Category: English

Just because I accidentally hurt Julian Vance’s mistress while bathing her. Julian threw my gravely ill mother out into the pouring rain, leaving her to die alone. After Mom passed, I handed him the divorce papers, begging him to let me go. But he just stared at me with a stone-cold face, kicking me to the ground. “Anya Reed, you’re really getting into this act, aren’t you? Haven’t you heard that people can actually die from getting rained on?” “Besides, I’ve supported you two parasites for so many years. If you want to leave, you’ll have to compensate me tens of millions.” I nodded calmly. A few days later, a massive sum landed in his account. He didn’t know, that was the price of my life. No sooner had the words left his mouth than a ledger slammed into my face. Julian Vance used the tip of his leather shoe to nudge the ledger open. “See that clearly?” His voice was chilling, like ice. “Every single penny you’ve spent since the day you married into the Vance family is right here.” The ledger was filled with his scrawled, almost aggressive handwriting, detailing every one of my expenses. From an extra slice of toast at breakfast to my mother’s emergency hospital bills. Every detail was meticulously recorded, down to the last cent. My fingers instinctively curled, staring blankly at the ledger as tears streamed down my face, uncontrolled. I never imagined Julian would go to such lengths. “A total of thirteen million two hundred thousand.” He bent down, his warm breath brushing my ear. “I’ll round it down for you, Anya. With that much money, you’d have to prostitute yourself from now until they’re defiling your corpse, wouldn’t you?” I snapped my head up, my gaze locking onto the icy disdain in Julian’s eyes. The man who once seemed like my closest confidant was now spewing words that bordered on pure venom. A bitter ache filled my throat. I glanced at Celeste Hayes, who was clinging to Julian’s arm, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. “If I recall correctly, Miss Hayes, the necklace around your neck is worth ten million alone, isn’t it?” The esteemed Mrs. Vance, after five years, had spent less than a single piece of jewelry on his trophy girlfriend. A sharp shove sent me sprawling to the ground. Celeste irritably rubbed her wrist, scoffing, “You old hag, who do you think you are, daring to compare yourself to me?” She whined, stretching her palm out to Julian, “This old hag is so thick-skinned, she actually hurt my hand~” Julian didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he dotingly blew on Celeste’s palm. “Next time, don’t lay a hand on her yourself. It breaks my heart.” A wave of dizziness washed over me. I collapsed onto the floor, clutching my face as blood gushed from my nose. “Ugh!” Celeste shrieked, pulling up her skirt. “You old hag, how disgusting! Your nosebleed got on my shoe!” Seeing the crimson blood on the floor, a flicker of panic crossed Julian’s eyes, but it quickly turned to disgust when he spotted the divorce papers lying nearby. “Anya Reed, what trick are you trying to pull now?” That cold, hateful gaze reminded me of our wedding day, when Julian had gripped my throat, pinning me against the champagne tower, his face contorted with dark fury: “Anya Reed, your mother killed mine. And you still think you can marry me? You wicked woman, I’ll strangle you right now!” That day, he didn’t strangle me. But every day since had been a living hell. I said nothing, just wiped away the blood, and shakily got to my feet, intending to leave. But Celeste yanked me back by my hair. “You stained my shoe, old hag. You have to lick it clean.” I stumbled back down to the floor, but my eyes burned with stubborn defiance. Lick a mistress’s shoe? Never! I grabbed the table, trying to stand, but Julian kicked me hard in the back of my knee. “You want a divorce, don’t you? If she tells you to lick it, you lick it.” My entire body stiffened. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood flooding my mouth. Divorce… once I’m divorced, I’ll be free. My last shred of dignity shattered, I could only humiliate myself, extending my tongue. Again and again, I licked Celeste Hayes’s high heel until it gleamed. Celeste wrapped her arms around Julian, pouting, “Julian, darling, since this old hag is so good at licking shoes, why don’t we send her to Nightfall Bar to lick all the customers’ shoes?” “I still haven’t settled the score with her for hurting me~” I clenched my fists, staring at Julian’s face in disbelief. We weren’t divorced yet. I was still officially Mrs. Vance. Was he really not going to spare me even a shred of dignity? Julian’s gaze lingered on me, then he lifted his foot and deliberately ground it into the divorce papers. “Anya Reed, you deserve a lesson.”

The bar manager took pity on me and didn’t make me actually lick anyone’s shoes. He just handed me a flannel cloth and told me to kneel and wipe the customers’ shoes clean. Drunken patrons insulted me freely, some even stepping on my face with force. But I just calmly polished their shoes until they gleamed. A group of rich kids in front of me stared at their phones, laughing loudly. “Holy crap, Mr. Vance must really adore his new favorite! He’s put out a hundred-million-dollar bounty for a matching heart for her!” “Heard when that girl was diagnosed with heart disease this afternoon, Mr. Vance was so furious he almost trashed the whole hospital. Those doctors nearly peed their pants.” “A hundred million! Mr. Vance is way too generous. If you ask me, she’s just a little bird, so what if she dies?” “You don’t know anything. Celeste is different. They all say she looks just like Anya Reed from back in college…” I froze, my gaze drawn to their phone screens. Bold black letters clearly stated that anyone who was a match and agreed to donate a heart to Celeste Hayes would receive a one-hundred-million-dollar reward. If I remembered correctly, my blood type and all my health indicators matched Celeste’s. I had even been dragged by Julian to donate 3000cc of blood because of it. The screen’s light illuminated my face. The rich kids in front of me looked at me in surprise, then burst into laughter. “Isn’t that Mrs. Vance? Why aren’t you serving your Mr. Vance’s new darling? How’d you end up here shining our shoes?” “If you ask me, you should just sleep with us, it’d be better than being the Vance family’s dog.” Lewd gazes roved over my body, and several hands reached out to touch me. I recoiled in terror, grabbing a beer bottle, just as I was about to make a run for it, three bodyguards rushed in, kicking the rich kids far away. Ignoring their angry curses and wails, they turned and grabbed me. “Madam, it’s time for you to assist Miss Hayes with her bath.” My expression was numb. I let them drag me into the car. Outside, thunder and rain raged, just like the day my mother died in my arms—cold and piercing. The moment the door opened, a sticky, foul-smelling lace thong was flung at my face. On the sofa, Julian, looking utterly sated after his latest tryst, held Celeste close and lit a cigar. “Still remember how to come back? I thought you’d be too busy licking shoes to get off the bed by now.” I ignored his words, simply walking up to Celeste and saying, “Miss Hayes, it’s time for your bath.” *SLAP!* My face snapped sideways from the sudden blow. Julian flicked his cigarette at me, his eyes blazing with displeasure. “Can’t you speak properly?” I staggered a few steps before regaining my balance, clenching my fists, swallowing the metallic taste in my throat, and choked out, “Miss Hayes, please allow me to assist you with your bath.” “No way!” Celeste hid in Julian’s arms, whining, “That disgusting old hag will definitely hurt me on purpose! Let her bathe Little Monster tonight, it’ll be good practice for her.” Little Monster was Celeste’s pit bull terrier, and it had bitten me many times. What was the difference between bathing it and walking into a death trap? I shivered uncontrollably, instinctively resisting. “No, I won’t!” “You won’t?” Julian stood up, grabbing my hair and pulling me close, humiliatingly patting my face. “What right do you have to refuse? Don’t you care about your mother’s life anymore?” **截断点**

At the mention of my mother, my eyes instantly welled up. Seeing my tears, Julian paused for a moment, then roughly shoved me to the ground. “Anya Reed, a heartless woman like you can cry?” “If you hadn’t desperately stopped me from finding my mother back then, she wouldn’t have been pushed down the stairs by your mother. You’re the culprit!” “If Celeste isn’t happy today, you and your mother can both go to hell.” His eyes burned with raw hatred, yet he refused to look at me. Tears streamed down my face. I clutched my chest tightly. To keep that secret all those years ago, my mother and I had suffered so much. Yet, Julian still hated me so deeply… If that’s how it was, then after the divorce, I would tell him the truth and clear my mother and my names! Thinking this, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. All along, Julian had hated the wrong person. I wondered how desperate he would be the day he learned the truth. I staggered to my feet and walked towards the tightly shut metal door. From deep inside the room, I heard the growls of a dog. Fear surged through me. I turned to run, but the metal door slammed shut. Julian’s voice was icy. “I’m taking Celeste to watch the fireworks. Don’t let her out to bother us.” As the sound of his footsteps faded, the vicious dog instantly lunged at me, sinking its teeth into my arm. My pathetic screams and the fireworks outside erupted simultaneously. When I was finally let out, my body was covered in over a dozen lacerations, big and small. The dog kennel was littered with torn flesh and fresh blood. A bodyguard threw me a roll of gauze and a check. “Mr. Vance said for you to get lost.” I picked up the check with trembling hands. The amount was exactly enough for my mother’s treatment this month. But it wasn’t needed anymore. I tore the check into pieces and threw it on the ground, forcing myself to stand and leave. I would never come back to this place. I took a cab to the hospital, had my wounds stitched, received a vaccine, and then contacted the hospital director using the number on the bounty notice. “Are you sure you want to voluntarily donate your heart?” The hospital director looked at my medical report with satisfaction, nodding. “You are indeed the most suitable candidate for Miss Hayes’s heart transplant. However, the surgical risks are very high…” “It’s fine.” I raised my hand and signed the voluntary donor agreement without hesitation. If death was a release, could anything be worse than this? After signing the agreement and confirming the precautions, I had just stepped out of the hospital when Julian’s call came through. “Are you the one donating a heart to Celeste? What’s your name?” I gripped the phone tightly, my breath catching in my throat. “I…” Before I could speak, Julian impatiently cut me off, “Proceed with the surgery as soon as possible. The payment will be transferred to your card afterward.” The call disconnected. Staring at the name “Husband” on my phone, a mixture of sarcasm and bitterness twisted into an indescribable pain in my heart. If only he had looked at how he’d saved my contact, he would have known who I was. On my phone, a news headline popped up: *Vance Group CEO Spends Millions Lighting Up the City with Fireworks to Win His Beloved’s Smile.* Meanwhile, I clutched my wounds, found the nearest park, and spent the night lying on a cold bench. When I woke up, I received a call informing me that my mother’s grave had been arranged. To ensure they could be together, I used all my remaining savings to purchase a burial plot next to Mrs. Vance. After visiting my mother’s grave, I bowed three times to Beatrice Vance’s as well. Just as I was about to stand, a powerful force from behind kicked me. “You, the daughter of a murderer, what right do you have to visit my mother!”

My wounds ripped open, and blood seeped, staining my black dress. Julian Vance appeared before Beatrice Vance’s tombstone with Celeste Hayes. His eyes raged with hatred, and he flung a bouquet of flowers at my face. “Anya Reed, didn’t I warn you not to appear before my mother?” I clutched my arm, grinding my teeth. “I am not the daughter of a murderer!” My mother was right there. I couldn’t let her be slandered even from the grave! *SLAP!* A stinging slap landed on my face, making my ears ring. Celeste, in her towering heels, deliberately ground her foot into my wounds. “You old hag, aren’t you pathetic? Are you here to show off that Julian didn’t kill you, and even paid for your mom’s hospital bills?” At her words, Julian’s fingers trembled, his eyes filled with immense guilt towards his mother. When he looked at me, it turned into overwhelming fury. He grabbed my hair, dragging me like a dead dog, then kicked my knee. Before I could even stabilize my kneeling position, he grabbed my head and forcefully slammed it against the stone slab. “Today, you’ll kneel here and kowtow, and properly apologize to my mother.” “As for your mother, that wretched culprit, I’ll have her tortured mercilessly, making her wish she were dead!” I clutched my forehead, laughing a desolate, bitter laugh. “But my mother is already dead, isn’t she?” The portrait of Beatrice Vance before me smiled gently and kindly, as if she had found solace. The sense of grievance and pain in my heart almost overflowed. I murmured bitterly, a soft, broken whisper: “But my mother… she’s already dead…” She died painfully, miserably. “What did you say?” Julian staggered back a step. He stared at me, his voice trembling uncontrollably. “Anya Reed, do you think lying to me like this will atone for your sins and hers?!” “She’s right there!” My whole body trembled. I pointed to my mother’s tombstone beside us. If Julian just looked, he would see my mother’s photo. “Go look, Julian Vance, just look! My mother has already been killed by you. Are you satisfied?!” Julian’s eyes widened. He stared intently at the nearby tombstone, his entire posture visibly slumping. He reached out a trembling hand, about to push aside the flowers in front of the gravestone. *Thump!* Celeste collapsed to the ground, her face pale, hands clutching her chest, her breath shallow and weak. “Julian, darling, my heart hurts so much…” Julian instantly turned back in a panic, sweeping Celeste into his arms, ready to leave. “Wait!” I lunged forward, desperately grabbing his pant leg. “If I pay back that ten million, you’ll sign the divorce papers, right?” Julian’s body stiffened. He didn’t look back, only his cold voice echoed in my ears. “Anya Reed, I will never let you or your mother off the hook.” I smiled, tears filling my eyes. Julian Vance, you don’t need to let us off. Because my mother and I are both leaving your world. Just as I walked out of the cemetery, my phone rang. It was the hospital. “Miss Reed, Mr. Vance is demanding the heart transplant surgery immediately. We need you to rush over!” “Alright,” I gripped my phone. “But I have one condition: conceal my identity until after the surgery. Don’t let anyone know who I am.” I lay in the hospital bed, then was wheeled into the ICU. Julian Vance, pacing anxiously outside the door, glanced at me with a solemn expression, then rubbed his eyes and turned away, dismissing the flicker of doubt in his gaze. It was laughable. For a moment, he actually thought the woman before him was Anya Reed. How could that be? After all, she was such a cowardly woman, so afraid of death, she’d cry over a mere scratch… The surgery was a success. To celebrate, he bought Celeste a thirty-million-dollar emerald jewelry set and had it displayed on the front page of the news. In front of him, Celeste smiled and called his name, but Julian seemed distracted. He pulled out his phone, wondering if Anya Reed had reacted at all. Suddenly, a text message popped up. [Bank transfer: $100,000,000.] The sender was Anya Reed. A terrible premonition surged within him. Julian’s pupils constricted. He quickly grabbed a passing nurse, urgently asking: “What was the name of the person who donated the heart?” The young nurse was startled, stammering, “I think it was… Anya Reed…” “The poor girl was covered in injuries when she arrived.” “I heard her mother passed away just a few days ago after failed resuscitation efforts.” “What…” Julian’s lips trembled slightly. He staggered a few steps, grabbing the wall for support, his eyes filled with disbelief.

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I was in a rush to fly overseas to negotiate a billion-dollar project with European royalty when my private jet was suddenly grounded before takeoff. A man in a suit stormed onto the plane, shouting: “Who gave you permission to touch my plane? Don’t you know this thing is worth more than your lives?” Thinking he had mistaken the hangar, I tried to explain calmly: “Sir, please check again. This is hangar 25, and this plane belongs to me.” My explanation only made him more aggressive. “My plane is parked in hangar 25. My wife just gave it to me last month. You think I’d forget that? Get your people off my plane now, or you’ll regret it!” Seeing how unreasonable he was being, I had no choice but to ask the airline staff to check the plane’s registration documents. Just as I was confidently preparing to put this arrogant young man in his place, I heard the airline staff deliver a shocking revelation. “Mr. Carter, please disembark immediately. This plane does indeed belong to Mr. Parker.”

“All systems go, ready for takeoff!” “Wait, we have a situation on the ground!” Just as the captain was preparing for takeoff, he suddenly received a warning from ground control. I instructed the flight attendant to open the cabin door so I could see what was happening. “What are you idiots doing? How could you let someone mess with my plane when I’m paying millions in annual hangar fees? Are you feeding that money to the dogs?” Through the cabin door, I saw a young man in an impeccable suit yelling at the hangar manager. Behind the suited man was a group of young men and women, all looking at the manager with disdain. The flustered manager pointed at me standing in the doorway and shouted, “This… this really isn’t my fault! When the plane was registered, it only listed the owner as Mr. Parker.” “That gentleman came in saying he was the plane’s owner and that his name was Carter, so I let him in.” Hearing this, the young man’s eyes flashed with anger as he charged up the stairs, bellowing at us: “Who gave you permission to touch my plane? Don’t you know this thing is worth more than your lives?” My crew members, whom I had hastily recruited from the flight base, all looked at me uncertainly. “Mr. Carter, what’s going on?” I waved at them to stay calm. I turned to examine the young man in the suit. He was handsome, but reeked of alcohol. Most likely some drunk rich kid who had mixed up the hangar numbers. Not wanting to cause a scene and delay my important meeting, I patiently tried to explain: “Sir, please check again. This is hangar 25, and this plane definitely belongs to me.” “Why don’t you look at the hangar next door? I bet that’s where your plane is parked.” Hearing my suggestion, the group of young people behind him started mocking him: “Ethan, you kept bragging about showing us your private jet, and this is what we get?” “You really oversold yourself this time. Sure, your family has some money, but do you have any idea how much a Gulfstream G700 costs? Your dad’s net worth of less than $100 million can’t afford this!” “Let’s just leave before we embarrass ourselves any further.” Faced with his friends’ doubt, Ethan started panicking. He grabbed the hangar manager’s collar: “You were there when my wife gave me the plane, right? Tell them!” The manager looked uncomfortable: “Well, I do remember something like that happening, but…” Before the manager could finish, Ethan eagerly turned to his friends: “See? Didn’t I tell you I have a private jet? Didn’t I?” Hearing that Ethan really did have a private jet, his friends quickly changed their tune. “Our boy Ethan has really made it big, even got himself a private jet. You’ve got to take us along on your road to riches, bro.” “Thanks to Ethan, I finally get to experience what it’s like to ride in a private jet.” “Are there any more rich ladies out there giving away planes as gifts? Hook a brother up, will you?” Basking in his friends’ praise, Ethan became even more smug. He yanked on the manager’s collar again: “I’m supposed to take my friends to my wife’s birthday party today. Get these idiots off my plane now.” “If you make me late, I’ll end you.” “And have the plane thoroughly inspected. If there’s even a scratch, they’ll pay for it!” Seeing how serious he was, I started to doubt myself. I even wondered if I had mixed up the hangars. After double-checking with my assistant, I confirmed that I hadn’t made a mistake. Now I realized this guy wasn’t just a drunk who mixed up hangars. He was trying to use my plane to show off to his friends. And of all times, he had to do it when I was in a rush to get to Europe for an important meeting. Just as I was about to step forward and chase them off, the hangar manager approached me with an accusatory look. “Sir, impersonating the owner of a private jet is a serious offense. Please leave immediately, or else…” “Are you kidding me? He says the plane is his and you just believe him?” “I bought this plane from England last year for $70 million. You’re telling me it changed owners just because he said so? Is this how your airline operates?” The manager looked conflicted: “Well… you both claim to be Mr. Parker, so which one of you is really…” “Of course it’s me! This plane is mine!” Ethan cut in before the manager could finish. Seeing this shameless freeloader continue to disrupt my travel plans, my anger started to rise. “Listen, there’s a limit to showing off. You’ve repeatedly interfered with my travel plans. I’m warning you, I’ll sue you if you don’t stop!” “Get off my plane now!” Faced with my challenge, he arrogantly shoved me: “I should be the one suing you for stealing my plane, and you have the nerve to try and kick me off? You must have a death wish.” “Take your people and get the hell off my plane, or I’ll make you regret it!” My assistant stepped forward to confront him when he saw how rudely he was treating me, but I held him back. Time was of the essence, and I couldn’t afford to waste it arguing with this freeloader. So I asked him directly: “You claim this plane is yours. Then tell me, what’s the aircraft’s registration number?” Only the plane’s owner would know the registration number. By asking this question, I intended to expose him in front of everyone and see if he’d keep up his act. The crew members and Ethan’s friends all turned to look at him, eager to see if he could answer. I stood by coldly, waiting to see him make a fool of himself. But his next words completely shocked me. “The registration number is N9527, it’s a Gulfstream G700, and it cost $73.4 million. Did I get that right?” “Now get lost!” Looking at Ethan’s smug face, I was completely stunned. Not only could he recite the plane’s registration number, but he even knew its exact price. This was bizarre. While the base price for Gulfstream jets is around $60 million, the final price varies for each customer based on interior customization. So each plane has a unique price. How did he know the exact price of this plane? What was going on here? 3 Hearing Ethan recite the correct registration number, the crew members gathered around me worriedly. The captain spoke first: “Mr. Carter, is this plane really yours? Don’t get us all in trouble. This jet is worth hundreds of millions. We could end up in prison if there’s an investigation.” “Mr. Carter, you offered a high price, but this job is too risky. I’m out.” The maintenance engineer demanded to quit. Realizing we were about to miss our important meeting, I quickly tried to reassure everyone: “Don’t panic. I don’t know how he got the plane’s registration number, but I can guarantee this plane absolutely belongs to me.” “Look, here are the emails between me and Gulfstream when I purchased the plane.” The crew members calmed down a bit after seeing the communication records on my phone. “I’ve already sent someone to push the airline to pull up the plane’s ownership records as soon as possible. That will prove this plane belongs to me.” “When that happens, not only will I kick this imposter off the plane, I’ll also pursue legal action against him.” Hearing this, the crew members returned to their posts. When Ethan heard I had sent someone to check the ownership records, he burst out laughing. “You’re quite the actor, aren’t you? Checking ownership records? I bet you’re just buying time so you can make a run for it.” I ignored the freeloader, waiting for the airline staff to return with proof of ownership so I could deal with him properly. Seeing that I was ignoring him, he started taunting the crew: “You people are really stupid, aren’t you? Can’t you see he’s a total fraud and a thief?” “He stole my plane and is trying to drag you down with him. How can you not see that?” His friends chimed in to back him up: “You guys really have no sense, do you? Do you think just anyone can own a Gulfstream?” “Look at our man Ethan here. He’s wearing Armani, sporting a Rolex. Only high-class people like him deserve a plane like this.” “Now look at that guy. His clothes don’t even have a logo. They look like they came from a street market. Someone like that probably can’t even afford a toy plane, let alone a private jet.” My assistant James couldn’t stand hearing them mock me and snapped back. “You ignorant fools! You have no idea what true luxury is.” “My boss’s suit is made from French vicuña wool. It took the top luxury brand Loro Piana half a year to custom make it. Just the jacket alone is worth $3 million. And you mistake it for cheap clothes? With your level of taste, you don’t deserve to be anywhere near a private jet.” Stung by my assistant’s retort, Ethan’s group turned red with embarrassment. Trying to save face, Ethan angrily pointed at me and yelled: “Who are you calling ignorant? Who doesn’t deserve a private jet?” “When the airline staff comes back and proves this plane is mine, you two better get on your knees and apologize. Otherwise, you’re not leaving here!” I gave a cold laugh: “We’ll see about that. It’s not clear who’ll be kneeling when this is over!” Just then, the airline staff arrived. I confidently asked him: “Have you confirmed who owns the plane?” The airline employee nodded solemnly: “Yes, we’ve figured it out.” I glanced smugly at the arrogant Ethan and said with satisfaction: “Now that it’s been cleared up, get these uninvolved people off my plane.” I gestured at Ethan’s group, indicating for the staff to remove them from the aircraft. But the employee didn’t move. Instead, he looked at me earnestly. After a moment, he said something that made my jaw drop: “Mr. Carter, please take your people and disembark immediately. The true owner of this aircraft is Mr. Ethan Parker.” 4 Hearing the staff say this, I was completely dumbfounded. This was clearly my plane. How could it suddenly belong to someone else? I grabbed the employee’s collar and anxiously asked: “You must have made a mistake. I bought this plane for $70 million. How could it suddenly become his?” The employee stumbled from my sudden movement but patiently explained: “Mr. Carter, please trust our professionalism. We didn’t make a mistake. This plane does indeed belong to Mr. Ethan Parker.” “However, there was a change in ownership. Last month, the previous owner, Ms. Olivia Reed, gifted the plane to Mr. Ethan Parker at no cost.” Hearing his explanation, I suddenly remembered that I had given this plane to my wife Olivia as a wedding gift last year. But Olivia had apparently re-gifted it to this pretty boy. Realizing this, I was overwhelmed with anger. My legs went weak, and I started to fall backwards. Fortunately, my assistant and the airline employee caught me before I hit the ground. At this moment, Ethan swaggered over with a smug look on his face. “Well, now that we’ve confirmed the plane is mine, get on your knees and apologize!” His friends joined in: “Yeah, kneel and apologize to our man Ethan!” The thought that this arrogant man might be involved with my wife made my blood boil. I broke free from my assistant’s grip and rushed over to slap Ethan hard across the face. “Kneel to your mother! I’ll kill you, you bastard!” Seeing Ethan get hit, his friends swarmed me, raining down punches and kicks. My assistant tried to intervene but was knocked to the ground as well. Ethan had his people pin me down and slapped me hard: “You try to steal my plane and then hit me? I’ll teach you a lesson you won’t forget!” Just as he was about to kick me again, his phone rang. He paused and checked the caller ID, then grinned at his friends: “It’s my sugar mama. Hold on a sec.” To show off, he put the call on speakerphone. As soon as the call connected, Olivia’s coquettish voice came through: “Honey, why aren’t you here yet? I can’t wait any longer.” Hearing Olivia urge him like this, Ethan winked at his friends, showing off. His friends all gave him thumbs up in admiration. Basking in their praise, Ethan smugly replied: “I would have been there ages ago, but some idiot tried to claim your gift to me was his plane. When I confronted him, he even hit me. I’m just teaching him a lesson.” “What? Someone dared to hit you! Honey, teach that person a good lesson. Make sure they never forget it!” “But don’t keep me waiting too long, okay? I’ve already booked us a hotel room in Bay City. I’m just waiting for you to get here.” Hearing Olivia say this, Ethan hung up with a satisfied smirk. His friends whooped and hollered. As for me, I was shaking with rage. My blood felt like it was boiling. I wanted nothing more than to castrate these animals, but they had me pinned down tightly. They continued to mock and beat me until they tired themselves out. Then they threw me and my assistant off the plane. As they were about to take off, they couldn’t resist one last taunt from the cabin door: “You broke loser, trying to act like a big shot in front of me. If my wife wasn’t in such a rush, I’d teach you a real lesson today!” Watching the plane disappear into the sky, murderous thoughts filled my mind. I took out my phone and called my executive assistant: “Buy out all flight routes from Bay County to Bay City immediately. Prohibit N9527 from landing at any airport along the way!”

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My wife was mentally impaired. I stood by her side for six years, never leaving her, caring for her devotedly. Then, suddenly, she wasn’t impaired anymore. It turned out her first love was back, and she wanted me to step aside for him. “You’ve had it good, haven’t you? Living off my family for so long, you’ve milked us dry. Now it’s time for you to go!” “Be smart and walk away, and I won’t hold it against you. But if you cause any trouble, I have a thousand ways to make your life miserable!” Her eyes were clear, and she smiled as she threatened me. I didn’t argue. I readily agreed to her demands, even wishing them a lifetime of happiness. Genevieve froze, but I smiled. She had no idea I’d been waiting for this day for a long, long time! “Sign this divorce agreement immediately!” Perhaps because she had only just recovered, and her position wasn’t entirely secure yet, Genevieve had specifically added a clause at the end of the agreement: “Officially effective one year from now.” “Don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t for me.” Her eyes flickered. “You’ve always relied on the Sinclair family’s support. I’m giving you a year to prepare yourself. After that, don’t ever bother me again.” I couldn’t help but find her words ridiculous. Her true intention couldn’t have been clearer: she didn’t want to be branded as ungrateful. After all, I had cared for her for six long years while she had the mind of a child. If she abandoned me the moment she recovered, it would definitely damage her reputation. In short, it wouldn’t help her ascend to power and become the head of the Sinclair empire. That’s why she insisted on us maintaining our marriage for another year. I had to admire her incredible nerve and audacity. My parents, however, urged me not to argue with Genevieve. They told me to use this year to win her heart back. “Wealthy people often have affairs, Spencer,” they said. “As long as they don’t bring anyone home, just pretend you don’t see anything they do outside.” “Spencer, why are you making this so difficult? As long as you stay by Genevieve’s side, once she’s done playing around, she’ll come back to you eventually,” they tried to convince me. I just sneered and shook my head. “Mom, Dad, the gap between us is too wide. Her heart was never truly mine. Would you two want to live this kind of life?” “Mom, Dad, you’ve really disappointed me.” If Genevieve had ever cared for me, this divorce agreement would never have appeared before me. Back then, when Genevieve was fighting for control of the family corporation, she was unfortunately ambushed. A car accident left her mentally impaired, her IQ regressed to that of a five-year-old. After that, from among the many eligible heirs, she chose me, an ordinary man from a humble background, to be her husband-in-name-only. Though it was merely a contract, I still devoted myself to caring for her for six years. But now it seemed, perhaps, it was all part of her elaborate plan. The competition for the Sinclair Group’s heir was fierce, but in the end, it was she, the seemingly ignorant “fool,” who played the long game and became the biggest winner. Now that she’d achieved her goal, she naturally had no need to continue this charade with me, an outsider from a lesser family. The night before she took control of Sinclair Inc., she changed into a designer gown, looking regal and distant. Every movement she made seemed to announce that everything was under her control. She coldly called my name: “Spencer Thorne.” It was that one call that made me realize I could no longer see the innocent girl who used to shyly grab my shirt and sweetly call me “brother.” Perhaps Genevieve was afraid I’d cling to her. Even though she was the one who stipulated I could only leave after a year, she kept warning me not to covet what wasn’t mine. And so, I, her titular husband, was forced to watch Genevieve parade her “first love” in front of me every single day. When Asher Hayes moved into Genevieve’s mansion, every corner of the house was adorned with festive decorations, as if they were about to have a wedding. Genevieve, true to the corporate powerhouse she was, generously paid for all sorts of expensive custom suits and luxury sports cars for Asher. It made me recall my own wedding to Genevieve. Because she was mentally impaired back then and understood nothing, our wedding was rushed and incredibly simple. She used to cry and tell me she would become really strong so no one could bully her big brother. But now, she was the one bullying me. And now, Genevieve, worried Asher would be bullied by outsiders, showered him with endless affection in public. Anyone unaware would assume he was Genevieve’s legitimate husband. But it didn’t really make a difference. My status as “husband” was just an empty title anyway. To put it harshly, I was just her unpaid caretaker for six years.

Ever since Genevieve secured her position as the head of the Sinclair Group, her actions became increasingly brazen. She and Asher were joined at the hip, and I, her husband-in-name-only, had become completely invisible in her world. While playing a game with my friend Kyle, he was still fuming on the voice chat, advocating for me. His clenched-jaw tone amused me. “Hey, what’s gotten into you? You’re more worked up than I am, and I’m the one living it. Chill, it’s not a big deal.” Kyle scoffed. “If I’m not angry, who will be? We’ve been friends since childhood, and I know your personality inside and out. If I don’t stick up for you, who will?” “You’re always so unfazed, so calm and collected. Even if someone rode all over you, you probably wouldn’t fight back!” he scolded, frustrated with me for not fighting back. “Anyone with half a brain knows how good you’ve been to Genevieve these past few years. Remember when she was pushed to the ground and called ‘brain damaged’? You were the one who stood up and protected her. Every hardship you’ve faced all these years, wasn’t it because of her?” “Now she dares to shamelessly bring another man home! She’s so ungrateful, all your kindness was wasted on her!” Kyle ranted indignantly about Genevieve’s faults, getting more and more heated. I knew my friends were all furious about my situation, but truthfully, I didn’t care much about Genevieve’s attitude. At most, I’d occasionally sigh to myself, “How things have changed.” So, I changed the subject, pulling Kyle into a conversation about other things. “Forget about that for now. I’m looking for a job recently. Do you have any good connections?” “Speaking of which, our company is hiring. I remember you studied administrative management. You could come and apply sometime soon.” “Honestly, our boss is a total stunner. Who knows, maybe you’ll even have a beautiful encounter with her.” As soon as he mentioned his boss, Kyle’s spirits lifted, and he enthusiastically gushed about her captivating beauty and unparalleled grace. He even dragged Genevieve into the comparison, praising his boss for being so pure, loyal, and thoughtful. If I didn’t know Kyle so well, I’d suspect he’d been bribed by his boss to set me up. I chuckled. “Haha, well, I’ll take your word for it then.” I didn’t take Kyle’s words too seriously. I just thought that my marriage contract with Genevieve had only a year left. As long as nothing unexpected happened, my future life would return to normal. But life is unpredictable. Just when I didn’t want to stir up trouble, trouble found me. As I was about to leave, I happened to walk in on Genevieve and Asher canoodling in the living room. They were so intimately entwined that I, an outsider, felt incredibly awkward in that situation. I was about to turn and leave when I heard Asher suddenly speak. “Oh, isn’t that Spencer? Where are you off to?” “Why are you suddenly interrupting Genevieve and me being all lovey-dovey? That’s pretty rude of you.”

This was the first time I’d directly interacted with Asher. He was undeniably handsome, barely in his early twenties, with those sly, captivating eyes that could charm anyone. If I were a woman, I probably couldn’t resist the urge to pull him into my arms. But my attention was drawn to the prominent hickeys on his collarbone. It wasn’t hard to guess what he and Genevieve had been up to last night. Actually, I didn’t even need to look. We all lived under the same roof, and I heard the noises from my room every night, loud and clear. At Asher’s call, Genevieve seemed to only just notice me. She turned her head, a clear look of displeasure on her face. It seemed I really had interrupted their good time. Knowing my place, I didn’t go closer, just apologized from afar. “I was just going out to grab a bite. My apologies for disturbing you two. I’ll leave right now.” However, my discretion wasn’t accepted by Asher. I watched as he gently rubbed his cheek against Genevieve’s hand, looking down pitifully. “Does Spencer dislike me? Why does he leave as soon as he sees me? Did I upset him somehow?” Hearing this, Genevieve immediately soothed him with a kiss. “How could anyone in this world dislike my Asher?” Then she glared at me fiercely. “Now, get over here and apologize to Asher!” I obediently walked over, head bowed, trying to make my presence as minimal as possible, determined to be a silent background fixture. “Gen, is it because I’m too ugly that Spencer keeps looking down and won’t look at me?” Asher seemed to want to make the atmosphere even more awkward, putting on another pitiful act. He wrapped his arms around Genevieve’s neck, ready to give an award-winning performance of despair. “Nonsense! My Asher is clearly the most adorable boy in the world. Anyone who can’t see how captivating you are must be blind!” As she said this, Genevieve’s gaze was fixed on me, making sure I knew the implied “blind person” was me. That look wasn’t new to me. Years ago, when I first married Genevieve, the Sinclair family’s eldest daughter, Isabelle, tried to assert her dominance by constantly provoking Genevieve in front of everyone. After I subtly retaliated with a few sharp words, Isabelle became furious and raised her hand to slap me. Back then, Genevieve was the one who stood in front of me, glaring fiercely at Isabelle, shouting, “No one is allowed to bully Gen’s Spencer!” The way Genevieve looked at Isabelle back then was exactly how she was looking at me now: cold, disgusted, and with a clear warning. I just never imagined that the little girl who once said she’d protect me would now use the same method to protect someone else.

I stood there, saying nothing, doing nothing, yet I was blamed for ‘hating Asher.’ Genevieve’s biased protection made Asher’s face light up with joy. He shot Genevieve a playful, adoring glance. “Gen, I knew you were the best to me.” “Yes, yes, Asher Hayes and Ms. Sinclair are truly a perfect match. Anyone who sees you two would say you’re meant to be.” To escape this uncomfortable situation quickly, I played along with Asher’s words. But perhaps it was my imagination, because after I said that, Genevieve’s gaze on me seemed to sharpen even more. Maybe she connected my words to the humiliation of being a ‘fool’ who had to be subservient to others back then? My mind drifted for a moment, but I remembered not to draw unwanted attention at a time like this. In contrast to Genevieve’s reaction, Asher was very pleased with my response. “Spencer, you really know what to say.” “Aren’t you going out to eat? Go on, don’t starve yourself.” Seeing that he was finally willing to let me go, I quickly smiled and said, “Then I won’t disturb you two. I’m leaving now.” Throughout the entire exchange, Genevieve didn’t say another word, her eyes solely focused on Asher in her arms. But this outcome was exactly what I expected. I just wanted this year to pass quickly so I could finally escape them for good. I didn’t notice, however, that as I left, Genevieve’s eyes, watching my retreating back, grew a touch darker and more unreadable. There was an indescribable something in her gaze, but she concealed it well. Even Asher only thought she was mad at me for interrupting their intimate moment and didn’t pay attention to Genevieve’s brief lapse. When I returned, Asher was no longer at the house. I scanned the living room and didn’t see Genevieve either, immediately understanding. “Looks like they won’t be back tonight.” However, just as I was about to go upstairs to my room, I suddenly heard a low, cold voice from behind the sofa. “I didn’t realize my not coming home would make you so happy.” I turned around and saw Genevieve, her face cold, leaning on the sofa and staring at me, her gaze ominous and dangerous. Who in their right mind sits in the dark, dressed in all black, on a sofa late at night?! I grumbled to myself, but on the surface, I feigned surprise and walked over to Genevieve. “Ms. Sinclair, if you’re home, why aren’t the lights on?” Genevieve suddenly gripped my shoulder. “Spencer Thorne, have you forgotten we’re still married?” Her expression was unpleasant. I guessed she was in a bad mood because I’d walked in on her and Asher earlier. But I had no experience dealing with Genevieve in this state, and I didn’t want to stir up more drama, so I forced myself to answer, “Of course I remember.” “But Ms. Sinclair, please rest assured, today was just an accident. Next time, I’ll be more careful and won’t disturb you and Mr. Hayes.”

The expression on Genevieve’s face seemed to grow even more displeased. She let out a strange, mocking laugh, then slid her hand to my waist. Even through my thin shirt, I could feel the heat of her palm. “Spencer Thorne, I remember you once said you’d never betray me or leave me, didn’t you?” “Yes.” I lowered my head, meeting Genevieve’s aggressive gaze. “But we’ve already signed the divorce agreement, so those words don’t count anymore.” “What? Is this whole charade you’ve been putting on just to remind me about the divorce papers? Or worse, have you actually fallen for me? If—” “No! Ms. Sinclair, I think you’ve misunderstood. Our marriage was a planned arrangement from the very beginning. How could a collaborator possibly fall for their business partner?” Genevieve’s eyes were fixed on mine, deep and unreadable. The emotions within them were truly hard to decipher. And she still held the ‘life-and-death power’ over my family, which was the key leverage that forced me to agree to this year of pretense. “Good, very good.” Genevieve suddenly released her grip on me and scoffed. “Spencer Thorne, you’d better remember your words.” “I trust you’re a smart man. If that’s the case, then for the rest of this year, you’d better fulfill your duties as a husband.” I’d always thought that even if there was no affection between us, considering how dedicatedly I’d cared for her for five years, things wouldn’t end too badly. But Genevieve’s sudden fury now seemed utterly baseless. My first thought was that Asher had badmouthed me to her earlier, but that didn’t make sense. Asher was targeting me only because I’d held the title of Genevieve’s husband for five years, and he couldn’t gauge my place in her heart. After that little test, he got the answer he wanted, so he shouldn’t be bothering me anymore. “I understand.” I followed Genevieve into the master bedroom. By the time I finished showering and came out, Genevieve was already asleep in bed. Only a small nightlight remained lit in the entire room. This was a lingering after-effect from Genevieve’s car accident. In the years she had the mind of a child, even with me by her side, she would always remind me to leave a light on before she slept. I watched her sleeping face for a while before slowly getting into the other side of the bed. I thought I’d lie awake until dawn, but in the quiet atmosphere, it wasn’t long before a heavy wave of sleepiness washed over me.

I had a dream. In it, I was holding a girl’s hand, frolicking freely by the beach. I knew those were memories from before I was forced to marry Genevieve. And that girl had completely vanished from my world the day I married Genevieve. For all these years, despite trying everything I could, I still couldn’t find any trace of her. Just as my dream was about to turn sweeter, I suddenly felt a chill run down my spine. I woke up abruptly to see Genevieve, who knows when she woke up, sitting up in bed, staring intently at me. I was startled. Before I could fully register what was happening, I heard her cold voice. “Who allowed you to sleep next to me?” “I let you in to serve me. You can’t even do that right, you’re useless!” “Get out!” The no-longer-scheming Genevieve was always so temperamental. I couldn’t figure out what she was thinking, but not having to share a room with her was a good thing. I quickly scrambled out of bed, but my brain was still a bit foggy from sleep. Without thinking, I almost stumbled into the nightstand. Luckily, I only swayed and steadied myself before leaving without looking back. Because of this, I didn’t notice Genevieve’s hand, which had reached out halfway before being abruptly pulled back. The next day, Genevieve went to the company early. Although she had swiftly eliminated all dissenting voices in the corporation on the day she took power, Isabelle wasn’t one to sit still. Not to mention the old shareholders who sided with Isabelle were still causing trouble behind the scenes. Thankfully, Genevieve had now allied herself with the Hayes family, otherwise, her path to stabilizing her position in the Sinclair Group might not have been so smooth. As for me, because I hadn’t slept well the night before, Kyle immediately noticed the obvious dark circles under my eyes when we met up. “I swear, Spencer, did you go out robbing banks last night?” Kyle asked. “Just a bit of insomnia,” I gave a flimsy excuse. “I haven’t been working for so long, so I was up late trying to organize my resume.” “Don’t push yourself too hard. I believe with your abilities, you’ll definitely thrive at our company,” Kyle said lightheartedly, patting my shoulder. I naturally believed in my own abilities. I just suddenly thought that with Genevieve staying home all night yesterday, even if nothing truly happened between us, in Asher’s eyes, it was a clear signal of provocation. I was worried he would come looking for trouble.

Sure enough, just as Kyle and I finished our interview and walked out, one of Asher’s bodyguards found me. “Mr. Thorne, my young master invites you to a private club. Please come with us.” The bodyguard was tall, a good half-head taller than me, and when he looked down slightly, the corners of his eyes turned up a little. A hint of contemptuous smile played on his lips, making him look rather unpleasant. Kyle immediately bristled, letting out a sarcastic laugh. “Oh, listen to that! Some dogs, after spending too much time with their master, learn a few human tricks and think they’re people now?” “Anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re hot stuff, but trash should know its place. This isn’t a recycling center, you know.” Kyle’s words were barbed, and his rapid-fire delivery left the bodyguard’s face ashen. “Mr. Thorne, my young master’s invitation is sincere. I hope you won’t be foolish. Control your friend, or else, if you provoke someone you shouldn’t, there will be trouble.” I sneered. “A stray dog with no manners, barking at people in the street—Kyle isn’t out of line for cursing back. You’re so angry, did you just admit that description fits you?” After the bodyguard left, his face livid, Kyle immediately raised an eyebrow at me and grinned. “I can’t believe you didn’t stop me.” “I thought you’d tolerate it again this time. If you ask me, next time we see that scumbag couple, you should curse them back. That’s the real satisfaction!” His words made me grin. “You’re right, you’re right. When it comes to arguing, who could ever beat you, even when we were kids?” Truth be told, my attitude towards Genevieve or Asher had always been one of indifference. Because I didn’t care, I didn’t want to waste my breath. Asher just wanted to flaunt Genevieve’s affection in front of me and mock me. Such words go in one ear and out the other. If I obsessed over every little thing, wouldn’t I be living too exhausting a life? “I know you’re sticking up for me, but we really don’t need to get angry over people like that. Asher just wants me to be jealous of him, doesn’t he? I’ll purposely not give him that satisfaction. Isn’t that the best revenge?” Having my best friend stand up for me naturally made me happy, but I didn’t want him to get dragged into trouble because of it. After all, Asher clearly seemed like an arrogant type. If he felt insulted by me, he’d naturally look for an opportunity to retaliate.

“Spencer, quickly, try this tea. See if it suits your taste?” In the private club, Asher, with a smile on his face, instructed the tea artist to pour me a hot cup of tea. “Anything Mr. Hayes serves certainly wouldn’t be subpar. It’s just a shame a coarse person like me doesn’t appreciate such luxuries,” I replied with a smile. I’d heard Asher liked tea. This very club was apparently bought for him by Genevieve. She’d even spent a fortune to collect various fine teas from all over the world and deliver them to Asher. Genevieve’s favoritism towards Asher was well-known. Asher didn’t get angry at my words. Instead, he just curved his lips and looked straight at me. “I heard Spencer is looking for a job recently?” “Are you short on cash? Why didn’t you tell Gen? She’d definitely be upset if she found out.” “If Spencer feels uncomfortable asking, you can tell me. Though I don’t have many talents, I’m certainly not lacking in money. As long as Spencer asks, I, as your younger brother, wouldn’t mistreat you.” I instinctively pursed my lips, then looked at the black card pushed across the table, feeling a bit amused. I honestly didn’t expect Asher to try the classic “throw money at me” move from a TV drama. “Thank you for your concern, Mr. Hayes, but I don’t like getting something for nothing.” “My marriage to Ms. Sinclair was just a contract from the start. I’ve already taken what I was supposed to. Anything extra isn’t necessary.” It seemed Genevieve hadn’t told Asher about our arrangement, which was why he felt threatened by my presence. Thinking this, I simply took off the jade ring that Grandmother Eleanor had given me when I married Genevieve and pushed it back across the table with the black card. My action didn’t just surprise Asher; even the bodyguards behind him looked astonished. Perhaps Asher never expected me to so readily hand over what he wanted, but he still accepted the items with a smile. “Spencer, what are you saying? I’ve always respected you as a brother. Of course, I, as your younger brother, should help out if my older brother is in need.” I suppose Asher had never met a ‘love rival’ as sensible as me in his life. Before he could even make a move, I had already calmly exited the stage. At this point, Asher wouldn’t have anything to be dissatisfied with, though he might, to some extent, look down on me, thinking I was too weak. If I could truly leave him with that impression, that would be absolutely perfect. Asher personally poured me another cup of tea. “Spencer, that necklace on your neck looks nice too. How about you sell it to your little brother?” Hearing this, I instinctively raised a hand to guard the necklace. “This is just cheap stuff from a street vendor. If Mr. Hayes likes it, Ms. Sinclair will surely get you something better and more expensive.”

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In my previous life, I gave my heart and soul to Noah, the little fox. But he hated me for separating him from the little rabbit, and pushed me off a cliff. Given a second chance, I no longer trust beast-men. I only want to tame them. So when I face Lucas the wolf, I put away all kindness. I only test and punish him repeatedly. Until I tire of this game, but he tries to overstep his bounds and become my bedmate. Hah, it’s not so easy to share my bed. 0 A row of beast-men knelt before me, iron chains around their necks. My sister and I sat on either side. She looked down arrogantly and laughed, “Little sister, you choose first.” I scanned the row of beast-men, my gaze lingering on a pitiful-looking little rabbit. Immediately, an intense, hateful gaze shot towards me. I smirked and moved my gaze away, landing on the owner of that gaze. Then, under his anxious, pleading look, I pointed to the beast-man on the far left. “I’ll take that one.” The little fox visibly relaxed. I lowered my head and smiled faintly. In my previous life, I had chosen that little fox. My sister laughed, “I thought you’d pick the fox.” I shook my head, and my sister ended up choosing the little rabbit. In my previous life, I chose the fox and my sister chose the rabbit, which is why the little fox hated me for separating him from the rabbit. Even though I nursed him back to health, took him traveling all over the country, and treated him extremely well, it still didn’t erase the hatred in his heart. I still remember when I took him mountain climbing, the twisted expression on his face as he pushed me off the cliff. He said: “It’s all your fault. If it wasn’t for you, the eldest miss would have taken me too, and I wouldn’t have been separated from the little rabbit. You really deserve to die.” Hah, given a second chance, I chose to let them be together. 0

After we chose our beast-men, the rest would be sent to the fighting arena. That little fox wasn’t chosen by my sister. He crawled forward desperately, disregarding everything else. “Miss, please, take me with you too, I’m begging you.” Chloe’s eyes flashed with disgust. She covered her nose, frowning as she waved her hand. “Take him away, take him away.” Chloe loved beautiful and cute things, and naturally her beast-men were no exception. The little fox Noah was filthy all over, with wounds on his face. In my previous life, I was soft-hearted and liked foxes, so I took him away. My sister was different – except for those she cared about, she was equally cruel to everyone. Seeing Chloe had no interest in him, Noah turned his gaze to me. “Second Miss, don’t you want me anymore? I’m Noah, I’m your little fox, Second Miss.” Noah’s captivating eyes were pitiful. So he was reborn too. Perfect, I was curious to see what kind of life he’d have without my protection. I turned my head away, stroking the new beast-man at my side. “My beast-man is clearly a wolf, when did he become a fox? A beast-man without self-awareness deserves to be taught a lesson.” As I finished speaking, Noah was roughly dragged out of the room. Only when the door closed did it finally cut off his wailing. Chloe beckoned, and her little rabbit immediately came forward. Just as the rabbit was about to touch her, there was a loud crack as a whip fell on the rabbit’s body. “You filthy thing, how dare you touch me? Who gave you the courage?” The little rabbit immediately shrank back pitifully. Seeing this, the disgust in Chloe’s eyes gradually dissipated. She stood up, tossing the whip to an attendant, then said goodbye to me before striding away. Behind her, that little rabbit followed closely, step by step. 0

I snorted with laughter, then looked back and realized my beast-man’s gaze had been fixed on a certain spot the whole time. I followed his line of sight and sneered. So, I’d chosen an ungrateful wolf. Did he want to be chosen by my sister that badly? I stood up, looking down at him coldly. My voice was icy. “If you don’t want to follow me, you can say so. I’ll have someone send you back. But if you follow me with ulterior motives, I’ll make you suffer.” The beast-man looked up, his gaze piercing as he looked at me. “I’m willing to follow you, with no ulterior motives.” His words were firm, but I didn’t know how much I could trust them. I nodded slightly and said flatly, “Then follow me.” Leaving the main villa, I made my way back to my own territory. As we entered, I handed the beast-man over to the butler. “Teach him the rules, and get him cleaned up.” The butler bowed in acknowledgment. This beast-man was really too dirty, with wounds all over his body and a strong smell of blood. I left the beast-man behind and went upstairs alone. After the lesson from my previous life, I had developed a deep aversion to beast-men from the bottom of my heart. They were disloyal and ruthless, but our clan had rules that every woman must choose a beast-man as a guardian when she came of age. If we didn’t choose, the clan leader would forcibly pair us up. In my previous life, I was probably too indulgent with Noah, which led to him daring to overstep his bounds. This time, I was determined to tame this ungrateful wolf into an obedient cat. 0

An hour later, that wolf was brought before me. His wounds had been bandaged, his body cleaned, and that bloody smell had dissipated. Looking at that cold, aggressive face, a desire to conquer rose in my heart. “What’s your name?” “Lucas.” His voice was low and powerful. Even wrapped in bandages, it couldn’t hide the intimidating aura around him. I looked him over carelessly, only now noticing his pale complexion and deliberately straightened back, though without much strength. “How did you get these injuries?” Lucas pressed his lips tightly together, his voice cold: “In the fighting arena, I was clawed by a tiger a few times.” Dissatisfaction flashed in my eyes. I had been distracted when choosing him, but thought a wolf couldn’t be too bad. I didn’t expect him to be a weak wolf. Suddenly, I had the idea of sending him back to the fighting arena. I sneered, “So weak? How will you protect me in the future?” Lucas’s expression froze, disgust flashing briefly in his eyes. Very good, he really was an ungrateful wolf. I smirked and laughed coldly, my eyes instantly turning cold. “Hmm? Answer me, if you’re so weak, how will you protect me in the future?” Lucas’s gaze was deep, his voice louder. “I fought for five days straight. On the last day, I encountered a tiger at full strength, which is why I was unfortunately injured. But even so, I still won. I don’t think I’m weak, and I’m capable of protecting you well, Second Miss.” He practically spat out the last sentence through gritted teeth. This was still an untamed wolf. 0 Cold sweat broke out on Lucas’s forehead, his lips much paler than before. Clearly, this wolf had his own ideas. He wanted to go to my sister’s side, and he didn’t submit to me. Since that was the case, I’d let my sister be the first to tame him.

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Seven years into my marriage, I was diagnosed with cancer. After another coughing fit, I collapsed at home, blood staining my lips. That very evening, Liam walked in, holding the woman he’d lost and just found again, his first love, Serena. He kicked open my hospital room door with a violent crash. He shoved a kidney donation consent form directly into my hand. “Serena’s condition can’t wait. You’re young, you’ll recover quickly. I’m begging you.” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and I’ll take care of you afterward.” I didn’t cry out in pain. My hand fumbled, shakily signing my name on the paper. The nurses outside looked at me with disdain. “No wonder she holds her position as Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him. Who else could compare?” Liam gently held Serena in his arms, tossing a line at me without even looking back: “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains. Isn’t that what you always wanted?” He had no idea my body couldn’t handle the surgery anymore. I was destined not to make it to that day.

On our seventh wedding anniversary, I received my late-stage lung cancer diagnosis. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], based on the test results, you’re seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor’s voice seemed to drift from a far-off place. “However, given your current condition, you must begin chemotherapy immediately.” I clutched the diagnosis in my hand, unable to stop myself from asking, “What if… what if I want to keep this baby?” The doctor pushed up his glasses, his tone heavy. “The cancer cells have already spread. If you don’t get immediate treatment, your survival period might not exceed six months.” “And chemotherapy drugs could cause fetal deformities or even death.” I whispered, “So, if the baby lives, I have to die?” “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], I advise you to terminate the pregnancy as soon as possible.” The doctor’s voice was tinged with professional sympathy. “You’re still young. Once your condition stabilizes…” I didn’t hear the rest of what he said. Seven years. Liam and I had longed for this child for seven whole years. Every negative pregnancy test felt like it was mocking my foolish hopes. Now it was finally here, but it had to be my killer. As I walked out of the hospital, I touched my abdomen, making a decision. I was going to tell Liam the good news. Maybe this child could save our increasingly cold marriage. Maybe, just maybe, he’d hold me tight like he did seven years ago, saying, “Aria, don’t be scared, I’m here.” The villa was empty. Liam wasn’t back again. I had grown used to it. Ever since Serena returned three months ago, he rarely stayed overnight at home. I changed into his favorite white dress and began preparing our anniversary dinner. Candlelight, red wine, his favorite steak. I wrote “Happy 7th Anniversary” on the cake, then sat at the dining table, waiting for him. My phone screen lit up. It was a video from an unknown number. The moment I opened it, my blood froze. Fireworks bloomed in the night sky, forming the letters “AL forever.” That was our special fireworks display, the one he designed for me when Liam and I got married. AL, for Aria and Liam, our initials. But now, standing under the fireworks was Serena, Liam leaning in to kiss her forehead. The video ended on Serena’s smug, triumphant smile. “Aria, did you really think what you stole could ever truly be yours?” “Take a good look, see who he truly loves.” My phone slipped from my hand and clattered to the floor. A metallic taste rose in my throat. I stumbled, grabbing the dining table, and a mouthful of fresh blood splattered onto the pristine white cake. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I seemed to hear Liam, seven years ago, whispering in my ear. “Aria, in this life, I’ll only set off fireworks for you.”

The ceiling swayed in my vision, the antiseptic stinging my nostrils. I blinked, the metallic taste of blood still lingering in my throat. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My hand unconsciously went to my abdomen. It was still flat, yet it already held the life I’d yearned for seven years. The ward door suddenly kicked open, slamming against the wall with a thunderous bang. I jumped, my IV tube swaying violently. Liam strode in, his suit as crisp as if he’d just left a board meeting. In his arms, Serena, like a lazy cat, was wearing that Chanel dress I’d seen in a magazine last week. “Finally awake.” Liam’s voice was edged with impatience. “I’ve waited three hours for you.” My fingernails dug into my palms. Three hours? I’d been unconscious for a whole day and night. Serena peeked out from his arm, her lips slightly pouted. “Liam, it smells awful in here. I’m getting dizzy.” Liam immediately clutched her tighter, pulling out a delicate small bottle from his pocket and placing it at her nose. “Peppermint essential oil. Just sniff it.” I watched silently, like a surreal play unfolding before me. The man who once took an entire day off because of my period cramps was now carefully attending to someone else. Liam turned to me, suddenly pulling a document from his briefcase. “Aria, Serena has kidney failure and needs a transplant.” “The matching results show you’re the most suitable donor.” The document was shoved into my hand. I looked down at the words ‘Living Kidney Donation Consent Form’ and suddenly wanted to laugh. “She’s young and afraid of pain.” Liam’s voice softened. It was the first time today he’d used that tone with me. “You’ve always been strong, and you recover quickly.” A tear splattered onto the signature line, blurring a small patch. I looked up at Liam. His brows were slightly furrowed, but his gaze was fixed on Serena. His fingers gently ran through her long hair. “Pen.” I reached out, my voice so hoarse it didn’t sound like my own. Liam visibly froze, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. He hastily pulled out his fountain pen and handed it to me. Our wedding anniversary was still engraved on it. I shakily signed my name, each stroke like I was personally burying my own love. After signing, I quickly tucked the cancer diagnosis under my pillow. Liam visibly relaxed, a long-lost tenderness appearing on his face. “Thank you. I’ll cover all the surgery costs, and afterward… I’ll take care of you.” What generous charity. I turned my face away, looking out the window. The sun was still so bright, shining on the small wildflowers on the windowsill. “After you’re discharged, I’ll take you to Switzerland to see the snow-capped mountains.” He continued, his tone lighter now. “Didn’t you always want to go?” My heart clenched violently. It was something we promised during our honeymoon. To go to Switzerland together on our seventh anniversary. He remembered after all. But now the promise sounded so bitterly ironic. “Liam…” Serena suddenly cut him off in a delicate voice, “It’s so stuffy in here, I feel sick…” Liam’s face instantly changed. He scooped her up in his arms. “We’re going back right now.” He turned to leave, then paused. “The surgery is scheduled for next Wednesday. Get some good rest these next few days.” The ward door closed again, his footsteps fading away. “Tsk tsk, how impressive.” The nurses’ whispers drifted from the doorway. “No wonder she can be Mrs. [Liam’s Last Name]. She’d even give her life for him.” I pulled the blanket up over my face, finally letting the tears flow freely.

The next day, I found the doctor again. “Ms. [Aria’s Last Name], are you sure you want to sign this ‘Consent to Forgo Treatment’ form?” The doctor’s pen hovered above the paper, his eyes behind his glasses showing confusion. I slowly nodded. “Given your current physical condition, a kidney transplant is almost equivalent to suicide.” The doctor lowered his voice. “Not to mention keeping the fetus.” “I understand.” I reached out for the fountain pen, saying indifferently, “But the surgery must be done.” “At least wait until the fetus is twelve weeks…” “He can’t wait anymore.” I cut off the doctor, signing my name on the consent form. The ink bled, like a black tear. At the end of the hallway, a long line of women waited at the obstetrics and gynecology clinic, each pregnant woman touching her swollen belly, her face radiating a happiness I dared not dream of. I clutched the examination report, the words ‘Termination of Pregnancy’ stinging my eyes. The operating table was colder than I imagined. As the instruments clinked, I bit down hard on my lip, staring at the ceiling. A sharp pain spread from my lower abdomen to my entire body. My nails dug into my palms, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. Tears streamed down my temples into my hairline. I thought of the hope and disappointment with every pregnancy test over the past seven years, and the euphoria of last week when I learned I was pregnant. This child, unwanted by its father, perhaps it was better if it never came into this world. The nurse wiped the blood from between my legs. “You can leave after half an hour of rest.” I nodded mechanically, my hand instinctively touching my flat abdomen. There had once been a heartbeat. Now, only a desolate silence remained. It was dusk when I returned to the villa. I pushed open the door, and a sweet, cloying scent of ginger tea hit me. In the living room, Liam was half-kneeling in front of the sofa, one hand holding a bowl, the other gently stroking Serena’s hair. “Just one more sip, hmm?” His voice was achingly gentle, completely unfamiliar. “Drink it, and your stomach won’t hurt anymore.” Serena was wrapped in *my* wool blanket, her face pale, yet the moment she saw me, a triumphant smile appeared. She deliberately let out a soft moan, burrowing deeper into Liam’s arms. “Liam, it hurts so much…” Only then did Liam notice me standing at the doorway. His gaze lingered on my pale face for a second, then he frowned. “Where have you been? You didn’t answer your phone.” I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Was I supposed to say I’d just gone and killed our baby? “Go make Serena a bowl of brown sugar water.” He commanded, then turned to gently coax the woman in his arms, “Aria makes the best brown sugar water, try some.” Aria. He hadn’t called me that in a long time. In the kitchen, I mechanically sliced ginger, the knife blade grazing my fingertips several times. Pains in my abdomen came in waves, cold sweat beaded on my back. When the water boiled, I felt a dizzy spell, grabbing the counter to keep from falling. “Not done yet?” Liam’s voice came from behind me. “Serena’s waiting uncomfortably.”

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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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