Category: English

Damien Blackwood had a trophy girlfriend, and Elara Vance simply pretended not to notice. While he showered his mistress with jewels and exotic gifts, Elara was outside, holding their daughter, Lily, watching the stars. When he celebrated his mistress’s birthday with a drone show that lit up the entire city, Elara and Lily were on vacation in Zurich. And when he brought his mistress to the office to fool around, Elara watched the surveillance feed, her face a mask of indifference as she switched it off. Until, one day, the mistress, Brittany Wells, in a fit of jealousy, kidnapped Lily. Both fell from a cliff, landing in the hospital. Elara rushed there, only to hear the doctor informing Damien, “The blood bank is critically low. We can only save one: the child or the adult.” Damien hesitated. Under Elara’s piercing gaze, he finally said, “Save the child.” Elara watched, her gaze unblinking, as he signed the form. His pen trembled, hovering for an agonizing thirty seconds before finally, painstakingly, writing their daughter’s name. A wave of relief washed over me. Then, I turned to Damien, the man I had loved for ten years. “Damien, what about your promise to me?!” I demanded, my voice raw with fury. I had pursued him for a decade. If he so much as mumbled about not eating enough dinner, I’d scour the entire city to find his favorite comfort food. When he was injured and bleeding after a race, I nearly drained my own veins to donate blood to him. But no matter how much I gave, he only ever found me annoying. It wasn’t until the Blackwood Group faced a financial crisis that he begrudgingly agreed to marry me to save his company. That day, I went to him, ecstatic, only to be met with his cold words: “High-society marriages are always about mutual benefit, Elara. I can never give you genuine affection, so just forget about it.” On the eve of our wedding, I was forced to sign a contract. We became a contractual couple. We would fulfill all marital obligations and enjoy all marital rights—*except* for the clause of mutual fidelity. The only condition was that no matter how wild he got outside, it couldn’t affect our family. For years, we stuck to this rule perfectly. Even as Damien went through mistress after mistress, I never once questioned him. But I would never, ever tolerate him harming our daughter. “I’m sorry, I didn’t expect Brittany to be so extreme. She saw our family photos today, and in a moment of panic, she just snapped…” Damien tried to explain. My palms were clenched so tight my knuckles were white. Finally, I managed to say, “If you can’t control your women, I will. And when that happens, don’t expect any mercy from me.” Damien grunted, acknowledging my words, then stood and walked to the corridor to smoke. For years, we had been like this: a perfect couple on the surface, but in reality, complete strangers. Two hours later, the doctor emerged from the operating room, his face etched with regret. “We saved the child, but she suffered severe brain trauma and is now in a vegetative state. Ms. Brittany Wells was slightly luckier; she’s already awake.” … I stumbled, disoriented, into Lily’s hospital room. My eyes immediately found my daughter’s pale, fragile face. I turned back, but Damien was gone, probably to Brittany’s room. Fighting back tears, I gently wiped Lily’s face. From the open door of the room, I heard two young nurses whispering. “I just passed the stairwell, and I saw Mr. Blackwood talking to the doctor, telling him to save the adult, not the child.” “No way? Who would do that to their own daughter?” “Why would I lie? I saw them re-sign the consent forms with my own eyes!” My heart turned colder than ice. I closed my eyes, two streams of tears silently tracing paths down my cheeks. A towering wave of resentment for Damien rose inside me. That very night, I called Blackwood Manor. My personal assistant, Liam, answered. “Find the marriage contract Damien and I signed years ago. Take a picture and send it to me. And remember, don’t alarm anyone.” … Fifteen minutes later, my phone pinged. I opened the image in the chat. Clearly visible were the words: “Any party violating this contract must unconditionally agree to divorce and forfeit all marital assets, relinquishing all claims to property.” Save. File away. I sent copies to my lawyer friend and a contact at the County Clerk’s office. Replies came swiftly. 【This contract remains valid indefinitely.】 【The County Clerk’s office has an opening tomorrow; you can apply for a divorce anytime.】 I stared at the lines of text. Just as I was about to tap ‘delete,’ a deep, resonant male voice cut through the silence. “Elara, why aren’t you asleep yet?” My heart jumped, and I instinctively snapped my phone shut. Damien walked towards me, his gaze falling on Lily’s face. He sighed. “Though Brittany was in the wrong here, I’ve had the doctors give Lily their full attention, and the blood bank prioritized her. It’s just a shame she’s so small, her body couldn’t keep up…” I remained silent, watching him with a mocking gaze. Damien frowned, clearly uncomfortable with my look. He mumbled an excuse and left. I knew he was going to Brittany. But I hadn’t cared before, and I cared even less now. Over the next few days, when I wasn’t at the hospital with Lily, I quietly returned to Blackwood Manor to clear out my things. On the first day of Lily’s hospitalization, Damien spent the entire day in Brittany’s room. I went back to Blackwood Manor and burned every photo and memento of Damien and me. On the second day, Damien came to sit with Lily for an hour, only to be called away by a phone call from Brittany. I went back to Blackwood Manor and took the half-finished sweater I was knitting for Damien, savagely cut it to shreds, and threw it in the trash. On the third day, Damien came to visit Lily, bringing Brittany with him. I watched on surveillance as they passionately kissed and got intimate right beside Lily’s hospital bed. I returned to Blackwood Manor and photographed all of Damien’s business secrets, saving them to a private folder on my phone. On the fifth day, Lily was discharged. Damien brought Brittany back to Blackwood Manor. “Elara, Brittany is injured, so fragile and helpless right now; she can’t take care of herself without me.” I looked at him, my heart aching. “Damien, have you forgotten our agreement?” No matter how many women he fooled around with, he wasn’t allowed to bring them home. That was my absolute boundary. Damien had always respected that boundary. But this time, he shook his head, a hint of annoyance in his voice. “Elara, Brittany truly needs care. Just be understanding. She won’t bother you.” He paused, then added, “I promise, no matter what Brittany and I do, it won’t affect your status.” … “And if I don’t agree?” I challenged. “I can’t live under the same roof as your mistress.” Damien’s patience snapped. “If you don’t want to live here, no one’s forcing you. You know perfectly well why we got married in the first place, so stop acting like I owe you anything!” He shoved me, then slammed the front door shut. Through the crack in the door, I caught Brittany’s triumphant smirk aimed directly at me. That night, a furious storm raged outside. I stood alone in the courtyard, drenched, with nowhere to shelter. I saw the lights on the second floor, the curtains in the master bedroom wide open, revealing the heated scene within. On the massive bed, Damien and Brittany were getting intimate, naked and pressed together. Once, twice, three times… As I watched their bodies intertwine and Damien’s gentle, tender movements with her, a relentless, agonizing ache ripped through my heart. Damien and I were intimate maybe once a month, and each time he was impatient and rough, as if merely going through the motions. Pinned beneath him, his hand gripping my throat, I’d struggle to gasp out, “Damien, if you don’t want this, no one’s forcing you…” I never understood why Damien hated me yet still wanted to sleep with me. He never answered, just continued his relentless thrusts, round after round… Over time, I gave up, even trying to convince myself that this was just how Damien was. But watching him with Brittany, I finally understood: there are no cold and distant men in the world. There are only men whose warmth isn’t meant for you. Drenched by the rain, I developed a fever that lasted three days. The moment I recovered, Damien dragged me to the Serenity Summit Resort in B-City for a banquet. At the entrance, I saw Brittany, wearing the haute couture gown I had asked Damien for multiple times, to no avail. Our eyes met, a clash of sparks in the air. “Mr. Blackwood, Mrs. Blackwood, the Serenity Summit Resort upholds traditional etiquette. Gentlemen are only permitted to bring their lawful wives inside. If you wish to bring an escort, she must perform a traditional bow of deference before entering.” Brittany pouted, throwing herself into Damien’s arms. “Damien! I refuse to bow to anyone! And I don’t want to be your mistress, hmph!” I couldn’t help myself. “You already are one, so why pretend otherwise?” Brittany’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. “Damien…” Damien hesitated for only a second before turning to the server. “Brittany Wells is my wife.” I froze, stunned, staring at Damien in disbelief. “Damien…” “Just listen,” Damien murmured. “Brittany is young and sensitive. How can she be expected to kneel before others?” Did that mean *I* could be expected to do it? Seeing my face turn ashen, Damien, unusually patient, tried to coax me. “You’ve always wanted that Peninsula Estate, haven’t you? I promise, I’ll buy it for you the moment we get back, as long as you agree to enter as an escort.” At this, the crowd began to murmur. “I thought Mr. Blackwood’s wife was the heiress from *that* prominent family? When did he get a new one?” “Exactly. The Blackwood Group faced a crisis back then, and he only got through it by marrying into that wealthy family. Now he’s completely turned his back on her, even bringing his mistress here.” “Tsk, tsk, tsk. I’d say that mistress looks more like the real Mrs. Blackwood. That poor heiress must be devastated.” My face went ashen. I had never felt such profound humiliation. I took a deep breath, then pulled out my marriage certificate with Damien. … Brittany was forced to her knees, serving Damien and me throughout the meal. Her small face was a picture of misery, tears clinging to her eyelashes, heartbreaking to behold. I remained expressionless, but Damien’s heart visibly ached for her. Suppressing his rage, he snarled, “Elara Vance, are you satisfied? Is this the humiliation you wanted to inflict on Brittany?” I bit my lip. “We willingly signed the marriage certificate years ago. I didn’t force you. I’ll use it whenever I see fit.” Halfway through the meal, Damien suddenly kicked the table over, scooped Brittany into his arms, and stormed out. The gazes of pity and sympathy from the other guests threatened to drown me. My face went pale, and I lost all appetite. I quickly excused myself. Stepping out of the hotel, the world around me abruptly went black. … When I next opened my eyes, I was bound in a cold, damp basement parking garage. My legs were tied, forcing me into a kneeling position on the concrete floor. Several masked men in black were taking photos of me from every angle. “What are you doing?!” I cried out, terrified. “Let me go! I’m Mrs. Blackwood of Blackwood Group! If my husband finds out, he’ll never let you get away with this!” The masked men were completely unfazed, their eyes full of mockery. Just then, Damien’s call came through. “Do you understand what you did wrong?” I froze. “What?” On the other end, Damien’s voice was devoid of warmth. “I told you, as my contractual wife, you need to be obedient. You used tricks to make Brittany kneel today, so I will punish you a thousandfold.” “Brittany knelt for ten minutes, so you’ll kneel for ten hours in the basement parking garage.” I felt as if I’d been plunged into an ice bath, my heart plummeting into a terrifying, empty freefall. I choked back tears, about to speak, when a syrupy, feigned-innocent female voice cooed, “Damien, darling, won’t ten hours be too long? My knees were all bruised after just ten minutes.” “What? Your knees are bruised? Let me see…” Damien’s voice hardened. “Elara Vance is utterly despicable! I’ll have them break her kneecaps!” The next second, I heard the unmistakable sounds of intimate kissing, mixed with the rustle of a condom wrapper being torn open. Then, a searing pain shot through my knee. My kneecap was brutally shattered. The next morning, Damien came to the garage entrance to pick me up. When he saw me, a smug, knowing smile played on his lips. “Spent all night reflecting, have we? Now you know where you went wrong, don’t you?” My face was devoid of color. I nodded, expressionless. “I know where I went wrong.” “Good.” Damien nodded in satisfaction. On the way back, as I stared at the back of Damien’s head, all the deep affection I once held for him had vanished, replaced by a terrifying, dead calm. In those ten agonizing hours, I finally understood my mistakes. Knowing Damien didn’t love me, yet stubbornly pursuing him – that was my first mistake. Knowing he married me for his own gain, yet still flying into his flame like a moth – that was my second. And even knowing he loved someone else, still being unable to let him go – that was my third. Now, I would rectify every single one of my mistakes. I would leave him, completely, physically and mentally. Five days left. … We drove all the way to the luxurious Peninsula Estate. Damien was pleased with my repentant attitude and immediately handed me the villa keys. “My promise to you, here you go.” Seeing my slightly dazed expression, Damien’s lips curved upward. “I told you, as long as you’re obedient, I won’t shortchange you, and Brittany won’t threaten your status.” “Once I’m done with her, I’ll come back and we can live together properly, but you need to be obedient.” I smiled, a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. I stepped into the villa. It was large, spacious, luxurious, and beautifully decorated. It would have been perfect, if not for Brittany Wells sitting on the plush leather sofa. “What is she doing here?” I asked, my voice dangerously cold. Damien looked somewhat surprised, his brow furrowing slightly. Brittany nervously stood up. “Damien, darling, I heard *she* was coming today, so I came especially to welcome her. I even brought a housewarming gift…” Damien’s heart softened instantly. He turned to me. “Brittany meant well, Elara. Don’t be mad at her.” “I’ve invited some friends over for dinner at the villa tonight. Brittany will join us. Elara, as the lady of the house, you need to act like it. Don’t always get hung up on trivialities.” Only now did he remember I was the lady of the house? I smiled, a pale, bitter smile. I shook my head, saying nothing. During dinner, Brittany subtly moved to sit beside me. Her knee-length dress strategically revealed a glimpse of her leg. “Damien knew my knees were bruised from kneeling. He personally applied ointment and massaged them until he was satisfied. He said if I have even the tiniest scratch, it pains him deeply. Has he ever said that to *you*?” Brittany’s triumphant gaze landed on my knees. “Oh, I forgot. He must never have said that to *you*, otherwise, why would he shatter your kneecaps?” Brittany smiled, utterly provocative. I had already given up on Damien, but hearing her words still stirred a ripple of emotion within me. “You…” I began, but then I saw a strange, cunning glint flicker in Brittany’s eyes. She swiftly grabbed the glass of water from the table and splashed it onto her own face. “Ah! What are you doing, Elara?! I was just kindly asking if your knees had healed! Why did you throw water on me!” Brittany wailed, throwing herself into Damien’s arms, crying dramatically, like a heartbroken damsel. I gaped, “I didn’t…” The next second, Damien delivered a sharp, stinging slap across my face, sending me sprawling to the floor. “Elara Vance, this is what you call knowing your mistake?!” Damien snarled, his teeth clenched. “I see you’re completely unrepentant, always pushing your luck, taking advantage of your past contributions to the Blackwood family, and trying to bully Brittany!” “I will not be lenient with you this time!” With that, I was shoved into a pool easily ten feet deep. The icy water choked my nose, and I gasped for air, thrashing wildly in the water, close to suffocating. Damien, holding Brittany close, stood on the edge, casually watching the scene. “You threw water on Brittany’s face, so I’ll make sure you drink your fill of it, Elara Vance. I told you, you must pay for your actions.” My ears buzzed, and I could barely make out what they were saying. I felt such profound regret. Such deep regret. Why had I insisted on being with someone who didn’t love me at all? Now, I was reduced to this utterly wretched state. Loving him had been a mistake from the very beginning. I don’t know how much time passed. On the brink of death, I was finally hauled out by a bodyguard. Night had fallen. After coughing up all the water from my lungs, I staggered upstairs. From the master bedroom, I heard wanton, suggestive laughter. “Damien, darling, this is your *new home* with *her*. Are you sure *she* won’t mind you sleeping with me in her bed?” “Don’t worry about her. I told you before, every bed in every one of my houses must carry your scent.” “Oh, you’re naughty~” The sounds of their escalating intimacy filled the bedroom again. My heart turned to ice, utterly desolate. I sank to the floor beside the wall and dialed a number. “Liam, do you have any available slots at the County Clerk’s office tomorrow? I can’t take this anymore; can we expedite the divorce…?” Silent tears streamed down my face, my throat tight with suppressed sobs. “There are no slots tomorrow, but there’s an opening in three days. We can fast-track your application then.” Liam’s voice was filled with concern, having detected the distress in my voice. “Good. Three days it is.” I hung up the phone, collapsing to the floor as if all strength had drained from my limbs. I had never felt so utterly exhausted. I truly had been wrong, unbelievably wrong. Believing that genuine affection would be returned in kind was the biggest lie in the world. I leaned weakly against the wall, drifting in and out of consciousness, when a startled cry suddenly erupted from the master bedroom, followed by the door being kicked open. “Elara Vance, why was there a needle in Brittany’s pajamas?! Did you secretly put it there?!” Damien’s eyes were blazing, as if he wanted to devour me. Behind him, Brittany’s small face was pale with feigned panic. There were clear hickeys on her neck, and she was wearing *my* pajamas. My face instantly hardened. “Who gave you permission to wear my pajamas?!” “Oh, so you *do* know these are your pajamas, Elara Vance! You deliberately tried to harm Brittany! How utterly vicious you are!” Damien looked at me as if I were some venomous witch. I was shocked and enraged, yet a bitter laugh escaped me. “I deliberately harmed her? Are you saying I forced her to wear my pajamas? You two want to experiment, you want to spice things up, you cheat and even wear my pajamas, and now you have the gall to blame me?! Have you no shame?!” I finished in one breath, feeling a strange catharsis, mixed with an unprecedented sorrow. Damien’s face faltered slightly, realizing there was some truth to my words. Just then, Brittany cried out, “This is a new house, and there are hardly any clothes! I had no choice but to wear *her* pajamas! She must have guessed I would do this, so she deliberately planted the needle!” Damien’s face instantly darkened. “Elara Vance, I truly misjudged you!” “Guards!” I was shoved into a burlap sack. Inside, five rats, three snakes, and dozens of cockroaches squirmed. With Damien’s single command, the bodyguards brutally beat the sack. “Ah… Ah…” The screams emanating from the sack were no longer human. Damien finally looked satisfied. He kissed Brittany’s face. “There, darling. I avenged you. She pricked you with a needle, so I’ll let the vermin bite her.” Then, he looked at the sack, his voice cold. “Consider this a lesson. If you ever dare to lay a hand on Brittany again, it won won’t be this simple.” With that, he wrapped an arm around Brittany and walked away, not once looking back. When I was released from the sack the next day, I had already passed out. When the butler reported this, Damien was in Brittany’s room, applying ointment to the small needle pricks on her. “Passed out?” Damien’s face changed. He put down the ointment and started to leave. Brittany gritted her teeth, a flash of malice in her eyes, and followed him. I lay on the ground, covered in countless small, bloody bite marks. Damien’s expression was one of shock. He was about to speak when Brittany suddenly gasped. “Ouch, my needle wound from yesterday hurts so much…” Damien’s attention immediately turned to her. He quickly checked her wound. “Better, Brittany?” Brittany nodded, tears welling in her eyes. “She probably didn’t mean to stab me. She must just be upset that you’re so good to me. It’s okay, I won’t hold it against her.” Damien’s expression darkened. Any flicker of pity he had felt for me vanished completely. “She brought it on herself. If she’s passed out, so what? Throw cold water on her. If one bucket doesn’t wake her, use two. If two don’t, use three. If ten buckets don’t wake her, she’s faking it!” The butler nodded and began to douse me with water. One bucket… Two buckets… Three buckets… By the seventh bucket, I awoke, groggily opening my eyes, my head throbbing terribly. Damien sneered. “What, not faking it anymore? You were doing such a good job just now! I almost fell for it!” Brittany murmured, “She probably stopped faking it because she was afraid of being exposed.” I had never felt such rage. I almost forgot my sorrow; all I wanted now was to tear these two people limb from limb! I gathered my last vestiges of strength and stumbled to my feet, walking towards them, one step at a time. Damien looked at me impatiently, then suddenly froze. My gaze was utterly alien. It wasn’t the loving, tender look I used to give him. Now, when I looked at him, there was only a pool of still, dead water in my eyes. Damien suddenly felt a surge of panic. “Elara, listen to me…” I swayed suddenly. The world spun. And I collapsed to the ground again. I was rushed to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed me with severe internal and external injuries, a high fever, and immediately admitted me. “The patient’s condition is very unstable. She needs complete rest, and her emotions must not be stimulated further!” the doctor told Damien before leaving. For the next few days, Damien stayed glued to my bedside. Brittany came by a few times. Seeing Damien so distraught, she gritted her teeth and left. Damien watched over me for two days and two nights straight until a bodyguard called him, frantic. “Mr. Blackwood! It’s terrible! Ms. Wells has been kidnapped!” … By the time Damien rushed to the scene, Brittany had already been rescued by his bodyguards. She cried, throwing herself into his arms. “Damien, darling, I almost didn’t see you again… boo hoo hoo…”

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Mom gave us two choices. Go with her to the Donovan household, where we could attend the best high school with Mr. Donovan’s son, Caleb, but only get into a domestic university. Or stay in our hometown for school, and get to study abroad after high school graduation. My sister, Chloe, spoke first. “Mom, I want to go to the Donovan household with you.” Mom smiled, relieved, then turned to me. “Your sister should get the first pick. If I send her abroad later, then I’ll have fulfilled my duty as a mother.” Seeing Chloe’s expectant face as she clung to Mom’s arm, I knew. She had also been reborn. Too bad, Caleb would never, ever fall for her. “Anya, there’s a lot going on at the Donovans’, so Chloe and I are leaving today. Take good care of yourself at home, okay?” Mom finished packing and left with Chloe. It wasn’t like the last life at all, when she’d stayed an extra ten days just to convince Chloe to go with her to the Donovan household. In my last life, after Mom laid out the two choices, Chloe had also been quick to pick, but she chose to study abroad. After Mom and Dad divorced, I was put into my father’s custody. For ten whole years, Mom never once came to see me, yet I thought about her every single day. It wasn’t until Dad passed away and the authorities brought me to Mom’s place that I finally had her back. When Chloe chose to study abroad, my heart soared. I could finally live with Mom, day in and day out. But Mom wanted to take Chloe even more. She stayed at our house for ten days, constantly trying to persuade Chloe to go with her. Chloe, however, was convinced the grass was greener on the other side, and she never changed her mind, not even when the Donovans pressed Mom to return. And so, Mom and I went to the Donovan household, and that’s where I met Caleb. He was handsome, coolly distinguished, and brilliant in school. He was the dream guy in every girl’s heart. I couldn’t help but fall for him too. I knew we were worlds apart, and I could only bury that love deep in my heart. It wasn’t until after high school graduation, after a party, that Caleb, drunk, pinned me against a wall. “Anya, will you study abroad with me?” I forced myself to look away. “I don’t have the money.” Caleb laughed, and the whole basement seemed to light up. “I’ll pay for you.” In that moment, I finally knew. The boy I’d secretly loved for three years felt the same way about me. A tidal wave of happiness crashed over me. I excitedly told Mom that Caleb wanted to take me to study abroad. What I got in return was a stinging slap across my face. “You’re not going. When you chose to come with me to the Donovan household, you gave up the path of studying abroad. All the money I’ve saved is for Chloe’s overseas studies.” I covered my face and tried to explain. “Caleb said I wouldn’t have to pay; he’d cover my tuition.” Mom scoffed, looking at me with disgust. “How shameless. Trying to sleep your way into his bed for money. You really need to know your place. What is your status, and what is his? “Someone like Caleb would only toy with you; once he’s bored, I’d still be the one paying. “Don’t even think about studying abroad. If you dare disobey me, never call me Mom again. “And you’d better stay far away from Caleb, don’t mess up my job.” Perhaps it was the lifelong lack of maternal love, but losing Mom was my biggest fear. Lost and heartbroken, I rejected Caleb. But Caleb seriously told me. “Distance isn’t an issue; I have money for plane tickets.” After college, we started a long-distance relationship. He would fly back to see me every month, and the sweetness of our love filled me with hope for the future. When Mom found out we were actually dating, she secretly asked Caleb to look after Chloe, who was also studying in the same country. Caleb, unaware of our family situation, foolishly took care of Chloe as if he were her brother-in-law. Then, one day in my senior year, I received a message from Chloe, along with a photo. Chloe was bare-chested, hugging Caleb’s neck, lying on a hotel bed. [Sis, Caleb and I are together now. Stop bothering him.] Caleb and I had been in love for three years. I knew deep down he couldn’t betray me. My first thought was that Caleb had been set up. I angrily called Chloe. But I didn’t notice the oncoming truck. After my soul left my body, I overheard Mom and Chloe’s conversation. “It’s good your sister died. You need to quickly win Caleb’s heart. Soon, you’ll be the mistress of the Donovan household.” Chloe’s smile was triumphant. “Mom, you were so far-sighted, making Caleb look after me abroad. That’s how I got the chance to take that picture when he was drunk. “I originally just wanted Anya to give up, but who knew she’d actually die? It’s truly divine justice. “Once Caleb gets over his grief, I’ll go and offer myself to him.” I had always thought that even if Mom played favorites, she would still treat me like her daughter. I never imagined she wouldn’t even feel a touch of sadness at my death. Heartbroken, I floated to find Caleb. Only to discover Caleb had committed suicide in the bathtub, clutching my photograph. It was then I realized. Caleb’s love for me surpassed his own life. I went mad, using all my strength to trip Chloe as she walked downstairs. Watching Chloe fall to her death at the bottom of the stairs, her neck snapped. Only then did my soul dissipate. I never thought I would return to the day I chose my destiny. Except this time, Chloe chose to go to the Donovan household. She thought that as long as she went to the Donovans’, Caleb would fall for her. Too bad, she was wrong. Caleb would never fall for her. And I would make them pay for everything they did in the last life.

As soon as Mom and Chloe left, Aunt Brenda used the excuse of renovating her room to insist I move into the school dorms early. In the previous life, Mom worked as a housekeeper for the Donovans, so we stayed at Uncle Paul and Aunt Brenda’s house. She used to give Aunt Brenda a monthly allowance. Last life, after Mom and I went to the Donovan household, Mom even increased the allowance, asking them to take good care of Chloe. Chloe had a good life at Uncle Paul’s house. Now, it seemed Mom had stopped the allowance for Aunt Brenda. I didn’t argue. I packed my things and left. Before starting school, I had another place to go. After leaving Aunt Brenda’s house, I went to the bank. Every year on my birthday, Dad would deposit a small sum of money for me. Only I knew about that money. I withdrew the money and took a bus. Arriving at a secluded cemetery. The wind and rain were heavy that day. I huddled in my raincoat behind a tree, waiting. As dusk approached, sixteen-year-old Caleb rushed in through the rain. Several bodyguards followed close behind him. Caleb was drenched, his narrow eyes showing a cold intensity, but his steps were firm. He walked to a grave and frantically dug through the surrounding grass with his bare hands. “Young Mr. Donovan, it’s raining so hard. It must have been washed away. Let’s come back when the rain stops.” Caleb seemed not to hear them. Just as he was exhausted and despairing, I stepped out from behind the tree. “Excuse me, are you looking for this?” I pulled a necklace from my pocket. Caleb’s eyes lit up, and he quickly strode over. Seeing him soaked to the bone, I held my umbrella higher, shielding him from the rain. Caleb tremblingly picked up the necklace, his brows relaxing. “How did you get this?” In my last life, after Caleb and I got together, he once told me his biggest regret. It was losing the necklace he and his mother had made together, that summer when he was sixteen. So, I came to the cemetery. To help him find what he lost, and to meet him. I shrugged, smiling. “The rainwater just washed it down, so I picked it up. Then I saw you searching for so long, and I thought it might be yours.” “Thank you, this necklace means a lot to me. What reward do you want?” Caleb said thanks, but still looked like he was keeping everyone at arm’s length. I shivered and stammered. “Then… will you treat me to some instant noodles? I’m cold and hungry.” Caleb froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Okay!” Half an hour later, at my insistence, Caleb and I shared his first-ever cup of instant noodles. “I never knew instant noodles could taste so good.” When we were together before, instant noodles were his favorite. After we finished eating, Caleb asked for my contact information, saying he wanted to thank me properly. I smiled and refused. “If it’s meant to be, we’ll meet again.” The moment I turned away, I couldn’t stop my eyes from welling up. I wanted so badly to rush over and hug him, to tell him everything from our past life. To tell him I missed him so much it was driving me crazy. But that would definitely make him think I was insane. I didn’t leave my contact information because I knew his every move after high school. We would meet again. Caleb would think it was fate. Not a plan.

Finally, school started. High school classes were surprisingly easy. I began to plan my second meeting with Caleb. During the Fall break, I found a part-time job cleaning at an ice hockey rink. On the third morning, Caleb came to practice. I watched him secretly from the back. When he was almost done practicing, I spoke softly. “You should twist your wrist when you pass the puck.” Caleb turned sharply. I couldn’t see his eyes under his helmet, but I could feel his shock. “It’s you! You can spot my weakness?” How could I? He told me himself. I played dumb. “Just a little bit. Do we know each other?” Caleb took off his helmet, his eyes sparkling with surprised delight. I exaggeratedly widened my mouth. “It is you!” We had lunch together. “You’re underage, how are you working here?” “Shh! Don’t let my boss find out. I’m pretending to be older.” “Do you really need money that badly?” “My dad died in a car accident, and Mom took all the money and left with my sister. What else am I supposed to do?” Caleb was silent for a moment. “Later, will you help me practice hockey?” I hesitated. “I still have to sweep.” “Five thousand dollars an hour.” “Alright, Boss!” Caleb laughed again, nearly spitting out his food. After practice that afternoon, Caleb asked me out for dinner again. I was about to agree when I saw Chloe watching from outside the rink. “Let’s reschedule! I have to go now.” When he paid me, we exchanged contact information. After I got back to the hotel, Caleb sent a message. [Did you get home safe?] I couldn’t help but smile. But I only replied with a simple “Yep.”

After the break, I started preparing to sign up for the debate competition. In my last life, Caleb and I knew each other, but at school, he was in the advanced class and I was in the general studies track. At home, he lived on the top floor, and I lived in the basement. We were two people who were completely unlikely to cross paths. It was precisely because of a debate competition that Caleb noticed me. This time, I was going to shine even brighter in the debate competition. But when I had all my materials ready, I found out that my hometown high school had no intention of signing up. I was so furious, I grabbed my bedding and basically set up camp right outside the principal’s front door. The principal finally caved and agreed to help me assemble a team and sign up, but the fees would have to come out of my own pocket. Luckily, there were quite a few students at school who wanted to participate. We prepared and competed together, having a blast. Caleb would sometimes send me messages. Each time, I would stop what I was doing and read every single word several times over. Finally, with practiced patience, I’d reply with just a few words. Before the winter break of freshman year, I led our debate team into the finals. Caleb spotted me right away. “Did you find another part-time job here?” I flashed my school ID. “I’m here for the finals.” Caleb glanced at my ID, and his eyes went wide. “You’re *the* legendary debater from Maple Leaf High?” “Legendary?” Caleb’s expression softened, his gaze burning. “For a school like yours to make it to the finals, it was like you had divine intervention. “Half the audience today is here to see your captain. You should introduce me to your captain later.” Just then, a teammate ran over. “Captain, our spot is over there! Let’s go!” Caleb froze, and the way he looked at me seemed to change. I clenched my fist, smiling confidently. “See you on the stage, Caleb Donovan!” There were four teams in the finals. My team and another school were up first.

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I was caught up in a minor incident late at night, and ended up at the precinct. That’s when the officer pulled up my records. The officer looked at me, masked, and frowned. “An Ivy League graduate? What are you doing out on the streets at midnight?” It was only then that I saw it—the ID number on the file was mine, but the photo was Ava’s. Turns out, twenty years ago, I got into an Ivy League university! I stumbled home, my mind reeling, only to hear my husband, Julian Ashworth, on the phone: “Ava, I won’t let Lulu bother you. Go abroad, don’t worry about a thing.” It was him! Julian Ashworth helped Ava steal my life! My stomach churned. I turned, ready to expose him and Ava, but Julian grabbed a belt and choked the life out of me. “I’m sorry, Lulu. You can’t stand in the way of Ava’s future…” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the classroom. Our homeroom teacher was handing out university application forms. This time, I’m taking my life back! “Lulu, decided on a university yet?” My deskmate’s voice snapped me back to reality. One second ago, I was still drowning in the agony of suffocation. I looked at my unfamiliar, youthful deskmate and realized I’d been reborn. “Lulu, what’s wrong?” A thrill of joy surged through me. I shook my head vigorously. The homeroom teacher spoke up: “Fill out these forms first so I can get a sense of your choices.” I stared at him—Mr. Ashworth, Julian’s father. Our exam results had been out for ages. There was no need to fill out forms on paper; we could do it online from home. But Mr. Ashworth made an excuse to get all the students to come in anyway. It was clear he was just hand-picking students to be manipulated for Ava’s benefit. I clenched my fists, remembering my previous life. Julian had started pursuing me right around this time. I stared at the application form, filling it out randomly. Maybe it was my imagination, but I distinctly felt Mr. Ashworth glance at me. Sure enough, after I handed in the form, he said, “Lulu, come to my office.” With that, he walked away with my form. Chloe tugged my arm. “You did so well this time, you’ll definitely get into an Ivy League school!” I scored the highest in our class – 702 points – but I still didn’t get in. I went to Mr. Ashworth multiple times. He told me I was aiming too high, that I’d filled in choices beyond my reach. But hadn’t he suggested that law program himself? I glanced at Julian, who was sleeping in the corner, and nodded at Chloe. Yeah, this time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. I pushed open the office door. Mr. Ashworth looked at me. “Lulu, you did exceptionally well this time. Why choose these schools?” I had filled in choices for community colleges, several of them. “High employment rates,” I stated, enunciating each word. Mr. Ashworth visibly fell silent, then said earnestly, “You really shouldn’t fill in things randomly. A legal career is a very suitable choice for a young woman.” As he spoke, he opened his computer and pulled up the university application page. I stared at the screen, my gaze full of sarcasm. So, now that I wasn’t cooperating, he was going to force me to fill it out, only for it to be replaced by Ava’s choices later? “No thanks, Mr. Ashworth. I just want to drive a tractor.” With that, I turned to leave and bumped right into Julian, who was walking in. “Lulu, if you have any questions about your application, you can ask me. I’ve always wanted to study law.” Hearing that, a particular sensitivity flared in my heart. So that’s how it was. Both of them were hinting that I should choose a law program. But this time, I wouldn’t let them get their way. I nodded. “Thanks, but no need. I have a major I want to pursue.” Julian lowered his gaze, a smile playing on his lips. “Alright.” I bolted out of the office, seeing Julian instinctively close the door behind him, then turn back and stand outside, eavesdropping. “Dad, Lulu isn’t cooperating. Can’t we pick someone else?” A cold dread washed over me. Julian was trying to ruin another student’s life! Mr. Ashworth’s voice was cold. “Lulu has the best grades; it’s the safest bet. You know we owe Ava this.” I turned and left, a bitter laugh in my heart. They owe Ava, so they’re going to repay her with my life?

In my previous life, after Julian and I started dating, I worked day and night, preparing to re-sit the entrance exams. Julian said he’d register me, but in the end, I wasn’t registered. He insisted it was because retaking the exams wasn’t allowed anymore, that the regulations were strict. I believed him. Later, I wanted to take an adult education exam. He said it was useless even if I passed, but I was determined to take it. However, my alarm didn’t ring that day, and I was late. I confronted Julian, asking if he’d turned it off. He looked innocent, claiming he was worried about disturbing my sleep. I was trembling with anger, but Julian held me, saying, “Lulu, let’s get married. No matter if you pass or not, I’ll always love you.” I cried in his arms for a long time. My dreams were filled with exam questions; how could I give up? Later, Julian claimed he was in massive debt from a work project and couldn’t pay it back. Blinded by love, I worked tirelessly from dawn to dusk, juggling three or four jobs a day. Looking back now, Julian was only with me to control me. He was worried I’d impact Ava’s future. So he constantly stopped me from moving forward. Back in the classroom, I packed my things and left school. When I got home, Chloe sent me a message saying Julian had been looking for me. I replied casually. Looks like he still hadn’t given up. My parents were often working out of town. After hearing my scores, they just wired me some money and ordered a cake, saying they’d be back next month. I understood them. They worked on construction sites; one less day of work meant one less day of pay. I wasn’t in a hurry to fill out my university application; I still had two days. But someone else was in a hurry. That evening, I went for a walk and ran into Julian. Julian smiled at me. “Lulu, what a coincidence.” “I thought you lived on the west side of town.” Julian looked natural. “I had some errands here. Where are you going? I’ll walk with you.” I said coldly, “No need. Stay away from me.” Julian paused, then looked hurt. “You… you hate me that much?” I stared him down. “Yes, I hate you. Just stay away from me.” Julian’s breath hitched. Maybe he couldn’t understand why I hated him so much when he was so popular, the school heartthrob. If it weren’t illegal, I would literally stab him. I wanted him dead and gone. “Lulu, if you hate me, you at least owe me a reason.” Julian’s voice was low, his eyes fixed on me. Julian certainly had good looks; otherwise, how could I have been so infatuated in my past life? Suddenly, a voice from nearby called out, “Julian, what are you doing here?” Ava jogged over and hugged Julian’s arm. I distinctly felt him stiffen. This was the first time I’d seen Ava up close—the person who stole my future in my previous life. “Who are you?” Ava eyed me suspiciously. I smiled. “Lulu. Julian’s classmate.” Ava’s face subtly changed. “Didn’t you say you were going to buy me snacks?” So it really was a coincidence. Julian replied naturally, “I forgot. You go home first; I have something to deal with here.” Ava’s voice rose slightly. “Julian, what do you mean?” Julian pushed Ava away. I don’t know what he said to her, but he came back alone. “Lulu, she’s my mom’s friend’s daughter.” I countered, “Why are you telling me this?” Julian’s tone was serious. “I like you, and I don’t want you to misunderstand.” Hearing that, a wave of nausea washed over me. Here we go again. “I don’t like you. You make me sick just looking at you,” I said coldly. Julian’s face visibly paled. He clenched his fist. “What did I do wrong?” I stared at him. “You’re too ugly.” And too despicable. Julian’s lips parted slightly. I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and kept walking. “Lulu! I won’t give up!” Julian shouted after me. I sneered inwardly. There are only two days left. What can you possibly do to me? I’ll submit my application at the very last second. They won’t have any chance to swap it.

The next day, when I got home from school, I found many roses arranged by my front door. Julian stood in the hallway, tall and elegant. He stared intently at me. “Lulu, yesterday’s confession was too rushed. I want to be serious about it now.” I said coldly, “No matter how serious you are, I’ll never like you.” “Then who do you like? Is there anyone better looking than me?” Julian’s voice was urgent. I pulled out my keys, ready to go inside, but Julian blocked my way. “Lulu, I truly like you. I want to go to law school with you.” I looked at him strangely. When did I ever say I wanted to study law? I smiled. “Sorry, but your grades aren’t good enough. Give it up, you loser.” Julian’s tone leveled out. “Lulu, can you not be so harsh?” I stared at him, saying nothing. “Since you’ve decided to study law, you should quickly submit your application.” A mischievous thought suddenly sparked in my mind. “I won’t. I want to drive a tractor.” I clearly saw a muscle in Julian’s jaw visibly twitch. I opened my front door, walked in, and firmly shut it, almost hitting Julian’s nose. The next day, I received many messages. The news of the school heartthrob confessing his feelings for me was known by all the students. The news, of course, came from Julian. No doubt about it. Mr. Ashworth called me many times, but I didn’t answer any of them. After a few seconds, he called again. He spoke almost immediately. “Lulu, you’re a good kid. I have no objections to you and Julian dating.” He hadn’t objected in my previous life either. Back then, I was even happy that Mr. Ashworth didn’t look down on me for not getting into university. “My son has always wanted to study law and become an excellent lawyer. I hope you can work hard with him.” I smirked, a glint in my eyes. “Alright.” Mr. Ashworth paused, then his voice brightened with a laugh. “It’s wonderful that you agree!” I hung up, barely suppressing my laughter. Just now, I’d changed my mind. It would be incredibly satisfying to mess with them. I wanted to make sure Ava could never get into university. After all, if not me, I worried there would be another victim. Julian, hearing that I’d agreed to be with him, quickly came to find me. He immediately asked, “Have you submitted your application?” “Not yet. Tomorrow.” Julian visibly relaxed. “Want to hang out with me? My friends are having a get-together.” I nodded. “Sure.” Julian looked at me, still feeling uneasy, not understanding why I’d changed so much. But what did it matter? He was the one running out of time. Ava was there too. When she saw me, she dramatically rolled her eyes. I said bluntly, “Ava, is your eye twitching?” “What?” Ava looked startled. I continued, “Why are you rolling your eyes at me? Do it again, and I’ll poke them out.” Ava shot up, but Julian firmly pushed her back down. “Ava, behave yourself.” Ava’s eyes turned red with anger. “Julian, how can you talk to me like that?!” I raised my hand and smacked her across the face. Everyone present froze. Ava clutched her face, and Julian’s expression clearly changed. “Lulu! How dare you hit me!” Ava lunged at me like a madwoman, but Julian held her back firmly. “Ava, calm down. Just endure it.” Julian’s words slowly brought Ava back to her senses.

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Three years ago, a long-standing rival of the Albright family, seeking to settle an old score, abducted their youngest adopted daughter, Elara, and dragged her deep into the mountains. Her three adoptive brothers offered a reward of hundreds of millions of dollars, sparing no expense to find her. But when she finally escaped and returned home, she found her fiancé, Damon, her second brother, marrying someone else. Julian, her eldest brother, was delivering the best man’s speech, and Rhys, her third brother, the best man, was holding the wedding rings. Turns out, the Albright family had adopted Veronica two years prior. Simply because she bore a striking resemblance to Elara, they poured all their guilt onto Veronica. They explained, “Mom had a complete breakdown and started seeing Veronica as you. We just… went along with it, because it seemed to bring her some peace.” But Elara couldn’t accept it. She forced them to choose between Veronica and herself. After a brief, tense silence, all three unanimously chose Veronica. Yet that very night, their disoriented adoptive mother set the mansion ablaze, dying in the inferno with Veronica. That fire transformed them from family into sworn enemies. They blamed Elara, accusing her of being relentlessly demanding and unable to tolerate Veronica, which they claimed led to them losing their dearest ones forever. Disgust, insults, and beatings became her daily routine. Until Elara began experiencing abnormal and persistent bleeding, which eventually led to a devastating diagnosis: advanced uterine cancer. Clutching that cold “death sentence” in her hand, she walked out of the doctor’s office only to see her supposedly dead adoptive mother accompanying Veronica to a prenatal check-up. Her eldest and third brothers surrounded Veronica protectively, and her fiancé, Damon, his face alight with joy, pressed his ear to Veronica’s belly. Elara’s blood ran cold. Just as she was about to step forward and confront them, Julian’s voice drifted over, chillingly: “After all this, Elara must have learned her lesson. Maybe we should tell her the truth now.” “No!” Rhys immediately objected: “If she knows Veronica is alive and carrying Damon’s child, there’s no telling what kind of trouble she’ll stir up. Better to keep her in line with more ‘lessons’ until the baby is born!” Mrs. Albright, far from looking disoriented, sighed with contentment. “Veronica was there for us during our most painful and desperate time. Now that she’s pregnant, I won’t allow anyone to make her leave.” Even Damon lowered his gaze, saying, “Even though Elara is… tainted, I won’t abandon her. As long as she stays in her place, I’ll give her an explanation.” Elara stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. She yearned to ask the heavens why they were so cruel to her. She was the one who was abducted and abused, yet they showered all their love and guilt upon Veronica. All she wanted was for things to return to how they were, but they had tormented her with a “fake death” lie, leaving her utterly broken. Gazing at Veronica’s visibly pregnant, happy face, Elara’s hand trembled as she instinctively touched her own abdomen. They didn’t know that before she was abducted, she too had been pregnant with Damon’s child, but then a brute violently kicked it out of me. Recalling the doctor’s grim prognosis—that she wouldn’t last another month—Elara offered a tragic smile. What could a dying person possibly fight for against the living? She would give them what they wanted. Elara didn’t step forward to confront them. She simply turned away, dragging her heavy feet, fleeing the hospital as if her life depended on it. Memories flooded her like a surging tide. Ever since that fire, she had considered death countless times. She slit her wrists, and Julian, the forensic brother, stitched her up with a sewing needle, refusing painkillers, slowly savoring her agony. She tried to jump from a building, but Damon, the business tycoon fiancé, sealed off all high-rise structures. Helpless, she jumped from the third floor, suffering full-body fractures that left her in pain for three agonizing months. After her discharge, Rhys, the legal elite third brother, forged her psychiatric records and locked her in a mental asylum, subjecting her to daily electroshock therapy. They wouldn’t allow her to die; they wanted her to live and atone. But they were all living perfectly fine. Atonement for what sin? She stumbled through the front door, her abdomen seized by another bout of agonizing cramps. The diseased uterus caused relentless bleeding, soaking through her light-colored pants and trickling down her leg. Just then, a familiar, icy voice came from behind her. “Disgusting. Can’t you even keep yourself clean?” Julian’s face was stern as he quickly averted his gaze. Rhys pinched his nose, brows furrowed. “That’s utterly revolting. Clean it up, now!” As Elara knelt on the floor, frantically wiping away the mess, Damon carefully helped a woman in, then casually tossed a piece of paper at Elara. “These are instructions for prenatal care. You’ll follow them from now on.” She stared at the densely written paper, her voice hoarse. “What does this mean?” Damon’s brow furrowed. “We found Veronica’s twin sister, Vanessa. She’s pregnant and needs looking after.” He paused, looking down at Elara with disdain. “If you take good care of her, and she delivers the baby safely, we’ll forgive your past mistakes.” Elara’s gaze fell upon the face identical to Veronica’s, her heart as clear as glass. They were still trying to deceive her. Twin sister, indeed! It was merely Damon’s desperate excuse to bring Veronica back home… “Fine, I’ll take care of her.” Elara lowered her head, her voice eerily calm. She wouldn’t live to see the child born. Soon, the suffering would end. Before she could react, Veronica suddenly lunged, snatching Mochi from her arms. “Meow—” A desperate cry, and Mochi’s head was twisted 180 degrees in Veronica’s hand, blood spilling from its mouth. “Mochi!” Elara screamed in despair, struggling to grab her cat back.

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Everyone in the Special Enforcement Department knew Liam Carter, the most skilled crisis negotiator, could dismantle anyone’s psychological defenses in life-or-death situations. But he was utterly helpless against Anya Vance’s tears. Everyone said he loved Anya Vance to his very core, that he’d give her the stars and the moon. Yet, only Anya Vance knew Liam Carter’s heart belonged to another—the woman he’d always carried a torch for. The day his first love returned to the country, Anya received news of his accident on a stormy night. Rushing out, she suffered a car crash, which led to the miscarriage of her four-month-old child. Liam Carter, fresh from his first love’s welcome party, rushed to her side, his voice trembling: “It was just a drunken fling, how could you take it seriously?” Her body and heart ached, and then she heard his forced calm voice: “Maybe it’s for the best we don’t have a child now… my job creates too many enemies. A child would only make us vulnerable to threats.” Anya’s heart was ripped to shreds, but she couldn’t argue. Ten days after his first love returned, Anya walked in on them in a room together, their gestures intimately close. Liam Carter gripped her hand, his eyes bloodshot as he promised: “Anya, you have to believe me. We’re just colleagues, discussing a case.” She didn’t make a scene. She simply turned and calmly walked away. Sixty days after his first love returned, a kidnapper held a knife to Anya’s throat, grinning maniacally at Liam Carter. “Negotiator Carter, you can only choose one: your wife or your lover!” Liam Carter’s gaze was filled with sorrow, but he spoke each word with chilling clarity: “Seraphina Thorne is a highly skilled professional, a returning scholar. The Department needs her.” Just like that, Anya Vance watched, helpless, as Seraphina Thorne threw herself into Liam Carter’s arms. The deranged kidnapper then stabbed Anya six times. She fell into a coma for two months. The first thing she did upon waking was to take her marriage certificate to the department, applying for a divorce. But she didn’t get the divorce papers; instead, she got a confused look from the clerk. “Ms. Vance, you and Mr. Carter… you were never married. Is this marriage certificate fake?” Anya Vance suspected she’d misheard. Her marriage certificate, cherished for six years—the marriage she’d believed was perfect—was a lie? “That’s impossible, please check again. We’ve been married for six years…” The clerk’s eyes held a complex expression. He checked the system anyway, confirming it repeatedly before he gravely told Anya Vance, “Ma’am, falsifying official documents is a crime. I’ll consider this a joke today.” Anya Vance’s mind went blank. She stared at the photo on the certificate, the two of them leaning together, smiling. It felt utterly absurd! Connecting this with Seraphina’s return, suddenly everything made chilling sense. Liam Carter had lied about their marriage, all to bide his time and cover his tracks, waiting for his first love. She had just returned to the hospital when Liam Carter, a look of worry on his face, walked towards her. “Anya, you’re not fully recovered, why are you running around?” Anya Vance brushed his hand away and walked straight past him. Liam Carter’s gaze froze. “Are you still mad at me? But you know, the moment I chose this profession, the interests of the country and its people came before everything else… Besides, Seraphina even got hurt trying to save you.” Anya Vance looked at the man she’d called her husband. Six years, day in and day out, and he felt like a complete stranger. Of course, she had never truly seen him before. “Yes, she got hurt. She’s a hero. And me? I’m just the ungrateful wretch who can’t appreciate a sacrifice.” Anya Vance tightened her grip on the marriage certificate in her pocket, her eyes stinging. Liam Carter, what was I to you then? Just a placeholder, a way to pass the time while you waited for Seraphina to come back? Anya Vance sidestepped him and returned to her room. She drifted into an exhausted sleep, waking up in the afternoon. Soon after, an officer from Liam Carter’s team brought her a meal. But the officer didn’t leave after placing the tray down. He stammered for a moment, then gritted his teeth: “Anya, you shouldn’t be angry with Liam. You just have a bias against us officers!” Anya Vance didn’t have time to speak before the officer grew agitated. “Even though Ms. Thorne made a major mistake during the rescue operation for your mother, we’re not infallible. We put our lives on the line, but we can’t guarantee 100% safety for hostages!” “You can’t hate her because of that. That’s prejudice! Besides, Ms. Thorne was severely disciplined and reassigned to an overseas post after that. She learned her lesson. She only returned after earning a major commendation.” In that instant, Anya Vance’s mind went blank. Six years ago, during a bank robbery, her mother was taken hostage. During negotiations with the kidnapper, a young female negotiator, letting her emotions get the better of her, enraged the kidnapper, which led to the hostage being killed… Later, Anya Vance heard that the negotiator had been punished, and her family received state compensation. It was after that incident that Liam Carter walked into her life. So… that negotiator was Seraphina Thorne! So, Liam Carter had been there to atone for someone else’s mistake. Anya Vance couldn’t hear anything else, not even when the officer left. She didn’t know how long she sat there in a daze, until she slowly dialed a number. When the other person picked up, she heard her own overly calm voice: “Anya Vance accepts the department’s transfer order. Ready for deployment at any time.” 2. The pungent smell of hospital disinfectant was unbearable for Anya Vance. She ignored the doctor’s advice and checked herself out early. Her phone vibrated wildly. She glanced at it; it was Liam Carter. She had no intention of answering, so she ignored the call and blocked his number. Back home, she searched through the entire house. The engagement ring they’d once exchanged lay in a velvet box. A custom-made music box featured a tiny couple in a suit and wedding gown. A thick diary held every word of their conversations during their courtship, and then there were the wedding photos on the wall… Anya Vance stared at them for a while, then swept them one by one into a box, and finally, tossed the whole box into the trash. It felt as if some old, deep-seated wound had finally been completely stripped away from her. She looked at the intimate photos on her phone, remembering the profound happiness in each one. One showed them in the kitchen, their faces dusted with flour. Another captured them kissing at the highest point of a Ferris wheel. Anya Vance scrolled through them, deleting each one, every swipe feeling like a knife twisting in her heart, repeatedly reminding her how beautiful, and how utterly fake, it had all been. The front door opened with a creak, and the next moment, Liam Carter strode in. His face was grim. The moment he saw Anya Vance, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief. “Anya, why didn’t you answer your phone?” His voice held a hint of menace. “I called you fifty-four times.” Anya Vance paused. She hadn’t answered because he was already blocked; naturally, she wouldn’t receive his calls. “Why did you check out of the hospital?” Liam Carter took a step forward and abruptly seized Anya Vance’s wrist. “Do you know how I felt when I couldn’t find you? I thought you…” He closed his eyes tightly, unable to finish. Anya Vance frowned deeply, her voice turning cold: “Let go of me, you’re hurting me.” But Liam Carter didn’t release her. He glanced at the empty wall, his eyes stormy. “Why did you throw away our wedding photos? I knew you were still angry! Anya, you used to understand me. I wasn’t doing it for myself; I was doing it for the country! We need Seraphina for a crucial operation right now, so nothing can happen to her…” “Enough,” Anya Vance sharply pulled her hand away. “I don’t want to hear your lies anymore.” The fake marriage certificate couldn’t fool anyone, and his concern for Seraphina couldn’t fool anyone either. Anya Vance wasn’t blind! Liam Carter’s eyes were filled with disappointment. “Anya, you’ve changed.” Anya Vance almost laughed. Yes, she had changed. Because she was finally no longer foolish. “But I just want you to understand, you’re the woman I love most. I can’t live without you, I can’t…” Liam Carter’s eyes slowly turned red. He suddenly took a large stride forward, swept Anya Vance into his arms. Ignoring her struggles, he tossed her onto the bed, then pulled out a pair of gleaming silver handcuffs from his pocket and cuffed her to the headboard! Anya Vance’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Liam Carter, are you insane?!” “I was losing my mind when I couldn’t find you!” Liam Carter pressed down on her, then, losing control, kissed her. “Anya, please don’t be angry with me…” The moment her breath was stolen, Anya Vance felt a wave of intense nausea. Using her unrestrained hand, she slapped him across the face— “SLAP!” Liam Carter stopped. Anya Vance gasped for breath, her eyes bloodshot. “Get out! Who gave you permission to touch me!” “I…” Before he could speak, his phone rang insistently. He picked it up, saw the contact, and his expression subtly changed. Liam Carter immediately stood up and hurried out. “Anya, wait for me. I have something urgent, I’ll be right back…” In a flash, he was gone. Only Anya Vance’s ragged breathing filled the room. She struggled, her wrists quickly chafing red against the metal. In her struggle, her unhealed wounds flared with intense pain. It took her a while to recover, then she bit her pale lip and wept silently. Dusk fell. The man who said he’d be right back was nowhere to be heard. Her phone lay on the sofa. Anya Vance tried using a bobby pin to pick the lock, tried dragging the bedpost to move, even tried prying open the headboard, but all failed. Worse, she started feeling dizzy. The pain from her wounds tormented her incessantly, and hunger became her constant companion. She curled up on the bed in agony. Day broke, then evening again. A whole day and night passed, and Liam Carter did not return. 3. In her semiconscious state, Anya Vance seemed to dream of the day Liam Carter proposed to her. Back then, Liam Carter’s eyes were full of tenderness. He looked at her earnestly, saying softly, “The most important rule for a negotiator is to always stay calm, but every day since I met you, I’ve been breaking that rule.” He slid the ring onto her finger, his touch so gentle, his kiss so precious. How could any of it have been fake? A spasm gripped her stomach. She drifted, caught between pain and consciousness, almost believing she was going to die right there… “BANG!” The door was violently flung open, followed by Liam Carter’s panicked voice. “Anya!” The handcuffs rattled several times in his haste before they finally sprang open. He scooped her into his arms and rushed out. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Liam Carter’s voice seemed choked with tears. He carried Anya Vance into the car, panicking: “I didn’t mean to forget… Anya, please wake up…” … Anya Vance opened her eyes again, to the stark white lights of a hospital room. Three hospital visits in just a few months, all because of the man she had once deeply loved. He claimed to love her, yet constantly hurt her. Her head was splitting. Her fingers, resting nearby, twitched slightly, and then someone’s hand gripped hers. “Anya?” Liam Carter’s voice was hoarse, filled with worry. “Is there anything else bothering you?” The moment Anya Vance heard Liam Carter’s voice, she sharply pulled her hand away. The abrupt movement tugged at her wounds, and she gasped in pain. “Don’t move!” Liam Carter immediately reached forward and gripped her shoulders. Anya Vance saw his bloodshot eyes. Without thinking, she mustered all her strength and slapped Liam Carter across the face. She was still weak, so the blow was soft. But Liam Carter’s head still snapped to the side. “Good hit.” He turned back, a strange smile on his face, one side of it already red. “I deserved it.” “Hit me a few more times, if it’ll make you feel better…” Anya Vance’s voice was hoarse. “I don’t want to see you again.” Liam Carter’s smile froze. He frantically grabbed her hand, speaking gently: “Sweetheart, don’t say such things… It’s all my fault. An emergency mission came up suddenly, and I was negotiating for a whole day and night… Please forgive me?” Anya Vance closed her eyes. She wanted to say, she knew. Seraphina Thorne had called him. Just one phone call from that woman, and he’d left her, handcuffed to the bed, for a day and a night. How could she forgive him? Anya Vance raised her wrist. The marks from the handcuffs had turned a frightening purplish-blue. Her eyes welled up. “Liam Carter, you never used to treat me like this.” Liam Carter’s face changed. “…Because you’ve been angry with me about Seraphina these past few days. I was scared and angry then.” Anya Vance said softly, “Then why do you keep doing things that make me angry?” This time, he was silent for a long while. When he spoke again, his voice was filled with pain. “Anya, please don’t act on impulse, okay? We’re just colleagues, we have an important mission to execute together…” “Please leave. I want to rest.” “Okay, I’ll stay here with you.” Anya Vance was discharged the next day. Liam Carter remained by her side, never leaving her for a moment. For the following week, he was almost constantly present, personally changing her bandages and feeding her, enduring her coldness without complaint. But Anya Vance still noticed that he constantly snuck out to the balcony to make phone calls, a gentle smile always playing on his lips. She knew who was on the other end, and that made her heart ache even more. But on the third day after her return home from the hospital, Seraphina Thorne moved in, becoming their next-door neighbor. From then on, the meals Liam Carter personally cooked were divided into two portions. The other portion was taken next door, and each time, he would stay there to eat with Seraphina before returning. When he came back to Anya Vance, he always had the same explanation: “It’s an arrangement from the department. We just discussed the mission details.” Anya Vance looked at the happy smile that hadn’t quite faded from his lips, her heart twisting in agony. Liam Carter had always subtly avoided Anya Vance and Seraphina Thorne meeting, but one day, after dressing up, he suddenly announced: “Today is our wedding anniversary. I got tickets for a cruise and prepared a candlelight dinner for us tonight.” Anya Vance wanted to refuse, but he had already pulled her out the door. At the entrance, she saw Seraphina Thorne waiting. “Hi, Anya! You don’t mind me being a third wheel, do you?” She stuck out her tongue, looking lively and playful. Liam Carter smiled, then turned to explain: “Sera also wanted to experience a cruise, and since there was an extra ticket, we decided to all go together. Anya, you… you don’t mind, do you?” Anya Vance let out a mocking laugh. She lowered her eyes. “Of course not.” What right did she have to mind? Their marriage was nothing but a sham, a cruel illusion. 4. The day they boarded the cruise, the weather was clear. Liam Carter and Seraphina Thorne walked side by side, deep in conversation, making Anya Vance feel like an outsider. The cruise ship was decorated lavishly, as if for a grand celebration. In the evening, Liam Carter did indeed prepare a candlelight dinner. Anya Vance sat opposite him, taking a deep breath. “Perfect. Let’s use this opportunity to have a proper talk.” Liam Carter smiled. “Alright. Try this red wine steak; I specifically prepared it for you.” A hint of nostalgia touched his face. “I remember our first date, we had steak. But you didn’t like it medium-rare and made the waiter cook it well-done. I still remember the waiter’s face, haha.” Anya Vance mechanically cut her steak, put a piece in her mouth, her smile strained. She said softly, “Yes, I remember that day. You told me… you’d always protect me, keep me from any harm.” Liam Carter didn’t catch the bitterness in her tone. She quickly composed herself. “I have something to…” But halfway through her sentence, she suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. She saw Liam Carter across from her quickly stand up, catching her, his voice gentle: “Anya, you’re drunk.” Anya Vance’s heart plummeted. The small amount of red wine in the steak wouldn’t be enough to make her drunk. Had Liam Carter put something in it?! But before she could think clearly, she plunged into darkness. Anya Vance struggled to wake up from a daze, her head heavy and confused. As her memory returned, she was filled with an overwhelming rage. Liam Carter dared to drug her! This was a cabin on the cruise ship. Anya Vance took a moment to recover, then stumbled out. As soon as she reached the deck, she heard shouts of celebration. Not far away, under bright lights and candlelight, guests formed a circle. She recognized many familiar faces from the department, all gathered around two people in the center. Behind them, a giant illuminated sign read: “Happy Birthday, Sera.” Anya Vance felt her hands and feet grow cold. The crowd cheered. Liam Carter presented Seraphina with a gift, then they sang “Happy Birthday,” clinking glasses, everyone celebrating joyfully. She clearly read Liam Carter’s lips: “Make a wish, I’ll grant whatever you desire.” Anya Vance stumbled back, her legs weak, icy dread washing over her. So that was it… Liam Carter had booked the entire cruise, not for their anniversary, but to celebrate Seraphina’s birthday! He had even drugged her just to keep her out of the way! Anya Vance listened to the commotion outside until it slowly died down in the late hours of the night. Not long after, there was a knock on the door. She recognized the light footsteps that weren’t Liam Carter’s, so she looked up and saw Seraphina Thorne enter, carrying a slice of cake. “I know you’re awake, I saw you come out.” Seraphina Thorne gave a superior smile, placing the cake on the table. “Have some cake. You must be feeling awful right now, aren’t you?” She wanted to see anger or pain on Anya Vance’s face, but the woman sitting on the bed kept her back straight, her gaze calm and cold. “Take your cake and leave.” Seraphina Thorne’s expression changed. Her face hardened, and she said coldly: “Your husband is throwing such a huge birthday party for me. Don’t you understand what that means?” “What if I do?” Anya Vance made a dismissive gesture. “Don’t bother me. Whatever you two do has nothing to do with me. And you don’t need to come here to stake your claim. Liam Carter and I are already over.” She saw Seraphina Thorne out, whose face was not looking good, then Anya Vance lay back down to sleep. She expected not to sleep, but perhaps the drug was still active, for she quickly fell into a dream. In it, she remembered her first birthday after they got married. Liam Carter had blindfolded her and taken her to an island. He said: “This island is my gift to you. We’ll love each other forever, until the end of time.” Anya Vance shed tears in her dream. Vows were so easy, but truly loving each other, always, was so hard. The next morning, Liam Carter had already prepared breakfast. Roses adorned the table. He saw Anya Vance awake, a perfectly calibrated, helpless smile on his face. “Anya, just a red wine steak made you so drunk, it really scared me then.” Anya Vance said nothing, unable to even force a fake smile. Upon their return, she went to the department and obtained a certificate of single status. Then she went home and packed her bags. The things she could take were pitifully few. Almost every item carried shared memories, and she wanted none of them. While tidying a drawer, she found an old cell phone deep inside, one she’d replaced long ago. The phone actually powered on. She checked it, curious, and then discovered a text message sent from the phone itself. She still remembered the number; it belonged to her brother, whom she hadn’t contacted in years. [Don’t bother me and Liam anymore. Seeing you makes me sick.] Her heart plunged into an icy abyss. She hadn’t sent that. 5. Anya Vance’s father had died when she was very young. She, her mother, and her brother had relied on each other. But ever since her mother passed away and she married Liam Carter, her brother’s contact with her had dwindled. Later, he cut off all communication. Her brother was a detective, and they were often separated. She had asked Liam Carter to inquire about her brother’s whereabouts at the department, but only received one message. Liam Carter said: “Brandon said… Mom’s gone, so the family naturally drifted apart. There’s no need for us to keep in touch.” She resented her brother’s heartlessness, wanting to confront him in person, but she was always blocked, never even seeing his face. But on this phone… she scrolled up and saw several messages her brother had sent. [Anya, please call me back, okay?] [Aren’t you even coming for Mom and Dad’s death anniversary? Just for that Liam Carter?] [I won’t oppose you two anymore. I found some information about that negotiator from back then. Can you meet me?] But each message had received a cold, even abusive, reply from “her.” Anya Vance gripped the phone tightly, her knuckles white. All these years, Liam Carter had been using her name to hurt her brother, severing her last family ties! Anya Vance gritted her teeth, abruptly stood up, grabbed her car keys, and stormed out. She had to find Liam Carter and ask him why he would do such a thing! She found out Liam Carter was at the hospital and drove straight there. But as she reached the entrance, she saw Liam Carter suddenly pick up Seraphina Thorne and spin her around. His face was bright with a joyous smile, and his voice was cheerful. “I’m going to be a dad!” The world seemed to lose its sound in that instant. Anya Vance froze, her legs turning to jelly. Liam Carter’s voice was still painfully clear. “…Boy or girl, I’ll love them both. I’ll protect you two with my life!” Seraphina Thorne cooed playfully, “It’s only three months, you’re too eager.” Three months… that was the day Anya Vance had walked in on them. Every word was like a knife plunging into Anya Vance’s heart. She closed her eyes and let out a laugh that sounded eerily hollow. The exact same vow, she had heard Liam Carter say it the day she found out she was pregnant. But what was the result? The baby was gone, and all he’d said was – *it’s for the best, to avoid threats…* How utterly laughable. She didn’t step forward, didn’t demand answers in anger. She maintained a strange calmness, then turned and left. There was no need to ask. Whatever he said would only be another lie. Back home, Anya Vance wanted to contact her brother directly, but remembering those hurtful messages, her brother might still be very angry with her… She dialed a number, asking for information about her brother. Liam Carter became busier. Anya Vance deliberately avoided him. All she wanted was to see her brother, then wait for her transfer orders and leave. But Seraphina Thorne actively knocked on her door, deliberately showing off a necklace around her neck, and smiled: “Isn’t this necklace pretty? Liam got it for me because I liked it. You’re not going to be petty, are you?” The moment Anya Vance recognized the necklace, her pupils sharply contracted, and her voice suddenly rose: “Who gave you permission to touch that necklace?!” Seraphina Thorne’s challenging expression intensified. She suddenly flashed a radiant smile and deliberately said: “What’s wrong? Is it something your dead mom left you?” Her voice grew sharper. “Speaking of your mom, she really died at the wrong time. If it weren’t for her, why would I have been reprimanded and disciplined…” “You jerk!” Anya Vance, consumed by fury, slapped her across the face. “SLAP!” A crisp sound echoed. Anya Vance, her eyes red, rushed forward, grabbed the necklace, and shouted: “Give it back! That’s mine!” This was the only keepsake her mother had left her. Why was it on Seraphina Thorne?! Seraphina Thorne’s head snapped to the side from the blow, a sinister glint flashing in her eyes. Anya Vance snatched the necklace back, cradling it carefully in her hands, her entire body trembling. That necklace had always been in her jewelry box. Only she and Liam Carter had access to the house, so how it got into Seraphina Thorne’s hands was painfully clear! “You dared to hit me?” Seraphina Thorne shrieked. While Anya Vance was off guard, Seraphina Thorne actually pushed her down the stairs. Seraphina Thorne herself lost her footing and tumbled onto the steps. “Sera!” Anya Vance watched Liam Carter rush over, his face filled with panic, immediately pulling Seraphina Thorne into his arms. Anya Vance fell backward, her forehead hitting with a sharp pain. Warm blood trickled down her cheek. She tightly clutched the necklace in her hand, trembling, and dialed the emergency number. “I need to report an incident. Someone intentionally tried to kill me…” Liam Carter looked at her in disbelief, furious. “What are you doing? Are you trying to ruin Sera?” 6. Anya Vance looked at Liam Carter with cold indifference, as if he were an unreasonable stranger. “Liam Carter, she pushed me down.” Every part of her body ached now, and her vision swam with dizzy spells, yet the sharp pain in her heart kept her lucid. Liam Carter seemed to just then notice her bloodied head, and his face instantly filled with panic.

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“Dad, didn’t you once mention that my childhood fiancé, the one our families arranged for me years ago, was looking for me? Tell him I’m getting married on the first of next month. I need a groom. Ask him if he’s interested.” The other end of the line went silent. “Aren’t you still insisting on marrying Liam Hayes and getting ready for the wedding? What happened? Did he hurt you?” “Dad, just ask him!” “Alright, if you’ve made up your mind, that’s all that matters. Your happiness is all I care about.” My eyes welled up as I replied, “I will be happy!” Yes, I had once loved Liam Hayes with an intense passion, convinced he was my soulmate, my destiny. Our wedding date was set, and my heart was bursting with joy, waiting to become his bride. But just a moment ago, I received the shock of my life. An hour earlier. I stood in front of the mirror, wearing a pristine white wedding dress. The gown clung to my curves, making me feel more beautiful than ever. “Ms. Adams, Mr. Hayes had this dress custom-made for you. It’s absolutely stunning! You two are truly meant to be.” Despite the sales assistant’s compliments, I couldn’t even manage a smile. My eyes scanned the room until I finally spotted Liam, my soon-to-be husband, in a secluded corner by the window. He was on the phone with someone, his face alight with an adoring smile. The sales assistant, holding a phone, blocked my view. “Ms. Adams, you have a call.” It was from the wedding planning company I’d hired. “Ms. Adams… Mr. Hayes’s team said there was a mistake with the bride’s name and that it needs to be changed to Valerie Sterling. Are you aware of this?” An indescribable wave of grief crashed over me, and tears threatened to spill. I already suspected Liam’s betrayal, but I had underestimated his sheer audacity. A month ago, when Valerie Sterling, his ex-girlfriend from five years ago, made a grand return from abroad, I had a bad feeling. And just yesterday, chasing after Liam to give him a tie, I followed him to a private club. There, I witnessed him on one knee, proposing to Valerie. Someone asked, “Liam, aren’t you marrying Sera soon? What about her, with you and Valerie like this?” Liam answered, utterly unconcerned, “Valerie’s sick, and this is her last wish. As for Sera? As long as you guys keep your mouths shut, she’ll never find out. Even if she does, she loves me too much. She’ll get it. She won’t leave.” Valerie snuggled into Liam’s arms, nodding in agreement. “I’m so sorry to put you in this position, Liam, but I don’t have much time left. This is my last wish. I’m sure the kind Ms. Adams will understand.” The two kissed passionately amidst cheers from their friends. I scrambled away from the doorway, my heart in pieces. “Hello? Ms. Adams? Are you still there? Should we still change the name?” The old Sera would have been devastated, couldn’t have imagined a life without him. But that Sera? She’s dead and gone. “Change it. And while you’re at it, book the hall next door for me too. I’ll PayPal you the deposit in a bit. Just copy everything exactly.” “Oh, and make sure to change the groom’s name for this new booking. I’ll send you the name later.” The person on the other end paused. “So, the wedding date is still the same?” “Still the same.” I took a deep breath and hung up. Just then, Liam walked over, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind. “Sera, you look absolutely stunning today.” “Do I?” I looked at my reflection in the mirror. Yes, I was beautiful. But why was the man I’d loved for years, the one I was supposed to marry, abandoning me to marry another woman? “Absolutely beautiful. You’re the most gorgeous woman in the world.” Liam hesitated, then mumbled, “There’s something I need to discuss with you. I have something important on the first of next month. Could we… postpone our wedding?” “Something important?” I scoffed internally. His “something important” was marrying another woman! Not only that, he planned to use the venue I’d chosen, the date I’d picked, and keep me completely in the dark! “Fine. Postpone it.” My answer clearly surprised Liam, and a flicker of unease crossed his face. “I love you, Sera. I promise I’ll marry you. Just wait for me. I swear I’ll love you forever.” “Uh… something just came up at the company. I’ll see you at home.” Watching him rush off, I found his vows utterly laughable. He truly believed I loved him so much that I had no boundaries. That even if I knew he was marrying someone else, I wouldn’t leave him. But this time, he was wrong. I wouldn’t just leave. I would marry on the exact same day. Chapter 2 Back home, I started packing my belongings. I was halfway through when Liam returned. “Sera, I came straight home as soon as I finished up at the office. Miss me?” He pulled out a large bouquet of crimson roses and handed them to me. “I bought these just for you. I’m so sorry I couldn’t stay with you at the bridal shop. Forgive me, my love?” I nearly laughed out loud, seeing the roses already wilting slightly from lack of water. These were clearly the same flowers he’d grabbed from his proposal to Valerie. In his eyes, was I only good enough for his discarded proposal props? “What are you laughing at?” Seeing my smile, Liam looked a little flustered. “Nothing.” I took the bouquet, my gaze flickering, landing on a bright red lipstick stain on his collar. It was so stark, so obvious. I raised a hand and pointed to his collar. “Your shirt’s dirty.” Liam looked down, saw the mark Valerie had left when she kissed him, and his heart clenched. He stammered an explanation. “Oh, it… it must have gotten smudged somehow.” “Hmm.” I didn’t call him out. “Take it off. I’ll wash it for you.” “No, we have housekeepers. I couldn’t ask you to do it yourself.” “The housekeepers just throw things in the wash. I’ll do it properly.” Liam, thinking he’d dodged a bullet, quickly kissed me. “Sera, you’re the best.” I took the shirt, a bitter smile playing on my lips as I looked at the stain. The best? More like the easiest to trick. Perhaps I washed it with too much force, but his shirt ended up ripped. Liam didn’t seem to care. He just hugged me gently and said, “It’s fine, if it’s torn, just toss it. You can just buy me a new one.” He changed his shirt, but the scent of her perfume still lingered. I quirked my lips. “Aren’t some things better when they’re old?” “That’s true.” Liam nodded. “This shirt was really comfortable. Too bad you ruined it, or I could have worn it a few more times. You know, I’m a very loyal person.” He was a very loyal person, alright. So loyal that he still loved the girl he liked five years ago, even after she disappeared for five years and then came back. What about me? What did our five years together mean? Growing up, I never lacked admirers. After college, I applied for a job at Liam’s company. The moment I saw him, my heart was lost. But my pride kept me from making the first move. Somehow, Liam later fell for me and started pursuing me relentlessly. At first, I played hard to get, but then one day, there was a fire at the company. The fire alarm blared, sending everyone scrambling, but I was frozen stiff, paralyzed with fear. It was Liam who turned back, scooped me up, and carried me out of the burning building. In that moment, I knew. I wanted to be with him forever. Five years. Five long years. I’d never forgotten the day we got together. Liam swore to the heavens, “Sera, I promise you, I’ll only ever love you in this life.” Seeing Liam’s earnest face, I cried and said, “Liam Hayes, remember what you said today. If you ever betray me, I’ll marry another man and make you regret it bitterly!” Those vows still echoed in my ears, but his heart had already changed. No, perhaps his heart was never truly mine from the start. A sharp ache rose in my nose. I clutched the torn shirt, and tears I couldn’t hold back slipped down my cheeks. “What’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Seeing my tears, Liam panicked, quickly pulling out tissues to wipe them away. “I’m fine.” Liam was the one who betrayed me first. So I would keep my promise. I would marry another man! Chapter 3 After finally calming me down, Liam, as usual, leaned in to kiss me, but I pushed him away. He awkwardly cleared his throat, released me, and held out his hand for a gift. “Hey, what about that gift you promised me?” I told him to wait, went back to my room, and retrieved the wedding invitations Liam and I had picked out together. I grabbed a pen, crossed out the groom’s name, and wrote my name and Ryder Blackwood’s on it. Then, I put the invitation back in the box. Downstairs, I handed him the box. “What’s this?” Liam was curious and reached to open it, but I stopped him. “Open it on the first of next month.” At that date, Liam’s hand trembled. Wasn’t that the day he was supposed to marry Valerie? “Why?” “Because the first of next month was supposed to be our wedding day, right? A perfect day.” I smiled, taping the box shut. “Now that the wedding’s postponed, I’m giving you a big gift. You’ll be surprised.” “Great, I love surprises.” He playfully poked my nose and pulled me into a hug. “Sera, I’m so happy today.” Happy? The light in my eyes faded, just like those wilting roses he’d given me, silently dying. But Liam didn’t notice. What was he happy about? Probably that he successfully proposed to another woman, assuming I was none the wiser. That evening, Liam went to take a shower. I was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, when I accidentally saw a post on Ins from one of Liam’s friends. It was a video of Liam’s proposal to Valerie. The caption read: “The love we always envied has finally found its happily ever after. Let’s celebrate tonight at our usual spot.” I froze, about to tap on it, when a comment popped up below. [You actually posted this? Did you block Sera Adams?] The friend replied: [Do you think I’m stupid? Of course, I blocked her.] I looked at the comment, a mocking smile twisting my lips. When Liam and I first started dating, he introduced me to all his best friends. They called me “Liam’s girl” and treated me like family. They’d said, “Hey, Sera, if Liam ever messes with you, just tell me. I’ll beat him up!” “Yeah, Sera, don’t worry, we’ll keep an eye on him. He won’t be fooling around. If he ever finds another woman, we’ll be the first to tell you.” But now? They were all conspiring to help Liam keep the fact that he was marrying someone else a secret! In less than a second, the Ins post was deleted. Soon after, Liam emerged from the bathroom. “Sera, you—” He’d just washed his hair and hadn’t even dried it, rushing out in a panic. “What’s wrong?” I looked up at him, expressionless, as if I hadn’t seen anything. Seeing my lack of reaction, Liam visibly relaxed. “Nothing, just letting you know I’m done.” “Mm.” I got up. Just as I reached the door, I heard Liam on the phone with his friend. “Are you crazy? Delete that post right now! What if Sera sees it? I told you, she absolutely cannot know about this. Are you trying to get yourselves killed?” “Alright, alright, it’s deleted. Sera definitely didn’t see it. Anyway, you’re not coming to your own celebration? Valerie’s already here.” Chapter 4 Liam was still hesitating when I suddenly walked back in. “Who are you on the phone with?” “Oh, just Leo and the guys. They’re calling me out for a few drinks.” “Really? I haven’t seen them in ages. I’ll come along. I could use a drink too.” I wanted to see just how good their secret-keeping would be if I showed up. Liam tried every excuse to stop me, but nothing worked. He just anxiously fiddled with his phone, sending urgent messages to his friends. When we arrived at the bar’s private room, I immediately noticed Liam’s friends. All four men were sitting stiffly, politely sipping their drinks, not even having ordered any escorts. Seeing me, they all stood up in unison. “Evening, Sera! Don’t worry, tonight it’s just us guys. No one else.” I raised an eyebrow. “Meaning, I, a woman, shouldn’t be here?” They all froze, and Liam quickly squeezed my hand. “That’s not what they mean. They just don’t want you to be bored.” “I didn’t mean anything by it either. I just haven’t seen you guys in a while, and I wanted to grab a drink. Since it’s a guys’ night, I’ll just have one and head out.” With that, I picked up a glass from the table, drained it, and, pretending not to notice the fleeting smiles on their faces, turned to leave. Liam feigned reluctance and pulled me into a hug, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Alright, I’ll be home early. If you’re tired, just go to sleep. Don’t wait up for me.” I walked downstairs. I stood in a hidden spot around the corner for a moment, and sure enough, Valerie appeared. She strutted in on high heels, hips swaying, and quickly entered the private room. I stood by the door, able to clearly see everything inside. Valerie immediately settled herself onto Liam’s lap. “Seriously, why did you bring *her*? It meant I had to hide. You owe me that bag you showed me today as an apology.” Liam wrapped an arm around her, laughing. “I’ll buy you two.” Valerie giggled, hugging his strong waist and kissing him on the lips. “Ooh-la-la! You two are going to make us all so jealous! Valerie, you’re making us single guys green with envy!” “Oh, shut up, you guys! What’s there to be jealous of? Don’t you all have a few women around? Call them all! Let’s party!” Soon, they called over more women. Some were escorts, some played drinking games. A lively game of Truth or Dare began. And just my luck, Liam was the first one to get a penalty. A friend teased, “Liam, seriously, between Valerie and Sera, who do you like more?” Hearing the question, Valerie didn’t seem angry. Instead, she looked at him with a wide smile. “Be honest, now. Don’t just say it because I’m sick.” “Sera Adams.” Valerie’s face stiffened. “I’m right here!” Liam shrugged, completely unbothered. “I liked you too, but that was in the past. You were so resolute back then. Marrying you now is just to fulfill your wish because you’re sick. But Sera is the one I’ll spend the rest of my life with. We already agreed on all of this.” “Next time, don’t let this happen. Keep it quiet from Sera.” Sera is observant. If she knew he was messing around with another woman, she’d probably break up with him. But he couldn’t just ignore Valerie. She came back from abroad with a serious illness, and her last wish was to marry him. She was, after all, a woman he had deeply loved once. How could he possibly refuse her? As long as he kept it from Sera, once Valerie passed away, he would still marry Sera and take care of her for the rest of his life. That way, neither of them would get hurt. How perfect. Valerie buried her face in his chest, gritting her teeth, pretending to be nonchalant. “I don’t mind. I was the one who left you first. I’m just happy you’re spending this time with me.” “I love Liam, and I don’t want to hurt his girlfriend, so everyone, please keep this a secret for Liam!” I stood outside the door, utterly stunned, all the color drained from my face. Their words were like sharp blades, cutting into my heart, one after another. My insides felt like they were bleeding, twisted into raw knots of pain. Hearing Liam’s choice, I felt nothing but disgust. I wanted to vomit. I truly hadn’t realized that the man I’d loved for five whole years was rotten to the core! I leaned against the wall, trembling uncontrollably, the pain intense. All the strength drained from my body, and I slowly sank to the floor. It took a long time to recover. I slowly stood up, my eyes vacant, and started walking downstairs. After only a few steps, I couldn’t hold on any longer, passed out, and tumbled down the stairs. Chapter 5 “Help! Someone fell down the stairs!” Voices echoed in my ears, and then, a crowd gathered. Before my eyes closed completely, I saw Liam and his friends. They were leaving the bar, one by one. They glanced indifferently at the commotion and walked away.

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My best friend and I got married at the same time, both joining the same powerful family. She married the rising media mogul, Noah Hayes. I married the hotshot CEO, Liam Hayes. But as sisters-in-law, our married lives were anything but happy. Her husband, who she’d once saved, was constantly rumored to be secretly bankrolling models and influencers. And my husband? He was a notorious playboy, always surrounded by women. So, Chloe and I just looked at each other. “Divorce!” “Done! Let’s do it together!” Tossing our divorce papers aside, Chloe and I felt utterly liberated. We grabbed a crew of handsome bodyguards and headed out to paint the town red. So they like playing with a constant parade of women? Well, I can play too! Everyone said the two Hayes brothers were seasoned players, keeping up appearances at home while juggling countless affairs on the side. And they were right. For instance, one day I went to see Liam, only to be stopped and humiliated by his assistant, Scarlett. She claimed I was constantly spoiled and arrogant, and that the CEO had long since forbidden me from entering the company. Right after that, Chloe went to see Noah and was blocked at the door by one of his junior models, Mia. Mia went on and on about how Chloe and Noah were totally mismatched, gloating that we should watch how Noah was going to turn her into a top star. I immediately tried to call Liam, again and again, but he never picked up. It was the same for Chloe. Those two really were brothers; they ignored our calls and read our messages without replying. I remembered all the rumors from our circle over the years. People whispered that both brothers already had someone special in their hearts, but because those women weren’t as prominent as Chloe and me, they couldn’t marry into the family. So they married us to fill the void, which was why they’d been so cold to us after the weddings. What’s worse, these rumors were often used by other women to humiliate us, and Liam and Noah knew about it. But they never denied it; instead, they tacitly allowed those women to get away with it. After being humiliated by Mia, Chloe and I coincidentally ran into each other back at the Hayes mansion. We exchanged a look, and the same thought clicked in both our minds. I stated firmly, “I want a divorce!” “Do it! If you’re divorcing, I’m divorcing too!” As a pampered princess who’d been showered with love and attention since childhood, the biggest slights I’d ever endured were after getting married. The attitudes of the people around our husbands reflected exactly how those men truly felt about us. Because they didn’t value us, the people around them felt free to be disrespectful. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, you know. It’s not like we can’t survive without them.” We were fuming, but we hadn’t completely lost our minds. I quietly contacted a lawyer, while Chloe researched travel destinations. For the rest of the time, we laid low, waiting for the perfect moment. That evening, Liam finally came home, carrying a bottle of my favorite perfume. He acted as if nothing was wrong, sticking to me like glue. Every now and then, he’d complain about how exhausting his day at the office had been, how difficult the new hires were… Then his hands moved to my head, gently massaging it. His voice and expression showed no sign of anything amiss. But what he didn’t know was that I knew him too well; whenever he felt guilty, his ears would turn an extra shade of red. He was testing the waters, trying to see if I was angry. If he’d just been direct and explained himself, maybe I wouldn’t have been so mad. But he had to try and cover his tracks, only making it more glaringly obvious. People really do change. Even if we truly loved each other, it changes. No exceptions. That night, listening to his breathing beside me, I couldn’t sleep a wink. In the pitch black, I stared at the silhouette of the chandelier on the ceiling, a bitter ache throbbing in my heart.

Liam and I were college classmates. We were both studying in the business school. Not only were our families equally powerful, but we’d also fallen for each other over time, always competing for the top spot in school. In the end, our relationship blossomed into marriage, forming a true power couple. Even after we graduated, our story became a legend on campus. Everyone said Liam and I were the perfect match. I used to believe that too. But after we got married, I realized I was wrong. He was always surrounded by a constant parade of women: today it was a business partner, yesterday it was his assistant, and the day before that, countless others… Though there was never any “substantive” relationship, he treated them like “confidantes,” and that was enough to make me sick. It wasn’t that I hadn’t confronted him, but every time, he’d address my concerns with a lot of talk, but never actually resolve anything. “They’re just work contacts.” “Don’t overthink it…” “You know, Riley, you’re the only one for me…” “I’m exhausted, let’s not talk about this anymore.” He always had a lot to say, but he never once truly solved the problem. If I wasn’t his only one, then I refused to be just one of many. So, the next morning, Chloe and I started preparing for our planned trip. While we were out shopping for essentials, we ran right into Mia, Noah’s junior model. She was picking out jewelry, and when she saw Chloe and me, her smile was laced with challenge. “Chloe, did you two fight after you went home last time?” “I might have been a bit aggressive with my words last time. Please don’t be angry, big sis. Men are busy building their careers out there, so we women should be more sensible. Otherwise, when we get older and our looks fade, we might just get replaced by someone younger and prettier.” “Especially since Mr. Hayes has so many young models and influencers under his wing.” Her implication was clear: Chloe was old. And there was an even deeper meaning: that “we women” part sounded like she was hinting at some “other” relationship with Noah. That was the last straw! Chloe, with her fiery temper, was ready to jump in and physically confront her the moment Mia finished speaking. But I couldn’t let her do something that would leave a paper trail. I stepped in first, giving Mia a resounding slap across the face. “What? You think being a mistress gives you a superiority complex?” “Daring to provoke the actual wife right to her face – which sugar daddy gave you that much audacity?” I watched her eyes flutter back for a split second, and the tears welling up, and I knew she was hiding something. Sure enough, right after I slapped her, I heard footsteps behind us. Chloe and I turned to see Noah. He didn’t even glance at Chloe. He walked straight to Mia’s side, saw her swollen red cheek, and then turned to look at me, his face filled with anger. “My brother must have spoiled you rotten, making you so lawless.” Chloe, worried I’d clash with him head-on, quickly stepped in front of me. “This isn’t Riley’s fault, she started it, you—” Her words were cut off mid-sentence. “You’re still defending her? Can’t I tell right from wrong myself?” “What’s gotten into both of you? No wonder my brother’s so disappointed.” What’s gotten into us? Hearing his accusing tone, even speaking for Liam’s “disappointment,” my anger flared even more. If I wasn’t so outnumbered, I would’ve gladly slapped him too. Chloe was even angrier than me, and her grip on my hand tightened. “Noah Hayes, if you have eyes and aren’t using them, why don’t you donate them?” “Before we got married, you could tell when I was upset just by looking at me. Now that you’ve got people under your wing, you see me being bullied and just dismiss it as me ‘playing around’!” Noah paused for a moment, his tone softening slightly. “Talk to me properly.” Chloe took a deep breath. She pointed at Mia’s nose. “Fine. Fire her, and I’ll talk to you properly.” “After all, it’d be more convenient for you. You can keep her at home after you fire her, stashing her away like a secret mistress, right—” The next second, a loud smack echoed, stinging my ears. Noah had heavily slapped Chloe’s hand away. “Shut up! Don’t project your filthy thoughts onto others!” Noah hadn’t held back at all, and Chloe’s hand instantly turned red and swollen. He looked at it, his eyes momentarily wide with shock. He started to open his mouth to explain, but then he seemed to think of something and swallowed his words. “If you keep acting this childish, we’ll get a divorce.” “And you, Riley, you’d better listen to my brother.” With that, he left with Mia. Chloe watched their retreating backs, and tears streamed down her face. She buried her face in my shoulder, sobbing, her tears quickly soaking my top. She choked out, “But he wasn’t like this before, was he?” “How could he change so suddenly?” Chloe and Noah had known each other even longer. They were childhood sweethearts. Chloe had even taken a knife for him once. Back in high school, the Hayes family was targeted for revenge, and the attackers went straight for Noah, who was still a student. Chloe felt something was off and insisted on walking with him. Later, on the way, she realized the danger, and quietly called the police. When the police arrived and busted the kidnappers, one of them, unnoticed for a moment, lunged at Noah with a knife. Chloe blocked it, and because of that, her hand could never hold a paintbrush steady again. From then on, Noah became extra clingy with Chloe. He got a little better as they grew up, not openly clinging, but subtly pursuing her. He’d quietly close in. He even secretly stopped boys from confessing their feelings to Chloe. Liam told me all this later. I used to think their relationship would be even more solid than Liam’s and mine. After all, they had a “beauty saves the hero” story with life-or-death stakes. But her love story, just like mine, had rotted away.

I comforted Chloe, and we continued buying our supplies. When we returned to the Hayes mansion, laden with bags, Maria, the housekeeper, curiously asked what we were doing. I brushed her off, saying we were going on a trip. My legal team had already discreetly prepared our divorce agreements. Both Chloe and I wanted a clean break. As for half of the marital assets, we couldn’t care less; we just wanted it over with quickly. Married cleanly, leaving cleanly. Not taking a single thing that made me sick to my stomach. After exchanging a glance, we each called our families, simply explaining the state of our marriages. Chloe and I got along so well, partly because our family backgrounds were similar, and partly because we were both the youngest daughters in our families, showered with immense love. My family had an older brother in addition to me. My brother, Dylan, listened to my reasons for wanting out and exploded with anger. “Liam Hayes, that rotten bastard! Next time I see him, I’ll break his legs. Good for you for divorcing! I support you wholeheartedly.” After hanging up, I signed the divorce papers and left them on the bedroom table. Then, Chloe and I got busy. I packed up all my personal belongings that I could take. Anything I couldn’t pack, I arranged for my family’s driver to pick up. By the time the Hayes housekeeper realized something was amiss, Chloe and I were already walking out the door with our suitcases. Just before boarding our flight to France, my brother called again. “I’ve got a surprise for you, sis! I guarantee you’ll be thrilled!” Hearing his mysterious tone, I was incredibly curious. Later, I found out that Dylan had arranged a team of handsome bodyguards for Chloe and me, and they were all incredibly well-built. Hmm, I was indeed very satisfied! Men like to play with a constant parade of women, right? Well, I can have hot guys travel with me…

The moment Chloe and I landed and turned on our phones, we were bombarded with countless missed calls. Some from Liam, some from his brother. But I ignored them all. I blocked both their numbers, just like they had done to us. After a night’s rest at the hotel, the bodyguard team Dylan arranged arrived. They were indeed the type to make your heart pound! There were the “wolf-dog” types, the “puppy-dog” types, the “aloof and cool” types… Their looks were no worse than the Hayes brothers, and they had something more: They were obedient. Not only were they professional bodyguards, but they could also double as local tour guides. When we went shopping, they’d even carry our bags – a small gesture Liam hadn’t done for me in years. But what truly captivated me was how sweet-talking they were. “Miss Riley, you should try the local cuisine here. If you don’t like it, I can personally cook for you. I’d be happy to prepare your meals for the duration of your trip.” “Miss Chloe, you seem a bit tired recently. I know a little about traditional remedies. If you trust me, I can help you with a regimen.” “Or if you have anything bothering you, please don’t hesitate to tell me…” They were thoughtful and comprehensive in every aspect. So much better than those two useless brothers. While eating at a famous viral restaurant, we even stumbled upon Mia’s livestream. It infuriated Chloe so much she decided right then and there to start her own livestream, create an account, and see what she was missing. After deciding on a title, Chloe found the perfect lighting and, with me by her side, started broadcasting. I have to admit, with a media mogul for a husband, Chloe was quite professional in this area. She brought out a few of the high-value bodyguards, drawing in more and more viewers to the livestream. Since it was a platform popular in our home country, most of the audience were Chinese-speaking viewers. Chloe and I chatted with them, introducing the restaurant’s signature dishes. We were having a great time. Until a few unfriendly foreign users approached us during our meal. They saw Chloe and me, walked straight over, and started to flirt offensively. When we rejected them, they didn’t care what we were doing; they just got angry and rushed towards us. One of them actually reached out and touched my face. Another even tried to slip his hand under my clothes. Their greasy faces suddenly made Liam look handsome. My mood, which had been perfectly fine, was ruined by these jerks. I immediately had Chloe point the livestream camera at them. Then I smiled at them, and replied in English: “I will report this to the embassy. If I don’t receive a proper apology, I will pursue this matter to the fullest extent.” Their faces changed instantly. They tried to threaten us. But they hadn’t even finished the thought before our bodyguards stepped in. The men seemed flustered; they hadn’t expected us to have so many people. And that’s when they finally noticed we were livestreaming. They clearly didn’t want to get into trouble with our country’s embassy, knowing how fiercely protective they are of their citizens. So, they apologized to us. The one who had touched me was even punched by his friends as a lesson. Only then was the matter settled. Back in the livestream, the comments section was even more active. “OMG, these ladies are absolutely owning it abroad!” “Totally! They messed with the wrong women!”

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Eight months pregnant, my husband, Blake, a federal agent, finally carved out some time to join me for my prenatal check-up. But just as we stepped into the hospital, his secure, encrypted phone vibrated urgently. The caller’s name flashed for a split second, and my usually composed husband instantly panicked. “Darling, urgent red alert. Another international fugitive just crossed the border. I… I’m so sorry…” He was frantic, with an undeniable, commanding air, quickly apologizing before rushing out. As I watched his SUV speed away, my nails had already dug into the prenatal report, crumpling it beyond recognition. I hailed a cab, heavily pregnant, and quickly ordered, “Driver, follow that car.” Ha, a “red notice” fugitive? That’s a hilarious lie. My dad’s National Security Agency hasn’t even been notified. What ‘top-priority criminal’ could *he*, a mere inspector assisting with cases, possibly need to catch? I was going to find out exactly which ‘boss’ was so desperate to ‘give him orders.’

I’d barely uttered the words “catching a cheat” before the driver slammed the accelerator, chasing after Blake. I didn’t know who Blake was rushing off to see, but a gut feeling gnawed at me. To my surprise, after several twists and turns, the car pulled up to the entrance of the police department’s private residential compound. I let out a long breath of relief. At least it wasn’t a hotel. This was where the force housed its high-ranking officers; Blake even had a villa here. Before my first pregnancy, I’d lived here for a few months, and the neighbors were all lovely. But now, from a distance, I saw a throng of luxury cars and festive decorations around my house. I was puzzled. Was today some special occasion? Just as I was about to follow him in, a security guard stopped me. “This is a private residential area for officers. No unauthorized personnel.” I paused, then explained with a smile, “I just went in. I’m Officer Blake’s wife.” To my shock, the guard looked at me with open disdain. “Officer Blake’s wife is Mrs. Seraphina. Who are you? You should really check your facts before you impersonate someone.” My body froze instantly. Seraphina. The ‘living blood bank’ Blake had arranged for me… Snapping back to reality, ignoring the guard’s protests, I stormed toward the villa’s entrance, my pregnant belly pushing forward. Inside the grand hall, it was packed with elegant guests, influential figures, their laughter and chatter echoing loudly. My mother-in-law, Brenda, who usually avoided social gatherings, was uncharacteristically circulating and networking. And my husband, Blake, for the first time ever, was holding a baby and feeding it, laughing blissfully with the petite woman beside him. That woman was Seraphina… In that instant, my chest felt like it was being crushed by a giant hand, stealing my breath. Tears streamed down my face, uncontrollable. During my first pregnancy, Blake had been worried about complications due to my rare Rh-negative blood type during delivery. He’d searched nationwide to find me a ‘living blood bank’ – who was then Seraphina, a student struggling financially. After our baby was born, he said he’d send her away. Out of compassion, I’d intervened, letting Seraphina stay and work as a clerk at the police department. I even often asked Blake to bring her supplements. But I never imagined Blake would cheat on me with her, let alone bring her here to live. This villa was the marital home he’d meticulously decorated for me after his promotion to commissioner. It was just too far from the hospital, and after I got pregnant, Blake, ever so cautious, bought a new house near the city hospital and we moved out. I never thought it would become *their* ‘marital’ home, complete with a child. “Congratulations, Commissioner Blake! Your wife is virtuous, and now you have a newborn son. Truly a winner in life!” “Oh, Seraphina is so lucky to have chosen a husband as doting as Blake. I’m simply green with envy!” The Deputy Commissioner’s wife gushed, patting Brenda’s hand. Brenda’s eyes gleamed with evident satisfaction as she looked at Seraphina, boasting, “It’s my Blake’s good fortune to marry such a wonderful daughter-in-law as Seraphina.” As she spoke, Blake, without shying away from the crowd, intimately leaned in and whispered something into Seraphina’s ear. Seraphina blushed shyly, then raised her glass to the crowd. “I was worried it might affect Blake’s reputation at the force, which is why we didn’t announce it publicly. Please don’t mind us, everyone.” “Today is our baby’s hundred-day celebration. Please drink up, consider it our wedding reception!” Seeing Seraphina handle the situation so gracefully, everyone laughed and offered their congratulations. “How could we possibly mind the Commissioner’s wife? We should be wishing you a happy belated wedding!” “I say, why don’t you two pretend to be the bride and groom again today and have a cross-armed toast!” Blake’s subordinates immediately started cheering, and the party atmosphere instantly soared. Seraphina feigned embarrassment and tried to back away, but Blake smoothly wrapped an arm around her waist, interlocking their arms for the toast. Just as he was about to drink, his eyes suddenly met mine at the doorway. The man abruptly pushed the woman away, startling Seraphina so much that she was drenched in red wine. “Skylar…” Wiping away the tears blurring my vision, I rushed forward, my heavily pregnant belly leading the way, and slapped him. “Slap!” The sharp sound echoed through the silent hall. “Blake!” Seraphina’s eyes rolled, and she lunged at Blake, screaming at me hysterically, “Skylar! How dare you—” “Slap—!” Another stinging slap landed. Seraphina’s face instantly swelled red on one side, and she stumbled backward into Blake’s arms, sobbing piteously. I shook my stinging palm. “Skylar…” Blake instantly reacted, roaring at me. “BLAKE—!” But my voice was even louder. I turned my head, my eyes cold and fixed on him. “THIS is your ‘red notice fugitive’!!”

Blake instantly fell silent, his mouth opening and closing, but no words came out. The numerous high-ranking officials and their families present were utterly stunned, oblivious to what was happening. In the frozen atmosphere, a baby’s cry suddenly jolted everyone. Brenda quickly took the baby to soothe him, then immediately turned her wrath on me. “Skylar! You crazy woman, you’re divorced, how dare you still come here to harass my son! Get out of here if you know what’s good for you, or if you offend some important official, you’ll end up in jail!” Mrs. Thompson then added, sharply, “No, even if you are Commissioner Blake’s ex-wife, you can’t just assault someone in public! Seriously, this is assaulting an officer!” As soon as my identity was revealed, the hall erupted. The crowd clamored about locking me up and teaching me a lesson. But I frowned, grabbing Blake’s collar, about to demand why I, his legitimate wife, had suddenly become his ex-wife. Seraphina, however, quickly burrowed into Blake’s arms, her eyes welling up with tears, on the verge of sobbing as she looked at me. “Sister Skylar… Blake has already divorced you. Why do you still keep bothering us…?” Her tears streamed down relentlessly, almost performatively. “It’s all my fault. I’ll give Blake back to you, okay…?” At her words, Blake’s face abruptly darkened. He suppressed his rage and snapped at me, “Skylar! I told you I’m not getting back together with you! Stop harassing us!” “Get out before I lose my patience! I don’t have time for this!” With that, Blake gestured, and several police officers rushed forward to forcibly escort me out. As I struggled, I stumbled, bumping into Brenda. But the moment I glimpsed the baby’s face in her arms, I felt like I’d been struck by lightning! The baby Brenda was holding, supposedly Seraphina’s child, was my Leo, my firstborn, whom I’d labored for seven agonizing hours to bring into the world! But my baby had died three months ago, and Blake himself had cremated him— Blake… My breath hitched, a wave of intense pain surging in my eyes. Goddamn Blake! He faked our child’s death to give him to Seraphina to raise! “Give me back my child! He’s my Leo!” My teeth clenched, grinding audibly, I snatched the swaddled baby, shoving Brenda aside. I gently cooed to the crying infant, my heart aching, tears streaming down my face. Seraphina suddenly panicked, crying as she lunged to snatch the baby back. Her voice was choked and trembling: “Skylar, he’s not your child!” “I know Leo died, and you’ve gone mad with grief. Even after the divorce, you kept harassing Blake to have another baby…” “I pitied your loss and was lenient with you, but you can’t steal my child!” “Please, I beg you, leave our family alone… I can divorce Blake, just please give me back the baby!” At her words, Blake’s expression tightened with pain. He tightly gripped Seraphina’s shoulders, warning her, “Seraphina, I forbid it!” “Don’t even think about divorce. No one can break up our family of three.” “What about me?!” I roared, cutting him off. Watching the two of them passionately declare their love, I pointed to my heavily pregnant belly, speaking each word to the man. “Blake, I’m carrying your child. Cheating on me right in front of my face, and calling me your ex-wife – aren’t you disgusted with yourself?!” His Adam’s apple bobbed. He looked at me, his eyes evasive. Seraphina’s tears instantly flowed harder, as if she’d suffered the greatest injustice. She turned to the guests, sobbing. “I’m so sorry, everyone. Sister Skylar is Blake’s ex-wife. After she suffered a difficult labor and lost her child, she went mad.” “Later, she kept pestering Blake to have a baby. When he refused, she found a bunch of lowlifes to… to conceive a child…” “Blake, out of lingering affection, often looked after her, but I never thought she would try to force him to acknowledge an illegitimate child, and… and threaten us to divorce…” Her words instantly ignited the anger of the crowd. The wealthy women immediately sneered and shouted, “Crazy whore, she’s trying to claim it all! Someone! Get this hussy out of here now!” Cradling the baby in my arms, I let out a cold laugh, utterly furious. My gaze turned to Seraphina, cold as ice. “Who’s the one playing innocent while being a whore, Seraphina? Don’t you have any self-awareness? Do I need to remind you how much you sold one milliliter of your blood for?” “Wasn’t it you who took thirty million from me, then knelt before me, begging for a stable, secure job?” Seraphina’s face grew paler and paler as I spoke, but I didn’t stop. “What, did Blake not pay you enough for keeping you? So you’re coming to smash my bowl now?” “You, a mistress, trying to play the part of the legitimate wife – doesn’t your face hurt from all that pretense?” Before I could finish, my heavily pregnant belly was abruptly struck, sending me stumbling.

“You’re the mistress who broke up my son’s family!” Brenda’s shrill voice screeched. My back slammed hard against the wall, and my entire abdomen clenched with sudden, agonizing pain. She snatched the baby from my arms, handing him to Seraphina. Immediately, the police officers present also swelled with indignation. “Exactly, everyone at the force knows Blake and his wife are a couple!” “If it weren’t for his wife providing clues, solving so many major cases, how could Commissioner Blake have been promoted so quickly?” “You, his useless ex-wife, only dragged Blake down. Your face should be hurting!” Providing clues? Solving cases and getting promoted? Didn’t *I* help Blake achieve all of that? Not only did he steal my identity, but he was even shamelessly attributing all my achievements to Seraphina. Giving her a prestigious, honorable facade. Why?! “Exactly! Even if you’re mentally ill, interfering with an officer’s marriage is a crime!” “You loose woman, stop pretending to be Mrs. Blake and dirtying our eyes. It’s a good thing Commissioner Blake is kind-hearted; if it were me, I would have already…” Malicious insults echoed endlessly around me. Amidst this chilling verbal assault, my face pale, I looked at the man who stood aloof, keeping his distance. “Blake.” My voice was weak. “You tell them… how did you truly get your position as commissioner?” Blake’s fingers clenched abruptly. He turned his head, looking at me coldly, a rare flicker of hatred surfacing in his usually indifferent eyes. I laughed. “You said the front lines were too dangerous, that you didn’t want to risk your life and just wanted to stay safely in the rear. I agreed.” “After we got engaged, you said your rank was too low, that you weren’t worthy of me, so I went and begged my dad.” “You complained that cases were too complicated, too hard to solve. I worked day and night, sacrificing sleep and meals, to give you clues. And this is how you—” “Enough!” Blake roared suddenly. He strode forward and grabbed my throat, his eyes bloodshot and ferocious as he screamed at me. “You’re lying! Everything I have today, I earned myself! What does it have to do with a failure like you?!” My neck screamed in pain, the intense feeling of suffocation instantly blackening my vision, my face swelling purple with congested blood. But my resolute words had provoked Blake’s sudden fury. The high-ranking officials and noblewomen, witnessing this, began to whisper, as if they had uncovered something. Seeing this, a dark glint flashed in Seraphina’s eyes. Cradling the baby, she dropped to her knees with a thud, crying mournfully. “Sister Skylar, I’ve tolerated your crazy ramblings on normal days.” “But in a setting like this, if you talk nonsense, you’ll truly ruin Blake’s future!” “I beg you, sister, I’ll kowtow to you, just please stop acting insane! Okay…?” She shuffled forward a few steps on her knees, gripping my pant leg, bowing low as if to repeatedly hit her head on the ground. Blake gasped, the hand clamped on my throat instantly loosening. He knelt to help her up. But the next second, Seraphina, still holding my leg, flung herself backward, falling to the ground. At the same time, she screamed. “Ah—! Sister Skylar, you’ll kill me with your kicking!” Before I could react, the next instant, Blake’s hysterical slap came down hard. “Skylar! You ungrateful bitch!” A dull ache flared on my right cheek. I instinctively tried to retaliate, but Brenda brutally kicked me in my lower back. Caught off guard, I was sent flying into a display cabinet. As I stumbled and fell, an excruciating pain ripped through my abdomen. A gush of crimson blood flowed down my legs. My spot on the floor was instantly drenched in red. I lay sprawled in a pool of blood, my entire body aching as if it had been torn apart. “My belly… Blake… my belly hurts…” Tears of blood welled in my eyes, and I reached out to Blake for help. But above me, Brenda’s foot brutally stomped on my hand, the pain making my bones feel like they would shatter. “Whore! Stop faking it! My son won’t be threatened by you!” My vision blurred with tears, my lips trembling. “Blake… I’m not faking… please… take me to the hospital…” But Blake didn’t even turn to look at me. He was carefully protecting Seraphina, his voice cold and heartless. “Enough! Skylar, stop pretending and apologize to Seraphina!” “Always using the baby as an excuse, do you really think I’ll believe you?!” With that, Blake angrily turned his head, but when his eyes suddenly caught sight of the blood beneath me, The disgust on his face instantly crumbled, subtly revealing a flicker of fear. Blake knew who I was; he absolutely couldn’t just stand by and let me die. Staring intently into Blake’s panicked eyes, I forced back the gut-wrenching pain, gritting my teeth as I spoke to him. “BLAKE! If anything happens to the child in my belly! YOU! His own father!” “Will be his killer!” “My dad, my brother, they will make your entire Blake family pay! Hurry! Get me to a hospital!”

Watching my words, each one bursting from my throat, filled with fury, The doubts among the high-ranking officials and powerful figures in the crowd grew even stronger. “Could it be… Skylar is actually the legitimate wife? And the mistress is Seraphina, hmm… no wonder they didn’t make their marriage public…” “Look at how guilty Blake’s eyes are when he looks at her belly. That child could very well be his…” The murmurs in the banquet hall grew louder, making Blake’s face look even more uneasy. Feeling the increasingly faint heartbeat in my womb, I didn’t want to get tangled up with them anymore; I just wanted to leave this place. “Blake! Now, give me back Leo, and take me to the hospital immediately. As long as the baby is fine, I won’t hold today against you.” “We’ll get a peaceful div—orce.” But before I could finish, Brenda smashed a wine glass against my head. The shattered glass instantly cut my cheek. Her roar thundered, “Shut up! Who would believe a lunatic like you!” “Let me be clear, Seraphina is my Blake family’s lawfully wedded daughter-in-law!” “She’s recognized by law!” With that, she rummaged through Seraphina’s bag, pulled out two brand new marriage certificates, flashed them to everyone, Then sneered and viciously threw them at my face. The entire hall gasped again, then quickly turned against me, calling me a madwoman and a venomous bitch. And when I finally clearly saw Blake and Seraphina’s names in the spouse section, along with that鲜red official stamp, my mind buzzed with a deafening hum. Then I suddenly laughed, finally understanding why Blake had always used ‘concern’ as an excuse not to let me move back into the villa compound these past few years. Turns out… I was the mistress he kept on the side. It seemed Seraphina had hooked Blake a long time ago, and I was the biggest fool of all. My laughter grew louder and louder. My body suddenly spasmed, and I coughed up a mouthful of stagnant blood. The fresh blood from below also gushed out more heavily. Blake’s body instantly trembled. He pushed Seraphina away, reaching out to touch my belly. “Sky… Skylar… I… I didn’t mean…” Seeing Blake soften, Seraphina’s eyes instantly turned venomous. She pointed a trembling finger at the blood continuously gushing from beneath me. “Sister Skylar, the color of your blood isn’t normal. Are you perhaps using fake blood packets to deliberately get revenge on Blake?” Her voice was choked, but perfectly timed. “Sister Skylar… please, truly, don’t do this anymore. Think of the baby in your belly…” With that, she leaned closer, cradling the child, her voice barely a whisper. “Skylar, you don’t know, do you? Leo was mine from the very beginning… I just let you raise him for a few days.” “As for your child… hehe.” She gave me a wicked smile. My ears rang, and my entire body froze instantly. I looked at the face of the infant in her arms. What… this child, was Seraphina’s? Then what about my child? “What did you do to my child?!” Snapping back to reality, I lunged at her like a madwoman, grabbing her and tearing at her with all my might. “Seraphina, you bitch! What did you do to Leo?! Give me back my child!” Seraphina screamed for help in terror. “Blake, sister… she’s going to kill me…” But in her eyes, there was no hiding the calculation. “Skylar! What fresh hell are you stirring up now?!” Blake’s face contorted. He roughly pulled Seraphina away, then furiously kicked me in my pregnant belly. I was sent sprawling against the wall. Immediately, a sharp tearing pain erupted from below, and large amounts of fresh blood poured out. A soul-shattering agony ripped through my swollen abdomen. It felt as if every nerve cell in my body was being tightly squeezed by tiny hands. My intestines felt like they were being ripped apart. But what hurt more than my body was Blake’s face, distorted like a demon’s in the bloody haze, and the words he uttered. “How dare you hurt Seraphina! You forced my hand!” “Guards! Strip her clothes off in front of everyone! Let me see how many blood packets she’s hiding!” “Blake, you wouldn’t dare!” I coughed violently, my bloodied mouth screaming. “Watch me!” At his words, those few officers were the first to jump forward. They forcefully and brutally tore at my clothes. “You damn whore, provoking his wife! Being stripped naked is what you deserve!” Countless hands moved over my body. “Get off me!” Pain, shame, humiliation—an unprecedented despair washed over me. My voice was hoarse. “I am Director Miller’s daughter from the National Security Agency! How dare you…” The people present burst into laughter. The Deputy Commissioner’s wife sneered sarcastically, “Do you think we’re stupid? Everyone in the circles knows Director Miller only has one son, where would he get a daughter?” “Truly a fool’s self-inflicted misery! Hurry up and pull out your blood packets! Who even wants to see your naked body, anyway!” Those officers echoed disgustedly. “Do insane people really make up such ridiculous lies?” “If you’re Director Miller’s daughter, then I’m the King of the World!” The thrumming in my belly was growing weaker and weaker. I struggled, still trying to shout, “Bastards! I am—” But the next second, Blake clamped his hand over my mouth. He looked down at me, his eyes full of warning. “You’re not! Director Miller doesn’t have a crazy daughter like you!” “Skylar, you still have the strength to talk back and argue, so I guess your belly is fine!” “Hurry up and strip her, find the blood packets, then lock her in the basement for a good long reflection!” The men chuckled obscenely. My thin summer dress was ripped with a loud tear, exposing my skin. I bit down hard, clutching the last piece of fabric to cover my body. But the large hands still came at me ruthlessly. My heart instantly sank to the depths. And the next second, “Stop!” A sharp, resonant voice cut through the air. “Touch my daughter, Director Miller’s daughter, one more time, I dare you!”

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In my past life, Lily, Ethan’s adopted sister, burst into our engagement party naked, kneeling and begging me. “Sister-in-law, I’m so sorry! I won’t chase after my brother anymore. Please forgive me, I don’t want to sleep with those old men again!” Ethan firmly defended me and kicked her out. But on our wedding day, with all our family and friends gathered and the city’s elites in attendance, he played videos of different men entering my room and being intimate with me every night. My father, a respected doctor who had saved countless lives, coughed up blood in shock. My mother rushed to turn it off, but Ethan smashed the remote, his eyes full of contempt. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Johnson, but my family has strict standards. I can’t marry someone who’s been passed around like a public bus.” My father collapsed and died on the spot. My mother silently took me home and turned on the gas. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day I confessed to Ethan. The next moment, I saw his eyes swirling with complex emotions. I knew then – he had been reborn too. 0

In the dim private room, my friends’ teasing words echoed around me. “Hey, Aria’s here! Ethan’s over here! Make way for Aria!” Everyone’s gaze darted between Ethan and me suggestively. He sat on the couch, staring at me intently. Those eyes were so deep and loving, as if they could only contain me. I clutched the bouquet of his favorite irises, my palms sweating. Looking at these familiar faces, I belatedly realized I had been reborn. The burned skin from my past life still ached faintly. It took me a while to lift my head. My gaze fell on the man I had loved for eight years. Suppressing the urge to rush over and tear him apart, I spoke coldly. “You’ve misunderstood. I’m not here to confess to him.” Ethan’s face was full of shock. He pressed his lips together tightly, a flash of pain crossing his eyes. My friends were also stunned. They looked at him, then at me, joking: “There are only two guys here today – Ethan and Henry. Don’t tell me we got it wrong and you actually like Henry?” The man drinking quietly in the corner suddenly looked up at me, his grey eyes instantly brightening with a glimmer of hope. Ethan clenched his fists, staring at me intently. Everyone was waiting for my answer. I curled my lips, flashing Henry a gentle smile. His Adam’s apple bobbed unconsciously as he stood and walked towards me. But just as he was about to get close, I shifted my gaze away. “Who says flowers can only be given to others? I bought these simply to please myself.” Ethan let out a subtle sigh of relief. Henry’s figure instantly froze, rooted to the spot. I apologized to my friends and was about to leave when I suddenly heard Ethan speak coldly. “Aria Johnson, do you have to ruin everyone’s mood like this?” I couldn’t help but shudder, meeting those reproachful eyes. This was the expression only the 28-year-old Ethan would have. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind – he must have been reborn too. The next second, I walked up to him. He frowned at me. “Realized your mistake? If you drink three glasses as punishment, we can forget about this…” Before he could finish, I used the flowers to violently smack his face, leaving small cuts. “Aria Johnson! Have you gone mad?” he shouted. One of my friends came over to pull me back, saying we used to be so close, and even if he made a mistake, I shouldn’t embarrass him like this. I just found it laughable. If he thought this was embarrassing, he had no idea what was coming. “Ethan Pierce, you deserved that.” I shook off my friend’s hand and walked out. How nice. Dealing with him at this age might give me some psychological burden. But if it was the 28-year-old him, I wouldn’t need to hold back at all. 0

At the bar entrance, I lowered my head to call a ride. A drunk person walking by almost bumped into me. At that moment, someone wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me aside. Henry held me protectively and said to the drunk person with displeasure: “Watch where you’re going!” I pushed him away, my face cold. “What are you doing here?” He pressed his lips together, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. Just as I was about to turn and leave, having run out of patience, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “Aria, do you… not like Ethan anymore? Then… would you consider giving me a chance?” He seemed to have mustered great courage, the tips of his ears turning bright red. But in my heart, I felt nothing but endless irritation. “No.” Ethan wasn’t a good person, so how could his friend be any better? Rotten people surround themselves with other rotten people. On the way home, I leaned against the car window, letting the breeze blow over me. The one with reddened eyes and a dejected expression after being rejected was Henry. But on my wedding day, when I was being humiliated, the one calmly enjoying his wine without a care was also him. Although the men’s faces in the surveillance videos were blurred, I could still recognize Henry at a glance. We had grown up together, and I was all too familiar with his build. On how many nights had he pulled me down into depravity? I had even suspected sometimes that the person beside me was him, but I always quickly dismissed the thought. After all, Ethan and Henry were both my childhood friends. We were such good friends – I shouldn’t have doubted them like that. But they had taken my trust and turned it into a sharp blade, stabbing me mercilessly. Since that’s how it was, I wouldn’t consider any past sentiments either. Reaching my front door, I saw that Mom had already prepared dinner. Dad was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper. Mom urged him, “Eat something quickly when you have time. What if the hospital calls you for an emergency shift later?” Dad chuckled, “I want to wait for our precious daughter to come back and eat together.” My nose stung, and tears instantly spilled from my eyes. In my past life, I had been so focused on Ethan that I must have missed countless scenes like this. Yet they had always insisted on waiting for me. Just then, Mom heard movement and came out. “Aria’s back. Come in and wash your hands for dinner.” I quickly wiped my tears and went inside, silently vowing to myself. In this life, I would definitely protect them well. The next morning, I woke up to Mom’s gentle call. Walking to the dining table, Mom poured me a glass of milk, smiling as she said: “Your favorite fresh milk. Your dad specially ordered it for you.” As the milky aroma wafted over, I felt uncontrollably nauseous and retched into the trash can. Mom patted my back worriedly, hesitating before speaking. “You’re not… You’re an adult now, and we won’t interfere in your relationships. But you absolutely cannot get pregnant before marriage.” I collapsed onto the floor, repeatedly assuring her until she was relieved. After Mom left, my hand gripping the chair trembled non-stop. Suddenly, I understood some things. In my past life, after suffering a major blow, I had agreed to move in with Ethan after his persistent coaxing. After coercing me into sleeping with him, he would prepare a glass of hot milk for me every night. It was a bit bitter, and I didn’t like it, but he always said it was just my imagination and forcefully made me drink it. Thinking back now, that was the taste of sedatives – prescription drugs that only doctors could obtain. Ironically, he had switched from studying finance to medicine halfway through college. No hospital was willing to hire him until my dad used his 30 years of professional integrity to vouch for him. Only then did he manage to work at the hospital. Yet he had abused his position to scheme against me. A dense, stabbing pain spread through my chest. Thankfully in this life, there was still time to change everything. 0

I left for work. At lunchtime, Ethan came to find me, condescendingly placing an old jewelry box on my desk. Inside was a silver bracelet. “Aria, I know you’ve been reborn too. Nothing has happened yet. As long as you behave yourself from now on and don’t target Lily, we can have a good future together.” Lily Lambert was the adopted daughter of the Pierce family. She was extremely possessive of Ethan and always had to tag along no matter what we did. Out of consideration that she was his family, I had never minded. She had framed me time and time again, but Ethan had never believed her, always firmly standing by my side. I thought I was the most important person in his heart, but I had overlooked how he often said: “She’s just childish. Don’t take it personally.” I had seen that bracelet before, in Lily’s social media post yesterday. [Just because I liked a gold bracelet online, my brother went out late at night and bought me a whole set of gold jewelry. I’m so happy! But for such a big store to only give a silver bracelet as a free gift is really stingy. Who would still like silver when they have gold~] And that free gift was now in front of me. I almost laughed out loud. Did he think everything that had happened, all the harm he had done to me and my parents, could be erased with such a flippant statement? On what grounds? I smiled mockingly. “We’re just friends. There’s no need for gifts on ordinary days.” The year we turned 18, after the college entrance exams, Ethan had excitedly kissed me. We had been in an ambiguous relationship for seven years after that. He always said he didn’t want others to think he was living off me, so he wanted to establish his career before making our relationship public. This went on until this year. I didn’t want to wait anymore, so I carefully planned that confession. In my past life, he had been deeply moved. We got engaged not long after, but I never expected Lily to run into our engagement party naked and accuse me. At that time, he chose to believe me. I thought it was just a small incident, but I didn’t realize it was the trigger for everything that followed. “Big sister Aria, how can you say such things? My brother ran around to many stores to choose a gift for you. Anyone with eyes can see how much he cares about you.” Lily walked over, affectionately linking her arm with his. Ethan patted her hand and was about to speak when his phone rang. He walked to the side to answer it. Lily leaned in close to me, lowering her voice. “You don’t know, do you? I only had to act crazy for a few days, and my brother was able to bring different men to your bed. Every night, I cuddled in his arms watching the live broadcast of you.” “Actually, my brother really did consider marrying you. But on your wedding day, I self-harmed, and he didn’t hesitate to replace the photos of you two growing up with videos of you being intimate with different men.” “The star pupil of the legendary Dr. Meng, the goddess of medical school, becoming a slut passed around by men on her wedding day – it was truly spectacular. Do you want to experience it again?” For a moment, I seemed to return to that wedding day. My father dying before my eyes, my mother holding me as we perished in the fire. That fire seemed to ignite in my heart again. Shaking with rage, I slapped her hard across the face. Lily fell to the ground with the force of my slap, her eyes misting over as she spoke pitifully. “Big sister Aria, I just didn’t want you to misunderstand my brother. If hitting me makes you feel better, I don’t mind.” Before I could speak, an angry shout rang out. “Aria Johnson!” Ethan forcefully pushed me aside, tenderly helping Lily up. “What nonsense are you saying? With your brother here, no one can hurt you!” My head hit the counter, blood trickling down my forehead. My heart felt like it was being squeezed tight, making it hard to breathe. Once upon a time, when I was bullied by classmates for my good grades, he had protected me just as firmly. “Aria, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” Yes, indeed. So he came to hurt me personally. Ethan looked up angrily, his gaze falling on my bloodied face. A flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he instinctively reached out towards me. But Lily grasped his hand, her voice weak. “Brother, I feel so unwell.” He hesitated for just a moment before gritting his teeth and carrying Lily away. I laughed through my tears, forcing myself to stand up. My hand had an old injury, so I couldn’t use much strength. I couldn’t even leave a handprint on her face, yet it was enough to make him so concerned. I had truly been blind and foolish in my past life. I treated my wound, then took out my phone, holding back a choked sob. “Mom, I agree to go abroad.”

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I had my reasons for agreeing to this arrangement. So did he. It was easy money without having to get physically intimate. A germaphobe’s dream come true. This collaboration was a win-win for me. Until he saw my social media posts fantasizing about our nonexistent sex life: “Tried position #99 with my CEO hubby last night! 99/100 complete!” “OMG! I called him ‘boss’ in bed and he went wild. Can’t walk straight today~” … “So Lily likes to play like this?” “I can fulfill all your desires.” Was the playboy trying to settle down? Time to make a run for it! “Boss, I’m curious – how many women have you slept with?” Even after getting married, I still called him “boss”. Calling him “hubby” would cost extra. “99,” Ryan replied without hesitation. “Damn, that’s precise!” Only 99? I thought players bragged about thousands of conquests. “Interested in being number 100?” It did sound like a nice round number. “Ah no, I’m a germaphobe,” I said, not for the first time. He didn’t get angry. Our arrangement had always worked well. Honestly, Ryan was a good guy and a good boss. Just a bit of a player, but otherwise no major flaws. If he hadn’t proposed this fake marriage deal, I’d still be going on awful Tinder dates and getting ghosted. Plus Ryan was easy on the eyes, which was his best quality. I got to enjoy the view at work and at home. Who could complain? I was basically getting paid double, with eye candy as a bonus. Most importantly, no need to actually get physical. A total win for a germaphobe like me. This was living the dream as far as I was concerned. I started a secret social media account to write steamy fiction about my fake relationship with the boss. It got pretty popular. Username: Naughty Yellow Duck (will change name after unlocking 100 positions) “What’s it like having your husband as your boss?” “The thrill of pretending not to know each other at work every day.” “Another day of calling him ‘boss’ at the office and ‘hubby’ at home~” These posts got hundreds of thousands of views. My followers kept begging for updates. They had no idea these “daily life” posts were just the fantasies of an imaginative writer. But I was raking in the views and building a social media following. In my fictional world, my husband and I pretended not to know each other at work, then got wild at home every night. “He” liked me to call him “boss” in bed. “I” sent him sexy photos during meetings. When he was on video calls, “I” hid under his desk to “service” him. … No one at work knew how steamy our nights supposedly were. My internet followers ate it up. I’d open my notifications to 99+ comments. “Did you and the CEO hubby have fun last night? We need an update!” “Staying up late waiting for big sis to feed us more juicy details~” “We’re all begging for illustrations of the new positions!” … I churned out updates, feeding my followers’ imagination daily. What can I say, I’m a people pleaser with a vivid imagination. I got lost in my writing, unable to stop. But the real eye candy in front of me was more tempting than internet followers. Ryan looked so sexy in his bathrobe after showering. I wanted to interview his past conquests about what it was like to get intimate with him. My followers would love those details. I needed material. I also really wanted to touch his chest muscles, but I was too chicken. Afraid he’d charge me and dock my pay. But Ryan had been giving me these heated looks lately. It started after he asked if I was interested in being his 100th conquest. I looked down at my own chest. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. I gave my butt a squeeze. Not bad either. No way, was the boss looking to try something new? “What are you doing?” Oh god, his eyes looked hungry and his voice was so sexy. Help! “Oh, um, I’ve been having some irritation down there lately. Hemorrhoids, you know.” A writer’s imagination comes in handy. The fire in Ryan’s eyes died down. Close call. I had zero interest in being just another notch on his bedpost. This germaphobe was staying single. Gotta focus on the money! I drank the warm milk Ryan prepared before bed as usual. I had to admit, Ryan was a good guy. And I’d get to hear some live action through the walls at night. Gave me material for my steamy fiction to feed my followers. Speaking of which, the noises were starting up again. “Did you hear the boss got married? But they’re keeping it quiet~” 9am was breakfast and gossip time. 10am was when we wage slaves had to start actually working. “Secret marriage, of course. Rich people love that stuff.” “He’s not a celebrity, why keep it secret? Being married would suit his image better.” “We plebs can’t understand the world of the wealthy.” An hour passed. 10-11am was spent deciding what to eat for lunch. Hollywood Reject: “Boss, can we expense crab for the team lunch? Pretty please~” World’s Best Boss: “Reason.” The boss was all business over chat. Hollywood Reject: “I’m craving it + I’m broke~ Don’t judge me!” World’s Best Boss: “Call me hubby, I’ll give you a raise.” I didn’t hesitate for even a second out of respect for money! Hollywood Reject: “Yes hubby~ Kisses!”

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