Category: English

My husband’s mistress set a trap for me, and we both tumbled into the water. Derek didn’t twist the story or blame me. Instead, his fury exploded, and he aggressively pulled off Chloe’s designer jacket, practically forcing her to grovel at my feet. “So, you wanted to cool off because it was too hot, huh? Fine. I’ll make sure you get *really* cool.” But I didn’t feel a shred of gratitude. My heart was aching so much I curled into myself. Derek had long forgotten how he’d sacrificed half of his own heart to save me, years ago. Because of that, his every joy and sorrow vibrated through me. And right now, he was suffering deeply over Chloe’s pitiful state. “It’s fine, I’m just going to take a shower.” I quietly slipped away, leaving them space. I hadn’t gone far when I heard Derek’s tender, soothing voice. “Don’t be mad, babe. I knew you could swim, that’s why I didn’t pull you out. How else could I get Stella off my back and have you all to myself?” “Come here, baby, let me kiss you. Seeing you all wet like that just now, my pants were practically bursting.” I waited for the dull ache in my chest to subside, slowly morphing into a cold excitement. Then, I went up the mountain to find Sage Elias. “Master, is my Ethereal Heart ready?” “Have you thought this through? Once you replace your heart with the Ethereal Heart, you’ll be severed from the mortal world, with no turning back.” “Yes. After all, mortals and immortals are destined to walk different paths.” “Then you must retrieve a strand of hair from his beloved, a tear from their eye, and a drop of blood from their heart. Only then can you return his heart and create space for your own.” I nodded, swearing under my breath: Derek, I don’t want your heart anymore.

“Stella, where were you? Do you know how frantic I was searching for you for ages?” Derek was working on his laptop in bed, his leg injured from pulling me out of the water earlier that morning. The moment he saw me, he immediately dropped everything. He muted his microphone and turned off his camera on the video conference, then spun to face me, stretching out his arms like a child begging for a hug. “Can I have a hug? Tell me, am I sick? A few hours without you and I can barely stand it.” “I should claim workers’ comp! Come here and compensate me!” He completely ignored the screen where “Mr. Thorne” was being urgently called. If I hadn’t felt Derek’s heart thrumming wildly in my chest, I might have actually fallen for his sweet words. This feeling was all too familiar, the kind Derek only had when we were lost in passion. My gaze instinctively flickered to the strange bulge beneath his blanket. Suddenly, I understood his reaction. It was the middle of a scorching June day, and sweat beaded on Derek’s forehead, yet he’d pulled the blanket up to his waist, tucking it in tightly. Noticing my gaze, he gave a pitiful, wounded smile. “It’s a little chilly in the room. Don’t think I’m being delicate.” But Derek’s slightly ragged breathing, his continuously rising and falling chest, and his slightly hoarse voice betrayed him. If I wasn’t mistaken, his mistress, Chloe, was having her “meal” right under that blanket. He’d always been insatiable in bed, a true glutton for pleasure. Doing this right in front of me was just for the thrill of it. I suppressed a wave of nausea rising in my stomach, forced a smile, and a wicked thought formed. “Of course not. Want me to help you work up a sweat?” My uncharacteristic attitude left him momentarily speechless. Before, he’d been glued to my side, wanting to carry me in his pocket even when I just stepped out. Now, my forwardness visibly flustered him. The closer I got, the tighter his heart clenched. Under such violent fluctuations, it felt like I’d been punched in the chest. I let out a muffled groan of pain, finally stopping. Derek gazed at me, full of concern, but made no move to get out of bed. “What’s wrong?” Suddenly, it felt like all the strength had been drained from me. I didn’t want to make things hard for him, or for myself. “Never mind. It’s… dirty. It smells.” Derek didn’t grasp the deeper meaning of my words, thinking I was talking about myself. He subtly let out a sigh of relief. “What? My darling always smells wonderful.” I turned and walked straight out of the room, not looking back. He only managed to call out a perfunctory concern to my retreating back. “Stella, are you really okay? I’ll come be with you as soon as I finish this meeting!”

I hid in the study, gasping for a few breaths to recover, then looked at our wedding photo hanging on the wall and felt a sudden pang of ridiculousness. Memories flooded back, and I seemed to see Derek back then, holding me, his gaze fixed on my face, beaming with pure happiness. As if nothing else in the world mattered to him but me. Even the photographer had been amused by his intense devotion, teasing him, “I’ve been a wedding photographer for years and never seen a groom like this. Relax, your wife isn’t going anywhere. Don’t be like this when you take her out, or you’ll lose your money and not even notice.” Derek, utterly unashamed, boasted, “What could possibly be more precious than my wife? Forget a little money; I wouldn’t trade her for my life. I have to watch her. If she ran off, where would I cry?” Everyone laughed, calling him a soft-hearted wife-slave. Watching Derek come home every day with handfuls of cupcakes, never forgetting to lift his shirt to warm my feet, I also felt it was a bit much. I gently advised him, “You’re acting like a big CEO, you know. You won’t have any credibility. Be careful, all your subordinates might leave.” But he didn’t care. He rubbed against my neck, complaining playfully, “I’m so wronged! I don’t treat anyone else like this, only you. This lifetime, only you.” Derek’s solemn promises back then gave me such a sense of security, filling me with an indescribable satisfaction, the joy of a gamble won. Years ago, I came down from the mountain for training and happened to save Derek when his house caught fire. He escaped the blaze, his parents gone, and followed me every day. Calling me “Immortal Sister,” he launched an intense pursuit. I only saw him as a child, lacking love. Until later, during an accident, I was severely injured, nearly on the verge of fading away completely. It was Derek who, without hesitation, offered half his heart to me. Initially, after becoming linked with Derek, to avoid my own discomfort, I stopped resisting his pursuit. But a young man’s love is sincere and fervent, each tremor unforgettable, slowly swaying my resolve. My Master, learning of my injury, had forged an Ethereal Heart for me, which could restore my divine body, free me from desires, and return my powers. Yet, the thought of forgetting him, of a separation like death, was unbearable. Derek had already quietly drifted into my heart amidst the gentle winds and rain. Master, seeing my thoughts, earnestly advised me, “All things in the world change in an instant. The deep blue sea can turn into mulberry fields; what then of the ethereal human heart?” “If you truly insist on not retrieving your Ethereal Heart, you will only become a mortal.” “The Ethereal Heart can only be preserved for ten years. I can keep it for you. If you change your mind, come find me anytime.” Although Derek gradually lost his memories of that time due to his heaven-defying act of sacrificing his heart, and my powers were stripped away, making my body increasingly frail from the impact, what did it matter? I couldn’t use inner energy to dry my hair; Derek dried it for me. My cold feet, unable to maintain warmth with magic; Derek warmed them for me. I worked alongside him, building from nothing to becoming a rising star in the business world. We survived the seven-year itch. But I never expected that a month before our tenth anniversary, I’d find women’s underwear in the back seat of his car.

I waited until the sun set before the “battle” ended there. Once I was sure Derek had gone to the bathroom to shower, I returned to the bedroom to find the first item Sage Elias had requested: Chloe’s hair. The bed was neatly made, not a single wrinkle. The air freshener scent wafting through the room was my favorite sandalwood. Even the trash cans around the room held no trace of a secret tryst. After all, he’d used the same meticulous care when picking fish bones out for me back then. Only now, that patience was being used to clean up the aftermath of his affair. I was still feeling a pang of regret when I was suddenly embraced from behind by a hot body. “Babe, what are you doing? Come on, dinner’s ready.” Under Derek’s gentle pushing and pulling, I had to put it aside for a moment and follow him to the dining room. He scooped a wonton, blowing on it thoughtfully to test the temperature before bringing it to my lips. “My Queen, please grace me with your acceptance. I just learned to make these today. They might not look perfect, but I promise I’ll do better next time.” All these years, no matter how busy Derek was, he always made me three meals a day. From scrubbing vegetables to mastering gourmet dishes, he always did it all himself. It was only because I’d become mortal and had to bear dual emotions that my body grew exceptionally weak. To keep him from worrying, I lied and said I had a sensitive stomach. So he became extra diligent about my diet, cooking for nearly ten years. Initially, the food lacked color, aroma, and taste, but I still ate contentedly. Now, his cooking skills had improved so much he’d even earned various chef and nutritionist certifications. But I gradually couldn’t taste anything anymore. It was his heart that had changed. I stared into Derek’s eyes, saying nothing. I took the wonton from his spoon and chewed it roughly. However, just as I was about to swallow, I suddenly felt something long and coiled wrap around my tongue. The moment I realized what it was, I sprang up, rushed into the bathroom, and locked the door. Looking in the mirror, I indeed pulled out a tangled strand of long hair from my mouth. It was exactly what I’d been looking for—Chloe’s hair. The belated surge of revulsion made me almost throw up my guts. Derek, locked outside, hammered on the door. “Stella, what’s wrong? Are you okay? Don’t scare me, let me in to see you!” I ignored him. With shaky hands, I finally managed to pull out my phone and open the kitchen surveillance feed. I’d installed it years ago, worried about my pets getting onto the counters and knocking things over. Now, it was serving a different purpose. I pressed play, and the shocking scene on the screen instantly made my head spin.

In the dining room, Derek lifted Chloe by her butt and placed her on the long prep table. Their breathing was ragged, and they entangled themselves passionately, in no time at all, squashing the perfectly round, snowy-white wontons on the table into a crooked mess. “Why did you go to all that trouble, pretending these wontons were homemade when you clearly ordered takeout? What’s the point?” “You don’t understand, babe. Women fall for the effort. I want to make her happy, so Stella doesn’t keep suspecting I don’t love her anymore.” Chloe frowned, then turned her head, refusing his kiss. “She gets to be pampered, and I don’t?” Derek tried to peck her lips several times but failed. Growing impatient, he pulled a black card from his pocket. “Here, baby, take this card. Caviar, foie gras, black truffles – swipe it for whatever you want. Why would you bother with cheap takeout when you have this?” “Besides, I’m doing this so we can spend more time together, you know? You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to try it in the kitchen.” Chloe took the black card with her teeth, finally satisfied. She stopped resisting and instead reached for a jar of peanut butter, smiling meaningfully. “Alright, tit for tat. My turn to treat you. I remember you love peanut butter. I bought this specially for you on the way here.” Then, she generously scooped out a large spoonful and suggestively dabbed it on her intimate areas. Derek instantly became like a hungry wolf, his eyes turning red. He lunged and bit deeply into Chloe’s neck. Under his intense assault, Chloe squirmed uncontrollably. The two of them left various marks all over the food on the table. They were completely oblivious to when hair got mixed into the food. Was this how all the meals I’d eaten all these years were made? With a loud crash, Derek burst through the door, his face going pale the moment he saw my phone screen. “Stella…” “Where does it hurt? Is it serious?!” A second before he burst in, I had already switched the monitor screen to my dialing interface. My nails dug deep into my palms as I forced a smile, despite the discomfort.

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My wealthy wife would ‘gift’ me an investment property every time she spent the night at her male assistant’s place. Two years into our marriage, I held titles to 96 properties scattered across the city. Each one a stark reminder of the 96 times she’d wounded me. When the 97th property deed landed in my hands, her male assistant immediately sent me a taunting video. “So what if Celeste gives you money? I have her heart, her very being. What good is being an international supermodel if you still can’t even get your own wife into bed?” I didn’t stoop to his level. Instead, I thoughtfully mailed him a new, high-fashion outfit straight from the latest runway. When my wife found out about my generous gift, she rewarded me by inviting me to an exclusive high-society party with her. During a party game, her male assistant lost three times in a row and was dared to lick the cream off Cassie Vane’s thigh. He shattered a wine bottle, pressing the jagged edge to his throat, vowing not to comply. “Celeste, I refuse to let anyone humiliate me!” My usually aloof wife instantly panicked. She pleaded with me to take the punishment for him. “It’s just licking some cream. I promise that after this, I’ll go home and spend some quality time with you.” Everyone waited for me to make a fool of myself, but I quietly accepted without a fuss. She didn’t know this was the 97th time she’d hurt me. And I no longer wanted to be her plaything. I was simply waiting to repay her kindness for saving me. Once that was done, we’d have nothing left between us.

“Oh, the international supermodel actually agreed to lick it? What a woman Celeste is, she really knows how to handle her men!” “What if he doesn’t lick it, then? Are we really going to let Leo do it? That’s Celeste’s precious Leo, the one she’s always pined for!” The mocking chatter around me was incessant, and I felt nothing but humiliation amidst it all. Yet, amidst this sickening display of condescension, Celeste Kingston half-knelt in front of Leo Thorne, carefully applying a bandage to his neck. Then she turned, her eyes cold as she gestured at me. “Asher Hayes, don’t play games. Leo is waiting for you to finish so we can continue the game.” Leo, Leo… She only cared about Leo, never once asking if I was willing. She completely forgot I was her husband. Seeing me frozen, someone abruptly shoved me. “Why are you just standing there? Go on, lick it! You’re not backing out, are you?” I stumbled, regaining my balance, and looked at Celeste again. Her gaze was already fixed entirely on Leo once more. “Ninety-six times. This is the ninety-sixth time.” I silently counted, stiffly walking towards Cassandra Vane, the notorious socialite who had cream on her leg. But just as I stooped down, her hand suddenly clamped onto my chin. She looked at Leo. “Mr. Thorne, this isn’t right. You lost three rounds to me. Just one lick won’t do.” “How about the ‘Egg Challenge’? If you can convince him to do it, the punishment is null and void.” The ‘Egg Challenge’? What in the world was that?! An unknown dread immediately surged through me. I quickly looked to Celeste. But the next second, Leo was already looking at Celeste with pleading eyes, clinging to her arm, whimpering playfully. “Celeste, it’s just a dare. Can you get Asher to agree just this once…?” Seeing Leo’s fragile body trembling, Celeste was filled with nothing but tenderness. Her eyes blazed as she looked at me. “Asher, you’re willing to lick cream, so you won’t mind taking another dare for Leo, right?” “Yay! Thank you, Celeste!” Leo jumped up, beaming with triumph. Watching Celeste gently ruffle Leo’s hair, her expression doting and indulgent, I started to laugh. My dignity had been trampled. I was nothing but a toy, to be tormented and played with. Celeste, how could you be so heartless as to make me perform some twisted act, to be humiliated for him again? Oh, right, I almost forgot. Leo was her unattainable moon. She’d pursued him for years with no success. Then, their families had torn them apart, and Leo had left the country overnight. Now that she finally had what she desired, how could I possibly compete? Suppressing the bitterness in my heart, I spoke stiffly. “So, does that count as a forgiveness voucher?” A forgiveness voucher? Everyone laughed at my strange question, but Celeste suddenly looked at me. She knew what I was talking about. After a moment, she nodded. “It counts!” I gave a bitter laugh. “Alright, I agree.” Eight years ago, I had just entered the modeling world when I was noticed by a powerful, ruthless circle of women, who essentially confined me on an island. There, alongside other young men, I became their… ‘entertainment.’ I was lucky. Celeste Kingston was the first woman I met there, and she fell for me instantly. For my sake, she systematically took over their businesses, ensured they ended up behind bars, and rescued me from that life. Only later did I learn that my features bore an uncanny resemblance to Leo’s. But on the night I was rescued, I asked her how I could repay her kindness. Her eyes were sincere. “Marry me.” I gave her a playful squeeze. “I’m serious.” Her breath hitched as she clung to me, her words a tangled whisper: “Then… give me ninety-nine forgiveness vouchers.” “Forgiveness vouchers?” I was curious, clinging to her, not understanding. At that moment, she smiled. “Silly boy. If—and I mean *if*—if one day, I hurt you ninety-nine times, I’ll use these vouchers to make you forgive me ninety-nine times. Once the vouchers are used up, this debt of gratitude will be paid off.” For the next five years, she poured massive resources into my career, turning me into an international supermodel. She cherished me like precious treasure. Until two months ago, when Leo returned. Everything changed. This was the 97th time. Just two more. My debt would be repaid. Seeing Celeste agree, Cassie Vane pulled me into her private VIP room, a dimly lit chamber draped in silk. Boiled eggs were scattered across a low table, and on the floor, two or three men lay in disheveled heaps, a cloying scent of decay and degradation hanging in the air. A shiver of dread crawled up my spine. My blood ran cold. So the “eggs” Leo talked about meant… stuffing them into a private place… Celeste, who had followed us in, suddenly stiffened, her pupils constricting. She turned to Leo. “Wasn’t it about eating eggs?! What is this?” But Leo ignored her. He simply pushed me forward. “Cassie, Mr. Hayes used to be a dancer, his flexibility is sure to… impress you.” “Don’t you want to try it yourself? Challenge the limits?” As Leo’s words fell, I, already terrified, trembled violently and immediately looked to Celeste for help. At the very least, I was still her husband. She had loved me once. Though she’d put me through a lot for Leo, she wouldn’t really hand me over to a pervert, would she? But to my shock, the next second, Celeste walked to the table, poured a glass of wine, and pressed it into my hand. “Why don’t you offer Cassie a toast? Get this party started, Asher.” Get the party started? Was she serious? She… she actually agreed? In a daze, I saw Leo give me a strange, knowing smile. “Asher! Didn’t you hear Celeste?” As I watched Leo approach, unsure what to do, he suddenly kicked me in the knee. My body instantly lost balance, and the wine in my hand splashed across Cassie Vane’s face. Then I fell onto the shattered glass, my arm instantly gushing with several cuts. My eyes met the twisted, pale face of one of the men on the floor. Leo’s sharp accusation rang in my ears: “Asher, if you don’t want to toast, just say so! There’s no need to pretend to be crazy to provoke Cassie. Is that how Celeste’s husband acts? You’re just trying to embarrass Celeste!” Cassie’s expression froze for a moment, then she reacted, her eyes widening as she looked at me. “You… you’re the rumored husband of Celeste Kingston?” I was speechless, slumped on the floor, my body and heart aching almost to the point of suffocation. Cassie reached out to grab my arm, but Celeste immediately caught her wrist. Celeste’s gaze swept over my blood-soaked face. Her eyes suddenly turned dark and chilling as she looked at Cassie, gritting her teeth. “Get out!” Cassie was intimidated. She could only swallow her anger and slink away, muttering under her breath as she left. “Celeste Kingston! You’re crazy! If I’d known you were this lunatic’s husband, I wouldn’t have touched him!” As Cassie disappeared, I tried to get up, but a large hand clamped onto my arm again. “Asher, you’re happy you didn’t have to take the punishment, aren’t you? Did those two years on the island teach you nothing about obedience?” “All you had to do was offer a toast, and this whole thing would’ve been over. Why did you have to play crazy? You knew perfectly well that by asking you to toast, I wanted to end this! Are you blind?” As I stared at an enraged Celeste, my bloodshot eyes were my only answer. This time, I finally didn’t hold back. I retorted: “Celeste Kingston! I’m your husband! If you had just stated my identity, this whole thing could have been resolved just as easily!” My words were clear. It was *her*. It was her vanity, her desire to protect Leo at that moment, that made her keep my identity secret. My accusation hit a nerve. Celeste looked momentarily flustered. Seeing this, Leo tried to interject on her behalf. But Celeste, unusually, frowned and cut him off. “Enough! Shut up, go wait for me in the car.” Once his footsteps faded, she sighed. “I’m sorry, but I still need to explain. I genuinely didn’t know what the ‘Egg Challenge’ meant. If I had, I never would have agreed in the first place.” “As for Leo, I hope you can understand. After all, he just returned to the country and saw that I was married…” Celeste’s words trailed off, but I could still guess the rest. She wanted to say that Leo was upset about her marriage and deliberately made things difficult for me, so I should forgive him. Our eyes met. Celeste seemed to grasp the mockery in my gaze, and she sighed again. “Alright, I see you’re hurt. I’ll have the driver take you to the hospital. Leo’s not doing well, I need to check on him. We can discuss this more when I get back.” Without waiting for my reply, she added, “Even though you didn’t complete the task, I’ll allow you to count it as a forgiveness voucher.” With that, she turned and left. Watching her walk away, I touched my still bleeding forehead and laughed out loud. But I didn’t care anymore. Two more times. Once the debt of gratitude was paid, I would leave. From then on, I wouldn’t suffer her indignities anymore.

The driver took me home. It was late, and Celeste hadn’t returned. I didn’t ask. The next day, her assistant delivered her gifts: two commercial property deeds. She had specifically emphasized that one was compensation for forcing me to lick the cream, and the other was an apology for making me do the ‘Egg Challenge.’ I expressionlessly labeled the deeds 96 and 97, then casually tossed them into the safe. Next to me, Mrs. Davis, the servant, gave a knowing, doting smile. “Madam Kingston certainly spoils you, Mr. Hayes. These gifts are becoming more and more frequent.” I smiled without a word. She didn’t know these were just Celeste’s compensations each time she hurt me. Looking at the overflowing safe, I knew I would be leaving soon. But before I left, I only wanted to take one thing: a camera containing something I had to destroy. Celeste had a strong exploratory curiosity when it came to intimacy. In moments of passion, she would impulsively use the camera to record us. Before, those videos were just a part of our marital fun. But now, I didn’t want them to remain. If they were ever exposed, my life would be ruined. I searched every corner of the room, but I couldn’t find the camera. Just as I was about to search again, Mr. Harrison, my agent, called, his voice booming with rage. “Asher Hayes, have you lost your mind? Look online, private photos of you are everywhere! How dare you secretly accompany other wealthy women behind Celeste’s back? If you want to die, don’t drag the whole company down with you!” In an instant, my mind exploded. I only heard my agent’s last line. “You’d better give me an explanation for the online videos immediately! And Celeste’s fury… otherwise, we’ll haunt you even from the grave!” The call ended. I quickly opened my phone. The top trend was a series of my private videos. And the bold, explosive headline: **[International Supermodel Asher Hayes Sleeps His Way To The Top]**. Celeste was pixilated, but my face was clearly visible in the center, flushed with desire. Millions of netizens were online, spewing hateful comments, calling me a slut for sleeping with multiple wealthy women for resources, a man who could be used by anyone. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor. But in the last moment of exhaustion, Celeste, who had suddenly appeared, firmly caught me in her arms. “Don’t look at those. It’s okay. I’ll handle it. Trust me!” Her comforting words had barely faded when she turned, her face cold, and roared at everyone in the room. “Who did this! Tell me! Who did this!” Seeing her raw, unbridled fury, my eyes instantly stung with tears. At the same time, Leo’s casual voice drifted into the room. “Celeste, you mean the videos? I uploaded them!” The hand wrapped around my waist tightened abruptly. Celeste and I simultaneously looked at Leo. “Don’t look at me like that! I just happened to see them and thought Asher’s body was too amazing to be seen only by you, Celeste. What a waste! So I took it upon myself to share them!” “After all, beautiful things are meant to be shared for everyone to enjoy, right?” Immediately, blood rushed to my head. I stood up to slap Leo, but Celeste firmly caught my hand. “Asher! That’s enough!” I was grief-stricken and furious. I shouted, “But he…” To my surprise, before I could finish, Celeste glanced at a triumphant Leo, then turned back to me, frowning. “I’ll have the trending topics taken down. This matter ends here. Don’t cause trouble for Leo, okay? You know, he’s just…” “No! Celeste, why should I let it go?! He’s ruined my reputation! Why should I let it go?!” “I’m going to sue him for defamation! He has to pay for this!” My bloodshot eyes met Celeste’s, refusing to back down even an inch. “Asher! You!” Celeste took a sharp breath, about to continue persuading me. But Leo tugged at Celeste’s sleeve, feigning sobs, his eyes red. “Celeste! Don’t say anymore. I know I was wrong. Just let Asher sue me. It’s my fault for being jealous, jealous that Asher married you. It’s all my fault! If only I had tried harder back then!” As he spoke, Leo’s eyes turned red, and he actually started to sob. “Asher, I truly know I was wrong. I’ll get on my knees and apologize to you. Please, don’t make things difficult for Celeste.” “Whatever makes you happy. I’ll go confess right now and clear your name! What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll be ruined too. But please, don’t let this ruin your relationship with Celeste.” Seeing Leo about to kneel to me, Celeste’s eyes turned icy again, and she said to me in a low voice: “Asher! Leo already knows he made a mistake. It’s best to be merciful when you can.” “Anyway, your reputation is already gone. Why don’t you just retire from the industry and live a life of leisure as a wealthy young man at home? Wouldn’t that be better?” I was shocked by her blindness, disbelieving that Celeste would still indulge him to this extent. I was about to say more, but the next second, I received a stinging slap across my face. My cheek burned. Her knuckles were red, her breathing ragged, and a never-before-seen violence surged in her eyes. She threw a disclaimer at me. “Be a good boy and sign this. Once the storm passes, I’ll help you make a comeback.” “But if you dare to call the police again, don’t even think about stepping out of this door!” “I won’t sign!” I gritted my teeth, staring fiercely at her. But no matter how I struggled, how I refused to sign, Celeste forcibly pressed my handprint onto the disclaimer. The moment I collapsed to the floor, exhausted. An unprecedented sense of powerlessness and piercing pain swept over my entire body, like a thousand needles pricking my heart. They left, their casual conversation like venomous insects burrowing into my ears: “Celeste, is Asher okay…?” “He’s fine. As long as he wants to make a comeback, he’ll listen to me. At worst…” “I’ll give him a forgiveness voucher. There are still dozens left anyway. He’ll be obedient.” No, there weren’t. Only one last one remained. Celeste Kingston, I won’t be your puppet anymore. I lay stunned on the floor for a long time before returning to my room and retrieving my journal. Though everyone said the modeling industry wasn’t much cleaner than entertainment, I truly loved my career. Standing on that runway, enveloped by the spotlight, that surge of confidence was where I found my worth. But now, it was utterly destroyed. Perhaps even fate was telling me it was time to leave, to let go. Tears streaming, I wrote about the day’s events in my journal, ending with “98.” Each time she hurt me, I would record it in my journal, reminding myself not to soften. But then, Celeste’s voice suddenly came from behind me. “What does 98 mean?”

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I secretly sent Stella’s first love, the one she’d harbored for ten years, overseas. That very night, Stella kidnapped our daughter, who had just graduated high school, and hid her at a remote reservoir. A ticking time bomb was strapped to her body. Her eyes were eerily calm, as if she was just negotiating a deal. “David, you’d better tell me where Noah is. Otherwise, our daughter will be blown to bits because of you.” I screamed, losing it, “That’s your daughter too!” Stella didn’t flinch. She just glanced at the time. “You have ten minutes.” Agony ripped through me as I revealed Noah’s whereabouts, in exchange for the reservoir’s address. I ran, desperate, to the location. I saw my daughter tied up, and the rapidly shrinking countdown on the bomb— 00:00:59 00:00:58 00:00:57 My hands trembled as I frantically fumbled with the ropes. But the bomb on Chloe, it just wouldn’t come off. The sound of the countdown shrinking pounded in my ears, like a death knell. Tears streamed down my face. I wished it was me tied up there. “Don’t be scared, sweetie. Daddy will save you. Daddy won’t let anything happen to you…” Chloe’s face was deathly pale. She was crying, saying goodbye to me. “Daddy, you have to go. Don’t try to untie it. I’m so happy to have been your daughter in this life. And Mom, you can have another sibling in the future. Don’t be sad for me…” Even then, Chloe didn’t know the person who kidnapped her was the very ‘Mom’ she spoke of. Tears wouldn’t stop falling. My emotions were spiraling out of control. I called Stella, begging for help. “Tell me! Which wire do I cut to disarm the bomb?!” Stella scoffed, her voice laced with suppressed fury. “Red. Cut the red one.” The next second, the call was abruptly cut. I stared at the countdown, found the red wire, and pulled it with all my might. The red wire snapped. Then, with a deafening *BOOM*, the explosion rocked the ground. I was thrown ten feet back by the impact. Ignoring the searing pain, I opened my eyes to find Chloe, but all I saw was a bloody mess. “Chloe—!” I couldn’t understand how this happened. I cut the red wire, exactly as Stella told me. I crawled over, cradling Chloe’s mangled body, sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe. In the last moment, Chloe had pushed me away. But now, I could only watch her lie there. I mustered every ounce of strength to carry Chloe on my back, called for an ambulance, and stumbled onto the road. I was covered in blood – some mine, most hers. The doctors and nurses arrived quickly. They gasped in horror at Chloe’s condition. “Quick, rush her to emergency!” I waited outside the operating room. The nurses tried to treat my wounds, but I refused. I prayed again and again, offering my own life in exchange for Chloe’s. But what awaited me was a critical condition notice. I fell to my knees, grabbing the doctor’s scrubs, begging him, my forehead scraping the ground. “Please, save my daughter. She just graduated high school. Her life was just beginning…” The doctor looked pained. After a moment, he said, “I’m truly helpless. In this situation, only top specialists might be able to save her.” I rushed to beg the specialists as the doctor suggested, only to find out they had all been pulled away. And the one who pulled them away was my wife, Stella. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. My hands shaking, I called Stella again. “Stella, Chloe is dying, she needs emergency help! You have to let the specialists—” Before I could finish, Stella cut me off, her voice icy. “David, there’s a limit to your lies. Don’t think you can use Chloe to trick me into coming home.” I pleaded, broken, “I’m telling the truth! Chloe was injured by the bomb!” Stella’s voice grew even colder. “Enough! Those bombs were fake! How could they hurt Chloe?! You’re truly a ruthless man, fabricating such lies!” The next second, the call was slammed shut. When I tried to call back, her phone was off. I collapsed to the ground, utterly shattered.

I pleaded for hours, my face smeared with blood from kowtowing, but I couldn’t get any specialists to save my daughter. Back in the ward, I looked at Chloe, her body a raw mess on the bed, and wept uncontrollably. “Chloe, I’m so sorry. Daddy is useless…” Daddy can’t save you. Chloe’s eyes slowly turned to me, her lips trembling. I leaned closer to hear her voice. “Daddy…don’t be sad…I…it doesn’t hurt…” “Mom…where is she…I want to talk to her…” “If I don’t say it…now…it might be too late…” Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chloe the truth. How cruel would it be for her to know that her own mother, for another man, had bombed her? She was the daughter Stella had longed for, cherished for so many years. We were once such a happy family of three. I didn’t know why things had turned out this way. I pulled out my phone to call Stella again, but it was still off. I called her assistant instead. He finally answered. I heard a voice on the other end: “Ms. Jiang, it’s Mr. David. He says Miss Chloe has something she wants to tell you.” Stella sounded annoyed, “It’s just another one of his excuses. From now on, hang up whenever he calls.” I wanted to scream that it wasn’t an excuse, that Chloe was really dying. But before I could say a word, the call was disconnected. When I turned and met Chloe’s sorrowful gaze, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a giant hand. “Mom…doesn’t want to talk?…Is it because…I didn’t do well on my last test…” “Daddy, please…tell Mom I’m sorry…” “Daddy, will Mom…be sad for me…after I die?” Hearing Chloe’s words, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Chloe had always craved her mother’s approval, studying exceptionally hard. But Stella’s heart had long since drifted away from her. I clutched Chloe’s hand, shaking my head violently. “No, darling, Mom…Mom is just busy. She doesn’t know.” “Chloe, don’t fall asleep. Look at Daddy…Just hold on a little longer. You’ll see Mom soon…” I kept calling, but the calls were hung up again and again. Broken and desperate, I could only hold Chloe’s hand, begging her to wait. But I watched as Chloe slowly closed her eyes, her hand slipping from my grasp. In an instant, the world spun around me. My vision went black, and I collapsed, losing consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I stared at the white ceiling, momentarily disoriented. I felt like I’d had a terrible nightmare. Then I heard a nurse’s voice nearby: “Ms. Jiang pulled all our hospital’s specialists to standby, just for her beloved’s check-up. So enviable.” “But that father and daughter yesterday, they were so pitiful. I heard the girl who died had just finished high school. Oh, I guess some people are just born with different fates.” They didn’t know that the girl who died yesterday was Ms. Jiang’s own daughter. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I didn’t want to open them. I hated so much. Stella, you killed our daughter. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand and got out of bed. As I stepped out, I unexpectedly saw Stella, carefully supporting Noah, treating him like a rare treasure. “Stella, I told you I’m fine. You just had to make me get checked.” Stella’s voice was gentle, devoid of the cold ruthlessness she showed me. “No, it’s not enough. I’ll only be at ease after your check-up.” I watched the scene, my eyes burning. When we first got together, Stella was just as meticulous with me. If I even scraped my skin, she wouldn’t rest until the family doctor had checked me over. After Chloe was born, if she had a fever, Stella would worry and care for her all night. If Chloe coughed a few times, Stella would personally炖 (stew) her some rock sugar pear soup. She said Chloe was the crystallization of our love. I once believed we would live happily ever after. But a few years later, other men started appearing in her life. She started coming home late, and spent less time with Chloe. And now, to find out Noah’s whereabouts, she kidnapped and bombed our daughter. To give Noah a full body check, she left Chloe with no medical care, just waiting to die. Poor Chloe, even in her last moments, she was still thinking of her mother… More tears fell. The pain in my chest had begun to turn numb.

I didn’t even have the strength to confront her. I turned, wanting to leave. But Noah pointed in my direction, a timid expression on his face. “It’s… Mr. David… Why is he here? Is he trying to send me away again?” He nervously clutched Stella’s clothes, as if he was terrified of me. Stella’s brows furrowed. Her cold, piercing gaze instantly swept over me. “David, you really don’t give up, do you? You actually followed me to the hospital!” She ordered her bodyguards to restrain me. I struggled, and blood started to seep from the back of my hand. Stella saw it and sneered, “Using a pity play now?” “Yesterday you lied about Chloe being injured by a bomb, today you’re faking your own bleeding. Tell me, what’s next? Are you going to buy an urn next and set up a whole funeral service?” I sharply raised my head, my eyes burning with intense hatred. “Stella, do you have any heart?! Chloe is dead! You killed her with that bomb!” Stella froze, startled by my frantic state. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face. Noah stepped forward, frowning slightly, and spoke disapprovingly. “Stella arranged for fake bombs. How could they possibly kill little Chloe? Mr. David, if you’re going to make up a story, at least make it believable.” “I know you don’t want me near Stella, but you can’t joke about Chloe’s life.” Stella’s face instantly turned cold. “David, having a father like you is Chloe’s biggest disgrace!” I stared at Stella in disbelief. Chloe was dead, and she still thought I was lying. I wanted to laugh, but tears hit the floor first. It didn’t matter anymore. Chloe was gone. Nothing else mattered. I got up from the ground, wanting only to find Chloe. But Stella had her bodyguards firmly pin me to the ground, her words chillingly cruel. “You will kneel here and reflect. When you realize your mistake, then you can get up.” She walked away with Noah, leaving me kneeling there, surrounded by the passing crowds. I tried to stand, but every time I moved, a bodyguard would kick me in the back of the knee. I crashed onto the floor, blood already seeping from my knees. I turned, glaring at them. “Don’t you dare forget who I am. How dare you stop me?!” The bodyguards were expressionless. “We only follow Ms. Jiang’s orders.” I was forced to kneel for ten hours. The blood beneath me had already stained the floor crimson, but I stubbornly tried to get up. When they kicked me again, my body went limp, and I passed out. The two bodyguards exchanged glances, then called Stella. “He fainted after only a few hours of kneeling? He must be faking it again. He’s at the hospital, he won’t die. Don’t bother with him.” When I woke up, I was still lying on the cold floor. The bodyguards were gone. Ignoring the pain in my knees, I staggered, leaning against the wall, to the morgue. But when I saw Chloe, there was a gaping hole in her chest. Her heart had been taken!

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After Veronica abused me for the 98th time, all for Marcus, my spirit was utterly crushed. That’s when I finally gave in to Genevieve Thorne’s relentless pursuit. After a passionate night with Genevieve, she promised to help me fake my death, so I could start a new life with her, marry her abroad. I swallowed the faux-death drug she gave me, only to wake up too soon, trapped inside my own coffin. My body was paralyzed, but I could hear Genevieve talking to someone just outside. “Ms. Thorne, you had Veronica abuse Adrian, then pretended to be his savior. You’ve completely won his trust. Why arrange a fake death and burial now?” “Only then will the Sterlings believe he’s dead. Marcus’s position as heir will be secure, and no one will ever bring up him being illegitimate again.” The other person hesitated. “Won’t seven days be too long, waiting until your wedding with Marcus before digging him out?” “The faux-death drug lasts for five days. I’ve already had water, food, and an oxygen tank placed inside the coffin. He won’t die.”

Darkness suffocated me, and my heart clenched in agonizing spasms. So, it was Genevieve who made Veronica abuse me. Then she came to pursue me, making me believe that if I wanted to be with her, I had to fake my death and give up everything. This woman, who promised to marry me, was going to bury me alive and then marry Marcus. But I woke up early, and there was absolutely nothing in that coffin! No water, no food! The cramped, suffocating space stole my breath. Genevieve’s voice sounded muffled through the wooden planks, yet it pierced me like a sharp blade, pinning me irrevocably to the coffin floor. “Five years ago, when Marcus’s illegitimate status was exposed, his engagement to Veronica was broken off and passed to his brother, Adrian. Marcus lost his love, so I promised him I’d help him gain power and status. I vowed to be his unwavering support.” “As for Adrian, these past few years, to punish him, I had Veronica torment him physically. Now, letting him leave is a form of release. He loves me so much; he’ll be forever lost in the sweet delusion I’d spun for him.” The person beside her hesitated, a hint of pity in their voice. “But Adrian didn’t know he’d actually be buried alive. Burying someone alive for seven full days… it’s too risky. And Mr. Sterling is so afraid of the dark, he has claustrophobia. What if something goes wrong in the coffin…?” “Nothing will!” Genevieve’s words allowed no room for doubt. “The Sterlings are thorough; we have to make this charade absolutely convincing. It’s only seven days. In reality, he’ll only be conscious for two. What could go wrong? Besides, Veronica promised me she’d lock him in the closet every time she finished beating him. He should be used to it by now.” “Marcus waited five years for this opportunity. We must ensure everything is foolproof. Once the dust settles and Marcus and I are married, we’ll get a fake marriage certificate abroad to deceive Adrian. We’ll keep him well-fed and comfortable, making sure he can never return.” The footsteps faded. I tried with all my might but couldn’t make a sound. The faux-death drug kept my mind clear, but my body was unresponsive, unable to speak. My claustrophobia flared, a cold sweat drenching my back. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to calm down. The absolute pitch black reminded me of the five years I’d been married to Veronica. Every time she abused me, she’d lock me in a closet. The painful memories flooded me, a tide of torment, and my stomach churned. Two years ago, I was locked in that closet again. It was Genevieve who saved me. The moment she opened that closet door, she seemed like an angel, capable of dispelling all the darkness in my life. From then on, Genevieve relentlessly pursued me. She cared for my bruised body, comforted my broken heart, and urged me to bravely resist Veronica’s abuse. How foolish I was to believe I’d found my salvation. Little did I know that all the torment I endured was instigated by Genevieve herself! She orchestrated Veronica to hurt me, while she played the role of a good Samaritan, healing me. And all of it was for my brother, Marcus. I bit down hard on my lip, trying desperately to make my body move. Suddenly, I heard a door open outside. Marcus’s voice, accompanied by the sound of men’s dress shoes, drifted closer. “Genevieve, burying Adrian underground for seven days… will he truly be alright? The burial is today. He is my brother, after all. I still feel it’s too cruel.” I felt like I’d grasped a lifeline, screaming helplessly in my mind: *Save me!* *Please, just open the coffin and take a look. One glance is all it would take to see I’m awake.* *I don’t want to be buried alive, don’t want to experience the agony of suffocating in the dark!*

But no one could hear my silent plea. All that answered me was Genevieve’s cold voice. “Marcus, you’re still too soft-hearted. We’ve planned for so long, all for this very day. We can’t fall short now.” “Have you forgotten how Adrian snatched everything from you? If it weren’t for his mother, your illegitimate status wouldn’t have been exposed, your mother wouldn’t have died, you would have married the woman you loved, and you wouldn’t have been cast out of the Sterling family!” “Don’t worry. Once this is all over, I’ll compensate Adrian properly.” I trembled violently, my limbs numb and convulsing, as if a thousand needles were piercing my body. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and I swallowed a mouthful of bitter, sweet liquid. Genevieve, I don’t want your compensation! Just let me out, and I’ll willingly give up my position as heir. I’ll go far away, never to disturb you again! Marcus seemed to be crying, his voice choked. “Genevieve, you’re so good to me. Every time I’m sad or upset, you deliberately provoke Veronica, making her abuse Adrian, and even having her send me photos and videos.” “Watching Adrian beaten and bruised, begging on his knees, or seeing him locked in that closet for three days and three nights, dehydrated from hunger… it always makes me feel so much better.” Genevieve pulled Marcus into a tight embrace, sighing. “As long as you’re happy, hurting Adrian a thousand, ten thousand times is worth it. He owes you this.” Inside the coffin, my tears streamed down, soaking the wood. My heart felt as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, collapsing inward. Genevieve, is this how you’ve always seen me? How could anyone be so monstrously cruel? Every instance of abuse, it turned out, had been orchestrated by you. You were so gentle with me, yet behind my back, you used videos and photos of my torment to please another man. I laughed silently, tears tracing paths down my face, dripping onto the coffin lid, instantly absorbed. Perhaps it was the sheer agony, but a surge of unprecedented strength coursed through my body. My fingers could move! No matter how much I hated these two vile people, all I wanted right now was to live! My fingernails scraped against the coffin lid beneath me, emitting a faint scratching sound. I desperately hoped they would hear the commotion from inside. The next second, my hope was shattered. The sound of passionate kissing erupted outside. I could feel a man being pressed against the coffin, his back pressed tightly against the wood. I hammered my fingers against the wood, desperately. But the two outside, lost in their passion, heard nothing. Their mingled gasps and moans, their bodies slamming against the coffin, made it creak incessantly. My desperate pleas for help were easily drowned out. The woman moved rhythmically, whispering her adoration. “Marcus, do you know how long I’ve waited for this day? To finally have you give up Veronica and agree to marry me.” “For you, I forced myself to stomach the disgust of seducing Adrian. That night with him, all I could think about was your face.” I closed my eyes, gritting my teeth, forcing myself not to listen to those nauseating sounds outside. I thought my will to survive outweighed my hatred for them. I was wrong. I hated them. So much. As much as I had loved Genevieve, I hated her now. And I hated myself even more, for falling in love with two women who both hurt me so wantonly. I don’t know how much time passed, but finally, it grew quiet outside. Just as I was despairing, waiting to die, the coffin suddenly opened a crack.

A blinding white light pierced through the darkness. What greeted my eyes was Marcus’s handsome yet somewhat sinister face. His cheeks were flushed, and his clothes disheveled, clearly having just engaged in *that*. My pleading gaze met his, hoping he would save me. But Marcus seemed utterly unsurprised that I had woken up. He merely appraised me with a look of disdain. “Tsk, tsk, how pathetic. You’re about to be buried alive. Genevieve’s gone to handle the funeral arrangements. Good brother, I’m here to keep you company.” “Five years ago, your mother uncovered my identity. To clear the path for you, she drove my mother to her death and had Father disinherit me from the Sterling family! Not only that, but you also stole my wedding. I was supposed to marry Veronica!” “Five years of marriage, five years of Veronica’s abuse. I didn’t think you had it in you to endure so much, simply refusing to divorce. I had no choice but to have Genevieve seduce you. You were so foolish, actually falling in love with her. Weren’t you dreaming of marrying Genevieve abroad? You stole my marriage, and now I’ll steal yours!” “Finally, your mother is dead, and I tampered with your faux-death drug. Once you’re buried, you’ll watch yourself die slowly. Your death date is the very day of my wedding to Genevieve.” Marcus spoke the most cruel words, one by one, and my heart chilled, little by little. The hope that had rekindled within me was extinguished once more. Marcus’s lips curved into a smile, his mood utterly joyful. He took out the water and food that had been prepared in the coffin, speaking carelessly. “You’re going to die anyway, so you won’t be needing these. I’ll leave the oxygen tank for you, though, just so you can live a few more days. Too bad you won’t get to see Genevieve’s and my wedding.” The coffin lid slammed shut again, and the last sliver of light vanished. My fingers dug deep into the wooden planks, my nails almost tearing off. My eyelids grew heavy. Exhausted, I slipped into unconsciousness. When I next awoke, I heard a clamor of voices outside. My funeral had begun. Guests chatted amongst themselves, laughter echoing. No one seemed saddened by my “death.” “The younger Sterling brother finally got tormented to death. Veronica beat him so badly he was unrecognizable, but for the sake of the family, he absolutely refused to divorce.” “Serves him right! Why did he have to steal his brother’s woman? His brother is handsomer and more capable. If he hadn’t been exposed as illegitimate, Adrian would never have risen to power.” “Exactly! To marry Veronica, he even drugged her, so shameless. Then, right after the wedding, Veronica miscarried, didn’t she? What a shocker. Now that he’s dead, Veronica won’t even attend his funeral.” “Marcus Sterling is so lucky. Although he suffered five years ago, now that his brother is dead, he’s the only Sterling heir. And in a week, he’s marrying the only daughter of the Thorne Group. Who would dare call him illegitimate now?”

My wife’s older cousin, Isabelle, had married a Middle Eastern tycoon. She was almost forty, and they still hadn’t had children. One day, Isabelle came to our door, explaining she was infertile and hoped my wife could help her have a baby. I rejected the idea instantly, without a second thought. I told my wife, straight up, that if she dared to agree, I’d divorce her. A year later, Isabelle suddenly invited me to her baby’s first-month celebration. But Isabelle couldn’t have children, could she? Had my wife actually agreed to that Middle Eastern tycoon’s request behind my back? … This past New Year, my wife’s older cousin, Isabelle, came back from overseas with her husband for the first time in over ten years. My wife’s parents had passed away early, and her aunt (Isabelle’s mother) had taken great care of her. So, Chloe and Isabelle had practically grown up together, and they were very close. When Chloe heard Isabelle was back, she dragged me along, eager to visit them the very next day. Isabelle said their house hadn’t been lived in for a while and wasn’t ready, so she arranged to meet us at a fancy restaurant instead. The moment we stepped into the private room, a man over six feet tall, with a long beard, extended his hand. He greeted us in fluent English. “Hello, I’m Isabelle’s husband. Just call me Omar. I’m from Saudi Arabia!” I only knew my cousin-in-law had married a rich and powerful foreigner. I just hadn’t expected him to be a Middle Eastern tycoon, wearing a traditional head covering. “Hello, Omar. I hope you’ll stay for a few days this time.” “Absolutely, absolutely.” Omar was speaking to me, but his gaze kept drifting to my wife. His eyes held an unmistakable, raw possessiveness. It was no surprise. My wife, Chloe, was incredibly beautiful, with a stunning figure. Her generous E-cup bust always turned heads wherever she went. I frowned, a flicker of annoyance passing through me. Even if we were family, that was incredibly rude. My name is Alex. I worked a demanding corporate job, and overtime was the norm. I was living paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet. No silver spoon, no lucky breaks. All I could do was work harder. It took years of savings, but I finally managed to buy our small house with a mortgage. I met Chloe through a mutual friend. Our daily lives weren’t luxurious, but they were calm, peaceful, and truly happy. This year, I’d finally managed to save up a bit, and we were planning to start a family. We were currently trying to conceive. … “Come, sit, sit! Waiter, bring the food!” Omar ushered us to our seats, pulling out gifts he’d brought from overseas. “Wow, is this for me?” Chloe’s eyes lit up with delight as she excitedly hugged a white, deep-V, ultra-low-cut evening gown. Isabelle smiled. “Of course! Omar specifically commissioned a renowned designer for royalty. It took two months to design, and every stitch was hand-sewn. It’s pure couture!” Chloe excitedly hugged Omar’s arm. “Thank you so much, cousin-in-law! You’re the best!” Seeing that, I felt a pang of jealousy. What man could stand seeing his wife so intimate with another man? But then I remembered how, when we got married, we were so broke we had to rent her wedding dress. So, seeing Chloe so genuinely happy, I swallowed my resentment. At the dinner table, Chloe and Isabelle were whispering, gossiping about something. I tried to listen in, but Omar kept pulling me into conversation, urging me to drink. A few shots of hard liquor later, I, who wasn’t much of a drinker, started to feel lightheaded. I excused myself to the restroom. After splashing cold water on my face, I was about to step out when I heard Chloe and Isabelle’s voices. “Chloe, please, think about this carefully. I’m begging you. In my husband’s country, not having children is a huge dishonor. Besides, Omar is so wealthy, he needs an heir! If I can’t give him a child, he’ll divorce me sooner or later. Please, think about my future.” “Isabelle, I’ll… I’ll think about it.” I chose that exact moment to walk out, smiling. “What are you two talking about?” A blush immediately spread across Chloe’s face, and her eyes darted away from mine. She playfully shoved me. “Go on, shoo! It’s girl talk, none of your business!” I knew my wife too well. She was clearly feeling guilty. Instinctively, I felt something was definitely off! Isabelle hadn’t been back in so many years, and her sudden return definitely had some hidden agenda! “Honey, honey, do I look pretty?” The moment we got home, Chloe changed into the white evening gown and twirled around, showing it off. The dress was cut perfectly. It beautifully showcased Chloe’s full curves and generous bust, making my eyes light up. No wonder Chloe was so excited; the dress truly looked high-end. But my wife’s cousin hadn’t been back in years, and the moment she returned, she gave such an expensive gift. Who would believe there wasn’t a motive behind it? 2 Remember, before this, Chloe had often mentioned wanting to visit Isabelle, but Isabelle kept making excuses. Her words were laced with impatience, hinting at disdain for her less fortunate relatives, as if she wanted to cut ties. Now, she had suddenly changed her tune, showering us with attention. What was it all for? But then, what could we, an ordinary family, possibly have that they would want? After much thought, I decided I should warn Chloe, give her a heads-up. “Honey, your cousin is back, inviting us to dinner, giving us gifts… is she looking for a favor?” Chloe was happily admiring herself in the mirror. She instinctively denied it. “You’re overthinking it. Isabelle and her husband are so rich; what could we possibly do for them?” Was I really overthinking it? Then, Chloe hesitantly walked over and hugged me, burying her head in my neck. She spoke softly. “Honey, Isabelle does have something she wants to discuss with us.” I chuckled lightly. *That* made more sense! I made myself comfortable, indicating I was all ears, and Chloe began to explain. “Middle Eastern tycoons are everywhere. Your cousin-in-law, Omar, is rich, but sometimes money can’t solve everything – like having children! He and Isabelle have been so worried about not having a baby.” Hearing that, I sighed. That was indeed a painful problem. Chloe continued, “Isabelle is almost forty. They’ve been married for over ten years, and she hasn’t had a single child. She went to the doctor, who said a past abortion when she was young damaged her uterus, and with her age, it’s basically impossible for her to have children now. So, Isabelle wants me to help her with a small favor!” At this, I was confused. “If doctors can’t solve it, what can *we* do? No one in our family, direct or distant, has been a doctor for three generations!” “Oh, just let me finish!” Chloe pouted, her face flushed. She gave me a captivating glance before hesitantly continuing. “Isabelle wants me to help her have a baby. You know my parents passed away early, and Auntie (Isabelle’s mom) took such good care of me when I was little. I don’t want Isabelle to be alone and miserable in her later years.” I suddenly understood. After thinking for a moment, I reluctantly put my arm around Chloe’s shoulders and sighed. “So that’s what it is. It’s not impossible. If push comes to shove, we can have an extra child and they can adopt them. Their family is well-off, so it wouldn’t be a disservice to the child! But they absolutely must treat my child well, no bullying.” Chloe looked troubled, biting her lip, silent for a long time. Seeing her reaction, I asked, puzzled, “What’s wrong? You don’t agree? Well, it’s your own flesh and blood, after all! If you don’t want to, we can just refuse… Honestly, I’d be sad to give up a child too!” “No.” Chloe cut me off. “Isabelle’s idea is that the child *must* be Omar’s. That way, it’s a true heir for them. So, she’s asking me to stay with Omar for a few days!” My mind reeled, trying to process what she meant. Then it hit me. *Bang!* I slammed my hand on the table. “No way!” “What kind of insane idea is that?” No wonder Omar had been looking at Chloe strangely, and Isabelle had been avoiding me. They were planning something sick, setting their sights on my wife. “I absolutely forbid this!” Chloe hugged me from behind, her voice trembling with tears. “Honey, if Omar doesn’t have a child, he could always find another young, beautiful woman and kick Isabelle out! What would Isabelle do then?” Seeing that she seemed genuinely considering helping, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I stood up abruptly, my face grim, and told her sternly: “This ends here. If you even *think* about agreeing to this, we’re getting a divorce.” Chloe’s expression froze, then she rolled her eyes at me. “I was just discussing it with you! If you don’t agree, I’ll just tell Isabelle no tomorrow. Why bring up divorce so easily?” With that, Chloe even leaned in and kissed me. Seeing Chloe’s clear attitude, I breathed a sigh of relief and softly apologized to her. I thought that was the end of it, but what happened next made me realize how naive I was. I spent days working myself silly, finally making it to the weekend. I’d planned a romantic getaway with Chloe. But she refused, claiming she wanted to spend more time with Isabelle. “Honey, Isabelle wants me to go shopping. I won’t be back for dinner tonight, so you’ll have to find something to eat yourself.” “Honey, Isabelle wants me to go out for a nice meal. Eat without me, okay?” “Honey, Isabelle’s only back for a short time. I’ll be spending more time with her lately!” Recently, Isabelle and Omar were staying in their villa in the country, and Chloe went there almost every day, not coming back until eight or nine at night. I ended up meeting a few friends to play some hoops. That afternoon, after a few drinks, one of my friends joked: “Your wife isn’t messing around with that Middle Eastern foreigner, is she?” “I heard those Middle Eastern guys are quite impressive!” “Rich and powerful… what woman could resist that?” Their words made my stomach churn with unease. The gathering broke up, and I headed straight home. 3 I called Chloe repeatedly on the way home. But no one picked up. I was about to call Isabelle to ask about her when Chloe finally called back. “Hello, honey… huff, huff… mmph…” “Where are you? What’s that sound?” “Oh… honey, I just got home. I’m jogging. When are you coming back?” Hearing that Chloe was home, my heart finally settled. “I’ll be there soon.” “Oh? Then can you pick up some ice cream for me? I’m so hot.” I didn’t think much of it and turned into the supermarket next to our complex, buying two popsicles. As I walked up to our building, I saw a luxury car driving out of the complex. Our neighborhood was for ordinary people. Most cars were pretty standard, maybe twenty or thirty grand. There were absolutely no cars worth millions like that one. I took a few extra glances. Back home, Chloe was getting off the treadmill, her face flushed. Sweating profusely, she snatched the ice cream from my hand and started slurping it. “Can you give me a foot massage? I’ve been walking all day; I’m exhausted.” To please Chloe in the past, I’d even taken a few days of foot reflexology classes. I never thought it would come in handy now. But when I came back with a basin of water, Chloe was already asleep on the couch. I shook my head, chuckling softly. She must have been truly tired today. I picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, changing her into her pajamas. Suddenly, I noticed a faint scent of smoke on her clothes. I’d quit smoking right after we got married. And smoking was forbidden in the mall. Could it have been in the car? I went into the bathroom, and a gleaming cigarette butt in the trash can startled me. A man had been in our house! I immediately yanked Chloe from the bed, holding up the cigarette butt. “Who was here?” Chloe looked annoyed. She slapped my hand away. “Are you insane? Isabelle and I went shopping, and her husband dropped us off. Is there a problem with them coming up for a minute?” “Alex, can you put something useful in your head? Why don’t you think about how to make more money instead of always being so suspicious!” Oh, so that was it. I immediately relaxed. … The next day, I received a notice from my boss. The company was expanding its overseas business and needed capable people to open a new market in Saudi Arabia. I was appointed as the head, leading a team to be stationed abroad for a year. Though I was reluctant to leave Chloe, when my boss clapped me on the shoulder and promised me the Vice President position if I completed the mission, I agreed without hesitation. I told Chloe about it, filled with apprehension. I imagined she’d be upset about us being apart for a year and our plans to have a baby being postponed. But to my surprise, Chloe was incredibly understanding. She leaned against my chest, comforting me. “It’s okay, honey. What’s one year? When you come back, you’ll be Vice President, and our child will have a better quality of life. Go for it. A man should prioritize his career. I’d never be your stumbling block!” I was deeply moved by Chloe’s thoughtfulness. That night, I held her and made love to her with all my passion until her voice was hoarse. A few days later, I landed safely in Saudi Arabia. I sent Chloe a SnapChat message from the airport to let her know I was safe. I didn’t get a reply. I checked the time; it was late night back home. She must have been asleep. From that day on, Chloe and I could only communicate by leaving messages for each other. But Chloe was just as before, often sending me photos of herself and sharing funny stories. Seeing that my absence hadn’t affected her life, I gradually put my mind at ease. I couldn’t help but admire Chloe for being such a supportive wife. Midway through, I heard Chloe was hospitalized with a bad cold, and I desperately wanted to fly back home immediately. Chloe quickly FaceTimed me. Isabelle was there, taking care of her. “Honey, are you adapting to life abroad?” “Isabelle’s husband is coming back tomorrow to handle some business. Is there anything you want? I can ask him to bring it for you.” I shook my head, refusing. Deep down, I didn’t want any more contact with that Middle Eastern man. And so, I slowly adapted to living alone. In my free time, I’d sometimes go out for drinks with colleagues or play basketball. A year flew by in a flash. My overseas assignment was successfully completed. Finally, I could return home to see my beloved wife. Coming out of the city airport, I saw Chloe waving at me by the roadside. To my surprise, she looked a lot rounder than before. Even with makeup, she couldn’t hide the exhaustion on her face. Chloe said it was because she’d been too busy to work out lately, and she hadn’t been sleeping well while I was away. I felt both heartache and helplessness, so I just hugged her tightly. Not long after I returned home, Isabelle sent us an invitation. She was inviting us to her son’s first-month celebration. “Isabelle had a baby? When did this happen? How did I not know?” A surge of questions filled my mind. She was infertile, wasn’t she? 4 Chloe linked her arm through mine. “Isabelle never gave up. She finally found a renowned traditional healer back home, drank a lot of medicine, and spent six months adjusting her body before she finally got pregnant.”

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I have a twin sister. She’s tall, slender, and stunning. I’m short, a little chubby, and, well, plain. I was born one minute before her. I spent my entire life stepping aside for her. Until my wedding night, when I saw my groom pressing down on my sister, And heard her soft, breathless moans, as my sister flashed me a triumphant smile… I jumped to my death. Reborn, I found myself back at that moment, seeing my sister and my fiancé tangled together. This time, I calmly pulled out my phone and started recording. In my past life, whenever we had a family dinner, my parents would always scoop all the meat onto Tiffany’s plate. I’d be left with just a few leafy greens. Every time Tiffany claimed she had a stomachache, she’d come back from the ‘doctor’s visit’ sporting a brand-new outfit. Meanwhile, I was stuck wearing her old, unwanted clothes. At first, I felt hurt, upset that Mom and Dad were so unfair. But they always told me, “We’re the twins everyone envies in the neighborhood. As the older sister, born a minute earlier, you should always make allowances for Tiffany.” Slowly, I just got used to it. But then came college applications. Despite my excellent grades, Mom and Dad meddled with my applications, Forcing me into a teaching college – tuition-free and with a living stipend. Tiffany, who always barely passed, went into expensive prep courses for another shot at college, then got into film school after another year. I was resentful, but I thought I could just work hard, get into grad school, and reapply for the major I actually wanted. But when Tiffany was just a sophomore in college, she decided she wanted plastic surgery. Mom cried, begging me, her older sister, for help. My heart just melted, and I ended up working part-time while studying. A year later, I handed over $10,000 I’d saved up from my jobs to Tiffany. I had no idea that $10,000 was just the warm-up act. Tiffany dropped out of college before graduating, after hooking up with some rich socialite’s son and ending up pregnant. I, who should have been studying for my grad school entrance exams, was called in by Mom and Dad to basically be her personal servant – cooking, cleaning, and catering to her every whim. By the time Tiffany had ‘recovered,’ I had missed out on precious study time. Finally, I scraped through my undergrad degree, thinking I was finally free. But then Tiffany, who’d managed to worm her way into the entertainment industry, announced she needed a car, saying it was too inconvenient for traveling to film sets. Mom and Dad had limited savings, so they came to me again. I had just started working and was living in a tiny, dingy apartment in a sketchy part of the city. I truly had no money to give. Just as I was about to complain, my mom sat on the floor and started wailing, “You two shared a placenta… Tiffany barely made it, she’s been frail since birth. How could you be so cold, Audrey? Your sister practically sacrificed her life for you, and you’re going to haggle over a few dollars?” I’d been “educated” this way for years. And Tiffany was genuinely sickly as a child. That familiar wave of guilt washed over me again. So I gritted my teeth and took out a loan for a brand new luxury car worth $150,000, just so Tiffany could make a ‘statement.’ On top of my main job, I picked up a night shift part-time gig and spent my weekends cleaning bathrooms for strangers.

Two years passed like that. I was suffocating under the crushing financial pressure. That’s when Mom and Dad introduced me to Blake, a man with a disability, but with excellent financial standing. I hesitated for only a moment before I agreed to the discounted deal. There was only one reason I agreed to marry him: he’d promised my parents an astronomical sum for our marriage. That exact amount was just enough for my parents to buy Tiffany an apartment in the city. If Tiffany’s apartment was settled, maybe, just maybe, my parents would finally leave me alone. Even though I despised his disability, I kept thinking about how I could finally live freely, So, urged on by my parents, I set a wedding date. But on the day of the reception, when I went back to the hotel room to touch up my makeup, I saw Blake pressing down on Tiffany. My sister’s face was flushed, and she was smiling媚地 from beneath him. Tiffany saw me push open the door but didn’t panic. Instead, her moans grew louder. “What… what are you two doing?” I was trembling so hard I couldn’t speak. Blake stopped moving when he heard my voice, turning his head to glare at me with disgust, as if my appearance had ruined their fun. “What, can’t you recognize a man and a woman enjoying themselves?” Blake stopped and stared at me provocatively. I felt all the blood in my body roar. I grabbed a fruit knife from a nearby table and lunged at them like a madwoman. But how can a woman fight a man? Even a disabled one? As Blake easily twisted me to the floor, He viciously pressed his foot down on my face, snarling each word: “You ugly bitch, you actually have a sister that hot? Why didn’t you say anything earlier? I would’ve just paid Tiffany to be my mistress. Why would I ever marry a hag like you? Sleeping next to you makes me sick!” And my own sister, at that moment, didn’t help me. Instead, she just stood there, sneering: “Audrey, I didn’t seduce him, okay? He came on to me! But it’s nothing new, really. The world has always revolved around me since we were little, haha! What can I say? You’re just so ugly, hahahaha…” That night, I threw myself from the fifty-second floor of the hotel. After I died, my mom held up an insurance policy, joyfully telling Tiffany: “Oh, your sister finally died! Twenty years of insurance premiums, not wasted after all! This payout will get you everything you need to break into Hollywood!” Tiffany barely even looked at the insurance papers, just gave them a casual side-eye, then leaned sweetly against my mom’s shoulder. My mom took Tiffany’s hand and said affectionately, “Mommy believes in you. My darling girl is so beautiful, she’s definitely going to be a huge celebrity someday!” At that moment, my dad chimed in, “Honey, with our amazing looks, how did we end up with such an ugly duckling for our firstborn?” Tiffany smirked, replying flippantly, “Is she really my twin sister? It’s so embarrassing. Hahahaha!” Dead, I watched all this in silence. My heart turned to ice.

I woke up again to the pop of fireworks outside my window. New Year’s. New Year’s Eve. Mom and Dad were preparing our big family dinner, and Tiffany was curled up on the couch watching TV. “Dinner’s ready! Dinner’s ready!” I lay in bed for five seconds, then realized – I was reborn! I quickly took my seat, grabbed a fork, and started shoveling all the meat from the pot onto my plate. “SMACK!” A sharp slap landed on my face. I turned to see my dad, his hand still suspended in the air, looking stunned himself. “Oh, Audrey, it’s not that Dad doesn’t want you to eat meat, it’s just… leave some for your sister.” In my past life, whenever they said that, I’d dutifully only take vegetables. But round two, and I wasn’t backing down. I put down my fork, clutching my cheek, and ran into the hallway, wailing at the top of my lungs: “Dad, I just want some meat! Tiffany always gets all the meat! Just let me have one bite on New Year’s Eve…” It was New Year’s Eve, and everyone in the apartment complex was home celebrating. When they heard my wailing, doors started popping open, and concerned neighbors poked their heads out. Mr. Henderson, from the apartment across the hall, pulled my dad aside. “Listen, Mr. Miller, when raising kids, you have to treat them fairly. They’re both your own flesh and blood. You can’t hurt your older daughter’s feelings just because the younger one is prettier…” “Mr. Henderson, what are you implying? No, no, we’ve always treated both our daughters exactly the same!” I scoffed internally: *Dad, do you even understand what ‘treated equally’ means?* After the ‘meat incident,’ Mom and Dad did stop neglecting my meals, probably afraid I’d spread more rumors. But they didn’t realize that I was about to unlock another perplexing mystery from my past life. In my previous life, Tiffany was always sickly as a child. Mom said it was ‘born with it.’ And the culprit who supposedly made Tiffany so frail? Of course, it was me, her ugly, sturdy older sister. According to Mom’s theory, I’d ‘stolen’ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, which led to her inherently delicate constitution. But what confused me was that every time Tiffany would ‘get’ a stomachache, and Mom took her to the doctor, she’d return in a brand-new, stylish outfit. Then I’d look at myself, wearing Tiffany’s old, unwanted clothes, and it suddenly clicked. That day, Mom gave Tiffany a knowing look, and Tiffany, without missing a beat, crumpled to the floor. “Ohhh, Mom! My stomach hurts so bad! My stomach bug is acting up again! Mom… I can’t take it anymore!” Just as Mom was about to rush over and help Tiffany up, I dashed forward and scooped my sister into my arms. “Are you okay, Tiff? Come on, big sis will carry you to the hospital!” Mom and Tiffany were stunned, staring at my wide, ready stance. “Mom, Tiffany’s in so much pain, what are you waiting for? If you think I’m too slow, maybe I should go shout for Dad’s friends from work to come help in the apartment complex!” As soon as Mom heard I was about to make another public scene, she quickly agreed, letting me carry Tiffany to the hospital. After the doctor confirmed nothing was wrong with various tests, Mom insisted the doctor check again. The doctor grew impatient: “Are you nuts? I’ve never seen someone insist on being sick when they’re perfectly fine!” Finally, the three of us were practically kicked out of the hospital. And my thoughtless sister, thinking that leaving the hospital meant it was time for the next step – mall shopping for new clothes – kept tugging at Mom’s arm, demanding to go. “SMACK!” Mom landed a slap right across Tiffany’s face. Tiffany burst into tears. *Well, look at that!* Mom would rather smack Tiffany than let her go shopping, just in case a stray dollar might end up in my pocket! Fine, fine, no shopping then. Living this life again, I didn’t care for such petty advantages. No, a real payback needs a plan.

Time flew to the eve of college applications again. To avoid my vicious parents meddling with my choices, I studied like a madwoman, chaining myself to my books for the past few years. I earned a full scholarship and early admission to the program I’d always dreamed of. Tiffany, of course, still flunked out and had to reapply. And when she was a sophomore in film school, she declared she wanted plastic surgery. That night, Mom called, telling me I needed to financially ‘support’ Tiffany’s cosmetic surgery. I agreed on the surface, then, without hesitation, leaked Tiffany’s plastic surgery plans onto her film school’s most popular gossip page. Tiffany had always been entitled, vicious, and a total bully since childhood. She had no real friends, only enemies. As expected, once the news broke, the floodgates opened, and everyone started piling on, adding their own dirt. “Even with a full makeover, she’d still be D-list at best!” “That evil girl tried to poison her roommate!” “She hooked up with the city’s wealthiest heir in her freshman year!” “She was secretly buying knock-offs but parading them as designer to look rich…” An overwhelming tide of negative public opinion crashed down on Tiffany. She couldn’t take it, directly withdrawing for a year and hiding back home. Because I’d changed Tiffany’s life trajectory this time, she stayed cooped up at home during her graduating year. The incident from my past life, where she hooked up with a rich kid and got pregnant, never happened. I was spared the trouble of caring for her post-procedure. Using this period of quiet at home, I studied relentlessly, securing an integrated Master’s/Ph.D. program. On my very first day of grad school, Mom’s call, asking me to buy Tiffany a car, came right on schedule. “Oh, Audrey, you two shared a placenta…” Just as Mom was about to launch into her usual rant about how I, the supposedly ‘strong’ and ‘ugly’ sister, had ‘stolen’ all of Tiffany’s nutrients in the womb, I cut her off sharply. “Mom, if you don’t have medical common sense, go schedule an appointment with a doctor. Tiffany and I shared a placenta, but the only impact of insufficient blood supply is fetal deformity. Tiffany’s hands and feet are all there, her organs are perfectly fine. She’s thin because she’s a picky eater!” Mom froze on the other end of the line: “You… you ungrateful wretch! You’re her older sister! How can you treat your own sister like this?” “Mom, I need to write my dissertation. I’m hanging up now.” After shutting Mom down, a wave of pure satisfaction washed over me. So this is what it feels like to be strong. It’s amazing. I thought about my past life, where I meekly faced my parents’ harshness and Tiffany’s arrogance. And now, in this life, I could handle injustice so easily. Amidst the thrill, a hint of sadness lingered. Six months into grad school, I started dating a classmate. We were on the same level, had similar tastes, and shared common goals… For the first time, I tasted love, and it was beautiful. But I never imagined that this time, my parents would set their sights on my boyfriend. One day, I got a call from Tiffany. Even though we were fraternal twins, I just couldn’t stand her fake, sugary sweet voice. “Audrey! I heard you have a boyfriend! You didn’t even tell me this amazing news!” “No need, really,” I replied dryly. “Oh, but Mom and Dad love you so much! You’re the pride of our family! So, Mom, Dad, and I are planning to come visit you!” “You don’t have to…” “Great! Then we’ll be there tomorrow!” Tiffany finished her little monologue and hung up, leaving me with a strong, ominous feeling.

The next day, Tiffany, dressed to the nines, arrived at my university with Mom and Dad. Liam, oblivious to what was going on, warmly greeted them. But in the way Tiffany looked at Liam, I saw the same shamelessness and scheming I’d seen in her with Blake in my past life. *Hmph, that manipulative bitch, she’s definitely up to no good!* I stayed on high alert, constantly watching Tiffany’s every move and word. At lunch, Tiffany insisted I go with her to buy a milkshake. In front of Liam, I couldn’t appear too cold, so I reluctantly went with her. Once we left the restaurant, Tiffany dragged me all over the place. After the milkshake, she wanted BBQ, then a makeup store… Having been tricked countless times in my past life, I snapped to attention with her barrage of demands: *This is a diversion!* With that thought, I shoved the things in my hands into Tiffany’s arms and sprinted back to the restaurant like an Olympic runner. But by the time I got back, Liam was already gone. Only my parents remained, giggling and whispering conspiratorially. “Oh, with her looks, that guy must be blind!” “Isn’t that right? This young man is too stubborn. How great would it have been if he ended up with our Tiffany, with all her advantages! Can you believe he said he didn’t like our Tiffany?!” Furious, I walked up and demanded, “What did you say to my boyfriend?” “Uh… well…” Mom stammered, then smiled. “Oh, Audrey, that boy’s just average! Mom and Dad will find you someone much better!” A leopard never changes its spots. Ever since I was a child, they’d always found ways to snatch away everything good I had and give it to Tiffany. In their hearts, I simply wasn’t worthy of any happiness. I ran out of the restaurant, crying, calling Liam’s phone as I ran. But after a long ring, a cold voice answered: “Let’s break up. I don’t want to be with someone so manipulative.” “Please, let me explain…” When I tried to call again, I was blocked. My first love, destroyed by my parents and sister, working together… And just a week later, my parents pushed Blake, that same man with the disability from my past life, onto me again. “Good girl, you have an education, he has money, you two are a powerful union!” “Daughter, listen to Dad. If you just give his family a son or a daughter, what more could you want in life? Endless wealth and glory!” I scoffed internally. *A ‘powerful union’? More like a freak show!* *Wealth and glory? More like selling me off to fund Tiffany’s career in the entertainment industry!* In this new life, despite my best efforts to fight back, my parents’ true faces hadn’t become any less ugly, just less blatant. Beneath their phony mask, they were still so vile! Perhaps no matter how hard I tried, even with education, status, and money, In their eyes, I would always be their embarrassing, ugly daughter, Always a cheap pawn, a bargaining chip to secure Tiffany’s bright future! But reborn, even consumed by fury, I still acted compliant when faced with this marriage. From the blind date to the wedding reception, it took only a short month. On the night of the reception, I specifically invited all the classmates Tiffany had offended, Pleading with them to grace my wedding with their presence, as if I were apologizing on Tiffany’s behalf. Then I timed it perfectly, waiting until I figured Blake and Tiffany were in the thick of it, And with Tiffany’s classmates gathered around, I beeped open the hotel’s bridal suite door with the key card. “Well, Blake, you might be challenged, but you’ve certainly got some… unique talents, huh?” The moment the door opened, Tiffany’s sweet, breathless moans and their sickening flirting shocked everyone. They all crept closer, trying to get a better look. And I calmly opened my phone, recording the whole scandalous scene, every single detail. Just as Tiffany shrieked and tugged at the blanket to cover herself, I had already uploaded the video online. The title: “My Sister on My Wedding Night, Climbing Into My Husband’s Bed.”

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For five years, I was Alex Thorne’s personal assistant. We never spoke of love, yet we did everything intimate, until the woman who truly held his heart came back. He fired me. I had seen this coming. No tears, no drama. I just packed my bags. The very next day, he was in tears, regretting it. Half an hour ago, the news from HR hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest: I was fired. My colleague gently patted my shoulder, her eyes full of pity. “We all tried, Chloe, but the decision was final.” The announcement didn’t shock me. Instead, a strange calm settled over me, as if I’d been expecting it. Rumors had been quietly circulating in the company all last week: CEO Alex Thorne was engaged. His fiancée was Celeste Hayes, heiress to the Hayes empire, his ex-girlfriend, and the woman he’d always truly loved. Since his dream had finally come true, it was only natural that the “extra baggage” in his life would be cleared out. Even though Alex and I had never openly defined our relationship, who in the company didn’t know we had a complicated, unspoken arrangement? With that connection, no one dared to touch me. No one, unless it was Alex himself. I got the notice that morning and completed all my handovers by the afternoon. My replacement looked utterly miserable, complaining non-stop, “Chloe, what will the assistant’s office do without you?” Alex’s temper was legendary – erratic and explosive. A coffee not at the perfect temperature could send him into a rage. The assistant’s office, being closest to him, often became his punching bag. But five years ago, when I arrived, everything changed. Making his coffee, ordering his meals, submitting his reports, even smoothing over mistakes from other departments—I handled it all, calming him down. My colleagues often said those five years were the easiest they’d ever worked under Alex. I smiled, showing them again. “Get the water temperature right, and Alex won’t cause a fuss.” “I hear there’s someone in this company who understands Alex better than anyone, his ‘special exception,’ is that you?” A voice came from behind me. I turned. Celeste Hayes stood there, taking off her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. My colleague, holding her coffee, lowered her head and hurried away. I offered a polite smile. “Ms. Hayes, you flatter me. If I were a ‘special exception,’ I wouldn’t be standing here today.” “In this company, aren’t only those who lack competence fired?” Her words seemed to ignite something in Celeste. She suddenly grabbed the hot water kettle from the desk and splashed it towards me. A mocking smirk played on her lips. “You’ve got a sharp tongue, but let’s see if you can handle the heat!” The hot water splattered on me, my skin instantly turning red. Luckily, Alex always drank his coffee at a lukewarm temperature; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Just then, Alex appeared. He walked towards Celeste with a smile, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Celeste linked her arm through his, stating bluntly, “I had a bit of a disagreement with an employee and couldn’t help but splash some hot water on her.” Alex finally looked at me, his eyes cold, as if I were a complete stranger. “If you splashed her, you splashed her. I’ll have someone compensate her. No need to delay our date for someone so insignificant.” “I booked that amazing Italian place you love. We can head there now.” They walked past me, embracing, Celeste’s gaze full of triumphant mockery. Whether it was the sting of the hot water or a dull ache deep in my chest, my heart felt like it was being sliced open. But that kind of pain… I never wanted to feel it again.

After leaving the company, I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I walked into a quiet coffee shop. Liam Harrison was already there, idly stirring his coffee. “Mr. Harrison, good to see you,” I greeted softly. “I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp and am ready to start at your company anytime.” Hearing my voice, Liam stopped stirring, looked up, and offered a gentle smile. “Welcome, Chloe Davis, to our team. No rush to start work, though. I hear your relationship with Alex Thorne was… unique. Now that he’s getting married, I imagine you need some time to adjust, right? I’ll give you three days to sort out your personal affairs. You can officially start after that, okay?” I subconsciously frowned. While I knew my relationship with Alex couldn’t be kept entirely secret, I hadn’t realized it was already common knowledge within their circles. Liam Harrison’s company was the first I’d contacted after leaving Thorne Corp. More accurately, he contacted me. After Celeste Hayes returned and Alex announced his engagement, Liam sought me out, offering an incredibly generous deal. Honestly, at first, I couldn’t believe it. “Mr. Harrison, if I may ask, why are you offering me such favorable terms?” I couldn’t help but ask. Liam looked calm, taking a slow sip of coffee, and gave me an answer that left me half-believing. “I know Alex. Anyone who can last five years as his assistant clearly has the skills to run an entire department for us.” “And I don’t want ‘unforeseen complications’ to arise with our business partners once you’re on board.” After some thought, I finally accepted Liam’s invitation. After all, the terms he offered were indeed enticing, and I desperately needed the money right now. Just as I nodded in agreement, a familiar cold laugh echoed from behind me. Alex Thorne walked into the coffee shop, hand-in-hand with Celeste Hayes. I knew him too well. Whenever he made that sound, it meant he was angry. Not just angry, but furious. “Well, well, Mr. Harrison. Long time no see. So, Harrison Industries is willing to pick up my company’s discards?” “But I should warn you, Mr. Harrison, this one is untrustworthy and a total gold-digger. As an employee, you’d be wise to be cautious.” I listened silently to every word Alex said about me. My fingers, hidden under the table, were digging so deeply into my knees I could almost feel blood oozing. Honestly, the moment Alex fired me, I didn’t hate him. After all, what we had was nothing more than a five-year arrangement. He gave me money, and I slept with him. But I didn’t understand why he was still so aggressive, even after I’d left Thorne Corp. I bit my lower lip hard, fighting back the sting in my nose, desperate not to let a single tear fall. “Mr. Thorne, if I truly stole anything from Thorne Corp, you can call the police and have me arrested. But please, don’t slander me!” Alex gave me a cold stare and said nothing more. But Celeste stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips. “Miss Davis, it was just a joke, why are you getting so emotional? Is the compensation not enough? Are you trying to shake me down for more?” Saying this, she pulled a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at me. “I heard your mother’s still in the hospital, needs money for treatment, right? But that doesn’t mean you can throw away your dignity.” “Consider this your payout!”

The moment Celeste’s words fell, the stack of money hit my face hard. I didn’t know which edge it was, but one of the bills cut my right cheek, leaving a faint streak of blood. All eyes in the coffee shop turned to me—some sympathetic, some mocking, and some filled with undisguised malice. “She is now an employee of Harrison Industries. She has nothing to do with Thorne Corp anymore. Do you really think I’ll stand by and let you bully people like this?” Liam Harrison’s face turned cold as he suddenly looked up at Celeste. Celeste instinctively recoiled two steps, hiding behind Alex. It was the first time I’d seen Alex so anxious about someone. He immediately shielded Celeste, glaring at Liam. Finally, he glanced dismissively at me. “So what if her face got scratched? That ten thousand dollars is compensation enough. If anything, she made out like a bandit.” As he spoke, Alex narrowed his eyes at me. I knew he was warning me to take the money and be quiet. If I didn’t, he had countless ways to make my life even harder. Five years of shared history had left no mark on his heart. He had never once been truly sincere with me. I forced a strained smile, picking up the scattered bills one by one, feeling utterly humiliated. “Don’t worry, Mr. Thorne. I definitely made out.” Every word was forced out through gritted teeth, my gums almost bleeding. Celeste scoffed. “Just like a pathetic lap dog!” I clenched my jaw, the soft flesh inside my mouth almost bitten raw, a strong metallic taste spreading on my tongue. I dared not look up, knowing I must look pathetic and ridiculous. Finally, Liam sighed, took my hand, and led me out of the coffee shop. “Rest well for three days. I’ll see you at Harrison Industries then.” Back at my rental, Alex’s jacket was still on the messy bed. I started tidying the place, gathering all his belongings into a box. I planned to return them to him sometime, or just toss them out. After hours of work, I realized that over the past five years, his presence had permeated every corner of this apartment. The toothbrushes and towels in the bathroom, the potted plant on the windowsill, the apron in the kitchen… Turns out, in those five years, I had unknowingly started treating him like a real boyfriend, not just a transaction. Though I didn’t want to admit it, that was the reality. The lock suddenly turned, and his familiar silhouette appeared, just like he used to. Alex immediately spotted the box of his things I’d packed and sneered coldly, “So, you found a new sugar daddy, and now you’re desperate to kick your old one to the curb?” “Chloe Davis, are you really that pathetic? Can’t you live without money?” I bit my lower lip hard, the deep indentations of my teeth clearly visible. So, in Alex Thorne’s mind, that’s all I was—worthless. But none of it mattered anymore. A heart that had died wouldn’t come back to life. “We agreed to five years from the start. The time’s up, you’re getting married, and I won’t hold you back.” “Besides, I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp. Mr. Thorne, you have no reason to stay here, do you?” He said nothing, his face incredibly grim. He sat on the sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. I quickly pushed the organized box towards him. “I’ve packed everything. You can take it with you.” As soon as I spoke, Alex’s expression darkened even further. I didn’t know what he was angry about. Like a five-year old instinct, my mind quickly ran through every possible reason for his anger. Finally, I remembered something and told him, “I’ll be giving notice on this apartment too, don’t worry. As for our five years together, I won’t say a word to anyone, especially not to Ms. Hayes. And I won’t disturb you anymore.” Alex froze for a moment. In the dim light, his expression was unreadable. Soon, he let out a cold laugh, leaning in to pinch my chin. A moment later, a red fingerprint appeared on my jaw. “Good, you’re sensible. Otherwise, you’ll pay!” “I don’t want these things. You’ve touched them. They’re contaminated!” With that, Alex turned and left. His words stole my breath. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free, falling one by one. I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down. And he, he never looked back.

The next two days, I found a new place near Harrison Industries and gave notice on my old rental. After finally finishing the move, I managed to squeeze in a visit to the hospital. Mom was still the same, lying in bed, unresponsive. Ever since a car accident five years ago, Mom had been in a vegetative state. She survived only with the help of hospital equipment. As usual, I massaged her limbs to improve circulation. Then, following the doctor’s instructions, I slowly told her about my recent life. “Mom, I left Thorne Corp. I have a new job now.” “This new job pays much better. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on getting better and waking up soon.” After doing everything, Mom’s vitals remained flat, unchanged from before. Leaving the hospital, I rushed to Harrison Industries. Although the three days weren’t up yet, I chose to start work early. Thanks to Liam’s instructions, my onboarding process sailed through, given a green light every step of the way. To familiarize myself with the work quickly, I stayed late on my first day, working overtime. By the time I got home, it was already late into the night. As soon as I lay down and pulled out my phone, former colleagues from Thorne Corp’s assistant’s office started messaging me in our SnapChat group, venting their frustrations. [Alex must’ve eaten something bad today, his temper is out of control! Without Chloe here, none of us can calm him down!] [One minute he says the temperature’s wrong, the next the water’s not enough, then the coffee’s too little. Chloe, I followed all the notes you left me, and he still finds a million things wrong!] [Me too. I got yelled at all day. I don’t want to do this anymore!] I read for a while, then simply closed my phone without replying. Since I’d already left Thorne Corp, Alex Thorne’s habits had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. In the days that followed, I fully immersed myself in my work at Harrison Industries. Soon, Liam Harrison directly assigned me a task: to create a new proposal. It was a good thing I’d always been in the assistant’s office; I’d often handled proposals. I worked overtime for several days straight, the dark circles under my eyes impossible to hide, my entire orbital bone outlined in shadow. Until the day the project bids were presented, Liam asked me to attend with him. The biggest competitor for this project happened to be Alex Thorne’s Thorne Corp. At the project banquet, Alex Thorne and Celeste Hayes were the center of attention, with many people congratulating them. It was as if they already had the project in their hands. When Liam Harrison and I appeared, we quickly caught Alex and Celeste’s attention. When our gazes locked, a silent battle of intentions played out. Celeste smirked with open provocation, directly taunting me. “Mr. Harrison, your proposal for this project isn’t by Miss Davis, is it? You’d better open your eyes wide then. This woman only knows how to con you out of money; she can’t plan for anything, otherwise, why would Thorne Corp have fired her!” “And she’s no good person. She used to be so shameless, trying to hook up with our Alex, but he rejected her. Now she’s conned her way into Mr. Harrison’s good graces.” Her voice wasn’t quiet, as if she wanted everyone to hear. Soon, it attracted the attention of many people at the banquet, and whispers erupted. I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth as I tried to defend myself. “I wasn’t fired because of my work ability, and I never tried to hook up with Mr. Thorne!” The words had barely left my mouth. Celeste pulled out her phone and played an audio clip. The clip was edited, with the beginning and end cut off, leaving only one sentence from me and one from Alex. I said, “I won’t say anything about anything that happened between us.” Then came Alex’s rejection. “They’re contaminated!” I spun around, looking at him sharply. Alex’s eyes flickered, avoiding my gaze. Celeste laughed wildly, asking me, “The evidence is all here, Chloe. What do you have to say for yourself now?”

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My CEO girlfriend of five years doubted my loyalty. She demanded I collect ten thousand blessings from strangers before she’d marry me. But when Marcus, the man she truly obsessed over – the one she’d broken up with three times – asked her to marry him on a dare, she couldn’t wait to make their relationship official, splashing it across every major screen in the city. My mom, who’d just come to the city to meet my fiancée, was so enraged she suffered a heart attack and ended up in the hospital. I rushed to the announcement site, falling to my knees, begging Vivian to return my savings for Mom’s medical bills. But she frowned, saying that once my money was in her hands, it was hers. She had no obligation to pay for my family’s expenses, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, right in front of me, she used my money to order Marcus a luxury car. Because I couldn’t pay on time, Mom missed her window for treatment and died tragically in the hospital morgue. I buried her with tears in my eyes, accepted an offer from a major overseas company, and submitted my resignation. Vivian, though, just thought I was throwing a tantrum. She casually said, “Where else would a guy your age go without me? Don’t play your little games with me. I’ll take your mom out for a few days later, just doing my duty as your future daughter-in-law.” But when she saw me at the airport, why did her eyes turn red, and why did she fall to her knees, begging for my forgiveness?

After my visa was approved, I went home to pack. The moment I opened my closet, Vivian popped out, startling me. “Alex! I’m the hunter, and I’ve caught my prey!” She was beaming, her cheeks flushed, laughing heartily. I knew she’d used a “business trip” as an excuse these past two days, but she was really just traveling with Marcus to avoid me. In the past, I would have greeted her with a warm smile, asking about her trip. Now, I just pulled her aside and started rummaging for my clothes. Vivian stood there, looking a bit lost. After a long moment, she poked my arm. “Alex, what’s wrong? Are you still mad about me not lending you money that day? I was trying to complete Marcus’s dare. We’re friends, and he was about to lose in fifteen minutes. I didn’t have time to transfer money. Didn’t I soften up later and have the finance department give you an advance?” I gave a bitter laugh, suppressing the sting in my nose, and kept stuffing clothes into my suitcase. That day, Mom had just arrived from out of town when she saw her future daughter-in-law on a giant screen, holding another man’s hand and making their relationship official. She collapsed on the spot. I rushed to the scene, falling to my knees in front of Vivian, pleading with her to give me back my savings for Mom’s medical bills. It would have taken less than three seconds to pull out her bank card from her bag. But she just coldly kicked me aside, telling me to figure it out myself. Then, she used every last cent from my card to buy Marcus a luxury car. Later, when I went to the finance department for an advance, the finance officer rolled her eyes at me. “Alex, who do you think you are, dreaming about someone like her? Mr. Marcus and CEO Vivian are the golden couple.” She deliberately dragged out the process. I ran around the company, completing eighteen different procedures, which took three hours, just to get a $200 advance. The finance officer said it was Vivian’s order, and they couldn’t do anything about it. By the time I rushed to the hospital, Mom had already passed away. Vivian saw I wasn’t speaking, snatched the clothes from my hands, and threw them onto the bed. “That’s what I dislike about you small-town guys. You’re so petty. You hand over a few hundred thousand, and then you try every trick to get it back. Honestly, I bought Marcus that sports car just to cut off your idea of getting into my pockets!” My heart felt like it was squeezed hard. I took a deep breath. I thought if I just poured my heart out and gave her all my earnings, Vivian would eventually let go of her suspicions. But I never imagined she still thought I was after her money. Marcus and she had broken up and gotten back together three times. Each time, it was her winning him back with luxury cars and lavish homes. So why was it suddenly me who was being petty? I finished packing, picked up my suitcase, and curled my lips into a sarcastic smile. “It won’t happen again. Keep your money for Marcus to spend.” Vivian’s eyes widened. She grabbed me. *CRASH!* A storage box was knocked over, sending countless paper slips covered with blessings fluttering to the ground like snow. These were all the blessing messages I had pleaded with anyone and everyone I met on the street to write for me. She had said she’d had enough heartbreak. Unless I collected ten thousand blessings from strangers to prove my sincerity, she wouldn’t marry me. The ten thousandth blessing was from a passenger sitting next to my mom on the train ride into the city. When Mom handed it to me, she wished Vivian and me a long and happy life together. But Vivian still announced her relationship with Marcus just because of one sentence from him. All my boundaries, all my efforts, were a joke. Vivian picked up a slip of paper. Her beautiful brows relaxed, and she sighed. “Alright, Alex, stop sulking. I’ll give you another three hundred. Take your mom to get some nice clothes and good food. Later, I’ll take her on a trip. I’ll do my duty as a daughter-in-law.” In the past, I would have taken the out and praised her as a good wife. But now, the bitterness in my heart wouldn’t let up. I just couldn’t swallow it. I covered her transfer screen with my hand and said coldly, “No need. You’re not her daughter-in-law. We’re over.” My words were swallowed by the sound of a key in the lock. “Vivian, I’m here to pick you up! Didn’t we say we’d treat everyone to dinner to celebrate?” Marcus walked in, looking surprised. “Assistant Alex, why are you at Vivian’s place?” Vivian coughed, putting distance between us. “Alex’s mom needed money, he just asked if he could get an advance on his salary.” We’d been in a secret relationship for five years. She always kept me at arm’s length, and I couldn’t even post about her on Ins. I thought it was because she didn’t want an office romance. Turns out, keeping it from everyone was just about keeping it from *him*. Marcus looked righteous and reprimanded me sharply. “Assistant Alex, don’t go too far. I didn’t even say anything about you causing a scene at the announcement, but you have hands and feet. You can’t just take advantage of Vivian’s kindness and demand money from her!” Vivian frowned, about to speak. I curled my lips. “You’re right, that’s exactly what I think. So I’m leaving now.” With that, I picked up my suitcase and walked past Vivian, heading downstairs. She took a step as if to follow, glanced at Marcus, then calmly said, “Be careful on your way.” As I walked out of the building, Vivian sent me a SnapChat message: “Alex, don’t worry. This is the last time I’ll help Marcus out. I’ll make time in a couple of days to take your aunt out, and we can discuss our wedding plans and get married soon.” I scoffed. I just opened my chat with William, the HR from the overseas company. “William, my visa is done. Flight’s tomorrow afternoon. See you there.”

I hailed a cab to the company to pick up my files, but the HR officer looked impatient. “CEO Vivian has been holding up your resignation application. Come back next Monday to ask again.” I called Vivian, but it just rang busy. It was always like this when she was with Marcus. I should have waited for her to approve my resignation before rushing off earlier. Frustrated, I frowned and left the company. Behind me, a burst of laughter erupted. “When Mr. Marcus and CEO Vivian made their relationship official, he was there singing and dancing, even kneeling and begging Vivian for money! So embarrassing!” “Didn’t you see how awful his face looked when he couldn’t get through to CEO Vivian just now? If I were her, I’d block a leech like that too!” I was used to these mocking words by now. My phone pinged with a notification – a taunting message from Marcus. The photo showed the blessing slips stuffed into a reeking, greasy trash can. “Vivian threw away all ten thousand blessings just because I said so. I heard you spent a year collecting them, so much effort, how sad.” “So what if you dated for five years? The moment I came back, you were kicked to the curb. She’s eating with me right now, peeling shrimp for me, her hands covered in sauce. You’ve never seen that, have you? If you’re curious, come to the restaurant’s private room, I’ll let you see all you want.” My hand tightened around my phone. Since he’d returned, I’d seen too many messages like this. Vivian, who was a clean freak and so proud, would wash his clothes, cook for him, and even wash his feet and make his bed. Before, I used to dread Marcus’s messages, yet I’d self-torture myself by watching Vivian’s special treatment of him. I even tried to tell myself it was all Photoshopped, telling him not to stir up trouble, thinking if I didn’t see the truth, I could keep lying to myself. This time, I went. Not out of jealousy, but to get Vivian to sign my resignation and sever all ties with her. Half an hour later, I arrived at the restaurant, only to hear Vivian arguing with someone in the stairwell. I instinctively hid around the corner. “Vivian, are you out of your mind?! Marcus dumped you three times, each time worse than the last! He even tricked you to a cliff and almost broke your leg! And you’re making it official with him?! Alex has been with you for five years, and you never gave him a title. Don’t forget he risked his life to save you before!” It was Sasha, Vivian’s best friend. I touched the uneven scar on my forehead. A year ago, Vivian and I were in a car accident during a business trip. To protect her, I was impaled by the windshield. I had a dozen steel plates implanted in my body, and a scar above my left eyebrow disfigured me, making my formerly gentle eyes look fierce. Colleagues secretly called me ‘Scarface,’ kept their distance, and even spread rumors that I was beaten by loan sharks. Vivian, however, never clarified anything to avoid suspicion. The next second, Vivian’s reply struck me like a lightning bolt. “It’s because he had the car accident. He has a scar over his eye. He doesn’t look like Marcus anymore.” Sasha was furious. “So you were still treating him as a substitute! No wonder when he proposed, you made him do an impossible task. Ten thousand blessings? Even if he asked thirty people a day, it would take a year! If you didn’t want to marry him, you didn’t have to string him along! What kind of spell did a scumbag like Marcus put on you?!” “Enough!” Vivian snapped, her voice sharp. “Don’t you dare slander Marcus like that! He said he’s turned over a new leaf. I’m just trying to make up for past regrets. Give me two more days, and I’ll break it off with him.” Sasha was speechless. “Aren’t you afraid Alex will truly give up?” Vivian seemed relaxed, in control. “Alex’s job came from me, he lives in my apartment. He has nothing without me. I’ll take responsibility for him. We’ve been out too long, Marcus will get impatient. Let’s head back.” Watching their retreating figures, I stood there for a long time, then sank to the floor, holding myself. When Mom got sick, I brought her to the city for treatment. When I was desperate because we had no money, Vivian was the one who approached me, inviting me to work at her company. She was gentle and compassionate, like a goddess, and I fell for her. Now, looking back, I was wearing a mask then, only my eyes visible. And her eyes were filled with the joy of finding something she’d lost. Whenever she mentioned her ex, Vivian would gnash her teeth, full of love and hate. Then she’d bury her head against my chest, sighing how lucky she was to have me. After Marcus returned to the country, she deliberately ‘ran into’ him several times, clashing with him, but their ‘arguments’ were just her way of flirting and showing how much she missed him. No wonder Vivian suddenly became distant after the car accident. I was foolishly thinking it was because Marcus was back, and she was just conflicted. Turns out, the original was back, and I, the substitute, was useless, which was why she made me collect ten thousand blessings to politely reject me. After a while, I took a deep breath and pushed open the private room door. Inside, everyone was already tipsy, clapping and cheering. “Their dramatic reunion, their intense, complicated love – I’m totally hooked! Vivian, you have to kiss Marcus!” Vivian openly kissed Marcus on the lips. Her long lashes trembled, and her ears turned crimson, betraying her racing heart. She didn’t know how long it had been until the cheering died down. She opened her eyes in confusion. She saw me, standing behind Marcus, my face emotionless. She shot up, her face pale. “Alex, I can explain everything! It’s not what you think!” Her attempt to cover it up just made her look incredibly guilty. “Vivian, we’re done.”

The next second, I pulled out my resignation application. “Also, please sign this so I can leave the company.” Vivian was flustered. Everyone in the room looked on with mixed expressions, some hesitating, wanting to advise me. But then, *whoosh!* Marcus swept the drinks and fruit bowls off the table, looking utterly humiliated. “You two are a couple?!” “Vivian, I told you, the love I want is one where only I exist in your eyes. If you had a boyfriend, you should have just said so. There was no need to take revenge on me like this!” He stormed out. Vivian snapped back to reality and, losing all composure, slapped me. “How dare you make a scene in front of Marcus? Why did you expose our relationship? He’s sensitive and can’t handle shocks, don’t you know that?” My head was snapped sideways from the blow, my eyes cold. The fierce fire in her eyes suddenly died, replaced by a flicker of distress. The hand that hit me trembled violently. She turned her head away and said sharply, “You just want to force me into marriage, but your plan failed. I’d like to see how you’re going to cause trouble for Marcus without the job I gave you!” She snatched my resignation application and signed it. The next second, she shouted “Marcus!” and ran off, chasing him. I rubbed the crumpled paper, and with a sense of relief, I left amidst the stunned gazes of the crowd. Now, there was only one thing left to do. After Mom passed, I decided to take her ashes abroad, so I had only arranged a simple memorial. Tomorrow, I needed to pick up Mom’s ashes and belongings from the hospital. The next morning, I timed my arrival at the hospital perfectly, intending to leave straight for the airport afterward. As I passed a department, I overheard a doctor calling out Vivian’s name. “You young people are crazy in love! Your eyes are inflamed, ulcerated, and bleeding. You could go blind permanently! You can’t keep doing this!” I unconsciously slowed my steps. Then I heard Marcus’s whining voice. “Vivian, I was just being dramatic yesterday when I said I’d only forgive you if you had eyes only for me! Why did you actually tattoo my name all over your eyeballs?!” Vivian’s voice was full of deep affection. “For you, it’s nothing.” I turned my head and saw Vivian’s eyes. Her eyelids were swollen, blood vessels burst, and they were hazy with blood. I could faintly see her eyeballs were dark, densely covered with Marcus’s name. Yet, before, when I had just bought a pair of matching couple’s rings, she had cursed me out, saying I was deliberately claiming ownership and trying to tie her down, restricting her freedom. Turns out, in the face of love, everyone is equally desperate. I continued toward the morgue. Marcus had already spotted me and deliberately picked a fight. “Alex, Vivian said you’re just a persistent admirer who won’t give up. What do you want now?” Vivian, surprisingly, wasn’t angry at all. She quickly put on her sunglasses, adjusted her hair, and her lips curved upward. “Alex, I know you came here looking for me on purpose. As long as you swear not to do anything out of line again, I can still let you come back to the company. I heard your mom is in our city recently. I could be generous and take her on a trip.” My eyes were full of sarcasm. What “out of line” things? Should I continue to be her secret lover, smilingly bless her and Marcus, and then, after she’s had her fun and decided to settle down, gratefully marry her? To this day, she still didn’t know that Mom had already died, her last wish being for me to find someone who loved me. The nurse, however, couldn’t wait. She rushed out to find me, handing me Mom’s ashes and belongings. “Alex, I have other families to attend to. Just sign here, and you can take your mother’s ashes.”

Vivian’s triumphant expression froze. “What ashes?” The medical staff looked at her, surprised. “Alex’s mother passed away two days ago because she couldn’t afford the medical fees.” Vivian was speechless. It took her a moment to find her voice. “How is that possible? Alex, you didn’t use the money I gave you for your mom?!” I bent down to sign the ash collection form. Marcus frowned, then suddenly spoke. “Vivian, I suddenly feel a little discomfort in my heart. Could you please ask the doctor to check me? Alex and I are both men, maybe I can comfort him properly.” Vivian hesitated, then finally called out to me. “Alex, you stay here. Don’t move. Once I call the doctor, we can talk properly!” As soon as she left, Marcus’s eyes filled with malice, and he deliberately knocked over my mother’s ashes. He whispered mockingly, “Alex, you’re truly a persistent ghost. I deliberately told finance not to give you the funds. Your mom died because you didn’t know your place. And Vivian even said she’s giving your vacant position to me. If you’re smart, you’ll get lost!” My pupils contracted. So Marcus was behind my mom’s death! Furious, I didn’t hesitate to slap him. But he immediately collapsed, curled up in the corner, looking pained and begging, “Alex, don’t kill me! I’m so sad your mother died too!” Passersby, not knowing the full story, all assumed I was just venting my anger. They had all seen Vivian and Marcus’s official announcement video and were now righteously indignant. “His own mom died, and he’s bullying another patient to vent?! Where’s security? Get this guy out of the hospital!” “Don’t you know that’s CEO Vivian’s husband? The Sterling family has immense wealth, you just messed with the wrong person! It’s not too late to beg for forgiveness now!” My face was numb. I knelt down to pick up the shattered ceramic urn holding my mother’s ashes. The sharp edges of the fragments cut my fingers, leaving streaks of blood, but I didn’t seem to feel the pain. As everyone condemned me, Vivian finally arrived with the doctor. They vied to speak, as if taking credit. “CEO Vivian, your husband is being bullied! Aren’t you going to stand up for him?” Marcus, looking triumphant, weakly cried out, “Vivian, I’m fine. I was just kindly helping Alex with his mother’s ashes, and I accidentally broke them. He didn’t mean to push me or slap me. I’m okay, I don’t think anything’s broken.” Vivian took three swift steps towards me. I didn’t even lift my head, gathering my mother’s ashes. I figured she’d just say a few words to me. But to my surprise, the next second, she knelt directly in front of me, carefully cradling my hands and asking, “Does it hurt?” She held my bloody hands, her eyes filled with heartache. Everyone present stared at each other, stunned. Marcus was dumbfounded, even forgetting to feign illness, his eyes wide.

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To help my wife, Chloe, settle the crushing debts from her disastrous investments, I agreed to her unthinkable proposal: to sell my kidney. But on the day of the surgery, our six-year-old son, Leo, raced to the clinic by himself, frantically calling his mother for help. Chloe’s voice was strained. “Daddy’s just giving up one kidney, Leo. It’ll buy Mommy peace for the rest of her life. If he doesn’t, Mommy’s life is ruined.” Leo still objected, but Chloe simply hung up. Turning away, she anxiously walked towards a high-end private room nearby, gazing at her pale first love, Ryan, soothing him in a low voice. “Don’t worry,” she whispered. “The kidney source is here. You’ll be fine soon.” “Don’t blame yourself. I chose to lie to him. He’s still young anyway; one less kidney won’t matter.” Later, Chloe’s first love had a successful surgery. Chloe was in high spirits, uncharacteristically suggesting a trip, a ‘honeymoon’ for me, her, and Leo. But she didn’t know. I was already dead. Because on the day of the kidney removal, I couldn’t afford the crucial post-operative antibiotics, and the wound infection claimed my life. And Leo? He had completely given up on her.

When I opened my eyes again, a strange lightness washed over me. All the pain was gone. I thought I’d pulled through the surgery, but then Leo’s childlike wail echoed in my ears. “Daddy, what’s wrong? Get up!” I turned towards the sound and saw my six-year-old son kneeling beside the clinic bed, sobbing his heart out. Before him, lying on the bed, was ‘me,’ pale and lifeless. It dawned on me. Oh. I hadn’t pulled through. I was dead. Of course. I had the surgery done at some cheap, rundown clinic because we had no money. There were no antibiotics, no painkillers after the procedure. So, once the anesthesia wore off, after the kidney was removed, the agony was unbearable. I knew then, with terrifying clarity, that I was dying. But I quickly accepted the reality. I didn’t even feel sad. Our family was deep in debt. We desperately needed money. If my death could bring peace to Chloe and Leo for the rest of their lives, then it was worth it. Just as I thought this, a man in a white coat entered through the doorway. He tossed a card onto the floor in front of Leo, his voice impatient. “Stop that bawling, you’re a real jinx! Here, take this five hundred thousand. Now grab your dad’s body and get out.” With that, he turned to retrieve the fresh kidney, soaking in a solution, from a cooler nearby. Leo’s eyes blazed red. He rushed forward. “That’s my daddy’s! You can’t take it!” Leo tried to grab it back, but the man merely kicked him in the chest. Leo slammed hard against the wall, his face paling with pain. My heart ached terribly. I had thought my timid, crybaby son would give up. But to my surprise, he sobbed, then hysterically rushed forward again. The man snapped his fingers, and three men instantly appeared from outside the door, grabbing Leo and pinning him to the ground. They held him fast, even as he screamed and thrashed. The man sneered, “Your daddy’s? We already bought it for five hundred thousand. Don’t cause trouble, kid. Take the money and leave. This kidney was bought for a huge price. If anything goes wrong, you won’t get a dime, and your daddy will have died for nothing.” Leo was pinned to the ground, crying helplessly. “I don’t want the money! I want Daddy! I’ll give you back the money! Just give Daddy back to me…” But no one listened. The man, clutching the organ transport cooler, hurried away. Only after the sound of a car engine faded outside the door was Leo released. Perhaps he was too exhausted from crying, for he was reduced to mere sobs. He picked up his phone and called Chloe again and again. After the usual unanswered calls, he finally, despairingly, picked up the bank card from the floor. His small shoulders somehow bore my body. “Daddy, I’m taking you home.” How Leo, with his tiny, frail body, managed to get me home, I don’t know. My spirit, uncontrolled, simply followed the man into the car. All the way, the man protected my kidney with extreme care. He buckled it into the passenger seat and constantly glanced over at it. Only when the car stopped in front of a luxurious private hospital did he finally relax, bowing and scraping as he handed the cooler to a woman waiting at the entrance. When I saw her face, one I knew intimately, I was stunned. It was Chloe, my wife, the one who had suggested I sell my kidney to pay off her debts. Before I could wonder why the man was giving her the kidney, Chloe carefully accepted it. “The remaining five million has already been transferred to you.” Without a single word about me, she turned and hurried into the hospital. I stood there, frozen, unable to process it. Chloe had recently lost everything in a disastrous investment, ending up millions in debt. I’d sold our house to help her pay off debts, and Leo had even sold his beloved action figures, but there was still a massive amount unpaid. Where did she get five million from? I hadn’t found an answer yet when Chloe strode quickly into the hospital, anxiously handing the kidney to a doctor. Before she could speak, a nurse rushed over. “Ms. Chloe, your boyfriend absolutely refuses the surgery. Please, go talk to him!” A flicker of tension crossed Chloe’s face, but it quickly vanished. As usual, she calmly instructed the doctor to arrange the surgery immediately, then, her heels clicking, she hurried away. I dazedly followed her, eventually stopping with her in front of a high-end private room. My breath hitched when I saw the young man lying on the bed. It was Ryan, Chloe’s first love. They’d dated for a while, but Chloe’s family disapproved of Ryan. In a fit of anger, he’d left the country and hadn’t been heard from for years. Later, the Xu family fell on hard times, and Chloe was forced into an arranged meeting with me. We logically married and had a child. After Leo was born, I once saw Chloe secretly weeping over Ryan’s picture. That’s when I learned she had a “first love.” But I didn’t care. After all those years of marriage, we were like family, our bond as deep as blood. But I never imagined… Chloe suggested I sell my kidney just to give it to him? Ryan, his face pale, looked at her. “Chloe, maybe we should just forget it. You’re already married anyway. I feel like there’s no point in living.” Chloe quickly stepped forward and took Ryan’s hand. Her voice, when she spoke, was so gentle it felt alien to me. “I was forced to marry him back then. You’ve always been the one in my heart. If you die, *I’m* the one who won’t be able to live.” “Promise me, you’ll be a good boy and have the surgery, okay? Your blood type is rare; it took me so long to find this kidney for you.” Ryan shook his head. “I know this is your husband’s kidney. You should give it back to him. I don’t want you two to have problems because of me.” Chloe’s voice turned pleading. “Ryan, don’t overthink it. Just listen to me this one time.” Ryan was stubborn. “What if your husband gets angry with you? What if he finds out you lied to him and hits you? Then I wouldn’t even be able to help you. Do you want me to just stand by and watch him bully you?” “He won’t,” Chloe shook her head. “He loves me very much.” “…” They looked like a pair of tragic, star-crossed lovers. One after another, the pieces of information clicked, and the truth began to form. After Ryan returned to the country, he discovered he had end-stage uremia and needed a kidney transplant to survive. But his blood type was rare, and a matching kidney was incredibly hard to find. For months, Chloe had been tirelessly searching for a match, all to no avail. Ryan grew weaker by the day. Until finally, Chloe secretly did a tissue match between me and Ryan. When she found we were a match, she set her sights on me. All that talk about failed investments, about being hounded by creditors – it was all a lie. I gave a bitter laugh. Chloe was right. I loved her very much. When I heard about her bankruptcy, my first instinct was to stand by her. I sold everything I could, scrambled for money everywhere. When it wasn’t enough, I even sold my blood, juggling five different jobs a day. Anything that paid, I did it. I felt that as a man, I should shoulder the responsibility of my family. Until a week ago, Chloe suggested I sell one of my kidneys. At first, I refused. But the very next day, Chloe was dragged away by creditors, who threatened her with unspeakable violence. After I rescued Chloe, she stood on the balcony late that night, saying she couldn’t take it anymore, that she wanted to end it all. I finally gave in and agreed. Back then, I was filled with terror for her and a heartbreaking pity that I couldn’t do more to help. But I never imagined… It was all a lie. Chloe, usually so impatient, coaxed him for nearly half an hour. Finally, Ryan agreed to the surgery. As he was about to enter the operating room, Chloe’s gaze never left him. I’d never seen such a worried look on her face before. Before my kidney surgery, she was supposed to be with me, but after a phone call, she rushed off. I walked into that clinic alone, and those cold instruments stole my life. It turns out, love and not loving are so painfully clear. As Chloe waited anxiously outside the operating room, her phone rang again. My name, ‘Liam,’ flashed across the screen. This time, she didn’t hang up. After two seconds of silence, her finger moved to the “answer” button.

“Mommy, Daddy he…” As soon as she answered, Leo’s tearful voice came through. But before he could finish, Chloe interrupted him coolly. “Leo, Mommy really can’t help it. Please stop calling. Daddy is pitiful, but Mommy is working hard too, earning money, trying to pay off the family debts, and buy you new action figures.” Chloe said these words without a hint of shame, her face perfectly composed. Before, I used to pity her. Now, I just felt utterly foolish. I’d been married for eight years, and I never knew the person sharing my bed was such a masterful actress. Leo cried. “I don’t want action figures! I don’t want anything! Mommy, just come home!” Chloe sounded annoyed. “Leo, why are you being so unreasonable? Do you want to see Mommy get beaten to death by creditors because she can’t pay her debts?” “I don’t want to…” “Then be a good boy. Daddy will wake up in a couple of hours. Take good care of him. I can’t come home tonight. Tell Daddy for me.” Just as she finished speaking, a doctor emerged from the operating room. Chloe didn’t wait to hear what else Leo had to say. She hurriedly hung up and rushed to the doctor. Upon learning the surgery was a success, she let out a sigh of profound relief. She fussed over Ryan, taking care of his every need. Fearing muscle atrophy from his long confinement, the impatient Chloe spent forty minutes massaging Ryan’s legs. Worried the IV fluid was too cold, she personally warmed the tube with her hands. When Ryan complained his little toe was cramping, the usually fastidious Chloe didn’t hesitate, gently massaging it for him. In my memory, she had always been careless. She couldn’t even take proper care of Leo; she once almost fed our son laundry detergent instead of formula. This was the first time I had ever seen her so meticulous. Those in love always recover quickly. In less than two days, Ryan was able to get out of bed and walk around. Chloe, seeing the good weather, took him to a nearby park. During their rest, Chloe left for two minutes. When she returned, her hands were behind her back, and she smiled mysteriously. “To reward brave little Ryan for completing his surgery, Big Sister Chloe has a gift for him.” With that, she presented the items she’d been hiding behind her back to Ryan, like she was showing off a prize. They were samples of wedding dresses and suits. Ryan’s eyes widened in surprise. Chloe winked playfully. “I specially picked out the most expensive package. Once you’ve fully recovered at the end of this month, we’ll go take our wedding photos. What do you think?” Ryan was about to nod, then seemed to remember something. His eyes flickered, and his gaze darkened. “Aren’t you afraid Liam will find out?” At the mention of my name, the smile on Chloe’s face froze. “Let’s not mention anyone else right now.” “Besides, I’m already married to him. It’s just taking wedding photos. Surely he won’t make a big fuss over such a small thing.” Ryan’s lips curved into a smile. “Chloe, you’ve done so much for me. I’m really touched.” He stood up, gazing at Chloe with an alluring intensity, slowly leaning closer. The air crackled with an unspoken tension, an almost palpable heat that made my heart race. I understood what they were about to do next. My heart throbbed, a dull ache like a knife twisting inside me. “Mommy!” Just then, Leo’s voice came from nearby. Chloe snapped back to reality, hastily pulling away from Ryan, casting a guilty glance in the direction of the voice. Seeing Leo, my heart felt tightly squeezed. His clothes were stained and tattered, his beautiful eyes swollen like walnuts, veined with angry red. My death had clearly been a massive shock to him. He wasn’t focused on Chloe and Ryan’s actions just now. When he saw Chloe, he rushed into her arms, his voice hoarse and dry. “Mommy, I finally found you.” “Daddy’s dead. He bled a lot. He won’t move, and he won’t talk to me…” He wanted to cry, but his tears had run dry. In the end, only a hoarse, ugly sound escaped him. Hearing his words, Chloe paused. Ryan, beside them, laughed. “Leo, is it? Don’t worry too much. Your dad just had surgery and was given anesthesia, so he can’t move. He’s probably just too tired to talk. He’s not dead.” Then, he patted Leo’s head. “What a cute little boy.” Leo dodged his hand, looking at him blankly. A child might not understand all the nuances, but with Chloe and Ryan together here, Leo clearly sensed something was wrong. He pointed at Ryan, angrily asking Chloe, “Mommy, who is he? Why are you with him?” Chloe gave a forced laugh. “He’s Mommy’s friend.” Leo challenged her. “So, Mommy’s been with him all these days? Does Mommy spend so much time with a friend?” Chloe was speechless. Ryan struggled to take a couple of steps, gasping for breath. “Chloe, maybe you should go back with the child first. Liam really needs someone to take care of him.” Leo was too young to catch the hidden meaning. Hearing this, he hastily grabbed Chloe’s hand. “Mommy, come back with me to see Daddy, Daddy…” Before Leo could finish, Chloe pulled her hand away. “No, Leo. Mommy’s friend still needs care. You go back by yourself for now.” “Mommy will give you money. You can buy the action figures you like, okay?” With that, Chloe, just like she used to dismiss Leo, pulled out a card from her bag and offered it to him. Leo froze. “Mommy, didn’t we run out of money?” Chloe’s hand, poised to offer the card, froze mid-air. Leo looked at her with an unfamiliar gaze, slowly stepping back. Perhaps it was then that he noticed Chloe, who had been dressing more simply for months, was now in a vibrant, glamorous dress, looking so radiant he barely recognized her. He also saw Chloe supporting Ryan, and beside them, a thick wedding photo album. “Mommy, do you not love Daddy and me anymore?” After a long moment, Leo asked, his voice strained. Chloe fell silent for a moment, as if she wanted to say something. But Leo seemed to understand everything. He turned and ran, sprinting away, as if he couldn’t bear to hear that terrible final answer. Chloe instinctively wanted to chase after him, but Ryan held her wrist. “Don’t worry, Chloe. He’s young; if you explain it to him later, he’ll understand.” Chloe pressed her lips together. Finally, looking at the struggling Ryan, she didn’t pursue Leo. Perhaps fearing Leo would tell me, Chloe made time to call me several times when she got back. But each time, the calls went unanswered, automatically hanging up. She frowned slightly, typing out a message: “Leo must have told you everything, but it’s not what you think. Please pick up, let’s talk properly.” I didn’t know what she wanted to talk about. Perhaps even she didn’t know, because after typing the message, she deleted it, word by word. After a long silence, she returned to Ryan’s room. “I need to go home tomorrow. You rest well here for now.”

Ryan nodded. “I’ll come with you. Let’s make things clear.” Chloe seemed about to refuse, but Ryan continued, “After all, this kidney came from Liam. Even if he doesn’t know now, I want to thank him.” After a few seconds, Chloe gave a very slight nod. That night, I watched Chloe constantly checking her phone, even opening our old chat history. It struck me that she was waiting for a message from me, and I was surprised. All these years, she had been aloof; I was always the one clinging to her. But every time I shared something about my life, she either didn’t reply or just gave a faint “Mm.” Our last message, too, had been from me. It was a photo of a beautiful diamond ring. I had told her: “I feel like this suits you perfectly. I can’t imagine how beautiful you’d look wearing it.” Thinking about it, Chloe now finally replied, “It is very beautiful.” Perhaps she expected me to reply as usual, because the next morning, Chloe woke up and immediately grabbed her phone, opening our chat window. Still, there was no reply. Chloe seemed a little annoyed. On the way back with Ryan, she was distracted even when he spoke to her. Ryan squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’s okay.” Chloe frowned, growing even angrier. “Whatever. So what if we divorce? We were just set up anyway; it’s not like we were deeply in love.” Ryan told her not to say things in anger, but Chloe remained silent. The car soon pulled up in front of the building where we rented an apartment. The house I’d worked so hard to buy had been sold to help Chloe pay her debts, and we were now living in a dilapidated resettlement house. As she got out of the car, Chloe spotted something in the trash can and frowned slightly. It was her usual set of bedding. She visibly grew angrier, her face dark as she went upstairs. “Liam, aren’t you going too far?” As soon as she walked in, she angrily yelled. Leo emerged from the adjacent bedroom. He seemed even smaller, thinner, and his eyes were still red and swollen. Seeing Leo, Chloe’s anger subsided a bit. “Leo, where’s your dad?” Leo merely glanced at her blandly, saying nothing, and then tossed her cosmetics from the house into the trash can. Chloe frowned, a hint of unease on her face. “Leo, I’m asking you a question.” Ryan walked over, gently soothing. “Chloe, don’t be angry. Let me talk to the child. I’ve been through this phase, I know how to communicate.” Chloe usually wasn’t very concerned about Leo, so she believed Ryan and nodded. Ryan walked up to Leo, crouching down. He smiled. “Leo, I know you’re very angry, but you have to trust Mommy. Don’t be angry with Mommy and Uncle, okay? I believe in you. You’re a little man who can handle his emotions.” He reached out and gently rubbed Leo’s shoulder. But I noticed a cruel glint flash in his eyes as he subtly, harshly, pinched Leo’s shoulder. Leo flinched in pain and shoved Ryan away. Ryan lost his balance, tumbling to the floor, clutching the area where he’d had surgery, his face contorted in agony. “Leo, what are you doing?” In a fit of rage, Chloe not only called Leo by his full name, but she rushed forward and roughly pushed him away. Leo’s head hit the nearby table with a dull thud. Chloe didn’t even glance at him, frantically helping Ryan up. Ignoring Leo’s stunned, numb gaze, she yelled, “Who taught you to be so rude? Was it your dad? Where is he? Tell him to come out!” Just as she finished speaking, the front door opened. A man in a black suit entered, carrying an urn. He surveyed the room and asked, “Who are Liam’s family? This is Liam’s ashes. Please sign for them.” The side of the urn with my black and white photo faced Chloe directly. Chloe froze, staring blankly at Leo.

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When the wedding reached the ring exchange, a shocking video suddenly played on the banquet hall’s giant screen—footage of me being kidnapped and humiliated. “You filthy whore, how you dare to dream of becoming my Luna?” “I, Alpha Roderick Padilla, reject you, Adele Franklin, as my mate.” My fate mate—Alpha Roderick—renounced me on the spot and turned to slip the ring onto my bridesmaid Jessica Weaver’s finger instead. Amidst the jeers and scorn of the crowd, I fell from the red carpet. Jessica’s brother, the rogue Alpha Dwayne, silenced the room with a gunshot. Then, holding 999 roses, he dropped to one knee. “Adele Franklin, will you accept me, Dwayne Stokes, as your mate?” The crowd watched, stunned, as I searched his face for answers. Was this pity? Overcome with emotions I couldn’t yet name, I nodded. “Yes I do.”. Three years passed. The day our IVF attempt succeeded. I was finally carrying our pup, the heir he wanted so badly. My heart swelled with excitement as I imagined telling him the news. But fate had one more betrayal to serve me. “Alpha, you really played it smart,” one of his lieutenants said, chuckling. “If you hadn’t leaked Adele’s kidnapping and rape video at the wedding, Miss Jessica wouldn’t have been able to marry into the Blue Moon Pack.” I froze, my hand clutching the doorframe for support. Alpha Dwayne’s reply was chilling. “A pack like Blue Moon, obsessed with honor, would never take a tainted woman as their Luna. The moment Adele was ruined, Jessica had the perfect excuse to take her place.” The lieutenant hesitated. “But Miss Jessica is already the Luna of Blue Moon Pack. Why bother you marrying a used-up woman like Adele?” Alpha Dwayne’s laugh was cold, devoid of any warmth. “Jessica’s afraid of pain,” he said nonchalantly. “Might as well use Adele’s womb to give her a puppy. Once she gives birth to Blue Moon Pack’s next Alpha heir, Jessica’s position as Luna will be even more secure.” The laughter that followed felt like daggers piercing my soul. I stumbled back, my heart shattering into pieces. Every tender moment, every word of affection—it was all a lie. I was nothing more than a pawn in their twisted game. Wiping away my tears, I clenched my fists. I wouldn’t let them win. With trembling hands, I dialed a number I never thought I’d call. A deep, gravelly voice answered. “Rogue Alpha Elliot speaking.” I took a deep breath, steadying my voice. “I have a twenty-billion-dollar deal in my hands,” I said, my tone icy. “You in?”

“Alpha, you’re the smartest. Swapping that woman’s vitamins for abortion pills—she lost six pups in a row, and she still thinks it’s her own fault. She couldn’t conceive and had to go for IVF. If she ever found out that the embryo in the test tube had long been switched to Jessica and Alpha Roderick’s pup, she’d probably die of anger.” “What does her anger have to do with me? Once she gives birth to the pup, I’ll find some excuse to say it died. She’ll just think she wasn’t able to keep it. Being able to pave the way for Jessica’s happiness is her honor.” Alpha Dwayne tossed the lighter onto the table, stood up, and warned the people around him. “Not a single word of today’s conversation leaves this room. I need her to obediently give birth to this pup.” Beta Byron patted his chest with a laugh. “Alpha, don’t worry. That woman is dumb as hell. We call her ‘Luna,’ and she really thinks she’s the Rogue Luna. She brings us food and drinks every day, completely unaware that the guys who raped her ordeal were handpicked by me.” Someone burst into laughter. “Byron, you’re too wicked. Why didn’t you pick me back then? I’d have loved to get a taste…” A fruit knife suddenly flew across the room and stabbed into the floor between the man’s legs. a loud thunk startled everyone. The man who had been joking turned pale with fear. Alpha Dwayne stood there, his cold gaze fixed on the man. “Did I ever say Adele wasn’t my Rogue Luna? Anyone who dares to bring that up again, I’ll make sure you never talk again.” The man blanched, nodding quickly. “Understood, Alpha.” A nervous chuckle broke the tension. “Alpha, I don’t think you’re completely indifferent to her. That woman loves you to death. Aren’t you afraid she’ll leave if she finds out the truth one day?” Alpha Dwayne scoffed indifferently. “Worst case scenario, I’ll just give her another pup through IVF. I’ll take care of her for a lifetime. A filthy, love-blind fool—just a few sweet words, and she’ll come crawling back to me like a dog.” The room erupted into laughter again. At that moment, standing in the doorway, I felt my world shatter. My chest ached, my knees wobbled, and the weight of betrayal pressed down on me like a mountain. Before I could think, before the tears welling in my eyes could spill over, I turned and bolted down the stairs. The packhouse was alive with the usual noise—wolves chatting, laughing, and going about their business. None of them noticed me as I stumbled into the Bar counter, grabbed the nearest bottle of liquor, and poured myself a glass. The first gulp burned like fire, scorching my throat and numbing my senses. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. I clutched my chest, my mind replaying the soul-crushing words I had just overheard. A week before my wedding, I was kidnapped， Raped, and abused which lasted a whole day and night. Alpha Roderick, my fiancé, held my hand afterward, “My Adele,I’ll still marry you, We’re fate mate.” But, Lies. All of it. On our wedding day, as I stood there in my wedding dress, holding on to hope, the world crumbled beneath me. The screen lit up, and there it was—my humiliation, my torture, playing out in front of hundreds of eyes. “You filthy whore,” Alpha Roderick’s voice boomed over the speakers, “How dare you dream of becoming my Luna?” “I, Alpha Roderick Padilla, reject you, Adele Franklin, as my mate.” Yet, that wasn’t enough.He turned and walked to my side, taking the hand of my best friend—my bridesmaid, Jessica. Leading her to the center of the stage, he declared, “Only Jessica Weaver is worthy of being the Luna of our Blue Moon Pack.” Gasps filled the room. Whispers turned to laughter. I was branded, judged, and abandoned all at once. But before I could collapse under the weight of it all, the doors slammed open, and in strode Alpha Dwayne Stokes, the notorious Rogue Alpha. He didn’t waste a second. One shot shattered the screen, silencing the room. Then, he strode up to me, pulled me into his arms, and shielded me from the scorn. The room fell into silence, broken only by Alpha Dwayne’s commanding voice. “Does anyone else have something to say?” No one dared to speak. Then, he lifted the massive bouquet of 999 roses from his shoulder and held them out to me. Dropping to one knee, he looked up, his golden eyes unwavering. “Adele Franklin, will you accept me, Dwayne Stokes, as your mate?” What was I supposed to say? My heart was shattered, my pride crushed. Yet his presence was the only anchor I had left. I nodded. “Yes I do.” Yet now, I learned that everything he had done was just to pave the way for Jessica. Alpha Dwayne’s voice was as warm and deceitful as ever, cutting through my thoughts. “Who dared to make my Luna cry?” he roared, pulling me into his arms. “I’ll blow their heads off.” The room fell into a deathly silence. Alpha Dwayne pulled a silver dagger from his belt and pressed it into my trembling hand. His sharp gaze swept across the room. “Adele, you are my Rogue Luna. If you don’t like anyone here, use this dagger and kill them. They won’t fight back. I will always support you.” He cast a glance at the gathered men. They trembled like leaves in the wind, yet none dared to move. In Mississippi, Alpha Dwayne ruled one of the two largest rogue dens. No one dared to cross him. As I gripped the dagger and stepped toward Beta Byron, I halted. His eyes widened in fear, his face drained of color. His words— ‘I personally chose the men who raped her.’ —echoed in my ears like an unrelenting curse. My chest heaved violently, my vision turned red. Just as the dagger was about to pierce Beta Byron’s heart— A strong hand clamped around mine, stopping me cold.

“Adele, the doctor said your IVF was successful. You shouldn’t see blood—it might scare the pup.” He coaxed me gently, his eyes full of concern without a hint of pretense. I almost wanted to applaud his impeccable acting. Sensing my off mood, Alpha Dwayne noticed the wine glass in front of me. He squeezed my palm and asked cautiously, “Adele, how long have you been here? Why didn’t you come upstairs to find me?” His tone was laced with careful probing. I lowered my eyes and said indifferently, “You men were discussing business upstairs, with all that smoke and heat. I don’t like it.” Relief washed over his face. He stroked my hair as if I were some fragile porcelain doll, then gestured to the maid. “Bring Luna some hangover tea.” The maid nodded and disappeared for a moment, returning with a steaming cup. The moment she placed the tray on the table— crack! My entire world slowed. Thud. Thud. In an instant, the maid’s head separated from her body. Her wide, unblinking eyes rolled across the floor, stopping at my feet with a dull sound that made my ears ring. The metallic scent of blood filled the air. Warm droplets splattered across my face. Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, the maid collapsed, lifeless. For a moment, I couldn’t even comprehend what had just happened. Alpha Dwayne pulled a handkerchief from his suit pocket and carefully wiped the blood from my face. My stomach twisted violently. One of his hands remained in its wolf form, claws dripping with fresh blood. The casual gentleness in his movements sent chills down my spine. He lifted the cup to my lips. “Drink.” My hands trembled so hard that I couldn’t even hold the cup. He tilted it slightly, letting the warm liquid slip down my throat. I swallowed mechanically. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Beta Byron signal for the body to be removed. Two enforcers dragged the maid’s body and head away, leaving two long streak of blood across the floor. I barely managed to whisper, “why…” “If she couldn’t even stop my Luna from drinking while pregnant,” he said, his tone disturbingly calm, “then she was harming my pup. She didn’t deserve to live.” I stared into his cruel, merciless eyes. My stomach churned violently.Alpha Dwayne gently caressed my face. “It’s all my fault for letting you suffer so much. Now that we finally have a pup, you must not touch alcohol anymore.” “This pup must be born healthy, no matter what. Understand?” I took several deep breaths before forcing a weak smile. “Okay.” But my heart was freezing over. In three years of marriage, I had been pregnant six times—each one ending in miscarriage for no reason. After so many, it became habitual. Six months ago, the doctor declared that I could never conceive again. Alpha Dwayne had held me tenderly, saying he didn’t care if we had children as long as I was happy and healthy. I had never stopped blaming myself for not being able to give him a child. Desperate, I chose the painful path of IVF. My stomach was riddled with needle marks, my body stuffed with hormone pills. I endured all that suffering—only to realize it was all for Jessica’s sake. Just because she said she was afraid of pain, I was forced to give up my right to be a mother and reduced to a breeding machine. “What’s wrong? You look pale. Are you feeling unwell? I’ll call the doctor right away.” “I’m fine, just a little morning sickness.” Alpha Dwayne’s eyes turned red with distress. He gently stroked my face. “Adele, you’ve suffered. I just wish I could bear it for you. Our wedding was rushed, so I ordered your favorite wedding gown to be flown in. Before your belly grows, I’ll take you to try it on tomorrow.” I stared at him—such deep, affectionate eyes. How many times had he fooled me like this? If he knew I had no intention of giving birth to this child, I would probably end up just like that maid. I curled my lips slightly. “I’ll rest in my room. You guys talk.” As soon as I entered the bedroom, I rushed to the bathroom, vomiting until my stomach twisted into knots. Tears streamed down my face. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. It took me a long time to recover. When I walked out, I noticed Alpha Dwayne’s phone left on the coffee table. As if possessed, I picked it up and entered Jessica’s birthday as the password. It unlocked instantly. The wallpaper was a photo of Jessica leaning against his shoulder, smiling brightly. I scrolled through the gallery. Over 1,000 photos. In every single one, Jessica was there. Each documenting a different phase of her life. The name’s on the folders: “My beloved.” In their chat history, I found that Alpha Dwayne had once risked his life to hijack the Alpha King’s Luna crown overnight. I suddenly recalled that day—he and his rogue wolf pack had been surrounded by the Alpha King’s army. It was only because I gave up my mother’s only keepsake, a priceless ancestral ruby necklace, that I managed to get him back. And the reason? Jessica had casually mentioned wanting to feel like an Alpha Luna on her 23th birthday. Tears dripped onto the screen, my heart wrenching in pain. Not because of years of deception. But because I had sacrificed the only thing my mother left me—for a devil who had ruined my life. Through my blurred vision, I noticed something on Jessica’s right shoulder—a crescent moon birthmark. My eyes widened in shock. I had the exact same birthmark on the same spot. I remembered when I first met Jessica—she didn’t have it. It was only after I told her a story about rescuing a rogue covered in blood while volunteering as a doctor in the rogue den that she started to distance herself from me. Not long after, she became Alpha Dwayne’s adopted sister. Alpha Dwayne had once said Jessica had saved his life. But Jessica was selfish and cowardly. She would never step foot in a war-torn rogue den—she despised and ridiculed them. My cold fingertips curled into my palm as a ridiculous yet horrifying thought took shape in my mind. So that’s how it is… I collapsed onto the floor, laughing and crying at the same time.

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