Category: English

The day I found out I was pregnant, Lucas drove us off a cliff, crashing through the guardrail. Our car tumbled down the mountainside. In the moment before the explosion, Lucas shouted at the sky: “Olivia! I’m coming to be with you!” At that instant, I realized he had never let go of his first love, Olivia. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to my college days. I tore up the love letter in my hand and strode away in the opposite direction from him. Eight years later. He rented out the most expensive bar in the city, planning an unforgettable proposal for his true love. But when he saw me holding another man’s hand, he asked with reddened eyes: “Evelyn, didn’t you promise to love only me forever?” I never expected to see Lucas again, especially not in a nightclub. Traffic had delayed me, causing me to miss the class reunion dinner. I drove straight to the club where I had a prior engagement. To my surprise, I stumbled upon my old classmates who had moved on to their second venue of the night. They were lost in the rhythm on the dance floor. Lucas, with his fair skin and tall stature, stood out in the crowd. He held Olivia close, his eyes full of adoration. “Lucas is truly a rare genius. At such a young age, he already owns several Formula 1 teams,” someone remarked. “Indeed. Tonight, he rented out this entire club just for Olivia.” “This must be the most luxurious venue in the city. The rental fee for one night must be at least a million dollars.” “Well, you can’t put a price on a beautiful woman’s smile.” As the music stopped, Olivia stood there, flushed and slightly out of breath. Suddenly, the big screen lit up, playing a montage of Lucas and Olivia’s romantic moments. The crowd started to cheer as Olivia was ushered onto the stage. Lucas, holding a bouquet of roses, got down on one knee before her. “Olivia, will you marry me?” His voice was as soft as a gentle stream, almost overflowing with emotion. Someone in the crowd asked, “When did Lucas break up with Evelyn?” The question, neither too loud nor too soft, reached everyone’s ears. Hearing my name, Lucas’s expression darkened, his smile fading. Olivia’s face froze for a moment before she quickly recovered, accepting the flowers from Lucas with a polite smile. “Lucas has always been popular with women, but who hasn’t made mistakes when they were young? The important thing is that it all worked out in the end.” The crowd laughed, continuing to compliment the couple on how well-matched they were. I stood in the corner, watching their intertwined fingers. Was I the mistake she referred to? But she didn’t know that in my previous life, it was Lucas who had pursued me. He had fallen for me at first sight, launching an intense pursuit. Who could resist a handsome, tall, intelligent man who loved you to the point of obsession? So I agreed. On the day we became official, Lucas cupped my face, hesitating to kiss me. “Evelyn, am I dreaming?” he had said. “If I kiss you, will I wake up?” I laughed, brushing his beautiful eyes before standing on tiptoe to kiss him. That night, he promised me, “Evelyn, I’ll be good to you for the rest of my life.” I believed him. But he lied. I took a deep breath and headed towards the elevator through the dim light. A sharp-eyed former classmate spotted me and exclaimed, “Evelyn, what are you doing here?” “What happened to you? You look so disheveled.” “Don’t tell me you’re still unemployed. Since Lucas is here, why don’t you ask him to help you find a job that pays at least $5000 a month, for old times’ sake?” Their mockery was undisguised. I didn’t care, just smiling politely as I poured myself a glass of ice water. From the moment I entered, Lucas’s gaze had been fixed on me, never wavering. Seeing me take a free glass of ice water, he seemed to relax a bit and said casually, “Order whatever you want. I’m covering all the expenses tonight.” I replied, “Thank you, but that won’t be necessary.” My tone was polite but carried an unmistakable distance. Lucas’s attempt to approach me halted. Half his face was hidden in the shadows, making his expression unreadable. After a long moment, he let out a bitter laugh. “Evelyn, after all these years, you’re still so prideful.” Olivia’s gaze was filled with wariness. She intertwined her fingers with Lucas’s, eyeing me with a look of ownership and contempt. “Evelyn, I don’t mean to be rude, but as a woman, you should at least make an effort with your appearance when you go out.” “Look at your mismatched clothes and messy hair. How do you expect any man to want to marry you like this?” “I have plenty of clothes at home that I don’t wear anymore. If you don’t mind, you can have them. After all, Lucas buys me so many that I can’t even fit them all in two walk-in closets.” The crowd burst into laughter. I turned to look at my reflection in the glass. After two days of non-stop work on set, I was exhausted and hadn’t bothered with my appearance. Standing next to the impeccably groomed Olivia, I did look rather unkempt in comparison. “No, thank you,” I said, waving her off as I helped myself to some chilled fruit from the bar. I was too hungry to care about my table manners. Lucas suddenly walked towards me and held out his phone. I looked up at him, confused. “Give me your account number. I’ll transfer you $300,000,” he said. “Your current situation is ultimately because of me.” “But we’re in the past now. Don’t be so stubborn.” “Stop waiting for me and move on with your life.” Lucas’s phone wallpaper was a picture of Olivia holding a large bouquet of flowers. Looking at her carefree smile, I felt a bit dazed. In my previous life, let alone being his wallpaper, there wasn’t a single trace of me on Lucas’s phone. He didn’t even save my number because he never needed to contact me. Whether in life or work, I always arranged everything for him in advance. It turns out that love and indifference are indeed very obvious. We started dating in college and got married right after graduation. He dreamed of becoming a race car driver, while I wanted to study film directing. Two completely different dreams that would never intersect. Seeing his dejected eyes, I gave in. I gave up the opportunity to study abroad without hesitation, following him around with heavy toolboxes day after day. He didn’t have professional equipment, so I would ride my bicycle around the city at night delivering food, saving money to buy him the most expensive and best racing suits. He didn’t have a maintenance team, so I taught myself car repair techniques, taking on the work of an entire team for him alone. But he still lost. His second-hand race car, bought at a low price, could never outrun others’ latest models. Despite my tireless efforts to comfort him in his depression, he pushed me away harshly, his eyes filled with a disgust I had never seen before: “I’m sick of this boring life with you.” “If I had chosen Olivia back then, I wouldn’t be living like this now.” Those words shattered all my hopes for the future. I didn’t even have time to look back at the road we had traveled before we both died in that cliff accident. I wanted to beg him to save our child. But the words were swallowed by the flames before they could leave my mouth. Since fate had given us a chance to start over, we both chose to pursue the lives we wanted. There was no need for any further contact between us. I pushed the phone back to him. “There’s no relationship between us. This isn’t necessary.”

Lucas frowned, his voice trembling slightly, though he didn’t seem to notice it himself. “No relationship? What do you mean? Am I just a stranger to you now?” I looked up, meeting his gaze steadily. “Aren’t we? Our lives have no intersection. Whether I dress well or poorly, whether I live comfortably or not, what does it have to do with you?” “If you have too much money to spend, you might consider helping those in need.” Perhaps feeling that I had embarrassed him in front of everyone, Lucas’s expression turned impatient. He coldly rebuked me, “Evelyn, stop pretending. Didn’t you show up here just to get my attention?” Seeing this, Olivia gently comforted him, “Lucas, don’t say that about Evelyn. It’s too harsh.” Turning to me, the contempt in her eyes was barely concealed, though her tone remained gentle as ever. “Evelyn, don’t mind Lucas. He’s just concerned about an old classmate.” “How about this? I opened a private clinic on South Street. We need a receptionist there, with a salary of $7000 plus room and board.” “If you’re interested, you can work there.” Someone nearby exclaimed, “South Street is prime real estate! To have a clinic there, Olivia must really be something.” “Evelyn, you’ve struck gold! Quick, thank Olivia!” I rolled my eyes, calmly eating my fruit and refusing their offer once again. “No need. I’m very happy with my current job.” Seeing that I didn’t appreciate their gesture, those trying to curry favor with Lucas immediately stood up to criticize me for being ungrateful. “Evelyn, I think poverty has made you crazy. Lucas and Olivia are trying to help you, and not only are you not grateful, but you’re acting all high and mighty.” “We’re all old classmates. Everyone knows what you’re worth. Don’t miss this opportunity for the sake of your worthless pride.” After he finished speaking, Olivia pretended to stop him. “Please don’t say that about Evelyn… Maybe she really likes her current life.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears, as if she had been bullied. Seeing the tears in Olivia’s eyes, Lucas pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly. “Olivia, you’re just too kind.” He turned to me and said, “Evelyn, I didn’t expect you to still be so selfish and hypocritical.” “You really are beyond help! You only deserve the worst life has to offer.” I was curious why Lucas would say such things about me. In both my previous life and this one, I had never done anything to hurt him. Why, after all these years, was he still speaking to me so harshly? I didn’t want to engage with them any further and stood up to go to the private room upstairs. However, a former male classmate blocked my way. He held a drink and leered at me as he approached. “Evelyn, I always hated that high-and-mighty act of yours. Never thought I’d see you like this.” “How about you drink with me? $500 per glass, what do you say?” “If you let me hold your hand, I might even pay extra.” I looked closely and barely recognized him as the guy who had confessed to me at the graduation ceremony. I think his name was Jack. At the time, I was focused on securing a spot for further studies abroad, so I had flatly rejected his advances. I didn’t expect him to hold a grudge for so long. Everyone was laughing, and no one came to my aid. I frowned. It wasn’t my intention to join their gathering. If I hadn’t had a prior appointment, I would have left long ago. The security guards were nowhere to be seen. As I was about to push him away, Lucas, who had been quietly watching everything, suddenly threw his glass violently at Jack. His tone was ice-cold: “Stay away from her.” Jack, now drenched in alcohol, was about to lash out but stopped when he realized it was Lucas. He could only turn back and glare at me viciously. The glass shattered on the floor. Olivia’s schadenfreude smile instantly vanished as she looked at Lucas in disbelief. “Lucas, what are you doing?” Lucas didn’t even glance at her, his eyes fixed on me. “This is my event tonight. I don’t want any accidents happening here.” I took two steps back, wiping the alcohol off my pants. “The security here is really poor.” Olivia looked at me, her eyes almost shooting fire. “You’re complaining now?” “Do you know where you are? This is the property of Adrian, the movie star. If it weren’t for Lucas, someone like you wouldn’t be able to set foot in here in a lifetime.” At the mention of Adrian, several female classmates suddenly became excited. “Is that the Adrian who’s won all those awards at such a young age and has been on the city’s richest list for five consecutive years?” “I heard he already has a child, but his wife has never been seen in public.” Just then, the main door was suddenly pushed open. A little girl, surrounded by a group of bodyguards, entered the hall. The girl looked around curiously. A butler in a suit followed closely behind her, cautiously saying, “Miss, please walk slowly. Be careful not to bump into anything.” The old classmates became excited instantly. “Someone who can freely enter a private event and is called ‘Miss’ must be the movie star’s little princess!” “My goodness, she looks exactly like Adrian!” I was about to step forward when the man who had been splashed with alcohol by Lucas earlier blocked my path again. He didn’t dare confront Lucas, so he took out his frustration on me: “Evelyn, if it weren’t for Lucas, how could someone like you even get to see the movie star’s daughter? I suggest you kneel down and apologize to me right now. If I’m in a good mood, I might even marry you.” “A good man like me with a stable monthly income of $5000 is hard to come by. I advise you to be sensible!” I ignored him and watched as the movie star’s daughter was surrounded by people. They bombarded her with questions, and some had already taken out their phones to take pictures. Olivia’s face no longer showed the arrogance from earlier. Instead, she wore a fawning smile: “Little sister, is your daddy Adrian?” After getting confirmation from the little girl, Olivia’s smile became even more ingratiating: “What are you doing here? Would you like some fruit? Let sister get it for you.” As she spoke, she reached out to touch the girl’s face. The little girl pushed Olivia’s hand away and walked straight towards me. Under everyone’s gaze, she threw herself into my arms, sweetly calling out: “Mommy!”

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When I filed for divorce, Oscar Astor remained as indifferent as ever. He turned his face away, his tone flat. “Do as you wish. You can keep Nora with you. I do not want her.” My heart felt like it had turned to ash. Just as I was about to sign my name, a stream of comments appeared before my eyes. [Kathy, do not sign! He may look calm and unbothered, but inside, he is dying. Look, he cannot even bring himself to look at you.] [He is giving up custody not because he does not care, but because he does not want to make you suffer. It has nothing to do with that woman.] [My heart aches for Oscar. Just because he is naturally reserved, he is going to lose the woman he loves the most.] My pen hesitated while writing. I snapped back to reality after reading those few lines. Lifting my head, I studied Oscar. Under the dim yellow light, his sharp profile remained as distant as ever, as if divorce were nothing more than a trivial matter. I couldn’t find a single flaw, so I took the initiative to speak, “Don’t you have anything to explain?” Oscar turned away, rubbing his temples. “What more do you want from me?” He let out a long sigh, as though I were the one being unreasonable. A dull ache spread in my chest. Forcing a weak smile, I was about to respond when his phone rang abruptly. The room was quiet enough for me to hear Carol’s tearful voice clearly. “Oscar, Mila has a high fever. What should I do?” This was the 33rd time. Carol’s excuses for calling him were always the same: something broke, her daughter was sick, or their house had been burglarized. My lips curled into a cold smirk, unsurprised to hear her excuse again. Oscar said, “Kathy.” I turned my head to look at him. At some point, Oscar had already ended the call. He stood there with his lips pressed together and stared at me. “There’s nothing as dirty between us as you think.” With that, he slammed the door, leaving with a hint of restrained anger. So that was his explanation? I lowered my gaze. How utterly unconvincing. But the online comments didn’t see it that way. [Oh, Oscar must be heartbroken because Kathy doesn’t trust him.] [He only takes care of that woman out of gratitude. Can’t Kathy be a little more understanding?] [Great, now Kathy has pushed him further toward the other woman again.] Frustration welled up in my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. I felt trapped, unable to move forward or back. Carol Wilson was the daughter of Oscar’s late mentor. Ever since her father passed away six months ago, she had returned to the country with her daughter, Mila. And from that point on, Oscar and I had been caught in an inexplicable cycle of cold wars. Our five-year-old daughter, Nora Astor, had been affected by the tense atmosphere at home, waking up crying from nightmares night after night. I had read online that a couple’s relationship directly impacts their children’s mental health. So, I chose to take the first step toward reconciliation. I brought a pot of soup to Oscar’s office, only to walk in on Carol already inside. “I’m married,” he said. “So what?” Carol’s eyes were red as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. “I know you’ve only ever cared about Kathy,” she choked out. “But I don’t have a father anymore… Can you give me just a little bit of the love you have for her? Just a little is enough.” Oscar fell silent. He didn’t say a word for a long time. At that moment, my hands trembled so much that I nearly dropped the lunchbox. There had always been countless girls who liked Oscar. But he was naturally indifferent, rejecting others with clean precision, never leading them on. So his silence now was nothing short of acquiescence. And for the first time, I realized that, to Oscar, there was now another exception besides me. That was why Carol had the audacity to throw me that blatantly provocative smile.

“Mommy, when will Daddy be back? I want to go to the amusement park soon!” Fresh out of school, Nora broke free from Mary’s hand and ran toward me. I snapped out of my thoughts and quickly caught her. It was only then that I remembered today was our family day. Oscar’s childhood had not been a happy one. His father was a violent gambler, while his mother was weak and timid, shaping him into the distant and indifferent person he was. On the day Nora was born, he had held her carefully in his arms, fearful yet gentle, his eyes so full of tenderness that it was almost overwhelming. “Kathy, I would be willing to die right now if it meant keeping this moment forever!” Oscar had grown up in an empty and lonely childhood, and he was determined not to let his child go through the same thing. That was why he personally established this family outing day. Every year, on November 1st, we would put everything aside and take Nora to the theme park. Even as she grew older and his business empire expanded, he had never missed it. I had not even answered Nora yet when she eagerly tapped on her smartwatch, starting a video call with Oscar. Then, she lifted her wrist high and pleaded with me, “Mommy, please ask Daddy for me!” Her expression was pitiful, making her look even more adorable. For some reason, Nora was never very close to Oscar. Perhaps in Nora’s heart, a father who was often absent naturally felt distant. I chuckled and took the watch, about to tease her when the call connected. The next second, a large, curious face filled the screen. It was Mila. My smile froze. “What did Daddy say?” Nora noticed my sudden stillness and leaned forward, trying to get a better look at the screen. Almost instinctively, I ended the call. Calmly, I placed the watch down, bent down, and patted her head. “Daddy is still busy. Today, Mommy and Mary will take you instead.” “Oh… Okay…” Nora lowered her head, looking a little disappointed. But being the sensible child she was, she did not throw a tantrum and obediently followed Mary upstairs to change. Once she was out of sight, I turned and continued packing the things we needed for the outing. As I reached for the three Halloween-themed family masks, my hand paused. After a brief hesitation, I took out the two smaller ones and put them in my bag. I casually tossed the black one into the trash. It would not be needed anyway. Oscar had always had a rigid sense of personal boundaries. He never let anyone touch his phone, not even his own daughter. When Nora was three, his phone rang while he was in the shower, and Nora picked it up, intending to hand it to him. Oscar flew into a rage. He scolded her harshly. Little Nora was terrified and cried so hard that she could barely breathe. In the past, Oscar would surrender the moment his daughter shed a tear. When I tried to intervene, he stopped me, his face stern as he declared, “Let her remember this lesson. She needs to understand what she is not allowed to touch.”

A child’s emotions were like a summer rainstorm, which was quick to arrive but just as quick to pass. At the theme park, Nora was so excited that she was like a wild horse set free. Despite the cold winter weather, she played until her face turned red and broke into a sweat. I rummaged through my bag and realized that we had finished all the warm water we had brought from home. “Let’s take a break,” I said, stopping Nora just as she was about to run toward the carousel for the eighth time. Holding her hand, I led her toward the convenience store. As we passed by a souvenir stall selling accessories, I glanced at it instinctively. Then, my footsteps came to a halt. Oscar was standing in front of the stall, one hand in his pocket, the other absentmindedly fiddling with a tiger-shaped mask. His expression was indifferent. Beside him stood Carol and Mila. Carol was bent over, adjusting a pumpkin hat on Mila’s head. Mila was excitedly gesturing, her cheeks flushed with joy, showing no signs of having a fever at all. She and Carol whispered something to each other, then both of them laughed with bright eyes. Even Oscar had a small smile. The bullet comments appeared again. [Oscar is smiling so gently. He must be thinking about the times he used to come here with Kathy and their daughter.] [The only person who can make him smile just by thinking about them is Kathy.] I ignored the comments and exchanged a glance with Mary, signaling her to take Nora another way. But before she could react, Nora had already spotted Oscar with her sharp eyes. “It’s Daddy!” she exclaimed. Oscar turned his head, and the moment he saw me, his lips immediately pressed into a thin line. [Haha, he is still sulking because Kathy brought up divorce this morning.] [He actually didn’t forget about family day. He agreed to come with Carol on purpose, hoping to run into Kathy. It is so heartbreaking how desperate he is!] [Yes! He has been waiting for her to call him all day, but when she didn’t. He had no choice but to come looking for her himself.] I had no time to pay attention to the comments because, at that moment, Nora had already broken free from Mary and was running toward Oscar. She grinned, thinking her father had come here to surprise her. But before she could reach him, Mila suddenly bumped into Nora and pushed her aside. Nora watched as Mila threw herself into Oscar’s arms and pointed at the pumpkin hat on her head. “Mr. Astor, I want this hat!” Nora stumbled and fell to the ground. Her eyes instantly turned red. In her memory, her father had never held any other child before. Her small body tensed up as she struggled to keep her tears from falling. “My daddy won’t buy it for you!” she declared. Nora got up, patted the dust off her clothes, and marched toward Mila, raising her voice. “You bumped into me! You need to apologize!” Mila huffed and lifted her chin. “Why should I? You weren’t looking where you were running! I didn’t even ask you to apologize to me, and who are you to decide what Mr. Astor buys? You are so rude!” Mila was about the same age as Nora but shorter, so she had to tilt her head up to glare at Nora. Nora was furious at her shamelessness. “It was obviously you—” “Apologize,” Oscar suddenly spoke. His voice was indifferent. Nora put her hands on her hips and swayed her head triumphantly. “Did you hear that? My dad told you to apolo—” “Nora, apologize!”

Oscar repeated coldly, his voice sharp. Nora’s eyes widened in disbelief, and tears instantly welled up. But she was strong-willed; she bit her lip stubbornly without giving in. Carol pulled Mila to her side and smiled in understanding, “Kids have tempers. It is normal. We are fine, really. You do not have to let this affect your relationship with your daughter.” Oscar did not respond. Instead, his brows furrowed even tighter, and his tone became even harsher. “Nora!” Nora trembled all over, and tears fell onto the ground. Oscar frowned, about to reprimand her further when I felt a sharp pang in my heart. I immediately rushed forward and shielded Nora. “Do you need me to apologize too?” Oscar’s furious gaze met my cold eyes. He froze. [Does Kathy think Oscar is standing up for Carol and Mila?] [Did Kathy forget that Oscar was badly bullied in high school? He just does not want his daughter to become someone weak like he was back then!] [Oscar may be scolding his daughter, but deep down, he feels sorry for her.] Ridiculous. The comments made me frown. I took Nora’s hand, ready to leave, but Carol stepped in our way. “Sorry, I did not know today was your family day. Mila kept insisting on coming here, and we are unfamiliar with this place, so we had no choice but to ask Oscar for help. Kathy, you are not mad about this, are you?” Her tone was full of apology, yet her eyes could not hide their smugness. “Yes,” I replied. “What?” Carol tilted her head in confusion. I curved my lips into a cold smile. “I am mad. So what now? Shouldn’t you apologize to me?” If she wanted to twist the truth, I could do the same. Carol had not expected me to be so direct. She stood there, momentarily stunned. “You…” “There is no need,” Oscar said flatly. “It has nothing to do with you.” His hands were in his pockets, but there was an unmistakable hint of amusement in his expression. [Kathy is jealous. Oscar is secretly pleased!] [Oh my god, this is too sweet!] [Oscar looks cold on the outside, but he is actually so sensitive. That is why he constantly needs reassurance of Kathy’s love. He is completely addicted to it.] I was so angry that I actually laughed. Ignoring Oscar, I walked straight up to Carol. In the midst of her shocked scream, I kicked her hard, sending her toppling to the ground. “Your daughter pushed my daughter. Returning this to you is reasonable, right?” Oscar was stunned by my sudden outburst. “Kathy?” I ignored him, picked up Nora, and walked away. He grabbed my wrist, his face dark with anger. “What are you doing? Apologize to them!” Without hesitation, I lifted my foot. The sharp heel of my shoe landed precisely on his toe. “You get lost too!”

Oscar walked through the door carrying a cake just as I finished putting down Nora’s backpack. Since that day, this was the first time he had come home. He did not look at me, only lifted the bag slightly in Nora’s direction. Little girls could never resist sweets. “Yay! It is from Cloud Dessert! My favorite!” As expected, Nora cheered in excitement and immediately followed Oscar into the dining room. [This is hilarious. Oscar originally refused to come home to punish Kathy, but in the end, he could not hold out himself.] [Oscar is not good with words, but this action is clearly his way of conceding to Kathy.] I thought for a moment but did not stop Nora from spending time with Oscar. After all, he was her biological father. He would not harm her. Turning around, I headed upstairs, planning to wash Nora’s school uniform. Just then, a voice message popped up. It was from the owner of Cloud Dessert. Because Nora loved their cakes, I often bought from them, and over time, I added the owner on WhatsApp. “Mrs. Astor, long time no see. I just wanted to check if you were satisfied with the two cakes Mr. Astor ordered today.” I froze. Oscar ordered two cakes? But he only brought back one. Cloud Dessert specialized in cartoon-themed cakes, and many parents usually ordered cakes for their children. The other cake must be ordered for Mila. The owner continued introducing the cake. “This is a new product from our store. It is made with a special cream, tastes better than before, and for the first time, we have added a whole pound of mango in the filling. If you are satisfied…” Mango? My expression changed, and I hurriedly asked, “It contains mango?” “Yes, and Mr. Astor was aware of that. He…” The moment I received confirmation, I dropped my phone without hesitation and rushed downstairs in a panic. Oscar was no longer in the dining room. On the table, the cake was nearly finished, only a small portion left. Nora was scratching her face. When she saw me, she immediately pouted. “Mommy, I feel really bad.” Her whole body was covered in red rashes, and blisters had already formed around her mouth. As soon as she finished speaking, she collapsed straight onto the floor with a loud thud. My vision went black, and my mind went blank. Like a madwoman, I grabbed my daughter and ran to the hospital. It was only when I saw the doctor administering her anti-allergy treatment that my legs gave out, and I sank to the floor. Mary arrived shortly after, bringing a change of clothes for Nora and a pair of shoes for me. Only then did I belatedly look down. I had not even been wearing shoes. No wonder people had been giving me strange looks on the way here. I let out a bitter laugh. I had been so terrified. When Nora was two, Oscar once fed her with a piece of mango, not knowing she was allergic. It had sent her straight into the emergency room. That was when we first discovered that Nora had a severe mango allergy, so severe that it could trigger anaphylactic shock. Back then, Oscar was overwhelmed with guilt. He had even warned Mary sternly, “From now on, I do not want to see mango in this house. If you cannot remember that, then do not work here anymore.” I looked out the window. Dark clouds devoured the blue sky. Waves of black rolled and churned, piling upon each other. It was so heavy that I could not breathe.

As I stepped out of the hospital room, Oscar arrived. His usually neat hair was slightly disheveled, likely from rushing over. Seeing me, he quickly strode forward. “Kathy, what—” “Where were you? Why didn’t you answer your phone?” I cut him off, my tone cold and sharp. From the moment Nora had the allergic reaction until now, I had called him countless times. He had not picked up a single one. “Mila had another high fever. Carol asked me to take her to the hospital. My phone battery died, so I did not get your calls. I am sorry.” Oscar’s expression remained indifferent, as if he were merely stating a fact. I studied his face for a moment before letting out a cold laugh. “Do you even know why you are here?” “I heard Mary had an accident,” he replied slowly, his voice devoid of any emotion. I scoffed in disbelief before speaking, “Your daughter went into shock after eating the mango cake.” His eyes widened in shock. “Yes,” I said icily. “The very cake you specially bought for her.” Suddenly, I remembered what the owner of Cloud Dessert had said yesterday. She had mentioned, “At the time, Mr. Astor even replied, ‘Perfect, the kids love mango-flavored cake.’” I took a deep breath and looked him straight in the eye. “Do you have anything to explain this time?” Oscar visibly froze. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words. Then, in a panic, he reached for my hand. “I was careless. I did not mean to…” He abruptly stopped, as if unable to find a reasonable excuse for himself. Awkwardly, he changed the subject. “How is Nora? She must have been crying and asking for me. I will go in and see her—” He turned to walk toward the hospital room. I shouted, “You are not worthy!” Oscar stopped in his tracks. “Let’s get a divorce, Oscar.” At this moment, I felt nothing but absolute calm. [No, Kathy, do not be impulsive!] [Oscar is just naturally quiet. He does not know how to express himself, but that does not mean he does not love you.] [What is Kathy doing? Nora is fine now. She is his salvation, why does she not understand that?] [Oscar will never refuse. No matter how unwilling he is, as long as Kathy asks, he will do it.]

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By some strange twist of fate, I swapped bodies with the person who bullied me. I became the adored heiress of the Summers family, while she was stuck as the older sister in a family that drained her dry. Later, when she was slapped across the face and left crying on her knees, she begged me to switch back. SMACK! The moment I stepped into the classroom, a slap sent me stumbling backward. “How dare you even show your face here?” Maya Summers stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, glaring at me with pure disdain. “Why didn’t you pass me the answers during yesterday’s test?” I clutched my burning cheek and stammered, “The proctor was watching too closely. I couldn’t get the answers to you.” But Maya didn’t care about my excuses. All she cared about was her grades. How I managed to pass her the answers was my problem, not hers. A growing crowd of students gathered in the hallway, eagerly watching the drama unfold. My cheek throbbed with pain as I lowered my head and muttered, “I’m sorry, Maya. I’ll do better next time.” Hearing my apology, Maya’s expression softened slightly. She scoffed, spun around, and returned to her seat. I tried to follow her into the classroom, but her sidekick, Rainie, blocked my path. Rainie smirked and poked me hard in the forehead with her manicured finger. “You better be grateful Maya let you off easy. If this happens again, you’ll regret it.” Satisfied with her intimidation, she turned on her heel and strutted back to her seat. Only then was I finally able to walk into the classroom. As I passed by, the class representative muttered under her breath, loud enough for me to hear: “Getting slapped like that and still apologizing like a dog. Do you have no self-respect?” My fists clenched tightly at my sides, shaking with frustration. I wanted to fight back. But Maya’s family was filthy rich, and her uncle was the school’s vice principal. And me? I lived in a run-down neighborhood on the outskirts of town. My mom had drilled it into me from a young age: “Keep your head down at school. Don’t cause trouble.” With a deep sigh, I unclenched my fists and returned to my seat. After a long day of classes, the teachers handed out their usual piles of homework. As usual, Maya tossed her worksheets onto my desk. She pulled a $20 bill out of her designer bag and threw it in my face. “You know the drill: do mine first, then do yours.” I nodded, silently gathering her papers into my bag. When I got home that evening, I barely had time to close the door before my mom slapped me across the face—right on the same cheek Maya had hit earlier. The sting of the slap brought tears to my eyes as I felt the fresh handprint bloom over the already swollen skin. “Well, well, Ashley,” my mom sneered, “what kind of trash have you been learning at school? Stealing money now, are we?” My heart sank when I saw the piggy bank in her hand. That was my money, all the cash I’d earned from part-time jobs. I’d hidden it carefully in my room. How had she found it? “Your brother found this while cleaning your room,” she spat. “I didn’t raise you to be a thief!” I glanced toward the living room, where my little brother sat on the couch playing video games. His smug grin made my blood boil. The handheld console in his hands? He’d begged me to buy it for him, and I’d refused. I snatched the piggy bank from my mom and shook it. Sure enough, a large chunk of my money was missing. Pointing an accusing finger at my brother, I shouted, “You stole my money to buy that stupid game!” My mom turned to him, her expression uncertain. But he didn’t miss a beat. “That’s my money from my part-time job. What’s your problem?” he said, feigning innocence. Then he added, “Actually, that money isn’t even hers—it’s yours, Mom! She probably stole it from you!” My mom’s face darkened with fury. She snatched the piggy bank back from me and screamed, “Caught red-handed, and now you’re trying to frame your brother? You’ve really lost it, Ashley!” Reaching behind the door, she grabbed a metal hanger and swung it at my legs. The pain was so intense that my knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor. My brother, now towering over me, smirked and adjusted his seat so he was sitting directly in front of where I knelt. All I could do was grit my teeth and bury the burning humiliation deep inside.

The Beating Continued Like a Storm of Blows I tried to explain through the pain that the money was mine, earned from working part-time jobs. But of course, my mom didn’t believe me. She’d rather trust my lazy, good-for-nothing brother than me. I don’t know how long it went on, but eventually, she stopped. She took all my money and told me to get up and cook dinner. Dragging my bruised body, I forced myself to finish the chores—cooking, cleaning, laundry—before I finally sat down to do my homework. By the time I finished one set of assignments, it was already 1 a.m. I stared at the two identical stacks of homework on my desk—my own and Maya Summers’. The events of the day replayed in my mind, and I couldn’t help it anymore. For the first time, I wrote my name on the completed assignment meant for her. As soon as I did it, my heart pounded with fear. But… there was also a thrill, a spark of vengeance. The feeling didn’t last long. A few seconds later, I sighed, picked up the second set of blank worksheets, and started working again. At some point, exhaustion overtook me. I must’ve fallen asleep at my desk because the next thing I knew, my alarm was blaring. 6:30 a.m. Panic surged through me as I realized several pages of Maya’s homework were still blank. If she found out I hadn’t finished, I was dead. I grabbed my pen to start writing, but before I could, the door burst open. My brother stood there, arms crossed, barking, “Hurry up and make breakfast! I’m starving!” Behind him, my mom’s dark, angry face loomed. Under their suffocating pressure, I had no choice but to drop everything and head to the kitchen. By the time I finished cooking and cleaning up after them, there wasn’t a second left to spare. I stuffed my things into my bag and sprinted to school, barely avoiding being late. When I entered the classroom, Maya was already glaring at me. “You’re late. What took you so long?” she snapped. Before I could answer, she demanded, “Where’s my homework?” Instinctively, I clutched my bag to my chest, stammering as I hesitated to hand it over. Her eyes narrowed. Without another word, she yanked my bag out of my hands and rifled through it. When she pulled out her unfinished worksheets, her expression darkened into something terrifying. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I paid you, and this is what I get?” She waved the papers in the air, then slapped me across the face, hard. Grabbing a fistful of my hair, she forced me to look at her. “Ashley, I didn’t know you had the guts to pull something like this.” The searing pain in my scalp brought tears to my eyes, but I couldn’t stop them from falling. The classroom fell silent as everyone turned to watch. From the back of the room, a few boys started jeering. “Get her, Maya! Teach her a lesson!” “Yeah, slap her again!” Fueled by their encouragement, Maya’s fury grew. She hit me two more times, each slap harder than the last. Her sidekick, Rainie, joined in by grabbing my homework and ripping it to shreds. I sat there, frozen, as sunlight streamed through the windows. The warmth of the sun felt mocking against the icy chill inside me. This wasn’t just a classroom anymore—it was a living hell. Images of the past few months flashed through my mind: The money I’d worked so hard to save, stolen by my mother. Her baseless accusations. The bruises on my body. I knew she didn’t actually believe I was a thief. She just needed an excuse to take what was mine and claim it as hers. The thought ignited something inside me—a fire that burned hotter and brighter with every passing second. Before I knew it, I shoved Maya away with all my strength. She stumbled backward, her face twisting with shock. At the same time, I saw Rainie raising her hand to slap me again. I braced myself, squeezing my eyes shut. But the blow never came. Instead, I heard a sharp cry of pain. Opening my eyes, I saw something that made my blood run cold. I was sitting on the ground, but Maya—Maya was clutching her face, looking terrified. Even stranger, she was wearing my clothes. And… she looked exactly like me. I glanced down at myself and froze. The short skirt Maya had been wearing earlier was now on me. Rainie rushed to my side, concern etched across her face. “Maya, are you okay?!” Maya? Wait… What the hell just happened?

Rainie Called Me… Maya? I stared at my hands in shock. They were smooth, soft, and unblemished—so different from my own calloused hands, roughened by endless chores like cooking and scrubbing. These weren’t my hands. It hit me like a freight train: somehow, I had swapped bodies with Maya Summers. I looked up and saw Maya—well, my body—staring back at me with wide, horrified eyes. Rainie, oblivious to what had happened, shot her—no, me—a scolding glare. “Ashley, what’s with that look? Do you want another beating or something?” That confirmed it. Instead of fear, a wave of exhilaration rushed through me. I wasn’t the Ashley everyone bullied anymore. The bell rang, and Rainie grabbed my arm—well, Maya’s arm—guiding me back to her seat. “Don’t stress over it, Maya,” she said soothingly. “Your uncle’s the principal. One missed assignment won’t matter. We’ll deal with Ashley after school.” Hearing the words “deal with Ashley,” my body froze instinctively. Rainie noticed and frowned. “What’s wrong, Maya?” I shook my head quickly, pretending nothing was wrong. Sitting in Maya’s seat, I pulled out a mirror from her desk. The face staring back at me was hers—Maya’s. “Ah!” A scream erupted from the front of the classroom. Maya—no, my body—was staring into a mirror of her own. The teacher slammed a ruler onto the desk, glaring at her. “Ashley, stop yelling! If you disrupt my class again, get out!” Maya swallowed her anger and sat down, her lips trembling with frustration. A few minutes later, she scribbled a note and passed it to me. What’s going on? Did you cast some kind of spell on me?! I stared at her words, unsure how to respond. I didn’t have an answer either. When class ended, Maya—still in my body—was called to the teacher’s office. Meanwhile, her lackeys, Rainie and another girl, swarmed around me, excitedly asking how we should “punish” Ashley. I hesitated, unsure of what to say. I didn’t want to accidentally blow my cover, so I mimicked Maya’s usual demeanor as best I could. “Just handle it the same way as before,” I said casually, waving a hand. Their eyes lit up with excitement. Maya returned to the classroom just before the next lesson started. Her face—my face—was swollen and red, her expression full of barely contained rage. It was almost funny watching her try to look menacing with my bruised and puffy features. She glared at me, as she always did. In the past, I would’ve immediately looked away, afraid to meet her gaze. But this time, I stared her down, head held high. Caught off guard, she faltered for a moment before stomping back to her desk. She opened the drawer to grab a book, but instead, her hand pulled out a dead rat. Her scream was ear-piercing. She flung the rat away in a panic—straight onto her deskmate’s lap, who cursed her out for it. Watching her flail around like that was oddly satisfying. Even though she was wearing my face, I couldn’t help but enjoy the moment. All day, Maya—trapped in my body—was berated, humiliated, and bullied. By the time school ended, it was clear she was finally relieved the day was over. But what she didn’t know was that this was just the beginning. Before she could confront me, Rainie and the other lackeys dragged her off to the back alley behind the school. I knew that alley well. It was the place where I’d been beaten and tormented countless times. A few older guys were waiting there—Maya’s “crew.” I recognized all of them. They’d been responsible for most of my bruises in the past. When they saw me, they immediately straightened up, their faces lighting up with fake smiles. “Maya! Glad you’re here,” one said, practically bowing. I nodded coolly and sat on the stone bench they’d wiped clean for me. Maya—still in my body—was held down by Rainie and the others. She thrashed and struggled, finally breaking free and crawling over to me. Her eyes were filled with hatred as she snarled, “What the hell is going on?! What did you do to me?!” Before she could touch my shoes, one of the guys yanked her back. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. What do you think you’re doing? Trying to suck up to Maya now?” Pinned to the ground, Maya looked up at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and rage. I stared down at her, letting a smirk curl across my lips. It was the same look she always gave me—mocking, condescending, and full of disgust. For the first time, Maya Summers was tasting what it felt like to be me.

I Turned Away, Leaving Maya to Her Fate I didn’t want to look at my old, pitiful face for another second. I gave Rainie a signal to handle the situation and turned to leave. Behind me, I could hear Maya—now trapped in my body—screaming like a madwoman. “Ashley! I don’t care what kind of witchcraft you used! You better watch your back!” I paused mid-step, turned around, and crouched down beside her. Grabbing her chin the same way she used to humiliate me, I leaned in close and whispered into her ear: “From now on, you’re Ashley. And I’ll be taking your place, living as the Summers family’s precious little princess.” The words felt like a release, like the weight of years of injustice was finally lifting off my chest. For the first time in forever, I felt light. Even my steps were bouncier as I left the alley. Outside, the Summers family’s chauffeur was waiting by a sleek black car. The moment he saw me, he straightened up and opened the door with a respectful bow. “Miss Summers.” I didn’t immediately head to the Summers estate. Instead, I decided to make a detour. Checking the time on my phone, I instructed the driver to take me back to my old home. When we arrived, I stayed outside, peering through the window. Maya, now stuck in my body, was kneeling on the floor in the middle of the room. In front of her stood my mom, holding a broom in one hand and the $20 bill Maya had thrown at me yesterday in the other. “What, stealing once wasn’t enough for you? Now you’re trying to do it again, huh?!” Maya didn’t even get a chance to explain before my mom began beating her with the broom. The blows rained down mercilessly as Maya screamed and cried, insisting the money was from a classmate. But my mom didn’t believe her—she never did. I watched through the window, feeling a strange mixture of satisfaction and pain. I knew exactly how Maya felt. I’d been through the same thing countless times—falsely accused, beaten, silenced. My body knew this routine all too well: flinching, twisting, trying to dodge the blows, knowing it was pointless to argue. Suddenly, as if sensing my presence, Maya—still in my body—turned her head sharply and looked straight at me. I snapped out of my thoughts and let a small, cold smile curl across my lips. This is what you deserve, Maya. You wanted my life? Go ahead. Enjoy it. With that, I turned back to the car and told the driver to take me to the Summers estate. Living as Maya Summers The Summers family estate was like something out of a movie—a sprawling mansion surrounded by perfectly manicured lawns and a fountain in the driveway. It was the kind of place I never even dared to dream of setting foot in. The moment I walked through the doors, a housekeeper rushed over to help me change my shoes. I wasn’t used to this level of attention and waved her off, insisting I could do it myself. But to my surprise, she immediately dropped to her knees, trembling. “Miss Summers, I’m sorry! Please don’t fire me! I promise I’ll do better next time!” Her panicked reaction caught me off guard. I quickly crouched down, helping her up as I asked, “What’s wrong? Why are you apologizing?” It took a lot of reassurance before she stopped shaking. With her head lowered, she explained, “You always let me help you with your shoes. But now you won’t let me. I thought… I thought you were unhappy with me…” I realized then just how spoiled and cruel Maya had been. Even something as small as refusing help sent the staff into a panic. Just as I was about to reassure her further, a voice from the living room cut through the air. “Go to HR and collect your paycheck. You’re done here.” It was Maya’s father. He hadn’t even looked up from his newspaper as he delivered the cold dismissal. I froze, unsure of how to respond. Part of me wanted to plead for the housekeeper, but I quickly caught myself. If I acted out of character, Mr. Summers might suspect something was wrong. Swallowing my words, I gave the housekeeper an apologetic look as she quietly left, tears streaming down her face. “Miss Summers, dinner is ready,” a young woman called out from the dining room. I recognized her from school. She was Maya’s mom. “Coming, Mom,” I said, trying to mimic Maya’s usual tone. I dropped my school bag onto the couch and walked toward the dining room. But as I entered, I froze. The entire family was seated, their eyes all fixed on me. Especially Mrs. Summers. Her gaze was intense, almost as if she could see through me. A chill ran down my spine, and cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck. Had I done something wrong? Had they already noticed something was off? Sitting at the Dinner Table Mrs. Summers served me a bowl of rice as I nervously ate, my eyes darting around to gauge everyone’s expressions. Mr. Summers seemed to be in a good mood. He even added some food to my plate a few times, telling me to eat more. But Mrs. Summers… her gaze was different. Throughout the meal, she kept staring at me, her expression unreadable, yet heavy with suspicion. It made my skin crawl, like she could see straight through me—as though she knew that despite looking like Maya Summers, inside, I was Ashley. After dinner, Mr. Summers left to work on some business matters, and I stayed behind to help Mrs. Summers clean up. I was carefully carrying the last plate when she suddenly leaned in close, inspecting me from head to toe.

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After graduating from university, my dad transferred one million dollars to me to buy an Audi A8. I was struggling with which color to choose when my boyfriend, James Anderson suddenly commanded, “Stop thinking about the car. Let’s use that million for the down payment on our new home.” Worried that I might have objections, he added, “This is for our wedding preparations.” I didn’t respond, but turned around and immediately ordered the top-spec Audi A8. And by the way, I broke up with him. On the day I graduated from university, my dad transferred one million dollars to me. He left a note: [Congratulations on your graduation, my dear daughter. Use the money to buy an Audi A8 so it’s easier for you to drive to work.] I was overjoyed and sent several emojis, replying: [Dad! You’ll always be my hero!] [I’ll do anything in the next life just to be your daughter again!] James, curious about why I was smiling so happily at my phone, leaned over and casually asked, “What did your dad give you that has you so excited?” Without noticing his change in expression, I showed him the balance on my phone and said, “My dad gave me one million dollars as a graduation gift so I can buy an A8 and drive to work.” He suddenly snatched my phone and examined the balance several times, his face turning serious. Sweat beads formed on his forehead. His voice suddenly rose. “Your dad’s crazy! How could a girl like you get one million dollars to buy a car?” I was still immersed in my excitement over the new car and didn’t notice how odd his response was. I showed him pictures of the car in black and white, asking, “Which one do you think looks better, black or white?” To my surprise, he shot me an annoyed look and plopped down on the bed, playing with his phone as though I wasn’t there. “Do you even know anything about cars? This car will be a waste for you.” His comment made me feel uncomfortable, so I retorted, “Who says only men are supposed to drive cars?” He noticed my change in mood and realized that his words had been too harsh. He quickly stepped forward, pulled me into his arms, and gently comforted me. He said, “Baby, that’s not what I meant. This car costs at least over a million dollars. Now that we’ve both graduated, wouldn’t it be better to save that money for a house?” As he spoke, he pulled up information on several new apartment complexes nearby. I recognized them all as upscale developments, with down payments requiring over a million dollars. James lightly shook my shoulders, planting a soft kiss on my forehead as he continued speaking softly, “A car is just a tool for getting around. The cheaper ones and the expensive ones aren’t that different. But a house is something else. Remember, you’ve always talked about wanting a home with me. Why not use this money for the down payment?” Gradually, my earlier excitement started to fade. I turned and looked at James quietly. Noticing my silence, he pressed on, still trying to convince me. “We’ve both graduated now. It’s time to plan for our future. I want to give you a stable home.” As I listened to the way he spoke, as if he were thinking of me in every word, my mind felt unusually clear. The first time I dated James, I knew his family wasn’t wealthy, and I had never expected him to propose marriage or buy a house anytime soon. I instinctively pulled away from his embrace and said in a flat tone, “But I don’t want to buy a house, and I don’t want to have the pressure of a mortgage either.” The place I worked was only a ten-minute drive from my parents’ house, so honestly, there was no need to buy a house. But James was persistent, continuing his suggestion in a tone that pretended to be for my benefit, “You can put the house in my name. I’ll help you with the mortgage.” At that, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. I had never met someone so shameless. Forget that it was before marriage. He wanted to use my parents’ money for the house down payment and then expect me to share the mortgage with him. I pushed him away. “Do you think my parents can’t afford to buy me a house?” I thought, “If I ask, my parents will buy the house outright. Why would I have to struggle with him to pay off a mortgage?” James looked at me coldly, his eyebrows twitching slightly. When we argued earlier, he had the same expression on his face. Just when I thought he was about to lose it, he suddenly flashed a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. He tried to take my hand. “Baby, don’t be mad. I’m doing this for you. “I don’t have a house. How could I possibly go to your family to ask for your hand? “I just want to give you a stable home. “Don’t you dream of having a place where after work, we can cook together and watch TV? Isn’t that the life you’ve always wanted? “I just think it’s more convenient if the house is in my name, and I’ll be able to help you with the mortgage.” He kept trying to tempt me, but I outright rejected him, saying, “I don’t want to buy a house.” Seeing that I wasn’t budging, James couldn’t hold back any longer. He snapped at me, “Natalie, what do you mean? It’s just a house! What’s the difference whether it’s in my name or yours? “I really didn’t expect you to be this kind of person, arguing with me over something as small as a house!” I gathered my things and turned to leave, but James followed me, asking me accusingly, “I’ve been with you for all these years, and now you’re turning your back on me over a house? How materialistic can you be? “It’s just putting the house in my name, why are you so angry?” He followed me all the way to the door. I couldn’t help but ask him in return, “Then if you pay the down payment for the house, would you be willing to put it in my name?” James almost instinctively retorted, “Am I crazy to buy you a house?” I laughed in disbelief, “You’re the crazy one, not me.”

I took a cab back to my parents’ house. After taking a shower, I lay in bed, reflecting on the years I had spent with James. We had been together since college, and because of his family situation, I had always taken care of the finances. Our relationship used to be harmonious, and we never fought. Today, things just didn’t go his way, and he showed his true colors. Suddenly, I felt like I didn’t know him at all, as if I had never really understood him. Just as I was about to fall asleep, James messaged me: [Sorry, baby. I was too impulsive today and didn’t consider your feelings.] Reading his message, my anger faded by half. I thought, “Maybe I have misunderstood?” But the next second, he sent me pictures of newly built developments. [Baby, check out these new developments. The locations are great. I’m just thinking about our future.] He made it sound so righteous, positioning himself on the moral high ground, as if using my parents’ money to buy a car for myself was selfish. I intentionally sent him a screenshot of an order I had placed. He got frustrated and, after a while, sent me a long voice message. “Are you crazy? Who buys a car these days? What’s the point of driving a luxury car? “How selfish are you? I’m thinking about our future, have you thought about it? “You’re a woman. What’s the point of you driving such an expensive car? Do you even know anything about cars? “Besides, your dad gives you all this money, and you can’t even plan for our future?” He sent me several voice messages. I knew that sixty seconds was the limit for a voice message, not his. I didn’t want to listen to him talk any longer, so I shot back, “Are you crazy? Why should I use my dad’s money to buy you a house? “Are you that shameless? “You’re too stupid to even live off someone properly. With a brain like yours, you should hurry up and go see a doctor!” With that, I immediately blocked and deleted him. I also froze all the cards I had given him. I took screenshots of all the bank transfers I had made to him over the years and printed them out. “Scumbag, go to hell!” I thought.

The next day, my dad was a bit surprised when he saw me come out of the bedroom. “How come you’re home? Not with your little boyfriend anymore?” I rubbed my reddened eyes, feeling a bit upset. “We broke up.” To my surprise, my dad grinned from ear to ear and immediately started planning a celebration. “Breaking up is good! I’ve never liked that guy anyway.” Hearing about the breakup, my mom came out of the kitchen. “Breaking up is a good thing. Look at you, you’ve been with him for so many years, and you’re looking worn out. Just stay home for a while, and let me take care of you.” At that moment, my eyes welled up. My voice was choked. “Okay.” Looking at my parents, who were already in their older years, I realized that no matter what I had done in the past, they always loved and supported me unconditionally. I thought, “How could I not love myself? Why should I let someone like James drain me?” To my surprise, a few days later, James suddenly called me. “Have you booked the private room?” he asked. I froze, suddenly remembering he had mentioned inviting some senior students to dinner a few days ago. “This is important for my future graduate studies. You can’t mess this up. “Don’t forget to buy the cigarettes and alcohol when you come. Get the best quality. The senior girls will be there, so make sure you have a set of SK-II for each of them. “Also, make sure the food in the private room isn’t too cheap. The quality needs to be high so I don’t lose face.” Listening to him rambling on the phone, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. “What do I owe you?” These things were going to cost tens of thousands of dollars at the very least, but since it wasn’t his money, of course, he didn’t care. James nonchalantly responded, “Are you still mad? It’s been a few days now, surely you’re over it, right? “You used to always encourage me to go to grad school, right? Don’t just talk, it’s time to put some action behind those words. “Also, didn’t your dad give you a million dollars? Can’t you scrape together this small amount of money?” His attitude was so entitled that it made my heart sink. I had been planning to break up with him, but now I realized that would be too easy on him! Not only did I want him to pay back all the money I had spent on him over the years, but I also wanted him to learn the consequences of messing with me. Suppressing my disgust, I forced a smile and said to James, “No problem, I already booked the private room. Tomorrow, I won’t disappoint you.” Hearing that, James couldn’t hide his smug laughter on the other end of the line. It was as if he was saying, “What’s the big deal? No matter how much money you have, I can still control you with ease.” He added, “Since that’s settled, tomorrow I’ll bring my advisor along. You’ll need to buy him some dietary supplements, at least 50 thousand dollars or more. Anything cheaper would be too low-end.” Hearing him push further and further, I casually agreed, replying, “Sure!” Hearing me agree so easily, he didn’t suspect a thing and actually felt a sense of superiority. “Natalie, if you had listened like this earlier, it would’ve been much better.” I snorted in contempt, thinking, “Fool. He’s digging his own grave.” The next day, I canceled all my plans and stayed home watching TV dramas. At first, James sent me texts saying he had arrived at the private room, ordered the food, and asked when I would bring the gifts over. I ignored all his messages. Later, he couldn’t reach me, started to panic, and bombarded me with calls. I could barely tolerate the noise, so I finally answered. “Natalie, where are you? The seniors have all arrived. Where are the gifts?” I lay on the sofa, pretending to sound anxious. “I’m on my way, I’m stuck in traffic. You guys go ahead and eat.” Then, I hung up the phone and continued watching my drama. I went ahead and ordered several expensive bottles of wine and various cosmetics and bags, but chose cash on delivery. James waited in the private room, only to receive the payment order instead of me.

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The day before my birthday, when I saw Zachary’s message saying he had to go on a business trip tomorrow and couldn’t celebrate with me, I felt only a moment of disappointment. But I wasn’t surprised by his actions at all. Zachary and I had been together for seven years, and we didn’t spend every birthday together. In fact, he had only celebrated with me three times. Once when he first won me over, once when we were in the honeymoon phase, and the last time was after we reconciled from a fight. When our relationship settled into a routine, he rarely paid attention to these so-called rituals. Gifts for holidays never failed to arrive, but his company was always absent. Even during holidays, we would go back to our respective families. I had once suggested bringing him home to meet my parents, but he always found excuses to avoid it. He never brought up the idea of taking me to meet his family either. As time went on, I gradually got used to this lack of surprises in our daily life and stopped obsessing over how to celebrate special occasions. This year, I hadn’t expected him to be with me on my birthday either, so I had agreed to my girlfriends’ invitation. They said they would keep me company for a happy birthday celebration. But just a few days ago, Zachary told me he wanted to celebrate my birthday this year, saying he had already made reservations at a restaurant and everything. When I shared this news with my girlfriends in our group chat, I felt a bit guilty. After all, they had been preparing for my birthday for a while and had cleared their schedules for me. But they all said they understood and even got excited, speculating, “Could Zachary be planning to propose to you?” A string of enthusiastic responses followed. In their eyes, Zachary and I had a great relationship; we were just both very busy. I instinctively denied the possibility. If Zachary were to propose, he would definitely not choose my birthday for it. He once said that choosing significant dates like birthdays or anniversaries for proposals or weddings was just a way to save on gifts during commemorative occasions, purely for convenience. More importantly, Zachary and I had been giving each other the cold shoulder for some time now. Ever since his first love returned from abroad, we hadn’t had a calm conversation. Every time we started talking, it would end up in an argument. I couldn’t even remember the last time we had a sweet, romantic date. Recently, he had been spending less and less time with me. I thought a breakup was probably just around the corner. The messages on my phone kept popping up. After telling me he couldn’t celebrate my birthday with me, Zachary transferred $1000 to my account, telling me to have a good time with my girlfriends. But they had already made other plans after hearing that Zachary was supposed to celebrate with me! I consoled myself, thinking it was just another birthday alone, something that had happened many times over the years. I accepted Zachary’s transfer. It had been a long time since he had given me a gift. For holidays and his birthday, I was always the one choosing gifts, and when the time came, he would simply transfer back a similar amount of money. The next day, my birthday. I woke up early, went about my usual busy routine, and then found myself sitting idly by the window. It was supposed to be my birthday, but it felt no different from any other day. I looked at the address of the restaurant Zachary had booked and decided to treat myself to a nice dinner there tonight, maybe buy myself that cake I’d been craving lately. I got in my car and headed out, but halfway there, I got into an accident. A large truck suddenly changed lanes and crushed the passenger side of my car. My forehead hit the car frame, and my leg was injured. Blood was everywhere. When the ambulance brought me to the hospital, I was a mess – disheveled and covered in blood. I was lying on a stretcher, unable to move, as the nurse wheeled me into the emergency department. At a corner, I ran into my boyfriend who was supposed to be on a business trip yesterday. He was holding some medicine, sitting in a corner talking to someone beside him. I blinked and wiped away the blood on my face to make sure it was really my boyfriend. And the woman leaning on him, getting an IV drip, was Isabella, his first love. Perhaps because I was covered in blood, Zachary didn’t seem to recognize me at first. It wasn’t until I was pushed past them that Zachary finally recognized me, and I saw the panic on his face. He quickly stood up, about to walk towards me, but Isabella just lightly tugged at his hand, and Zachary stopped, nervously turning back to take care of her. Maybe it was because the wounds on my forehead and leg were too painful, but I felt surprisingly numb inside. As I was being wheeled into the emergency room, Zachary finally ran up to me. He looked at my blood-covered body, at a loss for words, and finally just asked, “How did you end up like this?” “Small car accident, not fatal,” I answered casually, only then realizing how hoarse my voice was. Zachary rummaged through his backpack and took out a thermos, about to pour me some water. Then he realized it was prepared for Isabella, so he awkwardly put it down and said to me: “I’ll go buy you some water.” Before he hurried away, I stopped him: “No need. Weren’t you on a business trip with Isabella? Go take care of her.” Zachary had his back to me, so I couldn’t see his expression. As he was about to turn around, I was already being wheeled into the operating room. My injuries seemed quite serious. There was a large gash on my forehead, which the doctor stitched up with five sutures. My body was covered in black and blue bruises, and my leg had countless stitches. The doctor warned me not to walk around carelessly. When the nurse wheeled me out in a wheelchair, I found Zachary still standing at the door waiting for me. He rushed over to the nurse, asking question after question about my condition, whether I needed to be hospitalized, if there were any dietary restrictions. After learning that I didn’t need to be hospitalized but required IV drips and regular medication and dressing changes, he concernedly took the wheelchair from the nurse and pushed me towards the IV room. I didn’t say a word the entire time. As I was getting my IV, the truck driver was also brought to the hospital by the police. He apologized to me profusely and said he would cover my medical expenses. It wasn’t until Zachary spoke with the police that he realized how severe the accident scene had been. When he received photos from the insurance company showing the car that had been crushed by half, genuine anxiety finally appeared on his face. “You call this a small accident?” he exclaimed. I calmly looked at him and said, “This is a hospital. Please keep your voice down.” All around us were other patients getting IVs. The appearance of the police and the driver who caused the accident had already created quite a stir. Now with Zachary shouting, everyone’s attention was focused on us. He looked apologetically at the surrounding patients, then crouched behind me and said softly, “It’s okay now, don’t be scared. I’m here with you.” I found it somewhat amusing. I looked at him, then at Isabella who was standing across from us holding her IV bag, and nodded towards her. “Someone’s waiting for you.” Zachary was about to say something, but after Isabella called out to him, he stood up. His gaze was conflicted, constantly moving between Isabella and me. “Lily… Isabella’s IV is almost done. I’ll keep her company for a bit longer and then come back to you.” But in the end, upon seeing Isabella’s pale and weak appearance, Zachary left me behind and ran over to her. Of course, I didn’t believe he would come back to keep me company. Every time Isabella called him away, there was never any follow-up. I looked up at the medicine dripping down drop by drop, silently finishing two bottles of IV fluids on my own. Then I calmly called the nurse to remove the needle and wheeled myself through the remaining procedures. As I sat in the wheelchair waiting for my Uber, I finally had a moment to re-examine my relationship with Zachary. Seven years ago, when he confessed to me, I was overjoyed to accept, having harbored a crush on him for a long time. But he never brought up the topic of marriage. On the rare occasions when I asked about it, he would only say it was too soon, too early, too busy, not ready, or that we’d talk about it later. I understood him and was considerate, but stepping back from our relationship to think about this issue, I realized that the fundamental reason Zachary never mentioned marriage was that he had never forgotten his first love. I always thought that after being with him for seven years, I should have at least found a place in his heart. But after Isabella came back, I realized how thoroughly mistaken I had been. In the end, I didn’t wait for Zachary, nor did I wait for my Uber. The person who came to pick me up was my best friend, Olivia. Being an athlete, she effortlessly lifted me from the wheelchair into her car, then easily folded the wheelchair and put it in the trunk. She didn’t know that Zachary wasn’t actually on a business trip, so she was worried I wouldn’t be able to take care of myself alone at home and brought me to her place instead. “This must hurt so much,” she said, looking at my injuries with concern. She ordered a lot of takeout, saying she wanted to help me recover. “When you’re better, let’s go to a temple and pray. We need to get rid of this bad luck,” she said, feeling that I was incredibly unlucky to have gotten into a car accident on my birthday. I smiled and agreed, but my next words were interrupted by a sudden phone call. It was Zachary: “Lily, are you still at the hospital?” The delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen made me realize how hungry I was, so my tone carried a hint of irritation: “Is there anything else?” “I’m just worried about you. I’m your boyfriend, can’t I ask where you are?” I watched Olivia bustling about in the kitchen and coldly replied, “Oh, so you’re my boyfriend? I thought you were Isabella’s boyfriend.” Zachary seemed taken aback by my words. As Olivia was busy serving the food, he finally spoke again: “You don’t understand the situation. Isabella had a high fever, and her acute gastroenteritis flared up. She’s all alone here, with no one else to take care of her. I’ve known her for so many years, I can’t just ignore her, can I?” It was the same old excuse. I had heard it countless times over the past two years. Isabella had returned to the country two years ago, and the day after she came back, she called Zachary away using the excuse of not being accustomed to the local environment. “Two years, and she hasn’t made any friends,” I said, my tone somewhat sarcastic. “She’s not like you, she’s more introverted—” Zachary instinctively started to defend Isabella, but I didn’t want to hear him speak anymore. “Alright, then take good care of her,” I interrupted him and hung up the phone immediately after speaking. Olivia, who had brought out the food, overheard my conversation with Zachary. She asked about what happened today, and after I explained, she cursed Zachary vehemently on my behalf. “He’ll probably come looking for you later. Should I tell him you’re not here?” Olivia asked as she ladled some soup for me. I didn’t want to go home, but I knew I couldn’t burden Olivia, so I shook my head: “I should go back. You have work tomorrow.” Olivia bit her chopsticks, calculating how many days of annual leave she had left. I shook my head and smiled, refusing: “Didn’t you say you were saving your annual leave for a trip with your boyfriend? Won’t he be jealous if you use it to take care of me?” She patted her chest righteously, saying she didn’t care. But I was determined not to trouble her any further. After dinner, I packed up my things. Olivia was washing dishes in the kitchen, so I sat in the living room slowly waiting. But Zachary didn’t come to pick me up. I had a pretty good idea where he was, and sure enough, the next second my phone buzzed with a SnapChat message from Isabella. “Lily, I’m so sorry. I was feeling really awful, so I had to call Zachary to take me to the hospital.” “I heard you were in a car accident? I saw you covered in blood today and was so shocked. Are you feeling better now? Should I ask Zachary to make some soup for you?” Look at that, she’s come to show off again. Every time after calling Zachary away from me, Isabella would send me these boastful messages. Sitting in my wheelchair, holding my bag, I slowly typed with one hand: “Is he with you now?” “Yes, I have acute gastroenteritis so I can’t eat much, so Zachary is cooking for me. Do you want to come and join us?” Right after that, she sent a video of Zachary busy in the kitchen. I was used to this by now and didn’t reply. I just took a screenshot and sent it directly to Zachary. After a long while, probably after he finished cooking, Zachary replied: “Isabella has been abroad for a long time, so her way of speaking has changed. Don’t take it personally.” “I really think you two are a good match,” I responded. “What nonsense are you talking about? We’re the couple, she’s just my childhood friend now.” Then, as if to cover something up, he sent another message: “What do you want to eat tomorrow? I’ll cook for you.” I stared at my phone screen, not answering him, sitting alone in the wheelchair with tears in my eyes. In the seven years we’ve been together, Zachary had never cooked for me, not even a bowl of noodles. I’ve always loved to experiment with food, so my cooking is quite good. Since we started living together, I’ve been the one doing all the cooking at home. The excuse was that my food tasted better, so the more capable person should do more. Who knew? Apparently, Zachary was such a good cook. Olivia patted my back, pretending not to notice as she wheeled me off to wash up. Afterwards, she changed the bedding for me and told me to rest well. Lying in the soft bed, I received another call from Zachary. But I didn’t answer, I just turned off my phone. The next day, I was awakened by the aroma coming from the kitchen. Considering my current physical condition, Olivia had prepared many foods suitable for patients. I slowly sat up in the wheelchair, pushing myself out of the room. I heard Olivia in the kitchen, quietly talking on the phone with her boss. I should have left yesterday, but now she couldn’t go to work and had to take a half-day off for me. After she hung up the phone, I wheeled myself over to her and said, “You should go to work. I’ll head home soon.” Olivia looked at me disapprovingly. She looked at the bandage on my forehead with concern, then at my immobilized leg. “What if something happens when you’re alone at home?” After finishing breakfast, I insisted on leaving, not wanting to trouble her further. So I had to call Zachary and ask him to take me home. I called several times, and finally, Isabella picked up. “I’m sorry, Lily. Zachary was up all night taking care of me and just fell asleep. Did you need something from him? Should I wake him up?” The room was quite quiet, and I hadn’t put the call on speaker, but Olivia still heard what Isabella said. Her temper was like a firecracker, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. Just as she was about to start cursing, I stopped her. My voice was calm: “Isabella, is this the extent of your tactics? Otherwise, why hasn’t Zachary broken up with me and gotten back together with you in these two years?” There was a pause on the other end of the line, but she still used her sweet voice, pretending not to understand: “Because we’re just childhood friends. He just sees me as family. Don’t think of our relationship that way.” I was disgusted and didn’t continue to play along with her charade. I hung up the phone directly. In the end, it was Olivia who took me back home. Back to the home I shared with Zachary. I struggled through the day alone, and it wasn’t until noon the next day that Zachary returned. At the time, I was in the middle of handing over my work responsibilities. I had taken sick leave, and some of the projects I was handling needed to be transferred to others in advance. Zachary’s face was pale, looking as if he was the one who had fallen ill. Seeing me sitting alone in the wheelchair, busy with work, he quickly ran over to me.

My childhood sweetheart suddenly officially announced his relationship one night. His girlfriend was the girl who had been pursuing him for three weeks. One day, he finally snapped at me, his tone impatient: “If it’s not important, can you please stop bothering me?” But he knew very well that I lost my right leg because of him. I looked at him coldly and left with a parting shot, “Don’t think too highly of yourself.” A few months later, he was crying at my doorstep, begging for forgiveness. 0Recently, a girl has been relentlessly pursuing my childhood friend. She sent flowers on Valentine’s Day, brought water when he played basketball, and waited for him after evening study sessions – she tried every trick in the book. I thought she would fail like all of Jack’s countless admirers before her, but when I asked Jack about his feelings towards her, I saw him hesitate for the first time. Although he eventually told me to stop asking such pointless questions, I noticed something different. After one basketball game, when he accepted the water Emma handed him, I saw a genuine smile on his face amidst the teasing from others. I realized he had fallen for Emma. Otherwise, why would he suddenly leave our dinner together when he received a message from Emma asking for help? I cleaned up our table and limped after him. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Emma said someone was following her,” he replied urgently. As he said this, I clearly felt Jack quicken his pace. I was stunned for a moment, instinctively trying to speed up as well. But I forgot that my right leg was a prosthetic, and I couldn’t run fast. The next second, I fell to the ground, letting out a cry of pain. Jack turned to look at me, but his eyes lacked their usual concern and worry. I knew that look – it was irritation and disdain. I had seen it in many people’s eyes before. He came forward to help me up, his brows furrowed and his tone unusually cold: “What’s going on?” “Why are you following me? Why didn’t you go back to the dorm? Don’t you know your own body’s limitations?” Scared by his tone, I instinctively apologized: “I’m sorry.” I wanted to keep up with him too. He seemed to finally realize he had said something wrong and ruffled my hair several times: “Lily, I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t cry.” He said, “Emma might be in danger. Be good and go back to the dorm, okay?” I nodded, and he let out a relieved sigh before turning and leaving. As Jack’s figure disappeared from my sight, I suddenly felt like crying. But I held it in. It was just… an inexplicable feeling of hurt. That day, my leg was actually scraped, but Jack didn’t notice because I was wearing long pants. In the end, I stumbled back to the dorm alone. I walked very slowly, and by the time I reached the dorm, I saw a new post on Reddit. Emma wasn’t in any danger that night; it was just a grand confession she had planned. Opening the photo, I saw Jack standing in a heart shape made of candles, his ears red. Emma stood opposite him, her face blushing. The post quickly gained traction. Most comments were along the lines of “What a perfect couple” and “The girl is so brave.” Among the hundreds of comments, I even saw my name mentioned. “Who still remembers Jack’s limping sidekick?” But this comment was quickly buried. I didn’t pay much attention to it. That night, Jack officially announced their relationship. The caption read: “A new chapter, my heart belongs to Emma.” He attached the photo of their confession from that night. With trembling fingers, I commented “Congratulations” under his post. On the day they got together, Jack replied with thanks to every comment congratulating them on that Reddit post, except for the one mentioning me. He skipped over it. In the past, he would have immediately lashed out at anyone in the comments who insulted me, not stopping until they apologized. But now, he chose to ignore the humiliation directed at me to maintain the beautiful atmosphere of his new relationship. I knew that Jack and I were drifting apart. 0

When I was ten, Jack became my new neighbor. When I first saw him, the movers were carefully carrying a Yamaha piano into their house. Jack stood awkwardly to the side, but when he saw me, a smile spread across his face: “Hello there, little girl.” Jack was excellent at playing the piano, and I had been learning ballet since childhood, so I often asked him to accompany me. Over time, we became known as “childhood sweethearts” to others. My favorite piece he played was “Für Elise.” Watching his flying fingers, my heart would start to flutter. I liked Jack. No one knew. For him, I even threw myself in front of a falling beam during a fire to protect him. While recovering in the hospital, I heard my parents crying outside the room, lamenting that I would never be able to dance again. Jack held my hand tightly at my bedside: “Lily, I’ll always be by your side from now on.” Tears slid down my cheeks as I bit my lip, barely managing to say: “Jack, I can’t shine on stage with you anymore…” I saw his expression turn grief-stricken, crying so sorrowfully, his grip on my hand tightening as he said earnestly: “Lily, you are the light itself.” From then on, Jack became my guardian angel. He would fulfill all my little wishes, like saying he would only play “Für Elise” for me alone. He would chase away other kids who gossiped about me, even if it meant getting physical. He would deliberately slow down his pace when walking with me, just to protect my fragile self-esteem. He said that whenever I needed him, he would never let me be alone. He said these things with such sincerity, and I basked in his gentleness year after year. Most of the roads we walked in our growth were wide and smooth, but I never imagined that the path between Jack and me would become muddy, causing me to fall and allowing thousands of vines to grow between us. 0

On the first day Jack and Emma got together, they invited me to dinner. When I arrived, I realized it wasn’t just the three of us. Besides the guys I knew who were friends with Jack, there were also some of Emma’s friends. Among them were people who had gossiped about my limp behind my back. Jack had previously cut ties with them because of this, but because of Emma, he chose to accept them again. I stood there frozen, watching them chat and joke happily, feeling as if my feet were weighed down by a thousand pounds. The moment they saw me, they all fell silent, looking at me with strange expressions tinged with mockery. I looked towards Jack, but he averted his gaze as if he hadn’t noticed my discomfort. In the end, I found a corner to sit down. Emma was the first to speak at the dinner: “Thank you all for your tremendous support in my pursuit of Jack! Today, I want to properly thank you!” “This first toast is for Lily.” I looked up in surprise to see Emma’s lips curled into a slight smirk, her expression smug: “Thank you, Lily, for always being by my boyfriend’s side, acting as his guardian for so long.” “If it weren’t for Lily’s companionship, how could I have caught up with Jack walking so fast?” Rachel, Emma’s friend sitting next to her, chimed in: “Don’t forget that time when Lily’s prosthetic leg fell off while trying to keep up with Jack for an 8 am class. It was hilarious, I still have photos on my phone.” They joked so naturally, making Jack laugh beside them. I choked up. It was the first time I doubted Jack. Could he really not hear the mockery in Emma’s words? Or did he also think my disability was just a casual joke to be tossed around? “Oh really? I remember something pretty funny too. Rachel’s wig fell off during the long jump in PE class. It was quite a shocking sight. It even ended up on the campus confession page afterward. I have photos on my phone too, want to see?” The one who spoke was Alex, Jack’s friend. His tone was flat, completely different from Emma and Rachel’s joking manner. Rachel’s face immediately turned awkward, forcing out a few dry laughs. After that, I kept my head down, sipping juice and secretly glancing at Jack sitting diagonally across from me, just to see if his smile was any different from when he smiled at me. The air conditioning in the private room was set very low. I unconsciously rubbed my arms, and the next second, a jacket was draped over my legs. Alex said in a voice only I could hear: “Put it on.” I obediently did as he said. I don’t know if it was my imagination, but after I put on Alex’s jacket, I clearly sensed a change in Jack’s expression. After the dinner, Jack offered to walk Emma and me back to our dorms together. Emma’s face clearly fell, but she still clung to Jack’s arm sweetly and said, “Baby, look, Lily is already wearing someone else’s jacket. Why don’t you let them have their private time? Just focus on walking me back, okay?” Jack rejected the idea without hesitation: “No, her leg isn’t good. I’m not comfortable letting her go with someone else.” As he said this, I couldn’t help but feel a bit dazed. The reason I had some interaction with Alex was also because of Jack. For instance, when Jack needed to go on dates with Emma and couldn’t accompany me to the rehabilitation center, he had asked Alex to take me there and back to school. But throughout those times, we hardly had any conversation. I really couldn’t have imagined that in a moment like this, it would be Alex who came to my rescue. Alex spoke up at this point: “Want to come with me?” I said, “I’ll go with you.” After saying this, even through the night, I clearly saw the displeasure on Jack’s face. But when he looked at Emma, that displeasure instantly melted into tenderness. Two taxis drove side by side. Because the distance was so short, through the car window, I could even see the two of them kissing shamelessly in the backseat.

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My wife, Jessica Davis, had always loved Tristan Carter. But when he killed a patient, she decided to pin everything on me, Brian Hughes. “It’s just getting fired from the hospital. It’s not a big deal. “Tristan is different. He’s about to be promoted. His career can’t have any stains.” I was dragged to the rooftop by the patient’s family and thrown off the third floor. Miraculously, I survived. And with that fall, the memories I had lost seven years ago came rushing back. Calmly, I canceled my ID and dialed my assistant, Tyler Morgan. “Tyler, send someone to Rhenova to pick me up.” “Mr. Sinclair? Oh my God, finally! I’ll send a helicopter right away!” On the other end of the line, Tyler was so overwhelmed with emotion that I could hear his voice trembling. The moment I hung up, the front door opened. Jessica walked in, chatting and laughing with Tristan as if nothing had happened. “Who were you on the phone with?” she asked casually while bending down to grab Tristan’s slippers. She didn’t even look at me. My answer clearly mattered far less than Tristan’s bright, cheerful voice. “Jessica, you’ve been running around so much for me these past few days. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Thank God this whole hospital mess is finally over.” Jessica glanced at me, looking slightly awkward. I chuckled to myself. Why would a useless man like me matter to her at all? I silently walked into the kitchen and took my medication. As usual, I made myself a cup of coffee. Jessica, meanwhile, finished sorting Tristan’s documents and personally escorted him to the door. Only after he left did she finally sit down on the couch and reach for the cup next to her, only to find it empty. She turned to me, her face filled with irritation. “Are you seriously giving me attitude just because I asked you to take the blame for Tristan? “Do you even understand how rare this opportunity is? He’s about to be promoted to professor. You, on the other hand, are just a lowly assistant. Losing your salary for a while won’t kill you. “Besides, Tristan even booked a private room tonight to celebrate your discharge.” At the pre-surgery meeting that day, I had pointed out that Tristan’s treatment plan was flawed. Jessica, as the hospital’s vice president, had publicly humiliated me, telling me, an assistant, to stay out of it. Not only did she dock my pay, but she also personally approved that flawed plan. When everything went south, she turned around and accused me. “You did it on purpose, didn’t you? You knew there was a problem, but you didn’t do everything in your power to stop it.” And just like that, the entire hospital threw me under the bus. Maybe she sensed something different about me because she frowned slightly and walked toward me, only to notice the gift bag by my side. “You bought a new watch? Isn’t the one you have still working?” The last flicker of warmth in my already numb heart turned ice-cold. I didn’t bother telling her that it was a birthday gift from someone else. After a moment of silence, I simply said, “Just picked it up randomly.” “Perfect. Tristan’s watch is getting old. I’ll give this one to him.” I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, she had already reached for the gift box. Just then, my phone screen lit up. [Mr. Sinclair, do you have any further instructions? I’m boarding the plane now.]

Jessica’s gaze shifted from the phone screen to my face. I was about to brush it off with some excuse. But then she suddenly sneered. “Mr. Sinclair? Seriously, Brian, do you think you’re some kind of big shot? Stop playing games with your loser friends.” I turned off my phone. “Got it.” Before I could say anything else, her phone started ringing. She was standing so close that I could clearly hear Tristan’s frantic voice on the other end. “Jessica! I left the document you just signed at your place. I need it right now. What should I do?” Jessica’s grip on her phone tightened instinctively. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring it to you right away. This is a crucial moment for your promotion. You need to stay composed. I’ll take care of everything.” After hanging up, she looked at me and said seriously, “Something came up at the hospital. I’ll be back to pick you up for the celebration later.” She turned to leave. I suddenly remembered that I still needed to get a new SIM card. So, I stood up and followed her. “I’ll go with you.” Jessica immediately flared up like a porcupine with its spikes raised. “Why the hell are you following me? What’s wrong with you? Do you want to put a leash around my neck, too?” Seeing the anger flicker in her eyes, I spoke in a low voice. “My SIM card is broken. Drop me off at the mobile service center on your way to the hospital. Any problem with that?” She froze for a moment. Ignoring her dazed expression, I put on my shoes and walked out the door. There was a time when I felt uneasy about how close she was to Tristan. But after the hospital attack, I was just exhausted. My wounds hadn’t fully healed, and a dull pain lingered all over my body. Every time it ached, all I could think about was that moment, Jessica shielding Tristan, watching me collapse in a pool of blood, and coldly saying, “You got your revenge on Brian. Isn’t that enough? Why go after Tristan, too?” That was the moment my love for her completely disappeared. After getting my SIM card replaced, I remembered I still had some things to pack at the hospital, so I went back. Turning a corner, I saw Jessica in Tristan’s arms. He was kissing her. Rage surged through me. Without thinking, I strode forward and punched Tristan. Jessica’s eyes were wide and shocked at first, but the second she saw Tristan get hurt, her expression changed. She glared at me, full of accusations. “Brian, what the hell are you doing?” Tristan, looking pitiful and innocent, muttered, “I couldn’t help myself. If Brian wants to hit me, I deserve it.” Jessica’s heart ached for him. Her voice softened immediately. “Tristan, it’s not your fault. I was willing. “I recognize you so late as my savior. I was just following my heart. If Brian wants to throw a fit, let him.”

I frowned, “What do you mean, savior?” Tristan shook his head at Jessica, silently telling her not to explain. But Jessica couldn’t stand seeing Tristan take the blame. “Fine. I’ll tell you,” she said. “Seven years ago, I was kidnapped by rebels during the Auristia war. Tristan saved me. Without him, you wouldn’t even have me today. “I fell for him back then. If it weren’t for you interfering, we wouldn’t have lost all these years.” I thought, “Interfering?” She was the one who confessed first. That was why we got together. I let out a bitter laugh. Tristan sighed, “Jessica, stop. I don’t want to ruin your marriage over this. “It’s been so many years. You should let go of your obsession with me. I’ll put my feelings aside and leave the hospital.” Hearing that, Jessica panicked and clutched his hand. “No! You’re not leaving. Even if it’s not for me, can you really walk away from the career you built over seven years?” Tristan took a deep breath. “But Brian…” “Brian!” Jessica turned to me. “You better promise you won’t mind Tristan being around anymore. If he leaves, I’ll never forgive you!” I looked down, chuckled at myself, and said, “Let’s get a divorce. I’ll give you both the world you want.” Shock flashed across Jessica’s face. I turned and walked away. Tristan suddenly grabbed my wrist. He showed a satisfied smirk before he winced and clutched his hand in pain. “Brian has every right to hit me,” he said weakly. “Jessica, don’t worry about me. Let him get his anger out.” Jessica’s palm landed hard across my face. “Brian, you make me sick. “There’s a limit to how much you can throw a tantrum. Tristan saves lives with his hands, and you dare hurt them? I never even said I wanted a divorce! Why are you being so dramatic?” I laughed lightly and spoke calmly. “I’m serious. Let’s divorce.” Behind me, Jessica was fuming. I couldn’t care less about her emotions anymore. I collected my things from the hospital and stopped by a store to pick up some local specialties. Then my phone rang. It was Jessica. “The private room is full. Get here soon, and bring a gift for the elders,” she ordered. I didn’t want to go. Jessica’s voice turned firm. “We’re still married. You need to fulfill your duties as a husband.” Exhausted, I hailed a cab. When I arrived outside the private dining room, Jessica’s laughter and chatter with her friends were especially grating. “Jessica, did Brian really ask for a divorce?” one of her friends asked. She scoffed, “He’s just throwing a tantrum. He’s nothing but a homeless stray. Do you think he’d actually leave me? “He knows he can’t compare to Tristan. He’s just acting out. But once he begs me properly later, I might be kind enough to forgive him.” I thought, “Homeless stray. So that’s what gave her such confidence.”

I pushed the door open and walked in. Jessica looked at me, her eyes flickering with surprise. Her mother, Sarah Davis, let out a cold snort. “No respect for your elders. You’re so late! If Jessica didn’t like you, I would’ve kicked you out a long time ago.” I gave a faint smile, already used to Sarah’s insults. Just as I stepped forward, a waiter blocked my way. “Sir, please put on shoe covers.” In the past, for Jessica’s sake, I had endured this humiliating rule that seemed to apply only to me. But now that I no longer loved her, I saw no reason to put up with it. Sensing my resistance, Jessica stepped forward and dismissed the waiter. “Come in.” She took my hand and led me to sit beside her. But when she saw the gift in my hand, her expression instantly darkened. “Brian, is this how you buy gifts? “I went through the trouble of inviting my parents to celebrate your recovery, and this is what you bring? This cheap, embarrassing thing?” Tristan, sitting nearby, tried to calm her down. “Jessica, don’t be upset. Getting angry isn’t good for your health.” I let out a small laugh, hiding the self-mockery in my eyes. The Davis family had made me sign a strict split-the-bill agreement with Jessica the moment we got married, just to make sure I wouldn’t leech off them. Then came the hospital lawsuit, draining all my savings. They never cared whether I had enough money to get by, but now they looked down on my gift for being cheap. Looking at them now, I realized my years of devotion had been a complete joke. I turned to leave, but Tristan suddenly stepped forward, holding a cup of steaming hot cocoa. “Brian, Jessica didn’t mean it that way. This misunderstanding is my fault. Here, let me make it up to you with this cocoa instead of wine.” As he spoke, he insisted on handing me the cup, pressing it toward my hands. Just as I dodged, the cup slipped from his grasp, spilling all over his hand. Jessica’s eyes widened in shock. She lunged forward. My face turned slightly to the side. “Brian, I’m so disappointed in you!” I clenched my jaw. Beside me, Jessica’s voice softened as she fussed over Tristan. “Does it hurt? Why didn’t you pull your hand away?” She hovered over his hand, her face full of distress. Seeing this, I stepped aside, clearing a path for them as they hurriedly left the private room with Tristan. Taking out my phone, I typed my final message. [Thank you for the past seven years. It ends here.] Right then, my ride arrived. The moment Tyler saw me, he rushed over and clung to me, sobbing uncontrollably. “Mr. Sinclair, thank god you’re alive!” I pried his arms off with a sigh. “Stop crying. It’s embarrassing.” After changing into my travel gear, I walked out of the hotel, surrounded by my security detail. Above us, the roar of helicopter blades echoed through the air. People instinctively looked up, their bodies swaying from the sudden gust of wind. Jessica and the others stood below, caught in the storm. As the helicopter descended, I passed by Jessica. She turned her head, looking up, her eyes widening in disbelief as she got a good look at the man in front of her. At the open cabin door, my black trench coat billowed wildly in the wind with black pants, short boots, and a simple, low-profile outfit, yet impossible to ignore. Jessica squinted, struggling to believe what she was seeing. Finally, recognition dawned in her eyes. “You… you’re my lifesaver!”

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My roommate was sharing her love life on a livestream. With a sweet smile, she said she was dating a wealthy older man and they’d get married right after graduation. Afraid she was being deceived, I kindly tried to persuade her. But she spread rumors with her online followers that I was jealous of her, causing me to be cyberbullied to the point of suicide. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my roommate officially announced her relationship with the supposedly rich guy. She boasted proudly, “This Hermès bag costs tens of thousands! My sugar daddy said he’d buy it for me, so he did!” I blinked and said, “Girl, have you considered the possibility that this was stolen from my house by my family’s driver?” My roommate Zoe was a relationship influencer. After posting a video about her daily life with her 36-year-old boyfriend, she gained tens of thousands of likes. Netizens urged her to be cautious, warning her not to be deceived by bad people. They questioned why she would waste her youth on an older man. But when she posted her next video showcasing the gifts her boyfriend had given her, the internet exploded. The video was filled with exquisite luxury items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. “Oh my god, a Hermès bag worth tens of thousands!” “This guy is loaded!” “To be honest, if they’re serious about getting married, this influencer doesn’t need to work hard anymore.” “I’m not gonna lie, I wouldn’t mind experiencing the life of a rich wife. Even if he’s an old man, I’d be fine with a monthly allowance of tens of thousands!” “Sister, I wish you all the best.” “Although her boyfriend looks ordinary, he’s not ugly. Being rich is definitely a bonus.” Countless comments praised Zoe’s good fortune, saying she didn’t need to worry about finding a job after graduation. The video quickly surpassed 100,000 likes. Zoe was thrilled and decided to continue developing her social media account. I watched the video with a cold eye. If you didn’t look closely, you wouldn’t notice the small crack on the strap of that exquisite Hermès bag – it was made by my family’s dog. Most people wouldn’t notice it. That’s why I had discarded the bag, carelessly tossing it aside. I never imagined it would be taken by my family’s driver.

Zoe was one of my few friends in college. In my previous life, I had a cold and indifferent personality. I was pretty laid-back and didn’t like to get involved in drama. As long as things weren’t too outrageous, I would turn a blind eye. Reborn to the time when my roommate and her boyfriend had just officially announced their relationship, I tried to respect others’ fates, set aside my urge to help, and decided to let this pair of scoundrels be. “Lily, I’m out of sunscreen. Can I borrow some from you? I’ll buy a new one and return it to you next time.” At this moment, Zoe was wearing full makeup and a stylish dress, with her phone set up on the table. She was probably recording a makeup video. While asking, her hand had already skillfully unscrewed the cap and was about to apply it to her skin. I smirked, “Sure, it’s $1000 a bottle. You’ve used about half, so just give me $500. WeChat or PayPal?” In my previous life, Alex had invited her out for dinner tonight. Zoe had previously hinted, both consciously and unconsciously, that a guy was pursuing her, claiming he was from a wealthy family. But later, when I learned the truth, I realized that all her jewelry and gifts were stolen by Alex from my home. Since they weren’t limited editions, it wasn’t easy to notice unless you looked closely. After all, I had so many bags that they filled several large wardrobes. Zoe paused in disbelief. “Five hundred? Lily, I’m just borrowing it. Why are you being so petty?” I glanced at the table behind her, and she unconsciously moved to block my view. I laughed coldly to myself. She often came to take my things without asking, and never returned them after using them. Although I didn’t lack for anything, these were all high-quality items. “The face masks you borrowed from me last time, you’ve used them all, right? So pay up, five thousand.” I pointed at the empty box behind her. Zoe was shocked because I usually never cared about these things. Everything she wanted, as long as she asked, or sometimes even without asking, would come and go without return. Three whole years had passed, and almost everything on her desk was taken from me. Indeed, two thieves, a perfect match. Let them have each other. “How can you be like this, Lily? Why didn’t you tell me it cost five thousand dollars when I borrowed it? Are you deliberately trying to embarrass me? Do you think I can’t afford to pay you back?” Our other roommate, Emma, rolled her eyes. “Yeah, if we had known it was so expensive, Zoe definitely wouldn’t have borrowed it. She just needed it urgently. Can’t her boyfriend buy her whatever she wants?” Emma was the one in our dorm who benefited the most from Zoe’s generosity. Initially, when Zoe had leftover snacks, she would share them with us. Later, to monopolize everything, Emma would sarcastically say, “Oh my, I’m the poorest in our dorm. Who’s as rich as Lily? She probably looks down on these things anyway. Why don’t you give them all to me, Zoe?” “Yeah, you can’t even find these online. My boyfriend specially drove his Rolls-Royce to deliver them to me. Lily, I’ll bring you something better next time.” She coyly handed everything to Emma. I wanted to say something but held back. These bulk snacks, some even without a brand, were things even my dog wouldn’t eat. To maintain her face, I could only smile and say, “You guys enjoy.” In exchange, Emma would bring food for Zoe every day and answer roll calls for her, like a loyal servant. Zoe would occasionally offer to buy me a milk tea, but in the end, I always ended up paying. After all, from the first day of school, I had made no secret of my rich girl persona. In my previous life, I foolishly considered her a good friend and was deeply touched. Now I realize she was just using a little kindness to leech off me as much as possible. “Are you blind? Can’t you see that huge logo? Money doesn’t grow on trees. Isn’t your boyfriend rich? Ask him for money. Hurry up, I need to go to class. Otherwise, I’ll report this to our counselor.” I waved my phone. Zoe, seeing she was about to be late for her date, glared at me angrily, muttered “I’ll transfer it to you tonight,” and stormed out in her high heels, slamming the door. Emma couldn’t stand it anymore and started to confront me, “Some people think they can bully others just because they’re rich. They pretend to be friends on the surface, but they can’t shake off that petty nature.” I shrugged, “Emma, do you know why you didn’t get the poverty subsidy this year?” She suddenly became serious, “You know about that?” I knew how important this money was for her, coming from a poor family. “See for yourself.” I sent her all my chat records with Zoe. “Lily, Emma really smells bad. I can’t stand it anymore. I feel sick whenever she comes near me. Do you think she caught some disease outside? I really want to ask the counselor to change my dorm.” “Lily, will you come with me?” I had replied, “But I think she’s quite clean. Just bear with it.” “No, I can’t swallow this. I’m going to tell the counselor.” But later, the counselor didn’t move her out of our dorm, and suddenly said that due to moral issues, Emma’s subsidy for this year was canceled. Perhaps Zoe felt that her lackey still had some use value and didn’t ask for a dorm change. Emma angrily threw her chair, “Just you wait, Zoe.”

I took the afternoon off and returned to my familiar home. I hugged my parents tightly. In my previous life, under the pressure of netizens’ doxxing and harassment, I was tormented beyond endurance. Even my father’s company suffered a stock market crash. They aged overnight because of my situation. What they never expected was that the mole was right in our own home. “You’re all grown up, but still so impulsive. Wash your hands and come eat.” I took the chopsticks my mother handed me. “Dad, help me investigate someone.” Early the next morning, I rushed back to school for class. The classroom was packed. I calculated the time; Zoe was probably still cuddling with her old boyfriend. This was the strictest professor’s class. Skip once, and you fail the course. I looked at the familiar bag in the video. In this life, Zoe had once again posted a video of the Hermès bag Alex gave her. It received the same admiration from netizens. If I remember correctly, isn’t this Hermès bag only available to VIP customers? Your boyfriend must be really rich, beautiful. Zoe lost herself in a chorus of flattery. Oh, this is just an insignificant gift from my sugar daddy. He’s very good to me. He says we’ll get married after I graduate. I commented using a throwaway account: Isn’t this man too old? Doesn’t he smell like an old person? Haha, who knows, maybe you’re just his mistress on the side. As soon as I posted this, I was bombarded with replies from many netizens. After the trials of my previous life, I now felt completely unmoved by these responses. [You said exactly what I was thinking.] [Oh my god, does he really not have a wife?] [Even if we take a step back, would such a rich person really go for a college student?] [This girl really hit the jackpot, but she looks so bitter and mean-spirited.] I put down my phone, very satisfied with my stirring of the pot. I’m sure Zoe must be fuming on the other end.

When I returned to the dorm after class, I heard Zoe angrily questioning me and Emma: “Why didn’t you respond to my messages? Didn’t you answer roll call for me?! Do you know I’m about to fail the course, you heartless people!” “You hypocritical bitch, how dare you report my makeup to the counselor. And to think I helped you so many times before.” Emma went to slap her, and I stepped aside to make way. The slap landed squarely on Zoe’s face. Zoe held her face in disbelief. “Are you crazy? What right do you have to hit me! You’re the one with severe body odor, don’t you know that?” So the two started fighting. Emma had a fiery temper and was stronger, and a lot of Zoe’s hair was pulled out. I watched with great amusement. Then, she seemed to realize something and suddenly pointed at me, “You told her?” Her clothes were pulled down a lot, revealing fresh red marks on her chest from last night. She must have suffered quite a bit. Emma sneered, “So that’s why you receive so many gifts every day. You’re sleeping around. I’m going to tell the counselor right now and ruin your reputation!” “What nonsense are you spouting?! I’m in a proper relationship, it’s none of your business. Shut your stinking mouth!” “Lily, how could you do this to me? I’ve been so good to you, and this is how you betray my trust?” “You can do despicable things, why can’t I talk about them?” “Lily, don’t bother talking to her anymore. Wait until I report her to the counselor this afternoon, let’s see what she has to say then.” Emma pulled me away. Zoe cursed as she walked to the bathroom, preparing to remove her makeup. After a while, she suddenly screamed. “My face, my face!”

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I slipped the matchmaker $500, asking her to make me sound as appealing as possible. She really delivered, describing me as accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy and painting – the perfect combination of a virtuous wife and loving mother, beautiful both inside and out. Thanks to her efforts, I managed to marry a great husband. The kind that’s always abroad and rarely comes home. With the added condition of taking care of a child under 5 years old. I agreed without hesitation! From then on, pizza and burgers became our daily staples. The kid and I lived carefree days, happy as can be! Now, I dabbed at non-existent tears with a tissue, crossing my legs as I spoke softly into the phone to my husband: “No matter how big the house is, it’s not a home without you here.” A low chuckle came through the line, his deep voice tinged with amusement: “Honey, there are cameras in the house.” “More than one.” I stopped swinging my leg and carefully slid it under the covers. Keeping my tone unchanged, I said, “Darling, what do you mean there are cameras? I had no idea.” I glanced around the large villa, lavishly decorated. I had installed much of the furniture myself while James was away, and he hadn’t been back since. How could there possibly be cameras? “Are you trying to scare me? I’m already nervous being alone in this big empty house, and now you say things like that!” I pretended to get angry, huffing into the phone, “I’m not talking to you anymore!” Then I quickly hung up. Sitting on the bed, I started to calm down and think. For now, I’d play it cool. Damn it, it had been eight months! A full eight months before he mentioned cameras? James was definitely lying. If it was true, then all my carefully crafted image would be ruined!

James and I met through a dating service. He’s 31 this year, makes over a million dollars annually, and is both muscular and handsome. Apparently he had a girlfriend before, but James’ work is special – he’s often away for months at a time. Plus he has a child. Entrusted to him by his late brother. His ex-girlfriend thought she could handle it at first, but the problem was the kid. This wasn’t an ordinary child – he had very strong aggressive tendencies. On their first meeting, he apparently knocked the girl down with a sweeping kick. His pranks were endless. She ran away after less than two days. Until she met me. I came from a poor family without much education. My only asset was my thick skin. I gave the matchmaker $500 to make me sound as good as possible. By the time it reached James, I had become an accomplished musician, artist and chef – the perfect virtuous wife and loving mother, not to mention a great beauty. James was intrigued and agreed to meet me. After seeing me in person, he was even more interested. The next day we got married. The bride price was a million dollars, plus this big villa. But there was one condition – I had to take good care of that violent little boy. I held my head, eyes darting around nervously. I really couldn’t be sure if James was telling the truth or not. Just then, there was a knock at the door. I was a bit slow to respond, and the door was forcefully pushed open.

A little figure stood in the doorway. With big eyes and thick brows, he looked like a perfect little gentleman doll. He wore a small suit with suspenders, the very picture of a young master. At the moment, he was glaring at me with a gloomy expression. I knew what this meant – he was hungry. In the past, I would have rushed over with a big grin, hugging and kissing his chubby cheeks no matter how much he struggled. I’d cackle like a witch and exclaim, “Who’s this adorable little angel? Let auntie give you a big kiss!” But I couldn’t do that now. If there really were cameras like James said, I had to maintain my image. Even if it was a lie, surely James wasn’t watching 24/7. Maybe I still had a chance to fix things. “Emily, you are graceful and virtuous. You are gentle and kind,” I told myself. So I put on my most gentle smile and glided over to the little boy. I crouched down and said softly, “Sweetie, are you hungry? Would you like auntie to make you some pasta?” The boy was stunned. He even took a step back. After hesitating for a while, he frowned and said: “Did you take the wrong medication?” “…” I raised a finger to cover my smile: “What are you saying, darling? I’ve always been like this.” The boy thought for two seconds, then turned and ran to his room. Soon he came back with a water gun from who knows where. He started spraying me, as if trying to take me down on the spot. The stream was very strong, hitting me right in the face. I stopped smiling.

I wiped my face and took a deep breath. The boy’s surname was Lu like James, and his name was Leo. When James wasn’t around, I always called him “little bean” which felt natural and affectionate. Now I didn’t dare, so I put on a sad expression instead. “Leo, do you still hate me?” I covered my face and cried. With my face all wet, you couldn’t tell if I was really crying. My voice choked up as if I was extremely upset. “Auntie has done everything she can. I buy you whatever you want. Why do you still hate me…” Leo was stunned again. His little brain couldn’t understand such abstract adult behavior. He tilted his head in confusion and asked, “Leo?” Didn’t she always call him “little bean”? I choked again, about to break character. I quickly got up to heat some milk for the child. Leo was an extremely picky eater, so I always had him eat small frequent meals to make sure he got enough nutrition. Thinking back, Leo and I had a very rough start too. The day James and I got married, he disappeared. He just gave me the keys to the villa and told me to settle in on my own. So when I realized James wasn’t around and I had full control of this villa, I threw a huge celebration that very night. I made myself a big pot of spicy hotpot. A really extravagant one. I bought loads of shrimp, meat, and meatballs – things I never dared to imagine before. The first time Leo saw me, before I could even speak, he came at me with punches and kicks. He was surprisingly strong. Like a furious little lion defending his territory. I got angry too and spanked his little bottom, warning him he’d get no dinner if he was so rude again. Leo didn’t listen, so I really didn’t prepare any dinner for him. By the time I had almost finished my hotpot, I finally remembered the child. Feeling guilty, I cooked the remaining beef and put it in a bowl for Leo. At first he refused to eat, but as the smell of hotpot spread, he got too hungry and finally dug in with a scowl. Then he had diarrhea for three days and nights. I had no idea the kid’s stomach was so delicate. As a first-timer with no experience, I was terrified. I carried Leo to the hospital in a cold sweat. The whole time I held him, rubbing his tummy when it hurt and singing lullabies when he whimpered in discomfort. Leo clutched me tightly with his little hands. We stayed like that for three days and nights. After that, he never hit me again. And that’s how one hotpot cured a problem child.

I finally managed to get Leo to sleep. After maintaining my graceful act for half a day, I was completely drained. After showering, I lay in bed desperately trying to think of other ways to show my virtuous wife and mother side. But I was so tired that I fell asleep before I knew it. So I had no idea that in the middle of the night, someone picked the lock on my door. A figure radiating heat and danger stood by my bed. But Leo heard. He still retained memories from when he was younger. He was only two then, living abroad. On a dark night just like this, a group of people brazenly broke into his home. They hacked at his defenseless parents, then did unspeakable things to his mother’s corpse. He didn’t cry, but it was all burned into his memory. He vividly remembered the desperate fear of that night, which was why he instinctively tried to solve everything with violence. If that didn’t work, he wanted to kill them all. Leo silently appeared outside the door, holding a weapon Uncle James had given him. He didn’t want that woman to die now. She may act crazy, but he just didn’t want her to die. He wasn’t sure if the dangerous person inside was from the same group that killed his parents. But he wasn’t afraid this time. He would protect her. Before Leo could act further, the person inside suddenly appeared behind him. A hand swung towards his face with frightening speed. Leo quickly stepped back, drawing his weapon, ready to fight to the death. But he was scooped up in strong arms. “Huh?” Leo was startled. By the time he realized what happened, he had already been carried downstairs. When Leo saw who it was, his face lit up with joy. “Uncle James!” “Shh.” James held Leo, sitting him on his sturdy thigh. “Don’t wake her up.” After studying the boy for a moment, he nodded, “You’ve gained some weight.” Leo pursed his lips in a small smile. Being fed five meals a day, he was already trying hard to control his weight. James had three days of leave this time. To be honest, he was very intrigued by his young wife. His work abroad involved dangerous, grueling missions. His only interest and hobby was watching what new tricks his little wife would get up to each day. She looked as beautiful as a butterfly in the cameras, her antics both amusing and endearing in their silliness. James naturally knew her true nature. In their line of work, seeing through a person was child’s play. But if his little wife wanted to act, he was happy to watch her performance. Though he couldn’t help teasing her a bit. “Do you like her taking care of you?” James asked softly. He knew that after over half a year together, Leo and Emily’s relationship, while not loving, was at least peaceful. Perhaps with a hint of affection? Leo really thought about it seriously before nodding. “She’s an interesting woman.” James couldn’t help but smile. “That move earlier was pretty good. I’ll teach you a few more tricks in the morning.” Leo nodded, unable to hold back a yawn. James let the child go to sleep, but not before reminding him, “No matter what you hear in the morning, don’t worry. I’ll be here for three days, we’ll all be very safe, okay?” Leo nodded and went to bed fully at ease this time. James was still in his camouflage uniform, his boots caked with dark red mud. He raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, then decided to strip it all off. He took a shower and changed into comfortable loungewear. Then step by step, he returned to the bedside. Though lively in personality and prone to little white lies, her sleeping form was quiet and docile. James silently climbed into bed. He first kissed her forehead, then couldn’t resist kissing the corner of her mouth. Slowly, he gathered her into his arms. The face he had only been able to watch through cameras for nearly eight months was finally in his embrace. Ah… He hoped his little wife wouldn’t be too startled when she woke up.

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A Tale of Two Sisters: Reborn My sister and I were given a second chance at life on the day our parents divorced. Once again, my sister rushed into the arms of our future millionaire father. “Mom’s love is the most precious, I’ll let my sister have it!” she said sweetly. But as I looked at my seemingly gentle mother, who would jump from a high-rise building with me ten years later, I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. Opening my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of my parents’ divorce. Stella suddenly pushed me aside and threw herself into Dad’s arms. She looked back at me coldly, but her words were sweet and soft: “Mom’s love is the most precious, I’ll let my sister have it.” I instinctively turned around and shuddered at the sight of Mom sitting in the shadow of the sofa. She was wearing a plain white dress, her face unclear, like a merciful Buddha statue. Hearing Stella’s words, she seemed unsurprised and beckoned to me. “Alright, Lily, come here.” Stella and I are sisters. In my previous life, after our parents divorced, I went with Mom, a highly educated violinist, while Stella went with our good-for-nothing father. But unexpectedly, fortunes c ed. The good-for-nothing became the richest man in A City, and Stella transformed into an elegant little princess adored by all. Meanwhile, Mom injured her hand and could no longer play the violin. Our family fell into poverty, and she gradually became mentally unstable. In her delirium, she eventually lost control and jumped from a high-rise building with me— The intense pain of falling from the building was still coursing through my body. Now, Mom’s cold, merciful face alternated in my mind with her disheveled, blood-stained face from ten years later— I couldn’t help but let out a sharp cry of rejection: “No! I want to go with Dad, together with my sister!” Mom’s hand hovered over my shoulder. She froze, asking uncertainly, “Lily, what did you say?” At this time, Mom was still the lead violinist of the A City Orchestra, pursued by countless admirers, while Dad was just a middle school dropout without a job. She couldn’t understand why I would give up going with her to choose that good-for-nothing father. Dad rubbed his hands together, calling out to me excitedly, “Lily? My good girl, come with me, that’s right…” He started walking towards me— “No way!” Stella clung tightly to Dad, shaking his arm and pleading, though her eyes were cold as she looked at me, “I’m Daddy’s little princess, Daddy said he likes me the most!” Dad tried to reason with Stella, “It’s not that I don’t want you, how about both Stella and Lily come with Dad?” “No.” Stella pouted and started crying crocodile tears, “I want Dad’s exclusive love, Dad can only have me…” Stella had always been more like Dad, with the same phoenix eyes and quick wit, while I was more like Mom – quiet but better at studying. Dad had always preferred Stella. Hearing his daughter’s coquettish words, his eyes lit up with pleasure, and he stopped moving towards me. I panicked: “Dad…” But my weak voice was drowned out by Stella’s cries. Dad was busy comforting Stella, holding her in his arms and wiping away her tears. I stood in the corner, enviously watching them, as if seeing through this scene to their flower-strewn life in the next ten years. Stella’s eyes inadvertently met mine, and those eyes showed no childish naivety or innocence, only malicious satisfaction and mockery— “Sister, you still can’t beat me.” This wasn’t right… In the previous life, although Stella had also chosen Dad, she hadn’t been so resistant to me. Her eyes looking at Mom and me had once been full of envy. I watched Stella’s small hand tightly gripping Dad’s clothes, And came to an absurd conclusion— Stella… had also been reborn! Standing at the desolate doorway with a heavy backpack, Mom was frowning as she tried to hail a taxi. I secretly looked back; through the window, I could see the warm light inside. The despised good-for-nothing dad was combing Stella’s hair. His eyes were gentle, his movements careful, afraid of hurting Stella. Even after becoming the richest man in A City, I heard that when it came to matters concerning Stella, Dad always handled them personally. So, as soon as Stella shed a tear, Dad unhesitatingly gave up on me— Still couldn’t manage to go with Dad… I struggled to adjust the shoulder strap of my backpack, my nose tingling. “Lily, get in the car.” Mom’s cold voice interrupted my thoughts. I got into the car. From the corner of my eye, I could see Mom sitting straight. She was always like this; even when we later fell into poverty, her neck was always proudly raised like a swan’s. But a swan’s feathers can’t be eaten. I unconsciously rubbed my palm, feeling a smooth texture, only to remember that I was still a child, not yet having to wash dishes at small restaurants to supplement our income like in my previous life. The cold water in the small restaurant’s kitchen was biting, painfully cold. In my previous life, I had developed thick chilblains. Mom and I moved into her pre-marriage small apartment. The apartment was in disrepair, with a thick layer of dust on the dust covers. Mom pushed a box of instant noodles in front of me, rubbing her temples, looking very tired. “Lily, eat.” I lowered my head and stirred with the disposable spoon. The noodles had been soaking too long, looking pale and unappetizing, with oil floating on the surface making me nauseous. I couldn’t help but think of visiting Dad’s house in my previous life. Dad, wearing an apron, cooking for Stella – braised prawns, cola chicken wings, fish soup, and carefully ar ed fresh fruits. Tears dripped into the instant noodle cup. Why, why couldn’t Dad take both of us? Why did Stella have to drive me away? She had already been a pampered little princess for years, why couldn’t she give me even a little sweetness? The feeling of grievance gradually consumed me. “Lily, I’m starting a tour tomorrow. You’ll stay at your uncle’s house, and I’ll come back to pick you up when it’s over.” Tour? I wiped my tears with the back of my hand and boldly asked, “Mom, can I not go to Uncle’s house? I want to go with you.” Mom glanced at me and sneered. “Didn’t you want to go with your dad? Why do you want to come with me now?” I didn’t know how to answer. “Alright, I’ll only be gone for half a month. I’ll come back to pick you up in half a month.” Before I could respond, Mom got up and went into the bedroom, closing the door with a ” “. In my previous life, for this tour, Mom also said half a month, but in reality, she was gone for a year. When she came back to pick me up a year later, her hand was injured, and she had lost her job. The once favored violinist of the orchestra had become a fallen dog overnight. After that, Mom, who was already lonely and sensitive, became even more unpredictable in her moods. She never allowed anyone to mention that accidental injury and didn’t give me a good face either. If… if that accident hadn’t happened, even if I couldn’t become a little princess like Stella, at least our lives wouldn’t have been so miserable. The violin was Mom’s soul, I didn’t dare to suggest she give up the tour. I paced in the living room, finally wrote a note saying “Be careful”, and slipped it into Mom’s bag. I thought that when I woke up early the next morning, I must plead with Mom face to face again, to take me along. Having an extra pair of eyes watching at the scene would always be an extra hope. 3 I fell asleep in anxiety. In my dream, Mom’s eyes were streaming with bloody tears, staring at me intently, both resentful and relieved. She was crying and laughing, her white long dress covered in filth. But I didn’t expect Mom to leave without saying goodbye in the middle of the night. The next day when I opened my eyes, I heard Uncle calling my name from outside the room, “Lily, your mom has gone on tour, come home with me—” While eating after school, I overheard Uncle and Aunt chatting. Uncle was a police officer and knew a lot of information in his daily life. “I heard that Robert got a big business deal, working for the Walker family’s eldest son.” “He’s probably bluffing. How could someone with such a useless face do big business? If we had known earlier, we wouldn’t have agreed to let Natalie marry him…” Natalie is my mom, Natalie . My mom’s whole family looked down on Robert, that is, my dad. But only I knew that Robert wasn’t bluffing. He really did get a business deal from the big boss of A City. He did this deal very well and became the right-hand man of Mr. Walker overnight. The Robert they despised would cradle Stella in his arms, comb her hair, cook for her, buy her beautiful clothes, and would soon soar to great heights. While Natalie, who was considered “too good for Robert”, left without saying goodbye, abandoning her daughter who had just experienced her parents’ divorce at her uncle’s house. Uncle and Aunt were originally well-off, but they had no children. Over the years, they had been running around trying for IVF, almost emptying their savings, but still couldn’t fulfill their wish. Aunt’s face was long every day, and I was like a little chick living under someone else’s roof, cautious in everything. I lowered my head and angrily poked at the rice in my bowl. This family looks down on some and flatters others, not knowing Dad’s good qualities. I remembered that in my previous life, after Dad’s career took off, Uncle once took me to visit. By then, Mom’s wish to recover as a violinist had become an obsession, but we couldn’t afford the expensive surgery fees. We had no choice but to go to the Lin family for help. When we were invited in by the housekeeper, we only learned that Dad was on a business trip, and only Stella was at home. We wanted the Lin family to lend us some money, considering that they had kept the house when they divorced. I will never forget the arrogant and contemptuous look in Stella’s eyes when she said, “You looked down on my dad, and now you come begging for food. How shameless!” Uncle, who was over fifty, flushed red, and we left in embarrassment. But Dad was still kind. When he came home and heard about this, he sent us a million dollars through someone. He said we didn’t need to pay it back, just to use it. I was so grateful I didn’t know what to say. I excitedly took the money to find Mom, wanting to tell her that we finally had enough money for her treatment— But I was grabbed by Mom, whose eyes were desperate, and she jumped directly from the high-rise building… … After dinner, Uncle patted my head and sighed deeply. “Your mom will be back next week. She… has it tough, you should understand her more.” I remained silent. Uncle sighed again, “Lily, your mom still loves you very much, you’ll understand in the future.” How far in the future? In my previous life, ten years passed, and Mom still didn’t have a good face for me. Occasionally when she was in a good mood, she would speak to me gently for a few sentences, but soon after, she would have an emotional breakdown again. Those days of living with Mom in the apartment were like an endless nightmare, gray, absurd, and long-drawn. At night, the phone in the room suddenly shrilly. I answered groggily, and surprisingly, it was Stella’s voice on the other end— “Lily, find a way to stop Mom from participating in tomorrow’s performance—” 4 Psycho. I instinctively wanted to up the phone. “Lily, Mom can’t participate in tomorrow’s performance!” she repeated. Why? I frowned, trying to remember. The last performance of this tour was in C City, the climax of the entire tour. If I remember correctly, this performance also made a young starlet famous… Autumn . Also Stella’s future stepmother. I found my guess unbelievable, “Stella, are you crazy? You’d rather ruin your own mother’s performance to please your future stepmother?” Indeed, Stella was not only reborn, but she also knew that we both had a second chance at life. She wasn’t surprised at all by what I said, just impatiently repeated once more, “Don’t worry about that, just don’t let Mom participate in tomorrow’s performance. I’ll give you money, is a hundred thousand enough?” I laughed bitterly. How dare Stella, after stealing my life, come to me high and mighty asking for help, wanting me to intervene and stop Mom’s performance to please her stepmother. How shameless. “I won’t do it. If you want to do it, go find Mom yourself. I’m ing up—” “Don’t up!” Stella’s tone carried a hint of barely noticeable anxiety, “Mom won’t answer my calls, I can’t reach her…” “Lily, please help… This has nothing to do with Autumn .” Nothing to do with Autumn ? Then why is she so insistent on not letting Mom participate in tomorrow’s tour? What exactly is going to happen during tomorrow’s tour? In my previous life, Mom had always been secretive about that year of touring, never willing to tell me what happened. Even though I was reborn, I was still in the dark. I paused, “You can’t reach her, and I can’t either. Mom doesn’t like to be disturbed during her performances, you know that.” Disturbing Natalie during her performances and training would result in scolding. She might not even answer our calls at all. Both Stella and I knew this very well. There was silence on the other end for a few seconds, and when she spoke again, there was a hint of pleading in her voice. “You can do it… Pretend to be sick, pretend to be injured, whatever method you use, Mom will answer your call.” “Lily, please.” “You don’t want Mom’s hand to be injured again, do you?” —?!! I took a deep breath and asked with a trembling voice: “Is Mom’s accident tomorrow?” “Yes, so Lily, you must stop Mom.” After ing up the phone, my mind was in chaos. In my previous life, from the day our parents divorced, Stella and Mom never saw each other again. How did she know about Mom’s accident in another city? Can I trust her? But… what if what Stella said is true? Can I save Mom? From a young age, Mom had been traveling between various performances, rarely coming home to accompany us. We saw her more in performance videos than at home. She loved the violin more than her own life. When I was very young, I once had a high fever that wouldn’t break. Mom was called back from Beijing, and in my delirium in the hospital room, I heard my parents arguing. It was a very important apprenticeship opportunity for Mom, and because of me, she had missed it. Mom accused Dad of not taking good care of me at home. Their voices buzzed in my head, too unclear to hear properly, but I did hear Mom slam the door in anger as she left. Dad held my hand, muttering, “Are we, your family, really less important than your violin?” I felt so guilty that my heart ached. My thoughts returned to the present. Thinking about how angry Mom would be if she discovered I was faking illness, I felt uneasy. It’s okay, Lily. I comforted myself. After all… Mom might not even answer your call, and even if she did, she might not come back. “Beep, beep—” In the quiet of the night, I could hear my own clear heartbeat. At two in the morning, Mom answered. 5 “Lily, what’s wrong?” “Mom…” I’m not very good at lying, but thankfully, over the phone, she couldn’t see my panicked expression. I pressed my lips together. “Mom, I don’t feel well, I think I have a fever…” There was a sound of something breaking on the other end of the phone, “When did the fever start? How high is it? Where’s your uncle?” Her tone was quick, accompanied by the sound of high heels hitting the floor, as if she was pacing back and forth. “Probably in the evening… I’m not sure, I woke up feeling very hot on my face.” “Uncle… isn’t here.” I’m sorry, Uncle, I was afraid Mom would entrust me to you and not come back herself. After giving the reason, I immediately regretted it. Were the symptoms too mild? A fever and cold could be cured with some medicine. I felt frustrated, thinking I should have said I accidentally cut my hand, or accidentally broke my leg. “Don’t sleep, I’m calling for an ambulance now. There’s a digital thermometer in the first aid kit in the living room. Can you walk? Go and take your temperature.” I mechanically followed Mom’s instructions, went to the living room to get the thermometer, and only realized after putting it under my armpit— I didn’t have a fever, I was lying to Mom. The phone hadn’t been hung up, probably Mom was using someone else’s phone to call an ambulance. I suddenly felt a surge of absurdity from the bottom of my heart, very scared. Aunt suddenly burst in from outside, “Lily, your mom said you have a fever?” I opened my mouth, but my throat was so dry I couldn’t make a sound. “The ambulance will be here soon, don’t be afraid…” My breathing became a bit rapid, I felt very nervous, my heart pounding. Did I… make a mistake? The digital thermometer beeped. I took it out and looked. 38.1 degrees Celsius (100.6°F). Half an hour later, I was lying in a hospital bed. Five hours later, Mom appeared in front of me, with heavy dark circles under her eyes. She had borrowed a car and driven on the highway all night. Mom looked pale and exhausted, more like a patient than I did. She glanced at me, said nothing, and quickly turned to walk to the doctor’s office. My temperature had gone down by the time I reached the emergency room. I stared blankly at the stark white ceiling. I recognized the emergency room doctor from earlier. It was the same Dr. Wilson from when I had a fever as a child. The moment I saw him, fragments of memory collided violently in my mind, and I remembered some things— Dr. Wilson was Mom’s classmate. In my previous life, after Mom’s hand was disabled, he had come to visit us at home. I had eavesdropped on their conversation through the door crack. “Natalie, there’s a new treatment method from abroad that might be able to cure your hand. You finally have a chance to return to the stage.” “Thank you, but the surgery fee is too expensive, I can’t afford it. Besides, I have more important things…” “One million dollars should be enough for the treatment and follow-up care. I can help you apply for the project.” Back then, my focus was all on the surgery fee. I didn’t pay attention to the more important things Mom mentioned. What were those more important things? The memory seemed to be covered by a layer of frosted glass. My head was throbbing with pain. The thing that had made me so anxious didn’t happen. Mom gave up the second half of the tour and stayed home to accompany me. She didn’t question why I had lied. Until the orchestra called, the voice on the other end was chaotic, “Natalie, there’s been an accident during the performance! The center of the stage collapsed…” My heart was pounding wildly. “How’s your daughter? It’s a pity to give up this opportunity.” “…But it’s also good, you dodged a bullet!” Mom’s voice was faint, exc ing a few casual greetings before ing up the phone. She looked at me, her calm eyes showing no emotion. I was very uneasy, afraid that Mom would be angry because I had disrupted her performance, yet relieved that I had actually saved her. “What are you rolling your eyes about?” she suddenly asked. I blurted out instinctively: “Are you angry with me?” 6 Mom’s expression seemed to blank for a moment. She looked very confused, “Why would I be angry?” “Because I… you interrupted the tour…” Ms. Natalie rolled her eyes slightly, looking like she couldn’t be bothered to deal with me, and got up to the laundry. I sat on the sofa, lost in thought. “Lily, come help me hold the bedsheet.” Pulling at the corner of the half-dry bedsheet, my mind was wandering aimlessly when I suddenly felt this scene was fami . The sunlight slanted in through the window, casting a soft halo on Mom’s profile, softening her usual sharpness. I seem to have… helped Mom laundry many times. But I don’t remember. And Dr. Wilson, why did I only remember him at the hospital? We had met many times before. “Lily.” “…Huh?” Ms. Natalie looked a bit exasperated and impatient. “I’m not angry, and I won’t be angry.” She tugged at the corner of her mouth, shaking the bedsheet forcefully. “Lily, in the future, even if you’re not feeling well, you should call me immediately. Don’t think too much about other things, understand?” I dryly responded, “Oh, I understand.” “Your performance…” Mom interrupted me, “Missing one performance won’t affect my status, don’t worry unnecessarily.” But how did Stella know that Mom would have an accident during this performance? The performance accident from that year hadn’t leaked out at all. Even I, who was by her side, was kept in the dark until Mom came home a year later. I had tried to investigate on my own, but the accident seemed to have been deliberately hidden, and I found nothing. Perhaps only Stella knew what had happened. I called her many times. But st ely, after Mom came home, I could never get through to Stella’s phone again. Dad’s career had taken off, and they quickly moved to a villa in the city center. The person who answered the phone was a middle-aged woman who introduced herself as Stella’s nanny. She said Stella had gone to a closed boarding school. The nanny tactfully told me that Stella was doing very well now, Robert also had a new girlfriend, and asked me not to disturb them anymore. That’s fine then. We ended up living completely different lives, just like in my previous life. Fortunately, Mom was healthy and hadn’t become depressed due to her hand injury. In fact, because she came home early, we had more time to spend together. Thinking of this, my fear of the future temporarily subsided. As for Stella, perhaps there were really some memories I had forgotten that she still remembered. Out of familial affection, she came to warn us. If there’s a chance in the future, I will repay her too. I won’t interfere with the little princess’s life. But four months later, on a deep night, I received another call from Stella. Unlike last time, her voice was very low, sneaky, and it sounded like she was in a very noisy place. “Lily, tell Mom not to go out recently, be careful of cars on the road, and don’t contact me!” “…Stella, what’s going on? Aren’t you at boarding school?” “Just do as I say, I… beep, beep, beep—” The phone suddenly cut off. Stella said not to contact her, so I didn’t dare call back. I had a vague feeling that doing so would cause trouble for her. If the first warning could be explained by retained memories from being reborn, then with the interruption of Mom’s performance, recent events could no longer be predicted through memory. Why would Stella still issue a warning to me? Was the accident really an accident? In the living room, Mom was packing her things to go to work. I jumped down and rushed out. “Mom—” 7

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295916”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #校园School #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller