Category: English

I collapsed in the grocery store on the seventh day of my liquid diet. My husband, Robert, had complained about my thick waist, and my son, Dylan, had been embarrassed by me at parent-teacher conferences. Before I was reborn, Dylan pushed me into a wall, and a sharp nail pierced my head. In my dying moments, I saw a family portrait of them and the other woman. “Mom, my new mom is a hundred times prettier than you,” Dylan giggled, his blood-stained hands still innocent. Now, staring at my swollen face in the mirror, I spat out the last bit of sour water from my stomach. “Perfect. They’re all still breathing.” This time, I’ll make their lives a living hell. My last few minutes before rebirth stretched into an agonizing eternity. I lay on the floor as my son, Dylan Vance, stomped on my face. Eighteen years old, yet his face was twisted into a demonic mask. I gritted my teeth, too weak to scream. Dylan grabbed my hair, yanked me up, then let me fall back down like a rag doll. “You old hag, still trying to fight back?!” “Look at you, you fat cow!” “So what if Dad cheated? It’s all *your* fault!” “You’re nothing but a parasite, a useless waste of space who only knows how to do housework!” “That’s what you get for always lecturing me! For running your mouth!” “How dare you even show up and demand answers!” “I’ve wanted a new mom for ages!” He yanked me again, smashing my head against the wall twice more. My vision blurred, smeared with blood, leaving only vague shapes and flashing lights. Not far from me, meticulously framed, was a family portrait. In the picture, Robert Vance—my husband—smiled, his arm around a young woman’s waist. My son, Dylan Vance, stood between them, cutting a wedding cake. And I, a gaping hole in my forehead from a wall nail, lay on the floor like a discarded mop. I struggled to see the woman’s face in the photo, but my breath hitched, and I died before I could. * * * Under a blinding white light, my eyes snapped open. A short, sharp gasp escaped my throat, like a drowning person breaking the surface. My vision was a kaleidoscope of swirling, overlapping light spots. I was lying on the floor, sweat soaking my cheap cotton T-shirt. My gaze slowly focused, sweeping over scattered oranges, an overturned shopping basket. A grocery store… the produce section… May 7th, 2022. Six months before my death. I slowly sat up, memory fragments clicking into place. Robert had called me a pig, Dylan said I disgusted him. In a fit of despair, I’d driven myself to the brink. A liquid diet… seven days with nothing in my stomach, until my blood sugar crashed, and I passed out in the grocery store. “Help! Someone’s fallen here!” a woman’s voice cried out. Chaotic footsteps rapidly approached as staff rushed to help me up. “Maybe… we should call your family to pick you up?” A staff member pulled out their phone. Family? Ha. Robert was probably being interviewed for some “Successful Entrepreneur” magazine, and Dylan was skipping class to play video games. Neither would care. Call them? So they could see my foolish, starved self, all for a sliver of their approval? I shook my head, rising and shuffling over to a customer rest bench. As I plopped down, the bench groaned under my weight. I felt a pang of embarrassment. In my previous life, I really had been too heavy. Looking at my reflection in the glass—an unkempt “old hag” drained of all her feminine charm by life. No wonder people found me disgusting. A woman who doesn’t love herself never gets a happy ending.

My name is Alice Davies. A pathetic woman who sacrificed her family’s entire life savings for love. To help Robert start his business, I pushed my father to embezzle funds and took out high-interest loans while heavily pregnant. In return, Robert called me a worn-out housewife who ate for free, a parasite. And the son I risked my health to have late in life didn’t just cover up his father’s affair—he ended up killing me. I suppressed all my emotions, a storm of hatred exploding in my eyes. Robert Vance, Dylan Vance, and that mistress… I’m sending you all to hell. I pulled out my old phone, its screen cracked in one corner. For the first time, I indulged in a ride-sharing app. How ironic. He was so successful, spent lavishly on his mistress, yet I only ever dared to take the bus. If my monthly household expenses went over by even a few hundred dollars, he’d rip into me, calling me a spendthrift. Robert was particularly cunning. He always played the good guy when I disciplined Dylan, offering small treats and favors to win his son’s adoration. Over time, I became the villain in this house, and he was the “best dad in the world.” I pushed open the front door. The expensive crystal chandelier gleamed too brightly, illuminating a huge family portrait. Before long, my face in that picture would be replaced by the mistress’s. That shameless slut, she’s completely stolen my life. I *have* to find out who she is and strip her of everything! Loud game sound effects and excited shouts echoed from the living room. Dylan was skipping school to play games again. Before, I would’ve rushed over immediately, cut the power, and forced him to study. But now, I couldn’t care less about saving his rotten life. “Mom! Where the hell have you been?! I’m starving! Where’s dinner?!” Dylan didn’t even look up, his eyes glued to the giant curved screen, fingers clacking on the keyboard. In my previous life, hearing that, I would’ve instantly rushed into the kitchen, my heart aching. Now, I almost wished he’d just starve to death. “Coming,” I replied dismissively. Dylan grumbled impatiently, “Hurry up! Stop dragging your feet!” I silently walked into the kitchen, opened the fridge, took out some moldy potatoes and cabbage, and chopped them up without washing before tossing them into a pan. It wouldn’t kill him, so a quick sloppy job would do. In my previous life, I had to pinch pennies. They ate fresh food, and I got all the leftovers. But even when I cooked a variety of dishes, Dylan would just grumble, “It’s alright, I guess.” This time, I wasn’t going to be their personal maid. “Damn! That was awesome! I totally carried that game!” Dylan exclaimed, pounding the table. “You’re the man, bro!” his worthless friends cheered through his headset. “Is dinner ready yet?! Are you trying to starve me to death?!” Dylan yelled impatiently. I grabbed a few slices of whole wheat bread and brought out the undercooked stir-fry. “Here, eat.” I slammed the plate down on the table with a clang. Dylan frowned, “What the hell is this? Pig slop?!” “Your dad hasn’t given me the household allowance recently. Just make do,” I said flatly, subtly shifting the blame to Robert. Dylan threw down his fork. “Dad’s the CEO of a company, he wouldn’t be short on cash! You’re just lazy and blew all the money!” “Dylan, your dad’s a CEO; he has a lot of business dinners and needs to keep both male and female clients happy. It’s normal for expenses to be high,” I said, feigning helplessness. “Mom knows you’re feeling wronged, but we shouldn’t upset your dad. What if he finds another woman and leaves us? We’d be in serious trouble, just the two of us.” I watched his reaction as I spoke. Dylan’s eyes flickered. He already knew his dad was seeing someone else. He was just like his father—petty and selfish. I’d just planted a seed of doubt in his mind; it would bloom eventually. “That stupid support in the bottom lane, does he even know how to play?! Where the hell are the wards?! Up his ass?!” He took his anger out on his gaming teammates. I looked at this son, whom I’d risked half my life to have. Young, yet oozing a disgusting, greasy vulgarity, spewing profanity, and twisted to the core. I’d sacrificed everything for him in my previous life, only to create a failure. What a waste of life! Perhaps he was starving, but Dylan still wolfed down all the food. “Mom,” he wiped his mouth, propping his feet on the table, “I need to talk to you about something.” Here we go. I wondered how much money he wanted this time.

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Before my neighbor, Dylan Price, left for college, he stopped me in my tracks. His head was bowed, ears flushed crimson, as he mumbled, “Can I be your boyfriend?” I simply turned away, tossing over my shoulder, “I like *mature* men.” Five years later, he pinned me against a wall, his hand cupping my chin, forcing me to look away— My boyfriend was intimately wrapping his arm around another woman’s waist, leisurely browsing in a luxury store. “Is *that* the mature man you like, Avery?” Dylan whispered, his hot breath making my scalp prickle. I stared at the cheating couple in the luxury store. After a moment’s thought, I pulled out my phone and snapped a few damning photos. Dylan was already standing straight, hands tucked into his pockets, looking down at me with an almost smug air. “Avery, your taste is *shockingly* bad.” I rolled my eyes at him, utterly annoyed, and made to leave. But he followed me. “You’re just going to let it go? Avery, that’s not like you.” “Just a moment ago it was ‘sis, sis,’ and now it’s just ‘Avery Hayes’?” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sis? You *like* hearing me call you that, don’t you? Hmm? My sweet sis?” Dylan suddenly closed the distance, blocking my path. He leaned in, meeting my gaze, a faint, almost predatory smile playing on his lips, his eyes holding a complex mix of emotions I couldn’t quite decipher. He’d grown taller, leaner. He was no longer the shy, introverted kid from five years ago. I stiffened, choosing to ignore his provocative question. “Is this why you asked me out today?” “Yeah.” “How did you know?” “Your boyfriend brought that woman to *our* hospital for a check-up, and I happened to be responsible for them. I overheard them talking about coming here to shop today.” “Oh.” I felt apathetic. I already knew Blake was cheating. More than once. Dylan seemed to grow angry. “Avery, he’s cheating on you! He’s not good to you!” “Yeah, yeah, I heard you.” I replied, feigning indifference. Dylan seemed to be thoroughly infuriated by my lack of concern, his chest heaving. He grabbed my arm, preventing me from leaving, his eyes blazing with anger as he glared at me. Thankfully, an urgent call from the hospital pulled him away. Otherwise, who knows how long we would have been stuck there. Before he left, Dylan gritted his teeth and asked, “You’d rather stick with *him* than ever give me a chance, wouldn’t you?” I stayed silent, offering no reply even as he walked away. Only when his back was to me did I finally let out a shaky breath. The truth was, I wasn’t nearly as composed as I tried to appear. Back home, a message from an unknown number made my stomach churn: “Avery, had to work late again today. Boohoo, missing you already!” It was Blake. A month ago, the first time I caught him cheating, I broke up with him. He refused. Since then, he’d been incessantly bothering me. Annoyed beyond belief, I’d blocked him on every platform. But he kept finding new numbers to harass me with. I went through my familiar routine: delete, then block, before tossing my phone aside. I felt restless today, a strange numbness in my chest, like everything was just… off. I knew the source of my turmoil wasn’t Blake. It was… Dylan. This reunion was completely unexpected. After I rejected him that year, Dylan and I hadn’t exchanged a single word. Even when I went home for the holidays, and our families, living across the hall from each other, inevitably crossed paths, he’d act as if I were invisible. Why did he suddenly bring me here to catch Blake in the act?

The next few days, I didn’t see Dylan again. Maybe he was too busy. Or maybe, he simply didn’t want to see me, just like for the past five years. I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed, but there was nothing I could do. After all, I was the one who rejected him. Someone as proud as him wouldn’t want to be friends with the person who turned him down. I slipped back into my old routine, going to work, and blocking the occasional random number that popped up. After work one day, my mom called, her voice tinged with worry. “Avery, you and Blake… you guys broke up, right?” “Yeah, we did. Mom, who told you?” “Ugh, Blake’s aunt told me. Weren’t you two doing so well? His family wants me to talk to you, see if you’ll change your mind.” My mom hesitated. “Mom, just stay out of it. We broke up, and that’s final. We only met on a blind date anyway, there wasn’t much real feeling between us.” As I was speaking, I looked up and saw a familiar figure standing before me. Dylan, hands in his pockets, looked tired, like he’d just finished a shift, but his eyes sparkled with an undeniable amusement. He mouthed, “Dinner? My treat.” I casually told my mom I’d explain everything when I came home next, then hung up. Dylan didn’t wait for me to speak, pulling my hand and leading me into a taxi. After giving the driver an address, he just muttered, “Wake me when we’re there,” before leaning his head on my shoulder and closing his eyes to rest. I froze at the sudden physical contact, unsure how to react. I could only turn my head to stare out the window, praying he couldn’t hear my heart hammering like a drum. After a long moment, he chuckled. “Nervous, sis?” That single ‘sis’ snapped me back to the memory of him pinning me against the wall, his breath hot against my ear, those husky whispers. I cleared my throat, forcing out, “We’re here. Let’s get out.” Agitated and flustered, I just charged forward blindly, not caring if he was following me. Dylan suddenly grabbed my elbow, pulling me into his embrace. He still smelled the same – a faint, clean scent, like fresh linen with a hint of something woodsy. It hadn’t changed in all these years. It wasn’t until Dylan murmured, “Excuse me,” to someone beside us that I realized I’d almost bumped into them. He released me just as quickly, looking down to tell me to watch my step, then walked ahead. But before he did, his hand brushed lightly against the back of mine. I cursed silently and followed him. What exactly had this kid been learning all these years? He was so… alluring. “Your mom called me. She wanted me to convince you to get back together,” Dylan said, not even looking up as he served me food. His tone was not as light as before. “But your stance seemed pretty firm, and frankly, I wasn’t going to try anyway,” he continued, changing the subject. “So today, it’s just two long-lost neighbors having dinner.” Long-lost neighbors? Fine. I pushed down the strange feeling in my chest and finished dinner with Dylan, feigning casualness. After dinner, Dylan walked me back to my apartment. But as we arrived, we bumped into Blake Miller, drunkenly stumbling around outside my building. My gut told me something was wrong; Blake must have lost money gambling again. Yes, he gambled. I only found out after we broke up. His incessant bothering wasn’t because he liked me so much, but because my income was decent, and he wasn’t willing to give up a clear money tree.

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Four years into our marriage, Alex Thorne was keeping a young college student outside our home. She was bright, pretty, and full of life. She’d drag Alex, a multi-billionaire, to greasy food trucks and cheer on her favorite e-sports player. Alex called me: “I’m not coming home tonight, I’m watching Jax Ryder’s game.” The girl beside him let out a snicker: “That boring old woman? Does she even know who Jax Ryder is?” They had no idea. After the call ended, Jax Ryder pressed me against the dim glow of the car headlights. His sharp canine tooth gently grazed the back of my neck, a faint sting spreading. “Sister, I won the game. How are you going to reward me tonight?” The first time I saw Chloe Evans was on my twenty-sixth birthday. I was still smiling, chatting with guests at the party. “Something came up at the office, Alex will be home a bit later, but his gift has already arrived—” My words hung in the air. Alex walked in, Chloe right beside him, in front of everyone. Chloe wore a vibrant red dress, clinging to Alex’s arm, curiously glancing around. Fluttering around like a little bird, chattering non-stop: “You said you’d take me somewhere fun, is this it?” She scanned the room, her gaze pausing on my face for two seconds before moving on. “Wow, that cake looks good, I want some!” Alex smiled at her, letting her turn my birthday party into a chaotic mess. Guests around us whispered: “How can she be so brazen, causing a scene right in front of Eve?” “She’s favored, I guess. Even if they’re married, Eve was the one practically throwing herself at him, wasn’t she?” “How embarrassing. Her birthday ruined, and she doesn’t even dare to say a word. If I were her, I’d be mortified to death.” I just stood there, encased in my expensive gown, pretending not to hear their cutting remarks. I found Alex and spoke softly: “We had an agreement, you wouldn’t bring anyone to my face.” “No matter what, some basic decorum should still be—” He cut me off roughly before I could finish. Having had a few drinks with Chloe, his eyes held a slight, drunken haze. When he looked down at me, the contempt and disdain in his gaze were even more pronounced. “Eve, it seems I’ve spoiled you too much.” He laughed. “Who are you to demand ‘decorum’ from me, Eve?” I froze. The exceptionally bright lights overhead shone down. The hard shell I had painstakingly built up melted like ice and snow under his mocking gaze. Coming from a modest background like the Hardings, yet marrying Alex Thorne. Everyone thought I had climbed my way up. In fact, I wasn’t even truly considered a Harding. “She’s pretty cheap, but women from that sort of background always are…” Behind me, someone’s voice grew carelessly loud. It reached our ears. Alex, his expression distant, handed me a check: “That project you mentioned wanting to invest in, go ahead and do it yourself.” “Eve, don’t think I owe you anything more.” He raised an eyebrow, “If you learn to please me better, you might just boost your worth a little more.”

The evening, which had devolved into a farce, finally ended. Alex, with a drunk Chloe in his arms, left. They hadn’t even walked out of my sight before they kissed under the garden lights. Through the rain-streaked glass, I watched them calmly for a while. Then I lowered my head and carefully put the check away. I pulled out my phone and tapped on the pinned chat. A simple “Miss you a little” I’d sent before the party had received six replies. Five hours ago: “1.” Four hours ago: “Training now.” Three hours ago: “Actually, I don’t mind being interrupted during training.” Two hours ago: “They said it’s your birthday today.” An hour ago: “Happy birthday.” And the one that had just popped up: “I’m coming to see you.” I curved my lips into a small smile. I replied: “No need. I’ll come watch your game next week.” The “Typing…” above his name flickered for a long time. Then he sent two replies: “Okay.” “Don’t mess with me.”

Over the next month, Alex and Chloe openly attended various events. Like a young couple deeply in love. She’d drag Alex, a multi-billionaire, to greasy food trucks, take goofy photo booth pics, and kiss under the sea breeze in Bali. He even went with her to watch Jax Ryder’s offline game. Jax Ryder. The hottest e-sports player right now. A nineteen-year-old prodigy, already showing astonishing talent. Last year, he led his team to victory in the World Championship. Chloe wore his fan headband, clinging to Alex’s arm, enthusiastically taking photos outside the stadium. Alex, a hint of jealousy in his voice, pulled her waist closer: “Why do you like a kid who’s barely out of diapers so much?” “I just like watching him play.” Chloe smiled and kissed his cheek. “Of course, I love you most!” My car was parked by the roadside, and I witnessed the entire scene. I had just swallowed back the bitter taste in my mouth when Alex called: “That project you mentioned yesterday, let’s talk about it another time.” His tone was cold and impatient. “I’m busy tonight, not coming home.” I gave a silent laugh and deliberately asked him, “What are you busy with?” “Watching Jax Ryder’s game—” Before he finished speaking, Chloe beside him suddenly snickered, “That boring old woman? Does she even know who Jax Ryder is?” Through the car window, I watched her snatch the phone from Alex’s hand. “Ma’am, don’t ask what you shouldn’t. Hanging up.” Her tone was spoiled and arrogant. But she was young and beautiful, like a bright flower in full bloom. So Alex just indulged her, pinching her cheek, and walked with her into the VIP section. Everyone prefers what’s younger and more beautiful. I, of course, was no exception. My phone screen lit up again; it was Jax Ryder calling. His tone wasn’t very good: “Are you here yet?” “Last time you said you’d come to my game but then had an excuse. It’s not like that again, is it?” “I’m here.” I tapped my knuckles on the car window. “But… you’re too popular. I could only get bleacher seats. I’ll find you after the game.” Jax Ryder chuckled: “Tsk, you think you need to buy tickets to watch my game?” “I had the club set aside a private box for you. Go straight there.” He paused, then suddenly added, “Sister, have you thought about it? Last time you stood me up and promised to make it up to me. If I win this time, what’s my reward?” “What do you want?” “Whatever I want… is that allowed?” The last few words were hoarse, almost a whisper. Even over the phone, I could picture the curve of his lips. And the secret desire that would slowly ignite in his beautiful, sharp eyes as they fixed on me. I gave a lenient smile. “Whatever you want.” There was a second of silence. He said: “Eve, if I win the championship, tonight, your time is mine.” The game began. Through the glass, I saw Jax Ryder put on his headphones, his fingers flying across the keyboard. His expression was serious and stern, his focused gaze never wavering. Until the bright red “3:0” flashed on the screen. “Champions!!—” He stood up amidst the deafening cheers of the crowd, and across the people and the crisscrossing lights, his eyes met mine. My lips moved silently: “Congratulations.” He smiled too, mimicking me, mouthing: “Now, you’re all mine.” This night belonged to Jax Ryder.

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The man I’d loved for ten years was a father, and I was the very last to know. I stood outside the private room, watching him. He was doting on the infant in his arms, his face soft with a tenderness I’d never seen directed at me. He was giving instructions to his friends in the circle: “Briar and I having a baby, keep it quiet for now. Otherwise, Aurora will definitely come back and make a scene.” I’d loved him for a decade. Before I went abroad, I confessed my feelings to him. Back then, he’d told me, “When you come back, we’ll be together.” But the reality was so utterly ridiculous. This time, I didn’t make a scene, didn’t even demand answers. Because I had decided to finally let go of Caleb. … “Caleb, you’re throwing such a grand baby shower. Aren’t you worried the news will reach Aurora?” Caleb looked at the sleeping baby in the stroller, his gaze softer than I had ever seen it. “For my darling’s baby shower, of course, the grander, the better.” “Don’t worry, I’ve had people contain the news. She won’t find out.” “But even if she does, so what? It’ll just be a chance for me to set things straight with her. The only reason I’m hiding it from her now is because I don’t want her to ruin the baby shower I’ve so carefully planned.” “You know Aurora, she never knew how to behave, always making a scene. No grace, no class.” I stood by the door to the private room, listening to the conversation clearly through the crack, feeling a chill seep into my bones. Did Caleb hate me? But he had personally told me he liked me. If he hadn’t called me a few days ago, saying he missed me, I wouldn’t have taken special leave to come home. I’d intended to surprise Caleb. Instead, the surprise turned into a shock, and it allowed me to hear Caleb’s true feelings. No one noticed me outside the door, and the conversation inside continued. “Our Caleb must have been so troubled, being forcibly liked by his adoptive sister for so many years. It’s a good thing he’s finally free from her entanglement. Of course, he’d want to speed up his life now.” “But Caleb, are you keeping the news of your wedding with Briar next month under wraps too? Won’t that be unfair to her?” Caleb kissed the baby in the stroller. “We’ll see then. I’ll find a suitable time to make things clear with Aurora.” “No matter what, I can’t let Briar be wronged.” Just then, Briar Sterling emerged from the private room’s lounge area, holding a baby bottle. “Caleb, you don’t have to worry about me. Aurora is just young and naive. I believe when she grows up a little more, she’ll understand.” Someone immediately chimed in, flattering her: “Our Briar is so generous and understanding. No wonder Caleb is so devoted to you. If I married a woman like you, I’d pamper her every single day.” “Exactly. Even though Aurora and Briar are best friends, why didn’t Aurora learn anything from Briar? She’s in her twenties, yet she acts like a giant baby, so annoying.” Suddenly, the private room erupted in laughter. Outside, my heart constricted sharply, almost stopping. They were right. Briar and I had been best friends for over ten years. Before I went abroad, I’d even specifically asked her to keep a good eye on Caleb for me. Briar had readily agreed, swearing she’d protect my heart and keep my beloved safe. But little over a year had passed, and their daughter was already a month old. I never imagined the kind of trashy drama where your best friend steals your man would actually happen to me. Watching the happy family of three embracing inside the private room, I snapped back to reality. I pulled my hand back from the doorknob as if I’d been electrocuted. What good would it do if I pushed this door open? Now, I didn’t even have the right to question Caleb and Briar! After all, Caleb and I had never officially been together. Before I left, Caleb had only verbally promised me: “When you come back in two years, if you still like me, we’ll be together.” So, whether Caleb and Briar married or had a child, it was their choice. I pulled out my phone and opened SnapChat, my eyes immediately falling on Caleb’s profile picture at the top of my chat list. Ever since Caleb sent me that “I miss you” message last week, he hadn’t contacted me again. No matter what I sent him, he hadn’t replied with a single word. Before today, I’d just thought he was busy with work. Now it seemed, he wasn’t busy with work at all. He was busy planning his child’s baby shower. My thumb hovered over the screen for a long time before I finally tapped on Caleb’s profile picture. I sent him a message: [Caleb, what are you busy with? Why aren’t you replying to my messages?] Just as I sent it, Caleb’s phone chimed in the private room. He picked it up and glanced at it. He only frowned slightly, but didn’t reply. Instead, he simply switched his phone off. Briar, sitting beside him, saw the message and asked, seemingly nonchalant: “Caleb, was that Aurora’s message? Why didn’t you reply?” Caleb kissed Briar’s forehead, then took the baby from her arms, his voice icy cold: “Replying to her messages is just a waste of time.” “You know, I’ve always found her annoying. If it weren’t for her parents’ past kindness to my family, if it weren’t for my dad telling me to take good care of her, I wouldn’t even bother playing along with her.” “Briar, you’re the only one I love. Because of her, you’ve suffered so many grievances over the years.” “Don’t worry, once we’re married, I’ll make it up to you and Ella.” I didn’t stay to listen to the rest of the conversation. I simply turned and left the hotel. Sunlight fell on me, but my mind remained hazy. Suddenly, I thought I heard someone call my name from behind. I turned and saw Dylan, another one of Caleb’s friends. He was holding a huge pink doll, clearly a baby shower gift. His eyes were wide with surprise: “Aurora, when did you get back? Why are you at this hotel? Are you…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but I knew what he was going to ask. I pressed my lips together, unsure what to say. So, I chose to ignore his questions, hailed a taxi, and left. Sitting in the taxi, watching the scenery rush by, a cruel truth finally sank in for me— The man I’d loved for ten years had never truly loved me. Caleb had been deceiving me all along, and so had my best friend. I didn’t understand what I had done wrong, why everyone had to treat me this way. Tears streamed down my face, and even the taxi driver couldn’t help glancing in the rearview mirror several times. Just then, my phone rang. It was Caleb’s special ringtone. “Aurora, are you back?” His voice was as calm as ever, not a hint of anything unusual. If I hadn’t already stumbled upon everything, I probably would have continued to be fooled by him. I wiped away the lingering tears, quickly composed myself, and softly replied: “Yeah, school’s on break, so I came back.” “Then why didn’t you tell me beforehand? I would’ve picked you up.” “I was afraid you were busy with work, so I didn’t want to disturb you.” Caleb was silent for a moment, then asked again: “My friend just said he ran into you outside the city’s grand hotel. What were you doing there?” My fingers tightened involuntarily around my phone. For some reason, I still didn’t want to expose his lies, so I said: “Just meeting a friend.” I thought, if he could tell me the whole truth right now, I would forgive his deception and just be true siblings with him. But he still disappointed me. Hearing my answer, Caleb finally relaxed. “Okay, go home first. I’m tied up with something here. I’ll come home to you as soon as I’m done.” With that, he hung up. It wasn’t until evening that Caleb hurried home. He had changed out of the suit he’d worn to the baby shower, but I could still smell the strong scent of baby formula on him. Noticing me watching him, Caleb quickly chuckled: “Aurora, why are you staring at me? We haven’t seen each other for just over a year, are you missing me that much?” “How long is your vacation this time? When are you going back?” Hearing Caleb’s question, I clenched my fists. I had just returned, and Caleb was already eager for me to leave. Was he really that afraid I would ruin his and Briar’s happy family? **Chapter 3** I was about to speak, but my gaze suddenly fell on Caleb’s wrist. Even with the watch covering it, I still caught sight of a red rose tattoo, etched onto his wrist at some point. Briar’s nickname was Rose, and all her social media handles were “Rose” too. The words I’d meant to ask were swallowed back down. All my fantasies vanished because of that rose. It was Caleb who had initiated the promise before I went abroad. It was he who, disregarding gender boundaries, had kissed me first. It was he who, when drunk, had confessed his deep affection. And it was he who wouldn’t allow any other guys near me. Everything Caleb had shown led me not to intentionally control my emotions. But just as I was deeply entangled, he told me that everything had been my wishful thinking. I looked into Caleb’s eyes and said seriously: “Caleb, we grew up together. You must know how I feel about you.” Caleb looked indifferent: “Aurora, don’t worry, I’ll wait for you to come back.” Hearing that answer, I suddenly laughed. Even now, Caleb was still deceiving me. Sensing that my mood was off, Caleb’s eyes darkened slightly, and his voice unconsciously held a hint of nervousness: “Aurora, what’s wrong?” I lowered my eyes and gently shook my head. “Nothing, I’m just too happy.” Caleb finally breathed a sigh of relief. “Good, as long as you’re happy. I’m taking you out to dinner now, to welcome you back.” Caleb directly pulled me out the door. I habitually opened the passenger seat door, only to see a pack of diapers, a doll, and a woman’s purse on the seat. I knew that purse intimately; it was the birthday gift I’d given Briar last year. Caleb quickly explained: “My friend borrowed my car yesterday. These things must be his leftovers. How about you just make do and sit in the back seat today?” I didn’t say anything. I just closed the passenger door and obediently got into the back. After Caleb got in the car, he even carefully straightened the doll. After all, that was his daughter’s favorite toy. The car started, and I didn’t chatter with Caleb like I used to, constantly looking for topics. I just silently watched the scenery outside the window. I couldn’t understand how Caleb could say he loved me on one hand, and then marry someone else and have a child on the other. Caleb, however, uncharacteristically kept trying to talk to me. He asked me, like a caring older brother, how my life abroad was, if I was used to it, and if anyone had bullied me. Before, if Caleb had been so actively concerned, I would have been ecstatic. But now, I didn’t want to hear any of his empty words. I just wanted him to tell me the truth about everything, in his own words. I responded to Caleb’s questions in a desultory manner. Caleb suddenly seemed to remember something, taking a tin of mints from the glove compartment and handing it to me in the back seat. “Aurora, I remember you always get carsick, so you love mints. I specifically prepared these for you.” Looking at the mints in my hand, I froze. I didn’t get carsick.

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Dominic Thorne’s first love was kidnapped while filming on a remote set and went missing for three terrifying days and nights. Two months later, she stood on a rooftop, crying as she called him, “Dominic, I’m pregnant! The media is tracking me! I don’t want to live!” He rushed to the rooftop and announced to all the media, “The baby is mine.” Overnight, I became the laughingstock of the city’s elite circles. That night, Dominic Thorne knelt before me, his eyes bloodshot, his voice choked with emotion, raw with pain. “Elara, Seraphina Monroe has depression. If I don’t help her, she’ll die! After she safely gives birth, I’ll make it up to you, okay?” I loved him, loved him so much it made me卑微, so I could only grit my teeth and agree. But the next day, the internet exploded with news, and the woman in the blurred photo was clearly me. I trembled as I found Dominic Thorne. He embraced me in agony, “We can’t suppress the news… Elara, you rarely appear in public. We’ll just have to ask you to claim this for now.” He reached out to hold me, but his words sent a chill down my spine. “How about this, you get rid of the baby first. We can have more later.” In that moment, my heart completely died. I wiped away my tears and dialed a long-forgotten number. The call connected, and a man’s deep voice came through with a dangerously low chuckle. “You’ve finally… come to beg me?”

“What did you say?” My voice trembled violently. “Seraphina’s kidnapping can’t be exposed. She just signed a major international brand endorsement. If it comes out, her career will be ruined,” Dominic Thorne’s tone was calm, almost cruel. “But you’re different. You rarely appear in public. As long as you take the blame for this, the public outrage will quickly pass.” I stared intently at the man I had loved for years. “Dominic Thorne, do you know what you’re saying?” “Before, you wanted me to claim paternity for Seraphina Monroe’s baby, and I agreed.” “Now, you want me to admit to being kidnapped and… assaulted for her?!” His voice was low. “Elara, I’m begging you.” “Begging me?” I laughed, but tears streamed down my face. “For her, you want me to ruin my own reputation?” “Seraphina can’t handle this kind of blow. She already has depression,” he said urgently. “But you’re different. You’ve always been strong.” “So I’m just disposable?” I practically hissed through clenched teeth. “It’s not a sacrifice, just a temporary solution.” He paused, his tone softening. “Elara, could you… get rid of the baby first?” My world shattered in an instant. “Dominic Thorne,” my voice was hoarse. “That’s your baby too!!!” “I know!” His voice suddenly became agitated. “But Seraphina can’t handle any stress right now!” My breath hitched for a second. I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Fine, I agree.” He was about to say something else when his phone suddenly rang. From the other end of the line, I heard a crying sound. “Waaah! Dominic, I had a nightmare! I’m so scared! Will they tell everyone about what happened to me?” Seraphina Monroe’s delicate voice whined. Dominic Thorne’s tone instantly changed. He cooed softly, “Don’t worry, Seraphina, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” The call ended, and he turned and left without a moment’s hesitation. I went to the hospital. The nurse handed me a form, her eyes filled with pity. “Mrs. Thorne, are you sure you want to proceed with the surgery?” I looked down at the paper. Dominic Thorne’s name was already signed. He had already arranged all of this. I nodded numbly. “Yes.” The doctor pushed up her glasses, her voice calm. “Your physical condition is special. This abortion could lead to permanent infertility. Are you sure you want to risk it?” I snapped my head up. “Permanent infertility?” “Yes, your uterine lining is thin. If you force this abortion, it might be very difficult to get pregnant again in the future…” My fingers trembled slightly. Dominic Thorne, you knew about this, and you still want me to abort this baby! All for Seraphina Monroe. I bit my lip so hard until the taste of blood spread in my mouth. Suddenly, a strange flutter came from my abdomen, like a tiny butterfly fluttering its wings a few times. I grabbed the doctor’s wrist. “Stop! I’m not doing it!” The doctor frowned. “Mrs. Thorne, your husband specifically instructed…” “I said I’m not doing it!” I yelled, sitting up from the operating table and tearing off the surgical gown. “I’m keeping this baby!” When I walked out of the hospital, the sunlight was blinding. I opened my phone. The top trending headline boldly read: \#DominicThorneSeraphinaMonroeSweetOutingAtLuxuryBabyStore\# The accompanying photo showed my husband’s hand carefully placed on Seraphina Monroe’s lower back as she gently caressed her visibly rounded belly. The comment section was full of praise: “This is a match made in heaven! A dazzling actress and a prominent mogul from the city’s elite – a perfect couple!” “Seraphina Monroe’s belly is already so big. How can Dominic’s wife still cling to her position?” “I heard that woman got pregnant with a bastard after disappearing for a few days, and Mr. Thorne was kind enough not to divorce her on the spot!” “Who knows if she was really missing or faking it? Maybe she was secretly meeting with another man!” My nails dug deep into my palms, but I felt nothing, only a profound numbness. “Don’t be scared, baby,” I whispered, touching my abdomen. “Mommy will protect you.” I turned and went to a law firm to draft divorce papers.

Back at the mansion, the front door was ajar. Pushing it open, I saw Seraphina Monroe lying on the sofa, Dominic Thorne’s hand resting on her rounded belly. “Dominic, the baby kicked me again!” she cooed, playfully grabbing Dominic Thorne’s hand and pressing it onto her stomach. Dominic Thorne’s face showed a tenderness I had never seen before. “It’s really moving.” I stood in the foyer, my fists clenched. Dominic Thorne saw me, and his expression shifted slightly. He quickly walked over, lowering his voice. “Elara, Seraphina tried to harm herself again today. The doctor said she has prenatal depression. Could you… give us some space?” I scoffed. “This is my home.” “She grew up with me; I can’t just abandon her.” His tone softened. “After she has the baby, I’ll find a way to send her and the child away, let her break into Hollywood.” I said nothing more and turned to go upstairs. Even in the bedroom, I could still hear their laughter. “Oh, the baby kicked me!” Seraphina Monroe’s voice was cloyingly sweet. I curled up on the bed, my tears soaking the pillow. Late at night, Dominic Thorne quietly slipped into bed and embraced me from behind. “Elara, I’m sorry,” his voice was hoarse. “We’ll still have children.” My body stiffened. He still didn’t know that I hadn’t aborted the baby. “Ah—” Seraphina Monroe’s piercing scream suddenly came from the next room. “Don’t touch me! Get away!” “Don’t touch me! Don’t photograph me!” Dominic Thorne shot up, not even bothering with slippers, and rushed out. All night, his gentle, soothing voice echoed in the hallway. In the morning. Dragging my exhausted body downstairs, the scent of frying eggs wafted from the kitchen. Dominic Thorne stood at the stove. Seraphina Monroe stealthily wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, her face pressed against his back, smiling sweetly. Seeing me, she immediately let go and spoke timidly, “Elara, my head hurts a little. Could Dominic help me get my hat?” Dominic Thorne, without a word, turned and went upstairs. The apology on Seraphina Monroe’s face vanished instantly. She leaned closer to me, a smirk playing on her red lips. “Dominic said the bastard in your belly should never have been kept.” I snapped my head up, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. She gave a contemptuous smile, lowering her voice. “Do you know the Sterling family? My powerful connections are with them.” She deliberately paused, savoring my rapidly changing expression. “The Sterling family just has to lift a finger, and the entire city would quake. What do you have to fight me with?” I clenched my fists tightly. The Sterling family was a true generational powerhouse, an old money dynasty, controlling a significant portion of the nation’s economy. Forget the Thornes; even all the powerful figures in the city combined were mere ants before the Sterling family. She suddenly stumbled backward, falling to the floor, and shrieked loudly, “Elara! I know you hate me for taking Dominic! I’ll just end it all!” “Elara!” Dominic Thorne rushed downstairs, shoving me violently. I stumbled and crashed into the coffee table, a searing pain shooting through my lower back. He immediately pulled Seraphina Monroe into his arms, his eyes icy and piercing. “What did you do to her? Can you stop acting childishly!” “I didn’t do anything!” My voice trembled. “You better not have!” He hugged Seraphina Monroe tightly and walked out without looking back. “Seraphina, let’s go.” I stood in the living room, my hand unconsciously stroking my lower belly.

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After successfully winning over Ethan Clarke, I could have left, but I chose to stay in this world because I loved him. After staying, I happily proposed marriage to him ninety-nine times. But he always had excuses to put it off: “I’m not in a good mood, maybe next time.” “I want to focus on my career for a few more years, let’s talk about it later.” When I couldn’t wait any longer and went to ask him for a definite answer, I overheard him arrogantly telling his female secretary outside his office: “She can’t go back to her original world anyway, so why bother getting married? Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll go back and sweet-talk her, and she’ll eagerly ask the system to hand everything over to me again.” Late at night, lying in our empty king-sized bed, I gritted my teeth as I typed out message after message. [Ethan, Olivia loves you so much.] [Ethan, she can’t live without you, don’t worry.] I knew Ethan felt so secure because he could see these messages. But what he didn’t know was that I had already made a new deal with the system to leave. The moment he let me down for the hundredth time would be when I left.

Ethan came home reeking of alcohol at 3 AM. He turned on the light and saw me still sitting on the couch waiting for him. A flash of disgust crossed his face. But he hid it well. “Didn’t I tell you not to wait up if it gets too late?” he said, drunkenly hugging me from behind, his tone switching to an affectionate one. “Come on, I know you were worried about me, but go to bed now. It’s not good to stay up so late.” Fighting back tears, I placed the phone containing evidence of his cheating face-down on the couch. My nails dug into my palms as I heard my voice shake, sounding unlike my own. “What about you?” “I’ll sleep in the study. I promised Mr. Wang I’d have a new proposal ready when we had dinner earlier.” The scent of different women’s perfumes clung to him, but he still pretended he had just come from a business dinner. How disgusting. “Ethan, how long are we going to go on like this?” My voice shook even more, along with my shoulders and the hand holding the phone. “Not this again, Olivia. Haven’t I said I’ll marry you?” He irritably let go of me. “What’s the point of pressuring me about it every day?” I wanted to have an honest conversation with him. But his gaze fell on the slightly ajar door of the study. I knew he had secretly hidden a new woman behind that door. “Baby, why did you bring me back when Olivia is still home?” When Ethan first came in, my phone screen had lit up. I had installed message syncing software on his phone. I saw clearly the message his new secretary Sophia sent him. “That’s enough, Olivia. I’m exhausted today. I hope you can be more understanding.” Ethan brushed me off, not even bothering to look at me as he turned away to secretly reply to his little secretary. “Don’t worry, babe. Even if I bring you home every day, she’ll never leave me.” With a click, Ethan turned off the living room lights and went into the study. Completely ignoring me as I stood frozen in place, tears streaming down my face. I went back to our room and turned on the surveillance camera I had installed in the study earlier that day. In the footage, Ethan gently pinched the girl’s cheek, his eyes full of affection. [What else would a grown man and woman be doing late at night in the room next to his girlfriend?] The system chimed in unhelpfully. I laughed coldly in response. What else indeed, besides getting their thrills. The next morning, Ethan and Sophia were waiting at the dining table. “Olivia, this is Sophia, my new secretary. She had too much to drink last night because of company business. As the lady of the house, please be a good host and make her some breakfast.” Ethan’s cold gaze fell on me, so matter-of-fact. He didn’t even bother trying to explain why there was suddenly a woman in our home early in the morning. Sophia looked at me challengingly. “Thank you… sis.” As she walked past me, she deliberately pulled her collar open. Her neck was covered in passionate marks, clearly showing how intense things had gotten last night. “Ninety-nine times.” Sophia turned back, feigning innocence. “Hmm? What did you say, sis?” “I said, why should I make you breakfast? Who do you think you are?” Ethan’s face immediately darkened: “Olivia, Sophia is just my secretary. Don’t be so petty.” “Ethan, search your conscience and tell me, haven’t I been generous enough all these years?” I stared at him coldly. He walked over to me, looking a bit guilty: “Olivia, you’re my fiancée, the future mistress of the Clarke family. Be good and listen to me. Don’t embarrass me.” “Then when are we getting married?” I pressed him. He had let me down ninety-nine times. There was only one chance left. “Don’t make a fuss. I have a meeting at the company soon. I need to go over some work stuff with Sophia first.” “Oh, and keep breakfast light. Sophia doesn’t eat spicy food.” Ethan casually tossed out those words before heading back to the study with Sophia. It was always like this. He never said no, but he never said yes either. He just constantly deflected and made excuses, completely disregarding my feelings. I went straight to the kitchen. Though I had expected this outcome, I was surprised to find my heart still ached. I didn’t make breakfast for Ethan as I usually would. In fact, ever since Ethan’s first affair, I had regretted staying in this world for him after successfully winning him over. But I hadn’t met the new conditions to leave yet, and I wanted to give him one last chance. I had been secretly telling him through messages how much I loved him, but he took advantage of my love and became even more reckless. Now that the conditions were almost met, he had proven to me time and time again that a scumbag can’t be changed by love. It was time to leave.

Ignoring the noises coming from the study, I sat down and slowly ate my breakfast. An hour later, Ethan finally emerged, looking satisfied and fully dressed. “What the hell, Olivia? You started eating by yourself?” “Why didn’t you make any for us?” “If you want to eat, make it yourself.” I ignored him and slowly finished my last bite. Ethan’s expression turned ugly. “Olivia, you’re really disappointing me more and more. You rely on me to support you, and you can’t even be bothered to make breakfast.” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make two portions of breakfast in the next ten minutes.” Ethan looked at me contemptuously. Dead silence. I still didn’t move. Probably afraid I was really angry, Ethan changed his approach and came to hug me. “Alright, Olivia. Are you upset because I’ve been busy with work lately and haven’t spent time with you?” “I’ll make it up to you tonight after work, okay? Do you want to eat at that corner bistro, or do you want that handbag you liked? I’ll get you whatever you want. Just do me this favor today, alright?” It was always like this. Always the same. Ethan only sweet-talked me when he wanted something. He thought a few nice words would make me soften up. Why should I? I sneered: “Ethan, you don’t really think everything is a given, do you?” “That clothes magically become clean, food appears on your table by itself, the house somehow stays tidy. You just have to say the word and it all happens.” He was stunned, not expecting me to suddenly say this. “Didn’t you say you liked taking care of me? That’s why I fired all the maids. What’s this about now?” Yes, five years ago, to win him over, I couldn’t wait to stay by his side and take care of his every need. That’s how I ended up falling in love with him. But things were different now. Once I realized the man I loved wasn’t worthy, I naturally had to take back everything I’d given him. “A full-time housekeeper’s salary is at least $2,000 a month, right? This mansion is so big, five housekeepers wouldn’t be too many. That’s $10,000 a month.” “We’ve been together for five years, so that’s $600,000 total. Cash or check?” “Hmph, you’ve really become obsessed with money. Olivia, you’ve changed!” Ethan looked at me with a complex expression. “Ethan, people change, don’t they?” I met his gaze without flinching. “Forget it. You rest. I’ll take Sophia out for breakfast.” He sighed, then grabbed his coat from the rack and left with Sophia. Looking around the empty house, memories kept flashing through my mind. I was a “conqueror”, an orphan girl on the brink of death after a car accident in my original world. The system approached me, asking me to go to a parallel world to win over Ethan Clarke. It promised that if I succeeded, I could return to my original world, Not only would I regain my health, but I’d also get a lot of money. I was overjoyed, but as soon as I arrived in this world, I was cornered by thugs in an alley. That was the first time I saw Ethan. He stood in front of me like a guardian angel. After knocking out all the thugs with a brick, he grabbed my hand and we ran. No one had ever protected me like that in my original world. I fell for him helplessly. His carefree, dazzling smile that day is etched in my memory forever. With the system’s help, I soon met him again at the bar where I worked. He was surrounded by rich kids beating him up. When he looked at me, his eyes were filled with despair, no longer spirited like before. His resistance angered one of the rich kids, who was about to pull out a knife. I quickly found a way to get the manager to help, and we rescued him. That night, he ordered a lot of drinks to help me earn more tips. He also rambled on about many things. It turned out he was the illegitimate son of a company boss. His half-brother was causing him trouble everywhere to fight for the family inheritance. “Ethan, I believe you’re better than him.” I told him firmly. Later on, he started pursuing me. The conquest progress steadily increased. At first I was happy, but as the numbers got higher and higher, I began to hesitate. Before coming to this world, I was too ordinary. I had no family, no money, and had never experienced being loved. I thought, rather than return to that life in my original world, I might as well let the conquest progress stall. At least here, as the conquest target, I still had the male lead’s love. I started to feel insecure, avoiding Ethan or saying hurtful things I couldn’t control. But he always firmly believed we were in love. He said even though he didn’t know about my love, he could feel how much he loved me. Even though I pushed him away again and again, he kept coming back with his heart on his sleeve. In the end, I still succeeded in conquering him. I was extremely reluctant to part with such a good lover. I negotiated with the system to see if I could stay. The system agreed, saying it would give me five years, but also gave me one chance to change my mind. The system said [No male lead can remain faithful to just one woman after the grand finale.] I didn’t believe it, saying Ethan was different from other male leads. I never expected…

After I stayed, I accompanied Ethan as he slowly built up the business. Though I couldn’t hold my liquor, I forced myself to drink until I could handle any amount, ending up in the ER several times. Finally, after much effort, Ethan’s father saw our potential and let us take over the company. Ethan also proved himself capable, growing the company bigger and bigger, his net worth increasing rapidly. Once, after being forced to drink by a client, I carelessly revealed the truth about the conquest when I got home. Ethan held me tenderly, saying he would be good to me for life and that I didn’t need to hide anything from him. But less than a month later, he started fooling around with different women. He was certain I couldn’t go back, so he became more and more reckless, each time worse than the last. From the first time I discovered his affair, I regretted staying. I made a new deal with the system – the day Ethan let me down for the hundredth time would be when I left. I originally wanted to leave Ethan right away and wait for that day to come. But the system informed me that in this parallel world, I relied on the male lead’s energy to survive. If I stayed away from him, I would be rejected by this world and die a miserable death. So reluctantly, I had to continue playing the role of his obedient, virtuous wife. But Ethan really didn’t disappoint. In just four short years, I had proposed marriage 99 times, each time rejected. Meanwhile, the women by his side kept changing. No matter how I tried to remind him through messages, he remained indifferent. Instead, he took my love as a reason he could manipulate me. Fortunately, it was almost the hundredth time. This time, I would leave forever. In the evening when Ethan returned, he had already changed into a new set of clothes. He handed me a document with a smile: “Olivia, the company is about to go public. When the time comes, get dressed up and we’ll go ring the bell together!” “Okay.” I nodded numbly. Whether the company went public or not no longer mattered to me. After all, I couldn’t take anything with me when I left. “Olivia, don’t be angry anymore. Those women were just for fun.” “You’re the one who’s been by my side all along. In the future, you’ll be my only wife.” Ethan’s eyes were full of deep affection. I found it hard to understand how he could passionately make love to his secretary in the study last night, yet profess his love to me so tenderly today. “Mm, I know.” It wasn’t long before I could leave. I just needed to endure a little longer. At this moment, Ethan’s phone kept buzzing with incoming messages from someone frantically texting him. “Aren’t you going to check that?” I raised an eyebrow. “It’s nothing important. Today I want to spend time with you!” Ethan shook his head, a placating smile on his face. But I no longer felt that heart-fluttering excitement. I only felt annoyed. However, the other person wasn’t about to let him off the hook. Call after call kept coming through. I looked up at him: “Ethan, it’s very noisy.” Without a word, he took his phone and walked into the bedroom. I took out my own phone and started typing messages. “Ethan, don’t ignore the beauties outside for Olivia’s sake.” “Olivia will never leave you. She’ll still be willing to marry you even after you’ve had your fun.” This was an ability the system gave me. Only Ethan could see these messages. To leave as soon as possible, I had to let him continue hurting me recklessly. Soon, Ethan came out of the room looking apologetic. “Olivia, there’s a problem with a business deal at the company. I need to go take care of it. I’ll be back as soon as I can!” “Go ahead.” I kept scrolling on my tablet. I was logged into Ethan’s Instagram account. The most recent message was from Sophia – photos of her in various risqué outfits, so revealing it made me blush. The chat ended with Ethan’s message: “You little minx, just wait till big brother shows you what he can do!” “Olivia, I’ll bring back those dumplings you like from the north side when I come home later.” Ethan said as he grabbed his coat and car keys on his way out. Back when Ethan and I first got together, all I could afford was one order of dumplings. He went hungry and gave them to me. At the time, I thought they were the most delicious food in the world. At midnight, my phone received several explicit videos. Ethan’s beautiful almond-shaped eyes were filled with lust. An hour later, Ethan came back with the dumplings from the north side, along with a faint scent of women’s perfume. I had just taken my first bite when I recalled those videos. I felt incredibly nauseous and couldn’t control myself as I rushed to the bathroom and threw up. “Olivia, what’s wrong? Is your stomach acting up again? Quick, come eat some dumplings!” Ethan came over to support me, looking concerned. I didn’t want him to touch me at all. I struggled free and went to pour myself a glass of warm water, trying to suppress the nausea. “It’s fine. Olivia, someone will come deliver custom-made gowns tomorrow. Pick one to wear when you accompany me to the bell-ringing ceremony.” “After the company goes public and stabilizes, we’ll get married.” Ethan patted my back as he spoke. It seemed the company going public made him very happy, even prompting him to bring up marriage on his own. I nodded slightly at the mirror. It’s not going to happen, Ethan. We’ll never get married.

The next day, the gowns arrived three hours late. When I asked, I found out Ethan had taken the white gown I chose to have it altered. The dress was already made to my measurements, so it was clear who he was having it altered for. Forget it. I was about to leave anyway. No point in arguing with people from this world anymore. Soon, the day of the company’s bell-ringing ceremony arrived. I put on a smile and gracefully accompanied Ethan through the ceremony. Sophia’s eyes in the audience below were burning with jealousy, looking like they could bore holes in me. As the boss’s wife, I also had to attend the shareholders’ meeting, forcing myself to stay alert. In the past, I would have carefully recorded every word at these meetings, not missing a single detail. Then I’d go back and help Ethan analyze how to make the company even better. But now, none of it mattered to me anymore. All the facts and figures made me drowsy. Suddenly, I heard Ethan shout angrily. “What’s going on? Who put together today’s PowerPoint?” I looked up to see that all 99 slides of the presentation were filled with my boudoir photos – innocent ones, seductive ones… Without exception, they were all quite revealing. It was the year I loved him most. Ethan had begged me for a long time before I finally agreed to take those photos as a memento for him. “Mr. Clarke, there’s no need to share your little couple’s games with all of us shareholders. Are you trying to make us part of your roleplaying?” “I think Ms. Johnson has a great figure. Mr. Clarke, are you doing this because you want to share the joy with everyone? Haha!” The male shareholders’ lecherous gazes fell on me as they made one mocking comment after another. “It was my fault. I used Mr. Clarke’s computer for the presentation and accidentally used the wrong file!” Sophia, dressed in a smart business suit, hurried to admit her mistake, looking like she was about to cry. “It’s fine, it’s just a mix-up with the files. Don’t make such a big deal out of it. Sophia, redo it and let’s continue the meeting!” Ethan brushed it off carelessly, clearly more protective of his cute little secretary. The other female shareholders looked at me with unbearably pitying eyes. “Ethan, I’m the one whose private photos were exposed. She should apologize to me, and you owe me an explanation too.” I stood up and looked at Ethan. But before Ethan could speak, Sophia had already started fake crying: “Sis, don’t blame Mr. Clarke. I was too careless. If you want to scold someone, scold me!” I was about to leave anyway. No point in trying to get along with anyone in this world. Since that’s how it is… I swung my arm and slapped her hard across the face. “You’re right, you deserve to be scolded and hit!” “Olivia! How could you hit someone!” “Sophia just made a small mistake at work. Do you have to keep harping on it?” “Besides, if you thought those photos were inappropriate for others to see, why did you agree to take them in the first place!” Ethan pulled Sophia behind him protectively and angrily berated me, spittle flying. I looked at my conquest target and suddenly felt dizzy. Steadying myself against the table, I found it laughably ironic. Maybe I never truly knew Ethan. Maybe what I thought was his love for me was just an illusion created by the conquest. How foolish of me to think that was love. Ethan was still insulting me with vicious words, saliva spraying everywhere. I raised my head and slowly walked towards him. “You’re right. I was so focused on hitting her, I forgot about you.” SLAP! An incredibly loud slap rang out in the meeting room. For a moment, everyone fell into an awkward silence. “Shut up. She illegally shared my private photos. I’m calling the police!” I crossed my arms and said. Sophia gently tugged on Ethan’s sleeve. Ethan said coldly: “We can’t call the police. Olivia, be more gracious and don’t make such a big deal out of this with a young girl.” “Those photos star you. What good will it do you if this blows up? In the end, you’ll be the one embarrassed!” I shook my head with a smile: “With that attitude, it’s hard for me not to call the police.” “Then what do you want?” “I want half of the shares you hold. Sign them over to me right now!” “And I want you to marry me.”

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After successfully winning Olivia’s heart, I could have left, but I chose to stay in this world because I loved her. After staying, I happily proposed to her ninety-nine times. But she always had excuses to put it off: “I’m not in a good mood, maybe next time.” “Women age quickly after marriage and children, let’s wait a bit longer.” I loved her, so I waited. Not only did I wait, but I also put all my effort into helping her develop her company. I thought Olivia probably lacked a sense of security, and things would be better if we earned more money. But when I went to her office to get her signature on a million-dollar project I had secured, I saw her sitting naked on top of her newly hired male secretary, saying: “Jack can’t go back to his original world anyway, so why bother getting married? Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll go back and sweet-talk him, and he’ll eagerly hand everything over to me again.” Late at night, on the empty double bed, I gritted my teeth as I typed out floating comments. [Olivia, Jack loves you so much.] [Olivia, he can’t leave you, don’t worry.] I knew that Olivia felt so secure because she could see these floating comments. But she didn’t know that I had already reached a new agreement with the system to leave, The moment she disappointed me for the hundredth time would be when I left. It was three in the morning when a drunk Olivia returned home. She turned on the lights and saw me still sitting on the sofa waiting for her. A flash of disgust crossed her face. But she hid it well. “Oh, honey, didn’t I tell you not to wait up if it’s too late?” She hugged me from behind, switching to a cute tone. “I know you’re worried about me, but go to bed now. It’s not good to wear yourself out.” Suppressing my anger, I placed the phone containing evidence of her cheating face-down on the sofa. With clenched fists, I heard my own voice become unusually serious. “What about you?” “I won’t bother you, honey. I’ll sleep in the study, I have to work a bit more tonight.” The red marks on her body were glaringly obvious, but she still pretended she had just come from a business dinner. It was sickening. “Olivia, how long are we going to keep this up?” I tried to control my anger, but my voice trembled, along with my shoulders and the hand holding the phone. “Jack, not this again. Why are you getting angry? Didn’t I say we’d get married once we’ve earned enough money?” She irritably let go of me and started typing furiously on her phone. “What’s the point of pressuring me like this every day?” I wanted to clear things up with her. But her gaze fell on the slightly open door of the study, I knew her male secretary was hiding behind that door. “Miss Olivia, why did you call me over when Jack is still home? What if something goes wrong?” “It’s exciting, isn’t it? And why are you still calling me Miss? Call me sister.” “Haha, waiting for you, sister.” Olivia’s phone screen had lit up as soon as she entered the door, I had installed a message sync app on her phone, I saw clearly the message her new male secretary Luke sent her. “Let’s leave it at that, Jack. I’m tired today, don’t make a fuss.” Olivia brushed me off, not even bothering to look at me, turning her back to continue replying to her male secretary. “I’m coming right away, don’t worry. Even if you come to sister’s house every day, he won’t leave me.” With a click, Olivia turned off the living room lights and went into the study. Completely ignoring me, frozen in place. I went back to the bedroom and turned on the surveillance I had installed in the study earlier that day. In the footage, Olivia was hanging on Luke, one hand grabbing his collar, the other gently caressing his abs, her eyes full of adoration. [The female lead is really playing around.] The system’s voice chimed in inappropriately. I laughed coldly through my tears. Olivia really didn’t take me seriously at all. The next morning, Olivia and Luke were waiting at the dining table. “Jack, Luke is my newly hired secretary. He drank a lot last night for the company’s business. As the boss, we should treat him to a good breakfast to show our appreciation.” Olivia’s hand rested on Luke’s shoulder, clearly intimate. Towards me, however, was a cold command, so matter-of-fact. She didn’t even think about explaining to me why another man suddenly appeared in our home early in the morning. Luke looked at me challengingly, “Well… thanks, Jack.” As Luke passed by me, he made no effort to hide anything. His neck was covered in intimate marks, clearly showing how intense things had been last night. “The ninety-ninth time.” Olivia turned back, pretending to be gentle, “Hm? Honey, what did you say?” “I said, why should I make breakfast for him? Who does he think he is?” Olivia’s face instantly darkened: “Jack, Luke is just my secretary. Don’t be so petty as a grown man.” “Olivia, ask yourself honestly, haven’t I been generous enough all these years?” I stared at her coldly. Olivia walked over to me somewhat guiltily, taking my hand: “Jack, I know you’ve sacrificed a lot for me. You’re my fiancé and the most important person in the company. If you love me, please don’t make this so difficult, okay?” “Huh, fiancé.” “Then tell me, when exactly are we getting married?” I pressed her. She had disappointed me ninety-nine times, with only one chance left. “Don’t make a scene, honey. We have a guest, it’s not appropriate to discuss this now.” “Oh, and make the breakfast light, Luke doesn’t eat spicy food.” Olivia tossed out these words lightly and prepared to go back to the study with Luke. It was always like this. She never said no, but she never said yes either. She just kept putting me off, saying sweet nothings to deceive me. Not caring at all that I’m human too, that I have feelings. I took a deep breath as I walked into the kitchen. I had anticipated this outcome, but I didn’t expect it would still hurt so much. I didn’t make breakfast for Olivia as I usually did. In fact, since the first time Olivia cheated, I had started to regret staying in this world for her after successfully winning her over. But the new conditions for leaving hadn’t been met yet, and I wanted to give her one last chance. After all, she had been so pure and lovely back then. I secretly used the floating comments to tell her how much I loved her, but she took advantage of my love and became even more reckless. Now that the conditions were almost met, she had repeatedly proven to me through her actions that a cheater cannot be changed by love. It was time to leave. I ignored the noises coming from the study and slowly ate my breakfast. An hour later, Olivia finally emerged from the study, looking satisfied and fully dressed. “What? Jack, how come you’re eating by yourself?” “Why didn’t you make any for us?” “If you want to eat, make it yourself.” I didn’t bother with her, slowly finishing my last bite. Olivia’s face turned ugly. “Jack, you’re really disappointing me more and more. You rely on me to support you, and you can’t even be bothered to make breakfast.” “I’ll give you one more chance. Make two portions of breakfast in ten minutes.” Olivia looked at me with contempt in her eyes. Silence. I still didn’t move. Perhaps afraid that I was really angry, Olivia changed her approach and came to hug me. “Alright, honey, is it because I’ve been too busy with work lately and haven’t been spending time with you? Are you upset?” “I’ll make it up to you tonight after work, okay? Do you want me to wear black lace or cat ears? I’ll do whatever you want, just give me some face today, okay?” It was always like this, always the same. Olivia only sweet-talked me when she wanted to achieve some goal. Thinking a few sweet words would make me soften. Why should I? I sneered, “Olivia, you don’t really think everything is a given, do you?” “That clothes clean themselves, food magically appears on your table, the house somehow stays clean, and all you have to do is open your mouth?” She was stunned, not expecting me to suddenly say this. “Wasn’t it you who said you liked taking care of me, so I fired all the maids? What’s this about now?” Yes, five years ago, to win Olivia’s heart, I couldn’t wait to stay by her side every day, becoming her personal butler, meticulously taking care of her every need.

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The wedding day, he left me there alone and disappeared. With my four-month baby bump, I called him countless times. At first, he just wouldn’t pick up. Then, his phone went straight to voicemail. Whispers started to ripple through the crowd: “First time I’ve seen a groom ditch his own wedding.” “Shotgun weddings rarely work out, and honestly, he probably had every right to bail.” I stood there in the wind, completely helpless, trying to comfort the guests who were now quietly leaving. All day, I waited like an idiot on the street corner. Even after everyone had gone home, he never showed. An older woman nearby casually remarked, “Declan, he’s like… your dad’s ex-wife’s kid. What if he’s here to get back at you?” On the drive home, that line echoed relentlessly in my mind. Lost in a daze, my car collided with a truck. My four-month-old baby and I were buried beneath the wreckage. When I opened my eyes again, I was three months in the past, on the day I found out I was pregnant. I clutched the pregnancy test, sitting on the toilet for a long time. A single beam of light streamed in from the slightly ajar window, highlighting the two stark, vivid lines on the stick. The dripping water in the bathroom echoed the dull ache in my chest, a heavy, suffocating feeling. The suffocating pain from my past life hadn’t fully faded when Declan’s voice drifted from outside the door. “What’s wrong?” His tone was as calm and composed as ever. Just half an hour ago, I was standing at our wedding, praying countless times for him to appear. In my past life, on this very day, he’d just gotten back from work, bringing me my favorite pastries. I’d excitedly rushed out to hug him, showing him the pregnancy test. Declan’s expression then was complicated. He held it, staring for a long time. “Are you sure?” The joy in my heart froze, as if I’d been doused with cold water. My smile faltered, and I cautiously asked, “You… you don’t want it?” “No, it’s not that.” He pressed his lips together, giving me a deep, searching look. “We’re not married yet…” “Can we get married now?” Declan considered it for a moment. “Okay.” Declan and I had been together for five years, and we were finally about to get married. But the thought of my humiliation and helplessness at the wedding in my past life, clutching my phone desperately under the glaring eyes of the crowd, praying for him to appear and rescue me from my predicament, made it impossible to breathe. Before my dad married my mom, he’d been married once before. I didn’t know anything about their past, nor did I realize that Declan, from the very first day he met me, had been planning to drag me into an abyss.

When Declan pushed the door open, I was huddled in the corner, my face ashen. The trash bin held the pregnancy test I’d hastily hidden. His tall frame blocked the light, and he knelt before me, his handsome brows slightly furrowed. “Feeling unwell?” He carried the scent of a long, dusty day. I knew he was busy, sometimes too busy to pay me much attention. When we first started dating, he was incredibly attentive, and I could revel in his love, doing whatever I pleased. But I didn’t know when, gradually, he had turned into this. Sharp brows, eyes that could charm anyone. But his gaze was dim, hard to read, as if it held so many unspoken things, even when he looked at me gently. I slowly reined in my temper, no longer demanding things from him out of petulance. He loved me, I knew that, but deep down, that love seemed tainted with something else, making me increasingly cautious, afraid to touch it. As he looked at me like that, was he already thinking about how, four months from now, I’d be a part of his revenge plan? Lying on a cold operating table, enduring such agony? A four-month-old baby, its placenta fully formed… they’d have to tear it, *alive*, from my body. What could my dad possibly have done to him to warrant such cruel revenge against *me*? Perhaps the memories of my past life were too unbearable. This time, I didn’t tell him about the pregnancy. I buried my head in my arms, and after a long while, whispered, “It’s nothing. Just a bad stomach. I’ll be fine after a little rest.” Declan’s hand paused, then slowly settled on my head, gently massaging my earlobe. His voice, like his fingertips, held little warmth. “Okay.”

In our five years together, Declan had once told me I was his life. One winter, it snowed for a solid two weeks, a rare sight in our city. Declan, in his dark wool coat, would wait for me at the subway station every evening after work. Then he’d take my hand, and we’d walk under the dim streetlights, our distant home glowing with warmth. Declan didn’t like snow, but he’d said, “Because Cassie likes it, I’m trying to like it too.” But when exactly did he change? Declan gradually became incredibly busy. Sometimes he wouldn’t come home for three or five days, and worse, he’d disappear for a while, barely replying to texts. Yet, every time he returned, he was back to being his gentle, attentive self. Hot meals would be on the table, my clothes washed and neatly folded. It was as if… he was trying to make up for something. The bedroom door opened, pulling me out of my past life’s memories. Declan stood in the doorway. “Cassie, I’m heading to the office.” The office again. Declan had forgotten again. Today was my birthday. In my past life, I’d grumbled, reminding him to come home early to celebrate my birthday, and he’d promised. I’d waited all night, full of hope, only for the candles to burn down into the cake, leaving twenty tiny black holes. Mocking my pathetic ignorance. If he wasn’t going to come back, why promise? This time, I didn’t want to beg him to celebrate my birthday. After a long silence, I suppressed the emotion and quietly replied, “Okay.” No movement from behind me. Oh, I remembered. Every time he left, I was supposed to give him a kiss. Was he waiting for that? I burrowed deeper into the blankets to keep warm and softly said, “I don’t feel well. I’m going back to sleep.” “Okay.” Declan never forced me. He clicked the door shut. The sound of his car driving away drifted up from downstairs. The room returned to a crushing silence. I gathered my strength, and a few minutes later, got up, dressed, and walked out the door. Truth be told, I knew nothing about Declan all these years. He owned a company, but he never let me visit, and he’d always avoided talking about meeting my parents. If that lady at the wedding in my past life hadn’t blurted it out, I’d still be in the dark, a pathetic fool, with no idea how long I’d been played. Five years had built up too much dependence on him. This time, I wanted to break that dependence with my own hands. The late autumn wind was strong, howling around me and whipping my hair. I hailed a taxi by the roadside and gave the address. “Miss, what are you doing heading to the industrial district by yourself?” It took a great effort to force out a strained smile. “Picking up my partner after work…” That was the address of Declan’s company. I’d accidentally seen it on Declan’s phone in my past life; otherwise, he wouldn’t even tell me where his office was. Back then, he often disappeared, sometimes for three or four days at a time. I thought it was because he was so busy with his startup, but was that really it? I gripped my handbag tightly, my blood pounded against my eardrums, a frantic drumbeat. The car slowly pulled over, its headlights bright. The driver lit a cigarette. “Miss, are you sure this is the place?” It wasn’t an office building, but an apartment complex. A gloomy, gray sky hung over the building. The plane trees in front stood stark in the autumn wind, making the scene feel oppressive and somber. The heater was on in the car. I sat there, watching through the glass, as Declan and another woman turned out of the alley. A sharp, tearing pain ripped through my entire body, shredding my soul. Years of waiting and hoping suddenly felt utterly worthless and cheap. The woman was young, slender, wearing Declan’s scarf, her eyes bright and captivating when she smiled. Declan had always said he loved the two dimples that appeared when I smiled. She had them too. She was carrying fresh groceries and Declan’s favorite beer. Declan walked slowly behind her, hands in his pockets, a stylish women’s bag draped over his forearm. He watched her, with a relaxed, doting expression, as she moved gracefully in his sight. His entire focus, his whole world, seemed to be her. They chatted and laughed all the way, disappearing into the building’s entrance. Just as they went inside, the woman turned, pushed him against the wall, and stood on tiptoe. A gust of wind swept by, and the closing security door blocked my view. I could only see her slightly lifted red high heels, swaying happily. The taxi’s hazard lights flashed, ticking rhythmically. The driver flicked his cigarette butt, the ash falling through the window gap… “Look, miss, try to move on. Break it off early.” I slowly clenched my hands. The next second, I suddenly flung open the car door and bolted out. “Declan! You bastard!” My voice was drowned out by the blaring horns. I stumbled, tripped over a manhole cover, and fell hard into a pile of dirty, fallen leaves, scraping my skin. After the cars sped past, the barren main road was empty. The security door swayed crookedly in the wind. The people who had been standing there were gone. It felt like I’d been slapped hard, a stinging, resounding blow. Finally, the driver helped me back into the car. He sighed. “Making a scene won’t help. You can’t force the rain to stop, or someone’s heart to stay. Some things just aren’t meant to be.” … That year, on my birthday, I turned our apartment upside down. Including Declan’s study and bedroom. I frantically searched for proof of his infidelity. I kept at it until the early hours, then collapsed on the floor, clutching my aching stomach, curled into a ball. Nothing. Clean as a whistle. Not only was there no evidence of an affair, but even traces of his own life had been completely wiped clean. His laptop had no password, like a brand new machine, with not a single search history. I had seen Declan sitting at that computer countless times, working on things, but why would he delete everything? The toothbrush, socks, and underwear I’d bought him were all neatly folded. In a hidden corner of the study, I found all the gifts I’d given Declan over the years. Most of them were unopened. It was as if he was deliberately erasing all evidence of my existence in his life… The warmth and happiness I’d painstakingly built over the years suddenly shattered like a fragile bubble. He’d faked his love for me. Behind my back, he’d become a family with another woman.

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“Ma’am, just a moment. There’s still an outstanding bill for $50,000.” I was about to leave after using the restroom when the owner of the buffet restaurant stopped me dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped at the outrageous sum she mentioned. This place was supposed to be $75 per person, tops! “$50,000? What are you talking about? I already paid for my meal.” She plastered on a sugary-sweet, fake smile. “Our premium restroom is only free for three minutes. Every minute over that costs $10,000. You were in there for twenty-one minutes, so that comes to $50,000.” I frowned, utterly bewildered. “I’ve never heard of any place with such a rule! This is extortion!” “Ma’am, our pricing and operations are perfectly legal and compliant. Our restroom is equipped with luxurious facilities and top-tier amenities. Charging a fee is completely normal.” I almost laughed at her utterly self-righteous attitude. “So, you’re saying if you don’t have money, you can’t even use your bathroom? I’m not paying a cent!” Seeing my refusal, she immediately turned on a megaphone. “Someone’s enjoying premium services and refusing to pay! Everyone, come and judge this for yourselves!” As a crowd started to gather, I quickly SnapChatted the restaurant name to my assistant. “Look up the company behind this place. Acquire it immediately!” … At Brenda’s shout, people swarmed from every direction, surrounding me. “Well, look at her, all dressed up, but won’t pay for a fancy restroom?” “Seriously, if you don’t have the money, don’t use their premium services! This place has a top-notch restroom. If you’re broke, just don’t use it!” A few words of manufactured outrage made Brenda positively gleeful. She stood in the center of the crowd, speaking with a condescending tone. “Ms. Vance, I see you’re a regular here. I’m not completely heartless.” “How about this: pay the $50,000 today, and I’ll give you our most exclusive membership. You’ll get twenty percent off all meals from now on. What do you say?” I nearly choked on my own laughter at her shameless logic. In my entire twenty-something years, I’d never been called a poor, freeloading cheapskate to my face. I took a deep breath, my voice cutting clearly through the buzzing whispers. “Ms. Stone, I will pay every cent I owe for my meal.” “But could you please tell me which law in this country states that a citizen must pay extra for using a restroom provided by a business?” “Law?” Brenda scoffed, a harsh, mocking laugh bursting from her like I’d just told the funniest joke in the world. “Everyone listen! Ms. Vance has such shallow knowledge! Our deluxe restroom package uses top-tier materials and space-grade nano-cleaning technology. Spend an hour in there, and you’ll get a year younger!” “Don’t you understand what high-tech is? Don’t you understand health investment?” Her words immediately sent the crowd into a frenzy. “What? A year younger! Owner, let me in there to try it out, I’ll pay!” “Some people are just cheap, then they blame others for being expensive. They just don’t know quality!” The mood in the room flipped instantly. Just moments ago, there were merely glances of disdain. Now, intense hostility burned in their eyes. Brenda stood on her moral high ground of “technology and health,” watching me smugly. What in the damn hell kind of cult brainwashing was this? Brenda was crazy, and the customers in this place were even crazier! “Fine!” I laughed, fueled by pure rage. “Ms. Stone, since you’re so convinced you’re operating legally and compliantly, then let’s invite the relevant authorities to make an assessment.” I pulled out my phone and called the police right in front of everyone. “Hello, 911? I’d like to report a massive extortion…” 2 Soon, two police officers parted the crowd and walked in. Brenda instantly put on a wronged expression and rushed to meet them. “Officers, thank goodness you’re here! This Ms. Vance enjoyed our premium services but refuses to pay.” “We’re a legitimate business; every single service is registered and approved by the city’s consumer protection board. You have to side with us!” She was quick to throw dirt on my name. The police, of course, wouldn’t just listen to one side. I concisely recounted the events, emphasizing the ridiculously high fee and her so-called anti-aging claims. The lead officer, a middle-aged man, frowned. He looked at the approval documents Brenda handed him, then paused for a moment. My heart sank a little. This shouldn’t be happening. Could Brenda Stone really have such powerful connections? “Ms. Vance, we understand the situation. After verification, this restaurant’s premium restroom service, its pricing standards, and relevant qualification documents… are all in order. On paper, it falls within the scope of legal operation.” Meaning, the charging procedures were all complete. As for the effectiveness of the service, that was commercial advertising and not within their jurisdiction. A louder uproar immediately erupted from the crowd. “Just pay the money, cheapskate!” “The police said there’s no problem, yet she’s still stubborn as hell, how embarrassing!” Brenda’s triumphant smile was blinding. But she still feigned a sigh. “Ms. Vance, why make such a fuss? I run a business, and honesty is the most important thing…” Integrity, my ass! I clenched my fists, barely suppressing the urge to just utterly lose it. If there wasn’t something seriously messed up behind this, I’d eat my hat! I ignored them, quickly unlocking my phone and messaging Chloe Davies, my assistant. [Find out the company behind this buffet restaurant and prepare for acquisition.] [I want the acquisition contract on my desk tomorrow!] After sending the message, I looked at the smug Brenda again. “Ms. Stone, I’ve paid for my meal, but for any illegal charges, I won’t give you a single cent!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with this crazy woman anymore and turned to leave. Back home, the entryway light was on. Derek was actually home at this hour. Normally, he’d either be out at a work function or working late. I’d just kicked off my heels when he stormed out of the living room, clutching a few sheets of paper. “Aurora Vance! Look what you’ve done!” I glanced at the falling papers – it was a lawyer’s letter. Brenda Stone’s name was signed at the bottom. Huh, she certainly worked fast. “And this!” Derek shoved his phone screen right into my face. Trending on Ins, “Aurora Vance: The Buffet Freeloader” was number one. I tapped on it, and sure enough, there was a candid video of the scene. The comments were absolutely vile. “Freeloading AND calling the cops? This woman has some nerve!” “Girls, doxx her! Make her pay!” My name, my ID — everything had been dug up and laid bare. Brenda, that crazy witch, dared to start a whole online smear campaign! Yet, my boyfriend didn’t care about what I’d suffered. He just kept demanding to know why I’d gotten into such trouble. “Trouble? Derek Hayes, your girlfriend is being falsely accused of extortion, dragged through the mud, and cyberbullied, and all you care about is me embarrassing you?” I pointed to the lawyer’s letter on the floor. “That lunatic owner started this whole mess just because I didn’t pay $50,000 for using her restroom. Does that sound reasonable to you?” Derek’s brow furrowed into a tight knot. “But the police said it was legal, so why didn’t you just pay what you owed? It’s just $50,000, right?” “Just hurry up, record an apology video, pay the money, and this whole thing will be over.” I looked at him as if he were a stranger. “Derek Hayes, are you out of your mind? If you want to be a sucker and a spineless pushover, then go pay her yourself, but don’t drag me into it!” “Aurora Vance!” Derek’s face flushed crimson. He pointed a finger at me and yelled, “You’re utterly unreasonable! Don’t you know the company will fire you for this?” I stared at him coldly, saying nothing. The company was *mine*. If anyone was getting fired, it would be him! Seeing that I still wouldn’t budge, he violently threw his hand up. “Fine, you’re so righteous, so above it all! Let’s see how you get out of this mess!” He grabbed his jacket from the sofa, glared at me, and slammed the door as he left. I lay back on the small living room sofa and checked my SnapChat. Messages from friends popped up continuously. And on Ins, Brenda seemed to have deliberately posted an update to actively spite me. [Taught some cheapskate a lesson today! Couldn’t afford our premium restroom package and still called the cops! What a world!] The post included a smug selfie of her flipping off the camera, with the blurry sign of her pathetic restaurant visible in the background. She really had the nerve! Cyberbullying and acting so arrogant, even after breaking the law. My finger unconsciously scrolled down, curious to see if any mutual friends had commented. Then, in the likes section, I saw a familiar profile picture. It was Derek’s! 3 My mind instantly exploded, buzzing loudly. Luckily, my hand moved faster than my brain, and I immediately took a screenshot. When I refreshed Ins, that red heart ‘like’ had vanished. I clutched my phone, my fingers icy cold. How did Derek know Brenda? All this time, whenever we went to restaurants, I was the one who ordered and paid. Derek never got involved, did he? Suddenly, a hazy memory flashed into my mind. Two months ago, it was Derek who had his arm around my waist, excitedly telling me about this newly opened buffet restaurant. After trying it, I was indeed impressed by their high-quality ingredients. I even considered holding the company’s group dinners there. I stared at the screenshot on my phone, took a deep breath, and called Chloe Davies. There were some things I absolutely had to get to the bottom of. The next day at noon, just as I arrived at my office, the front desk’s internal line rang. “Ms. Vance! Someone’s causing a scene at the front desk, specifically asking for you.” Hearing the panicked tone from the front desk, I had a pretty good idea who it was. Sure enough, as I walked into the office area, I heard Brenda’s shrill, grating voice. “Where’s Aurora Vance? That freeloading bitch who didn’t pay, get out here! Too scared to show your face?” “It’s all because of that jinx! She made me lose a huge contract. So unlucky!” The employees were silent, casting complicated glances my way. “Looking for me?” I pushed past the employees blocking my way and walked toward Brenda, who was surrounded by a few of her restaurant staff. “Well, well, the coward finally dares to show her face?” She swayed her hips, her finger nearly poking my nose. “Aurora Vance, if you know what’s good for you, pay the $50,000 right now! Do you have any idea how much money you’ve cost me?” “Like I give a damn.” I raised my hand, wiped the spittle from my face, and disgustedly pushed her hand away. “It’s all you! Freeloading, then calling the police, causing me bad luck!” She suddenly shot a look to the side. “Hey, Liam, David, drag her out and make her scrub the floors to cleanse this place of her bad juju! Otherwise, business will be impossible!” Those two restaurant employees actually started moving towards me. A collective gasp went through the office. In broad daylight, on my own turf, she dared to have her people lay hands on me? A surge of pure, unadulterated rage shot through me. To hell with reason, to hell with my image! I lunged forward and slapped her hard. “Ah!!!” Brenda clutched her face, stunned for a full three seconds. “Aurora Vance, you dared to hit me!” “Yeah, I hit you! I’m hitting you, you foul-mouthed hag.” I shook my stinging palm. “I haven’t even settled the score with you for cyberbullying me, and you dare to come here and provoke me?” “You just wait!” Brenda was shaking with fury. She pulled out her phone and made a call. “Honey, your company’s employee hit me! Come quick and stand up for me! She’s completely out of control!” Honey? My heart plummeted. No, it couldn’t be that exact connection. After hanging up, Brenda’s expression changed in a flash. “Hear that? My husband is coming out right now to deal with you!” “I advise you to get on your knees and apologize immediately, otherwise, I’ll have my husband fire you!” I laughed, livid. Fire me? I’d like to see who has the guts. The elevator chimed, stopping on my floor. Everyone’s gaze turned towards it. The doors slowly opened. Derek’s anxious face appeared before everyone. Brenda instantly flung herself at Derek like a giddy schoolgirl, clutching his arm tightly. All the employees present gasped. “Honey, you’re finally here! It’s that bitch who freeloaded at my restaurant yesterday, she hit me today! Fire her, make her leave!” Brenda pointed at me, her face alight with undisguised malice and triumph. However, Derek’s face froze. He hadn’t expected such a grand spectacle. So, he didn’t even look at Brenda. His gaze was fixed, unblinking, on me. “Wife? You… why are you here at the company today? If something was wrong, couldn’t you have just told me?” The triumphant look on Brenda’s face instantly shattered. She abruptly released Derek’s arm, stumbling back a step. “You… you called her what?” I didn’t spare a glance at their pale faces. Instead, I turned to Chloe, my assistant. “Chloe, what’s the acquisition progress on The Epicurean Feast? Get the investors behind it here with the contract immediately!” Brenda seemed to snap out of her shock, bursting into loud laughter. “Aurora Vance, have you lost your mind? A broke cheapskate who can’t even afford $50,000 for a restroom, trying to acquire our restaurant? Dream on!” No sooner had she spoken than the elevator chimed again. A middle-aged man in an expensive custom suit stepped out. Brenda’s face instantly lit up with the smugness of finding her backup. “Mr. Sterling! You’re finally here. You have to stand up for me, this bitch, she…” But before she could finish, Mr. Sterling, whom she considered her savior, quickly walked up to me with an almost fawning smile. “Ms. Vance, why are you here in person? I’ve brought the acquisition contract. When would you like to sign?” 4 “Mr. Sterling, what did you call her? She… she’s just a…” The joy and triumph on Brenda’s face instantly crumbled.

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I was about to leave the upscale restaurant Julian owned when the manager stopped me. “Excuse me, ma’am, you haven’t paid your bill.” I looked at the unfamiliar face, figuring she was new and didn’t recognize me. So, I politely explained, “Just put it on Julian’s tab. He knows.” The female manager swept a disdainful glance over me. “Ma’am, our restaurant is a Michelin three-star. We’ve never had a policy of charging to an account.” She finished speaking, then handed me a printed bill. I glanced down, and my eyes widened. A single meal for half a million dollars. Cutlery Gleam Maintenance Fee: Thirty thousand. Exclusive Air Purification Fee: Fifty thousand. VIP Serenity Service Fee: One hundred thousand. And a bunch of other ridiculous charges. I had no idea my brother was running such a rip-off joint. I was so furious, I actually laughed. “I’m Stella Cross, Mr. Cross’s sister. Tell him to come home and talk to me if there’s a problem.” But she wouldn’t back down. “Can’t afford it, huh? Don’t pretend you’re someone important, trying to mooch off Mr. Cross.” I immediately texted my assistant: *Tell Julian. Either fire this woman, or I’m pulling all my investments.* 1 “Ma’am, don’t waste everyone’s time. Just pay the bill.” Her tone was utterly certain, cutting, as if she’d already branded me as a vain gold-digger trying to skip out on the bill. Several curious glances from other patrons were already turning our way. I frowned, not wanting to waste time on such a ridiculous matter. I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number directly. However, only a cold busy signal answered, and repeated attempts yielded the same result. What the hell is that kid up to on a weekday? I put down my phone and faced the aggressive woman, enunciating each word carefully. “I’ll say it again. My name is Stella Cross. I am your boss, Julian Cross’s, older sister.” “His phone is unreachable right now, but you can check his company account. My picture and information are linked to it.” I thought this was the most direct and effective way to solve the problem. But when the female manager heard my name, instead of verifying anything, she burst into a sharp, grating laugh. She cackled, shaking with malicious glee, drawing even more attention. Then, she abruptly leaned in close to me, lowering her voice to a volume only we two could hear. “Still pretending? I’ve seen that face of yours in my husband Julian’s Ins feed countless times!” “You shameless hussy, secretly seducing my man!” “Now you have the audacity to waltz into his restaurant and try to charge everything to his account? Do you have no shame at all?” I froze for a second, then glanced at her name tag—Tiffany Reed. An overwhelming sense of exasperation washed over me. Julian’s girlfriend, the one he’d been keeping under wraps, not even a single picture he’d bothered to show me. It turned out to be this foolish, venomous woman in front of me. How could his taste be *this* bad? Suddenly, I understood. This half-million-dollar “exorbitant bill” today wasn’t a misunderstanding at all. It was a premeditated humiliation. Before I could even open my mouth, she’d completely lost her patience. “Since this woman wants to dine and dash, we’ll have to restrain her until the police arrive!” She waved her hand backward, and two burly security guards, who had been standing nearby, immediately stepped forward. One clamped his hand over my mouth, while the other wrenched my arms painfully behind my back, twisting them like rope. I struggled violently, but the sheer difference in strength between us made all my resistance futile. They ignored my furious glares and the horrified stares of the other patrons, roughly dragging me toward the back of the kitchen. Then I was thrown heavily into a storage room reeking of disinfectant mixed with stale food. The door slammed shut, cutting off all light and sound from the outside. 2 In the darkness, the female manager said nothing, but raised her high-heeled foot and brutally kicked me in the stomach. The excruciating pain instantly made me curl into a ball, my stomach churning violently. “That’s for spending my man’s money!” “That’s for trying to seduce him!” She shrieked, her voice distorted by jealousy and rage. She looked down at me, towering over me, and ordered the two brawny men: “Beat her! Beat her senseless!” The two security guards, clearly her loyal cronies, didn’t hesitate for a second. A barrage of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain and groan. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated. Her shrieks continued. “What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic hanger-on!” “I told you I’m his sister! If you don’t believe me, ask Julian! Call him right now, I’ll tell him myself!” I struggled to explain, but the woman in front of me was deaf to my words. Only when my head was swimming and my vision blurring did she raise her hand and call a stop. Her high-heeled foot pressed onto my shoulder as she smiled, looking down at me. “You’d better pay that bill today, and then fork over another five hundred thousand.” “That’s your punishment for seducing my man and spending his money.” “I’m not afraid of things getting messy. Julian will have it all smoothed over for me.” I lay curled up in pain, weakly protesting, “That’s my own money. I told you, if you don’t believe me, ask him.” Her face twisted in anger, and she kicked me again. The two security guards immediately understood, and their fists and feet came down on me once more. I knew she wouldn’t listen to anything I said. If this continued, I might actually die here. After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used the last of my strength to fumble for my phone on the cold floor. “Stop… I’ll… I’ll pay.” She seemed pleased with my submission, motioning for the two security guards to stop. She knelt down and patted my swollen cheek. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do it the easy way? You had to learn the hard way, didn’t you?” “One million, not a penny less.” I lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored her and dialed my best friend Maya’s number. The call connected quickly. “Maya, bring two million to Julian’s restaurant.” “I need it now.” Maya on the other end paused, then a note of alarm crept into her voice. “Stella? What’s wrong? Your voice sounds…” “Don’t ask. Just hurry.” I cut her off and hung up. When Tiffany heard “two million,” her eyes instantly lit up, a flicker of avarice in her eyes. She probably thought I’d been beaten into submission and was voluntarily increasing the payment to beg for mercy. The smug triumph on her face was now impossible to hide. “Smart move.” 3 Maya’s speed was astonishing. Soon, the storage room door was violently pushed open from the outside. Maya stormed in, flanked by two bodyguards. When she saw the blood at the corner of my mouth, my disheveled clothes, and my pathetic form curled on the floor, she gasped in shock. She rushed forward and helped me up. I shook my head, signaling her not to speak, then took the bank card with the sticky-note password from her hand and tossed it to Tiffany. Tiffany took the card and didn’t bother me further, waving her hand dismissively. “If that’s a fake card, I have plenty of ways to find you. Now get out.” I endured the excruciating pain that pierced my bones, and with Maya’s help, I limped out of that disgusting place. Once at the entrance, I thanked Maya. “Thanks, Maya. I’ll pay you back as soon as I sort this out.” She looked at me worriedly. “Don’t worry about the money. But what happened to you?” I let out a bitter laugh. “My brother’s found himself quite the girlfriend. I’ve got a score to settle with him.” I pulled out my phone and found the number for the restaurant’s Vice President. This VP was the actual manager of the restaurant, someone I had personally headhunted, and he was fiercely loyal to me. The call connected. I didn’t waste a single word, my voice devoid of emotion. “You have ten minutes. Fire a manager named Tiffany Reed.” “Otherwise, the Cross family will withdraw all investments from the restaurant, every last penny.” The VP on the other end was scared him witless the moment he heard my voice. He must have heard the weakness and the unsettling tone in my voice, as he frantically agreed, not daring to ask a single question why. I hung up, not pausing for a second, and hailed a cab directly to the police station. Using the clearest, most logical reasoning, I explained everything that had just happened to the officer who received me. After giving a detailed statement at the police station, I went to the hospital for a medical examination. Holding that thin report, the fury of betrayal in my heart felt like it had been doused with hot oil, burning even more fiercely. I needed an explanation. I needed Julian Cross to give me an explanation himself. My assistant located Julian at his own house. My driver and bodyguards were already en route to Julian’s villa. That villa, too, was a gift from me. However, when I arrived, I was greeted by deafening heavy metal music. And the boisterous sounds of men and women emanating from the doors and windows. He was throwing a party. No wonder he hadn’t answered my calls. The villa’s front door was ajar. On a whim, I didn’t push it open immediately. Soon, I heard a familiar female voice, choked with tears. It was Tiffany. She was crying to everyone in the house, painting herself as a poor victim bullied by an arrogant mistress, who was then falsely accused. “…I just asked her to pay her bill, and she threw a million dollars in my face, and then had me fired…” “Julian, she’s too much. She has absolutely no respect for you!” “She just wants to humiliate me, she just wants to break us up!” Inside, Julian’s group of fair-weather friends all indignantly echoed her sentiments. Julian, meanwhile, was loudly comforting Tiffany in his arms, his voice full of tenderness and indulgence. “Tiffany, don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer this kind of injustice!” Then, as if to prove his resolve, he confidently promised everyone: “When I catch that woman, I’ll make her kneel and apologize to you!” Inside, the group of spoiled brats continued to champion Tiffany, shouting about how they would make me pay. “Julian, just say the word, and we’ll drag her out right now!” “Yeah! Let her know who really runs things here!” I couldn’t listen anymore. I raised my hand, and a bodyguard kicked open the villa door. The party music screeched to a halt, and the boisterous laughter instantly vanished. Dozens of stunned eyes collectively turned toward the doorway. “No need to drag me out. I’m right here. Who wants to teach me a lesson?” 4 The air seemed to solidify, leaving only the sharp click-clack of my heels on the floor. Step by step, I walked toward the embracing couple in the center of the living room.