Category: English

I got into a car crash, slamming into the guardrail on my way to deliver medicine to my firefighter husband. The car doors were jammed, and smoke billowed from outside. I called Leo for help, but he was out on a mission. To keep him from worrying, I swallowed my fear and tried to free myself. The moment fire erupted, I pushed the car door open with all my might, but my leg was trapped, unable to move. Just as despair set in, Leo’s supervisor, Ben Carter, arrived with his team. Unintentionally, I overheard Ben Carter questioning Leo. “Skylar is pregnant! How could you choose Chloe’s kid over saving your own wife?” “Lily has pneumonia, and Chloe can’t manage her alone. I trust you guys to handle it here… ” Disappointed, I decided to join a remote teaching program in a mountain village. But the husband who had defended Chloe, tirelessly searched for me after I left. “Besides, if Chloe’s husband hadn’t saved Skylar back then, I would have been the one to suffer the pain of separation.” “Helping Chloe and Lily now is my way of atoning for Skylar.” Ben Carter ran a hand across his forehead, clearly exasperated, his voice laced with accusation. “No one truly knows what happened at that fire. Are you really willing to risk your future based on just a single word from Chloe? Is it worth it?” “Yes, it is. If the baby was gone today, or Skylar was seriously hurt, my guilt would be even less…” The water glass slipped from my trembling hand and shattered on the floor. Tears instantly welled up, and I clamped a hand over my mouth, desperate to stifle the sobs escaping me. I couldn’t believe this was my husband, the father of my child. I lunged forward, wanting to snatch his phone and demand an answer from Leo: which was more important, his wife and child, or his childhood friend? I forced myself up, bracing against the pain, but a sharp agony in my abdomen made me gasp. In moments, blood had soaked through my white dress. Ben Carter heard the commotion and rushed over to me. His face turned grim the moment he saw blood dripping onto the ground. He scooped me up and hurried towards the arriving ambulance. After examining me, the doctor shook her head with a helpless expression. “The patient is injured and highly emotional, with severe bleeding. It’s very difficult to save the baby. Please contact her family as soon as possible.” My gaze was filled with a deep sorrow, and my hands slowly caressed my swollen belly. This child was a blessing I had waited three long years for. Before I left home, I had just ordered his crib and clothes online for when he was born. Now, barely an hour later, they were telling me my baby was in danger. “Doctor, I’m not afraid of pain. Please, just help me. My… my baby is already over seven months. Even if you can just save him for one more month…” I pleaded with the doctor, my voice breaking into a sob. The doctor only gave me a fleeting glance, continuing her work. No one spoke in the ambulance. The only sounds were the medical instruments beeping and Ben Carter’s phone ringing. Watching his tightly furrowed brows, I knew Leo wasn’t answering. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and spoke, my voice tinged with disappointment. “Use my phone. My baby and I need him.” I wouldn’t give up. Even if Chloe’s husband had been the one to save me, at a critical moment like this, Leo should have been by my side. Besides, it wasn’t Chloe’s husband who saved me, it was Ben Carter. We had explained this to Leo countless times, but he only ever believed Chloe. The phone rang for a long time before Leo finally picked up. His voice, though, was laced with impatience. “Skylar, you’re not seriously hurt. Lily is scared right now and wants me here. I’ll come back to take care of you tonight.” Ben Carter shot me a glance, his voice involuntarily rising a few decibels. “Your wife is hemorrhaging right now, and the baby is in danger! You need to get to City Hospital immediately!” Leo didn’t respond directly, but I heard Chloe’s soft voice in the background. “Officer Carter just said she had minor injuries. Now, all of a sudden, she’s in danger? Is Skylar just upset that you’re here, and she’s faking it?” “No, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, you should still go see her.” Leo’s anger flared, and he sharply told Ben Carter to hand me the phone. I didn’t care whether Leo was coming or not; I just desperately needed someone to lean on. My voice choked as I began, “Honey, I’m in so much pain, I just want…” “Uncle, Lily wants strawberries!” My words were cut short by the little girl’s whining voice from the other end. My heart plummeted into a chasm of despair. I knew Leo wasn’t coming. The next second, he impatiently brushed me off. “Skylar, I know you’re scared after the accident, but you can’t take it out on the baby. Chloe lost her husband and it’s so hard for her to raise Lily alone. I’ll come back to be with you once Lily feels better.” I thought if I just humbled myself, Leo would find an excuse to come. But now I understood. When it came to Chloe, all his reason vanished. My plea was a fragile whisper, begging him to come be with me. The only reply was the click of a hung-up phone. My eyes, brimming with agony, searched for Ben Carter’s gaze, and I asked the question burning in my mind. “Has Leo been staying with Chloe and Lily for the past five days, not returning to the unit?” He saw he couldn’t hide it from me and simply nodded. I laughed, tears spilling from my eyes. Five days ago, Leo had wanted to bring Chloe and Lily home to live with us. I had refused, and we’d had a huge fight. He hadn’t come home since that day. Today, he called to say he ran out of stomach medicine. I thought it was an olive branch, a sign he wanted to reconcile, but instead, he had just pushed me further into the abyss. A scorching anxiety consumed me, and I kept pinching my arm, trying to numb the pain. The resentment festering inside me finally buckled under the weight of my weakening body, and I slipped into darkness. Faintly, I heard the doctors working to save me. I also heard Ben Carter’s furious shouts after calling Leo. Then, gradually, silence. But I still felt something leave my body. When I woke up, looking at my slightly deflated abdomen, I burst into heart-wrenching sobs.

I couldn’t save the baby. The doctor said that due to my emotional distress and the impact causing a third of my placenta to detach, I had lost him. When I heard the news, I nodded numbly. The searing pain in my heart had already spread to my limbs, making even breathing an agonizing chore. “You’ll have other children, you need to take care of yourself…” “Where’s Leo?” I interrupted Ben Carter’s comforting words, my voice hoarse. His face hardened, and his eyes darted away, avoiding my gaze. I knew then. It had been two full days since the accident, and Leo still hadn’t shown up. I let out a bitter laugh, tears falling freely. “He’s still with Chloe and Lily, so what am I? What was our baby?” Unwilling to tolerate it any longer, I called Leo. The moment the call connected, I heard a call bell ring on his end. My voice tinged with displeasure, I asked, “Are you at the hospital?” “Yeah, Lily’s still not feeling great, so we came to City Hospital to get her checked. I’ll head home once they’re settled.” My heart immediately ached, but I still managed to tell him I was hospitalized in the obstetrics and gynecology department. The words had barely left my lips when Leo exploded. “First you’re hemorrhaging, now you’re in OB-GYN? Skylar, what exactly are you and Ben Carter trying to pull?” “I already called the dealership. The car’s badly damaged, but there’s no blood. You’re spinning such lies just to stop me from helping Chloe!” “Skylar, remember this: you owe Chloe and Lily. I’m atoning for your sins.” My heart sank to rock bottom. He could call the car dealership to verify, but he couldn’t be bothered to come to the hospital and see if I was okay. I threw off the covers, enduring the sharp ache in my abdomen, and walked towards the pediatrics department. Seeing the word “Pediatrics,” I couldn’t help but let out a bitter chuckle. The furthest distance was just one floor, yet he couldn’t bring himself to take a single step up. I followed the sounds and walked towards the infusion room. Leo was dotingly coaxing a red-faced Lily, who was crying. Chloe, meanwhile, leaned on his shoulder, her eyes closed in repose. The sight was a dagger to my eyes. When I first found out I was pregnant, Leo had looked at my belly with that same doting expression. His eyes had been filled with longing for a happy life as a family of three. But now, my baby was gone, and he was reveling in the joy of being a family of three with them. With a broken heart, I pushed down the doorknob. My eyes met Chloe’s as she opened hers. She hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Leo. “Leo, Lily’s stable now. You should go home and be with Skylar tonight. I’m worried about her…” “Worried about what? Ever since she got pregnant, she’s been so paranoid, always thinking something’s going on between us. Now she’s even ganging up with Ben Carter to lie to me. She deserves to be left alone for a few days until her emotions stabilize, then I’ll go back.” His dismissive tone made my hand tremble, and tears immediately streamed down my face. I had thought that after five years of love and three years of marriage, we were inseparable partners. But now I realized this love was only my unwavering devotion. He was merely an actor playing a role. Leo placed the sleeping Lily on the bed, then reached out and pulled Chloe into his arms. He looked down at her with an apologetic gaze: “While she hasn’t given birth yet, I have time to take care of you and Lily. Otherwise, I’d feel too guilty.” Chloe got the answer she wanted, and her eyes, filled with triumph, challenged mine. My heart utterly died. The urge to demand “why” had completely vanished. I let go of the door and slowly walked upstairs. As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Ben Carter frantically searching for me. “Did you see Leo?” “I did, but I don’t want him anymore.” With those words, I closed my eyes. My mind began to map out my future path. Before marrying Leo, I was a high school teacher. To take care of him, I had resolutely quit my job and moved to his city. Now that I was sure he didn’t truly love me, I wouldn’t waste my heart on the wrong person any longer. Firm in my decision, I pulled out my phone and applied for a remote teaching program. I would set off with the new graduates in half a month.

A week later, I was discharged from the hospital. Looking at our familiar apartment complex, memories of Leo and me flooded my mind. Leo and I met during a fire drill at school. As a freshman, I was a bit reckless. I shoved aside a student guarding the path, thinking I could take a shortcut. Instead of a shortcut, I pushed myself straight towards the railing. Just as I was about to fall, Leo grabbed my arm. His single phrase, “You’ve got me, don’t be scared,” instantly captured my floating heart. From that moment, I embarked on a three-year journey to pursue him. Fortunately, my perseverance paid off, and he actually proposed. I had thought we would live happily ever after like any normal couple, but then, in our second year of marriage, an accident happened. I was at a shopping mall getting a massage when a fire broke out. Coincidentally, Chloe and her husband were there too, though I didn’t know who she was at the time. I simply followed Leo’s safety advice and found a relatively safe spot. Chloe’s husband disagreed with my assessment and tugged at her, insisting they leave. Just then, a signpost next to us toppled over. I pulled Chloe out of the way, but I wasn’t quick enough to save her husband. Chloe watched her husband fall into a pool of blood and blamed me for the accident. She believed I was responsible for his death. Seeing her spiral into hysteria, I didn’t want to engage; I just wanted to escape that terrifying place. When we met again, Chloe twisted the truth. She told Leo that her husband had died trying to save *me*. From then on, I became Chloe’s personal scapegoat. Anytime Chloe felt wronged, Leo would bring up that incident to confront me. No matter how many times I explained, Leo refused to believe me. Just then, a flicker of light sparked in my mind, and a mocking smile touched my lips. It wasn’t that Leo didn’t believe me; it was that he *didn’t want* to admit Chloe was lying. I should have understood this long ago, but to maintain our marriage, I chose to turn a blind eye. He wasn’t the only one acting. With renewed resolve, I walked towards our apartment. After packing my things, I seized a moment while drinking water to print out the divorce papers. I glanced at them, then signed my name. Just then, I heard the front door open. Leo walked in, holding Lily in his arms. Chloe followed behind, pushing a suitcase, her left hand draped over Leo’s jacket. They looked like a family returning from a trip abroad. Leo stared at me, frozen, then spoke, his voice low. “Clear out the master bedroom. Lily just recovered from being sick and needs more sunlight. You’ll have to make do for a few days.” I didn’t speak, didn’t move. I watched Leo meticulously arrange things for Chloe and Lily, like watching a pathetic clown show. Chloe, not getting a response from me, looked a bit awkward. She then took Lily from Leo’s arms. “Leo, Lily and I should just go home. It’s not convenient.” She said, glancing at me. Leo immediately caught the unease in her eyes and turned, sharply barking at me. “Skylar, what exactly are you trying to pull? Chloe was worried you wouldn’t be safe during late pregnancy and offered to take care of you. Who are you putting on this lifeless act for?” His words made me laugh out loud, my eyes brimming with tears. *For my good*? He walked in and didn’t even notice my abdomen was flat. *For my good*? He’d let someone who destroyed our relationship move into our master bedroom. If this was what he called love, I’d rather not have it. Leo’s face darkened at my hysterical laughter. He stepped forward and firmly gripped my shoulders. “Skylar, there’s a limit to your tantrums. This unreasonable behavior is making me look bad.” “Your embarrassment has nothing to do with me. Who are you to me anyway?” I shoved him away with force, wiping the tears from my face. Leo was infuriated by my actions. His face flushed, he glanced at Chloe, then leaned in close to my ear, his voice low. “I’m your husband, and the father of your child. I’ll send them away once Lily is better, then I’ll hire a nanny to take care of you and the baby…” Leo’s voice instantly stopped. He stared disbelievingly at my stomach, where his hand had touched. He stood there stunned for a long moment, then tentatively touched it again. It was still flat. His voice trembling, he looked at me. “The baby? Why is it flat? Did that day…” Chloe, hearing Leo’s distraught mumbling, gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh my goodness, Skylar, I know you’re upset Leo wasn’t with you during the car crash, but you couldn’t have just aborted the baby, could you? This was the child Leo longed for…” Leo glared at me, his eyes bloodshot and filled with resentment. “Skylar, are you crazy? If it wasn’t to atone for *your* sins, would I be running myself ragged between two places? And now you’ve gotten rid of my child? You’re absolutely too much!” Leo’s accusation made me laugh out loud. He didn’t believe anything Ben Carter and I said, but Chloe’s fabricated story became his excuse to blame me. Any last shred of love I had for him completely vanished. I placed the divorce papers directly in front of him. “You only hear what you want to hear. There’s nothing I can do to change that. So, Leo, let’s get a divorce.” Without waiting for his reply, I pushed my suitcase and turned to leave.

As soon as I closed the door, I heard Chloe’s voice, trying to persuade him. “Leo, no matter who’s right or wrong, it’s not safe this late. You should go find Skylar and bring her back.” “Let her go. Let’s see how much backbone she has. Someone with no family to fall back on, I don’t believe she’d dare divorce…” I let out a cold scoff, taking long strides towards the elevator. I had once seen him as my only salvation, sharing with him my childhood story of being raised by the community. I never imagined it would become his leverage against me. Eight years of my youth wasted on such a man. It truly wasn’t worth it. After calming myself, I hailed a cab and headed towards a secluded retreat. I had waited three years for my baby, and now he was gone. I wanted to pray for him. And to completely free myself from this relationship. The first thing I did upon arriving was turn off my phone, cutting myself off from the outside world. For seven whole days, my heart felt purified, emerging from the dark cloud that had hung over me. It wasn’t until the morning before I was due to leave for the teaching program that I turned my phone back on. Hundreds of messages and missed calls flooded in. Some from Ben Carter, some from Leo. I went straight to Ben Carter’s messages. [Skylar, I know you’ve been through a lot this time. The higher-ups will give you an explanation.] [Skylar, no matter what, you need to take care of yourself. Don’t hurt yourself because of certain people or things.] [Skylar, where exactly did you go? Are you safe?] … Every message was filled with concern, bringing a fleeting warmth to my wounded heart. Since meeting Leo, Ben Carter and I had become close friends, able to talk about anything. Over time, I learned that whenever he unexpectedly appeared, it was always at Leo’s request. Leo wanted to help Chloe but didn’t want me to know, so he used “being busy” as an excuse. To make it more convincing, he used Ben Carter as a shield, making me believe he was genuinely busy. At first, Ben Carter worried it would affect our relationship. He tried to stay away whenever possible. When I was pregnant, Leo took Lily to the zoo, leaving me to brave the snow and go for my prenatal check-up alone. We ran into each other halfway there, and he drove me to the hospital, which is how we exchanged contact info. This simple act, however, brought me an unexpected source of concern. Unwilling to let Ben Carter worry, I quickly sent him a message. After letting him know I was fine, I headed towards the train station. All the messages Leo sent me were deleted; I didn’t even open them. From now on, he and I were strangers. As soon as I sat down on the train, my phone rang. It was Ben Carter. The moment I answered, I saw his face was flushed, sweat beading on his forehead. He must have just finished training and called as soon as he saw my message. Seeing my vibrant spirits, he shook his head and chuckled helplessly. “You, you really scared Leo half to death this time. He’ll probably be obedient from now on.” The teasing in Ben Carter’s voice made me confused. I asked him why, and then I learned that Leo was searching for me everywhere. When I first left, Leo thought I was just throwing a tantrum. My angry phases usually only lasted two days, and he expected me to come back and apologize afterward.

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My name is Chloe, and I’m a senior year student at a dance academy. With a stunningly beautiful face, a tall, slender figure, and curves in all the right places, I didn’t just capture the hearts of every guy on campus. I also had my rich boyfriend, Blake, wrapped around my little finger. But lately, I’d been in a bit of a bind. I was pregnant. Three months along, to be exact. “Baby, you’re graduating soon anyway. I’ll take responsibility. You’ll be Mrs. Blake.” Blake held me face-to-face on his lap, mumbling his words. His reassurances comforted me slightly, but I still had my reservations. “But I have a really important international dance competition in eight months. I’m worried I won’t recover in time…” Blake, though, promised me again. “I’ll take you somewhere tomorrow. I guarantee you’ll have a smooth delivery and recover super fast!” The next day, Blake indeed took me to the place he claimed would help me recover smoothly. “Blake, isn’t this just a swimming club?” Blake led the way, holding my hand, and all along the path, men stared at me with undisguised awe. They flaunted their muscular chests, their swim trunks stretched tight. Being stared at so intensely by a group of towering men, I couldn’t help but feel my steps falter. And in the crowd, there were a few even more imposing Black men. If I got surrounded by *them*… The thought made me shiver. “Baby, relax. When have I ever lied to you?” Blake squeezed my hand, and I snapped back to reality, quickly lowering my head and hurrying to keep pace with him. I secretly chided myself. How could I have had those thoughts about other men? Ugh, it must be these pregnancy hormones surging, making those thoughts even more intense. I mentally chanted to clear my head, but to my surprise, Blake led me directly in front of one of the Black men. Compared to the group I’d seen earlier, this man’s physique was even more terrifying; his arms were as thick as my thighs. “Blake, long time no see.” The man flashed a wide, white smile at Blake, but his gaze landed on me. “Hello, I’m Mike.” Mike extended his hand to me. But for some reason, as he raised his fingers, they brushed directly across my chest. I yelped and recoiled. Just as I was about to get angry, I saw both Blake and Mike looking confused. Was I overthinking it? Thankfully, after that little incident, Mike didn’t make any more inappropriate moves, and my heart slowly calmed down. Soon, I finally understood why Blake had brought me to Mike. “Baby, this is Coach Mike, the one who’ll make sure you have an easy delivery and recover your body and figure incredibly fast afterward!” “Wh-what?” I couldn’t believe it. This male Black man was going to be *my* birthing coach? Before I could even react, Mike, as if to prove himself, reached out and effortlessly pulled me onto his lap. And his hands, with no regard for boundaries, immediately forced my legs open… 2 “What are you doing?! Let me go!” I shrieked again, trying desperately to break free from Mike’s grip. But his strength was immense; he easily held me still. I could only look to my boyfriend, Blake, for help. “Blake! Help me!” But Blake acted as if he hadn’t seen my distressed expression. Instead, he bent down and squatted in front of me, openly scrutinizing me. “Mike, what do you think of my girlfriend?” His words were incredibly strange, as if he were trying to sell me to Mike! Mike’s deep voice rumbled above my head. “She’s a dancer, so her physical condition is good. But precisely because she’s a dancer, she has many hidden injuries.” “These old injuries might hinder her postpartum recovery. It’s definitely necessary to intensify the training.” As he spoke, Mike’s hand gripped me hard, as if checking a product. His hand was large, his skin rough, completely unlike Blake’s pampered rich-kid hands. It felt strange on my skin. “No…” But the two of them ignored my struggles and protests, continuing their conversation. Finally, they released me. I practically scrambled away, my eyes filled with resentment as I looked at Blake. Blake finally seemed to realize something and quickly moved to comfort me, his tone softening. “Baby, Mike was just doing a basic assessment. His movements were a bit rough, that’s all.” “But don’t worry, the follow-up training will definitely be effective. Mike was introduced to me by my family!” I was quickly distracted. “Your family also knows Mike…?” The thought of what just happened made my cheeks flush even more. Blake nodded and even explained in detail, and my doubts were once again dispelled. Since Blake’s family recommended him, I decided to trust Mike this once! So when Blake decided to leave first, leaving me alone with Mike for training, I didn’t immediately refuse. Later, every time I thought of my naive self in that moment, I repeatedly felt the urge to slap myself hard. But that was for later. For now, Mike stood before me like a towering structure, his shadow completely enveloping me. “Chloe, go change into your training clothes. We’ll start soon.” Mike handed me a set of so-called training clothes. But the moment I put them on, I was stunned. What kind of training clothes were these? They were even more revealing than my dance outfits! The top was made of thin straps, barely covering anything. A small movement in front of the mirror, and I felt like I was about to expose myself. No! How could I appear before Mike in such clothes?! I bit my lip, but just as I thought about changing back, Mike’s massive figure appeared behind me without me even realizing it! His eyes gleamed, and he extended his long arm, trapping me directly in front of the mirror. 3 “Let me go! What do you want…?” An intense pressure surrounded me, and I stammered out the words! He finally released me, but that didn’t mean he was letting me off the hook. Instead, he started to push his luck. “Chloe, the second step of training is to fully understand the body’s structure. Do you want me to test each part, or will you tell me actively?” Mike’s voice was deep, as if it carried some strange, hypnotic power. I quickly swallowed, not daring to speak. But what I didn’t expect was for Mike to simply use his hands to verify. My neck, my lower back, my heels… His hands were rough, and the way he “verified” left me mortified. He was like a lion eyeing its prey, his gaze predatory! Is… is this really training? I bit my lip hard, using the pain to force myself to stay clear-headed. “I… I don’t want to train anymore. I want to go home…” But the next moment, Mike’s large hand directly covered my slightly swollen belly. “I feel a cute little one in here. You know, my training can help the baby grow better.” “A smooth birth also ensures a safe and healthy baby… Chloe, do you really not want what’s best for your child?” Mike’s persuasion seemed to touch the softest spot in my heart. Perhaps pregnant women naturally develop maternal instincts, but I was defeated by Mike’s few words yet again. “Alright, fine, let’s train…” Thinking this way, I felt that if I maintained this mindset during training, I wouldn’t have any other inappropriate thoughts about Mike. But I had completely underestimated Mike. He pushed open a door inside the room, revealing a private swimming pool behind it. Before leading me into the water, Mike looked at my slightly bulging belly with an incredibly pious expression. He even showed a strange, paternal affection! Something felt off… But before I could react, Mike picked me up and carried me into the water, beginning to touch me freely! “Mmph!” “Training step three: regular hot spring baths and massage to boost your hormones, ensuring faster postpartum recovery.” Mike said, his hands becoming bolder. My body began to tremble. But for the sake of my baby, and for my own postpartum recovery, I could only endure it for now. I constantly comforted myself, trying to calm my inner turmoil with maternal love… Even if I felt the colossal body of the tall man behind me, I had to pretend not to notice! But Mike’s next move made my entire body go numb. I couldn’t control myself anymore…

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Queen Aethelred, famed across kingdoms for her breathtaking beauty, chose *me* of all people to be her Consort Queen. Every time I returned in my armor from battle, she’d look at me with utter disdain, “Why aren’t you dead yet?” Then, after eight years, I found myself clinging to life by a thread. She glared at the woman holding me, her eyes filled with chilling malice. “You’re abandoning me for *this* beast-kin?” she fumed, her voice dripping with fury. Yup, because a younger woman is just incredibly enchanting. 0 On the day of Queen Aethelred’s ascension, dignitaries arrived from every corner of the realm. Royalty from neighboring kingdoms flocked, eager to witness her famed beauty. As her newly crowned Consort Queen, I had barely finished my coronation ceremony before she dispatched me to the front lines that very night. My wedding night was spent alone, in a cold war tent. But at that moment, I regretted nothing. Marrying the woman I adored while also fulfilling my family’s legacy? It felt like winning the grandest lottery. With a fierce surge of strength, I dominated the battlefield, returning victorious soon after. The entire court roared, “Long live the Queen! All hail the Consort Queen!” Queen Aethelred merely scoffed, casting a contemptuous glance at me, still kneeling in the grand hall. “That scar on your neck is hideous,” she sneered, then turned and swept into her private chambers, leaving me to the buzzing whispers of the court. She wanted beauty, didn’t she? Back in my royal apartments, I diligently followed the royal physician’s orders, taking elixirs and applying salves every single day. “My Queen, look.” I eagerly showed Queen Aethelred my neck, now bearing only a faint line. “Ugly people always make a scene,” Queen Aethelred said, without even a glance. With a dismissive wave of her hand, she sent me back to the battlefield. That perfect profile uttered such a callous remark. I pouted, but still donned my armor to expand her kingdom’s borders. With the Consort Queen herself on the front lines, and the granddaughter of the famed Thorne family, a founding pillar of the kingdom, morale soared. Victory reports poured in. On the day of my triumphant return to the capital, the palace walls were adorned with festive lights and banners. Daisy, my personal attendant, was even more excited than I was. “My Lady, look! The Queen still cares for you!” Just as I thought I had finally warmed Queen Aethelred’s heart of stone, I drew closer and realized – this wasn’t a celebration of *my* triumph. This was Queen Aethelred taking a new bride. 0

On the high platform, Lyra Vane was radiant, dazzling in a magnificent ceremonial gown that outshone even my own wedding dress. Except for a full queen’s diadem, her attire and the surrounding rituals were practically identical to a new Consort Queen’s. In stark contrast, I was still in my full battle armor, dust-stained and disheveled, with fresh, unhealed scars on my hands. I looked more like a mere subject than a royal consort. My sudden interruption of the ceremony seemed to shock Queen Aethelred more than me. She blurted out, “You’re not dead yet?” All the questions, all the hurt, choked in my throat, unable to escape. The gazes of the entire assembly turned to me, and in that instant, I felt like I was standing utterly alone against the world. Seeing my silence, Queen Aethelred waved for someone to escort me away to rest, while her other hand clasped that of her ‘true love,’ Lyra Vane. Lyra Vane lowered her delicate fan, a smirk playing on her lips as she smiled at me. How dared this child of a disgraced traitor provoke me so openly? I drew my sword and pointed it directly at her, eliciting a sharp shriek. Chaos erupted in the great hall as guards dragged me out, half-coaxing, half-forcing. I watched as Lyra Vane, tucked safely in Queen Aethelred’s embrace, smugly raised an eyebrow at me. As fireworks burst into bloom outside my chambers, confined within the palace walls, I felt the first stirrings of doubt. Was the one I loved truly so despicable? Or was it *me* who wasn’t good enough? Yet she had once been so gentle. When we first met, I had fallen into the river, and she, heedless of danger, had rescued me. Those dark eyes, filled with the sparkle of a starlit night, were an incomparable memory. Daisy’s voice cut through my thoughts. “Alright, My Lady, you’ve told that story for eight years now. I could recite it by heart.” I was about to retort when urgent alarm bells suddenly rang out from beyond the palace walls. Assassins had infiltrated the palace! “She’s in danger!” I grabbed my sword, not even bothering to change, and scaled the high walls in just my sheer nightwear, rushing to Queen Aethelred’s aid. There were far more assassins than I imagined. By the time I reached Queen Aethelred’s private chambers, I found it littered with fallen guards. A blade flashed directly at Queen Aethelred’s throat; I rushed forward to block it. Turning, I saw Queen Aethelred comforting Lyra Vane, who was nestled in her arms behind me. Distracted for a moment, my left arm was pierced. More assassins quickly arrived, and I gradually found myself overwhelmed. “Aethelred! Call the guards!” Silence stretched behind me. I looked back, and Queen Aethelred was already at the chamber door, Lyra Vane clutched in her arms, fleeing. A cold dread seized me. I looked down to see blood dripping from the sword impaled in my chest. As I fell, I thought I saw Queen Aethelred shouting something from a distance. The world plunged into darkness, but through the fading silence, a furious female voice echoed in my ears: “Who told you to hurt *her*?!” 0

In the haze, I saw those dark eyes, brimming with concern. A wave of warmth surged through my chest, and the drowning sensation vanished instantly. I reached out, my fingers brushing against something soft and furry. A clear, melodic female voice spoke: “Seraphina, you haven’t repaid what you owe me yet. You’re not allowed to die.” The voice was utterly unfamiliar. How did she know my name? Through the blur, those dark eyes sharpened into focus. When my senses fully returned, I found myself in an unfamiliar room. Beside my bed sat the General’s wife of the Whispering Woods Tribe. As a child, our families had been close, and my grandfather often brought me to meet the General and his wife. Elder Elara, seeing me awake, was overjoyed. “She truly didn’t deceive me,” she murmured. When I questioned her, Elder Elara simply told me to rest and heal. I would know everything once I recovered. The Whispering Woods Tribe were the humans most deeply connected to nature’s essence. Here, I received excellent care, and my body recovered day by day. Elder Elara also informed me that she hadn’t heard anything about the Queen searching for me. Ignoring Elder Elara’s pleas, I decided to return to the capital. To the rhythm of drums and strings, a masked woman in red danced gracefully. Three fox tails swayed behind her. Beneath her white mask, a pair of upward-tilting eyes shimmered like water. I was mesmerized. Among the beast-kin, foxes were known for their striking beauty, so I presumed she was from the Foxkin tribe. To my surprise, the Foxkin, with whom I’d had no prior contact, presented her to me as a companion for my return journey. Before I departed, Elder Elara gravely advised me: if I ever faced danger, I *must* return with the beast-kin, Elysia. The masked woman silently met my gaze. I nodded, and together, I took the fox-kin back to the capital. 0

Every time I returned to the capital with my forces, the city would be adorned with festive lights and banners, but never once was it for me. This time was no exception. When I appeared, the city guards bowed respectfully, not daring to impede me. I entered the palace unimpeded, only to find this was Queen Aethelred’s grand celebration. She had finally gotten her wish: her ‘true love’ had ascended to the Consort Queen’s throne, to stay by her side. With the new Consort Queen’s ascension and *my* sudden appearance, the grand hall erupted in a commotion. The old ministers whispered frantically, debating how to respond in accordance with ancient laws. Queen Aethelred, a rare look of joy on her face, hurried down from the high platform. She rushed towards me, then reined in her smile, preemptively demanding, “Where have you been all this time? I thought you were dead!” Before I could even open my mouth, Elysia, behind me, let out a disdainful snort. Lyra Vane then approached, observing Queen Aethelred’s expression before turning to me with feigned concern. “It’s good you’re back, Sister. The Queen was very worried about you.” I gazed at the familiar wedding decorations around us, then glanced at the diadem on Lyra Vane’s head. I let out a soft, hollow laugh. “Oh, really?” Our ancestral teachings demanded I dedicate myself entirely to the Queen’s dynasty, just like my forebears. I was to embody the ideal Consort Queen, bringing stability and peace to the people. But now, it seemed I had married the wrong person and failed in my sacred duty. Queen Aethelred, too, glanced at the diadem. Her voice was laced with frantic urgency as she defended, “That’s not *your* diadem.” Elysia seemed to have had enough. “Of course not. Why would a new love wear an old crown? An old flame can’t compare to a fresh one.” I put a hand on Elysia’s arm, my gaze fixed on Queen Aethelred. I spoke just three words: “I want a divorce.” Since the founding of the kingdom, no Consort Queen had ever dared to propose a divorce. Wouldn’t this be a direct affront to Queen Aethelred’s authority? But I, Seraphina Thorne, had served the kingdom and its people flawlessly since becoming Consort Queen. The Queen had no grounds to dismiss me. In the past, Queen Aethelred had abandoned me to die, and today, she disregarded my honor so brazenly, shaming my ancestors. I absolutely would not tolerate it any longer. My declaration sent shockwaves through the hall. The elderly ministers seemed more agitated than Queen Aethelred herself, rushing forward to plead, “No, Your Majesty, you mustn’t!” Lyra Vane, however, watched Queen Aethelred’s reaction with an almost gleeful anticipation. Queen Aethelred froze for a moment, staring at me in disbelief. Once she realized I wasn’t joking, she suddenly looked as though she’d been dealt a crushing blow. She snatched my wrist. “Come back to the palace with me!” 0 A flash of white, and Elysia was between us, pushing Queen Aethelred and me apart. “Are you deaf?” she snapped. “She said she wants a divorce.”

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Seven months pregnant, I was hit by a car right outside my front door. But the driver didn’t stop immediately. Instead, they dragged me for miles. I called my husband through the pain, but the line was busy. When the driver finally stopped, she was crying on the phone: “Gabriel, I think I’ve done something terrible. I… I hit a pregnant woman… What should I do? I’m so scared!” Clutching my belly, I looked at her pleadingly, begging: “Please help me… save my baby…” She cautiously approached me, but her phone transmitted my husband’s voice: “Is she dead? Tsk, half-dead is more trouble than fully dead.” “Don’t worry, I’ll cover the compensation.” My vision blurred from the pain. I struggled to make out the driver’s face, my voice trembling: “Gabriel, is that you?” 0 Gabriel froze, his heart suddenly pierced as if by a needle. For a moment, the pain drained the color from his face. He gripped the phone tightly and asked: “Chloe, who did you hit?” Chloe forcefully covered my mouth, her eyes filled with panic and her voice shaking: “I hit a pregnant woman on Greenhill Road, like I told you.” “Gabriel, I’m so scared. Can you come find me?” I made muffled sounds, eventually passing out from suffocation under her hand. Gabriel breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing his forehead as he grabbed his car keys. I was seven months pregnant. Gabriel remembered telling me to stay home and rest before he left. I always listened to him. Greenhill Road was in the north of the city while our mansion was in the south. The pregnant woman Chloe hit couldn’t possibly be me. It must have been the shock of the situation causing him to hear things. In my hazy state, I was taken to the hospital. I heard Gabriel’s friend Dr. Evans teasing: “Gabriel, you couldn’t control yourself again and went too far?” “How many times this month? I’m not judging, but little Chloe isn’t out of the danger period yet. For the baby’s sake, you should hold back.” “Natalie’s almost due anyway. Just wait another month or two.” Gabriel frowned, displeased: “What nonsense are you spouting? Don’t you dare say a word of this in front of Natalie! If she finds out about Chloe’s existence, I’ll shut down your hospital!” Dr. Evans immediately apologized: “Yes, yes, I was wrong. I’ll keep my mouth tightly shut in front of Natalie!” “Everyone in the city knows how much you dote on Natalie. You won’t even touch her during pregnancy, keeping a mistress on the side to relieve your urges. How could I dare upset her!” “Did you come today for Chloe’s check-up?” Hearing my own name, my foggy consciousness slowly returned. But Dr. Evans’ words sent my heart plummeting. Tears leaked from my tightly closed eyes. So my seemingly enviable marriage, admired by the whole city, was actually rotten to the core behind the scenes! Gabriel had an affair while I was pregnant, and his mistress was even three months along. How could he act so well! Making me believe he loved me to the bone! Gabriel pointed to me in the backseat, saying with disgust: “Chloe hit a pregnant woman. Take care of it.” Dr. Evans casually glanced over, telling someone to carry me out. Just then, a nurse suddenly exclaimed: “Oh! This pregnant woman is wearing a blood type tag!” Gabriel’s pupils constricted as he turned to stare intently at me. My fingers twitched slightly, a glimmer of hope rising in my heart. I wanted to tell Gabriel to save me, to save our child. But I couldn’t open my eyes. “Her husband must be very thoughtful, specially making a tag saying she has the rarest blood type. Let me see… there’s even a phone number…” “139867…” Chloe nervously gripped Gabriel’s sleeve, exclaiming excitedly: “Gabriel! She has the same blood type as me!” Gabriel smiled, his voice filled with undisguised pleasure: “Since her blood type is so rare, Samuel, make sure you save her.” “I was worried that if something happened to Natalie, there would be no one to give Chloe blood. How fortunate that a walking blood bank has appeared before us. She can replace Chloe from now on.” I belatedly realized who Chloe was… So the person who hit me was Chloe, a girl who once gave me blood because we had the same rare type. At the time, I was so grateful that I not only gave her money for nutrition, but when I learned she had just graduated and couldn’t find work, I even had Gabriel make an exception to hire her at his company. Who would have thought that one blood transfusion would cost me my entire marriage. A flash of discontent crossed Chloe’s eyes, but she raised her head with a face full of happiness: “Gabriel, you’re so good to me.” “If something happens to Natalie, I’ll give her blood too. After all… I only got into the company because of my blood type. I don’t want people gossiping behind my back that I graduated from a third-rate university and don’t deserve you, or that I seduced you. I’m also afraid Natalie will fire me.” Gabriel pulled her into his arms, saying indulgently: “Everyone at the company knows you’re my darling. If anyone dares insult you, fire them on the spot! Your university doesn’t matter – you’re more important than any elite graduate!” “As for Natalie, she sees you as her lifesaver. She won’t fire you. Last time she even asked if you were settling in well at the company.” I finally struggled out of the murky darkness, opening my eyes to see them embracing. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Three months ago, Gabriel was always working late. Worried about him, I personally made soup and brought it to his office. But when he saw me, he inexplicably flew into a rage, smashing the soup in front of me and scolding me for not staying home to take care of my pregnancy. After that, I never went to the office again. So it turned out everyone at the company already knew. Chloe had replaced my position, becoming someone no one dared offend. Passing by Gabriel, I reached out with effort and grasped the hem of his shirt. My trembling fingertips were covered in blood. Every word seemed to be squeezed from deep in my chest, shaking with emotional collapse: “Gabriel… I want a divorce.” Gabriel’s brow furrowed coldly, his gaze gloomy. He forcefully shook off my hand, saying with disgust: “Who said you could touch me!” “Filthy thing!” I stared at him in shock, unable to believe this was still the Gabriel who always looked at me with eyes full of love. His contemptuous gaze turned into iron nails, driving one by one into my heart, making me wish for death. Chloe immediately explained: “Gabriel, she must have heard about her rare blood type and is trying to manipulate us!” Hearing this, Gabriel’s eyes filled with loathing. He viciously told the doctor: “Don’t use anesthesia when you treat her!” “Let her suffer a bit, so she knows her place. Does she think she can manipulate people in our circles?” The doctor and nurses nodded, expressions of reluctance on their faces, and immediately carried me away, afraid of angering him further. Cold instruments operated on my body as alcohol was wiped across my face. I let out scream after agonized scream before falling unconscious again. Gabriel heard the screams coming from the emergency room and hesitated, saying uncertainly: “Why do I hear Natalie’s voice?” Chloe threw herself into his arms, crying pitifully: “Gabriel, thank goodness you’re here. I was so scared!” Gabriel set aside the doubt that had just surfaced in his mind and hugged her, comforting: “It’s okay, baby. I won’t let anything happen to you.” “If that pregnant woman makes a fuss about this…” A vicious light flashed in his eyes: “I’ll make sure she never comes back!” When I woke up again, my face was covered in bandages. Gabriel stood at the door of the hospital room, his face filled with anger as he stared at me grimly. He was holding something as he walked to the bedside, looking down at me as if I were an insect beneath his notice! Seeing his gaze, I curled up in fear. Before I could speak, he poured a bottle of strong liquor down my throat without a word. “Cough cough cough!” Gabriel threw a piece of paper onto my body, his tone icy: “You were drunk today and crashed into Chloe’s car in your confused state.” “This is a settlement agreement. Sign it.” “Take the five million dollars and you can leave.” I looked at him in disbelief, my voice hoarse as I shouted: “Gabriel! Have you gone mad? This is illegal!” His face darkened as he leaned down and grabbed my throat, his gaze sinister: “Who do you think you are, daring to scold me just because your voice sounds a bit like my wife’s?” A feeling of suffocation came over me. Tears fell like a broken dam onto Gabriel’s hand as I stared at him through blurry eyes. Gabriel’s expression froze and he suddenly let go, hesitantly staring into my eyes: “Natalie?” “Cough cough cough!” I clutched my throat, gasping for air. I pulled the ring off my ring finger and threw it at him, angrily saying: “Gabriel, I want a divorce!” The ring bounced off his chest onto the floor. Gabriel stared at it in a daze before suddenly raising his head to look at me in disbelief. Just then, Chloe opened the door and slapped me across the face. “Thief!” That slap made the air freeze. Chloe picked up the ring from the floor and threw herself into Gabriel’s arms, pointing at me as she cried: “Gabriel, she’s a thief! I kindly helped her into the car to take her to the hospital, but she took the opportunity to steal my ring!” Gabriel’s eyes flashed with doubt as he looked down at Chloe’s finger. The ring fit perfectly on her hand, the huge pink diamond gleaming brilliantly, even more suitable than on my hand. Gabriel’s face instantly turned cold. He came forward and viciously bent back my fingers, his low voice filled with displeasure: “This is a custom ring I had made for my wife. Trash like you dares to covet something you can never have!” The fingers are connected to the heart. The pain cut through my nerves like a knife, cold sweat dripping down my temples. Seeing Chloe’s smug face, tears welled up uncontrollably in my eyes. I didn’t understand. When Gabriel proposed with this ring, he said he had designed it himself. Using the most beautiful pink diamond in the world, one of a kind. But why did Chloe have an identical one! Why couldn’t he recognize me! Just then, a sharp pain shot through my abdomen and a gush of warm fluid flowed out. Taking a deep breath, I weakly grasped his hand with my broken fingers and cried out in desperation: “I’m going into labor! Gabriel, I’m giving birth! Call a doctor quickly!” “Hurry, call a doctor!” Gabriel looked down. The sight of blood and amniotic fluid mixing together hit him unexpectedly. His face paled and he instinctively ran out of the room to call a doctor. I clutched my belly, enduring the pain. Chloe sneered and held up her hand to show off the ring, saying smugly: “You must be wondering why Gabriel didn’t recognize you when he saw this ring, right?” I gritted my teeth, glaring at her. She roughly shoved me off the bed onto the floor and viciously kicked my stomach. A cold light flashed in her eyes as she snarled: “Of course it’s because I have everything you have!” “The ring, the man, the status, the child, the house – everything you have, I have too! Monday, Wednesday, Friday he’s with you at the mansion. Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday he’s with me at the apartment!” “You still think you’re the only one? Haha, don’t be stupid.” She contemptuously patted my face and continued: “You were hit by me, and he still protected me.” “As long as your child isn’t born, the baby in my belly will be the only heir. Go die!” Her words shattered the world I had thought was happy. A stabbing pain shot through my heart as tears silently streamed down my face. My nails dug deep into my palms as I clenched my fists. The pain in my abdomen grew more and more intense. The sound of doctors running came from outside. I was pushed back into the operating room. The baby came out of my body with a cry. I breathed a sigh of relief, shedding tears of joy. But before I could even see her, Gabriel had someone take the baby away, while I was pushed to another room. The doctor stood still, advising: “Mr. Kensington, this patient just gave birth and was in a car accident. She doesn’t have the strength to donate blood for someone else.” “Forcing her to give blood could be life-threatening. I know you’re anxious because your wife suddenly fainted, but we can urgently request blood from the blood bank…” “Enough!” Gabriel interrupted the doctor impatiently: “Chloe’s life is worth more than hers. I’ll give her a lot of money, enough to buy her life!” “The most important thing now is to give Chloe blood!” The doctor tried to persuade him again. I looked wearily at Gabriel and asked: “After I give blood, I can leave… I can go see my baby, right?” He frowned slightly, avoiding my gaze: “As long as you finish the blood transfusion and sign the settlement, I’ll let you and the child go.” I nodded and told the doctor in a hoarse voice: “Go ahead and take it.” Having achieved his goal, Gabriel was about to leave to check on Chloe. I called out to him from behind, my eyes red: “Gabriel, you still don’t believe I’m Natalie Shaw?” He paused. “I don’t know what your intentions are in repeatedly impersonating my wife, but my Natalie – I could recognize her even if she turned to ashes. She’s not someone a lowlife like you could compare to!” There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. I laughed bitterly, mocking myself: “Forget it, it doesn’t matter anymore.” “I don’t want to argue with you anymore. I hope you don’t regret this.” After everything that happened today, I no longer had any love for Gabriel. I just wanted to take my baby home and divorce him, never to see him again! But I didn’t expect my fate would collapse like dominoes, one disaster after another. After giving blood, I returned to the room and saw a bundle on the hospital bed. I excitedly walked over and picked it up. “Baby, Mommy’s back.” As I held the child, my body suddenly stiffened. It felt like a stone hammer was suspended above my head, slamming into my heart. The pain made my eyes sting. The baby’s face was blue. Her eyes were closed, without any movement. My breathing became unsteady. My voice was so hoarse it was almost broken, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished: “Baby… what’s wrong?” “Don’t scare Mommy. I can take you home soon. Please wake up and look at Mommy, okay?”

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Olivia Harper watched in disbelief as her husband Marcus threw a lavish party to celebrate his first love’s daughter getting into community college. Meanwhile, their own son Ethan, the school valedictorian, was forced to work as a waiter at the very same event. Chloe Gardner, Marcus’s first love, approached Ethan with a fake smile. “Ethan, it’s been a while since you’ve had your dad’s cooking, hasn’t it? Why don’t you try this special fish dish he made for Rose?” Ethan hesitated, but before he could respond, Marcus intervened. “If Chloe’s offering, just eat it. Stop being so picky – you’re just like your useless mother!” Without warning, Marcus forcefully opened Ethan’s mouth and shoved a piece of fish inside, making him swallow it. Ethan collapsed, clutching his throat in agony. Marcus simply walked away, arm in arm with Chloe and Rose. By the time Olivia wheeled herself to her son’s side, Ethan’s face had turned an alarming shade of purple. She frantically dialed 91 Desperate, she called Marcus, hoping he would help their son. But his voice was full of irritation: “He probably just got a fish bone stuck in his throat. Give him some vinegar and he’ll be fine. Stop making such a fuss.” 1 Olivia’s mind reeled at the mention of fish. “Marcus! Don’t you know Ethan is allergic to seafood?!” But her husband’s anger only grew. “Olivia, what are you yelling about? I should be the one upset here. Look at the son you’ve raised – Chloe kindly offers him some food, and he has the audacity to turn up his nose at it. You two are exactly the same – utterly worthless!” Olivia was stunned. How could her usually well-mannered son be painted in such a light? “Ethan has always been severely allergic to seafood. You know this…” she tried to explain. But Chloe’s apologetic voice cut in: “Oh dear, Olivia, I’m so sorry. I just wanted Ethan to taste his father’s cooking. He rarely gets the chance, you know.” “Don’t blame Marcus. I’ll come apologize to you and Ethan another day, okay?” Before Olivia could respond, Marcus’s furious voice boomed through the phone: “Listen here, Olivia. Both Chloe and Rose have asthma, but they ate the fish with no problems. Are you saying Ethan is more delicate than them?” “You’re always jealous of Chloe, but now you’re dragging Ethan into your petty games? Enough is enough!” The line went dead. Outside, the ambulance sirens wailed. Soon, a team of paramedics rushed in with a stretcher. After examining Ethan, the lead paramedic scolded them: “I can’t believe you’d give seafood to a child with such a severe allergy! What kind of parents are you?” “We don’t have enough epinephrine in the ambulance. We need to get to the hospital immediately. You’d better pray we make it in time.” Olivia could only manage a bitter smile. Who would have thought that the person responsible for her son’s condition was his own father? At the hospital, an ER doctor’s words sent Olivia’s heart racing: “A VIP’s daughter was just brought in with an asthma attack. They’ve used up all our epinephrine…” Seeing Ethan’s face turning darker and his breathing becoming weaker, Olivia crawled into the ICU and fell to her knees: “Please… save my son…” But as she looked up, she met Marcus’s furrowed brow: “Olivia, I’m impressed that a cripple like you managed to follow us here. What’s the point of this little act?” Olivia’s mind was filled with images of Ethan lying on the hospital bed. She had no energy to argue with Marcus and pleaded urgently: “Ethan… Ethan is in critical condition. He needs epinephrine to save his life. Please, help him…” Before Marcus could speak, Chloe put on a pitiful expression and leaned in: “Olivia, are you using Ethan as an excuse to try and steal Marcus from me?” Her tone suddenly changed… “Or… are you trying to take our life-saving medicine, knowing that Rose isn’t out of danger yet, just to kill her?” Olivia was stunned. A sharp slap across her face brought a stinging pain. Marcus’s angry shout rang in her ears: “Olivia, have you lost your humanity?” “Chloe and Rose are already pitiful enough, and now you want to harm Rose? When did you become so vicious?” The pain on her face was nothing compared to the agony in her heart. Olivia begged through tears: “I’m not lying… Ethan is really in critical condition… If you don’t believe me, you can go to the ER…” A violent gasp from the hospital bed interrupted her words. Marcus quickly grabbed a vial of epinephrine from the nearby table and injected it into Rose. As her breathing stabilized, he turned to Olivia with an icy glare: “Olivia, are you done with your theatrics? Won’t you be satisfied until Chloe loses Rose?” “Now, crawl over here and lick Chloe’s shoes clean. If she forgives you, I’ll give you a vial of epinephrine.” Olivia looked at Marcus in disbelief. But his eyes were filled with cruel anticipation. She understood – he just wanted to humiliate her for Chloe’s sake. Once upon a time, he had been a good husband, taking care of both her and Ethan without complaint despite her disability. But Chloe’s appearance had changed everything. Thinking of Ethan’s increasingly dark face, Olivia could only endure. She crawled humiliatingly towards Chloe’s feet, fighting back nausea as she extended her tongue. Again and again, she licked Chloe’s leather shoes until they shone. Chloe looked down, her face full of disgust: “You’d better not have any intentions of harming Rose. Being a mother like you is truly revolting.” Olivia could only meet Marcus’s gaze, desperately asking: “Can you help save Ethan now?” But Marcus turned to Chloe: “Well… that depends on whether Chloe forgives you or not.” Olivia’s mind went blank. She could only force herself to kneel on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing to Chloe: “Chloe, please, I’m begging you. I’m an animal, I’m vicious, I’m not human. Please, save my son…” Chloe put on an act of mercy, crouching down as if to help Olivia up. But the words she whispered in Olivia’s ear were like a dull knife stabbing into her heart: “I specifically asked Marcus to make that dish, deliberately arranged the graduation party at the hotel where your son works part-time, and intentionally asked your son to taste it in front of Marcus.” “It took so much effort to put him in this state. Why should I save him?” 2 “You bitch…” Olivia’s mind exploded, her blood running cold. She grabbed Chloe and threw her to the ground, pouncing on her without hesitation. Her fists rained down on Chloe’s face, not even noticing when one of Chloe’s teeth became embedded in her hand. It was only then that Marcus reacted, rushing over to pull Olivia off Chloe. “Olivia, you’ve really gone mad! What gives you the right to suddenly attack someone?!” Marcus glared at her with rage, seemingly about to hit her, but Chloe began gasping for air at that moment. Marcus hurriedly checked on her condition. I took this opportunity to crawl back to my wheelchair, rush to the table, and grab the last vial of epinephrine, intending to leave the room. But due to my disability, just as I was about to rush out the door, Marcus closed it before me and then kicked my wheelchair. The wheelchair toppled, and I rolled to the side like a bag of garbage, still clutching the life-saving epinephrine for my son. Marcus rushed over, using the heel of his shoe to step on my hand, grinding down hard. His voice was agitated: “Seeing Chloe’s asthma attack, you still want to steal this last life-saving medicine. Olivia, how can you be so vicious!” I endured the pain in my hand, struggling in vain. I clearly saw Chloe gasping for air, but she opened her eyes and flashed me a smug smile. I begged Marcus: “Marcus, this is also Ethan’s life-saving medicine… Chloe… she’s faking it, she’s not really having an attack…” But Marcus didn’t even look back, the pressure from his foot increasing: “Still lying! Ethan inherited his father’s good constitution, what life-saving medicine does he need?! I know Chloe’s condition, what benefit would she get from deceiving me?!” “If you’ve really gone crazy, I’ll send you to a mental hospital tomorrow!” Marcus’s heel had dug into the back of my hand, blood oozing out, but I couldn’t feel any pain. Not satisfied, he raised his foot and delivered a sharp kick to my abdomen with the pointed toe of his shoe. My whole body curled up like a shrimp, and I finally let go of my tight grip. To help Marcus’s company go public, I had worked tirelessly day and night, eventually developing a severe stomach condition. Back then, whenever my stomach pain was unbearable, he would personally make a bowl of hot porridge and feed it to me with tears in his eyes. But now, it had become a weak point for him to attack. Marcus bent down to pick up the epinephrine. Though it was within reach, my outstretched hand was in vain. Looking at the hand he had stomped on, he seemed to hesitate for a moment. But as Chloe’s gasping became more urgent, he resolutely stood up and walked over to her. Before injecting Chloe, Marcus turned to me and spoke with ice-cold words: “Olivia, remember this. If Ethan really is in critical condition as you say.” He continued speaking as he injected the medicine into Chloe’s leg: “Even if Ethan dies, it’s all because of you.” At this point, I couldn’t even let out a cry of anguish. Ignoring my despair, I forced myself through the pain to climb back into my wheelchair and leave the ICU. Maybe… maybe there was still time to transfer Ethan to another hospital… But even though I rushed back to the ER as fast as I could, I only received news that tore my heart to shreds. Ethan was dead. He died a few minutes ago, just as Marcus was injecting the last dose of epinephrine into Chloe. His eyes were bulging, the whites now stained dark brown by burst blood vessels, staring fixedly at the ceiling. His entire face had turned blue from prolonged suffocation. I hesitated for a long time before daring to acknowledge this was my son. Helplessly rolling off my wheelchair onto the floor, I let out an agonized wail. …… I followed the gurney covered with a white sheet being pushed out of the ER towards the morgue in a daze. Looking up, I saw Marcus walking towards me. He passed right by the gurney and came to push my wheelchair. His tone was soft, with an indescribable gentleness: “It wasn’t easy for Chloe to raise Rose alone as a single mother, and they both have serious illnesses.” “Taking care of them more, maybe it’s because my sympathy got the better of me. If it caused you any distress, it really wasn’t my intention…” For a moment, I had the illusion that we had returned to years ago, when we were deeply in love. Marcus paused, then continued: “Ethan… I remember his grades were pretty good, right? I’ll hold a more grand celebration for him in a few days for his college admission. After all, he’s our dearest son.” But this sentence was like a bucket of cold water, instantly waking me up. I turned my head to look at him, forcing a bitter smile: “Marcus, there’s no need for a celebration. Ethan… he’s already dead.” I raised my hand to point at the gurney in front, coldly telling him: “He’s right there, you can go take a look…” Marcus suddenly stopped, walked in front of me with a furrowed brow as if wanting to say something, but seeing the expression on my face, he turned and walked towards the gurney. He slowly reached out to grab the white sheet, just about to lift it when Chloe’s voice suddenly rang out: “Marcus, you left your phone with me. Ethan sent you a message, seems like he’s asking what you want for dinner, says he’ll cook for you.” I looked up at Chloe with surprise on my face, my hand unconsciously reaching for the inside pocket of my jacket. Ethan’s phone was quietly lying there. Before I could speak, Marcus had already walked in front of me and slapped me hard: “Olivia, I really fell for your tricks. I almost believed Ethan was dead.” “How many times have you lied to me about Ethan? That’s your own son, is it necessary to curse him dead like this!” 3 My heart went completely cold. I let out a cold laugh and returned Marcus’s slap, shouting back without backing down: “Ethan is lying under that white sheet right now. You can look and see for yourself whether it’s true or false. What’s the point of me lying to you?” “Go lift it and see! See clearly why your son died with his eyes wide open!” When I touched Ethan’s phone in my pocket, I was already absolutely certain that Chloe was lying again. But I knew that Marcus would definitely believe Chloe’s words. Just as he would undoubtedly refute me without hesitation. But this time Marcus hesitated. Instead, it was Chloe who came over, pretending to be sorrowful: “Olivia, is… is that really Ethan’s body?” “Then it’s even more important for Marcus to take a good look. Such a good child, how could he have died…” Others might not have noticed, but I clearly knew that Chloe’s words were dripping with mockery. The next moment, before I could even react, Chloe directly lifted the white sheet covering my son. And then, I was stunned! Under the white sheet was clearly an old man in his eighties. I quickly rolled my wheelchair to the bedside, looking in disbelief at this withered corpse. This person isn’t Ethan? Then where is Ethan? It must be Chloe’s doing! Thinking of this, I raised my eyes to stare at Chloe, shouting furiously: “Where’s Ethan? Where have you hidden my son?!” Chloe’s slightly raised chin, the smugness in her eyes about to overflow. But her tone was full of feigned panic: “O-Olivia, what are you saying? Didn’t I just hear you say Ethan was dead and want to take one last look at him? How can you accuse me of hiding Ethan?” Before I could argue with her, Marcus’s hand slapped me across the face again. The crowd turned to look, and he seemed to be struggling to suppress his anger: “Olivia, your acting skills have really improved. If it weren’t for Chloe, I might have really been fooled by you!” “Now that you’ve been exposed, you’re using Chloe as a scapegoat. It seems I’ve been too lenient with you…” But I had no time to care about Marcus. My mind was full of thoughts about where Ethan could be. Seeing the increasingly thick smile on Chloe’s face, the anger in my heart could no longer be suppressed. I raised my fist and struck Chloe in the abdomen. She fell to the ground in pain. I rolled directly off my wheelchair, tightly gripping Chloe’s neck. “Speak! Where have you hidden Ethan? Where is my son’s body?!” Marcus shouted and was about to pull me away, but this time I didn’t let him succeed. Chloe’s face turned from red to purple. It seemed the near-death experience made her panic. She kept patting my hand, and finally managed to squeeze out three weak words from her throat: “Gar… bage… room” In an instant, I released my hand, ignoring Chloe who had started gasping for air. I struggled to get back into my wheelchair to go find Ethan. But Marcus kicked my wheelchair aside, then crouched down and grabbed my hair, slamming my head against the ground again and again, ignoring the blood flowing from my forehead. He said viciously: “I’ve really been too lenient with you! You still want to kill Chloe? Why don’t you go die yourself!” I endured the pain and accused: “Chloe has confessed… Ethan is in the garbage room…” “Bullshit! How could she say anything when you were choking her?!” Marcus interrupted me mercilessly. Then, as if still not satisfied, he put his hands on my neck and started squeezing. “Come on! Speak to me! Say one word and I’ll believe you!” The pressure on his hands gradually increased, and my breathing became labored. I struggled to say something, but couldn’t squeeze out a single word. As my consciousness began to fade and everything around me became unclear, just when I felt I was about to be choked to death, in that last moment. A scream suddenly came from not far away: “Ah— Ghost!” The pressure on my throat instantly loosened. When my vision cleared, I only saw Marcus stumbling through the crowd, his face pale as he rushed into the open garbage room nearby. And what followed was his heart-wrenching wail: “Ethan——!!”

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I died during the cooling-off period of my ninth divorce from Olivia Reed. My soul hovered above the VIP hospital room, watching her spend millions on her childhood sweetheart’s scribble of a painting. She looked at my body, riddled with tubes, her voice ice-cold: “Adam Carter, stop pretending. Ethan’s auction is waiting for me.” “Sign this debt transfer document, and we’re done.” I couldn’t answer, so she took it as resistance. She pulled out her final trump card: “If you don’t wake up right now, I’ll cut off all expenses for that burden!” “Do you want her to starve to death?!” Just then, my daughter’s pale soul appeared beside me. She looked up at me, her hollow eyes full of confusion: “Daddy, why did Mommy call Emily a ‘burden’?” “Daddy… I’m so hungry.” 0 Today was the last day of the cooling-off period for my ninth divorce from Olivia Reed, and it became my death anniversary. My soul floated above the hospital room, watching Olivia bring her childhood sweetheart, Ethan Brooks, to stand by my hospital bed. “Adam Carter, stop pretending. The auction is about to start,” she said, standing at a distance and slamming a document on the bedside table. Pretending? I wish I could pretend, but how could a brain-dead person pretend? Olivia continued, “Ethan has been preparing for this comeback exhibition for five years. I can’t let his hard work go to waste.” “Your company shares are the only assets that can be quickly liquidated.” “Sign this debt transfer document, transfer the shares to me, and we’re done.” Done? I looked at her cold profile, feeling absurd. Our marriage, our daughter, the countless nights we spent together – in her eyes, was it just a debt relationship that could be easily settled? Of course, I couldn’t answer her. My “silence” in her eyes was a silent protest. She lost patience, taking off the sunglasses that covered half her face, her beautiful almond eyes full of disgust. “Adam Carter, my patience has limits! You think lying here will leave me with no options?” Just then, the attending physician walked in with a nurse. He glanced at the weakly fluctuating line on the ECG and sighed, “Ms. Reed, prepare yourself.” “What?” Olivia’s body suddenly stiffened. But immediately, she let out a cold laugh. “Prepare? He’s just using this method to force me. I’ve seen this trick many times.” The doctor frowned, “Ms. Reed, Mr. Carter suffered severe brain damage from a car accident a week ago. He’s… brain dead.” “Do you know what you’re saying…” “Is that so?” Ethan stepped forward, interrupting the flustered Olivia. Gently holding Olivia’s shoulders, he said, “Olivia, don’t get upset.” Ethan’s voice was gentle, like a spring breeze in April. “Olivia, he must still resent you and doesn’t want to see me succeed.” “Now he’s pretending to be dead, determined not to help me, wanting to see us fail.” Olivia’s momentary hesitation was pulled back to reality by Ethan’s light words. The guilt in her eyes turned to anger. “What right does he have to resent us? Everything he has now, I gave him! Helping you is his duty!” Ethan held Olivia’s hand, feigning magnanimity, “Olivia, let it go.” “If Adam is unwilling, don’t force him.” “I’ll just cancel the exhibition, I’m just afraid… there might not be another chance.” Olivia gripped his hand tightly, her voice trembling, “No! I won’t let you say such things!” “I won’t let your hard work go to waste!” “Adam Carter must sign!” I wanted to rush down and tear apart their hypocritical faces. But I was just an empty soul, unable to do anything. After comforting Ethan, Olivia let go of his hand, rushed to my hospital bed in a few steps, and stared intently at my lifeless face. My face was colorless, eyes tightly closed, lips a deathly blue-purple. Anyone could see this was a body that would never wake up. But Olivia didn’t believe it. She leaned down, speaking into my ear word by word. “Adam Carter, stop pretending. Your acting has really improved.” “I’ll count to three. If you don’t get up, I’ll immediately cut off all of Emily’s expenses!” Emily! My daughter, Emily Carter! That was our daughter, the child she carried for ten months! How could she, how dare she, use our daughter’s survival to threaten me! “One.” “Two.” “Three!” Seeing no reaction from me, Olivia’s last patience disappeared. She straightened up, a cruel smile appearing on her face. “Good, very good. Adam Carter, you forced me to do this.” She took out her phone, issuing a final ultimatum to my body. “That burden won’t survive a day without my money. Do you want her to die with you?!” Just then, Ethan stepped forward again, grabbing Olivia’s hand, saying, “Olivia, don’t rush. I’ve already taken care of Emily.” Olivia was stunned, “Taken care of?” Ethan nodded, “Yes, I was worried you’d be distracted, so I took the liberty of finding a better environment for her.” “I found someone trustworthy and settled her in a very safe place, absolutely no one will disturb her.” “So, you don’t need to worry about Adam using the child to blackmail us.” Olivia looked at Ethan gratefully, then took his arm and left without looking back. “Adam Carter, I’ll give you one day to think it over. Either sign, or wait to bury that burden!” That was her last words to me. The door of the hospital room closed with a “click”, shutting out everything outside. Only my cold body remained, and my soul trembling with anger. Car accident? What a ridiculous cause of death. I didn’t die by accident… Just a week ago, when Ethan first forced me to sign that debt transfer document, I tore it to pieces in front of him. I told him that even if I burned my possessions, I would never use them for someone like him. So that night, as I was driving home, the brakes failed. In the last moment of consciousness, I saw a familiar black car flash by in the rearview mirror, with Ethan at the wheel. I didn’t die in an accident at all, I was murdered by my wife’s childhood sweetheart! Looking at my own tragically dead body, the past six years flashed before my eyes. Six years ago, I was a poor boy who had just graduated from a music college, making a living by performing in various bars. Except for a decent-looking face and a passionate heart, I had nothing. It was then that Olivia Reed found me. At that time, she was the only daughter of the top wealthy Reed family in the city. After listening to me play an entire original piece, she handed me a business card. “You’re very talented, but your style is too sad,” she said, her voice pleasant like a mountain spring. “I know someone, his name is Ethan Brooks, he’s a painter.” “An accident injured his hand, and he can no longer paint.” “He once said that if he were to make music, his style would definitely be warm, like the afternoon sun on a spring day.” She paused, pushing a check in front of me. “I want you to write songs for him, to be his musical substitute.” “You need to change your style, play the warmth he imagines.” “After it’s done, another zero will be added to the end of the number on this check.” I looked at the astronomical figure on the check, then at my worn-out sneakers, and my heart wavered. I needed money; my sister was seriously ill in the hospital, urgently needing a large sum for surgery. So I became Ethan Brooks’ musical substitute. I forced myself to write those warm, sunny tunes. I studied Ethan’s paintings, imagining what kind of person he was, trying to depict his painted world with musical notes. At first, Olivia was very picky with me. “Wrong! The emotion here is too shallow!” “You don’t understand him at all! This is just a poor imitation!” “You’ll never be him!”

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Five years ago, I lost my memory in a car accident. Lucas Lin told me he was my lover. He saved me, took care of me, and we naturally got married. For five years, I devoted myself to him, taking care of his every need. I thought I was the happiest wife in the world. But when I was about to tidy up the study, I overheard a conversation between Lucas and his childhood sweetheart. “Lucas, Aria has been so dedicated to you these past five years. She practically waits on you hand and foot! I’m getting jealous~” Lucas fondly stroked her head, “Silly girl, all that menial work is what she’s supposed to do. I’d never let you do such things.” Furious, I pushed open the door and accused Yvette of being a homewrecker. To my shock, she produced a marriage certificate with Lucas, claiming I was the one intruding on their relationship. In the ensuing scuffle, I hit my head on the bookshelf and regained my memory. It turned out I was actually the heiress of the wealthiest family in town! Looking at Lucas, who was still berating me, and the sniffling Yvette in his arms, I turned and dialed my bodyguard’s number: “Ethan, your young miss has been bullied!”

“Miss Ruan! We’ve finally contacted you! We’ve locked onto your location. I’ll be there to bring you home within three hours.” On the phone, Ethan’s voice was as steady and reassuring as ever. “Alright.” After hanging up, I rinsed the bleeding wound on my forehead with cold water. My reflection in the mirror was pale, but my eyes were no longer filled with the docility and confusion of the past five years. Instead, they were ice-cold. My name is Aria Ruan, or rather, I finally remembered that my name is Aria Ruan. The only daughter of the Ruan family. After treating my wound, I came out of the bathroom. Lucas was standing in the upstairs hallway, looking down at me condescendingly, still cradling the sniffling Yvette in his arms. “Hey, Aria, if you’re not dead, stop pretending!” His voice was full of disgust. “You could have dodged just now. Why did you deliberately hit the bookshelf? Don’t you know you scared Yvette? Come here and apologize to her right now!” These outrageously shameless words pierced my heart like a steel needle. I can’t believe I played the role of the submissive “Aria” for five years for a man like this. Countless images flooded my mind like a tidal wave. The life that belonged to “Aria Ruan” was as clear as if it had happened yesterday. Along with it came a surge of hatred. Five years ago, I woke up from a car accident with no memory. It was Lucas who held my hand and gently told me that he was my fiancé of many years, the only person I could rely on in my life. I believed him, clinging to him like a lifeline as I returned home with him. He not only erased my past but gave me a false identity, complete with a fake marriage certificate that now seems laughably absurd. For five years, I cooked and cleaned for him, managed everything at home so he could focus on his career without worry. I even ate nothing but plain noodles for a month straight to save money to buy him a nice watch. I thought my devotion would earn his cherishment. But everything that just happened made me realize that my five years of deep affection were nothing but an exciting game in their eyes. Seeing that I kept staring at him without responding, Lucas’s face flashed with inexplicable panic, but it was quickly replaced by impatience. He tossed out a sentence: “Hurry up and make dinner, Yvette’s hungry.” Then he took Yvette back to the bedroom, no longer paying attention to me. I looked down at my rough hands, hands that should have been playing the piano and painting oil paintings, now covered with calluses and small wounds. With a cold laugh, I returned to my room and locked the door. The time displayed on my phone screen showed two hours and fifteen minutes left until the three-hour deadline. Alright, I’ll play along with you a little longer! Lucas and Yvette came out of the bedroom to find an empty dining room and a cold stove. Their faces instantly darkened. “Aria! Where the hell are you? Where’s dinner?” He angrily kicked open my door. “I’m tired. I don’t feel like cooking,” I said. Lucas looked as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. “You’re tired? What could a woman who stays at home all day be tired from? Get your ass to the kitchen and make dinner!” “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. “Why don’t you let your ‘legal wife’ cook?” “After all, I’m just a crazy woman who stole her nest, aren’t I?” I threw Yvette’s words back at them. Lucas’s face alternated between shades of green and white. He probably never expected that I, who had always obeyed his every word, would suddenly become so sharp-tongued. Yvette crossed her arms and emerged from behind him, her voice dripping with sarcasm: “Lucas, darling, look at her attitude! What’s the big deal about asking her to cook? It’s like we owe her something.” “I think you’ve spoiled her rotten these past five years!” She turned to me, chin held high: “Aria, I suggest you remember your place. You eat our food, live in our house – isn’t doing some housework only right? Don’t be so ungrateful.” I laughed, laughed so hard tears nearly came to my eyes. “Your house?” I stood up and walked towards them step by step, my gaze fixed on Lucas. “Lucas Lin, tell me, who does this mansion really belong to?”

Lucas’s eyes darted around, unable to speak. This mansion was bought shortly after I lost my memory, using a bank card he had coaxed me into using. That card, I now realize, must have been from my Ruan family account. He used my money to buy the house, yet had the audacity to make me believe I was dependent on him for survival. “And you,” I turned to Yvette, “That new Chanel dress you’re wearing must have cost quite a bit. I wonder which card it was charged to?” Yvette’s face changed color. I took a step closer, sneering, “It was the supplementary card Lucas gave you, wasn’t it? Do you know who’s been paying off the bills on that main card every month?” Over these five years, Lucas’s career was just starting, and his income was far from enough to support such lavish spending. All the bills were paid by me. I used to think it was proof of Lucas’s love, entrusting me with his money. Now I understand I was nothing more than their human ATM. Yvette was left speechless by my questions, but after just a second, she straightened her back. Far from showing any shame, her face displayed a challenging defiance. “So what?” she shrieked, her voice shrill. “Aria, what are you getting so worked up about? If it weren’t for Lucas kindly taking you in five years ago, who knows which gutter you’d be rotting in right now!” “Every penny you’ve spent, every bite of food you’ve eaten, it’s all thanks to Lucas’s generosity! Without him, you’re nothing!” Lucas also shielded Yvette behind him, glaring at me furiously. “Aria, what’s wrong with you!” “I work my ass off outside, give you a home, let you manage the money – that’s because I trust you! Your money is my money, isn’t it? What’s wrong with using some of it to buy Yvette a dress? What right do you have to make such a fuss? Don’t forget, I’ve supported you for five years!” “Don’t think you can turn the tables just because you got a little hurt. Let me tell you, without me, you’re nothing!” “Is that so?” I looked at his face, flushed red with guilt, the last trace of attachment in my heart disappearing. I forcefully shook off his hand. “Lucas Lin, we’ll soon see who is nothing without whom.” But Lucas kept staring at me intently. “Who said you could leave me?” “So what if the marriage certificate is fake? We’ve lived together for five years, our relationship is real, isn’t it?” “Don’t worry, to the outside world, you’ll always be my wife.” “Lucas darling, sister must be in shock. We should give her some time to accept it,” Yvette interjected, seeing the situation. She curled her lips into a malicious smile, deliberately emphasizing the word “sister”. Then she turned to me, her nose in the air: “By the way, Lucas and I had quite a night yesterday. Go change the sheets and wash them, will you?” “Remember to wash them by hand. They’re silk, don’t ruin them in the washing machine.” As she spoke, she deliberately thrust out her chest, making sure I could see the love bites on her neck. Lucas also glanced at me, as if everything was perfectly normal. “Yvette’s right, you should find more things to do. Then you won’t have time for these silly thoughts.” He flashed Yvette a playful, indulgent smile: “Looks like you’re not tired yet. Let’s continue tonight.”

I watched their little back-and-forth act, feeling like I was watching two clowns putting on a desperate performance. The wall clock pointed to 7:30 PM. Ethan should arrive in about half an hour. Thinking about finally going home, I couldn’t even be bothered to get angry. I just curled my lips into a faint smile. “You want me to wash them? Sure!” With that, I yanked the filthy sheets off the bed and flung them straight into Yvette’s face. Then, taking advantage of her panicked screaming, I dragged her towards the washing machine. My actions caught Lucas off guard. He didn’t react for a moment. The next second, I roughly shoved both Yvette and the sheets into the washing machine. “Dirty things should be washed together!” “Ah! Aria, you bitch! Let go of me!” Yvette shrieked, kicking and flailing. I easily grabbed her wrist. Five years of housework had made me much stronger than this pampered woman. Lucas finally reacted, rushing over and kicking me hard in the abdomen. The force was so great it knocked me to the ground. He then fished Yvette out of the washing machine and held her in his arms. Yvette cried in his arms, looking utterly pitiful. “Lucas, darling, how could she do this to me? My wrist hurts so much…” Lucas glared at me, his eyes full of fury. “Aria, I really underestimated you!” I lay on the ground clutching my stomach, cold sweat beading on my forehead from the pain. His face contorted with rage. “Stop pretending! I just kicked you once.” Then he viciously stomped on my wrist. The bones made an ominous creaking sound under the pressure. “Ah!” The excruciating pain made me cry out involuntarily. Lucas leaned down, his eyes as sharp as knives. “Apologize to Yvette right now. Say you were wrong! Otherwise, I’ll cripple this hand of yours today!” Yvette stood to the side, still wiping her crocodile tears. “Lucas, darling, make her kneel and lick my shoes. Then I’ll forgive her.” “You heard her? Yvette’s giving you a chance.” Lucas said, pressing down even harder with his foot. I gritted my teeth, enduring the intense pain as tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Not from the pain, but from the utter absurdity of these past five years. Ethan, where are you? Your young miss is about to be bullied to death! Just then, an enraged voice rang out. “Who dares to bully our young miss!” A dozen blinding headlights suddenly illuminated the entire courtyard. A man in a black suit, tall and straight as a pine tree, stepped out of the lead car. Behind him was a row of bodyguards with stern expressions. The ferocity on Lucas’s face instantly froze, turning into shock. Ethan strode over in a few quick steps and kicked Lucas flying. Then he took off his suit jacket and gently draped it over my shoulders, covering my disheveled state. He knelt on one knee, carefully cradling my bruised hand. His eyes, as he looked at me, were filled with the tenderness of someone who had lost and regained a priceless treasure. “Young miss,” his voice trembled slightly with excitement. “I’ve come to take you home.”

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I was Ryan White’s sidekick. And the only girl by his side. Until the transfer student showed up. The White family intervened, sending him and me abroad. In a foreign country, sparks flew unexpectedly. After sobering up, Ryan was silent for a long time, regretfully saying he would take responsibility. This relationship lasted until we returned home. When Ryan once again abandoned me for the transfer student, I breathed a sigh of relief. The White family sent me abroad and arranged a job for me. I didn’t even know how to bring up breaking up. I only wanted to have some fun in the first place. Ryan White had a handsome face, broad shoulders, narrow waist, and a nice butt. He came from money too. When he talked to me, those eyes that looked at even dogs with deep affection and his bobbing Adam’s apple made my heart race involuntarily. He was truly a rare specimen. I had been eyeing him for a long time. I was a poor student sponsored by the White family. After my mom gave birth to my little brother, she basically packed me up and sent me to the White family as a foster child. Mrs. White was kind-hearted and took me in. But I knew my place. I could never be more than a helper in their household. I glanced at the White family’s maid’s quarters, which were bigger than the master bedroom in my old home. And so, I followed Ryan White all the way from elementary school to high school. When he skipped class, I covered for him. When he slept, I did his homework for him. I watched as Ryan’s desk drawer filled up with love letters. Ryan didn’t seem interested in any girl. But when someone teased him about me, saying: “Ryan White, you change girlfriends so often, won’t your little foster sister get jealous?” “What foster sister, she’s just a maid to keep Ryan company when he’s bored, right?” Ryan immediately got physical. That was the first time Ryan ever hit someone. He ha hit someone. He had learned some martial arts, and he beat the guy mercilessly. In that moment, I felt like I was special to Ryan. I was a bit smug about this. Until. Olivia Lee transferred to our school.

The pretty and pure-looking girl introduced herself at the front of the classroom. Almost all the boys were staring at her. Except for Ryan White. He was napping on his desk, barely lifting an eyelid to glance at her, his expression unchanged. The teacher assigned Olivia to sit next to a chubby boy who was leering at her. Olivia clutched her backpack and walked towards the empty seat next to Ryan, saying softly: “Excuse me, can I sit here?” Someone gasped. The last girl who tried to sit next to Ryan was pursuing him. Ryan had sneered at her then, spitting out one word: “Scram.” But now. Under Olivia’s pleading gaze. Ryan’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he said lazily: “Whatever.” Olivia breathed a sigh of relief and carefully sat down. I sat right in front of Ryan. All day long. I listened as Olivia actively tried to befriend Ryan, showing him her notes, sharing snacks with him. Ryan went from initially rejecting her in annoyance to gradually allowing it. I suddenly had a bad feeling. Day after day I listened to the interactions behind me. Even when studying, I couldn’t help but be distracted. Olivia said to Ryan: “This chapter is really important, don’t fall asleep!” I thought Ryan would refuse, but a few seconds later, I heard him say: “If it’s so important, then explain it to me.” My hand trembled. The pen tip left a deep mark. Ruining the study notes I had taken all day. When Ryan asked me to buy two breakfasts instead of one, I wasn’t too surprised. I only had a sense that it was inevitable. Ryan formally asked a girl out for the first time. Someone said: “Is all this really necessary? Is there any girl who could refuse our Ryan?” “Our Ryan just has to crook his finger and the transfer student would come running.” Ryan kicked him, saying seriously: “She’s different.” She really was different. Because she rejected Ryan White. She said: “Ryan, we’re students, we should focus on our studies.” Ryan’s face darkened. But then, Olivia added: “After the SATs, I’ll seriously consider your confession.” Ryan’s expression immediately brightened: “Alright, I’ll hold you to that.” From then on, Ryan really buckled down and started studying hard. Delayed gratification makes people anticipate things more. Though they weren’t officially together, the tension between them was palpable. He would call Olivia “little pear” and she would glare at him coyly. He used his allowance to buy Olivia’s three meals a day. When Olivia tried to refuse, he said it would go to waste otherwise. He would frequently give Olivia all kinds of gifts, and she repaid him by tutoring him. They were so close, just short of officially dating. I listened to their interactions behind me every day, gradually becoming numb to it. The SATs came quickly. But right at that crucial time, something happened with Olivia’s family. Her father somehow heard about her and Ryan, beat her up, and tried to extort money from Ryan. Ryan got Olivia’s call and left 10 minutes before the exam started. The result was – Ryan missed the SATs to protect Olivia, and even broke his leg. With things blowing up like that, when Mrs. White asked me, I could only tell her the truth. Ryan was confined to the house. When I went to bring him food, he lifted the soup bowl and poured it over my head. “Lily Spring, you didn’t really think you were my foster sister, did you? Going to tattle to my mom like that.” “You disgust me.” The soup dripped down steadily. I stood there covered in vegetables, silently looking at Ryan. My birth name was Xue Panmei. Mrs. White was the one who took me to change it to Lily. Mrs. White had shown me kindness. I didn’t mind taking the fall for the sake of her relationship with her son. The day the SAT scores came out. The White family decided to send Ryan abroad. Mrs. White looked at me: “Lily, do you want to go abroad with Ryan?” “I know you did well on your SATs, but studying abroad is an option too. You two can look out for each other.” Look out for each other? From childhood, I was always the one taking care of Ryan. I heard the hidden meaning in Mrs. White’s words. Under Mrs. White’s expectant gaze. I said: “Okay.” Ryan sneered and went back to his room. While packing, he passed by me and said: “Lily Spring, you really are shameless, insisting on following me.” I denied it, saying I just wanted to experience life abroad too.

Ryan didn’t believe my explanation. The night before leaving. I overheard Ryan on the phone with Olivia saying: “I don’t blame you, I’ve never blamed you, it wasn’t your fault.” “Little pear, you can’t choose what family you’re born into.” The crying on the other end of the line wouldn’t stop. Soon, I watched him sneak out over the wall, his figure disappearing into the night. Mrs. White heard a noise and came out, asking if someone had opened the door. She was about to go check Ryan’s room when I came out from around the corner, saying: “It was me, Mrs. White. I got up to get some water.” Early the next morning. Ryan still hadn’t returned. I called him several times but got no answer, then his phone was turned off. Things were about to be discovered. I could only put on a poor acting performance, bursting into tears on the spot. I cried about my fears of going abroad. Mrs. White’s attention was indeed drawn to me. She comforted me saying: “It’s alright, Lily. You’ll have Ryan with you.” “You’ve always liked him, haven’t you?” “Maybe this is a chance for you two to get together.” So Mrs. White had seen through me long ago. I nodded obediently, my mind still on buying time. But just then, I heard a scornful laugh. Ryan had returned at some point, standing there looking at me with disdain.

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I could always hear intimate sounds coming from next door. Men and women, a chaotic mess. It kept me awake all night. But he lived alone. My new roommate’s room often made strange noises at night, and there was always a strong, foul, musky odor emanating from it, and from him too. Every time he walked past me, I couldn’t help but want to cover my nose. I guessed he frequently brought girlfriends home for wild, raucous nights, but I had never actually seen any of them. This one evening, I was sitting on my bed, scrolling on my phone, when a sultry moan echoed from next door again. It sounded like a woman gasping, making unmistakable noises. My mind was racing with frantic thoughts. Even with headphones on, I couldn’t block out the sound. Was he really bringing another girlfriend back? The sounds lasted for several hours before finally quieting down. I finally drifted into an exhausted sleep. The next morning. I was getting ready for work. The moment I opened my door, I ran right into my roommate sitting on the couch. I couldn’t help but frown. The musky odor on him seemed even stronger today. When he saw me, his eyes instantly lit up. I was wearing a professional, modest skirt suit today. But his gaze was fixed on me, still staring, and it made my stomach churn. “Morning, did you sleep well last night? Did I bother you?” He smiled, a knowing glint in his eyes, clearly implying something. The sounds were so loud, does he have no self-awareness? I frowned, bristling with anger, and glared at him, ready to storm out. But then he started to explain: “I’m a voice actor. I need a quiet environment late at night to simulate various situational sounds for my work.” His mouth opened and closed, a sleazy glint in his smiling eyes. “You know, some voice work is just hard to perform in an office.” I couldn’t help but think of the voice actor videos I’d seen online – the voices often had a stark contrast with the actual person. But… those explicit sounds I heard, were they just voice acting? Seeing my continued suspicion, he got up from the couch. The strange odor on him intensified with his movement, filling the entire space with a suffocating, unpleasant smell. I subtly took a step back, not bothering to hide my disgust, my brows still tightly furrowed. He paused for a moment, then chuckled, revealing his large teeth. I only wished I was nearsighted, because I could see the food remnants on his teeth all too clearly, and my stomach twisted with nausea. “Here, look, this is my work ID.” He held the ID up to my face. The closer he got, the stronger that utterly foul smell became. I forced myself to suppress a dry heave and glanced at it. Sure enough, he was a voice actor. Hearing his explanation, I secretly let out a sigh of relief, but my guard didn’t drop. Because ever since he moved in, I’d constantly felt his subtle, lingering gaze, like a shadow, making the hair on my arms stand on end.

That day, I was about to take a shower. I’d just stepped into the bathroom and hadn’t locked the door yet. I heard the faintest sound of a door creaking open, and my heart instantly seized with alarm. Then, a soft rustling of footsteps. Someone was approaching the bathroom! My nerves went taut. On instinct, I lunged for the door and instantly locked it from the inside. Under the cover of the running water, I faintly heard a man’s heavy breathing from outside the door. My previous roommate was a girl, so I never had this kind of worry. I was used to being careless. I’d been too careless, I’d completely forgotten a man lived here now. If I had been a second slower to lock the door, I didn’t know if he would have burst in. “Dustin, is that you out there? What do you want?” I called my new roommate’s name, my voice icy, hoping to scare him away. I was terrified he would just rush in. After all, this thin plastic door wouldn’t stand a chance against an adult’s kick. But there was no answer from outside the door, only more faint footsteps. He was moving away. After a hurried shower, I wrapped myself up tightly, pulling a large towel over my nightgown before I dared to step out of the bathroom. On the couch, my new roommate sat with his back to me. Hearing the sound, he immediately turned around, a perfectly calm smile on his face. “I just needed to use the restroom. I was half-asleep and didn’t realize anyone was in there. My bad.” His expression looked utterly innocent. “Oh… right, no problem.” After a brief exchange, I retreated to my room, and he entered the bathroom. By the time I’d dried my hair and put on a face mask, emerging from my room, he was no longer in the living room. His bedroom door remained tightly shut. It was as if I was the only one who was tense from start to finish. He always seemed so calm. I forced myself to calm down, repeatedly telling myself I was overthinking things. Was I too quick to judge based on appearances? Mulling this over, I entered the bathroom, intending to wash the undergarments I’d just changed out of. I used to just hang my freshly changed intimates directly on the wall hooks, out of habit. But now, I noticed something odd. Did I really hang them like this? The way they were hanging just felt different from my memory. Still, I’d just casually hung them up, and my memory was hazy, so I couldn’t be sure. “Overthinking it, overthinking it,” I muttered to myself. After washing my intimates, I took them out to dry on the communal balcony. The balcony faced my new roommate’s bedroom door. Everything was perfectly still. But just as I finished hanging the clothes and turned around, I suddenly saw… His door, at some point, had opened a crack, and through the gap, his glasses glinted faintly. This time, I was certain: he was peeking at me.

Our eyes met, and the door instantly slammed shut. A sense of dreadful foreboding completely enveloped me. He’s just peeking now, but what if he escalates later? The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. I rushed back to my room and immediately ordered a pepper spray online. It would take a few days for the delivery to arrive. I thought for a moment, then, following a trick I learned online, I jammed a clothes hanger into the doorframe. This way, he wouldn’t be able to push the door open easily for a while. I huddled under my covers, silently praying that he was all bark and no bite. The next few days were calm. He was quiet at night, and I didn’t catch him peeking again. My guard slowly lowered, and life seemed to return to its usual tranquility. Then came Saturday. I finally got to sleep in, and my mood was great. I was planning to meet up with Chloe, my best friend, later for some shopping and a nice meal, as I pushed open my door. The sight on the balcony moments later made me freeze. My roommate was actually standing by my freshly laundered undergarments, sniffing them in an utterly perverse way! His expression was one of pure ecstasy, and he was even rubbing his hand over them, caressing the soft fabric. Watching his expression and actions. A wave of disgust washed over me, and my voice came out ice cold. “What are you doing?!” My cheeks burned red with shame and indignation. I rushed forward and snatched the intimates back. “You… you’re going too far!” He gave a sleazy chuckle, completely unbothered by being caught. “Didn’t you hang them on the balcony just to tempt me?” His eyes, burning with intense desire, swept over my body. Then, he smiled strangely. “Congrats, it worked. How about you be my girlfriend?” What the hell, what kind of delusional creep was this? I instinctively recoiled, biting hard on my trembling lip. Faced with his predatory gaze, I instinctively turned and bolted back to my room. But my heart was pounding uncontrollably, overwhelmed with fear. No, I can’t stay here. I hurriedly changed and fled to Chloe’s place. When Chloe heard what happened, she cursed him out as a pervert too. But since he hadn’t done anything concrete, there was nothing the police could do. After staying at Chloe’s until Sunday afternoon, I had no choice but to go back. I had to be at work on Monday, and my professional clothes and work ID were all at home. “It’s okay. If he dares to be creepy again, you tell me. I’ll send Liam, my boyfriend, to deal with him!” With Chloe’s comfort, plus the pepper spray having already arrived, I felt a bit more relaxed. Back home. He didn’t seem to be home; his slippers were by the door. As I was gathering dirty clothes to throw into the washing machine, I realized I couldn’t find the pair of stockings I’d changed out of on Friday. After searching around with no luck. I was drawn, as if by an unearthly urge, to my roommate’s door, and reached out to twist the doorknob. *Click.* It was locked. I withdrew my hand, feeling an indescribable mix of emotions. Maybe I just put them in some corner. As for the set of intimates that had been hanging on the balcony, I threw them directly into the trash can. Just thinking about how many times he must have touched them over those few days they hung there made my skin crawl. It wasn’t until very late, after I had already fallen asleep, that I heard my roommate opening the door and returning. His room was quiet tonight. Unknowingly, I drifted into a deep sleep. I don’t know how much time passed. *Bang!* The sound of a water bottle hitting the floor instantly jolted me awake. I was disoriented for a second, then my eyes shot open towards my bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. I could vaguely see a dark silhouette frozen at the doorway. 4. I cowered in fear, terrified he would burst in the next second. The dark figure tentatively pushed the door. *Rattle, rattle.* Thankfully, the door was still jammed shut with the clothes hanger trick, so he couldn’t easily get in. I trembled all over, feeling as if I’d plunged into an icy abyss, too scared to even speak. But my shaking hand frantically gripped the pepper spray hidden under my pillow. The person at the door tried again. After still failing to open the door, he quietly closed it and left. It wasn’t until more than ten minutes after he left that I finally calmed down. My brain raced. This person was undoubtedly my roommate. The fact that he could open my bedroom door meant he must have had a key copied for my room. So, on days I wasn’t home, when I was at work, had he been…? The more I thought about it, the more terrified I became. Sleep was impossible. I quickly got up and checked around the room, but found nothing missing. But I knew deep down, this couldn’t continue. If he ever completely lost control, I would be finished. I spent a restless night. The next morning, I specifically called in sick to work and kept my ears peeled for any movement from next door. Finally, I heard him leave. I immediately jumped out of bed and called a locksmith to change the lock. After the new lock was installed, I felt a bit more at ease. My gaze involuntarily fell on his tightly closed door. He was always so secretive; there had to be something seriously off in that room! I asked the locksmith to open his door, claiming I had accidentally locked it. The locksmith, without suspicion, picked the lock and then left. And I, pushing the door open, nervously stepped into his room. The curtains were drawn tight, making the room incredibly dim. His computer was locked, connected to a set of streaming equipment. Microphones, cameras, etc. It looked very professional. Wasn’t he a voice actor? Why was he dabbling in live streaming?

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I’m an embalmer, always dealing with the dead. But now, I’m battling a living ghost for my husband’s heart. My husband, Julian Sterling, fell in love with a dead woman. He’d make me breakfast in the morning and hold me in his arms at night, gently whispering ‘Harper.’ But I knew all his tenderness was separated by a chilling layer of ice. Because his heart had been buried with Eleanor, the love of his life, three years ago. Then I got pregnant. I held the pregnancy test results, hoping this baby could finally break through the ice between us. But Eleanor’s sister, Chloe Reed, threw a scalding hot liquid onto my stomach. “My brother-in-law said he’d never touch any woman but my sister.” Her smile twisted into something cruel. “Harper, your husband said he never touched you.” “Now tell me, whose bastard child is that?” I was putting the final touches on an eighty-year-old man’s appearance. His children cried their hearts out around him. My hands meticulously mended the traces left by life. In my eyes, death was never an end, but another beginning. “Lisa, today’s a priority case from the police department. Dr. Sam Miller is really pressing for it.” I was giving instructions. My phone rang. “Harper, are you off work? It’s our third wedding anniversary today. I ordered that ridiculously pricey French dessert from your favorite French restaurant.” Julian Sterling’s voice was as gentle as a spring breeze. My colleague, Lisa, peered over, her eyes full of envy. “Harper, your husband is so thoughtful! Three years married and he still remembers your anniversary. My guy forgot ages ago.” I hummed in response and hung up. Three years. He’d never forgotten a single important date. Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays. Every one was remembered perfectly, prepared impeccably. It was so perfect, it felt less like love and more like a pre-programmed routine. Back home, candlelight flickered in the living room. Julian Sterling, dressed in his loungewear, was arranging the table. There was my favorite red wine steak and that insanely expensive French dessert. “Rough day, Harper?” He walked over, took my bag, and kissed my forehead. “Do you like it?” He pulled out a velvet box from behind him. Inside lay a diamond necklace, sparkling under the light. It must have cost a fortune. “It’s beautiful,” I said honestly. It truly was beautiful, and truly expensive. Just like last year’s bracelet and the year before’s earrings. Julian Sterling personally fastened the necklace around my neck, his fingers gently brushing my skin. His movements were incredibly tender, yet his gaze drifted somewhere far away. I suddenly thought of the elderly man’s family from earlier today. They were crying out, “How could you bear to leave us?”

Dinner was quiet. Julian Sterling occasionally served me food, asking if work had been tiring. I responded mechanically, my mind drifting far away. Three years. Our conversations were always the same. Work, weather, health. Never about our feelings, never about our future. We were like two polite, distant roommates. Late at night, Julian Sterling held me as usual until he fell asleep, his breathing even. But I was wide awake. His body’s warmth felt alien, as if he were just a stranger lying beside me. Getting up for water in the living room, I suddenly stopped outside the study. A faint draft, carrying a stale scent of old perfume and dust, wafted from behind the heavy bookshelf. I’d lived in this house for three years and had never noticed such a current of air. I approached the bookshelf, tapping gently with my fingertips. Most of it was solid, but the third shelf on the right sounded hollow. Mimicking a scene from a movie, I pulled out that row of hardcover *History of Architecture* books. Sure enough, I found a subtle indentation on the inner wall. With a strong push, the bookshelf silently slid open, revealing a hidden room. Everything inside was frozen in time. Eleanor Reed’s favorite perfume sat on the vanity, her preferred floral bedspread covered the bed, and intimate photos of her and Julian Sterling hung on the wall. This room held no trace of me. I stood in this territory belonging to the ‘dead,’ suddenly feeling the silk pajamas Julian had bought me were nothing but a grotesque funeral shroud. “What are you doing?” Julian Sterling’s voice came from behind me. Gone was his usual tenderness, replaced by cold vigilance. I slowly turned, seeing him barefoot in the doorway, his eyes filled with a raw panic I’d never witnessed, and… a chilling flicker of murderous intent. It was the look of a wild animal whose territory had been violated. “This place,” he enunciated each word, his voice heavy with suppressed rage, “is not for you.” I looked at him and suddenly laughed, tears welling up in my eyes. For three years, it was the first time I’d seen such genuine emotion in his eyes. Not scripted affection, but real, unadulterated fury, ignited for another woman. “Julian Sterling,” I pointed at the photos in the room, “isn’t our home a little crowded?” “Let’s go. Back to bed.” Julian Sterling walked over and closed the secret room door. His hand gently stroked my back, guiding me back to the bedroom as usual. I quietly followed him back to bed. He wrapped his arms around me again, his chin resting on the top of my head. “Harper,” he murmured my name softly. Again and again. As if trying to hypnotize himself, or maybe even me. I closed my eyes, but sleep wouldn’t come. At that moment, I finally understood. The woman in his arms was never Harper Hayes. It was just a substitute with Eleanor Reed’s similar features. A living, breathing mannequin.

When I woke up that morning, my stomach was churning violently. I clung to the sink, dry-heaving for a long while. Julian Sterling knocked on the door from outside, concerned. “Harper, are you okay?” “I’m fine, probably ate something bad last night,” I wiped my mouth with a towel, my voice still weak. On the way to the hospital, I told myself it was just a normal stomach bug. But when the doctor handed me that pregnancy test report, my hand trembled uncontrollably. Pregnant. I sat on a hospital bench, staring at the report in my hand, my feelings a complicated mess. This tiny life arrived without warning, like a sudden light in the darkness. Perhaps, this was a turning point. No matter how lost Julian Sterling was in his longing for Eleanor, surely his own child would stir something in him? This child would make him re-examine our marriage, and me, his living wife. I carefully tucked the report into my bag. That afternoon, I took a taxi to Julian Sterling’s architecture firm. I imagined his reaction to the news – tension, surprise, then that unique sense of responsibility a man feels when he’s about to become a father. As the car pulled up to the company building, I saw a familiar figure leaning by the entrance. Chloe Reed. She was wearing a pale yellow dress, her makeup meticulously applied, looking down at her phone. Hearing footsteps, she looked up, her gaze visibly pausing when it swept over me. “Well, if it isn’t Harper Hayes.” Her voice held a clear edge of provocation. “Here to see my brother-in-law?” I didn’t want to engage, so I walked around her towards the building entrance. “Stop.” Chloe Reed caught up in a few steps, blocking my path. “I have something to say to you.” “I have nothing to say to you.” “Oh really?” She sneered, pulling out an ultrasound photo from her designer bag and slapping it directly onto my face. “Don’t play innocent, Harper.” Chloe Reed’s eyes turned vicious. “Harper, don’t think I don’t know what you’re trying to pull. Holding a pregnancy report, hoping this baby is your ticket to power?” My heart plummeted. She leaned closer, her voice a venomous whisper. “My brother-in-law swore to me, his body and heart belonged only to Eleanor, for life. He never even touched you.” “…Whose bastard child is that in your belly?” Those words plunged me into an abyss. If Julian Sterling had never touched me, then what was our intimacy every night? What was all that tenderness I thought was real? My hand trembled as I touched my lower abdomen, where a life was growing. At that moment, I couldn’t tell if I was losing my mind, or if my entire life was built on a massive lie. And this child, whose was it, really?

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