Category: English

My husband, Jaxson, had lost everything in a terrible investment. He’d racked up massive debts, and the creditors had kidnapped him, threatening to sell his organs if I didn’t pay up. Over the phone, his voice choked with tears. “Forget about me, Harper. Maybe we’ll find each other in the next life…” To save him, I made the agonizing choice to abort my two-month-old baby. Then, I agreed to the creditors’ demands: I would become a surrogate. Four months later, I stumbled upon Jaxson and his widowed sister-in-law, Sera, sharing a dark secret. “Don’t worry, Sera,” Jaxson’s voice was smooth, reassuring. “The doctors say *our* triplets are perfectly healthy.” Sera’s voice, sugary sweet, followed. “Besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, I can give you everything. The fortune, the children—they’re all yours!” “Once Harper delivers, I’ll find an excuse. I’ll say she’s tainted, and I’ll never touch her again!” Jaxson promised. “I belong only to you!” I laughed. A hollow, bitter sound. My heart didn’t just break; it shattered into a million irreparable pieces. Fine. If that’s how it is, then the role of Mrs. Hayes? You two can have it.

“Mr. Hayes, your children with Ms. Blackwood are perfectly healthy. However, as they are triplets, there’s a risk of premature birth for the surrogate. Please be prepared.” I thought I’d simply overheard someone else’s private conversation. I was about to slip away quietly. But then, *his* familiar yet chillingly unfamiliar voice echoed from the room. “As long as the babies are fine. *She’s* not important.” My heart clenched. My steps froze at the doorway. “Oh, Jaxson,” Sera’s voice was a soft, helpless sob. “It’s all my fault for having a weak body, for not being able to carry a pregnancy. Otherwise, I’d truly want to bear your child myself.” “But isn’t this unfair to Harper? After all, she aborted *your* child just to…” A sharp, derisive laugh cut her off. “She had it coming!” Jaxson’s voice was so cold it sent a shiver down my spine. “If she hadn’t secretly messed with the condoms, how would she have gotten pregnant in the first place? But even if she tried to trick me, I’d never have let her keep that baby!” His voice softened, directed at Sera. “Sera, besides the title of Mrs. Hayes, my fortune and my children are *only* for you!” “Besides, you’re so fragile, so delicate. You deserve to be pampered. Dangerous things like carrying a child? Of course, *she* should handle that.” It felt like someone had violently smashed my chest. A silent, excruciating pain spread through me, and cold sweat drenched my back. Jaxson’s voice continued. “You’re just too kind, always thinking of her. Truth is, I haven’t wanted her for a long time… But since she insists on being Mrs. Hayes, then she’ll pay the price!” “Once she gives birth, I’ll just find some excuse, say she’s tainted, and never touch her again!” “Sera, relax. I belong only to you!” I stood outside the door, my body stiff, my heart a stone thrown into the deep ocean. I was suffocating, unable to make a sound. My prenatal check-up was supposed to be this weekend, but these past few days, I’d been plagued by a gnawing unease. I was terrified something might go wrong with the babies inside me, jeopardizing the ransom. That’s why I’d rushed to the fertility clinic today. But I never imagined I’d walk into *this*. No wonder! No wonder when I told Jaxson I was pregnant, he only stayed silent. And within days, he claimed his investments had failed, that he owed a massive debt. For months, I’d lived in constant fear because of him, plagued by sleepless nights. I even aborted my own child and risked my life with this high-risk surrogacy, all just to get him back safe and sound. Turns out, this entire charade, from beginning to end, was a calculated scheme against me! My fingers trembled, my legs felt like jelly, my breath came in ragged gasps. Tears, hot and unstoppable, flooded my eyes. I fought back the rising nausea, forcing myself to turn around. My steps faltered as I stumbled out of the clinic. With every step, the crack in my heart widened. I pulled out my phone, my fingers so cold they barely gripped it. Scrolling to a message buried deep in my inbox, I slowly typed a reply. “Damian, I’m in. I’ll do what we talked about.” “Please help me arrange the surgery again. This weekend.”

When I got home, the moment I pushed open the door, a flurry of hurried movement erupted in the living room. Jaxson’s lips still bore a tell-tale smudged lipstick mark, while Sera, head bowed, fumbled to straighten her skirt. Back then, when Sera offered to buy our house and let us continue living there, I was so grateful I almost wept. I thought she was so thoughtful, so kind-hearted. But now, I saw it for what it was: a convenient arrangement for her and Jaxson to meet. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to act as if I hadn’t seen anything. I turned to change my shoes. Jaxson approached me, his face plastered with that fake smile. “Harper, why are you out by yourself with your belly so big? You make me worry.” Once, I would have thought that was genuine concern. But now, I finally understood. He wasn’t worried about me. He was worried about *his* babies with *her*. I said flatly, “My stomach felt bloated. I went for a walk.” Sera’s eyes flashed with panic at my words. She reached out, attempting to touch my belly. “Are the babies okay? Have you been eating something you shouldn’t have?” Instinctively, I recoiled sharply, pushing her hand away, my voice cold. Her smile instantly froze, replaced by a wounded whine. “What are you doing? I was just trying to show concern!” I took another deep breath. “Sera, if you love children so much, why don’t you have your own?” Jaxson’s face darkened. He strode forward, his voice low and sharp. “Harper! Sera means well. How can you talk to her like that?” Then his gaze shifted to Sera. She stood with her head down, lips trembling, the very picture of pitiful vulnerability: “I know you look down on women like me who have health issues and can’t have children. But I simply love kids. Please don’t misunderstand, okay?” Jaxson’s brows furrowed. His voice was low and cold, but clearly biased. “See! What nonsense are you spouting? Apologize to Sera, now!” My chest felt as if it were being ripped open by a sharp blade, cut by cut. The pain was so intense I couldn’t even breathe. The gentle, caring husband I once knew now only showed impatience and anger. I bit my lip hard, my throat dry. Too exhausted to argue, I turned and went back to my room. After the house was sold to Sera, Jaxson had said with a smile: “It wouldn’t be right for us to stay in the master bedroom.” “Why don’t you just stay in the small guest room on the first floor? That way you don’t have to go upstairs. It’s safer.” Back then, I was foolishly grateful for his thoughtfulness, believing he had my best interests at heart. But now, it was clear. All of it was just to make it easier for him and Sera to enjoy their undisturbed life upstairs. He followed me in, sitting on the edge of the bed, putting on that mask of fake tenderness. “Harper, don’t overthink things. Once the babies are born and we’ve paid off the debt, we won’t have to live under anyone’s thumb anymore!” He reached out, gently stroking my hair, his voice as soft as it used to be. “Then, we’ll have a baby of our own, and we’ll be a family, forever!” For a fleeting second, I almost wavered. I wanted to ask him. Had he ever dreamed of the baby who never got to come into this world, like I had? If he loved Sera so much, why didn’t he just marry her a year ago after his brother’s accident? Why had he suddenly proposed to *me* then? But all the words caught in my throat. I watched him reach out, seemingly wanting to touch my belly, but his movement halted when he saw my swollen abdomen and the faint stretch marks already appearing. A flicker of instinctive revulsion crossed his eyes. In that instant, his fake tenderness couldn’t hide the coldness and disdain in his gaze. My heart felt like it had been carved out with an ice pick, completely shattered into pieces. I let out a cold laugh, the corners of my lips curving into a smile that was uglier than a cry. Looks like some questions don’t need asking anymore. Seeing my silence, his face darkened. “I know you’re hormonal during pregnancy, but you chose to be a surrogate to help me pay off my debts. So stop being so passive-aggressive and making things uncomfortable.” I lowered my head, my throat tight, my heart chilling to the core. Yes, I chose all of it. I brought this upon myself. Seeing my expression, he put on his “tender and caring” facade again, gently comforting me. “Alright, don’t be mad. I have to go out for a few days. Sera helped me get a new client.” “I’ll definitely be back to accompany you before your prenatal check-up this weekend. I’ll bring you a gift.” I looked at the extreme hypocrisy in his tender expression, a slow smile spreading on my lips. “Okay. I’ll have a gift for you too, then.”

At the hospital, the doctor frowned. “Ms. Stone, you got pregnant again so soon after your previous miscarriage, and now you’re carrying triplets… If you miscarry again this time, you might never be able to conceive.” I froze, my hand unconsciously stroking my swollen abdomen, my fingertips trembling slightly. “If… if I abort the babies now, what will happen to them?” I asked in a low voice, so hoarse it was almost inaudible. The doctor sighed, then slowly spoke. “Under normal circumstances, the hospital helps arrange cremation and a proper burial, as per family wishes.” “But if the family doesn’t request it, the babies are incinerated collectively.” He paused, a hint of anger in his voice. “However, the most outrageous thing is when some people promise their wives they’ll handle the burial properly, but then just throw the baby into the toilet.” “Later, the cleaning staff found the baby stuck in the toilet drain. They had to be forcibly flushed away. There was no proper send-off at all.” My head snapped up, my throat tight, my voice trembling. “What was the pregnant woman’s name? When did this happen?” The doctor flipped through his records. “I remember, it was about half a year ago. The pregnant woman’s name was…” “Mrs. Hayes.” BOOM— My head spun with a violent ringing, as if something had exploded in my ears. I slowly stood up, my hands clenched so tightly around my clothes that my knuckles turned white and my fingers trembled. That was *my* baby! From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I’d started fantasizing about our family of three after the birth. Imagining the baby growing up, calling me ‘Mommy’… But for Jaxson, I had no choice but to let go. He had held my hand that day, as I went into the operating room, promising me he would take care of our baby. He had even taken me to see that small grave mound after that day. But I never, ever imagined that little life, who never got to enter this world, would end up like *that*. Thrown away like trash by his own hands! I bit down hard on my lip, tears streaming down my face. My chest felt hollowed out, the pain so intense I could barely stand. I retreated inch by inch until my back hit the cold wall, a suppressed sob escaping my throat. The last shred of hesitation in my heart was utterly broken. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. I looked up at the doctor. “I’ve decided. I want the surgery immediately.” After the surgery, I lay on the hospital bed, gathering my strength. I dialed a number. “Damian, I’m ready. Come pick me up tonight.” That evening, Jaxson returned home, his face etched with impatience. The moment he pushed open the door, he roared. “Harper, why did the clinic call me today saying you missed your prenatal check-up?!” “Are you kidding me?! I already explained to you, Sera and I were meeting a client, that’s why we couldn’t make it back!” Sera followed behind him, clutching his arm, feigning comfort. “Harper, don’t be mad. Jaxson and I were working. Don’t think too much, okay?” I sat pale on the sofa, my gaze coldly fixed on her arm wrapped around Jaxson’s. A faint, scornful smile touched my lips. Sera’s smile stiffened. She shrank her hand back. Jaxson’s face instantly darkened, anger churning in his eyes. He threw his jacket violently onto the sofa. “What exactly do you want?! Don’t you dare act out just because you’re pregnant!” His voice suddenly rose, rage practically spewing from him. “Haven’t I been working this hard for *you*?! Are you trying to use the baby to vent your anger and threaten me now?!” With that, he kicked the sofa, with so much force that the cushion almost flew off. Just then, my phone buzzed. I slowly stood up and walked towards the door. Jaxson instinctively reached out to grab me, but I shifted, avoiding his hand. He turned livid, his voice laced with threat. “Fine, Harper. If you don’t explain yourself today, don’t expect me to tolerate you anymore!” I glanced back at him from the doorway, a cold smile slowly curving on my lips. “You’re right. Nothing can happen to the babies. I’m going to get checked right now.” Jaxson seemed to sense something different. His eyes froze on me for a moment. Then, his gaze dropped, landing on my slightly slimmer belly. His face changed instantly. Just as he was about to say something, I cut him off coldly. “Your gift is right by the sofa. Hope you both like it.” By now, Sera had already torn open the express box. A nauseating stench washed over us. She looked inside, her face instantly turning ashen. She shrieked, recoiling sharply, almost stumbling. Jaxson turned at her scream, his face stiffening. He froze, pupils wildly dilating, the shock and fear in his eyes instantly devouring all his anger.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296785”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic

Five years ago, I fell into a deep coma after a car accident that killed both my parents. When I finally woke up, I discovered that the person responsible for the accident was the one closest to me. By then, my daughter was living in squalor, eating leftovers, and being bullied by the household staff. My husband had long since found a new love and was tormenting me day and night, trying to force me to hand over the family business. Watching them act like a happy family of three, I secretly contacted my childhood friend, Ethan Brooks, the heir to a powerful family in the city! On the day of my ex-husband’s wedding, I showed up with Ethan and my daughter, shocking the entire city… I had been in a coma for five years, one month, and three days. While I was still unconscious, I vaguely sensed someone entering the room. From the sound, I realized it was my daughter, Lily. Lily held my hand and called out, “Mommy, I wish you could wake up and play with me. All the other kids have their moms with them.” Just as I wanted to open my eyes and tell her, “Mommy misses you too, Lily, my sweet girl,” the door was kicked open. “You little brat, who told you to come here? What, you think you can wake this worthless woman up?” a woman’s voice snarled. The woman grabbed Lily’s ear and berated her. I recognized the voice—it was Rachel Cole, the daughter of Mr. Cole, our former household manager. She used to be one of my closest friends, but before the accident, I discovered that she had been conspiring with her father to harm me. Lily broke free from Rachel’s grip and bit her arm before standing protectively in front of my bed. “You bad woman, don’t come near my mommy!” Rachel shoved Lily to the ground and slapped her repeatedly. “You little brat, how dare you bite me! I’ll beat you to death!” Lily wailed, her cries piercing my ears and stimulating my nerves. “Mommy, save me! Waaah!” “Mommy, this bad woman is going to kill me! If Lily dies, I’ll never see you again!” I struggled desperately to open my eyes. In my mind, I saw myself getting up and rushing over to save my Lily. But my body wouldn’t obey, lying motionless on the bed as if trapped in an endless nightmare. I was frantic with worry. When Rachel tired of hitting Lily, she called Mrs. Wilson to drag her out. “Mrs. Wilson, throw this little brat in the dog kennel and don’t feed her for three days!” Mrs. Wilson nodded and dragged my daughter away. The room suddenly fell silent. But I was still fighting to open my eyes, trying to regain control of my body. Rachel slowly approached me. I could feel her footsteps getting closer. When she leaned in, she placed a hand on my face, her voice dripping with sarcasm and contempt. “Well, well, Miss Shaw, you’re quite the survivor. Five years as a vegetable, and not only are you not dead, but your skin is even more radiant!” Suddenly, Rachel’s hands wrapped around my throat, her face twisted with rage. “Why were you born beautiful, with flawless skin and a privileged background? Why am I just a servant’s daughter, plain-looking and unwanted? Ah, I’ll strangle you to death!” Rachel squeezed my throat. I felt my breathing becoming labored. I wanted to struggle, but as the air in my lungs was nearly depleted, my consciousness began to fade. Just as I thought Rachel would choke me to death, a familiar voice stopped her. “What are you doing?” It was my husband, Derek Grant. He had arrived! Rachel abruptly stopped, her expression and voice suddenly turning gentle. “I saw that Olivia looked pitiful lying here, so I came to check on her and see if there was anything I could do to help!” Derek’s voice softened. “Rachel, don’t do anything rash right now. After all, she’s still the heir to Shaw Enterprises.” Rachel walked over and clung to Derek’s arm. “I’ll do whatever you say, darling!” As soon as she finished speaking, Rachel kissed Derek’s lips. Derek pushed her against the wall. “You’re very sexy today, and quite forward!” Rachel giggled seductively. “Of course. We’ve tried the kitchen, bathroom, and balcony, but never in front of your wife. Derek, don’t talk, just kiss me…” Derek’s breathing grew heavy as he embraced Rachel and began kissing her passionately…

Then came the rustling sound of clothes falling to the floor, mixed with their sounds of pleasure. The room was filled with their passion, but my heart sank to the depths. I couldn’t believe that my husband had betrayed me, and even more unbelievable was that the object of his betrayal was the daughter of our family’s servant. At this moment, I couldn’t help but wonder if Derek was involved in the car accident five years ago that had claimed my parents’ lives and left me paralyzed in bed. Remembering the tragic state of my parents when they died, my heart felt like it was being stabbed. The pain was so intense that I could barely breathe, and tears began to flow from the corners of my eyes. Fortunately, they didn’t notice my reaction. Apparently feeling uncomfortable, Derek picked up Rachel. “Let’s go to the bedroom next door. Tonight, you’d better perform well!” After they left, I suddenly opened my eyes, gasping for air. My consciousness had finally regained control of my body. As the cold air filled my lungs, my mind gradually awakened. I tried to lift my arm. Although my eyes were open and I could see everything in the room, my arms didn’t quite obey me. They would lift halfway and then fall back down. After several attempts, my arms, which had been paralyzed for five years, finally regained some mobility. Unfortunately, my neck could only maintain a tilted angle and couldn’t turn, while my legs remained completely numb. I slapped my legs, but I couldn’t feel any pain. I realized that even though I had woken up, I might be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I forced myself to calm down quickly and analyze my current situation. If Derek and Rachel found out I had recovered, they would undoubtedly try to force me to hand over the Shaw family business and then kill me by any means necessary. For now, my priorities were: first, not to let Rachel and the others discover that I had regained consciousness; second, to find a way to contact Ethan, the only person I could trust now. Ethan and I grew up together in the city. His family was in the medical business, while ours was in construction. Although our families were in different industries, our parents were close friends and even arranged for us to be married when we were children. But I couldn’t stand his spoiled, arrogant rich kid attitude, even though he had the face of a male celebrity. I just didn’t think he was my type. Of course, he seemed to feel the same way about me. Later, I fell in love with Derek Grant, who had nothing but was hardworking and ambitious—the typical rags-to-riches story. Now, I admit I misjudged him. If I could choose again, I would never pick this ungrateful beast. Otherwise, my parents wouldn’t have died in that car crash. Otherwise, my daughter wouldn’t be suffering abuse. And I wouldn’t have become a coma patient, lying motionless in bed, at the mercy of others! The more I thought about it, the more angry I became. Using my arms to support myself on the bed, I rolled onto the floor and crawled to a hidden compartment at the foot of the bed. I quickly retrieved an old phone I had discarded and plugged it into the charger. Just as I was about to climb back into bed, I suddenly heard voices from downstairs. I heard Lily’s cries for help, and I immediately crawled towards the door. “Lily!” I crawled to the top of the stairs and saw Mrs. Wilson holding Lily down on her hands and knees, while a chubby little boy clapped his hands excitedly nearby. Afraid of being discovered and killed by Rachel, I could only cover my mouth and watch helplessly. After my daughter was forced onto her hands and knees, the chubby boy climbed onto her back. “Lily is our family’s little wild dog, haha, this is so fun! Giddy up, giddy up!” I guessed this chubby boy was the illegitimate son of Rachel and Derek. Sure enough, Mrs. Wilson said, “Young master, you play with this little brat for now. I’ll go make you something delicious to eat!” The chubby boy climbed and hit my daughter’s back. I wanted nothing more than to rush over and slap him hard. After Mrs. Wilson left, Lily angrily threw the chubby boy off her back. “You’re just a pig head! If you bully me again, when my mom wakes up, she won’t let you off easy!” The chubby boy got up, glaring at my daughter angrily. He raised his hand, about to slap her! “Stop!” I couldn’t bear it any longer and shouted in anger. But when the chubby boy saw my fierce expression as I lay on the ground, he froze in terror.

“You’re… you’re a ghost!” The chubby boy fainted from fright. Lily ran up the stairs step by step and threw herself into my arms. “Mommy, you’re finally awake!” Tears streamed down my face as I stroked my daughter’s cheek. “From now on, Mommy’s here. No one will dare bully you again!” Lily said obediently, “Mommy, let me help you back to your room!” Knowing this wasn’t a safe place to stay, I quickly moved back to my room with Lily’s help. After lying down, I looked at Lily seriously. “Lily, remember what Mommy says. Don’t trust anyone in this house. Wait for Mommy to rescue you.” Lily nodded obediently. “Mommy, I know. Everyone here is bad. Even Daddy doesn’t feed me!” My daughter’s casual remark broke my heart, and I clenched my fists tightly! During the five years I was in a coma, my Lily must have suffered so much. Derek, that beast, didn’t even take care of his own daughter. He was worse than an animal! I stroked my daughter’s hair, comforting her before sending her back. I instructed her to pretend she didn’t know I had woken up. “Mommy, Lily is a little scared!” I looked into her eyes and said, “Lily, after Mommy avenges your grandparents, we’ll never be separated again!” Lily hugged me before reluctantly returning to her room. I picked up the phone on the bedside table and dialed a familiar number from memory. A very lazy voice came from the other end of the line. “Hello, who is this?” I tried to control my emotions as I called out, “Ethan, it’s me!” Ethan Brooks was my childhood friend who grew up with me in the city. We were so close that we used to share candy apples. Perhaps because we were too familiar with each other, having grown up together, I only felt a sibling or close friend relationship with him, not romantic love. When I first fell for Derek, Ethan warned me that Derek wasn’t a good man and urged me to reconsider carefully. Even then, he had seen through Derek’s character, but I wouldn’t listen. Even when my parents objected to him, I didn’t care. I was determined to marry Derek! So I, the heiress of Shaw Enterprises, married Derek Grant, who was just a low-level employee at the time. After we married, Derek was devoted to me. But I never imagined that he was secretly conspiring with the household manager to harm my parents, intending to seize Shaw Enterprises and even kill me! Now that I think about it, I was truly blind. I didn’t cherish the good man in front of me and instead chose a complete wolf in sheep’s clothing. Ethan’s voice immediately became excited. “Olivia, you’ve finally contacted me!” I took a deep breath. “Ethan, the ones who killed my parents are likely Derek and Rachel. Can you help me investigate and gather evidence against them… I want them to pay for their crimes in blood!” Before Ethan could respond, I heard footsteps outside. My heart sank—someone was coming! I quickly hid the phone under my pillow. My legs still hadn’t regained feeling. If Rachel and the others found out, I would surely die. Rachel pushed the door open, followed by Mr. Cole and the chubby boy who had seen me earlier. Mrs. Wilson came in from outside carrying a basin of cold water. Rachel gave her a look, and she slowly approached me. Rachel pretended to be gentle and asked, “Sister Olivia, are you awake?” I closed my eyes and remained motionless. Rachel waved her hand, and Mrs. Wilson lifted the basin of water and poured it over me…

The cold water splashed on my face, and I almost couldn’t help but open my eyes. Seeing that I still didn’t move, Rachel turned to look at the chubby boy. “Feixiang! You’re being naughty again. How could this useless woman possibly wake up!” The chubby boy shouted, “Mommy, if you don’t believe me, you can ask Lily. She saw it too!” Rachel glanced at me before preparing to take Mr. Cole and the others to find Lily. I wasn’t sure if Lily had returned to her kennel, and if they went now, she would inevitably suffer a beating. No, I had to buy Lily some time! I suddenly opened my eyes, my body involuntarily convulsing. Mr. Cole and the others, who were about to turn around, saw me open my eyes and were too shocked to speak. “She’s awake, she’s awake!” Mr. Cole pointed at me, his emotions running high. Rachel hadn’t reacted yet and teased Mr. Cole, “Dad, why are you being as mischievous as a child? This stinking woman has been paralyzed for five years. How could she possibly…” Rachel suddenly turned around, her eyes widening as they met mine. “How is this possible? This can’t be! Quick, go call Derek!” Soon after, I was helped into a wheelchair by Mrs. Wilson. Derek, still wearing his pajamas and looking half-asleep, was called by Mrs. Wilson. Derek pretended to caress my hand affectionately. “Olivia, you’re really awake. That’s wonderful!” I secretly pulled my hand away, my head deliberately tilted. I pointed at Derek, unable to speak, making only “mmm” sounds. If I didn’t do this, Derek’s cautious nature would surely keep me under strict surveillance. The reason I pretended to be unable to speak was to make them lower their guard. Derek and the others exchanged glances before understanding my condition. Although I had woken up and opened my eyes, and my arms had regained mobility, my speech function and legs hadn’t recovered. I was basically in a semi-paralyzed state. Derek and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Rachel also pretended to hold my hand. “Sister Olivia, don’t worry. As long as the Shaw family has food to eat, you’ll have food to eat. We’ll take good care of you!” At this moment, Mr. Cole inappropriately asked Derek, “Derek, now that Olivia has woken up, will you and Rachel still get married tomorrow?” Derek glanced at him, then looked at me and said, “Olivia, you won’t blame me for marrying Rachel, will you? Don’t worry, we’ll all be family from now on. Even if I marry Rachel, I definitely won’t abandon you!” I secretly scoffed. The Qing Dynasty fell over a hundred years ago. What, are you trying to bring back polygamy here? Seeing my expression, Derek changed his tone. “I’ve already drafted our divorce agreement. As for some property division issues, as long as you sign this agreement, you can find someone you love after you recover.” I laughed coldly in my heart. What exactly did this beast take me for? Did he think I would go along with his schemes, without principles or bottom line like him? Rachel added a comment that made me even angrier. “Sister Olivia, why don’t you just transfer Shaw Enterprises to our Derek? After all, we’re family. We’ll ensure that you and your daughter live in luxury for the rest of your lives!” I coldly watched them perform like clowns in front of me. If I’m not mistaken, these lowly servants and ordinary people wouldn’t have today’s wealth and status without my support. These ungrateful wretches, they’re finally showing their true colors, aren’t they? If I really handed Shaw Enterprises over to them, what awaited me would surely be a miserable fate. I probably wouldn’t live long enough to follow my parents! I’m not afraid of death, but what about my daughter if I die! If I die, won’t this vast family fortune fall entirely into Derek’s hands? In the future, he’ll live in my house, spend my money, and enjoy life with other women? Even if I’m in the underworld, seeing this beast living so comfortably would make me angry enough to crawl out of my grave. I didn’t respond to them. Derek and the others probably didn’t know what to do with me. After Mrs. Wilson changed my bedding, they all went back to sleep. I secretly wiped away cold sweat. Fortunately, while they were calling Derek, I had hidden the phone in a secret compartment in the headboard. If Mrs. Wilson had found the phone, I would have been completely exposed. If they knew I had contacted Ethan, I probably wouldn’t survive the night. Lying in bed, I thought about my next move. But before I could figure it all out, something happened to Lily!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296802”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

The day before the final round of the Beta selection, I was poisoned with wolfsbane and locked inside my home as it was engulfed in flames. The fire spread unnaturally fast. My wolf, Seraph, was screaming inside my head, but the wolfsbane had weakened me too much to shift. I clawed at the door, my nails breaking against the wood, the heat searing my skin. When I was rescued, my face was severely scarred, my skin torn and raw, and my body covered in extensive burns. Outside the operating room, I heard my mother’s agonized sobs. She kept repeating, “It’s my fault… I locked the door by accident… I never meant to…” My mate, Alpha Laurence, mobilized every healer in the Silver Claw Pack, swearing to restore my health. “Easy, girl,” the doctor whispered. “We’ll get through this. One step at a time.” The doctor busied himself with the anesthesia. Then ,Drowsiness pulled me under, but just before I slipped into unconsciousness, I overheard my mother’s hesitant voice: “Laurence… wasn’t it too much? Poisoning Ella with wolfsbane, setting the fire, locking the door… just so Celia could become Beta? She’s—she’s burned beyond recognition…” Alpha Laurence let out a cold scoff. “If Ella wasn’t so vain and selfish, I wouldn’t have had to do this. She knew Celia was fragile, struggling with depression, yet she paraded her victories in front of her like a damn trophy. All Ella lost was her looks, but Celia lost her confidence, her happiness. This is what Ella owes her.” “Don’t worry. I’ll marry Ella. Once she’s Luna, no one will dare say a word about her disfigured face. She should be grateful I’m treating her so well.” Destroying my health and my career is what he calls treating me well? I pressed a trembling hand to my bandaged chest, barely feeling the pain through the numbness creeping over me. My wolf let out a low, agonized growl inside me, the remnants of wolfsbane still dulling her strength. I bit down on my cracked lip, tasting blood. The mother who once cherished me. The mate who was meant to protect me. I didn’t want either of them anymore.

“Hold off on the surgery. Have all the doctors wait outside,” Alpha Laurence commanded. The doctor, who had just slipped on his gloves, froze. “Alpha Laurence, Miss Ella’s burns are severe. There are traces of wolfsbane in her system, preventing her natural healing. If we don’t act now—if we don’t detoxify and operate—she won’t just be disfigured. She could lose her wolf completely. If that happens, she’ll be wolfless, vulnerable, and—” “Ruined?” Alpha Laurence cut in with a cold chuckle. “If she’s ruined, so be it.” I was barely conscious, my body a wreck of seared flesh and excruciating pain, but my hearing was sharp. And the way he said it—so indifferent, so final—made my stomach churn harder than the wolfsbane had. A pause. Then my mother spoke, her voice hesitant. “Laurence… Ella is too gravely injured to participate in the Beta selection tomorrow. Maybe we should—” “Should what?” His voice turned sharp. “Let her recover? Give her a chance to fight back? No. If she can’t be Beta, she’ll find ways to sabotage Celia. You know how Ella is—vain, competitive, selfish. Leaving her half-dead, wolfless, and helpless is the only way to stop her from bullying Celia.” Vain. Selfish. That’s what he thought of me? Alpha Laurence exhaled, Then, with a tenderness so grotesquely out of place, he dipped a swab into water and gently pressed it to my cracked lips. The contrast made me want to retch. “Ella, this is for your own good, You need to learn humility.” My mother sighed, then turned to the doctors. “Just relieve her pain. Clean her burns lightly—don’t let her suffer too much.” Suffer too much? My breath came in ragged gasps, my chest rising and falling in a painful rhythm. No one noticed how violently I trembled beneath the blankets, as if a blade had pierced my heart and pinned me to the bed. The fire hadn’t been an accident. The wolfsbane wasn’t a coincidence. It had been him. It had always been him. And my mother—my own mother—had helped. Outside, they stood talking about me like I wasn’t even here. “It’s for the best,” Alpha Laurence murmured, more to himself than to anyone else. “I promised Celia she’d be Beta. I won’t let anyone stand in her way.” The numbness in my limbs couldn’t stop the fire of hatred igniting in my heart. I had loved this man. The mate the Moon Goddess had chosen for me. The one I thought would fight beside me, protect me. But I was wrong. I bit down hard on my lip until I tasted blood, forcing myself not to cry out. Don’t give them the satisfaction. A metallic taste spread over my tongue as the pain gnawed at my chest. My vision blurred, and before I could stop it, a mouthful of blood surged up, splattering onto my sheets. The room fell into momentary chaos. My mother gasped and rushed toward me, stopping short when she realized there wasn’t a single inch of me she could touch without causing more harm. Tears streaked her face. “Ella, Mommy is here. Does it hurt? Don’t be afraid. Mommy will always stay by your side.” Alpha Laurence, on the other hand, was seething. “Where are the damn doctors? If anything happens to my Luna, this hospital will cease to exist!” The doctors, already in on the scheme, fumbled for an excuse. “Alpha Laurence, they’re on their way. There was a traffic accident—the car is stuck. They won’t arrive until tomorrow at the earliest.” Alpha Laurence didn’t even let him finish before he kicked the man out of the room with a growl. “Get lost!” Then, he turned back to me, his expression softening into a look of practiced guilt. He crouched beside my bed, his eyes searching mine as if he actually cared. “Ella, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault for not getting here sooner. I should’ve protected you better. But don’t worry,” he whispered, grasping my unburned fingers. “No matter the cost, I’ll make sure you’re healed. You’ll always be the strongest Beta in my heart.” I looked at him. This man—who had orchestrated my downfall—was playing the role of a devoted mate so flawlessly that if I hadn’t heard him earlier, I might have believed him. I swallowed down the bile in my throat, my voice so weak it barely made a sound. “Will I really recover?” “You will,” he vowed, his thumb grazing the back of my hand. “I promise.” his false sincerity painting me as nothing more than a fool. To eliminate me as a threat to Celia, my mate—the man who had promised to love me all his life—had strung me along with one lie after another, only to push me down a path of destruction. Even my mother, who had once held me as her treasure, chose to raise the blade against me for Celia, the two-faced adopted daughter. At that moment, I wanted to ask them why they had been so cruel to me. But every word dissolved into the growing coldness in my heart, leaving nothing but a suffocating silence. A group of doctors entered with disinfectants, their faces marked by pity and regret as they gazed at my mutilated body. “Miss Ella,” one of them said gently, “the specialists aren’t here yet. We’ll just do some basic disinfection for now. Please bear with it.” The moment the disinfectant touched my burns, agony ripped through me like lightning. My fragile veins, still weakened by wolfsbane, burst under the treatment. Blood and pus seeped through the sheets, the sharp, acrid scent filling the air. My mother let out a strangled sob, her hands trembling violently as she covered her mouth. Alpha Laurence clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, his red-rimmed eyes making it look as if he were the one in pain. Their performances were flawless. But I saw the truth. Everything was a lie. Only the betrayal—and the scars—were real.

The first thing I felt when I woke up was pain. A deep, bone-gnawing pain that made my wolf whimper weakly in the back of my mind. She was still there—barely—but I could feel how weak she was, how much the wolfsbane had drained her. Normally, a werewolf’s body would heal on its own, even from severe burns. But with the poison still in my system, I was trapped in this raw, agonizing state. And that’s when I heard them. “Laurence, Ella’s condition is already so severe. We’ve delayed her treatment for two days now, and you still want to give her the hospital’s newly developed psychological medication?” It was my mother’s voice, just outside my hospital room. “The doctor said the drug hasn’t been fully tested yet. The side effects might include seizures and incontinence,” my mother said hesitantly. After a few seconds of silence, Alpha Laurence’s voice turned resolute. “That’s exactly what we need.” A cold sweat prickled down my spine. “Today is Celia’s celebration banquet. There will be many pack elites and Alphas attending. Ella is already a disgrace; a little more humiliation won’t make a difference. Once she’s completely stripped of her dignity, she won’t fight Celia for the Beta position anymore.” I clenched my fists beneath the thin hospital blanket, my burned skin screaming in protest. My nails dug into my palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the hurt in my chest. “Tomorrow, after the banquet, I’ll announce our engagement—it’ll be my way of making it up to her.” Making it up to me? Burning me alive, poisoning me, robbing me of my future as Beta—and now parading my humiliation in front of the entire pack? And somehow, an engagement to the mate who betrayed me was supposed to fix it? Alpha Laurence continued, completely unfazed. “Mom, make sure the doctors wait outside the packhouse. Once the banquet ends, they can detoxify her and schedule the surgery.” “Alright,” my mother agreed without hesitation. I stared at the ceiling, my mind blank, my throat too dry to even scream. This was the man I had once trusted with my life. And the woman who had given birth to me had just sealed my fate without a second thought. The two people I trusted most had destroyed everything I had worked for. From a young age, despite my frail health, I had strived tirelessly to become a Beta worthy of my father’s legacy. With just a few casual words, they crushed all my dreams. A sharp, searing pain shot through my chest, as if my wolf was howling in grief. If I had known this was the outcome, I’d rather have died in the fire. The door creaked open. Alpha Laurence entered, his face a perfect mask of concern. If I hadn’t overheard his little plan, I might have been fooled by the way he softened his eyes, the way he lowered his voice like he actually cared. “Sweetheart,” he murmured, pulling a small bottle from his pocket. “I just spoke to the doctor. These are newly developed painkillers—completely safe. They’ll help you suffer less.” I lowered my gaze to the two bright red pills, my throat feeling like it was coated with rust. My voice came out hoarse. “Laurence, the pills taste too bitter. I don’t want to take them.” He hesitated for only a moment before smiling and taking my hand. “Watching you endure all this pain hurts me too. Can you really bear to see me like this?” He exhaled heavily, shaking his head as if I were the unreasonable one. “My sweet Ella, do it for me.” Without giving me a chance to refuse, he pressed the pills to my lips. “Good girl, let me help you.” The moment the pill touched my tongue, its bitterness spread like acid, searing through my senses. I tried to spit it out, but it dissolved almost instantly in my mouth, leaving a thick metallic taste coating my throat. A wave of dizziness hit me, making the room spin. My vision blurred at the edges. Not enough to knock me out completely—but just enough to dull my reflexes, to make sure I wouldn’t put up too much of a fight. Alpha Laurence seized the moment to grab my hand. “Ella, today is Celia’s celebration banquet. Her greatest wish is for your blessing. If you don’t attend, people will spread rumors that you’re petty and can’t accept your adopted sister’s success…” I cut him off before he could drag it out any longer. “I’ll go. Prepare the clothes.” Alpha Laurence blinked, surprised by how quickly I agreed. He had expected resistance—an argument, at the very least. But I knew there was no point in fighting him now. He had already planned everything, left me no room for refusal. If I couldn’t escape the humiliation, then fine. I’d let him think he had won. Let them all think they had broken me. My mother walked in just as I spoke. When she heard my agreement, her face lit up with joy. “Good girl, Ella. I knew you were always so sensible.” “Once Celia’s banquet is over, I’ll personally host your wedding with Laurence,” she added with a warm smile. I numbly pulled my hand away, my heart completely dead inside. The car ride to the celebration banquet was silent. I didn’t bother looking out the window, didn’t try to track the route. It didn’t matter where I was being taken. By the time we arrived, the dizziness had worn off, but my body still felt sluggish, like I was wading through mud. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was blinded by a burst of flashing lights. Cameras. Journalists. A pack of them, waiting like hungry rogues. Panic flared in my chest. My hand shot out instinctively, reaching for my mother— But I grasped at empty air. In the corner of my eye, I saw her walking away, her arm linked with Celia’s, the both of them beaming as they stepped into the banquet hall. She didn’t even glance back. My breath hitched, and I yanked my hat down over my face, trying to shield myself. But the reporters had already closed in, their voices like claws, ripping into me. “Miss Ella, is it true that you tried to burn your sister alive out of jealousy because you didn’t want her to become the Beta of the Silver Claw Pack?” “Miss Ella, how does someone as malicious as you even have the audacity to show up at your sister’s celebration banquet? Don’t you feel any shame?” “Miss Ella, you were so fierce in past combat tournaments, yet you couldn’t escape a simple fire. Could it be that the rumors were true all along? I heard you bribed male warriors with your body to go easy on you during matches. But since your opponent this time was your sister, that tactic didn’t work, so you resorted to arson instead?” The words slammed into me, but I barely reacted. Until— A hand shot out. And in one ruthless motion— The reporter tore off my hat.

Gasps erupted in unison. A face disfigured beyond recognition by fire was exposed under the cameras’ relentless scrutiny. “Oh my God, that’s disgusting. Is that even human?” “I’m gonna puke. Damn, that’s hideous—a hell devil come to life in broad daylight.” Their words sliced through me like silver blades. My heart pounded, the sound deafening in my ears. I couldn’t even process the shame fast enough before another voice, gleeful and dripping with malice, rang out: “The most arrogant female warrior—immoral, malicious, and spiteful. She deliberately set a fire to kill her sister and ended up paying the price. They say there isn’t a single patch of intact skin left on her. Let’s see for ourselves what it means when karma comes knocking.” Phones were lifted. Streams went live. My stomach churned. My vision blurred as black spots danced before my eyes. Then— A hard shove. I hit the ground, my already battered body collapsing under the force. My clothes—thin, oversized hospital scrubs—ripped like wet paper. My arms were exposed. My thighs. My waist. A sharp, broken gasp tore from my throat, but the noise of the crowd swallowed it whole. Then came the tremors. My hands and feet twitched first. Then my entire body seized violently, jerking against the cold pavement as if struck by an electric current. The cameras zoomed in. “She’s having a seizure! This is gold—get a close-up, quick! It’s all prime footage!” I writhed in agony, my eyes rolling back as my fangs pushed painfully against my gums, as foam spilled from the corners of my mouth.. I knew the drugs were taking effect, but there was nothing I could do. Like a clown stripped bare, I was at their mercy as they shredded my dignity into nothingness. And the worst was yet to come. A horrifying warmth spread beneath me, wet and shameful. The acrid scent hit my nose first, just before the gasps and laughter started. “Oh, shit! She pissed herself!” “I thought wolves had some dignity left—guess not!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296819”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

Just because I accidentally broke the dried flower arrangement made by my wife’s childhood friend, she sent me to a “men’s etiquette school” for reformation. Facing inhuman torture at the school, I desperately screamed, struggled, and begged on my knees. But no one paid any attention to me. After forty-nine days of brutal body modification, my limbs were removed and I was molded into a vase. When Sophia received an invitation to a private auction, she whispered to the boy beside her: “Jake, I’ll bid on this vase. It would be perfect to display your new dried flower arrangement.” At the moment of my last breath, a commotion broke out in the crowd. With just one glance, Sophia’s eyes widened in shock as she frantically raised her bidding paddle. With a crisp slap, Sophia’s hand struck my face. “Ryan! You useless good-for-nothing!” she snarled, her face dark with anger as she jabbed a finger at my nose. “I didn’t marry you so you could live a life of luxury! You can’t even handle this simple task! How dare you carelessly ruin Jake’s heartfelt gift?” Jake rushed over, looking very apologetic. “Sophia, please don’t blame Ryan. It wasn’t intentional,” he pleaded. “These dried flowers weren’t anything special – just a small gift I stayed up late for a week to make for you,” Jake continued. “It’s a shame you liked them so much, but I didn’t even get a chance to give them to you before Ryan broke them…” He crouched down and carefully gathered up the remains of the dried flowers. I hurriedly tried to explain: “It was an accident! I was being careful, but he-” “Enough!” Sophia cut me off impatiently. “Look at yourself, then look at Jake!” “Jake always puts me first and considers my feelings. But you? All you do is cause trouble for me!” “I’ve told you before not to mess with Jake. Did it all go in one ear and out the other?” She looked at me with disdain and disappointment in her eyes. “Apologize to Jake right now and learn from him how to be a proper husband!” I held my stinging cheek, my heart bitter. After five years of marriage to Sophia, I took care of the household chores, shielded her from drinking at social events, and gave up my own career and hobbies for her. Yet in her eyes, I couldn’t compare to a simple dried flower arrangement from Jake. An immense sense of loss washed over me as I forced myself to apologize through gritted teeth. But Jake still wasn’t satisfied. Sophia declared she would “punish” me to teach me a lesson. Jake approached and patted my shoulder. “Ryan, don’t be upset with Sophia. She just wants you to improve,” he said smoothly. “You’re so handsome and strong. You just need some refinement in your manners.” His tone suddenly shifted. “I heard about a top-notch men’s etiquette school that recently opened downtown. Not only does it cultivate proper behavior, but it also offers physical training.” “Why don’t we send Ryan there to study? It’ll be like returning him to his prime at age 20. What do you think?” This wasn’t a suggestion – it was a poisoned trap! Fear gripped me like an invisible hand. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already restrained by security guards, unable to move. “No! Sophia! I won’t go! You can’t do this to me! Jake has ulterior motives!” I couldn’t help but scream, struggling desperately and crawling to clutch at her legs. But Sophia turned a deaf ear, her eyes cold and impatient. She ignored my pleas and protests. A guard chopped the back of my neck. Darkness instantly swallowed me.

I was awakened by the glare of surgical lights above me. The scent of antiseptic mixed with crisp cedar cologne filled my nostrils. My hands and feet were bound, leaving me completely immobile. I used all my strength to shout: “This is illegal detention! It’s a crime! I’m calling the police!” But the room was empty – no one responded to my cries for help. Overwhelming panic seized me like a tidal wave. They had taken my phone, cutting off all contact with the outside world. I realized with horror that no one was coming to save me. Despair coiled around my heart like vines, making it hard to breathe. After a while, the heavy door opened. A man in a white coat entered, his face expressionless. Without a word, he gestured to the men behind him. Two large men came forward and held me down as a syringe was forcibly injected into my arm. My body gradually went numb, but my mind remained terrifyingly alert. The man in the coat approached and firmly pinched my now-insensate arm. “Ah!” I couldn’t help but cry out in pain, my body shaking violently. He smiled eerily. “Good, the pain receptors are still active. This will make our ‘artistic creation’ much more soulful.” The familiar scent of cedar cologne wafted into my nose. I forced my eyes open wide, finally recognizing the face hidden behind the surgical mask. It was Jake! That bottle of cedar cologne was a gift Sophia had given him just yesterday to welcome him. Now he was discussing my “vase modification plan” with two doctors. “Jake! Let me go right now! Sophia won’t let you get away with this!” I shouted. He didn’t even glance my way. Sophia, you fool! She had no idea that Jake, her dear childhood friend, wasn’t sending me for simple fitness training. He intended to humiliate me, to turn me into a living… vase for people to admire! With the last bit of strength left in my body, my survival instinct exploded. I desperately struggled to roll off the operating table. I had to crawl away! I had to escape! I had barely crawled half a meter when a shiny leather shoe stomped down hard on my right hand! “Ahhhhh!” An agonized scream erupted from my throat. “Trying to escape? Where do you think you can go? Ryan, you need to learn to submit,” Jake said. As he spoke, he deliberately twisted his shoe, grinding it into my fingers. I was in so much pain I nearly passed out. The sound of bones crunching was sickeningly clear. I no longer cared about dignity: “I was wrong, please, I’m begging you, let me go please…” Just then, Jake’s phone rang. He casually answered and put it on speaker. Sophia’s voice came through. “Jake, how is… Ryan doing? Is he still causing trouble?” I thought I detected a hint of concern in her voice, but quickly dismissed the notion. How naive of me – even at this point, what was I still hoping for? Jake glanced at me and smiled smugly. “Don’t worry, Sophia. Ryan is undergoing a body modification treatment. He’ll be completely obedient to you soon.” As he spoke, he ground the toe of his shoe into my hand again. I let out an even more piercing scream. I used my last ounce of strength to beg Sophia for help. But not only did she show no mercy, she laughed coldly: “Ryan, don’t be so ungrateful! Jake is helping you – you should be thankful! Stop trying to play the victim and gain sympathy. I’ve seen through your act!” “Behave yourself and don’t embarrass me!” I thought back to five years ago at our wedding, when she vowed to love me for life and support each other forever. Those promises now seemed utterly ironic and laughable. Immense disappointment and betrayal washed over me. I stopped calling for help and closed my eyes, my heart dying in that moment. Jake hung up the phone and directed the men to move me back onto the operating table. He gripped my jaw, forcing me to look at him. “Ryan, what I hate most is that pretentious face of yours,” he sneered. “And you’re too noisy. It would be better if you were quiet.” Before I could react, a cold scalpel slashed viciously at my tongue! Excruciating pain shot through me as blood gushed out. The agony was so intense I couldn’t even scream. My vision went black as I passed out completely.

When I regained consciousness, I discovered I had truly been turned into a “vase”! And before me was an auction hall. I was trapped inside the vase mold, completely immobilized. Every inch of skin, every bone in my body, screamed with unbearable pain. In a daze, flashes of the operating table came back to me. That devil Jake had personally broken my bones, forcibly molding my body into the shape he desired with clay. Countless tiny needles repeatedly pierced my skin, carving out bizarre patterns. I kept waking from the extreme torture only to pass out again, unable to bear it. That feeling of wishing for death was so intense, I almost forgot I was still alive. The more my body hurt, the deeper my hatred for Sophia and Jake grew. But I was utterly helpless, like a fish on a chopping board, at their mercy. The crowd stared at me intently as the auctioneer spoke passionately. “Ladies and gentlemen, look at this human vase! It took exactly forty-nine days to create the crackle glaze effect!” “Real human blood was used for the red glaze. The more pain the subject felt, the more beautiful the patterns became!” Whispers spread through the audience. Apparently I had been sent to an auction. “This is so artistic! I’ve never seen a vase made from a real person before. It would be quite a conversation piece!” “New patterns are still forming – how fascinating! Truly a rare treasure!” “This auction was well worth attending!” I could feel my life force slowly draining away, barely clinging to existence. Looking closer, I saw Sophia seated in the front row. Her gaze paused on me briefly as it swept across the room. She didn’t recognize me, instead turning to complain to her assistant. “Why hasn’t Ryan made any contact recently?” Jake immediately reassured her, his voice low but just loud enough for me to hear. “Sophia, Ryan is probably focusing on his training. Don’t be angry with him. Maybe he’s planning a surprise for you.” Sophia scoffed after hearing this. “Speaking of vases, why is he so special? I prefer the one on stage.” I had no energy to argue. Let her think what she wants. I was already at their mercy. The crowd below had gone into a frenzy, emotions running high as they bid astronomical sums to acquire me. My gaze met Sophia’s again. From not far away, she seemed to finally recognize me. A look of disbelief flashed in her eyes. “This vase… why does it look like… Ryan? What’s he doing here?” “Putting a person… inside a vase? Is that safe?” She stood up, perhaps wanting a closer look, but Jake grabbed her arm. “Sophia, don’t worry. This must be Ryan’s way of pursuing an artistic effect – he made himself into a vase shape.” “Besides, isn’t he more special this way?” “He can’t go anywhere or cause any more trouble for you now.” Sophia nodded thoughtfully at his words and sat back down calmly. Watching them chat intimately, the physical pain paled in comparison to the despair and hatred in my heart. Sophia! Jake! I truly hate you both so much!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296836”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

The day Asher confessed to me, Serena, who had chased him for three years, jumped off the roof. Before she took her life, she cried, accusing me of campus bullying and having a messy personal life. It was only when I went into labor and Asher refused to take me to the hospital that I realized his confession had just been a ploy to get rid of Serena. And after Serena’s death, Asher became obsessed with her, falling madly in love. He blamed me entirely for her demise. When I was heavily pregnant, he imprisoned me at home, tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Serena jumped. “Get together! Get together!” The chaotic shouts jolted me back to reality, the familiar scene merging with my memories. My gaze fell on Asher, standing before me with flowers in hand. Just like me, he looked around, a bewildered expression on his face. His eyes lit up, then he tossed the flowers aside and frantically ran towards the rooftop. Watching his retreating figure, I realized that both Asher and I had been reborn. We were back on the day Asher confessed to me. In my previous life, on this very day Asher confessed, Serena had stood on that rooftop. From the top of the building, her face filled with despair, she cried out to the entire school, accusing me of campus bullying. Everyone pressured me, demanding I kneel and beg for her forgiveness, for her to come down. Even though I had never bullied her, I was forced by the whole school to kneel and plead with her not to jump. But after I knelt, she screamed even louder, collapsing in tears: “You’re willing to kneel in public just to force my forgiveness? Does a bully apologizing mean the bullied has to forgive them?” “I’ll tell you this: I’ll never forgive you, never.” With that, she leaped from the rooftop. The incident went viral online, and without any real evidence, I became the infamous bully everyone demonized across the internet. Later, after a police investigation, a statement was released proving my innocence, that I hadn’t bullied anyone. But by then, no one believed me. The official police clarification video was filled with hateful comments about me: “Why would she kneel and apologize if she didn’t bully anyone?” “Do you think anyone would use their life to frame someone else?” “Who’s pulling strings for this bully? Why isn’t she in jail?” … The school couldn’t handle the online pressure either and advised me to withdraw. I gradually developed depression, and after multiple failed suicide attempts, Asher reappeared. He repeatedly told me he believed I was innocent, helping me slowly recover. He gradually became my only lifeline. Later, I moved to another city for college, choosing the same university as Asher, and we officially started dating. After graduation, we got married. Lulled by his sweet words, I pregnant and promptly quit my job to become a stay-at-home wife. Little did I know, that was the beginning of my nightmare. He imprisoned me at home, cutting me off from the outside world, tormenting me daily with photos of Serena. When I was heavily pregnant and nearing delivery, he forcibly locked me in a room, brutally abusing and tormenting me. It was then I realized that after Serena’s death, Asher had suddenly realized she was the one he truly loved, regretting that he hadn’t cherished her. He blamed me for Serena’s death, believing I had provoked her into taking her own life He channeled all his hatred onto me, exacting a furious revenge. His prolonged torment led to my water breaking and premature labor. He watched coldly as I struggled in the room, cruelly tormenting me until I drew my last breath. I never expected to open my eyes again and find myself back on the day Asher confessed to me, the day Serena jumped.

I watched his retreating figure with cold indifference. Facing the curious gazes of the bystanders, I picked up a broom and swept the flowers into the trash can. My eyes scanned Asher’s friends, the ones who had been loudest in their cheering, and I spoke flatly: “What’s with all the fuss? College entrance exams are coming up soon. Don’t you want to focus on your studies, or do you plan to repeat this year?” Under my cold stare, they exchanged glances, then quickly returned to their seats. Once the classroom was quiet again, I pulled out my textbook and buried myself in studying. Thinking of everything I’d suffered in my previous life because of that toxic pair, an irritable rage simmered within me. This time, I had to stay far away from those two. Asher didn’t reappear at school after leaving until evening dismissal. I glanced at their empty seats, packed my things, and practically sprinted home. Seeing my parents, looking years younger, in the living room, my eyes welled up. I let out a choked sob and threw myself into my mom’s arms. Seeing me like this, she panicked, holding me close and gently patting my back. “Honey, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you at school? Tell Mom, I’ll make sure you get justice.” After a long while, I calmed myself, sniffling. “No, I just… suddenly missed you both so, so much. And I’m so sorry.” Hearing me, Mom sighed in relief, playfully patting my head. “Did you mess up a test this time?” My dad chimed in from behind, “Don’t be too stressed, it’s just the college entrance exam. Even if you mess up, Dad will support you for life.” Watching the harmonious atmosphere at home, my heart gradually settled. My parents were so good to me, yet in my previous life, Asher’s manipulation had led me to give up my career after pregnancy and become a stay-at-home wife, handing over full control of the company to him. Because my parents disagreed, I had a huge fight with them and cut off all contact. This also allowed Asher to use my pregnancy as an excuse to trick me into moving away, imprisoning me in a secluded basement he’d prepared just for me. No one found me for a long time after I died. Meanwhile, he used his position to embezzle company funds, draining the accounts and leaving the company bankrupt. My parents, reeling from the twin shocks of my death and the company’s bankruptcy, became distraught and were tragically killed in a car accident. I clenched my fists. This time, I would protect them, no matter what. In the middle of the night, I dreamed of my previous life again. In a dimly lit room, my hands were cuffed to the bed frame. Suddenly, a beam of light, and a pair of polished leather shoes appeared before me. I recoiled in terror, shrinking into the corner, but the owner of the shoes wouldn’t let me go. He stomped on my calf, grinding his heel back and forth: “Does that hurt? Imagine how desperate Serena must have been when you bullied her until she jumped. You should go to hell to atone for your sins.” I croaked, struggling to explain, “Asher, I never bullied her.” “Still trying to deny it!” He lifted his foot and slammed it without hesitation into my stomach. “No!” As I struggled, the handcuffs snapped. Seizing the opportunity, I threw a straight punch directly at his most sensitive spot. I didn’t waste a second, getting up and hitting Asher with a left hook, then a right hook, until he was on his knees, begging for mercy.

I woke up feeling incredibly refreshed and headed to school. Asher and Serena entered the classroom one after another after the second period ended. Serena, walking in behind Asher, had swollen, glistening lips and flushed cheeks. Faint hickeys peeked from her neck. It was obvious to anyone what had happened last night. Asher’s friends exchanged knowing glances and started chanting: “Asher, what happened? Weren’t you going to confess to our class president, Avery? How did you end up with Serena overnight?” As they spoke, their eyes darted between Serena and me. They were all curious how Asher, who had rejected Serena so many times, had suddenly gotten together with her overnight. Asher shot me a dismissive glance, then pulled Serena into a tight embrace. “Serena and I had some misunderstandings before, but now they’re cleared up. Say hi to your new sister-in-law!” At his words, Serena’s face flushed deep red, and she quickly buried her face in Asher’s chest. At the same time, she cast a guilty glance my way. I gave them a bland look and returned to my worksheets. Serena and I used to be best friends. We were neighbors back then, and we practically lived at each other’s houses, always sharing meals and sleeping over. I remember being smaller than other kids my age, and often getting picked on by classmates. Afterwards, she would always take me to confront the bullies. We promised to be best friends for life. But later, in middle school, her dad got into gambling, and the sounds of him yelling and hitting people often came from her house. My parents told me not to go to Serena’s house anymore. But I felt sorry for her, so I kept playing with her. Until eighth grade, I suddenly had a growth spurt, and my features became more defined. The boys who used to bully me started sending me love letters and told me the real reason they had picked on me in elementary school: it was Serena who had used the snacks I gave her to bribe them into bullying me. When I found out, I confronted her. She sneered, “Why? There’s no why. I just didn’t like you.” I was heartbroken. Around that time, my parents’ company also started making a profit, and they decided to give me a better environment for school. We quickly moved out of our old neighborhood. I never expected we’d meet again in high school. I thought we’d be casual strangers. Until one day after school, I saw her being beaten by a group of people in an alley. When I went to help her, I found out she was the other woman, and the people beating her were the man’s wife and her friends. I promised to keep her secret. The very next day, she stood on the rooftop, crying and accusing me of campus bullying. There was less than a hundred days left until the college entrance exams. This time, I was determined to study hard, aiming for a top-tier university in finance and management, to take over the company and expand it significantly. Because Asher had been reborn and was already an adult mentally, he wasn’t afraid of the teachers’ authority. He openly dated Serena at school, not even trying to hide it. He even dramatically recorded their love story on his phone and posted it online. This was the era when the internet was booming. I knew he wanted to get into the influencer game. In just a few days, Asher and Serena’s accounts were gaining significant traction. Ever since I was subjected to that online mob in my previous life, I realized the immense harm that biased, one-sided reports from sensationalist online accounts could cause. Later, I started learning how to run an account myself, to expand my influence and speak up for more people who faced injustice. Gradually, I understood how to crack the algorithm for going viral and successfully built a following. In my spare time, I even started a daily couple’s account with Asher in my previous life, explaining the techniques to him and guiding him to become an internet influencer. I scrolled through his current account’s cringey, low-quality videos titled “High School Love Daily.” I clicked one open. They were hugging and deeply kissing, the captions vulgar and overly dramatic. Serena in the video smiled sweetly, swaying her hips in a way that left little to the imagination. I closed my phone, the comments below full of disgusting remarks. The account he was running now was the exact case study of the simplest, most successful launch by a popular influencer that I had analyzed and explained to him years ago in my previous life. It involved starting with controversial content to gain traction, then leveraging a major incident to ‘cleanse’ their image and go mainstream. I had told him that while this method was simple, promoting problematic values could easily get you banned, and successful transformation was incredibly difficult. Clearly, he had only heard the “simple” part. This time, he was using this strategy directly. I wondered how he planned to pivot later. I didn’t pay them any more attention. With my experience from the previous life, I also registered an account, studying and running my own content page simultaneously. I absolutely had to seize this internet opportunity. Their public displays of affection didn’t last long. Soon, their indulgent, anti-study behavior was reprimanded by the school, and their parents were notified. Reportedly, the principal’s office was utter chaos that day. Asher’s family was very conservative. Knowing that Asher’s grades had plummeted and he faced expulsion, his mother immediately grabbed Serena’s hair in the office and slapped her repeatedly, left and right. The teachers present couldn’t even stop her. She only stopped when Serena’s dad showed up and saw the scene. Asher’s mom then started yelling obscenities at Serena’s father. Serena’s father, a notorious lowlife, wasn’t angry after learning Serena and Asher were dating and had slept together. Instead, he started demanding a hefty payout from Asher’s family. Initially, Asher’s parents refused, but since Serena was underage, taking it to the police would mean Asher could be charged with sexual assault. And so, with the teachers as witnesses in the office, they negotiated the payout and got engaged. The principal had originally wanted to expel both of them, but Asher’s mother threw such a dramatic, shameless tantrum on the floor that he reluctantly compromised, agreeing to expel only one. Asher’s parents, who hated Serena, forced her to drop out so their precious son could continue school. They believed their brilliant son had Ivy League potential, but was now obsessed with the internet, talking crazy about making money online. Serena’s father, after getting the money, didn’t care about her at all. Serena dropping out for love caused a huge stir, spreading throughout the school. The campus social media was filled with praises for their love story. I seized the opportunity to report on this incident. Soon, the story went viral online, and they gained even more popularity. Asher was overjoyed, immediately telling Serena to start live streaming from home to make money. Just as I expected, their follower count skyrocketed. Their account name changed from “Serena’s High School Love Daily” to “Serena, High School Dropout, Caring for Boyfriend Daily.” I created a new burner account to follow them. After school, I saw them engaging in sleazy live challenges and casually sent them a few thousand dollars in donations. Watching their beaming faces, a slight smirk played on my lips. Enjoy this happy time while it lasts. In the days of peak popularity, Asher took a leave of absence from school to live stream with Serena at home. He returned to school three weeks later. Asher caused a stir, strutting in his latest Air Force Ones and a PRADA outfit.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296852”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

When I received the medical report at the hospital, I was stunned, as if hit by a bolt from the blue. The report only mentioned a common cold, not the “kidney cancer” that nearly shattered me two weeks ago! Realizing my cancer was just a misdiagnosis, I rushed home, eager to share the news with my boyfriend, Jasper. But as soon as I stepped out of the elevator and reached for my keys, I heard some muffled sounds from inside. Thinking it might be a burglar, I quietly hid around the corner, pulling out my phone to check the surveillance camera I’d recently installed. But as soon as I accessed the camera view, the scene made my eyes widen in shock, and I was furious enough to want to burst in. Jasper, usually so gentle and considerate, was stark naked, tangled with a woman whose face I couldn’t clearly see. It was appalling and shameless. As their movements became more intense, the bed shook even more, and I could faintly hear it from outside the door. Anger surged through me, and I instinctively wanted to rush in and confront them. But as I pulled out my keys, the woman’s sudden voice stopped me in my tracks. “Jasper, Nora is already in late-stage kidney cancer, so why hasn’t she handed over the company’s power to you yet?” “Can’t you think of a way to make her pass quickly? I don’t want to sneak around with you like this anymore.” Seeing the woman’s face on my phone screen felt like a stab to the heart. The woman entangled with my boyfriend was none other than my beloved cousin, Hazel! In the video, Jasper smiled as he wrapped his arm around Hazel’s bare shoulder, kissing her cheek with a smug look. “Don’t worry, I asked the doctor. Her illness won’t last more than six months. After that, she’ll be gone!” “We’ve endured this for so many years, a few more months won’t matter. It’s better to keep our hands clean.” “Damn, that annoying old woman is finally going to die. Once she closes her eyes, I can inherit all her assets!” “By then, don’t worry about Finn or the one you’re carrying. I can afford to raise ten or eight kids!” I opened my eyes wide and, after understanding his words, wished I could rush in and tear him to pieces. This bastard, deceiving me for love and money was one thing, but he even wanted to use my money to support illegitimate children! But the last shred of rationality suppressed all my impulses. Watching the cheating couple become more arrogant on the screen, I clenched the medical report in my bag and coldly curled my lips. You’re so eager for me to die, but too bad, I won’t fulfill your wishes. Because the one diagnosed with kidney cancer isn’t me. It’s you, Jasper. Earlier on my way home, I received Jasper’s medical report from the doctor. I was initially overjoyed at being given a new lease on life, but seeing my misdiagnosis and Jasper’s confirmed diagnosis extinguished my joy in an instant. Jasper and I were high school classmates. We started dating after graduation and have been in a long-distance relationship ever since. He wasn’t a gentle and caring boyfriend, nor was he very capable, but I inexplicably liked him. Even after my promotion, when I felt him drifting away, I tried hard to bring him into my company and move forward together. In the past two years, our relationship gradually cooled. Feeling he didn’t care for me as much, I considered breaking up. But just as I was about to address it, the hospital’s report came back. I was in late-stage kidney cancer, beyond treatment, just waiting to die. In my despair, I thought he would leave and seek new happiness. But to my surprise, upon hearing the news, Jasper became more serious than ever, comforting me to continue treatment and being more gentle and caring, seemingly more in love with me than before. I thought it was the impending separation that made him realize his feelings, and I was deeply moved. I even secretly drafted a will, planning to leave all my assets to him after my death. But fate didn’t follow my wishes. I won’t die, and his dream of getting rich is destined to shatter! After calming down, I hid around the stairwell corner and quietly called the police, saying there might be a burglary at my house. Then I posted in the neighborhood group, saying I snagged some discount eggs, a penny for twenty, but spots were limited to the first twenty people. Hearing this, the elderly neighbors in the group buzzed with excitement. In less than three minutes, a dozen familiar elderly neighbors were at my door. I patiently soothed them to not make a noise before I opened the door. I didn’t know whether the room had excellent soundproofing or the cheating couple was too absorbed in their activities, but even when I opened the door, they were clueless and made no sound. Seeing the scattered woman’s underwear on the floor, I screamed, pretending to just discover the situation, and rushed into the bedroom, kicking the door open. Jasper and Hazel were still in their own world, shocked by my sudden entrance, not even having time to put on clothes. The elderly neighbors behind me, initially there for the eggs, were unexpectedly caught up in this thrilling scene. More excited than me, they blocked the doorway. Hazel hurriedly covered her face, and Jasper turned pale, trembling as he tried to explain, “Nora, let me explain…” I shouted, “Explain what?” and slapped him hard across the face, leaving him with a bruised and bloody nose. “Jasper, I’m just diagnosed, not dead yet, and you’re already fooling around. Have you no shame?” “All those sweet words before, were they all an act?” “How much have I spent on you over the years, on LV belts and Hermès bags? Have I ever treated you badly, yet you do this to me, hiring a prostitute at home!” The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I slapped him several more times, feeling a sense of relief. Hazel, seeing I was ignoring her, tried to sneak out wrapped in her clothes, but a quick-witted auntie grabbed her, pulling off her mask. Her face revealed, everyone was stunned, and Aunt Zhang, who was closer to me, exclaimed, “Nora, isn’t this your cousin!” I snapped out of it, leaving Jasper wailing on the floor, and turned to kick Hazel, slapping her hard. “Well, what a pair of lowlifes!” “Hazel, I’ve never mistreated you all these years, yet you stoop so low as to seduce my man. Have you no shame!” The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Seeing a flash of green on Hazel’s hand, I was even more furious, grabbing her wrist to show everyone. “Everyone, look closely. This tramp not only stole my man but also my jewelry!” “This jade bracelet cost me three hundred thousand, and I couldn’t bear to wear it myself. Yet she steals it!” “Every time she came to my house, something would go missing. I overlooked it for family’s sake, but this time, I must send her to the police!” Hearing my words, Jasper, who was initially trying to plead with me, changed his expression instantly. Despite being the cheater, he suddenly looked self-righteous. “Nora, do you really want to make such a scene?” “I advise you to stop! Don’t forget, you’re about to die!” “Do you want to die without peace, to be cremated and scattered?” Hazel, still clinging to Jasper’s arm, spitefully added, “Jasper, don’t mind her!” “This late-stage kidney cancer lunatic can barely live a month, so she can only flaunt here.” “When she dies, let’s see what she can do to us!” I coldly glanced at the trash couple, kicking them both in their chests, making them wail in pain on the ground. Scum, you could die a hundred times, and I’d still be here. Trying to mess with me, let’s see what else you’ve got! After the police arrived, I quickly explained the theft situation at my house. With the bracelet on Hazel’s hand and witnesses, she couldn’t deny it. If she didn’t compensate, she’d have to go to jail for a few years. Jasper got into trouble for aiding in theft too, and to avoid prosecution, he bombarded me with calls and texts, but I ignored them all. After busting the affair, I quickly fired him and warned security not to let him in again. With my irregular work hours, it wasn’t easy for him to waylay me. So when my mom called me to come home, I wasn’t surprised. I knew those two tramps must have gone to see her. Sure enough, when I got home, my mom was sitting in the middle of the sofa. All my aunts and uncles, even Hazel and Jasper’s parents, were there, playing with a five or six-year-old boy. Seeing me, everyone’s expressions turned sour. The little boy glared at me and quickly ran over, stepping on my foot, resentfully saying, “You’re the bad woman who broke up my mom and dad, you’re a witch!” Hazel pretended to scold him, “Finn, how could you be so rude?” But I could see her smirking. I was about to speak when my mom suddenly coughed, glaring at me unhappily. “Nora, I called you here today not for anything else, but because as your mother, I need to educate you properly.” As soon as I arrived, the atmosphere shifted. The little boy glared at me fiercely and, when no one was watching, ran over to stomp on my foot, angrily accusing, “You’re the wicked woman who broke up my mom and dad. You’re just a terrible person!” Hazel feigned anger as she pulled the child into her arms, chiding, “Finn, how can you be so impolite?” Yet, I could clearly see the smirk playing on her lips. I was about to respond when my mom suddenly coughed twice and stared at me with displeasure. “Nora, I called you here today because I’m your mother, and I need to set you straight.” “You’re terminally ill, yet you continue to be so arrogant, not even saving face for your own family. Isn’t this wrong?” “We’ve always been aware of Hazel’s situation, and I watched Finn grow up. Honestly, if I were Jasper, I’d also prefer someone like Hazel.” “Whether as a cousin or a girlfriend, since you’re dying, why not be more generous and let them be happy?” “Today, you should sign the letter of forgiveness. We’ll pretend none of this happened, and when you’re gone, you can rest peacefully. Otherwise…” “Otherwise what? Will you grind my bones to dust?” Staring at my mom’s harsh face, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, pointing right at her nose. “When you cheated on Dad and he caught you, making him so angry that he died, did you think about resting peacefully?” “For years, you’ve favored your brother, giving everything good to Hazel and her brother, never caring whether I lived or died. And you still have the nerve to call yourself my mom?” “Since middle school, you haven’t given me a penny. I’ve earned all my tuition and living expenses through my own work. Educate me? You have no right!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296629”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Jasper’s childhood friend insisted on climbing a rugged mountain on her birthday, despite the bad weather. And I, three months pregnant, was the only one experienced enough to lead the climb. Ignoring my desperate pleas, he casually remarked, “Adeline, take Fiona to the summit for her birthday, and I’ll allow you to stay by my side.” I stood frozen, silent for a long time, then replied, “Okay.” Suddenly, a storm hit the mountain. I got drenched while saving Jasper, who slipped off a cliff, and was struck by falling rocks that broke my arm, causing severe bleeding and excruciating pain. Jasper, however, took the only survival blanket and wrapped it around Fiona, who remained dry and comfortable in the cave. “Fiona has never climbed a mountain and is weak. You have rescue experience, so don’t compete with her!” I lay in the mud, developing a high fever, clutching my painfully aching abdomen, my throat too hoarse to utter a word. Even so, Jasper didn’t spare me a glance. On the brink of death, I shakily took out a yellowing photo from my pocket. The person in it smiled gently, resembling Jasper by seventy percent. I softly pressed the photo to my cold lips and closed my eyes. Seven years ago, Asher died from exposure during a storm trying to save me on a wild mountain, leaving no remains behind. His dying wish was for me to take care of his only brother. Now, a life for a life, the debt is repaid, and it’s time for me to go.

Waking up in the hospital, I was wrapped in bandages, with nowhere that didn’t hurt. My intact hand instinctively moved to my abdomen, only to feel cold emptiness. —The child I had longed for was gone. Tears rolled down my cheeks, cutting into my heart like knives. Suddenly, my phone rang with Jasper’s special ringtone. I pushed through the pain to answer the call. “Hello…” “Why are you only answering now? How many times have I called you?” Jasper’s voice was extremely impatient, with faint sobbing in the background. “What nonsense have you been feeding my parents? Fiona just came and got scolded, and now she’s crying.” “Isn’t it just losing a child? You keep pulling these stunts that can’t be shown in public, do you really think I’m blind?” “I’ll give you ten minutes to call my parents and clear things up, or don’t blame me for being unsympathetic!” The next second, the call ended with a “snap,” not allowing me a word. How many times has this happened? I stared at the white ceiling, feeling a sting in my eyes, finding it absurd. Despite my diligent care and cautious efforts, no matter how much I gave, in Jasper’s eyes, it was all just a way to marry into the family, an unworthy trick. My child, bonded by blood, couldn’t even compare to a single tear from Fiona. The clock’s hands circled again and again. When the ninth lap was halfway through, I finally picked up the phone and dialed Jasper’s mother’s number. She answered almost immediately. “Adeline, you’re finally awake, your dad and I were worried sick. That brat Jasper…” “Aunt.” I softly interrupted her. “I don’t want to be with Jasper anymore.” The “mom” and “dad” I had called for seven years needed to change. Jasper’s mother understood my meaning, her voice choked with emotion. “Adeline, I know you’re heartbroken about losing the child, it’s our family’s fault.” “But you know Jasper, he’s a good kid, just blinded by that woman’s lies. Can you… can you give him another chance…” Jasper’s mother had a weak heart, prone to fainting from too much joy or sorrow. I was silent for a long time, then said: “If he can fold a thousand rainbow origami cranes for me, I’ll forgive him.” Jasper’s mother cried tears of joy. “Okay, okay, I’ll have him start folding right away, you’ll see them when you’re discharged.” She hung up hurriedly, just like countless times before, off to pester Jasper with chatter and reminders. But each time, Jasper never looked back. I reached into my pocket close to my heart, only to find it empty. The origami crane that had been with Asher’s photo had long been lost along the bumpy mountain path. The year after Asher died, Jasper folded a thousand origami cranes for me. Rainbow paper, page by page, densely filled with the intense affection of a young man. He didn’t know his brother once promised me a lifetime. Nor did he know that in the corner of my study, there was a half-filled jar of origami cranes folded by Asher himself. Both brothers used the same method to win over a girl. Looking at the origami cranes and his features resembling Asher’s, my heart skipped a beat, and I nodded. Later, when Fiona returned from abroad, she cried and made a fuss over those cranes. To appease her, Jasper burned them all. I rushed into the fire with red eyes, ignoring the scorching pain, and desperately saved the last crane. At that time, Jasper looked at my hands covered in blisters with disgust: “It’s just some origami cranes, you can get someone to fold more.” But he didn’t know that the company producing rainbow paper had closed years ago. Now, the last rainbow origami crane was lost in the stormy mire. I opened my contacts and found the mountain climbing team’s number. But before I could press dial, the hospital room door was kicked open. Jasper stormed in with bodyguards, throwing a stack of cheap colored paper at my face. “Adeline! How long are you going to keep this up!”

The thin paper’s sharp edges cut my cheek painfully. “Do you think you can pressure me into changing my mind by using my mom?” “This kind of shamelessly using my family to climb up to the Jasper family only makes me despise you more!” Jasper sneered, commanding the bodyguards to throw out all the decorations, furnishings, and fruit trays in the room, leaving only a barren, cold, white space. “From today on, you’re only allowed one meal a day. You can leave this room once you’ve folded a thousand origami cranes!” “In ten days, for Fiona’s birthday party, you’ll be tied up with the cranes and brought there!” My plastered right hand still throbbed with pain. My heart felt icy cold as I bit my lip hard, my voice hoarse. “…Why?” Jasper, why? What did I do wrong to make you treat me like this? Suppressed screams crashed around in my chest. I looked at Jasper, my eyes involuntarily turning red. Jasper met my reddened eyes, his breath hitched. He subconsciously reached out to me, almost like an embrace. The next second, he jerked his hand back, his face cold. “You know what you did!” “If it weren’t for Fiona’s kindness, still thinking of inviting you to the birthday party, I wouldn’t even bother looking at a woman as fickle as you!” My mind exploded. Confusion and grievance surged within me. I searched my memories for clues but found none. Emotions suppressed for so long suddenly surged and tore at me. I stubbornly looked at Jasper, my throat aching. “…What are you talking about?” Jasper’s lips pressed tightly together as he stared at me, then sneered. “With acting skills that good, it’s a pity you aren’t aiming for an Oscar.” “Do you really think you can hide it from me? On April 21st, five years ago, at 3 p.m., Fiona saw you on West Street…” I froze in place. April 21st, five years ago. —It was the sixth month of my relationship with Jasper and the third day since Fiona returned from abroad. I received a call. “When will you pick up the item Mr. Asher left at our club?” I couldn’t let go of Asher’s belongings, and I was afraid Jasper would overthink if he knew about our relationship, so I pretended it was a girls’ gathering and went alone. But when I arrived, I found that the club was a luxury club Asher would never have stepped into; the so-called belongings were a thick stack of white paper in an envelope. That club bore the name of the Aiden family. My heart sank bit by bit. I opened my mouth to explain: “Jasper, I…” A “ding” from the phone interrupted me. Jasper’s brows furrowed slightly, but relaxed as he saw the caller. It was Fiona. “Jasper, I’m worried Adeline might not have a nice dress for the birthday party, so I ordered her one. She shouldn’t mind, right—” “It’s a style that’s really popular among girls lately.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the screen and froze. —The dress in the photo was tight-fitting, with a neckline plunging nearly to the navel, barely covered by lace on the sides. The hem was so short it could hardly cover anything. I instinctively grabbed Jasper’s sleeve, my eyes pleading. Jasper paused, then glanced at me with a smirk, easily shaking off my hand: “She doesn’t mind, she loves it. She’ll definitely wear it.” My hand fell limply, and I closed my eyes, feeling dead inside. The call ended, and Jasper turned to leave, leaving two solidly built bodyguards behind. As the door was about to close, I called out to him. “Jasper.” He stopped in his tracks. “What if I told you… Fiona lied to you?” I croaked, my voice so faint it was almost inaudible. Jasper turned back, staring at me, his gaze icy and disdainful. “Fiona and I grew up together. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her unconditionally.” “Trying to sow discord between us? Do you think you’re worthy?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up the phone again and dialed the mountain climbing team’s number. “Senior, is there still a position available in this year’s International Mountain Rescue Team?” “Yes, I’ve decided.”

The hospital didn’t dare defy Jasper’s orders. To make me fold origami cranes, they removed the cast they had just put on and replaced it with a simple splint. Jasper turned back, his gaze cold and filled with disdain. “I’ve known Fiona since we were kids. She’s never lied to me, and I’ll always trust her without question.” “Trying to come between us? Who do you think you are?” The door slammed shut with a loud bang, shattering my last hope. I picked up my phone again and dialed the number for the mountain climbing team. “Senior brother, is there still a spot on the International Mountain Rescue Team this year?” “Yes, I’ve made up my mind.” — The hospital, under Jasper’s orders, took off my cast and replaced it with a simple splint, all to make me fold origami cranes. My broken bone kept dislocating, and the pain was excruciating, with no relief in sight. Despite this, by the time the birthday party arrived, I had only managed to fold fewer than a hundred cranes. My fractured arm was numb with pain, I was so hungry I had lost weight, and my lips were pale and colorless. When Jasper found out, he simply dismissed me as “useless.” Even the bodyguards looked at me with sympathy. On the day of the birthday party, I couldn’t dress myself because my fracture hadn’t healed. After begging repeatedly, even kneeling at Jasper’s feet, sobbing and crying, he finally had two female bodyguards roughly squeeze me into a makeshift “gown.” They then tossed me, trembling and curled up in pain, into the back seat of the car. “Roll down the window, take down the partition. Since you like being watched so much, let them have a good look!” Jasper’s voice was icy. It was then I realized, as I was hunched over in pain, that the short dress I wore was indecently revealing. Desperately, I straightened my body, enduring the excruciating pain to pull down the hem of my dress, turning my head in embarrassment. He sneered and finally told the driver to close the window. Maintaining this stiff posture until we arrived at the venue, my forehead was already covered in sweat. Jasper remained indifferent. He opened the car door and glanced at me coldly. “Get out by yourself. Don’t make me do it.” I gritted my teeth, protecting my fractured arm as I struggled to get out of the car, only to stumble from hunger— In an instant, I instinctively leaned toward the car, avoiding Jasper’s outstretched hand. My arm hit the car door, and my face turned pale. Jasper’s face darkened. “Even learned how to play hard to get, did you? I underestimated you.” Before I could respond, he turned and walked into the hall, not giving me a chance to explain. But fortunately, I didn’t need to explain anymore. My phone showed a message from my senior brother from the rescue team, sent half an hour ago. [I’ve entered the country. The mentor has already arranged the rehabilitation hospital, I’m coming to get you.] [The rescue team is thrilled you’re joining. The welcome party is ready, just waiting for you to arrive.] I lowered my eyes and followed Jasper into the banquet hall. Countless strange and curious gazes pierced into me like needles, making me tense up. “Oh, isn’t this Jasper’s person? Dressed like this… tsk tsk.” The malicious voice was unmistakably from Fiona’s toxic friends. I pressed my lips together, not wanting to engage. “Hey, Adeline is here.” The star of the party, in a pure white gown, approached with a bright smile. Jasper stood behind her in a white suit, holding her dress. Like a wedding scene, how fitting. I curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. In a tone as calm as water: “Happy birthday, Fiona.” “And, congratulations on your union.” Fiona’s smile froze, then she tearfully clung to Jasper’s arm, large tears falling. “I’m sorry, Jasper. I shouldn’t have worn this dress to make Adeline misunderstand, I’ll go change right away…” “Change what? You’re not changing a thing!” Jasper pulled Fiona into his arms, his eyes locked on me with disdain. “Inviting you was more than enough.” “Following me around shamelessly and still wanting to dictate terms, don’t even think about it!” “Don’t even mention misunderstandings. Even if I got engaged to her now, you have no right to intervene!” The surrounding jeers drowned me, making me feel like a complete joke. Seven years of companionship, and all I got was “no right to intervene.” Pain, shame, embarrassment, despair… When emotions hit their peak, all that’s left is endless numbness. “So can I leave now?” I looked calmly at Jasper, waiting silently in his cold gaze for three seconds, then turned to leave. The next moment, a foot suddenly stuck out from the crowd. Caught off guard, I lost my balance and fell forward. Simultaneously, the champagne tower beside me suddenly collapsed! Ninety-nine tiers of glasses crashed down with a piercing “crash,” shattering into a sea of glass shards. The thin dress soaked with wine, the broken glass cutting through fabric and skin, the wounds mixed with alcohol, spreading a pool of crimson blood. Everyone, including Jasper, was stunned. “Adeline! You…” “Jasper, I’m scared…” He instinctively wanted to step forward but was held back by Fiona. I couldn’t bear it any longer, standing up amidst the glass shards, dragging my tattered gown as I staggered outside. A modest sedan was parked at the entrance, my senior brother rushing out of it towards me anxiously. Behind me was Jasper’s shouting voice. “Adeline! There are doctors here, come back and sit down!” “Adeline! Come back!” I clenched my trembling hands, palms covered in cuts, blood dripping. I didn’t look back, nor did I glance at Jasper again. Until I was admitted to the hospital, I couldn’t stop trembling. “Your fractured arm has been repeatedly injured. Even when it heals, you’ll only be able to do normal activities. Strenuous exercise is out of the question.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296645”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Wedding anniversary, my husband gave me a necklace he designed himself, saying it represents a unique love. But on the chain, there was an obvious curly hair. He pretended to be angry: “The store clerk who packed it was too careless and left their hair.” However, he didn’t know that I had already seen this necklace in his assistant’s Facebook two days earlier. [Worn it for two days, already bored. But since he put thought into it, I’ll post a photo to praise him.] She thoughtfully set it to be visible only to me. I pushed away his hand trying to put it on me and casually tossed the necklace into the trash. Nolan’s face changed dramatically. “You don’t cherish the gifts I give you at all. I guess I don’t need to give you any in the future.” That’s fine. I’ll buy my own gifts from now on. But a man who betrays me, I will never want again. 0 After confirming tomorrow’s abortion procedure with the nurse over the phone, I turned and walked into the restaurant. “The hospital just notified me to go for a check-up,” I explained casually to Nolan, “What were we just talking about?” He stared at me coldly. “Adeline, are you sure you want to ruin our five-year wedding anniversary over a hair?” The necklace he picked back up had a diamond-encrusted butterfly reflecting the restaurant lights, just the right angle to sting my eyes. “Nolan, don’t you remember I hate butterflies?” His anger was replaced by confusion, followed by awkward embarrassment. Everyone who knows me knows I hate butterflies. Years ago, my dad, who was my only family, fell off a cliff and died instantly trying to take a picture of a rare butterfly for me. Since then, I couldn’t stand anything related to butterflies. Nolan used to be more mindful of this than anyone. Even when we went shopping, he would scout ahead to avoid sections selling butterfly-themed items. I can’t believe he forgot about this. He awkwardly touched his nose: “I just thought the design suited you and forgot about your taboo for a moment.” “Adeline, holding onto the past, you’re being too sensitive.” I laughed at myself, indeed being too sensitive. I almost forgot this necklace wasn’t originally meant for me. It was only after Fiona got bored with it that I had the chance to receive this secondhand item. What right do I have to be picky? I replied off-topic: “You’re right, it’s time to let go.” Seeing my sarcastic expression, a strange look flashed across his face, but before he could think more, his phone alerted him to a new message. Judging by his nervousness, it was undoubtedly from Fiona. He replied instantly: “Got it, I’m on my way.” I looked up at his anxious face and spoke calmly before he could: “Is it urgent work requiring overtime? You should go.” He immediately put on his coat, kissed my forehead before leaving. “Sorry, the company’s situation is urgent. I’ll make it up to you with a more romantic celebration on your birthday.” “Thank you, honey, you’re so understanding. I love you.” I silently watched his hurried departing figure. The man who accused me of ruining our anniversary couldn’t even wait for the dishes to arrive before leaving. He was in such a rush he left his phone on the table. I lit up the screen to see Fiona’s message: “Wine and steak are on the table, I’m in bed, waiting for you.” It’s obvious Fiona did it on purpose. As Nolan’s assistant, she must know tonight is our anniversary. Such blatant provocation would have previously made me cry, afraid of losing Nolan. But now, I’m indifferent. Whoever wants such trash of a man can have him. I had the waiter dispose of all the dishes, and as I left, I gave the necklace to a beggar woman on the street. She smiled gratefully. Back home, I called Wesley: “Senior, about the screenwriting position you mentioned last time, I’ve decided to join.” “That’s great, Adeline! Professor used to say you were the most talented filmmaker, but it was a shame Nolan ‘privatized’ you. When you decided to be a housewife, Professor even cried.” “Please tell Professor, Adeline took a detour, but she’s coming back.” 0

Nolan returned home to retrieve his phone, telling me the project required an all-nighter to revise the plan and advising me to sleep without waiting for him. I pretended not to notice the red mark on his neck, casually nodded, and returned to editing the screenplay soon to be filmed. He leaned over for a quick glance and clicked his tongue, full of disdain. “You’ve been out of the movie industry for so long, looking at these scripts is just pretending to love them.” Without a word, I rolled my eyes. Since becoming a housewife, Nolan’s appreciation for my artistic pursuits turned into sarcasm. Seeing my displeasure, he softened his tone. “It’s my fault for not spending enough time with you, leaving you bored to dig through these old things.” He suddenly draped his arm over my shoulder, his hand reaching for my blouse buttons. “Adeline, let’s have a baby. Having a child with you would be better than doing nothing all day.” He leaned against me, his breath heavy. I smelled Fiona’s perfume on him, the incense too strong, making me nauseous. I didn’t want any physical contact with him. He just got out of her bed and now wants intimacy with me. Doesn’t he find it disgusting? I excused myself to the bathroom, pushing his hand away and locking the door behind me. Waves of disgust surged within me. I used to desperately want children, clinging to him every night for one. He said he didn’t like kids and refused. The child in my womb now was conceived after I lied about taking birth control. I planned to reveal it after three months, betting he’d soften and keep the baby. But when I went for a solo check-up, I saw him accompanying Fiona for hers. She was three weeks ahead of me in pregnancy. Seeing how carefully he protected Fiona, I realized he didn’t dislike kids, just the ones I bore. My heart turned cold at that moment, and I immediately changed my registration to schedule an abortion. Now Nolan wants to have a baby with me only because he feels guilty for betraying me, thinking a child could compensate. I wonder if Nolan will be crushed when he finds out I’d rather abort than bear his child. When I emerged from the bathroom, he’d already taken a call and left quickly. I enjoyed the peace, closed the door, and had a good night’s sleep. The next day, I reported to the hospital early. As the cold anesthetic entered my body, I couldn’t help but shed tears. I’m sorry, baby, I once longed for you, but now I have to let you go. But I know you’d support my decision. The procedure was done quickly. When I opened my eyes again, the nurse informed me I could go home. “Ma’am, are you alone? Do you need to call your husband to pick you up?” I shook my head, leaning against the wall as I slowly left. I could still faintly hear the nurses chatting behind me. “So pitiful, her man didn’t show up at all.” “Hopelessly lovesick, even the hospital can’t cure that.” I laughed at myself. They were right; I loved Nolan so much it clouded my judgment. Now, this is the price I pay. At the hospital entrance, I bumped into a couple. As I struggled to stand, the three of us locked eyes. Across from me, Nolan was holding Fiona, looking at me in panic. 0

“Honey, what are you doing in gynecology?” I cleared my throat, brushing it off: “Just picking up a check-up report.” “What about you two?” My gaze fell on Fiona’s slightly swollen belly, waiting for their explanation with interest. “Fiona’s boyfriend is on a business trip and asked me to accompany her for a check-up.” Nolan answered first, while Fiona gave him a resentful look. I didn’t expose them, just responded indifferently. Suddenly, a pregnant woman started screaming, charging through the crowd like a madwoman. “Compensate me! This unscrupulous hospital owes me my child!” “It’s a disturbance, clear the crowd!” a man shouted. But the hospital was crowded, and she was strong. We couldn’t dodge in time. As she was about to knock me and Fiona over, Nolan clung tightly to Fiona, shielding her in his embrace. I was too weak, and her impact threw me hard onto the ground. “It hurts…” I clutched my stomach, pain surging from my abdomen, and bright red blood flowed down my legs. The surrounding people gasped: “Someone’s bleeding! Get a doctor!” Nolan let go of Fiona and rushed over. Seeing my blood, a panic flashed in his eyes: “Honey, does it hurt? I’ll take you to the emergency room now.” I was in too much pain to speak, reaching out to him, hoping he’d carry me. “Oh my God, Fiona, it hurts so much, honey, where are you?” Hearing Fiona’s cries, his attention immediately shifted to her. Without explaining her calling him “honey,” he instinctively let go of my hand and ran to her. Fiona had scraped her hand on a nearby stone, a small wound bleeding slightly. “It hurts, I’m dying, Nolan, I’m so scared.” She whimpered in his arms, her pitiful demeanor making him feel distressed, gently patting her back to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll take you to the emergency room now.” He gritted his teeth, picked her up, and headed straight for the emergency room. Only then did he remember I was still sitting there, looking guilty as he said, “Fiona is pampered, a small scratch makes her cry all day. Being a pregnant woman, she’s more urgent. I’ll take care of her first.” “The emergency room is just a few steps away. Walk slowly yourself, hold on.” “After I take her to the maternity ward, I’ll come back to the emergency room for you.” She lay on Nolan, softly sobbing. Seeing her like this tugged at his heart, and he gently patted her back to comfort her. “Don’t worry, I’m here. I’ll take you to the emergency room right away.” He steeled himself, lifted her in his arms, and hurried to the emergency room. As he was leaving, he remembered I was still sitting there and looked at me with guilt. “Fiona is coddled. Even a small scratch makes her cry all day. Plus, she’s pregnant, so it’s more urgent. I’ll take care of her first.” “The emergency room is just a few steps away. You can walk slowly and hang in there.” “I’ll come back to the emergency room to find you after I take her to the maternity ward.” I closed my eyes tightly in pain, unable to move my legs. My lower abdomen felt unbearably heavy. Luckily, the incident happened at the hospital entrance, and two medical staff carried a stretcher to take me into the emergency room immediately. Because I had just undergone surgery and then fell, the doctor suggested I stay in the hospital for two days to recuperate. As the nurse transferred me to the ward, I overheard nurses discussing in the hallway. “That pregnant woman earlier just had a small scratch, and her husband ran into the emergency room carrying her, shouting and begging the doctor like a scene from a drama!” “This is love, you know. A good man like that is hard to find.” I smiled, feeling incredibly ironic. A man who ignores his seriously injured wife and kneels to the doctor for a mistress with a scratch is indeed hard to find. Nolan and Fiona disgust me more every day. I have never felt so desperate to leave.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296661”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #狼人Werewolf

On New Year’s Eve, my girlfriend, Chloe, wanted me to go ice fishing on the lake, just because her childhood friend, Jake, said he wanted fresh fish soup. I accidentally fell into the icy lake. As I struggled, dying, I called her countless times. She finally picked up when I was about to drown. My heart was filled with hopeful anticipation, but then Jake’s voice came through: “Chloe said if you don’t catch any fish, don’t even bother coming back, you pathetic loser.” Amidst Jake’s mocking laughter, my phone sank to the bottom of the lake. The freezing water filled my nostrils. The moment my body was engulfed by the icy embrace, my heart seemed to stop. My hope died right then. Luckily, fate intervened, and a passing fisherman pulled me out. The first thing I did when I woke up was to make a call. “Mr. Sterling,” I asked, “is that remote development project still looking for people?” I was barely clinging to life when the kind fisherman rescued me. My body had already lost all sensation. The icy snow water clung to me, freezing instantly, making me shiver uncontrollably as if I were in an ice cellar. The good Samaritan called 911 and had me rushed to the hospital. My emergency contact on my phone was Chloe. The doctor called her, and her voice came through, dripping with indifference: “He’s a grown man, how could he fall into the lake fishing? It’s New Year’s Eve, I’m busy celebrating. I’ll see him in a couple of days. What a hassle.” After she hung up, the nurse looked at me with profound sympathy. Outside, families were celebrating together. The TV in the lounge was playing holiday specials, and I could smell people eating warm food down the hall. But I was alone in a hospital room, far from home. Last night, I thought Jake was deliberately blocking Chloe from answering my calls. But the nurse had put her on speaker just now, and I heard everything crystal clear. I almost died, and she was still so cold to me. If she hadn’t insisted on having fresh fish soup, and live fish at that, I wouldn’t have risked going ice fishing. It was at that moment I realized my life meant absolutely nothing to her. I pulled out my phone and dialed my boss’s number. “Mr. Sterling, is that remote development project still looking for people?” On the other end, I heard his relieved voice. “Of course! We’re short on technical talent like you. It would be a godsend.” “But this assignment is for five years. Aren’t you and your girlfriend getting married? Does she agree?” “I’m not getting married.” A silence fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, Mr. Sterling said, “Young man, it’s good to be able to move on.” “Alex, I’ll help you apply. There’s only one spot left, but time is tight – you’d need to leave in five days.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Sterling.” I stayed alone in the hospital from New Year’s Eve until two days after New Year’s Day. Chloe and Jake finally showed up, fashionably late. As soon as she walked in, she looked at me with disdain. “You’re such a grown man, and you fall into a lake while fishing? So useless. I was supposed to play cards today, and you ruined it.” For the past few days, I’d been eating nothing but bread and instant noodles in the hospital, while she was out feasting on lavish meals and playing cards. My heart instantly turned cold. Jake, standing behind her, looked at me with feigned concern. “Alex, that night, I thought you just slipped. I didn’t realize you actually fell into the lake. I thought you were fine.” He then chuckled, openly mocking me. Chloe looked at me with a sneer. “You messed up our whole New Year’s. Hurry up and get discharged. Our whole family is waiting for you to cook for us.” So they only came to pick me up so I could go back and cook for them. Every New Year before this, I’d gone to Chloe’s hometown to wait on her entire family, old and young. I hadn’t seen my own parents even once during the holidays. This year, we’d agreed to spend New Year’s at my house, but on the day we were supposed to buy tickets, Chloe changed her mind. She said her mom, being her only daughter, couldn’t be left alone for the holidays. But I’m my mom’s only son too, and I hadn’t been home to see her in five years because of Chloe. Jake chimed in from beside her, “Yeah, hurry up and get out of here. There’s a ton of work waiting for you at home.” I looked at the two of them, feeling a strange sense of irony. So, the only reason they wanted me to come home with her was to make me work for their family. Seeing Chloe roll her eyes at me, Jake’s lips curled into an involuntary smirk, like a victor’s provocation. Chloe and I had a stable relationship for years, but everything changed after he appeared. Ever since Jake’s business failed and he moved back home, they hit it off instantly. Whenever Jake was around, Chloe would unconsciously side with him. If I showed even a hint of jealousy or anger, she’d bring up how they were just childhood friends and say I was overthinking things. She insisted their relationship was purely platonic. At first, I didn’t think much of it, until I accidentally overheard their conversation. “Chloe, you know I’ve never forgotten you.” “I specifically came back from the big city for you this time.” They were just using the excuse of friendship to openly carry on an affair. Chloe and I started dating after college. I even moved away from my parents and came to this unfamiliar city alone for her. My family and friends all warned me to think carefully, but I was willing to do anything for love. I thought we’d be together forever, but it was just wishful thinking on my part. Lying in bed, I replayed every little moment from the past. Chloe’s cold words suddenly echoed in my mind. “I’ve decided, we’ll have Jake be the best man at our wedding.” “And you can let Jake wear your suit first. You can buy a new one for yourself later.” Normally, if I heard those words, I’d be furious. But at that moment, my heart was perfectly calm. Once you’re utterly disappointed in someone, there’s no hope left. I replied calmly, “Okay.” She didn’t expect me to agree so readily. A flicker of confusion crossed Chloe’s face, but mostly, it was delight. “Good. At least you’re sensible.” With that, she left with Jake. Anyway, in five days, I’d be leaving this place for good. I wasn’t planning on getting married to her. Forget giving him my suit, I wouldn’t even mind giving him the groom’s spot.

I handled the discharge paperwork myself, because Chloe and Jake had already gone back to play cards. When I got home, the house was a mess. Chicken, duck, and fish were scattered everywhere in the kitchen. The moment Mrs. Miller saw me, her face fell. “Alex, you’re finally back. See the kitchen? Hurry up and clean it. Our whole family is waiting to eat tonight.” I turned and saw Jake and Chloe sitting at the card table, sipping tea and eating melon seeds. Resentment welled up inside me. “Mrs. Miller, how can I manage all these dishes by myself? Can you get a few people to help me?” My eyes were fixed on Jake, but Mrs. Miller said, “Didn’t you cook every year before? Why can’t you do it this year?” “Don’t look at Jake. He’s a guest in our home. How can we let him cook?” With that, she took the freshly brewed tea she was holding and handed it to him. “Jake, it’s rare for you to be back. Have some more tea.” The aftermath of falling into the icy water still lingered. Now, my hands would ache whenever they touched cold water. I picked up the kettle, planning to boil some hot water, but Jake snatched it away. “Such a crybaby. You need hot water just to wash vegetables?” Chloe watched everything with cold indifference, silently approving. The moment my frostbitten hands entered the water, a biting cold spread through my entire body, making me shiver. But Chloe just ignored it, pulling Jake back to play cards. I spent the entire afternoon alone, busy in the kitchen, finally finishing all the dishes by evening. My frostbitten hands, still not fully recovered, trembled after preparing such a feast. When I carried the last dish to the table, I found there was no seat for me. I finally managed to squeeze into a spot, only to find the dishes were almost all eaten, leaving only scraps. But before I could even pick up a few bites with my forks, Mrs. Miller’s complaining voice chimed in. “Eat quickly. The dishes in the kitchen are waiting for you to wash.” I looked at Jake and Chloe on the couch, peeling oranges and watching holiday specials, and a surge of anger flared up. They were perfectly fine, yet they expected me, an injured man, to wait on them. My eyes instantly turned cold. “I have something to do; I’m going out for a bit.” With that, I walked out without looking back. As I closed the door, I heard Mrs. Miller’s curses. Outside, heavy snow fell. Inside, there was warmth and harmony, but that warmth didn’t belong to me. My phone rang the moment I got into a taxi. “Alex, what’s with the tantrum on New Year’s? It’s just a few dishes to wash, is it really worth it?” “My mom already has high blood pressure, and you’ve made her so angry. Can you afford it if she gets sick?” I could faintly hear Jake’s voice in the background: “Mrs. Miller, take a deep breath. Don’t let someone irrelevant upset you.” I hung up immediately. Some people truly are two-faced. I, Chloe’s fiancé, was now “someone irrelevant” in his mouth. Before, I went out of my way to please her family for Chloe’s sake, but now, I didn’t want to anymore. Anyway, in a few days, I’d be gone for good, and these people would have nothing to do with me.

Having been out in the cold last night, coupled with the lingering effects of falling into the lake, I woke up with a high fever. In this unfamiliar place, I reluctantly called Chloe. Her voice came through, full of annoyance. “It’s the middle of the night, are you trying to kill me? Why are you calling?” My throat felt like I was swallowing razor blades. I managed to croak out in a hoarse voice, “Chloe, I think I have a fever. I’m too weak. Can you bring me some medicine?” The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then I heard her even breathing. I laughed bitterly at myself. Chloe didn’t care even when I almost drowned in the lake. It was just wishful thinking that she’d bring me medicine now. I felt ridiculous. I forced myself to the hotel lobby. With the help of the night staff, I managed to get some medicine. “It’s the holidays, your parents must be worried about you. Take care of yourself, young man,” one of the staff said. The staff even thoughtfully handed me a hot water bottle and a bowl of plain rice porridge. My cold heart found a sliver of warmth at that moment. Chloe, you couldn’t even compare to the kindness of strangers. All these years, I poured my heart out for nothing. After a night of tossing and turning, my fever finally broke. My phone vibrated, and Chloe’s voice came through when I answered. “Alex, what happened yesterday when you called? I was asleep.” I said coldly, “It’s nothing now.” Jake snatched the phone. “Alex, why aren’t you back yet? Chloe has a surprise for you.” Chloe immediately grabbed the phone back. “Alex, hurry back. I have good news for you.”

When I got home, the house was filled with Chloe’s relatives. Chloe, looking shy, handed me a small box and looked at me with expectant eyes. The moment I opened the box, I was utterly shocked. Inside, the pregnancy test clearly showed two lines. Chloe was pregnant. A soft spot in my heart slowly began to blossom. I looked at Chloe’s belly, where my own flesh and blood was now growing. Chloe’s entire family was overjoyed, and even Jake struggled to hide his smile. Dinner that night was exceptionally lively. Mrs. Miller even cooked personally, and Jake went over to help her. After a few rounds of drinks, I couldn’t resist everyone’s enthusiasm and went outside for some fresh air. I stared blankly at my phone, hesitating to make the call. Now that Chloe was pregnant, it seemed the wedding was definitely on. I quietly lit a cigarette. Just as I finally made up my mind to call Mr. Sterling, I saw Chloe sneaking into the backyard. I followed closely. Chloe entered the backyard shed and pushed open the door, and a dark figure immediately pulled her inside. Suspicious, I pressed my ear to the door. A familiar voice came from inside. “Chloe, I’m so happy you’re pregnant. Is the baby in your belly mine?” My grip on my phone tightened until my knuckles turned white. I held my breath, waiting for Chloe’s answer. “Jake, I counted the days. This baby must be yours because Alex wasn’t home during that time.” My suspended heart plummeted to the ground. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed tightly by a rope until I couldn’t breathe. This child wasn’t mine; it was Jake’s. They had been carrying on an affair behind my back all along. I slumped against the door, feeling all the strength drain from my body. Inside, I heard the sounds of passionate kissing. Chloe panted, “Jake, be careful. It’s still the first trimester, it’s not stable yet.” Jake laughed slyly. “Just thinking about Alex, that big idiot, being tricked into being a father makes me so happy.” Chloe quickly replied, “You need to stay calm and make sure no one finds out. Wait until I get the wedding money from him and marry him, okay?” “Chloe, you’re always so thoughtful. He’ll even cover the child’s future support.” I don’t know how I left the yard. At that moment, my heart felt more desperate than when I fell into the lake that day. Every word they uttered twisted a knife in my gut, like a thousand tiny cuts. Chloe, I treated you well these past few years. But you bit the hand that fed you, toying with me like this. I stood amidst the falling snow, behind me the scene of their family’s joyous reunion. Even I, a grown man, felt my eyes well up. At that moment, my phone vibrated. “Alex, your deployment papers came through. We leave tomorrow, remember to report on time.” I sniffled hard, trying to keep my emotions steady, and replied, “Understood, Mr. Sterling. I’ll be on time.” In the middle of the night, after Chloe’s family had fallen asleep, I took my pre-packed suitcase and headed downstairs. Snow was falling heavily as I got into a taxi and drove toward the station.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296677”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

After the game, my boyfriend held the championship trophy and publicly declared his love. The girl? My rival roommate. Seeing my face turn ashen, Liam Harrison didn’t even bat an eye. “It was just a bet. What’s the big deal?” “Worst case, you can just have someone declare their love for you, too. We’ll call it even?” He was so sure I’d never do something like that, and no one around dared to cross him by showing me any interest. But then, his sworn enemy walked towards me. He held his individual achievement trophy out to me, a slight smirk playing on his lips. “Daisy Miller, I’ve always liked you.” “Would you be willing to finally look at me, and be my girlfriend?” I finally took the trophy, nodding emphatically. That night, Liam Harrison went absolutely insane trying to find me. The whistle blew. The host excitedly announced, “Congratulations to the Engineering team for defeating the Athletics team 4-3 and winning this year’s championship!” During the awards ceremony, the stands erupted in cheers. I unclenched my clasped hands. Our university had sent two powerhouse teams to the state championships, and they swept both the championship and runner-up titles. For us, the state tournament practically felt like an internal practice match, a given. Normally, the Athletics team was way ahead. This time, the Engineering team finally held their heads high, and their captain, Liam Harrison, was openly weeping tears of joy. Then, he walked towards the stands, holding the trophy high. Sitting in the front row, my heart began to pound rapidly. “Daisy,” “I’ll propose to you when I lift the trophy.” Liam’s promise, made over dinner with both our families during the holidays, still echoed in my ears. I’d asked him why he thought of that, and he’d answered candidly. “My desire to win this trophy is as strong as my desire to marry you. It means everything.” Indeed, the Athletics team captain, Cole Sterling, had been his sworn enemy since childhood. They were equally matched in family background and looks, but while Liam was more well-known in social circles, when it came to actual skill and campus popularity, Cole was superior. At that moment, a rush of warmth surged through me, and tiny beads of sweat formed on my palms. Nervousness, anticipation, and excitement intertwined, making my heart feel like it would burst from my chest. Clutching my skirt, I even felt a little grateful. I looked pretty today. Every time Liam had a game, I’d dress up carefully to watch, wishing from the stands for him to win. I didn’t dare stare too openly, so I just sat quietly in the stands, waiting. His tall figure knelt down, poised for what I’d hoped would be a proposal. I awkwardly lowered my head, waiting for one of the most important moments of my life to arrive. But his voice came from beside me instead: “Chloe, I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?” It wasn’t me… It was Chloe Davis. My roommate, the one I never got along with. How could it be her? My heart instantly ripped open. A sudden blow landed squarely on my head. My mind was filled with static, and my vision blurred. I felt like I’d been slapped in public. All my anticipation shattered, my body trembled uncontrollably, and my spirits plummeted into an icy abyss. My broken heart bled, making it impossible to maintain even basic composure. “Say yes…” Cheers and catcalls erupted around us, non-stop. Chloe feigned surprise as she took the trophy, glancing at me. But I caught the quick, undeniable glint of triumph in her eyes. Liam slowly stood up, clicking his tongue. “Alright, that’s enough. Doesn’t a girl need some face? Stop all this shouting.” You cared about her reputation. What about mine? My heart pulsed, bleeding in rhythmic throbs, and I couldn’t stop shivering. “Daisy?” Finally noticing me standing beside him, Liam frowned in displeasure. “Are you crying?” “It was just a bet. What’s the big deal?” Chloe, on one side, pretended to turn and look at me. “Oh, Daisy, I’m so sorry. Please don’t be mad. I was going to tell you tonight… but it was hard to bring up, since it was just their team’s bet. Liam will explain it to you later, okay? Please don’t let this affect your relationship with him.” I searched her face for a hint of guilt. There was none. My lips twitched, my voice trembling. “Really?” Liam shrugged carelessly. “Anyway, I told you it was just a bet.” I suddenly remembered Chloe’s deliberate effort to dress up today, and how, for the first time, she’d been nice to me, coming to the game together. That was it. It was a bet designed to humiliate me, and everyone was waiting to watch the show. What was there to explain? Liam’s indifferent attitude made everyone around him look down on me, too. One of his teammates couldn’t help but say, “It really was just a bet, Daisy. Don’t be a sore loser.” Others quickly chimed in. “Come on, Daisy, don’t ruin the fun for everyone.” “We finally won for once. It’s just a joke, let’s have some fun.” It was as if my not agreeing with them now would make me a huge party pooper. But did I deserve to endure their cruel games? Chloe hurriedly handed the trophy to me. Its golden, shiny surface reflected my humiliated face. She pretended to comfort me, “Daisy, don’t be mad. You can hold the trophy.” Then she gave Liam a coy look, softly complaining, “How could you be like this…?” Their interaction was clearly familiar and close. Liam knew perfectly well that Chloe and I didn’t get along. Yet he was secretly interacting with her behind my back. This time, it truly disgusted me. I threw the trophy away, my voice choked, but my chin held high. “Liam Harrison, we’re over.” **截断点** Chapter

My self-respect had been trampled enough. Liam and I had no future. “Daisy, stop being so dramatic. Just apologize to me, and I can pretend I didn’t hear any of that.” “You heard me clearly. I said, we’re breaking up.” Liam, rarely offering an olive branch, saw that I wasn’t taking it, and his face darkened. Then he let out a ridiculous laugh, a thin layer of anger mixed with confusion. “It was just a bet I lost. How far do you need to take this?” “Worst case, you can just have someone declare their love for you, too. We’ll call it even?” He was certain that I only ever liked him and wouldn’t be able to do something like that. The people around were pretty much all of Captain Liam’s teammates, his hangers-on, or his fair-weather friends. And absolutely no one would dare to meddle in his personal affairs. For a moment, the atmosphere grew tense. “Go on, tell me. Who do you want to declare their love for you?” Liam snapped his fingers, his gaze, sharp as a knife, sweeping across the men present. The meaning was unspoken. Everyone’s eyes on me immediately took on a playful, taunting look. Chloe then spoke up, seemingly innocent. “Liam, don’t be like that. Daisy’s used to being a pampered princess. How could she possibly handle a joke like this?” A joke had its limits, and they had completely overstepped them. And now they were twisting the narrative, making it sound like I couldn’t take a joke? She was really good at chiming in. I didn’t want to say anything more to them; I just felt sick staying there another second. However, just as I was about to stand up, a deep male voice spoke from a nearby section. “Daisy, I’ll declare my love for you.” I looked up, seeing the man walking towards me clearly. Cole… The two teams’ resting areas were separated. The commotion on our side couldn’t be fully heard by the other team. So I had completely forgotten that the Athletics team members hadn’t left yet. Everyone else was also startled by his sudden move. After all, the rumor was that this guy was a complete sports fanatic; nothing else ever caught his eye. More importantly, he had always been Liam Harrison’s sworn enemy. Why would he… While my mind raced, Cole had already held his Best Scorer individual trophy out to me, a smirk playing on his lips. “We’ve known each other for years, and everyone knows I’m a sports fanatic, but they don’t know that the one I’ve always been most obsessed with is you.” “Would you be willing to finally look at me, and be with me?” Liam’s face changed slightly, but he still sounded casual, a sneer in his voice. “Cole, you’re a sore loser, so you’re using a woman to get back at me?” But Cole didn’t look at him, his gaze still fixed on me. Seeing this, Chloe subtly hinted, “Daisy, you can’t possibly not know that Cole and Liam have always been at odds, right…?” I scoffed, my voice dripping with anger. “Liam knew *you* and I didn’t get along, but he still declared his love for you, didn’t he?” As if seeking revenge, I took the trophy and nodded emphatically. “Daisy, put his trophy down.” Liam immediately tried to grab me, but Cole blocked him. “Be a little more gracious, Liam. It’s just a declaration of love.” “Captain Liam, don’t be a sore loser.” Liam was enraged. He wrapped an arm around Chloe, scoffing. “You think I can’t handle it?” “Fine then. Whoever declared their love for someone, that person goes home with them tonight.” Cole raised an eyebrow. “As you wish.” Without hesitation, Cole smoothly took my free hand and led me directly towards the Athletics team’s area. He asserted his dominance. “Alright, guys! Our captain just got a girlfriend tonight! Let’s celebrate! Anywhere you want to go for the party, I’m treating!” “Go, Captain!” “Welcome, Captain Cole’s lady!” The Athletics team erupted in cheers, everyone packing their things and heading out. They left the Engineering team with their jaws dropped. “Is that really Cole? I heard he never even looked at women.” Chapter

The first time I sat in Cole’s car, it still felt like a dream. It wasn’t until he leaned over to help me fasten my seatbelt that I snapped back to reality. My face felt slightly awkward. “Just now… I didn’t expect you to bail me out.” “Thank you, Captain Cole.” Because I had grown up with Liam, I had secretly helped him badmouth Cole plenty of times. I never imagined Cole would actually protect me, saving me from utter humiliation in front of everyone. Cole started the car, eyes on the road, and simply murmured, “Mm.” He sounded a little unhappy. Did I say something wrong? I quickly added, “No need to trouble you, Captain Cole. You still have a celebration to go to. You can just drop me off at the curb up ahead.” “I’ll take a cab home myself.” Cole suddenly stomped on the brake, looking at me. “What? You’re not coming to the celebration with me?” I froze, then suddenly remembered the scene earlier. I didn’t expect Captain Cole to take the joke seriously… He was Liam Harrison’s sworn enemy, after all. Now, I didn’t want any involvement with either of them. It was better to keep my distance. I said sincerely, “Thank you so much for what you did tonight, Captain Cole.” I couldn’t help but recall the rumors about him. People said he was a sports fanatic who wasn’t interested in women. He’d never had a woman around him, and his greatest hobby was playing football with his team. Many even said there was a 100% chance he was gay. “Besides ‘thank you,’ don’t you have anything else to say?” “Huh…?” I racked my brain, wondering what I might have said that was inappropriate. After thinking it over, it hit me. There must be a guy Cole liked on the Athletics team. He was being a good friend, helping me out, and I couldn’t let his crush misunderstand… So, feeling quite righteous, I patted my chest and declared, “Don’t worry, Captain Cole. What happened between us was a complete misunderstanding. I’ll definitely explain it to the teammate you like.” A confused Cole said, “The teammate I like?” “Oh, is the person you like not on your team?” *Crack!* I thought I heard Cole’s knuckles crackle. “You think I like men?” Cole practically gritted through his teeth. Maybe I was too blunt, making him uncomfortable in front of someone he didn’t know well. But there was nothing wrong with liking someone. I chuckled awkwardly, trying to explain. “Captain Cole, love knows no gender. Don’t be embarrassed.” “I totally understand…” My voice trailed off as I watched Cole’s face grow darker and darker. Finally, I timidly mumbled, “Really, I don’t discriminate against gay people…” Then I shut my mouth. Cole focused on driving, no longer bothering to speak to me. What a weird atmosphere. For a while, all I could do was pull out my phone and constantly refresh Ins. People always pretend to be busy when they’re awkward… Suddenly, my scrolling finger stopped. Two minutes ago, Chloe Davis had just posted something on Ins. “I accept Captain Liam’s declaration of love.” Below it were two selfies: her holding the trophy, and her and Liam intimately cheek-to-cheek. My roommate Mia Rodriguez commented: *Oh, so Captain Liam actually likes you, huh? Ugh, Daisy went to all his games every day. She must be furious now.* Chloe replied: *Don’t say that, Daisy will be unhappy.* My hand, clutching the phone, trembled slightly from how hard I was gripping it. My vision went black. What a load of crap, that bet was just a cover-up. These two had probably already been secretly involved. That’s why Liam declared his love for her, even knowing she and I didn’t get along. Just then, my phone suddenly rang, snapping me back to reality. “Hello, Daisy, are you and Captain Cole really still together?” It was the teammate who had called me a sore loser earlier. “We’re playing truth or dare at the celebration, and they forced me to call and ask.” “Daisy, come on, tell us. Is Captain Cole’s boyfriend mad at you?” “Hahaha…” A burst of laughter came from the other end of the phone, likely a group gathered to hear my humiliation. Before I could even speak, Liam Harrison’s voice cut in. “Ask her if Cole just abandoned her halfway there.” “Tell her to apologize and beg a little, and I don’t mind picking her up.” Liam’s voice was mocking and crude. My blood rushed to my head. “None of your business! And even if he ‘can’t perform,’ he’s still way more impressive than you are!” There was a brief silence on the other end, then Liam’s furious roar: “What did you say? Daisy! Are you and Cole…?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296693”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic