Category: English

The day before final exams, Olivia agreed to go out with Kyle, a bad boy she had recently met at a bar, to celebrate her 18th birthday. I was surprised Olivia would agree, given how seriously she usually took exams. Earlier that day, I had accidentally overheard Kyle talking to his friend in the bathroom: “Tonight I’m going to make sure that girl has a real good time with me! She won’t be in any shape to take exams tomorrow!” In my previous life, when Olivia told me about her plans, I had desperately tried to stop her. But all I got in return was her mockery: “Adam, this is Kyle’s special birthday celebration for me turning 18. You coward, if you’re not going to celebrate with me, can you at least not get in the way of my happiness?” For the sake of Olivia’s future, I ignored her insults. I secretly told her parents about Kyle’s plans. That night, Olivia’s parents kept her locked up at home. The next day they personally escorted her to the exam. Olivia ended up getting into her dream college as planned. But Kyle, furious that his scheme had failed, got drunk and got into a fight. He ended up killing someone and was sentenced to death. When Olivia heard the news, she completely broke down. She invited me over to her house, acting friendly to set me up. After I left, she called the police claiming I had assaulted her. My bright future was ruined. My parents, devastated by the online harassment, committed suicide by gas poisoning at home. Olivia stood outside my family’s door, coldly filming my parents’ final moments of struggle. She brought the video when she visited me in prison. “Adam, I’m going to make your whole family pay for what happened to Kyle!” The shock was too much – I died of a heart attack in prison… When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day before finals. I looked at Olivia, who was excitedly telling me about her plans with Kyle that night, and smiled. This time, I would let her do as she pleased…

“Adam, what’s your problem?! Can you stop being so sensitive every time a guy shows up around me?!” The familiar voice snapped me back to reality. I looked down at my hands, free of handcuffs, And at Olivia in front of me, angrily gesturing… I really had been reborn! In my previous life, I had tried to stop Olivia from going out with Kyle to celebrate her birthday on this day. Olivia had gotten into her dream school as planned, But Kyle had ended up in prison for killing someone while drunk. After hearing the news, Olivia had invited me over to her house and set me up, Taking off her clothes and filming a video before calling the police. I was sent to prison. My parents, devastated by the online attacks, committed suicide by gas. When my parents were dying, Olivia was right outside the door, Coldly filming their final moments before leaving with a smile. The next day she visited me in prison, And showed me that video in its entirety, Screaming at me hysterically: “Adam, if you hadn’t stopped me, how could Kyle have ended up in prison?! I’ve always had top grades, even if I had gone out with Kyle the night before exams I still would have gotten into my dream school! You’re just selfish! Kyle died for nothing, so I’m going to make your whole family pay!” I had a congenital heart condition, which Olivia knew about. So when I had a heart attack after seeing the video, I saw the smile lingering on Olivia’s lips… This chilling memory made my expression darken further. “Oh come on, Liv, you have to understand our star student Adam here. He’s too scared to take you out partying, so of course he’s a bit jealous that Kyle gets to hang out with you…” Olivia’s friend’s words pulled me back to the present. Olivia looked at me with disdain and laughed. Then she linked arms with her friend and said coyly: “Kyle said he has a big surprise planned for my birthday celebration tonight. I’m so excited! Getting to celebrate turning 18 with such a hot guy, I’m sure I’ll do even better on the exams tomorrow…” I laughed coldly to myself. Earlier that morning, I had overheard Kyle talking to his friend in the bathroom: “Tonight I’m going to show that little girl a real good time, don’t any of you dare interrupt us!” “But she has exams tomorrow, don’t go too crazy!” “Exams? My girl doesn’t need to worry about exams. Once she’s in college, she won’t have anything to do with me anymore…” It was because I had overheard this conversation that I had desperately tried to stop Olivia in my previous life. This wasn’t a birthday celebration at all, It was a plot to ruin Olivia’s entire future… But Olivia was too naive to see it. Thinking of this, I looked up at Olivia’s flushed face and smiled. “Go ahead, Olivia. I’m sure with that hot Kyle by your side tonight, you’ll do great on the exams tomorrow.” Chapter

Olivia was stunned for a moment by my response, But quickly smiled again at the thought of her upcoming date. Realizing I needed to get home to prepare for tomorrow’s exam, I picked up my bag to leave. But as soon as I stood up, Olivia’s friend pushed me back into my chair. Olivia glared at me coldly and quickly snatched my phone and exam admission ticket. “Trying to leave? I bet you just want to go home and tattle to my parents! I’ll keep these safe for you and give them back at the exam site tomorrow. If you dare tell my parents, you can forget about taking the exam!” I looked at Olivia helplessly. “Olivia, you know how important this exam is to me. I promise I won’t tell your parents, but please don’t mess with my future, okay?” Whether Olivia would even make it to the exam site tomorrow was questionable. There was no way I could leave my admission ticket with her. Seeing that Olivia had no intention of returning it, I quickly stood up and rushed over to her, Grabbing the ticket that was still in her hand. My tone was icier than ever before: “Olivia, give it back.” “Oh ho, looks like our star student is angry! See Liv, you guessed right, judging by his reaction he was definitely planning to go tattle to your parents! We can’t give this back to him!” Olivia’s hand, which had started to loosen slightly, Tightened its grip on the ticket again after her friend’s goading. Olivia was a girl after all, so her strength couldn’t compare to mine. I squeezed her wrist hard, and her grip started to weaken from the pain. “Liv! Think about your date with Kyle, we can’t let it get ruined!” Olivia’s expression suddenly changed. She quickly used all her strength and yanked backwards! “Riiiiip…” My admission ticket tore in half… The friends who had been egging Olivia on suddenly went pale. Tears that had been welling up in my eyes for a long time finally fell. An overwhelming sense of despair and helplessness washed over me. Even in this new life, I had lost my future… Olivia’s face cycled through various shades of green and white. After a long moment, She threw the torn ticket at me. “Adam, this is your own fault for trying to stop me from going out with Kyle! You brought this on yourself!” With that, she grabbed her friend and ran out like mad. As soon as the classroom door closed, I heard laughter from outside. “Liv, that Adam really is your lapdog, huh? You ripped up his exam ticket and he didn’t even dare say anything!” “Ugh, he’s always been that weak. How could he compare to Kyle’s confidence and charm…” Olivia’s words pierced my heart like a needle. My tolerance for her had been mistaken for weakness… Olivia and I had studied together every day since middle school, Getting into our dream college together was the future we had promised each other. But ever since Olivia met Kyle outside of school, everything had changed. Today’s Olivia clearly no longer wanted a shared future with me. Thinking of this, I threw the torn ticket in the trash. I knocked on the door of our homeroom teacher’s office. “Mrs. Davis, I’ve made up my mind about that scholarship to State University. I think it’s a better fit for me than Ivy College…” Mrs. Davis looked at me with delight. “Good, you shouldn’t have given it up in the first place. State U’s physics lab will be perfect for you to shine.” When I got home and told my parents I wouldn’t be taking the exam, they breathed a sigh of relief. They had been worried when I gave up the sure thing at State U for Olivia’s sake. Now things had worked out the way they wanted after all… Chapter

We had just finished dinner when there was urgent knocking at the door. I opened it to find Olivia’s parents, looking extremely anxious. “Adam, do you know where Olivia went? She just sent us a message and now won’t answer her phone. The exam is tomorrow, where could that child have run off to?” My mom chimed in, looking at me expectantly. “Adam, you’re always with Olivia…” “I don’t know,” I cut my mom off and looked up at Mrs. Quinn to answer her. “Adam, do you at least know where she usually likes to go?” I gave an awkward smile. “I really don’t know, Mrs. Quinn…” Mrs. Quinn shook her head helplessly and left, having gotten no leads. As soon as the door closed, my dad poked his head out from inside. “Did you and Olivia have a fight? How could you not know where she went?” I just smiled at my dad and went back to my room. Of course I wasn’t going to say anything. Let her enjoy her wonderful night with her dear Kyle! My mom was on the PTA, So early the next morning she dragged me and my dad to volunteer at the exam site. As soon as we got to the entrance, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Quinn looking frantic. When they spotted me, they rushed over. Mrs. Davis hurried over as well. “Adam, Olivia didn’t come home all night. Weren’t you two together at school yesterday? Did she tell you where she was going?!” Mrs. Davis asked me too: “Adam, you know how important this exam is for Olivia. It’s about to start and there’s still no sign of her. Please think hard, where could she have gone?” I looked at Mr. and Mrs. Quinn’s panicked faces and felt a pang in my heart. But the image of my parents’ tragic deaths in my previous life flashed through my mind. I gritted my teeth and looked up at them. “I really don’t know…” Seeing my expression, Mrs. Davis sighed and patted Mrs. Quinn’s shoulder. “Adam’s an honest kid. Maybe he really doesn’t know. Let’s think of other ways to find her…” But I knew they wouldn’t find her… Kyle never intended to let Olivia take the exam. She was probably passed out in some hotel bed right now… Sure enough, the exam started and Olivia still hadn’t shown up… Mr. and Mrs. Quinn were ordinary working class people. To let Olivia focus on her studies, Mrs. Quinn had quit her job to take care of Olivia full-time. Mr. Quinn worked three jobs, sleeping only 3 hours a day. They had worked so hard for over a decade to give Olivia this opportunity, But their usually obedient and sensible daughter had disappeared before the most important exam… The moment they closed the exam site gates, Mrs. Quinn completely broke down. She collapsed to the ground, wailing hysterically… “Mom…” Finally, just as the first exam was about to end, Olivia appeared at the entrance, disheveled and stumbling. Mrs. Quinn sprang up from the ground and rushed over to Olivia. She slapped Olivia hard across the face. “You ungrateful child! Where on earth did you run off to…?!” I was sitting with my parents in the shade nearby, about to stand up, when Olivia spoke: “Mom, it was Adam! Yesterday at school he confessed his feelings for me but I rejected him. He was angry and drugged me, taking me to a hotel. I only just woke up. Adam has ruined my life…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296740”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Three years ago, my sister, Chloe, and I secretly married the Thorne brothers. I was married to Dominic Thorne, the CEO, and Chloe married his younger brother, Leo Thorne, the VP. One night, the brothers took Serena Hayes, the woman they’d always pined for, to a hotel. When reporters caught them, they called Chloe and me to bail them out. I was forced to wear an identical outfit to Serena’s, meant to distract the paparazzi. Instead, Serena’s obsessive stans dragged me into an alley and beat me to death. Chloe, who was supposed to meet me, suffered the same brutal fate. By the time Mom arrived, Chloe and I were already gone, our bodies lifeless in a growing pool of crimson. We had stopped breathing. Heartbroken, she called Dominic for help. All she got in return was Dominic’s venomous curses. “She couldn’t even handle a simple task like distracting reporters. What right did Ava have to live? She should have died ages ago!” I died then, but my soul remained, forced to hear his cruel words. My heart was ripped to shreds. Chloe’s soul floated over, trying to comfort me, saying Leo would surely come. Mom called Leo, only to be met with the same merciless ranting. “Serena was caught by the paparazzi! I’m busy doing damage control; I don’t have time for your drama. Didn’t you say Ava was about to die? Let her die then!” Chloe clung to me, her sobs echoing through the void, a raw, piercing sound. Later, news of Chloe’s and my gravestones leaked. The brothers, upon hearing the news, knelt before our graves, weeping floods of tears.

“Ava, Chloe, my daughters…” Mom sat slumped in her wheelchair, clutching two urns. Her face was a mask of hollow despair, tears streaming down, an endless torrent. Overnight, her black hair had turned white, wrinkles deepening, making her look twenty years older. After Chloe and I died, our souls didn’t dissipate. We lingered by Mom’s side. Hand in hand, our faces a canvas of brutal bruises, blood streaking our lips, our clothes tattered and torn, we remained in the gruesome state we were in when we were killed. We watched as Mom dragged her exhausted body, painstakingly arranging our funerals until the early hours of the morning. She lifted the urns, pressing them to her cheek, just like she used to hold Chloe and me. Tears, heavy and silent, rolled down her cheeks. “Ava, Chloe, why did you leave your mother? What’s the point of living without you? Once you’re laid to rest, I’ll come join you.” Her voice, raw and hoarse from endless weeping, scraped at my soul like a blunt knife tearing flesh, each sound a fresh torment. I knelt before Mom, my own silent sobs tearing through me. “Mom, Mom, Chloe and I are right here. Please, don’t do anything reckless. Please, don’t…” But it was no use. I was dead. Mom couldn’t hear my voice. The tears that welled in my spectral eyes evaporated into shimmering motes of light, vanishing before they could fall. Chloe embraced me, crying, “Sis, I can’t bear to leave Mom. I want to stay with her forever, so much, so much…” And I felt the same. As if by some invisible thread of a mother’s intuition, Mom suddenly stopped crying. Her gaze, unfocused, darted around the room. She murmured dreamily, “Ava, Chloe, is that you?” *BANG!* The door was suddenly kicked open. Mom flinched, startled, as three menacing figures barged in. Years of psychological trauma made her quickly hide the urns under the coffee table. “Ava Anderson, get your ass out here!” It was the Thorne brothers, Dominic and Leo, along with their delicate Serena Hayes. Dominic scanned the room, his face a mask of fury. “Ava, I told you to lead the reporters away, and you couldn’t even manage that simple task. What good are you to me? I might as well have adopted a dog!” “Now look! The reporters got pictures of Serena, and she’s so upset she can’t eat. This is all your fault. Get out here right now and apologize to Serena!” Leo searched room by room. Chloe clutched my hand, pressing close to me. Even in death, she trembled with terror. Mom gripped the blanket covering her legs, her eyes swimming in tears. “Ava and Chloe, they… they’re gone…” She had cried for a day and a night, her vocal cords severely damaged, each word a tearing agony. Yet, when she spoke Chloe’s and my names, her voice remained gentle and overflowing with love. Serena suddenly feigned tears, whimpering piteously. “It must be Ava and Chloe. They’ve often had to help me distract reporters, and they’ve been through so much. They must be deliberately hiding from me.” “Dominic, please don’t be mad at them. I understand why they might hate me.” Seeing her pathetic act, Dominic’s eyes softened. He reached out to wipe away tears that weren’t there. Leo returned from his search, empty-handed. Seeing Serena so distraught, he exploded. In a fit of rage, he kicked the plastic chair next to him. It slammed against the wall, cracking into pieces. “You old hag, where did you hide Chloe?!” “Serena is being so generous, why don’t you hurry up and tell her to come out and beg for forgiveness?!” Enough, Leo! Mom wasn’t lying. Chloe and I were dead. You brothers and that bitch killed us! Chloe looked at me, confused. “Sis, what did we do wrong? Why do they treat us like this?” I held her close, gently stroking the back of her head, my heart twisting with agony. The only mistake we sisters ever made was marrying those beasts! *** Chapter Two Eight years ago, Dominic and I met at a student club meeting. From that day on, he deliberately created opportunities for us to spend time together. Soon, we grew close. On the night of the Freshman Orientation Week welcome party, Dominic played and sang on stage, drawing cheers from all the girls in the audience. I watched, captivated. When the song ended, he picked up the microphone, holding a bouquet of flowers, and hurried down to me. He knelt on one knee, presenting the flowers. “Princess, may I be your prince?” The hall erupted in applause. “Say yes! Say yes!” The unexpected surprise made my mind go blank. I covered my mouth, tears of joy welling up, and took the flowers, nodding vigorously through my tears. After graduation, we married smoothly, and Chloe and Leo also tied the knot. Our marriage was good at first. It wasn’t until last year, when Serena returned from overseas, that I learned she was Dominic and Leo’s first love, the one they’d always pined for. They had loved Serena for many years, but she was always out of reach. From then on, Dominic and Leo frequently visited Serena, sometimes not even coming home at night. I even caught them both entering a hotel with Serena. Dominic explained it was for work, saying their company was planning to promote Serena heavily. As it happened more often, he became irritable, even slamming the door and staying away for weeks. Chloe tearfully confided in me that Leo no longer loved her. If she even mentioned Serena, he would hit her. I confronted Leo, but he told me I had no right to interfere in their marriage. I went to Dominic. He looked utterly impatient. “You’re already Mrs. Thorne, living a life of luxury. Isn’t that enough for you? Serena would never be so petty.” At that time, I was naive enough to believe Dominic was just momentarily misguided, that one day he would come back to his senses. After all, we had such a beautiful past. It wasn’t until Chloe and I were beaten to death in that alley by Serena’s obsessive stans, and I heard the brothers’ curses, that a harsh realization hit me. With Serena in their lives, there was no longer any room in their hearts for Chloe and me. Now, hearing Leo’s words, Mom suddenly lifted her head, her eyes burning with resentment. “Are you deaf? I just told you, Ava and Chloe are gone.” “They’re dead!” Mom shrieked, her voice raw. Her chin trembled, and her eyes were red and swollen. They say a son-in-law is like a son. Mom had always treated Dominic and Leo like her own sons. But now, facing the murderers who killed her two daughters, she could no longer suppress the hatred festering inside her. Noticing Mom’s unusual behavior today, Dominic and Leo instinctively exchanged uneasy glances, a flicker of surprise and suspicion in their eyes. “How is that possible?!” “No way!” The air thickened with tension. Mom glared at the two Thorne brothers, her lips trembling with agitated fury, about to speak. Just then, Serena knelt in front of Mom, her face a mask of false grievance. “Auntie, I know you don’t want to see me, but you shouldn’t curse your own daughters like that. I’ll leave right now, please don’t be angry.” “But Auntie…” Serena glanced at the stunned brothers, then turned back to Mom, pouting her lip, feigning hurt. “But after I leave, I hope you’ll tell Ava and Chloe to come out and properly apologize to Dominic and Leo.” “Even if your daughters were a bit thoughtless, as long as they admit their mistake, Dominic and Leo will forgive them.” “Sis! I’m going to kill her, kill her!” Chloe lunged forward, but my ethereal form phased right through Serena. Chloe slumped to the ground, a guttural cry tearing from her. “Sis!! Why us? Why couldn’t it be her?” In that moment, tears streamed from my spectral eyes. But just as I was about to speak, a resounding slap echoed through the room. I looked in astonishment, seeing Mom suddenly slap Serena across the face, shouting, “You vixen, get away from me!” “The reason they treated Ava and Chloe like that is because you ruined their relationship!” “If anyone needs to apologize, it’s them to my two daughters!” Serena tumbled to the ground, clutching her face, letting out a pained shriek. Dominic and Leo’s faces instantly turned pale with shock. They rushed to help her up. “Serena, are you okay?” Dominic clenched his fist, his gaze locking onto Mom, fierce as an enraged lion. His eyes burned with malice. I instinctively spread my hands, trying to shield Mom. “Dominic, what are you doing?!” He walked right through my translucent form, terrifying me. “Chloe, quickly, push Mom away! Hurry!” Chloe nodded frantically, scrambling to grasp the handles of the wheelchair. But her hands passed right through them. She tried several times, unable to grip anything, crying out in frustration, “Sis, Sis, I can’t hold it, I can’t hold it…” Before she finished speaking, Dominic’s open palm struck Mom’s face, knocking her off the wheelchair. Her head struck the sharp edge of the coffee table. Blood instantly bloomed. “You old hag! How dare you hit Serena?!” “No wonder Ava couldn’t tell right from wrong, always causing trouble. Turns out, the problem lies with you, old woman.” “Apologize to Serena right now!” Mom stared at him defiantly, saying nothing. Dominic exploded in a fit of rage. He grabbed Mom’s head, slamming it down, forcing her into a humiliating bow to Serena again and again. “I told you to apologize to Serena! Did you hear me? Apologize! Apologize!” I flailed wildly, trying to hit him. “Stop, Dominic, stop it!” But my hands passed through his body, again and again. Despite all my efforts, I couldn’t stop Dominic from hurting Mom. Chloe frantically jumped up and down. “Sis, what do we do? If this keeps up, Mom will be seriously hurt!” Then, she suddenly looked at Leo. *** Chapter Three Chloe rushed to Leo, falling to her knees, pleading, “Leo, I beg you, tell your brother to let go of Mom! Her health isn’t good.” She bowed her head, hitting the floor again and again. But Leo couldn’t hear her. He was holding a tissue, carefully dabbing the redness on Serena’s face, his eyes filled with tender concern. Leo glanced back at Mom, his eyes cold, burning with resentment. “Like mother, like daughter. You taught Chloe to be so deaf!” As soon as he finished speaking, Dominic strode forward. “Mom! Dominic!” Amidst my desperate screams, Dominic grabbed Mom’s hair, dragging her violently into the bathroom. Mom cried out in searing pain. Strands of white hair clung to his hand. I rushed after him, yelling desperately, “Dominic, let go! Let go! Let go!” I wanted to kill him. Six months ago, I’d caught him and Serena being intimate in their car, but I hadn’t hated him this much. Dominic turned on the bathtub faucet, his expression twisted with malice. “You old hag! I’m giving you one last chance. Call Ava back to see me.” “Otherwise, she won’t be Mrs. Thorne anymore.” Mom gritted her teeth against the searing pain in her scalp and spat at Dominic. “The biggest regret of my life was marrying Ava to a beast like you. I’d rather die today than let you see Ava.” “You don’t deserve it.” Mom absolutely loathed Dominic. Every time she saw a bruise on my face, she’d hug me and cry, blaming herself for having mobility issues and not being able to stand up for me. Now Dominic wanted to see me. Forget being dead. Even if I were alive, Mom would never agree. “You’re asking for it! Do you really think I won’t do anything to you just because you’re old? Go to hell!” Dominic slammed Mom’s head into the bathtub water. *Gurgle, gurgle!* Mom’s hands thrashed wildly, her body trembled violently, and she strained her head, desperate for air. But Dominic’s fingers, like bands of steel, clamped around Mom’s head, holding her immovably. She couldn’t break free. “Mom! Mom!” I stood right by the bathtub, watching Mom being tortured until she was barely clinging to life. But I was powerless to stop it. Oh, God, please, just let me get revenge on him. Just once. Even if it means I’m dragged to hell. Even if it means my very being is obliterated! I’d be willing! Please, God! “Mom, Mom…” Chloe reached out again and again, grabbing nothing but air. She screamed hysterically, bloodshot eyes nearly popping out of her head, on the verge of madness. Water from the bathtub splashed onto Dominic. He abruptly shoved Mom. She hit the edge of the tub with a dull thud. Her already weak body collapsed heavily onto the floor. Her face was ashen, her mouth agape, but no sound escaped. She was teetering on the brink of death. “Mom! Mom!” Chloe and I knelt before her, our voices hoarse from crying. Watching Mom like this, I could only kneel there, sobbing. “Mom, it’s all my fault. I was disloyal, marrying this beast, and causing you such suffering. I was disloyal…” Chloe and I cried until our hearts ached, hating the three of them to our very bones. But we were dead. We couldn’t do anything! Why, why?! You cruel fate, why do you do this to our family?! After almost two minutes, Mom slowly recovered, starting to cough violently, as if her lungs would come out. She spat out the water she had choked on, and her body began to convulse violently, left with barely a breath after Dominic’s torture. Chloe wept tears of joy. “Sis, Sis, Mom’s alive! She’s alive!” I let out a shaky breath. I was so afraid Mom wouldn’t make it. A raw, bald patch marred her scalp. Large clumps of white hair lay scattered beside her. Dominic had ripped these directly from Mom’s head. Mom lay on the floor, her eyes devoid of light. But when she saw the urns on the coffee table, her gaze softened with maternal love again. Those were Chloe’s and my ashes. They were the only things we sisters had left for Mom. She cherished them more than life itself. Serena followed Mom’s gaze, saw the urns, and immediately ran over, picking them up, examining them closely. “Give them back!” Mom frantically crawled forward, oblivious to her frail body. *** Chapter Four Mom painstakingly crawled to Serena. She looked up, pressing her hands together in a pleading gesture, her eyes red and swollen from crying. “Please, I beg you, give them back to me. I’m begging you…” But before she finished speaking, Serena ripped open the urn. Inside were two smaller bottles, each containing Chloe’s and my ashes. “No!” Amidst Mom’s desperate, hoarse shriek, Serena’s face contorted with disgust. “Auntie, it’s just some powder. Why are you so dramatic? Fine, since you want it so badly, I’ll give it back to you.” Serena extended the urn to Mom. Mom, trembling with excitement, reached out to take it. Just as her fingers brushed against it, Serena let go. The urn slipped past Mom’s fingertips and crashed to the floor. *CRACK!* It shattered into pieces. “No!” Mom cried out, trying to scoop up the scattered ashes. But Dominic’s grip on her head tightened, forcing her face down onto the floor, mercilessly grinding it against the ground. “Let me go! I can’t let Ava and Chloe…” Dominic’s hand lashed out, slapping Mom hard across the face. He roared, “Shut up! Stop pretending! How could that be their ashes?!” My heart turned to stone as I stared at him. Dominic and Leo were company executives; they had plenty of people working for them. A simple check would have revealed the truth. But they didn’t care enough to investigate. Mom didn’t answer Dominic, frantically trying to scoop the ashes with her hands. “Ava, Chloe, don’t be afraid. Mom is here. Mom won’t let you be without a home even in death.” “Auntie, I’m so sorry! I’ll go get a broom and sweep it up right away.” Serena’s arm brushed a switch on the wall. The ceiling fan roared to its highest setting. A powerful gust of wind immediately swept down. The handful of ashes Mom had just gathered were blown away by the strong current, slipping through her fingers. The ashes on the floor scattered everywhere. She couldn’t catch them. “No, no. My daughters, my daughters…” Mom cried out in gut-wrenching despair. At that moment, even though I was already dead, my heart twisted with excruciating pain. “Sis, Sis…” I snapped my head up, horrified to see Chloe’s body shimmering, fading with the wind. The scattering ashes meant Chloe’s soul was dissipating. “Chloe, Chloe…” I rushed forward, reaching for Chloe’s hand. But at my touch, she disintegrated like fine sand. Gone. I couldn’t hold on. Because my own ethereal body was slowly disappearing too. “Sis, we’re fading away. But I… I can’t bear to leave Mom. She’s old, and she has mobility issues. What will she do if we’re both gone…” I turned back to look at our battered mother, my heart ripped to shreds. “I can’t bear it either.” The ashes on the floor were being blown towards the window. “Ava, Chloe!” A powerful surge of maternal love ignited a surprising strength within Mom. Her body suddenly erupted with astonishing power. She crawled forward with desperate speed. Before I could react, she had already grasped the windowsill. It was dozens of stories high; jumping meant certain death. But Mom didn’t hesitate for a second. She flung herself out, reaching out to grab Chloe’s and my ashes. “Ava, Chloe, Mom is so sorry. Mom is coming to join you now…” “Mom, no!” “Mom!” Chloe and I immediately rushed to the window. My hand was almost reaching Mom. Just as I was about to touch her, my hand suddenly dissipated. A chilling cold enveloped my entire being. “Mom!” My scream ripped through the air. My ethereal body, from transparent, became real. Dominic turned, his face filled with utter astonishment, staring directly at my suddenly visible form. His eyes widened in shock, almost bursting from their sockets. “Av-Ava?!” At the same time, Leo crumpled to the floor, a pathetic heap. “Sister-in-law?!” *** Chapter Five “Dominic, what did you just shout?” Serena walked to the window, staring intently at Dominic. Dominic snapped back to reality, his expression still blank, his words fumbling. “I… I think I just saw Ava Anderson. She was standing right here.” “Here?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296756”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My first day as an intern, and the new intern who started with me claimed she was the CEO’s fiancée. Naturally, she became the department’s golden child. Our manager, Mr. Davies, was so eager to kiss up to her, he rallied everyone to chip in a thousand bucks each for a grand wedding gift on the big day. Everyone meekly agreed, except for me. I just shook my head. “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” The office erupted in laughter: “*Your* wedding? Seriously, the nerve of some people! Mrs. Sterling is right here!” “I saw her Ins full of posts crushing on Mr. Sterling. Is she, like, totally delusional?” “Seriously, she’s got some nerve, utterly shameless.” Jessica tried to smooth things over. “Let’s not be too hard on her. Maybe she needs that thousand bucks to eat.” I calmly replied, “Since you’re all so chummy with her, I assume you’re all invited to the wedding in a few days?” Jessica panicked. “How about you just transfer the money to me? The wedding tables are probably all booked. Once I’m done, Mr. Sterling and I will treat you all to dinner.” Watching her keep up the act, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they realized *I* was the one in the wedding gown.

To better blend in with my husband’s company, I decided to go undercover as an intern. During the morning meeting, Mr. Davies, our manager, mysteriously announced some big news: “Listen up, everyone, I’ve got a secret! Mrs. Sterling herself is interning here, and she’s been assigned to our department! So you all better be on your best behavior, keep your eyes open, and be proactive, got it?” Everyone answered in unison, and I felt a bit awkward, so I started to say, “Actually, you don’t really need to…” I didn’t even finish my sentence before he cut me off with a stern lecture. “What do you know? If we don’t treat Mrs. Sterling right, our whole department could be facing a major shake-up!” “Exactly! You just graduated college, right? No wonder you don’t get it. You better work hard, don’t drag us down.” “If we get on Mrs. Sterling’s good side, promotions and raises will be a piece of cake!” Remembering I was supposed to be incognito and they hadn’t recognized me, I just nodded along. “Yes, yes, I’ll listen to the manager.” After the meeting, I found an empty desk. The moment my butt hit the chair, a male voice yelled at me: “Chloe! What are you doing?! Is that a seat you can just take?!” I turned to see Mr. Davies, the department manager, yelling at me. I looked at the workstation in front of me. I wasn’t even in *his* seat, so what was the problem? Mr. Davies came over and yanked me up from the chair. “Your spot is in the back! This prime spot, with the great lighting, is for our Mrs. Sterling!” Just as I stood there, utterly confused, the intern who started with me walked over, carrying some files. She looked down at me, a smirk on her face. Mr. Davies, ever the eager beaver, had already pulled me aside and was now beaming at her. “Next time you need any files, just tell me. No need for you to bother getting them yourself.” Wasn’t this Ashley, my old classmate? I waved at her, but she completely ignored me. Ashley glanced at her cup, and Mr. Davies immediately understood. He turned to me and snapped: “What are you staring at? Go make her a coffee, now!” Thinking I shouldn’t get fired on my first day, I swallowed my pride and went to get Ashley’s coffee. “Wait,” Ashley said, haughtily crossing her legs. “I want the hand-ground coffee from downstairs. Be a dear and go get it for me.” “Sure, I’ll go now.” It was pouring rain outside, and that quick trip soaked my pants from the knees down. She took a sip, then promptly poured the coffee all over me. “I said hand-ground, didn’t I? Are you deaf?!” The commotion made the other colleagues rush over, concerned: “Ma’am, what happened? Wasn’t the coffee to your liking?” “So clumsy, I wonder how she even got hired here. Go get another one!” I forced a laugh. “How are you all so sure *she’s* Mrs. Sterling?” Chapter

I had hidden my identity because I didn’t want to flaunt my status, but I never expected someone would exploit that loophole to impersonate me. Mr. Davies rushed out of his office, yelling at me. “Are you kidding me?! Only two interns started today. If it’s not Miss Ashley, then who is it? You, some broke nobody who rides public bikes?!” So that was it. This morning, I had grabbed a public bike, afraid that if Julian and I commuted together, we’d be recognized. That’s how Ashley got her chance to pretend to be me. Ashley crossed her arms and threw a hundred bucks at me. “Broke people will always be broke. She can’t even buy a decent coffee without my money. Go on, get me another one.” I wasn’t about to put up with her. I picked up the extra coffee I’d bought and splashed it right on her. “This *is* hand-ground! Can’t you taste it?!” Ashley gasped in shock, but the colleagues behind her were even more frantic. They scrambled, grabbing tissues and wiping her down. “Chloe! Are you insane?! How dare you pour coffee all over Mrs. Sterling!” Mr. Davies knelt on the floor, wiping Ashley’s shoes. “Ma’am, please don’t be angry. Blame only Chloe, this has nothing to do with us!” “Oh my God! Isn’t Mrs. Sterling’s dress a designer haute couture from Versace? I remember this set is custom-made, it must be worth at least a few hundred grand!” Brenda stood there, gloating, looking at me. “Chloe, that’s over a million bucks! How are you going to pay for that, huh?” “Hilarious! With her salary, she’ll never be able to pay that off, even if she worked her whole life!” The office burst into laughter, Brenda practically crying with mirth. Ashley looked incredibly pleased. “Fine, I won’t make things difficult for you commoners. Just apologize to me. Kneel before me, sincerely, and say you’re sorry. Then we’ll let this go.” I was so infuriated I almost laughed. I pulled out my phone and transferred a few hundred bucks to her. “This cheap knockoff of yours? You think I need to work my whole life to pay for *that*?” Brenda got even more hyped. “Are you saying our Mrs. Sterling is wearing a fake? You bumpkin, have you ever even seen real luxury?” “Our Mrs. Sterling is Mr. Sterling’s wife! You know Mr. Sterling, right? He’s not just our company’s CEO, he’s the richest man in Westport!” I tugged on Ashley’s dress hem, turning it over to examine. “The label’s all wrong, and you’re claiming it’s over a million?” Ashley visibly panicked, her eyes darting around. “What nonsense! How could *you* tell if it’s real just by looking?” Brenda pulled at the hem to see. “It *does* look a little different…” “But I remember fashion bloggers saying this year’s new logo has some variations, and Mrs. Sterling’s is the latest style, isn’t it?” I shook my head. “Fine. I’m not going to argue with you. If you really think I owe you that much, go ahead and take your dress to the police. I’m ready whenever you are.” “You!” Mr. Davies was about to argue further, but Ashley stopped him. “Forget it. I’m getting married in a few days, I don’t want this to spoil my mood. It’s not that much money anyway.” Immediately, everyone started praising Ashley, saying how beautiful and kind-hearted she was, just letting such a large sum go. It was truly laughable. She was clearly just guilty. Mr. Davies suddenly waved his hand, stopping everyone. “Everyone, listen up! Mr. Sterling’s wedding is in a few days. How about we all chip in a thousand bucks each, and our department can give Mr. and Mrs. Sterling a combined gift?” The office fell silent. No one wanted to fork over that kind of money. With salaries of only a few thousand bucks a month, after rent and commuting, there wasn’t much left. Now they had to give a gift to the boss? “What? You don’t want to?” “Of course not! I’ll go first!” Brenda was the most eager. “Mr. Davies, I just transferred it to you!” The remaining colleagues grudgingly coughed up the cash. Mr. Davies counted the people, then turned to me. “Chloe, what’s your deal? You’re the only one in the whole department who hasn’t paid up.” This was beyond ridiculous! “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” Chapter

Mr. Davies roared with laughter, practically doubled over, tears streaming down his face. “Open your eyes! Mrs. Sterling is right here! How dare you impersonate her?!” “Are you sure *I’m* the one impersonating her?” I gave them one last chance. Ashley chuckled, coming over to pat my shoulder. “Chloe, I know you’ve always envied me since high school. Envied my good grades, how many guys chased me, and now you envy me marrying into wealth and living a rich life.” “But you can’t just claim *you’re* marrying Julian Sterling, can you?” I scoffed. “Did you even check? How do you know it’s not me?” Ashley froze for a few seconds, but Brenda jumped in before her. “Everyone knows Mr. Sterling’s wife is the heiress of the Sterling family!” Ashley quickly caught on. “Exactly! I’m the only one here named Sterling, so what do you think?” They didn’t know that I had taken my mother’s maiden name. My father’s actual surname *is* Sterling. But these people were so convinced by Ashley, it was useless to argue. She wanted to impersonate me, right? Then she only had herself to blame for what happened next. “Since you’re all giving such a generous gift, and you’re so close to ‘Mrs. Sterling,’ shouldn’t you all be invited to Mr. Sterling’s wedding?” A few people looked expectantly at Ashley, waiting for her to speak. A forced smile appeared on her face. “How about you just give me the cash gifts directly? You know, the Sterling family’s banquet isn’t ordinary. The number of guests and tables are all pre-arranged. So, here’s what we’ll do: I’ll treat you all to dinner separately next time.” I scoffed loudly. “The Sterling family can’t afford an extra table?” Ashley gnawed on her lip, trying to think of an excuse. “What do you know? Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling are busy enough. We don’t want to cause them any more trouble. So, we’ll just have dinner together next time.” After she spoke, Brenda looked at Ashley like a fawning puppy, waiting for her praise. Ashley beamed with satisfaction. “See? Brenda gets it.” Fine, let her keep up the charade. After work, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague in the department. I couldn’t wait to see their expressions when they saw *me* standing beside Julian Sterling as the bride. On the wedding day, I was resting in the bridal suite when the door suddenly burst open. Mr. Davies and Brenda stormed in. “Chloe? You didn’t even contribute to the gift, and you dare to show up?!” I popped a snack into my mouth. “It’s *my* wedding. If I don’t show up, who’s Julian Sterling going to marry?” Mr. Davies sighed in exasperation. “Seriously, what did I do to deserve a delusional fangirl like you in my department?” “Delusional? Me? Don’t you want to take a good look at the wedding setup in the main hall?…” “And she’s even wearing a wedding gown! If you’re not delusional, who is?! We’ve seen plenty of women like you, fantasizing about marrying Mr. Sterling!” Brenda cut me off. I truly marveled at their imagination. Mr. Davies waved his hand at me. “Hurry up, before anyone sees, take off that wedding dress.” “Exactly! Wearing a wedding dress, trying to steal the spotlight… Are you trying to get our entire department fired?!” I was about to say something when I saw Ashley walk in. Brenda immediately ran to her to complain. “Ma’am! Look, Chloe is insane! She actually dared to wear a wedding dress to your and Mr. Sterling’s wedding!” Chapter

“Ma’am, we didn’t let her go out. The VIPs outside haven’t seen her. Please, please, don’t tell Mr. Sterling.” Ashley crossed her arms, scanning me up and down. “Chloe, I knew you were always trying to compete with me. Turns out you were eyeing my husband all along.” I countered, “Ma’am, isn’t it *your* wedding today? What, did Mr. Sterling and the Sterling family not prepare a couture gown for you?” “I, I was just coming for my hair and makeup, wasn’t I?” Ashley stammered. “Everyone, come with me. There are no more private rooms at the Grand Imperial Hotel. I’ve arranged for everyone to have a meal at the hotel next door. Let’s all go there. Especially you, Chloe, don’t cause any more trouble here.” Ashley was clearly feeling guilty. She was afraid things would get out of hand, so she wanted to get these people out of there quickly. “Since we’re already here, why don’t you go say hello to Mr. Sterling?” I asked. Ashley grew agitated. “My husband is very busy! Let’s go, now!” Seeing her anxious made me want to laugh. “What are you laughing at?! We haven’t dealt with you yet! Ma’am, we can’t let her walk out dressed like this. How about we just strip her of that wedding dress?” Brenda suggested. “You wouldn’t dare.” “What wouldn’t I dare do?! If Mr. Sterling sees this, our entire department will be in big trouble!” Brenda said, then lunged at me, trying to pull off my headpiece. My golden tiara was brutally yanked off, my scalp stinging with pain. “Brenda, are you crazy?! I told you this is *my* wedding! Ashley is a fraud, *I* am…” I didn’t even finish my sentence when Ashley slapped me. “You’re right! Strip her of that wedding dress, and then throw her out!” At her words, Mr. Davies’ repulsive gaze lingered on me, full of malicious intent and offense. I recoiled, trying to warn him off with my eyes, but he showed no sign of stopping. “The lady’s orders, I have to obey them, don’t I? Who told you to wear a wedding dress to your doom?” My mind raced, frantically trying to figure out how to escape this terrible situation. I wanted to scream for help, but Mr. Davies quickly covered my mouth, holding it shut. “Go ahead and scream! Everyone here works for the lady. Who’s going to help you? You might as well just take off your clothes quietly!” As he spoke, he reached for my waist. The wedding dress was strapless, easily torn off. I clung to it with all my might, struggling desperately to break free, but the strength difference was too great. I was pinned to the ground, unmoving. Just then, the bridal suite door opened again. “Ma’am, your…” Mrs. Miller saw the scene and dropped the tray she was carrying with a clatter. I saw my savior and screamed at her, “Mrs. Miller, tell them who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is!” Brenda laughed. “Does she even need to ask? I think you’ve lost your mind! Mrs. Miller, this lowlife dared to wear a wedding dress and cause trouble. Just tell her who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is, and make her give up!” “Exactly! This person has been causing trouble for our Mrs. Sterling at the company. We absolutely cannot let her off today!” Mrs. Miller stood there, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Ashley. She looked at Ashley, as if she were afraid of something. Chapter “Mrs. Miller, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Today is my wedding, and I’ll be taking these colleagues to another hotel in a moment.” Mrs. Miller bit her lip, her eyes on me filled with a strange mix of confusion, guilt, and reluctance.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296772”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I was my father’s illegitimate daughter, my sole purpose in life for two decades was to be a walking bone marrow bank for my half-sister. To make me willingly donate my bone marrow for the last time, my father promised me a fiancé. “Pick one. After the surgery, he’ll take you away, and you’ll never want for anything again.” I chose Julian Hayes, who had always been the kindest to me. He was my sister’s attending physician. But the second before I was wheeled into the operating room, he drained my life-saving blood. I was abandoned in the morgue, that bag of blood transfused into another woman’s body. “Sierra, don’t be afraid. I used that illegitimate girl’s blood to save your life. You are my whole world.” Every minute, my body temperature dropped by one degree. 240 minutes later, my blood congealed, and my soul froze. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day I chose my fiancé. In front of my father, the nine gilded résumés still lay there. This time, I bypassed Julian and picked the man from his stack of business documents – the rumored ruthless and heartless arch-rival. But my father scoffed, “Him? He’s practically on his deathbed.”

The man in the photo was Hunter Thorne, with sharp eyes and a fierce gaze. He was the capital’s newest business magnate, and also the Sterling family’s sworn enemy in business. My father was stunned. “Aurora, what are you playing at? You’ve always liked Dr. Hayes, haven’t you?” I squeezed my hands tightly, the pain keeping me grounded. Julian Hayes, a highly respected and compassionate attending physician, who had always been so caring and gentle towards me. In my past life, that very gentleness was what dragged me to hell. “Him.” My father frowned, his eyes filled with disdain. “Aurora, don’t act like a child. Who is Hunter Thorne? Some unknown nobody who appeared out of nowhere, does he really think he’s good enough to marry into the Sterling family?” He picked up the eight résumés, pulled Julian’s out, and pushed it towards me. “Dr. Hayes comes from a good family, he’s been devoted to your sister, and he’s always been patient with you. He’s the best choice.” Oh yes, so good that he personally drained my blood to save his beloved. I met my father’s impatient gaze. “I choose Hunter Thorne.” My father’s face darkened completely. He slammed the résumés onto the table. “Are you deliberately trying to defy me? Fine, I’ll tell you, forget about it! Hunter Thorne can’t beat me. His company is on the verge of bankruptcy, and he’s practically dying, stuck in some isolated hospice, just waiting to die!” My father’s assistant knocked on the door and entered at just the right moment, whispering a few words in his ear. After listening, my father revealed a cruel sneer. “Did you hear that? He checked into a private hospice last month, suffering from an incurable disease. Even the doctors gave up on him. You want to pick a dying man? Do you want to be a widow right away?” “I’m not choosing anyone.” I abruptly stood up, my heart seizing in my chest. As I walked out of the study, a hand suddenly grabbed my wrist. I turned around. It was Julian Hayes. He was wearing a white lab coat, his eyes behind the gold-rimmed glasses as gentle as ever. “Aurora, your sister said she wants to see you.” Behind him stood my ‘good sister,’ Chloe Sterling. She was dressed in a pristine white hospital gown, her face pale, her body so frail it seemed a gust of wind could blow her over. She looked at me timidly, her eyes reddening. “Sister, don’t be mad at Dad…”

Chloe’s tears flowed freely, and she leaned weakly against Julian. “It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for my weak body, you wouldn’t have to suffer so much.” Julian tenderly supported her, his gaze at me tinged with reproach. “Aurora, your sister isn’t well. Can’t you just be more understanding with her?” In the past, I would have softened and apologized immediately. I shook off his hand, my gaze coldly sweeping over both of them. “Something you need?” Chloe bit her lip, walking towards me. “Sister, that heirloom jade pendant Mom left you, I heard it has a soothing, healing effect. Could I borrow it for a few days? You know my illness, I’m always anxious. If I wear it, maybe I can get some good sleep.” That blood-red jade pendant, smooth and warm to the touch, with a subtle crimson glow within – it was my mother’s only keepsake. “No.” I refused coldly. Chloe’s face drained of all color. “Sister, are you still blaming me? Blaming me for taking your blood, your bone marrow…” She choked on her sobs. “But I didn’t want to either… Julian, I… I feel so dizzy…” Her body went limp, and she swayed into Julian’s arms. Julian immediately held her, anxiously checking her condition, then looked up and glared at me. “Aurora! Do you have to provoke your sister like this?! She’s about to undergo surgery! Can’t you be more sensible?” I scoffed. “Sensible? Does that mean I have to give her my life to be ‘sensible’?” I turned and walked away, not bothering to watch their act any longer. Back in my room, I immediately started searching. Dressing table, jewelry box, wardrobe… Nowhere. That blood-red jade pendant was gone. I rushed out of the room and grabbed a maid. “Where’s the jade pendant from my room?” The maid stammered, “Miss Aurora… Miss Chloe said… said you agreed, and she took it to wear for a few days…” All the blood in my body instantly rushed to my head. My ‘good sister,’ indeed. She didn’t even bother to pretend anymore, she just took it. I kicked open Chloe’s bedroom door. She was sitting on the sofa, showing off my blood-red jade pendant to Sierra Maxwell, who had come to visit her. “Sierra, look, this is what my mom left me, isn’t it beautiful? My sister treasures it the most, but the moment I asked, she still obediently gave it to me.”

Sierra touched the jade pendant with an envious expression. “It’s truly beautiful, Chloe. You’re so lucky to have such a loving family.” Chloe was pleased by her words, the smile on her face growing even more smug. “Of course. After all, the entire Sterling family depends on my life.” The moment she finished speaking, she saw me standing at the doorway. The smile on her face instantly froze. Sierra was also startled, quickly standing up and looking at me uneasily. “Give me back my things.” I held out my hand. Chloe snapped back to reality, immediately putting on a tearful expression, clutching the jade pendant tightly to her chest. “Sister, I just… I just wanted to borrow it, to get some of Mom’s good fortune, to bless my surgery…” She cried, looking towards Julian, who had rushed over. “Julian, please, tell my sister, I didn’t mean to take her things…” Julian immediately stood in front of Chloe, frowning at me. “Aurora, it’s just a jade pendant, isn’t it? Do you have to make such a fuss? She’s about to have surgery, can’t you just let her be at peace?” “I’ll say it again,” I stared intensely at the hypocritical face behind him. “Give me back my property.” “You!” Julian was enraged by my attitude. “How can you be so unreasonable!” He reached out to grab my wrist, but I dodged him. In the struggle, Chloe shrieked, “Ah!” and fell backward. The jade pendant she was clutching to her chest flew out of her hand, then hit the marble floor with a loud “CRACK.” It shattered into several pieces. Chloe looked at the fragments on the floor and let out a piercing wail. Julian spun around, saw the broken jade pendant, and violently shoved me away. “Aurora! Are you happy now?!” I stumbled back a few steps, my lower back hitting the doorframe hard. Just then, my father, Robert Sterling, rushed over, drawn by the noise, and saw the mess on the floor. He saw Chloe, who was crying herself almost to unconsciousness, and the broken jade pendant on the floor. Without a word, he raised his hand and gave me a resounding slap across the face. “You unruly brat! Apologize to your sister!” My face burned with pain, my ears ringing. I looked at the three faces before me and suddenly smiled. “Alright.” I bent down, picked up the largest piece of the shattered jade, then walked to Chloe. “I’m sorry.” As I spoke, I suddenly raised my hand.

No one reacted fast enough. Chloe instinctively closed her eyes. But I simply smashed that piece of jade onto the coffee table in front of her. A jarring crash. “I don’t want this anymore.” I looked at her pale face. “Along with the life I owe you, once the surgery is done, we’ll be completely even. From now on, we owe each other nothing.” With that, I turned and left. Back in my room, I locked the door and slid down to the floor, leaning against the doorframe. My phone rang. “Miss Aurora, we’ve found something. Mr. Thorne is indeed publicly claiming to be gravely ill, but he’s not in any public hospice. Our people traced his whereabouts to a private estate on the outskirts of the city that’s not open to the public.” “He’s not sick,” I immediately concluded. “He was poisoned.” Only that could explain why he suddenly became “gravely ill.” Three days later, I used the excuse of visiting a secluded spiritual retreat to shake off the Sterling family’s watch, driving alone to that estate. The mountain road was winding, the night deeply dark. Just as I was nearing my destination, my car suddenly stalled. Several blinding headlights flared from behind, and a few SUVs surrounded my car. A car door opened, and a group of men in black stepped out. Leading them was, strikingly, Julian Hayes. “Aurora, it’s so late. Where are you going?” He pulled open my car door, holding a syringe in his hand. “Your sister’s condition has suddenly worsened, and she urgently needs a blood transfusion. Come back with me and obediently donate your blood.” I gripped the steering wheel tightly. “I’m not going.” “That’s not up to you.” He sneered, giving a signal to the men behind him. Just as they were about to rush forward, a deep male voice suddenly echoed from the darkness. “She said she’s not going.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296788”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic

After my brother’s death, my parents forced me to undergo plastic surgery to look like him and live his life. “Your brother was a genius. His fiancée and research project can’t just disappear. You have to take over,” they insisted. “You’ve never amounted to anything anyway. Living his life is a windfall for you!” They seemed to forget that I had my own name and life. My personal records were erased, yet my parents felt completely justified. “If you’re a good son, you’ll understand our position.” “We’re doing this for your own good. Don’t be ungrateful.” Everyone thought I would break down and run away. Instead, I laughed. “He was a genius? Fine, I’ll take his place.” Later, wearing my brother’s face, I signed a high-stakes agreement with his former rival and even conducted more daring experiments in his name. “Son, don’t do anything rash. It could ruin our family…” my parents pleaded. I looked at them calmly. “I understand now.” I gripped the will my brother left behind and silently fed it into the paper shredder.

The face in the mirror was both familiar and strange. It was Liam’s face. My twin brother’s face. Three months ago, Liam had jumped from the roof of his research lab without leaving a word. A week ago, I removed the last bandage from my face, becoming him. “Perfect. Looks just like him,” my father, Frank, said excitedly behind me. My mother fussed with the ill-fitting suit I wore. Her voice trembled with barely contained excitement. “Liam, don’t be nervous. Rachel will be here soon.” My name is Lucas, not Liam. But now, no one remembers Lucas anymore. My identity, my education records, every trace of my existence had been quietly erased a week ago. “She’s here,” my father announced as the sound of high heels echoed from outside. A woman in a Chanel suit walked in. When she saw my face, her eyes instantly welled up with tears. This was Rachel, my brother’s fiancée, a woman as outstanding in family background as she was in beauty. “Liam…” she whispered, throwing herself into my arms. Her body shook slightly. I could smell her expensive perfume. My body stiffened, unsure how to respond. My father immediately stepped forward, patting my back with satisfaction. “Rachel, dear, you see? Liam is fine. He just had a little accident, hurt his brain, forgot some things. But he’s all better now.” “Your engagement, his project, everything can continue as planned.” Rachel lifted her tear-stained face, examining me closely. “Really… you remember everything now?” My mother pinched my arm hard. Suppressing the pain, I mimicked my brother’s smile – warm yet distant. “Rachel, it’s been a while.” Rachel’s eyes flickered for a moment, then broke into a smile. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.” My parents exchanged relieved glances. They took Rachel to the study, discussing how to restart my brother’s “Genesis” project. I stood alone in the spacious living room, surrounded by Liam’s trophies and awards on the walls. He had always been a genius, the pride of our parents. And I? I was the twin of a genius, the shadow no one cared about in his brilliant light. We had the same face, but walked completely different paths in life. He was the star, I was utterly ordinary. I thought we would continue like this forever. Until he decisively jumped from the research building he had built with his own hands. My parents’ world collapsed. Then, they placed that fallen sky on my shoulders. My phone vibrated. It was a message from my only friend. “Lucas, where have you disappeared to?” I stared at those two words – my name – and slowly typed a reply. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” Then, I blocked him. From today on, Lucas no longer exists in this world. There is only Liam.

I was “escorted” to my brother’s company, to the core lab of the “Genesis” project. Everything here bore Liam’s mark. The employees looked at me with relief, as if they had survived a disaster. “Mr. Lane, you’re finally back!” “With you here for the project, we have our cornerstone again!” My father, Frank, stood beside me, basking in these compliments as if I really were his resurrected genius son. “Liam’s just recovered. Please bear with him,” he said, pushing me towards the main console. “Son, go on. Show everyone what you’ve got.” I stared at the complex data streams before me, my mind blank. I had majored in history in college. I knew nothing about quantum physics. Just then, the lab door was kicked open. A man in a black jacket strode in, followed by several aggressive-looking board members. The man was tall, with sharp features and a rebellious smirk. Sean Frost. My brother’s biggest rival in life, and the only madman in the industry who could compete with him. “Liam Lane, heard you’ve come back from the dead. I’m here to pay my respects to the deceased,” Sean’s gaze fell on my face like a knife. My father’s face darkened. “Sean! Watch your words!” Sean sneered, ignoring him completely, and walked straight up to me. He reached out and roughly grabbed my chin, forcing me to look up. “Let me see. Did the fall fry your brain, or just give you a new set of balls?” His fingers were cold, his grip strong. Rachel immediately rushed over, slapping his hand away. “Sean! Don’t go too far!” Sean glanced at her, his eyes ambiguous. “Rachel, no need to be so formal between us, right?” Rachel’s face paled for a moment, but she quickly regained composure. “Please show some respect.” My father was shaking with anger, pointing at Sean. “You… you! Security!” “Dad.” I suddenly spoke up. My voice wasn’t loud, but it silenced everyone. I gently pushed away Rachel’s protective hand and calmly met Sean’s gaze. “Mr. Frost, it’s been a while.” My parents were stunned. Sean raised an eyebrow, seeming surprised. “Oh? You still recognize me?” He leaned in close, lowering his voice so only I could hear. “When Liam hit the ground, his head splattered like a rotten melon. Yours… seems stitched up quite nicely.” My heart clenched violently. He straightened up, his voice returning to normal. “Your ‘Genesis’ project is nothing but a scam. I’m here today to expose you!” He threw a document onto the main console. “This is a joint agreement between me and the board. Either you produce results within three months to prove your theory, or you and your family get the hell out of this building!” My father clutched his chest, coughing violently. “You… you’re taking advantage of our misfortune!” “Dad, don’t get excited.” I steadied him, but my eyes never left Sean. I smiled and picked up the agreement. “Alright, I’ll sign it.”

The news that I had signed the high-stakes agreement spread like wildfire through the company. Everyone thought I had gone mad. My father was so angry his blood pressure spiked, and he was admitted to the hospital that night. In the hospital room, he pointed at my nose and cursed. “Ungrateful child! Are you trying to drive our family to ruin?” “Even your brother wouldn’t dare sign such an agreement with Sean when he was alive. Who do you think you are!” My mother wiped her tears beside him. “Liam, tell mom the truth. Did you really… hurt your brain? We can beg Sean to withdraw the agreement…” “Beg?” I let out a cold laugh. “When did you ever see Liam Lane beg anyone?” That sentence left them speechless. Liam was a genius, a prodigy. He had his pride. He never bowed his head. My mother stared at me blankly, a hint of confusion in her eyes. “You… you just now, you really looked like your brother.” My father fell silent too. Just then, Rachel walked in carrying a fruit basket. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, she spoke up tactfully. “Uncle, Aunt, don’t blame Liam. I believe in him. He must have his own plans.” She walked to my side and linked her arm with mine, her posture intimate. “Liam, I’ll always support you.” That night, I returned to my brother’s spacious apartment. Rachel followed me in, saying it was to “take better care of me”. She hugged me from behind, her warm breath on my neck. “Liam, it’s been so long… since you held me.” Her hands began to wander inappropriately over my body. I suddenly grabbed her wrist. “I’m tired.” Rachel’s body stiffened. She looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of inquiry and dissatisfaction. “You weren’t like this before.” I broke free from her embrace and walked straight to the study. “I have a lot of project work to deal with.” I closed the study door, shutting her out. Leaning against the door, I waited until I heard no more movement outside before letting out a sigh of relief. I turned on my brother’s computer. It was full of data on the “Genesis” project, dense and overwhelming, like an insurmountable mountain. I couldn’t understand any of it. But I knew my brother’s secret must be hidden in here somewhere. I tried several passwords my brother commonly used, but they all showed errors. I stared at the login screen with my brother’s confident photo, suddenly remembering something. Many years ago, when we brothers were still close, he had once pointed at the night sky and said to me. “Lucas, look. That dimmest star, one day, I’ll make it shine brighter than the sun.” That was a secret between us. I typed the name of that star into the password field. “Nyx”. The computer screen lit up, entering the desktop. But what I saw wasn’t research data for “Genesis”. It was an encrypted video file and a hidden folder. The folder was named “Thief”.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296805”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

In the fifth year of my mating to Alpha Manfred,his childhood sweetheart, Jessica Bell, was splashed across every tabloid in the territory. Pregnant. Unmated. And accused of shattering another couple’s bond. The rumors hit like a rogue’s ambush. But it was his reaction that truly gutted me. “Jessica’s father once saved me, She has no pack, no family left. Everything she’s accomplished… she clawed her way to it. Alone.” My fingers clenched tighter around the pregnancy test tucked away in my purse. “And the only way to protect her now,” he continued, not even looking me in the eye, “is for me to marry her. To claim the pup as mine.” A muscle twitched in my jaw. Goddess, my wolf let out a low growl inside me, begging to lunge forward and leave claw marks down his perfectly tragic face. “And what about me?” I asked, barely more than a whisper. My voice cracked. The Silver Claw Pack and the Eclipse Pack—my pack—had been allies for over a century. “How do I explain this sudden rejection to my parents? To my pack? To the elders? They know we’re mate bond.” Alpha Manfred inhaled sharply. “Just tell them it was always a business arrangement. That there was no real love between us.” My wolf bared her teeth at that. No real love? Was that what last night was? His hands in my hair, his scent tangled with mine, his whispered promise that I was his forever—was that part of the business contract? He had the audacity to look away. “Once the media frenzy dies down, I’ll come for you. I’ll bring you back to Silver Claw and give you the grand wedding you deserve.” I stared at him. This Alpha—was seriously telling me he was going to marry another she-wolf, claim her pup, let me get torn apart by pack gossip and speculation, and then what? he’s offering me his marriage like it’s some kind of charity? “You’ll come for me?” I repeated slowly. “After you’re done playing house with your mistress and her bastard pup?” His jaw tightened. “Don’t say that.” “Why not?” I snapped. My wolf surged to the surface, eyes glowing faintly. “Oh right, because Jessica’s the victim here, right? Unmated, pregnant, abandoned by the whole world except you. Must be hard carrying a pup with no one to protect you.” He didn’t respond. “And meanwhile,” I said, stepping closer “you’re leaving me to face a scandal you created.” My fingers twitched, aching to throw the pregnancy test at him. But I didn’t. I laughed. For three years, I had been the one he discarded—over and over. And now, even my marriage was to be sacrificed for her sake. It hit me then, sharp and cold: Alpha Manfred had never loved me. There was no reason for the one who loved to always be the one who suffered.

If love existed at all, then the Moon Goddess was having a hell of a laugh at my expense. “Where is Jessica?” I asked, folding my arms and leveling my mate with a look sharp. “I want to meet her.” It was twisted way. My mating to Alpha Manfred began because of her, and now it would end because of her. She had haunted my entire bond and I’d never even seen her face. “The media is tearing her apart right now. She can’t show her face.” Alpha Manfred’s voice was low, deliberate. “Besides, she’s… fragile. And with the pregnancy, it’s not a good time for you two to meet.” I looked up, catching the unmistakable protectiveness in his expression. Was he afraid I’d hurt his precious childhood sweetheart? Three years of marriage, and this was the impression I left in his eyes. My wolf stirred beneath my skin, low and unsettled. She didn’t like being forgotten. Or replaced. “You think I’ll hurt her?” I asked flatly. He flinched like I’d slapped him with my claws out. “No. Of course not.” I raised a brow. “Because it kinda sounds like you’re afraid I’ll bite.” “Emily,” he sighed, like I was being difficult. Like he was the victim here. “This is temporary. I promised I’d come back for you once things settle down.” My stomach twisted. Temporary. As if our bond was something you could pause—like a treaty or a press conference. “Look,” he said, softening his tone like he always did when he knew he was losing ground. “Jessica isn’t like you. You have Eclipse Pack behind you. She has no one. No pack. No bloodline. Just me.” I stared at him, stunned. So now, if I refused, I was the unreasonable one? Alpha Manfred seemed to realize his own harshness. He stepped closer, reaching for me—but I moved away. How many times had this happened before? Every time he neglected me for Jessica’s sake, he would soften afterward, coaxing me with sweet words and empty promises. And every time, I forgave him. Too easily. Too often. I took a slow breath. The Eclipse Pack was strong. My father, our Beta, and even the elders believed I’d brought honor to the bloodline when I mated with the Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack. Our union had formed an alliance as old as the moon, and yet here I was—one press scandal away from being traded like a pawn on a chessboard. “Then I want to hear it from her,” I said, voice calm but firm. “She says she wants you? She says this is what she wants for her pup? Then she can come to me and say it. To my face.” “Emily…” Manfred looked tired now. “Do this for me. Please. Her father—he saved my life during the rogue uprising. I swore on his deathbed I’d protect her.” My wolf huffed. Mine, she growled. We marked him. We chose him. And now he was throwing away the mate bond because of a promise made under duress? Before I could snap back, a voice floated into the room like a cold breeze. “Luna Emily… please help me.” I turned, spine stiffening on instinct. There she was—Jessica Bell in the flesh. The infamous she-wolf with the soft curls and trembling lip. Her face was pale, tear-streaked, and suspiciously flawless for someone “torn apart by the media.” “I just want my pup to be born without shame,” she whispered, stepping into the room. Alpha Manfred was at her side before I could blink, his hand already at the small of her back. “What are you doing here?” he asked, voice low and panicked. “The doctor said you needed rest.” “You were gone so long…” Jessica sniffled, eyes wide and glassy as she gripped his arm like a lifeline. “I was afraid Luna Emily wouldn’t agree.” I said nothing. My fingers curled around the edge of the chair. My claws itched beneath my skin, begging for release. “The baby is innocent,” Jessica continued, her voice trembling just enough to seem sincere. “I don’t want him labeled a bastard. And if he doesn’t have a proper name, my career—my entire life—will be ruined.” Her tears fell like they’d rehearsed the drop in the mirror. She even had the nerve to tilt her head at me, pleading. “As a woman, how can you be so heartless?” My wolf bared her teeth behind my eyes. “And the real father?” I asked, arching a brow. “What, too busy to help out with the fallout? If you’re that worried about your pup’s name, maybe try the one who actually sired him.” Jessica flinched, her hand moving instinctively to her stomach. “He… he doesn’t want the pup.” Her voice cracked. “He abandoned us. Luna Emily, I have no choice. The internet is hunting me. I’m trending in five packs. If I don’t name the father soon, the backlash will destroy me.” “And you chose my mate to be your savior?” I asked, coldly. “You were born into wealth,” she shot back, the helpless tone slipping for just a second. “You’re the Eclipse Pack princess. Even if you divorce, no one would dare judge you. But me? I’m nothing without a name. My parents are gone. The father disappeared. Alpha Manfred is all I have.” I watched her, unmoved. Chapter 2 Jessica must have known I wouldn’t yield so easily this time. After all, this wasn’t like before. Not like those nights when she suddenly fell ill and needed Alpha Manfred to rush her to the hospital. Not like our anniversary, when she claimed she was being stalked and needed Alpha Manfred by her side. Three years of marriage, and Alpha Manfred had broken countless promises to me—all for her. Honestly, if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was allergic to me and immune to shame. Three years. Three full moons times thirty-six. That’s how long I’d stood by and watched Alpha Manfred sprint to her side like a good little lapdog every time she whimpered. At first, I kept my mouth shut. I was the good mate. The supportive Luna. Later, I just… stopped caring. I’d growled. I’d snapped. I’d even thrown a chair once. But his response was always the same. “I told you before we married—Jessica is the daughter of my benefactor. I promised to take care of her. You said you didn’t mind.” Mind? Oh no, I adored being the third wheel in my own marriage. And stupid me, I thought “take care of her” meant maybe hiring a maid. Or helping pay her rent. Not dropping everything—including his Luna—every time she cried wolf. The irony? She wasn’t his fate mate, I was the one,his fate mate.  Flashback My first meeting with Alpha Manfred had been nothing short of a fairy tale—a damsel in distress rescued by a knight. I fell irrevocably in love. He didn’t even remember. I was thirteen when I fell for Alpha Manfred. Head over tail. It started with a fight with my older brother, Damon. He said I was too soft to be a warrior. So naturally, I had to prove I can do it. How? By sneaking off alone into the forest to hunt a rabbit. Yes. A rabbit. I did catch the rabbit, by the way. Snagged it right by the ears. But in my proud, triumphant victory dance, I realized one minor issue. I was completely, absolutely, and hopelessly lost. I tried to mind-link my family, but all I got was static. By sundown, I was freezing, scared out of my fur, and sitting under a tree hugging my knees like a sad little pup. I cried. I howled. I cursed my brother. And then— A miracle happened. A massive black wolf appeared, silent and still. Was he a threat? Would he attack me? Hands trembling, I gripped my dagger and pushed myself up, legs wobbling as I faced him. He took one look at me, then shifted—fluidly, gracefully—into a man. When he stepped from the shadows, the dying sunlight wrapped around him like a divine omen. In that moment, I believed in fate. Tall. Broad shoulders. blond hair. A pair of green eyes that could slice straight through you. To ease my nerves, he introduced himself. “Manfred Alvarado, futher Alpha of the Silver Claw Pack.” I didn’t know him, but I knew of his pack. Silver Claw—one of our Eclipse Pack’s allied packs. Still cautious, I gave only my first name. “Emily. I’m from Eclipse Pack.” He shifted back into wolf form and lowered himself. “Hop on. You’re in Silver Claw territory. If your people try to track your scent here, they won’t find you until next moonrise.” he didn’t smell like a threat. So I climbed on. He ran with the power of a seasoned Alpha—fast, smooth, effortless. And to keep me from panicking, he started talking through our link. Said he was out picking moonflowers for his benefactor’s daughter. She had some kind of stress rash and apparently moonflower essence was a miracle cure. How sweet. How gallant. How utterly whipped. Somewhere along the way, lulled by his voice and the steady rhythm of his stride, I fell asleep. When I woke up, we were at the Eclipse border. His jacket was draped around me. And he stood nearby, leaning against a streetlamp, cigarette glowing between his fingers as he waited for my pack to show up. A wolf-shaped shadow keeping watch. He didn’t say goodbye. He just nodded once, then vanished into the trees like a ghost. I never told my family about that night. But from that moment on, I tracked every whisper of the Silver Claw Pack. Read every article. Watched every broadcast. Chapter 3 Five years later, Silver Claw Pack sought to expand into Mississippi and proposed a marriage alliance with Eclipse Pack. At the time, I was preparing to study abroad. My parents refused outright. But when I learned from my brother that the business partner was the Silver Claw Pack, I thought it was fate. I gave up my academic plans and convinced my family to agree—on one condition: It had to be Alpha Manfred. My brother objected. First, the project didn’t require a marriage alliance. Second, Silver Claw Pack was rife with uncles and cousins vying for power. Third, Alpha Manfred’s mother had passed away young, leaving him no backing. Even with talent and ambition, climbing to the top would be an uphill battle. They didn’t understand why I was so determined to marry him. Eventually, they gave in. My mother even smiled wistfully and said, “With your charm, your background, your beauty—even in an arranged marriage, he’ll fall for you sooner or later.” Yeah. I was young. Hopeful. Borderline delusional. But the night of the engagement party? It felt like fate was finally throwing me a bone. I still remember the way Alpha Manfred looked at me across the crowd—his eyes wide, stunned. Or, more accurately, like he’d just found something he didn’t know he’d lost. “…It’s you?” he said, voice barely above a whisper. By then, I was eighteen. Taller. Stronger. Still a little reckless. But in that moment, when our eyes met— My wolf let out a wild, joyful howl in my mind. “Mate.” My heart flipped. My skin tingled. The bond crackled to life like lightning under my bones. I stepped closer, smiled, and echoed his words. “It’s me.” Then added softly, “My mate. My fiancé.” He smiled the entire night. And not the polite, politician smile. No, this was the kind that reached his eyes. The kind that made me believe—this is real. And it was. For a while. After the wedding, we couldn’t stop talking. We stayed up late swapping stories—he had a secret love for 80s werewolf flicks; I admitted I used to sneak into comic conventions in glamor. I learned to cook his favorite steak-and-potato stew; he braved crowds to hold my hand at anime expos. It was awkward and hilarious and weirdly perfect. Love bloomed like it was spring inside us. I believed—truly—that our story would play out like a romance drama. Marriage of alliance becomes love. Alpha and Luna rule side by side, powerful and inseparable. Then came my birthday. He missed it. For Jessica. That was the first crack. Then came our anniversary. We had an entire overseas trip planned—moonstone beaches, wolf-surfing lessons, a luxury cave spa. Gone. Missed. Again—for Jessica. Even Harvest Festival. He didn’t show. Because Jessica needed him. At first, he lied. I’d ask, “Where were you?” He’d mumble something vague. “Work. Meeting. Pack emergency.” Then one day, the media got sloppy. A photo made its way into the headlines. Blurry. Grainy. Just the back of a man’s head walking beside Jessica through a hotel lobby. But I’d know that head anywhere. Furious, I stormed home to my parents’ estate. My wolf paced in circles, heartbroken and growling low in my chest. Alpha Manfred arrived the next day. Disheveled. Exhausted. Red-eyed. “Emily,” he rasped, voice cracking, “I love you. Jessica’s nothing more than a sister to me.” I said nothing. He stepped closer. “Her father—he saved me once. When I was a pup. Save me out of the Rogue Den. Died from his injuries. On his deathbed, I swore I’d protect her.” His voice broke. “You understand, don’t you?” I did. And like a fool, I forgave him. Too easily. After that, it became routine. Jessica calls, Alpha Manfred runs. I wait. He comes back. Says he loves me. I forgive. Each time, he leaned on my love like it was a shield for his choices. Each time, I gave in, thinking maybe—just maybe—next time, he’d choose me. Now, I remember my mother’s warning—the one I brushed aside like it was just old-fashioned advice: “Emily, love has no room for a third person. Not family. Not debts. You might endure being second once or twice… but can you bear it for a lifetime?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296821”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

After my wife Olivia tortured me for the 98th time because of Liam, I was completely heartbroken and accepted the pursuit of her best friend, Scarlett. After a night of passion with Scarlett, she promised to help me fake my death and marry her abroad with a brand new identity. After taking the fake death pill Scarlett gave me, I woke up prematurely in the coffin. I couldn’t move my body at all, but I could hear Scarlett talking to someone outside the coffin. “Ms. Shen, you’ve made Olivia torture Lucas and then pretended to save him. You’ve completely gained his trust. Why do you still need to arrange for him to fake his death and be buried?” “Only by doing this will the Wilson family believe he’s dead. Then Liam’s position as the heir will be secure, and no one will ever mention that he’s an illegitimate child again.” The other person hesitantly asked, “Won’t it be too long to dig him out after seven days when you and Liam hold your wedding?” “The fake death pill’s effect can last for five days. I’ve already had people put water, food, and an oxygen tank in the coffin. He won’t die.”

In the darkness, a sense of suffocation overwhelmed me. My heart was gripped with pain. So, it was Scarlett who made my wife torture me, and then she came to pursue me, making me agree to fake my death and give up everything to be with her. This woman who said she would marry me was going to hold a wedding with Liam after burying me alive. But now I’ve woken up early, and there’s no water or food in the coffin at all! The cramped space made it hard to breathe. Through the wooden board, Scarlett’s voice sounded muffled but pierced through me like a sword, pinning me to the coffin. “When Liam’s identity as an illegitimate child was exposed years ago, his engagement to Olivia became his brother Lucas’s. Liam lost love, so I want to help him gain power and status. I promised Liam I would be his backbone.” “As for Lucas, to punish him all these years, I had Olivia torture him physically. Now letting him leave is a kind of relief. He loves me so much; he’ll forever be immersed in the beautiful dream I’ve woven for him.” The person beside her hesitated and said reluctantly: “But Lucas doesn’t know that faking death requires actually being buried. Burying a living person underground for seven whole days is too risky. And Mr. Wilson is so afraid of the dark and has claustrophobia. What if something happens in the coffin…” “It won’t!” Scarlett’s words left no room for argument: “The Wilson family is very cautious; we must make it look completely real. It’s only seven days, and he’ll actually only be conscious for two days. What could happen? Besides, Olivia agreed to lock him in a closet after every beating. He should be used to it by now.” “Liam has waited five years for this opportunity. We must ensure everything goes perfectly. After everything is settled and I marry Liam, we’ll get a fake marriage certificate abroad to fool Lucas. We’ll treat him well and make sure he can never return to the country.” As the footsteps faded away, I couldn’t make a sound no matter how hard I tried. The fake death pill kept my mind clear, but I couldn’t move my body or speak. My claustrophobia kicked in. I bit my tongue to force myself to stay calm, but my back was already soaked with sweat. In the pitch-black darkness, I was reminded of the five years I’ve been married to Olivia. Every time she tortured me, she would lock me in the closet. Painful memories flooded back like a tidal wave, and my stomach kept contracting. Two years ago, when I was locked in the closet again, it was Scarlett who saved me. The moment she opened the closet door, I felt like I saw an angel. Someone who could dispel all the darkness in my life. Since then, Scarlett has pursued me relentlessly. She took care of my battered body, comforted my broken heart, and told me to bravely resist Olivia’s abuse. How foolish I was to think I had found my salvation. Little did I know that all the torture I endured was instigated by Scarlett! She made Olivia hurt me while pretending to be the good person who healed me. And all of this was for my brother, Liam. I bit my lip hard, trying to make my body move. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a door opening outside. The sound of a man’s leather shoes was accompanied by Liam’s voice. “Scarlett, are you sure burying Lucas underground for seven days won’t cause any problems? He’s going to be buried today. He is my brother after all. I still feel it’s too cruel.” I felt like I had grabbed onto a lifeline, helplessly screaming in my heart: Save me! Please, just open the coffin and look. One glance and you’ll see I’m already awake. I don’t want to be buried alive. I don’t want to experience the pain of suffocating in darkness!

But no one could hear my inner cries. The only response was Scarlett’s cold voice. “Liam, you’re still too soft-hearted. We’ve planned this for so long, all for this day. We can’t ruin everything at this point.” “Have you forgotten how Lucas took everything from you? If it weren’t for his mother, your identity as an illegitimate child wouldn’t have been exposed, your mother wouldn’t have died, you would have married the woman you loved, and you wouldn’t have been kicked out of the Wilson family!” “Don’t worry, when this is all over, I’ll make it up to Lucas.” My whole body trembled, my limbs numb and convulsing, as if a thousand needles were piercing my body. The taste of blood filled my mouth, and I had to swallow the metallic sweetness in my throat. Scarlett, I don’t want your compensation! If you just let me out, I’ll willingly give up my position as heir, run far away, and never bother you again! Liam seemed to be crying, choking out: “Scarlett, you’re so good to me. Every time I was sad and upset, you deliberately provoked Olivia to torture Lucas, and had her send photos and videos.” “Seeing Lucas beaten black and blue, kneeling on the ground begging for mercy, and him locked in the closet for three days and nights until he was dehydrated, it always made me feel better.” Scarlett held Liam tightly in her arms, sighing: “As long as you’re happy, hurting Lucas a thousand or ten thousand times is worth it. This is what he owes you.” In the coffin, my tears gushed out. My heart felt as if it had been heavily hammered, caving in. Scarlett, is this how you’ve always seen me? How can people be so cruel? So every time I was abused, it was your doing. You were extremely gentle to my face, but behind my back, you took videos and photos of me being tortured to please another man. I laughed silently, tears sliding down the corners of my eyes, instantly absorbed by the wooden board. Perhaps it was because of the extreme pain, but my body suddenly burst forth with unprecedented strength. My fingers could move! No matter how much I hated this despicable couple, I just wanted to live now! My nails scratched several marks on the coffin board beneath me, making a faint scraping sound. I hoped they could hear the movement inside the coffin. The next second, my hope was shattered. I heard the sound of passionate kissing outside. I could feel the man being pressed against the coffin, his back tightly against the wooden board. I desperately tapped on the wooden board with my fingers. But the two outside were lost in the heat of the moment and couldn’t hear anything. The man and woman’s heavy breathing intertwined, the two of them bumping against the coffin, making it creak incessantly. My desperate cries for help were easily drowned out. The woman moved her body while professing her love: “Liam, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? I’ve finally waited for you to give up Olivia and agree to marry me.” “For you, I endured the disgust of seducing Lucas. That night with him, all I could think of was your face.” I closed my eyes, gritted my teeth, and forced myself not to listen to those nauseating sounds outside. I thought my desire to live would outweigh my hatred for them. I was wrong. I hate them so much. As much as I once loved Scarlett, I now hate her just as intensely. I hate myself even more for falling in love with two women who hurt me without restraint. After what seemed like an eternity, it finally quieted down outside. Just as I was despairing and waiting for death, the coffin suddenly opened a crack.

The sudden white light was blinding. What came into view was Liam’s handsome but slightly gloomy face. The man’s cheeks were flushed, his clothes disheveled, clearly having just experienced that act. I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would save me. But Liam didn’t seem surprised that I was awake. He looked at me with disdain. “Tsk tsk, how pitiful. You’re about to be buried alive. Scarlett went to handle the funeral arrangements. Good little brother, let me keep you company for a while.” “Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear the obstacles for you, she drove my mother to death and made Dad remove me from the Wilson family! Not only that, you also stole my wedding. The one who should have married Olivia was me!” “For five years of marriage, you’ve been tortured by Olivia for five years. I didn’t expect you to be so patient, refusing to divorce. I had no choice but to let Scarlett seduce you. You were so stupid, actually falling in love with Scarlett. Didn’t you fantasize about going abroad to marry Scarlett? You stole my marriage, so I’m going to steal yours too!” “I’ve been waiting for your mother to die. I also tampered with your fake death pill. Once you’re buried, you’ll watch yourself die with your eyes wide open. Your death day will be my and Scarlett’s wedding day.” Liam spoke the cruelest words one by one, and my heart grew colder and colder. The hope that had just been rekindled was extinguished once again. Liam curled his lips, extremely pleased. He took out the water and food prepared in the coffin, saying carelessly: “Since you’re going to die anyway, you won’t be able to eat these things. But I’ll leave the oxygen tank for you, to let you live a few more days. Too bad you won’t be able to see my and Scarlett’s wedding.” The coffin was closed again, and the last bit of light disappeared. My fingers dug deep into the wooden board, my nails almost breaking. My eyelids grew heavier, and I passed out from exhaustion. When I woke up again, I could only hear the hustle and bustle outside. My funeral had begun. Guests exchanged greetings and laughter, no one mourning my “death”. “The Wilson family’s second young master has finally been tortured to death. Olivia beat him until he was unrecognizable, but for the sake of the family, he refused to divorce no matter what.” “He deserved it! Who told him to steal his brother’s woman? His brother is more handsome and capable than him. If it weren’t for being exposed as an illegitimate child, how could it have been Lucas’s turn to take over?” “Exactly. To marry Olivia, he even drugged her. How shameless. As a result, right after they got married, Olivia miscarried their child. Serves him right. Now that he’s dead, Olivia won’t even attend the funeral.” “Liam is the lucky one. Although he suffered five years ago, now that his brother is dead, he’s the only heir to the Wilson family. In a week, he’s even going to marry the only daughter of the Shen Group. Who would dare call him an illegitimate child now?” … People discussed my family and my marriage, freely belittling and mocking me. Yet they didn’t know that lying in the coffin was a living person, desperately waiting for death. The priest finished the prayer, and it was time for the burial. I struggled bitterly, feeling time ticking away second by second, yet no one could save me. I was carried to the cemetery. Before being lowered into the grave, I heard Scarlett leaning against my coffin. I desperately forced three words out of my throat: “Save… save me.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296838”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

The night before my wedding, Christian’s charity student, Stella, was in trouble again. “Stella overdosed on sleeping pills. She just got rescued.” “Her parents are claiming that by taking her away, I ruined her reputation.” “If I don’t marry her, those monsters will marry her off to some local eccentric.” Christian leaned against my doorframe, lighting a cigarette. “You’re not very mobile, so having her stand in for you at the wedding would be good for you too.” “To avoid any suspicion, you can go abroad for a while. Think of it as a vacation.” The sharp pain of my nails digging into my palm jolted me back to reality. “Okay,” I whispered. The room was thick with cigarette smoke, making me cough. It had been a long time since I last saw Christian Hayes, my fiancé. The last time was a month ago, on my birthday. He was unusually happy, inviting a bunch of friends from his circle to celebrate with me. As I blew out my candles and made a wish, Stella accidentally knocked over my cake. The lit candles caught the blanket covering my legs on fire. My legs were burned, but it was Stella who looked terrified. She immediately dropped to her knees, her face contorted with fear. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Vance. It’s all my fault. I deserve to die. I shouldn’t even be here!” With that, she bowed her head repeatedly towards me, practically knocking it on the floor. “Ms. Vance, please forgive me! I truly have nowhere else to go if I leave the Hayes family. Please don’t kick me out, please…” Stella sobbed, her whole body trembling, looking utterly terrified. My friends, who were rushing to check my injury, were instantly distracted by her. “What’s going on?” “I heard Mr. Hayes’ fiancée doesn’t like this charity student. Looks like she’s been giving her a hard time.” “If you ask me, Ms. Vance should’ve taught her a lesson long ago. Always hovering around Christian, who knows what she’s really after.” … Christian, who had been kneeling beside me, worriedly checking my burns, looked up at me, bewildered. Then he stood up and walked decisively towards Stella. “Stella, no one blames you,” Christian gently comforted her. “I’m here. No one can make you leave.” He pulled Stella into a hug, and she buried her face in his chest, sobbing. The guests exchanged glances, wanting to say something but holding back. Finally, someone whispered a reminder. “Christian, Eleanor is still hurt.” Stella heard that and immediately lifted her head, her eyes wide with fresh panic. She pulled away from Christian’s embrace and stumbled back to kneel before me again. “Ms. Vance, it’s all my fault. Please don’t make things difficult for Christian.” “Whatever it takes to calm your anger, I’ll do it!” “I know you’ve always hated me, hated that I have normal legs…” “If it makes you feel better, I’m willing to burn my legs too!” Stella put on a pitiful display, looking at me, but I ignored her. She gritted her teeth and reached for a lighter on the table, as if to ignite it. “Enough!” Christian slapped the lighter out of Stella’s hand and pulled her back into his arms. “Eleanor Vance, do you have to drive her to her death to be satisfied?!” I, who had been startled and frozen in place, finally snapped back. “What?” “You know she’s studying dance, why would you want to burn her legs?!” “Stella has it hard enough already. It wasn’t on purpose. Is it really fun for you to target her like this?” “The accident back then wasn’t her fault, so how long are you going to hold a grudge?” Christian’s angry accusations felt alien to me. “I didn’t…” My defense was cut off before I could even utter it. “Ha, you just can’t dance anymore, so you can’t stand to see anyone else succeed.” “Eleanor Vance, you’re taking advantage of Stella’s dependent position, bullying her when I’m not around.” “But don’t forget, you’re not much better off than her.” I stared at Christian in disbelief. “I was the one who insisted on sponsoring Stella. If you have a problem, take it out on me, but don’t resort to such low tactics. It makes me sick.” With that, he didn’t spare me another glance, turning and carrying Stella upstairs. “Christian! Eleanor’s leg is still injured, and you’re just going to leave her like that?!” A friend jumped in to defend me, but Christian didn’t even turn his head. “What’s the act? How could a cripple’s leg have any feeling?” “Maria, take Ms. Vance back to her room. She’s not allowed to leave until Stella says she forgives her!”

My friends’ sympathetic glances didn’t linger for long. The second Maria took my wheelchair, Christian dismissed all the guests. Maria pushed me to my room, knelt down, and carefully treated my wound. “Ms. Vance, are you in pain?” she asked, tears splashing onto my leg. I shook my head. A cripple’s leg has no feeling, so even if it’s burned, what’s the big deal? But strangely, my numb legs were now throbbing with piercing pain. I lay in bed, tears soaking my pillow again and again. After what felt like an eternity, the accident from years ago resurfaced in my dreams. The country estate abroad held almost all my childhood joys. There, my parents didn’t have to work all day, and they had plenty of time to spend with me. We’d go on boat rides, fly kites, read books, and play the piano together. Before bed, I used to wish upon the brightest star in the night sky for our family to be happy forever. But the forest fire came so fast. So fast that I didn’t even get to see my parents one last time. The acrid smoke choked me, making it impossible to open my eyes, and the pain of the wooden beam crashing onto my legs made me pass out. When I woke up again, only those fake relatives stood by my side, along with a lawyer holding a will, waiting to read it. The memory of that day gradually blurred… I only remember the relatives getting furious and arguing when they realized they couldn’t get any benefits from me. “I’m his actual uncle! How dare that brat cut me out!” “All of it to just one little girl? We’re her true family! Why let someone named Hayes manage all this for her?” “They’re only giving us this much money to raise her?” “What a family disgrace! A true disgrace!” They argued, pushed each other, and shirked the responsibility of raising me. Until Christian pushed open the door. He roared, chasing away those greedy relatives, and held me tightly in his arms. “Don’t be scared, Ellie. If they won’t raise you, I will.” Tears slowly filled my empty eyes, and my fingers clenched tightly onto the hem of his shirt. Finally, I buried my face in his embrace, letting all my sadness and resentment pour out in tears. I could feel Christian’s body trembling. But he just choked out, repeating, “Don’t be scared, I’m here.”

Christian misunderstood. I should explain things clearly to him. That’s what I thought. But I waited in my room for one day, two days, a week, two weeks… He never showed up. “Dependent,” “cripple”—my mind started to wander. Christian had changed. He no longer cared about my pain. He no longer trusted me. In the constant anxiety that filled my days, something inside me slowly began to fade away. Finally, he came that day. But it was to replace me as his bride. “The wedding, I’ll make it up to you later. I’ll explain things to Mom and Dad.” “I’ll rent a nice place for you abroad and arrange for someone to take care of you.” “Stella’s life is already hard enough. Can’t you just try to understand…” Christian frowned, as if my refusal would be an unforgivable sin. “Okay,” I nodded, my calmness surprising even myself. Christian froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting me to agree so readily. His prepared lecture went unused. The acrid smoke made me cough again. Christian seemed to suddenly remember something and quickly snuffed out his cigarette. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little stressed.” For Stella, he’d been constantly stressed for Stella these past few years. Seeing no reaction from me, he explained again. “Ellie, since I decided to sponsor Stella, I have to be responsible for her life.” “Mhm.” “Living in an environment like that, she’s just so insecure.” “I swear, this is the last time I’ll help her. As soon as her family stops bothering her, I’ll cut ties with her immediately.” “Mhm.” “Once this is settled, we’ll get our marriage license.” “…” I didn’t respond to Christian’s words, just pressed a hand to my forehead. “I’m tired. Let’s talk about it tomorrow.” I turned my wheelchair around and pressed the call button by my bed. Maria walked in. “Mr. Hayes, please leave. Ms. Vance needs to rest.” Christian opened his mouth, a somewhat crestfallen expression on his face. “Okay, get some rest.” With that, he turned and left.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were my parents’ long-time best friends. They handled my parents’ funeral arrangements and took me in to live with them. From then on, they treated me like their own daughter. Mrs. Hayes once held my hand, smiling, and asked if I’d be willing to be her goddaughter. But Christian interrupted her, so flustered he could barely speak. From that moment, I knew clearly that my relationship with Christian was no longer ordinary. The Christian of the past was flamboyant, carefree, and never took anything seriously. But ever since my accident, he seemed to have become a different person. He voluntarily took on the responsibility of caring for my daily needs, even asking Mr. and Mrs. Hayes to let him drop a grade to study with me. Every morning, he would carry me to the car, and at school, he’d carry me into the classroom. He would carefully blow on my hot soup to cool it down, meticulously choose blankets to cover my legs, and push me around the track every evening to feel the breeze… Of course, he would also argue, even fight, with others who gossiped about me. He started learning how to take care of people, and he also started sitting alone, silent and withdrawn. I once saw him, in the early hours of the morning, secretly crying alone in his room. His love for me was known to everyone. So, how could I not love him? I couldn’t *not* love him. But ever since Stella came to this house, everything seemed to change. I still remember the first time I met Stella. That year, it was our senior year of high school, and everyone was under a lot of pressure. Christian and his friends planned a hiking trip. When he came back, he had Stella with him. The simply dressed girl shyly hid behind Christian, greeting me. “Hello, big sister.” Christian patiently explained Stella’s plight to me. She lived in a rural area, her father was an alcoholic and abusive, and her mother was passive. She’d only received compulsory education because the village insisted. In her teens, her parents planned to marry her off to a stranger to get money for her brother. Christian couldn’t bear it. He gave her parents a sum of money. He promised to sponsor Stella through college and then brought her home. “Ellie, I failed to protect you back then. Now, I can’t bear to see her fall into despair too.” Christian was wrong. I wasn’t the only one still holding a grudge about that accident.

Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were very busy, constantly traveling for work all over the world, so they rarely stayed at the house. Thinking that one more person might make the house feel livelier, I smiled and welcomed Stella in. At first, Stella was always cautious around the house. Christian kept her by his side every day, buying her new clothes, teaching her how to interact with people. Slowly, Stella’s smile grew, and Christian seemed happier too. So she would laugh and twirl, showing Christian her new dresses. She would pull Christian out for a run every morning. They’d meet up for walks on the track, their hands brushing casually. Though I was neglected more and more often, seeing Christian’s radiant smile, I didn’t feel much resentment. After all, I loved him. Despite all this, Stella’s daily clinging to Christian still drew dissatisfaction from those around us. “Who’s that freshman girl?” “I heard she’s Christian’s charity student.” “Why is she always glued to him? Doesn’t she know Christian has a girlfriend? No sense of boundaries at all!” “Exactly! Christian and Eleanor have been engaged since childhood. I heard their wedding date is set; they’re getting their marriage license right after college.” “She’s from a small town, what does she know? She probably just wants to latch onto Christian and skyrocket her life…” Everyone knew about my relationship with Christian, so naturally, they disliked Stella’s behavior and targeted her, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly. Then, one bright morning, Stella ran into my classroom with red eyes and dropped to her knees in front of me. “Ms. Vance, I know I was wrong. Please stop spreading rumors that I’m a homewrecker.” “I won’t bother Christian anymore, please, please don’t let those people bully me anymore…” Before I could even process her nonsensical words, Christian, who was beside me, shot up. I rarely saw him get that angry, even angrier than the day he heard some delinquents jokingly call me a ‘cripple.’ He harshly warned everyone around us to stop spreading rumors, and even his gaze towards me held a chill. Stella’s crying grew even more heartbroken. “After being talked about like this, I can’t bear to stay here anymore!” With that, she ran out, crying. “Stella!” Christian immediately chased after her, frantic. As he left, he bumped my wheelchair, and I inexplicably felt a sharp pain. It turned out the pen he’d dropped had scratched my lower leg, and a string of bright red blood trickled down. For a moment, it wasn’t just my heart that ached. Christian no longer belonged to me. This thought crossed my mind for the first time.

That day, Christian and Stella didn’t show up until school let out. In the evening, a drizzle began to fall. Did Christian make it home? Did he get caught in the rain? I instinctively started to worry. I picked up my phone and called him, but it rang for a long time with no answer. Classmates gradually started heading home, their gazes towards me filled with a hint of pity. “Ellie, do you need a ride home?” Chloe, a girl I was usually friendly with, walked over and asked cautiously. It was a kind gesture, but I inexplicably twisted up inside. “No, thank you. My driver will pick me up.” I wore a polite smile. As if doing so could protect my ridiculous pride. As if doing so could hide the fact that Christian had abandoned me. But I was wrong. “Ms. Vance, I’m on my way to pick up Mr. Hayes now. Aren’t you two together?” “I’m sorry, it seems Stella had an accident. Mr. Hayes is in a hurry, so please wait at school for now.” The sky gradually darkened, and the school lights went out. The blanket on my legs couldn’t ward off the damp chill, and my body began to shiver slightly. The darkness made me uneasy. I started trying to push my wheelchair. Cold rainwater splashed on me, and a biting cold swept through. But I didn’t want to wait anymore. Was I so reliant on Christian that I couldn’t even get home without him? The wheelchair, slick with water, became incredibly difficult to move. The blanket on me, soaked through, felt heavy. I wanted to pick it up and throw it away. But the wheelchair suddenly slid, and I fell clumsily to the ground. “Ah!” I cried out in pain, trying to stand up, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate. “Eleanor Vance!” The girl I had refused returned and found me fallen in the schoolyard. I could no longer tell if it was tears or rain on my face… In the end, it was Chloe who took me home. “Oh, dear! Ms. Vance, what happened to you? Quick, get some hot water ready for Ms. Vance!” Maria anxiously picked me up and thanked the girl who had brought me home. But I just turned my head away, unable to utter a single word the entire time. By the time I had cleaned up the scrapes on my arms and face and was lying in bed, Christian and Stella finally came home. “Christian, I’m scared. Can you stay with me a little longer?” Stella’s tearful plea reached my ears, and I suddenly felt utterly disgusted. Maria spoke up to remind him, “Mr. Hayes, Ms. Vance is injured.” “Christian…” “If you’re hurt, rest up. I’m not a doctor.” Christian dropped that sentence and didn’t linger outside my door for another step. Even when it was later confirmed that those rumors about Stella hadn’t been spread by me, I never received an apology from Christian or Stella. “Didn’t I tell you to wait at school? Why did you have to act tough? You fell and hurt yourself like this…” “Stella is just a bit insecure. Her way of handling things is inappropriate, but try to understand her.” “Besides, if you were more tolerant towards her, would she have suspected you?” “Ellie, Stella has it hard enough. Do you really have to be so petty with her?” It felt like from that day on, I slowly lost all my emotions regarding Christian. No desire to question, no more jealousy.

A relationship bound by so-called gratitude felt utterly meaningless. Christian finally allowed me to leave my room. Maria was even happier than usual as she pushed me to get ready. “Mr. Hayes was just throwing a tantrum. How could he bear to keep you locked up in here every day?” “They’re about to get married, but he still acts like such a child.” “Today I told the kitchen to make several of Ms. Vance’s favorite dishes. You’ve gotten a bit thin these past few days…” When Maria pushed me into the dining room, Stella first looked at Christian in surprise. Seeing no reaction from him, she then stood up and intimately took my wheelchair from Maria. “I haven’t seen you in days, big sister. I missed you so much! Are you feeling better?” Truth be told, Stella and I weren’t very close. Her forced intimacy now just repulsed me. “Eat more, big sister. Look how thin you’ve gotten.” As she spoke, Stella kept putting food on my plate. Christian seemed pleased to see us getting along, teasing, “Why don’t I ever see you put food on my plate?” Stella feigned shyness. “Can’t you ever eat without talking?” I wasn’t in the mood to watch them flirt. I just wanted to finish my meal and leave. “Um, big sister.” Seeing me ignore her, Stella fidgeted and looked at me again. “Even though what happened last time wasn’t intentional on your part, I still don’t really want to see you.” I felt as if I’d heard the biggest joke. “So? You want to keep me locked in my room?” “Stella!” Christian snapped, his voice sharp. Stella’s eyes immediately welled up. “No, big sister, it’s just that it hurt me so much. Is it true that you still don’t like me? Christian, I’m scared…” “Ms. Reed.” I truly had no more strength to argue. “All the common areas in this house have cameras. Everyone knows how I usually treat you, whether I’ve ever mistreated or bullied you. You don’t need to put on an act for me.” Stella took a deep breath, looking at Christian in disbelief. Christian, too, frowned impatiently. Of course, he knew everything. He just didn’t want to explain for me, choosing to side with Stella unconditionally.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296854”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

The day I returned from the refugee camp in Africa, my husband Asher’s mistress, Adeline, discovered she was pregnant. This happened because my mother, who suffers from dementia, ruined their celebration cake. In retaliation, Asher sent her to Adeline’s Unregulated Women’s Etiquette Camp, where she was mistreated, starved, deprived of a bed, and contracted a rare, deadly virus. I knelt in front of him, begging, “Please, I’m pleading with you. My mother has contracted a virus and needs urgent medical attention.” Without even looking up, Asher responded indifferently, “She drugged my father and caused my mother’s death. Sending her to the camp is just a way for her to learn some new skills.” “You don’t have to use her illness to gain sympathy. I know more about the camp than you do.” To save my mother, I was forced to wear revealing clothing and beg on the streets. People laughed and tore at my clothes, mocking, “Mr. Asher must be generous, letting his woman be played with by his friends.” Asher laughed with his mistress, “She’s just an old shoe. Who knows how many gang leaders have been with her? She’s filthy.” Eventually, I decided to fake my death and pursue my dreams elsewhere. Asher went mad, searching the world for any trace of me.

I lay dirty on the ground, my clothes half-torn. An old man nearby leered at me, whistling. “Enjoying the attention? You must love being ogled by men.” Asher’s teasing voice came to my ear. I shivered instinctively, and the rest of my clothes slipped off. Ignoring my dignity, I grabbed his pant leg, crying. “Asher, you promised that if I performed on the street in lingerie, you’d get my mother out of the etiquette camp.” I looked up at him, filled with hope. “Do I have to keep every promise?” Asher’s expression remained indifferent, and my heart sank. “Please, Asher, I’ll do anything…” “Enough. Addie said the camp has the best medical team. There’s no way a virus could spread.” “Your mother seduced my father and caused my mother’s death. Now you’re using her illness for sympathy. You’re both shameless.” His disdainful look drained the last of my strength. Asher was privileged from the start, and I only benefited because my mother worked as a maid for The Asher Family. From the age of three, I was always by Asher’s side. We were the best of friends until the year I turned 18, when my mother and Uncle Asher were caught together. Mrs. Asher couldn’t bear the betrayal and took her life that night. Asher didn’t make a scene; he calmly handled the funeral arrangements. He spent three years establishing himself at Asher Corp. By the time he was 20, he proposed, “Cora, a mother’s debt is paid by her daughter. I want you to stay with me to atone.” I looked at the tearful boy before me, unable to refuse. I softly agreed, “Okay.” But three years ago, on the anniversary of Mrs. Asher’s death, he brought back a woman, waking me from my sleep. “From now on, move to the storage room. The master bedroom is for Addie and me.” “And Addie’s hungry. She wants sweet and sour ribs. Go prepare them.” I stood there, confused. Before I realized what was happening, Asher dragged me out of the bedroom, putting an apron on me. I held back my emotions and served the sweet and sour ribs. But Adeline just took a bite and spat it out. “Asher, this dish is too salty. Is she targeting me on purpose?” Asher’s gaze turned sharp on me, “Why are you standing there? Do it again!” I kept remaking the sweet and sour ribs in the kitchen over and over. Each time, Adeline would take a bite and find fault. I endured the pain, raising my blistered hands from cutting the meat. “Asher, I…” “Enough, shut up. You can’t even handle a small thing.” Asher pulled Adeline into his arms, scolding me. Then he noticed my bleeding hands. The next moment, he pushed Adeline away, panic flashing in his eyes as he ran to me. “Cora, your hands are meant for holding knives.” He gently wiped the blood from my hands with a disinfectant wipe. Just then, Adeline clutched her stomach and screamed for help. “Asher, my stomach hurts…” Asher’s hand slipped in panic, driving the needle into my palm. “Addie, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” He anxiously held the screaming Adeline. She sobbed quietly in his arms, “Asher, I’m scared.” Asher glanced at the table, then turned to me. “Cora, I told you the title of Mrs. Asher will always be yours. Why make things hard for Addie?” With that, he signaled the bodyguards, “Feed the remaining sweet and sour ribs to Mrs. Asher.” The bodyguards approached and restrained me. They force-fed me the food like I was a pig. The more I struggled, the more they forced it down. Until I choked on a bone, convulsing, my vision fading as I collapsed. Asher fed an orange slice to Adeline. “Sweetheart, I punished her for you. Does your stomach still hurt?” Adeline provocatively licked Asher’s finger. “Asher, tonight I want to be in your and her bedroom. Is that okay?” Asher’s desire was instantly ignited. He picked Adeline up, and the bedroom lights flickered, mixed with man’s roars and woman’s whimpers. 2 The warmth beneath me pulled me back to reality. I looked up at Asher in panic, “Asher, the baby…” His face darkened, “What baby? Whose baby?” I clutched my aching belly, speaking numbly. “Last month’s incident, did you forget?” My words softened Asher’s expression a bit. He frowned at me, “Even if you seduced me last month when you returned, who knows if the child is a bastard from Africa?” My last hope vanished. “Sister, you’re pregnant with a gang leader’s child and want to use it to bind Asher.” Adeline’s voice was loud, and bystanders all stared at me. The lingerie I wore became a label of promiscuity. I instinctively tried to avoid their gaze. Asher thought I was guilty of being exposed. He roughly grabbed my hair, ripping away my last cover. “Weren’t the gang leaders in Africa enough for you?” I struggled to break free, but my body was weak. Just then, the tablet in my bag fell out. My mother’s pleas and men’s laughter echoed. My blood froze, and I collapsed, screaming desperately. “Please, let my mom go. I’ll do anything.” My pleas didn’t earn any mercy from the old man in the video. He maliciously tied my mom to a pillar. Then he pulled out his belt, beating her crazily. Watching my mom’s naked, scarred body, I lost control, banging my head on the ground before Asher. “Asher, I’m begging you. We were wrong back then.” “But you already took revenge, making mom demented.” “I’ll give up everything, just return my mom.” I kept banging my head until it bled. A strange emotion flickered in Asher’s eyes. He was about to help me up, but Adeline interrupted. “Asher, you’ve been to my camp. How could this happen?” “This is another AI-generated video.” She cried softly, and Asher’s hand retracted. He anxiously comforted Adeline, “Sweetheart, don’t cry. I’ll make Cora apologize.” He turned and kicked me in the stomach, “How dare you slander Addie? Apologize now.” I was thrown against a sanitation facility, its sharp edge piercing my belly. I lay on the ground, bleeding, unable to tell if my heart or body hurt more. The video call continued, and my mom seemed to sense something. She looked at the camera and smiled. I realized something was wrong, frantically shouting. “No, don’t, mom…” The next moment, mom broke free and jumped from the 30th-floor balcony. Time seemed to stand still. I forgot to breathe, and the video call abruptly ended. I went mad, clutching the tablet, laughing and crying. Asher frowned, snatching the tablet and smashing it. “Enough. Crying over an AI-generated video, how ridiculous.” Watching the shattered tablet, I clutched my chest. Overwhelmed by intense pain, I couldn’t hold on, vomiting blood. “No, don’t, Mom…” In the next moment, my mom broke free from the ropes and jumped off the 30th-floor balcony. Time seemed to stand still. I stood there, frozen, unable to breathe. The video call on the tablet cut off abruptly. I clutched the tablet, tears streaming down my face as I alternated between laughter and sobs. Asher furrowed his brows, grabbed the tablet from me, and smashed it onto the ground. “Enough. Crying over an AI-generated video won’t help.” Staring at the shattered tablet, I pressed my hand to my chest. A sharp pain coursed through me, and I couldn’t hold it any longer, coughing up blood. Asher panicked, pushing Adeline aside and lifting me up. “Cora, you can’t even die without my permission.” With the last of my strength, I opened my eyes. “Asher, we’re even now.” 3. When I came to, I was lying in a hospital bed. I glanced outside the ward where Asher was on the phone with Adeline. I smirked bitterly and pulled out my phone to make a call. “I’ve decided. I want to join the International Rescue Station with you.” “And I need you to arrange a fake death service for me.” The man on the phone chuckled. “Alright, leave it to me.” I didn’t say much more, simply sending over my personal information. “Cora, what are you thinking about? The doctor said your miscarriage was due to excessive grief.” “Here, have some porridge. I made it especially for you.” Asher approached, offering a bowl of porridge. I placed my hand on my abdomen, tears falling unbidden. My mom’s body wasn’t even cold yet, and my baby was gone too. The pain in my heart was overwhelming. “Asher, from age three to thirty, we’ve been together long enough.” I didn’t look up to take the porridge, just spoke in a low tone. Asher’s hand holding the porridge shook slightly. He seemed very displeased with my words, gripping my chin angrily. “Cora, don’t be like this. I don’t like it. We can have another child.” “Besides, Addie’s due soon. Once the baby is born, we’ll register it under your name.” Forced to look up at him, I couldn’t say anything. Maybe my gaze was too calm, so Asher let go of me, leaving with just one sentence. “Cora, don’t overthink. Once you’re discharged, we can start trying for another baby.” I laughed, then cried while laughing. Asher was always like this, never understanding what I said, or maybe he just didn’t want to. I said nothing, closing my eyes in exhaustion. The image of my mother jumping off the building kept replaying in my mind. I forced myself to endure the pain and completed the discharge procedures. In an abandoned factory, I found my mother’s body. Looking at her waterlogged, pale form, I could no longer suppress my grief. Ignoring the stench, I cradled her face. In my memory, her kind smile seemed like it was just yesterday. Thunder and lightning roared in the sky, echoing the trembling of my heart. After a long while, I stood in front of Old Mr. Asher, holding my mother’s urn. “Uncle Asher, I can’t fulfill what I promised you.” When Mrs. Asher committed suicide, Old Mr. Asher asked me to hide the truth about her death. He feared Asher couldn’t handle the truth. I wanted to refuse and tell Asher the truth directly. But my mom softened, admitting she had seduced Uncle Asher. Now, because of that well-intentioned lie, she was gone forever. Old Mr. Asher looked at the urn in my hands, regretting and crying. “Cora, it’s Uncle, I’m sorry for you both. Here is twenty percent of Asher Group’s shares, as compensation.” I didn’t refuse, taking the share transfer document and leaving. 4. I returned to The Asher Family, worn out and carrying my mother’s urn. “Since you’re discharged, go make some soup for Addie.” Asher was surprised to see me, then commanded. I looked at him with a mocking smile, “Asher, you can’t control me anymore.” My words left Asher confused, panic flashing in his eyes. “Oh, sis, where did you get that box? Is it a gift for me and the baby?” Imogen’s proud voice rang out as she snatched the urn from my hands. The last thread in my heart snapped, and I lunged at her. “Give me back my stuff.” Imogen shrieked, hiding behind Asher. “West, I just took a worthless box. Sis is so stingy.” Asher frowned, looking at me with a stern voice. “Enough. It’s just a worthless box. Is there a need to fight over it?” “Asher, do you know what’s inside?” I said painfully. But Asher dismissed it with a sneer, “Who cares what’s inside? If Addie likes it, you should give it to her.” My blood froze, and I slapped Asher across the face. “That’s my mom’s urn. Do you understand an urn?” Asher was stunned, disbelief in his eyes as he looked at me. “Cora, you hit me…” His eyes showed a hint of hurt, but I had no energy for more argument. Just as I moved to retrieve the urn, Imogen tossed it into the sewer. “Oh, sorry, sis, my hand slipped.” She turned, looking at me proudly, madness in her eyes. I froze, staring at her face. A fierce hatred surged, beyond my control. “Go to hell.” I lunged at Imogen, choking her. Imogen didn’t expect my boldness, trying to resist. But I pinned her down. “Imogen, I told you I didn’t want to fight you. Why couldn’t you leave me alone?” Seeing I was about to choke Imogen into unconsciousness, Asher finally reacted. He yanked my hair, pulling me off her. “Enough, Cora, are you insane? Claiming a worthless box is an urn.” “A few days ago, I saw your mom at the camp with two new boyfriends. So promiscuous, even with dementia, she can’t stop chasing men.” I broke down, crouching and sobbing, love and hate merging in a flash. I’ve never hated Asher more than at this moment. Not even when he sent me to an African refugee camp on a whim from Imogen. In the camp, I lived a life worse than death. Any man could take advantage of me. I always fantasized Asher would look back at me. But now, that dream shattered. Mom was gone, too. Seeing my extreme sadness, Asher tried to help me up, but Imogen’s pitiful voice interrupted. “West, I think I’m going into labor.” Asher immediately released me. “Addie, don’t be afraid. I’ll get you to the hospital.” In a rush, he picked up the crying Imogen and hurried to the hospital, not forgetting to warn me before leaving. “You better pray Addie and her baby are okay.” I laughed sarcastically. “Then wish her and the baby well!” After composing myself, I retrieved my mom’s urn from the sewer. I calmly packed my things and set fire to what I couldn’t take. Then, with Remy, I boarded a plane to Ireland. Asher sent me a message with a photo of Imogen and the safe baby. “Cora, our future child will be even cuter.” I removed the SIM card and tossed it in the trash. On the other side, holding the baby, Asher felt an inexplicable agitation. After handing the baby to a nurse, he anxiously dialed my number. But all he got was an unconnected message. At that moment, Old Mr. Asher stormed over, slapping Asher hard. “You disgrace, how long will you keep this up?” Asher scoffed, “Did Cora complain to you again?” Old Mr. Asher sighed, closing his eyes in pain. “Asher, things weren’t as you thought. You hurt Cora wrongly.” He handed Asher an agreement, his hands trembling. Asher took it, confused, and glanced at it. The next second, he was stunned, looking at Old Mr. Asher in a panic. “How is this possible? Is Cora conspiring with you to deceive me again?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296632”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Boyfriend has a low sperm count, and his assistant is naturally fertile, with a voluptuous figure. To have a child, my boyfriend seeks her company every night. When the assistant becomes pregnant, Declan says coolly, “I’ll send her abroad.” On the wedding day, Nora suffers from morning sickness. He leaves me to face all the guests alone while he tends to Nora’s mess. I hadn’t even taken off my wedding dress when I finally received his call, after I’d cried my eyes dry: “The wedding is postponed. We’ll wait until Nora’s pregnancy stabilizes; she can’t handle stress right now.” Hearing this, I kept sobbing. He grew more impatient: “Cora, stop making trouble. Do you want the Declan Family to be without an heir?” “When the child is born, I’ll have him call you mom. In the meantime, take good care of Nora and ensure nothing goes wrong!” I clutched the pregnancy test in my hand, feeling disheartened, and hung up the phone. He doesn’t know I’m a rabbit spirit. If I wanted to, I could have a litter of eight treasures in one go. Now, I’m returning to where I belong. … Wiping away my tears, I forced a natural smile and straightened my back to announce on stage: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Declan and I have called off the wedding. I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.” The crowd below began to murmur among themselves. Soon, Declan called again: “Cora, I hope you understand. I’m the heir of the Declan Family, and I must have a child.” “Nora’s pregnancy wasn’t easy. Once she gives birth, I’ll send her away. It won’t affect your status as the lady of the house.” “Don’t be stubborn. I’ve forgiven your earlier outburst. Go explain things to the guests, and I’ll come to pick you up. I can’t leave right now…” I interrupted him, “I’m pregnant.” Declan suddenly got angry: “Cora, we’ve been together for three years, and you never got pregnant. How is it that now, when Nora’s pregnant, you are too?” “Using this trick to seek attention, you’re so petty. How can you be the Declan Family’s wife like this?” I felt like I was falling into an abyss, suffocating. Trying to hide the tremble in my voice, I spoke with difficulty: “Declan, I’m not marrying you.” There was silence on the other end for a few minutes, then his cold voice came through: “Fine, fine then. Marry or not, I wonder where a lone orphan like you can go.” Beep beep beep… The line went dead, ruthlessly cut off. Ignoring the surprised looks from the banquet guests, I tossed away the bouquet and walked quickly to the dressing room. Just as I was about to change out of this heartbreaking wedding dress, Declan’s Mother suddenly burst in and slapped me hard: “You little tramp, how dare you cancel the wedding in front of everyone! You’ve disgraced the Declan Family!” “If Mr. Declan Sr. hadn’t insisted on Declan marrying you, how could an orphan with no power or influence possibly climb up to the Declan Family?” Her anger grew as she pinched me several times: “Hmph, it’s good the wedding’s canceled. At least a jinx like you won’t enter the Declan Family’s door.” By the time she vented her anger, it was already dark, and the banquet hall was about to close. I didn’t have time to change clothes, so I stood on the bustling street in a luxurious yet dust-covered wedding dress. The curious and sympathetic looks from passersby made me shrink back. Suddenly, a large coat was gently draped over my shoulders, a faint cool fragrance lingering at my nose. “Little bunny, long time no see. How did you end up like this?” A warm voice sounded in my ear. I turned around and saw the figure I’d been waiting for three years to see, my nose tingling: “Asher, I want to go home.” He gently wiped the tears from the corner of my eyes, his voice filled with unfathomable softness: “Okay, I’ll take you home.” I arranged to meet Asher three days later. Having been in the human world for three years, I had some things to deal with, like saying goodbye to my savior, Mr. Declan Sr. Just after taking off my wedding dress, Nora sent a photo. She was wearing a pearl necklace. The white pearls made her look as elegant and graceful as a swan. “The pearl necklace sister gave to Declan looks great. He made it into a necklace for me.” The bright color stung my eyes; these pearls were condensed from my inner energy. To treat Declan’s low sperm count, I trained day and night, fainting from exhaustion several times, nearly going mad. It took three years to condense these few pearls. As long as he carried my inner energy with him, he could regain normal fertility. I still remember Declan’s surprise when he received this gift. “A gift from Cora, I’ll definitely treasure it.” He carefully placed the pearls close to his heart: “Keeping them here is like having you by my side.” His gentle smile seemed like yesterday, yet today he trampled on my feelings. I stared at the screen, suddenly unable to breathe. Since I’ve decided to leave, I must take back my inner energy. I immediately went to the Declan Family villa. As soon as I opened the door, I felt like I was in an ice cave. “Ouch, Declan, you’re hurting me…” A whimper came from inside, the voice rising and falling as if she couldn’t catch her breath. “Little seductress, who told you to be so alluring? How about giving me another child?” A low, deep laugh from Declan. “No… If sister comes back and sees, she’ll be mad…” Nora’s intermittent pleading. Declan coldly snorted, “So what if she sees?” “We’ve been together for three years, and her stomach hasn’t shown any signs. Should I let the Declan Family have no heir for her?” “If she hadn’t been so cunning and sucked up to Mr. Declan Sr., insisting I marry her, I would’ve broken up with her long ago.” “A woman full of schemes. Once her tricks fail, she’ll come crawling back to me.” I stood silently by the door, tears falling silently. It turns out his love was fake. He was marrying me only because of Mr. Declan Sr.’s orders. I clenched my palm tightly, listening to their breath grow heavier, growing more intense, not knowing how long it had been… The door opened. Declan’s clothes were disheveled. Seeing my tear-streaked face, he was first stunned, then a mocking smile appeared: “Regretting it? I thought you could stay tough until New Year.” My fingertips unconsciously clenched: “Declan, where’s the pearl I gave you? Give it back to me.” He frowned, looking indifferent: “It’s just a string of pearls. Is it that important?” My grievance exploded: “Yes, it’s important! It represents my hard work, and you ruined it. I want to take it back!” Just then, Nora suddenly pushed open the door: “Sister, don’t make things difficult for Declan. It was me who insisted on having your pearls. Declan had no choice but to give them to me.” Her eyes were red, the pearl necklace on her neck shining brightly, making me look like a huge joke. Seeing Nora’s tears, Declan lost control. He suddenly grabbed my shoulders, his fingers almost digging into my flesh. “Cora, are you done yet? It’s just a lousy necklace. So what if I gave it to her? You’ve been in the Declan Family for three years, haven’t you seen enough good things? Why make a fuss over a necklace?” With that, he walked into the bedroom, grabbed a handful of cash from a drawer, and threw it in my face. “Is this enough? If not, have the butler swipe the card. Now get out!” Nora hurriedly clung to Declan’s arm: “Declan, don’t fight over me.” “If the necklace is that important to sister, I’ll give it back.” She took off the necklace and handed it to me, but just as I reached out to take it. Suddenly, she stumbled and fell heavily to the ground. “Ah! My child… My stomach hurts!” “I didn’t push her!” Surprised by Nora’s acting, I quickly explained. Declan ignored me and nervously held Nora in his arms, carefully asking her: “Nora, how do you feel? I’ll take you to the hospital.” “It’s nothing, I just lost my balance…” With tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, Nora looked at me pitifully: “Sister, I didn’t mean to take your place as Declan’s wife, but Declan treats me so well, I can’t bear to see him without an heir.” With that, she struggled to get up and kowtowed to me, continuously muttering: “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I really didn’t want to ruin your relationship.” Declan’s forehead veins bulged, his eyes filled with disgust as he looked at me: “Are you satisfied now?” I looked indifferent; it was all her own performance. What did it have to do with me? Not wanting to argue further, I turned to leave. Who knew Declan would be provoked by my action? He suddenly shoved me. I fell heavily to the ground, my belongings scattering everywhere. Sharp pain spread through my body. Without the inner energy, my body was as weak as a human’s, and I couldn’t stand up from the pain. “What are you whining about? Get up.” Declan made no move to help, standing over me and scolding. Nora suddenly exclaimed, picking up the pregnancy test that had fallen: “Sister, when did you get depression?” Then she covered her face and sobbed: “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, sister wouldn’t have depression. I’ll leave now.” She cried as if she were about to faint, pretending to leave. Declan felt sorry for her, looking at me with loathing, as if I were a terrible person: “Cora, are you done yet?” “It’s just depression, it’s everywhere now. You think having depression will make me forgive you?” “Stop making a fuss!” “Big sister, when did you become depressed?” After saying this, she covered her face and sobbed, “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t gotten pregnant, you wouldn’t have become depressed. I’ll leave now.” She cried so hard she nearly passed out, pretending to leave. Declan was overwhelmed with emotion and looked at me with disgust, as if I were unforgivable: “Cora, are you done yet?” “It’s just depression, isn’t it? Everyone’s dealing with it these days. Do you think having depression will make me forgive you?” “Even being unreasonable has its limits!” He snatched the pregnancy test from Nora’s hand and tore it up without even looking at it. He judged me so harshly, and I looked at Declan in disappointment, as if I never knew him. Afraid of revealing my tear-streaked face, I turned to leave. Declan suddenly grabbed me, a flash of panic in his eyes, but it quickly turned cold again: “Ha, trying to get my attention again?” “Do you think I’ll fall for your trick?” “If you want to leave, then go. Just don’t come back. Seeing you cry is annoying.” The pearl necklace fell to the ground, now covered in dust. In an unnoticed corner, these pearls, along with my once sincere heart, were trampled into the mud. I broke free from his grip and left without looking back. Back home, I lay on the bed, allowing my energy to slowly dissipate, and this body gradually stopped breathing. Declan didn’t want this child, but the debt to the Declan Family is repaid, and my task is complete… I transformed into my true form, feeling a bit lost, having lived here for over three years. Suddenly, my phone rang, and Asher’s cool voice came through: “Are you ready? I’m coming to get you.” At Asher’s Family, I was stunned by the sight before me. Everywhere there were exotic plants and tall trees, like a fairytale realm. “Do you like it?” Asher held my hand, his palm dry and warm. “This will be your home from now on. Feel free to be yourself.” “Okay,” I replied softly. After I left, without my interference, Declan and Nora became even more reckless. They indulged themselves in the villa, oblivious to the world. Until the butler urgently knocked on the door. Annoyed by the interruption, Declan was furious. He grabbed a glass from the bedside and smashed it against the door: “Get lost!” “Mr. Declan, it’s really urgent!” The butler was anxious outside, knocking more urgently. Unable to ignore it, Declan grabbed a towel and opened the door. “What is it?” Seeing Declan’s barely contained anger, the butler shrank back, his voice trembling: “Miss Chen… Miss Chen is dead…” Declan froze at the words, his body involuntarily leaning forward as if afraid he’d misheard. “Say that again…” The butler’s voice grew quieter: “The cleaning staff, who regularly cleans, smelled something strange in the villa, thinking a rat had died inside…” “She didn’t pay attention until she cleaned the master bedroom and saw Miss Chen lying motionless on the bed, her body already decomposing.” Declan’s knuckles cracked as he grabbed the butler’s collar: “I don’t believe Cora is dead. Are you and she conspiring to deceive me?” “She was fine a few days ago, how could she possibly be dead!” Nora, standing quietly beside, gently held Declan’s arm: “Big sister is strong-willed, maybe she’s joking.” Declan felt a sudden surge of anger. Yes, Cora had caused a scene a few days ago and he sent her away. Perhaps she was unwilling and used this trick to get his attention. Thinking this, Declan’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Tell Cora to stop playing these petty tricks. I won’t fall for it.” “If you join Cora in her antics again, don’t bother coming to work.” Without waiting for the butler to speak, he closed the door. The butler sighed helplessly and could only have the body taken to the morgue for freezing. After ignoring Cora for two months, Declan figured she wouldn’t dare cause trouble again. Today was Mr. Declan Sr.’s return day. He had to take Cora to the family banquet; otherwise, Mr. Declan Sr. would be angry. Having ignored her for so long, Declan felt a bit guilty. He thought of bringing a gift back; Cora loved him so much, she would surely forgive him. Thinking this, Declan called the butler: “Notify Cora that I’m coming to pick her up today.” The butler looked up sharply: “Mr. Declan, but Miss Chen is already dead!” Declan furrowed his brow: “Butler, I’ve warned you before. If you keep playing along with Cora, you’ll…” Before he could finish, the butler quickly interrupted: “Mr. Declan, I’ve already sent Miss Chen’s body to the largest funeral home in the city.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296648”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic