Category: English

I am the most noble princess of the fox clan. In my past life, I chose the seemingly noble Damien as my husband. But our child was born as the lowest-ranked fox. Enraged, he killed our baby and threw me, still weak from childbirth, into a vat of boiling oil before leaving me to die in the wilderness. Meanwhile, my sister Ivy married a low-ranking fox, yet gave birth to a rare purple fox. They became the new rulers of our clan. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Damien chose me. This time, he decisively picked Ivy instead. I knew he had been reborn too. But how could a husband who relied on stolen magic to maintain his appearance possibly father a high-ranking fox child? The fox clan was divided into seven ranks, from highest to lowest: obsidian, white, purple, emerald, silver, azure, and the lowest – mixed fur foxes. Obsidian foxes hadn’t been born in thousands of years and were now considered mythical. White foxes appeared once a century at most. My father, the clan leader, was currently the only white fox. He longed for me to marry the highest-ranking male fox to produce the next pride of our clan. That’s why today’s mate selection ceremony was held. The most noble young male fox was Damien, my husband in my past life. When I opened my eyes, I found him looking at me with contempt. My father had just chosen him for me. “Princess Aria’s noble status makes her a perfect match for you. I’ve taken the liberty of arranging your marriage,” my father declared. Damien bowed slightly to my father. “Your Majesty, I refuse to marry Princess Aria. I request to marry your second daughter, Ivy, instead.” The hall fell silent instantly. Everyone’s eyes widened in shock. Ivy was stunned for a moment before her face lit up with joy. She gave me a smug look. I had pure royal blood as the child of the fox king and his queen consort. All eyes were on me. Ivy was the daughter of a commoner my father had favored. Despite having royal blood, she was only a silver fox. Noble families looked down on her, while she scorned commoners. My other sisters were already married with children, but Ivy remained unwed. Damien’s public refusal of my father was a blatant disrespect to his authority. My father’s anger flared, his aura surging before he forcefully suppressed it. “Princess Aria is the highest-ranking and your best match. As the pride of our clan, how can you only think of romance? Your duty is to produce a purple fox! Moreover, my daughter Aria has the noblest bloodline among all females. Why do you look down on her?” Though my father claimed this mate selection was for all his daughters, it was truly only for me. He was furious, his eyes reddening as magic gathered at his fingertips. “Your Majesty, it’s not that I don’t want to choose Aria. She deliberately concealed the truth and deceived everyone. She’s not a noble purple fox, but a mixed fur fox!” His words shocked everyone! I gritted my teeth. I knew he would reveal this. A nearby building suddenly collapsed as my father’s rage swept over us. Everyone knelt on the ground. “Damien, do you know the punishment for slandering a princess?” My father was used to his high position. The fact that he hadn’t immediately executed Damien for this public humiliation showed extreme restraint. Damien remained fearless, glancing at me contemptuously. “If Princess Aria reveals her true form, the rumors will be disproven.” My maid grew anxious. “Princess, quickly show your true form! How could you possibly be a mixed fur fox?” I watched Damien’s confident and arrogant demeanor, my fists clenched tight. In my past life, after our child was born, he saw that the purple fox he had longed for was actually a mixed fur fox. He then used all his magic to destroy my core, forcing me to reveal my true form. He plucked all my fur and threw me into a vat of boiling oil. In the end, my corpse was fed to wild dogs. My father glared at me with disappointed eyes. “What are you waiting for? Show your true form! Don’t you care about my face?” My father was a rare white fox. No matter who he mated with, the child shouldn’t be a low-ranking mixed fur fox. Damien’s words were questioning whether my bloodline was truly pure. My father’s eyes were blood-red as he angrily pressured me. “Aria, what are you waiting for?” My father and mother had been deeply in love. My mother had died giving birth to me, so my father treasured me above all else. My mother’s last words declaring me a purple fox had never been questioned. I lowered my head and remained silent before slowly uttering a few words. “I’m indeed not a purple fox.” My father suppressed his anger. “Very well then. I’ll arrange the marriage between Damien and Ivy. If there’s nothing else, you’re all dismissed!” Damien left with an expression of anticipation for the show to come. In the end, only my father and I remained. He coughed up a mouthful of blood. “Princess Aria’s crimes are unforgivable. Throw her into the dungeon!” I wanted to explain that although I wasn’t a purple fox, I definitely wasn’t an ordinary mixed fur fox either. My fur color was special – white interspersed with red, as if my entire body was surrounded by flames. But from start to finish, he never gave me a chance to explain. He didn’t trust me, or even the words of his beloved wife who had died giving birth to his child. I had to do something for myself. I knelt on the ground. “Your child has erred. I request to be sent to the Frozen Lands as an offering to the Fox God.” The fox clan had declined over the centuries, with fewer and fewer high-ranking foxes born. To continue the bloodline, every hundred years they would offer young maidens to the Fox God, seeking blessings and protection. My situation was dire. This was my last hope. My mother had left me a message that appeared and then vanished on my coming of age day. “Your identity is special. If necessary, you can go to the Frozen Lands to seek the Fox God. Your destiny lies there.” In my past life, I had been infatuated with Damien and never took my mother’s words to heart. This time, I had to take a chance. My father glared at me fiercely when he heard my request. In the end, Ivy whispered in his ear, delighted at my apparent self-destruction. He finally agreed. I returned to my chambers with my maid to pack. Ivy couldn’t wait to come gloat. She wore luxurious clothes she had never worn before, her face caked with makeup. Now she was basking in glory. “I never imagined the high and mighty Princess Aria would turn out to be a mixed fur fox that even common clan members despise. Even if you go as an offering, why would the Fox God favor you?” Even with all that powder, the wrinkles on her face couldn’t be hidden. “Unlike me, now chosen by Damien – every fox maiden’s dream man. Little sister, your jealousy is useless.” My maid stepped forward. “Princess Ivy, just days ago you were begging my mistress to help find you a good match. How quickly you’ve changed!” Ivy’s expression changed. She immediately slapped my maid hard across the face. I was about to retaliate when I suddenly felt a force knock me to the ground. Damien was standing in the doorway watching me. “Ivy bears the responsibility of our clan’s future. She’ll bear white fox children with me. You mixed fur trash should just go die!” At that moment, another powerful force hit me. I coughed up a mouthful of blood. I saw my father glaring at me from afar, his face displeased. The mighty Fox King actually believed these two mongrels could produce the future hope of our clan. I laughed out loud. “Then I wish you both the birth of a white fox!” They couldn’t produce one. A silver fox and a mixed fur fox could only produce another mixed fur! Moreover, Damien’s magic was depleted from maintaining his appearance. He likely couldn’t father a child at all. Ivy, you’ll slowly taste all the pain I suffered in my past life! I left the palace amid everyone’s mockery. Even the clan members on the road to the Frozen Lands constantly humiliated me. “You’re of such lowly status. If you anger the Fox God, we’ll beat you to death, understand?” My magic had been sealed by my father. I could only endure their abuse. Fortunately, half a month later, I successfully arrived. On the first night, everyone eagerly awaited the Fox God’s arrival. At midnight, a filthy man with a lame left leg stumbled in. Everyone was frightened at first and chased him away. Only I noticed that despite his limp, he still moved with agility. He was no ordinary person. So I ran out during the commotion and called out to the man. He turned back with a slight smile, and I lost consciousness.

When I woke up the next day, my whole body ached and there was a strange mark on my wrist. Everyone in the temple had vanished. I could only return to the palace based on my memory. Everyone was in a panic. Throughout history, no one had ever returned from there. My father had even sent search parties, but those sent as offerings had vanished without a trace. My return was either a great blessing or a great curse. The royal clan members cursed me as a fugitive who disregarded the clan’s safety. No matter how I tried to explain, it was useless. They finally came up with a solution – to burn me at the stake in front of the temple as a show of respect to the Fox God. “Father, I don’t know what happened. I really didn’t sneak away!” I cried, begging them to spare me. I didn’t want to repeat the tragedy of my past life. “Look at how many things you’ve done to shame me!” he roared. Ivy was pregnant. Damien supported her as they watched my misfortune from the side. Flames suddenly ignited around me. I was so frightened I nearly fainted. But after a long while, I realized the flames couldn’t harm me at all. Only the mark on my wrist glowed faintly. “What’s going on? Aria, what trick have you pulled now? How can you be so devious!” Ivy cried out when she saw I was unharmed. Everyone came to their senses. The high priest stepped forward, putting on airs. “Perhaps Aria is too lowly and the Fox God finds her repulsive. That’s why this is happening. The Fox God is merciful, so let’s spare her.” The high priest called for a doctor to examine me. Suddenly, another shocking secret was revealed. “Aria, she’s… she’s pregnant!” My father’s gloomy face grew even more vicious. Everyone was astonished, looking at me in disbelief. “Aria, kneel down! You’ve repeatedly offended the Fox God. Today I’ll rid our clan of this scourge!” Damien finally saw his chance, but despite using all his power, he couldn’t harm me. Ivy also rushed forward eagerly, but she didn’t use magic. She simply slapped me across the face. “How can you be so shameless? An unwed princess consorting with others!” I noticed that Ivy’s slap carried no magical power at all. It seemed Damien had chosen the same path as before. “There are many strange creatures in the Frozen Lands. The princess may not even know what she’s carrying.” I was reviled by everyone. All sorts of insults were hurled at me. Some even tried to harass me in front of my father. In the end, everyone was at a loss. I was sent back to the palace and confined. But a few days later, someone actually proposed marriage to me, the universally despised princess. Ivy rushed to my palace, grinning from ear to ear. “Who would have thought, little sister, that someone would pick up this mess even with your ruined reputation. But I heard he’s an ugly cripple, haha!” “A cripple, and an ugly one at that? A perfect match for the princess indeed!” Her maids chimed in. When they saw I wasn’t reacting, they started pushing and shoving me. “Did you hear me? I’m talking to you!” I kept my face expressionless and smiled as I replied. “Thank you for telling me, sister. I think even a cripple is far better than Damien.” Sure enough, that raggedly dressed man who walked with a limp was the same one I had seen outside the temple that night.

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Asher King was cheating for the 78th time, and I was lying right beside him. His secretary, Chloe, breathed huskily into my ear, “Making so much noise, aren’t you afraid of waking your deaf little wife?” He scoffed, “Her? She’s just my deaf-mute pet. So docile.” “You know what? I bet even if I hit her right now, she’d just stare at me with those innocent eyes.” No sooner had he spoken than he actually slapped my back. A searing pain shot through me, and I looked at him. Chloe giggled mockingly, “See? No reaction at all.” I touched my ear, watching them, and a sudden smile spread across my face. “I’ve been waiting for that slap for a long time.” Asher King’s smile instantly froze. “Your hearing’s back?” I stared coldly at the two of them, saying nothing. The woman beneath Asher scrambled to pull her clothes over the passion marks on her skin. A thick, cloying scent of their illicit affair hung heavy in the air. I stroked the hearing aid on my ear, my gaze calm as I swept over the couple on the bed. Chloe, clutching her chest, dropped to her knees on the floor with a thump. “Miss Miller! Miss Miller! I’m so sorry! I truly am!” “It’s all my fault! I lost my head! I shamelessly seduced Mr. King!” “I couldn’t control my feelings! It has nothing to do with Mr. King! He was just confused for a moment!” Tears streamed down her young, beautiful face, making her look utterly pitiful. I didn’t utter a word, but Asher spoke first. He wore a half-tied robe, kicking over the bedside trash can, shielding Chloe behind him. “Hazel Miller, have you made enough of a scene?! Staying up all night just to spy on me with another woman?” “Chloe has already apologized. What more do you want? Do you have to embarrass everyone like this?” I looked at his impatient expression and curled my lips into a bitter smile. “Asher King, is that all you have to say to me right now?” He froze, standing still. I pulled a brown envelope from the nightstand drawer and opened it. I dumped its contents onto the bed, and countless photos scattered everywhere. Pictures of him entering hotels with different women, photos of him canoodling with models in his sports car, pictures of Chloe entangled with him in various outfits—in his office, in his study… Asher’s face turned ashen as he looked at the photos. I simply said, “Asher King, I’ll grant you your freedom.” “We’re getting a divorce.” Chloe’s sobs abruptly ceased, and a flicker of glee crossed her eyes. I turned and walked away. Asher chased after me, grabbing my wrist. “Hazel Miller! Divorce? Who gave you permission to even mention divorce?” “You’ve been pretending to be deaf and dumb all these years just to take my pictures and threaten me? What a manipulative schemer you are!” “I’m telling you,” he yanked me closer, forcing me to look up at him, “You want a divorce? No chance in hell! You think you can use these things to take half of my family’s assets? Dream on!” “Without me, which of these men out there would ever take you seriously? With just your family’s status, who would genuinely care about you?”

I pried Asher King’s fingers off mine, one by one, gritting my teeth, and slapped him across the face. Five years of marriage, we had argued and fought, but he had never used my hearing impairment to mock me. And today, I’d heard it twice, all for another woman. “Asher King, do you remember? You were the one who pledged solemnly to my father, on bended knee, that my hearing didn’t matter, that you’d love and protect me for a lifetime.” “Of course, you don’t remember.” “You also don’t remember leaving me stranded in the snow during my prenatal check-up, just so you could celebrate Chloe’s birthday.” “You didn’t see me lying in the snow, the blood pooling beneath me, nor did you see that tiny, formed life, how it slowly, painfully, left my body…” Asher King’s lips turned pale, and his body instinctively reeled back. “Hazel…” “Asher King, how could I ever forgive you?” Asher was about to say more, but Chloe’s sobbing interrupted him. “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault! I shouldn’t… shouldn’t have been around Mr. King! I ruined everything for you two! If you want to hit me or scold me, just do it!” Chloe cried, inching closer to me, her posture weak, taking all the blame upon herself, perfectly absolving Asher. Asher deserved to die, and so did she. A wave of pent-up fury surged through me. I walked over to Chloe, bent down, and grabbed her hair. Under her terrified gaze, I smashed her head against the floor, again and again, until blood started seeping from her forehead. Asher King’s roar erupted, “Hazel Miller! Are you out of your mind?!” He forcefully pulled me away from Chloe, shoving my shoulder. I stumbled, my back hitting the edge of the dressing table. The pain multiplied, and cold sweat broke out. Asher shielded Chloe as if she were a priceless gem, his eyes fixed on me with undisguised disgust. “Apologize to Chloe!” “Never.” Seeing them stand together, disheveled, I felt nothing but utter revulsion. I pulled out the divorce papers from my bag and threw them in front of Asher. “Sign it.” Asher picked up the agreement, sneered, and with both hands, tore it into tiny pieces. Five years of marriage, and all I wanted was a peaceful separation, but he wouldn’t even grant me that. I stood there quietly, watching Asher King’s face contorted with rage. “Asher King. If you don’t sign, we’ll settle this in court.” I didn’t look back until the car drove away from the mansion. I checked into a suite at a top hotel in the city center for a few days. Sitting on the sofa, my body still trembled uncontrollably. I took out my phone and called my father. “Hazel?” “Dad, I’m divorcing Asher.” My father on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then roared, “I knew that kid wasn’t any good! Did he do something to hurt you?!” “Don’t be afraid, Hazel! Dad’s here! The Millers aren’t down and out yet, he won’t get away with bullying us!” “This divorce *has* to happen! Whatever you want, your dad will give it to you!” I sniffled, my eyes suddenly red, tears streaming down my face. After I composed myself, my father said, “Declan is on a business trip near you right now. I’ll have him contact you. You can ask him for help if you need anything. He… he’s always cared about you.” “I understand, Dad.”

After hanging up, my fingers unconsciously swiped across the screen, finally stopping on Declan Hayes’s SnapChat profile picture. Ever since I called off my engagement to the Hayes family, all that remained between us were holiday greetings. His words from the last time we met faintly echoed in my ears. “Asher King may not be the one who can truly accept and understand you…” “Marriage isn’t child’s play. I hope you’ll think it through. Whatever your decision, I respect it.” Declan, your words became a cruel prophecy. It’s just a shame I’m only now understanding it. My phone vibrated, and a red notification dot appeared on Declan Hayes’s message icon. “Hazel, I’m at the door.” I took a deep breath, opened the door, and Declan Hayes stood outside, dusty and disheveled from his travels, carrying luggage. He said living together would make things easier to handle. I didn’t play coy; I simply offered him the guest room. During the day, he handled his company matters, and in the evenings, he helped me contact lawyers to revise the divorce agreement. This routine continued for a week. I habitually picked up my phone, and Chloe Reed’s name was prominently displayed at the top of my Ins feed. Just a few minutes ago, she had updated a set of photos. In the pictures, she sat on the sofa I had carefully chosen. Two cups of coffee sat on the small wooden table, and the corner of a dark gray robe peeked out from the edge of the table. [Late-night wine can’t beat morning coffee~] I stared at the post for a long moment. Declan handed me a glass of warm water, his gaze calmly sweeping over my phone. “She’s just a pathetic wannabe.” I softly hummed in agreement, clutching the glass. The stability I’d sought for years in my marriage couldn’t even compare to the simple warmth of the cup in my hands. At ten in the morning, I returned to the mansion. I figured I’d take advantage of working hours to retrieve all my wedding heirlooms. I walked into the bedroom, found the safe, and entered the password. [Incorrect password!] [Incorrect password!] My heart sank. The password had been changed. I turned to look for a key, only to bump head-on into Asher King. He held a folder, seemingly just coming out of his study. He clearly hadn’t expected me to return at this hour. He froze for a moment, then a look of wild joy flashed across his face. “Hazel!” Asher strode quickly towards me, opening his arms as if to embrace me. “You’re back! I knew you couldn’t stay away!” His tone suggested I had just thrown a small tantrum and had finally come to my senses and returned home. A sweet, cloying scent of cheap perfume hit me, and I frowned in disgust, stepping back. “Don’t touch me!” Asher’s movements stiffened, and a flash of irritation crossed his face. I couldn’t be bothered with small talk and coldly asked, “What’s the password for the safe?” Asher King’s throat bobbed, his eyes darting. “Password? Why are you asking that?” “My wedding jewelry and heirlooms are stored in the safe. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for the password, isn’t it?” “I’ve kept those things for you. I just changed the password for security reasons.” “Ash?” A soft voice drifted up from downstairs.

I followed the sound, and Chloe Reed, dressed in a business suit, stood at the corner. Around her neck was the all-diamond necklace that was part of my wedding settlement. The last flicker of hope in my heart extinguished. My husband, days after I left, brought another woman into our home and paraded her in my own wedding jewelry, literally handing over my most precious belongings. “Hmph…” I sneered. “Is that what you call ‘security reasons’ and ‘keeping them safe’?” “Asher King, do you take me for dead?” “That jewelry was left to me by my mother! It’s my family’s heirloom! And you just brazenly take it to win your little mistress’s favor?” Asher’s face darkened. “Hazel Miller! What nonsense are you talking about?” “Don’t be so harsh! Chloe… she just liked this necklace and wanted to borrow it! “You have so many necklaces, what’s wrong with lending one? Is it worth making such a fuss? Anyway, those things of yours just collect dust in the safe!” Chloe clutched her neck, her eyes instantly red, as if I were the unreasonable villain. “I’m so sorry, Miss Miller, I didn’t know… this was your wedding heirloom… I just thought it was so beautiful and matched my outfit today…” Asher shielded Chloe, scolding me, “Enough! Are you done yet? Can’t you have some decorum as a high-society wife?! Always nitpicking, it’s utterly embarrassing!” I ignored Asher King’s accusations, my gaze drawn to Chloe’s hand covering her neck. My eyes fixed on it, and I felt all the blood rush to my head, blurring my vision. Asher had given her *that* ring too—the one I had made from a tiny lock of my baby’s hair, a memento of the child I lost too soon. That ring had always been hidden away, even Asher rarely saw it, and now it was on Chloe Reed’s finger. I lunged at Chloe, grabbing the ring on her hand. She screamed in terror as my nails scraped her face. “Take it off! Get it off right now!” Asher was stunned by the sudden turn of events. When he reacted, he furiously pulled me away. “Hazel Miller! You’re a damn lunatic!” “Lunatic? Yes, I am a lunatic! A lunatic forced to listen to you and your secretary hooking up! A lunatic called ‘too much trouble’ when I miscarried!” I pointed at Chloe, her face covered in scratches and blood. “Do you know what ring she’s wearing? That’s my child’s hair! It’s the only thing she left me!” “How could you defile me like this? Asher King, you’re not even human!” Chloe finally realized she was wearing something forbidden. She trembled as she slipped off the ring and placed it in front of me. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I truly didn’t know…” I grabbed a porcelain object nearby and threw it at them. Asher grunted, still not forgetting to shield Chloe. He spoke calmly, “You’ve screamed, you’ve made a scene. Can you settle down now?” “What kind of fuss is this over a baby that was barely formed? What good does keeping that ring do, other than tormenting yourself? If you just behave, we can always have another child.” Listen to that. That’s what my husband said to me and our child. I curled my lips into a mocking smile, walked to the bar, and grabbed a bottle of vodka. Under Asher King’s gaze, I violently hurled it at our wedding photo hanging on the wall. The liquor mixed with glass shards splattered everywhere. In the photo, I wore a wedding dress, my smile shy, my expression full of hopes for the future. I emotionlessly cut the photo of us together, throwing my part into the fireplace. The flames instantly devoured the picture, leaving a pile of ashes. Chloe was utterly terrified, clutching the wound splashed with liquor, shrinking behind Asher with a pained expression. “Asher King, in five years of marriage, you’ve given me countless things. Bags, houses, cars… But those were either leftovers your mistresses didn’t want, or merely necessities to adorn your ‘wife.’ “Only this,” I tapped my ear, “was something you truly gave me. And perhaps even this was just so I could better hear your commands.” I watched Asher still wanting to approach, then ripped off my hearing aid and threw it at him. “Now, I’m giving it back to you.” He stopped, his gaze fixed on the hearing aid lying on the floor. He didn’t move. Dead silence filled my ears. I could only speak from habit. “Asher King, we’re done.” “As for what’s left, I’ll have my lawyer handle the inventory. Enjoy your final moments of marital bliss.” “I will collect every single bit of what you owe me, with interest.” Pushing open the mansion door, Declan Hayes stood there quietly, his eyes deep and somber as he looked at me.

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My college-aged sister, Skylar, got pregnant out of wedlock, and she refused to name the father, insisting on keeping their “love child.” My heart ached for her, so young and already with a swollen belly. I brought her home, spoiling her with good food and endless care. It wasn’t until the day she was about to give birth that Skylar finally broke down in tears, confessing to everyone that the baby belonged to her and my husband, Brandon. What a massive scene that caused. Turns out, my entire family had just been using me as a free live-in maid. “Say that again. Whose baby is it?” Even in a sterile hospital gown, Skylar’s beautiful face couldn’t be hidden. She defiantly held her head high, tenderly stroking her heavily pregnant belly. Her voice choked as she pleaded with me to accept the child. She claimed the baby couldn’t be born without a father, and if I was truly her sister, I should put myself in her shoes and consider her feelings. “If news got out that the baby had no father, imagine how many people would gossip about me and the child behind our backs,” she whined. “You can’t be so heartless.” I stood there, silently listening to all her accusations, as if I were the one who had committed such a disgraceful act. A bitter ache twisted in my gut, leaving me frozen. For a moment, I had no idea how to react to the scene unfolding before me. My eyes desperately darted to my parents, who stood by the hospital bed, pleading for them to step in and set things right. But to my disbelief, even after Skylar pulled such a disgusting stunt, my parents’ first reaction was to tell *me*, the elder sister, to be more understanding. “Don’t stoop to her level,” they said. “There’s no hurdle you can’t overcome,” they insisted. “Just forgive your sister’s youthful ignorance.” Then they added, “Your mother and I are getting old. Skylar needs someone by her side. As her older sister, you need to take good care of her during her postpartum recovery, making sure she didn’t develop any lasting health issues. Those kind of recovery illnesses are a real pain to get rid of.” Their biased words pierced me like countless tiny needles, an insidious ache spreading through my chest. Because “the older sister always has to give in to the younger,” Skylar always managed to snatch everything I had without any effort, simply because she wanted it. When we were kids, our family was poor. We lived on humble meals like cabbage and tofu stew. Only once a month, when Dad got his paycheck, could we afford a roast chicken to improve our diet. But whenever it was time to divide the chicken, I always ended up with the dry, scrawny chicken head and the fatty tail piece. “Skylar is still young and growing, so the legs and wings are hers,” they’d say. “And your parents do manual labor every day, so the meatiest part of the body is for us to replenish our strength.” Even if Skylar couldn’t finish her portion, Mom never even thought about giving me a single bite. Instead, she’d meticulously debone the chicken, shred the meat, and mix it into Skylar’s rice for the next day. Even now, if there’s anything good to eat, Skylar is always the first one they think of. They always doted on Skylar, pampering her endlessly, while I was met with nothing but strictness. If Skylar struggled with her studies, our parents would spare no expense enrolling her in expensive tutoring classes. If I fell behind, I’d get yelled at, and sometimes even beaten with a belt, leaving me in so much pain I couldn’t sleep all night. Mom said girls needed to dress up from a young age, so she bought Skylar countless pretty dresses, changing them daily. When it was my turn, I was told to wear worn-out hand-me-downs from relatives’ kids. In my teens, I wanted to look good, so I begged a friend to do my makeup, and my parents would call me a tramp for it. I even wondered if Mom had somehow swapped us at the hospital. But it wasn’t until I was an adult that I learned my mother gave birth to me outside, not even making it to the hospital. It felt like my very birth condemned me to be inferior to my sister. Yet, they never admitted they played favorites. Whenever I asked them why they only loved Skylar and not me, they’d grab whatever was at hand and hit or curse at me. “Stop causing trouble!” they’d shout. “Have I done something wrong raising you? How could I have raised such an ungrateful wretch?” “When will you ever learn to be sensible? How old do you need to be to stop competing with your sister for attention?” Skylar stole my parents’ affection, she stole everything that should have been mine. But I never imagined she’d try to steal my place now. This time, I refused to endure it any longer. This rule, “the older must yield to the younger”—who the hell decided that?!

As I thought this, a fierce glint slowly appeared in my eyes. Skylar, seeing that I hadn’t come to coax her and wasn’t making any moves, peeked at me from the corner of her eye, trying to gauge my reaction. After all, ever since we were children, whenever our opinions differed, I was always the one to humble myself, coax her, and agree to all her unreasonable demands. She clearly thought I hadn’t heard her properly, so she slowly raised her voice and repeated, “Aria, you’re not still clinging to those old-fashioned, outdated ideas, are you? Only the unloved one is the third party! *You* should be the one to leave!” “You’re not worthy of my Brandon!” Honestly, right then, I really wanted to crack open her little head and see what kind of sludge was sloshing around in there. I never thought the phrase “What the hell is this?” would actually come out of my mouth. I lunged forward, grabbing handfuls of Skylar’s long, dark hair and tugging with all my might. No matter who tried to pull me off, they couldn’t separate me from her. Skylar probably never expected me to snap so violently; she hadn’t put up any defenses, leaving her completely blindsided. She could only let me unleash all the pent-up anguish of the past few days on her. I sat up, tears welling in my eyes, and yelled at her, “From childhood until now, tell me, what have I ever done to wrong you? I always let you have the best food, the best toys first.” “Do you know how terrified I was when I got that call from your college at three-thirty in the morning, telling me you were pregnant?!” “I took the earliest flight that very night to pick you up, barely sleeping a wink. I was so afraid you’d be too upset, so I climbed countless flights of stairs just to get your leave of absence sorted!” “I worried about you getting tired, so while you were nesting at my house, I wouldn’t let you lift a finger. All you had to do was lie in bed, extend your hand for food, open your mouth to eat, and enjoy everything I did for you!” “I daresay I’ve done more for you than your own parents, haven’t I? How dare you do this to me!” It was only then that a hint of panic appeared on Skylar’s delicate face. Seeing that I was genuinely furious, she started cursing at the onlookers, shouting, “What are you all staring at?! Pull this crazy woman off me! Why are you just standing there?! She’s insane!” Everyone around tried to tell me, “It’s not worth it, it’s not worth it,” but they were too afraid of getting hurt themselves to get close. It wasn’t until a familiar figure appeared in my line of sight that I slowly loosened my grip, giving Skylar a chance to scramble out of my grasp. I smoothed down my wild hair, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, forcing a stiff smile. “Mom, what are you doing here? I–” But before I could finish, Mrs. Stone’s hand swung, landing squarely across my face. The force of the slap made me stagger before I managed to regain my balance. I clutched my stinging, swollen cheek, staring in disbelief at Skylar, who had taken refuge behind Mrs. Stone. My voice trembled uncontrollably. “Mom, you knew about this all along too?” Mrs. Stone’s face lit up with a smile. She tenderly brushed a few strands of sweat-soaked hair from Skylar’s forehead, gently asking if I had scared her. Then, clearing her throat, she placed her hands on her hips and spoke to me with an air of superiority. “It’s your fault for not being able to keep your man in check. He just made a mistake that all men make! If you won’t have children, there are plenty of women eager to bear a child for my son.” “You’ve been married to Brandon for three years, and you couldn’t even give him a child. Whose fault is that? Let me tell you, a barren hen like you has no right to hog my Brandon’s nest!” “This is outrageous! What kind of woman is as heartless as you? You just don’t want my Brandon’s family to thrive! Are you wishing my son would be the end of our family line?!” Mrs. Stone made no effort to hide the disdain in her eyes. Her face, swollen with anger, was a mass of jiggling flesh, and not a drop of her spittle was wasted; it all landed on my face. But I was in no mood to wipe it off. Brandon and I had been married for three years, and Mrs. Stone had tormented me for just as long. I knew from the start that she never approved of me. After all, I had neither a degree nor exceptional looks. Not just Mrs. Stone, but everyone around us said I was punching above my weight with Brandon. So, I walked on eggshells in that house, terrified that any wrong move would displease her. But even so, my inability to give Brandon a child in our three years of marriage remained Mrs. Stone’s biggest grievance, and she’d pick fights with me every other day. Yet, no matter what indignity I suffered at their hands, I endured it in silence. I was terrified of putting my husband in a difficult position between his mother and me. But now, I didn’t know what all my sacrifices for this family had been for. I felt utterly pathetic, still trembling in fear after Mrs. Stone’s dismissive words.

“Stop filming! What are you all looking at?!” “Wife, are you okay?” My husband, Brandon, impatiently pushed through the crowd of gawkers blocking the doorway, slamming the hospital room door shut behind him. He must have rushed here straight from work, not even taking a moment to catch his breath, desperate to defend me. Skylar, seeing Brandon arrive, simpered and clung to him. But to her surprise, my husband showed her no pity, shoving her straight to the floor. Seeing Brandon, I felt like I finally had support. All the strength drained from me as I leaned against his shoulder, which I had yearned for. My husband pulled me into his embrace, silently calming my agitated emotions. But the imagined moment of tenderness didn’t last long. Mrs. Stone’s and Skylar’s cries and wails erupted from below. Mrs. Stone was also on the floor, throwing a fit, rolling around and wailing as she accused my husband, “You got a wife and forgot your mother! You won’t even let me have my way in such a small matter!” “Do you know how hard it was for me, a single woman, to raise you? I suffered ten times more than any man! And what was it all for? You’re useless! Sons are just raised for other people!” Mrs. Stone seemed to feel that mere crying wasn’t enough. She scrambled up from the floor and sprinted towards the hospital’s load-bearing wall, chanting like a spell, “Oh, my dear departed husband! I’m coming to join you now! We’ll be together down there. But I hate that I’ll leave without even seeing my grandchild once!” But a hospital was no place for such chaotic antics. The commotion drew security guards, who quickly intervened and separated Mrs. Stone. I looked at my husband with immense relief, a blissful thought crossing my mind: “With a husband who protects and loves me like this, I have no regrets in life.” For a moment, I felt confident I could defeat anyone who dared covet my marriage. But in this game, it turned out I was the only one who was truly invested. After hearing Mrs. Stone’s words, tears welled up in Brandon’s eyes. His face, crimson, contorted as he yanked his hand from my tight grip. He snarled at me, begging me not to make things difficult for him. “My mother raised me; it wasn’t easy! All she wants is a grandchild to dote on in her old age! She hasn’t done anything wrong!” I stared at the face of the man I had known for four years and loved for eight. His features blurred with the memory of the shy boy who had once asked me to marry him, promising to cherish me forever. It was then I realized I didn’t truly know him, or perhaps, I had never truly seen him. Yet, years of shared history still held a sliver of hope in my heart. My voice, however, couldn’t hide the disappointment as I asked him, “What about me? What did *I* do wrong?” “Please, just tell me. I’ll change.” I had always presented a strong front to my husband; this was the first time I had shown him my vulnerability. He hesitated, visibly. But then, hearing that Skylar’s water had broken and she was about to give birth, he turned and left without a second thought. If before, I could have rationalized his actions as filial piety, now it was clear to anyone with eyes: he cared for that child. Outside the delivery room, everyone anxiously awaited the new arrival. But I tore up the gifts I had already prepared, crumpling them in a unnoticed corner, wishing no one would ever discover this secret.

“Congratulations! It’s a healthy baby boy, over nine pounds! What a blessing! He’s the first boy born here today!” Everyone rushed forward, eager to hold the baby, utterly smitten. Skylar, pale and exhausted, was wheeled out, but no one paid her any mind. She weakly raised a hand, then slowly let it fall. A baby weighing nearly nine pounds was delivered naturally by petite Skylar, simply because Mrs. Stone insisted that naturally born babies are smarter than C-section babies. Skylar, eager to please her, actually gritted her teeth and went through with it. Now, she must have been utterly drained. After Skylar was moved to a regular room, unable to get out of bed, Mom and Mrs. Stone agreed to take turns looking after her. But within a few days, the cracks began to show in their seemingly solid alliance. Mom resented Skylar constantly ordering her around, harboring a simmering anger. Mrs. Stone found Skylar too high-maintenance, insisting on having three different colored basins for washing her bottom, her feet, and her underwear. “Who needs all that fuss?” she’d complain. “A basin is a basin! What’s the point of just looking good if you can’t manage a household? Such a spendthrift!” Soon, everyone found excuses not to come. Even with her strong pride, Skylar was helpless against the postpartum discharge, letting them handle her as they pleased. Brandon didn’t come to see her either. All she could do was watch the loving, happy couple in the bed next to her, silently weeping. New mothers are naturally prone to emotional fluctuations, and with the baby crying every night, Skylar’s once delicate features were gone. Her proud, waist-length hair was falling out in handfuls during the nightly ordeal. Watching this, I couldn’t help but find it amusing. So, this was the “happiness” Skylar had embraced by betraying me. But perhaps Mom also realized that leaving Skylar alone in the hospital room wasn’t a good idea. She called me, her voice sharp with command: “Your sister’s in the hospital. Go stay with her, now! Don’t make me angry! I’m only telling you once!” Silence. A long, drawn-out silence. The person on the other end of the line, hearing no response from me, grew increasingly agitated. “Are you deaf?! Your mother is talking to you! Don’t you know how to answer when you’re spoken to? Who taught you such bad manners?” “Both of you are giving me so much trouble! Did I make a mistake raising you? Did I raise enemies instead?” “I’m your mother! No matter how much you dislike it, you have to listen to me!” I put my phone on speaker and tossed it aside, ignoring the furious rant from the other end. I was happily lying back in a beauty salon, enjoying the most expensive treatments.

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Two months into college, my daughter got pregnant. For her future, I persuaded her to have an abortion. Afterward, she smoothly graduated and landed a high-paying job, becoming the pride of our small community. Yet, at the peak of her success, she brutally pushed me into a deep, abandoned quarry, leaving me to drown. That’s when I realized the child she’d carried was from a wealthy heir. All these years, she’d blamed me for every hardship in her life and career, resenting me for destroying her chance at a rich wife’s life. Now, I’m back to the day Delilah confessed her pregnancy to me. This time, I agreed to let her keep the baby. If she’s not willing to be her own person, then she can be a lapdog, hidden in the shadows. “Mom, I need to tell you something.” Watching my daughter standing there, so meek and hesitant, it hit me – I’d been reborn. It was hard to reconcile the sweet, obedient girl in front of me with the vicious monster who pushed me into that well. The suffocating terror of the water, it felt like it was just seconds ago, still clinging to me. I struggled to control my emotions. “I’m pregnant.” Delilah spoke, cautiously watching my expression. When I didn’t react too strongly, she let out a quiet breath of relief. “It’s up to you if you want to keep it or not.” “Really?” My answer made Delilah look up in surprise, a flicker of almost imperceptible joy in her eyes. “You’re an adult now. It’s time to take responsibility for your own life.” Though I felt a pang of regret for the daughter I’d meticulously raised for over a decade, I had no use for someone utterly devoid of gratitude. In my previous life, Delilah knelt before me, tears streaming down her face, telling me she was pregnant. The news hit me like a bolt from the blue. But I quickly calmed myself and asked if it was consensual. She stammered, unable to give a clear answer, making me think she’d been assaulted. Only when I threatened to call the police did she admit she had a boyfriend and it was consensual. Seeing her eyes brimming with tears, ready to spill, I couldn’t bear to scold her. I told her it wasn’t the right time to have a baby, that she should finish her studies first, then consider what came next. Under my persuasion, Delilah had the abortion. Afterward, she excelled in her studies, found a high-paying job right after graduation, and became a powerful career woman, with both fame and fortune at her fingertips. But later, she blamed all her life and career setbacks on me. If I hadn’t made her get rid of the baby, she’d be a rich wife now, free from all these injustices, she’d claimed. Finally, after just one critique from her boss, she drove almost two hundred miles back home and, without hesitation, pushed me into the well and drowned me.

“I want to keep this baby.” Delilah looked at me with newfound determination. “If you’ve decided, then that’s that.” In my previous life, after learning about Delilah’s pregnancy, I investigated the man. His scandalous reputation was already public knowledge, no investigation needed. The trust fund baby was named Blake Kingston, an utterly unwelcome illegitimate child. Years ago, the CEO of Kingston Holdings had donated his genetic material. Blake’s mother, desperate, found a way to acquire it and successfully became pregnant. She wanted to use this method to get money from the Kingston family. But the Kingstons weren’t so easily fooled; they immediately called the police. Yet, Blake’s mother, her ambition unwavering, her greed still burning, went live on social media, condemning the Kingston family. The Kingstons immediately released evidence, and Blake’s mother was subjected to a massive wave of cyberbullying. Even under such circumstances, Blake’s mother insisted on giving birth to him, believing an opportunity would eventually come. But she never imagined the opportunity would arrive so quickly. When Blake was three, the head of the Kingston family died in a car accident, and Blake, as the only male descendant, was brought back to the Kingston estate. Perhaps it was his inherent malice. Even with meticulous upbringing, Blake remained an incorrigible playboy, wild and reckless. He left a trail of broken hearts everywhere, and Delilah was just one of them. I knew he wouldn’t take responsibility for Delilah, especially given the vast social chasm between them. Since Delilah wanted to try her luck with a man who radiated pure malice, then as her mother, I had to support her. Watching Delilah still harboring hopes for happiness, I felt a pang of pity. “If you change your mind about this baby, I’ll take you to have an abortion.” This was the biggest concession I’d offer, her last chance. “I won’t abort him.” Delilah refused me flatly. Although I had expected this answer, I couldn’t help but feel my heart grow cold.

“So, what’s your plan now?” I cut off Delilah’s blissful musings. “I’m going to find my boyfriend first. We’ll get engaged, and after the baby is born and can walk, we’ll get married.” “Then the baby can even attend Mommy and Daddy’s wedding! It sounds so perfect.” Delilah imagined their future life, a genuine smile spreading across her face. Watching her, I calmly saved the audio recording. With my apparent approval, Delilah impatiently rushed off to find Blake Kingston. After she left, I took a few days to rest. After all, you need to be well-rested to truly enjoy the show! Sure enough, just a few days later, Delilah’s tearful call came in. “Mom, he doesn’t want this baby!” Before I could even speak, her sobbing, choked voice poured through the phone. I subtly twitched the corner of my mouth, fighting hard to keep my emotions in check. “Come home.” When Delilah returned, she recounted the events of the past few days. It turned out that when Delilah went to find Blake, he didn’t even remember who she was. Delilah desperately tried to prove she was his girlfriend but was humiliated and then thrown out by security. Yet, she didn’t give up, staking out every place Blake might pass through daily. Finally, she irritated the ruthless man. He immediately tried to force her to the hospital for an abortion. But they underestimated Delilah’s determination to climb up the social ladder. She fiercely struggled free from those who were trying to drag her away and fled to her rental apartment, not daring to leave for days. After spending the last of her meager money, she finally thought of me, her mother, and called. Delilah, her voice tearful and broken, recounted her ordeal of the past few days. Her eyes, still wet, held a mixture of hurt and bewilderment. Perhaps my calm reaction disappointed her; she looked at me with questioning disbelief. Realizing my response was too flat, I quickly adjusted my expression, forcing out a sympathetic wince. “Mom, what should I do?” Seeing the emotion she desired appear on my face, she continued. “You found your own boyfriend, you chose to sleep with him, and you chose to have this baby. These are your choices.” I looked at Delilah’s pathetic, half-dead expression and felt nothing but annoyance. What sin had I committed in my last life to have a daughter like this? “I’ll give you two choices: either you get rid of this child, or I give you five hundred thousand, and from this day forward, you are no longer my daughter.” Five hundred thousand was the most I could afford, but it would also serve as a good buffer against any future threats from her. “I want the five hundred thousand.” Not a moment of hesitation. “Good.” “I’ll find a lawyer in a few days to finalize the agreement.” “Mom, I’m so sorry. I have to do this for my baby.” That face, desperately trying to look sad, didn’t shed a single tear. All I saw was a crumpled, ugly grimace.

With the help of my lawyer friend, Mr. Miller, I successfully severed ties with Delilah. Oh, I can’t call her daughter anymore. I should call her Delilah. All these years, to better care for Delilah, I had been forced to give up the work I loved. Now, I finally had time to pursue my true passion. I immersed myself in the fulfillment my work brought me. I loved this life. I’d rather be an inconspicuous little sapling than a clinging, parasitic vine. I thought my upbringing would make my child such a person, but I never imagined she aspired to a different life entirely. Now, she was off chasing her life, and I would pick up mine. I reopened my design studio. The sketches I’d made in my spare time before, I brought them to life. What I hadn’t expected was how popular these designs would be. I posted my work on social media platforms and they quickly gained traction. I even felt a surge of uncontrollable excitement; I thought after all these years, I had lost my passion for these things. I was ecstatic, yet filled with gratitude. Just as I was basking in this newfound satisfaction, my former good daughter, Delilah, came knocking. “Eleanor, isn’t this your daughter?” My colleague, Maya, forwarded a video to me. In the video, Delilah was rambling on, introducing her relationship with me. The comment section was filled with nothing but praise. “No wonder they’re mother and daughter, both so talented.” “The little lady’s mom’s work is seriously amazing.” “Like mother, like daughter.” … I forced myself to watch the entire video, suppressing a wave of unease, then immediately called Delilah. Half an hour later, Delilah arrived at my studio. I no longer bothered to hide my emotions; my displeasure was plain on my face. “Ms. Delilah, I believe we’ve already severed our relationship, haven’t we?” I glanced at Delilah’s slightly swollen belly. “Besides, if anything were to happen to your child while you’re here, I wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility.” Delilah probably hadn’t expected the mother who once doted on her to be so heartless. Her eyes quickly welled up with tears.

“Mom, are you really going to disown me? I’m your only child. Who will take care of you when you’re old if you don’t acknowledge me?” Did she really think I cared? Big deal if I ended up dying alone on the street someday; it would scare others, not me. “I must ask Ms. Delilah to delete the video immediately and apologize to me personally.” I warned Delilah sternly. Without a doubt, her misdeeds would soon spread, and this would definitely impact my brand. The sooner I distanced myself from her, the better it would be for me and my studio. Delilah probably hadn’t expected me to be so resolute. She looked on the verge of tears. But I knew that Delilah’s appearance was not what it seemed. “Ms. Delilah, you have three days to resolve this matter. Otherwise, I will file a lawsuit against you.” Seeing my unyielding stance, and knowing she was in the wrong, Delilah finally left in a fit of rage. Delilah deleted the video as I demanded, but she didn’t apologize. Out of consideration for our more than ten years of mother-daughter history, I didn’t pursue legal action. But this nearly ruined my studio. After Delilah left, I finally had a few more peaceful months. I calculated the time; Delilah was probably due to give birth soon. With the continuous growth of my studio, I also bought myself a car and a house. Just as everything was moving in a positive direction, Delilah delivered a swift kick to the gut.

After Delilah gave birth, she began staking out the Kingston Holdings building daily, even before she was barely recovered from childbirth. She would yell to anyone who passed by: “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” “Blake Kingston of Kingston Holdings, abandoning his child and their mother!” … This behavior quickly spread across social media platforms, causing quite a stir. Kingston Holdings’ stock plummeted. Out of desperation, they had no choice but to call the police. But Delilah remained unfazed. After multiple police warnings, she changed her strategy. She stopped appearing outside the Kingston building and instead started live streaming online. She thought this would make Blake Kingston back down, but she greatly underestimated his ruthlessness. Although he was also an unwelcome illegitimate child, this didn’t evoke any sympathy from Blake; instead, it reminded him of his own shameful past. Blake’s name used to be different, but even after being brought into the Kingston family, he was still looked down upon. When it came to any interests or benefits, he was always the one sacrificed, which is why he was given a name that reflected being ‘abandoned’ or ‘forgotten’. Over the years, anyone who dared to look down on Blake had been quietly dealt with. Delilah’s current actions were just like his mother’s years ago. Some internet users even found videos of Blake’s mother from over twenty years ago. The shadow of being scorned had hung over him for years. Delilah’s actions successfully infuriated him. To deal with a woman like her, Blake had countless methods; after all, countless girls came looking for him downstairs at the company every day. But I never imagined that I, too, would become a target of his revenge. I arrived home from my studio to find Delilah kneeling at my doorstep, drawing stares and whispers from passersby. I avoided her gaze, walked straight to my door, and started to open it. Just as I was about to close it, she violently slammed her hand against the doorframe.

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My sister, Chloe, got pregnant before she was married. She gave birth to a boy in a small, private clinic and then just vanished. The doctor from that clinic showed up at our door, following the address she’d left, and thrust the baby into my arms. My parents pleaded with me, practically on their knees, begging me to raise the child. I had no choice. A single woman, never married, I had to grit my teeth and raise the baby. Life was a constant struggle. Every penny for food, clothes, and a roof over our heads came solely from me. I finally managed to raise the child, but that’s when Chloe reappeared. She showed up with a rich guy, loaded with a chunky gold chain around his neck. The moment she stepped through the door, she grabbed my son and started crying, claiming I was petty and jealous, that I’d stolen her child and caused their mother-son separation for years. My son, influenced by her words, immediately cut ties with me and acknowledged her as his real mother. My parents also cursed me for being nosy and kicked me out of the house. Our neighbors gossiped, spreading rumors that I’d abducted the child and was a wicked-hearted sister. No one believed me. Filled with utter despair, I ended it all, jumping from the rooftop. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day my sister gave birth.

It was still dark, just before dawn, when a frantic pounding echoed from our front door. I jolted awake, my heart hammering like it wanted to burst from my chest. Last time, it was at this exact hour. That shady clinic doctor had stormed our house, banging so loudly he woke up everyone in the entire block. He’d publicly shoved the baby into my arms, pointing his finger right in my face and yelling that I’d abandoned my child without a second thought, that I was heartless. Only later did I find out it was my sister, Chloe’s, baby. My parents had pleaded with me, practically on their knees, saying that since I wasn’t planning on getting married anyway, I should just keep the child. I, fool that I was, had softened and agreed. The result? That child ruined my entire life. I was filled with burning resentment. Now, hearing the knocking again, my scalp tingled with dread. I scrambled out of bed, rushing to the door in three strides. The moment I opened it, that face appeared again – the old Dr. Miller from the clinic. “Aria Scott, you abandoned your child after giving birth. Do you know that’s a crime?” The neighbors were already peering out, some even stepping out in their slippers to gawk. I glared at him, not even thinking, and instantly threw my slipper right at his face! “You disgusting old man, trying to frame me? Do you believe I can flatten you right here?” “Me? I haven’t even been on a proper date, how could I have a kid? Have you ever seen a woman who just gave birth capable of beating someone up like this?” “Look at me! Do I look like I’ve ever been pregnant?” My barrage of questions and insults made him stumble backward, his face turning green. That’s when Aunt Carol from across the street spoke up: “Yeah, Aria goes to work on time every day. Who here ever saw her belly swell up?” “Could he have made a mistake?” “Isn’t that the doctor from that small clinic on the corner? I heard he doesn’t even have a proper license!” I put my hands on my hips, raising my voice even higher: “You old fossil, running an unregistered clinic and still daring to frame me? I’m calling the police right now!” At the mention of police, he immediately panicked: “I… I’ll leave, alright?!” I lunged forward, grabbing the hair at the back of his head: “Trying to run? No way!” I pulled out my phone and dialed: “Hello, 911? There’s someone selling babies here!” “Don’t lie!” He stomped his foot in desperation. I glared at him: “When the police get here, if you don’t explain everything clearly, I’ll tear down your pathetic clinic!” Heaven gave me a second chance. All the humiliation I endured in my previous life, I was going to settle it all today! When the police arrived, Dr. Miller’s face was bruised, and he was holding a newborn baby whose umbilical cord hadn’t even been fully cut. I stood there in my pajamas, one slipper still clutched in my hand, my eyes red. All the neighbors were gathered at the door, chattering and explaining what happened. The police examined the child, confirmed it was a newborn, and frowned at the doctor: “Alright, explain yourself. What’s going on?” “This… this is the patient’s information. The address listed is hers, and the name matches,” the doctor stammered, pulling out a medical record. The officer glanced at it. It indeed showed my address and the name “Aria Scott.” I scoffed, crossing my arms: “I don’t even know this person. Someone used my name to give birth and now wants me to take the fall?” As soon as I finished speaking, my parents pushed their way through the crowd. “Aria, dear, since you’re not getting married anyway… why don’t you… just keep the child?” I turned to them, my voice as cold as ice: “Dad, Mom, what you’re saying is truly chilling. A child of unknown origin, how can I just take him in?” “Who knows what his biological parents did? What if they were drug addicts or criminals, and the child carries diseases or addiction issues? Me, raise him? And raise an enemy?” My parents were stunned into silence by my retort. The doctor’s face turned ashen, and he directly shoved the baby into my arms: “Your family’s problems are for your family to solve! This child is Chloe’s, let her raise him herself! If I’d known your family was this troublesome, I would’ve rather died than come to this door!” The entire scene instantly went silent. Everyone’s eyes widened. Turns out, this baby was my sister, Chloe’s!

“You’re lying! Just now you said the child was mine, and now you’re saying it’s Chloe’s? Can you prove it? You want to shove a child into our family without any evidence? Officer, I suspect this man is involved in child trafficking!” With that, I pushed the baby straight back into his arms, then turned and crossed my arms, looking like it had nothing to do with me. My mom, standing nearby, gasped in alarm: “Aria! What are you doing?!” “Dad, Mom, don’t be so naive. There are so many scammers out there, specializing in these kinds of tricks!” Aunt Carol also stepped forward: “Old Mr. and Mrs. Evans, you can’t just talk nonsense. The doctor clearly said the child was Aria’s at first, and now he’s saying it’s Chloe’s. Isn’t that contradictory?” “Exactly! Who can guarantee this child isn’t just some random kid he picked up from somewhere?” The doctor panicked, suddenly standing up: “I, Dr. Miller, have been practicing medicine for years, and I’ve never lied! What would I gain from deceiving you?” “Just last night, your sister Chloe herself came to my clinic, begging me to deliver her baby!” “She even left her cell phone with me as collateral!” Saying that, he pulled a phone from his bag. I focused my eyes – it really was Chloe’s. My parents were both stunned. The evidence was right in front of them; the child was indeed Chloe’s, no mistake about it. The surrounding neighbors erupted in chatter: “Oh my, Chloe gave birth at such a young age? Whose is it?” “Who knows, she’s always appearing and disappearing mysteriously, wearing baggy clothes. Who would’ve thought she was already pregnant!” “Probably got tangled up with some shady guy, and this is the fallout!” “You all shut up! My daughter is pure and innocent!” My mom, furious this time, yelled at the crowd, “Whoever spreads rumors again, I’m not done with them!” Dr. Miller sneered: “Hmph, Chloe herself instructed me. After giving birth, she wanted me to deliver the baby to your house, for her sister to raise. Officer, I even have a handwritten note from her here!” He pulled out another letter, revealing it to everyone. But in my previous life, there was no such letter. Back then, when Chloe returned and cursed me, Dr. Miller had even added fuel to the fire, insisting I’d stolen her child, driving me to desperation until I died an unjust death. This man was utterly wicked! Dr. Miller grunted: “I knew I shouldn’t have gotten involved in this mess. Cursed my luck!” The police officer looked at the situation, sighing: “This is a family dispute; it’s hard for us to intervene too much.” I grabbed the officer’s arm: “Officer, this isn’t just a family matter! Can you really conclude that my sister gave birth and then ran off, just based on a cell phone and a letter?” “What if she’s been dead in your clinic all this time? And you’re just trying to brush it off?” The officer listened, thought it made sense, and immediately took Dr. Miller with him, heading straight to the clinic for investigation. My parents also followed. I took the opportunity to quickly pack my luggage. I was never staying in this house again. Just as I stepped out, a neighbor saw me: “Aria, where are you going?” “I’m moving out. I can’t stay here. What if they really dump that kid on my parents, and then I’d end up raising him anyway?” “Why should I take the fall for a child Chloe made herself? I’m not even married yet. If my future partner’s family finds out, they’ll think I’m promiscuous. My reputation would be ruined beyond repair!” Everyone nodded in agreement: “That makes sense! Aria, think of yourself, hurry and go!” “Oh, Chloe, she’s too bold. She gave birth, and now she’s gone!” “Maybe that doctor did something shady, and she’s been gone for a while!” “It can’t be that bad…” I couldn’t be bothered to listen to their gossip. I grabbed my bag and left. By the time my parents returned home, I was already settled in my company’s dorm. Not long after, my mom’s call came through. I answered the phone, and her anxious voice came from the other end: “Aria! Where did you run off to?!” In the background, a baby was wailing. I calmly said: “I’ve moved out.” “How could you leave? What about this child if you’re gone?!”

It seems my mom and dad went to the clinic and confirmed that the child was indeed Chloe’s, and Dr. Miller really did help Chloe with the delivery. But I just couldn’t understand why they kept bothering me. “Mom, what does this child have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to him!” “Right now, the most important thing is to find the child’s biological father. Anyway, I have to go to work, gotta hang up!” After hanging up, I went to work as usual. As soon as I sat down, Brenda from the office secretly came over and whispered: “Aria, do you have a boyfriend? Want me to set you up with someone?” I was about to decline, but then I had a change of heart. “Sure, Brenda, who are you setting me up with?” “My nephew. He’s three years older than you, was in the military, and after he retired, he opened a small restaurant. He’s honest and hardworking!” “How about we all have lunch together and you meet him?” I immediately agreed. Brenda was so happy she couldn’t stop smiling and quickly pulled out her phone to call her nephew. In my previous life, raising the child alone had exhausted me. Brenda saw it and helped me find a lot of side jobs, always urging me to find a dependable man. But back then, I was afraid the child would suffer if I dated, so I never dared. Looking back now, I was truly foolish. At lunch, I met Leo. We chatted during the meal, and I felt good about him. We added each other on SnapChat and decided to see how things went for a while. Brenda came back and asked how it went. I nodded: “He seems nice. We’ll try it out.” She clapped her hands in delight: “I knew it! If it works out, he’ll definitely treat you well! I’ve watched that boy grow up, he’s hardworking and has a good heart!” I felt a little embarrassed, my face flushing, which only made Brenda even more excited. From then on, Leo and I started dating. Half a month later, my parents hadn’t contacted me, and I hadn’t gone home either. Unexpectedly, my mom actually showed up directly at my company. I was busy that day when the security guard suddenly called: “Aria, come down quick! Your mom just dumped a kid in our guard booth! He’s screaming his head off, come get him!” My mind went blank: “What kid? I’m not married, where would I get a child? Don’t talk nonsense!” I deliberately spoke loudly so the entire office could hear me. The security guard helplessly said: “How should I know? Just come down and see for yourself!” As soon as he hung up, everyone stared at me. “Aria, what’s wrong?” “Not sure. The security guard said someone pretending to be my mom dropped a baby at the entrance!” Brenda gasped in surprise: “There’s such a thing? That’s ridiculous! Come on, let’s go see together!” “Yeah, is someone trying to extort you or what?” “Aria has a kid? I never saw her pregnant!” “Could she have secretly had a baby years ago? Who knows what these young people do nowadays!” Hearing these words, even Brenda started looking at me strangely. I feigned a clueless expression, pretending I knew nothing, and she couldn’t spot any flaws. At the guard booth, everyone was stunned when they saw the infant. Brenda breathed a sigh of relief: “How is this possible! Aria gave birth to this? This baby isn’t even a month old!” “Exactly! If he were any older, Aria would be tainted forever!” “This is just plain immoral, trying to frame someone?” “This is ruining someone’s reputation!” I scoffed internally. The security guard also shook his head: “That person said she was your mom; how dare I stop her!” I immediately said: “Check the surveillance cameras! I want to see who did this!” Looking at the footage, I didn’t recognize the person who brought the child. I immediately made up my mind: “Call the police! That’s not my mom at all, and I don’t know that woman either!” Everyone was still a bit hesitant, so I spread my hands: “This is an abandoned infant! I work in sales; I’ve handed out hundreds of business cards. Who knows who might impersonate my family? I don’t want to take the blame for raising someone else’s child!” At that, everyone agreed, and the police were called. When the police arrived, they took the child. I even specifically asked: “Where will this child go?” “Where else? If we can’t find the biological parents, he’ll have to go to the foster care.” Hearing that, a huge weight lifted from my heart. In this life, I would absolutely never again raise a child for that ungrateful wretch!

No sooner had the police left than my mom’s SnapChat message arrived. “Aria, your sister has contacted us. She says she’s working out of town. We’re too old to take care of him, so please, just raise him as your own.” I immediately replied: “Mom, what are you talking about? I have a boyfriend now, and when I get married, I’ll have my own children. I absolutely won’t take this child!” I didn’t mention what happened today, and she didn’t ask, so I just pretended it never occurred. Leo was truly good to me. Six months later, we got engaged. On our wedding day, my parents and relatives all came. Afterward, we applied for a transfer to a branch company, and his restaurant moved with us. From then on, except for holidays, I rarely went back to my hometown. Even when I did go back, I’d visit briefly and leave quickly. Later, I gave birth to a daughter, and two years after that, a son, making our family complete. My son, Ryan, was brilliant from a young age. At fifteen, he was accepted into an accelerated program at a prestigious Ivy League university. The news delighted our entire family. Leo was especially proud. He decided to bring the whole family back to our hometown to host a celebratory banquet. All our relatives and friends came, even my parents rushed over. Ryan, though only fifteen, was tall and looked like an adult, about the same height as my daughter. My parents, however, mistakenly thought this child was Chloe’s. My mom grabbed his hand and patted it: “If Chloe knew her son was so accomplished, how happy she’d be!” “Mom, it’s such a happy day, why bring up Chloe? Has she come back?” My mom’s eyes immediately darted away: “No! She hasn’t!” “Oh, she hasn’t come back to see you two for so many years. Has something happened to her? I heard that once a person goes missing, they’re usually never found.” Over the years, the neighbors had talked a lot about Chloe. I also spread the word when I was out, telling everyone that Chloe had abandoned her child and never even came back for the holidays. Everyone had long assumed she had disappeared. But only I knew that my parents had been secretly in touch with her all along. Now, hearing me say this, my mom’s face instantly changed, her voice sharp: “What nonsense are you talking about! Chloe is alive and well!” The entire room suddenly fell silent, everyone looking over. My mom’s face flushed, utterly embarrassed. I chuckled, taking over the conversation: “So, Mom, you actually still have contact with her? Then why doesn’t she come to see her own son?” “Well, abandoning your own flesh and blood, she’s probably not doing well. Forget it, it’s a joyous day, I won’t mention her anymore.” My mom visibly relaxed when she heard that. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but finally closed it. The last flicker of hope in my heart completely died. In my previous life, when the child she had raised became successful, Chloe came back. This time, I knew she would come too. As for when, I no longer cared. Because my son was accepted into the accelerated program, a teacher from the university was there, and reporters were present. Everyone’s eyes were focused on our table. Ryan, as the guest of honor, was invited to the stage. When he stood up, my parents didn’t even realize – this child was only fifteen. And the “illegitimate child” they constantly mentioned, the one Chloe had abandoned, if he were alive, he’d be almost eighteen this year. They completely missed this point, instead constantly checking their phones, waiting for news. I smirked, gripping Leo’s hand tightly. We exchanged a knowing glance. On stage, Ryan spoke loudly: “I owe my acceptance into this prestigious university primarily to my mom. Without her support and companionship, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” “Mom, come up here!” My son waved at me. I smoothed my dress, just about to walk forward, when suddenly a sharp shriek cut through the air: “She’s not your mom at all! She has no right to stand there!” As soon as those words came out, the entire room fell silent. Everyone turned in unison towards the source of the voice. I, however, felt a wave of relief – she’s finally here.

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My stepbrother despised me. But I always clung to him. He’d pay me two thousand dollars to not walk home with him after school, and twenty thousand to transfer out of his class. But every single time, I’d find a way back to him. After senior year finals, he wired a huge sum of money to my account, his voice icy. “That’s five million. Go study abroad. Just don’t ever show up at my house again.” My eyes burned. I dropped my gaze and whispered, “Okay.” Yes! He finally fell for it. I almost walked in on Mason kissing a poor student. In the dimly lit private room. He leaned back on the corner couch, looking worn out, his eyes closed. His sculpted features were obscured by shadows. A girl in a white dress stood beside him, hands braced on either side of his head, leaning in tentatively, inching closer. I suddenly pushed the door open. She jumped back, startled, and spun around to face me. Her eyes were wide and wet, like a startled deer. “Chloe, I…” I walked past her, straight to Mason. “The driver’s here to pick me up. My dad said I should bring you home too.” He grabbed his jacket from beside him, throwing it on as he followed me out. It was late, and the corridor was mostly empty. He closed the door behind him but didn’t leave. He just leaned against it, casually. “She almost kissed me.” “…” I kept quiet. A hint of irritation flared in his voice. “She’s really shy. It took her a lot of courage to even do that.” I unlocked my phone, showing him the time and my stepfather’s message. I explained softly. “My dad really did tell me to pick you up on my way.” He glanced at it, giving a dismissive grunt. “Oh.” “I’m an adult now. I’ve finished finals. He can’t control me anymore. Your tattling won’t work.” The flickering club lights shifted, illuminating his face. His cheeks were flushed. He was drunk. I clutched my sleeve, my voice barely audible. “But…” He cut me off abruptly. “Go home by yourself.” “And—” His fingers tapped a few times on his phone. “Here’s five million. Go study abroad. Don’t ever appear at my house again.” “Let’s just never see each other again.” “Chloe, I really hate you.” He never wanted to see me again. My eyes instantly burned. I dropped my gaze, biting back a choked sob. “Okay.” Mason turned and walked back into the private room, slamming the door shut with a bang. I checked the numbers on my mobile banking app. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I crouched down, clamped a hand over my mouth, and let out silent, joyful giggles. Yes! He finally fell for it.

Mason had hated me for a long time. He thought my mom and I were only after the family’s money. Well, he was a smart one. When he was fourteen, he put two fake spiders in my bed, trying to scare me into leaving his house. I cried my eyes out. My stepfather, to console me, gave me more allowance. Seeing the money, I cheered right up. When I was sixteen, Mason and I were assigned to the same high school. He didn’t want to be in the same class as me, and he definitely didn’t want my dad to yell at him and then comfort me. So he skipped all the usual steps. “Twenty thousand.” “Switch out of this class.” Freshman year, I left. Sophomore year, I was back. He never specified a time limit. When I walked back into the classroom with my backpack, Mason’s face was dark. The guy in front of him grinned. “Mason, your sister’s really persistent.” Mason’s voice was cold. “She’s not my sister.” Everyone around us exchanged knowing glances and chuckled. Mason looked at me, his brows furrowed. “What exactly will it take for you to just disappear from my sight?” My eyes reddened. “Do you really hate me that much?” He held up a number with his fingers. I bit my lip. “My bad, I must have walked into the wrong class today.”

That’s when I saw the business opportunity. Mason was seriously rich. His mom, living abroad, had already paved every path for him. He’d play golf, and I’d be there as part of the “atmosphere crew,” fetching his water and jacket. He’d confront me about it. I’d look up at him, my eyes wide and starry. “I just admire you, big brother. Is that not allowed?” He’d transfer money to me. “Go shop if you’ve got nothing to do. Just stop bothering me.” So, I’d happily accept. I clung to Mason for over a year. Everyone knew he had a stepsister, and they even joked about us, saying next time they’d come visit him in therapy. Eventually, Mason just stopped bothering to explain. He just kept telling me to take the money and leave. But I wasn’t about to leave my personal ATM. For Mason’s eighteenth birthday, he drank a lot. When he came home from the hotel, I was there, one hand holding a hangover soup, the other helping to steady him. I hoped he’d be so drunk he’d accidentally add an extra zero to a transfer. He squinted, looking down at me, and then suddenly said, “Chloe, you’re really cunning and manipulative.” There was a hint of mockery in his tone. My foot, mid-step on the stairs, froze. Being insulted required additional compensation. He suddenly gripped my waist, his hand shutting off the lights in one smooth motion. I was pressed against the spiral staircase railing, his lips on mine. My vision went dark in an instant. Only his face, magnified, filled my view. His breath was a storm. I gasped, pushing him away abruptly. The bowl in my hand clattered to the floor, rolling down the stairs. My stepfather called from upstairs, “Chloe, what happened?” I suppressed my trembling voice, crying out in a wounded tone, just like always, “Mason’s drunk! He’s throwing a fit and even broke my bowl!” Mason stood silently, leaning against the railing in the dimness, his gaze downcast. My stepfather sighed. “He’s just like that, gets crazy when he drinks. Don’t mind him, go back and rest. I’ll help him.” I fled back to my room. Three in the morning. Mason messaged me. [I’m sorry.] [I couldn’t see clearly. I thought you were someone else.] It was the first time he’d ever apologized to me. But it felt like an insult. He attached a transfer. I didn’t accept it, and I didn’t reply.

I later found out who that person was. One of Mason’s many admirers. Grace, the poor student who was always in the top ten of our class. She was shy and timid, only daring to look up at him from afar. And Mason, of all people, had noticed her. He said, “She’s just like Chloe, always looking pitiful.” “Who’s she trying to fool?” He hated me, but he seemed to enjoy Grace’s helpless act. After school, I was waiting in the car for him to come out. But then I saw a girl in a school uniform following him. The car door opened. He didn’t get in. He was holding her backpack and raised an eyebrow at me, casually. “Get out.” I froze for a second. Grace carefully reached out, grabbing his arm and shaking it gently, her voice soft. “It’s okay, Mason.” “I can go home by myself.” Mason didn’t budge, his voice growing colder. “I’m taking her home.” “I’ve transferred the money to you. Get a taxi.” Why didn’t he give me enough to just buy my own car? Never mind. Best to quit while I was ahead. I nodded, feeling humiliated, biting my lip and gripping my backpack straps, obediently getting out of the car. It was dusk, and the crowds were thinning out. I stood alone by the roadside, staring at my shoe tips, tears silently falling. Only after his car drove off in the opposite direction did I wipe away my tears and open Mason’s message. 20,000? Good thing I didn’t check the message in front of him. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to cry so convincingly. Mason’s five million came too late. I hadn’t prepared for the IELTS in advance, so I had to cancel most of my travel plans and parties, holing up in my room to memorize vocabulary. Mason was throwing a party downstairs with his friends.

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The day the zombie apocalypse hit, our school was rehearsing a stage play. Brittany, the queen bee who played the elf, got healing powers. The background extra, who played a tree, became invisible to zombies. Liam, my childhood sweetheart playing the knight, could skewer zombies like shish kebabs with his long sword. … They all stared at me, a makeup artist, holding nothing but ordinary makeup brushes. So, I was abandoned. Later, when our paths crossed again, their team of powered individuals watched me get swallowed by a zombie horde, each one cracking sarcastic jokes. But I used my makeup brushes to turn zombies into my own superpowered army, instantly turning the tide. You guys are gods, but I’m the one who *makes* gods. **1.** When bad luck strikes, even cleaning up makeup backstage can get you attacked by a zombie. I was tackled onto the dressing table, screaming for help, my voice raw. But the stage, which had been so noisy just moments before, was now as silent as a tomb. My will to survive finally kicked in. I cried and fought, luckily managing to wrap a prop chain around its mouth. My hands shook like a leaf as I pulled back the curtain, ready to bolt, only to see a group of perfectly made-up people staring silently in my direction. When they saw it was me, they looked genuinely surprised. “Rose, you can’t even lift a water cooler bottle, and you beat a zombie?” Brittany, the queen bee, playfully punched her updo, a smirk playing on her lips. “Looks like I lost that bet again. The zombies had like, a ninety-nine percent chance of winning. How did they lose? My luck is just the worst, seriously.” Alex, the student body president, chuckled and chimed in, “A bet’s a bet. For the next two days, you’re my shadow, ensuring my safety when I’m fighting zombies.” “Ugh! Lucky you! I’m the most valuable healer now, everyone’s begging for my help.” My heart instantly sank. I’d thought everyone was dead. After all, when the zombies first broke out, the screams and wails on stage were non-stop. I’d even felt guilty for surviving alone. But they had just stood by, using my life as a damn bet! “You were all here? So, you intentionally left me to die? Why?” Everyone stared at me in silence, as if my question was utterly ridiculous. Brittany gave a light laugh. “If we didn’t push you, you wouldn’t have known you could defeat a zombie, right? So, what’s your power, Rose?” I was shocked and confused, instinctively retorting, “What power?” “No way?” She gasped. “You only beat that zombie because you got lucky?” Seeing me still standing there dumbfounded, her smile widened, becoming even more radiant. “Alright, I’ll be merciful and show you.” She walked over to a classmate with a scraped arm, gently placing her hands on the wound. The injury healed at a visible rate, then vanished without a trace! The classmate touched his smooth arm, his voice filled with awe. “Brittany’s power is healing. She’s the core member of our little team now!” I stood there, stunned, watching them show off their various abilities. The strongman classmate who played the bouncer threw zombies hundreds of feet away. The classmate who played a stone wall was impervious to blades. Alex, the student body president playing the king, just gave orders, and all the background extras sacrificed themselves to save him… Their golden auras were so blinding I could barely keep my eyes open. “We figured it out. Everyone got powers based on the roles they played in the drama club production.” “This proves we’re the chosen saviors, picked by fate!” Finally, everyone turned to look at the makeup brushes in my hand. After an eerie silence, they burst into laughter, sharing a knowing glance, their voices dripping with mockery. “Rose, you seriously plan to fight zombies with *that*? Aren’t you just going to be dead weight?” “Makeup brushes aren’t bad, though. You can poke zombies’ eyes with them, then they won’t see you!” “Brittany won’t be able to save anyone else if she’s too busy saving just you. How’s she supposed to be useful?” “Why don’t you volunteer to stay behind and cover our retreat? At least you’d be somewhat useful then!” **2.** My face went ghostly pale. I looked out the window at the dense swarm of zombies, feeling like I’d fallen into an ice pit. How could a normal person like me cover the retreat for a group of superpowered individuals? That was a death sentence. I looked at Liam with pleading eyes. We’d been childhood sweethearts for twenty years. My parents had even saved his entire family from a house fire. He wouldn’t just leave me to die. Sure enough, his brows softened, and he started to plead on my behalf. “Maybe Rose’s power just manifested later. Let’s give her a chance, okay? I can’t leave her here to die.” Someone immediately shot back, “Then *you* stay behind and protect her! But don’t forget, even if you can pierce three zombies with one sword, you can’t defeat the horde outside. Are you really going to give up your life for a useless person?” “Oh my god, seriously! The apocalypse is the worst with dead weight and overly soft heroes. You don’t fear a godly opponent, you fear a teammate who’s a total liability.” “What if you accidentally stab Rose while fighting a zombie? That would be hilarious.” Alex, the student body president, was always the peacemaker. “Let’s not call anyone useless. We’re all classmates. Liam’s right, what if Rose’s power is just late to awaken?” I looked at him gratefully, then heard him continue, “So, why don’t you go outside and find a zombie right now to trigger your potential? Or you can stay here in the school, there might still be a glimmer of hope.” He smiled sweetly at me. But a shiver ran down my spine. Only then did I realize that Alex had always been this kind of two-faced person during my days of being excluded by classmates. How could I forget? How could I forget that this very group of people had just tried to kill me! I grabbed Liam’s hand, clutching it like my only lifeline. “Liam, save me! Don’t leave me alone!” But Brittany stretched out her arms to Liam. “Liam, we need your combat power. Don’t be too soft-hearted in the apocalypse, okay? Do you want to see me exhaust myself trying to save her?” Liam didn’t let go. The two sides were at a standstill. The zombies outside grew more agitated. Someone began to pull out their weapon, pointing it at us. “Stop acting like a hero! Either stay or go, don’t waste our time here!” “Exactly! We don’t *need* you! To be honest, with dead weight like her, your combat power is even worse than mine.” “Alex, let’s go! If we drag this out any longer, all the zombies in the school will surround us!” Liam was torn, still trying to explain for me. “Rose is really good at long-distance running. She definitely won’t slow us down.” “So, you’re saying she’ll abandon us and run for her life in a crisis? We absolutely cannot let that kind of ungrateful wretch come with us!” “No, I mean…” Before he could finish, someone unexpectedly flung open the auditorium doors. The zombies, seeing a group of living people, their eyes glowing green, surged in like a tide. Everyone unleashed their powers to fight them off. In the chaos, Alex shouted, “Charge!” Everyone bolted outside. Someone shoved me, and by the time I reacted, I was behind everyone else. Liam turned back to look at me, his pupils shrinking. “Rose!” He wanted to save me, but Brittany suddenly shrieked, “Liam! Help me! The zombies are grabbing me!” Even though everyone else ran towards Brittany after hearing her cry for help, Liam hesitated. He looked at me, then at Brittany. My heart clenched instantly. I struggled, running towards him. “Liam! Save me!” Just as I was about to grab his hand, he pulled it back. “Rose, I owe you. I’ll repay you in the next life!” Then, he turned his back and ran towards Brittany without a second glance. **3.** I stood there stunned, unable to believe he would do that. Twenty years of childhood friendship, plus saving his family’s lives from a fire… and he said he’d repay me in the *next* life? If he wouldn’t save me in *this* life, what was he going to repay me with in the next?! I was trembling with rage. But the immediate priority was to get away from these zombies. Though most of them had been drawn away by the others, a few stragglers were still around. Seeing me, they shrieked and lunged. I picked up a spear from the ground, trying to overcome my fear, and thrust it into their chest. *Splat—* The zombie’s head exploded with a single blow. Its rotting body toppled onto me, and I finally reacted, screaming and scrambling backward. “Can you stand up?” A gloomy guy looked down at me, his voice hoarse. It took me a while to remember he was a classmate who always lurked in the corner of the classroom. I think his name was Caleb. Caleb, like me, was an outcast. We were also the only two people who weren’t in the drama club production. The difference was, I was disliked by a lot of girls for being too close to the popular Liam. He, on the other hand, was cold and arrogant, offended a lot of people by being a loner, and was subjected to silent treatment. “Th-thanks…” He extended a hand and helped me up. “I was worried these guys would use me as a human shield, so I pretended to be dead and observed them. Heh, just as I thought…” “Zombies aren’t human. Stabbing their hearts does nothing. You have to go for the head, understand?” “Got it! Got it!” I nodded repeatedly. He turned and started disposing of the bodies. I cautiously ventured, “Um… Caleb, are we, like, allies now?” After a few minutes, he just gave a faint “Hmm.” I sighed in relief and eagerly started helping him. But when I knelt down to look, I nearly fainted from fright. Caleb was collecting zombie blood in a glass bottle! “What are you collecting that for?” My voice trembled. Caleb glanced at me, calmly saying, “To mask our scent. You didn’t see the situation backstage earlier, but zombies use their noses to detect humans, not just their eyes.” “If we coat ourselves in their blood, we can fool them and get out safely.” I see. Despite the disgust, the thought that it was for survival pushed down my urge to vomit. After collecting the zombie blood, I took out my portable makeup brushes and started applying it to Caleb. The fishy smell of blood and decay went straight to my head. I painted and gagged. Caleb was a tough cookie, though; he didn’t even change his expression. If his eyelashes weren’t subtly trembling, I would’ve thought the person in front of me was already dead. “Alright, later you can just smear some zombie blood on yourself.” Caleb opened his eyes, and I was shocked to see his pupils had turned white! “Caleb, what’s wrong with your eyes?” I hadn’t even put colored contacts on him! A thought flashed through my mind. I snatched the spear from Caleb’s hand and leaped away. The next second, Caleb lunged at me, trying to bite. He had turned into a zombie! Cold sweat poured down me. I cursed the heavens for being so unfair. Not only did I not have a power, but my freshly-made ally turned into a zombie! The problem was, Caleb hadn’t even said he was injured! Was this just a conspiracy to keep me from living?! Caleb didn’t give me a chance to react and lunged again. I dodged while aiming the spear at his head. But killing someone sounds easy; doing it is a whole different beast. Aside from the blood all over his face, Caleb looked exactly like a human. I just couldn’t bring myself to do it! Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a prop water tank on the stage. A lightbulb went off. I jogged, luring Caleb towards it. As he lunged, I used all my strength to tackle him down and hold him underwater. *Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—* Caleb was submerged, the blood he’d just had on his face swirling in the water. He was still struggling. I hardened my heart and pressed down harder. Caleb slowly stopped moving. I finally let out a breath, collapsing weakly to the side, about to lament my unfair fate. Unexpectedly, Caleb suddenly convulsed, then gripped the edge of the water tank and climbed out. **4.**

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After the girl he put on a pedestal fell to her death, my stepbrother hated me for ten years. Even after I used despicable means to completely claim him. He never truly forgave me. Until, in a fit of pique, I ran off abroad and got caught in a riot. But my brother, without a moment’s hesitation, shielded me, taking the bullet and dying. His last words, whispered in my arms, were: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” Everyone called me a lunatic. They said I was the one who destroyed my brother, a man of integrity, upright and self-controlled. So, I knelt on those long stone steps for fifty years. Begging for a chance to start over. This time, I would complete him. All I wanted was for him to live a life of peace and happiness. “Stella, just look at the things you wrote! Don’t you feel sick to your stomach?!” “How could you… have such thoughts about your own brother?!” That voice, so familiar, so cherished, echoed in my ears. My eyes snapped open. I saw Julian holding my diary, his face blazing crimson with fury. That diary was filled to the brim with my— Desires for him. But at that moment, I felt no shame from being exposed. Instead, I burst into grateful tears. I had truly been reborn. Reborn to the first time Julian and I ever argued, the moment he discovered my forbidden feelings for him. My brother, vibrant and alive before me, made my body tremble uncontrollably. It was too good to be true. He was alive. Julian noticed my strange reaction. The fire that had been burning in him immediately died down by half. He pointed to the floor. “All of this… take it and burn it.” In my previous life, after hearing those words, I became completely hysterical, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him. Julian, his eyes wide with shock, fled in a panic, slowly distancing himself from me. And all my obsessive desires, fueled by that outrageous kiss, broke through their chains. Making me hate Lena, the girl who stole my brother, even more. Leading to all the tragedies that followed. So this time, I furiously wiped the tears from my face. And picked up the box full of diaries. “Okay.” “I’ll go burn them.”

My diaries chronicled more than a decade of my life with Julian. My mom and Julian’s mom were best friends. But my mom was a total romantic, always blinded by love, and she ended up marrying a monster who abused her. When I was five, my mom passed away despite all efforts to save her. My dad, a chronic alcoholic, fell into a ditch on his way to turn himself in to the police and died. Julian’s Aunt took me in. And then she passed away when Julian and I had just started middle school. From then on, it was just Julian and me in the large villa, with only a few house staff. Julian was only a few months older than me. But I was a complete magnet for trouble, and Julian was always like a miniature adult. So, from childhood, he followed me around, cleaning up my messes. Julian’s Aunt was always very busy with work. And the housekeepers and nannies often took days off. When I had a terrible stomach bug, he stayed by my side all night while I was hooked up to an IV. When I got into a fight, he always had my back. When it stormed, he’d grab his pillow and blankets and squeeze into my bed with me. Even when Lena fell to her death because of me. Julian hated me to his core. But when the riot broke out, he still didn’t hesitate for a second, stepping in front of me to shield me. My brother was perfect in every way. Except his love for me was family. My love for him… it felt like a sin I couldn’t confess. In my previous life, Mrs. Davis was inconsolable when she heard about Julian. Mr. Peterson, though, he pointed a finger right at my face and screamed, “Stella, you’re nothing but a jinx, a curse! Are you only happy when everyone around you is dead?!” I remembered Julian’s last words to me: “I spoiled you.” “I truly regret… becoming your brother.” He regretted it. Actually, I regretted it too. The secluded monastery tucked away in the northern hills was rumored to grant wishes, to answer prayers. I wanted to ask for a next life where Julian would never meet me again. But perhaps I was too wicked. The abbot refused to see me. So, I knelt year after year. The dark, mottled stains on those stone steps? Each one was a mark of my forehead, a desperate plea. From my youth until my hair turned white. Finally, when I was frail and old. The abbot agreed to see me. He said: “What has already happened cannot be changed, but perhaps there can be a new beginning.” “You are his fated hurdle. If it’s not resolved, all your efforts will be in vain.” Then, he slipped a small silk pouch into my wrinkled hand. “It will guide you to the moment of your rebirth.” When I woke again, the pouch clutched in my hand told me it wasn’t a dream. This time, I wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes. I would pay any price, as long as my brother was safe and happy.

The next day, when we went to school, neither of us mentioned what had happened the night before. A suffocating silence hung in the car. When we got out, Julian finally broke the quiet. “You hurt Lena a few days ago. Go apologize to her today.” His tone was stiff, almost forced. It was as if he expected me to throw a tantrum again before he even spoke. But I just nodded calmly. “Okay.” Julian looked at me with a hint of surprise. But in the end, he didn’t say anything more. During lunch break, as promised, I went to find Lena to apologize. But after searching around, I found her with Julian. The bustling afternoon was warm and bright. Lena giggled, playfully tapping Julian’s chest. The next second, her eyes flickered over to me, and she immediately cowered behind Julian, clutching her bandaged hand. Julian’s arm instantly shot out, shielding her. “What are you doing here?” His voice was slightly distant. He’d already forgotten he’d told me to come apologize that morning. It wasn’t really my brother’s fault for being on edge. I truly was a lunatic. I had an almost savage possessiveness over Julian. He was handsome, and kind. Plenty of girls liked him. And I’d scared every single one of them away. I interpreted Julian’s silent consent as: *He has feelings for me too*. Just like in my previous life, I’d put something in his drink. Forcing him to cross a line. He resisted my touch, yet I could discern a twisted pleasure in his fragmented gasps. But I’d ignored that it was just an uncontrollable physical reaction. Lena was special to him. Even ten years after her death, Julian still hadn’t forgiven me. I forced down the bitter pang that threatened to overflow in my heart and let out a shaky breath. Then, I gave Lena a deep, abrupt bow. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have hurt you a few days ago, and I shouldn’t have publicly insulted you and humiliated you.” “Can you… forgive me?” Lena cautiously glanced at Julian. Seeing he said nothing, she finally replied, “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. I forgive you.” I straightened up, meeting Julian’s eyes. They churned with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher.

In my previous life, there was another reason I hated Lena. More than once, I’d seen her acting close with Brock, the school bully and my brother’s archnemesis. Brock had a terrible personality and loved to trip Julian up. I seriously suspected Lena was sent to deceive my brother’s feelings, so I targeted her at every turn. This time, no matter what the truth was, I had to find out. I needed to put the two people who were meant to be together back on track. So, I started clinging to Lena, telling her how remorseful I was and how much I wanted to be her friend. At first, she was wary. But when she saw I genuinely had no ill intentions, she let her guard down. I casually probed her, “What do you think of my brother?” A blush crept up Lena’s ears. “Julian, he… he helped me a lot. And he really loves small animals. He used to feed the stray cats around here all the time and even got them spayed and neutered.” “I think he’s incredibly kind.” Sure enough. They loved each other back. Lena was actually pretty amazing. Her family wasn’t well off, but she was incredibly diligent, studying on a scholarship. She was the picture of a resilient girl from a humble background. My brother was handsome, the top of his class, and had a large inheritance left to him by Julian’s Aunt. Anyone looking at them would say they were a perfect match. Even though I’d long known this, my stomach still twisted with jealousy. That evening, Julian knocked on my bedroom door for the first time in ages. He didn’t dare to come in. The last time, it was because he’d suddenly walked into my room that he discovered my shameful thoughts. I spoke first, “I’m just looking at schools to apply to, nothing else…” Since my rebirth, I’d felt Julian was constantly distancing himself from me. Even without that kiss, he couldn’t accept that the sister he’d raised liked him *that* way. And even without that kiss, I couldn’t let Julian go. He cleared his throat unnaturally. “Why haven’t you been coming home with me lately?” I was a bit surprised he was asking about that. *Because I need to quickly get used to life without you*. I silently replied in my head. Even today, I was thinking of finding a school far away from Julian. Anyway, he and Lena had good grades, so they’d definitely go to the same university later. As for me, the further from him, the better. I casually threw out an excuse. “Lena and I actually get along pretty well, so we agreed to go home together. We can chat.” As soon as I said it, even I didn’t quite believe it. Julian stared at me intensely, making my scalp prickle even more. I stiffened my neck and challenged him, “Am I… bothering you two?” He frowned, then tapped me on the forehead. “What are you thinking? Of course not.” Then, he raked a hand through his hair, slightly agitated. “Forget it, you… it’s good to make more friends.”

Today, I walked home with Lena as usual. She’d opened up to me quite a bit, and I wanted to figure out the real reason for her fall in the previous life. Everyone thought I had pushed her off the building. Even Julian believed it. After all, I had a long history of acting out. But I hadn’t. I hadn’t even touched a single thread of her clothes. She just started crying and jumped. I wondered if something terrible had happened to Lena’s family, causing her to think of taking her own life. “Lena, if anything’s wrong, you have to tell me. If you’re in trouble, let me know, I’ll help you fix it!” Lena first froze, then her eyes welled up. She *was* in trouble. Just as she was about to speak. Suddenly, a group of thugs burst out from the alleyway beside us. They looked menacing, brandishing metal pipes they’d apparently ripped off school desks. I’d learned some self-defense when I was little and managed to hold my own against them. Lena, however, wasn’t doing so well. Seeing a pipe about to land on her, I didn’t think twice and shielded her. Then, my vision went black. When I woke up again, the back of my head and my back throbbed with a burning pain. I was covered in mud, but the scene before me was so shocking I couldn’t even register my own pain. Lena lay naked beside me. “Hey, Lena, what happened to you?” My voice trembled. Without thinking, I frantically searched for my phone. I just wanted to reach my brother as fast as possible. But my phone was shattered, completely unresponsive. Just then, a blinding light suddenly shone on my face. I instinctively lowered my head, squinting my eyes. The piercing wail of police sirens tangled with Julian’s furious shouts. I felt a force shove me away, sending me stumbling against a nearby step. “Stella, I really thought you’d changed, but I guess you were just biding your time for today, weren’t you?!” Julian’s eyes were bloodshot. I stared at him blankly, only then realizing. He’d misunderstood. “Julian, no, it wasn’t me.” Julian scooped Lena into his arms. “You’re holding your phone and saying it wasn’t you?! Delete all those photos, I’ll deal with you when we get home!” I watched his retreating back numbly, tears welling up in my eyes. “It really… wasn’t me…” Finally, all the strength drained from my body, and my vision blurred into darkness once more.

I dreamed of the previous life, when Julian had been just as angry with me. When Lena fell to her death, and I was taken in for questioning. Julian hit me for the first time. A loud, stinging slap. “How could you do something like this…?” “I’m so disappointed in you.” “I wish I never had a sister like you.” His eyes held an emotion so profoundly sad, it was almost serene. I couldn’t blame him. After all, only Lena and I were on the rooftop that day. No one would believe that a graduating student with a bright future would just jump off a building for no reason. But even if Julian didn’t believe me. He still found me the best lawyer. There were no security cameras on the rooftop, no direct evidence proving I pushed Lena. Besides, my fingerprints weren’t found on her body. But there was still the possibility that I had incited Lena to jump. Ultimately, the incident was ruled an accident. Julian paid Lena’s mother a large sum of money. But she still came to the school every day, causing a scene. So, Julian proactively took me out of school. I truly ruined his life. If it weren’t for me, what a brilliant life he would have had. No matter how the outside world speculated about the incident. For Julian, his sister had killed the person he loved. From that day on, there was no going back. I woke up with a jolt from my dream. Before my eyes was my familiar bedroom. Julian was sitting by my bed, looking haggard, dark circles under his eyes. When he saw me wake up, a glimmer of light appeared in his eyes. Then, he hugged me tightly.

It turned out, Lena had woken up before me. She recounted the entire story. I had been knocked unconscious while saving her. The group of thugs had taken pictures of her and fled. Julian held me, his body trembling uncontrollably. He kept repeating apologies. “I’m so sorry, Stella, I’m so sorry.” “It’s my fault for misunderstanding you.” “I didn’t take good care of you, and I accused you without a second thought. You should hit me…” His trembling was obvious and clear, and his body heat seeped into me, making my eyes well up with warmth. Days of accumulated grievances burst forth. My tears and snot plastered all over Julian’s shirt. “Julian! It’s all my fault!” “If I hadn’t been such a mess before, you wouldn’t have doubted me!” I desperately shook my head, wanting Julian to believe my promise. “I’m truly sorry. I’ll never cling to you and make things difficult again!” “I’ll never yearn for you like that again. I just want to be your sister, always your sister!” I felt my brother’s body stiffen for a moment. Then, his hand gently patted my back. We hugged like that for a long, long time. It was as if all the previous distance between us had simply vanished. Julian brought over a bowl of porridge from the side. “Eat something first.” He tied up my hair and grabbed his jacket. “I’m going out to buy you your favorite tarts as an apology.” “Wait for me to come back. I have something important to tell you.” I gazed at Julian obediently, sensing something was different about him. As if he’d made some kind of decision. But I waited a long time, and my brother never came back. Instead, I first received a message from Lena. 【Stella, please, come find me on the school rooftop.】 【Only you.】 【Please…】

I ran out of the house like a madwoman. Why was it still happening? The abbot’s words echoed in my mind. *What has already happened cannot be changed.* Was I truly unable to change anything? Then what was the point of me being reborn?! But Lena’s message to me was different from the previous life. In my previous life, she’d sent me a taunting message. Lying that she and Julian were secretly meeting on the school rooftop. This time, though, it was different. I felt like the truth was within reach. On the rooftop, Lena was crying, just as she had in the previous life. “Lena, what the hell are you doing?!” *Does this building just have to be jumped off of?!* Lena looked at me, then dropped to her knees with a thud. “Stella, I can’t escape this. The people who hurt us that day were Brock’s men. They took so many photos and videos of me… I’ve been trapped for so long.” My blood immediately rushed to my head. “You knew this? Then why didn’t you tell the police? You’re the victim! It’s not your fault!” Lena screamed, looking completely on the verge of a breakdown. “It’s no use, Stella!” “I fought back, but it was useless…” “They threatened my mom and my younger siblings. Brock’s family has serious connections, we can’t go against him at all.” “He’s a monster. He’s always been toying with us. He wants to ruin Julian, that’s why he tried to get to him through you.” “I’m so sorry. You and your brother have both been so kind to me.” “Don’t come near me. As long as you don’t touch me, they won’t find any evidence on you.” “Julian cares about you so much, he’ll find a way to protect you, no matter what.” “But if I don’t listen to Brock, my family won’t have a chance to live. If I die, maybe it’ll blow up and get enough attention.” “I only ask one thing, please, after I die, look after my family, just for the sake of our short month of friendship…” I didn’t let her finish. I rushed forward, grabbed her by the collar, and pulled her to her feet. I could only hear my own roar echoing. “Then do you know what will happen to my brother after you die?! He’ll spend his entire life mourning you!!” It was only then that I realized I was a complete mess, tears streaming down my face. Lena stared at me blankly. The small silk pouch in my pocket *clattered* onto the floor. It lay there quietly. I vaguely remembered the warmth that had spread through my palm the first time I held it. *If I’m Julian’s fated hurdle.* *Then without me, he’d be happy, wouldn’t he?* …So, that’s what it meant. I finally understood. “So, we just need to make a big scene, right?” I turned and ran towards the edge of the rooftop. At first, it was a light, floating sensation. Then, a heavy, plummeting feeling. I chose the abyss. So I fell into the abyss. *Thud—!* A deafening sound, followed by a piercing shriek. It shattered the quiet of the night. At the same time, Julian, who was just a street away from the school, was so startled by the sudden loud noise that he almost dropped what he was holding. It was the last box of tarts. The bakery he usually went to was closed. He’d gone to several places before finding this newly opened one near the school. The crowd around him gradually grew louder. “Someone died!” “Someone jumped! A female student!” Julian turned his head, looking towards the school. He suddenly remembered the sharp pang he’d felt in his chest when he heard that loud thud.

Julian, as if compelled by some strange impulse, walked towards the school. He was never one to be curious about crowds. But that day, a voice inside him seemed to say: *You should go see.* He saw Lena. She was crumpled on the ground, crying, calling Stella’s name. *Why would she call Stella’s name?* Julian’s heart pounded with growing dread. He couldn’t control his hands, desperately pushing through the crowd. The person lying on the ground. He couldn’t *not* recognize her. No matter what she looked like, he would know her at a glance. But his sister should be lying in her room right now, waiting for him to come home with tarts. She shouldn’t. She shouldn’t be lying there, broken and shattered, on the ground. Lena confessed everything. She cried, saying she had killed Stella. “When I was injured before, I deliberately framed her. That day, she came to find me, furious, and I intentionally placed a cup near her. She accidentally knocked it over and broke it, and I pretended she pushed me and cut my arm.” “She actually believed it. She even apologized to me, even though she was the only one who ever treated me like a friend…” Julian stared at her blankly, it took him a long, long time to find his voice. “What did she say, in the end?” “She said, if I died, you would mourn me your whole life.” Julian felt as if someone was choking him, making it impossible to breathe. He finally realized: The one who killed his sister, was himself. Julian still clearly remembered the day he told Stella to burn the diaries. She stood in the yard, burning them and wiping away tears. His heart twisted with pain. He told Mrs. Davis to call Stella back inside. But he found himself uncontrollably walking towards the pile of ashes. There was one diary that hadn’t completely burned. He stomped out the flames. Inside, the elegant handwriting was something he had taught her, stroke by stroke. *Would Julian be disgusted if he knew I loved him?* In that moment, he felt nothing else mattered. He shouldn’t have blamed her. He had no right to blame Stella. In this world, no matter what mistakes Stella made. His own sin was far greater. He was just too afraid to take that step. If one day, Stella no longer loved him. If she saw a better, wider world. If men out there made her realize her brother was actually insignificant. Then they wouldn’t even be able to be siblings anymore. The step he took would damn him forever. That night, he even had a twisted thought: *It would be better if he and Stella had a blood relation.* At least that way, there would be an indelible mark between them. He was terrified. So, when he realized Stella hated Lena. For the first time, he didn’t distance himself from someone his sister disliked. He thought, *just let Stella give up on me.* She would grow up eventually. She would leave him eventually. But when Stella had been unconscious for several days, then woke up crying and apologizing, saying she was a jerk. He just wanted to say: *He* was the jerk, a thousand times worse than her. Not only that, he was a coward. Letting Stella bear the burden of their shared sin alone. Julian finally understood. He would tell Stella: *It’s fine. We can just go somewhere no one knows us.* But it was his moment of hesitation that made him lose his sister forever. … By the time Julian came back to his senses. He had already handled Stella’s funeral. That small urn held the person he loved most. She was so lively and active. How could she bear to stay in such a cramped space? His senses seemed to return belatedly. Thousands of razor blades seemed to sprout from his internal organs. He desperately dry-heaved. The blades sliced his esophagus, his throat. But nothing came up. He could only spend his days in Stella’s room. It was the only place in the world that still carried her scent. He didn’t know how much time had passed. His life had ended the day his sister died. Behind the wall, Mr. Peterson and Mrs. Davis were incredibly anxious. “We’ve found so many therapists, but nothing helps!” “He looks like he’s lost his soul. I heard that monastery in the northern hills is very spiritual…” I didn’t expect to wake up again. In a dimly lit rented apartment. There was an admission letter. The name on it was “Stella.” I had been reborn into a body with the same name.

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I possess the Sacred Blood, and the blood within me can heal any ailment. In my previous life, it was only after I cured the paralyzed legs of a billionaire CEO that I discovered the Mitchell Family had decreed that anyone who healed Ethan Mitchell would become the lady of their household. Ethan Mitchell was compelled to marry me. Fiona Johnson, who had risked her life to gather the Himalayan Snow Lotus for him, was so stunned by the news that she fell off a cliff and disappeared. A year later, Ethan found Fiona’s frozen body and forced me to cut my wrists to save her. “If only I had waited for Fiona to return with the Snow Lotus and heal me, we could have grown old together. You killed her!” “Lydia Smith, didn’t you claim your blood is a miracle cure? Then bring Fiona back to life!” I pleaded with him tearfully. “Fiona has been dead for a year. I can heal diseases, but I can’t bring the dead back to life.” But Ethan refused to listen to my explanation and watched as I bled to death. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day the Mitchell Family asked me to treat Ethan. Seeing Ethan sitting in his wheelchair with a gloomy expression, I smiled faintly. “Mr. Mitchell, these legs are beyond repair; no one can heal them.” ⋯⋯   Hearing my words, Ethan slowly raised his head to look at me, his eyes burning with growing anger. “Get out of here, you fraud!” I raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to Mrs. Mitchell beside me. “Mrs. Mitchell, if the Smith Family says an ailment is incurable, then it truly is. You might want to consider having another child while you’re still young.” As soon as I finished speaking, the teacup in Ethan’s hand hurled directly at me. I moved aside to dodge it. With a crash, the expensive teacup shattered on the floor. Mrs. Mitchell, startled, quickly apologized to me. “Miss Smith, I’m sorry. I apologize on Ethan’s behalf. It’s just his condition…” I brushed it off nonchalantly. “I understand. It’s normal for a crippled and impotent man to have a warped mind.” Seeing Ethan tremble with anger, I turned and left the Mitchell Family. Mrs. Mitchell chased after me, pleading softly. “Miss Smith, is there really no way? I’ve heard the Smith Family has a secret cure for all ailments. If you can heal Ethan’s legs, the Mitchell Family will fulfill any request you have.” But it wasn’t that he couldn’t be cured; it was that I wouldn’t cure him. In my last life, Ethan blamed me for Fiona’s death, stubbornly believing that if Fiona had brought back the Snow Lotus, it would have healed his legs. Had he thought calmly, he would have realized the Snow Lotus was merely a supplement. Its supposed miraculous properties were nothing but exaggerated tales. Yet, when he discovered I used my blood to heal his legs, he watched me die, hoping to resurrect Fiona. Before I died, I overheard the servants of the Mitchell Family talking.

It turned out Fiona didn’t fall off the cliff because of the Snow Lotus. She was discovered by the wife of her wealthy patron when she tried to marry into the Mitchell Family and was thrown off the cliff. This time, I won’t get involved in their entanglements. I wish them a long and happy life together. “Mr. Mitchell, these legs, I can’t help.” Ethan came out and heard my words, his deep voice filled with anger. “Mom, Fiona has already flown to the Rocky Mountains. Once she brings back the Himalayan Snow Lotus, my legs will definitely be healed.” “My affairs don’t concern others.” Mrs. Mitchell sighed deeply. “The Himalayan Snow Lotus only helps your legs recover. To stand again, it’s far from enough. The Smith Family is your last hope…” Ethan remained stubborn. “I said, Fiona can heal me.” I gave Ethan a long look and bid farewell to Mrs. Mitchell as I left. Just as I walked out of the Mitchell Family’s gate, a black business car stopped in front of me. A woman got out and knelt before me. “Miss Smith, please save my son…”   It turned out that a year ago, the accident injured not only Ethan Mitchell but also his arch-enemy, Nolan Johnson of the Johnson Family. After that car accident, Nolan became a vegetative state. Having endured a painful past life, I wouldn’t casually use my blood to save people again, so I refused Mrs. Johnson’s request. Mrs. Johnson didn’t press further and left in tears. A week later, I received an invitation to a Mitchell Family banquet. Fiona had returned with the Himalayan Snow Lotus. Mrs. Mitchell feared there might be issues with Fiona’s medicine and asked me to attend and check it. At the banquet, Fiona stayed close to Ethan. Mrs. Mitchell held my hand, her face full of worry. “I’m not afraid that Fiona’s medicine won’t work. I’m just worried that Ethan will be disappointed again and won’t be able to handle the blow.” “We’ve tried everything in the past year. I’ve watched the hope in Ethan’s eyes fade away bit by bit. As a mother, I really have no choice…” Before I could offer comfort, Fiona pushed Ethan over. “Aunt, don’t worry. I can definitely help Ethan stand up. I almost died in the Rocky Mountains for this Himalayan Snow Lotus.” Ethan held Fiona’s hand, looking deeply moved. “Fiona, when I stand up, I’ll throw you a grand wedding.” “Ethan, I believe in you.” Fiona turned to look at me, her smile ambiguous.

“I’m not like those fraudulent doctors. I’m confident I can heal Ethan’s legs.” As soon as she finished speaking, the faces of the renowned doctors who had treated Ethan’s legs turned sour. “Miss Johnson, you speak boldly. Are you sure you can heal Mr. Mitchell’s legs?” “You’re not even a medical professional, yet you dare to question our expertise?” “Even Miss Smith from the medical family Smith Family said Mr. Mitchell’s legs couldn’t be healed. I don’t believe a young girl like you has that ability!” Although Ethan felt Fiona spoke rashly, he still defended her. “I believe Fiona can heal me!” I couldn’t help but laugh. Fiona thought I was mocking her. She gritted her teeth in anger but forced a smile. “Miss Smith, I heard you’re the most outstanding doctor of your generation in the Smith Family. But you refused the Mitchell Family and then the Johnson Family. It’s hard not to suspect you can’t actually treat illnesses.” I smiled slightly. “Then I’m very much looking forward to the day Miss Johnson makes Mr. Mitchell stand.” Seeing me laugh instead of getting angry, Fiona bit her lip. “Are you upset I stole your thunder? I know Aunt favors you and wants you to marry Ethan. But now, only I can heal Ethan’s legs.” Sitting in the wheelchair, Ethan sneered. “Lydia Smith, even if you could heal me, I wouldn’t agree to marry you. Moreover, you’re just a fraud. When my mom introduced you, I thought you were someone impressive, but it seems you’re just so-so.” “Let me tell you, the only person I love is Fiona, and I will marry no one but her.” “No matter how many times you appear before me, I won’t spare you a glance.” Watching them act in sync, I just felt annoyed. “Mrs. Mitchell invited me to check Miss Johnson’s medicine. Since Mr. Mitchell trusts Miss Johnson so much, I won’t meddle.” After saying this, I wanted to leave, but Fiona blocked my way. “Lydia Smith, what do you mean by that?” I frowned. “Exactly what I said. If you don’t understand, look it up in a dictionary!” Fiona snorted coldly. “Lydia Smith, do you dare to bet with me? Bet on who can heal Ethan’s legs. The loser must kneel and admit defeat and never set foot in New York City again!” I paused, turned to her. “I’ll bet with you, but I won’t treat Ethan Mitchell. I’ll treat Nolan Johnson!”

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My stepbrother and I are the main characters in a step-siblings romance novel. After realizing this, I avoided him like the plague to stop these inappropriate feelings. However, he pinned me against the kitchen counter, biting my neck, and growled, “You can only love me.” The day Jack brought his girlfriend home, I had a ridiculous dream. In the dream, I was the female lead in a step-siblings romance novel, and my stepbrother Jack was the male lead. Jack’s girlfriend, Emily, was the antagonist in this story. In the book, Jack had liked me since childhood, and a strong sense of guilt haunted him throughout his adolescence. He had sneaked into my room countless times to kiss the corner of my mouth while I was asleep, and had woken up sweating profusely in the middle of the night, calling out my name. To let go of these abnormal feelings, Jack agreed to date Emily, who had a crush on him for six years. At this point in the story, I woke up from my dream. Frightened by the absurd scenes in my dream, it took me a while to calm down. Jack liking me? How could that be possible? I recalled Jack’s cold attitude towards me in daily life and shook my head slightly. But even so, I still felt uncomfortable. When I was young and naive, I did have a crush on Jack. I remember being encouraged by my best friend to knock on his door late at night, only to see the impatience and disgust in his eyes when he saw me. So, those secrets were gradually buried deep in my heart, rotting away.

The next day, when I went downstairs, Jack and Emily were sitting on the couch. Jack had his head slightly lowered, his long fingers playing with Emily’s bracelet. Emily greeted me enthusiastically, and I noticed how beautiful and charming she was. As my gaze shifted to her lips, I was slightly taken aback. The girl’s red lips were slightly swollen, making it easy to guess what they had been doing. I hurriedly tried to look away, but accidentally met Jack’s cold gaze. “Jack,” I forced a natural smile. Jack didn’t respond. Seeing this, Emily gave me an awkward smile and playfully pinched Jack’s arm. As I left the house, I thought to myself, it really was just a ridiculous dream after all. When I returned home that evening, Jack wasn’t back yet. I went to the kitchen and made a simple dinner for myself. While washing the dishes after eating, I heard the sound of the door opening. Jack had entered the kitchen at some point. I was slightly startled and asked, “Jack, do you want something to eat?” Jack didn’t answer me, he just walked up to me. That’s when I noticed his beautiful and delicate face had an unusual redness to it. He was drunk. I quietly took a step back and asked him softly, “Jack, did you have a fight with Emily?” Jack stubbornly took another step forward and forcefully grabbed my chin. I was forced to look into his eyes, and I realized his gaze was incredibly cold: “Jack?” “Don’t call me that.” Jack’s long fingers slowly caressed my cheek, “Are we even related by blood?” I froze on the spot. Seeing this, Jack let out a mocking laugh and released his hand, then asked with a smile, “What kind of sister would harbor such unspeakable thoughts for her brother?” I closed my eyes, suppressing the bitterness welling up inside. When I opened my eyes again, there was only calmness in my gaze: “But Jack, I don’t like you anymore.” “Liking you was too painful.” “So Jack, whether that dream was real or not, I don’t want to like you anymore.” Hearing what I said, Jack, who was about to turn away, paused slightly, but he didn’t respond to me.

That night, I had another dream. In the dream, Jack pinned me against the kitchen counter and kissed the corner of my mouth passionately. The kitchen door was wide open, and I could faintly hear our parents talking in the living room. I struggled, trying to get Jack to let go of me, but he lowered his voice and asked, “You don’t like me anymore? Hm?” “Jack, you already have Emily,” I said in the dream. Jack bit my neck without a care, his voice husky as he said, “I only want you.” I woke up from the dream once again, the stinging sensation of the bite on my neck still lingering. It was too strange. The dreams I’ve had these past two days were too strange. Could it be that Jack really liked me? I remembered the photos of me that Jack had secretly taken in the dream I had the other night. If the dream was real, would those photos be in Jack’s album? I picked up my phone and checked the time – 2 AM. Throwing on some clothes, I still went to Jack’s door. When Jack sleeps, he usually leaves his phone on the desk, quite far from his bed. If his room door wasn’t closed, I could just sneak in, take the phone, check it, and put it back quietly. If the door was closed, I’d give up for now and find another way to check his album later. But what I didn’t expect was that the doorknob turned easily without a sound. Jack’s room had a pleasant scent, the same as the one he carried. But ever since Jack found out I liked him, it had been a long time since I’d smelled this scent. I quietly walked to the desk, and sure enough, the phone was right there. Just as my hand touched the phone, a cold voice came from behind me: “What are you doing?” I trembled slightly in fright and immediately turned around: “Jack…” Jack was standing right behind me, just a step away. He stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly reached out to touch the corner of my eye: “Why are you crying?” “I’m not crying.” Jack didn’t say anything, but his touch became rougher, his calloused fingertips rubbing my eye corner painfully. For some reason, I felt that Jack was very dangerous right now. “Let me guess what you’re doing?” Jack’s cool hand slowly slid down to my neck, his voice husky, “Were you trying to sneak a look at my phone?” Seeing that I didn’t answer, Jack let out a mocking laugh and picked up the phone himself, holding it in front of me. He unlocked it with his fingerprint: “What do you want to see?” “SnapChat, text messages, or…” Jack paused slightly here, his deep gaze fixed on me, “my photo album?” My eyelashes fluttered. Jack’s expression became even more dangerous. Just as I was about to explain, Jack suddenly grabbed my wrist and placed the phone in my palm, opening the main interface of the photo album. I couldn’t help but look down at my hand. The album was visibly filled with page after page of intimate photos of him and Emily. My hand holding the phone trembled slightly. Jack took the phone from my hand and stepped back, his voice turning cold: “Aren’t you leaving?” I didn’t leave, just stood there firmly and said word by word: “Are you serious about Emily?” Jack didn’t answer, but the usually cold person seemed to think of something, and a hint of tenderness and deep affection rippled in his eyes. His gaze now was identical to how he looked at me in the dream. My stepbrother and I are the main characters in a step-siblings romance novel. After realizing this, I avoided him like the plague to stop these inappropriate feelings. However, he pinned me against the kitchen counter, biting my neck, and growled, “You can only love me.”

Jack could only love me. For some reason, this thought suddenly popped into my head. That night, I couldn’t sleep at all. The desire to find the photos Jack had taken in my dream grew stronger. The next day, I bumped into Jack as I was leaving. Unusually, I didn’t greet him, and Jack didn’t say anything either. We tacitly acted as if nothing had happened the night before, calmly treating each other like strangers. What I didn’t know was that the moment I left, Jack’s eyes instantly darkened, all traces of his previous calmness gone. As a senior, I didn’t really have many classes, but staying in the same space as Jack made me even more uncomfortable. Jack and I didn’t always have such a strained relationship; at first, he was just a bit cold towards me. It wasn’t until the night before college registration five years ago, when I knocked on Jack’s door, that things changed. At that time, my feelings for Jack were at their strongest. Jack’s bangs were slightly damp, and his delicate features showed a hint of impatience. I lowered my head, then mustered up the courage to speak: “I like you, Jack.” Those few seconds felt like centuries. I didn’t dare to look up at Jack’s expression, but I saw his pale, slender hand hanging by his pants suddenly clench, veins popping out. After several seconds, Jack’s icy voice finally sounded above my head: “Lily, I’m your brother.” “I know, but we’re not blood-related…” “Look up,” Jack interrupted me. I obediently looked up at him. Jack stared at me for a few seconds, then suddenly grabbed my chin, his voice ice-cold: “You like me?” I nodded slightly. Jack smiled: “You want to be with me?” I hesitantly nodded. Jack chuckled, his voice mocking: “Are you worthy?” Those three words, “Are you worthy?”, became like a curse. Later, every time I saw Jack, these words would flood my mind, tormenting me. From that day on, Jack’s attitude towards me changed drastically, becoming cold and dismissive. After that day, I didn’t go home for about two weeks straight. Until I had to return home to get a USB drive. To avoid running into Jack, I deliberately chose a time when he usually wouldn’t be home, planning to grab the USB and leave. But I didn’t expect that as soon as I opened the door, I’d be pulled into an embrace that smelled of alcohol and faint mint. Jack’s usually cold voice now seemed to carry a hint of grievance: “Where have you been?” “What’s it to you?” “How is it not my business?” he said, half-pushing, half-carrying me towards the living room. After struggling in vain, I was brought along with him as we fell onto the living room couch: “Jack, what exactly do you want?” No one answered me. I looked up and realized that Jack had already closed his eyes. He looked heavily drunk, his face flushed, and his usually neat suit now wrinkled.

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