Category: English

Blake Donovan said my body was a curse, yet his lucky charm. The rougher he was in bed, the smoother his career went. So, every day, blindfolded, I endured his demands, his forceful advances, whenever and wherever. After the seventh tearing, I was back in the hospital. That’s when I overheard a nurse calling me an “elite-tier pleasure object.” Fury surged through me, I wanted to confront them, but then I heard my fiancé talking to his friends. “How did you tear Amelia Vance up again, Blake? My turn when she heals?” “Amelia Vance is a godsend! I only used her once, and I got a raise and a promotion!” Blake softly kissed Scarlett Hayes’ forehead, speaking with a casual indifference that chilled me. “She’s getting so much more *accommodating* now. Don’t worry, she’ll be good to go again in no time!” Everyone chuckled, a dark, knowing sound. Scarlett playfully smacked Blake’s chest. “You guys are so bad, Professor Donovan! Aren’t you afraid Amelia will find out and break off the engagement?” Blake carefully pulled her onto his lap, gently pinching her cheek. “You’re all that matters to me.” “Women like her are cheap. I treat her like this every time, and she still loves it. You think she’d ever leave me?” His words were met with universal agreement. “I’ve been with so many women, but she’s the most obedient, the softest.” “She just lets us do whatever we want. Even when it hurts, she only cries. Honestly, I’m kinda hooked.” “It hurts so bad, but she screams so sweetly. Blake, can we try that last game again next time? She won’t die, and a little blood just adds to the thrill!” But Blake’s face darkened. “I told you, if you want to play this game, you follow my rules!” “No matter what, she’s *my* Amelia Vance now.” “She chased me for three years. She’d probably lose her mind if I left her. She’s been with me, after all. I can’t just let you guys completely ruin her.” The others didn’t dare push it. “You’re right. Blake’s such a stand-up guy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t share such a prize with us.” “Blake, why don’t you share some tips? Where do you find such obedient women?” Blake just curled his lips into a cold, emotionless smile. “She’s just… cheap. She loves it when people are rough with her.” “Just give her a little sweet talk afterward, and she’ll hand you her heart.” They continued to discuss their “experience” with me. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning, my body frozen, hands and feet as cold as a corpse. What were they talking about? Blake and I had known each other since we were ten, together for twelve years. He treated me like a precious gem. After we started dating, even my parents saw him as their successor. I’d stepped back from my lab, handing over my half-finished research, practically putting him on a pedestal as a genius doctor, celebrated and admired. He said he was too busy, that he didn’t have enough time for me, and he wanted to make it up to me. So, no matter how rough he was during our intimate moments, I thought he was just too passionate. Even after being torn multiple times, I bit my lips until they bled from the pain, yet I never wanted him to stop. Turns out, it was all just my wishful thinking. The thought of him whispering sweet nothings in my ear last night made me sick to my stomach. My body weak, I leaned on the wall, struggling to stand, when I heard Scarlett’s suggestion. “Oh, Amelia Vance is so rare, a masochist like her. I’ve never seen one before!” “Blake, can I observe too?” She looked around at the men, a wicked grin on her face. “To thank Amelia for ‘helping’ me, I specially invited a master from abroad for her. He’ll definitely make her even more vibrant and resilient.” Blake’s gaze fell on a man who had been quiet and unassuming. I instinctively looked over, and our eyes met. He mouthed something, but I quickly looked away, unable to make it out. Blake hesitated. “No more tearing. The doctor said if she gets hurt again, it won’t heal properly.” Scarlett, though, grew even more excited. “Tearing makes it more fun! Besides, if it doesn’t heal, just use another spot, right?” Blake intimately pecked her lips. “Alright, whatever you say. I’ll make sure you have a blast.”

“If she gets hooked, I’ll announce that she cheated on me. You’ll owe me a new fiancée then.” Scarlett giggled sweetly, burying herself in his arms. Everyone offered them congratulations. Only I remained hidden in the corner, my heart shattered by the truth. I returned to my hospital room, my phone ringing several times. It was such a short distance, but with every step, the pain in my body felt like dancing on knife-edges, and cold sweat drenched me. I gripped the bed rail, waiting for the worst of the pain to subside. Just then, the hospital room door swung open. Blake, phone in hand, rushed in with a worried expression and scooped me up into his arms. His movements were too rough, tearing at my wounds. The scent of roses made me nauseous. “Why didn’t you answer my calls? Are you still mad at me?” I closed my eyes, hesitantly clinging to his sleeve. “Blake, do you only love me?” He froze, not answering immediately. “Are you overthinking things again? I told you, you’re the most important person in my heart.” “I have things to do back at the lab. Be a good girl, don’t make me worry too much.” He placed me on the bed. My face was pale as I begged him. “I don’t like it here. I want to go home.” Blake was still gentle with me, but I saw the deep-seated disgust in his eyes. “Be a good girl. Our engagement party is in three days.” “How can you attend looking like this? Rest up, don’t overthink.” He was used to domineeringly arranging everything for me. Just then, someone gently knocked on the door. Almost instantly, Blake let go of my hand and eagerly opened the door. Scarlett poked her head in, their eyes met, and they shared a knowing smile. “Professor Donovan, is Amelia still throwing a fit? Don’t be childish, Amelia. Your health is most important.” The girl who had once been so poorly dressed was now vibrant and charming, yet I felt nothing but utter repulsion. I turned my head, but she actively leaned into Blake’s embrace, her voice filled with feigned disappointment. “It seems I shouldn’t have come.” “Amelia, I know you don’t like me. I can go back to my hometown and never bother you two again.” I watched coldly as she cried, pressing herself against Blake. She knew exactly what she was doing. But Blake gently held her, his brow furrowed as he looked at me, his face disapproving. “How long are you going to keep being so childish?” “Scarlett works so hard, she’s so ambitious. It wasn’t easy for her to get out of her small town. How could you be so cruel as to ruin a girl’s life?” So, it was okay for her to ruin my entire life? I felt an overwhelming sense of absurdity. Last time, the research I’d spent three months perfecting was stolen by him and given to Scarlett, who was about to graduate. Not only did Scarlett get credit for the paper, but I also had to appease the other team members and take all the blame. This year, on my birthday, I waited for him on the mountaintop as we’d agreed, to watch the sunrise together. But it wasn’t until I almost fell off the cliff that I saw on his Ins stories that he’d stayed up all night cooking soup for her because her stomach hurt. Time and time again. It seemed ever since Scarlett appeared, he always broke his promises. I used to think that after more than a decade as childhood sweethearts, no one could ever come between us. But that was just what *I* thought. Blake didn’t wait for me to back down, and his face also hardened. “It’s not always the weaker person who’s right, Amelia. You’ve truly disappointed me!” He roughly yanked my leg. A sharp, piercing pain, like a knife twisting in my flesh, tore through me the next second. I could barely speak. “Call… call a doctor…” My pale face made him want to touch me, but he didn’t dare. Scarlett, though, grabbed his hand, looking at me disapprovingly. “Amelia Vance is so lucky. Someone even spoils her when she’s faking it.” “But I think this looks so bad, so immature.” Blake’s concern instantly turned to contempt. He stared at me coldly. “Amelia Vance, you look truly pathetic like this. Stop faking it!” I felt myself getting wet beneath me, my strength completely drained. I reached out, trying desperately to press the call button beside the bed. But as soon as my finger touched it, someone’s hand clamped over my mouth and nose. “It’s nothing, just the patient in Bed 2 playing a prank. You don’t need to worry about her.”

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One year into our marriage. I found out my husband was actually a rich guy. It’s just… he looked exactly like a guy in the financial newspaper. When I confronted him, he just laughed and said, “Lots of people look alike, but not everyone has my eight-pack abs.” “…” Ugh, he was so right. I absolutely *loved* my husband’s eight-pack abs. “Violet.” Rhys’s arms wrapped tightly around my waist, his handsome face buried in my neck. I heard his low chuckle and reached out to push him, but my hand landed right on those solid eight-pack abs. A shock like electricity ran through my palm, my breath hitched, and my heart pounded. “Rhys…” The word slipped from my lips, soft and sweet, my eyes swimming, practically dripping with desire. He lifted his head, bracing himself on either side of me, hovering as he smiled. The slight upturn of his foxy eyes held a hint of raw desire, tinged with red. His thin lips parted, and he lowered his head, kissing mine fiercely, taking charge without a moment’s hesitation. “Good girl, call me Daddy.” … Just like that, I called him Daddy all night long. The next morning, I almost missed work. When I finally dragged myself out of bed, my darling husband was still sprawled out, sound asleep. Ugh, he looked like a god in repose, absolutely stunning. Looks like it was up to me to bring home the bacon. My best friend, Harper, said I was hopelessly gone, and I admit it. Ever since I met Rhys, I’d been a total prisoner of love. “You’re completely wrapped around his finger! That dog Rhys is like some manipulative siren, whispering nonsense in your ear, and you just do whatever he says without a second thought!” Every time I met Harper, she called my husband a dog. I just put up with it. What else could I do? She’s been my best friend since we were kids. “My lunch break is almost over. Can we talk about something else?” I checked the time. This woman had been going on for nearly an hour. Harper sighed, her expression like she was thoroughly disappointed in me. “What is that dog Rhys even thinking, letting you, a woman, go out and earn money while he hides at home sleeping? What’s up with that?” “I’m happy to.” Only I truly know what’s best for me. Rhys has his good points, and others just wouldn’t understand. Rhys and I met completely by chance. As the old saying goes, it was truly meant to be, the best possible arrangement. A year ago, my company had a team-building trip to beautiful Miami Beach. That evening, I was strolling along the shore by myself when I saw a crowd of people gathered, arguing loudly. Right in the middle was Rhys. Under the moonlight, his unfairly perfect face practically glowed like something carved from moonlight, looking awkwardly innocent. His long, slender fingers held a crab claw like it was a piece of art. He was wearing the most ridiculously loud Hawaiian shirt and baggy shorts, but on him, it looked unbelievably stunning. It was love at first sight, and I was completely, hopelessly sunk. Like quicksand, there was no pulling me out. Turns out, poor Rhys hadn’t brought any money for dinner, and the owner thought he was trying to dine and dash. Was there any justice in the world? What’s wrong with a gorgeous person eating a little food? I dug into my own wallet and helped him out. But it hurt for a while because he’d ordered a whole king crab feast. Harper said I was totally bewitched by Rhys. I couldn’t help it. He was too handsome, and I was too much of a sucker for a pretty face. He promised he’d pay me back, but I honestly never expected him to. I was playing the long game. There had to be a reason for us to meet again, right? Then I found out we lived in the same city. Fate is just like that, wonderfully mysterious. Later, we got closer and closer. I felt the time was right to take things to the next level, but then I got nervous and totally butchered my words. “Can we do, friends?”

It was like a sudden clap of thunder; we both just froze. “No, no, no! I mean, can we *be* friends? Not *do*… Why would I say something like that? I…” Ugh, explaining only makes it worse. I was just digging myself deeper. Oh no, I sounded like a pervert! Rhys reached out and took my hand. His palm was large and strong, warm and solid. He looked at me, serious and sincere. “You don’t really know me yet. The truth is, I…” “I know.” I understood his awkwardness. He still hadn’t paid me back for that dinner in Miami. And after that, whenever we went out, I always rushed to pay. Sigh, I guess the heavens are fair. They gave him perfect looks but made his life so… poor. “I’ll support you.” I was serious. More real than pure gold. From the very first moment I saw him, I was utterly captivated. I’m a total sucker for a pretty face, and I guess that means I’m doomed to give my all. Rhys’s eyes widened in surprise. His foxy eyes, usually so subtle, now popped wide open. He probably didn’t expect me to be so direct. Maybe he needed to think about it. It was a big deal, after all. My expression dimmed, and my heart sank. To be honest, I wasn’t rich either. With me, he’d have food and clothes, but it was far from a life of luxury. The next second, my chin was gently lifted, and his soft lips pressed against mine. Between whispered kisses, Rhys chuckled softly. “It’s a deal.” Once we started, there was no stopping us. It was like a fuse had been lit, and we just exploded. The most important thing was how incredibly compatible we were, especially in bed. Those eight-pack abs, in particular, were the death of me. Just being in the same room felt like a commitment, and our eyes meeting was pure intimacy. Every day was hot and fiery. As for going directly to the courthouse to get married later, I swear I wasn’t the one who suggested it. We didn’t have a wedding. We just went out for a nice dinner together the night we got our marriage certificate. The beginning was tough, but the rest was much smoother. Our lives together were sweeter than honey, so happy it made some people green with envy. Like my best friend, Harper. “Did you even listen to a word I said? You’re a great girl, but why are you so clueless? Have you really thought this through? You’re going to support him for life?” Harper scolded me too. I nodded. “For life.” The words themselves sounded happy. Harper waved her hand, telling me to get lost. “Alright, I’m going. Talk later!” I grabbed my bag and blew her a kiss. “Violet Hayes, mark my words, one day he’ll drain you dry.” I took my best friend’s “blessing.” No, thanks! Hope neither of us ever ends up like that.

I’d been at my company for four years, but my position was lower than some of the new hires. The reason? Everyone knew. I’m tall and slender, with fair skin and a pretty face. When I first joined the company, I was the center of attention for quite a while. That ended the moment I got married. Everyone here was civilized; they knew there were certain lines you didn’t cross. But some people weren’t like that. They were just predators, taking whatever they wanted. My boss, Mr. Sterling, had hinted at things repeatedly, but I always played dumb and brushed him off. Today, though, it seemed that wasn’t going to work. “Director Sterling, I need to go home and have dinner with my husband tonight.” I pulled my hand away, smiling as I politely refused my boss’s invitation. That old creep practically had his dirty thoughts tattooed on his forehead. It was sickening. He’d already taken advantage of almost every woman in the office, it was just a matter of how much. “Violet, what about tomorrow then?” “I’m on a diet tomorrow. No dinner.” I blurted out without thinking. Dealing with workplace harassment is a vital skill for modern women. The old creep’s face instantly darkened, and he slammed a file onto the desk. “Redo this! I want to see it before the meeting tomorrow morning, or else, Violet Hayes, you can forget about your bonus this month!” I kept a smile on my face as I bent down to pick up the huge stack of files from his desk. These were materials I’d spent a week organizing. He hadn’t even looked at them before tossing them back, clearly trying to mess with me. If it were the old me, I would have thrown it right back in his face and walked out. But times were different now. I had a husband to support at home. If I quit, we’d both starve. Ugh, money problems can really crush you. After a whole day of hard work, it was already dark when I got home. In early spring, the mornings and evenings still felt like winter. The wind bit at my face, making my skin sting. After an hour of battling rush hour traffic, I finally dragged my half-dead self through the door. Our place wasn’t big, a cozy two-bedroom apartment, but it was warm and comfortable. “Wifey, you’re back! Quick, wash up and change. Dinner’s ready!” Rhys was wearing a cartoon apron, his clothes a sportswear set bought on sale at the mall, and on his feet were blue bunny slippers that matched my pink ones. He came out of the kitchen carrying steaming dishes, a warm smile on his face. His smile was like sunshine after a storm, melting away all my fatigue. I sniffled hard, suddenly feeling like all the grievances I’d suffered outside didn’t matter. A good partner protects their loved one from any pain. Seeing him so peaceful and domestic, I decided I could handle anything the outside world threw at us. “What’s wrong? Hurry and wash your hands. Come taste today’s special Rhys-style home cooking.” His goofy look made me laugh, and I happily trotted off to the bathroom to wash my hands. On the dinner table were what Rhys considered “home-cooked meals.” “Are we having Boston lobster today?” I absolutely refused to believe my meager salary could afford him buying gourmet meals home every few days. Yesterday, it was abalone. The day before, ginseng chicken soup. The day before that…

Rhys skillfully cracked open the lobster and placed the tender meat on my plate. “It’s lobster alright, but it’s local. The seller’s wife just had a baby, he needed to rush home, so he sold it cheap.” It sounded suspiciously similar to his excuse yesterday. Yesterday, the abalone seller’s son got married, so it was a day for everyone to celebrate. The day before that, he’d helped someone catch a chicken, and the owner kindly gave him one. These kinds of miracles seemed to happen to him every single day. “How do you run into such good luck every day?” I was baffled, taking a bite of the lobster meat. The delicious flavor melted in my mouth. So good. Rhys flashed his perfect white teeth at me, then smoothly popped a piece of meat he’d just pried from a crab claw into my mouth. “No choice, I’m just too charming and my luck is too good. Sellers practically chase me to feed me.” I chuckled, nodding. He wasn’t wrong, but then I thought about it again and felt something was off. “Then why don’t you buy more?” Rhys shook with laughter, reaching over to wipe a crumb from the corner of my mouth with his thumb. “My dearest wife works so hard, eat more.” I giggled sweetly, thoroughly enjoying his service. Cute, he’s got some conscience after all. He fed me until I was full, but he barely ate anything himself. The fruit after dinner was plump and glistening, sweet and refreshing, not at all cloying. “Honey, what’s this fruit you’re giving me?” Rhys had me lay with my head on his lap, feeding me the nameless, delicious fruit. “I don’t know, I picked it by the side of the road.” The food in my mouth instantly lost its appeal. Didn’t this guy worry about poison? “I tasted it beforehand; it’s perfectly fine. Good, right?” He saw right through my thoughts. “I’d eat it even if it was poisoned.” I turned and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my face in his eight-pack abs. Harper was right. Rhys was a total charmer, keeping me utterly bewitched every single day. But hey, I totally fell for it. I loved it. I’d happily die in his arms, and I’d be a happy ghost. This comfortable, easy life… if only I didn’t have to be controlled by work, how perfect would that be? “No more eating. I still have work to do. If I don’t finish tonight, that old creep at my company will definitely make my life miserable again.” I reluctantly climbed off his lap. Ugh, life isn’t easy. “Is it that boss of yours again?” Rhys frowned, his expression instantly darkening. “You bet. Just looking at him makes me want to puke sometimes. Honestly, I really want to quit, sigh.” I patted his head. I didn’t tell him about the harassment; he’s a guy, I didn’t want him to feel his dignity was threatened. Rhys suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist, flipping us over so he was pinning me on the couch. His eyes bore into mine, filled with fire and fury. “Then just quit.” I froze for a second, then burst out laughing. He’s like a naive prince, totally out of touch with real-world struggles. Every single thing costs money! “Come on, I’ll go do some work. Just one hour, okay? One hour.” I coaxed him, enjoying our little game. But Rhys wouldn’t play along. Between soft kisses, he whispered in my ear, seducing me, “You know me, one hour is nowhere near enough…” “Rhys, just give me a bit, okay? Just a little while.” I blinked my eyes, a pleading look on my face. “No.” His kisses fell like rain, pouting like a stubborn child. “Honey… my sweet husband…” I gasped, feeling myself melting into a puddle, practically liquid. I tried to dodge his kisses, but he kept landing them perfectly. “I know.” He was so shameless, and I was so flustered. This husband, he was perfect in every way, but seriously, exhausting in the best way. …

The next day at the company, a bombshell dropped out of nowhere. That old creep, my boss, Mr. Sterling, was fired. I silently cheered, “Oh yeah!” I’d been expecting to get chewed out today. I hadn’t even touched the work I brought home yesterday, because Rhys had kept me pinned down, *massaging* me for hours and hours, sending me straight to dreamland. Who knew the tables would turn so quickly? In just one night, that old creep was out. It was truly cause for celebration! I immediately sent a SnapChat to my darling husband, sharing the good news. He sent me a selfie. In the photo, he was wearing the sportswear I bought him, out for a run downstairs, playfully making a finger heart at me. Sunny, handsome, full of energy. And the best part? This man was *mine*. A powerful sense of satisfaction washed over me. My subconscious urged me to work even harder, to keep him pampered and perfect, so he could continue to bless my life. The new boss was a woman, in her early forties, and very kind. To get off on the right foot, she was treating everyone to dinner after work. I couldn’t refuse, but I was really worried about Rhys back home. I called him and sent him messages, but I couldn’t relax during dinner. Tonight, the boss was treating us to a buffet, which was nice. Everyone could pick what they liked. But nothing here was as good as what we had at home. The abalone wasn’t big enough, the chicken soup wasn’t fresh enough, and I had to wait in line for lobster. A colleague next to me chatted, but my mind was entirely on Rhys, so I was a bit distracted. “Violet, have you heard that our company is going to be acquired?” I shook my head, listlessly poking at the food on my plate. Ugh, not as good as what my husband makes. “How can you not care? Our department is buzzing about it!” My colleague looked completely surprised, making me feel bad for not asking. “What happens if we’re acquired? Will I be laid off? Will I get a raise? Is the new boss handsome?” My colleague shook her head like a bobblehead, totally confused. “Exactly! Everything’s unknown, so I don’t get why you’re all whispering about it.” My colleague scratched her head, then nodded, seemingly agreeing with my point. I finally put an end to that topic. I speared a strawberry and popped it into my mouth. Ugh, it was… indescribable. “Why does this strawberry taste like nothing? It’s nowhere near as good as what my husband buys, and it’s even worse than the wild berries he picks from the roadside.” My colleague leaned in, intrigued, bumping my shoulder. “Tsk, tsk, look at you, Ms. Big Shot. Three sentences and it’s all about your husband. You’re such a husband-bragger! Violet, you’ve been married for about a year, right? We’ve never met your husband. Why don’t you invite him to join us tonight?”

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The night of my 18th birthday celebration, my sister, Isabelle, disguised as me, slipped into my boyfriend Alex’s bed. Lost in the haze of passion, Alex, still just a young man, sensed something was off. His face contorted with pure disgust as he ordered her to get out. At 22, on my wedding day, Isabelle arrived in a wedding dress, loudly inviting Alex to elope with her. Alex calmly instructed security to escort her out, but I saw a flicker of raw emotion in his eyes. At 23, when I was holding my positive pregnancy test, my heart swelling with joy, Isabelle stepped in front of Alex, taking a blade meant for him from some business rivals. The blow damaged her spine, leaving her unable to dance ever again. By her hospital bed, Alex gently kissed Isabelle’s hand, promising to take care of her for the rest of his life. Later, I quietly ended my pregnancy and filed for divorce. Alex’s eyes were filled with guilt, but he eventually signed the divorce papers. “I’m sorry, Chloe. Isabelle only has me.” At 25, I returned for his and Isabelle’s wedding, a dazzling diamond ring sparkling on my finger. Alex, his eyes bloodshot, cornered me. “Don’t find a fake just to spite me. This ring was designed by Ayu, known as ‘The Divine Pen,’ for his wife. How could it be on your hand?” “Guess why he’s called Ayu?”

The Miller family and the Dubois family were set to join in marriage. In the engagement photos released, my sister, Isabelle Dubois, wore a radiant smile, while my ex-husband, Alex Miller, looked at her with doting affection. Actually, this was the second time they’d been photographed together in wedding attire. The first time was at my own wedding. Alex stood by my side in his groom’s suit, while Isabelle, in a wedding dress, stood opposite me. She smiled brightly, extending a hand to my husband. “Alex, will you elope with me?” My wedding ended abruptly and messily, but their story had just begun, painted in bold, dramatic strokes. Back then, Alex had the security escort her out. Now, after all that back and forth, they were finally together. Some busybody dug up old photos from my wedding, capturing the scene of two women fighting over one man: “If I were Chloe Dubois, I wouldn’t even dare to show my face back at the Dubois family home. She wasted a loving couple’s time for years.” “Isabelle Dubois is just too kind-hearted, still caring about her sister. She even specially invited her back for the wedding.” “Isabelle Dubois is still too naive. Isn’t she afraid Chloe Dubois still harbors feelings for Alex? Especially now that Alex Miller is the head of the Miller family; so many people want to cling to him.” It seemed everyone sided with Isabelle Dubois. My name is Chloe Dubois. But my sister’s name is Isabelle Dubois. It was clear that Isabelle was the family’s precious gem, the apple of their eye. And I was the one blamed for my mother’s death during childbirth. When registering my name, my father casually pointed to a random name on the registration desk’s list – Chloe. The clerk paused, a hint of pity in her eyes. And so, I was named Chloe. My name could be changed, but my family’s affections never would. From childhood, anything Isabelle wanted, she eventually got. And anything that was mine, Isabelle wanted. Alex was an exception. Despite Isabelle’s endless attempts to lure him away, Alex remained unmoved, steadfastly choosing me. For Isabelle’s sake, my father even stooped so low as to beg Alex. “The Dubois family will be inherited by Isabelle. If you choose Isabelle, the Dubois family is willing to give up fifty percent of its profits.” Alex tightly gripped my trembling hand, his voice firm and resolute. “Mr. Dubois, my marriage is not a commodity. My alliance with the Dubois family is solely because I love Chloe.” After the wedding, due to Isabelle’s outrageous behavior, many families interested in her backed out. My father, fearing Isabelle’s sadness, sent her to London to study dance. I once thought I was lucky, having stubbornly grown for years, finally chosen decisively by someone. However, the time when passion fades is when the real test begins. It was another thick, sultry night. Alex’s voice was hoarse as he coaxed me for another round, his hot breath caressing my collarbone. A special notification sound rang out. Alex froze for a moment, glancing quickly at his phone. Then, the ravenous beast of a man transformed back into the polished, suited professional. He kissed the sweat from my forehead. “There’s a problem with business in the city. I need to go check it out.” After Alex left, I idly flipped through the books on the shelf. It felt like destiny. A book from the very top shelf, which I usually couldn’t reach, just happened to fall, revealing the corner of a photo tucked inside. I pulled it out casually, and froze. It was a photo from my wedding with Alex. But the main subject in the picture was Isabelle, her hand outstretched dramatically towards Alex. The photo looked like it had been repeatedly caressed, its edges already frayed. On the back of the photo was Alex’s bold, flourishing script: “Maybe I’ll never find love this raw and passionate again.” Clutching the photo that weighed a ton in my hands, I called Alex. His voice was as gentle as ever. “Chloe, the weather in the city is very dry. My mouth is swollen from being overworked. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water at home, okay?” I said okay, then calmly hung up. Alex was lying. He didn’t notice, but in the background, Big Ben chimed. He was clearly in London. The city where Isabelle was. The day I decided to divorce him, Isabelle took a knife for Alex, blocking an attack from his enemies. That knife wound damaged her spine, leaving her lower body paralyzed. Isabelle could never dance again. When I rushed to the hospital, Alex was tightly holding Isabelle, sobbing and promising to take care of her for the rest of his life. Seeing me arrive, Isabelle deliberately hooked her arm around Alex’s neck, trying to kiss him. Alex saw me and frantically tried to pull away, but he couldn’t bring himself to push away Isabelle, whose eyes were brimming with tears. They kissed passionately, a long, silver thread of saliva stretching between their lips when they finally pulled apart. I turned to leave, but after only a few steps, the world spun around me. When I woke up again, the nurse chided me disapprovingly. “You’re two months pregnant, and you still haven’t been eating properly. You fainted from low blood sugar. Luckily, you were at the hospital.” My mind went blank. I didn’t know how to face this tiny life. No matter what, Alex had to know. “Alex, we have a…” “Chloe, you’re too reckless.” Alex rushed in, his face full of disapproval. He didn’t even have the patience to let me finish a sentence, much less notice my pale face. My father, whom I hadn’t seen in ages, reached out to hit me. Alex stopped him, but my father pointed at me, spitting venom. “You curse! Your sister is already in that state, and you have the audacity to fake illness just to drag Alex away!” A chilling desolation settled deep in my soul. This was my family, my beloved. Perhaps seeing how truly awful I looked, Alex stopped my father’s tirade. “It’s alright, Dad. Isabelle needs someone there. We should go back quickly.” Watching them walk towards the door without a backward glance, I spoke again. “Wait.” This time, Alex frowned, a flash of impatience crossing his face. “Chloe, I’ll come back to see you in a bit.” “No need.” I spoke calmly. “Alex, let’s get a divorce.”

After getting the divorce certificate, I quietly ended my pregnancy alone. Taking the large portion of assets Alex had divided for me, I found a picturesque little town in Switzerland to recover. They found me an eyesore; two years passed, and not a single phone call came from my closest relatives. I was content with the peace and quiet. Until recently, when my sister called. “Chloe, Dad is seriously ill. Come back to see him one last time.” Dying? Well, that might be worth going back to enjoy the show. So, I boarded a flight home. When I arrived home, the dark, oppressive clouds hung very low, signaling an impending storm. As soon as I pushed open the door, my eyes fell on vivid red celebratory decorations. My father sat solemnly on the couch, his stern gaze sweeping over me. Isabelle seemed oblivious, clinging affectionately to my father’s arm, playfully coaxing him, and his usually strict gaze instantly softened with doting affection. I’d lived through such blatant favoritism for over a decade, and the pain had long since dulled. But clearly, he was perfectly healthy. “Father, I heard you were seriously ill?” I raised an eyebrow, smiling as I looked at my sister. “You brat!” A glass cup whizzed past my forehead, shattering into pieces. A sharp sting on my forehead, and I turned to leave. My sister seemed to react just then, quickly rolling her wheelchair to my side, affectionately grabbing my hand. She had changed so much. Before, she was always arrogant and overbearing with me. Now, she appeared much calmer on the surface, but her eyes held a hint of deranged madness and a sick obsession. I guessed that being unable to dance ever again was a huge blow to her. After all, once, simply because a dance teacher praised my talent, she secretly scattered marbles on the stairs. Luckily, someone discovered Isabelle’s actions and warned me. But I still followed Isabelle’s unspoken wish and fell. I controlled my fall, making it not too light, not too heavy, but pretending it was very serious. I missed the chance to participate in the dance competition. From then on, I deliberately hid my talents, choosing to be Isabelle’s shadow. How could such a fiercely competitive person like her endure needing help even with basic bodily functions? My sister forced a gentle smile. “Chloe, on such a joyous day, what silly things are you saying?” At this point, there was nothing I didn’t understand. They had tricked me into coming back to witness Alex and Isabelle’s wedding. Meeting my sister’s hidden smugness and challenging gaze, I replied calmly and sincerely, “Then, congratulations to you both in advance, sister and brother-in-law. May you have a hundred years of harmony and many children.” Isabelle’s challenging smile froze on her lips. The person who had just opened the door and stepped in paused, his steps faltering for a moment. “Alex!” My sister called out cheerfully. Two years had softened Alex’s youthful sharp edges, adding a newfound tenderness. He walked past me, his hands behind his back, and knelt in front of Isabelle’s wheelchair. His familiar voice carried a doting tone I’d never heard before. “Guess what today is?” My sister chirped with delight and pride. “I smell it! It’s jasmine!” Alex took the jasmine flowers he’d hidden behind his back and placed them in Isabelle’s arms. He seemed to notice me only then, giving me a polite nod. “Chloe’s back.” We just looked at each other, and I smiled and nodded. Isabelle linked her arm through Alex’s and enthusiastically invited me, “My wedding is next week. Why don’t you stay here at home until then?” “No need.” I refused directly. Isabelle immediately looked wronged, her eyes filling with tears. “Chloe, are you still mad at me and Alex for being together…?” Seeing my sister cry, Alex frowned at me. It was clearly a warning, yet his eyes held a mix of curiosity and secret delight. “Don’t worry, brother-in-law is just brother-in-law. I’ll attend the wedding.” Alex’s lips tightened into a thin line, and Isabelle’s face was a picture, like she’d just swallowed a lemon. It was strange. I was doing exactly what they wanted, yet the two in front of me looked unhappy. But soon, it was my turn to be unhappy. As I prepared to leave, the dark, oppressive clouds finally unleashed a torrential downpour. The rain was too fierce; I had no choice but to stay the night. At dinner, facing a group of truly sickening faces, I had no appetite. At night, I tried to force myself to sleep, but my stomach rumbled like thunder, protesting. Creeping into the kitchen in the dark to find something to eat, I accidentally knocked over a glass. Before it could fall, a large hand with prominent knuckles caught the cup mid-air. Alex remained in his forward-leaning posture, catching the cup, trapping me between him and the counter. His voice was slightly hoarse. “How can I be at ease when you take such poor care of yourself?” Closer now, he saw the wound on my forehead. “Does it hurt?” He reached out to touch it, but I pulled away. A fleeting flicker of pain crossed his eyes, and Alex’s voice held a dangerous edge. “Did he hit you again?” “It has nothing to do with you.” “How can it have nothing to do with me!” I looked directly into Alex’s eyes, watching his agitated emotions cool inch by inch under my steady gaze. “I apologize. I was worried Isabelle might overthink things earlier, but I still want to ask you, how have the past few years been for you?” “Without you, I naturally haven’t been able to sleep, my heart ripped to shreds.” As Alex looked on in shock, I grabbed his tie, pulling him towards me. “Satisfied with that answer?” “Brother-in-law.” Ignoring the now petrified Alex, I turned and went upstairs. Only when I was safely tucked into the soft bed did I finally let out a long breath. His distressed expression when he saw my injury didn’t seem feigned, just like the young man who, years ago, would furiously lash out for me whenever he saw me hurt. Alex had been mature beyond his years, yet his first act of rebellion was hitting my father. Although the Miller family was more powerful than the Dubois family, my father was still an elder. That time, Alex was pressured by his own father to apologize, and though the cane lashed fiercely against him, he bit his lip and didn’t utter a sound. Later, as I cried while applying ointment to his bloody, bruised back, my tears falling onto him, he could still smile and wipe away my tears, saying it was worth it. But nothing lasts, not even the purest joy of young love.

At five in the morning, everyone in the Dubois family mansion was awakened by a violent knocking at the door. I looked down from my second-floor window. A long convoy of cars almost surrounded the mansion. A team of well-trained men in black suits and sunglasses emerged from the vehicles. I leisurely sipped my tea to perk up, knowing it had nothing to do with me anyway. Until I saw the person who stepped out of the lead car. I choked on my tea. Oh, crap! Just as I was about to hide behind the curtains, I met a pair of charming eyes that crinkled with amusement. I dragged my luggage and scrambled downstairs. Halfway down, Alex grabbed my arm. “Something’s not right outside. Don’t run around.” Before he finished speaking, the door swung open. Julian Thorne wore a mask, his hat brim pulled low, revealing only a pair of slightly narrowed, alluring eyes. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Alex and me wrestling, and the curve of his eyes deepened. The angrier this man got, the brighter his smile became. A shiver ran down my spine. I shook off Alex’s hand and practically launched myself into Julian’s embrace. “You were in such a hurry to see me?” “My wife just returned to the country and immediately met up with her ex-husband. Who wouldn’t be in a hurry?” A wave of guilt washed over me, silencing my retort. Alex’s voice, thick with suppressed anger, broke the silence. “Chloe, who is he?” Julian raised an eyebrow, giving Alex a sidelong glance. “Clearly, the current one.” Alex was about to say more when the sound of a wheelchair rolling broke through. Isabelle laughed lightly, covering her mouth. “How thoughtful of Chloe to hire actors overnight for our entertainment. It really is quite amusing.” Alex’s tense expression relaxed, a “I knew it” look crossing his face. “Tch.” Julian couldn’t help but chuckle. The next second, he saw the red swelling on my forehead, and his smile froze. “Acting, huh? I like it.” Julian crooked a finger, and a swarm of bodyguards surged forward. “Next up, we’re going to demonstrate how to teach these rotten relatives a painful lesson.” In the ensuing chaos, Julian swept me up with one arm and turned to leave. I hooked my arms around his neck. “Quite the dramatic entrance.” “Hmph, I was in such a rush to catch you, I didn’t even bother with much fanfare.” “Oh, poor you,” I teased.

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Introduction: “When he marked my sister in public, I swore – one day, I will make him kneel down and lick my high heels.” At the funeral three years ago, my destined partner tore my dignity apart in public. I thought his brother was salvation, but I didn’t know that I was just the most ridiculous pawn in the game of power. Now, I broke the wolf badge, and my red lips brushed his Adam’s apple: “Dear, now it’s my turn… to play with you.” When the flame of revenge is ignited, when the former enemies tremble and bow their heads – I want to let them know that the abandoned female wolf will eventually become the queen of the entire wolf pack. At my father’s funeral, a moment that should have been dedicated to mourning our fallen Alpha was instead desecrated by the ultimate betrayal. Before the entire Silverhowl Pack, my mate, Kael, cast me aside without hesitation. He didn’t whisper his rejection in private, nor did he offer even a shred of dignity—no, he made a spectacle of it. Right there, in front of my father’s casket, he knelt before Lyra, my father’s bastard pup, and claimed her as his. The hush that fell over the pack was broken not by murmurs of sympathy, but by gasps and sneers, and then—the final cruelty—a screen flickered to life. The recording left nothing to the imagination. Lyra and Kael, tangled together in the throes of their bond, moving with primal desperation. Every moan, every whispered promise of devotion, rang through the ceremonial grounds like a death knell. My death knell. I stood motionless, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged beast. The humiliation was suffocating. Wolves exchanged glances, some in amusement, others in pity, but none intervened. I, Selene Nightbane, the true heir of the Moonveil Pack, had been reduced to nothing more than a discarded promise. Then came a voice, deep and commanding, slicing through the oppressive weight of my disgrace. “Get. Out.” Stormfang stepped forward, radiating dominance, his golden eyes burning with something unreadable. A single word from him sent Kael flinching, his smug expression faltering. Lyra shrank behind him, but Stormfang’s authority left no room for defiance. “You’ve dishonored this pack enough,” he said, voice devoid of warmth. “Leave now, before I make you.” Kael hesitated, but Lyra tugged at his sleeve, whispering something that made his jaw tighten. Without another word, they turned and slunk away, the weight of Stormfang’s presence crushing them beneath its force. Then, to my utter shock, he turned to me. He sank to one knee, his gaze steady and unwavering. “Selene,” he murmured, his voice softer now, meant only for me. “Let me stand beside you. As your Alpha. Your protector. Your mate.” I had lost everything. And so, with shaking fingers, I took his hand. Three years later… A week before the mating ceremony, fate once again delivered its cruelty. Passing by Stormfang’s study, I heard voices—low, tense. I should have walked away. I should have ignored it. But something in my blood went cold, and I lingered by the door, ears straining. “Alpha Granville, there are other ways to claim the Moonveil Pack. Binding yourself to Luna Nightbane is too dangerous. Isn’t this too great a risk?” The voice belonged to his Beta, uncertain yet cautious. A pause. Then Stormfang’s reply, calm and deliberate. “Once she is mine, she will lower her defenses. Lyra was meant to have her place in the pack long ago. If I must claim Selene to secure it, then so be it. For Lyra, I will do whatever is necessary.” A sharp, numbing chill seeped into my bones. Three years of loyalty. Of trust. Of believing that I had found salvation in the arms of a mate who had saved me when no one else would. And it had all been a lie. The tea in my hands trembled, sloshing over the rim. Scalding liquid spilled over my skin, but I barely registered the pain. If I was nothing more than a stepping stone, then perhaps it was time I let them have what they wanted. Inside the study, Stormfang sat at his desk, absently flipping through the territory transfer agreement, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Luna Nightbane’s mother is nearing the end. She won’t make it much longer. Selene will insist on her attending the ceremony, and when she’s gone, the Moonveil Pack will be vulnerable. She’ll come to me, desperate, with no one else to turn to. That will be the perfect moment to strike.” “Are the agreements in place?” Stormfang’s gaze flicked to his Beta, who hesitated, fingers gripping the stack of documents. “Alpha… Lyra is still an Omega-born pup. This is brutal, even for us. Luna Nightbane has been nothing but loyal to you. She trusts you. If she finds out that all of this was just to put Lyra in power…” “Enough.” Stormfang’s voice dropped to something colder, deadlier. “Lyra is the rightful heir. If I hear ‘Omega-born pup’ from you again, I’ll strip you of your rank myself.” The Beta exhaled slowly. “Understood. I’ll finalize the paperwork. I just hope you don’t regret this.” Stormfang leaned back, expression unreadable. “Erase the funeral footage from three years ago. Selene must never find out the truth.” Then—a creak.The hair on the back of his neck rose.A shadow flickered past the doorway. Selene. I stumbled back, my breath uneven, my pulse roaring in my ears.So the public humiliation, the mating video, the whispers and jeers—they hadn’t been Kael’s doing alone.Stormfang, the mate who had saved me, had orchestrated it all.A strangled laugh built in my throat, bitter and hollow. I thought of my mother’s final moments, the way her frail fingers clutched mine, whispering, “Trust Stormfang. He will protect you.” Safe? I had spent three years believing a lie .A faint click echoed from the study as the door opened. I barely had time to wipe my face before his voice reached me. “Selene?” I turned, forcing my lips into a brittle smile. “I… I brought you tea, but I spilled it.” Stormfang’s brows furrowed as he stepped closer. The scent of whiskey clung to him, his movements slow but deliberate. He cupped my face, his thumb brushing along my cheek. “You’re trembling.” His golden eyes searched mine. “Are you unwell?” Yes. I was sick—sick of being played, sick of being manipulated. But I simply shook my head. For now.

“These tasks are better left to the Omega attendants. You’ve been at Luna Mother’s bedside every day, tending to her yourself. That’s more than enough. If you exhaust yourself, I won’t be able to bear it.” Stormfang’s voice carried its usual warmth, his tone gentle yet firm. He leaned in, brushing his lips against mine—a familiar gesture, one meant to soothe and reassure. But the comfort I once found in his touch had long since faded. His warmth no longer reached me. Could someone truly go to such lengths for another? Could they sacrifice their own desires, weave an intricate web of lies, and play the role of a devoted mate for years, all while their heart belonged elsewhere? I shut my eyes, but it didn’t stop the sting in my chest. Silent tears traced cold paths down my cheeks. Stormfang barely noticed. His steps were unsteady, the scent of whiskey clinging to his breath. I guided him to the bed, covering him with a thick fur-lined blanket. The alcohol did its job quickly—his breathing slowed, deepened, and within minutes, he was lost to sleep. Still kneeling by the bedside, I reached for his phone, my fingers hesitant but steady. One try. That was all it took. The screen unlocked instantly. The passcode was Lyra’s birthday. My breath hitched, but I pushed the rising dread aside and opened their messages. The screen was filled with confidential documents—pack land records, alliance agreements, strategic reports. From the moment my father, the Alpha of Moonveil, took his last breath, it had never ceased. Not for a single day. Every territorial dispute he had mediated, he had sent to Lyra, preparing her. Every negotiation with rival packs, he had passed along, laying the groundwork for her future. Even the Alpha authority transfer contract had been drawn up years ago. Stormfang wasn’t waiting for Luna Mother’s condition to improve. He was waiting for her to die. Waiting for me to step aside and surrender my birthright into his hands. I opened his private album, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs. Every image, every captured moment, was of Lyra. She was radiant, basking in the glow of pack gatherings, standing by Kael’s side at strategic meetings, her smile ever-present. And Kael—he looked so much like his brother, so much like Stormfang, it was no wonder the deception had been seamless. Beyond the pictures were endless records of rare artifact acquisitions. Jewelry, ancient relics, ceremonial trinkets—all purchased at rogue auctions, all sent to Lyra under Stormfang’s name, falsely credited as gifts from his Alpha-brother. A love hidden in plain sight. Subtle. Extravagant. Woven into every insignificant detail. It was a knife lodged deep in my chest. I recognized the jewelry brands, the auctioned artifacts. They were nothing more than tribute from the black market traders, gifts to secure Stormfang’s favor, yet he had given them to me, spun them into romantic gestures. I let out a breathless, humorless laugh, one that tasted of self-mockery. There was no point in searching further. Instead, I picked up my phone and sent a message to the Elders’ Council, summoning them for an Alpha succession meeting in three days. By then, I would claim what was mine. For three years, Stormfang had stolen from me—my trust, my future, my place in the pack. It was time he returned everything. I didn’t sleep. When dawn arrived, I washed my face, letting the icy water erase all traces of emotion. As I finished, a message popped up in the pack’s work chat. Stormfang’s reaction was immediate. “Selene? Since when did you take an interest in pack affairs? Luna Mother’s health is still fragile. Didn’t we agree that I’d handle things for you? You shouldn’t burden yourself. If you fall ill, she’ll blame me for not taking better care of you.” I stared at his message, at the concern so effortlessly woven into his words. Lies came naturally to him. I set my phone down and let a slow, unreadable smile stretch across my lips. “It’s nothing. I must’ve accidentally turned on notifications. I’ll switch them off. You have a meeting for the territory expansion today, don’t you? You shouldn’t keep them waiting.” He studied me for a moment, his sharp golden eyes searching mine. Then, as if reassured, he exhaled, the tension in his shoulders easing. Gently, he pulled me against him, his arms firm around my waist. “Thank you for understanding, my Luna-to-be. I need to finalize these alliances so we can focus on our mating ceremony.” I said nothing. Simply lowered my gaze and powered off my phone. “You’re going to the clinic today, right? Pick up the meal I ordered from the packhouse kitchen. I had them prepare something special for you. You’ve lost weight.” “I’ll bring some for Luna Mother too.” I used to believe his attentiveness was love. That his concern was real. Now, I saw it for what it was—an excuse to keep me out of his way. If he truly cared, would he have barely visited Luna Mother in an entire year? Would he have left her care to outsiders, refusing to even check on her himself? He hadn’t done it for my sake. He had done it to keep me distracted. To make sure I never turned my gaze where it truly mattered. He had orchestrated everything—ensuring I never stood in Lyra’s way. No more. This three-year deception ends today. I rushed to the clinic, but I hadn’t even stepped into the ward when hushed voices drifted through the hallway. The nurses’ gossip stopped me in my tracks.

“The Moonveil Pack holds one of the strongest bloodlines in all of Silverhowl, yet after a full year of so-called treatment, they still haven’t arranged a proper healing ritual for their Luna? When I went in to change the bandages, I could barely stand the sight—she looks as though a strong wind could carry her away. How can her own pack be so indifferent?” “Shh, lower your voice! Don’t ask questions that will get you into trouble. The Granville Pack has already given orders—even the Pack Healer knows better than to intervene. It’s obvious they’ve decided to let her waste away instead of giving her a real chance at recovery. They even replaced her wolfsbane antidote with diluted herbal tonics. At this rate, she won’t survive the next few days.” “The strongest pack in Silverhowl… and yet, they refuse to save their own Luna. How heartless can they be?” The words clawed through me like jagged fangs sinking into my chest. My vision blurred as I bolted down the hallway, barely aware of the startled whispers left in my wake. I burst into my mother’s den at the pack clinic, my heart hammering violently against my ribs. The woman who once commanded warriors with a single glance now lay motionless, her frail form swallowed by the oversized furs draped over her. The vibrant energy that had once made her the heart of the Moonveil Pack was nothing more than a flickering ember, struggling against the dark. I had been by her side every day. I had watched over her, spoken to her, held her hand through the worst of it. And yet—I had still failed to see how quickly she was slipping away. The monitors beside her blared warnings in frantic bursts, each alarm tightening the noose around my throat. Even as the strength faded from her, even as the scent of death loomed ever closer, she reached for my hand. “Selene…” Her voice was barely a whisper, her fingers cold as they curled around mine. “I won’t be able to see you take your rightful place as Luna… but Stormfang is a strong Alpha. After I’m gone, he will protect you. Call him… I need to speak with him one last time.” Tears streamed freely down my face, but I forced myself to nod, pressing a trembling kiss to her knuckles before tucking the blankets securely around her. Then, without wasting another second, I ran to find a healer. The Pack Healer’s face was grim as he examined her, his fingers pressing lightly against her wrist. When he finally spoke, his voice carried the weight of inevitability. “She’s too weak. Her wolf has receded beyond our reach. At this stage, she wouldn’t survive a full healing ceremony. The best we can do now… is prepare for her farewell ritual.” The words sent a deep, searing pain straight through my chest, but I swallowed my anguish and drove straight to Stormfang’s territory. Just as I reached the doors to his war room, I halted, my breath catching as Lyra’s voice drifted toward me, silk-smooth and laced with feigned concern. “Stormfang, you’ve done so much for me these past few years. But the former Luna still lingers. If you let me oversee the expansion project, my sister will surely take issue with it.” Stormfang’s voice followed—low, steady, but edged with something I couldn’t quite place. “She is my Beta’s sister. Helping her is only natural. Sign the papers. You’ll need to get accustomed to handling pack affairs sooner or later. As for the Luna… she won’t be a concern for much longer.” A flicker of triumph flashed in Lyra’s tone before she masked it with a carefully crafted sorrow. “The former Luna won’t recover? That’s truly unfortunate… I should visit her today. Even if she never saw me as her daughter, I still want the chance to say goodbye properly.” My fury ignited in an instant, tearing through my veins like wildfire. I shoved the door open with enough force to send it slamming into the wall. “Don’t bother with your fake sympathy,” I spat, locking eyes with her. “She doesn’t want to see you.” Stormfang’s chair scraped against the floor as he rose to his feet, his expression shifting from unreadable to outright alarm. He was already walking toward me, hands slightly raised in placation. “Selene, why are you here? You’re misunderstanding. Lyra only mentioned it in passing. There’s nothing for you to be upset over.” Lyra remained seated, an infuriatingly composed smile playing at her lips as she waved a delicate hand. “Nightbane,” she purred, as though we were old friends, “long time no see.” I didn’t acknowledge her. Didn’t even look at her. Without another word, I turned and made my way toward the stairs. But Stormfang wasn’t willing to let it go. “Selene, wait!” He followed after me, his voice filled with urgency. “You’re taking this the wrong way—Lyra has nothing to do with Luna Mother’s condition. Don’t let anger cloud your judgment.” I stopped walking, turning my head just enough to meet his gaze. He looked… desperate .How ironic. This was the same male who had stood before the entire pack three years ago, offering me his hand in my moment of humiliation. The same male who had promised me security, promised me loyalty. Now, I knew the truth. He hadn’t saved me. He had merely positioned me as a pawn. I forced a smile, one that barely reached my eyes. “Relax, Stormfang,” I said softly. “I’m not unreasonable. I won’t meddle in the affairs of the Granville Pack. I was just on my way to visit Luna Mother and thought I’d stop by to see you. Since you’re busy, I won’t take up your time.” The tension in his shoulders visibly loosened, and he exhaled, even offering a small nod. “I appreciate your understanding,” he murmured, personally escorting me to the door. I left without another word. But before I could reach the clinic, my phone rang. I barely had to glance at the screen before dread coiled in my stomach. It was the Pack Healer. His voice came through, quiet yet devastating. “Luna Nightbane… I’m sorry. Your mother… she’s gone.” I slammed on the brakes, my car skidding to a halt at the side of the road. A wave of anguish and fury crashed over me all at once, a storm so violent it nearly swallowed me whole. For a long time, I sat in silence, gripping the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turned white. Then, with painstaking resolve, I turned the car around. Not to the clinic. Not to my mother’s lifeless body. To the Moonveil Pack’s ancestral home. It was time to reclaim what was mine. I packed my mother’s belongings in silence, my movements careful, reverent. And then—just as I was placing the last item into a wooden chest—a shadow fell over me. Lyra stood in the doorway, her arms crossed, a slow smirk playing on her lips.

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Seven days before the wedding, my fiancé, my childhood sweetheart, proposed to the impoverished student he’d been sponsoring. I didn’t cry, didn’t make a scene. I simply stood there, in front of everyone, and wished them eternal happiness. His buddies tried to persuade me to be generous, to fulfill Chloe Miller’s long-held wish. He, Ryan Sullivan, was furious, accusing me of blowing things totally out of proportion. He glared, his eyes ice cold, practically daring me to beg for forgiveness. He looked down at me, condescendingly, and said, “I told you I’d come back and marry you after I helped Chloe finish everything on her wish list. You haven’t been good.” I knew. That was the last wish. I deleted those thirty-three wishes from my notes, my heart finally dead. Then, I dialed a number. “I’m willing to marry you.” The man on the other end of the line chuckled. “Where are you? I’ll come pick you up.” The cold wind cut right through me, and a dull, twisting ache tightened in my chest. From the upstairs private room, bursts of cheering drifted down to my ears, wave after wave. My fists were clenched tight, trembling uncontrollably. I hadn’t walked more than a few steps when Chloe Miller came running after me. “Alice, I never meant to ruin your relationship. Please don’t be mad at me, okay? I’ll give Ryan back to you! I… I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Her eyes were teary, and her nose was red, like a startled bunny. I scoffed, watching her performance unfold. “I don’t need him. You two deserve each other, you utterly disgusting pair.” Chloe kept apologizing. “Alice, just hit me! Kill me! I shouldn’t have ever shown up here!” She dropped to her knees with a thud, then grabbed my hand, trying to force it to slap her face. But before I could even touch her, Ryan’s grip tightened fiercely around my wrist. A sharp, stinging slap echoed in my ears. I was stunned. A burning sensation spread across my cheek. He was shaking with rage, pulling Chloe protectively into his arms, wrapping his jacket around her. His voice was impatient, laced with irritation. “Alice, didn’t I warn you not to mess with me? You’ve changed. When did you become so obsessed with tearing other women down? Making me lose face in front of everyone like this.” “I only see Chloe as a little sister. Besides, this is my last night with her. After this, I’m all yours, understand?” Ryan’s eyes, those beautiful, familiar eyes I once loved, were now filled with nothing but disappointment. My own eyes burned. Ryan and I grew up together. When I was younger, I was in my ‘main character’ phase, a bit cringey, honestly, always calling myself a princess. He’d play all sorts of goofy characters, or my brave knight, carrying me on his back and boasting to other kids that I was his one and only little princess. He never wanted me to shed a single tear, or suffer even the slightest injury. Once, when I was hospitalized with a high fever, he stayed by my side for two days straight, not eating or drinking. He said he wished he could die for me, that he’d go to hell and beg the King of the Underworld to grant me a lifetime free of illness and misfortune. The privileged son of the Sullivan family even learned to do laundry and cook, all to take better care of me. I looked at Ryan’s face, feeling increasingly like he was a stranger. Had I changed? Perhaps Ryan himself hadn’t even realized it, but ever since Chloe appeared, his heart had already sailed across the ocean for her. Seven years ago, when Ryan and I first started dating, we decided to do something meaningful to celebrate. Chloe Miller was someone I spotted right away – a brilliant student, but with a tragic background. We brought her into our lives, helped her get into the best high school in the city, and promised to sponsor her all the way through college. At first, Ryan would complain about her to me. He’d say she was slow, clumsy, and had no common sense. He swore he’d never be interested in her kind. He predicted she’d have a tough time in the real world. The same girl he despised back then, he now cherished more than anything. I used to tell him to quit smoking, but he’d just grin and say he’d naturally quit when we were ready for kids. Then he’d light up one cigarette after another right beside me. Until the smoke made Chloe cough a few times. He quietly put it out, and from that day on, I never saw him smoke again. “Ryan, let’s cancel our wedding.” One week. That was enough time for me to pack my things and leave him. And to find a new groom.

“Alice, why are you being like this? Ryan just wants to fulfill Chloe’s dreams, that’s all.” “Yeah, Chloe’s had it rough all these years. It’s just a few wishes, you’re being so petty.” Ryan’s cronies, who had followed him out, chimed in, talking over each other. Even Blake Sullivan, Ryan’s younger brother, whom I had always had a soft spot for, spoke up. “Sis-in-law, my brother isn’t even married to you yet, you’re acting way too entitled.” “Don’t you believe my brother could drop you in a second? You’re just yesterday’s news, who’s going to pick you up now?” He finished speaking, and a few of them exchanged glances, then burst into snickers. Ryan, still holding Chloe close, scoffed mockingly. “Are you really sure about this? Don’t come crying and begging for my forgiveness later.” I was genuinely exhausted. I didn’t want to argue with them anymore. Just then, a familiar Maybach pulled up nearby. Without a word, I opened the passenger door and got in. Ryan’s face instantly crumpled like he was constipated. He roared, “Alice! Get out of there right now! We can still talk this through!” Julian Blackwood let out a soft chuckle, then leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt. “Take me home first. I need to pack some things.” “Okay. Pack everything clean.” After so many years together, Ryan had given me a lot of expensive things. I called a luxury consignment store and arranged for them to pick up all my bags and jewelry. There was so much that they could only take a portion, promising to return for the rest tomorrow. I rubbed my throbbing temples, ordered some takeout, and started scrolling through Ins while I ate. My eyes landed on a kissing photo. Ryan was tenderly cupping Chloe Miller’s face, his gaze full of deep affection. Then, there were videos his friends had posted in their SnapChat group. The two of them were passionately kissing amidst cheers and whistles, the sickening sound of their kissing making my stomach churn. I felt like I was going to throw up. I immediately left the group. The next second, Ryan’s call came through. “Alice, we were just kidding around, how many times have I told you? These are my best friends, and you just left the group without a word. Are you planning to never speak to us again?” I just hummed softly. “What do you mean by that?” Blake’s voice cut in. “Don’t worry, bro, she won’t. She’s too dependent. She’ll be begging you to add her back in a couple of days.” I hung up the phone and let out a light, cynical chuckle. In the past, I really would have swallowed my pride and begged them, but not anymore. I needed to get far, far away from them. That night, as I tried to sleep, the wedding photos on my bedside table and dressing table felt like burning eyesores. I immediately took them down and replaced them with a photo of Ryan and Chloe that I found in his study. Ryan should probably thank me for that. The next morning, Ryan came back, looking surprisingly refreshed. His eyes lit up when he saw me, and he lifted his chin, looking at me confidently. “I knew you’d be waiting for me here at home, Alice.” “Alice, I really should have come back to you yesterday. It was all Chloe’s fault, she said she was afraid of the dark, so I stayed. It won’t happen again, I promise…” His expression froze when he saw the luxury consignment people carrying my bags away. He looked at me, a tense worry in his eyes. “Alice, why are you selling the things I gave you?” I replied calmly, “They were taking up too much space. I’m making room for new things.” He happily took my hand. “Good. I’ll get you new ones.” I frowned and pulled my hand away. He seemed to have completely misunderstood my meaning. I was talking about making room for Chloe’s things. I was moving out.

Ryan claimed he’d played games all night and hadn’t slept well, so he wanted to catch up on some sleep. He tried to pull me towards the bedroom. If I hadn’t caught a glimpse of the hickey on his collarbone, I might have almost believed his pathetic lies. “Alice?! What is this?” “Are you doing this just to piss me off? Where are our wedding photos?” He pointed furiously at the empty spot on the wall, his eyes bloodshot. “Threw them out.” Ryan’s body stiffened for a moment, his fingers trembling. “I’m already so tired, why do you keep making trouble? I’m sorry, I’ll apologize, okay? Just put the photos back.” “I don’t have feelings for her. I’m just purely helping her complete her wish list.” In the beginning, I, too, naively believed that Ryan was just doing Chloe Miller a favor. When she had a stomach ache, he personally cooked porridge and fed it to her. When the power went out, he stayed with her all night. He took her to the amusement park that *I* had always wanted to go to. He even went to the lingerie store with her and personally helped her pick out her underwear. Every single one of these things was on Chloe’s thirty-three-item wish list. She had personally sent it to me, neatly arranged, one scandalous wish after another. She sent it to me, then quickly unsent it. Claiming she had accidentally tapped the wrong person. That was the moment I finally understood how utterly stupid I had been. There was nothing innocent about their relationship anymore. “The cleaning lady took them away to dispose of them.” Ryan’s expression instantly shattered. I chuckled again. “We can take new ones later.” With Chloe. His warm hand gently placed itself on my shoulder. “Good. We’ll take even better ones in the future.” Just then, a sudden phone ring broke the awkward silence. It was the real estate agent for secondhand homes. She was asking if I was truly serious about selling the house. Because I was putting it on the market for almost half its value. All these properties Ryan had transferred to my name when he proposed. A large riverside penthouse, a suburban villa, and two four-bedroom apartments in prime downtown locations. “Yes, I’m really selling. The contract’s already signed. Please find a buyer as soon as possible; I need the money urgently.” Realizing something was terribly wrong, Ryan’s grip tightened on my wrist. I gasped, sucking in a sharp breath of pain. He seemed not to notice, his voice urgent as he questioned me. “Who was that on the phone?” “The agent.” “You’re selling houses? Which ones?” Seeing the panic on his face, I felt a secret thrill. I had originally intended to tell him, but now I just wanted to watch Ryan squirm, completely in the dark. “Someone asked me to inquire about them.” A faint trace of color returned to his pale lips. “That’s good.” “Alice, all my time belongs to you now. I won’t let Chloe bother us again.” I raised an eyebrow, but before I could voice my doubts, Ryan took another call. A few minutes later, he rushed out the door in a panic, not even bothering to change his slippers. I waved dismissively. And continued to pack my luggage. It wasn’t until I was almost done that Ryan called, attempting to explain himself. “Alice, Chloe’s depression has flared up again. I’m afraid she’ll do something stupid, you know she has suicidal tendencies.” I scoffed. “You don’t need to tell me. I don’t want to know.” From the other end of the line, Chloe’s sobbing voice drifted through. “Alice, I’m so sorry, I can’t control myself. I just want to end it all…” “That way, you can be with Ryan forever…” “Yeah, then die. Honestly, nobody really cares.” I held the phone, marveling at how well Chloe could act. My psychologist had clearly told me that Chloe was perfectly healthy. A sudden burst of noise came from the other end. Then, Chloe’s heart-wrenching sobs mingled with Ryan’s enraged roar. “Alice, you are truly evil! I wish I could rip you open and see if your heart is made of iron!” “You are the root cause of Chloe’s depression!” “If you hadn’t constantly misunderstood her, why would she have become like this?! Do you only find happiness by driving her to her death?!” I said, “Yes.” “You’re amazing,” he said through gritted teeth. *Slam!* The phone went dead. Ryan had probably thrown his phone. But that wasn’t my concern. There were still four days until our wedding, and I had finished packing all my belongings. Only a few minor things were left to handle. Soon, I would say goodbye to Ryan completely. I had moved some of my luggage out, waiting for the moving company to arrive. But Ryan got there even faster. His face was ashen, contorted into a terrifying mask of rage. He looked at my luggage, then scanned the empty, echoing room, his voice trembling. “Where are you going? Alice, tell me you’re not leaving me, right?”

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The day of the class reunion, my CEO husband deliberately lost a game. With his buddies egging him on, he was ready to get his marriage license with his first love and post about it on SnapChat. Everyone in the room started cheering, and my husband impatiently pulled out the divorce papers, demanding my cooperation. “It’s just a game, don’t take it too seriously.” I stayed silent for a long time. Everyone thought I was about to explode. Instead, I took the divorce papers and said calmly, “A divorce is fine, but I need you to do three things.” He agreed instantly, rushing me to sign, even eagerly promising, “Forget three things, I’ll do three hundred if you just sign. And when we get remarried, I’ll give you a lavish wedding!” But he had no idea. The moment he decided to divorce me, my mission had already failed, and I was about to be eradicated by the System. Only by completing the three tasks the System assigned could I survive. Watching me sign, my husband, Jackson Hayes, gleefully put away the divorce papers. Everyone exchanged glances, a smirk of satisfaction playing on their faces. It was only then that I understood. This class reunion was an elaborate trap, set just for me. On the virtual screen behind Jackson, four blood-red words screamed: “CONQUEST FAILED.” The System’s electronic voice drilled into my mind: “Host, only by remaining married to your conquest target for seven years can you offset the cost of a life-for-a-life deal. You are now an hour and a half short of seven years. In 48 hours, you will be eradicated.” Its tone shifted. “However, seeing your pathetic state, if you complete three tasks within the deadline, you can survive.” “Now, initiating Task One.” “Make Jackson Hayes confess his love to you in public.” I let out a laugh. I’d just signed the divorce papers, and now the System wanted him to confess his love to me? Ashley Miller stood up, her pretty face tight. “Jackson, if you agree to Chloe’s unreasonable demands because of me, then I’m willing to be punished! I’ll drink three shots of tequila!” Jackson’s eyes were filled with heartache. “It’s fine. She can’t cause any trouble.” I gave a self-deprecating laugh. Seven years ago, on our wedding day, Jackson had planned to run away for love, but Ashley had run off with all his savings. After that, he became convinced I was behind it, and we’d been at odds ever since. Childhood sweethearts turned bitter rivals. I thought that if I just truly loved him, I could eventually win him over. In the last two years, he had almost accepted our situation. He even knew to come home early to celebrate our wedding anniversary. But then, Ashley came back. That’s when I realized he’d never forgotten her. He even orchestrated this whole setup just to marry her. He’d even forgotten that today was our seventh wedding anniversary. Now, the seven stolen years were finally to be returned. But I still wanted to live. I spoke up. “Jackson Hayes, the first thing I want you to do is confess to me.” “Confess to me exactly how you confessed to Ashley Miller back then.” Jackson froze, his eyes wide with disbelief. The private room erupted. “Chloe, don’t be ridiculous! You’ve already signed the divorce papers, there’s no need to be so petty and embarrass Jackson!” “Jackson, don’t listen to her nonsense! She’s just trying to cause trouble!” It was ironic. These people had received countless favors from me, and now, seeing the Hayes Corporation’s growing influence, they wouldn’t stop mocking me. Ashley’s face was flushed with indignation. “Chloe, you really are just messing with him! Jackson, I won’t let you suffer this humiliation!” My nominal husband confessing to me was a humiliation in her eyes? I coldly surveyed the room, then yawned. “I’m talking to Jackson Hayes. Is it your place to interrupt?” “Jackson Hayes, if you don’t confess, I’m leaving. I won’t even bother getting the divorce certificate.” Having been together for years, I knew his temper. His brows furrowed, and he said impatiently, “I thought you were being sensible today. Turns out you just came up with a new trick. If I confess, you’ll obediently go get the divorce certificate?” It seemed he was truly desperate to marry Ashley and make it official. “Yes.” Jackson’s face darkened. He spoke as if bracing for death. “Chloe, be with me. I’ll buy you two bottles of milk every day and warm them with my body heat, so you always drink them at room temperature…” Ashley’s eyes welled up with tears. She murmured, “Jackson, you still remember.” Everyone in the room couldn’t help but applaud, marveling at Jackson’s deep affection, how after eight years, he still remembered the moment he confessed to Ashley. As the two stared into each other’s eyes, their gazes growing more intimate, I felt my stomach churn. I left my seat. “I have to go. Something came up.” Behind me, the room erupted in laughter, mocking me for digging my own grave. As I walked out, my best friend, Sarah, who had somehow heard the news, found me at the restaurant. She immediately started yelling. “Did you really sign the divorce papers with Jackson Hayes? Are you crazy? You gave up a marriage with a billionaire’s son to marry him, kneeling until your knees were raw. And now you’re just divorcing him, letting that scumbag Ashley take advantage?” I stayed silent. Back then, the Hayes family was on the verge of bankruptcy. To help Jackson, I abandoned the billionaire’s son and resolutely married him. My parents were furious and disowned me. I was ostracized by my family. As the wife, I couldn’t interfere in any Hayes family affairs, leaving me in an awkward position. But when Ashley returned, Jackson immediately arranged for her to be Vice President, even entrusting her with billions in funds. Love and dislike were truly obvious. My killer heels had chafed my heels raw, and I shifted uncomfortably. I couldn’t help but mock myself. “You think she’s a scumbag, but Jackson treats her like a treasure. What can I do?” Sarah sighed, supporting me and giving me strength. “Men are like shoes. If they don’t fit, we change them!” As she spoke, Jackson came downstairs, lovingly rubbing Ashley’s head. “Ashley, let’s go take our wedding photos first, then buy rings. When we get the license, I’ll pick you up with a thirty-car convoy!” His gaze met mine, and Jackson’s lips thinned into a tight line. His voice was icy. “Chloe, two more things. If you’re playing games, I won’t go easy on you!” I lowered my eyes and gave a bitter laugh. He didn’t know I’d wanted to avoid him for ages. I was only in contact with him to stay alive. Watching him walk away, I called out to the System in my mind. “Is this task completed?” “Barely satisfactory,” the System’s tone remained unchanged. “Now, initiating Task Two.” “Go on a date with Jackson Hayes for one day.”

My foot slipped. “Are you serious? It’s a miracle Jackson can even tolerate me today. If I ask him to go on a date with me, he’ll think I’m just messing with him!” The System was cold. “Host has no right to question. You may choose to abandon the task and be eradicated.” In the dead of night, I tossed and turned, thinking about the System’s task. *Bang!* Jackson kicked open the door, dragging me off the bed. In the darkness, his furious eyes glowed eerily bright. “Are you happy now? Because of the scene you caused today, Ashley went home sick. I took care of her until past midnight before her fever broke!” I pried his hand off me and forced a smile. “It was just a game. Couldn’t you have called it off? Who would actually take a CEO like you seriously?” Jackson choked, then sighed softly. “It was just a game. Why wouldn’t you cooperate?” I said carelessly, “The second thing is, tomorrow, you cancel all your work and spend the day with me.” Jackson’s face instantly turned cold. “Chloe, are you pushing your luck? You’re really taking advantage!” He slammed the bedroom door shut and left. My mouth felt bitter. I knew this would be the outcome. The next morning, he still knocked on my door with a scowl. “I lost a million today because of you. What do you want? Hurry up and say it.” Because of me? More like because he wanted to get his marriage license with Ashley as soon as possible. The System told me the date wasn’t important; the key was for Jackson to spend six continuous hours with me. I took Jackson to the mall to kill time. All the way, he was glued to his phone, never looking up. Occasionally, he would stop at women’s clothing stores or luxury boutiques, waving his hand to buy a lot of things. All of them were for Ashley. In seven years of marriage, he had never bought me anything. The dress I was wearing was pilling from too many washes. To retaliate against me, he even competed with my family’s business. My dad called me a traitor, and the industry blacklisted me. No one knew that despite my outwardly glamorous appearance, I lived on a meager salary from online freelance work. By midday, Jackson was visibly impatient. I quickly took him to a hotpot restaurant. Just as we ordered, his expression changed as he looked at his phone. He made a call, his voice filled with worry and urgency. “How can you not eat? You don’t have an appetite without me there? Okay, I’m coming back now!” He turned, grabbed his jacket, and rushed to leave. “Urgent company matter. I’m heading out.” I knew this had to be Ashley’s doing. “Will you come back?” My task wasn’t finished yet. He thought for a moment, then nodded. “I will.” But I didn’t expect him to come back with Ashley. Jackson carefully looked after Ashley, feeding her and wiping her mouth, like he was nursing a bedridden patient. They looked like an affectionate couple, and I was just a random person sharing their table. Whatever I wanted to eat next, Ashley would point to and demand for herself. I had no appetite and set down my forks. She looked triumphant, saying with exaggerated sweetness, “The dishes Jackson feeds me taste exceptionally sweet…” Under the table, she deliberately stepped on my foot. I hissed in pain, but Jackson ignored it. Fortunately, we only needed to watch a movie to complete the six hours, so I endured her. Who knew there were only two tickets left at the movie theater? Ashley spoke first, her eyes red-rimmed. “Jackson, you and Chloe go watch. I know she’s deliberately using the divorce as an excuse to spend time with you, but it’s okay, I won’t be a third wheel! I’ll leave now!” Jackson panicked, quickly pulling her back. “What are you talking about? Forget this stupid movie. I’ll spend the whole afternoon with you instead. How about I make it up to you?” I said patiently, “Jackson Hayes, just watch one movie with me, and I’ll let you go. I promise I won’t bother you anymore.” But Jackson pushed me away violently, and the popcorn I was holding scattered everywhere. “Chloe, stop acting! I’ve told you I could never like someone as selfish and conceited as you. Ashley is generous and kind and doesn’t blame you, but that doesn’t mean I’ll indulge you. I’ve already been more than generous by spending time with you at the mall today!” He took Ashley’s hand and turned to leave. “Warning! Host is neglecting mission. Electric shock punishment. Please persuade Jackson Hayes to return within one minute.” The next second, a powerful current coursed through my body. I instantly collapsed, my knees hitting the ground with a loud thud, my whole body convulsing. Almost biting through my tongue, I pleaded with all my might, “Jackson Hayes! Please, watch the movie with me, or I’ll die, please…” Jackson whirled around, seeing me on my knees. His pupils contracted, and he instinctively took a step forward. “Jackson, you go. Chloe is usually so healthy, but she suddenly fainted. She must be really sick. Go with her, don’t mind me.” Ashley suddenly spoke. Jackson’s steps halted, his expression turning cold. “Chloe, now you’re faking falls? Don’t pretend to be weak. Don’t make me look down on you even more.” He abandoned me. No matter how I called out, he never looked back. After a long time, the System’s punishment ended. My face was deathly pale, like I’d just been pulled from water. Many people gathered around, offering to take me to the hospital. The System warned me sternly, “Task Two completion is only fifty percent. If Task Three is not perfectly completed, Host, you will still be eradicated.” The panel changed, displaying only one line of text: “Make Jackson Hayes propose to you.” I gave a desolate laugh, losing all strength and collapsing to the ground. This was an impossible task. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. Sarah rushed to bring me water, her eyes full of sympathy. “The doctor said your organs are failing, and you won’t live more than three days. Does Jackson know? Is this why you’re divorcing him?” I knew this was a side effect of the System’s punishment. Three days? Only twenty-four hours left. I didn’t want to beg and have Jackson pity me. After all, I was once a privileged heiress; I had my pride. I shook my head. “No, Sarah. As a best friend, I want to ask you something. After I die, just tell everyone I went abroad to travel and settle down. Don’t let anyone see how miserably I died.” Sarah’s eyes turned red. She wiped her face. “When the avalanche happened, you saved Jackson Hayes’s life, but he thought Ashley saved him. He misunderstood and tormented you for all these years. You—” My phone on the table rang urgently. It was Jackson. Sarah answered, unable to help but blurt out, “Jackson Hayes, do you know Chloe is sick!”

I struggled to get up and stop her. On the other end of the line, Jackson paused for a second, then scoffed coldly, “Did Chloe tell you to play along? What’s a fall going to do?” “Tell her to hurry up and say the last thing she wants so we can get it over with. I don’t have time for her drama.” Seeing how impatient he was, I took the phone and said seriously, “The third thing is very simple. You just have to propose to me.” *Crash!* A harsh noise came from the other end of the phone, as if something had fallen. Jackson panicked. “Ashley, what’s wrong? Don’t scare me!” The next second, he lashed out at me. “Chloe, are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? I’m not playing with you anymore. Go get the divorce certificate or don’t, I don’t care. Anyway, in thirty days, we’ll be automatically divorced. I’m not like you, I’m not desperate to live. I can wait!” He hung up. My heart ached. I knew Jackson wanted to get rid of me, but I never knew he loathed me so much. The System was still urging me to complete the task. But now, I didn’t even have leverage over him. What else could I do? Fatigue washed over me like a tide. Even if I knelt and begged Jackson, he would just think I was pulling stunts. If that was the case, I might as well die with dignity. With that thought, I called him. He answered impatiently. “If you’re still talking nonsense about wanting me to propose, just go die!” He didn’t know he would speak a prophecy. My voice was flat. “I was just kidding. See you tomorrow morning at the courthouse.” Jackson sounded surprised. “That’s it? You’re being so straightforward? Are you really that kindhearted?” “Don’t want to? Fine then.” “No! You better not be playing games!” He agreed hastily. Nine o’clock in the morning, in front of the courthouse. Jackson started yelling at me for being one minute late. “Chloe, what are you pulling now? You really were faking yesterday. They say bad apples never spoil, you’ll probably live to be a hundred!” His buddies all looked on with mocking expressions. They were all waiting for Jackson and Ashley to get their marriage license, specifically holding confetti ready to celebrate. I found it amusing. In the past, when Jackson and I had agreements, he was never on time, repeatedly breaking promises and intentionally watching me flounder for his amusement. Today, I was only one minute late, and he was so agitated. “Yes, I was on purpose. I’ve changed my mind. The third thing is, I want you to carry me inside to get the divorce certificate!” It was less than a hundred yards from the entrance. Jackson looked at me suspiciously. “That simple?” Ashley still rushed out to object, as if I were committing some heinous crime. “Jackson is a CEO! How can you treat him like a servant and make him carry you? We don’t need this divorce certificate, I’ll wait for Jackson forever!” Everyone else’s faces also turned ugly. “Chloe, you’re too shameless! This is clearly a deliberate obstruction! I think you just don’t want the divorce certificate!” I curved my lips into a smile, perfectly at ease. Jackson, however, said decisively, “Fine. But if you pull any more stunts once we’re inside, I’ll make your life a living hell.” He walked up to me. I jumped onto his back without a second thought. Jackson let out a surprised “Hmm.” I was too light. Frighteningly light. Back then, I had a bold personality. I loved racing, hiking, rock climbing, and my muscle mass was not to be underestimated. He subconsciously asked, “Are you starving yourself?” I said faintly, “Just disgusted by you and Ashley to the point of losing my appetite.” Jackson twisted his lips. “That’s enough, Chloe.” When we got married, he was held down by ten bodyguards as he was dragged into the courthouse, forced to get the marriage certificate, his face filled with disgust. Now, he walked steadily towards the courthouse, step by step, but it was to divorce me. In a daze, I remembered seventeen years ago. Jackson got caught in an avalanche while skiing. I rushed into the snowfield regardless of the danger, my throat raw from shouting, until I finally found him. At that time, he had snow blindness, and his leg was injured, making him unable to stand. I half-carried, half-dragged him down the mountain for a day and a night, even cutting my wrist to feed him my blood to help him regain strength. In a blur, Jackson’s hot tears dripped onto my neck. “You’re so good to me. I’m going to marry you!” I chuckled, coaxing him not to break his promise. By the time we reached the bottom of the mountain, I should have frozen to death from hypothermia. That’s when the System bound itself to me. It said that my love for Jackson was truly great. As long as I could stay married to him for seven years, it would grant me health and longevity. I agreed, secretly thrilled, thinking it was a free pass, and that we would surely be happy. But I didn’t expect that when I woke up again, I would see him confessing to Ashley in front of the entire school. He said he would marry me. But what I waited for was his endless gratitude towards Ashley. I tried to explain, but he didn’t believe me. “The one who saved me was gentle like a goddess. You’re so crude and overbearing, how could it be you!” Snapping back to reality, I whispered into Jackson’s ear, “Jackson Hayes, we’re even now.” He stopped walking. “What did you say?”

My throat tickled, and I coughed up blood. The System’s punishment yesterday had ruined my internal organs. Even as I covered my mouth, a drop of blood splattered onto Jackson’s neck. He roared with rage. “Chloe, are you trying to die? Coughing on my neck, how disgusting! Wipe it off!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my lips, pushed his head back to face forward, and said calmly, “Look straight ahead, don’t look at me.” Jackson quickened his pace, approaching the divorce registration window. Before he could put me down, I jumped off myself, grabbed a tissue, and wiped his neck. He still looked unsatisfied, pulling out tissue after tissue, as if he’d touched something filthy. I couldn’t help but speak. “Jackson Hayes, since you’ve decided to be with Ashley Miller, then don’t let her down.” Jackson frowned, finally looking at me properly. “What are you talking about? It’s only been one day, and you’re already so petty you can’t stand it? Don’t worry, when this game is over, I’ll give you a lavish wedding. I won’t break my promise.” I curved my lips into a weak smile. On the divorce agreement, I fumbled to find the spot to sign. My eyesight was the worst of all my failing organs. Jackson took my finger and pointed to the spot, scoffing, “What’s wrong with your eyes? Are you so sad about divorcing me that you cried yourself blind?” I snorted. “I just got a sty from being exposed to you and Ashley’s sickening display.” Since Ashley returned, I hadn’t bickered with him like this in a long time. Jackson angrily shoved me. “Chloe, you still have such a sharp tongue!” I groaned, taking a moment to recover. His expression suddenly changed. “Are you really sick?” I pretended nothing was wrong. “No. Hurry up and finish the paperwork. I’m planning to travel abroad for a few days. There are plenty of fish in the sea, why obsess over one flower?” Everyone hearing this couldn’t help but snicker, looking at me with expressions that screamed, “Stop acting,” full of disdain. Jackson’s face remained ugly. He suddenly stood up. “No divorce.” “No divorce?” Ashley gasped in surprise, then her eyes welled up with tears, and she said plaintively, “Jackson, if you can’t bear to, it’s okay. I’m willing to be punished. I just have a slight alcohol allergy, I won’t die. I’ll go buy the tequila now!” I was speechless, not understanding what Jackson meant. I deliberately provoked him. “Don’t bother. Or are you really reluctant to let me go?” Jackson, as expected, couldn’t stand the provocation and quickly signed the papers. “If it weren’t for your sickly, pathetic face, I…” He stopped speaking. Then, with a grim face, he took the divorce certificate, turned, and sat down with Ashley at the marriage registration window. Everyone gathered around them, their faces joyful. My business here was done. I turned to leave, but Jackson suddenly called out to me. “Don’t go, wait until Ashley and I get our license and post on SnapChat. Then I’ll marry you again right away!” Divorce then remarry, did he think this was a game? I perfunctorily acknowledged him and walked out of the courthouse. On the virtual screen, the countdown showed thirteen hours left, enough time for me to handle my affairs. But I didn’t expect my vision to turn blood-red. “Host Chloe Davis, mission failed. Detected official divorce. Countdown reset to zero!” I never imagined the System had this up its sleeve. I leaned against the courthouse doorframe and crumpled to the ground.

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Six years ago, I was forced to marry Lily White in place of my brother. Every night since then, I’ve had to help her bathe and put condoms on her lover. I even had to babysit their child. “I’ve decided to make things official with Quinn,” she said, nestled in Quinn’s arms, completely disregarding my discomfort. “As for you, James, you can stay here and serve our little family.” Quinn didn’t like my face, so they broke my back, leaving me unable to lift my head. He complained about my sour smell, so they threw me into a freezing pool for nights on end. It was bitterly cold, and I was numb all over by the time they fished me out. But Lily just bragged to others scornfully, “He’s like a mangy dog, impossible to get rid of.” Then I got a call from my friend. “Your father has passed away,” they said. “His last wish was for you to be free. You can finally leave now.” I remained silent on the phone for a long while before simply responding with a quiet “Mm.” It’s better that Dad is gone. At least he won’t have to suffer mentally and physically every day anymore. The air conditioner blew out a steady stream of cold air. My icy clothes clung to my skin, but they couldn’t ward off the fever burning inside me. Shaking, I crawled towards the medicine cabinet and swallowed a few cold pills before being dragged in front of Lily. “We’re out of condoms,” she said. “Go buy some more. You know Quinn’s size. I’ll only wait twenty minutes.” But the nearest store was over an hour’s walk away. In the past, I never had the option to refuse her. Even that time I went out in a blizzard and nearly froze to death, I was slapped senseless as soon as I got back through the door. Quinn deliberately wrapped his arms around her and taunted me with a coy look. “Is big brother jealous of how well sis and I fit together? I just want to make her happy.” Lily completely ignored my frostbitten hands and feet. Convinced I was deliberately causing trouble, she banished me to the basement for a whole day. My memories blurred. I slowly stood up, my eyes lifeless. “You don’t need any. I’m not going,” I said flatly. Lily’s head snapped up to look at me, as if seeing me refuse her for the first time. The next instant, her palm cracked across my cheek. My forehead slammed hard against the corner of the table, blood trickling down. “James, it seems you still don’t understand your place!” Lily’s icy voice held the mockery I knew all too well. My place? Ha! Everyone in this house knew I was nothing more than a pathetic yes-man. She bore her lover’s child but dumped it on me to raise. On my birthday, her lover humiliated me, forcing me to crawl between his legs as I knelt on the ground. Even when they pushed me down the stairs and I cracked my head open, all she said was, “Get up and clean your filthy blood. It’s disgusting to look at.” I’d endured all kinds of torment, but now she lost it over one little retort. I turned away, struggling to keep my spinning head clear. “These six years must have been hard on you too. We should…” The word “divorce” caught in my throat as she cut me off. Lily had security hold me down, her eyes cold enough to kill. “So you’ve finally snapped,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “If it weren’t for your ruthless scheming, you wouldn’t even have the chance to be my dog.” As I struggled, her gaze fell on my mangled left hand and she faltered slightly. The last time she was kidnapped, I had gripped the attacker’s knife with my bare hand. I ended up losing a finger. She pressed her lips together, about to say something when Quinn came over with a pitiful expression. He “accidentally” stepped on my hand. As I tried to pull away in pain, he suddenly collapsed to the ground. Lily waved for security to release me. But Quinn started pleading, “Lily, I hurt my hand!” His long fingers were barely red, but Lily cradled them tenderly. The servants accused me of being jealous of his piano skills and ability to please Lily. I let out a slow breath and closed my eyes. I was used to being wrongly blamed by now. The medicinal soup I’d carefully prepared for him had been poisoned. He vomited and had diarrhea after eating it. But Lily was convinced I did it on purpose and forced me to eat all the leftovers. Just because I was a heinous sinner who could never atone for my crimes, even in death. “James! He’ll be the child’s only father. Don’t you dare try to harm him again!” she screamed, choking me as she pinned me down to warn me before rushing Quinn to the hospital. The high fever and blood loss finally overwhelmed me. I collapsed to the floor, unconscious. But I was grateful. I was finally going to be free.

When I came to, I was still lying in the yard. I struggled to my feet and had just reached the door when someone chased me away with a mop. “No filth allowed inside! You’re bad luck. Hurry up and clean up your mess!” the housekeeper spat at me, arms crossed. Anyone in this house could step all over me. All because Lily had said if I wanted to enter this house, I could only be the lowest, dirtiest dog. I didn’t argue with them. I just limped into the basement. I had very few possessions in the tiny room. Everything fit easily into one small bag. We’d been married for six years. But aside from a few tattered clothes, I still had nothing to my name. Laughter drifted down from upstairs where Lily was. She glanced at me coldly as I came up, then ordered, “Quinn fell. Come here and kneel down so he can sit on you.” But when I remained motionless, Lily’s face darkened. “If you don’t want to do it, then get lost! This isn’t a place for you to be willful!” Just like the past six years, she showed me no kindness whatsoever. Even though she could be so gentle with Quinn. I clutched my worn backpack, my heart aching as if torn open. She looked at me impatiently, but her brow furrowed when she saw the bag I was carrying. “Where are you going?” Six years ago, when we woke up in bed together, she glared at me with the same hatred. She said I had schemed against her, and let her bodyguards break my leg. The fracture site still ached dully. I unconsciously rubbed my right leg. Lily looked at me with great displeasure and had someone snatch the bag off my back. “You thief, were you planning to steal my things and sell them?” she accused. But when the bodyguard dumped out the contents, there was nothing of value except my ID. Lily’s expression grew even uglier. “I-I wanted to go say goodbye to Dad at the hospital…” I said quietly, keeping my head down as I tried to control my fear. Before, I had merely suggested we part ways once. For that, she had me tied to a cliff face. I have a crippling fear of heights. I went from begging to sobbing hysterically, but she just watched me coldly. She still thought I was faking to trick her. I kept my head down, not daring to anger her further. Seeing me so obedient, her expression softened somewhat. But one plea from Quinn had her leaving without hesitation. I took back my backpack and silently crouched down to gather my things. She glanced back, ordering coldly, “What use is it for you to go? He’s already dead.” Quinn turned his head too, asking in confusion, “Why is big brother being so thoughtless? The living are more important than the dead!” I still didn’t leave. My phone rang again and again. I stared at the familiar name on the screen but didn’t have the courage to answer. I had planned to sneak out in the middle of the night. But I didn’t expect to find Lily sitting on the living room couch when I came up. She waved me over, gesturing to the ointment on the table in front of her. “Come here, I’ll disinfect your wounds. We don’t want them getting infected.” But I remained rooted to the spot, not moving an inch. “Thank you for your concern, Ms. White, but I have thick skin. I’m not as delicate as Mr. Sullivan.” She let out a cold laugh, mocking my presumptuousness. “James, I’ve told you before. This is your retribution.” I was about to speak when an angry roar came from upstairs. Chaos erupted in the living room.

I was dragged into the cold, dark emergency stairwell. Fists and feet rained down on my body. I could only curl up, my whole body aching terribly. “You beast! You scum!” Lily grabbed my collar, her eyes blazing with fury as if she wanted to flay me alive. “How dare you hurt Little Treasure!” My vision kept going dark from the beating. I opened my mouth but couldn’t make a sound. “I didn’t…” I managed to get out three words before she whipped me hard. She even used the whip to choke me, pinning me brutally to the ground. Her voice was hoarse but filled with a hatred that chilled me to the bone. “I was going to abort that bastard child back then. So you did this to the baby for revenge?” “Don’t think that just because you became my legal husband, I’ll go soft on you!” I saw the madness in her eyes. She truly wanted to kill me. But I had never thought our relationship would be our lifeline. I was truly sorry about what happened back then. I had been trying my best to make amends, but she never believed a word I said. Doctors rushed in and out to save the child. Finally, one stood anxiously in the doorway and called out, “The baby’s liver is failing. We need to do an immediate transplant. Do any of you match for donation?” Lily shoved me forward, her voice cold. “Use him!” I closed my eyes, a bitter smile on my lips. It seemed she had truly forgotten that I once had my liver ruptured from a beating when I rescued her from kidnappers. The bodyguards twisted my arms behind my back and took me for testing. Soon, the results confirmed I was a match for donation. I was wheeled into the operating room. As I saw the doctor inject the anesthesia, my consciousness began to slip away and my vision blurred. Actually, I had known from the beginning that she had feelings for my brother Daniel. My mother couldn’t bear to let her pampered eldest son marry into the Lin family. So she faked Daniel’s death and sent him abroad. She locked me in a room with a drunk Lily. I wanted to resist, but my father fell gravely ill just then and needed a lot of money for treatment. After that night, I tried to explain, but news came of Daniel’s death. Lily was convinced I had killed Daniel to marry into the Lin family. She agreed to marry me, but only to avenge the man she loved. Seeing me forced to compromise again and again, stripped of all dignity, made her feel vindicated. But I was coerced into giving up everything, my heart breaking a little more each day. I couldn’t believe that sweet girl who used to hide behind me and call me “big brother” could be so cruel to me now. These memories kept swirling in my mind, filling me with unbearable sadness. As tears streamed down my face, I saw Lily sitting in front of me. Her face was weary, with a hint of guilt. “Are you still in pain?” I wiped away my tears and turned to look at her expressionlessly. “I want to go see my dad.” My voice was so weak it could have been scattered by a breeze. She lowered her eyes, staring at me for a long time. Just as she was about to speak, a commotion broke out where Quinn was. Lily immediately stood up, her face full of anxiety as she hurried over. Not long after, a doctor came to check on me. “Luckily Mr. Evans was a match from before. Though he’s passed away, his liver was donated to someone in need. Your wife just signed the papers on your behalf. My condolences.” I bolted upright in bed, my whole body shaking. I clutched my chest, feeling as if my heart was being slowly torn to shreds. So Lily’s belated concern was just out of guilt. I couldn’t even protect my father’s body.

I was alone again. Once, we had a child too. I had been overjoyed, begging her endlessly to keep the baby. I would do anything for her. But on Daniel’s birthday, she drank heavily, her eyes red. I knelt on the ground pleading with her to stop drinking, but she slapped me across the face. “James, you deserve to be abandoned by everyone!” she sneered. She tumbled down the stairs deliberately, just to see me suffer. I threw myself down to cushion her fall, but still couldn’t save the baby. The blood from that night became a nightmare I could never shake. “Save the baby…” I begged, still shielding her tightly despite being badly injured. Lily looked down at me with a complex expression when she came to her senses, but ultimately decided to abort the child. Perhaps she felt someone like me didn’t deserve to be the father of her child. Lily must have seen that I wasn’t making a fuss, so she magnanimously allowed me to attend my father’s funeral. “You go to the funeral first. I’ll join you after I finish shopping with Quinn.” I didn’t nod, just leaned back in the chair exhaustedly. These past few days, she had patiently cared for the child. The three of them looked like such a close, harmonious family. She was probably only letting me off the hook today because she had checked the security footage and discovered it was the bodyguard who always beat me the hardest who had drugged the soup. I guess she wanted to make it up to me by allowing me to attend my father’s funeral. But I no longer cared about any of that. From a distance, I watched as my father’s ashes were interred in the cemetery. Unable to pay my respects in person, I could only stand far away and kowtow several times to bid him farewell. “Dad, I’m so sorry.” After leaving the cemetery, I made an excuse to get rid of the others and successfully retrieved my small backpack. My friend arrived at the Lin house as promised. “Over here!” he waved, signaling that I could jump down from the back. There were no guards here. I landed silently and was pushed into a luxury car. I looked up and met a pair of familiar eyes. Someone held me tightly. Lily, who had just sent the others home, felt her heart skip a beat for some reason. The urge to see me was overwhelming, as if she would regret it for life if she was even a second late. My father’s funeral ended quickly. By the time she arrived, she saw my mother guarding the area with some people. As she approached, she heard my mother’s furious cursing. “Where’s that little beast James? Isn’t he supposed to care about his father the most?” “This time I’ll teach him a harsh lesson. Make him know he has to side with the Fang family!” Lily stormed in angrily to confront my mother. “Repeat what you just said!” Seeing her, my mother’s expression turned panicked. She stammered out a few excuses, but Lily didn’t catch a single word clearly. Until her phone rang. “Ms. Lin, Mr. Fang has escaped! We just received an express delivery with divorce papers for you inside.”

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After five years with Chloe, it felt like she only saw me as her personal ATM. She brought her ex-boyfriend, Liam, who had the mental capacity of an eight-year-old, back to our home. She claimed Liam thought she was his mother and that she had to take responsibility for him until his memory returned. To keep him happy, she spent my money taking him on trips. She’d forget our anniversaries but always remembered his birthday, and she’d demand I grovel and apologize to him without even knowing what happened. She even forced our engagement ring off my finger and gave it to him, just because he said he liked it. My heart was utterly crushed. I decided to give up. But then, when I moved on with someone else, Chloe looked at me with red-rimmed eyes and asked, “Can’t you… please not marry her?” 0 One evening, Chloe and I were kissing passionately on the bed, just about to get more intimate. Suddenly, her ex-boyfriend, Liam, burst through the bedroom door. Chloe glanced at the doorway, frantic, and tried to escape my embrace. She even shoved me away forcefully. I was caught off guard and tumbled off the bed, my head hitting the floor with a painful thud. But Chloe didn’t even notice my condition. She walked straight to a whimpering Liam and gently asked him, “What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Liam buried his face in Chloe’s arms, crying aggrievedly: “I had a nightmare again. I dreamt Mom didn’t want me anymore. “Mom said I wasn’t Uncle’s child, and Uncle didn’t like me, so Mom was going to throw me away. “I’m so scared. What should I do?” The “Uncle” Liam kept talking about was me. Even though he claimed he had amnesia and called Chloe “Mom,” he stubbornly insisted I wasn’t his dad; I was just “Uncle.” A bad uncle trying to steal his “Mom.” I stood rooted to the spot, stunned. Watching Chloe gently pat his back. Listening to her soft reassurances: “Don’t be scared, I’m right here. “No one dares to throw you away, not even Uncle. “Mommy always loves our little Liam the most.” I was supposed to be her boyfriend. But at that moment, I felt as superfluous as a stranger. My girlfriend was cupping another man’s face, telling him she loved him the most. A bitter ache spread through my chest. I clenched my fists, my nails almost digging into my palms. The next second, I watched Liam kiss Chloe’s cheek. The veins in my forehead pulsed with fury. When Liam’s crying finally subsided, he let go of Chloe. He looked at me with a hint of apology, then said: “I’m sorry, Uncle Alex. “I was too scared, that’s why I lost control and kissed Mommy in front of you. “You don’t mind, do you? You’re just a normal boyfriend. I’m Mommy’s precious baby.” Of course, I minded, but what could I do? Liam and Chloe used to date. After they broke up, they still worked at the same company. It just so happened that during a company retreat, they were involved in a car accident. Liam shielded Chloe with his body but was knocked unconscious by the impact. So, Liam was Chloe’s lifesaver. A few days ago, Liam finally woke up, but he had amnesia. His mind had regressed to that of a child. He couldn’t remember anyone but insisted Chloe was his “Mommy.” And Chloe actually agreed to play “Mommy,” bringing him home to care for him. Originally, I was against it. But Chloe said: “Liam saved my life. “Now he doesn’t remember anything, and he only thinks I’m his mother. He has no one but me. I can’t just abandon him. “If you’re going to be so petty and can’t understand, then I’ll just move to the company dorm with him.” Clearly, this “son” Liam was more important to her than I was. My heart just seized up. A suffocating pain wrapped around me, like thorny vines. Chloe and I were never on equal footing from the start. She was proud, but also stunningly beautiful and from a privileged background. Countless guys chased after her. I was the one who fell for her first. I shamelessly pursued her for half a year before she finally agreed to be my girlfriend. In front of her, I had always been humble. I didn’t want to lose her. So, no matter how reluctant I was, I put up with it. However, Chloe’s indulgence towards Liam far exceeded my expectations. She allowed Liam to place their joint photo right in the center of the living room bookshelf. In the picture, Liam was smiling brightly, linking arms with Chloe. And Chloe had a tender smile gracing her lips. It was a total eyesore. Chloe’s expression darkened, and she said coldly: “I’m just taking a picture with my son. Are you going to be jealous about that too? “You weren’t like this when you were chasing me. You know I don’t like controlling, narrow-minded men.” Her sharp tone made my eyes sting with tears. Her brow furrowed deeper, a clear sign of annoyance. “Don’t be so dramatic. I don’t like it.” When Liam cried, she would gently comfort him. When it was me, she just found it annoying. I swallowed the lump of hurt in my throat, the pain in my heart growing heavier. A few days later, Liam suddenly wanted to travel. Chloe called me for money, saying she wanted to go on a trip. I thought Chloe wanted a romantic getaway with me, so I happily transferred her $200,000 for the trip and even hired a caregiver and nanny for Liam. However, I waited and waited in my office but heard nothing from Chloe. Then, the caregiver called. Chloe and Liam weren’t home. A terrible possibility echoed in my mind, so I called Chloe. “Hello? What do you want?” Her voice was impatient. “Where are you now?” I asked cautiously. “Didn’t I tell you? I’m traveling. If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.” And she did. My heart suddenly felt like it had been punched, a bitter ache spreading through me. Just then, my phone chimed with a text message. “So sorry, Uncle! Mommy and I are traveling!” The unfamiliar number sent a picture: Chloe and Liam wearing matching outfits, holding hands, sitting on chairs at an airport. They were incredibly close. “Mommy and I are clearly wearing matching parent-child outfits, but so many people said we looked like a couple and called us sweet.” “Uncle, why didn’t Mommy bring you on the trip? France is beautiful.” Every day after that, I received messages from that strange number. Sometimes it was photos of them eating together, sometimes videos of them holding hands, even pictures of them gazing at each other in front of the Eiffel Tower, or kissing each other’s forehead. Even… a photo of them lying together on a white hotel sheet. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I called Chloe to confront her: “So you took the money I gave you to travel with him? What about me? I’m your boyfriend. Did you even think about me when you were lying in bed with him?” “Why are you yelling? I told you, he just sees me as his mom, and I only see him as a child. Can you stop being so sensitive?” “No matter how immature his mind is, he’s still an adult man. What if—” “You just love to maliciously speculate about people. Now you’re talking about ‘my money’ and ‘your money’ so clearly. When you were chasing me, you said you’d spend all the money you earned on me. Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” “But I—” “I’m not like you, breaking promises and being irresponsible. I promised I’d take responsibility for him, and I will. If you can accept it, fine. If not, then let’s break up.” “No… don’t break up… have fun…” I knew she couldn’t see me on the other end of the phone, but I still forced out a difficult smile. “Can we go to the Seine River tomorrow?” I heard Liam’s whining voice on the phone. “Of course, honey. Whatever makes you happy. Just get well soon.” Chloe’s voice was so incredibly gentle, I had never heard her speak like that to me. Listening to their laughter through the phone, my chest tore with pain. What was I to Chloe, really? A dispensable boyfriend? Or an unrequited, ever-giving ATM? A bitter ache and raw despair twisted in my gut. My vision blurred. 0

On the night of our fifth anniversary, I sat alone on the sofa at home. Before me were the anniversary gift I’d bought for Chloe and the elaborate dinner I’d prepared. She and Liam hadn’t returned from their trip yet. *She won’t forget, she always remembered these dates. She cares about them the most.* But even by eleven o’clock, Chloe still hadn’t come back. The food had been reheated several times. *Maybe they couldn’t get a flight, or it’s the time difference… she’ll definitely call.* I murmured, trying to comfort myself. Midnight. She hadn’t returned, no messages. Our anniversary was over. I stared blankly at our SnapChat chat box. Amidst the sea of green, only a few emojis were from her. The last time she sent me a message was half a month ago. Just then, my phone finally chimed with a notification. I eagerly picked it up, but my smile froze. It was Liam. The message contained photos of him and Chloe at Disneyland. In the pictures, they were beaming, cheeks pressed tightly together, looking sweeter than a couple deeply in love. “Uncle, Mommy and I went to Disneyland today! Uncle, you haven’t been with her, have you? Uncle isn’t mad, right?” “Uncle, Mommy said she won’t be back for another two days, because tomorrow’s my birthday, and Mommy wants to stay longer and give me a surprise.” “So Uncle will have to wait a bit longer. Anyway, Uncle won’t mind, right? Uncle isn’t petty enough to argue with a child, is he?” I put down my phone and ignored it. For the first time, large tears rolled down my face. I ate the already cold food ravenously. The thought of Chloe perhaps eating or playing with Liam at that very moment made my stomach churn with disgust. 0

A week later, they finally returned. I walked through the door of our home and saw Liam pounce on Chloe on the sofa. His face was nuzzling her neck, and she was giggling playfully. Rage exploded in my chest. I quickly stepped forward and pulled the two of them apart. “What exactly are you two doing?” “Doing what? Were we doing anything inappropriate?” Chloe said, her voice dripping with self-righteousness. I was about to retort when I noticed a ring on Liam’s hand. “What is this?” I grabbed his hand and forcefully yanked the ring off. “You gave him our engagement ring?” “Mommy, Uncle is so mean! He hurt me!” “He just thought it looked pretty and wanted to wear it. Why are you so aggressive? You scared him! Apologize right now!” With that, she actually came straight for me, trying to forcibly take the ring from my hand to give back to Liam. Feeling my resistance, she let go, her voice impatient: “Can you be reasonable for once? Either we talk, or we break up.” Seeing Chloe’s self-righteousness and her unwavering defense of Liam, I was utterly crushed. “Fine. Break up then. I won’t apologize. It’s not my fault.” “Don’t you dare regret this. Even if you beg me later, there’ll be no going back for us,” Chloe said, her face grim, staring at me coldly. The disappointment and pure disgust in her eyes were crystal clear. “I won’t.” I calmly took off the ring from my finger, placed it on the table, and turned to leave this woman who had become so utterly foreign to me. Five years of dating, and even though I knew Chloe’s feelings for me were barely a tenth of mine for her, I still loved her fiercely and without reservation. Because I loved her, I indulged her, tolerated all her little tantrums. Whether it was money or anything else, I always tried my best to satisfy her. But I never expected her to take it for granted, to trample on my sincere feelings again and again, even giving our engagement ring to Liam just because he liked it. A suffocating pain wrapped around my heart, tightening its grip until I could barely breathe. I swallowed the lump of hurt in my throat, digging my nails into my palms, trying to stay composed. Let’s break up. Because I loved her, for five years, I tolerated all her bad temper and occasional cold shoulders. I endured her indulgence and favoritism towards Liam, and Liam’s deliberate provocations. I never thought it would lead to this. What man could tolerate his girlfriend unconditionally favoring her ex-boyfriend, even turning on him for the ex’s sake? It’s better to just let it go. Loving her was truly exhausting. After moving into my new apartment, I received a message from her. “Send me some money. I’m taking Liam out for dinner tonight and I’m short.” Even though she had broken up with me, she still came to me for money, ordering me around with that same sense of entitlement. But Chloe, we’ve broken up. We have nothing to do with each other anymore. This is where it ends for us.

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On the day we were supposed to get married at the courthouse, my boyfriend Samuel Lee had someone kick me out and brought in Rachel, his childhood sweetheart. He looked at me nonchalantly and said, “Rachel’s child needs legal custody. After we divorce, I’ll marry you.” Everyone thought that I, being so in love with him, would willingly wait another month for him. After all, I had already waited for him for seven years. But that very night, I accepted my family’s arrangement for an international marriage and disappeared from his world. Three years later, I accompanied my husband back to the country for ancestor worship. My husband had some urgent business, so he arranged for the local branch company to pick me up. Unexpectedly, I ran into Samuel Lee, whom I hadn’t seen in three years. “You’ve made enough of a fuss. Come back… Rachel’s child is about to start kindergarten. You’ll be responsible for picking him up and dropping him off.” In the arrival hall, I saw someone holding a sign with my English name. As I walked over, I realized it was Samuel Lee, whom I hadn’t seen in three years. He was there with Rachel and a few of his good friends, all craning their necks and looking around expectantly. “Sam, isn’t that your doormat Olivia?” one of them said. Samuel looked surprised to see me too, but quickly pretended to be indifferent and said, “See? I told you she’d come crawling back.” The group snickered and looked at me: “Olivia disappeared without a word back then. Now that she sees Sam’s successful, I bet she cries herself to sleep every night regretting it!” “But Olivia, if you wanted to pretend to bump into him, why did you just wear casual clothes? Couldn’t you have dressed up a bit?” “Don’t tell me you can’t even afford decent clothes without Sam? You must be in a really bad state!” In the past, whenever I went out to see Samuel, I would always put on my most exquisite makeup and choose the most flattering clothes, presenting my best side to him. But now, there was no need for that anymore. Because of my pregnancy, my husband doesn’t let me wear makeup and wants me to dress comfortably. This casual outfit was specially customized for me by someone he hired. However, hearing their words, I realized they only knew my English name but didn’t know that I was the person they were supposed to pick up. Seeing that I remained silent, someone who used to be closer to me quickly tried to smooth things over: “Olivia, it’s good that you’re back. Actually, Sam has been looking for you all these years… asking around for news about you!” Samuel’s smile froze, then he pretended to be nonchalant and said: “Rachel’s child is about to start kindergarten. From now on, you’ll be responsible for picking him up and dropping him off.” Samuel was still his same arrogant, self-righteous self. But I was no longer that young girl who always accommodated him. Seeing him again, all I felt was annoyance. Not wanting to waste time with them here, I was about to reveal my identity when Rachel spoke first: “Olivia, don’t blame Sam. He did this to take care of you too. After all, who knows what you’ve been up to during these three years you disappeared?” “Now that you’re in such a poor state, you couldn’t even handle being my personal assistant if he offered you the job.” “Don’t worry, no one will look down on you if you help me take care of my son.” Three years later, Rachel was still as arrogant as ever, still able to make me frown in disgust. Samuel misunderstood my expression as jealousy and anger towards him, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes. “Alright, enough with the fuss when you can’t even make it out there anymore,” he said. “Just take care of the kid properly and stop causing trouble. You need to know your place.” “Don’t worry, we still have a room for the maid at our place.” As soon as he finished speaking, the people around burst into malicious laughter. “Olivia, see how good Sam is to you? He’s afraid you’re suffering out there, so he’s arranged food and lodging for you.” “It’s just helping Rachel take care of the kid, isn’t that much better than your current poor life? Hurry up and thank Sam.” Rachel touched her earrings, pretending to be considerate: “Olivia, don’t worry. If my son misbehaves and doesn’t listen to you, I’ll discipline him for you. I won’t let you suffer any grievances.” Samuel snorted with laughter, glancing at me. “What grievances could she have? She disappeared over a trivial matter back then. Now that she can’t make it on her own and has come back, it’s only right for her to suffer a bit.” Hearing these words, my heart skipped a beat. Even now, did he still think that getting married to Rachel was just a trivial matter? It turns out that the Samuel who once loved me was long gone. He was no longer that boy who, covered in wounds, carried my injured self across half the city. Nor was he that young man who, with nothing to his name, loudly proclaimed his love for me and promised me everything. And he certainly wasn’t that successful man who was willing to cook for me with his own hands. But it’s fine. It’s all in the past, no need to bring it up. After all, I’m about to have my second child soon.

Suppressing my thoughts, I didn’t want to argue with them here. It was pointless. I looked at Samuel and said calmly: “Weren’t you here to pick me up? Let’s go.” The scene went quiet for a moment, and they exchanged glances before suddenly bursting into laughter. Rachel sneered coldly: “Wait for you? Who do you think you are?!” She pointed at the sign, “Look carefully, we’re waiting for Olivia. Do you know who that is?” This was my English name, of course I knew. “Olivia is Mrs. Young, the lady of the Young family, and the legal wife of Mr. Young.” “Mr. Young is decisive in the business world, but he’s actually quite the romantic. They say he refused to marry for years, just waiting for Olivia.” “Everyone in the circle knows that rather than trying to please Mr. Young, it’s better to please Mrs. Young. She’s the apple of Mr. Young’s eye.” Hearing their chatter, a happy smile appeared on my face. After three years of marriage, Gabriel’s business had grown bigger and bigger, and his reputation as a wife-doting maniac had spread far and wide. Rachel, always trying to one-up me, couldn’t resist showing off in front of me: “Mr. Young once bought a ‘True Love Forever’ bracelet at Christie’s auction for $20 million… US dollars, just to please Mrs. Young.” “Mrs. Young is the envy of women all over the world.” She paused, then pointed at my wrist and said shrilly: “It’s this one!” The scene suddenly went quiet, with everyone looking at my bracelet. Samuel grabbed my hand abruptly, examining it for a moment before saying mockingly: “The imitation is quite exquisite! Which delivery guy bought this for you? Giving fake gifts.” “Trash.” I shook off his hand, curled my lips into a smile, and gently caressed the bracelet. Seeing my happy smile, Samuel’s pupils constricted, and he suddenly grabbed my wrist, roughly rubbing the bracelet. I hadn’t expected this to happen and was caught off guard. Rachel stepped forward to examine the bracelet, taking it from Samuel’s hand and playing with it. “It is indeed more exquisite than the imitation I bought, but I would never wear it out. It’s embarrassing.” “The imitations from abroad are really different, the feel is quite nice.” “Or are you saying, Olivia, that you’re Olivia, that legendary Mrs. Young?!” As she finished speaking, the people around burst into laughter. After all, it was too absurd for them to believe. Gabriel Young was a world-renowned financial genius, cold and ruthless in the business world, decisive and unforgiving. And I was still hanging out with them three years ago, a nobody whose wedding was called off by Samuel. No matter how they thought about it, it seemed impossible. Rachel twirled the bracelet around her finger. “Olivia, why don’t you give me this bracelet? I’ll pay double for it.” Afraid she might drop the bracelet, I quickly said: “Give me back the bracelet, it was given to me by Gabriel…” Before I could finish, Samuel slapped me hard across the face, making my head turn and drawing blood from the corner of my mouth. “Shut up!”

Samuel looked at me with some annoyance and said: “Olivia Johnson, you dare to mention Mr. Young’s name? You’re even daring to spread rumors about having a relationship with him. Are you trying to get me killed?” Samuel’s good friends also looked indignant, glaring at me angrily. “Olivia, do you know that we barely managed to get the chance to pick up Mrs. Young today?” “Sam’s company was acquired by Mr. Young last year. We all depend on Mr. Young for our livelihoods now. Only by pleasing Mrs. Young can Sam’s position be secure.” “Now you’re here spreading rumors about having a relationship with Mr. Young. Are you trying to ruin Sam?” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth and slowly turned my head, meeting Samuel’s gaze. Perhaps my look was too frightening, as Samuel frowned, a flash of panic crossing his eyes. Seeing Samuel’s strange look at me, Rachel shot me a venomous glance and pointed at my nose, cursing: “Olivia Johnson, you ungrateful wretch! Sam has already agreed to take you back, don’t be so ignorant and ungrateful, getting above yourself.” “Even if you have some resentment towards Sam, you can’t use this method to get revenge on him, can you?” Hearing this, I felt like I was back three years ago. No matter what I did, Rachel would always misinterpret my intentions and explain them to Samuel. At first, Samuel would scold Rachel. But later, he would follow Rachel’s words and blame me. Just like now, Samuel scolded me in a tone of disappointment: “Jealous woman.” But this time, he didn’t continue to scold me as he did in the past. After a moment of silence, Samuel took out a check for $200,000 and placed it in front of me. “For the sake of our past relationship, I won’t do anything to you.” “Take the money and buy yourself some decent clothes. If you don’t like taking care of children, I’ll find you a respectable job in a few days.” “Don’t worry, since Mr. Young acquired the company, this amount of money is nothing to me now.” Samuel’s patronizing attitude made me sick. Looks like he’s been doing quite well lately. Under everyone’s surprised gaze, I pushed away Samuel’s hand holding the check, retrieved my bracelet from Rachel’s hand, and said with a smile: “No need, Mr. Lee. I don’t accept things from strangers.”

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My sister is dead. Torn into pieces, flushed down the drain. The police searched for three days and only found a snippet of her pinky finger – Still wearing the strawberry hair tie I gave her for her birthday. No one in our family seemed sad, except for me. Mom made me a strawberry cake, and Dad put an arm around my shoulder, whispering, “Don’t be scared, we’re here for you.” But just a week ago, they’d twisted my hair and cursed me, calling me a “worthless freeloader,” Saying they should have just dumped me somewhere and left me to rot. As the funeral incense burned late into the night, my phone suddenly vibrated. It was a timed message. Sender: My Sister. “Sis, I found out Mom and Dad’s secret, they’re not even—” It poured rain at Lily’s funeral. I stood under a black umbrella, watching the small casket slowly lowered into the earth, and couldn’t stop the tears. It felt like just days ago, Lily and I were playing games together, those moments still so vivid. Now, she was gone, separated by life and death. I wished so badly that this was all a terrible dream. “My deepest condolences,” the relatives recited their platitudes mechanically, like NPCs completing a quest. I turned to look at Mom and Dad standing next to me. Mom wore a black suit, her makeup so perfect it looked like she was going to a gala; Dad stared blankly at the tombstone, his eyes hollow, as if looking at an ordinary rock. There wasn’t a trace of grief on their faces. Ding-dong, my phone buzzed. It was Lily’s timed text message. “Sis, I found out Mom and Dad’s secret, they’re not even—” The message cut off abruptly right there. I felt a chill crawl over me and looked up, only to find Mom and Dad staring intently at me. I stood frozen, afraid to move.

Mom walked over, took my hand, and gave me a dazzling smile: “Don’t be sad, Chloe. When we get home, Mom will make you a strawberry cake, your favorite, remember?” I froze. Strawberry cake? Mom hadn’t made me any desserts since I was ten. She always said sweets would make people stupid, and I needed to keep my mind sharp to get into a good university. Dad, too, was unusually affectionate, putting an arm around my shoulder and softly saying, “Tonight, Dad will play games with you. We can even play all night, no problem.” A shiver ran down my spine. My dad was a stern man. Growing up, the most common phrase he ever said to me was “Go study.” He even threw my secretly bought game console out of the window when I was in middle school, shattering it. On the way home, I sat in the backseat, looking at Mom and Dad’s backs in the front, feeling an indescribable creepiness. They were acting too strangely today, so strangely… they didn’t seem like themselves. A week ago, they were pointing fingers at me and yelling: “You good-for-nothing! If you don’t get into a good university, get out! If we hadn’t had to raise you, we’d be living in a mansion by now!” And now, they were being so kind it sent shivers down my spine.

Back home, Mom really started making the strawberry cake. I stood at the kitchen doorway, watching her hum a tune as she stirred the batter, my hands trembling involuntarily. “Mom, aren’t you sad? Lily… she was buried today,” I cautiously asked. Mom paused her movements for a second, then turned her head, her face still wearing that unnatural smile: “Sad about what? She just went ahead of us, that’s all. Come, taste this cream, is it sweet enough?” She held out a spoon with cream on it towards my mouth, her eyes disturbingly eager. I instinctively took a step back. “I’m not hungry yet… I’ll just go back to my room first.” I practically fled upstairs, only to bump into Dad at the staircase landing. In his hand was the Candyland board game I loved to play when I was little – he’d thrown that game into the trash when I was eight because he said it would distract me from studying. “How about we play this tonight?” Dad’s voice was unfamiliar in its tenderness, “Just like when you were a kid.” My heart was pounding hard. Something was wrong, everything was wrong. I forced a nod, hurried into my room, locked the door, and leaned against it, gasping for breath.

It was too bizarre. What was going on with Mom and Dad? And that text message from Lily, Mom and Dad’s secret, what could it be? That sentence, “they’re not even—” Not even what? A pile of mysteries swirled around me, making me toss and turn, unable to sleep. When the clock struck 1:17 AM, I couldn’t take it anymore. I carefully slipped out from under my covers, planning to go to Lily’s room to see if I could find any clues. The hallway was pitch black. I crept along the wall, holding my breath as I passed Mom and Dad’s room. No light seeped from under their door, and I could hear their steady breathing, so they must have been asleep. Lily’s room was at the end of the hallway. A thin layer of dust had settled on the doorknob; no one had gone in since the funeral. When I turned the knob, the metal made a faint scratching sound, piercingly loud in the silence. “Lily, it’s me…” I whispered, as if she could still hear me. The room remained exactly as Lily had left it that day. The bed was neatly made, and her unfinished math homework was spread out on her desk. I opened the drawer of her nightstand and my fingers brushed against a hardcover notebook – Lily’s diary. I opened to the first page, dated three months ago. “May 12th, Sunny. Saw that man in black again after school today. He was standing under the sycamore tree by the school gate, wearing sunglasses, but I could feel him watching me. This is the third time…” A man in black? Lily had never mentioned this. Could he have killed her? I flipped to the next page. “May 15th, Cloudy. I told Mom and Dad someone was following me, but they just said I was imagining things. But tonight, when I got up to use the restroom, I saw the kitchen light on. Dad was standing there… What was he eating? Something red, dripping liquid… I quietly slipped back to my room, pretending I hadn’t seen anything.” A shiver ran down my back. I remembered a metallic smell in the kitchen that morning. Mom had said she accidentally cut her finger. The next few pages were torn out. I quickly flipped through until I saw the entry from a week ago. “June 3rd, Rainy. I know. They’re not human. Last night, I pretended to be asleep and heard strange noises coming from their room. I peeked through the keyhole… Oh my god, what was that? Dad’s face… melting like wax and reforming… Mom said, ‘There’s not much time left, we can’t show any flaws.’ What are they talking about? Tomorrow, I need to ask Chloe for help…” Reading this, my throat tightened, and my fingertips went cold. Mom and Dad weren’t human. Then what were these things I’d been living with for the past few days? Monsters? Why were they being so nice to me now? I trembled as I turned to the last page. There were only a few shaky lines, as if written in a hurry: “If you see this, the rules are still in effect. Remember these three, and never break them, no matter what happens: 1. After midnight, if ‘Mom and Dad’ come to tell you to go to sleep, do not look at their feet. If they are standing side-by-side in black slippers, immediately close your eyes and count to 100. Those are not the real Mom and Dad. 2. Every morning, you must check the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. If you find meat wrapped in red cling film, immediately sprinkle salt on it and then tell Mom, ‘Today’s milk is spoiled.’ Do not ask where the meat came from. 3. The family photo in the living room must always show 4 people. If it turns into 3 or 5, find the person who is extra or missing from the photo before sunset.” Just as I was about to look for other clues, a faint sound suddenly came from behind me.

Click. I slammed the diary shut and spun around to face the door. I had locked it just moments ago, but now it was ajar. “Chloe?” Mom’s voice drifted from outside, impossibly soft, “What are you doing in Lily’s room so late?” My heart pounded like a drum. I slowly looked up and saw Mom and Dad standing in the doorway. Mom wore a white nightgown, Dad blue striped pajamas. Their faces looked eerily pale in the dim light of the hallway lamp. “I… I just…” My voice caught in my throat. My gaze uncontrollably dropped downwards – two pairs of black slippers, standing side-by-side on the threshold, toes pointing directly at me. The diary slipped from my trembling hand. “It’s time for bed, Chloe.” Dad said, his lips stretched into an arc, but his eyes held no trace of a smile, “You have school tomorrow.” They both took a step forward simultaneously, their movements so synchronized it was like they were one person. I suddenly noticed that their eyelids didn’t blink, and their chests didn’t rise and fall with breath. The first rule from the diary flashed in my mind. I squeezed my eyes shut and began counting silently in my head: 1, 2, 3… “Chloe.” Mom’s voice was suddenly right beside me. I smelled a strange, metallic sweetness, “Why aren’t you looking at Mom?” Icy fingers brushed my cheek, sticky and cold. I gritted my teeth and continued counting: …54, 55, 56… “She found out.” Dad’s voice came from the other direction, his tone as flat as if discussing the weather, “Should we start over?” “Not yet,” Mom’s reply carried a strange, eerie laugh, “Let’s wait a bit longer.” My counting was interrupted. I opened my eyes just a slit – and saw their feet. Above the black slippers, their pale ankles each had a ring of stitches, looking like they’d been severed and sewn back on. “Go back to your room, Chloe.” They said in unison, their voices resonating eerily in the air, “Now.” I stumbled out of the room, my heart threatening to burst through my chest. The hallway walls seemed to breathe, and a family photo in the darkness seemed to watch me. I instinctively glanced at the closest one – in the photo, Lily stood on the far end, and where I should be, there was a blurry, unrecognizable figure. After rushing into my own room and locking the door, I slid to the floor, my back against the door. Lily was dead. I had to survive.

That night, I slept restlessly, constantly feeling like someone was watching me in the dark. Early in the morning, a series of knocks woke me from my sleep. Thump. Thump. Thump. “Chloe? Breakfast is ready.” Mom’s voice came through the door, “Mom made your favorite omelet.” I stared at the doorknob, hesitating whether to open the door. Last night’s experience felt like a nightmare, but the crumpled diary page in my pocket proved it wasn’t an illusion. “Coming!” I tried to make my voice sound normal, while quickly stuffing the diary page under my bedsheet. The moment I pushed the door open, a sweet aroma wafted towards me. Mom stood in the hallway, wearing a sunflower-print apron, smiling at me. Sunlight slanted in from the window behind her, casting a golden glow around her, making it look like an ordinary morning. If only I hadn’t noticed the unnatural angle of her left pinky finger – that finger had been perfectly fine yesterday. “Hurry and get ready.” She reached out to touch my head, but I instinctively tilted my head away. Her smile froze for a second, then quickly returned, “What’s wrong? Not feeling well?” “No, I’m fine, just… didn’t sleep well.” I lowered my head and squeezed past her, deliberately avoiding physical contact. In the kitchen, two omelets steamed on gold-rimmed white porcelain plates. I stared at them, suddenly remembering the second rule from the diary. While Mom turned to pour milk, I quickly pulled open the bottom shelf of the refrigerator— Red cling film, like a block of solidified blood under the cold light. Something on the surface of the irregularly wrapped meat glinted faintly. I leaned in closer and almost screamed: it was a half-missing fingernail embedded in the meat.

“What are you looking for?” Mom’s voice suddenly exploded in my ear. I slammed the refrigerator door shut and bumped into her shoulder as I turned around. “I… I wanted to get some ketchup…” My voice was trembling. Mom tilted her head, watching me, her pupils an unnatural gray in the sunlight. She slowly held up the glass of milk in her hand: “Drink your milk first. Fresh milk today.” The second rule from the diary flashed in my mind: If you find meat wrapped in red cling film, tell Mom, “Today’s milk is spoiled.” “Today’s milk… is spoiled.” I struggled to force out the words. Mom’s lips twitched. For a moment, her entire face distorted like a TV screen with bad reception, then it snapped back to normal. “How can that be?” She placed the milk glass in front of me, some milky white residue floating on the surface of the liquid, “Dad just bought it.” I stared at the glass, my stomach churning with nausea. Across the dining table, Lily’s seat was empty, but the tableware was neatly set, as if waiting for her to sit down at any moment. “I need to use the restroom!” I pushed my chair back and dashed towards the hallway. Behind me, Dad called out: “Eat it while it’s hot, Chloe.” As soon as the bathroom door locked, I stuck my fingers down my throat to try and gag. Even though I hadn’t eaten anything, the violent retching made me feel a little better. When I looked up, I noticed finger marks on the mirror. Leaning closer, I saw three shaky words: “Look at the photo.”

The family photo in the living room. The third rule from the diary. I wiped the saliva from my mouth and tiptoed through the hallway. The living room was eerily quiet, sunlight filtering through the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor. The huge family photo hung above the TV: four people – Dad, Mom, me, and Lily – all smiling brightly in the picture. I counted: 1, 2, 3, 4. The number was correct. Just as I let out a sigh of relief, I caught a glimpse of something moving at the edge of the photo. Focusing my eyes, I saw that “my” face in the picture was slowly blurring. It wasn’t fading, but rather like an invisible eraser was wiping it away, bit by bit. Even more terrifying, Lily, who had been smiling on the far edge, was slowly shifting towards the center, filling the blank space left by “my” disappearance. In the blink of an eye, there were only three people left in the photo. My knees went weak, and I had to lean against the wall for support. Just then, the sound of porcelain shattering came from the kitchen. I quickly ran out, “What happened?” “Nothing, your mom just accidentally dropped a plate. No worries, sometimes a little breakage can clear the way for good things, right?” Dad said, setting muffins on the table, his face perfectly serene. It was too bizarre. Before, if I just used a little too much dish soap when washing dishes, Dad would yell at me, saying I was trying to poison the family and kill everyone. Now, he wasn’t even angry about a broken plate. As the muffins were placed on the table, I noticed Dad’s hands – long, clean, without a single wrinkle or blemish. This wasn’t right. Dad should be fifty-two this year, but these hands looked no older than thirty. “Is it not good?” Dad asked. “It’s nothing.” I lowered my head, cutting a muffin, “It’s just… you’ve both been so nice to me lately.” Mom and Dad exchanged a look. I’d seen that look too many times – like a silent conversation, a code I didn’t understand. “We’ve always loved you, Chloe.” Mom said, her hand covering mine, “We’ve just… learned to express it better lately.” Dad echoed her, “That’s right, Chloe, Mom and Dad are the best in the world to you.” Bang, bang, bang, a violent knocking at the front door interrupted our conversation.

��I’ll get it,” I started to stand up, but Mom’s hand suddenly clamped onto my wrist, her grip so strong it hurt. Her expression turned unusually serious, her lips barely moving: “He’s here.” “Who?” “Him.” Dad repeated, his eyes wide with apparent fear, “The one you created.” An icy chill crept up from my feet. The one I created? The floodgates of memory swung open. The novel I wrote a month ago, the serial killer character I named Caleb. The person outside seemed to have tired of knocking and stopped. Just as I let out a breath of relief, the sound of a hammer smashing the door exploded through the quiet house. I jumped, nearly knocking over my orange juice. Mom and Dad’s expressions froze. Mom’s hand was still gripping my wrist, but its warmth was rapidly draining away. “Don’t open the door.” Dad said, his voice suddenly mechanical, “Remember, this isn’t real.” The doorbell rang again, three sharp, urgent rings, like a warning. I tore myself free from Mom’s hand and walked towards the foyer. Through the peephole, a tall figure stood on the porch, a black trench coat, holding something – a toolbox? I squinted, adjusting the angle to try and see his face. In that second, he looked up. Bloodshot eyes stared directly into the peephole, as if he could see me through that tiny hole. A crescent-shaped scar above his right eyebrow – exactly as I’d described it in my novel. My breath hitched, blood roaring in my ears. “I know you’re in there, little writer.” His voice was low and pleasant, “Are your parents doing well? I’d very much like to meet you.” I stumbled backward, bumping into something hard. Turning, I saw Dad – no, not Dad. This person’s features looked like they were made of wax, slowly melting in high heat, only two black holes where his eyes should be. “Wake up.” The wax-like Dad said, his voice coming from a distant place, “You are sleeping. The real us… we’re not like this.” Behind me, I heard the lock turning on the front door. I looked back and saw the doorknob slowly pressing down on its own. “Run!” Mom’s voice suddenly shrieked from the kitchen, sharp and inhuman, “Upstairs! Lock the door!” My legs finally found their sensation, and I dashed for the stairs. In the mirror in the upstairs hallway, I saw the front door open, and the corner of a black trench coat flash. Then, the mirror suddenly cracked, and at the center of the spiderweb-like fractures, a line of blood-red text appeared: “Final rule: Escape the novel world.”

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