian kiss me? If Mrs. Davies doesn’t want to be tortured to death, then give up your position.” Aubrey’s ears were still ringing, and she couldn’t make out what Serena was saying to her. Seeing she still wouldn’t budge, Serena’s face darkened, and she slapped Aubrey again. “Still won’t give in?!” “I’ll just have to see whose mouth is harder, yours or your bones!” She sneered, then looked at the bodyguards. “Hit her hard! If any of you slack off, you’ll regret it!” After the beating, all Aubrey saw was red, and her consciousness slowly blurred. Until she couldn’t bear it anymore and passed out. When she opened her eyes again, Aubrey found herself in an abandoned building. Serena, seeing she was awake, gave her a sinister smile. “You’re awake?” With that, she grabbed Aubrey by the collar and pulled her to a window with no railing. Looking down, it was at least a dozen stories high. She instantly panicked, her voice trembling. “You’re crazy! Why are we suddenly here?” “You’re the one who refused to give up the position of Mrs. Davies! You forced me to do this!” Aubrey was drenched in sweat from fear. “Let me go! I’ll give you the position! It’s just Mrs. Davies, right? I’ll give you whatever you want!” But Serena wasn’t pleased by this. She screamed at Aubrey, “Do you think I’ll believe you? You’re just saying that because you don’t want me to push you out the window!” “I’m going to make you commit a huge mistake, a mistake that Julian won’t be able to forgive.” “That way, he’ll definitely divorce you and be with me.” With that, Serena’s face grew increasingly distorted, terrifying Aubrey. No sooner had she spoken than several cars pulled up below. Julian got out of his car and looked up, seeing Aubrey pushing Serena. He shouted furiously, “Let her go immediately!” Aubrey, hearing this, also began to struggle. “Let go of me!” But Serena held Aubrey’s hands tightly, waiting until Julian reached the staircase. Then she screamed, “Aubrey, I know you’re unhappy seeing me and Julian together!” “But you can’t try to kill me! I’m carrying Julian’s child!” Aubrey tried to pull her hands back, but Serena held them with all her might. Seeing this, Aubrey shouted at Serena, “What are you doing? Hurry up and…” Before she could finish her sentence, Serena pulled Aubrey’s hands and lunged towards the window. The next second, as she hit the ground, she could hear the sound of her bones shattering, a tearing pain consuming her entire body. 8

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Princess Royal, the War Goddess, unleashed her fury after the transmigrated woman died tragically in the ancestral chamber. I am Cassandra Volkov, Princess Royal of Veridia, yet my King, my own father, decreed my death, branding me an ill omen. It was Luna Blackwood who pulled me from the wasteland of the dead, breathing life back into me, and brought me to the Royal City. She taught me strategy. She taught me how to wage war. Luna, with a bright, defiant smile, declared, “Even women can carve out their own destiny.” She also claimed her mission in this world was to protect me and reverse our kingdom’s grim fate. Veridia was plagued by internal dissent and external threats. Luna helped me on the battlefield, forging my fearsome reputation as the ‘War Goddess,’ until I forced my King to abdicate in favor of my younger brother. Once her mission was complete, Luna didn’t return to her supposed homeland. Instead, she married a man who promised to love her for all eternity. The moment my brother ascended the throne, enemy nations regrouped and attacked. I led our armies to war. “Luna, my brother and our kingdom are in your hands.” She smiled, her voice steady. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here, waiting for your triumphant return.” But when I returned victorious, she was gone. Gazing at her bloodied corpse in the old family crypt, my rage exploded.

After shattering the enemy capital and capturing their royal family, I rode back to Veridia’s Royal City at a breakneck pace. Luna, who should have been waiting on the city walls, was nowhere to be seen. I rode straight to the Thorne Dukedom. Three years ago, the Thorne Dukedom had fallen on hard times. The legitimate daughter of the prominent Li family, Seraphina—Sera—who was supposed to marry Lord Elias Thorne, the Heir, suddenly backed out. Luna, the overlooked, unofficial daughter of the Li family, was swapped in as the replacement bride, pushed into the Dukedom. Thankfully, over time, the two fell deeply in love. Elias even swore an oath of eternal devotion to Luna in my presence, promising her a lifetime of undivided love. Upon entering the Dukedom, I walked directly to Luna’s courtyard. The plum trees Luna adored had all been replaced by peach trees. As I stood there, bewildered, a woman emerged from the rooms. At first glance, I nearly mistook her for Luna. Only because she was wearing one of Luna’s specially designed dresses – a matching friendship dress that only Luna and I owned. Luna had called them ‘best friend dresses.’ On her head was the white jade hair comb I had given Luna for her birthday. Luna cherished it dearly, never daring to wear it. Now, these precious items adorned a stranger. A terrible premonition coiled in my gut. I stepped forward, grabbing the woman’s arm. “Who are you? Why are you in Luna’s courtyard?” A maid beside the woman rushed forward, shoving me away. “Watch your tongue! This is the Lady of the Dukedom!” The Old Lord Thorne was dead. Elias had no brothers. I couldn’t fathom how the Dukedom had gained another Lady. My gaze turned to ice, fixed on the mistress and servant before me. “If you are the Lady of the Dukedom, then who is Luna Blackwood?” The woman faltered, but her maid put her hands on her hips and snarled, “Is that vixen sending you? To harm our Lady?” “She truly is a venomous witch! Someone! Seize this woman! Break her legs and toss her out to keep that hussy company!” No sooner had the words left her mouth than two matrons rushed out of the courtyard, reaching for me. I kicked one to the ground, and a cry of pain echoed through the courtyard. “You wretch! Still dare to fight? Do you have a death wish?” The maid beside the woman, puffed with indignation, lunged at me, hand raised to strike. I backhanded her. She spat blood and crumpled to the ground. More maids and matrons swarmed into the courtyard. The woman’s expression instantly shifted. She fell to her knees beside her maid, tears welling in her eyes. “I know Luna always hated me. You’re her accomplice, here to avenge her.” “Every fault, every mistake is mine. Strike me if you must, but don’t hurt anyone else.” “If hurting me will ease Luna’s pain, if it will make her humble herself and apologize to Lord Elias, then I would gladly die.” I turned my head, watching the flock of servants point and whisper, and sneered. Such a pathetic display. I’d seen these tricks countless times in the palace since I was a child. My face remained cold as I stepped forward, slapping the woman across the face. I knelt, grabbing her chin. “Luna. Where is she?” Her maid shrieked, clawing at my face. “You wench! My Lady is cherished by Lord Elias! If you harm her, he will ensure you meet a gruesome end!” The maid’s attack was vicious, clearly aiming to tear my face apart. I instinctively raised my arm to block, and two bloody scratches appeared on the back of my hand.

The maid screamed at the gawking servants and maids. “What are you standing around for? Seize this woman!” “Dare to harm the Lady? Her crime is doubled! Drag her away and give her twenty lashes, just like that vixen, Luna Blackwood!” My heart plummeted. Twenty lashes? Years ago, when I led my army into the Royal City, forcing my King to abdicate, my elder brother, resisting to the last, sent assassins after my younger brother. Elias and Luna, to protect him, used themselves as bait, pretending to be my brother. When an assassin’s arrow flew towards Elias, Luna shielded him with her body. But the arrow was coated in a deadly poison. Luna barely survived, and ever since, her health had been fragile. For an ordinary woman, twenty lashes could easily be fatal. For the frail Luna, it would be a death sentence. I drew the whip from my waist, cracking it once to drive back the surging maids and matrons. I walked over, seizing the maid by the throat. “You struck Luna?” My nails dug into her flesh, blood staining my fingers. The maid stared at me in terror. “Not me! It was the Lady!” I flung the maid aside and turned to face the woman. She trembled, backing away. “You dare to harm me? Lord Elias will never forgive you!” “Hmph!” I snorted, then brought the whip down across the woman’s body. A shriek of agony echoed through the entire courtyard. I dragged the whip forward. “Luna Blackwood. Where is she?” The woman was about to speak, but she glanced behind me, then suddenly collapsed to her knees, wailing. “I’m so sorry, I was wrong! I’ll leave Elias right away and give him back to my sister!” “I just beg my sister not to hate me.” Sister? Before I could process that, two shouts suddenly came from behind me. “Sera?” A figure dashed past me, rushing to the woman’s side, gathering her into his arms with a look of overwhelming concern. It was Elias Thorne, the man who had sworn eternal love to Luna. In that moment of stunned distraction, sharp pain lanced through my arm and leg. My arm was roughly twisted behind my back, and my calf was brutally kicked. My knees slammed into the ground, the pain so intense I almost cried out. “Insolent wretch! How dare you disrespect the Lady of the Dukedom!” The voice that reached my ears was none other than my own brother, Prince Alaric. Guards rushed forward to seize me as Alaric, in his royal robes, hurried to the woman. He gently, carefully, caressed Sera’s face. “Sera, your face?” Sera looked utterly wronged, and moved her arm. “Hiss—” A gasp of pain. Elias and my brother immediately fussed over her, each taking one of her hands. “Sera, where are you hurt?” Sera glanced at me, then sweetly said, “It’s alright, Elias, Alaric. I don’t blame my sister, nor the maid she sent.” “That venomous Luna again!” Elias roared, enraged. “This time, I will show no mercy!” Alaric’s face turned dark. “Rest assured, anyone who harms you, I will make them pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold!” Alaric spun around. “Guards! Drag this common wretch away and give her a hundred lashes!” Elias yelled, “Your Majesty, I’ll do it myself!”

I burst out laughing. “Excellent! Simply excellent!” This Seraphina, she was the legitimate daughter of the Li family. I had almost forgotten that Seraphina and Elias were childhood sweethearts. Their families had arranged their marriage when they were mere children. And my own brother, Alaric, had been tutored by the Old Lord Thorne since childhood. He had spent every day with Elias, making them childhood companions as well. In that brief moment, I understood completely why my Luna wasn’t in this courtyard. Why all the plum trees had been replaced by peach blossoms. Why all her belongings were now on another woman. I raised my head, my gaze cold and detached, looking at the two men. Upon seeing my face clearly, Elias immediately dropped to his knees, his forehead pressed to the ground. My dear brother, Alaric, instantly withdrew his hand from Sera’s. A fawning look on his face, he rushed forward, kicking away the guards who held me, and reached out to pull me up. “Cassandra, the army wasn’t due back for days! Why did you return early? And why didn’t you tell me?” I slapped his hand away. He stumbled, caught by a guard behind him. “Get lost. A mere common wretch like me wouldn’t dare let His Majesty personally assist her.” Sera scurried over, pointing at me. “How dare you! Even if you are a Princess, you cannot disrespect His Majesty!” I sneered, raising my hand and slapping her. “What do *you* think you are, to lecture *me*?” Sera clutched her cheek, tears glistening in her eyes, looking pitifully at Alaric. “Cassandra, are you insane?” Alaric pulled Sera up, sheltering her behind him, and roared at me. I sneered, stepping past him, straight to Sera, and pinched her chin. “Your father is the Minister of Rites. By all accounts, the legitimate daughter of the Li family should be the most proper and dignified of women. How is it that you’ve managed to waltz into your sister-in-law’s home and take charge? Is this the ‘upbringing’ of the Li family?” Sera’s face turned ashen, her lips trembling as if about to cry. Alaric rushed forward, pushing me away. “Cassandra, do you truly need to humiliate Sera like this?” He glared at me. “You’ve been at the borders for years, Cassandra. How did you become so cruel and petty?” “Sera is a gentle soul, without a hint of malice or cunning. Are you trying to drive her to her death with such words?” “Luna snatched Sera’s rightful place as the Lady of the Dukedom. Now, it’s merely a return to its rightful owner.” I finally lost my temper and slapped Alaric across the face. Years ago, my King doted on my Queen, my mother. But my mother, targeted by these very same schemes, was framed, cast aside, and ultimately forced to take her own life to prove her innocence. Alaric and I fell out of favor, endured countless slights, eating rotten scraps and moldy bread, living worse than the lowliest servants in the palace. At the Royal Autumn Ball, I secretly hoarded pastries, intending to save them as food for Alaric and me. It was then that Luna found me hiding in a dark corner. “Princess Royal, when a kingdom falls, no one is safe.” “Our kingdom is on the brink of collapse, yet the court nobles care only for their own pleasures.” She told me that after our kingdom fell, I would be captured by an enemy general, become his trophy, utterly broken and discarded, and meet a tragic end. “Princess Royal, you are the heroine of this story, meant to be a phoenix revered by all, soaring above the heavens.” “Your Highness, let us go to the borders.” Luna used her own wealth to secure a safe, secluded cottage for Alaric. We went to the borders. Luna taught me strategy and how to lead armies. Time and again, when men in the military questioned me, attempting to steal my glory and claim my achievements, she protected me and turned danger into opportunity. We repeatedly turned the tide of battle, reclaiming conquered territories. Whenever I was in danger, she was always the first to rush forward and shield me. But she never claimed any credit for herself. “Your Highness, I came for you. I ask for no rewards. I only wish for your future to be one of flourishing beauty and radiant glory.” With her by my side, I became Veridia’s first female general, commanding vast armies. Luna quietly stepped back, marrying Elias Thorne. But what arrived before the King’s decree of my death was Luna. I led my troops into the throne room, forcing my King to abdicate. Alaric, protected by Luna, was able to ascend the throne. But now, my dear brother had forgotten everything.

I drew my whip, cracking it against the floor. Sera shrieked, clutching her head. “Elias, save me!” Elias, who had been kneeling, suddenly lunged forward, shielding Sera with his body. “Your Highness, Sera is frail. She cannot withstand your whip.” Hah! I laughed, a chilling sound. “Elias, I ask you, where is Luna?” Elias’s eyes darted away. “In the Dukedom’s ancestral chamber.” I flung my sleeve, turning to walk towards the crypt. But Elias blocked my path. “Your Highness, Luna Blackwood is malicious and consumed by jealousy. Yesterday, she pushed Sera into the pond, nearly harming her own sister.” “I merely confined her to the ancestral chamber for a day to teach her some decorum. Your Highness, please do not interfere.” I looked at Elias, whose face was twisted with disgust at the mention of Luna. It was laughable. During those years at the border, Luna spent her free time working with the common folk to improve wheat strains. The famine-stricken Veridia now saw its granaries overflowed, and no one went hungry. A few years prior, when the plague raged, it was Luna who, regardless of her own life, risked it by testing medicines on herself, saving countless lives. How could such a kind and compassionate woman become the malicious, jealousy-ridden person he described? Sera stood behind Elias, softly weeping. “Elias, my presence only makes my sister unhappy. Perhaps I should just leave.” She said she would leave, but Sera didn’t move an inch. Elias and Alaric, however, panicked. Elias grabbed Sera’s arm. “Sera, if anyone’s leaving, it’s that venomous Luna, not you!” Alaric chimed in. “Precisely. She’s merely an unofficial daughter of a lesser branch. Just because she was Lady of the Dukedom for a few years doesn’t mean she can forget her place.” Alaric turned to me, lecturing. “Cassandra, you should also distance yourself from that venomous woman.” “You don’t know, ever since Sera arrived at the Dukedom, Luna has constantly targeted her—poisoning her, pushing her into the water…” Elias’s confidence swelled. “Your Highness, if it weren’t for the fact that she saved my life once, I would have divorced her long ago!” “She married above her station, greedily seizing Sera’s engagement. Sera, in her kindness, didn’t pursue the matter. Otherwise, what right did an obscure relative have to marry into the Dukedom?” I felt as if I’d heard the greatest joke in the world. “Sera told you all this?” They said nothing. I understood everything. I brought my whip down on Elias, then stormed straight to the ancestral chamber. Such a fool. He was unworthy of my Luna. I would take her away. Kicking open the heavy door to the ancestral chamber, in the cold, dark threshold, I saw a person, lower half covered in blood, lying in a pool of it. A trail of dried blood stretched from inside the crypt to the doorway. “Luna?” Luna, ever since taking that arrow, had become terribly sensitive to the cold. My voice trembled. Elias followed behind, his voice laced with disgust as he looked at Luna on the ground. “Luna Blackwood, stop faking it!” I knelt and cradled Luna in my arms. Her face was ashen, her breath long gone. In her blood-soaked, scraped hand, she clutched a crimson-stained letter. It was my letter to her. She had been waiting for me. “Luna Blackwood, even the cheapest street performer couldn’t fake it as well as you do!” “You had plenty of strength when you pushed Sera. I only gave you twenty lashes, not enough to kill you! Get up now!” “Still not moving? Do you want me to divorce you, leaving you with nothing, not even a place as a mistress?” Elias continued his relentless threats. My body was ice cold. I let out a low, chilling laugh. Elias Thorne, Seraphina Thorne. You killed my Luna. Now, I will ensure you all die a gruesome, pathetic death. “Sister, stop pretending! I’ll give Elias back to you!” Elias’s forehead immediately bulged with anger. He lunged forward, grabbing Luna. “Luna Blackwood, stop this immediately—”

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My CEO husband loved having his friends over for dinner. He always said it made us feel like a real family. Watching me serve a table full of dishes, one of his friends grinned. “You’re truly the perfect wife, Eleanor! So gracious, so regal!” My expression didn’t change. I playfully asked, “Oh? What, do you mean there’s a *different*, less generous ‘Mrs. Blackwood’ around?” His friends froze, a flicker of panic in their eyes. Julian just laughed, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “Don’t listen to their nonsense, darling. Besides you, who else in this world could ever be my wife?” Watching him act so nonchalant, I smiled. But as I turned to leave, I dialed a number. “Marcus, Julian Blackwood is cheating. Make sure he rots in jail.” My brother on the other end of the line was silent for three seconds. “Eleanor, are you sure? Julian Blackwood, he…” I pulled off the wedding ring from my ring finger. The diamond felt like a shard of ice against my palm. “For ten years, every single cufflink he owned was custom-made, imported from Milan.” “But today, he was wearing a cheap, gaudy plastic flower. Marcus, do you really think that’s a mistake?” “You know I won’t tolerate any injustice. Expose all the dirty deeds he’s done over the years. And by the way, get me the best lawyer. I’m filing for divorce.” My brother’s voice was filled with fury. “Alright.” Half an hour later, my phone received an encrypted file. I clicked open the first photo: a seemingly innocent girl in a white shirt, her arm linked through his, was beaming at him, her smile absolutely radiant. And on the wrist peeking out from her cuff, there was a wolf’s head tattoo – identical to Julian’s. I didn’t hesitate. I drove straight to his company. A few minutes later, a girl with long, straight black hair, dressed in a white skirt, hurried out. I glanced at her employee ID: Chloe Miller. The moment she saw me, her face went instantly white. She instinctively tried to hide her hand behind her back. But I still saw it: a custom-made Swiss watch. Last year, for my birthday, I received a Swiss purchase record. A three-million-dollar watch, a fifty-thousand-dollar necklace. The necklace was carefully tucked away at home. The watch was on her wrist. I scoffed, stating directly, “Ms. Miller’s husband seems to have similar taste to mine. Even the custom-made watch designs are identical.” Chloe trembled at my words, her red lips parted and closed several times before she finally stammered out a response. “Oh… oh, really… Maybe all men just have similar taste.” Her knuckles were white where she clutched the hem of her dress. “Alright, stop pretending.” “You’re the ‘other Mrs. Blackwood,’ aren’t you?” Seeing me lay it all out, Chloe trembled even more, looking utterly panicked. “Please don’t misunderstand, it was just that Mr. Blackwood fainted again from low blood sugar, and I simply helped him. Mr. Blackwood’s friends thought I was very attentive and were just joking.” “I’m truly sorry if I caused any misunderstanding.” With that, she even exaggeratedly bowed ninety degrees to me. She put on a pitiful, fragile act, the classic ‘damsel in distress’ routine. If I hadn’t seen her manipulative tactics with Julian before, I might have actually fallen for it. Half a month ago, she posted a video on social media. A man was swiping his card at a luxury car dealership, next to a Porsche. Her caption read: “A man’s money shows where his heart truly lies.” At that time, I was home with a fever, burning to the point of unconsciousness. I called Julian, asking him to take me to the hospital. He sounded flustered for a moment, but then his voice turned hoarse, as if suppressing something. “Darling, I’ll have the housekeeper take you. I’m tied up with something urgent right now.” An hour later, I was in the hospital, fighting pneumonia. But she posted a photo lying in a car, a man’s abs clearly defined, adorned with suggestive red marks. The caption: “Both my new car and you will forever bear my mark.” Julian rushed in, his shirt still half-unbuttoned. He collapsed by my bedside, his eyes red-rimmed. Back then, I naively thought he was worried about me. But now, I knew it was just the guilt of a cheating man. A sudden wave of disgust washed over me. This cheap, manipulative woman wasn’t even worth Julian betraying me for. Too tired to watch her pitiful expressions, I turned and left. But just as I got into my car, Julian called. The moment I answered, his tone was frantic. “Why did you suddenly decide to come to the company?”

“Why?” I started the car, asking coolly, “Just happened to have a contract to discuss. Is there something you’re afraid of me finding out?” Julian seemed unprepared for my question. His breathing hitched for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, his voice softened, adopting his usual cajoling tone. “Darling, what are you talking about?” “I have nothing to hide from you. My office is just a mess, so I’d have someone clean it up before you came. Besides, why would I ever betray you? Feel free to check anything you want.” Hearing that, I was somewhat surprised. Chloe hadn’t told him that I’d confronted her. I scrolled through the evidence while listening to his excuses. Three gigabytes of files, every single day connected to Julian. Last Valentine’s Day, he claimed to be on a business trip abroad and couldn’t call, but he was actually watching the Northern Lights with Chloe in the Arctic. When my father was gravely ill, I called him over thirty times, but he didn’t answer a single one. At that very moment, he was celebrating Chloe’s birthday. “I believe you, but what about that watch?” Seeing me bring it up, Julian seemed to relax a little. He lowered his voice, the affection clearly forced. “That watch was because I suddenly fainted at work. Chloe happened to be passing by and helped me to the hospital.” He paused, then added, “She stayed by my side all night. I just gave her the watch as a thank-you gift. I forgot to mention it to you at the time.” Forgot? He must have a very selective memory. He didn’t just forget to tell me that. He also forgot they spent three days and three nights in the hotel’s penthouse suite that very same night. A cold sneer formed in my heart. “She’s certainly attentive. The black shirt you wore when you fainted? She even washed and ironed it perfectly before returning it the next day.” Julian on the other end clearly stiffened, his breathing hitched, then he chuckled, trying to play it off. “Isn’t she? The girl is incredibly meticulous.” “See, you’re always so suspicious. My heart belongs only to you, darling.” He lowered his voice, the affection clearly forced. “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you on that make-up vacation to the Maldives, alright? Just the two of us.” His gentle tone, which once melted my heart, now filled me with utter revulsion. “Sounds great,” I said, looking out at the neon lights flashing past my car, my voice as calm as if discussing the weather. “But you take care of your business first. Don’t let me distract you.” “Nothing is more important than being with you, darling.” Julian’s voice was filled with eager flattery, but my heart grew colder. Not just because Julian had cheated, but because I couldn’t believe they had put on such a long act right under my nose. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I suppressed the urge to confront Julian then and there. I wanted him to admit his relationship with Chloe himself. Then, I would ruin that wretched pair, utterly and completely. I mumbled a few dismissive words and hung up. Just then, Chloe’s social media updated again. The screen showed her wearing an elaborately designed, diamond-encrusted wedding dress, her face beaming with joy. “Another mistress tried to cause trouble today, trying to take my place. Mr. Blackwood is making it up to me; he’s finally going to marry me!” “I only mentioned wanting a castle wedding, and he bought me an entire castle!” She curved her lips, and the camera casually panned over a property deed. “And these vineyards! He wants me to manage them! I’m such a silly girl, how could I? Thankfully, Mr. Blackwood promised to come with me to establish my authority, so those people don’t try to take advantage of me for being young!” Looking at the property deed in the video, emblazoned with my French name, pure rage surged through me. Those vineyards were my coming-of-age gift from my brother. Julian actually used them to woo his mistress! Fine, so they want to establish their authority? We’ll see how they do it in front of the *real* owner of these vineyards!

I bought a plane ticket that very night and flew to France. At the vineyard, the old butler’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw me. “Miss Eleanor, what brings you here? Didn’t you say you were lending the estate to Mr. Blackwood for a banquet today? And that all the family members were to be cleared out?” Hearing that, pure rage surged through me. Just as I was about to answer, Julian’s call came through. “Darling, I’m in a cross-country meeting. I’ll fly back to you as soon as I’m done.” Before I could reply, I faintly heard a sickly sweet female voice from the other end. “Julian, do I look good in this?” The next second, Julian muffled the phone and walked away. “Gotta go, the meeting’s starting.” Almost simultaneously, the grand, ornate gates of the vineyard swung open, and over a dozen luxury cars pulled up, parking one after another in the fountain square. Countless unfamiliar faces were being seated. I found a secluded spot and sat down. Once everything was set, Chloe, wearing a fiery red haute couture gown, made her grand entrance, radiating the triumphant arrogance of someone who’d gotten everything she ever wanted. “Let me introduce myself. I am Chloe Miller, the new owner of this vineyard.” “Mr. Blackwood said that from now on, the wine, the castle, even every grape in the vineyard, are all under my command!” “To celebrate, all the wines are seventy percent off! Consider it my welcome gift to you all!” Seventy percent off? She’s certainly generous. The cheapest bottle here costs at least a million dollars. Some are even collector’s items; even the British Royal Family would have to think twice before getting a discount like that! Mr. Davies, who had watched me grow up, was seething with anger. “Since when did this vineyard belong to her?!” “And Julian Blackwood! How dare he keep a mistress behind Miss Eleanor’s back! Is he out of his mind?!” Seeing the butler about to storm out, I quickly shook my head. This wasn’t the time to expose her. I wanted to wait for Julian to personally admit his relationship with Chloe, then I would utterly ruin that wretched pair. Just then, the ornate gates opened again, and Julian walked in, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. Seeing him, Chloe immediately ran into his arms, giggling as she shook his arm. “Julian, I told you this brand of suit fits you best.” Julian’s eyes visibly stiffened, but he managed to maintain a poker face and nodded. And the anger in my heart almost burst into flames. The founder of that brand is a sworn enemy of my family. My father, he was literally schemed against by them – it broke his heart and his health. Julian knew all about this, yet now, he was publicly slapping me in the face. Just as I could no longer hold back and was about to storm out, Julian’s friends surrounded him. “Julian, look at Chloe! She’s so vibrant, so captivating!” “Chloe, our Julian here just hands over a multi-million-dollar estate like it’s nothing! Where else would you find a man like that!” Amidst their laughter, Chloe lowered her head, blushing. Just then, Mr. Jenkins, the wine estate manager, who was delivering wine, spoke up, confused. “What do you mean ‘now belongs to a Miller’? Didn’t you just borrow this from our young lady, Miss Vance?” At his words, the guests exchanged bewildered glances, whispering amongst themselves. “What’s going on?” “I only ever heard this vineyard belonged to Mrs. Blackwood. But Mrs. Blackwood’s surname is Vance, isn’t it?” “Huh? Then if her name is Miller, isn’t she a fake?!” Mr. Jenkins’s face was already burning with anger. “Mr. Blackwood, how could you do such a thing behind Miss Eleanor’s back?!” Saying this, he reached for his phone to call me. The next second, Julian’s bodyguards swarmed forward, roughly forcing the manager to his knees. Julian’s gaze swept coldly over the crowd. “Silence him. Make him understand the price of loose talk.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the ruthlessness of someone long accustomed to power. The banquet hall fell into immediate silence. Julian didn’t even lift an eyelid, his fingers idly caressing Chloe’s face. “Chloe is the *real* Mrs. Blackwood! Eleanor Vance is nothing but a servant I hired for my household!” A servant? I almost laughed out loud from sheer indignation. It seemed Julian had truly forgotten who had helped him climb to his current position of power. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be begging on the streets, getting kicked around by strangers! I stood by him for ten years, fighting tooth and nail, even taking two knives to the chest for him, while my brother helped us behind the scenes. Even when I was hovering between life and death, all I could think about was how to pave the way for his success. And now, in his mouth, I was just a “servant.” No one dared to challenge Julian, and they all quickly chimed in. “Oh, is that how it is! Mrs. Blackwood is far too generous, letting a maid use the Blackwood name to scam people!” Some even advised Chloe. “Mrs. Blackwood, a maid like that might try to seduce Mr. Blackwood at any time.” “You need to be careful! I think you should fire her!” “With such malicious intent, she should be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!” The smugness on Chloe’s face was impossible to suppress. The manager’s face was ashen, and he struggled desperately before being dragged away. “I want to see Miss Eleanor Vance! She’s the real Mrs. Blackwood!” The guests wore expressions of disdain. “This maid is truly cunning! Even the vineyard manager has been fooled by her!” “Mr. Blackwood, you can’t keep a treacherous person like that around.” Julian’s cold gaze swept over everyone, and his thin lips parted. “I’ll say it one more time: I only have one wife, Chloe Miller. From now on, anyone who dares to disrespect her will face my wrath.” The hall was silent, save for my slow applause, which drew everyone’s attention. I took off my baseball cap, looking at them coldly. “Then tell me, if she’s Mrs. Blackwood, who am I?” Julian’s and Chloe’s smiles instantly froze. The air in the banquet hall seemed to instantly solidify. The guests’ eyes collectively snapped to me. From initial confusion, they gasped in shock as they recognized my face. Chloe’s triumphant smile instantly froze.

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I sold my house and splurged a staggering nine hundred and ninety thousand credits on card packs in a livestream. The entire internet laughed, waiting for me to lose everything. I just sent one message in the chat: “You promised a hundred-times refund if someone spent a million and didn’t pull the card. Not only did I spend that much, but I just dropped another million. Let’s see how much you’ve got to lose!” In my previous life, my son, Leo, stole my life-saving medical funds for this exact card, leading to my death by illness. That “limited edition card,” however, was just gathering dust in the streamer’s warehouse. Reborn into this life, I swear I’ll make them pay everything! Chad from “Chad’s Box Breaks” and his assistant, Tiffany, were grinning from ear to ear. “Alright, everyone! Huge thanks to our amazing EmpressGale for her support! EmpressGale, you’ve already spent nine hundred and eighty thousand credits opening packs!” Chad picked up a stack of cards for Tiffany to pack. “EmpressGale, you should really stop! Don’t go too crazy! This pure gold, hidden ‘Golden Ox’ card is one of only ten in the world, it’s super rare!” Tiffany giggled, covering her mouth. “Chad, don’t say that! What if EmpressGale is the chosen one? Go for it, sis! Tiffany’s rooting for you! Maybe it’ll be in the next pack!” The chat was spammed with messages. “OMG, is this rich lady actually loaded or just insane? Nine hundred and eighty thousand already!” “I did the math. The streamer has opened 9,800 packs, at 100 credits each. That’s really 980,000 credits! All for one card?” “Someone’s definitely stealing from their company, right?” On my screen, I maintained a blank expression and bought another 100 packs. “Order placed successfully!” A collective gasp erupted in the livestream chat. Chad roared with laughter. “Incredible! Absolutely incredible! EmpressGale, to thank you for your support, I’ll personally unbox every single one of these for you, even if I have to stream until dawn!” Tiffany chimed in. “EmpressGale is so generous! Drop some lucky vibes in the chat, everyone, and cheer on EmpressGale!” I stared coldly at the two on my screen. In my previous life, these two used the same deceptive tactics to trick my son, Leo. Leo stole my five hundred thousand credits, meant for my heart bypass surgery, and blew it all in this livestream. By the time I found out, it was too late. Overwhelmed with rage, I collapsed. Eventually, I drowned in a cold, unforgiving hospital toilet. After my death, I watched as Leo was called a jinx by our relatives, who pointed fingers and shamed him. And after Chad and Tiffany ended their stream, they pulled out that Golden Ox card from their warehouse, calling their boss to boast. “Mr. Hayes’s plan is brilliant! A ‘million and no card, a hundred-times refund’ gimmick—who’d actually spend a million on paper cards? We can release this card whenever we want!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. This time, I sold my only house, gathering three million credits. You thought no one would spend a million on unboxing? I’m not just going to spend it, I’m going to spend enough to make sure you lose everything!

“Seraphina! Are you insane! You actually sold the house?!” On the other end of the phone, my sister Maya’s voice was sharp with panic. “That was the only thing you and your husband had left! What about Leo? Where will you live?!” I listened calmly to my sister’s incomprehensible shouts. Watching Chad on the screen, mechanically unboxing cards like a numb robot, I couldn’t help but smile. “Seraphina, don’t smile like that, it’s creepy! Have you been scammed? I’m calling the police right now!” Maya’s voice was tearful. “Maya, don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” “You know what you’re doing? By selling your house?!” I hung up the phone. I knew she meant well. In my previous life, after my death, she tried to get justice for me, but Chad’s company slandered her, accusing her of extortion. She eventually succumbed to depression. This time, I wouldn’t let anyone I care about get hurt. Soon, another 100 packs were unboxed by Chad. Still no Golden Ox. Seeing that I hadn’t placed another order, the chat rhythm shifted. “Where’d she go? Why isn’t the rich lady talking? Out of money?” “LOL, 990,000 down the drain. She’s probably getting ready to jump off a bridge now.” Tiffany feigned concern. “EmpressGale, are you still there? Don’t scare us. Card unboxing is just for fun, please don’t do anything drastic.” Chad sighed dramatically. “Sigh, I told everyone to spend rationally. This lady just wouldn’t listen. Tiffany, maybe we should call the police? If something serious happens, we can’t take responsibility.” They instantly distanced themselves. The livestream chat erupted with praises for their “conscience.” I topped up another million credits and placed another order. “Chad… EmpressGale just ordered another ten thousand one hundred packs of ‘Baby Bull Collector’s Edition’!” Tiffany’s voice, next to him, was trembling slightly. The screen immediately filled with question marks and “OMG!” messages. Chad’s smile froze. He never imagined someone would actually drop another million just for a card. Chad’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He gulped down a large drink of water to steady himself. “Cough, cough… EmpressGale, what are you doing? You must be joking, right? I suggest you don’t pursue this. I’ll have my assistant cancel the order for you right away.” His voice was now laced with an almost imperceptible tremor. Seeing his panic, I raised my hand and initiated a paid call-in, an exclusive VIP privilege that streamers on this platform are obligated to accept. “Chad, don’t panic. If I remember correctly, your livestream’s rule is: if someone spends a million credits and doesn’t pull a Golden Ox, you’ll pay a hundred-times refund on the unboxing fee, right?” My voice echoed through the livestream. The chat, which had been mocking me moments ago, froze. Everyone was stunned. Chad and Tiffany’s faces turned instantly ashen. “Sis… you… you can’t be serious, that was just for stream effect, to add some fun…” Chad started stammering, his composure completely gone. “Stream effect, you say?” I pressed on. “Your livestream’s background wall clearly displays, in bold red letters: ‘Spend a Million, No Card? Get a Hundred-Times Refund!’ Are you now telling me that was just for effect?” Chad seemed to remember something. He spun around, and the eight bold words on the background wall made cold sweat bead on his forehead. The livestream audience finally caught on. “Holy crap! There really is such a rule! I always thought it was just hot air!” “I remember too! Chad kept talking about it, saying he welcomed big spenders to challenge him!” “A hundred times a million… that’s a hundred million?!” “My God! This is going to be epic!” “The streamer isn’t going to back out, is he? This is going to be good!” Public opinion flipped. Chad looked at the chat, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. He looked desperately at Tiffany, who nervously lowered her head. Just then, my son, Leo, burst through the door. He had clearly been watching the stream, his small face flushed. “Mom! Is that you on Chad’s stream! Are you crazy! Where do we get all that money! Stop it! Cancel the order now!”

This was the first time I’d seen my son since being reborn. Seeing his distressed expression, my heart ached. But I still pushed him away, my voice cold as I warned him. “Get out, now.” “Mom! My teacher said gambling is illegal! You’ll go to jail! I don’t want you to go to jail!” Leo cried, kneeling at my feet, pleading with me to stop. “Get out!” I snapped, my voice harsh. Leo froze, startled by my ferocity. I had never been so harsh with him, but to make him learn his lesson about card unboxing, and for my revenge, I had to be strong. I steeled my heart, picked him up, threw him out of the room, and locked the door, ignoring his cries. After dealing with Leo, I fought back tears and turned my attention back to the livestream. Hearing my conflict with Leo, Chad and Tiffany seemed to find a lifeline. Chad immediately put on a pained expression. “EmpressGale! You’re going too far! How can you do this in front of your child! You’re teaching him to gamble! Do you have any regard for him?” Tiffany’s eyes immediately welled up. “Sis, please stop. Look how scared your child is. Money can be earned again, but if you lose your family, you lose everything! For your child’s sake, don’t keep going down this path!” They instantly seized the moral high ground, portraying me as a negligent mother. The chat exploded again. “Gross, gambling with her kid’s money?” “What a crazy woman! Doesn’t deserve to be a mom!” “Streamer, call the police! This is definitely domestic abuse! Child abuse!” I looked at the chat and smiled. In my previous life, you said the same things. I ignored their accusations and continued my questioning. “Don’t be so quick to label me. Chad, answer my question first. If a million credits are spent and no card is pulled, is it a hundred-million-credit refund? Does what you advertise every day on your stream count or not? If it doesn’t, then refund me!” Chad was pushed into a corner, knowing he couldn’t just smooth things over. He gritted his teeth, forcing a smile. “Alright, EmpressGale! Since you’re so determined, Chad’s Box Breaks will play this game to the end!” He slapped the table. “I’ll unbox it for you right now! In front of hundreds of thousands of people online! If I really don’t pull two Golden Ox cards in these remaining ten thousand one hundred packs, I’ll directly pay you two hundred million! Chad’s Box Breaks always keeps his word!” He was gambling with me. Gambling that my next million-credit order would yield a Golden Ox. They were also very clever. They didn’t say they’d pay me a hundred million if the next hundred packs didn’t yield a Golden Ox. Instead, they combined the two million-credit orders, betting on pulling two cards. They could use the excuse of going to the warehouse to retrieve more packs, then secretly re-seal a Golden Ox into a pack. If they could pull one Golden Ox from the remaining ten thousand packs, this crisis would be over. If not, the time it took to unbox ten thousand packs would be enough for them to fake a Golden Ox card and re-seal it into a pack. This way, the livestream could create drama while avoiding compensation. It was their usual trick. I looked at Chad’s face, twisted with excitement, and sneered inwardly. Finally, I had lured him into the trap, making him live up to his streamer persona. The real show was about to begin!

Seeing me disconnect the call, Chad also became highly agitated. He had Tiffany bring in ten thousand packs, piling them into a small mountain. “Folks! Today, let us witness a miracle together! Witness the birth of the Golden Ox!” He roared into the camera. Tiffany fanned the flames beside him. “Card Breakers! Hit that follow button! Drop those badges! Send in those gifts! Let’s all wish EmpressGale good luck and cheer on Chad!” The livestream’s popularity peaked, with online viewers exceeding a million. Everyone was captivated by this million-credit gamble, eagerly awaiting the outcome. Chad took a deep breath and started unboxing. “Nothing!” “Nothing!” “Still nothing!” He unboxed faster and faster, sweat dripping from his face. Tiffany stood by, offering water and wiping his brow. “Almost there, almost there, it has to be soon!” “Oh my god, this is so intense! My heart’s pounding out of my chest!” Time ticked by. Half an hour. An hour. Two hours. The mountain of card packs rapidly dwindled. The “Golden Ox” still hadn’t appeared. The atmosphere in the livestream shifted from frenzied to eerie. “The odds are ridiculously low, aren’t they? He’s opened thousands of packs already?” “I’m starting to get a weird feeling. What if there really isn’t one?” “If he really doesn’t pull it in these ten thousand packs, isn’t the streamer going to have to pay 200 million?” “Dude, you’re overthinking it. It’ll definitely come out in the last few packs. It’s just a script.” Chad’s face grew increasingly grim, his movements mechanical, his hands starting to tremble. Tiffany couldn’t even manage a smile, biting her lip nervously. She anxiously shot Chad meaningful glances. But Chad ignored her, burying his head in the packs. He couldn’t stop, only hoping the company would save him soon. When he reached the very last pack, Chad took it from Tiffany. Then, he began his performance. “Folks! Wish me luck! This is the last pack! If I don’t pull two Golden Ox cards from this pack, I’ll have to pay 200 million!” After saying that, Chad clasped his hands together and began to pray. Watching Chad’s expression, I couldn’t help but marvel at their acting skills. This last pack, I thought, must be one they re-sealed, and it definitely contains two Golden Ox cards. Sure enough, just as I expected, after Chad finished praying, he picked up a pair of golden scissors. He shouted. “Folks! The miracle happens now!” Then, with a swish, he cut open the pack and pulled out two limited edition cards. Golden Ox! “Hahahahaha! We got it! Finally! Folks! Did you see that! A miracle! Two golds in one pack!” Chad laughed, tears streaming down his face—half acted, half genuine relief. Tiffany clapped excitedly. “Congratulations, EmpressGale! It’s your persistence that allowed us to witness this great moment!” The livestream chat erupted. Over a million viewers simultaneously spammed messages of congratulations. Watching them perform with such gusto, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. So, I clicked on the livestream’s shopping cart and ordered another ten thousand packs.

The livestream screen froze the moment my order went through. Chad and Tiffany’s expressions of wild joy were abruptly replaced by shock. “Chad… EmpressGale, she just ordered another ten thousand packs…” Tiffany’s voice, now laced with a sob, utterly shattered Chad’s fleeting hope. On the screen, after a brief, stunned silence, question marks and exclamation points erupted like a volcanic explosion. “Holy crap! Again? Is she an actual money-printing machine?” “Wait a minute! Didn’t she already get the cards? Why is she still buying?” “I’m confused, what is this rich lady trying to do?” Chad’s face went from ashen to deep green, his eyes glued to the “Order Placed Successfully” system notification on the screen. His lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. I didn’t give him a moment to breathe, initiating another paid call-in. “Chad, don’t just stand there, keep unboxing,” I said calmly, fighting back a smile. Chad snapped back to reality, suddenly jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What exactly do you want?! You already pulled the Golden Ox! The event is over!” “Over?” I chuckled softly. “Who said it’s over? Your rule is: ‘Spend a Million, No Card? Get a Hundred-Times Refund,’ but it didn’t say there was a limit.” I stated my case clearly and precisely. “Let me break it down for you. My first order totaled one million credits. You unboxed ninety-nine thousand worth of packs and pulled nothing. Even in that last one thousand credits worth of packs, you didn’t pull a Golden Ox. Therefore, according to your rules, that first million-credit order already triggered the hundred-times refund clause. That’s one hundred million credits.” “As for the two cards you just pulled, they belong to my *second* million-credit order. Congratulations, you don’t have to pay for the second million-credit order, and I can temporarily ignore the hundred million from the first. Now, I’ve placed a *third* million-credit order. Please start unboxing. Millions of viewers are watching, don’t try to back out now.” My words ignited the chat once again. “Holy crap! I get it! She’s a logical genius!” “Yeah! The first million absolutely didn’t yield the card! Those two were from the second million!” “OMG, you can play it like that? So the streamer has to pay 100 million?!” “This isn’t just unboxing cards anymore, this is psychological warfare!” “It’s over, Chad just messed with the wrong person!” Chad’s breathing grew incredibly ragged. He pointed at the camera, his face contorted in a furious scream. “This is extortion! Malicious ordering! You’re trying to ruin us! I’m not unboxing! Go ahead and sue me!” He resorted to being a complete jerk. Tiffany also caught on, immediately turning to the camera and crying. “EmpressGale, why are you doing this? We’re just a small business trying to earn an honest living. You’re so rich, why do you have to pick on us? You’re trying to drive us to ruin!” They started playing the victim card, attempting to gain sympathy and shift public opinion. Some fans started defending them, but most people were simply watching the drama unfold. I coldly observed their pathetic performance. “Chad, are you sure about that? Are you admitting, in front of a million people, that the promise displayed on your livestream’s background wall is a lie? Or are you saying your entire livestream is a scam?” “I…” Chad was choked into silence. “I’ll give you two choices.” My voice hardened. “Either you immediately transfer one hundred million credits to my account and then continue unboxing the cards from my third million-credit order. Or, I call the police right now and report you for commercial fraud. You choose.” After I stated my demands, Chad slumped in his chair, remaining motionless for a long time. The livestream descended into a dead silence. Suddenly, the screen went black. They went offline. They thought going offline would solve everything? How naive. I immediately edited the recorded livestream footage, especially the segments where they promised the hundred-times refund and where they finally admitted to being dishonest. I attached all my order records and payment proofs and posted them online.

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Everyone in the city’s elite circles knew the Sterling heiress, Eleanor, only dated college guys who were exactly eighteen. They were like ripe, green fruits on a summer branch, radiating a fresh, vibrant energy. Then I met Eleanor. I was eighteen, delivering food in a faded uniform, but she couldn’t take her eyes off me. Soon, everyone was saying, “Eleanor Sterling has gone completely insane.” She chased me for two whole years, showering me with flowers, cars, and even a house. She even quit drinking for me. The craziest part? She actually married me, and after that, she devoted herself entirely to me, no longer seeing anyone else. Five years into our marriage, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. Without a moment’s hesitation, Eleanor poured a fortune into sponsoring a financially struggling college student, Kai, just to find a bone marrow match for my father. But on the day of the surgery, Kai had vanished into thin air. My father lay on the operating table, his vital signs fading. I fumbled for my phone, calling Kai fifty-two times before he finally picked up. “Hello? Mr. Hayes?” Kai’s voice sounded panicked. “Kai! Where are you?!” I practically screamed into the phone. “The surgery’s been delayed for two hours! My dad, he…” “I’m so sorry…” His voice trembled. “I, I’m just so scared. I can’t come…” I was about to speak again when a familiar female voice drifted from the background of the call. “It’s okay, it’s okay. If you’re scared, then don’t donate.” It was Eleanor’s voice. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. My phone clattered to the floor. I stumbled out of the hospital, rushing to the furthest corner of the parking lot, where I saw Eleanor’s familiar black Maybach. The window was half-open. I saw Kai leaning on Eleanor’s shoulder, his eyes red. Eleanor’s hand was gently stroking his back, a gesture so tender it made my eyes burn. “…Don’t be afraid. We can always postpone the surgery for another month. I’ll use every resource in the country to find another suitable donor during that time.” Eleanor’s voice came through clearly. “Don’t worry.” “But Mr. Hayes’s father has already had several critical condition notices, hasn’t he?” Kai raised his pale face. “He’ll be fine,” Eleanor reassured him, pinching his nose. That intimate gesture used to be exclusively mine. “Don’t overthink it.” Kai broke into a tearful smile and hugged Eleanor tightly. “Thank goodness for you, Elle. I truly don’t know what I’d do without you. I accepted your sponsorship, so I should be donating bone marrow to Mr. Hayes’s father, but I’m just so afraid…” “Don’t worry, I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to,” Eleanor’s voice was soft enough to melt. “No matter what, I’m always your rock.” The roar of an engine starting jolted me out of my daze. I ran forward and pounded on the car window, but I only managed to catch the cold outline of Eleanor’s profile before the car sped away, leaving me trembling, alone in the parking lot. My phone rang again. It was the hospital. I pressed the answer button, only to hear the doctor’s heavy voice. “Mr. Hayes, has the donor arrived yet? Your father can’t wait any longer. Just a minute ago, he passed away due to multi-organ failure, and resuscitation efforts had failed… Please accept our condolences.” My world spun out of control. I collapsed onto the cold concrete, everything went black, and I lost consciousness. I had a very long dream. In the dream, I went back five years, to when I was eighteen. Eleanor was still the most prestigious heiress in our city’s elite circles, and I was just a poor student trying to make ends meet by delivering food. That day, I went to a high-end club to deliver wine and accidentally bumped into a woman. When I looked up, I met a pair of deep, dark eyes. “I’m sorry,” I apologized hastily, but froze when I clearly saw her face. Eleanor Sterling. The Sterling heiress, famous for her sky-high standards and only dating eighteen-year-old college guys. She stared at me for a long time, then suddenly smiled. “What’s your name?” Everything that followed felt like a dream. The city’s most respected woman fell for me at first sight and began pursuing me relentlessly. She’d park her Maybach next to my delivery scooter, waiting for me to finish work. If I casually mentioned wanting pastries from the south side of town, she’d drive halfway across the city in the middle of the night to buy them. She even quit drinking for me, just because I said I hated the smell of alcohol. The most unbelievable part was that she defied her family’s objections to marry me. At our wedding, in front of everyone, she placed a priceless ring on my finger. “Liam, I’ll only love you, and only you, for the rest of my life.” After we married, her devotion to me became legendary. She’d wake up early every day to make me a loving lunch, despite never having lifted a finger in the kitchen before. She’d leave important work functions early just because I texted her, “Miss you.” My phone wallpaper was my photo, her password was my birthday, and all her social media bios read, “Liam Hayes’s wife.” Even when my father was diagnosed with leukemia, she used all her connections to find a match, eventually zeroing in on Kai, a student from a financially struggling background. She paid for Kai’s tuition and living expenses, personally took him for all his medical exams, and even arranged for the best nutritionist to keep him healthy. “Why are you so good to him?” I once asked uneasily. Eleanor kissed my chin. “Silly, are you jealous? I’m just making sure he stays healthy enough to donate his bone marrow.” I believed her. Until Eleanor started frequently accompanying Kai shopping, buying him designer clothes and jewelry. Until she abandoned an important meeting for one of Kai’s calls. Until she remembered all of Kai’s preferences, but forgot our wedding anniversary. I slowly began to understand everything. My eyes red, I confronted her. “He’s eighteen, in his prime. So you’ve fallen for him, haven’t you? All that talk about settling down for good, it was just a joke, right?” What did Eleanor say then? “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m just being kind to him as compensation. Donating bone marrow is a serious matter; I need to keep him in a good mood.” But now, every single thing she did proved she was lying. When I woke, I numbly signed document after document. My father lay there peacefully, as if sleeping. I held his large hand, the one that used to lead me to school, that taught me to write. Now, it was cold and stiff. “Dad, I’m so sorry…” I choked up, but no tears would fall. My heart felt hollowed out, leaving only a dull, aching numbness. Three days passed. Eleanor hadn’t appeared, not even a single call. I opened Ins. The first post was a nine-picture photo dump from Kai. It was a photo of him and Eleanor by a lake. In the picture, Eleanor had her arm around Kai’s shoulder, her smile blindingly bright. The caption read: “Thanks for the company, Elle. Feeling much better now.” I mechanically liked the post. Less than a minute later, my phone vibrated. A message from Eleanor popped up: 「Liam, Kai’s emotional state is unstable, so he can’t donate bone marrow temporarily. I’ve contacted the best specialists, both locally and internationally. We’ll reschedule the surgery for next month. In the meantime, I’m taking Kai to relax and get him back in shape.」 I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. She didn’t know my father was dead. She also didn’t know I’d already overheard everything in the parking lot, that her heart had long since strayed. I closed the chat window and dialed another number. “Mrs. Sterling, I know you’ve always disapproved of me. I’m now willing to sign the divorce papers and leave Eleanor forever, with the money.” There was a noticeable pause on the other end. “But you always said you two had true love and refused to let go?” I was silent. Yes, I had once naively believed Eleanor would love me forever, just as she did in the beginning. But love is never black and white. Hearts change, vows expire, and human nature never truly alters. She only loved eighteen-year-old boys, and I was no longer eighteen. “Mrs. Sterling,” I finally said softly, “please send me the divorce papers.” Mrs. Sterling seemed to understand something from my silence, her tone suddenly lighter. “Alright. Once you sign, just wait for the mandatory one-month divorce cooling-off period to end, then leave. The money will be deposited into your account on time.” “Remember, once you leave, never appear in front of Eleanor again.” I hung up and quickly received the digital divorce papers. I read them word for word, then clicked print. The printer slowly whirred as it spat out the papers, the sound eerily clear in the empty room. When I picked up the pen, my hand was steady, without a single tremor. “Eleanor,” I whispered to myself, “this time, I’ll make you disappear from my world completely!” The next day, I went to the office. Pushing open Mr. Davies’s office door, I directly handed him my resignation letter. “Why the sudden resignation?” Mr. Davies looked surprised. “Don’t you love this job? I even approved your leave for your father’s serious illness. By now, he should have had the surgery and be recovering, right?” I shook my head. “My father is gone. And I… I plan to divorce and leave this city.” Mr. Davies was silent for a moment, then finally sighed. “…Alright, I respect your decision.” My colleagues had always liked me. When they heard I was resigning, they gathered around to say goodbye. “Liam, keep in touch!” “Your wife is so devoted to you, being a stay-at-home husband isn’t so bad either.” I didn’t explain, just smiled, then quietly packed my things. Everyone walked me down to the company’s ground floor. Suddenly, someone gasped. “Liam, your husband-obsessed wife is here to pick you up!” My body tensed. Through the glass door, I saw the black Maybach parked at the company entrance. I took a deep breath, nodded goodbye to my colleagues, then carried my box out and opened the car door. Inside, Eleanor was leaning over, fastening Kai’s seatbelt. Her hair brushed his neck, one hand on the seatback, the other around Kai. They were close, their breaths mingling. Kai looked down at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his ears flushed crimson. The moment the car door opened, they both turned, their expressions frozen. Kai hastily sat upright. “Mr. Hayes, please don’t misunderstand, I just didn’t have my seatbelt on. Eleanor was just helping me…” “I don’t misunderstand.” I cut him off, my voice calm, without a ripple of emotion. I didn’t want to hear explanations, nor did I want to watch their pathetic performance. Eleanor finally looked at me directly, her gaze falling on the box in my arms. Her brows furrowed slightly. “You resigned?” “Yeah, I’m tired,” I said dismissively. “I have other plans now.” Eleanor stared at me for two seconds, seeming about to say something, but ultimately just said coolly, “Get in the car.” I forced a smile. “Why did you suddenly come to pick me up?” “A new restaurant opened; the dishes are very good for recovery,” Eleanor said casually as she started the car. “I’m taking Kai to try it, and you can taste it too. If it’s suitable, we can get some for your father later.” My fingertips curled inward. It felt like a dull blade slowly carving into my chest. My father was dead. Yet she hadn’t even come to see him one last time. But I said nothing, just got into the car in silence. In the restaurant’s private room, Eleanor ordered a table full of nutritious dishes. “This rich, healing stew is excellent for post-surgery recovery.” She scooped a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Kai. “You try it first.” Kai took it, flattered, and took a small sip, his eyes lighting up. “It’s delicious!” Eleanor’s lips curved upward. She picked up a piece of steamed fish, carefully deboned it, and placed it in his bowl. “Fish is high in protein. Eat more.” Kai’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Eleanor, you’re so good to me…” he said softly. Eleanor smiled and added a sweet red date pastry to his plate. “This is good for blood.” Throughout all of this, I sat quietly opposite them, like an outsider. I watched Eleanor patiently wipe soup from Kai’s lips. I watched her softly ask him, “Is there anything else you want to eat?” I watched the gentle light in her eyes, a light that once belonged only to me. “Eleanor is so good to me, Mr. Hayes, you’re not jealous, are you?” Kai looked at me, flustered. “Please don’t misunderstand, this is all for your father…” “No, I know,” I said, looking down. My forks gently poked at the food in my bowl. I hadn’t eaten a single bite. The meal was a drawn-out, agonizing affair. When it finally ended, Eleanor took a work call. “You two go downstairs and wait for me,” she said, frowning at her phone. “I’ll be right there.” Kai and I went into the elevator together. The moment the elevator doors closed, Kai suddenly grinned, his voice boisterous. “Mr. Hayes, you’re so magnanimous. Eleanor is so good to me, yet you’re not even a little jealous.” I ignored him. But Kai persisted, leaning close to my ear and lowering his voice. “Actually, you’ve known for a long time, haven’t you? Eleanor has already fallen for me.” My fingertips trembled. “She said you’re too boring, like a block of wood,” Kai chuckled smugly. “And me…” Before he could finish, the elevator suddenly jolted! The lights flickered twice, then went out completely. “Ah—!” Kai shrieked, grabbing my arm in a panic. “What’s happening?!” I quickly pressed the emergency call button, my voice calm. “Elevator malfunction.”

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The year I was scraping by, I overheard my roommate, Chloe, talking about the wealthy girl from the department next door, Shawn, who was sick. Quietly, I went for a kidney match. The moment the results came out, Shawn’s second brother, Liam, found me. He had me sign a contract and quickly arranged for my hospitalization. Just then, floating comments suddenly flashed before my eyes: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” I ignored them. Because I knew the man in front of me already knew the truth. He just chose to abandon me. Six days after the surgery. As the on-screen comments buzzed with the most heated discussions, I quietly checked myself out of the hospital. The dense stream of comments eagerly anticipated my return home as the true heiress, ready to unleash hell on the Vance family. “The legendary scene is coming! Our sweet Aria is finally going to have her moment!” “Big brother knows the truth now, oh yeah!” “Get ready for the groveling, this is going to be epic!” “After today, the female lead will be everyone’s favorite, finally time to get back at the family!” “Aria, make sure you really make them pay, don’t forgive them too easily.” I couldn’t help but shake my head. I was about to disappoint them. I chose to walk away just as the story was about to reach its climax. That so-called “group favorite” life? I didn’t want it.

The first time I met Liam, it was near the hospital. After hearing that my kidney was a match for his sister, he contacted me immediately, inviting me to meet. Once we confirmed the details, he handed me a contract along with a face mask: “It’d be better if you wear this outside.” I took the mask, saying nothing. I glanced at the penalty clause in the contract – a hefty sum. After I put on the mask, he looked at my eyes. The hand holding the pen paused for a moment before he decisively signed his name. Suddenly, the floating comments flashed rapidly: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” “I just re-read it. Did Liam already suspect Aria’s identity at this point?” “Definitely! With the mask on, she looks so much like their mom around the eyes. I refuse to believe he didn’t notice.” “I even suspect he knew, which is why he told her to wear the mask, so he could observe her better.” “He’s a smooth operator with a hidden agenda. Right now, he’s doing whatever it takes for Shawn. But once Aria’s identity is confirmed, he’ll frantically try to make it up to her and be a ‘good’ brother.” I remained expressionless, signed the contract, and handed it to Liam. I had to admit, Liam was efficient. He arranged my hospitalization quickly, and it was a private room. I didn’t have to worry about anything; all I had to do was sign the consent form for the surgery. During my stay, besides doctors and nurses, I saw Liam the most. But between us, there was nothing to say. After all, we were just strangers. He, however, didn’t seem to think so. He kept strolling into my hospital room. I numbly looked at him, visiting for who-knows-how-many times in two days, then at the lunch he brought. I was genuinely curious: “Are you that free?” Liam smiled and nodded: “Try it. Our chef at home specifically made it. I hope it suits your taste.” “You need to rest up well during this period.” I gave a slight tug at the corner of my mouth: “Thanks, but you don’t have to bring me food. I just ordered takeout.” At my words, Liam’s expression stiffened abruptly. He quickly recovered, his voice deep and drawn out: “Takeout isn’t healthy. Nothing beats our chef’s carefully prepared soup, don’t you think, Arie?” That nickname suddenly reminded me of Jade. She always liked to call me Arie, too. “When your takeout arrives, you can just try both, see which tastes better. I have a lot of confidence in our chef’s skills.” Just as Liam was about to say more, someone knocked on the door. Shawn poked her head in: “Brother, I knew you’d sneak off here again.” Shawn, wearing a hospital gown, walked in, a bright smile on her face as she spoke to me: “Hi there, are you the one who’s going to donate a kidney to me? Thank you, Ms. Aria. Can I call you that?” My gaze rested on her. She was clearly well-cared for: “Whatever.” Liam immediately steadied Shawn: “Why are you down here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn stuck out her tongue: “Not at all! I just wanted to see my lifesaver.” “And the surgery is soon, Brother. I’m a little scared.” Liam stroked her head: “Brother promises you nothing will go wrong. You’ll wake up and the surgery will be over.” “I trust you, Brother.” Shawn’s eyes scanned my room before she spoke, a hint of hesitation in her voice: “Brother, why didn’t you arrange for Ms. Aria to be on our floor? This room isn’t very big. Is she comfortable here?” Before Liam could answer, the comments suddenly flared up: “That sounds a little off, saying you’re scared in front of the donor.” “Such a green tea vibe! Oh, so *your* room is better, huh?” “Come on, guys, don’t be so malicious! She just asked casually, she’s just worried about the female lead.” “Malicious? Can’t you see the words ‘green tea’ written all over that? She’s clearly showing off how much better her room is, right in front of the female lead.” “Why isn’t Second Brother answering?” “He can’t answer. If she was on the same floor, other Vance family members might run into the female lead. The room he arranged must have been deliberate.” “Waiting for Second Brother to start groveling to win her back.” The next second, Shawn’s phone rang: “Mom? I came out to find Brother. Okay, I’ll head back with Brother now.” As Shawn left, she politely smiled at me: “Ms. Aria, Mom’s calling me. Brother and I are going back to our room now. I’ll come see you again when I have time.” A gust of wind blew outside the room, conveniently seeing them off.

As for the lunch Liam brought, it sat untouched. I sat by the bed, looking out at the view from the window. Actually, I had heard about Shawn’s kidney failure from my roommate, Chloe. The day before, I’d dragged myself back to the dorm after a part-time job, and overheard Chloe saying: “Did you hear? Shawn, that heiress from the department next door, apparently has kidney failure.” “Really?” “Totally. I even heard a rumor that her family is looking for a kidney donor. If they find a match, money won’t be an issue.” “Wait, shouldn’t a family match be better?” “Wealthy families like theirs might be different. Who’d willingly donate a kidney?” My roommate, Chloe, spread her five fingers: “I heard, if you match, it’s at least this much.” “Whoa, five million?” “Yep.” “Still, I wouldn’t do it. Losing a kidney, who knows what effect that’ll have on your body.” “The chances of a stranger matching are tiny. We probably won’t match, don’t even think about it.” “Enough about that, how were your interviews? I’m completely stressed out.” I, who was just about to go wash up, paused. I lowered my eyes. Five million. If I could match, it would be enough for Jade’s medical bills. I privately contacted someone and quietly went to get tested. After a successful match, Liam hastily arranged to meet me, hoping I would be admitted to the hospital as quickly as possible. When the comments told me not to sign the contract, what they didn’t know was that earlier, when I went to get hot water, I’d accidentally overheard Chloe’s phone call: “Mr. Vance, I’ve already told Aria. That company interview…” “No interview needed. You can start working directly.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Vance.” I didn’t know who “Mr. Vance” was at first, until I met Liam. The man’s voice on Chloe’s phone was identical to his. That’s when I realized that the person who wanted to leak the information to me had always been Liam. He couldn’t just stand by and watch his beloved sister lie in a hospital bed. In his heart, no one was more important than Shawn. And I? I was desperate for money. Jade’s exorbitant medical bills were something I couldn’t earn enough of, no matter how many part-time jobs I took. So he knew I would actively seek out the match. He understood human nature. And he had calculated it perfectly.

So, when I first started seeing the floating comments, I didn’t react much. After all, what did blood relation matter? His calculations against me had begun even before I met him. From the comments flashing across the air, I also pieced together the truth of what happened years ago. When I was three months old, my mother and father had an argument. In a fit of anger, my mother took me and drove away. After two hours on the road, she was too exhausted and fell asleep after pulling the car over. When she woke up, I was gone. From then on, she often fell into her own emotions, unable to pull herself out. Six months after I went missing, my aunt gave birth to a daughter but passed away from massive hemorrhage. After discussion, that child was adopted by my parents and took my mother’s surname. That child became my mother’s lifeline. And my two brothers regarded her as their own sister. As for me, I was passed around by human traffickers and sold to another place. Jade, like me, was a trafficked child. The difference was, I was a baby and didn’t remember anything. Jade was four, with memories of her parents, but she could never find her family. After Jade fell ill, she was always worried I’d be alone in the future. She dragged me to the police station to register a missing person report and provide a blood sample for DNA registration. Actually, before my match results with Shawn came out, I had received news from the police station about the DNA matching for finding relatives. I thought Liam must have also received the news; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so anxious. After seeing me, he immediately arranged for my hospitalization. Most importantly, I didn’t believe that if other Vance family members knew about this, they would choose to let me stand by idly. I, on the contrary, felt that the possibility of them guilt-tripping me was much higher. After all, the child they’d raised for over twenty years and the child they’d lost for over twenty years—their feelings for the two definitely wouldn’t be the same. Which one was more important? Did it even need to be said?

Actually, during my hospitalization, Liam had arranged a caregiver for me. Then he quickly replaced her. Because Liam accidentally overheard her complaining on the phone: “People really can’t be compared. This little girl in this room is having a huge kidney donation surgery, and no one’s here with her. She’s all alone.” “I’ve only seen one person visit her these past few days. The employer and she don’t even seem close. I wonder what their relationship is.” “But this girl’s room is quite nice, what a shame.” Liam immediately called to replace the caregiver and then left in a hurry. Half an hour after he left, someone else found me. Meredith, or rather, Liam and Shawn’s mother. The new caregiver followed behind her. Gentle yet decisive – that was my first impression of Ms. Meredith. Comments quietly appeared: “It’s Mom!” “She’ll recognize our sweet Aria, right?” “Ms. Meredith looks so elegant.” “Even if she doesn’t recognize her, Aria must be different to her, right?” Meredith’s voice was gentle: “Aria, hello. I’m Liam Vance’s mother. I’ve switched caregivers for you.” “I came to ask if you’re donating voluntarily? My son might be a little too concerned about his sister; I’m afraid he might do something foolish.” I shook my head: “You’re overthinking it. I’m doing this voluntarily. Mr. Vance and I signed a contract.” Her gaze fell on my eyes, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. Snapping back to reality, she glanced around the room: “Are you staying here alone?” “Yes.” Her voice was slightly hesitant: “Do your family know?” I curved my lips: “My consent is all that matters.” I imagined if Jade knew I was having surgery, she’d immediately rush to the hospital, drag me out by my ear, and scold me relentlessly. In her eyes, nothing was more important than my health. But in my eyes, her survival was more important than anything. Silence spread. Meredith said nothing more. Until Shawn appeared in my room: “Mom, are you here to see Ms. Aria too?” Meredith quickly went to steady her: “Shawn, why are you here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn shook her head: “No, Mom, don’t worry.” “I just came to see Ms. Aria, in case she’s nervous.” Shawn looked at me: “Ms. Aria, will you be scared during the surgery? Actually, just thinking about the surgery time approaching, I’m a little scared too.” Meredith comforted her: “Don’t worry, everything will go smoothly.” Just as Meredith turned to comfort me, I shrugged, my voice calm: “I’m not scared.” Just thinking about the five million after the surgery filled me with motivation. As for fear, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Shawn’s voice carried a smile: “Ms. Aria is much braver than me. I should learn from you.” Shawn couldn’t help but lean on Meredith’s shoulder: “Mom, will you dislike me for being timid? I’m not as brave as Ms. Aria.” Meredith stroked her head: “No, in Mom’s eyes, you’re already very brave.” This scene of mother and daughter, Shawn and Meredith, always felt incredibly familiar to me. Comments quietly floated by: “Such a familiar scene! Last time it was Second Brother, this time it’s Ms. Meredith.” “Shawn is really loved by the Vance family.” “I’ve noticed, the Vance family likes to visit our sweet Aria in groups.” “Right, right.” “I wonder if it’s intentional or unintentional.” Before Meredith and Shawn left, they left the caregiver behind. I could only say that the person Meredith sent was extremely perceptive and took care of everything. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.

The day before the surgery, Jade called me. Jade’s voice on the phone was exceptionally excited: “Arie, the police might have found your biological parents!” Jade rattled on about many things, finally asking if I wanted to meet them. I knew Jade always wanted to make sure I was settled. Before I could answer, Liam suddenly burst into my room, his voice anxious: “Can the surgery time be changed to tonight?” I instinctively covered my phone, afraid Jade would hear something. I hadn’t seen Liam this anxious in a long time. Jade on the other end of the phone didn’t get my answer, but vaguely heard other voices. She paused before speaking: “Arie, are you busy? Call me back when you’re done and have thought it over carefully. If you want to meet them, I’ll come with you.” I nodded: “Okay, Jade. Take care of yourself. Rest well these days, and I’ll be home soon.” After I hung up, I looked up at Liam and slowly said: “Yes, that’s fine.” The comments again danced before me: “No, don’t!” “My heart aches for Aria. Suddenly, Liam doesn’t deserve to be a brother.” “Why the rush? Is Shawn your only sister?” “It’s just one step away! If Aria and Jade agreed to meet tomorrow, why move the surgery up?” “I’m betting a bag of chips, Liam definitely knows the truth.” “Probably because someone in the Vance family found out about Aria. Second Brother is panicking.” “Their precious daughter found a kidney donor, the Vance parents must be thrilled.” “I wonder how they’ll feel when they find out the donor is their own biological daughter, and their son personally sent his sister to the operating table.” “Didn’t Ms. Meredith feel something was off? She already saw Aria.” Liam was stunned when I agreed, then, as if by a strange impulse, he asked: “Why did you agree so readily?” I blinked: “One day earlier or one day later, it makes no difference to me.” Hearing my words, Liam’s eyes darkened: “Then remember to fast during this time.” The comments flooded in: “There IS a difference, of course there is!” “If it was one day later, I don’t believe the Vance parents, knowing the truth, would still let you have this surgery.” “Big brother, please find out the truth soon. I can’t stand Aria being wronged anymore.” “I just think it’s separate issues. The female lead isn’t losing anything from this surgery; she gets five million. And she’s doing it voluntarily. Why do you guys think she’s being so wronged?” “When she’s found and taken back, the others won’t not compensate her.” “Why do you think the newly found daughter would be more important than the daughter they raised for twenty years? Shawn is clearly more important in the Vance family’s eyes right now.” “If the female lead were taken back under these circumstances, the likelihood of them guilt-tripping her into donating would be even higher, wouldn’t it?” I skimmed the comments, my gaze landing on the last two sentences. I couldn’t help but smile; they were thinking exactly what I was. Liam quickly discussed the surgery time with the doctor. Before I was wheeled into the operating room, I saw a familiar figure by another gurney. It was Liam. The others around him must have been the Vance family. As we passed them, my eyes met with one person: Meredith. I didn’t have time to make out her expression. Once in the operating room, I quickly lost consciousness. When I woke up again, it was around three in the morning. I was in the intensive care unit. Before the surgery, I had already called Jade, telling her I wouldn’t be able to meet her for a few days due to something I needed to take care of.

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For Asher, I sold myself to Damon Sterling. In the pouring rain, inside his RV, my hair was yanked, and my thin white dress was torn to shreds. My body became the currency for this treacherous dance with my enemies. But I never imagined that this degrading spectacle, this feast where I was just a kept woman, didn’t go unnoticed by another pair of eyes. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” The last final exam of my sophomore year had just ended. The moment my phone buzzed with the message, I rushed out into the pouring rain towards the hospital. “The patient’s heart stopped briefly, but thankfully, after resuscitation, he’s out of danger. We couldn’t reach you, so we contacted Mr. Sterling.” The doctor was still rambling on, but I pressed my head against the glass, letting out a long, shaky breath. The cold sweat of a near-disaster drenched my back. Damon Sterling had helped me again. Knowing him, he’d undoubtedly make me pay, in his own twisted way. Sure enough, no sooner had I settled Asher than my phone rang. Damon Sterling’s driver, Victor, subtly urged me downstairs. The car was already waiting. Stepping out of the hospital, the biting evening wind felt like a harsh slap across my face. But what chilled me more was Damon Sterling’s gaze. He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine across the torrential rain. The stark, cold white light reflected off his face, his thin, chiseled lips pressed tightly together. My gut told me my sugar daddy was pissed. Without another thought, I pulled up my collar and ran towards the RV, battling the storm. Victor was already standing by the door. “The young master isn’t in a good mood,” Victor whispered, pulling open the door. I gave a barely perceptible nod of thanks as I ducked my head and plunged into the car. The door closed, sealing off all sound from the outside. “With this kind of rain, why did you come?” I tried to steady my voice, shaking off the raindrops. Damon Sterling said nothing, only hooked his finger under my chin, his rough thumb tracing the line of my lips. I avoided his intense gaze, dropping my eyes. “It’s about Asher. Thank you for your help again today.” Damon Sterling hummed faintly, his voice devoid of warmth. “Your classmate even followed you here.” I followed his gaze and looked back. Noah Jensen was still standing at the hospital entrance. I didn’t know how long he’d been watching, but the two men stared at each other through the rain. My right eyelid twitched. That possessive jerk’s jealousy was flaring up again. I got out of the car, and Victor, holding an umbrella, walked me back to the hospital entrance. “Noah, you should head back to campus. Asher’s fine, and thank you for your help today.” Noah looked at the car behind me, wanting to say something, but he didn’t push me. He nodded and disappeared into the rain. When I got back into the car, Damon Sterling had just hung up his phone. I felt compelled to explain. “I forgot my bag after the exam. Noah happened to see it and chased me to bring it, then offered to come to the hospital to see if he could help.” “That kid likes you.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. “Noah’s just a warm-hearted person. He’s friendly to all his classmates.” Damon Sterling leaned closer, rubbing his nose against mine intimately. One hand slipped under my dress. “A toad wanting to mate with a swan! He’s completely out of his league! Doesn’t matter if he likes you, you’re mine.” His fingers were cold, and I instinctively flinched. Damon Sterling paused, raising an eyebrow. “What, are you cold?” He curved his lips into a smile, and my heart lurched. Having been with him for a year, I knew that expression all too well. Sure enough, the next second Damon Sterling loosened his tie. “Since you’re cold, let’s play a grown-up game and warm ourselves up.” “No!” I pressed hard against his chest, stopping him from coming closer. Victor was still outside the car. Damon Sterling might be shameless, but I still had some dignity to lose. Damon Sterling, with his entitled young master’s temper, couldn’t stand even a hint of resistance. His face immediately hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. “In front of me, do you have the right to say no?” “No, it’s not that. I mean, can we not do it in the car? Victor is right outside, he’ll hear us.” “Ha! You’re really concerned about his feelings. First a classmate, now the driver. You sure have a lot of men on your mind.” “No, they’re just my friends.” “You’re mine. Your thoughts should only be on me, understood?” He pinched my cheek. “But you did remind me. Victor is still standing outside. It wouldn’t be good if he caught a cold in this weather.” I should have known, Damon Sterling was a total psychopath! When he was in a good mood, he’d practically give me the world for a smile. But when he was in a bad mood, he’d stoop to the most despicable acts. Rich and utterly unhinged! He tapped on the window, deliberately calling Victor inside. The atmosphere in the car became incredibly bizarre. Victor sat in the driver’s seat, staring straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel. I couldn’t tell if the drops on his face were rain or sweat. “Young Master, are we heading back to the mansion?” Damon Sterling chuckled, his gaze flitting between Victor and me. After a long moment, he slowly replied, “To Brock Miller’s birthday party. I have a ‘big gift’ for him.” The Miller family and the Sterling family were old family friends, their relationship complex and tangled. Damon Sterling’s temper was merely unpredictable, but Brock Miller, the other heir to the Miller fortune, was a pure, unadulterated madman, a loose cannon. The car started moving, but Damon Sterling hadn’t forgotten what had just happened, and he wasn’t about to let me off easily. “Didn’t you say thank you earlier?” He stroked my long hair. “Show me some sincerity now.” His gaze fell on my lips. I steeled myself and leaned in, kissing the corner of his mouth. “That’s it? Are you playing with me?” He sneered, pulling me close by the waist, not letting me move. I bit my lower lip, shaking his arm. “Just a little interest payment for now. When we go back tonight, I’ll take off my makeup and shower, then you can do whatever you want, okay?” “Not okay! Begging won’t work.” “I’ve been working like a dog all these days on my business trip, and I just landed only to rush here for your brother. Meanwhile, you’ve been living it up, and I’m practically bursting at the seams…” My face flushed, and I clapped a hand over his mouth, afraid of what other vulgar words he might utter. Damon Sterling chuckled, kissing my palm and then pulling my hand into his, playing with it. He whispered a hot breath into my ear, “I’ve changed my mind. Your cries for mercy sound so sweet, I don’t want any other man to hear them. Let’s try a different game.” He pressed me against him, my vision completely consumed by him. I shook my head frantically. Without his command, Victor wouldn’t dare lower the privacy screen or turn on the music. In the confined space, all that could be heard was my soft, desperate resistance. “Don’t cry, baby. The more you cry, the more I want to torment you.” His breathing grew heavier, his eyes fixed on my face. He licked away my tears, coaxing softly, “Now, you have two choices…” Between Damon Sterling and me, there was no ‘if I wanted to,’ only ‘if he wanted to.’ “If you’re a good girl and listen, I’ve found a special medication from abroad to ease your brother’s pain. It can be air-shipped next week.” Asher was my weakness; Damon Sterling knew that perfectly. There was no choice. All my dignity and pride were trampled under Damon Sterling’s heel. With my hair falling around me, I reluctantly lowered my head. “Hiss…” Damon Sterling’s arm muscles flexed, his throat working. I had never done this before. Outside the window, traffic flowed, but who could imagine such a scene unfolding in the opaque car? I looked up, tears blurring my vision as I gazed at Damon Sterling. What normal man could resist such a look? “Lower the privacy screen!!!” Damon Sterling roared.

Victor, as if a great weight had been lifted, quickly pressed the button. I closed my eyes, trying to empty my mind, my consciousness slowly blurring. I felt as if I was back in that cicada-filled afternoon. Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground. Asher’s lean, firm arms were stiffly wrapped around me, his fingers gripping the reins so tightly they were white. I looked back and saw his ears flushed crimson, and the sparkling galaxy in his eyes. “W-what are you looking at? I’m teaching you to ride. If you’re not careful, you’ll fall and start crying again.” “What’s there to be afraid of? You’re here, you’ll protect me. Wow, Asher, your face is red!” “Such disrespect! I told you to call me ‘big brother’.” Asher suddenly spurred the horse, and I shrieked, burying myself in his arms, hearing the thunderous beat of his heart. That summer, the vast grassland, unripe fruits, and intertwined figures on horseback. A sparkling secret was etched into my life, from a time in my youth I could never return to. “Skylar, look at me, say my name!” Damon Sterling’s voice was hoarse as he patted my face. I slowly opened my eyes. The illusion vanished. I had missed that vibrant summer and lost that bright boy. Tears streamed down my face. “Damon Sterling.” Damon Sterling tugged my hair and kissed me deeply, not hearing the rest of my sentence. “I hate you…” He kissed my sweat-dampened forehead, wiping away the marks on my body, as intimately as if we were lovers lost in passion. “Sorry, I got carried away. Your dress is ruined, I’ll take you to buy a new one.” “No.” No dress was better. That way, I wouldn’t have to go to Brock Miller’s birthday party. Meeting my enemy face-to-face, I was afraid I’d lose control and stab him. Damon Sterling didn’t think much of it, only assuming I was pouting playfully. He smiled, picked me up, and wrapped me tightly in his jacket. “Alright, alright, my bad. I wore you out, baby. I’ll carry you in myself, how’s that?” Damon Sterling had already informed the store manager to clear everyone out. When he carried me in, only a few meek-looking staff stood by the door. He placed me on the sofa in the dressing room. “Don’t be shy. These guys are all trustworthy, they won’t gossip or stare.” He knelt before me, looking completely harmless. I reached out to smooth a stray lock of hair on his head, my hand lingering on his face, gently caressing it. Such a simple gesture made Damon Sterling grin like an idiot from a rural town. Even a hint of feigned affection from me was enough to send him over the moon. Damon Sterling was already deeply smitten, though he didn’t realize it. He reluctantly held my hand, kissing it for a long time before his phone rang. “What the hell are you rushing for?!” The person on the other end wasn’t bothered by his rudeness. “What’s up, buddy? So much anger. Did I interrupt something good?” “Get lost, get lost! If you call again, I’ll kill you.” Damon Sterling cursed as he hung up. The tender moment was broken. “Go take a shower, I’ll go pick out clothes for you.” When I emerged, I was dressed from head to toe, including jewelry. Damon Sterling sat beside me, propping his chin in his hand, watching me apply makeup, thoroughly pleased with my look. Beauty is tempting; it can make a king forget his duties. I knew how much my face tempted men. I also knew that beauty was just one card. Coupled with background, education, or intelligence, any one of them could be a winning hand. But alone, it was a dead end. So, I needed a teammate to help me win this game. Damon Sterling brought me to the club, but his hands were empty. “Didn’t you say it was Brock’s birthday? How come you didn’t bring a gift?” Damon Sterling smiled, kissing my cheek. “The gift will arrive on its own.” The private room was thick with smoke, making me cough. I nudged Damon Sterling inside. “I’m just going to the restroom, I’ll be right back.” This floor was for VIPs, so there weren’t many customers. I walked down the corridor to the ladies’ room. The moment I entered, I froze. A woman’s voice mingled with the sound of impacts. I instinctively stepped back, kicking a nearby trash can, which made a loud noise. The woman shrieked in surprise, and then everything fell silent. I turned to leave, but the door behind me opened and then closed. A large hand reached over my head, slamming against the door, blocking my exit. The man loomed over me. “Where are you running off to?” He had clearly come out in a hurry, his shirt unbuttoned. I immediately turned and walked a few steps away, widening the distance between us. “Little darling, you interrupted big brother’s fun. Aren’t you going to apologize?” “Fun? What kind of fun is this? This is the ladies’ room, a public place. Don’t you have any shame?” Brock Miller walked closer, looking at me like an interesting toy. “Look at you, all fired up with righteous anger. Have you never tried it in a bathroom? Want to try with me? Big brother will be very gentle.” He grabbed my raised hand, pinning both my hands behind my back. “Trying to hit me?” Seeing my mixture of fury and fear, Brock’s smile widened. He leaned in, but I dodged, and his kiss landed on my neck. “You smell delicious.” He then bit me. Just as I was about to scream for help, there was a knock on the door. “Skylar, are you okay? What’s taking so long?” It was Damon Sterling. Seizing the moment Brock was distracted, I raised my knee and brutally slammed it into him, then pushed him away and ran out. “Damon Sterling, help me!” Damon Sterling’s face instantly changed when he saw me. He pulled me behind him. “Which bastard, get out here!” The door opened, and Brock Miller emerged, his face grim. “You little brat, you dare lay a hand on me? You’re tired of living!” Damon Sterling looked at the sign on the door, then at Brock, and turned to ask me, “Did you hit him just now?” I nodded vigorously. “He’s a pervert! He was in the ladies’ room…” A scoff echoed from the end of the corridor. All three of us looked. A tall figure leaned against the window, smoking. The glowing red tip of his cigarette flickered, illuminating a sharp jawline. “Some dogs never change their spots. Brock, your bathroom ‘encounters’ habit will probably stick with you forever.” Brock Miller’s face flushed and then paled at the insult. Damon Sterling seemed frozen, as if struck by lightning, until the man in the black suit, hidden in the shadows of the night, stepped out and walked towards him, blowing a puff of smoke into his face. “Well, nephew, what’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?” Damon Sterling, at 6’1″, actually had to look up. “Uncle… Uncle Marcus.” Marcus Sterling nodded in satisfaction, flicking his ash onto Brock Miller’s leather shoes. The smell of burning leather quickly spread, but Brock didn’t dare utter a single sound. “Uncle Marcus, why are you suddenly back in the country?” “Grandfather Sterling isn’t well. As his younger son, I came back to check on him. Do you have a problem with that?” His gaze swept past Damon Sterling and settled on me. “And who is this?” Damon Sterling’s hand, gripping mine, was clammy with sweat. He was visibly nervous. “Oh, you don’t want to introduce her? Is she that precious? Afraid I’ll steal her?” I stepped out from behind Damon Sterling, meeting Marcus Sterling’s scrutinizing gaze. “Hello, Mr. Sterling. My name is Skylar Xiao.” My position was awkward. I wasn’t Damon Sterling’s wife or girlfriend; I was just his kept woman. He smiled slightly, extending his hand towards me. I thought he wanted to shake my hand, but he gently took my fingers, lifted them to his lips, and kissed them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Xiao. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” Marcus Sterling was a stain on Grandfather Sterling’s life, a love child born out of wedlock. His mother had been a hotel hostess back then. She’d thought she’d gain status by having a son and marry into the Sterling family as a mistress, but instead, both mother and son were exiled abroad. Damon Sterling called him ‘Uncle Marcus’ because Marcus was older in terms of generation, but in reality, he was only five years older than Damon. They shared a five-point resemblance in their features; standing together, they looked more like brothers than uncle and nephew. I had thought I would meet Marcus Sterling, but I hadn’t expected it so soon. “Uncle Marcus, Skylar is my…” Marcus Sterling’s expression instantly changed, the chill in his eyes dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees. “My girlfriend,” Damon Sterling bit out, snatching my hand from his uncle’s and pulling me close by the shoulder, asserting his claim. His grip was so strong it hurt. He was starting to panic. “Girlfriend?” Marcus Sterling scoffed. “Have you brought her home to meet Grandfather? What did the old man say?” My heart skipped a beat. How could Damon Sterling dare take me to meet his grandfather? “Not yet, but when the time is right, I’ll definitely bring Skylar home to meet my parents and grandfather.” Damon Sterling’s urgent declaration was for his uncle, but it sounded more like it was for me. Marcus Sterling patted Damon Sterling’s shoulder. “Good nephew, remember your uncle’s words: the more beautiful the expectation, the easier it is to fall apart. Not getting what you want is the norm in life.” After saying that, Marcus Sterling gave me a meaningful look.

Marcus Sterling extinguished his cigarette and took the elevator, not forgetting to taunt Brock Miller about the “wild woman” from the restroom. Brock Miller frowned, watching Marcus Sterling’s retreating form. “Grandfather Sterling just fell ill, and your uncle returns to the country. The timing is too coincidental; he’s probably up to no good.” Outside, storm clouds gathered, a strong wind blew – a storm was brewing. Brock Miller walked ahead, Damon Sterling pulled me along behind him. Trailing far behind was the woman from the restroom. She followed us all the way into the private room, then casually snuggled into someone’s arms, getting intimate. It turned out she was the companion of one of Brock Miller’s friends. Even rabbits don’t foul their own nests, but Brock, that horny dog, clearly didn’t care who he preyed on. The private room was noisy, filled with people who were either high or simply drunk. Damon Sterling kicked someone aside and pulled me onto a sofa. Brock Miller sat across from me, drinking moodily, glaring at me hatefully. The door was knocked open, and a server brought someone in – someone I had seen just a few hours earlier. “Skylar?” Noah Jensen’s face lit up with surprise when he saw me. “Did you come to the wrong room?” I was startled, a strange premonition creeping over me, but I still held a flicker of hope. “Didn’t you ask someone to tell me to find you here, that you had something to tell me?” I immediately shook my head. No doubt, this was Damon Sterling’s doing. Damon Sterling gave me a chilling look, then beckoned to Noah. “You, come here.” “Do you know who I am?” Noah shook his head. “Reading too much, huh? My name is Sterling. When people talk about the Sterling family in this city, they’re talking about my family.” Noah stood his ground, unfazed, his expression calm. “Oh, Mr. Sterling, why did you specifically trick me into coming here?” *Smack!* Brock Miller stood up and delivered a hard slap across Noah’s face. Not satisfied, he followed it with a vicious kick. “Oh, ‘Mr. Sterling’ my ass!” Noah crashed into the corner of a table, his glasses falling to the floor. A winding trail of blood streamed down his forehead. “You bastard, who are you trying to impress?” I couldn’t control a scream. I wanted to rush to Noah’s side to check his injuries, but Damon Sterling gripped my arm tightly, holding me captive in his embrace. “Skylar isn’t a name you get to use. Stay away from her from now on, or I’ll beat you every time I see you.” Noah wiped the blood from his head. “Skylar is well-liked at school. Friends who are close to her all call her that. May I ask, Mr. Sterling, what right do you have to order me around?” Noah was on the school debate team; he had never lost a competition. But at this moment, I truly wished he was mute. “Firstly, I haven’t heard that Skylar has a boyfriend. Secondly, even if Mr. Sterling is Skylar’s boyfriend, treating her so brutally and arrogantly certainly doesn’t make you a suitable one.” “Noah, please stop talking!” Too late. Damon Sterling grabbed a wine bottle, swung it, and smashed it over Noah’s head. I watched, horrified, as Noah collapsed before me. Brock Miller caught Noah, then patted his face. “Wake up, hey! Are you that weak? Did one hit kill you?” “Brock, this Noah is quite stubborn. Help me ‘reason’ with him.” Brock Miller looked at the unconscious Noah and grinned sinisterly. I was icy cold. How could I leave an unconscious Noah behind? But Damon Sterling forcefully dragged me towards the door. “Let’s go. Don’t worry, Brock will take good care of your friend.” I clung to the doorframe, refusing to let go. “No, I have to take him with me! I won’t leave Noah here alone!” “Skylar!” Damon Sterling rarely called me by my full name like that. “Don’t add fuel to the fire. Say one more word, and I guarantee your friend will vanish without a trace, never to see tomorrow’s sun.” “You wouldn’t dare!” Damon Sterling was furious, gritting his teeth. “What wouldn’t a Sterling dare to do?!” I froze. He was right. There was nothing a Sterling wouldn’t dare to do. Damon Sterling lost his patience. “Skylar, you’re done for. Tonight, you’ll see how I punish you.” He delivered a chop to the back of my neck. Before I completely lost consciousness, he slung me over his shoulder. As darkness enveloped me, I vaguely saw Brock Miller moving towards Noah. Damon Sterling didn’t kill me in bed – not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t get the chance. When I woke up, I was still in the car, my neck aching. Damon Sterling was beside me, unconsciously chewing on his fingers. He only did that when he was most stressed; the last time I saw him like that was the day his grandfather had a stroke. “You’re awake.” When I stirred, he grabbed me like a lifeline, pulling me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my chest. “Skylar, what do I do? My parents… they were in a car accident…” His voice was choked with tears, like a helpless child. Damon Sterling was the Sterling family’s only third-generation grandchild, spoiled rotten since childhood, protected fiercely by his parents and grandfather. He had no ability to stand on his own when faced with a crisis. The car turned around, speeding towards the hospital. I felt a persistent unease. While Damon Sterling wasn’t paying attention, I secretly called Noah’s phone, but it kept going straight to voicemail. When we arrived at the hospital, as I got out of the car, I immediately felt an undeniable gaze from above. I looked up. Marcus Sterling leaned against a window, smoking. This hospital was a Sterling family asset. Although he was a love child, he still bore the Sterling name, and no one dared to stop him. Through the vast darkness, I couldn’t discern his expression, only the crimson glow of his cigarette, flickering on and off. “Uncle Marcus!” Damon Sterling, after all, was just a twenty-something young man. With such a massive catastrophe, the first sight of his uncle brought out his vulnerability, and he couldn’t help but feel wronged. Marcus Sterling was still dressed in the same black suit from hours earlier, the only difference being one shirt sleeve rolled up, revealing a bandage on his arm. He had short hair from living in tropical regions for so long, and a scar on his forehead, giving him a fiercely intimidating aura. “What happened to my parents?” “They were on their way to a gala, but they crashed into a truck. Now, both of them are in the ICU.” Damon Sterling’s legs gave out, and he sank to the ground. “What do I do, Uncle Marcus? What should I do?” Marcus Sterling patted his shoulder. “Don’t panic yet. I’ve already donated blood to your father. Let’s wait for the surgery to finish and hear what the doctors say.” “Thank you, Uncle Marcus.” “Don’t thank me yet. There’s a tricky situation at hand. Tonight’s gala is very important. As leaders of the business council, the Sterling family must have someone there to represent…” Grandfather Sterling was incapacitated by a stroke, and now his parents were in trouble. Damon Sterling suddenly lost all his support. “Uncle Marcus, can you go in my father’s place? I don’t understand anything about the company, and I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here and wait for them to wake up.” “Me? I don’t think that would be appropriate. I’ve been living abroad for so long, the board members probably won’t recognize me.” “No, Uncle Marcus, it’ll be fine. I’ll have Victor accompany you. He’s been with the Sterling family for many years; most people know him. Besides, we both share the Sterling name. You’re my uncle, and those people will have to accept you.” “In that case… alright, I suppose. Who else but your uncle would help you? However, besides Victor, I’ll need to take one other person with me.”

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I transmigrated into a dark, explicit novel, becoming the girl who sells protection. The original female lead had a tragic fate: one woman, many men, forced into eight abortions. And I was here to save her. I always appeared at just the right moment, offering little packages of life-blockers. “Sir, a box of condoms?” “Sir, how about a box? Passion with you, safety with them. Buy a box, benefit us all.” Until one day, I was cornered by the eight men from the novel in a luxurious mansion, forced to become part of their *play*. “Join us, Juniper.” “Julian, please… no… this isn’t right… I’m begging you, don’t do this.” After being forced into some outdoor intimacy with a man, Lily, the female lead, was crouched by the river, crying helplessly. I slowly approached, pulling out a morning-after pill. “You should call 911.” Lily stopped crying, her eyes red-rimmed as she looked at me, then slapped the morning-after pill right into the river. “I’m not clean anymore. Are you looking down on me too?” Me: “?” My heart ached beyond words. That was all the money I had, gone! But to get back home, I had to endure! I offered a polite smile. “You misunderstood. That’s not what I meant.” “What I meant was, if you were forced, you can call 911. The police will help you punish the bad guys.” Lily cried even harder. “I knew it, you all look down on me! I was forced, I was forced!” Me: “???” Was Lily out of her mind, or just born clueless? I pulled out my phone and dialed 911. The call connected. “Hello, this is 911. How can I help you?” Lily froze, then burst into uncontrollable sobs, slapping my phone right into the river with a loud *smack*. “I have no beef with you, I don’t even know you. Why are you humiliating me like this?” Me: “…” My phone, oh my god, my phone! I swear I wanted to crack her skull open and see what kind of garbage was rattling around in there!

Sighing dramatically heavenward, I swore I’d never stay up late reading smut again. Yes! I had transmigrated into a book. And it was one of those one-woman-many-men, female-torture smut fics. The female lead was forced to have eight abortions, each from a different man. But damn it all, in the end, everyone actually got a “happily ever after” with her. By the time I finished reading, I felt worse than if I’d eaten actual crap. I cursed the author, “Don’t readers’ feelings matter?!” Right after cursing, I transmigrated, becoming a nameless, insignificant extra. I had to make the female lead independent, to help her break free from the cycle of forced abortions through her own efforts, so I could escape this damn book. So when I saw Lily being forced into intimacy with a man in the woods, I quickly emptied my pockets and bought a morning-after pill. I was here to save her, but so far, I wasn’t saving a damn thing. I was boiling with helpless rage, screaming and thrashing on the ground in front of her. “Argh, you’re a piece of trash! Eight abortions? Hell, a hundred wouldn’t be enough for you to learn your lesson!” Lily’s face went ashen. Trembling, she pulled out her own phone and dialed 911 again. “Waaah~ Officer, this person is insulting me!” Me: “…”

Lily sat outside the interrogation room, red-eyed and sniffling, recounting my “crimes.” “She taunted me, looked down on me, and then crawled on all fours in front of me to humiliate me!” Does that sound like something a sane person would say? But the police believed her. “Why did you taunt her?” I shrugged. “I didn’t.” The officer scribbled two lines in his notebook, then asked, “Why were you crawling on all fours to humiliate her?” I was losing it. “I wasn’t! I really wasn’t! She slapped my phone into the river, and I was crawling to find it! Can you guys please listen? What human has four legs?!” The officer just looked down and scribbled some more in his notebook. In the end, they decided to detain me for three days as a warning. Then they offered Lily a whole lot of comfort. I was utterly stunned. This explicit novel’s world truly was messed up beyond belief. I was lonely, desperate, and cold. I missed my mom.

No money, no ID, no phone. The immediate priority wasn’t how to get back, but how to survive. I was afraid I’d starve to death in this book before I could succeed. Was I really going to have to beg? Begging was not an option. I looked at a public health information board about safe sex practices and free condoms, and a brilliant idea struck me. I grabbed two plastic bags from a trash can. I cut eyeholes in a black one and pulled it over my head, keeping a clear one in my hand. Then I promptly cleared out all the free condoms from the display. And so, from that day on, I became the girl who sells protection. For some reason, I always seemed to appear at the precise moment Lily was being forced into intimacy with a man. And wasn’t that a golden business opportunity? I could make money, and indirectly save the world. I couldn’t change that trash fire of a female lead, so I decided to target the men instead. As long as I could survive until the happy ending, and Lily didn’t get pregnant, there would be no abortions, and I could finally escape this book.

It was a pitch-black, rainy night, and I stood at the entrance of a bar, armed with my little bag of protection. Rain lashed wildly against my face. Damn it! I couldn’t stand this life another day. Just as I was cursing the heavens, cursing the earth, and cursing Lily, I heard her sweet, delicate voice again. “N-no~ Julian, please, not here… what if someone sees us?” The man’s shirt was unbuttoned two buttons down. He carried Lily, whose cheeks were flushed and whose tiny triangle of fabric had slipped to her ankles, towards his car. “Lily~ your body tells a different story~” Lily’s tears streamed down her face as she balled her fists and pounded the man’s chest. Damn it! Was Lily even trying? Those weren’t resistance punches; those were ‘turn-him-on’ punches! I silently rolled my eyes. The moment the man tossed Lily into the car and was about to close the door, I quickly extended my hand. “Sir, a box of condoms?” “Sir, how about some protection? Passion with you, safety with them, happiness for all involved.” My gaze was intense as I stared at the man before me. He hadn’t expected to be interrupted by me, and his eyes glared menacingly, finally landing on the condoms in my hand. He snatched them and slammed the car door shut. What the hell! He didn’t pay! The world’s gone to hell, there’s no justice. But I couldn’t risk it; I couldn’t afford to cross any of these powerful men. Julian Blackwood, the most powerful man in the book, with billions in assets, yet completely obsessed with Lily’s innocent facade.

I had to admit, the men in this explicit novel were incredibly potent. Just one box of protection, seven pieces, seven hours of action, no breaks. I listened to the whole thing, every word true. I was huddled by the car door, almost falling asleep, when finally, the car door opened. I heard Lily’s hoarse, tearful voice again. “Julian, how could you do this to me? I’ll never forgive you.” I lifted one eyelid and saw Julian Blackwood gripping Lily’s chin, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’m going to lock you up. Your body will forever belong to me.” I stood up. Lily looked up and saw me, reaching out a tearful hand. “Miss, please, help me, save me.” That’s when the male lead finally noticed I was still there. He turned to me and slowly spat out one word. “Get out!” I lifted my eyelid a bit higher, pointing to the used condom on the car floor mat. My expression was impassive. “Sir, small business here, no credit.” Julian Blackwood and Lily both fell silent for a moment. Lily stared at me in disbelief. “Miss, how can you be so heartless? Why won’t you help me?” Me: “…” Julian Blackwood stared at my face, then let out a scoff. “Gary! Pay her.” A man then got out of the driver’s seat. I gasped! I was shocked! Last night, with the moon obscured and the wind howling, I hadn’t even noticed the driver was there. The driver was there! Were they seriously that open? Did the world of explicit novels have no shame at all? I swear I couldn’t stand this life another day. But as the driver tossed a thick wad of cash at me, I decided I could tolerate it a little longer.

Lily was taken away by Julian Blackwood, and I, clutching ten thousand dollars, grinned like an idiot. I think I’d found a shortcut to getting rich. I spent the money on food, drinks, and shopping, but no matter what, I always carried a bag containing my secret weapon for wealth. After a few days, I mysteriously found myself in a large mansion. Lily was currently pinned on the grass by a blond, blue-eyed man, his hand already reaching a certain spot. Lily pleaded softly on the grass. “Klara, don’t do this, there’s only friendship between us.” This man was Klara Petrov, who had chased Lily from abroad all the way to Julian Blackwood’s grand estate. I wondered if it would be weird to pitch my product right now? But they were about to get to the final step, so I couldn’t just stand by. I darted forward, slid to my knees, and presented the condom to Klara. “Ultra-thin, ultimate pleasure. You deserve the best.” People who read smut fics always have surprisingly good memories. I knew each man’s preferences. The man looked at me in surprise but still took it. This man was more polite; he just scanned five thousand dollars to me with his phone. I pouted, a little annoyed. Julian Blackwood was more generous; he’d shelled out a whole ten grand! But my professional ethics were top-notch. I smiled, bowed, and bid him farewell. “Enjoy yourselves, have a wonderful time.”

The men in this explicit novel were all machines, relentlessly plowing day and night. Lily was even more incredible, a field that could be plowed endlessly without ever wearing out. Every day I was dragged around with Lily from place to place, time to time, feeling like the money I earned was endless, but I never had time to spend it. Since my clients were all so generous, I even upgraded my services. I’d occasionally offer expert tips and emotional support while they were getting intimate with Lily. I was a small-time millionaire now, having opened many automated adult novelty kiosks in the places Lily and the men frequented. Even near their homes. Of course, they never actually went in to get anything themselves; it was mainly so I could restock easily. But I felt like I was almost done with my mission. Tonight, in Julian Blackwood’s estate, was the climax for all the men and Lily, the supposed ending point of this explicit novel. And thanks to my diligent, tireless, indirect efforts, Lily hadn’t had a single “accident.” I just needed to get through tonight safely, and then I could go home. Honestly, becoming a millionaire in this book, I was almost a little reluctant to leave. But I still missed my mom more. Goodbye, Lily. Tonight, I set sail for home.

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“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll marry that comatose Adrian Blackwood.” Seraphina Hayes leaned against the doorframe of the Hayes family mansion, a mocking curl gracing her crimson lips. Victor Hayes’s cigar almost dropped onto the priceless Persian rug. He shot up from his leather armchair, the wrinkles around his eyes smoothing out. “Sera, have you finally come to your senses? That’s wonderful! The Blackwood family has been pressing, you need to be married and settled in Northwood within half a month. What style of wedding dress would you like? Your father will have one custom-made…” “That’s it?” Sera scoffed, a cold glint in her eyes. “I’m marrying into that family in place of your darling bastard daughter. Aren’t you going to offer something more?” The temperature in the living room plummeted. Victor’s face darkened. “What kind of talk is that? What bastard daughter? That’s your sister.” “A sister shares the same mother,” she chuckled, ice forming in her gaze. “She’s the product of your affair, and I’ll never acknowledge her.” A vein throbbed on Victor’s forehead, but he forcibly swallowed his anger before it could erupt. He took a deep breath, ash from his cigar fluttering down. “What do you want?” “Ten billion dollars.” Her red lips parted slightly. “And, after I’m married, transfer Caleb Miller to protect your precious illegitimate child.” Victor’s expression froze. He stared at his daughter as if she were insane. “Are you out of your mind? Ten billion will wipe out all my liquid assets! And Caleb Miller? Isn’t he your favorite bodyguard? You used to constantly demand to marry him. You’re getting married and you’re not taking him with you?!” “Just tell me if you agree or not.” Sera grew impatient, turning to leave. “Fine!” Victor slammed his hand on the table. “The day you leave for Northwood to get married, I’ll take care of both those things immediately.” He didn’t have the luxury of delving deeper, only wanting to finalize this matter. Years ago, Adrian Blackwood, the only son of the Blackwood family, was a rising star. Victor had eagerly arranged an engagement between their families, intending to marry off his younger daughter, Willow, believing it would secure her a good future. Who would have known that an accident would leave Adrian in a coma? He couldn’t bear for Willow to suffer, which was why he eventually remembered that Sera was also his daughter… She waved a dismissive hand, her back still to him. Her high heels clicked sharply on the marble floor, a sound like a slap across someone’s face. Just as she gripped the doorknob, Victor’s voice echoed behind her again. “I can understand you wanting money, but weren’t you always so fond of Caleb Miller? How can you bear to give him to Willow?” Sera’s fingers stiffened. She didn’t turn around, but her eyes suddenly burned. That name was like a thorn, piercing the softest part of her heart. She pushed open the door forcefully, shutting Victor and his question behind her. It was late when she returned to her villa. Sera’s heels clicked on the stairs. As she passed Caleb Miller’s room, she heard a muffled gasp from inside. The door wasn’t fully closed. She glanced in, and her eyes landed on a scene that was terrifyingly clear— Caleb was propped against the headboard, his long fingers clutching a photo, his other hand working below his waist. His eyes were closed, a deep, sexy growl rumbling from his throat: “Willow… baby… so good…” It was a picture of Willow. Taken at her birthday party last year, she was in a white dress, smiling with that innocent sweetness. Sera’s nails dug deep crescent marks into the strap of her designer bag. Finally, she had the answer to Victor’s question. *Because he, like you, only loves Willow Hayes.* The answer churned in her, scorching her insides. Three years ago, she first saw Caleb on the day she was picking out bodyguards. Among a group of towering, burly men, her gaze landed on him immediately. The reason was simple: he was impossibly handsome. Six feet two, broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist, sharp features, and those dark eyes—cold as ice. Sera was a notorious wild child in their social circle, intending only to flirt with him for fun. But after three years— She’d pretend to be drunk and fall into his arms, only for him to casually grab her by the scruff of her neck, like a cat, and place her back on the sofa. She’d knock on his door late at night, wearing a slinky slip dress, only for him to wrap her entirely in his suit jacket and respectfully escort her back to her room. She even faked drowning in the pool. He jumped in to save her but didn’t even touch her waist. No matter how much she tried to flirt, he remained chaste and aloof, always addressing her politely as “Miss Sera.” Yet, despite herself, she fell for him. She didn’t know how her heart had become so entangled. Perhaps it was because, ever since her mother died, she had been so terribly lonely. When she was seven, Victor had an affair and brought home an illegitimate daughter. Her name was Willow Hayes, and she was only three months younger than Sera. It turned out, for ten years of marriage, he had been cheating for nine. That day, her supposedly happy and peaceful family shattered completely. At the time, Sera’s mother was nine months pregnant with Victor’s second child, due in just a few days. Sera’s mother loved Victor desperately. She screamed at him hysterically, crying until she almost fainted, which triggered early labor. Rushed to the hospital, she died before even reaching the operating room, taking her unborn child with her. From then on, Sera hated Victor, and she hated Willow. She moved out of the Hayes mansion, went to school alone, ate alone, and grew up alone. It wasn’t until her striking beauty attracted too many leering playboys in their circle that she decided she needed a bodyguard. Caleb Miller was her first. After that, she wasn’t alone anymore. Caleb was with her for everything. She went from admiring him, to flirting with him, to falling for him. But three years, over a thousand days and nights, and he hadn’t so much as flickered an eyelash for her. She thought he was naturally cold, until that day she caught him pleasuring himself with a photo of Willow. And then, she watched him, after he’d finished, pick up a call— “Mr. Miller, how long are you going to play this bodyguard game? You’re the scion of North City, you can have any woman you want! If you’re so smitten with Willow Hayes, why not just go after her? Why are you playing this pure game, working as a bodyguard for her sister just to be near her?” Caleb’s expression was indifferent. “I’ve checked; Willow is an illegitimate child. She’s had a tough life and lacks a sense of security. Pursuing her directly would scare her off. I want to take it slow.” “Right, how did the Miller family produce such a devoted romantic? I thought with Miss Sera flirting with you daily, you might be tempted. I’m telling you, she’s a notorious wild child in this city, the line of men who want her stretches from here to Paris…” Caleb seemed to smile, but his words sent her plummeting into an icy abyss. “Really? Not interested. She’s not even worth a single strand of Willow’s hair.” Every word was like a knife, stabbing deep into Sera’s heart! In that moment, she stopped loving Caleb Miller, too. She didn’t know how long it continued, but for some reason, Caleb hadn’t finished today. Seeing this, she smirked coldly, and violently pushed open the door— #### Chapter Two The moment Caleb Miller’s eyes lifted, Sera saw a bottomless darkness in them. Perhaps because he was naturally a man of power, his expression showed no ripple of emotion despite being caught in such a private act. He calmly tucked the photo under his pillow, his long fingers unhurriedly adjusting the startling bulge back into his trousers. In just a few seconds, he had reverted to his usual stoic and aloof demeanor, as if the unbridled man from moments ago had been a mere illusion. Sera couldn’t help but sneer slightly. “Putting it back unfinished? Aren’t you afraid of the frustration? Want me to help you out?” Caleb’s expression remained unchanged. He simply leaned back slightly, increasing the distance between them. “Miss Sera, do you need something?” He was always like this. He could be so aroused by a photo of Willow, yet when faced with her, he was like a chaste and reserved monk. Sera’s nails dug into her palm, recalling Willow’s bland, innocent face—even though her figure wasn’t as good as Sera’s, and her looks weren’t as striking, everyone fell for that innocent act. *It doesn’t matter. I, Seraphina Hayes, have beauty, money, and a figure to die for.* *From today on, anyone who doesn’t like me, I don’t want them.* “There’s an auction tomorrow. You’re coming with me.” She stated coolly, then turned to leave. Caleb frowned slightly. “I believe I requested two days off…” “I heard Willow Hayes will be there too,” she said without looking back. A moment of silence, then his deep voice responded, “Understood, Miss Sera.” Sera’s heart felt a pinprick. *Of course. Mention Willow, and he breaks all his rules.* *Don’t worry.* *Soon, she would personally deliver him to Willow’s side.* The next morning, Sera stepped out of the villa to find Caleb already waiting by the car. His black suit perfectly accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, the morning light casting a golden halo on his sharp profile. Usually, at times like this, she would deliberately flirt with him, perhaps feigning a twisted ankle to fall into his arms, or playfully breathing sweet nothings into his ear. But today, she simply got into the car with an impassive face, not even sparing him a glance. Caleb seemed a little surprised, giving her a prolonged look, but quickly averted his gaze and silently took the passenger seat. The car drove towards the auction house. Throughout the journey, Sera stared out the window, not making excuses to talk to him as she usually did. The silence in the car was so profound, they could hear each other’s breathing. The auction was held in the city center’s most prestigious hotel. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the hall as if it were daylight, filled with elegantly dressed dignitaries. As Sera entered, she immediately spotted Willow standing ahead. She was wearing a white dress, her long, straight black hair draped over her shoulders, laughing with a few socialites, exuding an air of pure innocence. Caleb’s eyes instantly changed. Although he was still behind Sera, performing his bodyguard duties, Sera could feel that his attention was entirely drawn to Willow. “Sister!” Willow spotted them and immediately rushed over, affectionately linking her arm through Sera’s. “What a coincidence, you’re here for the auction too?” Sera coldly pulled her arm away. “Don’t touch me.” Willow’s eyes instantly welled up, and she looked at Caleb with a wronged expression. “Caleb, I just wanted to be closer to my sister…” Caleb frowned slightly, looking at Sera with barely suppressed disgust. Willow seized the opportunity, tugging at Caleb’s sleeve. “Caleb, I heard that time I had a fever and wanted artisanal pastries, you went out in the pouring rain in the middle of the night to buy them and bring them to the Hayes mansion? It’s just that my fever was quite bad last time, and I’ve been recovering, so I haven’t had a chance to thank you.” Caleb’s stern features softened instantly. “Miss Willow, no need to be polite. It was just on my way.” *On his way?* Sera sneered. *He disappeared for five hours that day, came back soaked to the bone—and that was ‘on his way’?”* “Well, you still have to let me treat you to dinner!” Willow said sweetly. Caleb didn’t refuse this time. “As Miss Willow wishes.” “Then we’ll invite Sister along!” Willow looked at Sera, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, Sister, why do you look so tired? I’m the one who was sick…” Sera coldly cut her off. “Are we close? Daughter of a home-wrecker, mind your own business.” Willow’s face fell, and Caleb’s frown deepened further. Just then, the auctioneer announced the start of the auction, finally breaking the awkward conversation. Sera couldn’t be bothered with her anymore and took her seat. She was about to marry into the Blackwood family, and relying on Victor to prepare her dowry was clearly unrealistic. She had to prepare these things herself, which was her true purpose for coming to this auction. As she settled down, the first item was presented. A pigeon’s blood ruby necklace, starting bid one million. She raised her paddle without hesitation. “Two million.” To her surprise, Willow also raised her paddle. “Three million.” Sera looked at Willow, who offered a slight smile. “Sister, I like this one too. You don’t mind letting me have it, do you? After all, Dad’s allowance for you isn’t as much as mine, I believe.” Sera sneered. *Not just ‘not as much’—it’s pathetic.* From childhood, Victor gave Willow five million a month, while Sera only received five hundred. If it weren’t for her mother’s inheritance, she might have starved to death. *But things are different now. I have ten billion.* “Four million.” Sera raised her paddle again. Willow was clearly stunned, but still gritted her teeth and increased her bid. “Four and a half million.” “Five million.” “Five and a half million.” After several rounds of bidding, Willow’s face grew increasingly ugly. “Sister, where did you get all this money? Aren’t you afraid you won’t be able to pay?” “Ten million!” Sera doubled the bid, then gave her a mocking smile. “I’m starting to think, who’s actually struggling to pay now?” Willow’s face flushed alternately red and pale as guests around them began to whisper. The auctioneer politely asked, “Miss Willow, do you wish to bid higher?” “Wait a moment.” Willow frantically pulled out her phone to text Victor. A moment later, her face grew even more distressed. She had clearly been rejected. Sera smirked at the sight. *He rejected her, obviously.* *He’d already given away ten billion; he wasn’t about to spend more just to save his precious daughter’s pride.* Just at this awkward moment, a man in a sharp suit suddenly appeared in the center of the hall, announcing loudly: “We’re sweeping the auction for Miss Willow!” #### Chapter Three The entire hall erupted in murmurs. “Sir, are you saying…” the auctioneer asked, astonished. The man explained, “I am Mr. Miller’s assistant. Mr. Miller has instructed that every item Miss Willow so much as glances at today is to be acquired by us, no matter the price.” The auction hall instantly exploded with chatter. “Mr. Miller? The sole heir of the Miller family? North City’s infamous scion?” “Doesn’t he usually keep to himself, completely uninterested in women? How could he do this for Miss Willow?” “Looks like Miss Willow is really climbing the social ladder…” The discussions rippled through the room. Willow’s face went from shock to delight, finally settling into undisguised triumph. “Excuse me, where is Mr. Miller? Can I thank him in person?” Willow asked, her face flushed. Marcus respectfully replied, “Mr. Miller is unable to make an appearance at the moment. When the time is right, he will naturally meet with you.” Only then did Willow turn to Sera, her eyes full of victorious joy. “Sister, are you still bidding?” The next second, she added, feigning innocence, “Oh, I almost forgot, Mr. Miller is sweeping the auction for me. If Sister keeps bidding, I’m afraid she’ll be ruined. After all, in this circle, who has more money than Mr. Miller?” Sera’s face instantly changed. She sharply looked at Caleb, only to see him gazing at Willow with doting affection, his eyes filled with tenderness. The rest of the auction was like a romantic drama. Any item Willow so much as looked at, Marcus immediately announced they were buying it. That ruby necklace, an antique ceramic set, even a Monet Water Lilies painting with a starting bid of eighty million—all went into Willow’s hands. Sera abruptly stood up, no longer able to hold back. She confronted Marcus: “Does your Mr. Miller intend to leave nothing for anyone else?” Marcus carefully glanced at Caleb, who gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Apologies, Miss Sera,” Marcus replied coldly. “These are all gifts from Mr. Miller to Miss Willow. He only wishes for Miss Willow to enjoy this auction. The feelings of others are not within his consideration.” Sera laughed, her nails digging deeply into her palms. She looked at Caleb, whose gaze, however, remained fixed on the triumphant Willow. *Caleb Miller, you’re something else. You really are!* As the auction ended, Willow was surrounded by a crowd of socialites and wealthy ladies, receiving compliments like a queen. Sera couldn’t bear the hypocritical scene and quickly left the venue. Once in the car, she told James, “To the Night Owl Club.” She needed alcohol to numb herself. But before the car door could close, Willow squeezed in. “Sister, are you going to the club? I’ve been so bored lately, take me with you!” Sera was about to kick her out, but Caleb subtly held the car door, directly telling James, “Drive.” All the way, Willow excitedly chattered about the day’s auction. “Caleb, why do you think Mr. Miller is so good to me? We’ve never even met!” Caleb’s voice was incredibly gentle. “Because he likes you.” Willow’s eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushing. “Caleb, don’t joke!” “A man knows a man best,” he said, looking intently at Willow. “Where there’s money, there’s love. Besides… Miss Willow is so wonderful, it’s no wonder he fell for you.” “Then… do you like me too, Caleb?” Willow suddenly asked. Caleb froze, about to speak, when Sera coldly cut him off. “If you two want to flirt, get out of my car! This is *my* car!” Willow’s eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, Sister, did I bother you? I won’t talk anymore.” Sera ignored her, turning to look out the window. Through the reflection, she clearly saw Caleb’s eyes filled with tenderness and pity for Willow, while his gaze towards her was cold and disgusted. She gave a self-deprecating laugh. *Looks like all men fall for the manipulative ones.*

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The day I found out I was pregnant, I, Willow, braved a heavy downpour to visit the private members’ club Liam Hayes frequented. Outside his private room, I wiped my soaking wet hair, planning to surprise him when he finished up. Through a slightly open crack in the door, I heard men’s voices, laced with laughter. “Liam, your wedding with Willow is just a week away. Are all the surprises for the wedding ready?” “All ready,” Liam’s cool voice, softened by alcohol, replied. “I’m going to give her a memory she’ll never forget.” My hand, wiping my hair, paused. A sweet smile unconsciously spread across my lips. In the three years I’d been with Liam, he’d truly doted on me, cherished me deeply, as if I were the most precious thing in his life. “Haha, bro, what if Willow finds out I’ve been impersonating you and playing her all this time? Will she just completely lose it?” “Haha, Willow probably can’t even imagine that Liam has an identical twin brother!” “Doesn’t she always act so high and mighty? If she knew she’d been played for three years by her boyfriend’s brother, I can’t imagine the look on her face.” The men’s malicious laughter froze me to the spot, my face turning deathly pale. I could barely believe my ears. My feet instinctively took a step forward, peering into the private room. The next second, I saw a man sitting next to Liam who looked exactly like him – from his appearance to his hairstyle, even the teardrop mole under his eye was identical! The man scoffed, leaning back lazily on the couch. “Who told her to mess with Blair? Blair is the love of my life, my brother’s precious darling. To punish Willow, to drag her down to hell at the peak of her happiness, my brother really went through a lot.” The friends, who usually greeted me warmly as “sister-in-law,” chimed in with teasing remarks. “Caleb, you’re the one who worked hard! You’ve been getting all the action these past few years!” “Hahaha, if I didn’t look different, I’d want a piece of that action too!” “Seriously, Willow’s face, her figure, tsk tsk. If she goes crazy after the wedding, why don’t you let us have some fun with her first?” “Liam came up with this plan for Blair, acted for three years, and still stayed faithful to Blair! What a real Prince Charming!” Liam Hayes, Caleb Hayes, Blair. My head buzzed. My blood felt like it was freezing, making it impossible to breathe. My body trembled uncontrollably. Tears streamed from my wide-open eyes, blurring my vision to a crimson haze. The happiness I thought I had found in love was a lie. It was a setup, orchestrated for Blair, my bully. I remembered countless nights, waking up from nightmares of Blair, with Liam holding me, soothing me, telling me not to be afraid. I remembered countless times, sharing my experiences of being bullied, with him comforting me over and over, taking me to see a therapist. I couldn’t believe it, wouldn’t believe it. I couldn’t understand how those moments of being loved, so vivid and real, could possibly be fake. The voices from the private room continued: “Blair’s coming back from abroad soon, Liam, and you won’t have to be constantly flying out of the country anymore. Don’t you ever get tired of flying every week?” “Three years of role-playing, and I can finally be myself again! Every time my brother flew abroad, it was me who went to appease Willow…” “Your voices aren’t the same. She never noticed?” Caleb scoffed. “That idiot. I purposely lowered my voice and told her I had laryngitis. Every time, she doted on me, even getting up before dawn to bring me home remedies for my throat!” Another burst of loud laughter erupted. Liam interrupted. “Enough. After the wedding, I’ll give her a substantial compensation, enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.” “Liam, are you getting soft, are we?” My heart fluttered, and I instinctively held my breath, staring intently at the distinguished man. Two seconds later, he let out a cold laugh. “How could I?” “What about you, Caleb? After three years of sleeping with her, you didn’t catch feelings, did you?” Liam turned to look at Caleb, who shook his head abruptly. “Three years? I’m long tired of her. Bro, why don’t you take over?” Liam gave a cold smile. “She disgusts me.” “Alright, she practically begged for this wedding. Giving her money is just to ensure she doesn’t cling to me.” “Time is a bit tight; you guys help me get everything ready.” “In a week, after exposing the truth, I’m going to propose to Blair directly!” I don’t know how I managed to leave that private members’ club. Pelting rain lashed down, but I felt nothing. Only the conversation from that room echoed endlessly in my mind. Blair… Just hearing that name made my body tremble uncontrollably. I didn’t understand. She had already moved abroad; why couldn’t she just leave me alone? Why was she so fixated on utterly destroying me? It was just a “campus queen” title. Because my candid, untouched photo had somehow beaten Blair’s heavily Photoshopped competition entry, Blair had rallied a group of people to trap me in the bathroom, using every cruel trick to torment me, then forced my head into the toilet bowl. Because I refused to get down on my knees and beg for forgiveness, I lived a hellish life for the next three years. Ganging up on me, poking me with needles, putting thumbtacks in my shoes, turning the entire class against me, isolating and tormenting me, sabotaging my part-time jobs, spreading vicious rumors about me. She even arranged for several rich kids to pursue me. Once, I overheard her plotting to corrupt me with money, only to ruthlessly discard me later. Blair never succeeded. Even when she left to study abroad in my junior year, she hadn’t completely broken me. But by then, I was already suffering from severe depression and engaged in self-harm. Liam appeared at that time. He wasn’t like the other rich guys who pursued me, always eyeing me with a predatory gaze, as if I were a piece of merchandise, or who simply threw money at me. He had a sincere gaze, genuinely sought to understand my struggles, and listened to my needs. When he learned I had a Nana Rose who needed long-term medication, he never once judged me. Instead, he did everything he could within my comfort zone to improve my life. He even helped me find internships and part-time jobs, and he’d sit with me in convenience stores eating dinner between shifts, then gently stroking my hair. “Willow, you’ve worked so hard. You’re truly amazing.” Once, when Nana Rose fell ill while I was out of town, Liam was the one who helped take her to the hospital and stayed by her side, caring for her day and night. When I rushed back the next day, he looked utterly exhausted, yet he smiled and comforted me, “Nana Rose is fine, don’t worry. Don’t push yourself too hard.” At that moment, a voice in my heart told me: “He’s the one. Try to trust him, and cherish the present, no matter the outcome.” Later, he truly remained good to me, even bravely stood up to his family to be with me. Liam’s brother Caleb’s sneering laughter echoed in my mind again: “So stupid. How could the Hayes family possibly allow an orphan girl like her to marry into their family? It’s nothing more than hiring a couple of actors to put on a show. My brother just had to ‘defy’ his family for her, and she was completely devoted.” “So stupid, didn’t notice anything was off for three years.” “So stupid, still thinking Liam is madly in love with her.” “So stupid, so stupid, so stupid…” I stumbled and fell in the rain, tears mixing with the downpour. So stupid… Willow, you really are… so stupid. I suddenly looked up and laughed like a madwoman, letting the torrential rain mercilessly lash my face. My phone rang abruptly. It was Nana Rose’s caregiver. “Willow, hurry! Nana Rose is fading fast!” My head buzzed. My mind instantly went blank, my limbs weak. I scrambled to my feet on instinct, rushing to the roadside to hail a cab. But every car that passed by just flashed their lights, honked, and sped away. Just as I was about to run to the hospital, an SUV pulled up. The rugged man inside asked my destination. Without a second thought for my safety, I quickly got in. By the time I arrived at the hospital, the doctor had already given a critical condition notice. “Her breathing was failing; resuscitation was pointless. Just spend some time with her.” I dropped to my knees, grasping Nana Rose’s hand, which trembled in mine. Nana Rose smiled weakly. “Willow… don’t cry… I’m sorry, Nana Rose couldn’t hold on until your wedding…” I shook my head vigorously, unable to speak, unable to control my heartbroken sobs. Nana Rose’s gaze weakly searched around. “Where’s Liam…? Nana Rose wants to see him…” “Okay.” My voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. I pulled out my phone, dialing Liam’s number again and again. The calls were repeatedly hung up. I quickly sent a message. **Liam, Nana Rose’s heart is failing, she can’t hold on much longer. Please come to the hospital; she wants to see you one last time.** **Liam, Nana Rose is waiting for you, just one visit. Can you come?** **Liam Hayes, please…** My trembling hands furiously typed on the keyboard. Tears streamed from my bloodshot eyes, splattering onto the phone screen. At this moment, the lies and deceit didn’t matter. If only Liam could come, if only Nana Rose could pass peacefully, nothing else mattered. But Liam remained silent. I stopped, forced a strained smile, and squeezed Nana Rose’s hand, trying to comfort her. “Nana Rose, Liam must be tied up with something. Don’t worry, we’re very much in love, and we’re getting married next week.” “Nana Rose, I’ll be very happy… Please don’t worry…” The hand gripping mine squeezed back fiercely. Nana Rose stared intently at me. “Willow… live well… be happy…” Her hand went limp. The last look in her eyes was filled with worry… I stared blankly at my palm, then collapsed to my knees, crying hysterically. That night, I numbly followed the procedures for Nana Rose’s funeral arrangements, and still, I never received a reply from Liam. During a waiting period, I unblocked Blair’s SnapChat from my blacklist and clicked into her feed. **[Originally planned to surprise him by coming back early, but I was the one who got surprised!]** The accompanying picture showed an airport background. Liam, dressed in a mascot costume, held a bouquet of flowers, his sweaty face smiling, his eyes gentle. Another photo showed the two of them together. She was smiling sweetly, and Liam looked at her from the side, his gaze tender. I gave a bitter laugh and turned off my phone. The next day at noon, I returned to the hospital with Nana Rose’s urn and did two things. First, I scheduled an abortion for three days later. Second, I submitted an application form for Doctors Without Borders. Dr. Evans looked at me in surprise. “Aren’t you getting married soon?” I was silent for a moment. “Not anymore. Dr. Evans, I need to leave, the sooner the better!” Seeing my bloodshot eyes and urgency, Dr. Evans said nothing more. “You’ve just made the application deadline. Take these few days off to prepare.” “We’ll meet at the hospital to depart in a week.” “Okay.” A week later, it would be the exact date of my wedding with Liam. Not only would I be leaving that day, but I’d also be sending them a grand gift, one they’d never forget. Considering the dangerous location I was heading to, I decided to bury Nana Rose. I bought an urn pendant, placed a strand of Nana Rose’s hair and a pinch of her ashes inside, and buried the rest in the cemetery. I knelt before the tombstone, clutching the pendant at my chest. “Nana Rose, please don’t worry. I’m about to do what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ll take good care of myself.” I returned to the villa in the evening. The moment I stepped inside, I heard laughter and cheerful voices. I froze, and Liam immediately noticed me. He quickly came forward and led me inside. “Come, let me introduce you to some friends.” A man and a woman on the sofa stood up, turning to look at me, their eyes sparkling with amusement. It was Blair and Caleb. My body trembled uncontrollably. This was my physiological reaction to facing Blair. Liam’s voice was laced with a smile. “Blair is my childhood friend, and Caleb is my twin brother. They just returned from studying abroad and made it just in time for our wedding.” Blair waved at me, smiling sweetly. “Willow and I know each other; we were college roommates.” Saying this, she rushed forward, took my arm, and whispered in my ear, “Right, Willow?” Countless images flashed before my eyes. Every time Blair bullied me, she would whisper in my ear, “Just a roommate’s joke, right, Willow?” I instinctively flinched and pushed Blair away. Blair sat on the floor, looking utterly wronged. “Willow, do you still dislike me? I just want to get along with you.” Both men’s expressions changed. Liam quickly rushed over to help Blair up, his gaze dark. Caleb frowned in displeasure. “Bro, your fiancée has quite a temper. She’s not even a Hayes yet, and she’s already this arrogant?” Liam shielded Blair behind him, his tone furious and cold. “Willow, apologize!” I looked at the three of them, my hands at my sides clenching silently. Thinking of what I’d overheard last night, my heart felt like it was being brutally ripped open. I silently turned, preparing to leave. After only two steps, my wrist was suddenly grabbed. The immense force pulled me, making me stumble. I looked up, meeting Liam Hayes’s eyes, swirling with rage. “Who said you could leave?” Caleb’s tone was cold. “The Hayes family is a prestigious one; we value manners above all else. Bro, your fiancée needs to be properly disciplined.” “You’re right.” Liam’s eyes were ice-cold. “Willow, you’re about to become a Hayes. You must be careful with your words and actions, and always restrain yourself.” “Reflect on what happened today.” With that, he forcibly dragged me to the basement, pushing me into one of the rooms. Before I could react, he slammed the door shut. No light penetrated the perfectly sealed door. It was then I realized this was a windowless, dark room. In the pure darkness, my breathing grew shallow, and I started frantically pounding on the door. But no matter how much I yelled, there was no response from outside. I sank into endless terror. In college, Blair had locked me in a dark room for three days. No sound, no light; the passage of time felt excruciatingly long. That time, I had a mental breakdown. Since then, I’ve been terrified of darkness and developed claustrophobia. For years, I had to leave all the lights on every night, even when sleeping. Liam had initially struggled to adapt, tossing and turning, waking easily. But after hearing about my past, he held me tenderly, saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay. From now on, we’ll sleep with the lights on. Don’t be afraid.” Every time I suggested trying to turn off the lights, he’d refuse. “Willow, you don’t have to force yourself to do anything. I can adapt.” He knew. They… they all knew. Yet they still chose to punish me this way, simply because I pushed Blair. My heart ached dully. I curled up in the corner, holding my trembling body tightly. Yes, their past kindness was fake, deliberately performed. Even this dark room, I suspected, was specifically designed for me. Two days later, Liam came to open the door, a pleased smile on his lips. “Blair isn’t mad at you anymore about the other day. Get ready; we’re going to try on wedding dresses and rings.” I was taken to the bridal shop. As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Blair and Caleb already waiting inside. Blair enthusiastically greeted me. “Willow, you’re here! I didn’t get to congratulate you last time. Liam and I are the best of friends, so let me help you pick out your wedding dress today!” A smile was plastered on her face, waiting for me to lose my composure. But I didn’t show the slightest hint of fear or disgust. Instead, I smiled and said, “Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” Blair’s face darkened for a fleeting moment, then she put on a bright smile again. She hooked an arm around Liam and Caleb, giving them a meaningful look. “Then I’ll try them on with you. Willow, I’ll be a bride soon too.” I smiled faintly. “Congratulations.” The light in Blair’s eyes completely dimmed. Next, Blair would call over a staff member and try on any wedding dress I lingered on for more than a second. Each time she emerged, she’d pull Liam’s hand. “Liam, what do you think? Do I look good?” And Liam would always be captivated, praising her without reservation. Caleb also hovered around Blair; the two of them completely ignored me. The staff members looked on enviously. “This bride is so lucky…” Blair let out a theatrical “Oh dear!” and turned to look at me, standing by the side like an outcast. “I’m sorry, Willow, you’re the bride, you should be trying them on first.” She then playfully punched Liam’s chest. “Liam, what’s wrong with you? How can you leave your own bride standing around?” The staff members looked awkward, and Caleb’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Only then did Liam look at me. “Do you like anything?” I casually picked a dress and went in to try it on. When I came out, all three of them were gone. A staff member looked sympathetic. “Madam, Miss Blair said she was going to pick out rings, and both gentlemen went with her. As for you…” “It’s fine.” I took off the wedding dress and handed it back, then left directly. Soon, Blair posted an update on SnapChat, with a picture of a diamond ring embedded with multiple gems: **[The diamond ring Liam had bid on at that exclusive auction.]** I only glanced at it before turning off my phone and continued packing. Besides the clothes and toiletries I intended to take with me, I gathered all my remaining belongings, including gifts I had once given Liam, and disposed of them. Any gifts Liam had given me, I left untouched. Just as I finished packing my suitcase and put it in the closet, Liam walked in, carrying a blue velvet box. “This is the ring I bought for you at the auction.” I recognized it—it was the complimentary gift from Blair’s SnapChat post. I calmly took it and placed it aside. My overly cold reaction made Liam frown. His gaze shifted, and he noticed the couple’s mugs in the trash can that I used to cherish so much. A flicker of unease inexplicably crossed his mind. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why did you throw away the mugs? Are you mad?” I pressed my lips together. “No.” Liam, however, became convinced. “Is it because of the wedding dress fitting? Blair is just my good friend. It’s been years since we last saw each other, so I paid a bit more attention to her.” He reached out and put his arm around me. “There’s no need to be jealous of her. If Blair and I had anything going on, we would have been together a long time ago, wouldn’t we? Willow, you’re my bride. Don’t you understand how I feel about you?” Hearing those words, my heart felt like it was violently squeezed, a sharp pain piercing through me. My eyes were slightly red. Liam, seeing this, stroked my hair. “I’m sorry, Willow, for making you feel wronged.” At his words, my fingertips trembled, then clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. In that instant, I was tempted to confront him, to distinguish his sincerity from his deceit, to know if there was even a shred of genuine feeling in him these past three years. But the words died in my throat, swallowed back. Liam’s phone rang. He quickly answered, “Blair… I’ll be right there…” After hanging up, he ruffled my hair. “I have something to do. Get some rest early. You’ll be the most beautiful bride in a week.” With that, he quickly turned and left. I sat on the bed, holding back the tears in my eyes. Two hours later, after washing up, I lay in bed, ready to sleep. In a hazy state, the bedroom door suddenly twisted open. Liam, who was supposed to be at the bar partying with Blair, walked in. He reeked of alcohol, casually ripped open his shirt, and pulled back my covers, then came down on top of me. The moment our skin touched, my sleepiness vanished instantly. I was terrifyingly awake, realizing— The person on top of me was Caleb. My body instantly stiffened, my face turning deathly pale. I used all my strength to push him away, shrinking back against the headboard. Caleb frowned at me for two seconds, then raised an eyebrow. “Still mad?” He rubbed his temples. His demeanor was identical to Liam’s, and his voice, soaked in alcohol, was no different. If I hadn’t overheard Liam say he stayed faithful to Blair, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them apart. He leaned in again, his hands propped behind me, our noses almost touching. “I already explained today. If I had feelings for her, I wouldn’t be marrying you.” Caleb was about to kiss me. My eyes widened. I abruptly turned my head away and gagged. My eyes were red from retching, but I couldn’t stop. I pushed the man away and rushed to the bathroom. Caleb watched my retreating back, his brow slightly furrowed, his eyes flickering. Inside the bathroom, I slid down the wall, crouching on the floor. Outside the door, Caleb’s voice suddenly rang out. “Did you guys hear that? She’s gagging. Could she be pregnant?” Then came a startled clamor, and one of his friends shouted, “Caleb, don’t take it too far! What if she gets pregnant and then clings to you when the truth comes out?” My spine instantly stiffened, my limbs turning cold. I realized Caleb’s phone had been on speaker the whole time. Blair’s voice immediately followed. “Liam, Caleb, you two are going too far…” “Too far?” Liam’s voice was icy. “She’s targeted you for so long. This is the punishment she deserves.” Blair worried, “What if Willow really is pregnant?” After a moment of silence, both men spoke in unison: “Impossible!” On the other end of the phone, Liam’s voice sounded exceptionally cruel. “Even if she is, we’ll take care of it. Caleb, wouldn’t you agree?” Caleb’s Adam’s apple bobbed twice. “Y-yes, of course.” Somehow, his heart clenched for a split second. The next second, he saw me open the door, my face deathly pale, staring at him. His heart skipped a beat. He quickly ended the call and stepped forward. “What’s wrong, Willow? Why do you look so bad? Are you feeling unwell somewhere? You’re not… pregnant, are you?” I stared at him, forcing a weak smile. “No, my stomach ache just flared up.”

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