Category: English

My best friend, Isabelle, and I were unexpectedly transported to a post-apocalyptic world where women were incredibly scarce. Here, the men gave us the best food and protected us with all their might. Slowly, Isabelle grew reluctant to return to our original world. “This,” she’d say, “is paradise.” But watching the men who constantly guarded us, I felt a chilling fear instead. I knew there was no such thing as kindness without reason. The primal instinct of males, above all else, is reproduction. By the time I realized this, the security officers had already silently entered the quarters Isabelle and I shared. There were eight of them. Dressed in black uniforms, they stood in the dim light. Young, lethal, and cold. They stood in silence for a moment, then two of them headed towards Isabelle’s room and mine, respectively. I nervously pretended to be asleep, hoping they were just on a routine patrol. But a nagging feeling told me they were here for Isabelle and me to get pregnant. This morning, during my medical examination, I’d overheard the doctors talking: “Their physical conditions are exceptional. The base hasn’t seen bodies this good in twenty years. “We’ve also screened eight men with high genetic compatibility. “If all goes well, there will be new lives this time next year. “Heaven, after all, has finally shown us mercy.” There were a few other women undergoing examinations with me that day, so I didn’t immediately realize they were talking about Isabelle and and me. After the check-up, we were sent to this high tower—the only place in the base with a view of the outside world. On the table, besides our daily beef, milk, and bread, there were two rare apples. These were luxuries reserved for the base’s upper echelons. Commoners struggled to survive on meager grains like corn and sweet potatoes. Isabelle and I, though classified as commoners after our arrival, frequently received these precious foods. I knew the base strictly enforced its post-apocalyptic distribution system: you got what you put in. If we received something precious, we would surely have to give something precious in return. Isabelle and I had nothing. Only our bodies. Isabelle, as usual, picked up her milk, standing by the window, gazing at the vast, desolate landscape outside. She stood in the sunlight, her skin fair, gentle, and lovely, as pure as an angel. I, meanwhile, stared at the food, my stomach churning with unease. Isabelle looked at me, puzzled. “What’s wrong?” I told her what the doctors had said. “This place is too strange. We need to find a way back to our original world, fast.” She fell silent. After a long moment, she softly asked, “Chloe, isn’t this place good?” I was baffled. What was good about it? The apocalypse had lasted for a century, the ecology was imbalanced, the climate extreme, food was scarce, and the walking dead roamed everywhere… This place was a living hell. But she continued, “Here, we don’t worry about food or clothes, we don’t worry about finding work, no mortgages to pay, no one bullies us, everyone cares for us and looks after us. “For me, this place… is paradise.” I shook my head. “There’s no kindness without a root or a price. “Women are scarce here. Our price might be our bodies, our fertility.” Isabelle gathered her wind-blown hair. “But Chloe, in our old world, we still had to dedicate our bodies and fertility, didn’t we?”

The man entered my room and stopped at the foot of my bed. I knew him. His name was Caleb. Son of the former base commander. The most cold-blooded and ruthless security officer. Rumor had it, he’d personally killed his parents when he was just ten. The first time I saw him, I was struck by his appearance. But the next second, his gun was aimed straight at my head. Isabelle and I had been transported here while at an amusement park. The ground had suddenly caved in, and we’d fallen. I was still wearing grey-blue contact lenses then. Grey-blue eyes were the mark of the infected. Caleb had mistaken me for one. Though the misunderstanding was later cleared, he had always loathed me. He hated that I, a human, would adorn my eyes with the color of the infected. Yet, the base had assigned him to oversee Isabelle’s and my safety. He was an absolute enforcer; even with his disgust, he had to follow orders. But I didn’t like him either. Many people at the base disliked him. They said the security officers were the lapdogs of the elite, and Caleb was the most loyal and vicious among them. Caleb stood still by my bed. I heard the metallic buckle of his belt unfasten. I’d guessed right. He was indeed here to carry out the breeding assignment. I stopped pretending to sleep, sat up, and pressed a small knife I’d prepared against my throat, speaking each word slowly: “Get out, or I’ll die right here in front of you.” I’d sharpened the knife considerably. My hand trembled slightly, and the blade cut into my skin. Warm blood trickled down my neck. I was gambling. Gambling that he wouldn’t dare, couldn’t allow me to die. Sure enough, Caleb froze. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. It seemed I wasn’t supposed to be awake. I immediately thought of the milk from today. I hadn’t drunk it. Isabelle, not wanting to waste it, had drunk mine. That’s why she’d fallen asleep so early. They had drugged the milk. Now, another man had already entered Isabelle’s room. I continued to threaten Caleb with death. “I said get out, and take those men with you.” But the next second, he snatched the knife away, and his hand clamped tightly over my mouth. I tried to struggle, but I couldn’t move at all. For the first time, I clearly and desperately realized the massive strength disparity between women and men. Especially when I was facing the strongest man in the base. My tears fell uncontrollably. I didn’t want to be forced into breeding. So I bit down hard on Caleb’s hand, and my mouth was soon filled with the taste of blood. Caleb remained unmoved. But he didn’t make any further moves either. A voice came through his comms unit: “Major Caleb, what’s your situation over there?” Caleb glanced at me. “She’s awake, uncooperative, and self-harming.” The voice simply said, “Oh.” Then, “Then terminate the mission for now. Don’t let her harm herself.” Caleb responded, “Understood.” He released me. I pushed him away and jumped off the bed. I had to go save Isabelle. But Caleb threw me back onto the bed. I thought he was going to continue and sneered, “What, is a lapdog like you going to defy your master’s orders?” He lowered his gaze, said nothing, then unbuckled his belt, tied my hands to the headboard, and gagged my mouth with a piece of cloth. Then, he sat down on a chair, facing me.

In the silent darkness, the creaking of Isabelle’s iron bed in the next room was painfully distinct. And her soft moans. She should have been deep in sleep. But now, she was immersed in physical pleasure. It seemed the milk contained more than just a sedative. And there were six other men outside. The doctors had said these were our compatible matches. I didn’t know if all of them were meant to participate. I blamed myself for not preparing Isabelle for this. After a long, agonizing time, the sounds from Isabelle’s room finally ceased. Someone said something to the man, and he led Isabelle away. Panic seized me. When Caleb finally unbound me, I asked him, “Where are you taking Isabelle?” Caleb didn’t answer directly, only saying, “Your current state will affect her. You’ll meet again when the time is right.” I asked others, but no one answered me either. Two months after we’d been transported here, Isabelle and I lost contact for the first time. I was isolated. Caleb, who had always been glued to my side, didn’t appear. The door was locked. I picked up a chair and smashed it against the window, only to discover that the window was made of specialized glass, impenetrable to my strength.

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Eighteen years old, I accidentally killed a privileged jerk to protect Vanessa Thorne. But she took a bribe from his family and gave false testimony in court. My self-defense became intentional murder… I was sentenced to death. After I died, she went to my mother, knelt, and swore she was sorry. She begged my mom to adopt her as a goddaughter, promising to take care of her in her old age. In the end, she conned my family out of all our assets and ran off with some guy. And my mom? Because I was a death row inmate, she lived a life of discrimination, looked down upon, poor, sick, and died heartbroken. Then I opened my eyes again— I was back to that evening, the day she invited me to the small alley on South Street. “Alex Reed, are you coming or not?” Vanessa Thorne’s voice drifted into my ears. Clear and sweet. I fought hard to control the rage boiling inside me. How *dare* this conniving bitch show her face to me again? Wait, what?! Where was I? School? Besides Vanessa’s voice, I heard the noisy laughter and shouts of my classmates. The sound of reading from the next classroom, echoing clearly. The setting sun, a cascade of golden light, spilled across the school windows. I double-checked, triple-checked. I was back. Reborn to my senior year, the blackboard at the back of the classroom read: “99 days left until college entrance exams.” Back to square one, like a reset button on my life! “Alex Reed, if you don’t come, I’ll just ask Cole Miller instead,” Vanessa said, a hint of challenge in her gaze, pouting. Her unzipped school uniform revealed a tight top that clung to her curves, a clear invitation for hungry eyes. In my past life, I was absolutely obsessed with her, just like this. Now, in my eyes, she was nothing more than a piece of rotten, decaying flesh. “I’m not going,” I stated, my voice firm. As I spoke, I stuffed my remaining textbooks into my backpack. I glanced at the classroom, both strangely unfamiliar and intimately known, then turned to leave. Vanessa blocked my way again. “Alex Reed, what’s your deal?” she demanded loudly. “I got bullied, and you’re just going to ignore it? “I’m telling you, if you don’t come today, we’re breaking up.” I stopped, my face cold. “We never even started, so what are you breaking up from?” Vanessa’s mom and my mom were classmates, best friends… In my past life, I naturally believed that too. But after I died, what Vanessa and her mom did made me realize I’d completely misplaced my trust. And my mom had simply picked a fake bestie. Vanessa, knowing I was infatuated with her, manipulated me again and again. Cole Miller was the school bully, and he’d harassed Vanessa several times. I’d been furious about it. But Vanessa didn’t see it that way. She even told me that a guy liking her meant she was desirable. “Vanessa Thorne, whether you ask Cole Miller or any other guy, it has nothing to do with me.” With that, I walked around her and headed out of the classroom. The sky was blue, the air fresh. Freedom. It felt so good. “Coward!” Vanessa’s sneering voice came from behind me. “Alex Reed, I dare you to never step foot in my house again!” “Fine!” I turned, my voice calm and icy.

As I wheeled my bike out of the bike shed, I saw Cole Miller with his arm around Vanessa’s waist. He was with a couple of his buddies, bouncing his leg as he spoke to me. “Alex Reed, from now on, Vanessa’s my girl. You spineless loser, stay away from her. Otherwise, I’ll beat you up every time I see you.” I scoffed internally. Let’s see if Cole Miller even makes it back from that South Street alley tonight. Then we can talk about “from now on.” In my past life, at eighteen, I was just a hot-headed kid, full of reckless youth. I didn’t understand anything. It wasn’t until I accidentally killed Brandon Hayes, the rich kid, that I learned Vanessa had been deeply entangled with him from Westridge High. She’d spent tens of thousands of his money, all on eating out and having fun. For a high school student, that was a hefty sum. Brandon wanted to take things further, but she actually told him she had a boyfriend. And I was that unlucky “boyfriend” she mentioned. She played both of us, infuriating Brandon and making me mad too. So, in my past life, in that South Street alley, I accidentally killed Brandon. This life, let her take Cole Miller there. “Cole, don’t worry, I’ll stay far, far away from her from now on,” I said with a smile. “And please, keep a close eye on her. Don’t let her bother me. “Also, maybe ask her if she has any *other* boyfriends?” As expected, the moment I said that, Vanessa completely blew up. She pointed at my face and yelled, “Alex Reed, what is that supposed to mean?! “It’s bad enough you’re a coward, but now you’re slandering me? “I only hung out with you because we grew up together. “And you? Cole Miller tries to ask me out, and you throw a tantrum, even threatening to take back our house?! “Are you trying to make it obvious that my family’s broke and we’re renting your place? “Are you serious with this?” With that, she squatted on the ground, sobbing pitifully. Right. I had indeed once said I’d tell my mom to take back the house we rented to Vanessa’s family. After all, they’d lived there for five years without paying a dime of rent. And they’d privately torn down a wall, a load-bearing wall, without my family’s permission. The HOA had complained to my mom multiple times. Given all that, I’d once suggested to my mom, “Maybe we should take the house back. “We don’t need to rent it out anymore. Anyway, the Thornes never paid rent.” Now, in Vanessa’s mouth, this had become my excuse to manipulate her? Cole saw her crying and immediately looked pained. He rushed to help her up, loudly announcing, “My sweet Vanessa, I’ll rent you another place myself…” I couldn’t care less about what happened next. I pushed my bike and left.

That evening, I heard that a massive fight had broken out between guys from Westridge High and Central High in the small alley on South Street. A guy from Central High, Cole Miller, had used a switchblade and stabbed Brandon Hayes in the abdomen. Just like in my past life. The knife was Vanessa’s; she had given it to Cole. What was slightly different from my past life was that after it happened, Vanessa grabbed Cole and tried to run. But Cole, who’d been fighting his whole life, knew better. He didn’t run. He immediately called 911, then emergency services. The next morning when I got to school, everyone was talking about it. Cole wasn’t in class, and neither was Vanessa. I heard they were both at the police station. I didn’t pay too much attention, just focused on my practice problems. In my past life, during college entrance exams, I was in prison. My first trial verdict had already come down—death sentence. I was terrified. My mom sold our house and company to appeal. Days in prison felt like years. When I saw the news about the college entrance exams on TV, I cried… That afternoon after class, I was putting away my English textbook to return it to the teacher’s office. I accidentally noticed student files on Ms. Albright’s desk. I quickly flipped to Cole Miller’s and saw his birth date. Cole was two months younger than me. Also, the biggest change this life was that Brandon Hayes hadn’t died. I suddenly realized that by refusing Vanessa’s invitation to the South Street alley, the butterfly effect had taken hold, and things were unfolding differently than I’d expected. Brandon not dying meant he’d keep bothering Vanessa. After all, he’d spent tens of thousands on a girl. Now, the girl had gotten someone to stab him? Anyone would be pissed. Cole Miller wasn’t me. I was just a regular student, educated, sensible, and though I admired Vanessa, I respected her. But Cole Miller was the school bully. When he said he admired Vanessa, most likely, he was just after one thing. Now, he’d stabbed Brandon because of her? Vanessa surely had to show some appreciation, right? I settled in, ready for the drama to unfold. But I never in my wildest dreams imagined that after school, Vanessa would stop me right at the school gates. “Something wrong?” I asked calmly. “Alex Reed, lend me one hundred and fifty thousand dollars,” Vanessa stated directly. Seeing I didn’t respond, she seemed to make a desperate decision. “Your mom’s not home tonight, is she? I’ll come to your place.” “You don’t know what you’re saying,” I shook my head. “You’re a grown woman now, what are you doing coming to my place this late, especially when my mom’s not home?” Vanessa stomped her foot. She was still just a student, and a bit shy. But she still said, “Alex Reed, do you really want me to spell it out? Do you need me to write it down? “Lend me one hundred and fifty thousand, and tonight… I’ll be yours.”

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Seven years into my marriage with Julian Thorne, I discovered he had a seven-year-old child. And I wasn’t the mother. “Ma’am, we can’t process this child’s official registration.” I froze. “What do you mean? My husband and I only have this one child, our baby!” The clerk double-checked, her expression turning rather knowing. “You certainly only have this one child. But Mr. Thorne isn’t… single.” “He has another seven-year-old son. His mother’s name is Seraphina Cross. Do you know her?” I was stunned, a faint twitch at the corner of my mouth. Seraphina Cross? Of course, I knew her. Julian and I were practically destined for each other, childhood sweethearts from families that had always approved of our match. And Seraphina Cross? She was the cheap bar hostess Julian had a one-night stand with, that one time we had a huge fight, and he went out to drown his sorrows. The moment I stepped out of the registration office, I called my childhood best friend. “Time for a new dad for my kid. Are you in?”

“Scarlett, what do you mean by this?!” Julian Thorne, my husband, called out from behind me, his voice incredulous. “I told you, I had an important company meeting today, that’s why I couldn’t come with you to register the baby!” “What are you throwing a fit about now?!” I looked at the man in front of me, dressed head-to-toe in athletic wear, and couldn’t help but want to laugh. Wearing a tracksuit to a company meeting? That lie was just pathetic! What’s more, that exact tracksuit Julian was wearing, was identical to the matching family outfit Seraphina Cross had shared on her Ins stories that very morning. “Julian Thorne, let’s get a divorce!” I tossed the freshly printed divorce papers onto the table in front of him. Julian actually laughed. “Divorce again? What number is this?!” He picked up the divorce papers, not hesitating for a second, and dramatically scrawled his name. “The 99th? The 999th? Or the 9,999th? Scarlett, can’t you come up with a new trick? I’m so bored of playing this game with you.” “We’ve been married for seven years, and now we have a baby. You can’t live without me!” Watching the triumphant smile on Julian’s face, a bitter pang twisted in my heart. Yeah, seven years. Everyone knew I loved Julian Thorne. Even he was that confident. But this time, I was truly ready to let go. “No one is indispensable.” “And as for my child’s father, he doesn’t *have* to be you!” My words made Julian’s face instantly darken. He was about to argue, when a little boy’s voice called out from nearby: “Daddy Julian!” Julian Thorne’s expression abruptly changed. It was Seraphina Cross and her son. “Julian, Leo insisted on bringing you the medal from the parent-child sports day himself, and… he said he wants to celebrate with you. If you’re busy, you don’t have to…” Seraphina put on an act of hesitation, as if she was troubled, but her eyes held an unmistakable glimmer of expectation. The little boy tugged on Julian’s sleeve, pouting adorably. “Daddy Julian, please, please come…” Julian didn’t respond, instead, he looked at me with a guilty expression. “Scarlett, you know… Leo doesn’t have a dad, that’s why I…” “I was just worried you’d get the wrong idea, that’s why…” A mocking smile curled my lips. If it had been before, if Julian had lied to me, I would have thrown a huge tantrum, demanded answers, and pursued it to the very end. But now, I was too tired to even bother. “Didn’t he ask you to celebrate? Go on.” I said blandly, turning to leave. But Julian grabbed my arm. “Don’t overthink this, Leo just wants to share his joy with me.” Seraphina also spoke up. “That’s right, Scarlett, please don’t misunderstand. Mr. Thorne just pities me.” On the surface, she looked innocent, but deep in her eyes was a mix of provocation and smugness. Exactly the same as the first time I met her seven years ago.

Seven years ago, during the first time Julian and I had a big fight, I flew all night, crossing the Pacific Ocean to find him. But in the furthest corner of a club booth, I saw him passionately kissing a half-naked, delinquent-looking bar hostess. That bar hostess was Seraphina Cross. After I walked in on them, Julian, in front of hundreds of people in the club, knelt down and slapped himself repeatedly. “I just came here to drink and relax…” “I swear, it was just the alcohol between me and that bar hostess, it meant nothing!” He kept slapping himself, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth, his cheeks red and horribly swollen. My heart softened, and I forgave him. Just when I thought it was an insignificant little incident, three years ago, I saw Seraphina Cross again at Pei Corp’s exclusive club. That bar hostess had become the general manager of the club. I confronted Julian. “Hiring is HR’s responsibility, it has nothing to do with me.” “And besides, I heard she’s a single mom, and it’s not easy for her to make it here in the city with a child…” I looked at his open, seemingly honest eyes, and once again, I chose to forgive him. Until now, looking at the “family of three” in front of me, I just felt like an incurable fool. Seeing my silence, Seraphina’s eyes welled up with tears, looking utterly wronged. “My son and I are all alone, Mr. Thorne was just being kind by helping us.” “You know, the kids at the kindergarten pick on Leo because he doesn’t have a dad, so this parent-child sports event was so important to him.” “Don’t blame Mr. Thorne either, he didn’t mean to not be with you. These past two days, he’s been with Leo practicing all night, he’s really tired.” Practicing all night? I glanced at Julian, who looked visibly flustered, and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Julian Thorne, yesterday you didn’t come home, and told me you were working overtime at the company?” “The day before yesterday, you didn’t come home, and told me a colleague was sick?” “The day before that, you didn’t come home, and told me you were on an urgent business trip?” “Does it hurt to be slapped in the face like this?” “So, you’ve been at Seraphina Cross’s house all these days.” “Julian Thorne, how much of what you’ve said is true, and how much is lies?” “Is this your biological son?” Julian Thorne’s face changed instantly. A flicker of guilt crossed his face, but he quickly forced himself to calm down. “Scarlett, I know you’re jealous about today, but you can’t just make things up!” “If you keep this up, I’ll get angry.” Seraphina also looked regretful and helpless. “I’m so sorry, Sister Scarlett. I talked too much. If you want to blame someone, blame me, not Mr. Thorne.” As she spoke, she shed tears of injustice. “Seraphina.” Julian Thorne fumbled for a tissue to wipe her tears. “It’s not your fault, Scarlett just overthinks everything.” His voice was so gentle, I’d never heard him speak to me that way. I felt a chill spread from my feet throughout my entire body, a piercing cold to the bone. Without another word, I turned and left. And as soon as I got home, about to pack my bags, I scrolled past Seraphina’s Ins post: “They say a dad is his child’s superhero. Today was another day where happiness became tangible!” “Thank you, Daddy, for Leo’s championship gift!” The accompanying photo showed Julian Thorne, Seraphina, and their son together. The three of them were huddled close, looking perfectly harmonious. I let out a bitter laugh, about to put my phone away, “Ding—” It was a SnapChat message from Julian Thorne. “Scarlett, don’t be mad. I bought a gift for the baby, I’ll bring it back for you later.” I looked at the baby clothes in the photo. It was the free gift that was in the corner of Seraphina’s picture. I tightly hugged my sleeping child, my vision blurred by tears. I took a photo of the divorce papers Julian had signed, and sent it to my best friend, Blake Miller. The next second, my phone rang. “Julian Thorne, that scumbag, did he bully you?!” “Come back to Seaside City, don’t be scared! I’ve got you and the baby covered, little lady!” Over the years, because Julian was possessive, I had practically cut off contact with all my friends, especially my best friend, Blake Miller. Hearing that familiar voice on the other end of the line, the tears I had held back for so long finally burst forth. “Don’t cry!” “Give me seven days. I’ll get everything ready in Seaside City, then I’ll come pick you up!” I agreed. I also needed some time to sort everything out.

The next two days, I was constantly on the move. One evening, when I came home to grab some documents, as soon as I opened the door, I saw a frantic Julian Thorne. Seeing us return, he immediately rushed over. “Scarlett, where have you been these past two days! Why couldn’t I reach you? Do you know how worried I was?!” He then leaned down to the baby. “Baby, you have to help Daddy scold your mom. Daddy was so worried he almost called the police!” Looking at him, I felt a wave of dizziness. It used to be like this. If I disappeared for more than half an hour, Julian would go crazy with worry. Others used to tease him, called him ‘Mr. Devoted’ because he was so obsessed with me. But back then, I only felt fortunate, grateful that I had found someone who truly cared about me. But now… Thinking of Seraphina and her son, my eyes dimmed. Turns out, the ‘wife-obsessed’ guy who doted on his wife, could also just be putting on an act. Julian Thorne loved me, I believed that, but his love wasn’t exclusive to me. At that thought, my heart felt like it was being squeezed by an invisible hand, a sharp pain. It took a long time to calm down before I spoke. “I just went out for a walk. It was nothing big, so I didn’t tell you.” Julian Thorne finally sighed in relief. “Good that it’s nothing serious. Just don’t make me worry like that again next time.” He skillfully took the baby from my arms. “Baby, did you not eat enough with Mommy outside these past few days? You look so thin.” “Wait here, Daddy’s going to make you some formula.” As he spoke, he expertly started boiling water and preparing the formula. I stood to the side, quietly watching everything unfold. Seven years of trying to conceive, I had imagined this scene countless times, it had sustained me through one breakdown after another. Now, it was truly happening right in front of me, but, how much sincerity was actually in it, even I couldn’t tell anymore. “Ringtone—” A frantic phone ring broke my thoughts. I glanced at the caller ID, Julian Thorne’s expression instantly turned anxious, his hand shook, and the freshly made boiling hot formula splashed onto the baby. The baby immediately burst into tears. But Julian Thorne didn’t immediately check the baby’s injury. He just casually handed the baby back to me, then quickly walked to the balcony with his phone. After a long while, he came out. “I’m sorry, Scarlett, something came up with the company project. I have to go deal with it right away.” Then he perfunctorily kissed the baby’s face. “Baby, let Mommy help you with that. Daddy has to go now.” With that, he hurriedly left. He didn’t notice my livid face, nor did he notice the obvious burn on the baby’s skin. And I had seen the caller ID clearly just now. It was saved as “Seraphina.”

But now, I had no energy to dwell on any of it. Seeing the burn on the baby’s skin, I quickly hailed a cab to the hospital. After getting the wound treated, as I was preparing to go home, a familiar figure caught my attention. It was Julian Thorne. His expression was serious and focused, and the hospital’s medical team was explaining something to him. Passing medical staff whispered to each other: “I heard Mr. Thorne’s son just had a slight cough, and he worriedly brought in all the specialists from the city, and even booked an entire VIP floor.” “Looking at how worried Mr. Thorne is, you can tell he’s a good dad and a good husband at home.” “I’m so envious. If only I could marry such a family-oriented husband in this lifetime.” … I gripped my hands tightly, my nails digging into my palms, drawing faint traces of blood, but I felt no pain whatsoever. Only a bone-deep chill. Family-oriented? Good dad? Good husband? How utterly laughable. They probably didn’t know, Julian Thorne’s ‘family-oriented’ meant the home he built with a bar hostess, and my child’s burn was completely ignored by him, this so-called ‘good dad’ was a good dad to the son he had with someone else! Just then, Seraphina Cross walked out of the ward, her eyes tearful, and she linked her arm through Julian’s. “Mr. Thorne, thank goodness you were here today, otherwise I wouldn’t have known what to do.” “It’s just that, with this delay, you won’t have time to go back and accompany Sister Scarlett again…” “And she has that kind of personality, she’ll definitely throw a tantrum again…” “I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. When I was pregnant, I was so weak, which caused Leo to get sick every other day…” She hadn’t finished speaking when Julian Thorne cut her off. “Don’t blame yourself. I’ll stay with Leo tonight. You should go rest.” He put an arm around Seraphina’s shoulders, patiently comforting her. “What about Sister Scarlett and her baby then…?” A flicker of hesitation crossed Julian Thorne’s eyes, but it quickly vanished. “I’ll explain to her.” “Leo is my biological son, isn’t it only natural for me to take care of him?” The voice wasn’t loud, but every word still reached my ears clearly. It was like a bolt of lightning from a clear sky, shattering what little sanity I had left. Biological son! Julian Thorne, so when I’m not around, you don’t even bother to pretend anymore!

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The day the zombie horde hit, I ripped up my assignment slip, refusing to evacuate Sector C. I clung to life until dawn the next day, listening as Landon blared across the comms, announcing that Seraphina had found a new oasis. Her discovery, he claimed, was humanity’s last hope. Only then did I let out a sigh of relief. As the undead tore through the door, I detonated all the explosives. In my previous life, Landon rigged the draw, using my ‘good luck’ ability to smoothly find the oasis and become the leader. He swore that if I succeeded, he’d dismiss his 999 lovers. I believed him. When I lit the signal fire, what arrived wasn’t his reinforcement, but betrayal. “Seraphina has no powers; she needs my protection more. I just want her and her child to be respected by everyone in this apocalypse. But you, you even want to steal this small credit.” “She got a fever from being scared by zombies while looking for you. I’ll make you feel her pain a thousandfold.” He chained me to a car and dragged me until I was ripped apart by zombies. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the zombie horde erupted. This time, I’d let them have their savior fantasy.

“Aurora! Get in the car!” “Any later, and the horde will completely surround us!” I looked into the distance; the energy shield on the outskirts of Zone C was weakening. Zach was practically in tears. “Sis! You’re the only one in the entire base with powers! Don’t you get it? You’re our only ace, our last hope! If you’re gone, there’s nothing left!” I was about to speak. The safe house’s steel door was violently kicked open. Landon’s elite guard roughly grabbed my arms, dragging me out without a word. Zach screamed hysterically behind me. “Let her go! Aurora is pregnant, you animals! You’ll make her miscarry! You base lapdogs!” They finally shoved me into the base’s main plaza. A pre-battle rally was taking place here. In the center of the plaza, a dozen people were already kneeling. These were the unlucky souls accused of various crimes. Some were charged with hoarding canned food, others framed for trying to steal a vehicle to escape. Then, the enforcement squad stepped out. They carried a large wooden bucket, going to each person, prying open their jaws. Spoonful after spoonful of black-green liquid was forcibly poured down their throats. That bucket contained the base’s failed purified, contaminated water, full of radiation. The entire plaza was instantly drowned in screams and retching. A man beside me convulsed violently, foaming at the mouth. “We just wanted to save more food for our kids… Why are you doing this to us?!” I wasn’t spared either. A full spoon of the toxic waste water was poured into me, and my stomach cramped in agony. Blood gushed from my lower body. I let out a muffled groan of pain, which startled those around me. “That’s Aurora! The leader’s wife! She got dosed too?” “Isn’t she our hero of Zone C? She led a team yesterday to retrieve medical supplies! What the hell is going on?” The intense pain blurred my vision, and I crumpled to the ground. “Medic! Call a medic, fast! Someone’s going to die!” Just then, the noisy crowd parted automatically. Seraphina, dressed in a brand-new white combat uniform, looked too clean for this apocalypse. She intimately linked arms with Landon, a saintly yet pitying smile on her face. Landon’s gaze swept over us, groaning in pain on the ground, his face grim. Seraphina dramatically covered her mouth. “Oh my goodness, why is everyone collapsing? Who could be so cruel as to destabilize our morale at such a critical moment, with the zombie horde surrounding us?” Before she finished speaking, Landon’s face was filled with fury, and he delivered a vicious kick to my stomach. “You wicked woman!” He roared at me, “The moment I was out of the base, you dared to incite unrest and stir up dissent!” “You’re so consumed by jealousy that you’d try to steal Seraphina’s credit for finding the oasis!” That kick left me unable to even cry out. I looked at Seraphina’s smug, triumphant face behind him. Gritting my teeth, I squeezed out a few words from my throat. “I didn’t… It was her…” “Still trying to lie your way out of it?” Landon roared. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been so unscrupulous for credit! This time, I will absolutely not spare you!” 2 He pointed at the struggling survivors on the ground and ordered them. “Each of you give her one taser shock. After you’re done, I’ll personally send you to the oasis, and your food and medicine will be doubled.” The elite guard dragged me up from the ground, completely disregarding that I had miscarried. The survivors who had been forced to drink the irradiated water looked at me, their eyes filled with reluctance. A middle-aged man, Mr. Miller, walked forward, crying, and pulled the trigger through tears. “I’m sorry, Captain Aurora… I still have two kids at home…” One person, two people… Blue electric arcs flashed again and again, scorching the remnants of my child. Only after everyone had tasered me and left did Landon finally take the water Seraphina offered, pulling her towards me. He looked at me, covered in dirt, my cheeks bruised, a flicker of something complex in his eyes. But the next moment, he coldly lifted my chin. “Don’t blame me for making them do it. I had to teach you a lesson, to make you understand what happens if you dare to be jealous, if you dare to harm anyone again.” “Otherwise, you’ll try to steal Seraphina’s credit again.” I trembled all over, looking up at him. So, I wasn’t the only one reborn. No wonder they found the oasis without my ‘good luck’. No wonder he said it wasn’t the “first time” I’d done this. Because in the previous life, he had also unjustly condemned me for Seraphina’s sake. My eyes reddened, and I wiped away my tears. “Aurora, playing victim won’t work anymore. No matter how capable you are, it’s useless.” “I’ve already had the medical team give Seraphina the highest-grade genetic enhancer. Her powers are sure to upgrade and help me become the leader.” I gave a bitter laugh, clutching my constantly throbbing abdomen. “I already paved the way for you. But why did you make them poison me? Why did you have to destroy Zone C and kill my teammates…?” He paused, his brows furrowed. “Don’t talk nonsense. You clearly led your team’s breakthrough attempt yesterday and failed, leading to everyone being wiped out.” Cold sweat streamed down my face from the pain. I grabbed his pant leg, trying to make him look at Zach, our scout, who was still alive in the surveillance feed. His face was filled with disgust, and he impatiently kicked my hand away. “Stop the act. If you want to prove you weren’t trying to harm Seraphina, then tomorrow during the base-wide broadcast, you can personally admit that you were incompetent and failed in your reconnaissance, and that you begged Seraphina to share some of her credit with you.” “Then, hand over all your commendations and supplies to her and her unborn child, and serve as her loyal second-in-command from now on.” “If you dare to play any more tricks, or even touch a single hair on her head, this time I won’t just deal with you and your useless team—Zach, the one you care about most, won’t get a single dose of anti-infection medicine either.” My eyes widened, staring at Landon in disbelief: “Landon, you bastard! Zach was scratched by a zombie while covering me, he’s a hero of the base! How can you use his life to threaten me?!” Landon’s face was full of impatience. “As long as you obediently serve Seraphina’s team and take good care of them in the future, I won’t touch him.” With that, he put his arm around Seraphina, preparing to leave. “Seraphina, thank you for finding hope for the base. I’m going to reward you handsomely.” I watched their retreating backs, my lower body constantly oozing warm blood from the miscarriage. Dr. Anya Sharma, a researcher who treated me like her own daughter, rushed over, her face turning ashen at my injuries. “Get her to medical treatment immediately! If anything happens to Aurora, I won’t let any of you off the hook!” I was sent to the medical bay, but the healing medic never arrived. Dr. Anya was furious, demanding to know where the medical team assigned to me had gone. 3. The assistant, Cassidy, replied apologetically. “Dr. Sharma, all the healing medics in the entire base have been called to Captain Seraphina’s room by the General Commander. Miss Seraphina scratched her finger while testing a weapon, and Commander Landon is afraid something might happen to her, so he ordered all healing medics to stand by.” “Right now, there are no healing medics in the entire base.” Dr. Anya was so enraged she kept calling. “This is insane! His own wife is critically injured, yet he’s called all the medics away for some mistress, completely disregarding her life!” After the comms operator made the twentieth call, Landon finally answered. “Is Aurora throwing another tantrum, trying to get you to back her up?” Dr. Anya shouted, agitated, “Aurora is bleeding internally and on the verge of unconsciousness! Several of our brothers are barely holding on! And you took her healing medics away?! Are you trying to kill the base’s elite unit?!” Landon sneered, “Did Aurora tell you to call me? Her check-up was fine; why is she faking critical injury now?” “Alright, alright, I still have a victory banquet to host for Seraphina and her team. Doesn’t she want healing medics? I’ll send someone over.” Dr. Anya hung up the phone, gripping my hand tightly. “Don’t be afraid, Aurora, the healing medics will be here soon.” I felt my life force gradually fading. I remembered how, in my previous life, my teammates were also stabbed in the back by Landon’s forces, devoured alive by zombies. Trembling all over, I clutched Dr. Anya’s hand, speaking with difficulty. “Dr. Sharma, you promised me you’d treat me like your own granddaughter. If Landon didn’t treat me well, you’d help me leave him.” “I just want to save Zach’s life, and then live.” Dr. Anya was in tears, repeating, “Landon, after you saved him, he loved you so much. It’s all Seraphina’s fault, that bitch. If she hadn’t suddenly appeared, you two wouldn’t be like this now.” I gave a wretched smile. How could a life-and-death partner, who once fought alongside me, become like this? The man who, after repelling the zombies, blushed and vowed to face life and death with me, promising to be torn to shreds and never find peace if he ever betrayed me. Now, for another woman, he abandoned me without a thought. “Please, Dr. Sharma.” I gnashed out each word. Listening to my plea, Dr. Anya finally nodded. “Tomorrow, I’ll announce that you are the only ability user in Zone C. As for that ungrateful beast, I won’t assist him anymore!” Dr. Anya immediately left to handle the matter. I lay on the medical bed, the sharp pain in my abdomen surging like a tide. Cassidy, the assistant Dr. Anya left behind, anxiously kept hoping for the healing medics sent by Landon to arrive. Finally, someone came. But it wasn’t a healing medic; it was a logistics grunt. Seeing the bloody mess in the medical bay, he handed over a few rolls of bandages and a bottle of expired antiseptic. “General Commander Landon said it’s just a minor injury, nothing life-threatening. He told you to deal with it yourselves and stop bothering him with such disgusting matters.” Cassidy cried and smashed the box. “Captain Aurora, I’m taking you and the brothers to another base right now. You have to hold on.” My vision went black, and I finally lost consciousness. I woke up again, startled by a bucket of icy snow water suddenly being poured over me. Before me was Landon’s face, filled with disgust. “You’re awake, stop faking it.” He looked down at me. “You know I’m about to announce the oasis and Seraphina’s achievements, yet you’re making a fuss about going to my enemy’s base? Are you hoping everyone will think Seraphina is bullying you?” Seraphina clutched a report, tears streaming down her face, standing behind him, looking utterly pathetic. “Sister Aurora, I know you hate me. But it’s one thing to get revenge on me, why do you have to make Dr. Sharma steal my credit?” 4. “That assistant, before she was dragged away, was still shouting that I was a bitch, saying I wasn’t worthy of being the savior’s partner…” I opened my mouth, but not a single word came out of my throat. I could only shake my head with all my might, trembling as I pleaded, “I… I didn’t… Send me to the medical bay… My team… they’re barely holding on…” “You’re lying again!” Landon frowned impatiently. “Dr. Sharma gathered her old subordinates overnight and even found the base’s records officer. Wasn’t it you instigating her from behind? Do you think by stealing Seraphina’s credit, you can secure your position as the base’s second-in-command?” Seraphina curled into his arms, crying and pleading, “Sister Aurora, I beg you, don’t separate Landon and me… If you insist on taking my credit, I’ll just run out of the base alone and die in the zombie horde!” She made a motion to run, and Landon quickly held her tightly. He was furious, and he kicked my stomach again. “How many times have I warned you not to bully Seraphina, but you just won’t listen! Since that’s the case, I’ll have to use some special methods.” He abruptly turned, coldly ordering his elite guard. “She’s forcing Seraphina to rush into the zombie horde, so she should pay the price. Go, shut down Dr. Sharma’s lab’s purification system and throw her out of the research facility!” “Landon!” I shrieked, tearing my throat. “You’re insane! That’s Dr. Sharma! Her research is for all of humanity!!” “So what!” Landon sneered, “To get you into the command structure, she forced me to marry you. Now you’re a captain, and I even gave you your own unit. If you couldn’t find the oasis, that’s your own uselessness. I’ve repaid my debt, I owe you nothing more!” “Do it!” I frantically lunged at the elite guard, trying to stop them, but was brutally kicked to the ground. The wound on my abdomen, which had barely stopped bleeding, burst open from the violent impact, gushing like a broken dam, instantly staining the floor beneath me crimson. I screamed in agony, my throat raw, curling into a ball. Landon was about to drag me further, but suddenly he saw the pools of scarlet, and his face paled. He instinctively stopped, turning to Seraphina and demanding, “What’s going on?! I told you to take care of her and her pregnancy, why is she still bleeding?!” Seraphina’s face subtly changed. But her eyes darted around, and she quickly squeezed out tears. “I’ve always taken good care of Sister Aurora… This is the medical report they gave her yesterday.” She handed over the report, her voice choked. “The report says she only has superficial wounds, and her physical functions and the baby are completely normal.” Landon snatched the report, merely glancing at it, and believed her. The next second, he furiously lifted me from the ground and violently slammed me onto the cold, hard metal floor. My head hit the ground hard, and blood instantly spurted out. “You dared to lie to me!” He roared, “To make me soften, you’d even fake a miscarriage?! How disgusting, how vile are you?!” “You think I’ll fall for it this time? Dream on!” He raised his leg, kicking my abdomen mercilessly, blow after blow. Blood and screams splattered with each impact. “Ah… No… Please no…” I begged, almost tearing my throat, my body growing colder and colder. Until I had no strength left to even beg, only able to curl up in my own pool of blood. He shook off his blood-stained boots and turned to Seraphina, his face full of apology. “I’m sorry, Seraphina, for making you smell this disgusting odor. I’ll deal with her now. Once she’s handled, I’ll take you to the oasis to see the scenery, as compensation for me misunderstanding you, alright?” Seraphina, however, shook her head, tears welling in her eyes, her voice sounding utterly pathetic. “Forget it. Sister Aurora hates me so much; what if she comes up with a new way to deal with me the moment you take me away?” “Perhaps I should just leave with my team instead, and let her have the credit.” She spoke cautiously, sounding incredibly wronged, but perfectly hitting Landon’s anger button. His face instantly turned as dark as night, his voice gentle but chillingly menacing: “Don’t worry, I won’t give her any more chances to harm you.” 5. He waved his hand: “Lock her in the underground bunker outside the base. Once I officially announce Seraphina as the discoverer of the oasis tomorrow, then release her.”

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The third year of my marriage to Jack. His widowed ex-sister-in-law Sophia, who was the same age as him, had returned from abroad. At midnight, she sent Jack a message: “I’m so scared being alone.” Concerned, I replied on Jack’s behalf: “Jack’s busy. I’ll come over instead.” Just because of this, Jack flew into a rage. “She’s just my ex-sister-in-law. How dare you try to go threaten her? You’re acting like a complete shrew!” Sophia stood to the side with tears in her eyes: “Jack, it’s fine. Don’t worry about me.” Jack grabbed Sophia’s hand and left. That night, I saw Sophia post a photo on social media showing Jack’s back as he cooked in the kitchen. In all our years of marriage, Jack had never cooked for me. But none of that matters anymore. A man can’t eat from two homes. 1 I was pregnant, only two months along. I had told Jack yesterday that I had something very important to tell him, and asked if he could come home early tonight. I waited until 9 PM, then checked Sophia’s social media. Caption: Good person, good cook. Two photos – one of a meal with three dishes and soup, one showing Jack’s profile as he cooked in the kitchen. Jack didn’t get home until 10 PM, reeking of Sophia’s perfume. The scent was overwhelming for me in my pregnant state. Jack loosened his tie wearily, clearly having forgotten what I told him this morning: “Go run me a bath.” I looked at him coldly. “You smell lovely. No need to bathe, no one will mind.” Jack hated strong perfumes. When we went out, I never wore anything too pungent. We didn’t keep fruits he disliked in the house. We didn’t even have curtains in colors he didn’t like. For years, I had been accommodating him. He had come to take it for granted. Jack saw that I was still sitting on the couch and hadn’t moved. He pulled a black velvet box from his pocket. Inside lay a pair of sparkling diamond earrings. “I’m sorry I broke our plans. Here’s my apology gift.” The black velvet box gave off the same perfume scent. It even had a black hair caught in it. “Beat me then give me a treat?” Jack’s face froze, then he snapped the box shut and threw it at my feet. “Lucy, enough already. I’m exhausted today. Besides, whatever news you have, couldn’t you have just told me over the phone?! And now you’re turning your nose up at diamond earrings. Don’t forget, back when you were working part-time jobs, you couldn’t even afford $200 shoes!” I stared at him in disbelief. I never imagined my imperfect past would become the knife he used to stab me today. I choked up: “Don’t I have the right to say no?” Jack stormed off to take a shower. At 11 PM, we lay in bed with enough space for two people between us. At 3 AM, Jack’s phone rang. His gentle, melodious voice said to the caller: “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. I’ll keep talking to you.” Ten minutes later, I heard Jack getting up quietly. He even checked himself in the mirror before leaving. At 8 AM, Jack returned with breakfast, once again smelling of Sophia’s perfume. “Wake up, I bought breakfast.” Seeing his attempt to cover things up, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. People really do laugh when they’re at a loss for words. “Since Sophia came back, you’ve become so diligent.” At this, Jack slammed down his chopsticks. “Lucy, you’re becoming more and more paranoid. Sophia is my ex-sister-in-law. My brother died young, so of course I should take care of her. As a woman, don’t you think you’re being too narrow-minded? Your jealousy is getting out of hand.” Exposed and embarrassed, he lashed out angrily. I never used to mind him and Sophia. But now they seemed to be acting like I was dead. “Am I wrong? Since Sophia came back, you’ve even started cooking.” As soon as I finished speaking, Sophia called again. The house was very quiet. I could clearly hear Sophia on the phone saying she was so clumsy, she had cut her hand. Jack anxiously said: “What fruit do you want to eat? Wait for me to come over and cut it for you. You shouldn’t do it yourself.” I started dry heaving from morning sickness. Sophia’s voice on the other end was on the verge of tears: “Does your wife dislike me? Does she think a widow is bad luck?” Jack reassured her, then after hanging up berated me as I vomited in the bathroom. “You know my sister-in-law is sensitive right now. Why are you pretending to throw up? Lucy, do you have any compassion at all?!” 2 My face was deathly pale in the mirror. Jack was still raging in the living room. I have no compassion? Then who will have compassion for me? I walked out leaning against the wall. My voice was weak: “I really don’t feel well. I really am throwing up. I don’t need to play those kinds of petty games to provoke Sophia.” Jack finally calmed down a bit, his gaze falling on my face to confirm I wasn’t lying. He pulled out another diamond necklace, this time without any woman’s hair on it. “You didn’t like the diamond earrings, but you must like this necklace. I just hope you’ll stop targeting Sophia. She’s pitiful enough as it is.” I recognized this necklace. It had appeared on Sophia’s social media before. Her caption then was: Looks so cheap. Don’t like it. Anyone want it? I laughed bitterly and stepped back. “I don’t want someone else’s leftovers.” Jack’s hand holding the necklace hung in midair. His brows furrowed deeply, then he threw the necklace on the ground. “How else am I supposed to appease you? You don’t want the earrings or the necklace. When did you become so picky? Ever since Sophia came back, you’ve been suspicious every day, always comparing yourself to her. What right do you have to compare yourself to Sophia? You threatened her in the middle of the night, but Sophia still told me not to be mad at you. You’ve clearly been deeply hurt by your dysfunctional family. You’re jealous of anyone better than you!” My body swayed. I had once cried in this man’s arms, telling him how my mother favored boys over girls, how cold-blooded she was. He held me tight and said he would protect me for life, healing my childhood wounds with love. My heart ached terribly, as if stabbed. “Is this how you see me? I’ve never threatened Sophia…” “Enough. You say one thing and do another. It all comes down to your insecurity acting up.” I was insecure, which is why I always strived to grow. Until I met Jack, a man who said he would heal me with love. So I gave up my high-paying job to become a housewife, longing to bear his child. The survival instinct of the baby in my womb was influencing me. My brain kept sending signals to keep the child. But the man before me made me increasingly clearheaded. “If that’s how you want to belittle me, I have nothing more to say.” Grief beyond words. As I turned away, Sophia called as if right on cue. “Don’t worry, Fluffy probably just ate something bad. I’ll take him to the vet right away.” Meanwhile, my vomiting was getting worse. I could barely breathe. “Jack, I don’t feel well. Can you…” “No! Lucy, Sophia’s dog is in danger right now. Stop pretending to be sick. I don’t have time for you!” Jack slammed the door as he left, just as I collapsed from low blood sugar. Using my last bit of strength, I called 91

When I woke up in the hospital the next day, the doctor confirmed I was fine and discharged me. On the way home, I saw Sophia and Jack. Jack was walking a dog while Sophia clung to his arm, looking like a newlywed couple. “Jack, from now on you’re Fluffy’s daddy.” “Sure thing, Fluffy’s mommy.” I touched my belly that wasn’t showing yet and laughed bitterly: “How ironic. Let’s just get divorced then.” 3 Two days later was Jack’s mother Laura’s birthday. In the car. “We still need to pick up Sophia. Don’t make a sour face. She’s our sister-in-law, you need to learn to respect her.” I didn’t look at him, silently accepting everything. When we saw Sophia, I realized her dress matched Jack’s tie perfectly. They were wearing couple’s outfits. “Lucy, I get carsick. Can I sit in the front?” Sophia asked with a smile, but her eyes looked expectantly at Jack. Jack opened the front passenger door. “Lucy, hurry up and move. You should take care of your sister-in-law.” I didn’t move. Sophia tugged Jack’s pinky and said softly: “It’s okay, Lucy’s just like that. Let’s just let her be.” We? So I was the third wheel now. “No way, the front seat should be for my sister-in-law.” Jack looked relieved. Sophia sat in the front. “Oh no, I can’t figure out this seatbelt.” Jack immediately helped her pull out the seatbelt. As he leaned in, their faces were extremely close. Sophia deliberately brushed her lips against Jack’s neck. Jack’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. His ears were red when he pulled away. There were only four people at Laura’s birthday dinner. Laura didn’t like big crowds since her eldest son’s accidental death. Laura didn’t like me much, preferring the more ingratiating Sophia. Now that Sophia was widowed, she felt even more sympathetic. “Let mom take a good look at you. You’ve suffered since James passed. I specifically told Jack to take care of you. Has he been doing a good job?” Sophia smiled bitterly, hesitating to speak. “Jack’s been great, it’s just…” Anyone could tell what she was implying – that I was jealous and mean to her. Laura was displeased and scolded me to my face. “I didn’t agree to you marrying into the family from the start. But Jack liked you, so I had no choice. I said back then that you came from a humble background and wouldn’t be presentable. Now it’s all come true.” “I’ll say this even if it makes you angry – if you and Jack really can’t make it work, you might as well step aside. I think Sophia and Jack are much more compatible.” I replied calmly: “What a coincidence, I was thinking the same thing as you, mom.”

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Julian Hayes dragged me into a compromising situation, busting me with his rival. A barrage of cameras and microphones were shoved into my face, completely ignoring my half-naked body. Julian spoke with a smug, confident tone, “So, Mr. Vance, are you so desperate for women that you’d dare to sleep with my wife?” “Wife, come here.” But I just laid out my divorce certificate and marriage certificate, linking my arm with Caleb Vance’s. “Excuse me, but we’re legally married.” “Julian, did you forget? We got divorced. You were the one who asked for it.” “You wanted me to orchestrate a fake divorce, using my reputation to set up Caleb?” Seriously? I *just* got remarried, thank you very much! Go back to him? Dream on! I stared at the antique clock on the wall. The hour hand pointed to nine. The elaborate dinner on the table had long gone cold, and the candles on the candelabra were burning down to their stumps. “Madam, should I clear the table?” Martha stood at the dining room entrance, hesitant to speak. I shook my head, my fingers unconsciously tracing the embroidery on the napkin. “Just a little longer. He said he’d be home early tonight.” It was my third wedding anniversary with Julian. I’d started preparing a month ago: booked his favorite restaurant, bought a new dress, and even secretly practiced the piano piece he’d been listening to recently, hoping to surprise him after dinner. My phone vibrated. I practically lunged to answer it. “Madam, Mr. Hayes asked me to inform you that he has an important client meeting tonight. He won’t be back for dinner.” It was Daniel, Julian’s assistant, speaking in a strictly businesslike tone. I bit my lower lip until I tasted a hint of blood, then released it. “Did he say… when he’ll be back?” “Mr. Hayes didn’t say. Is there anything you’d like me to relay?” “No, thank you.” I hung up, feeling my eyes sting, but no tears came. In the past three years, I had learned not to show weakness in front of others. Martha sighed and began clearing the table. I stood up to help, but she gently pressed my hand. “Madam, please go rest. I’ll handle this.” I knew she pitied me. Everyone in the Hayes household knew how Julian treated me. In three years of marriage, he’d been home a handful of times. Even when he did return, it was usually late at night, when I was already asleep. Sometimes, I even wondered if he deliberately avoided me. Back in the bedroom, I peeled off the expensive custom-made dress and tossed it onto a chair. The woman in the mirror had a beautiful face and figure, but her eyes were dim. I was only twenty-six, but I felt like I was already old. That rainy night three years ago suddenly flashed before my eyes. My father’s company had plunged into crisis overnight. Creditors blocked the doors, banks demanded payments. The Lin family had fallen from the heights of prosperity into the depths of despair. My father, out of options, humbled himself before the elder Mr. Hayes, desperately pleading for help. “I can help you, but I have a condition.” The elder Mr. Hayes was puffing on a cigar, his eyes sharp. That condition was me. Aurora Lin, the only daughter of the Lin family, would marry Julian Hayes, the heir to the Hayes empire. I still remembered the first time I saw Julian. He stood by the huge floor-to-ceiling window at the Hayes mansion, his back to me, his figure as tall and straight as a pine. When he turned, I was stunned by his handsome face, but his eyes were as cold as ice when he looked at me. “It’s just a business arrangement. Don’t expect me to fall in love with you.” That was the first thing he ever said to me.

I agreed to the marriage. For my father, for the Lin family, I had no choice. The wedding was grand. The Hayes family valued their reputation, wanting even an unwilling marriage to be spectacular. Julian drank a lot that day. He didn’t even step into the bedroom on our wedding night. For three years, I tried to be a perfect wife. I memorized all his preferences, learned about his interests, and even endured his tabloid scandals. I naively believed that if I was good enough, one day he would finally look at me. The sound of water running in the bathroom broke my reverie. I froze. Julian was back? Pushing open the bathroom door, a rush of steam hit me. Julian stood under the shower, water droplets sliding down his muscular back. He turned off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped it around his waist. He frowned when he saw me. “You’re still awake?” “It’s our third wedding anniversary today.” I said softly, handing him another towel. He took it and dried his hair, his expression completely flat. “Is it? I forgot.” My heart felt like it was pricked by a needle, but I was used to the pain by now. “It’s okay. Work is important.” Julian walked out of the bathroom, pulled out pajamas from the wardrobe, and changed. I stood there, feeling like a useless decoration. “Right,” he suddenly said. “There’s something I need your cooperation with.” I looked up at him, surprised that he actually needed something from me. “Caleb Vance has been trying to snatch a crucial project from Hayes Corporation recently.” His eyes flashed with a hint of malice when he spoke Caleb’s name. “I need you to get close to him, and collect some… compromising information about him.” My eyes widened. “What do you mean?” “It’s simple.” Julian lit a cigarette, his tone as casual as if discussing the weather. “We’ll get a fake divorce first. That way, your approach to him won’t raise any suspicion.” “With your looks, seducing him shouldn’t be difficult.” I felt a chill run through me, unable to believe what I was hearing. “You… you want me to use my body?” “Don’t put it so crudely.” He exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes filled with indifference. “It’s just business strategy.” “After it’s done, we’ll remarry, and your father’s company will get more resources from Hayes Corporation.” I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Three years. In his eyes, I was nothing but a tool to be used, not even deserving of basic dignity. “What if I refuse?” I heard myself ask. Julian smiled, and the smile sent shivers down my spine. “Your father’s new government project… seems to have some funding issues, doesn’t it?” The threat was unmistakable. I closed my eyes, feeling a wave of dizziness. So, I didn’t even have the right to say no. “Fine, I’ll do it.” I opened my eyes, my voice eerily calm. Julian nodded, satisfied, and stubbed out his cigarette. “The lawyer will be here tomorrow to handle the paperwork. Remember, it’s just a plan. Don’t take it seriously.” He pulled back the covers and lay down, turning his back to me. I stood there, looking at the man who was legally my husband, and suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of unfamiliarity. That night, I stood on the balcony, gazing at the distant city lights, and made a decision. Since Julian wanted to play this game, I would play it to the very end. Only, he would be the one to regret it in the end.

The lights of the charity gala hurt my eyes. I stood in a corner, my fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of my wine glass, my gaze scanning the room for Caleb Vance. Julian’s briefing material said he’d definitely be here tonight. “Alone?” A man reeking of alcohol leaned in, his eyes lingering unpleasantly on my exposed shoulder. I took a half-step back, forcing a smile. “I’m waiting for someone.” “Waiting for who? Why don’t you have a drink with me first?” He reached out to put his arm around my waist. “This lady clearly isn’t interested.” A deep voice came from my side. I turned, my breath catching in my throat. Caleb Vance was even more striking than in his photos. A chiseled face, eyes as deep as ink, and a perfectly tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. What surprised me most was the way he looked at me—with a restrained politeness, a stark contrast to the ruthless business shark Julian had described. After the drunken man sheepishly left, Caleb gave a slight nod. “Miss Lin, I hope you weren’t too startled?” He knew my name. My heart skipped a beat. “You know me?” “Who in the business world hasn’t heard of Mrs. Hayes?” A slight smile played on his lips as he offered me a handkerchief. “You spilled some wine.” Only then did I notice the red wine splashed on my wrist from earlier. As I took the handkerchief, I noticed a thin, long scar on his fingertip, strikingly different from Julian’s pampered hands. Wiping away the wine stain, I suddenly realized this was the perfect opportunity to approach him. “Might I have the honor of a dance, Mr. Vance? As a thank you.” Caleb raised an eyebrow, seemingly surprised, but quickly extended his hand. “My pleasure.” The music started, and his hand rested lightly on my waist, maintaining a respectful distance. I’d expected to smell heavy cologne, but instead, I caught a hint of crisp cedar. “Miss Lin’s dance steps are quite professional,” he suddenly said. “I studied in college,” I replied casually, but then froze. How did he know I was dancing professional ballroom, not just a social dance? Caleb seemed to sense my confusion, letting out a soft chuckle. “A guess. Your way of following the rhythm is quite unique.” When the dance ended, he politely escorted me back to my seat, not lingering. I should have felt relieved, but a strange sense of disappointment washed over me. “How’s the progress?” Back at the Hayes mansion, Julian was waiting for me in the living room. “I’ve made contact. It will take more time.” I slipped off my high heels. My ankles were already chafed and bleeding. Julian frowned. “Too slow. Hayes Corp. has a private reception next week. Find a way to get an invitation.” He stood up and walked closer, his fingers pinching my chin. “Don’t tell me you’re getting soft? Remember, he might act like a gentleman, but he uses every dirty trick in the book behind the scenes.” I lowered my gaze. “I know.” Three days later, I used the excuse of following up on the charity project to arrange a meeting with Caleb at his company. His secretary led me to his office, but then informed me he had an urgent conference call. “Mr. Vance said you could wait here, or relax in the adjacent study.” The secretary said respectfully. I chose the study. The room was spacious and bright, with a wall-to-wall bookshelf filled with books and files. As I looked closer, I suddenly found a plain black photo album tucked away in a corner. Driven by an inexplicable impulse, I picked it up. Turning the first page, my breath hitched. It was me at eighteen, standing on a piano competition stage, smiling brilliantly. Flipping through, there were nothing but clippings about me: college debate champion, charity performances, even candid shots of me feeding stray cats on campus. “That was seven years ago.” Caleb’s voice came from behind me, startling me so much the album slipped from my grasp. He bent down to pick it up, gently brushing off non-existent dust. “You… why do you have these?” My voice trembled. He gazed at the photos, his eyes incredibly tender. “Because that day, your music made me want to live.”

That evening, Julian returned unusually early. The moment I stepped through the door, he dragged me into the study. He flung a gilded card at me, his eyes full of disdain. “The reception invitation. Friday night. Don’t mess it up.” I rubbed my aching wrist. “I’ll be ready.” “Ready?” Julian sneered. “You’ve only had coffee with him a few times in two weeks. Your progress is like a snail’s pace.” “I need evidence to ruin Caleb Vance, not to see you discussing some damn classical music with him.” He slammed a stack of photos onto the table. They were all candid shots of Caleb and me at a coffee shop. My stomach twisted in a painful knot. He had been having me followed all along. “I need time to build trust.” I tried to keep my voice steady. Julian grabbed my chin. “Listen, your father’s new project is signing the contract next week.” “Before that, I want to see results.” His thumb brushed my lips, but his eyes were cold as ice. “If necessary, use some… special methods. Understand?” I understood. Too well. For three years, I had learned to interpret the meaning behind his every threat. Friday morning, the sky was heavily overcast. I stood across from the Vance Tower, hesitating whether I should “accidentally” run into Caleb for lunch as planned. A drop of rain landed on my nose, and instantly, a downpour began. I hurried to take shelter under the eaves of a convenience store, watching the rain create countless splashes on the ground. It was twenty minutes before our scheduled time, but my clothes were already soaked through. “Looks like we both underestimated the weather.” A black umbrella opened above my head. Caleb had appeared beside me without me noticing. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. The fabric still held his body heat. “My car is just ahead,” he said. The rain blurred my vision as I followed him into a discreet black sedan. “Address?” he asked. I instinctively gave him the address of the Hayes mansion, immediately regretting it. It was like telling him I was going back to my “husband’s” house. But Caleb just nodded and set the navigation. Soft piano music suddenly filled the car. My body tensed. It was a rare, obscure piece, an anodyne I often listened to when I couldn’t sleep. “This song…” My voice trembled. Rain streamed down the car windows. I gripped the towel tightly, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. He knew my coffee preference, remembered my phone’s ringtone, and now he was playing this almost unknown piece of music. Too many coincidences stopped being coincidences. “What exactly do you…” “We’re here.” Caleb cut me off, stopping the car a block away from the Hayes mansion, thoughtfully giving me room to explain. Caleb turned to look at me. The rain cast flowing shadows on the car window, making his expression hard to read. After a long moment, he reached out and gently brushed a drop of water from my hair, his voice soft. “Aurora, why haven’t you understood yet?” The civil affairs office door clicked shut behind me. I looked down at the brand-new divorce certificate in my hand, its red cover stinging my eyes in the sunlight. “Don’t make that face.” Julian adjusted his cufflink, his eyes full of mockery. “We’ll remarry in three months. This is just a formality.” I quickly composed my expression and shoved the divorce certificate into my bag.

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My ex-fiancé Ethan Parker embezzled $3 million from my personal investment fund. Even worse, I discovered he had been having an affair with his assistant Olivia Wilson for months, plotting to steal all my assets! Four years of love turned out to be nothing but an elaborate scam! “Where’s my money?” I kicked open the door to his office. “Oh, that,” Ethan said casually. “Olivia’s new project needed some startup capital, so I borrowed it temporarily.” “Borrowed? Is $3 million just pocket change to you?” “Aren’t we family? Why be so particular about money?” He had the audacity to act righteous. “Family? Does family sleep with someone else behind your back?” I threw the hotel photos of him and Olivia on the desk. Ethan’s face turned pale, but he quickly regained composure. “There’s nothing to explain. Olivia and I just have a work relationship.” “Does a work relationship require sharing a bed?” Looking at this man I once loved deeply, anger boiled inside me like lava. Four years of tenderness and care, all just an act! He treated me like an ATM, using my love as a bargaining chip!

It was an ordinary Tuesday until I noticed something unusual in the studio’s account. Three million dollars, gone. “Lucy!” I called out. Lucy Liu hurried in, looking flustered. “Yes, Ms. Green…” “Where’s the $3 million from the Starlight Design Fund?” I slammed the bank statement on the desk. “It… it was approved for transfer by Mr. Parker.” Lucy was trembling as she spoke. “He approved what? That was my dedicated design project fund!” My voice rose several octaves. “Mr. Parker said it was a temporary loan…” “Temporary loan?” I stood up abruptly. “What right does he have to touch my money?” Lucy took half a step back in fear. “Ms. Green, I was just following Mr. Parker’s instructions…” “Get out!” Ethan Parker, my fiancé, was also the general manager of Inspired Creations Advertising. We had been dating for four years and were supposed to get married next month. Now it seemed that wedding needed to be reconsidered. I stormed straight to his office. Ethan was organizing some files. When he saw me burst in, the pen in his hand fell to the floor. “Where’s my money?” I walked up to his desk, both hands on the surface. “What money?” His gaze shifted. “Don’t play dumb! The $3 million from the Starlight Design Fund!” My voice was so loud the next office could probably hear. Ethan stood up, adjusting his tie. “Lower your voice. What will the colleagues think?” “I want everyone to hear!” I pointed at him. “What did you do with my money without my permission?” “Oh, that money.” Ethan said nonchalantly. “Olivia’s new project needed some startup funds, so I borrowed it temporarily. I’ll return it this week.” “Borrowed?” I sneered. “Is $3 million just pocket change to you?” “We’re getting married soon. Why be so particular?” Ethan was getting impatient. “Don’t you trust me?” “Married?” My voice got even louder. “Does being married mean you can take each other’s money as you please?” Just then, Olivia knocked and entered. She was the studio’s assistant designer, admittedly quite attractive, with a very approachable demeanor. “What’s going on? I could hear arguing from the hallway.” Olivia pretended to look concerned. “Perfect timing, Olivia.” Ethan immediately changed his attitude. “Explain to Rachel why your project needs that startup capital.” Olivia immediately put on a pitiful expression, her eyes reddening. “Ms. Green, it’s all my fault for not being capable enough. The project ran into difficulties.” “If we didn’t urgently need these funds, I wouldn’t have troubled Mr. Parker…” “You troubled him?” I stared at Olivia. “Did you know that was my personal fund?” “I… I didn’t know.” Olivia lowered her head. “I thought it was the studio’s working capital. I’m really sorry!” “If sorry was enough, we wouldn’t need contracts, would we?” My voice was cold as ice. Ethan suddenly slammed the table: “Enough, Rachel! Olivia has apologized. What more do you want?” “What do I want?” I turned to him. “I want my money, right now!” “I don’t have it now!” Ethan shouted back. “The funds have already been invested in the project. We have to wait until this week to recover them!” “This week? What if the project fails?” “It won’t fail.” Olivia hurriedly said. “I guarantee the project will succeed.” “You guarantee?” I looked at her. “What can you use as collateral?” Olivia opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. “It must be repaid this week,” I pointed at Ethan. “Not a penny less!” I left, but turned back at the door. “Oh, and in the future, you’d better get my permission before touching my money!”

Back in my office, Lucy carefully brought in some tea. “Ms. Green, should I look into the specific flow of that fund?” “Do it. As detailed as possible.” Two days later, Lucy brought a stack of photos, her hands trembling. “Ms. Green, take a look at this.” In the photos, Ethan and Olivia were coming out of a high-end French restaurant. Olivia was helping Ethan adjust his shirt collar. They were laughing happily, and Ethan’s hand was on Olivia’s shoulder. “When was this taken?” I picked up the photo to examine closely. “Last night at 9:20 PM.” Lucy pulled out her phone. “I followed them until 10:30 PM before they left separately.” I clearly remembered that last night when I texted Ethan, he said he was working late on files and his phone was about to die. “Anything else?” Lucy took out another stack of documents: “This is Mr. Parker’s schedule for the past week.” I flipped through page by page, getting angrier with each one. The schedule said he was meeting important clients, but the actual locations all matched Olivia’s activity tracks. “This bastard!” I threw the documents on the table. “Ms. Green, there’s something even worse.” Lucy played a recording on her phone. “I recorded this in the break room yesterday.” Olivia’s voice came through the recording: “Mr. Parker looked so handsome in that navy suit last night, much more manly than usual.” Another female voice asked: “What’s really going on between you two?” Olivia gave a light laugh: “You know.” I smashed the water glass on the floor, shattering it to pieces. “Keep investigating! I want to know their every move!” The next day, I decided to test Olivia myself. I cornered her in the design department’s break room. “How was the French dinner yesterday?” I asked deliberately. Olivia was making coffee. Hearing this, her hand shook, spilling coffee grounds all over the table. “What… what French dinner?” She nervously cleaned up the mess. “Don’t pretend.” I walked closer to her. “That place by the river last night. Pretty good, wasn’t it?” Olivia’s face turned pale instantly, then she forced a smile. “Oh, that. It was nice. Mr. Parker said he enjoyed it too.” As soon as she finished speaking, she realized she had slipped up and immediately shut her mouth. “Is that so?” I stared into her eyes. “Didn’t Ethan say he was working late last night?” “I… I…” Olivia stammered. “Maybe I remembered wrong.” “Remembered wrong?” I sneered. “Or have you gotten so used to your dates that you forgot to keep them secret?” “Ms. Green, you’ve misunderstood!” Olivia was sweating profusely. “Mr. Parker and I really just have a work relationship!” “Work?” I took out my phone and showed her the photo Lucy sent me. “Is this work too?” In the photo, Ethan and Olivia were laughing and chatting in the restaurant. Olivia was intimately wiping the corner of Ethan’s mouth. Olivia’s face went completely white when she saw the photo. “This… this is…” “What is this?” I held the phone in front of her face. “Care to explain?” Olivia opened her mouth but couldn’t say a word. Just then, Ethan pushed open the door: “What are you two talking about?” “About your date.” I showed him the phone directly. “Care to explain?” Ethan’s face changed when he saw the photo. But he quickly regained composure. “What’s there to explain?” He even acted righteous. “Olivia and I were discussing the project over dinner. Is there a problem?” “Does discussing a project require feeding each other?” I pointed at the photo. “Is this what you call discussing a project?” “That was… that was an accident.” Olivia started to panic. “We were talking about the design plan, and I had papers in my hand, so…” “So you fed him by accident?” I sneered. “Olivia Wilson, do you think I’m an idiot?” “Rachel, you’re overthinking this.” Ethan started to act gentle. “Olivia and I really just have a work relationship.” “Is that so?” I took out another photo. “Then how do you explain this?”

In the second photo, Ethan’s arm was around Olivia’s waist as they stood at the entrance of a boutique hotel. This time Olivia was completely speechless. “I can explain!” Ethan suddenly spoke up. “Olivia had too much to drink that day, so I sent her back to the hotel!” “Sent her back to the hotel?” I laughed. “Did you send her to her room?” “No!” Ethan waved his hands frantically. “Just to the lobby!” “Really?” I took out my phone and played a recording. It was the voice of the hotel receptionist: “Room 312, two guests, check-in time 10:15 PM, check-out time 10 AM the next day.” The room fell dead silent. “Anything else you want to explain?” I looked at both of them. Ethan and Olivia exchanged a glance, neither daring to speak. “Very well.” I put away my phone. “Since you’re not saying anything, I’ll take that as an admission.” With that, I left them standing there staring at each other. A week later, it was the studio’s annual design exhibition. The exhibition was held at the downtown art gallery, with over 500 attendees, all important figures in the fashion world. I sat in the VIP section, with Ethan next to me, wearing exquisite makeup and the dress I had personally designed. “This year’s Best Creative Award goes to our assistant designer, Olivia Wilson!” the host announced. The audience applauded as Olivia walked onto the stage, beaming. She looked especially beautiful today, wearing a white evening gown with flawless makeup. “Thank you everyone!” Olivia took the microphone. “This year our design department has achieved great results…” She started playing a PowerPoint presentation. The first part showed normal design works. I was about to applaud when suddenly the tone changed dramatically. My early failed design cases appeared on the big screen. A huge meme was added, with the word “FAILURE” written prominently. The whole room burst into laughter. “Haha, Rachel’s design back then was really ugly!” “How much did that exhibition cost again? $500,000?” “It’s still hilarious to think about now!” The murmurs in the audience grew louder. Everyone was looking at me, some snickering, some pointing and whispering. I sat there, expressionless, watching my past failures being displayed as a joke on the big screen. Even worse, Olivia on stage pretended to be flustered: “Oh! I’m so sorry, Ms. Green! This was an old template that wasn’t deleted properly! I’m really sorry!” But while she apologized, her face showed a hint of smugness. It was clearly intentional. Ethan not only didn’t stop it, but laughed along. He covered his mouth, laughing so hard he was bent over, almost to tears. “Ethan, you find this amusing too?” I turned to look at him. “No, I just…” Ethan was still laughing. “Just remembered that project from back then…” People in the audience started commenting loudly: “Rachel’s work quality has really declined these past few years!” “I heard she’s lost quite a few projects!” “She’s just riding on her past reputation now!” “If it weren’t for her dad’s connections, she would’ve gone bankrupt long ago!”

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Seven months pregnant. With my belly showing, I helped Caleb Prescott secure the latest quarterly partnership. Then, checking his location discreetly, I headed to the bar, planning to surprise him. Just before pushing open the private room door, I heard his voice, laced with a cynical laugh, mingling with his friends. “Caleb, won’t Audrey be mad if she finds out you deliberately sent her on that business trip just so you could celebrate Chloe finishing high school and getting into college?” Caleb scoffed, utterly dismissive. “I’ve pampered Audrey for years. What more could she possibly want? Besides, she’s pregnant, easily agitated. I kept it quiet just to prevent her from getting jealous.” “True, Audrey has been with you for so long, she probably can’t live without you. But you’ve raised Chloe for all these years, and now she’s an adult, and so beautiful. Don’t you have… any thoughts?” Caleb reached out, casually wrapping his arm around Chloe Sterling’s delicate shoulders, his voice thick with doting affection. “That depends on whether our Chloe is willing.” “I… I’m willing to marry Uncle Caleb.”

I pushed the door open. The conversation inside the private room died instantly. Caleb instinctively pulled his hand back from Chloe’s shoulder, his doting expression quickly morphing into calm. “Audrey, what are you doing here? Is the contract settled?” Caleb’s friends, seeing my upset face, quickly tried to smooth things over with smiles. “Audrey, Chloe just finished high school today, and we’re all celebrating. Caleb was just about to call you to join us!” “No, thanks. You all have fun. I’m heading back.” I looked at Caleb and Chloe, their intimate posture a punch to the gut. I forced a strained smile onto my face and turned to leave. “Audrey.” Caleb called out, getting up and coming to my side. “Chloe just lost a game and has to drink ten penalty shots. I’ll be driving later, so could you take them for her?” I clutched my pregnant belly, fighting back the burning sensation in my nose, staring at Caleb in disbelief. “You want *me* to drink?” “It’s a celebration for Chloe. Just cooperate, don’t spoil the fun.” “Fine.” I picked up a glass and chugged it. The beer rushed down my throat, the foam stinging my nose, and my stomach churned, threatening to revolt. One glass. Two glasses. … Caleb’s friends started to look uncomfortable, one finally speaking up. “Caleb, maybe that’s enough.” “It’s fine. Back when Audrey helped me close deals with clients, she could down a liter of hard liquor without batting an eye. This is nothing to her.” I held the last glass, feeling nothing but bitter amusement. The year we got married, Caleb’s company hit a rough patch. I wanted to help him by drinking with clients to secure partnerships, but he stopped me, swearing solemnly that no matter how tough things got, he’d never let me suffer that humiliation. But then Chloe came into our lives. Caleb said she was a friend’s orphan, and he needed to take responsibility as her guardian. From that moment on, all his attention shifted to Chloe. For his company, I started to repeatedly drink and smile for investors. Until six months ago, I was force-fed by an investor until I had stomach bleeding and was almost taken to a hotel. I only escaped by slitting my wrists, threatening to end my life. And that night, he used the investment I had begged on my knees for to throw an all-night fireworks display to celebrate Chloe’s birthday. I finished the last drink, nothing left in my throat but a raw, bitter taste. “Caleb, I’m leaving.” “I’ll drive you back…” Caleb was about to reach out and help me, but then he heard Chloe’s saccharine tone. “Uncle Caleb, I don’t have any family left in this world. Could you… divorce Audrey and stay with just me, forever?” The private room fell into a deathly silence. I froze, looking at Caleb. He didn’t hesitate, handing me a divorce agreement, a pleading look in his eyes. “Audrey, Chloe rarely asks for anything from me. I don’t want to disappoint her.” “Fine. I’ll sign.” I managed a desolate smile, fighting back the tears stinging my eyes, and picked up the pen to sign the divorce agreement. As I walked out of the room, I heard Caleb’s friends trying to reason with him: “Caleb, a divorce agreement isn’t a joke. If Audrey truly gets angry, you might take things too far.” “Audrey’s been with me for eight years, and now she’s pregnant. She can’t leave me. I’ll just sweet-talk her later, it’ll be fine.” Tears finally streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I took a deep breath, wiped them away, and cast one last look at the joyous private room. Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed the hospital. **[截断点]** “Please schedule an abortion for me. The sooner, the better.”

Just as I left the bar, Caleb rushed out after me. “It’s too late. I’ll take you home.” I reached for the passenger side door, but he stopped me. “You’re pregnant. The front seat isn’t as safe for you. You should sit in the back.” Caleb then opened the passenger door for Chloe himself, and thoughtfully buckled her seatbelt. I looked at the “Wife’s Seat Only” sticker on the dashboard, finding it incredibly ironic and blindingly painful. “Uncle Caleb, can I date when I’m in college?” “No!” Caleb’s tone was stern. Chloe giggled, playfully feeding a snack into Caleb’s mouth: “Okay then, Uncle Caleb, I’ll listen to you. I’ll only be with you, forever.” I glanced at the car’s interior, decorated with a girlish touch. The mini-fridge that used to hold my milk and pregnancy snacks had long been replaced with Chloe’s favorite candies. This car, the one I brought into our marriage, felt utterly foreign now. Chloe had quietly, insidiously woven herself into Caleb’s life, yet he deluded himself into believing he was merely a guardian, never truly falling for her. How ridiculous. How utterly ironic. Noticing my gaze, Caleb spoke up. “Chloe said she’s never stayed in a hotel before, so I’m going to drop her off to experience that first. I’ll take you home later.” The car soon stopped outside a hotel. I watched Caleb lead Chloe into the hotel, my eyes falling on a discarded receipt on the passenger seat. The receipt clearly showed purchases of condoms and lingerie – all Caleb’s preferred styles. These two things hadn’t been used since I got pregnant. I remembered when Caleb and I got married, he told me his mother had taken her own life because she couldn’t bear her husband’s infidelity. He hated all unfaithful men in the world. He promised he’d protect me forever, never betray me. But as I stood outside that hotel room, hearing a woman’s sweet cries and a man’s muffled grunts from inside, His past vows felt like a cruel illusion. My eyes welled up, but I had no courage to burst in and catch them red-handed. If you couldn’t keep your word, why make those promises in the first place? … Two hours later. Caleb returned to the car, his hair damp. “That girl Chloe is so clingy. She wouldn’t let me leave, so I just took a quick shower. Sorry to keep you waiting.” I silently stared at the hickeys on his neck. Suddenly, this man I’d lived with for eight years felt like a complete stranger. Caleb noticed my silence and sat beside me. “Audrey, Chloe’s just a kid. Don’t be so hard on her.” “That divorce agreement was just to humor her. The terms clearly state I’m leaving with nothing. Don’t worry, once she loses interest, we’ll get back together right away.” I just smiled, saying nothing. Get back together? Caleb, I loved you for eight years. It’s time for it to end.

Early the next morning. Chloe burst into my room with a housekeeper. “Audrey Prescott, you’ve already divorced Uncle Caleb, so why are you still living here? I’m the lady of this house now, get out!” The housekeeper began clearing out my things. I didn’t stop them. I simply picked up my pre-packed suitcase and walked out of the house without looking back. “Wait! Open your suitcase. Who knows if you’ve stolen anything valuable? Uncle Caleb said everything in this mansion is mine now.” The housekeeper snatched my suitcase, ransacking it. Inside were only a few clothes I’d bought before marrying Caleb. Nothing else. “Can I go now?” “No! You haven’t been searched yet. Strip her!” The housekeeper stepped forward, pulling at my clothes until I was completely naked. Chloe looked at my pregnant belly with disgust. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Are those stretch marks? So ugly. No wonder Uncle Caleb said he didn’t want to touch you.” I clenched my fists, enduring the housekeeper’s mocking stares, and squatted down to pick up my clothes and put them back on. Suddenly, Chloe rushed toward me, slapping my belly hard. I instinctively raised my hand. But Chloe stumbled first, falling to the ground and pointing at my suitcase, sobbing. “Uncle Caleb, Audrey won’t let me move in, and she threw my suitcase!” Caleb glared at me, barely suppressing his rage. “What’s going on?” “Uncle Caleb, Audrey called me a fatherless child and told me to stay away from you. She said I was a burden to you. If only my dad were still here…” Chloe continued to sob. Caleb’s fury could no longer be contained. He slapped me hard across the face. “Apologize to Chloe, now!” Blood seeped from the corner of my mouth, my eyes blurring with tears. “Caleb, we’ve been together for eight years. Is this truly how you see me?” “And why wouldn’t I! Chloe’s just a child. Would she lie about you?!” Chloe clung to Caleb’s arm, acting utterly wronged, and pointed at a frog mascot costume. “Uncle Caleb, I want to see Audrey wear that.” “Did you hear her? Put it on and apologize to Chloe! Don’t forget your dad is still in the ICU. I can stop his medical treatment any time!” Caleb said, already dialing the hospital. “No! I’ll wear it.” I endured the mocking stares around me, painstakingly pulling on the frog costume. The tight fabric pressed painfully against my belly. “Uncle Caleb, look at Audrey in that frog suit! Her belly’s all puffy like that, doesn’t it look like a pregnant toad?!” “As long as Chloe likes it. You can wear it every day to make her happy.” The mascot costume was stifling. My head spun, and sharp pains radiated from my lower abdomen. I don’t know how long passed, then a wave of dizziness swept over me. I fell heavily to the ground.

I woke up in the hospital. Caleb was by my bedside, holding my hand. “Audrey, don’t be mad. Chloe’s just a kid, playful. Just go apologize to her properly later, and this whole thing will blow over.” “What if I don’t?” “It’s just an apology! Why are you arguing with a child?! I swear, you’ve gone completely crazy since you got pregnant!” Caleb angrily threw my hand away and stormed out. A nurse quickly rushed over, her voice urgent: “Ms. Sterling, your father’s medical treatment has been stopped. His condition suddenly worsened, and he’s not doing well. You need to go see him one last time!” My pupils constricted. I instinctively tried to get up. But Caleb, leading a team of doctors, burst into the room and dragged me to the operating theater without a word. “Caleb! Let me go! I need to see my dad…” “Audrey, Chloe just had a sudden severe anemia, and she needs umbilical cord blood to save her life. You can see your dad anytime. You need to give birth now.” I was forcibly strapped to the operating table. “Mr. Prescott, the patient is only six months pregnant, far from her due date. Administering labor-inducing drugs now could have a fatal impact on the fetus.” “Saving a life is more important! Do it!” Caleb snatched the oxytocin syringe from the doctor’s hand and brutally plunged it into my belly. Restraints tightly bound my limbs. I struggled desperately, looking at Caleb, trying to find a flicker of compassion in his eyes. But Caleb’s expression remained coldly indifferent. He just injected one syringe of oxytocin after another into my body until all five were empty. The doctor urgently tried to stop Caleb’s hand: “Mr. Prescott, five syringes are the limit! Any more and the baby will die from premature birth!” “Get out of my way! I only care if Chloe lives!” Caleb brutally plunged in the sixth syringe. An excruciating pain surged through my entire body. I couldn’t hold on any longer and completely passed out. … When I opened my eyes again, My abdomen was flat once more. I desperately got up and rushed to my father’s room, only for the nurse to tell me I was too late. My father had passed away just as Caleb dragged me away. The nurse said his last words were my name, whispered repeatedly. Passing a VIP room, I heard Chloe’s voice. “Uncle Caleb, it’s all my fault for being so sick. It caused Audrey’s baby to be born prematurely and die. She won’t be angry, will she?” “It’s fine. If the baby’s gone, Audrey can just have another one. All that matters is that you’re okay.” I touched my flat abdomen, closing my eyes in despair, letting tears stream down my cheeks. Caleb and I started trying to conceive right after we got married. We bought piles of baby clothes and toys, and he devoured books on childcare, saying he wanted our baby to be the happiest child in the world. Seven months ago, when I finally got pregnant, he was so excited, holding me and listening to the baby’s movements all night. That was the child we had hoped for for seven years. How could he be so cruel?! Three days later. I finished my father’s funeral and buried the baby’s tiny body alongside him. Leaving the cemetery.

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The soup I made for my beloved snake was stolen and drunk by my fiancée’s male assistant’s mother. The old lady vomited blood and died on the spot. The male assistant screamed like a madman, demanding that I pay with my life. My fiancée brutally skinned the snake I had raised for 20 years, splattering its blood all over my face: “Ethan’s mom dies from drinking a bit of your damn soup, and you resort to murder, you useless coward? This vile creature should have been skinned and cooked long ago. You deserve to be tortured for keeping it!” She forcefully made me drink a hundred bottles of pesticide. But I was immune to all poisons. Though blood poured from my eyes, nose and mouth, I just wouldn’t die. My fiancée flew into a rage and cut off my research funding. She even had my colleagues’ legs crippled and sent them to Africa to work in the mines. To save them, I ventured alone to Serpent Island. The horrific sight of me being devoured by venomous snakes was broadcast globally. When I was covered in bloody holes and nearly dead from the venom… My fiancée finally arrived leisurely by private jet, arm in arm with her male assistant: “For killing his mother, you should be chopped to pieces and fed to snakes! It’s only because Ethan begged me to spare you…” But she didn’t know that those who provoked me always ended up dead. As for the mystical bond linking our hearts, it was about time for it to backfire on her. 0

On Serpent Island, I had been tortured to the brink of death. Olivia kicked me contemptuously, her face full of disgust: “Lucas, stop pretending. Hurry up and beg Ethan for forgiveness! He’s kind enough to forgive you for poisoning his mother. What more do you want?” The venom had long since seeped into my bones. Every movement felt like a thousand arrows piercing my heart. I struggled to my feet, instantly drenched in cold sweat. Gritting my teeth, I said: “I’m not pretending! After being bitten by thousands of venomous snakes for three days and nights, it’s a miracle I’m not dead…” Olivia was momentarily stunned. Just as I foolishly hoped she might feel a shred of sympathy, She suddenly let out a light chuckle, her face utterly indifferent: “It’s good you’re not dead. We need to keep you alive so you can atone to Ethan!” At that moment, her bodyguard opened a tablet. On the screen were horrific images of my research colleagues toiling in African mines. Their legs had been crippled. They could only crawl painfully, dragging their useless lower limbs. Their backs were covered in bloody wounds from repeated whippings. Seeing my friends suffer such injustice because of me, My heart felt like it was being sliced to pieces. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Olivia’s eyes flashed with cruelty as she sneered: “If you had known they would be implicated, you shouldn’t have tried to murder Ethan’s mother! Everything today is the consequence of your own actions. It’s all because of your vicious heart!” My heart was in agony. No matter how many times I explained, she refused to believe I hadn’t poisoned anyone. Ethan was a boy she had rescued two years ago. At first, she found him weak and clingy. But later, she made him her personal assistant and often scolded me: “He’s just an innocent boy from the countryside. Stop bullying him all the time!” But it was clearly Ethan who deliberately provoked my beloved snake, then threw himself into her arms crying and slandering me. He even took advantage of Olivia’s favor to destroy the research results my team and I had worked on for years. But in Olivia’s eyes, I became the jealous one secretly bullying him. My voice choked with sobs, tinged with a hint of pleading: “Didn’t you promise me that if I survived three days on Serpent Island, you would let them go?” Before Olivia could respond, Ethan emerged from her arms, his face timid and scared: “Brother Lucas, they’re already crippled for life. At least mining gives them three meals a day. If we release them, who knows if they’ll starve to death.” I laughed bitterly, tears flowing uncontrollably. They were top researchers who could have made huge contributions to society. Now they could only eke out a miserable existence in dark mine shafts, like useless invalids. Seeing them like this was more painful than death! I gritted my teeth and spat out each word: “Olivia, don’t make me hate you.” Olivia’s expression flickered. She was about to speak. Ethan’s tears fell on cue, his voice full of grievance: “Brother Lucas, are you blaming me? Fine, it’s all my fault! I should have died from your poison like my mom, so I’ll never bother Sister Olivia again.” Olivia’s eyes filled with heartache as she wiped away his tears. Her gaze turned icy cold when she looked at me: “Lucas, I see you have no intention of repenting at all! Is this how you beg for mercy?” She dialed a number on her phone: “Cut their arms too! Tell them it’s because Lucas wouldn’t cooperate!” My blood surged in an instant. I coughed up mouthfuls of black blood, frantically begging: “No, please don’t— I’ll do anything you want, just let them go!” Ignoring the excruciating pain wracking my body, I crawled to her feet. A flash of satisfaction crossed Ethan’s eyes. He pretended to be considerate and spoke up: “Sister Olivia, doesn’t the company need a human test subject? It’s a critical time now. Why not let Brother Lucas try?” 0

Olivia’s expression turned hesitant: “But that drug is extremely dangerous. Being a test subject could kill him at any moment!” My pupils constricted in fear, but thinking of my colleagues still suffering, I quickly grabbed her pant leg: “Olivia, I’m willing…” Olivia violently shook off my hand, her eyes blazing with even more anger: “Lucas, if you had just apologized and admitted your mistake, I could have forgiven you easily. But you insist on being so stubborn. Don’t back out at the last minute. This concerns the entire company…” My voice was calm, but heavy with resolve: “I won’t regret it!” Because… if I died, you wouldn’t be able to live either, Olivia. And I needed to get away from here to save my friends. I was shackled with an electronic ankle monitor and forced onto the plane. In the spacious cabin, I could only kneel on the floor. Soon, the black blood oozing from my wounds stained the expensive carpet. Olivia sat comfortably in her seat, tenderly cradling Ethan in her arms. She gently fed him milk and cut his steak for him, like a doting girlfriend. The scene stabbed at my eyes, making them burn with pain. A fiery, twisting pain gripped my stomach. My mouth involuntarily filled with saliva. For three days and nights on Serpent Island, I had survived on dew and wild berries, constantly enduring snake bites. Just as I was about to pass out, Ethan suddenly covered his nose. He knocked over the glass of milk, whining pitifully: “Sister Olivia, it stinks so bad. I feel sick…” Olivia turned to glare at me, her eyes full of disgust: “Lucas, you know Ethan has severe eating disorders. How dare you come here all filthy? Are you deliberately trying to make us sick?” My eyes instantly welled up with tears. My voice was weak but filled with resentment: “You threw me onto Serpent Island with nothing, Starving and sleepless, in constant danger of death by snakebite. How can you expect me to be as clean and tidy as you?” Perhaps my gaze was too direct. Olivia turned away, but couldn’t help exploding in rage: “You’re still alive, aren’t you?! How dare you accuse me of being cruel? Think about the heinous, disgusting things you’ve done!” My heart was numb with pain. I said nothing more. Olivia prodded the floor with her high heel, her face haughty: “Lick up the spilled milk, then go kneel in the bathroom.” A few years ago, she had rescued my amnesiac self during riots in a foreign country. She then nursed me devotedly for months, never leaving my side. But now, for Ethan’s sake, she had forgotten all our shared history. I crawled over in humiliation, about to lower my head. Suddenly Olivia stood up and slapped me hard across the face: “Lucas, you’re lower than an animal!” But what was she so angry about? Wasn’t this all her doing? I staggered to my feet, ignoring her fury, and walked towards the bathroom. Ethan chose that moment to faint dramatically, collapsing weakly into her arms: “Sister Olivia, don’t be hard on Brother Lucas. It’s my fault. Just let me starve to death.” After that, Olivia was too busy fussing over Ethan to bother with me. Time passed. Suddenly, the plane hit turbulence. I was thrown to the floor unexpectedly. I saw Olivia clutching Ethan tightly, his clothes in disarray. She tenderly kissed his forehead, cooing softly: “Don’t be scared, Ethan. I’m here.” I clearly saw the challenge in Ethan’s eyes and the kiss marks on his collarbone. I curled up helplessly in the corner, my bloody nails digging deep into the armrest. Having survived riots abroad, I was extremely sensitive to changes in my surroundings. Olivia used to accommodate me by choosing other modes of transport, even if it took much longer. The plane stabilized after a moment. Olivia finally noticed me covered in filthy blood and snapped impatiently: “Get back in the bathroom and stay there. Don’t dirty Ethan’s eyes.” My gaze darkened in despair. I was about to stand up when everything went black and I collapsed. 0

In my hazy state, I seemed to return to my warm, familiar home. I thought I heard Olivia yelling at the doctor by my bedside: “Why isn’t he waking up yet? You’re all useless quacks!” The doctor explained awkwardly: “Mr. Ye may have an unusual constitution, but he’s still human. No one could endure that kind of torture…” There was a loud crash, like something being overturned. But as soon as I opened my eyes, Olivia’s slap left me dazed: “Lucas, why are you so hell-bent on killing yourself?! Pretending to be asleep, are you happy seeing me go crazy?” I was stunned, my whole body aching too much to speak. So she wasn’t happy to see me wake up after all. Just then, Ethan pushed open the door. He was carrying a bowl of porridge, his voice sickeningly fake: “Brother Lucas, you really shouldn’t pretend to be asleep if you don’t want to be a test subject. You know Sister Olivia was worried sick about you. What’s the point in scaring her like that?” Hearing this, Olivia’s chest heaved with anger. She shouted: “Lucas, you useless coward, always putting on an act! You’re going to be the test subject, and that’s final!” With that, she stormed out without a backward glance. Seeing this, Ethan’s face instantly twisted into a vicious sneer. He violently flung the hot porridge in my face. The scalding liquid made me cry out in pain. Gloating, he took out his phone and played a video. In the video, I was completely naked, my face contorted, writhing among countless snakes. My mind exploded. I lunged at him, roaring: “What is this?! Why does this exist?!” Ethan dodged easily, his smile cruel and malicious: “It’s a gift I prepared specially for you, of course~ Let everyone see how you get off with animals!” I knew it was AI-generated, but others wouldn’t know that! And was Olivia behind this too? As if reading my mind, Ethan let out a cold laugh: “That’s right, Sister Olivia knows! A piece of trash like you is only fit to be a lowly lab rat!” Rage boiled up inside me. I tackled Ethan to the ground, heedless of everything else. But he instantly changed his expression, shrieking in terror: “Sister Olivia, Brother Lucas has gone mad! I was just trying to take care of him, but he said he wants to scald himself to death so you’ll send me away!” Olivia rushed in and kicked me hard, sending me sprawling. I tried to explain: “I didn’t, it was Ethan who—” Before I could finish, she slapped me several times, grinding out each word: “You piece of trash, haven’t you had enough?! Can’t you just get along with Ethan?” My numb heart was torn apart once again. I wiped the filth from my face, my eyes dead and lifeless: “Olivia, you’ll regret this.” All I’ve suffered today will be repaid a hundredfold when the heart-linking curse activates. Olivia’s heart clenched suddenly, but she coldly ordered her bodyguards: “Cut their arms immediately!” Tears instantly poured from my eyes. I gritted my teeth so hard I tasted blood: “No, Olivia, don’t hurt them! It was Ethan who provoked me with that naked video of me, and he—” Olivia cut me off coldly: “Enough, Lucas. You’re forcing me to be cruel!” I wanted to argue more, but could only kowtow frantically. My forehead slammed against the floor repeatedly, soon bloody and bruised. But Olivia remained unmoved, her expression icy: “Even if you kowtow until you die, I won’t change my mind. If you don’t learn your lesson this time, who knows how you’ll hurt Ethan next.” My whole body shook with despair as I howled: “Then I’ll leave your world forever. Just let us go, please?” Olivia suddenly gripped my jaw, her eyes as fierce as a wild beast: “Don’t try to manipulate me. I won’t fall for your tricks. You’re not going anywhere!” With that, she flung me aside and left, pulling Ethan along. I was dragged straight to the lab by the bodyguards. They told the staff emotionlessly: “From today on, he’s the new test subject. Mr. Gu said not to hold back.” I struggled desperately, but mechanical arms clamped down on my limbs. Hundreds of needles pierced my veins. The icy drugs made me swell with pain. It felt like my eyeballs would burst. Every vein in my body throbbed wildly. I could barely breathe from the agony. Ethan walked in wearing a white lab coat. He pointed his phone camera at me, gloating: “Right now people are bidding online to buy your blood and eat your flesh. Wouldn’t it be fun if I auctioned off your organs like mystery boxes?” I shook violently with fury, snarling through clenched teeth: “You, you monster, rot in hell!” But Ethan just laughed wildly: “Hahaha, you piece of trash, you’re almost dead while I’m living the good life. I’ll send you off soon, then Sister Olivia will be all mine~” Ethan’s smile grew increasingly twisted and manic. But hearing Olivia’s footsteps, he quickly shoved some pills in my mouth, whining to her: “Brother Lucas is so mean, he just tried to bite me with his venomous fangs. Good thing I dodged in time.” He showed Olivia a non-existent wound. Olivia glared at me, grinding out each word: “I’ll have all his fangs pulled out. That way he can’t hurt you anymore.” Ethan happily kissed her cheek, looking smug: “Sister Olivia, you’re so good to me.” My heart felt like it was being stabbed. Tears flowed freely down my face. I thrashed violently, making muffled sounds: “No, Olivia…” Save me, please save me, this vicious woman wants to kill me!! Olivia gave me a long, deep look. Her voice was uncharacteristically gentle: “Lucas, when you learn to behave, And stop fighting with Ethan, I’ll let you go.” “No, Olivia don’t leave!” I shook like a dying fish, utterly despairing. But she didn’t look at me again. She left arm in arm with Ethan. Late that night, alarms suddenly blared through the lab. The mechanical arms restraining me abruptly released. I stumbled towards the exit, fighting my weakness. But the chaotic footsteps outside made my heart leap into my throat. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. The cold barrel of a gun pressed against my forehead. A mocking voice rang out: “Well hello there, darling. Caught you.”

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For a decade, I drained every last dime I had, sacrificing everything to care for my wife who went insane after a car accident. When her fits hit, she’d throw anything she could get her hands on at me, leaving me bruised and bloody. Then, when she cleared up, she’d cling to me, sobbing uncontrollably. My friends all told me to divorce her, but I always remembered: she pushed me out of the way of that car. That’s how she hit her head and ended up like this. Until the day she accidentally hit me so hard, I was critically injured. My soul floated up to the ceiling. From there, I watched her carefully adjusting the collar of her childhood friend. “What are you crying for? He’s dead. Shouldn’t we be celebrating?” “But I feel for you, Victoria. You faked insanity for ten years just to drain all his money.” She leaned in, her lips finding his, her voice chilling. “Ten years of holding back. Finally, I don’t have to touch that loser anymore.” Turns out, that car accident was a setup, a perfectly orchestrated charade. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my wife was diagnosed with psychosis.

“Mrs. Wallace’s brain sustained a traumatic impact. While there’s no immediate danger to her life, her mental state might become unstable… alternating between lucidity and delusion.” The doctor handed me the diagnosis, sighing deeply. That’s when it hit me: I was reborn. “You should take her home for now, Mr. Wallace. A familiar environment can aid her recovery.” I barely heard the doctor’s advice. My eyes were fixed on Victoria, lying on the bed. Her eyelids fluttered slightly. She was faking sleep, clearly. In my previous life, I’d believed the doctor. I took her home. By day, I worked myself to the bone to earn money. By night, I endured her abuse and violent outbursts. Meanwhile, her childhood friend, Brandon Miller, used the excuse of “knowing a top psychiatrist” to take her out for “treatment” during the day. In reality, he drove my car, maxed out my credit cards, and squandered my money, living it up and getting intimate behind my back. This time around, you think I’m taking you home? Dream on! I walked to the bedside, leaned over, and subtly moved my hand to her inner thigh. Then, I twisted with all my might! “AHHHH!” A piercing scream ripped through the quiet hospital room. Victoria shot up from the bed, pointing at me and yelling, “Julian Wallace! Are you f*cking insane?!” I wasn’t insane. But this time, I was going to make you truly mad! I yelled towards the door, “Help! Doctor! Nurse! My wife is having a breakdown! She’s out of control!” Nurses and doctors rushed in immediately. What they saw was Victoria, face contorted in a terrifying snarl, lunging off the bed to attack me. I was backed against the wall, my face a perfect mask of horror and helplessness, my eyes welling up with tears. “Quick! Restraints!” Dr. Evans barked, making an instant decision. Victoria must have forgotten her “insane” persona because she struggled furiously, roaring at the nurses: “Get lost! I’m not crazy! He’s the crazy one!” I wiped my eyes, gently holding her bound hand. “Don’t worry, darling. Even if you’re crazy, I’ll never divorce you.” My voice was choked up, loud enough for everyone in the room to hear clearly. Victoria’s face instantly shifted from red to green. She glared at me, her eyes overflowing with pure venom. The other patients and their families in the room looked at me with sympathy and admiration. “That young man is such a good husband. His wife is like this, and he’s still standing by her.” “Yeah, talk about rotten luck, getting stuck with something like this.” Meeting their gazes, I spoke to the doctor in a sorrowful tone. “Doctor, for her safety, and for mine, please contact the best psychiatric hospital immediately. I need to transfer her.” “What?!” Victoria’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. “Julian Wallace! You wouldn’t dare!” She thrashed her body wildly, the restraints digging into her skin, turning it red. “I’m not sick! I’m not crazy! You cruel husband!” I ignored her roars, simply giving Dr. Evans a look of pity and helplessness. “Doctor, you see? She’s already speaking nonsense, experiencing paranoid delusions. I’m clearly her husband, but she doesn’t even recognize me anymore.” “Please, hurry and get this arranged. I absolutely must get my wife into the best psychiatric hospital and get her cured!” Dr. Evans sighed, stepping back, and sympathetically reassured me, “Don’t worry, Mr. Wallace. The psychiatric hospital staff will be here shortly.” At those words, I saw Victoria’s face fill with terror! Every single one of her desperate arguments only served as ironclad proof of her severe condition. “Julian Wallace, you bastard, how dare you pull this on me? I’ll kill you!” She was furious, trying to lunge at me, but she collapsed under the doctor’s sedative. Watching her gradually quiet down, wanting to kill me but utterly powerless, I curled my lips. “Don’t worry, darling. I’ll make sure they cure you.”

The transfer to the psychiatric hospital went smoothly. I chose Blackwood Mental Health Facility for Victoria – the most secure center in the city. And I specifically upgraded her to the VIP package: 24-hour surveillance, double-layered security doors, and tranquilizer shots twice a day. As I finished signing, ready to leave, Brandon Miller rushed over. He grabbed my arm, his face a mix of anxiety and disbelief. “Julian, I heard about the accident,” “But I never thought it would be this serious! How could you send Victoria to a place like this?” I gently pulled my arm free, subtly stepping back to create distance between us. “I had no choice. The doctor said she has strong violent tendencies. It’s too dangerous to keep her at home.” I sighed, then my tone shifted, and I looked at him curiously. “But how did you find out I was here? I don’t think I had time to notify anyone.” Brandon’s face stiffened slightly, then he explained, “I… I was worried about Victoria, so I called all her old friends. That’s how I found out.” What a perfect excuse. “Oh, I see.” I nodded, a grateful smile on my face. “That was very thoughtful of you. Speaking of which, I was just about to look for an expert to consult. Didn’t you say you had a friend who’s a psychiatrist?” Brandon’s eyes lit up. He quickly said, “Yes, yes! I have a friend who’s an authority in the field! Julian, don’t worry, I’ll make sure he uses the best possible treatment plan for Victoria!” “That’s fantastic!” I feigned delight, and right there, in front of Dr. Evans, the facility’s lead physician, I peppered him with questions: “Mr. Miller, you’re truly so kind. Could you tell me which hospital your expert friend works at?” “And could I perhaps see his medical license and professional qualifications? After all, with Victoria’s condition, I wouldn’t dare trust just any quack without proper credentials.” Brandon’s face instantly turned beet red, and he stammered for a long time, unable to get a single word out. I didn’t give him a chance to breathe. I immediately turned, apologizing to Dr. Evans. “Dr. Evans, I’m so sorry. My friend here is just a little too enthusiastic.” “From now on, Victoria’s condition is entirely in your capable hands.” “Also, to avoid any unnecessary trouble, from now on, besides myself, anyone claiming to be her friend, relative, or an expert coming to visit, please make sure to verify their identity with me first.” “We wouldn’t want any medical mishaps, would we? We’d all be in deep trouble.” Dr. Evans nodded gravely. “Mr. Wallace, rest assured, we have strict visitation policies. There will be no mistakes.” Brandon stood aside, his face pale, looking like he’d been choked. His plan to collude from the inside was thoroughly blocked by me from the very first step. Back home, I dug out all of Victoria’s bank cards and dialed the bank’s customer service. “Hello, I’d like to report all bank cards under my name and my wife Victoria Wallace’s name as lost. Yes, all of them. Immediately. Right now.” “Reason? Oh, my wife is mentally unstable. I suspect she’s given her cards and PINs to outsiders. For the security of our funds, please freeze all accounts immediately.” In my last life, they spent money like water, living lavishly with the funds from these very cards. This time, I’d like to see how well you two can live it up without my money. Sure enough, within three days, that despicable pair was driven to desperate measures. The miniature listening device I’d planted in Brandon’s car relayed their furious conversation. I leisurely steeped my tea, listening in. “…That b*tch! Julian Wallace, that scumbag!” Brandon’s voice was sharp and shrill. “He shut down all the cards! I tried to withdraw cash, and it said the account was frozen!” From the other end of the line, Victoria’s voice came through, seething with suppressed rage, tinged with a hint of undetectable panic. “Brandon, we can’t wait any longer!” “If we wait any longer, those nurses and doctors will truly drive me insane here! They give me shots every day!” “What do we do then? We have no money now, and we can’t even see you! All those shady friends are starting to avoid me!” Brandon’s voice began to crack with tears. “I understand, Victoria. Just wait. I’ll find a way to get you out first. We’ll settle the score with that bastard Julian later!”

Brandon somehow got his hands on a set of orderly clothes and bribed a new cleaning staff member, planning to coordinate an inside job to sneak Victoria out. I decided to play along. That night, I deliberately called Dr. Evans, telling him I’d had a nightmare that something happened to Victoria, and I felt uneasy, asking him to patrol more often. Dr. Evans reassured me that everything was fine but still promised to keep a closer eye out. At midnight, Brandon, disguised as an orderly, pushed a cart piled high with dirty bedsheets and quietly slipped into Victoria’s room. Victoria had already changed into her clothes and was hiding at the very bottom of the cart. Everything went smoothly. They successfully bypassed the first checkpoint and reached the back gate of the facility. Outside the back gate, the bribed cleaning staff member was waiting. However, just as Victoria was climbing out of the cart— “What are you doing?!” A sharp shout, accompanied by several powerful flashlight beams, exposed them. It was Dr. Evans with the security team, who happened to be passing by on rounds. Victoria and Brandon were caught red-handed. This escape attempt had severe consequences. Victoria was deemed an “extremely dangerous individual” and transferred to the deepest part of the facility’s intensive care unit. There, the windows were only palm-sized, and the door was a quadruple-locked iron door. Her daily activity range was limited to that ten-square-meter room. She was completely imprisoned. But what I didn’t expect was that she could still call Brandon. “Brandon, we have no other way.” Through the listening device, Victoria’s voice was cold and desperate. “Only if Julian dies can I get out, can we get the money, and can all of this end.” “I’ll find an opportunity to tell the doctor my condition has improved and request to see him.” “We’ll arrange to meet at Crimson Lake outside of town. It’s secluded and deserted at night.” “Then, I’ll push him into the water, hold him down, and say he committed suicide by jumping into the lake because he couldn’t take it anymore. And I… because of my ‘condition,’ couldn’t save him.” “Okay, let’s do it!” Brandon’s voice held a desperate, make-or-break ruthlessness. “Victoria, this is our last chance.” Listening to the conversation through my headphones, the smile on my lips deepened. When all of a person’s escape routes are blocked, the evil of human nature is unleashed without reservation. The time I’d been waiting for had arrived! A few days later, I received a call from Dr. Evans. He said Victoria’s condition had stabilized significantly lately; she no longer argued and could even engage in simple conversations. Victoria herself had strongly requested to see me, suggesting we meet by Crimson Lake, where we used to have dates. “Mr. Wallace, after our assessment, we believe this could be a good sign, perhaps helpful for her recovery.” “We’ll have two orderlies accompany her to ensure safety.” “Then… alright.” I reluctantly agreed. “For her to get better, I’m willing to try one more time.” Friday, at dusk. I parked my car in a small grove of trees some distance away, turned off the engine, and waited quietly. A few minutes later, a white facility transport van slowly pulled up. The doors opened, and Victoria, along with two orderlies, stepped out. Victoria told the orderlies, “Sirs, could you please wait for me in the car for a moment? I want to speak with my husband alone. It won’t be more than ten minutes.” The orderlies exchanged glances and nodded. After all, this had been pre-arranged. Victoria took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and walked step by step toward the man by the lake, who was wearing a beige trench coat. That trench coat was my favorite and most frequently worn piece of clothing. Splash! Water splattered everywhere. The man didn’t even have time to react before he was swallowed by the icy lake water. He choked on several mouthfuls, struggling desperately in the water, flailing and shouting, “Victoria! It’s me!” However, Victoria couldn’t hear what he was yelling, or rather, she simply didn’t care. She jumped into the water without hesitation, pressing his head down with all her might, pushing him under again and again. “Die! Die! Julian Wallace, you bastard! You ruined everything for me!” She roared maniacally, having completely lost her mind. The man’s struggles grew weaker and weaker. Finally, the last string of bubbles disappeared from the surface of the water. Victoria gasped for air, a satisfied, twisted smile spreading across her face. She had succeeded! She had killed Julian Wallace. Freedom and wealth were beckoning to her. Just then, a voice, tinged with a hint of curiosity, drifted from the darkness behind her. “Darling, what are you doing?” Victoria’s body stiffened abruptly, the smile on her face freezing instantly. Slowly, inch by excruciating inch, she turned her head.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297151”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf