Category: English

On my girlfriend’s birthday, her guy best friend held her close and kissed her passionately. For a moment, everyone in the room held their breath, their eyes fixed on me. I simply smiled faintly. A few moments later, I broke the silence. “Go on, don’t ruin the game.” * It was Chloe’s birthday, and the private room was packed with our college friends. I sat on the sofa, feeling sharp in my suit. My girlfriend, Chloe, was currently singing a love song with her male best friend. “Noah, when are you finally going to marry our Chloe?” Maya, one of Chloe’s friends, teased from the side. I was about to speak when I witnessed a scene I would never forget. My girlfriend and her male best friend embraced tightly. “Kiss! Kiss!” All our college friends cheered in unison. Their attention was completely drawn to another matter – a game Chloe and Noah were playing. Chloe had lost, and the loser had to kiss the other person. Of course, Noah had come up with that rule. Noah was Chloe’s ex, and her ultimate crush. In recent years, he’d suddenly reappeared as her “male best friend,” but it was clear he had an ulterior motive. “Oh… I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Chloe said, feigning shyness, but her eyes were full of longing as she looked at Noah. Noah returned her gaze with the same intensity. Their eyes met, brimming with affection. “Come on, everyone, don’t you see her boyfriend is right here?” Maya tried to intervene. Noah looked at me, a victorious smirk playing on his lips. Everyone else in the room held their breath, their eyes on me. I kept my smile in place and broke the silence: “Go on, don’t ruin the game.” “Look at Liam, he’s so cool about it! That’s the kind of boyfriend you need!” Chloe’s friends, clearly eager for more drama, egged them on again. I couldn’t be bothered to watch them, so I just drank my drink alone. “He said he doesn’t mind, so let’s continue,” Noah said, looking incredibly smug. Chloe, though, seemed a little taken aback, as if she couldn’t believe I’d said that. Then a flicker of anger crossed her face, and she glared at me: “Liam, I’m coming for you when we get back!” In the end, they kissed passionately. “Whoa!” The people around them immediately erupted in cheers. My heart was a mess, my mind replaying everything that had happened between Chloe and me. The nervousness of my first confession to her, the joy when she accepted me, the careful way I treated her. Her smiles, her tears. In the end, none of it belonged to me. Something stolen eventually has to be returned. It was just a pity for my two years of devotion. I sighed, disappointment clouding my eyes. I knew Chloe had been waiting for this moment for a long time. Chloe, you must be so happy right now. Getting what you’ve always wanted must feel good. Just like how I felt when I successfully won Chloe over. But sadly, it was all in the past now. A woman who doesn’t love me isn’t worth keeping. From that moment on, I made a decision deep in my heart. I would take back all my love. “Liam, what’s wrong with you today?!” After the party, Chloe feigned a pouty anger. Of course, she was still such a good actress. She’d crossed the line, yet she still pushed the blame onto me. The truth was, she didn’t care about me anymore, even if she once had. I’d known it for a long time, I just hadn’t wanted to believe it. In college, Chloe was delicately beautiful and full of charm, lively and cheerful. One faint smile from her was enough to make anyone fall for her. She was incredibly talented, excelling in everything from music and dance to academics, and she was the president of the dance club. Her figure was perfect, and her grades were consistently at the top of her class. A girl like her was practically flawless. She was proud, beautiful, and gifted, untouchable. Suitors lined up from one end of campus to the other, and I was one of them. From the first moment I saw her in freshman year, I was instantly captivated and fell deeply in love. To make her notice me, I studied hard and improved my grades. I learned calligraphy and dancing, just to have common topics with her. I constantly followed Chloe’s news, showing her affection again and again. Bubble tea, pastries, fruit—they never stopped. I sent countless designer bags and necklaces. I just hoped she would spare me a glance. But she returned every single gift. Right, how could the campus queen, recognized by everyone, change her mind for a few gifts? She was so proud, and her pride was exactly what I loved about her. But she ignored me completely. Back then, she was confident and radiant, devoted to only one person. That person was the campus heartthrob, recognized by everyone – Noah. In college, Noah was handsome, with outstanding grades, and he represented the school in many competitions. He could sing and dance, and played a mean guitar. Whenever the school held an event, his appearance would inevitably draw screams from countless girls. He even had his own fan club called the “Wind Chasers.” Noah had many admirers and was definitely a popular figure on campus. No wonder Chloe was so infatuated with him. One was the campus king, the other a recognized talent – truly a perfect match. Chloe relentlessly pursued her crush. When Noah broke up with his girlfriend, Chloe seized the moment and made her move. Finally, on the first Valentine’s Day of sophomore year, Noah accepted Chloe’s confession. This golden couple, famous throughout the school, officially started dating. And I, holding a bouquet of flowers, ready to confess my feelings to Chloe, could only watch, disheartened, a mere bystander. The news of campus king Noah and dance club talent Chloe dating quickly spread to every corner of the campus, becoming a romantic legend. Unfortunately, good times don’t last. Though Noah was handsome, he was a massive playboy. He was flirting around constantly, and Chloe soon found out. On her birthday, Chloe cried her eyes out. She took her cake to the rooftop and happened to run into me, who was studying for an exam. I showed her every bit of concern, comforting her endlessly. Every day, I tirelessly brought her tea and water. Finally, I won the goddess’s approval. Chloe became my girlfriend. At first, she was indifferent to me, and wouldn’t let me make any intimate gestures; I didn’t force it. At the time, I felt incredibly happy just to be the boyfriend of the goddess Chloe. I cherished her like a priceless gem, loving her immensely. I gave her meticulous care, took her traveling to relax, took her out for meals and shopping. Even when work was busy, I’d always update her. I’d come home on time every day to cook, treating her like the most precious thing. Slowly, she started to accept me. She asked about my joys and sorrows, smiled at me, and even began to care about my preferences. I believed that during that time, she did love me. But love that has to be begged for is ultimately hard to sustain. Nourished by love, I became more ambitious. I worked hard, striving to improve my performance. I wanted to work hard enough to buy our own marital home, to truly give her a warm home. I even fantasized countless times about having a child with her. A family of three, sharing meals, living happily together. Everything back then was so beautiful. I felt like I was dreaming, and then one day, the dream ended. Her Prince Charming had returned. Noah inexplicably reappeared in our city, in Chloe’s life. On the street, their eyes met. Just that one glance, and I knew Chloe’s heart no longer belonged to me. But I still couldn’t let her go, couldn’t let go of these years we’d spent together. I chose to deceive myself, maintaining this hollow relationship by feigning ignorance. Gradually, she started coming home early and leaving late, sending flirtatious texts with Noah, growing annoyed by my concern, and meticulously dressing herself up. I looked at Chloe in the mirror and knew I had lost. We had been together for two years, and to please her, I’d bought her countless expensive pieces of jewelry, clothes, and bags. But she had never really dressed up for me. She told me we were family, no need to care so much. Now it seemed she just thought I wasn’t worth the effort. A woman dresses up for the one she wants to please, and clearly, I wasn’t that person for her. All she cared about was Noah. I struggled, unwilling to give up, telling myself she was just wavering, and if I was good enough, she would come back to me. Until that birthday party, when she kissed Noah. I knew my dream had to end. That day, when I got home, I ignored Chloe. I walked straight to the living room and slept on the sofa. *Bang!* A loud slam of the door echoed through the apartment. Chloe was clearly angry. She didn’t understand why her number one worshipper suddenly stopped worshipping. Actually, it was just that I no longer loved her. Love is like that: when I love you, you are a flower, a sea, the wind, the clouds, all the beauty in the world. When I don’t love you, you are just you, and you have nothing to do with me. I had a wonderful sleep. Without the burden of love, my mind suddenly felt much clearer. It was the most peaceful sleep I’d had. No worrying about Chloe being unhappy, no enduring her bad temper, no fearing Noah would steal her away. All I had to think about was whether *I* was happy. The next morning, Chloe had made breakfast. At the dining table, she kept staring at me. I quietly ate. Her cooking was still as bad as ever. Only because she said housework made you age faster, I’d pretty much handled all the chores over the years. She was only responsible for eating, playing, and looking beautiful. Back then, I thought life was perfect. Now, thinking about it, it just felt ridiculous. “Liam, don’t you have anything to say to me?” Chloe broke my train of thought. She finally couldn’t hold back. She was the goddess; in her eyes, her personally making me breakfast was a huge gift. I should naturally be delighted, walk down her pre-set steps, Answer her questions, and beg for her affection. I knew she wanted to ask why I hadn’t cared yesterday. But it didn’t matter anymore. I didn’t want to waste words. “The food’s a bit salty.” I dropped those four words, turned, and walked out the door, leaving Chloe stunned. The weather today was exceptionally good, just like my mood.

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Introduction：”He sneered and said I was unworthy when he tore up the contract, but now he pinched my waist and growled: ‘Why is your scent… stained with other wolves?’” Five years. I bled for him as Luna, but watched him mark someone else with my own eyes on the night of the full moon. When the truth tore apart the last bit of fantasy, I took off my wedding ring and turned into the blizzard– Now his empire has collapsed, and my new partner is gently kissing the scar on the back of my neck: “Baby, do you want to see him kneeling and confessing?” The moment the truth stared me in the face, I felt as if the ground beneath me had been ripped away. My hands trembled as I clutched the pregnancy test slip, my breath coming in short, uneven bursts. Pregnant. Again. My vision blurred as I forced my feet to move, rushing through the Pack House corridors until I stood before Alpha Kael Vargan’s office. The heavy oak door loomed before me, but before I could knock, voices slipped through the cracks—clear, sharp, impossible to mistake. “Make sure the suppressant isn’t too damaging, alright? I promised Nyra I wouldn’t mark Selene Nightbane. If she ends up carrying a pup, that little she-wolf will lose her mind.” A deep, measured voice responded, irritation woven between the words. “Every drug has its risks, Kael. Even the best suppressants can cause permanent damage over time. And I have to ask—Selene is your Luna. Why waste your time chasing after a Beta?” Kael scoffed, and I could practically hear the smirk in his voice. “You think I haven’t tried handling this properly? I’ve had her take suppressants, and she’s miscarried three times already. Another one won’t make a difference. She’ll never be able to carry a pup at this rate.” He exhaled, then added almost lazily, “Not that it matters. You don’t choose who you love.” I stiffened, my breath catching in my throat. Three times. My fingers dug into the pregnancy test slip so hard the paper crumpled. My entire world—the love I had once been so certain of—had unraveled in mere seconds. Inside, Kael was scrolling through a luxury goods site on his phone, an indulgent smile playing at his lips. “What do you think of this one?” he mused, tilting the screen toward his companion. “Nyra’s been eyeing it for a while. A rare gemstone—it’ll shine beautifully against her pale fur.” Across from him, Fenrir Drayden, the Pack’s Head Healer and one of Kael’s oldest friends, let out a heavy sigh. “That kind of jewelry would look good on anyone, Kael,” Fenrir muttered, rubbing his temples. Then his golden eyes hardened. “But tell me something—after five years of being your Luna, have you ever given anything like this to Selene?” Kael’s expression darkened instantly. “She doesn’t know how to present herself as a Luna,” he replied dismissively. “Even if I did, she’d just say I’m wasting the Pack’s resources.” Then, as if speaking of some rare, delicate thing, his lips curved into a wistful smile. “ Nyra is different. She’s young. She enjoys beautiful things.” The chair legs screeched against the floor as Fenrir shot to his feet, his patience snapping. “Wake up, Kael! Selene is your mate—your mate of five years! Do you even remember what she’s sacrificed for you? She’s lost three pups—three!—and yet, you still treat her like she’s nothing.” His voice turned dangerously low. “Let me say this one last time. Those suppressants you keep forcing on her? They aren’t harmless. If she takes them for too long, you’ll never have an heir—not even if you regret it later.” Kael waved a dismissive hand, his expression impassive. “Regret? I don’t make mistakes, Fenrir.” His voice was laced with arrogance. “I told Nyra she’d be the only one to carry my heir.” Then, leaning back in his chair, he added coolly, “As for Selene? I won’t reject the bond. Half of what I own in this Pack is more than enough for her.” The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Fenrir’s jaw clenched, his golden eyes blazing. “I watched you claw your way to Alpha, step by step—and Selene was right there beside you through it all. Do you even remember? How many times she drank for you at diplomatic banquets, how many sleepless nights she spent managing Pack affairs while you pursued your ambitions?” His fists tightened at his sides. “And this—this is how you repay her?” The silence that followed was suffocating. Then, with a sharp exhale, Fenrir turned on his heel, storming toward the door. “I’ve said my piece. If she ever finds out the truth, Kael, you’ll be the one to destroy yourself.” The door slammed shut behind him. I shrank back into the shadows of the adjacent storage room, pressing my hand against my mouth to stifle the sob threatening to escape. Five years as his Luna. Seven years as his mate. I had fought beside him, sacrificed for him, built this Pack with him. I scrimped on the smallest luxuries, living frugally so the Pack could grow stronger. I thought when he thrived, I thrived. When he won, I won. But it was all a lie. I had convinced myself the miscarriages were due to stress and exhaustion. Fenrir had told me my body was overworked, too drained from handling Pack duties. I had blamed myself, forcing down tonics, doing everything I could to strengthen my body for the pup I longed for. But Kael never wanted me to carry his heir. He never wanted me at all. He just didn’t have the courage to reject me outright. That was fine. Because I would make the choice for him.

I stepped out of the Obsidian Fang Pack House, the icy wind slicing through my coat like sharpened claws, burrowing into my skin until it numbed me to the bone. Five hours. That’s how long I stood beneath the flickering streetlights, my breath fogging in the cold air as I watched the windows of Bloodfang Enterprises, waiting. The office lights blinked out one by one until only a single floor remained illuminated. My fingers curled into fists, my nails biting into my palms. Finally, Alpha Kael appeared. The moment his eyes landed on me, he leaned toward Nyra Raventhorn, the Beta at his side, whispering something close to her ear. She giggled, her hand lingering on his forearm for a fraction too long before stepping away. He turned toward me then, his features schooled into something warm, something that might have convinced me once. Before I knew better. Before I understood what that warmth masked. His arms enveloped me, but I felt nothing. “When did you get here? Why didn’t you come inside?” His voice was laced with concern, but I could hear the careful control in it, the effort he made to sound affectionate. “I’m fine,” I lied, forcing a small smile. “I just wanted to bring you dinner, but your Beta said you’d already eaten.” A faint crease appeared between his brows, his grip tightening just slightly before he let out a soft sigh. “You shouldn’t push yourself when you’re not feeling well. I’d feel awful if you wore yourself out.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a familiar bottle, the label unmistakable. Suppressants. “By the way, Fenrir dropped off your dose. You’re almost out, aren’t you?” My fingers closed around the container without a word. The capsule rattled inside, hollow as the silence between us. I slipped it into my bag, feeling the weight of it settle like a stone. Winter’s frost still clung to my coat, but Kael’s touch had long since gone cold. When we arrived home, Kael barely gave me time to take off my coat before he pulled me down onto the couch, his hands skimming my sides with urgency. His lips hovered dangerously close to my marking spot, the place where our bond should have made us inseparable. I pressed a hand against his chest, firm, unyielding. A flicker of irritation crossed his face, but he smoothed it away with practiced ease, his voice turning soft. “What’s wrong? Haven’t you always wanted a pup?” “Not tonight.” My tone was steady, controlled. “I’m not feeling well. Maybe next time.” Instantly, his desire evaporated. Without another word, he rose to his feet, his frustration palpable. The bathroom door clicked shut behind him, and the sound of running water filled the space between us. Moments later, a familiar vibration hummed across the table. Kael’s phone. I stared at it for a moment before reaching for it, my fingers moving before my mind caught up. The screen lit up with a name I already knew too well. Hot Kitten. The passcode was easy to guess. Nyra’s birthday. The messages unfurled before me like a slow-burning fire, scorching away the last remnants of any doubt I had left. [Alpha, rooftop date?] [Goblin, wait for me.] [Alpha, how about tonight in the back of the patrol SUV? It’s parked right under your quarters. I’ve never tried it before.] [Not afraid of getting caught? Guess I’ll have to risk it for my Beta.] [Alpha, I really want to be part of that new foreign alliance project…] [No problem. Impress me tonight and it’s yours.] A bitter taste settled on my tongue as I forced myself to keep scrolling. Every major Pack alliance, every high-profile project Kael had undertaken in the past five years—Nyra’s name was attached to all of them. She wasn’t just his mistress. She was his shadow, woven into every inch of his life. To keep her happy, he had handed an Omega a false Pack rank just so she could act as the face of Nyra’s campaign. The final contract date? Nyra’s birthday. There were countless auction receipts, each one listing extravagant gifts—necklaces, rings, rare gemstones—all purchased under the guise of “Pack donations.” Kael’s so-called hidden love wasn’t hidden at all. It was carved into every action, stitched into the very fabric of our Pack. The same brands of jewelry he once claimed to have picked for me, the same gestures that had once made me believe I was cherished—had all been meant for her. Everything had become a weapon he used to cut me down. I let out a slow breath, then laughed. The sound was sharp, brittle, like the cracking of ice over a frozen lake. I didn’t need to read another word. Reaching for my phone, I typed in the contact I had saved for weeks now—the Pack’s legal representative. “I’d like to proceed with the Pack separation papers.” What was mine would remain mine. No one—not Kael, not Nyra, not anyone—would take it from me. The night passed without sleep. At dawn, I showered, dressed, and prepared myself for the day ahead. Just as I stepped out of the bathroom, my phone rang. Kael’s voice drifted through the speaker, his tone tinged with mild confusion. “Selene, what did you book?” I pulled the phone away from my ear, my expression unreadable. “Nothing important. Just a grooming appointment. Didn’t you say I should present myself better as your Luna?” A chuckle rumbled through the receiver, low and pleased. “That’s my girl. You’ll be the most stunning she-wolf at the next Pack gathering.” There was an ease in his voice, as if he believed everything would go back to normal. As if he had already won. “There’s a meeting at the Pack House today. I better get going,” I said smoothly. He pulled me into his arms, nuzzling against my scent gland, breathing me in. “My mate is the most beautiful she-wolf in the world, even without trying. Marking you was the best decision I ever made.” I smiled faintly but said nothing. Some lies no longer hurt—because I had already decided to leave.

“Will my mighty Alpha grant me a grand gift today?” I teased, letting my voice dip into a playful lilt. Kael’s lips curved into that easy, practiced smile—one that once made my heart flutter, but now only felt rehearsed. “Of course,” he assured me, his tone dripping with confidence. “I’ll make sure it’s worth the wait. See you at the Pack House.” He didn’t linger, didn’t kiss my forehead the way he used to. Instead, he turned on his heel, his stride purposeful as he disappeared down the corridor. A few moments later, a Pack Omega arrived, balancing a silver tray draped in fine linen, a lavishly plated breakfast arranged with meticulous care. Five years ago, my heart would have swelled at the gesture. Kael had religiously ordered my favorite meal from the same high-end kitchen, ensuring it arrived without fail each morning. Back then, I had foolishly convinced myself it was a display of devotion. Now, I saw it for what it was—habit. A duty, devoid of sentiment. A wolf as powerful as he was, capable of leading an entire Pack, yet he had never once lifted a hand to prepare a meal for me himself. If he had ever cared, he would have at least tried. Instead, he had spent years ensuring I never clashed with Nyra, his precious Beta. I didn’t hesitate. Without a second glance, I picked up the tray and dumped the meal straight into the trash. Grabbing my coat, I stepped out into the brisk morning air, my decision set in stone. This five-year farce was ending today. The Pack Council’s law office was dimly lit, the scent of aged parchment and ink filling the room as I sat across from the Pack’s legal advisor. “The longer the mate bond, the more tangled the resource entanglements,” the advisor explained, adjusting his spectacles as he sifted through the thick stack of documents before him. “It’ll take a few days to finalize everything.” I nodded, sliding across the ledger filled with evidence—the financial records of Kael’s generosity toward Nyra, disguised as Pack expenses. “We’ll meet again in three days to review the final agreement.” Without looking back, I left. As I made my way home, my phone buzzed with a notification. A new announcement had been posted by Bloodfang Enterprises. The screen illuminated with a video—champagne spraying through the air, the raucous cheers of Pack members filling the Alpha’s grand hall. At the center of it all stood Kael, his dark hair damp from the celebration, golden eyes gleaming with unrestrained triumph. And then I saw it. The cloak draped over his broad shoulders. The ceremonial anniversary cloak I had gifted him last year—the one he had once sworn was irreplaceable, steeped in meaning. This year’s gift? He had sent it back to me without a word. I arrived at the Pack’s business estate just as the revelry reached its peak. Standing before the assembled wolves, Kael raised his glass high. “I am officially transferring half of my Pack assets to Beta Nyra,” he declared, his voice smooth, commanding, victorious. “Additionally, there will be a bonus of fourteen thousand gold marks.” Gasps rippled through the hall. Whispers and murmurs slithered through the crowd. “Half the assets? Nyra might as well be the Luna now.” “Careful. The real Luna is still around. If she hears this, you’ll regret it.” “Oh, please. She’s like a ghost—never seen, never involved. Nyra is young, stunning. No Alpha could resist that. Poor Kael.” “Wouldn’t be shocked if the Pack name changes to Raventhorn soon.” Their laughter rang out like a chorus of knives. I clapped my hands together once—sharp, deliberate. The room fell into dead silence. Kael’s golden eyes locked onto mine across the hall, the blood draining from his face. “Selene…” He stepped forward, his voice faltering. “Why are you here?” I raised a brow, watching the panic flicker in his gaze as he struggled to recover. “It’s not what it looks like. I was just distributing rewards—nothing more.” Nyra stepped in then, her lips curling into a saccharine smile, lifting the territory transfer decree in her manicured fingers. “Alpha Kael is truly a generous leader,” she purred, her voice dipped in false modesty. “Thanks to his unwavering support, I can finally afford a beautiful den overlooking the Silver River.” A few wolves chuckled, anticipation crackling in the air like a brewing storm. I met Kael’s panicked stare with a serene, unreadable expression. “Bonuses are a standard Pack practice,” I said lightly. “Every Pack member should receive what they’re owed. Make sure they do.” His brows furrowed. “You’re not upset?” I tilted my head, offering him a slow, indifferent shrug. “Why would I be?” “I just stopped by to take a look. You’re busy—carry on.” His relief was palpable. I turned, stepping past him toward the doors, but I didn’t make it far before he hurried after me, lowering his voice. “Selene, it’s not what you think,” he insisted. “I was only rewarding my warriors. Don’t misinterpret this.” I almost laughed. The irony of it all was suffocating. The same wolf who had sacrificed three unborn pups for Nyra’s sake was now scrambling to convince me his actions were honorable. Now that he had everything he wanted, who exactly was he trying to convince? I kept my expression carefully neutral. “Don’t worry, Kael. I’m not unreasonable.” “I don’t claim to understand Pack politics. Just do whatever you think is right.” He exhaled, his relief evident. As if my approval still mattered. Before I could leave, he caught my hand, his grip gentler than it had been in years. “There’s a Full Moon Banquet coming up,” he murmured, his voice thick with something unreadable. “Come with me. I have a surprise for you.” I nodded, expression unreadable. Then I turned and walked away. But deep inside, I laughed bitterly. He had already given me more surprises than I could ever stomach.

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I was the perfect corporate wife in our elite circles. When Blake Sterling got a model pregnant, I stepped in to make it all disappear. When Blake was caught sneaking into hotels with an A-list actress, I greased palms and made scandalous photos and videos vanish. Everyone in our elite circles said Blake Sterling had the perfect wife. Their knowing smiles were laced with ridicule, but I didn’t give a damn. After cleaning up his final mess, I simply vanished. Since then, Blake Sterling has been trying to find me, even across the ocean. Blake Sterling’s latest arm candy was a fresh face, Skylar Vance. Naturally, Blake was the lead investor in her debut film. Among Blake’s endless string of conquests, Skylar was the youngest, and by far, the boldest. She flooded my inbox with provocative photos, each one a blatant taunt. “Mrs. Sterling, everyone says you’re so magnanimous. Can you tell me if these photos are flattering?” I closed my email without replying, until Blake’s call came through. “How did those photos get out? Aria Hayes, are you done with your act?” His cutting tone sliced through the phone, and my heart ached for a few seconds before settling back into stillness. “I don’t know.” I spoke flatly. The next second, he hung up. My phone buzzed relentlessly with notifications from all my social media apps. #SterlingCEOCaughtInAnotherPhotoScandal The headlines screamed, the photos pixelated, but it wasn’t hard to tell they were identical to the ones Skylar had sent me. She was young, and her tactics were just as amateur. Editors from major media outlets flooded my SnapChat with messages. “Mrs. Sterling, seven figures should do it this time.” “Mrs. Sterling, we still have time for damage control.” I replied, “Not interested,” to each of them. The offers stopped coming. But then, screenshots of my replies to the editors exploded online. “Guess she’s finally given up.” “No kidding. Who could keep cleaning up their husband’s messes, time and again?” “How long until they divorce, do you think?” I took a deep breath, gazing at the empty mansion around me, a chilling emptiness settling in my chest. Blake Sterling, consider this my divorce gift to you. Soon enough, the scandalous photos evaporated as quickly as they’d appeared. The ‘screenshots’ of my replies were debunked as AI-generated fakes, and major media outlets started dumping dirt on other celebrities to divert attention.

The scandal was suppressed, and Blake sent me a SnapChat message. “Aria Hayes, you never cease to amaze me. You can put up with anything, can’t you? You’d do anything for money.” “How much do you want this time? What expensive meds does your father’s pathetic life need this time?” I replied flatly, “Nothing.” Silence stretched on his end for a long time before I put down my phone. Blake didn’t know that my father had passed away yesterday. While he and Skylar were enjoying a lavish spa day, my father had succumbed to acute kidney failure. I’d called him countless times, only to hear the answering machine. After crying for ten hours in the hospital room, Skylar’s message popped up. I got up, wiped my tears, and began to arrange my father’s funeral. Once everything was settled, I returned to the mansion Blake and I shared. It was only when those photos went viral that Blake finally called me. His first words were cutting accusations. But, it didn’t matter anymore. My most important task now was to divorce Blake. Our marriage had been nothing more than a business arrangement between the Hayes and Sterling families. A financial blunder by my father led to our company’s bankruptcy, and he’d collapsed from the shock. When Mr. Sterling Sr. was still alive, Blake treated me reasonably well. We weren’t madly in love, but we were respectful, almost like polite strangers. In those quiet days, my feelings for Blake grew. His transformation began after his grandfather’s death. That night, the rain poured down. Blake was in our master bedroom, getting intimate with a strange woman. I went wild, tearing at the woman, but Blake shielded her. It was also the first time he’d ever threatened me. “Aria Hayes, your father’s medical bills still depend on me.” Helplessness washed over me. That night, the strange woman stayed. After that, Blake began to indulge himself without restraint. I started cleaning up all sorts of scandals for him. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a woman pretending to be a virtuous wife for money. “Aria Hayes, you have no idea what my life was like before. Now, with no one to control me, it’s just so… comfortable.” Blake’s eyes were hazy as he said it. I just stared at him blankly.

Blake had indeed been tightly controlled before, even watching his grandfather’s every expression before speaking. A rustle of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. Blake walked towards me, tugging at his tie, his expensive cologne heavy in the air. “Aria Hayes, not asking for money again? What new trick have you learned this time?” I looked at him, confused. “Don’t pretend. Skylar told me she saw you signing up for those ‘Win Back Your Husband’ workshops. What did you learn there?” “Suddenly not wanting money, what’s this move called? Playing hard to get?” Blake’s laugh was mocking. He sat next to me, pulling me into his embrace. I could hear his heartbeat clearly against my chest. “Aria Hayes, I’m giving you a chance. Start your performance.” He laughed again as he said it. I looked up at him. He was leaning back on the couch. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this close to Blake. I raised my hand and touched his chest, feeling a tremor. “Aria Hayes, is that all you’ve got?” With that, Blake roughly pushed me away. His gaze was filled with utter contempt, as if I were something vile, a piece of trash. “Blake Sterling, let’s get a divorce.” I spoke calmly. Blake, who had been standing, froze. This was the second time I’d mentioned divorce to him. The first was the night I caught him cheating. My father had left me a substantial inheritance, and no one else knew about it. But Blake had refused to divorce, saying he wouldn’t let me have half his assets. He also didn’t believe I’d ever be willing to leave him. “Oh, really? When?” Blake smirked carelessly, pulling off his tie and throwing it at my face. A surge of surprise went through me; I hadn’t expected him to agree so easily. But then he suddenly pinched my chin. His handsome eyes scrutinized my face. After a long moment, he spoke flippantly. “Aria Hayes, you’re a terrible student. Find a different workshop.”

After saying that, Blake went back to the bedroom. I was left alone in the living room, the closed bedroom door a barrier between Blake and me. Thinking back to our days of polite respect, it felt like yesterday. Blake had changed so fast. Suddenly, Maria led a few men in. I knew them all—Blake’s closest friends. They didn’t greet me with the same deference as before, merely glancing at me briefly. Blake emerged from the master bedroom quickly, having changed into loungewear. The last one to enter the study turned back, his eyes full of pity, and looked at me. The study door was ajar, and muffled conversations drifted out. “Not many people for a proposal here, security’s good.” “Use all roses, girls always love custom diamond rings.” “Blake, are you sure about this? Your wife, she…” “I can’t give Skylar a proper title, but I can give her a grand gesture to compensate. Just don’t let this get out.” Blake’s voice cut off the conversation. So, he was going to propose to Skylar Vance. I turned and walked away from the study door. Blake had been back for so long, yet he hadn’t noticed my packed luggage. Hearing the sound of him seeing his friends out downstairs, I stepped out of the master bedroom. Looking down, I saw Blake humming a cheerful tune. Soon, dusk fell, and Blake changed into a tailored suit before heading out. I didn’t follow him, busy instead arranging my emigration. All these years, I’d been using my own money to clean up his dirty laundry. Blake automatically assumed I was using the supplementary card he’d given me, making him believe he controlled my finances. Looking at the decent balance in my bank account, I felt a calming sense of security. After confirming the house, the agent sent me the contract. Before I could even look at it, a message from Skylar Vance popped up. It was a ten-minute video. Blake’s declaration of love lasted six minutes, his gaze on Skylar full of adoration. I had to admit, out of all his women over the years, Skylar was truly the most favored.

“Pretty, isn’t it, Mrs. Sterling?” “I heard your wedding was just at a five-star hotel, no proposal, very rushed and perfunctory. Blake never gave you such a grand proposal, did he?” “Blake’s friends all say I’m the only girl he’s ever truly cared about.” Skylar’s voice message sounded utterly smug. She thought her words would drive me crazy. But my heart was eerily calm. For Blake Sterling, I figured there was only a sliver of love left. “Congratulations.” I simply replied with those four words. Her end went silent. The summer wind rustled the leaves, a dry, whispering sound. I slipped off my wedding ring and placed it on the dresser. That night, I dreamt of my father. When I woke up, my pillow was soaked with tears. One hundred and ten missed calls blared on my screen. Before I could even check them, Blake’s call came in again. The moment I answered, his barely concealed rage erupted. “Aria Hayes, I truly underestimated you. All these years, you’ve played the innocent, virtuous wife, but behind my back, you’re more devious than anyone!” “What?” I instinctively retorted. He hung up, and then I received a screenshot from Blake. That proposal video had already soared to the top of every major media platform’s trending topics. Editors from various media outlets had already sent me their prices. While I was asleep, Sterling Enterprises’ stock had plummeted because of the video. People were already speculating how much Blake would have to pay out in a divorce settlement. I looked at the screen full of notifications and felt utterly drained. Just then, the bedroom door burst open. Blake stood there, eyes bloodshot, gripping my collar. His eyes blazed with fury. If looks could kill, I would have died a thousand times over.

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When I was eight months pregnant, my husband, Daniel, insisted on giving my childhood sweetheart, Ashley, a child to fulfill her wish of becoming a mother, completely disregarding my objections. I was so enraged that my water broke, and I started bleeding. I frantically called Daniel eighteen times, but he didn’t pick up a single call. By the time I was rushed to the hospital, it was too late; I lost the baby. Turning around, I saw Ashley flaunting her ultrasound results on SnapChat. Afterward, Daniel calmly said, “The baby was gone because it wasn’t meant to be. Why take your anger out on Ashley, who’s already sick? Once Ashley’s child is born, we can just have another one.” Everyone thought I was hopelessly devoted to my husband, convinced I’d swallow my pain as always. But this time, I decisively signed the divorce papers and bought a plane ticket to leave the country. I saw Daniel again two years later at an alumni gathering. The moment he walked into the private room, he shoved a two-year-old child into my arms, a smug look on his face. “Chloe, you’ve been throwing a tantrum for two years. Isn’t it time you cooled off? If you apologize to me in front of everyone, I might even let Ethan call you ‘Mom’!” The others chuckled, covering their mouths, saying I’d scored big by becoming a mom the easy way. I, however, held up my left hand, flashing the wedding ring on my finger. “I have my own child and my own husband, so I don’t need to be anyone’s charity case!”

The moment I finished speaking, everyone in the private room froze, their eyes wide with shock. Then, a roar of laughter erupted. “Oh, come on, Chloe! Everyone knows you loved Daniel with your life! When Daniel had kidney failure, you gave him one of your own kidneys! Would someone like you really marry someone else?” “Seriously, can you at least think before you speak when you’re saying things out of spite?” I scoffed internally at their chatter. It wasn was no wonder they were shocked; I truly did love Daniel back then. After he was diagnosed with kidney failure, I didn’t hesitate to donate a kidney to him. To this day, my left kidney aches whenever it’s cloudy or rainy. I’d always give him the sweetest part of my watermelon, and because he hated dragon fruit seeds, I’d pick out every single one with a toothpick. Because I loved him, I even tolerated him going on dates with Ashley, my childhood sweetheart, again and again. I tolerated him braiding Ashley’s hair right in front of me, gently wiping her mouth. As long as he came home, as long as he still remembered me, his wife, that was enough. Everyone knew I was hopelessly devoted, and they all instinctively assumed I was just talking out of anger. Snapping back to reality, Ashley, who was standing nearby, picked up a bottle of wine from the table and approached me. She said, subtly, “Chloe, I know you’re still upset about what happened two years ago.” “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t been diagnosed with a terminal illness, Daniel wouldn’t have tried to have a child with me to fulfill my dying wish. If not for that, you wouldn’t have had that severe bleeding and lost your baby.” “Since everyone’s here today, I’ll punish myself with a bottle as a public apology!” She grabbed the bottle and gulped it down, the harsh alcohol making her cough violently. Daniel couldn’t sit still. He handed Ethan to a colleague and rushed forward, snatching the bottle from her. He looked angry and heartbroken. “Ashley, are you crazy? How dare you drink so much? Even though your condition has been stable these past few years, you’re still a patient!” After comforting Ashley, Daniel shot me a haughty glance. His voice was cold. “Chloe, you’ve been throwing a tantrum for two years. That’s enough!” “Ashley and I only did IVF; there was no physical intimacy. You’re still holding a grudge over something so minor after all this time. Is it really worth it?” Everyone started murmuring. “Chloe is so stubborn. Honestly, she scored big by getting a kid for free!” “Daniel has been looking for her all these years. She left for two years, and he searched for two years. It’s time to move on from the past.” So, leaving me, eight months pregnant, to go have a child with Ashley was just a “minor thing” in Daniel’s eyes? But what surprised me was that Daniel had actually been looking for me? What did he want? Lost in thought, I heard Daniel continue, self-importantly, “Alright, Chloe, Ethan needs someone to take care of him right now. Since you’re back, you can take care of him from now on. Even though Ethan isn’t your biological child, you’re his nominal mother, and you should be responsible for him.” I actually laughed. Daniel wanted me to be a nanny? But I was no longer the Chloe he could manipulate so easily two years ago. Ever since he abandoned me and our unborn child to go have a baby with Ashley, my heart died for him. I decisively moved abroad. And I wasn’t just talking out of anger earlier; I really was married with a child. After moving abroad, I found a new job and soon met my husband, Julian. He helped me through that dark period. Not long after, we got married and had an adorable son. Just thinking about my husband and son filled my heart with warmth. Snapping back to reality, I coldly refused, “No, thanks. I have my own child to take care of. As for your Ethan, let his biological mother take care of him.” Hearing that, Ashley’s eyes immediately reddened. “Chloe, I know you resent me for causing you to lose your baby, which is why you refuse to take care of my child.” “I want to take care of Ethan myself, but my body just won’t allow it…” “It’s because I trust you that I’m entrusting my child to you. Ethan is very well-behaved; he doesn’t cry or fuss, so he won’t be much trouble. I’m begging you, please take pity on a mother like me and take care of Ethan…” Ashley made a show of trying to kneel down before me. Daniel quickly helped her up and comforted her. Then he turned and shot me a cold glare. “It’s an honor for you to take care of Ethan. Don’t be ungrateful!” His gaze landed on my clothes, and Daniel sneered. “Chloe, you must not have had it easy these past two years abroad, huh? You didn’t even bother to wear decent clothes to the alumni gathering.” “If you take good care of Ethan, I can give you ten thousand a month in pocket money. That’s a lot more than you’d make working.” Ashley, acting like the lady of the house, added, “Yes, if you take good care of Ethan, Daniel and I won’t treat you badly. With us, you at least won’t be wearing no-name brands.” It was only then that everyone noticed I was wearing casual clothes. Instantly, snickers filled the room. “How did Chloe fall so low? She doesn’t even have decent clothes!” “If only she knew this would happen, why did she act so stubbornly back then? I heard Daniel’s company boomed right after she left. If she hadn’t left the country in a fit of pique, she’d be living a life of luxury right now.” I simply smirked coldly. They had no idea. I wasn’t wearing no-name brands; my outfit was custom-made by a famous designer, silk fabric, each piece costing hundreds of thousands. Seeing me smile, Daniel assumed I had agreed to take care of Ethan. He pulled out his phone, ready to transfer money to me. “I’ll transfer ten thousand to you. Go buy some nice clothes later, so Ethan doesn’t pick up your cheapness.” But as soon as he sent the message, he received a stark red exclamation mark!

Daniel’s brows furrowed, and his face turned grim. “Chloe, you deleted me?!” I found it amusing. I had blocked and deleted him two years ago. He was just realizing it now? Daniel’s face flushed with embarrassment. He demanded I add him back immediately. I replied coldly, “Just an ex-husband. Why would I add him back?” “Besides, my husband doesn’t allow me to randomly add other men. He gets jealous.” Seeing me repeatedly refuse to give him face, Daniel instantly grew angry. “Chloe, have you acted enough? I’ve given you a way out. If you insist on being stubborn, we’ll get a divorce!” In the past, Daniel would threaten divorce whenever things didn’t go his way, forcing me to yield. He thought he could manipulate me as always this time. I merely chuckled coldly. “Daniel, have you forgotten? We already got divorced two years ago.” At that, the entire room fell silent. Daniel also froze for a moment. “What are you talking about?” Then, as if something clicked, he sneered, “I get it now. This is your trick, playing hard to get, isn’t it? You’ve certainly grown a lot more cunning in two years!” I rolled my eyes, exasperated. “Daniel, didn’t you see the letter I left you two years ago?” Daniel looked confused. “What letter?” Before I left the country, I had left Daniel a letter. Inside the envelope, there wasn’t just my wedding ring, but also a signed divorce agreement. I had made him sign that divorce agreement the day he disregarded my pleas and insisted on having a child with Ashley. He had always been dismissive towards me, signing it without even looking. He probably hadn’t properly read the contents of the envelope two years ago. That’s why he didn’t know we were already divorced and thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Thinking about it, I scoffed, then pulled out the other identical copy of the divorce agreement from back then, thrusting it in front of Daniel. “Daniel, the letter I wrote you back then contained the signed divorce agreement. I made two copies of the divorce agreement, and this is the other one. Look closely. We’re already divorced.” Daniel’s face darkened further. He was about to say the divorce agreement was fake, but when he saw his own signature clearly on it, he froze. “How can this be? I clearly never signed…” “No, you did. Do you remember the document I handed you the day you moved out?” With my reminder, Daniel belatedly realized that what I had made him sign that day was the divorce agreement. His face turned ashen. Everyone else was surprised too. “Chloe actually filed for divorce? Did she finally wake up from being hopelessly devoted?” “If they’re divorced, why is she back? I think she still can’t let go of Daniel.” Hearing that, Daniel raised his chin, confident that I still harbored feelings for him. Little did he know, my return to the country was mainly to accompany my husband and son. Julian happened to be coming back for a business gala, and my son wanted to visit the water park during his long weekend. As soon as I returned, I received an invitation to the alumni gathering, so I simply came along. I was about to shatter Daniel’s delusion when his phone rang. It was his assistant. “Mr. Peterson, we just received news that Mr. Knight of Knight Industries is returning with his wife and child this time. They’ll also be attending the business gala tonight. The chairman asked us to add an extra seat and treat them exceptionally well.” “The chairman specifically emphasized to treat Mr. Knight’s wife especially well. After all, Mr. Knight is famously devoted to his wife, and as long as we keep her happy, a partnership is guaranteed.” Only then did I realize that Daniel’s company was hosting this business gala. After Daniel hung up, everyone started showering him with flattery. “Daniel, Knight Industries is a leading corporate giant! Your company actually managed to get a deal with Knight Industries? Your future is limitless!” “I heard all the big shots in the business world will be at this gala. Can you help us old classmates make some introductions?” Daniel glanced at me with a triumphant look, condescendingly saying, “Chloe, are you regretting divorcing me impulsively back then?” “If you agree to take care of Ethan, I can consider remarrying you…” I scoffed internally. Julian’s company, Knight Industries, was my husband’s company. And I was the “Mr. Knight’s wife” they wanted to butter up. Before Daniel could finish, I coldly cut him off, “Knight Industries isn’t interested in your company.” Ashley, who had been silent for a while, shot me a disdainful glance. “How would you know?” I said, enunciating each word, “Because I am Mr. Knight’s wife.” At that, everyone thought I had lost my mind and stared at me like I was an idiot. Ashley even let out a scoff. “If you’re Mr. Knight’s wife, then I’m Mr. Knight’s mother!” “Everyone knows Mr. Knight dotes on his wife. He even spent three hundred million on a pink diamond bracelet for her in a lavish, public display of affection! Mr. Knight’s wife is incredibly precious, worth hundreds of millions. How could a commoner like you impersonate her?” “Look at you! What about you even remotely resembles Mr. Knight’s wife?” I, however, unhurriedly rolled up my sleeve, revealing the pink diamond bracelet on my wrist. “Are you talking about this bracelet?”

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The family business crumbled, and our once-proud name faded into ruin. My ex-boyfriend, that scumbag, vanished into thin air, taking every last penny I had with him. I was Skylar, a pampered heiress who knew nothing but lavish parties and endless shopping. This disaster hit me like a lightning bolt. One minute I was drowning in luxury, the next, I was practically staring down homelessness. So, I did the only thing I could think of. I marched straight to Jasper’s doorstep and hit the doorbell. My sworn enemy, Jasper, sat across from me, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was utterly serious. “Skylar,” he drawled, “give me one good reason why I should take you in.” My mind raced, desperately searching for an answer. “Actually,” I blurted out, a desperate plan forming, “this bankruptcy… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” A single eyebrow quirked upwards. “So… you like me?” The auction hall buzzed with anticipation. On display, a necklace named ‘Emerald City’ shimmered under the spotlights. Forty-one exquisite emeralds from Kashmir, each radiating an exotic allure, were set into its intricate design. The auctioneer raised his gavel, ready to close the bid. Without a second thought, I called out, “Five million!” A collective gasp swept through the room. Everyone knew Skylar Chen, the pampered darling of the city. My parents had left me an endless fortune when they passed, and I’d been indulged my entire life. Just as I thought it was mine, someone, completely unfazed, raised the bid to ten million. I shot an arrogant glance towards the corner. There he was: Jasper, the city’s second-richest man. His face was sculpted, his composure unshakeable, every movement exuding effortless aristocracy. I knew him, alright. But I didn’t give him a second thought. After all, I was number one on that list. The ultimate pampered heiress, a trust fund baby who burned through cash like it was kindling. Just as I was about to raise the stakes again, Alfred, my long-suffering butler, leaned in. “Miss Skylar,” he whispered, “your parents stipulated a ten-million limit for auctions.” “Damn it!” I muttered, fuming. “Am I supposed to just take this?” The entire room was buzzing, speculating on who would finally claim the necklace. If I gave up now, I’d be utterly humiliated! Alfred tried to calm me. “Miss Skylar, it’s in the will. If you don’t abide by the rules, you risk losing everything.” I gnashed my teeth in fury, shooting a venomous glare at Jasper, then grabbed my purse and stormed out. Jasper, I swore I’d get him back for this. My second run-in with him was in Australia. “I’m sorry, Miss Chen, but the island you were interested in has just been sold.” The moment I heard, I had Alfred arrange a private jet. My heels clicked a furious rhythm as I rushed in, only to find Jasper, casually seated across from the service desk, just about to sign the papers. He leaned back in his chair, a lazy, amused smirk playing on his lips as he watched me. His eyes twinkled with a hint of challenge. A fresh surge of anger ignited inside me. I strode forward, one hand on my hip, my voice echoing through the office. “Hey! Are you seriously just going around snatching everything I want?!” Alfred immediately stepped in, apologizing profusely and trying to hold me back. Jasper, completely unfazed, simply dropped a bombshell. “Your eyeliner’s crooked.” Then, he turned and sauntered away, as if he hadn’t just insulted me. My fists clenched, ready to swing, but Alfred intercepted me again. “Miss Skylar, please don’t be angry,” Alfred pleaded. “You have more than enough islands. Your parents made it clear you shouldn’t be too extravagant.” “Fine! I’ll hold back… for now!” To cool off, I drove myself to my family’s private horse ranch after returning home. It had been so long, I’d actually forgotten the way. After several wrong turns, I finally found it. Talk about ironic. On this bright, sunny afternoon, I stood by the ranch entrance, about to walk in. Then, a cold voice spoke up behind me.

I spun around. Of course. It was Jasper. We stared at each other, disbelief plastered across both our faces. Then, in perfect unison, we blurted out: “What are you doing here?!” “What do you mean, what am I doing here?!” A few seconds of awkward silence followed. My patience wore thin. I crossed my arms, chin tilted, glaring down at him with disdain. “I let you have the necklace and the island,” I snapped, “but this is *my* family’s horse ranch! We’ve owned it for years. Are you seriously going to try and snatch this too?!” A flicker of surprise crossed Jasper’s eyes. His impressive six-foot-two frame bent slightly as he curved his lips into a teasing smile. “Miss Skylar,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement, “look closely. This is *my* private horse ranch.” I followed his gaze. ‘The Jasper Estate,’ large letters declared, prominently displayed above the entrance. My world went black. Just then, Alfred came rushing up. “Miss Skylar,” he panted, “the two ranches are quite close. I was worried you might confuse them, so I hurried over. I guess I was too late.” My face burned crimson. I wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear. After that whole ranch debacle, I seriously suspected our family property had some bad juju. I even consulted a spiritualist. The spiritualist said the only way to banish the bad luck was to move and find a boyfriend. So, that night, I moved into a sprawling penthouse in the city center. As for the ‘boyfriend’ part, I meticulously sifted through my many admirers and picked Kyle, an earnest-looking corporate executive who seemed reliable and harmless. I chose him because he seemed safe. I had no intention of anything serious, just needed him to help get rid of this bad luck. But who knew? That jerk cheated on me on our *third day* together! My friends said they saw Kyle flirting with some girl at a bar. And the kicker? I *owned* that bar! I gnashed my teeth, ready to storm in and cause a scene, but then I forgot the color of my new car and ended up circling endlessly in the underground parking garage. “Alfred,” I called, “I just bought a new Bugatti, right? Do you remember what color it is?” “Miss Skylar,” Alfred sighed, “you have so many cars, I can barely keep track. I wasn’t even aware you’d acquired another Bugatti.” I hung up, racking my brain. Black! It was black! Then, I realized I’d forgotten my car keys. Just then, the window of another black Bugatti next to me rolled down. “Skylar?” Jasper asked, from the driver’s seat, a cigarette held delicately between his fingers as he exhaled a plume of smoke. Through the swirling smoke, I saw a beacon of hope! I practically dove into the passenger seat, barking out an address and ordering him to drive. Still seething, I snatched the half-smoked cigarette from his fingers and took a long, furious drag. He paused, surprised, then blinked and asked what was wrong. I exhaled a cloud of smoke, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “Cheater busting,” I deadpanned. I didn’t notice his gaze linger on me for a fleeting moment. As I got out, I pulled a wad of cash from my bag and tossed it onto the seat. “I know you’re not hurting for money,” I said, “but I don’t take free rides.” Ignoring the way his eyes crinkled in amusement and a subtle smile played on his lips, I stormed into the bar, marched straight to the VIP section, and successfully busted the cheater. But soon enough, karma came knocking.

I went broke. Yep, you heard that right. I was getting a facial at a Korean beauty salon when I got the news. I nearly ripped off my mask in shock. I was the one who went broke? *Me?* Turns out, there were major management issues, basically, internal embezzlement. But whatever, even a collapsing empire has its spoils. After paying off all the workers and employee salaries, I still had enough left to live comfortably for the rest of my life. But then, the final, devastating blow came from my ex-boyfriend. Yes, Kyle, that absolute bastard! He’d transferred all my remaining money, using some genius method that a pretty, clueless mess like me would never have dreamed of. Still, it was fine. I had cars, houses, jewelry, and bags. I could sell off my assets and make a comeback. That’s what all the down-on-their-luck rich people do in movies, right? I’d be okay! It wasn’t until I actually checked that I realized Kyle, that thief, had cleaned me out! I now had fifty dollars spread across five different cards, and literally nothing but the clothes on my back. I slipped off my Patek Philippe watch and handed it to Alfred. “Alfred,” I choked out, “you’ve worked so hard all these years. This is a small token of my appreciation.” Then, I told Alfred to leave. And I left too. Walked out of that house. Overnight, the news of my bankruptcy—Skylar Chen’s downfall—spread like wildfire. Everyone knew. Everyone seemed eager to distance themselves from me. I walked the streets like a zombie, gazing at the bustling traffic and towering skyscrapers, a flood of emotions washing over me. Before, these were just insignificant things I’d barely deigned to glance at from my lofty perch. Now, standing on the ground, they felt impossibly high, unattainable. My eyes landed on a massive screen on a skyscraper, displaying the city’s wealthiest man. Jasper. His figure was imposing, like a stable mountain, perfectly complementing the city skyline behind him. “Jasper,” I murmured to myself. A brilliant idea sparked in my mind. Twenty-eight minutes later, I rang Jasper’s doorbell. Don’t ask why twenty-eight minutes. I had no money for a taxi, so I walked. It took exactly twenty-eight minutes. The moment the door opened, my heart leaped into my throat. But Jasper didn’t say a word. He just gestured for me to come in with his eyes. I swallowed hard, nervously following him inside. Then, I launched into my ‘grand plan,’ a river of compliments flowing effortlessly from me, each one more extravagant than the last. Jasper didn’t seem to be listening. He just walked straight to the kitchen. “I don’t have much food here,” he stated. “You don’t mind instant ramen, do you?” Instant ramen? That cheap, additive-filled, non-gourmet food totally beneath my dignity? I shook my head like a bobblehead. But then, my stomach let out a pathetic grumble, betraying me. Jasper shook his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, then deftly prepared the noodles. Before long, I’d slurped down every last drop of the broth. Jasper sat opposite me again, legs crossed, his fingers tapping softly on the table. His expression was serious. “Skylar,” he repeated, his voice firm, “give me a reason to take you in.” I forced a shaky smile. “My Lord Jasper,” I pleaded, “if you don’t help me, this poor girl’s going to be sleeping in the park tonight.” With that, I put on my most pitiful puppy-dog eyes, sniffled, and looked up, my big, watery eyes brimming with feigned injustice. “I know I’ve been difficult before,” I whimpered. “Can’t you just pity me, even a little?” Jasper was silent for a moment, then, coolly, he uttered two words: “No, I can’t.” My mind raced. I leaned closer to him. “Actually,” I confessed, “this whole bankruptcy thing… it was just my first step to getting close to you.” The words were out before I could stop them. I instantly regretted it.

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After three years on a top-secret mission overseas, I was finally back. Before I left, my superiors strongly urged me to take a dedicated security detail, a whole unit just for my safety. But the first call I got when my boots hit American soil wasn’t from my wife. It was from Brad, my old college class president. “You loser,” he sneered, his voice dripping with condescension. “Heard you’re down and out. Perfect timing, actually. I’m getting married, and I’m feeling charitable. Come see how the other half lives.” Then he dropped a wedding invitation into our old group chat. But when I saw the photo of my wife on the invite, I froze. My stomach twisted into a knot. To prevent a colossal misunderstanding, I quickly typed back, “Are you *sure* that’s your wife?” Brad lost his mind. He bombarded the chat with a string of angry 60-second voice messages. “Whose wife do you think it is, you moron?! Yours?! What kind of trash are you to question me? My wife is the heiress of the Lu family, the absolute powerhouse in this city!” “In this city, the Lu family *is* the law. If you get down on your knees right now and beg me like a dog, I might just be in a good mood and let you off the hook.” “Otherwise, I’ll make sure you can’t even *breathe* in this city!” I scoffed, a cold sneer twisting my lips. “You want me to kneel to you? You’d better make sure you’re even *worthy* of it first!” The leaders of the most influential families in the country bow to *me*. I’d like to see if this ‘Lu family heiress’ he’s so proud of dares to disrespect *me*!

As soon as I pulled up to my mansion, Chloe, my wife, pinged me on SnapChat. “Hey, hubby! I’m out with my girlfriends for a few days. If you miss me, you know we can always connect, virtually. 😉” Chloe and I had been married for ten years. She was vain and a complete gold-digger, but in bed? We were a perfect match. Even when we were miles apart, she’d make sure we connected, *intimately*. She swore she was only mine and knew exactly how to drive me wild. But deep down, I sneered. *Playing around*? She’d probably been busy warming other men’s beds for ages. The next day, I blew off the invites from the city’s most powerful families. I had a more important destination: the address on Brad’s wedding invitation. As I stepped off my yacht, a massive, 10-foot wedding photo dominated the entrance. Thousands of roses were meticulously arranged beneath it, forming giant letters: “Chloe & Brad: Forever Together.” Brad stood in the center of our college classmates, soaking up their adoration like a king. “Bro, Brad, you’re absolutely killin’ it! You actually landed a Lu family heiress!” “The Lu family? They’re practically royalty! You’re set for life, man!” “Brad, don’t forget us little people when you’re swimming in cash!” Even Professor Davies, our notoriously stern college advisor, was practically fawning. “Brad, you failed six courses in one semester, and yet, I *still* awarded you that scholarship. I saw it then! You were just too ‘cool’ to bother with exams, but I knew you had real-world hustle. You were destined for a massive glow-up!” Brad puffed up with self-importance, his nose practically in the clouds. But I just found it pathetic. “Lu family heiress”? Chloe was an orphan. Nobody special. Her real name wasn’t even Chloe Lu. She was just… *Chloe Smith*, born into nothing. After we got married, she constantly complained about her ‘unrespectable’ past. To make her happy, I pulled some strings and *poof*, she was a ‘Lu.’ I used my influence to grant her a new, powerful identity. I effectively *made* her a ‘Lu family heiress.’ And now, that *gift* was Brad’s biggest bragging chip. I stepped forward. A few old classmates spotted me, their faces twisting with blatant disgust. Noticing the yacht behind me, someone sneered, “Did he rent that yacht just to show off? Asher, did you take out a loan just to afford that rental?” Others chimed in, laughing. “Seriously, what’s with the act? Brad’s wife is a Lu family heiress. You’re not even in the same league as her, you pathetic loser!” “Right? Why bother with this pathetic show-off stunt, renting a yacht, when you could just grovel for Brad’s mercy like the dog you are? What a waste of ego!” The crowd erupted in jeers. My voice was flat. “I didn’t rent it. I *bought* it. A billion dollars. Cash.” The words hung in the air for a second, then several people doubled over, roaring with laughter. Brad’s face turned scarlet. He snatched a champagne bottle from a nearby table and *slammed* it against my head. “Stop trying to fool me, you ass! This is *my wife’s* yacht!” “So that’s why you asked if she was *really* my wife. You’re her dirty secret, aren’t you? Her *side piece*! You leech! Being a sugar baby isn’t enough for you? You dare bring *her* yacht to *my* wedding to make a scene?!” Blood trickled down my forehead, and the entire venue fell silent. Someone stammered, incredulous, “Brad, is he serious? Is this yacht really your wife’s?” Brad scoffed, pulling a photo from his wallet. “Who else could afford something like this besides my wife?” The photo showed two people in swimsuits kissing on the yacht. The stern featured custom couple art and engraved initials. A few people circled my yacht, their eyes widening. “Holy crap, it’s exactly the same!” “Asher, you’re not even a man! Being a home-wrecker? Have you no shame?!” Brad’s face was twisted with fury. “You disappeared for three years… was she hiding you away?” At his words, everyone immediately looked at me with disdain. “Remember how many rich women threw money at Asher back then, and he always turned them down? Guess the cash wasn’t enough for him. What a shameless loser.” “Who knows how many sugar mamas he’s been milking dry? He’s probably got more STDs than dollar bills!” “Being a home-wrecker is one thing, but to show up *here*, at *our* wedding? That’s just pure trashy audacity!” Professor Davies and the other teachers looked absolutely disgusted. “You morally bankrupt individual! Don’t you dare claim you were ever our student!” “I’m too ashamed to even know you!” The wedding was being live-streamed. The commotion quickly drew all the cameras to me and Brad, the comment section exploding with hate. Insult after insult scrolled across the screen. I ran a hand over the blood trickling down my face, my gaze locking onto Brad. “You’re laying hands on people before you even know the full story?” Brad’s arrogance swelled. “Yeah, I’m hitting you, you pathetic bastard. So what?” With that, he barked at someone nearby to grab a can of spray paint. He snatched it, then started defacing my yacht, spraying haphazard lines across the hull. “You’re a side piece! What right do you have to question me?!” “ASHER IS A WHORE” blared in huge, ugly letters across the side of my yacht. My voice was cold. “Destroying private property is a crime, you know.” Brad scoffed. “Crime? What’s law got to do with it? My wife is a Lu family heiress! In this city, if I tell the cops to jump, they’ll ask ‘how high?’!” “And you, you’re not just morally bankrupt and a home-wrecker! You’re parading around in *my wife’s* yacht!” “After a piece of trash like *you* tainted it, I don’t even *want* this yacht anymore!” He actually ordered the captain of a nearby vessel to *ram* mine. The sickening crunch of glass and metal echoed across the water as a massive dent appeared in the hull. “Brad’s going to be a Lu!” someone yelled from the crowd of classmates. “We gotta teach this punk a lesson for Brad!” A mob of them surged onto the deck, pouring corrosive liquids onto the yacht, scratching the paint, bashing the hull with anything they could find. In no time, my yacht was a twisted, battered wreck. I clenched my jaw, suppressing a tremor of rage. “I advise you to stop now. Otherwise, the consequences will be far beyond anything you can imagine.” Brad scoffed. “Consequences? Who do you think you are? My wife could crush you like an ant.” Hearing this, the others laughed even harder, smashing with renewed vigor. Suddenly, someone yelled, carrying a solid black, heavy-looking metal box. “This guy hides things so well! Is there something valuable in here?” Brad snatched a small axe and brought it down, splitting the box open. “What’s this? A crown? Must be fake gold, right? Some cheap trick, thinking he’s a king?” I glared at him, a warning in my voice. “Don’t touch that. You can’t afford to pay for it.” This was a priceless artifact, something I was meant to deliver to the national archives. I hadn’t yet processed it because I came straight to this wedding. But Brad, hearing me, practically jumped in a fit of rage. “What do you mean, *I* can’t afford it?! That’s hilarious!” “*My wife’s* fiancé can’t afford your pile of trash? Who are you trying to impress?!” He flung the crown to the ground, doused it in alcohol, and flicked a lighter. The flames licked at the gold, but after a long moment, the crown remained utterly unharmed. Someone’s voice, full of doubt, cut through the laughter. “That crown… it looks like… the Napoleon Coronation Crown. It could fetch *billions* at auction!” Brad’s anger intensified. “Billions?! How could a side piece like him have that kind of money?! He must have stolen it from my wife!” “So what if I turn it into junk right now? Trash like him deserves nothing but trash!” He raised the axe again, smashing the crown until it was a mangled, unrecognizable mess. I watched his furious, insane actions with a cold, detached gaze, saying nothing. Trillions in assets? Laughable. Chloe was always vain. After we got married, global limited edition haute couture gowns and custom jewelry? She owned every single piece. But she was still unhappy. She hated being seen as ‘new money’ or some bumpkin because her ‘family’ had no real standing. To make her happy, I had her officially registered as a Lu. But these idiots actually believed Chloe was a true Lu heiress, fantasizing about the Lu family’s trillions in assets. With Brad leading the charge on the crown, the others were quick to follow suit. They rampaged through the yacht, tearing and smashing my other priceless collections. I was about to intervene when my secure comms device buzzed to life. I answered immediately. “Reschedule the meeting. Send my security detail to my location. Now.” Brad’s cronies noticed my actions, snatched the device, and stomped on it repeatedly. “You pathetic piece of trash, trying to call for backup, are we?” “Laughable! Who’s he going to call? His ‘friends’ from the escort service? Don’t tell me a bunch of spineless pretty boys are coming to save you!” “Seriously, you’re addicted to acting tough, aren’t you? We’re old classmates, we know what a loser you really are!” “You’re a good-for-nothing! You actually think putting on airs will change the fact that you’re trash?!” I looked at the shattered comms device, my voice sharp and deadly. “I hope you’ll still be laughing this hard in a few minutes!” Brad’s eyes bulged. He lunged, slamming his fist into my nose. “Still trying to act tough now?! Your weak, pampered body is going to threaten me? I’m going to teach you a lesson today!” I sidestepped, and Brad, propelled by his own momentum, face-planted onto the deck. He scrambled up, enraged. “Everyone! Hold him down!” Just then, someone held up a string of sandalwood beads. “This fell off the loser! Must be something valuable, right?” My heart plummeted. My voice was a raw snarl. “Give that back!” Brad snatched the beads, a cruel smile twisting his lips. “So tense? It’s just some cheap piece of wood. Is it an antique or something?” I lunged for it. “It’s not valuable, but it’s important to me! Give it back now!” My mother’s ashes were sealed inside those sandalwood beads. When I was a child, I was kidnapped. My mother, to save me, bravely walked into the kidnappers’ hideout and offered herself in my place. I watched, helpless, as she was chained to the ground, and the kidnappers, like savage beasts, unleashed their depraved cruelty upon her. When they were done, her body was drenched in blood, twisted into an impossible, grotesque angle. After she died, I sealed her ashes inside that bracelet. It never left my wrist. I always felt like she was still by my side. It was my only memento, my most sacred treasure. It was my red line, my absolute untouchable. I would *never* allow anyone to take it from me! Brad watched me, a triumphant, malicious grin spreading across his face. “The more you care, the more I want to destroy it!” He lifted it, making a show of tossing it forcefully into the sea. My vision blurred with rage. “No! Just give it back, and I’ll do anything! *Anything*!” Seeing my desperation, Brad laughed, his eyes glinting with pure malice. “Alright, how about this? Get down on your knees and *lick my shoes*. Then I *might* think about giving it back to you.” A roaring static filled my head, my mind went utterly blank. The metallic tang of bile filled my throat as I remembered my mother’s horrific death. I squeezed my eyes shut, and slowly, painstakingly, lowered myself to the deck. With a numb tongue, I licked the filth from his shoe. The cruel laughter spread through the crowd like a plague, but I barely registered it. I urgently rasped, “Now will you give me back the beads?!” “I said I’d *consider* it,” Brad chuckled. “Who said I’d actually give it back?” He gave a sick smile, then *slammed* the beads onto the deck, shattering them into a million pieces. “No!” My eyes burned with unshed tears. I lunged, my fist smashing into Brad’s face! “You deserve to die!” Brad screamed, his face contorted in pain, as he spit out a mouthful of blood. Just as I prepared to strike again, my old classmates rushed forward, pummeling me with kicks and punches. “You got a death wish?! How dare you hit our Brad!” “Brad’s going to be a Lu! Do you know who you’re messing with?!” “That bracelet was probably just some payment from another sugar mama anyway. Just go service a few more rich old ladies, you can replace it, right?” I clenched my fists, blood dripping from between my fingers. “You will all regret this. I swear, I will make you pay a hundred times over!” Piercing laughter erupted around me, laced with undisguised mockery. “Pay a hundred times over? You’re telling jokes now?!” “You’re a nobody! What else can you do besides mooch off rich women?! If you lick *everyone’s* shoes clean, maybe we’ll go easy on you!” “You’re a homewrecker, preying on old classmates! You deserve to be gelded!” Someone aimed a vicious kick at my knee, and I collapsed, hitting the deck hard. The mocking laughter swelled like a tidal wave, drowning me. “Hahahaha, pathetic! He’s already on his knees! What a spineless loser!” “If you crawl through our legs, one by one, maybe we’ll let you off, hahahaha…” Professor Davies pulled out his phone, aiming it at my pale, bruised face. “Look, everyone! This was our department’s ‘brain’ back then! Look at him now! I always knew he’d end up a total loser!” Their sneering laughter stabbed into my eardrums like sharp needles. I clenched the shattered fragments of the beads in my fist, the sharp edges digging into my skin. A desperate cough ripped through me, tasting of iron, mixed with flecks of blood. The wedding live stream’s camera recorded my pathetic state, the comments section exploding with hate, insults scrolling past in a furious blur. They stomped on me, grinding their feet into my ribs, the pain excruciating, bone-deep. I bit down hard on my lip, the metallic taste of my own blood filling my mouth, and rasped out, “You will all regret this!” Brad grabbed my hair, forcing my head up, and spat in my face. “Still living in a fantasy world? Who do you think you are? I could *piss in your mouth* right now, and no one would stop me!” The words had barely left his lips when a low, thunderous roar ripped through the air. Hundreds of dark, predatory attack helicopters descended from the sky. Their doors slid open simultaneously, and fully armored special ops teams rappelled down in perfect synchronicity. 22 The sheer spectacle silenced the entire crowd. All eyes fixed on the formidable helicopter formation.

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Clock Out. Or Die. As quitting time approached, a pop-up notification flashed across everyone’s screens within the company network. **[Please log off promptly at 6:00 PM. Otherwise, you might die!]** I thought it was just some lame prank and was about to click it away when, the next second, a notification from our never-seen boss appeared: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight.]** Only a few high-level executives had the permission to @everyone. But this message came from an anonymous sender with a blank profile picture. There was no way to tell who it was. Were they just rage-quitting? “???” “Who is this?” **[@Sherry, HR Director, what the hell is going on?]** **[Who enabled anonymous access?]** … Sherry, HR Director: **[I’m sorry, I’m checking immediately!]** The group chat fell silent. Dead silent. Ten minutes later, the company’s big boss, Mr. Harrison, who’d never once shown his face in the internal chat, finally popped up. Just one sentence: **[All departments will work until midnight tonight. Project Alpha needs to launch ahead of schedule. Everyone, let’s push through. Your hard work is appreciated.]** *Whoosh whoosh whoosh!* Immediately, a flood of replies followed: **[Got it!]** Mr. Harrison added another line: **[HR will calculate overtime pay as per policy.]** Suddenly, the group chat was flooded with praise and adoration. Even in the dead of winter, the brown-nosers were popping up faster than dandelions in spring. Especially those thumbs-up emojis – every single one of them was used with sickening, masterful skill. Right after that, I heard Ms. Davenport, the HR VP, roaring: “Who was that anonymous sender?! Find them for me, now!” I was just pulling my keyboard closer, resigned to bury myself in work, when the pop-up appeared again. **Alert: [Dear diligent workers, quitting time has arrived!]** **[If you insist on working overtime, please strictly follow the rules below!]** **[1. Unless absolutely necessary, please avoid moving around. Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger.]** **[2. No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** **[3. Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Do NOT eat employee meals! Ordering takeout is permitted!]** **[4. Be wary of takeout delivery personnel.]** **[5. Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee! Do NOT make coffee!]** **[6. These rules are active from 6:00 PM to midnight. Death quota: 4 people. May you survive!]** **— Anonymous User!** At this moment, the clock struck 6:00 PM—the exact time we were supposed to log off. … Mr. Preston, our tech department head, was yelling: “Which damn jerk did this?! I’ll rip their hide off!” Chad, at the desk to my right, and I exchanged glances. Chad pursed his lips, then turned to our team lead, Derek: “Derek, should I go at him?” Derek pushed up his glasses, not even bothering to look up: “Mr. Evans’s team is already on it.” Chad shoved his keyboard away, clearly annoyed. Derek used to be such a workaholic, leading our team to outperform others and earning serious respect from Mr. Harrison. Too bad that was in the past. To my left was Chloe, a new intern. She was in her early twenties, full of life, and even in this cold weather, she was rocking a cute, trendy schoolgirl-style outfit with white stockings and pigtails. Let me put it this way: in our tech field, women are already a rare gem, like finding a unicorn. And Chloe? She was a unicorn with a unicorn’s rare blood type. As far as I know, at least a dozen male colleagues were constantly trying to get her attention. But Chloe was sweet and well-behaved. She stuck by me after joining the team and wasn’t high-maintenance at all. Chloe cautiously looked up at me: “Alex, is this company into these kinds of games?” “Don’t sweat it, it’s clearly just a prank. We just need to keep doing our jobs.” I said it easily, but my heart was thumping a bit too. “Check your OKR progress. It’s perfect for a bit of overtime, isn’t it?” Suddenly, Derek stood up and clapped his hands. The ceiling lights cast a cold, stark white glow on his lean face. “Stop discussing, everyone. Just focus on your work. Alex, pass me the topic list.” “Oh, right. Sure.” I gestured: “Chloe, can you print this for me? I’ll send you the file right away.” Chloe pulled back her neck, a little scared, and mumbled softly: “Alex, the rules said not to leave our workstation…” I almost laughed out loud. The girl was really taking it seriously. “You actually believe that? Fine, I’ll print it myself then.” “No, no, Alex! It’s just a small thing, you don’t need to do it. I’ll go, I’ll go…” That’s more like it. “Go on, then. Hurry up.”

Chloe had been with me since she started her internship, acting as both an assistant and a general helper. Honestly, whether she’d get her full-time offer in two weeks depended entirely on my signature. Chloe received the file, remotely sent it to the printer, grabbed her water bottle, and headed to the print room, apparently intending to get some water as well. Three minutes later, Chloe placed a stack of documents on my desk. I stared at the code on my screen, grunted, and planned to give them to Derek later. First, the new project topic list needed more discussion. I still needed to think it over and talk about the specifics with Derek. Second, since the beginning of the year, our team lead had become surprisingly chill. He dragged his feet on projects even more than we did. I figured he wasn’t in a hurry. I’d heard a rumor that he landed a massive side gig last year and raked in a fortune! Honestly, working when you’re broke, that’s sacrificing your soul! But working when you’re loaded? It’s just… a lifestyle choice. To be honest, if I weren’t broke, I’d probably be just as chill… “Al-Alex…” Chloe hadn’t left, her voice thick with tears. “What’s wrong?” I looked up and asked. “Alex, look…” My eyes scanned the printed documents, and I instantly flared up: “What the hell? Why did you print it in red ink? If I give this to Derek, he’d totally ream me out!” “I didn’t, Alex!” Chloe cried, her voice trembling. “I really didn’t! I don’t know how, but it just printed like this!” “Is the printer broken? Then switch to another one and print it again!” “I… I don’t dare…” “Huh?” I glared at Chloe again, but the next second, I realized something was wrong, and my heart sank. The words on the document were vivid red, abnormally so. Something wasn’t right! I ran my finger over the paper, and a bright smear spread! This wasn’t red ink at all. It looked more like… blood! I shot up from my chair: “Which printer?” “Number 3!” “I’ll go check!” I took a step, but then my body tensed, and I froze: “Chloe, go back to your desk first.” Chloe meekly nodded, pulling her neck in, and sat back down. “…Outside your workstation, any other location may pose a fatal danger!” That warning echoed in my mind. Could it be… “Ah…!” Suddenly, a piercing scream erupted from the direction of the print room! “Someone’s dead!”

I didn’t have time to react. Those closest to the print room had already rushed in. Then came the terrified shouts: “Quick! Someone! Call an ambulance!” I instinctively followed the crowd towards the print room. Just as I turned, I saw Chloe huddled in her chair, head buried. Curled up like a pathetic little quail. By the time I reached the print room, a chaotic crowd had already gathered. The deceased, I remembered seeing him around, but I couldn’t recall his name. Everyone immediately confirmed there was no point in trying to save him. He was sprawled over a standing printer, his right hand clenched into a fist, pressed against his throat. A ballpoint pen was plunged into his throat. A small section of it had even pierced through the back of his neck! His death was like something out of a crime thriller, or those old-school detective shows where someone gets a pen jammed into their throat. It was exactly the same. A large amount of fresh blood covered the printer, pooling onto the floor. His shirt collar was hooked on the corner of the printer’s lid, which was why he hadn’t slid off after collapsing onto it. And at his feet, there was a streak of water. I could almost visualize the scene! He was standing by the printer, waiting for documents, holding a pen, idly tapping it on the printer lid. Perhaps he got tired and shifted his weight, inadvertently slipping on the water. His foot slid backward, and he pitched forward! The upright pen in his hand pierced his throat! It seemed perfectly logical. But also far too coincidental. Suddenly, someone yelled: “Why is there no signal?! I can’t call 911!” “Then go outside and call! Someone died in the company, what the hell is going on?!” “Everyone back to your workstations! Don’t panic! I’ll handle things here! Forget a dead body, even if the sky falls, Project Alpha *must* launch by midnight!” The speaker was Trevor, whom we all called Big Trev. He held the title of General Office Assistant, which was basically a useless position, only handling miscellaneous stuff. He was a busybody, always riding on Mr. Harrison’s coattails, and incredibly reckless… In short, he was a universally despised jerk. But what could we do? He was Mr. Harrison’s cousin. That bastard. This was his chance to really throw his weight around! I quietly exited the print room. Outside, the atmosphere was already explosive. “Damn, this is seriously messed up. Someone died in the company late at night, and we’re still not allowed to leave?” “Do you think it has something to do with those rules in the chat? About not leaving your workstation because other places are fatally dangerous?” “Stop BS-ing, you actually believe that?” “Just wait and see how the company tries to hush it up if someone dies during overtime.” “Our tech department is freaking amazing, they managed to jam all the signals in the entire company!” Hearing that, I quickly pulled my head back. I’m in the damn tech department too!

I thought that after someone died, everyone would be terrified and want to leave the office. To my surprise, their panic didn’t last more than three minutes. They were all eager to gossip, their eyes practically glued to the print room. Just then, the window on the south side of the office space suddenly blew open with a bang! The frigid winter wind rushed in like a blade. “Quick, close the window! I’m freezing to death!” Looking at the eerie green glow of the ‘Emergency Exit’ sign above the door, my heart tightened. Chloe slid her chair closer, leaning over. There were tear streaks on her face, and her nose was red. “Alex, can I go home? I’m too scared…” It was cold, and Chloe’s lean exposed a glimpse of her thermal shirt underneath her cute schoolgirl-style uniform collar, but even so, my eyes couldn’t help but wander. Still, my resolve was firm. “Chloe, I understand you’re scared, but if you really leave now, whether you get your full-time offer might not be my call anymore…” I subtly gestured towards Derek, our team lead. Chloe froze, then lowered her head and sat back down. Faintly, I heard Chloe’s sniffles. My heart softened. I looked up and asked Derek, who was three workstations away: “Derek, it’s getting too late. Chloe’s just a young girl, it’s not safe for her to go home alone. Besides, I don’t really have anything for her to do, so maybe…” Derek pushed up his glasses, the light casting a cold, stark white on his face. His voice was just as cold: “Either work overtime, or resign.” I could only give Chloe a helpless look.

“Alex, did you get a good look? I couldn’t squeeze in! I heard the pen went all the way through his neck, blood was everywhere on the printer, and there were even blood spatters on the ceiling!” Chad slid his chair next to me and whispered, leaning in. “Man, that’s wild! Alex, do you know who died?” “I’ve seen him before, but I can’t remember his name. I just remember… he always wore a blue plaid shirt, carried a thermos like an old man, and was balding at such a young age…” Chad slapped his thigh: “???! The King of the Grind died?!” The mention of “King of the Grind” made my mind buzz, and I remembered too. The King of the Grind was Kyle. He was a textbook example of the ‘overzealous underachiever.’ Constantly teetering between promotion and promotion failure. He held the record for failing six promotions in one year! “Ugh, well, that’s a relief. The group chat will be a lot quieter now. I was so sick of seeing his damn thumbs-up! Right, Alex?” Every time overtime was announced, Kyle was always the first to respond with a thumbs-up emoji. And he’d drag everyone else down with him. His work intensity was comparable to two full-time employees and a caffeinated dog. He wasn’t even a programmer in our tech department, but at such a young age, his head was balder than Chad’s. I thought, the man’s dead, why keep mocking him? I didn’t take Chad’s bait. *Boom!* From the direction of the print room, a dull explosion suddenly roared! Then, a cloud of black smoke drifted out. Across from me, Chloe jumped up with a start, tears streaming down her face. “Holy crap, was his grudge so strong he blew up the printer?” Chad clicked his tongue playfully, dragging his chair back. My heart was pounding like it was caught in a snare, twitching harder with every beat. *Click!* Just then, all the lights in the entire company suddenly went out! Everyone’s computer screens went black too! “Ah!!!” “It’s haunted!” “What a crappy company! I’m out! Screw this!” Instantly, screams and angry shouts erupted. At first, when someone died and we weren’t allowed to leave, everyone held it in. But now that the lights were out, even if nothing was wrong, it was enough to terrify everyone! In the darkness, I felt a hand blindly reaching out, grabbing mine!

I considered myself pretty brave. I grew up in the sticks, and my grandma used to tell me all sorts of spooky old tales. I thought I’d heard it all. But this time, it still scared the living daylights out of me! “Alex, please, talk to Derek again. Let me go home, I want to go home, boohoo…” I instinctively tightened my grip, clutching Chloe’s soft hand. “Chloe, don’t do that, you almost scared me to death!” Honestly, my head was buzzing too, a complete blank. Even though I’m usually a rational guy and don’t believe in ghosts, I was seriously creeped out. Could it really be haunted? “Everyone shut the hell up! The printer shorted out, the circuit breaker popped! I’ll just flip it back on. Everyone, sit down! Mr. Harrison said if the project launches tonight, everyone gets a two-thousand-dollar bonus!” Hearing that, the restless colleagues actually quieted down quite a bit. *Click!* As power was restored and the lights came back on, everyone looked at each other, unsure what to do. Chloe pulled her hand back, glanced awkwardly at her bag, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn’t leave. She sat back down. Money truly makes the world go ’round, or at least makes people forget their fears. Two thousand bucks was roughly a month’s pay for Chloe as an intern before she even got her full-time offer. Like puppets, everyone rebooted their computers and went back to work. “Alex, look, who’s that? Why is someone covered in blood coming back from outside?” Chad pointed towards the entrance. I turned my head and, sure enough, a man, covered in blood, stumbled in. “Mr. Preston? What happened to you?” a colleague asked, startled. Mr. Preston was our department head! My boss’s boss! “It’s real! Those rules are real! Everyone, don’t run! Don’t run, just stay here, don’t move! It’s real!” With that, Mr. Preston crumpled to the floor.

Luckily, Mr. Preston wasn’t dead. He was covered in cuts, drenched in blood. They laid him on a lounge chair, and he gasped for air for a good while before he finally recovered. Thank goodness. If two people died within such a short time, everyone would probably freak out. Colleagues exchanged uneasy glances. I forced myself to stay calm and restarted my computer. After the computer rebooted, several windows popped up from the internal software again. Without exception, they were all from the VP of Human Resources and Finance! **@everyone: [There’s an unexpected situation at the company. Everyone stay calm and don’t move. Someone will handle it!]** **@everyone: [Tonight’s project *must* launch on time. Any slip-ups will be traced to individuals!]** **@everyone: [Considering tonight’s special circumstances, the company has decided to give every employee who clocks out after midnight a $2000 cash subsidy. $200 will be paid directly after logging off, and the remaining amount will be deposited into your bank account along with your salary over 9 months.]** **@everyone: [After power is restored, ensure orderly work. Strictly forbidden to take photos or videos. Do NOT leak videos or images outside the company. Violators will be held accountable!]** … “Tsk, I knew it! The higher-ups are all the same, aren’t they? Two thousand bucks, and they’re paying it in installments? Why don’t they just go broke themselves!” Chad muttered beside me. “Alex, let’s go grab a smoke! It’s too stifling in here.” Chad stood up, motioning for me to come with him. He was right. All this back and forth had my nerves shot. I needed a break. “Let’s go, let’s just tough it out until midnight, then I’m taking five days off tomorrow and just chilling!” As Chad and I walked past the door, we got a pretty good idea of how Mr. Preston got his injuries. “Ugh! Serves him right!” Chad spat. He’d disliked Mr. Preston, our department head, for a long time. To the left of the company entrance were the restrooms and the smoking lounge. Straight ahead was the corridor and the shared elevator lobby. To the right was the fire shutter leading to the stairwell. We smokers sometimes used the stairwell when we were too lazy to go to the smoking lounge. Normally, the fire shutter wasn’t lowered. But now, it was not only half-lowered but severely damaged. The rolled-up metal sheets were covered in blood, and there were blood spatters on the floor and walls. Several grotesque bloody handprints were slapped on the wall, tearing chunks out of the drywall. “Mr. Preston must have tried to go to the stairwell for a smoke and got hit by the shutter. He got caught in it, but luckily, he didn’t die.” I felt a surge of relief for Mr. Preston. I glanced at Chad and whispered: “It might be that what the group message said is true…” “Alex, don’t scare me. Dude, I’m a millennial barely making rent, the only thing I’m terrified of is going bankrupt. You think I’m scared of a prank?” “I was just saying.” Chad cursed: “You watch. That idiotic rule said the smoking lounge was dangerous, right? I’m gonna go try it! It’s all just the higher-ups messing with us!” *Flick!* Chad lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, I vaguely thought I saw a red dot on his forehead, which then vanished. I shook my head, assuming I’d imagined it. The red dot must have been the lit end of his cigarette… It was then that I felt something like a gust of wind on the back of my neck. But when I turned around, there was nothing there… “Don’t smoke here! Let’s walk to the bathroom, quick, hurry!” At this point, I was subtly starting to believe the anonymous rules in the group chat! Rule 2: **[No smoking in public areas! Warning: The former smoking lounge poses extreme danger and is currently unusable!]** I pulled Chad along, heading from the corridor towards the restroom, which was right across from the smoking lounge. Chad, true to form, refused to believe in bad luck. He took a step and walked right into the smoking lounge. “Ha, Alex, just watch. Nothing’s gonna happen. I bet Chloe was scared for nothing, hahaha.” I paused for a few seconds. Seeing Chad was fine, I didn’t think much of it and started lighting my own cigarette as I walked in. But… *CRASH!* A grating sound tore through the air! And then, I noticed Chad wasn’t moving! His eyes were slits, and a faint tremor ran through his jaw. The cigarette clenched between his lips dropped. “Chad?” The source of that horrific crashing sound was the metal trash can in the corner of the smoking lounge. The trash can was bouncing wildly on the floor, completely split open, its metal sides covered in blood.

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The kidnappers chopped off ten of my fingers, warning that if they didn’t see the ransom by tomorrow, they’d throw me into a blender and grind me to bits. I decided there was no way out, no escaping their twisted game. So that night, I took matters into my own hands and ended it myself. I shattered my last chance at survival, cutting my own throat. Because I knew. Julian Sterling wouldn’t save me. He had once cut ties with his family, forfeiting his claim to a billion-dollar inheritance, all to be with me. But on our wedding day, he discovered my mother and I had taken $50,000 from his stepmother. I had supposedly deliberately seduced him, dragging him down from his high pedestal. In the five years we were married, Julian fought his way to become a business mogul. Yet, his parade of mistresses was endless. He even made me personally demonstrate to his pampered playthings how to properly please him in bed. Just ten days ago, I was kidnapped along with his current lover. Everyone knew Julian hated me. That’s why my ransom was $50,000, while hers was $500,000. But Julian didn’t hesitate; he paid the $500,000 and only took Chloe Harper. “You probably staged this yourself, didn’t you? You’ll stop at nothing to con money now.” “I’m giving you this out of charity for Chloe, but if there’s a next time, I’ll throw you into the ocean to feed the sharks.” But he didn’t know. I had truly been tortured for ten agonizing days. Until I died. Mr. Thorne, the Spirit Guide, sighed deeply as he came for my soul. He said my obsession was too strong; even in the afterlife, I’d be a lost soul, forever unable to move on. So, he gave me three sticks of mystic incense. He told me to resolve my obsession before midnight tomorrow, or I would be trapped forever.

Mr. Thorne said that until he officially came for me tomorrow night, I would appear completely normal. So when Julian saw me come home safe and sound, the mockery in his eyes was undisguised. “Back so late? Looks like your little kidnapping performance took a lot out of you.” “Since you got your money, do what you’re supposed to. Go inside and get the strawberry-flavored lube.” He was about to get hot and heavy with Chloe right there in the living room. If it were before, I would have just done as he said, then hidden in my room, covering my ears and weeping. But today, I simply sat calmly on the couch. I pulled out the divorce papers he had given me. “I’ll sign, but I have a condition.” Julian’s face darkened. He hated being threatened, but the lure of divorce was too strong, so he held his temper for now. “What condition? Let’s hear it.” “If it’s too much, don’t blame me for flipping out.” I touched the three sticks of mystic incense Mr. Thorne had given me. “I found a shaman who can create dreams. If you’ll just join me for three dreams, I’ll not only divorce you, but I won’t ask for a single cent of our assets.” “That simple?” Julian scoffed. “If three dreams could get rid of you, you bloodsucker, we would have divorced ages ago.” “Anya, are you trying to trick me again?” I looked at him calmly. There was no anger from his mockery. No guilt, no flinching, none of what he expected from me. Julian realized I was serious, and his expression grew solemn. I knew he was hesitating. Chloe wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “Julian, just agree. What if she changes her mind by tomorrow?” Julian pinched her breast playfully. “Alright, anything for my darling.” He then turned back to me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. “How do we do it?” I swallowed the bitter ache in my eyes. Lowering my head, I took out the first stick and lit it. Mr. Thorne had said the dreams were under my control, and everyone who entered would retain their memories. He told me to use these three dreams wisely to resolve my obsession. I was always unwilling to accept it. Did Julian truly have no love for me, even just a tiny bit? Between me and Chloe, would he always choose Chloe? I set the first dream in our old rental apartment. When Julian first left the Sterling family, we only had $3000 between us. So, all we could afford was this dilapidated basement apartment. Julian, being a spoiled rich kid, wasn’t used to sleeping on rough sheets. So, I took his old shirts—the ones with the softest fabric—and painstakingly cut them up to sew him a new one. Back then, Julian would hold me close, nestled on our cramped double bed, saying he’d make so much money one day and give me a good life. Julian touched the oddly patched bedsheet, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes. But when he turned to me, he was back to his usual prickly self. “You think this will win my heart back?” “Anya, don’t forget who trapped me in this dump in the first place.” His stare made my heart ache. He started looking around. “Where’s Chloe? Where did you hide her?” Just as he stepped out of the basement, flames erupted from the doorway. The only way out was a small window leading outside. But the window was too high; without someone pulling you from the outside, it was impossible to climb. Chloe was there, screaming in terror by the window. “Julian! Save me!” Julian reached for her, and the flames surged into the room, the wood crackling and popping as it burned. I asked Julian. “There’s not enough time. We can only save one of us, Chloe or me. Who do you choose?” Julian glared at me, his eyes burning. “You’re insane. I’d be out of my mind to save you. I’m saving Chloe!” With that, he pulled Chloe out, comforting her in his arms. The fire in the room grew fiercer, my tears evaporating before they even touched my cheeks. I stood below the window, looking at Julian. “Chloe’s safe now. Will you help me out?” “You should know, this dream feels real. I can feel the pain.” Julian hesitated. He hated me, wanted me dead, but watching a living person burn to ashes was different. But just as he was about to reach out, Chloe suddenly clutched her throat. “Julian, my throat hurts so much. What if I can never sing for you again?” Julian scooped her up without a second thought. “Anya, is there a hospital in this dream? Where is it? Tell me!” I pointed in a direction. He turned and left, leaving me with a complex look in his eyes. There were too many emotions there, and before I could decipher them, thick black smoke enveloped my vision. The dream collapsed. I clutched my chest, coughing incessantly. Julian woke up a moment later, opening his mouth to curse. But seeing me cough like I was about to pass out, he unusually reached out and patted my back. “Anya, are you an idiot?” “You created a dream that hurt yourself like this.” “You’d better learn your lesson for the next two. Don’t do anything so dangerous.” I pushed his hand away. “You don’t need to worry about me. Go comfort your little darling.” Chloe cried incessantly after leaving the dream, her voice only softening when she hid in Julian’s arms. The two shared a comforting kiss. I had no heart left. Yet, my chest ached, a pain so profound it felt like dying all over again. This was the first dream. Julian knew I would die. He knew how dangerous my situation was. But he still chose Chloe.

After the first stick of incense burned out, Mr. Thorne came to see me, his brows deeply furrowed. “Anya, your obsession has grown stronger.” “You have less than twenty-four hours left. If you don’t resolve it, you’ll really turn into a vengeful spirit.” I showed him the first dream. Mr. Thorne was silent too. For a long time, he couldn’t think of anything to comfort me. But what about the second dream? I couldn’t think of a more brutal scenario. Mr. Thorne offered an idea. “How about this? Next time, don’t give Julian time to think.” “I’ve seen your red thread of fate; it’s tied very strongly. Julian can’t be completely devoid of feelings for you. If you make him choose between you and Chloe, you should look for his subconscious reaction.” That night, Julian held a grand party in the suburbs. When I was called over, I heard him clinking glasses with his buddies at the door. “Guys, Anya is finally divorcing me!” “Go wild tonight; all the drinks are on me!” Pushing open the door, I saw wedding photos, cut in half, plastered everywhere. Julian saw me enter, put his arm around Chloe, and tossed our wedding ring into the swimming pool. Everyone present burst into laughter. They were betting whether I would jump in to retrieve the ring. But I just walked straight over. I picked up a glass and clinked it against Julian’s. “Congratulations. You’re about to get what you want.” Then I downed the drink in one gulp. In our poorest year, I worked sixteen-hour days to give Julian a better life, developing severe stomach problems. But I was already dead now, what was a little alcohol? Julian turned his head away. His eyes seemed to redden for a fleeting second. But when he turned back, it was as if my previous observation had been an illusion. He stared into my eyes. “You wouldn’t mind playing a love song for Chloe and me, would you?” Everyone was watching me, enjoying the spectacle. Mr. Sterling’s “trouble-and-strife” wife, forced to congratulate the new couple at her own dismissal party. But I said nothing. I sat at the piano and began to play ‘Love Letter.’ I had specially practiced this song to win Julian’s heart. I could feel his gaze on my back, still as ardent as when we were in love. But from the fourth measure, I started to hit sour notes. The kidnappers had chopped off my ten fingers. Although they looked normal now, they were soft as noodles, completely without strength. Julian’s face grew darker and darker. Finally, he slammed the piano lid shut. “Anya, are you doing this on purpose? Is playing a song for me really that much of a chore?” “Or was your playing for me back then all a lie, too?” I pulled my hand out. Deep red marks were pressed onto it. Julian froze for a moment. He touched my hand, flinching back from the icy cold. “Why are you so cold? Are you not feeling well?” A dead person’s hand, of course, couldn’t be warmed. I looked at Julian. How long had it been since he cared about my body? I couldn’t remember. Julian’s mood soured, and he abruptly cut the party short. After seeing everyone off, only Chloe, Julian, and I remained at the villa gate, waiting for the car. Chloe extended her hand and waved it at me. A diamond, at least five carats, flashed blindingly on it. I remembered Mr. Thorne’s words, pulled out the second stick of incense, and lit it. A truck suddenly roared towards us from the distance. Julian had Chloe on his left and me on his right. Everything slowed down before my eyes. I saw Julian push Chloe to the left, holding her close. I saw the truck hit me, running over my legs. The second dream shattered instantly. There was no truck, no accident. Chloe and Julian were unharmed, but I collapsed to the ground from the searing pain throughout my body. Julian shook his head hard, taking a long moment to confirm that what had just happened was only my second dream. He roughly pulled me up and slapped me. “Are you insane, Anya?” “If the third dream is like this again, I swear I’ll strangle you.” But I just laughed, a bitter, hollow laugh. It made my tears well up. Mr. Thorne had gambled wrong again. Even if it was just a physical reaction, between me and Chloe, Julian still wouldn’t choose me.

Julian kept saying I was truly insane, seeing the look on my face. Just then, I received a notification from the hospital. “Ms. Anya, your mother’s condition is very poor. Please come to the hospital immediately.” I tugged on Julian’s sleeve, begging him to drive me to the hospital. But Julian hated my mother even more. He’d probably throw a party if she died, and he just pulled Chloe into the car and drove off. I hobbled to the hospital. My mother’s eyes couldn’t focus anymore. She looked at me, her expression a little confused. “Anya, why can’t I see your feet?” Perhaps she was dying and seeing my soul. I brushed it off. “You’re mistaken.” My mother started to sob. “Anya, I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I shouldn’t have taken that $50,000 back then. It made Julian resent you, and your illness was never cured, burdening you for so long.” The money was accepted by my mother and deposited into my account. When Julian’s stepmother showed him our transaction records, I was utterly lost for words, with no way to defend myself. But now, it was all in the past. I couldn’t let my mother die uneasy. I just kept comforting her: “It’s okay, it’s all over now.” My mother said she wanted to apologize to Julian. I stopped her. What was the point of dwelling on right and wrong now? Julian was convinced I had tricked him; he’d only think my mother was fabricating another lie. I personally closed my mother’s eyes. Mr. Thorne took my mother’s soul, pacing back and forth in front of me, worried about my lingering obsession. But I had seen through it all. I thought I didn’t need any more dangerous scenarios to test Julian. Faced with a threat to life, he would certainly choose Chloe. If he could just stay with me for once, I could let go. When Julian came home, I placed a bowl of simple rice, a traditional mourning meal for the departed, on the table. “My mother died. Our old custom is to eat a bowl of remembrance rice for the dead. If you eat it, I’ll divorce you.” Julian was startled. “Is this the third dream?” Of course not. Before I could speak, Chloe’s call came in. “Julian, I did fifty squats today, don’t you want to reward me?” Then she started to whine. “Come on, my stamina’s much better now. Let’s try something new.” Julian hadn’t even warmed his seat before grabbing his jacket and heading for the door. I grabbed his sleeve. “This is the last time. Julian, are you not going to divorce me?” “You wouldn’t still want to be with me, would you?” Julian scoffed. “Don’t try to threaten me with divorce.” “And what if we don’t divorce? Your mother’s dead. No medical bills. How much can it cost me to keep you? I’ll just treat you like a blow-up doll.” I let go of his sleeve and watched him walk out the door. I sat by the table and ate the bowl of remembrance rice for my mother myself. Julian suddenly ran back, throwing a red envelope into my lap. “Didn’t you say your mother died?” “Go buy something to celebrate.” A sudden lightness filled me. It was as if a heavy chain had been lifted from my heart. I smiled at him, and my body began to vanish before his eyes, like erased marks from an eraser. Julian reached out to grab me, but his hand met only air. He probably thought he was dreaming, only pausing for a moment in confusion before walking out the door. Julian lay on the bed with Chloe in his arms, his hand pausing as he unclasped her bra. He suddenly realized why this dream had been so long. Without bothering to get dressed, he rushed home. But he searched every corner of the house and couldn’t find Anya. A sudden, indescribable panic welled up inside him. He remembered Anya’s words and called the hospital. The nurse’s emotionless voice came through. “You’re asking about Ms. Anya’s mother? She passed away two hours ago. Ms. Anya said she would be cremated tomorrow.” “Oh, by the way, her mother left a letter. I’ll send you a photo.” Julian opened the image. A few lines were scrawled crookedly on it. [Julian, when your stepmother paid me, Anya truly knew nothing about it. It was all my fault. I don’t ask for your forgiveness, only that you treat Anya a little better. She anonymously transferred a lot of money to support your business; she wouldn’t let me tell you. If you don’t like her, then divorce her.] Those few lines were like a dagger, plunging deep into Julian Sterling’s soul. He didn’t know why his heart ached so fiercely, as if it were about to crack open. He kept mumbling, “I don’t believe it, it’s impossible.”

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My wife, Seraphina, pushed my mother into the path of a speeding car, just to save a dog. My mother ended up in a vegetative state because of her. Afterward, I took the dog to a shelter. Seraphina responded by freezing all my accounts. “That dog belongs to Jaxon! It’s his competition dog! Do you have any idea how important it is for his future?” “You only lost a mother, but *he* lost his entire future!” Seraphina slammed the door behind her, her voice cutting and cold. “Get that dog back, or your mother will starve to death! And you can forget about ever being my husband again!” Later, my mother’s stock transfer matured, making me the new CEO of the company. At the same time, I served Seraphina with divorce papers and proof of her affair. The moment I heard my accounts were frozen, I rushed to the hospital. “Seraphina, you froze my assets for a *dog*?!” “You know Mom needs that money for her brain surgery!” “How could you do this after all the kindness she showed you?” Thinking of my mother, fighting for her life, fury surged through me. But Seraphina just looked at me with cold eyes, like I was some deranged lunatic throwing a tantrum. “Why are you yelling? Do you think you’re the only one who can scream?” “It’s already happened. What good does arguing with me do?” Seraphina’s voice was flat, as if none of this concerned her. I stared at the woman I’d spent ten years building a life with, and my heart turned to ice. “Have you forgotten how your company got its start?” “Have you forgotten how Mom shielded you with her own body when you were attacked by vicious dogs, getting disfigured herself?” “And now, to save a dog, you’ve put her on her deathbed, Seraphina! Are you even human?!” Seraphina was an orphan, and Mom had taken pity on her, sending her money to support her. Later, when we started dating, Seraphina wanted to start a business. Mom didn’t hesitate, she pulled out all her savings, borrowed money from relatives, and even worked herself ragged, picking up every shift she could, just to support Seraphina’s venture. When the company’s profits soared into the billions, Mom never took a single cent. It’s no exaggeration to say that every ounce of its success was built on her sacrifices. But now, Seraphina had pushed her towards death with her own hands. As I finished, a flicker of irritation crossed Seraphina’s eyes. She whipped the dog leash she held, striking my face. A sharp whistle cut through the air, and my left eye burned crimson. She snapped impatiently, “You’re making a mountain out of a molehill. Is it fun to rehash such a tiny thing over and over again?” “This dog is Jaxon’s competition dog. He’s poured years of effort into it. How heartbroken would he be if it was gone?” “Your top priority right now is to find that dog. Otherwise, don’t blame me for freezing all your accounts and letting your mother starve to death!” I looked at the disgusted expression on the woman’s face, a profound desolation in my heart. When we first got together, I loved sweets, so Seraphina would save her lunch money to buy me candy. When I was gravely ill in bed, she’d brave heavy rain to bring me food. She even worked relentlessly to get into a top university, just to be worthy of me, despite only being qualified for a community college. But now, I felt like I was truly seeing her for the first time. Just then, Seraphina’s phone rang. She glanced at me, then walked aside, phone in hand. The moment she answered, her expression softened, and her voice became noticeably gentler: “Don’t worry, Jaxon. I’ll definitely find your dog.” “When the competition starts, I’ll personally take you there.” “I’ve frozen Liam’s accounts, so he won’t dare to defy me… Heh, what if he doesn’t find it? She’s just an old woman. If she dies, she dies. You’re far more important.” … I couldn’t hear the rest of Seraphina’s words. I walked out of the hospital, head bowed, in a daze. The sun was blazing outside, but I felt like I’d plunged into an icy abyss, my heart filled with nothing but numb anger and despair.

To gather money for my mother’s medical bills, I called a few of my closest friends. But those who were usually so enthusiastic now avoided me like the plague. After much prodding, they finally sighed: “Seraphina told us not to lend you any money, Liam. She’s got everyone under her thumb, what can we do?” “If you ask me, you should just swallow your pride and grovel to Seraphina. With her temper, she’ll probably forgive you.” “Seraphina controls everything now. Your mom’s lived for decades, it wouldn’t be a loss if she died. But you’re still young. If you cross her, what will your future be like?” … After talking to them, I received a payment notice from the hospital. The doctor said if I didn’t pay the medical fees soon, they’d cut off my mother’s nutritional support. I stood aimlessly on the street. It was the scorching heat of summer, but my heart felt chillingly suffocated, a coldness flowing through my veins. My phone rang. Seraphina’s voice came through: “Liam, Jaxon is waiting for his competition!” “I’m giving you one day to find the dog, or don’t blame me for cutting off our marriage ties!” “Seraphina, don’t be mean to Liam.” Jaxon’s voice echoed through the phone. “It’s just a competition. If it helps Liam calm down, I don’t mind missing it. It’s just a shame about all the training you’ve given me over the years.” Hearing this, Seraphina’s voice grew even colder: “Liam, bring the dog back before dark tomorrow. This is my final ultimatum!” “Otherwise, expect to see your mother’s corpse!” The call disconnected. I collapsed onto the ground in despair. Cold sweat trickled down my hair. Thinking of my mother in the operating room, I clutched my phone, feeling overwhelmed by confusion and helplessness. Turns out, vows only mean something when love is still in the picture. My phone vibrated again, a text message: [Mr. Davies: Hello, Mr. Turner. Your mother’s shares held with us have matured. As per her instructions, we are now transferring them all to you.]

Seraphina’s power was soaring. At my mother’s milestone birthday celebration, she actually forgot to bring a gift and flaunted hickeys openly at the banquet. Perhaps my mother had already sensed something then, which is why she demanded Seraphina gift her 50% of the company shares as a birthday present. That was two years ago. Even Seraphina herself had probably forgotten about it. My lawyer confirmed that these 50% were core shares, transferred by my mother before my marriage. They were considered pre-marital assets. Even with Seraphina and I married, they were entirely mine. On the other hand, Seraphina. Over the past few years, to keep Jaxon happy, she’d sold off a significant portion of her shares for cash. By now, she probably held less than 10% of the shares. Thinking of my mother, hanging by a thread in the operating room, I clenched my fists. If you treat me unjustly, then don’t blame me for returning the favor!

By the time I got home, it was evening. Pushing open the door, I saw Jaxon and Seraphina in a compromising situation, their clothes disheveled. Jaxon was holding my mother’s favorite cat. I exploded in rage: “Who told you to touch my pet?!” “This is my home! Get out!” “Now! Immediately!” They were startled and quickly got up. Jaxon, especially, his eyes red, hid behind Seraphina, putting on a pitiful, wronged expression: “Seraphina, did I upset Liam again? Maybe I shouldn’t have come here.” “It’s true, I’m just like my dog – no one likes me. Seraphina, I won’t bother you and Liam anymore. I’ll leave now.” He started to walk out. But Seraphina grabbed Jaxon, pulling him behind her, her gaze at me filled with even more disgust: “Liam, I’ve never seen such an overbearing, unreasonable man! What did Jaxon do wrong for you to target him like this?! I can’t stand narrow-minded people like you!” I frowned, disgusted by Seraphina’s twisted logic. “Fine by me. I don’t want someone else’s sloppy seconds anyway,” I said coldly, unwilling to argue further. “We’re getting divorced tomorrow. But Seraphina, remember this: I’m the one who’s leaving you.” Seraphina froze, her eyes reddening. She stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “What do you mean?” “Can’t you understand?” I sneered. “I find you disgusting.” Seraphina’s eyes were bloodshot, her voice suddenly rising. “Say that again, if you dare!” Jaxon had retreated to the window at some point. Startled by Seraphina’s outburst, his hand jerked, and he threw the cat out the window. I felt myself collapsing. I lunged forward, grabbing Jaxon’s collar. “Why did you do that?!” Jaxon frantically waved his hands. “No, no, I was just scared by you, that’s why I threw it. I didn’t mean to…” But I’d clearly seen him smiling as he threw the cat. He hadn’t been scared at all. And we were on the thirteenth floor; the cat was as good as dead! “Liam, why are you shouting?!” Seraphina blocked Jaxon, pushing me away forcefully. “It’s just a cat! If it dies, it dies! Why are you making such a fuss?!” I looked at Seraphina, and my heart completely died. That cat was bought by my father for my mother before he passed away. It was her only memento of him, her emotional anchor. Seraphina knew this perfectly well, yet she dismissed it so lightly, shielding Jaxon. When Jaxon’s dog went missing, she cut off my mother’s medical funds. But when *my* cat was gone, I wasn’t even allowed to raise my voice. Look at the double standards.

“Seraphina, I’m tired.” I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. “Since you two aren’t leaving, I will.” “Anyway, you’ve been wanting to replace your husband, haven’t you? I might as well clear the spot for you!” *Slap!* A stinging slap landed on my face. Seraphina’s eyes were red. “Liam, what nonsense are you spewing? Jaxon and I are just ordinary brother and sister!” “Don’t use your filthy mind to speculate about us, to tarnish my and Jaxon’s innocence!” I covered my stinging face. My anger faded, replaced by overwhelming disappointment. This was the second time Seraphina had hit me. The first was when I’d impulsively said I wanted to break up. This second time was for Jaxon. “Aren’t you leaving?” Seraphina shoved me hard, pushing me out of the house. Along with me came a pile of my clothes and shoes. “Take your disgusting things with you! Go wherever you want, die for all I care!” “Oh, and by the way, remember to return the dog before you die!” The door slammed shut mercilessly. I stood in the dim hallway, bending down to silently pick up my belongings. Then I went to the institution and retrieved the shares my mother had left me. I looked at the thick stack of documents, my shoulders trembling. These were my mother’s last possessions. They were her final protection, earned through years of frugality and sacrifice. “Mr. Turner, Hayes Industries claims to have made a breakthrough in brain death recovery and can offer your mother free treatment. The condition is that you join their group with your shares.” I knew Hayes Industries. A new pharmaceutical company, a fierce rival of Seraphina’s company. But because of their limited resources, they’d always been suppressed. “Okay.” I pondered for a moment, then signed the contract. That same evening, I transferred my mother to the city’s top hospital. At the same time, I prepared the divorce papers.

The next day, I attended Hayes Industries’ anniversary banquet as planned. And ran straight into Seraphina and Jaxon. “Liam, what are you doing here?” Jaxon gasped, clinging to Seraphina’s arm, covering his mouth. “You’re not… stalking us, are you?” “Liam, I don’t know how you snuck in here,” Seraphina said impatiently. “But this is a major industry event. It’s not appropriate for a small employee like you to be here. Go home before I get angry!” I sneered, staring at Jaxon. “What about him?” “Compared to me, Jaxon isn’t even an employee, is he?” Jaxon’s face changed. But Seraphina shielded him behind her. “Liam, I’m warning you, don’t embarrass me here. I— ” She stopped mid-sentence as Vivian Hayes, the CEO of Hayes Industries, approached and took my arm. “Liam, there you are.” Vivian noticed the shocked expressions on Jaxon and Seraphina’s faces and asked, puzzled, “Do you know Seraphina?” I shook my head. Seraphina’s face turned ashen. Jaxon’s gaze darted between Vivian and me. He suddenly seemed to understand and mocked, “Oh, so *that’s* why you’re here. You’ve hooked up with someone else, huh?” “Shameless! Your mom’s still in the hospital, and you’re out here having a good time?” Jaxon’s voice wasn’t quiet. People around us slowly started to gather. Seraphina tried to explain, but I cut her off. “My business is none of yours,” I said coldly. “None of my business?” Seraphina’s face darkened. “You’re my husband. How can your business be none of mine?” “I get it. You’re throwing a tantrum again.” She frowned, rebuking me. “Now, get your butt home, or don’t blame me for cutting our agreed time short and severing your mother’s medical resources!” I shrugged indifferently. “Whatever makes you happy.” Seraphina froze, then frowned. “Liam, you don’t actually think hooking up with Hayes Industries will save your mother, do you?” “With one word from me, who would dare interfere?” She leaned closer, whispering to me, “Just humble yourself, and I’ll let you stay my husband. Our mom will be fine too.” “No thanks.” I recoiled in disgust. “I don’t want it.” “You— ” Seraphina gritted her teeth and slapped me. I frowned, ready to retaliate. But Jaxon suddenly lunged out from the crowd, kicking me to the ground. He shielded Seraphina and yelled, “It’s your privilege to be slapped by Seraphina! And you dare try to hit back?!” Seraphina backed away with a cold expression, showing no intention of helping me up. “Are you okay?” Vivian helped me up, indignant. “They’re absolutely outrageous.” “Let’s go.” I shook my head, not wanting to get dragged into it any further. “Liam, you stop right there!” Seraphina commanded loudly. I ignored her, so she quickly stepped in front of me, blocking my path. “I told you to stop! Are you deaf?” “I’m telling you, it’s still not too late to beg me for mercy. Otherwise, your mother—” Her words were cut short as Seraphina’s secretary walked into the banquet, looking frantic. “Seraphina, it’s bad! Something terrible has happened!” “What’s the rush?” “That…” Sarah glanced at me, swallowing. “Since this morning, a lot of shareholders have collectively withdrawn their investments, and also…” Seraphina’s face went white. “Also what?”

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The night I almost died during labor, my husband, Dylan, was off on a honeymoon abroad with Serena, his first love. With tears blurring my vision, I begged him to take me to the hospital. But he just shoved me away with disgust. “Why are you being so dramatic? It’s just giving birth. Serena can’t handle stress, I need to be with her to help her unwind and recover.” When I woke up in the hospital, my eight-month-old baby was gone. Half a month later, Dylan returned with Serena, only to find I had changed. At three in the morning, he asked me, still fragile from my recovery, to perform a surgery for Serena. I nodded. During a research conference, he demanded I give my three-year thesis to Serena. Without a word, I handed it over. When he even told me to give up my Head of Department position to Serena, I calmly resigned from the hospital. Serena, nestled in Dylan’s arms, looked smug. “See, Dylan? Just put Chloe through a little hardship, and she’ll listen to everything you say.” Dylan looked utterly pleased. “If you’d just listened to me sooner, you wouldn’t have had such a complicated birth. But since you’re being so understanding, I might consider giving you another child.” But what Dylan didn’t know was, we were no longer husband and wife. And I had already accepted the incredible offer from the Swiss Medical Research Institute. In three days, I would leave this place, never to see him again.

“There’s an emergency, high-stakes surgery in Ocean City, next door. Serena isn’t feeling well, but this patient is extremely important. You need to handle it.” Dylan, with a pale-faced Serena wrapped in his arms, spoke to me in a commanding tone. I was lying in my hospital bed, an IV drip still in my arm, and the incision from my C-section throbbed with a dull pain, a constant reminder that I was still in my postpartum recovery period and barely able to move. “I just had a complicated birth half a month ago. I’m still recovering, and my stitches are still bleeding. I can’t…” Dylan’s brows furrowed in anger. He slammed his hand on the table, pointing at me and snapping. “You’re just jealous of Serena, that’s why you don’t want to help her. These are all excuses! And if you hadn’t been so disobedient during your pregnancy, you wouldn’t have lost the baby!” “Stop being so difficult! This is a work requirement! It’s an emergency! Serena is genuinely unwell, and for the patient’s sake, you *must* go! That’s an order!” Serena, nestled in Dylan’s arms, looked at me with a taunting, mocking smile. Just then, a SnapChat message popped up from Maya, Serena’s assistant. “Bring everything needed for the surgery. I expect to see you in thirty minutes.” Maya’s demanding tone made my brows furrow. A wave of desolation and sorrow washed over me. Maya used to be *my* assistant. She’d been with me since she graduated. I’d done everything I could to help her, both in her work and personal life. I thought we were like sisters. But it turned out she was just trying to curry favor with Dylan. When Serena was suddenly appointed to our department, Maya volunteered to be her assistant. Dylan’s changing attitude towards me also made Maya and everyone else in the department lose respect for me, even brazenly bossing me around. Dylan had unilaterally given Serena my clinical thesis, which I’d spent three years researching. Furious, I confronted him about it. Dylan just shrugged, utterly nonchalant. “Chloe, you got what you wanted – you married me, and you became Head of Department because of me. You’re thriving both professionally and personally, while Serena has nothing. What’s the big deal about giving her your paper? Can’t you just be compliant for once?” I couldn’t accept that three years of my blood, sweat, and tears were just given away. I contacted the publisher, demanding a change of author. But when Dylan found out, he took all my research notes, making it look like I had plagiarized. It became a blemish on my academic record, leading to my suspension from the hospital and the scorn of everyone. I frantically confronted Dylan, but he threatened me with divorce if I didn’t admit to it. Such incidents happened countless times between Dylan and me. At first, I would break down in agony, questioning if I truly was as selfish and petty as Dylan claimed. But now, my heart was numb with pain. Driven by my professional duty, the instinct to save a life, I gritted my teeth and carried on. Every bump during the flight was torture. Cold sweat soaked my clothes, and I had to secretly take strong painkillers. The surgery lasted eight grueling hours. My legs were trembling, and the gauze on my abdomen was already soaked crimson with seeping blood. When the last stitch was done, and I saw the patient’s vital signs stabilize, my vision went black, and I was caught by a nurse from Ocean City Hospital. She looked at my pale, haggard face and said indignantly, “Dr. Chloe, you’re too dedicated. You’re in this state, why isn’t your husband stopping you from working?” Right. My husband not only didn’t stop me but commanded me to leave my hospital bed and risk my life for Serena’s sake. Thinking of this, my heart felt like it was pierced by an ice pick, hurting even more than the surgical wound on my abdomen. But I’d grown used to such things ever since Serena returned from abroad. At first, I thought it was just Dylan caring for a junior colleague. But after seeing his inappropriate actions with Serena, I knew their relationship was far from simple. Whether it was my prenatal check-ups or my difficult labor, Serena would call Dylan away from me, even if she just had a minor bump or bruise. I cried frantically, asking Dylan why, but he just told me impatiently that Serena had taken the blame for a failed surgery for him back in college. Dylan would always watch me break down with cold eyes, then console me by saying, “My relationship with Serena is strictly professional. She’s struggling with her mental health right now, so of course, I need to take care of her. Besides, I just want you to be more compliant.” And after I cried countless times, Dylan stopped explaining or comforting. Instead, he would yell at me, “You’re insane! You really need to go see a therapist! Can’t you just be compliant for once?” Ten years of a relationship had amounted to him ignoring my breakdowns and driving me to the brink of madness. It wasn’t until Serena repeatedly sent me intimate photos of them, trying to provoke me and force me away, that the truth finally hit me. It was time for Dylan and me to end this.

Stepping out of the operating room, I felt all the air leave my lungs, and I slowly sank to the floor, leaning against the wall. Dylan, who was at the doorway, saw me and started walking towards me, reaching out to help me up. Then his phone rang. “Dylan, I feel so awful. Can you come see me?” Serena’s fragile voice floated from the phone. Dylan looked at me, hesitating, a flicker of worry in his eyes. But his attention was completely snatched away by Serena’s pained gasp on the call. “Chloe, wait here for me. I’ll come pick you up after I’ve settled Serena.” “Don’t wander off. Your body can’t handle it.” I watched coldly as Dylan withdrew his hand and rushed out. When Dylan’s figure disappeared down the corridor, I stood up, resigned, leaning on the wall as I walked out. I knew I wouldn’t be waiting for Dylan. He had forgotten me countless times because of Serena. I decided to take the train back myself. On the way, I closed my eyes, exhausted. This relationship was, ultimately, just a farce. My phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat story from Serena, and she’d even tagged me. A perfectly composed selfie, with the VIP suite of some exclusive club as the background. Serena looked radiant and shy, her makeup flawless. A stark contrast to my current state. Serena was holding a rich, restorative broth, smiling sweetly at the camera. And wrapped around her waist was a hand, long and slender, with a wedding ring engraved with “C.C.S.” on its ring finger. The caption read: “Just a little under the weather, but *someone* was so worried he insisted on personally watching me finish my health tonic~ And he’s taking me to see the latest movie too! Thank you, my dearest Dylan.” I stared intently at Dylan’s hand, with my wedding ring, wrapped around Serena’s waist. I stared at Serena’s smug, triumphant face. I knew then that her “not feeling well” was just another act to win Dylan’s sympathy. And Dylan wasn’t stupid. He knew exactly what was going on, or perhaps he simply didn’t care about the truth. He enjoyed Serena’s dependence on him, and he enjoyed the deep love I, the fool, had for him. For this twisted play, he was willing to sacrifice me, his wife, still recovering in a hospital bed, then comfortably accompany his “junior colleague” to drink health tonics and watch movies. “Ha, Chloe. You’re truly pathetic.” I tilted my head back, feeling the pain and weakness radiating through my body. My gaze lingered on the glowing phone screen, fixed on Dylan’s wedding ring. The name etched for love now felt so ironic. Serena and I were never a choice for him in his heart, not after ten years of dating and three years of marriage. Only because he was so sure I’d never leave him, Serena always came first. The last flicker of hope I held for Dylan was extinguished. I took off my matching wedding ring and placed it on the table. This time, I wouldn’t wait for Dylan to turn back. I opened the email with the offer from the Swiss Medical Research Institute and didn’t hesitate to send my acceptance. With my qualifications and successful clinical record, even with a blemish on my academic history, many hospitals were still eager to recruit me. Years ago, I’d stayed by Dylan’s side to help him grow into one of the hospital’s leaders. Now, I’d shot myself in the foot. I called my lawyer to prepare the divorce papers. I didn’t want anything from our life here. I just wanted to completely cut ties with Dylan. In three days, I would leave and start a new life.

Back at the home Dylan and I shared, standing in the corner where the baby crib used to be, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. The burning pain from my abdominal wound couldn’t make me ignore the deeper heartache within. I held the printed job offer from a top hospital and my plane ticket for three days later, lost in thought. Dylan pushed the door open. Seeing me, his face registered a fleeting awkwardness. He then completely ignored my ashen face, his gaze falling instead on the document folder in my hand. “Doesn’t your wound hurt? Why are you moving around? Get back in bed! What are you holding?” I casually hid the documents behind my back. “Surgery case files for archiving. I need to send them back to Ocean City Hospital for备案.” Dylan didn’t seem to doubt my words. He solicitously helped me to the bedroom, settled me on the bed, and tucked in the covers. “Back in Ocean City, Serena wasn’t feeling well, so I didn’t have time to pick you up. I was actually just about to leave, but you came back.” I stared into his eyes and gave a short, bitter laugh. “You didn’t have time, and you didn’t send anyone else to pick me up either.” Dylan knew he was in the wrong and didn’t reprimand my sarcasm as he usually would. Instead, he turned and went to the living room. I couldn’t be bothered with him anymore. I closed my eyes, hoping to get some rest. Not long after, a knock on the door woke me. Dylan then came into the bedroom carrying a bowl of soup. He spoke coldly, as if just completing a task. “Drink this. The doctor said you need to replenish your qi and blood.” I turned my head and saw the obvious takeout bag in the living room trash can. My blood ran cold. On our wedding day, Dylan had promised me he would always make me homemade meals. And as a doctor, Dylan had countless times stated he would never eat takeout. Yet now, he was only willing to fob me off with it. Just then, Dylan’s phone rang. He casually placed the soup bowl on the nightstand and answered Serena’s FaceTime call. Serena, looking pale on the screen, whined to Dylan, “Dylan, my chest hurts… I can’t sleep…” The background of Serena’s video was the VIP suite I had longed for during my pregnancy. When I had mentioned it to Dylan back then, he had refused, saying, “That suite is reserved for an important patient who needs treatment occasionally. Chloe, let’s just stay in a regular room.” Now I knew that Dylan’s “important patient” was none other than his Serena. Dylan’s voice suddenly softened when he heard Serena. “Be good, don’t be scared. I’ll be right back to you. Make sure you get your IV drip.” “Okay, Dylan. I’ll wait for you. I also want to eat the lotus root and pork rib soup you make.” “Alright, alright, I’ll make it for you, my sweet little foodie.” Their flirting and sweet-talking, if you didn’t know the situation, would make you think they were a very loving couple. A sudden cramp in my abdomen made me cough out in pain. Dylan seemed to snap back to reality, glancing at me guiltily, then comforting Serena before hanging up. “What’s wrong, Chloe? Does it hurt again?” “I’m fine. If you have something to do, just go.” Dylan didn’t expect me to actually tell him to go be with Serena. His eyes lit up with delight. “Chloe, you finally understand me. You’ve finally become compliant.” “Even in her hospital room, Serena is still worried about you, helping organize your miscarriage medical records. She really cares about you. You’re too weak for high-intensity work right now. Let her take over your Head of Department position.” I snapped my eyes open, staring at Dylan. My nails dug into my palms. I searched his eyes for any trace of reluctance, but found nothing. Could Dylan really be so heartless, giving away the position I’d pursued for years with just a single sentence to Serena? Then, remembering the Swiss Medical Research Institute, I withdrew my gaze, looked at the ceiling, and nodded. Dylan’s eyes immediately lit up. His voice filled with satisfaction. “That new drug development project you were in charge of before your complicated birth? She’ll take it over and publish it. She needs accomplishments to gain respect.” That project was the culmination of my blood, sweat, and tears. Dylan had once convinced all the group leaders to support me unconditionally, but now it was all hers too. Fine. If I’m going to cut ties, I’ll make it a clean break. I swallowed the bitterness in my heart, my voice hoarse. “Okay.” Dylan was overjoyed. He habitually reached out to caress my cheek. I stretched out my hand and brushed his away. He suddenly grabbed my wrist, his fingers squeezing tightly as he stared at my empty ring finger. “Where’s the ring? Where’s your wedding ring? You know what that symbolizes!” Of course I knew. It was the symbol of our promise to be together forever. But he had broken that promise long ago, so why blame me? Why act so devoted now? I spoke numbly. “My hand swelled after the miscarriage. I took it off. Lost it.” Dylan furiously threw my hand away. “You lost the baby, and you can’t even hold onto this one memory? Serena still cherishes the good luck charm I gave her three years ago, keeping it by her bedside!” “I think you’ve truly lost your mind. You’re not fit for work anymore. I expect to see your resignation letter tomorrow.” The same rigid attitude, the same refusal to be denied. Dylan didn’t wait for my answer, striding out the door and slamming it shut. I pressed my throbbing temples, reassuring myself that it would all be over soon. The next day, I placed my resignation letter and the divorce papers together on Dylan’s desk. Still fuming, Dylan didn’t even glance at me. He picked up the resignation letter and started signing it, and naturally, the divorce papers were signed too. Dylan flung the signed documents at me, growling. “Get lost! Go home and reflect on yourself, or next time you’ll be crying and begging me to come back.” I bent down and picked up the divorce papers Dylan had signed, a mocking smile on my face. Now, I wouldn’t cry for him anymore. Serena flaunted various gifts from Dylan and her colleagues on her SnapChat. I shredded my miscarriage diagnosis report and the blood-stained surgical scrubs, then picked up my plane ticket abroad. The moment the taxi trunk closed, a message from Dylan flashed on my phone.

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