Category: English

I had endured it for five years, from dating to marriage and having a daughter. My wife, Olivia, always said she had an avoidant personality and tended to run away from intimate relationships. But I couldn’t take it anymore when our daughter, Lily, came home drenched in rain, tearfully saying, “Mom said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma, so I had to come home by myself.” When Olivia returned, I confronted her about her actions. She simply replied, “I don’t know how to explain it to you. Think whatever you want.” This time, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Today, I was working overtime at the company. I quickly sent a message to my wife, who was flying back from a trip: “Honey, I’m working late today. Could you pick up Lily from school?” As usual, there was no response to my message. The chat history showed only my messages. I had grown accustomed to her lack of replies, assuming she had seen the message and would pick up our daughter. At 8 PM, I finished work and returned home to find Lily sitting at the doorstep, crying softly, soaked to the bone. “Lily, why are you sitting outside? Hasn’t Mom come home?” I pulled her up, feeling her ice-cold hands. She must have been sitting there for a long time. As soon as she saw me, Lily burst into tears and threw herself into my arms. I quickly carried her inside, grabbing a towel to dry her hair while gently coaxing her to tell me what had happened. Sobbing, Lily said, “I saw Mom’s car at the school gate. I thought she was there to pick me up, but she said she had to drop off Uncle Ryan and his daughter Emma. She said it wasn’t on her way and told me to go home by myself.” My heart sank. Ryan was Olivia’s ex-boyfriend. How were they in contact again? At the same time, I felt a chill run through me. Lily was only in first grade. The way home wasn’t exactly close. What if something had happened to her? I remembered when we were dating. Olivia was known for her beauty and was a future pilot. Strangely, she had always been single. Out of curiosity, I pursued her for several months, constantly showing my affection until she finally agreed to be with me. Later, I learned that her parents had divorced and remarried when she was young, leaving her to grow up alone. She told me, “I have an avoidant personality. I’m not good at maintaining intimate relationships. If you can accept that, we can be together.” She rarely replied to my messages and was indifferent to my care. When faced with relationship issues, she would either say “Think whatever you want” or avoid the problem with silence. Because I loved her so much, I still married her. After marriage, we had Lily, and I thought she would be different with our daughter. I never expected her to do something like this today. She said she had an avoidant personality, so why was she willing to drive Ryan and his daughter? Stopping my racing thoughts, I quickly got Lily to take a bath, fearing she might catch a cold. I comforted her, saying that Uncle Ryan might have had an emergency, which was why Mom couldn’t bring her home, and that Mom would apologize when she returned. Lily blinked, clearly not believing me, but she was mature enough not to press further and obediently went to the bathroom. Late at night, Lily developed a fever from getting caught in the rain, mumbling “Mom” in her delirium. I gave her some fever medication and put her to bed. Thankfully, she was okay. But Olivia still hadn’t come home. I sat in the living room, my mind in chaos. When the clock struck one, Olivia finally returned, reeking of alcohol but with clear eyes. She walked straight to the living room to pour herself some water, showing no intention of explaining herself. I asked, “Olivia, why are you back so late? Did you go drinking?” She casually replied, “Yeah, had a few drinks with friends.” I pressed on, “With Ryan, right?” She turned around, irritated, and said, “Yes, with him. He’s my colleague now. Jack, your distrust is putting pressure on me.” It was the same old response. Undeterred, I questioned her about refusing to bring Lily home in the afternoon. After a long pause, her only response was a silent, expressionless stare. Feeling heartbroken for our daughter, I demanded, “Lily is so young. What if something had happened to her on her way home? Is this how you be a mother?” She finally snapped, throwing out, “I don’t know what to say anymore. Think whatever you want.” Then she shut herself in the study and didn’t come out again. I lay sleepless on the couch until the early hours of the morning, finally drifting off as dawn broke. The next morning, Olivia was nowhere to be seen. On the way to drop Lily off at school, she anxiously asked, “Dad, did Mom apologize to me last night?” Forcing a smile, I lied, “Yes, she did. Mom said she’ll buy you your favorite doll when she flies back next time to make it up to you.” Lily immediately brightened up, entering the school with an excited smile. Watching my daughter’s retreating figure, I thought sadly, how long would I have to keep lying to her?

I found myself constantly checking my phone for messages, but Olivia hadn’t sent anything since that day. When we were dating, other guys’ girlfriends would always be texting them about the little things in their lives. I gently suggested that Olivia try sharing what she was doing with me too. She looked at me incredulously, saying she really didn’t see the point in talking about eating, waking up, or going to sleep. So I never knew what Olivia was doing or where she was. It was only my trust in her that kept our relationship going until now. Yesterday, Lily came home excited, saying there was a parent-child sports day at school. She asked if Mom would have time to participate. She added thoughtfully, “I know Mom is busy. It’s okay if she can’t make it.” It was clear she really wanted to participate. Although Olivia’s monthly salary was pooled with mine for our family expenses, her schedule was always packed, leaving little time to spend with our daughter. I had always explained to Lily that Mom worked hard to give us a better life in the future. Seeing Lily’s hopeful face, I mustered up the courage to call Olivia. The call was immediately disconnected, but I received a message from her. “What is it?” I replied, “There’s a parent-child sports day at school soon. Our daughter wants you to go with her. Can you take a day off?” She responded, “When is it? I’ll see if I can make it.” I sent her the details and reminded her of a few things. Then I asked which route she was flying today. To my surprise, she gave me a detailed answer about her flight. I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she had realized her mistake from last time and was trying to improve her attitude. On the day of the sports event, I was warming up with Lily in the waiting area. She kept glancing towards the entrance, clearly distracted. As other children and parents started to enter, I crouched down and hugged Lily, asking, “Mom might be held up. How about Dad participates with you first?” Lily stubbornly shook her head and ran to the entrance. “Mom promised me. I believe in her.” Time ticked by, but there was still no sign of Olivia. I quickly messaged her, asking where she was, but got no response. My daughter’s small figure stood firmly waiting. Finally, as the event ended and other students left with their parents, Olivia still hadn’t shown up. Lily’s eyes filled with tears, but she bravely told me it was time to go home, remaining silent on the way back. When we opened the door, we found Olivia sitting on the couch, reading a book. She didn’t react to our arrival. Lily ran up to her, her little face red with anger, and demanded, “Mom, you promised me. Why didn’t you come?” Ignoring Lily’s words, Olivia frowned at me and said, “I told you I’d see how things went. I had important business come up today. Couldn’t you, as her father, just accompany her?” Olivia was always like this, rarely participating in Lily’s activities. This time, she had promised and then broken that promise. I even suspected she was using work to avoid Lily and me. Lily was about to say something else when she noticed a beautifully wrapped doll on the couch – her favorite cartoon character. Just as she picked it up to take a closer look, Olivia suddenly stopped her. “That’s not for you. I bought it for Uncle Ryan’s daughter. Don’t open the packaging.” Lily couldn’t hold back anymore and burst into tears, sobbing that she hated her mom before running to her room and locking the door. Only Olivia and I were left in the living room. She glanced at Lily’s room, seeming to want to say something, but then just sat on the couch as if nothing had happened. I couldn’t contain myself anymore. I confronted her, “Why are you doing this? You promised to come and then broke that promise. Do you know how long Lily waited for you? And that doll – why did you only buy one for Ryan’s daughter? You know Lily loves that doll. Was it so hard to buy one more?” After my barrage of questions, Olivia stood up impatiently and said defiantly, “Enough! I just want my own space. You’re all putting too much pressure on me. I’ve always been like this, with everyone.” I closed my eyes, feeling overwhelmed, and said, “If you keep this up, I don’t think I can go on!” She reverted to her expressionless, indifferent state and said, “I can’t change. If you can’t handle it anymore, let’s get divorced. We’re not compatible, and you don’t need to waste any more time on me.” Olivia had just suggested we get divorced. At that moment, I felt like all my perseverance in loving her had become a joke. She was truly a block of ice that couldn’t be warmed. But for Lily’s sake, should I really get divorced? Suddenly, Olivia’s phone rang. Right in front of me, she opened SnapChat to find a message from Ryan, thanking her for helping out on short notice. She immediately replied, saying it was no problem. So that’s why she didn’t come today. She was helping him out. My SnapChat was pinned at the top of her chat list, with a “Do Not Disturb” icon next to it. She had long since found me annoying.

For the past few days, I hadn’t messaged Olivia, who had left home. Her suggestion of divorce had extinguished any lingering hope I had. I suddenly didn’t know why I had persisted in loving her. Perhaps she never needed it. When we were dating, my friends gently warned me that if a man is too devoted, a woman might not appreciate him. I didn’t believe it then, thinking it was just because of her family background and that Olivia wasn’t inherently cold. I made sure she received all the usual gifts and companionship, no less than anyone else would. She was just too avoidant when it came to emotions. Ryan was her first love. She had actively pursued him, but in the end, Ryan said they weren’t compatible and broke up. After graduation, he married and had a daughter. Now, it seemed he was divorced. Maybe with Ryan, the unattainable was appealing to her. Watching from afar made it seem better. But I couldn’t tolerate any doubt in our relationship. If she was truly wavering, there was no point in forcing her to stay. But what about Lily? Would divorce harm her? Olivia didn’t truly not love Lily. When Lily was younger, the gentle look in Olivia’s eyes as she held and fed her couldn’t be faked. Materially, Olivia always did her best to give Lily the best of everything. But the way she treated Lily now had hurt our daughter deeply. That night, Lily asked me if I had lied to her, saying that Mom hadn’t apologized or promised to buy her a gift. I apologized to her, and she hugged me, saying it was okay. She just wanted Mom to be with her. She loved her mom very much but had to be understanding because Mom was so busy. If we really left Olivia, Lily might be very upset. That afternoon after work, I bought Lily’s favorite doll and went to pick her up. After waiting for a while without seeing her come out, I called her teacher. The teacher was surprised, saying, “Lily didn’t come to school today. Her mother called in sick for her, saying she was taking her out.” Olivia had taken her out to play? Why didn’t she tell me? Was she trying to make it up to Lily by taking her out? Although I felt uneasy, she was still the child’s mother. It might be good for them to spend some time together. Late that night, mother and daughter still hadn’t returned home. Getting anxious, I called Olivia directly. She answered, sounding out of breath as if she was running. “What’s wrong? Where’s Lily? Let me talk to her,” I asked. She paused, then said in a low voice, “Something happened. I’ll have her call you later.” I pressed her to tell me what had happened. After a long silence, she finally replied, “Lily is missing. We’re looking for her now.” It felt like a bolt of lightning had struck me. I nearly collapsed, barely managing to ask for their location before rushing over. They were in the neighboring city. I took the fastest high-speed train and went straight to the police station. To my surprise, Ryan and his daughter were there too. Seeing my pale face, Olivia grabbed me and said, “Jack, calm down. Lily will be fine. The police have checked the surveillance cameras and are searching for her.” I couldn’t calm down at all. Ryan approached, looking guilty: “It’s all my fault. I mentioned that Emma was lonely and thought it would be nice if Lily could play with her. That’s why Olivia brought her along. We never expected Lily to disappear while we were shopping in the mall.” Olivia couldn’t meet my eyes, burying her head in my chest, trying to comfort me. I pushed her away forcefully, glaring at her with fury. For the sake of Ryan’s child, she had secretly taken Lily out and lost her. What kind of mother was she? “If anything happens to Lily, none of you will get away with this. Once we find Lily, let’s get divorced, Olivia.” “As you wish. We’ll set you free.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295854”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance

Just because I, Camille Miller, lost my engagement ring, my CEO fiancé, Xavier Thornton, decided to cancel our wedding to teach me a lesson. As if that wasn’t enough, he publicly announced that he would marry his assistant, Kimberly Scott, instead. But on their wedding day, I saw my lost ring on Kimberly’s finger. Before I could even question her, she burst into tears, claiming I had it out for her and was framing her on purpose. To prove her innocence, she tearfully submitted her resignation. Xavier, desperate to console her, did something even more outrageous. He called for a company-wide meeting, live-streamed it, and publicly criticized me. He called me jealous and unworthy and announced that he would strip me of all my shares to compensate Kimberly for her emotional distress. Otherwise, he’d really marry her and leave me with nothing. The entire office was in shock. The way they looked at me was full of pity. They all thought I would obediently give in to him again. But this time, I simply clasped my hands together and said, “Well then, I wish the two of you a lifetime of happiness.”

The moment the words left my lips, Xavier froze. Then, his expression darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table. He grabbed a stack of papers and threw them in my face. “Camille, stop with the sarcasm! “You did the wrong thing, yet you show no remorse. Do you believe I won’t fire you and kick you out of the company right now?!” Whispers filled the room. People pointed at me, murmuring among themselves. Everyone has already become accustomed to this kind of scene. This had happened so many times before. Even though I was Xavier’s fiancée, he never hesitated to humiliate me in front of others whenever he was upset. Over time, people stopped respecting me. But he still wasn’t satisfied. Later, he even deliberately posted edited clips online to make me look bad. I had swallowed my pride and helped him build his company from the ground up, yet because of his video. People were calling me an arrogant, incompetent trophy wife. The live chat was flooded with hateful comments from every direction, all aimed at me. Kimberly, his assistant, couldn’t hide her smile. It took her a moment to suppress her amusement before she strolled forward, casually shutting off the livestream. Then, she turned to Xavier, feigning concern. “Xavier, don’t be so rash. I’ve already forgiven Camille. “Besides, no matter what Camille did, she’s still your girlfriend. I don’t want to be the reason you two fight.” Xavier’s expression had been somewhat conflicted a moment ago. Perhaps he regretted speaking too harshly to me in front of everyone. But after hearing Kimberly’s words, he let out a cold laugh and shot me a look full of disdain. “She takes advantage of the fact that she’s my girlfriend. She thinks she can do whatever she wants just because I spoil her. “Camille, tell me, am I wrong?” I scoffed inwardly, too tired to argue. It didn’t matter what I said. He would only stick to his version of the story, convinced that I was being unreasonable. Seeing that I stayed silent, Xavier took it as an admission of guilt and dismissed the meeting. Once everyone had left, he sighed and looked at me as if he were genuinely disappointed. “Camille, I really didn’t expect this from you. Not only did you refuse to admit your mistake, but you also embarrassed me in front of everyone. I’m really disappointed in you.” This was what he always said after scolding me, like a script he had memorized. At first, I believed him. Every time, I would reflect on my actions, wondering if I had truly done something wrong. Until I realized that my self-reflection was just a trap, a way for him to test my limits, each time, his punishments only grew harsher. “What exactly did I do wrong?” I asked, my voice calm. “You and Kimberly already had your wedding. What’s so wrong about what I said?” Xavier’s expression froze for a split second as if he hadn’t expected me to respond this way. But then, he sneered. “People weren’t wrong when they called you petty. “That wedding was just for publicity. It wasn’t real. “After promoting it for an entire year, we couldn’t just cancel it at the last minute. What would people think? “Honestly, you should be thanking Kimberly. She went out of her way to find the wedding ring. Since you were out of town, she stepped up and played the role of the bride to keep the public from asking questions. “You weren’t even half as invested as she was. So tell me, where do you get the nerve to throw a tantrum?” His tone was righteous as if he truly believed he was making perfect sense. I couldn’t help but laugh. That wedding, the one I had spent three whole months planning, was something I had poured my heart into. I handled everything from the grand decorations of the venue down to the tiniest details, like picking out the candy for the guests. Back then, he had insisted I had too much on my plate and might mess things up, so he forcibly handed the wedding ring to Kimberly for safekeeping. I protested, but he turned it into a big argument about how I didn’t trust him. Later, the ring mysteriously went missing. The guests had already arrived, so I rushed to get a replacement. But instead of thanking me for saving the situation, he accused me of being careless about the wedding and started a huge fight. Then, without another word, he stormed out. I had no time to dwell on my emotions. I had to stay behind, keep the guests entertained, and make sure everything went smoothly. I didn’t even get a chance to breathe before he sent me off on a business trip out of town. And now? As always, he was pushing all the blame onto me. Putting aside the fact that Kimberly clearly wanted to marry him, something everyone could see except him, the ring had been in her hands. If she wanted to hide it, I could have turned the entire city upside down and still never found it. Before, I would have argued my case. I would have stood my ground and tried to make him see reason. But this time, I was exhausted. I didn’t want to waste my breath fighting over something he already knew deep down but refused to admit. “Xavier, don’t blame Camille. I did all of this willingly.” Back in the conference room, she naturally walked over to Xavier’s side. “I’ve been with the company for so long that I already see it as my home. The company’s business is my business, and of course, that includes whatever happens between you and Camille.” She smiled as she spoke to Xavier, then sighed with a hint of grievance. “But I really didn’t expect Camille to be this upset this time. I guess this is my fault.” As soon as she said that, Xavier’s gaze softened. “Kimberly, you’re just too considerate.” He let out a sigh, then turned around and shot me a sharp glare. “Camille, do you see that? Look at Kimberly’s attitude and then look at yours. Why can’t you learn from her?” I said nothing. Xavier had always defended Kimberly. She didn’t even have the qualifications to apply for the job, but Xavier went against all opposition and brought her into the company. Everyone had to call him Mr. Thornton, even me. Only Kimberly was allowed to call him Xavier. She made countless mistakes, yet he always shielded her. He even pinned the blame on me just to keep her in the company. Everyone saw how much he protected her, so they followed suit, making me her scapegoat time and time again. I had no idea what I was supposed to learn from Kimberly, just as I had no idea what to say right now. Xavier sighed. “Enough. I don’t want to argue with you. You falsely accused Kimberly, and now rumors are spreading all over the company. She’s a woman. If she weren’t strong-willed, this could’ve ended badly for her. “Our company has never wronged an employee. As compensation, sign this contract.” He slammed a share transfer contract in front of me. “You don’t deserve these shares anymore. They should go to someone more capable.” Kimberly’s eyes lit up, though she still pretended to hesitate. “Oh, but how could I accept this?” “Why not? This is what you deserve,” Xavier said righteously. I almost laughed out loud. This company was built with my initial investment. I was the one who worked around the clock, securing funding and developing projects. And now, with just a few words, he wanted to hand everything I worked for to someone else. I let out a cold chuckle as I picked up the contract. He thought I had given in. I saw the flash of satisfaction in Xavier’s eyes, and Kimberly’s gaze stayed locked on my hand, anticipation flickering in her expression. Under their watchful eyes, I raised my hand and tore the contract in half. Then, I took out my phone and dialed the police.

Xavier’s eyes were fixed on my fingers. The moment he realized I was calling the police, he reacted quickly, snatching my phone and ending the call. “Camille, why are you calling the cops?” He looked at me, frustrated. His nervousness was almost funny. Clearly, he knew he was in the wrong. I scoffed. “Didn’t you say I falsely accused Kimberly? Then let’s have the police come and find out who’s really at fault. “While we’re at it, they can investigate the missing diamond ring. With all the security cameras in the office, it won’t be hard to get to the truth.” A flicker of panic flashed in Kimberly’s eyes. Xavier opened his mouth to argue, but Kimberly grabbed his arm and whispered, “Forget it, Xavier. We’re all colleagues. There’s no need to escalate this to the police. We don’t want to make a scene and embarrass the company.” Xavier’s gaze softened as he looked at her pitifully. Then he turned back to me, his face darkening with anger. He jabbed a finger at my forehead and snapped, “Camille, you’re getting worse and worse. “Consider yourself lucky that Kimberly is mature enough not to stoop to your level.” The ever-mature Kimberly took the opportunity to shoot me a glare when Xavier wasn’t looking. Then she smiled sweetly and said, “I’ll get back to work now. Xavier, you and Camille should talk.” She finished speaking and turned to leave. Watching her back, I could already imagine the smug smile on her face. She knew that Xavier wasn’t just talking to me. He was also standing up for her. As soon as Kimberly walked out, Xavier started scolding me, saying I was no match for her. He accused me of growing pettier with age, unlike a young girl who knew better. After venting his frustration, Xavier finally pulled out the diamond ring from our wedding. His voice was heavy with meaning. “Do you really think I favor her over you? Everything I do is for your own good. I just want you to rest and make sure we keep the best talent for the company.” Saying this, he reached out, trying to slip the ring back onto my finger. Looking at him now, so gentle and sincere, I knew that the old me would have believed him in a heartbeat, but not anymore. I could see what it was for. It was just another sweet gesture after a hard blow. I let out a soft scoff and dodged him without hesitation. “Kimberly lost over eight million for the company, and you call that talent? “Xavier, tell me, is it me who needs to rest, or is it you?” “You…” His face turned red. He wanted to explode but managed to hold himself back. “If that’s how you see it, then there’s nothing left for us to talk about.” With that, he threw the ring at my face and stormed out. I knew what he was doing; he was giving me the silent treatment. This was his go-to tactic whenever he was in the wrong. He used it to force me into apologizing, into giving in. But this time, I wasn’t anxious or afraid. I didn’t scramble to fix things. I simply glanced at the ring on the floor, now crushed under his heel, then turned and walked out. That night, Xavier still hadn’t come home by the time it was past midnight. Meanwhile, Kimberly sent a message in the company’s group chat. [The new luxury car Xavier gave me is just stunning! Hard work always pays off. Keep going, everyone, you’ll get there too!] Attached was a picture of her beaming in front of a limited-edition car, with Xavier beside her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. His eyes were full of admiration, his smile sweet. Colleagues flooded the comments, liking and congratulating her. At the very end, Xavier himself left a cute emoji, along with a message. [This is a reward for your outstanding performance. You earned it. I just wish some people would learn from you.] There was no need to guess who some people referred to. I knew exactly what he was doing. He was deliberately trying to make me jealous and force me into submission. A female colleague couldn’t help but message me privately. “Camille, what’s going on? I thought you and Mr. Thornton used to be madly in love?” I recognized her. She was one of the earliest employees who had fought alongside Xavier and me. She left years ago to focus on her family but had recently returned when I rehired her. Her message stirred up old memories. Back then, Xavier and I were in love. When I was sick, he stayed up for three days straight, watching over me. When I craved green mangoes, he worked nonstop for a whole week, then drove across state lines just to buy them for me. On my birthday, he went all out, surprising me with a luxury car in the middle of a busy street… That car was over a decade old now. Worn out, just like our love. I didn’t reply to her message. Instead, I quietly packed my things. Since I had already decided to leave, there was no reason to hold on to anything. I sold what I could and threw out the rest. In the end, all that remained were our photos. After a moment of thought, I took out a fire pit. One by one, I tossed the pictures into the flames, watching them curl and burn. Just then, the door swung open. Xavier walked in, his eyes fixed on his phone, a small smile on his lips as he typed. When he saw me, the smile on his face disappeared on purpose. He glanced at me and spoke with clear disdain. “Why are you here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? Got nothing better to do?” I knew he was frustrated because his attempt to provoke me had failed. But back when we were still in love, he would sometimes go out late at night to meet friends. I couldn’t go with him, but I knew he was afraid of the dark. So, I would leave the lights on and fight off my sleepiness, waiting for him in the living room. Back then, he would always hold me in his arms when he got home and tell me how thoughtful I was. Love and indifference were obvious at a glance. I didn’t explain myself. I simply continued burning the photos in my hands. Xavier never liked taking pictures. Most of them were taken because I had begged him to. I thought he wouldn’t care. But to my surprise, he suddenly showed interest, leaning down to take the photos from my hands, flipping through them one by one. “When were these taken? I don’t remember any of them.” He looked surprised, and for some reason, his tone softened. “This one… My side profile looks pretty good. Who was the photographer? “Why does this one look so funny? You look like a little fox. “Camille, look at you back then. You were so cute, all chubby and adorable.” He reminisced to himself, his smile unconsciously growing. I didn’t respond. Three seconds of silence passed. Then, as if suddenly realizing we were still in a cold war, he cleared his throat and frowned slightly. “Why are you burning these photos?” “I don’t need them anymore,” I said calmly. “Come on. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing.” Xavier smirked confidently, stood up, and shoved the photos back into my hands. “You did this on purpose, so I’d see it, didn’t you? Stop being stubborn. Bring your ID tomorrow afternoon. We’re going to City Hall.” His tone was arrogant as if marrying me was some kind of generous favor. I let out a cold laugh and tossed the rest of the photos into the fire. The last remnants of our past were completely consumed. Xavier’s brows furrowed instantly. “What are you doing?” “Xavier, we…” Before I could finish, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID, and his eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he walked into the bedroom to answer. Laughter drifted through the closed door. I stood outside, staring at the pile of ashes left from the burned photos, just like our relationship, nothing but dust. Nearly half an hour passed before he finally came out, still smiling. “There’s something at work. I need to head out. I’ll probably be back late.” He tried to keep his tone casual to avoid giving anything away. But I knew exactly who had called Kimberly. Over the years, he had used work as an excuse to meet with her countless times. I didn’t expose him. I just nodded. He went back to the bedroom to change, even spraying on cologne. One phone call and he had completely forgotten about me. Forgotten about the photos I burned. “Oh, right. What were you about to say earlier?” He finally remembered when he was about to leave, pausing by the door to ask.

“I can sell my shares to Kimberly at market price. Ask her if she wants them,” I thought for a moment and spoke. Xavier’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Are you serious?” I nodded. He quickly stepped toward me, cupping my face and kissing me hard. “You’re being so good today. I knew it. Deep down, you still care about me. “I’ll tell her later tonight.” The moment the words left his mouth, he realized how inappropriate they sounded. He quickly corrected himself. “I mean, I’ll call her and let her know.” I pretended not to notice the slip and wiped my face with disgust. “Do it soon before I change my mind.” Xavier agreed, grabbed his car keys, and left. He was in such a good mood that he even started humming. Less than half an hour later, I got a text. Kimberly had agreed to buy the shares. I wasn’t surprised that she agreed. The company was doing better and better, and the stock value kept rising. Even if she didn’t have that much cash on hand, Xavier would help her get it. Free shares were something she couldn’t bear to give up. That night, Xavier didn’t come home. I wasn’t sure if they were celebrating, but in the middle of the night, while I was sound asleep, my phone rang. Half-asleep, I answered. On the other end, I heard Xavier’s heavy breathing. Nearly ten seconds passed before Kimberly’s playful laughter came through. “Xavier, you don’t even like Camille anymore. So why are you still getting a marriage certificate with her?” There was silence for two seconds before Xavier responded in a low voice. “We’ve been together for ten years. And she did as I asked. She handed over all her shares. Breaking up now wouldn’t be right. “Ugh, don’t bring her up. It kills the mood.” The call ended. I stared at the disconnected screen, knowing full well that Xavier had no idea about this call. It was Kimberly’s doing, a deliberate move to provoke me. This wasn’t the first time. Telling Xavier wouldn’t change anything. He trusted Kimberly more than he trusted me. I could even predict that he’d change his mind about the marriage certificate by morning. I set my phone aside and went back to sleep. The next day, I continued packing my things. It was nearly evening when Xavier finally came home, looking tired from the day. “Camille, something urgent came up today, so I couldn’t make it to City Hall. It wasn’t on purpose. “You’re not mad, right?” There was a faint scratch on his neck. The urgent matter was obvious. I shook my head. “No, I’m not mad.” I had already prepared myself for this. I didn’t go either, after all. “That’s good.” He smiled and handed me a document. “I’ve finalized the stock transfer contract. Let’s get this done first.” Maybe he was worried I’d change my mind out of anger. He seemed a little anxious, but I pretended not to notice. After checking that the terms were correct, I signed. As I finished signing the last page, he let out a relieved sigh. The same man who always delayed things immediately called a lawyer to finalize the paperwork. It had taken nearly a week to transfer the shares to me. This time, it was done in less than half an hour. The shares were now under Kimberly’s name. The money was in my account. It was over. Xavier was in a great mood, even looking at me with a softer gaze. “You look exhausted. “I was thinking we could wait until tomorrow for the marriage certificate. But since you’ve been so good today, I’ll take you now.” Smiling, he reached out and pinched my cheek. “Happy?” I slapped his hand away without answering. Instead, I turned and walked to the bedroom, pulling out the suitcase I had packed long ago. Xavier frowned. “What are you doing? Don’t tell me you’ve already planned our honeymoon. “Camille, I agreed to marry you, but a honeymoon is out of the question. I’m too busy right now…” “It’s not a honeymoon,” I said calmly. “I’m moving out. “Xavier, we’re done.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295870”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

I was killed by online harassment. My best friend’s parents accused me online of being the reason for her death. Soon after, I was stabbed multiple times by a radical stranger. It was only after becoming a wandering soul that I discovered she wasn’t dead at all. When she heard about my death, her response was a casual, “What does that have to do with me?” Fueled by hatred, I’ve been reborn. This time, it’s their turn to experience what it’s like to be harassed to death by the internet. “Amanda! If my parents come looking for you, make sure to tell them you don’t know anything, okay? Otherwise, they won’t let me go to Eldoria!” My best friend, Grace, clung to my arm, shaking it back and forth. Her wide, innocent eyes blinked up at me, but I no longer felt any softness toward her. I rejected her coldly. “Don’t tell me about it. Your business isn’t mine to handle.” Zoe, however, mistook my silence for agreement. “MUA! I knew you were the best, Amanda! I’ll bring you gifts when I get back from Eldoria!” With that, she ran off, leaving me standing there. I calmly took out my phone and saved the recording. Luckily, because of my job, my phone’s shortcut key was always set to record conversations. The moment I realized I’d been reborn, I had pressed the record button. Now, I opened the chat with Zoe’s mom and sent her the audio file directly. Let’s see if you’ll keep blaming me for encouraging your daughter to go to Eldoria now!

But I underestimated just how shameless the Moore family could be. Not long after sending the recording, I received a message from Mrs. Moore herself. “Amanda, you’re Zoe’s best friend. How could you not try to stop her? Saying it’s none of your business—do you even consider her your friend?” Reading that message made my blood boil. I wanted to lash out, but I bit my tongue. Because I knew that anything I said now could and would be used against me later. This time, I wouldn’t let them twist my words. “Mrs. Moore,” I replied sweetly, “Zoe is an adult now. She’s always said that you’re too controlling and doesn’t want to tell you too much about her plans. But because I’m her friend, I recorded this for you. After all, you’re her mother. As an outsider, there’s only so much I can do.” I smiled as I hit send, waiting for her response. In Mrs. Moore’s eyes, Zoe was the perfect, obedient daughter. I wondered how she’d react to hearing her “perfect child” complain about her being controlling. Sure enough, Mrs. Moore sent back a long voice message almost immediately. When I played it, all I heard was her furious ranting: “Amanda Walker, what are you trying to say? My Zoe would never talk behind my back! I bet you’re the one leading her astray!” Feigning innocence, I replied: “Mrs. Moore, I don’t know why you’re upset with me, but shouldn’t your priority be stopping Zoe from going to Eldoria? You care about her safety more than I do, don’t you?” That shut her up. She didn’t reply again. But soon after, I got a message from Zoe herself.

“Amanda Walker! Did I tell you to cover for me or not?! What the hell is wrong with you, running to snitch?! I’m warning you—stay out of my business!” “God, you’re so annoying. You little snitch! Don’t ever contact me again!” Grace—the girl who played the perfect angel in front of her mom—was nothing more than a foul-mouthed brat in reality. Of course, she never showed me this side of her before. To her, I was just the perfect scapegoat to shield her from her mom’s wrath. Smiling, I typed out a fake apology: “I was just worried about you…” As expected, her response was instant—a red exclamation mark. Zoe had blocked me. That was another one of her signature moves—blocking people at the slightest inconvenience. I took a screenshot of the conversation and sent it to Mrs. Moore. “Mrs. Moore,” I wrote, “I tried my best. I’ve done everything I could, but Zoe cursed me out and blocked me. I guess our friendship ends here. From now on, I won’t interfere in her life anymore…” And just like that, I painted myself as the innocent victim. A good friend who tried to help, only to be met with insults and rejection. Who wouldn’t feel sorry for me after seeing this? But I wasn’t done yet. I posted the screenshots of our conversation on a short video platform, along with the caption: “My best friend is planning to meet up with a stranger she barely knows in Eldoria. I tried to warn her, but she called me a snitch and cursed me out. Was I really in the wrong?” After posting, I turned off my phone and went outside. If Zoe and her family loved using public opinion as a weapon, then let’s see who the internet sides with this time. 4. I don’t know how Grace managed it, but she still ended up going to Eldoria. And I only found out because news of her “death” quickly made its way back home. Just like in my previous life, her parents wasted no time stirring up chaos. Within three days, my phone was flooded with threatening messages and constant harassing calls. Boxes began appearing at my front door—each filled with gruesome and horrifying items meant to scare me. And the walls of my house? Covered in red spray paint. “Best friend killer!” “Rot in hell, homewrecker!” “Blood for blood!” “Justice for Grace!” I stared coldly at the graffiti on my walls, a faint smile tugging at my lips. The methods they used to intimidate me were exactly the same as last time. Shortly after news of Zoe’s death broke, Mrs. Moore launched a livestream, tearfully airing her grievances to the public. Conveniently, she also “accidentally” revealed my contact information. In my first life, I’d been foolish enough to believe it was my fault for not stopping Zoe from going to Eldoria. Overwhelmed by guilt and crushed by the mounting online harassment, I gave in and agreed to pay a massive settlement when everyone started blaming me for her death. The relentless cyberbullying even scared my parents into a hospital stay. They didn’t make it much longer after that. But this time… The first thing I did after being reborn was send my parents abroad. I entrusted them to my cousin, who would take care of them. With them out of harm’s way, I had no more weaknesses. If the Moore family wanted to play games, I’d gladly oblige. 5. Grace’s story spread like wildfire online. It didn’t take me long to find Mrs. Moore’s livestream. I clicked in and was immediately met with her tear-filled voice: “My Zoe was such a sweet, obedient girl. She was so naive because we protected her too well, and that’s why she couldn’t see through bad influences…” “She had this friend who was always dragging her out to party. Once, she even tried to take her to a bar in the middle of the night!” Oh, I remember that night clearly. Zoe had gotten drunk and called me to pick her up. Somehow, Mrs. Moore had found out where she was, and when I arrived to get her, she caught me red-handed. The next day, Zoe acted like nothing had happened. I asked her why her mom wasn’t mad, but she just giggled and said it was a secret. I didn’t think much of it at the time. Turns out, she’d pinned the blame on me. I hit the screen recording button and kept listening to Mrs. Moore’s livestream. The more I heard, the more I realized how blind I’d been in my last life. Why did I ever think Grace was some innocent, naive girl? As it turned out, the reason her parents had targeted me so viciously in my previous life was because Zoe had spent years using me as her shield, spinning lie after lie. For example, Mrs. Moore claimed I often got scared and made Zoe stay over at my place. Now I understood—those nights were when Zoe was sneaking off to hotels with her boyfriend. I remembered being surprised before when Zoe told me her mom had allowed her to stay out all night. Turns out, she was lying the whole time. Then there was the claim that I frequently dragged her off on vacations. What utter nonsense! I was swamped with work and never had time for a vacation. I’d even seen her post photos from those trips on her social media. She was with her boyfriend in every single one. And how did she get away with it? By lying to her parents, saying she was with me. “And now… maybe it was that same friend who convinced her to go. But in the end, all we got back was Zoe’s body,” Mrs. Moore wept during her stream. The moment those words left her mouth, the livestream chat exploded.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295887”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #校园School #重生Reborn

Recently, I’ve had this unsettling feeling—like I’m not alone in the house. I’m a professional haunted house tester, and this is my final five days in what is known as the “most haunted mansion in the country.” But today, when I woke up, my live stream’s comment section exploded. 0″Two grand a night—stay for 30 days. Do you dare?” When my dad needed an expensive medical procedure, and all I could think about was how to make quick cash, I took the offer without hesitation. Dare? Of course, I dare. Who wouldn’t take that kind of money? To make the most of it, I started live streaming my stay. On the first day, viewers tipped me like crazy, even asking me to check every room in the mansion. There was nothing unusual. The place was dusty, the faucets were slightly rusted, and it was clear no one had lived here for a long time. “Boring. This is supposed to be the most haunted house? Nothing creepy at all.” “Yeah, are you sure you checked every room?” The comments kept coming, and I felt a little guilty. I smiled awkwardly and said, “Guys, I swear I’ve checked everywhere. Nothing strange to report.” “Maybe the ‘haunted’ thing is just a gimmick.” I lied to them. There was one room I hadn’t checked—the one right next to mine. It wasn’t because I was scared of what might be inside. The door wouldn’t open. I knew my audience too well: the more a door refuses to open, the more they’ll insist I break it down. But I couldn’t risk damaging the property. The decor alone screamed “expensive,” and breaking the lock would probably cost me my entire paycheck—maybe even more. Forget saving up for my dad’s treatment, I’d be broke. So, I brushed it off. My audience bought the excuse and focused on trying to spot something paranormal at night. They failed. Meanwhile, I ate well, slept soundly, and carried on without a care. More than half the month flew by, and my live stream’s audience dwindled to just four or five regular viewers. At least one familiar username was still there, so I wasn’t completely alone. With only five days left, I didn’t expect anything exciting to happen. But deep down, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Recently, I’ve had this strange sensation—like there’s someone else in the house. For example, I spend most of my time in one bedroom, but I keep hearing faint shuffling sounds outside. Or how the TV remote on the couch always goes missing, and the ashtray on the coffee table seems slightly out of place every time I look at it. Then, there was the time I left my dishes on the dining table after lunch. By evening, when I went to make dinner, I reached for the plates to clean them. But I froze. I’m left-handed, so I always place my chopsticks on the left side of the plate. Why were they now on the right? I swallowed hard, my nerves on edge, but I forced myself to act normal and quietly cleaned up. From that moment on, I started paying closer attention. I made sure to leave my chopsticks on the left every single time. I didn’t mention any of this during the live stream. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure. Then it happened again. The chopsticks were on the right. This time, my chest tightened, and I couldn’t ignore it anymore. Am I really the only one in this house? By Day 26, I was counting down the hours, praying for the time to pass so I could collect my money and leave. But what I didn’t expect—what I couldn’t have imagined—was waking up to find my live stream trending, ranked #2 in popularity. The comment section was flooded, with messages flying so fast I could barely read them. When I finally managed to make out a single comment, my blood ran cold: “Run, get out now!” 0

I froze. Run? A chill crept up from the soles of my feet. “What do you mean, run? What’s going on?” Panic crept into my voice as I stared at the screen. My reflection in the lens looked twisted and tense, but I didn’t care. My hands flew across the screen, scrolling through the flood of comments, trying to pick out any useful information. Finally, a few comments from twenty minutes ago caught my eye: “Miss, the wardrobe door opened! Wake up!” “Holy crap, why is there a doll in there?!” The wardrobe? I whipped my head around to look at it. It stood there silently, completely closed. Not a single sign that it had been opened. I forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach my eyes. “You must’ve been imagining things.” “Get out of there now!” “Why are you just standing there? RUN!” The comments became more frantic, angry even, as if they couldn’t believe I wasn’t reacting. Someone even sent me a big tip, writing: “Run, and I’ll send you more!” My feet felt like they were encased in cement. I couldn’t move. Was it because I didn’t want to leave? No. If I left now, I’d break the contract. How would I pay for my dad’s treatment then? No. I couldn’t leave. That’s when I noticed my phone battery was almost dead. I quickly grabbed my charger. “Sorry, everyone, my phone’s dying—wait, what the hell? The power just went out!” The comment section exploded into chaos. But I just frowned at the charger in my hand, hesitated for a moment, and shook my head. I couldn’t leave. What do I do now? No electricity, no way to charge my phone. My battery was at 1%. Just as the screen went dark, I saw one last comment that sent a jolt down my spine: “Miss, behind you!” As soon as the phone shut off, I heard it—a faint creak behind me. My body froze. Slowly, I turned my head. The wardrobe door was open. Inside, there was a doll. It wore a brightly colored dress, its glassy black eyes staring out into the room. I don’t know how long I stood there, paralyzed. Then, out of nowhere, I laughed. What am I freaking out about? What’s the big deal? It’s just a doll. It’s not like it’s alive. I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince myself or someone else. I walked over to the wardrobe, grabbed the doors, and slammed them shut. But just as I did, I felt a shiver run down my spine. For a split second, as the doors closed, I could’ve sworn the doll’s glass eyes were watching me. The power outage was making everything worse. I glanced at the landline phone by the bed. The man who hired me had specifically warned me: “Don’t use the landline unless it’s absolutely necessary.” I hesitated, my hand hovering over the receiver. Then I picked it up and dialed the service line for the gated community. Beep. The line didn’t connect. All I got was a loud, piercing tone. But beneath it, I thought I heard something—something faint, like nails scratching against a wall. A wave of cold washed over me, and a splitting headache flared up behind my eyes. I instinctively touched my left ear, then slowly put the receiver back down. No one was coming to help. I couldn’t leave the property, but I had to figure something out myself. Pushing myself up, I started searching for the electrical box. I made my way down the staircase to the first floor. But when I reached the box, I found nothing wrong. The breakers were fine—the outage wasn’t caused by anything here. I was about to close the panel when something caught my eye. Taped to the top of the box was a small piece of paper. Without thinking, I pulled it down and unfolded it. My hands froze. On the paper, written in elegant handwriting, were the words: “The power’s out, isn’t it? Go upstairs and find the doll!” 0

I froze, gripping the note tightly in my sweaty palm. A prank. This had to be some kind of prank! I rushed back upstairs to the second floor and flung open the wardrobe. Fear was the last thing on my mind—I was furious. Without thinking, I grabbed the doll in its flower-patterned dress. Its glassy black eyes seemed to flicker for a moment. Something fell out from underneath its dress—a journal. I tossed the doll back into the wardrobe and unfolded the journal. The handwriting inside was the same elegant script as the note I’d just found. The first entry was dated May 18 of last year. “I’m so excited. But I’ve already spent an entire day in this so-called haunted house, and nothing has happened.” The next entry came on May 19. “Slept like a baby. I wonder if anything interesting will happen today?” Page after page, the entries described uneventful days. From the tone of the writing, the journal’s author was growing increasingly frustrated, clearly starting to doubt the mansion’s reputation as “haunted.” Was she also hired to test this house, just like me? If someone else had already tested the house last year, why did they hire me to do it again? That man who hired me… he never mentioned this. My stomach churned as a chilling thought crossed my mind. Did something happen to her during the trial? Did she fail to complete her stay? I flipped to the entry dated June 3. My hands began to tremble. “I keep feeling like someone’s been moving my things. Am I imagining it?” June 5: “I keep hearing noises outside my room, but when I check, there’s nothing there. I must be going crazy from being cooped up here for so long.” No. It wasn’t her imagination. I’ve been hearing those noises too. I frantically flipped through the pages, desperate to find something useful. “I heard the wardrobe open. But when I looked inside, there was nothing. How did it open by itself?” “I’m starting to feel scared. The power went out.” The blood drained from my face. My fingers trembled as I turned the page. The date of the entry? The 26th day of her stay. The same day as today. The same power outage. This wasn’t a coincidence. It was deliberate. My breath hitched as I read further. “The landline is useless. It doesn’t connect to anything. I tried to leave, but the front door is locked! That man lied to me!” Locked? That couldn’t be true. I bolted downstairs, cold sweat dripping down my face. I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it. It didn’t budge. The door was locked. Even if I’d wanted to leave today—regardless of the money—I couldn’t. A wave of cold washed over my back. My chest tightened as I gulped hard and shakily returned to the journal, determined to keep reading. “This is insane! They told me the power would be out for five days! I’ve been tricked!” “I’m terrified. That room next to me—the one that’s supposed to be locked—how is it possible that there’s someone in there? I can hear scratching noises coming from the walls!” The journal ended there. Sweat dripped down my forehead as I gripped the journal tightly. Why did it stop? Did she leave the mansion? Or did something happen to her before she could write more? A crushing sense of dread settled over me. No. This can’t be the end of the journal. There has to be more! Just as I was about to turn the next page, the landline phone on the second floor started ringing. 0

I didn’t have time to keep flipping through the journal. Gripping it tightly, I sprinted back to the landline, breathless, and picked up the receiver. A cold, monotonous mechanical voice greeted me. “Hello, due to current electrical issues, your call may experience interruptions. Please state your request.” I didn’t care anymore. I blurted out, “Call the police! I need to get out of here!” “Sorry, I did not understand your request. Please repeat.” “I said, call the police!” My vision blurred as frustration and fear took over. My whole body was tense, my muscles aching from the strain. “Sorry, I did not understand your request. Please repeat.” I collapsed onto the floor, defeated. The journal slipped from my hand and landed beside me. The realization hit me like a punch to the gut: no matter what I said, there would be no help on the other end of the line. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice. “How many days will the power be out?” My throat was dry, and I licked my cracked lips. Maybe—just maybe—the journal was wrong. Maybe what it said wasn’t true. “Due to line maintenance in your area, the power will be out for 5 days. Please remain patient.” Beep. The line went dead, like someone had cut it off with precision. Five days. It was true. My last shred of hope was crushed. It was all too perfectly calculated. The moment my question was answered, the phone became useless. I had no choice. I had to save myself. Whatever was causing this—human or not—I couldn’t just sit here and wait for things to happen. A breeze blew in through the window, rustling the pages of the journal. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed new writing had appeared. Shaking, I grabbed the journal again. Skipping over the blank pages, I flipped forward. “At least I have my doll to keep me company.” “She’s the only one I have left.” That flower-dressed doll… it belonged to her? No wonder she wrote about the wardrobe opening and finding it empty. But when I got here, the doll was inside. I kept reading. “Stop flipping through this. The clock is almost at midnight.” I froze. My head snapped up, and I glanced toward the clock in the living room. From this angle, I could see it clearly. It was exactly midnight. From behind the wardrobe, I heard it—the sound of nails scratching against the wall. Sharp, deliberate, and relentless, like someone was clawing at the wall, trying to dig their way through from the locked room next door. Sweat poured down my back, and a thin layer of moisture coated my trembling fingers. Steeling myself, I turned the page. “Since you’ve read this far, let me teach you a few ways to stay alive. Follow these rules exactly!” What? I blinked in disbelief. My heart raced as I continued reading, unable to stop even though every word sent chills down my spine. “On Day 5 of the countdown, you’ll face extreme danger. During the day, you’re free to move around anywhere except the locked room. However, at night, you must lock your door and never, under any circumstances, leave your room.” “You can sleep during the day, but avoid closing your eyes at night. If you absolutely can’t stay awake, hold the doll while you sleep. If the doll goes missing, immediately open your eyes and find it.” “Do not read past this entry until tomorrow.” I let out a shaky laugh. Seriously? This was all I had to do? I already didn’t dare leave my room at night. But the final line felt like a warning. My hand hesitated over the journal. With everything so uncertain, I decided to follow the instructions and closed it. Even though it was still daytime, I didn’t dare leave my room except to grab a quick bite to eat. Afterward, I stayed put. As the hours dragged on and the sky darkened, I made sure to use the bathroom, then locked my door securely. I lay on the bed, clutching my dead phone like it was some kind of lifeline, a tiny source of false comfort. To my left was the flower-dressed doll. Then it began. The scratching sounds returned, relentless and sharp, piercing my ears until they ached. What terrified me the most was the realization of what it meant: Something—someone—was pressed up against the wall, furiously clawing at it with their nails, trying to break through. How long had this been going on? Long enough that the sound was starting to feel normal. That’s when I heard it. A knock at the door.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295904”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #校园School #重生Reborn #励志Inspiring #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #玄幻Fantsy

My wife and her lover had gone too far during their tryst in the hotel, and accidentally caused the miscarriage of our child. Afterwards, she said she had been bewitched and begged me to forgive her. I suppressed my hatred and pretended to agree, but in fact, I secretly formulated a revenge plan. Not long after, my wife smiled at me and said, “Honey, I’m pregnant with your baby again. Aren’t you happy?” I nodded, forced an ugly smile, and couldn’t stop my body from shaking. Because, as early as when she had a miscarriage, I had quietly undergone a vasectomy. “Honey, say something.” My wife, Lily, sat beside me and shook my shoulder vigorously. I looked at the report form on the table and couldn’t help but be stunned. According to what it showed, she was indeed pregnant. “Honey, I feel very guilty that we couldn’t keep the previous child. Well, God has taken pity on us and given us another surprise…” She affectionately put her arm around my neck and kissed my face. “Honey, let’s live a good life from now on.” Seeing that I didn’t answer, she placed my hand on her slightly protruding belly. “Touch it. It’s our child.” Lily’s words rang in my ears, but I felt a buzzing in my head. My temples were throbbing, and my anger flared up. I wished I could kick her out of the house right then. Because, as early as when she had a miscarriage, I had already quietly undergone a vasectomy. I did it to prevent the situation where she might get pregnant with someone else’s child and expect me to be the father. I know that there are only two types of infidelity: zero times and countless times. Sure enough, my prediction was correct. I didn’t plan to expose Lily. I wanted to find that lover and make them pay the price. My thoughts drifted back to the past. That day, as soon as I got off work, I received a call from the hospital. I rushed to the hospital in a hurry, and there I saw Lily crying out in pain. She was lying on the bed, looking extremely weak. The nurse covered her mouth and giggled, and my informed friend teased me beside me. “Jack, are you usually that wild? That lover is really something, making your wife lose the baby…” My anger grew stronger and stronger, and I suddenly felt extremely humiliated. When I got up to leave, Lily grabbed my hand and weakly apologized and repented to me. “Honey, it was others who seduced me. I was just bewitched for a moment and did such a thing.” “Honey, please forgive me. We’ll have another child. I promise you.” When I heard her say these words, I felt greatly insulted. I thought that no man would be willing to live with a cuckold on his head. I had always treated her well. Since her family was poor, I had tried my best to help her. On every festival, I would present precious gifts to her, just to make her happy. Even when we quarreled, I was the one who bowed my head and admitted my mistake. Everyone said that I was her lapdog, humbly devoted to her. But I didn’t care at all. I just wanted to live a good life with her. However, I really didn’t expect that she would treat me like this. After thinking for a long time, I made a decision. I wanted a divorce, and I wanted her to leave the house with nothing, to receive the punishment she deserved. At the same time, I also wanted to find this lover and make him lose everything. In order not to expose my plan, I had to pretend to forgive Lily. From that day on, she changed her previous attitude and treated me very well. She even volunteered to wash my underwear.

After Lily got pregnant, she asked me for money more frequently, saying that she needed to eat well to give some nutrition to the baby in her belly. Did she expect me to raise the bastard in her belly? I was so angry that my whole body was shaking. But for the sake of my final plan, I endured it. I relaxed my fists and said to Lily, who was about to go out, “Come back early, dear. Don’t be too tired when you go shopping with your best friend. Be careful with our baby in your belly.” A trace of guilt flashed across her face, and she smiled and nodded at me. But seeing how meticulously she was dressed, it didn’t seem like she was going to meet her best friend. I was very suspicious, so I tailed her all the way downstairs. To my surprise, she got into a car driven by a young man who looked only about 20 years old. The moment the young man rolled up the car window, I saw them kissing passionately. Their behavior was extremely intimate… I gritted my teeth in hatred, wishing I could send these two people to hell. Based on the young man’s clothes and demeanor, I was sure that he was a college student. And judging from his car, he wasn’t from a wealthy family. I suddenly remembered that in recent days, Lily had asked me for money more and more often. After careful consideration, I realized that she had been using my money to support a young lover outside. It was ridiculous, truly ridiculous. It seemed that I had to take action. When I got home, I sent a photo of this young man to my friend. After some investigation, I found out that this young man was not simple. He was a con artist, a womanizer, and a real scumbag. He had tricked many girls into sleeping with him, and he had taken short videos of them. He threatened them that if they didn’t give him money, he would post those videos online. It was really hateful! Why didn’t such a scumbag go to hell? I furiously typed on the keyboard and said to my friend, “In that case, let him get addicted to gambling!” The other side replied, “Leave it to me. No problem!” After sending the message, I fell into a deep sleep. In my dreams, I would always dream of Lily. I would dream of her wearing a white dress and smiling at me. But soon, several men would appear beside her. She would allow the men’s hands to reach towards her body. I wanted to step forward and stop them, but she would curse at me. “Jack, you’re such a clown.” “How does it feel to be cuckolded? It must be terrible, right?” I woke up in a rage. Just as I was about to get out of bed to get a drink of water, Lily came back. Her body, which smelled of perfume, also had a strong smell of smoke. At the same time, she was holding a bouquet of flowers in her hand. She put the flowers in the vase and took good care of them, not noticing at all that I was glaring at her with hatred. “I’m going to take a shower first, honey.” “Be careful. Don’t fall.” I replied to her as if nothing was wrong. Watching her throw her bag on the sofa and walk straight into the bathroom, I opened the bag. Everything inside shocked me. The first thing that caught my eye was a set of torn – up sexy lingerie. Then, I saw some props… Heh, they really knew how to have wild fun! In front of everyone, Lily seemed innocent and cute. I never expected that she had this side to her. I vaguely remembered that every time we had sex, she wasn’t very active. If I hadn’t begged her humbly, she wouldn’t have let me touch her. I had thought that she was a conservative and reserved person. But now, she had willingly turned into a maid to please other men. I was extremely angry, but then I suddenly saw her phone screen light up. Someone had sent her a message. After unlocking the phone, I clicked into WeChat. At the top was a male profile picture, and the 备注 was “Little Baby”. After mentally preparing myself, I clicked in. “How did you feel this time? Was I strong enough, baby? Don’t you think you should give me more hard – earned money? I worked so hard…” “Sweetie, am I much better than your useless husband?” “By the way, your husband is really stupid.” I was startled and frowned. I thought to myself, “Could it be that things are far more complicated than I imagined?” I continued to slide my finger on the screen. “I was too rough last time, which caused you to have a miscarriage… Sweetie, you won’t blame me, will you?” Damn it, so I had been kept in the dark all this time. This person was the adulterer who had caused her to have a miscarriage. After reading these words, I couldn’t help but wonder if the child before her miscarriage wasn’t mine either. When I scrolled down to the next page of the chat history, I couldn’t sit still anymore. “Sweetie, you have to take good care of our baby now.” “Don’t let it be like last time…” Sure enough, neither of the children was mine! Next, I saw Lily’s reply. “Oh, you’re so naughty. My husband is actually quite nice. He’s very honest. It’s just that he’s a bit stupid…” “Silly sweetie, if he wasn’t stupid, how could we be together?” The chat history ended there. I was so angry that my eyes turned red. With my trembling hand, I clicked on the young man’s Moments. He had posted many photos of branded clothes, shoes, and watches. The caption was, “Thank you, sweetie. You’re so generous!” At that moment, I wanted to smash this phone. All these years, the money I had earned so hard had been used by her to support her young lover! My parents had cared so much about her. They had bought her gold jewelry, various skincare products, and expensive bags every month…

After forwarding thousands of chat records to my own phone, I stuffed Lily’s things into her bag. She came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel, but she was furtively touching her neck. I asked irritably, “What are you doing? Is your neck injured?” Her eyes flickered, and she stammered, “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a few mosquito bites…” After clearly seeing the red marks on her neck, I gritted my teeth so hard that they clicked. When Lily saw the anger on my face, she quickly came to hug me flatteringly. “Honey, I’m so tired from shopping today.” “You don’t even know how to feel sorry for me!” Feel sorry for her? I suppressed my hatred and forced a smile. “How could that be? Husband loves you the most!” When I was going to bed, I received a message from my friend. He said that the young lover was a student that Amy had once sponsored. Tom came from a poor family. There was only his old father at home doing farm work. His father had worked hard all his life just to support him through college. Unexpectedly, he had gone bad and used his father’s hard – earned money to pick up girls and drink. Damn it, it was really bad. He was such a beast. Before I could say anything, my friend continued, “Tom, he used to date your sister…” What? So my sister had been crying and threatening to commit suicide because of him? Before I could think further, my friend said, “That beast named Tom took private videos of your sister…” This time, I was finally extremely angry. I covered my chest and couldn’t breathe for a long time. I clenched my fists and was determined to tear Tom to pieces. My sister, whom I had doted on for 18 years, had been so terribly hurt by this scumbag. This was too much! I immediately said to my friend, “No matter how much it costs, I want to make Tom go down the road of no return and make him lose everything.” The next day, as soon as it was light, I drove to my sister’s house. My sister, Emily, was listless and had no interest in anything. She had something on her mind but didn’t want to tell us. I bought her a lot of beautiful clothes and took her out for a big meal. Finally, she nestled in my arms and told me what was on her mind. Since Tom had taken the videos of my sister, she had been giving him 1,000 yuan every month as hush money. The more my sister talked, the more upset she became. She cried loudly, and her eyes were as red as a little rabbit’s. As her brother, I also felt extremely guilty. That night, I had people catch Tom and take him to an alley. He had a black bag over his head, and his mouth was stuffed with my friend’s stinky sock. He could only make whimpering sounds. I was the first to punch him in the body, and then my friends swarmed in. It was not until someone pulled me away and told me not to make a big scene that I loosened my fists. Then, I opened his phone and the first thing I saw in the album was a video of Lily. Her face flashed by in the video, but I still saw it clearly, especially the big gold bracelet she was wearing, which I had bought for her a few days ago. Lily was extremely proactive in the video, and her expression showed enjoyment. There were only two words to describe it. Dirty! Lewd! I had never known that she could be so wild. A lady in public and a slut in bed was exactly what she was like. I secretly transferred the video to my own phone and made a backup. Now, I had more and more evidence. Then, it took me a few minutes to delete all the videos of the girls that had been secretly taken. One of my friends couldn’t stand such a scumbag either. He spat on Tom’s face and cursed, “Damn it, didn’t your mother teach you how to respect women?” “You’re such a scumbag. And you’re supposed to be a college student. I think you’re a beast.”

When I got home, I saw Lily looking anxious and about to go out with her bag. I grabbed her hand and twitched the corner of my mouth. “Honey, it’s so late. Are you still going out?” She swallowed and said quickly, “My friend is sick, and I have to go see him.” “Really? Let me drive you there.” She shook her head, looking a bit flustered. “It’s okay, honey. You’ve been working all day and are very tired. I’ll just take a taxi. You go to bed early.” Lily quickly pulled her hand away from mine and rushed out the door. I smiled. It seemed that Tom was seriously injured. I gave a cold snort. The good show was just beginning! With the help of my friend, Tom finally owed a lot of money in the casino. Facing the huge debt, the first person he thought of was Lily. Occasionally, I saw the messages he sent to Lily. “Sweetie, save the child’s life.” “Where’s your stupid and rich husband? Ask him to pay off my debt for me.” “Otherwise, you might as well just kill him and inherit all his property.” “Anyway, you hate it when he touches you. You even said he looks like a gorilla and that you feel disgusted when he touches you. Out of sight, out of mind. Sweetie, just kill him.” The rest were Lily’s replies. “No, I’ll go to jail for that. Okay, I’ll go ask him for some money first…” Heh, I never expected that the reason Lily refused Tom’s request was that she was afraid of going to jail. It seemed that she didn’t care about our years of relationship at all. Very well. Since you’re heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless. Sure enough, when I got home from work, Lily had already prepared a table full of dishes. When she saw me come in, she rushed to take my bag and even bent down to change my shoes for me. I pretended to be concerned and helped her up. “Honey, we can’t hurt our baby.” “Okay, honey. I made your favorite dishes. Come and take a look.” At the dinner table, Lily casually mentioned that she was short of money recently, but I was too busy eating to pay attention to her. After a while, she finally got angry and slammed her chopsticks in front of me. I was so startled that I almost stood up and slapped her. But reason overcame my impulse. I pursed my lips and asked her, “Are you crazy, Lily!” Lily was even angrier. She seemed not to have expected that I would shout at her. Well, after being married for so long, I had hardly ever been angry with her. “Jack, how dare you… shout at me?” Her eyes turned red with anger, and she stood up to question me. “After all these years, what have you given me? Other people’s husbands are handsome and rich. But what about you?” “Back then, I should have listened to my parents and not married you!” Hmph, if you hadn’t married me, I would have regretted marrying you too. It’s not that I don’t have money. It’s just that you’re too greedy. But I still didn’t say these words out loud. This wasn’t the time to break the situation. But Lily kept talking more and more excitedly, trampling on my dignity without any reservation. “Jack, do you know how disgusting you are? Every time you touch me, I feel like vomiting.” “And you, you’re not good in bed either!” This time, she completely infuriated me. I believe that no man would let others say such things about him, especially his own wife. “Lily, have you forgotten the dirty things you’ve done?” “You’re a slut. What right do you have to shout here?” Lily was so enraged by my words that she threw a tantrum, lying on the ground and yelling loudly. “Domestic violence! The husband is hitting me! I’m so unlucky.” “Woohoo, I’ve really had a hard time.” With one hand, she stroked her belly, and with the other, she wiped away her tears. Before long, the neighbors were drawn in by her commotion. Without bothering to ascertain the facts, everyone said that I had bullied Lily. When Lily saw that someone was speaking up for her, a triumphant smirk crossed her lips. The neighbors all berated me as a domestic abuser, and I was left speechless, unable to defend myself. Lily started shouting again, “Poor little one, mommy doesn’t even have the money to take you for a prenatal check-up. It’s all your father’s fault for not giving us any money!” Upon hearing these words, the neighbors grew even more agitated. Some even wanted to come over and teach me a lesson on Lily’s behalf. In desperation, I angrily tossed five hundred yuan in Lily’s face. I really wanted to fling out my vasectomy report, but it still wasn’t the right moment. I couldn’t let my meticulously planned scheme fall apart at the crucial stage.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295920”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring

I, Caroline Ward, am the woman of Blake Harris, the mafia boss. After we got married, he spoiled me to the sky, flaunting our love to the media. I thought he loved me deeply. He couldn’t help but announce his love for me to the world. Until one day, I overheard a conversation between him and one of his men. “I live in both the criminal and legal worlds, with so many enemies. If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe?” I realized then that all the pain I had suffered for him was a joke… If that was the case, then I was no longer willing to be a living target for him! “Blake, you’ve gone too far! Caroline’s wounds haven’t healed, and she only had a small argument with someone, yet you’re rushing to see her? You’re putting both yourself and Caroline in danger!” It was the voice of Blake’s friend, Zachary Coleman, coming from behind the walls. I stopped in my tracks, stunned for a moment. The villa had many soundproof rooms, so unless someone was particularly agitated, one couldn’t hear anything. But after a moment, I heard the sound of something being thrown. “What do you mean, you only love Megan? Caroline has been her scapegoat all these years! You’ve never loved her. Why won’t you let her go? If it were that other woman, you’d be dead by now!” “Shut up! If I don’t make Caroline my weakness, how could Megan be safe? “I haven’t treated her badly, being my wife for so many years.” Blake’s voice was clear and deep. I leaned against the wall, struggling to process the information I had just heard. All these years, Blake loved someone else? And I had been nothing more than a scapegoat? I stumbled back to my room, my abdominal wound from trying to protect him tearing open again, bleeding through the bandage. But the pain in my body was nothing compared to the ache in my chest. The apples Blake had carefully sliced for me by the bed now felt like a cruel joke. He had treated me so well, too well, in fact. So openly, so lavishly, everyone around us envied me. Blake had many businesses along the border, managing both the legal and illegal worlds. In five years, I had been kidnapped three times for him, taken a knife for him twice, and even took a bullet for him once. I had risked my life for him, thinking he loved me deeply, but it had all been a lie… “Did you just go out?” Blake’s voice suddenly came from behind me. I turned, tears streaming down my face, meeting his eyes, which usually sparkled with affection. I had secretly rejoiced countless times, thinking how lucky I was to be married to such a handsome man. But now, in his eyes, I saw an icy coldness that cut right through. “Caroline, are you afraid of me? Where did you go just now?” He was too sharp. I barely managed to smile awkwardly. “I just woke up. When I saw you weren’t here, I got scared and didn’t know what to do.” From an ordinary student to the woman of a mafia boss, it only took one night. After my first kidnapping, I developed a lasting fear. As soon as I couldn’t see Blake, I would tremble with fear. He didn’t seem to doubt me. He gently stroked my lips and chin, his fingers tracing my jawline before they moved to my neck and down my spine. I couldn’t help but gasp. His restless hand lingered on my waist, the heat from his palm searing my skin. “Tomorrow, I’ll be gone for a day. Stay home and behave.” He kissed my lips lightly, his words warm against my ear. I shivered, gripping his shirt tightly. “Blake, my wound… my wound…” His expression changed instantly. In two quick moves, he undressed me, staring at the blood-soaked bandage with a furrowed brow. “Caroline, do you want me to die of heartache?” He carefully changed my bandages, his concern evident, no trace of pretense on his face. But the words I had just heard kept replaying in my mind. Where was he going for that day he would be gone? To see that woman, the one I had risked my life to protect?

That night, Blake held me in his arms and slept deeply. But I couldn’t sleep at all. I stayed awake all night, only closing my eyes after confirming that he had boarded his flight the next morning. The distance from the bedroom to the study wasn’t far. In his small study, everything was about me. From our first anniversary to my most recent birthday, every little thing had been neatly arranged. Anyone who saw it would be moved by the depth of his love for me. Only I knew that in the hidden compartment of a drawer, there was a diary that didn’t belong to me. Blake had told me about it when he was drunk. That night, he kept apologizing. At the time, I was so absorbed in him that I didn’t pay much attention to it. The next day, he’d forgotten all about it. I pulled open the hidden compartment and brushed the dust off the diary. The password was intricate, showing how much the owner valued it. I never imagined that my studies in cryptography would come in handy now. The password clicked open, and on the first page, Blake’s bold, strong handwriting wrote words, Megan. The next ten pages were all about how much he loved Megan. The words were careful, intense, and timid in a way I had never seen before. With me, he was always so calm and collected. I thought it was because he had matured and no longer had the fiery passion of youth. So he just didn’t love me… The last page was written in a messy scrawl. [Megan was assassinated. She was right. People like us should never have lovers! I’ll send her off!] The writing turned to yellow ink. The words became fewer and fewer. [The girl is so easy to fool.] [Today, I remembered Megan. The girl thought I was talking about her. It’s fine. Let her misunderstand. That way, Megan will be safe.] [As long as she can be my wife, even if she gets killed, she wouldn’t mind.] [I will be punished. I arranged a kidnapping. Everything was within my control. She was triggered, and for the rest of her life, she’ll never be able to leave me. I’ll spend my life making it up to her.] I pressed my eyes shut, terrified that tears would fall. It turned out the person he had always wanted to be with openly was never me. Our meeting, our love, our marriage, our happiness, from the beginning to now, was all just my Truman Show. I closed the diary carefully and placed it back where it belonged. As I stepped out of the study, I allowed the tears to fall. I curled up into a ball. Scenes from my first kidnapping flashed in my mind. At that time, Blake and I were inseparable. I had just come out of the hospital and was planning to tell him about my pregnancy. But as soon as I got into a car, I lost consciousness. Those beasts dragged me across the ground. The coldness and brutal torture made me lose the baby. When Blake rushed in and held me in his arms, all I could manage was a blurry consciousness. It was then that I developed a psychological condition. I couldn’t be away from Blake for long, and my health completely deteriorated. Blake comforted me, saying it didn’t matter if we didn’t have a child. It turned out, from the very beginning, that he never planned to have a child with me. He was the one who had crushed all possibilities. What I thought was redemption and deep affection was actually a carefully orchestrated scheme by him! The pain in my chest made it hard to breathe. I couldn’t resist the physical reaction, collapsing on the bed, convulsing. Amidst this extreme pain, I slowly became calm. Every detail of being with Blake flashed through my mind. In these five years, I had faced countless life-and-death situations. Every time, he had risked his life to save me. His care for me was real. He wasn’t worried about me dying. He was afraid that once I was gone, the danger would fall on his beloved. Shivering, I picked up my phone and checked Blake’s transaction records over the years. He had a company overseas that mainly dealt in jewelry. All the gifts he had given me in the past few years came from that company.

That company didn’t profit at all. The yearly revenue, aside from the fixed 100 million Blake sent, was supplemented by funds from the Harris Group. The company’s business was wide-ranging, and every product he had created had appeared on that woman, Megan. I found Megan’s account on Facebook. She was living comfortably in a seaside villa. In her latest update, she held hands with a man. The caption read: [My dearest you, worlds apart, yet so close.] I zoomed in on the picture. The man wore the same ruby wedding band as Megan, and there was a white mark on his wrist. Blake had once told me he didn’t like wearing rings. That was why, at our wedding, everything was there except for the rings. I really thought he didn’t like them. I made a bracelet by hand and put it on his wrist. That day, he kissed the bracelet, saying it was his amulet and that he’d never take it off. But as soon as he saw Megan, he took it off. He didn’t dislike wearing rings. He just didn’t want to wear one with me. I scrolled further. On February 14th, Blake gave Megan a sapphire necklace carved from the finest stone. That day, Blake gave me a necklace made of blue diamonds. On July 7th, Blake bought the best silk and made a full set of clothes for Megan. That day, Blake gave me a silk scarf. I flipped through the pages, burying myself in the pillow, laughing wildly in silence, my body twitching. My pulse seemed to stop in this madness. In Blake’s eyes, I was just a sidekick to Megan, a scapegoat. All the gifts he gave me were just afterthoughts prepared for Megan. Five years of love, gone in a moment. I cried the whole night. During that time, Blake sent me a message. I used to think he loved me, that he always wanted to know how I was doing. Now I realize he was just afraid that I, the scapegoat, would run away. If that was the case, how could I let him get what he wanted? The next morning, I contacted my lawyer, asking him to cancel all my identity information as quickly as possible. Blake came back in the middle of the night. As soon as he entered the house, he eagerly buried his face in my shoulder. “Caroline, did you miss me? I couldn’t sleep a wink last night without you.” The dark circles under his eyes made it seem like he hadn’t slept a bit. If this had happened before, I would’ve been deeply touched. But now, I didn’t dare to move. He didn’t love me. This pretentious look of deep affection made me sick! “Shy?” He looked down with a laugh, pulling me into his arms and with a soft moan from me. I was like his doll, not cared for, not even considered if I was asleep. Tears slipped down the corners of my eyes, quickly absorbed by the pillow, as though sadness had never been there. The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Blake’s grim face. Thinking about his reputation, I flinched in fear. “Your phone’s ringing. What did you cancel?” I quickly looked at my phone. It was a message from the lawyer. He had already taken care of canceling my identity, and in three hours, it would be final. I smiled awkwardly, “It’s nothing. Just an email account I used before. It had been inactive for so long, and I was worried it might be reclaimed, so I just canceled it.” “Mm.” Blake leaned closer to me, his gaze intense, gripping the back of my head as if trying to steal every breath I had until I had no strength left and collapsed in his arms. “Caroline, don’t lie to me. Don’t betray me.” I nodded desperately, tears brimming in my eyes. The terror was so intense that my fingertips grew cold. Soon! Soon, I would escape from him! Soon, Blake would never have Caroline by his side again! Just then, my phone rang, and Blake took a step back. “What? Megan’s back? Who brought her here? Wait for me. I’m going now.” Blake’s voice was dark, and he hurried out without even looking at me. I kept telling myself to breathe. Before leaving, I still had one thing to do. Even though I had canceled my identity, I didn’t want the name Caroline to be linked with Blake anymore. I steadied my emotions and received a message from the private investigator. It was a string of numbers. Megan’s phone number. “Hello, I’m Blake’s wife. Let’s meet.”

The meeting place was chosen by Megan. It was at the city’s biggest hotel. Behind a screen, I could hear heavy breathing. “Can’t you listen to me? It’s not safe with me right now.” I had seen Blake cold and gentle, as well as every other side of him. But hearing his helpless voice for the first time shook me. “I miss you so much. I’m about to get married, and you still won’t see me. Is it true that you’ve really fallen for your wife?” “Stop saying that. I’m doing this to keep you safe.” After exchanging words of affection, Blake finally left. He was always cautious, but this time, he didn’t notice that someone else had slipped behind the screen. I couldn’t see my own expression, but it was probably bitter and mocking. “Blake is gone. You’re really pathetic. But as a woman, I’m still willing to hear you out.” Megan stepped out from behind it, a smug smile on her face, her eyes full of the pride of a victor. Her skin was flushed, and her outfit was both flattering and stylish, accentuating her figure. The exposed skin on her body was smooth and flawless. I looked down at my casual clothes. Ever since I got together with Blake, I didn’t dare wear anything nice because I lacked the courage to show the scars on my body. The constant injuries made me seem so much weaker than Megan. She just stood there, scanning me from top to bottom, and it was already the greatest insult. “I’m not here to fight you over Blake. I’ve been by his side long enough. He might have feelings for me too.” After being with Blake for so many years, I learned how to use others’ power to my advantage. “You came here today to make me give up, didn’t you? I know I can’t compare to you. I just want one autograph from him to remember him by.” When I left the hotel, my steps were much lighter. Over the past couple of days, I’d tried everything to cling to Blake. At first, he went along with it, but eventually, he became impatient. But it didn’t matter. As long as my goal was achieved, I didn’t care. Two days later, Megan gave me the signature I asked for. When I saw it, I breathed a sigh of relief and quickly went to print the divorce papers. By the third day, my identity was completely erased. I gathered all the gifts Blake had given me, including that diary, and placed them in the most visible spot in the villa. These things that belonged to someone else were better off returned to their rightful owner. As for all of my belongings, they were burned to ashes the moment I stepped on the plane. In the airport lounge, I took out my phone and sent Megan a message. Just two words: [Thank you.] Just as the phone was about to turn off, Blake’s text popped up in the notification bar. [Baby, I’m almost home.] [I bought the birthday cake. It’s your favorite strawberry cake.] [Sorry, baby, Megan isn’t feeling well. She’s all alone here, so I need to go check on her…] The phone shut off completely, and the dark screen didn’t show his next words. But I didn’t need to see it. I already knew he was going to be with Megan. I crushed the SIM card and threw it in the trash. Following the boarding announcement, I stepped onto the plane. Meanwhile, in the ballroom, Megan lay softly on Blake’s chest, a faint flush on her face from the alcohol. “Blake, I’m fine. Go back to Caroline. I’m the one being selfish. I couldn’t help myself, I just missed you, so I called you.” Her eyes were full of tears. Blake’s phone lay next to them, the screen flashing dimly. It wasn’t until they left the ballroom that he noticed the dozens of missed calls on his phone. The moment he answered, his friend Zachary’s panicked voice came through, trembling. “Blake! A lawyer came to the company with the divorce papers! Caroline found out about you and Ms. Foster! “We can’t reach Caroline! We’ve tried every way, and we can’t get in touch with her!!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295825”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring

I’ve been in love with my childhood friend for ten years, and he’s been annoyed with me for just as long. Finally, one day, I slept with him and left two hundred dollars on the nightstand. My childhood friend felt utterly humiliated and “hunted” me down everywhere. But he couldn’t find me anywhere. I avoided him for three years, until my father passed away, leaving me an orphan. His parents said, “From now on, our home is your home, and this boy is your brother.” I looked at my childhood friend’s face, flushed with anger and embarrassment at the sight of me, And cheerfully called out, “Hello, big brother!” 0 I had been avoiding Ethan Collins for exactly three years. The reason I remember it so clearly is because the night I seduced him was New Year’s Eve during my freshman year winter break. And today is New Year’s Eve of my senior year winter break. I was dragging my suitcase, planning to buy some fruit before going upstairs. Unexpectedly, I ran into Ethan Collins. He hadn’t changed much, still fair-skinned and unforgettably handsome. —You couldn’t tell at all that he was a bit of a player. A beautiful player. The moment he entered the store, I instinctively turned away, lowering the brim of my cap. “Ethan, buying fruit again?” The young male shopkeeper’s eyes lit up at the sight of Ethan Collins. “We’ve got some great new pomelos. Why don’t you take a couple home for your parents to try?” Ethan said, “I don’t like sour things.” “Then how about some cherries? They’re guaranteed sweet.” “I hate sweet things even more.” …I wanted to tell him, eat it or don’t, just get lost. But the shopkeeper’s enthusiasm didn’t wane. When Ethan was checking out, he even insisted on stuffing a few apples into his bag. This was Ethan’s special treatment. With his good looks, he was the center of attention wherever he went. When he was ten, Ethan could go out empty-handed and come back with his pockets full of snacks. It made me green with envy back then. Now at twenty, the neighborhood had changed faces many times over. But he was still the focal point. The shopkeeper asked, “Ethan, are you going home alone this year?” “Mm-hmm.” “I heard from the neighbors that you were planning to bring a girlfriend home this year.” Ethan has a girlfriend? I couldn’t help but prick up my ears. 0

Ethan laughed softly. His laugh was particularly pleasant, making one’s ears tingle. On New Year’s Eve three years ago, I had heard it up close. Not only did it make my ears tingle, but if I heard it too much, my heart would flutter too. “That’s not true,” he said. The shopkeeper: “I knew a good-looking boy like you would have high standards. It’s not easy for you to find a partner. What’s your type? I have a sister who’s quite a beauty.” “I don’t like girls who are too beautiful.” “Well, she’s not that beautiful…” “I also don’t like girls who aren’t beautiful enough.” The shopkeeper was at a loss for words, forcing an awkward smile: “Ethan, you should hurry up and find a girlfriend to put your parents at ease.” “Don’t worry, I have a girlfriend,” Ethan said, “I just haven’t decided which girlfriend to bring home.” Shopkeeper: … Such an outrageous statement, coming from a player’s mouth, somehow seemed reasonable. After a while, the store was quiet. I figured Ethan must have left. I went to grab the last honeydew melon. A long, fair hand suddenly appeared, intercepting the melon midway. “Sorry, I got to it first.” The young man’s voice sounded behind me. He said sorry, but there wasn’t a hint of apology in his tone. “But I might consider letting you have it.” Ethan’s voice was now drumming against my eardrums— “Could you turn around?” 0

My ill-fated connection with Ethan Collins could be traced back twelve years. My dad brought me from the county to the city. He and Ethan’s father were war buddies, but after retiring, one ended up in heaven and the other on earth. My dad was the one on earth. City living was expensive, and he drove a bus, barely making ends meet. As for why we had to live in the city, my dad said the education was better here, and I could get into a good university. City housing prices were also high, and thanks to Ethan’s father, we were lent two rooms to live in. Ethan’s parents were very kind to me. My dad was often away, so after school, I’d go to Ethan’s house for meals. I practically ate, lived, and went to school with Ethan. But he didn’t like me. Ethan’s friends were mostly handsome, beautiful, or from wealthy families. I was a country bumpkin, dark-skinned and chubby. I insisted on following him around, which annoyed him greatly. Once, he deliberately left me at an amusement park, nearly causing me to get lost. Ethan got a severe beating for that incident. He still has scars on his bottom because of it. He hated me even more after that, always trying to find ways to tease me. But back then, I was naive. I always thought Ethan was different from the boys back home. He was so good-looking, with such fair skin. When he smiled, it seemed magical. I stubbornly followed behind him, hiding my budding feelings. Looking back now, Ethan’s annoyance with me was undisguised. One spring, when all the flowers at school were in bloom, Ethan’s friends asked him which flower he liked best. Ethan said, “I don’t have a favorite, only one I hate the most. I hate gardenias, they’re too sweet and cloying, absolutely awful.” As he said this, he glanced at me from the corner of his eye. I immediately understood that these words were meant for me to hear. Because that morning, I had just picked two gardenias for him. The year we graduated from high school, another incident occurred. I asked Ethan, “Where are you planning to apply for college?” Ethan thought for a moment: “London.” Excited, I filled out applications for schools in London. The day the acceptance letters came, I found out. Ethan was going to New York. He had lied to me, just to get away from me. What a cruel reality. 0

During the first semester of freshman year, if I didn’t initiate contact, Ethan wouldn’t reach out to me either. He had his own life, his own circle of friends. He was outstanding, leading his major, and even voted campus heartthrob. His photos always featured beautiful girls. I visited him in New York once. His friends asked, “Ethan, who’s this chick?” Ethan said, “The daughter of my dad’s friend.” I was stunned at that moment. After knowing each other for ten years, in the end, I didn’t even count as an ordinary friend. Suddenly, I felt utterly disheartened. But I wasn’t ready to give up just like that. I planned for a long time, and on New Year’s Day during the winter break, I seduced Ethan. We had both been drinking that day. Ethan couldn’t hold his liquor well and quickly became tipsy. I, however, was unusually clear-headed. When I got close to him, he didn’t push me away. I asked, “Ethan Collins, do you know how long I’ve liked you?” He didn’t say anything. Feeling that taking advantage of him wasn’t right, I asked again, “Do you know who I am?” He said, “Lily Knowles.” When he said my name, it sounded low and enchanting. I said, “Are you going to reject me?” He shook his head and instead wrapped his arms around me tightly. That night, Ethan was very gentle. After the impulse passed, we lay in bed, and Ethan said to me, “I’m sorry for lying about the college applications.” I didn’t respond. He held onto my arm, sighing helplessly, “I promise I’ll apply for grad school in London, okay?” As if I cared anymore. I had already decided to let go. Tonight, I was just giving myself closure. After all, I had been foolish for so many years. If I didn’t get him once, it would feel like a loss. Now that I had, I wouldn’t dwell on it anymore. Early the next morning, before Ethan woke up, I ran away. Oh, right. He had paid for the hotel. I didn’t want to take advantage of him, so I left two hundred dollars. But this gesture seemed to cause some misunderstandings… I deleted all of Ethan’s contact information and completely cut ties with him. I heard from high school classmates that Ethan felt utterly humiliated and was “hunting” me down everywhere. He even came to my university. Several times, but never saw me. The most memorable was during sophomore year. My roommate relayed to me: That day, Ethan was like a volcano about to erupt, desperate to catch me and tear me to pieces. He stopped my roommate and fiercely asked, “Where has Lily Knowles gone again?!” My roommate said, “Oh, don’t you know? Today’s May 20th.” “—She went out to celebrate with her boyfriend.” At that moment. It was as if a torrential rain had suddenly extinguished the volcano. Ethan stood there, stunned, for a long, long time.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295838”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn #校园School

As we were about to exchange rings, a woman burst through the door, leading a child by the hand. With tears in her eyes, she cried out, “Are you really going to abandon us, your own flesh and blood?” The entire room fell into shocked silence. My fiancé froze, his hand hovering over my finger with the ring. He turned to me and said, “As you can see, that’s my child. I can’t let my own blood be cast aside. You’ll have to treat this child as your own from now on.” Without a word, I walked over to the woman and slipped the ring onto her finger instead. “Why make things complicated? You two should be together,” I said, starting to clap. “Today’s a joyous occasion. You star-crossed lovers can finally be united.” The room was stunned into silence. As my parents were about to explode with anger, I held them back with a smile. “Mom, Dad, they’re clearly in love. I’m gracious enough to step aside,” I said lightly. Then I signaled to one of the staff members. In an instant, the video showcasing my love story with Ethan Guthrie was replaced by security footage of him having an affair with his subordinate in the office. The video was extremely graphic. The room fell deathly quiet before erupting into gasps and exclamations. Ethan’s face turned ashen. “Have you lost your mind?” he hissed. After a chaotic moment, Ethan finally managed to shut off the video. Anna Shirley broke down in tears. She had been in shock, barely breathing, during the brief 30-second clip. It felt like she had been dragged through hell. She glared at me resentfully, not understanding why I had to be so cruel. She had only come today to secure a future for her child. Why did I have to utterly destroy them? The child started wailing, frightened by the commotion. Mother and son clung to each other, looking utterly pitiful. My parents’ anger gave way to stunned expressions. Dad sighed, looking at me with sympathy. Mom hugged me tightly. “Oh sweetheart, you’ve been wronged. You should have told us earlier.” I shook my head with a smile. “It’s fine. They’ve gotten their comeuppance now.” Behind me, Ethan’s face had turned black as coal. I shot him a mocking smile before turning to address the crowd. “Everyone, the engagement party ends here. I’ll refund your gifts later. But please, enjoy the food and drinks. Consider it a celebration of my escape from misery.” With that, I left with my parents. But we had barely stepped outside when Ethan’s parents blocked our way. Mrs. Guthrie looked at me reproachfully. “Stella, you went too far today. Even if our Ethan had an affair, you shouldn’t have caused such a scene at the wedding.” I hadn’t actually planned to go this far. This incident would make both the Guthrie and Moore families the subject of gossip. My engagement to Ethan had been more of a business arrangement than a love match. Or rather, I no longer had feelings for him now. I used to like him a lot. But he never truly cared for me. He had one girlfriend after another, and now he had even gotten his subordinate pregnant. I wanted to go crazy, to lash out recklessly. But I couldn’t. The business ties between our families were too deep. I couldn’t afford to be petty. So I had endured it all. I thought we could get married first, then I would slowly distance myself from the Guthries. I wanted the Moore family to extract themselves from this mess unscathed. But Ethan and Anna were too greedy. They actually tried to force me to accept that child at the wedding. Since it had come to this, we would have to go down together. Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie continued to berate me as my parents argued back. Soon, two pairs of normally dignified elites were hurling insults at each other on the street. My heart ached. I had caused my parents such embarrassment. Just then, Ethan emerged with the child in tow, Anna following behind. Seeing the chaotic scene, he frowned, his icy glare fixed on me. “Look what you’ve done!” he snapped. Rage surged within me. How dare he blame me? I could no longer contain myself. I stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. “Ethan Guthrie, how dare you say that? You two caused this scene at our wedding, humiliating both our families, and you expected me to just swallow this bitter pill? How dare you!”

The sharp crack of the slap silenced everyone. All eyes turned to us. Ethan’s head was turned to the side from the force of the blow. He seemed stunned, unable to react. Anna let out a piercing shriek. She threw herself at Ethan, wailing as if her parents had died. “Ethan, are you okay? How could she be so cruel!” Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie finally snapped out of their shock. Mr. Guthrie’s face turned livid. “You may be from a good family, but how could you resort to violence?” he scolded me. Mrs. Guthrie dabbed at her eyes, glaring daggers at me. Ethan came back to his senses and moved to retaliate. My father quickly pulled me behind him protectively. “Ethan Guthrie, don’t you dare lay a hand on her!” he warned. Ethan halted, his chest heaving with barely contained fury. But he wasn’t so far gone as to actually strike my father. The child began crying loudly, frightened by all the commotion. Anna frantically tried to comfort him while continuing her dramatic performance. “Miss Moore, please don’t be angry. I only came for the child’s sake. I never meant to ruin your relationship,” she sobbed, her body shaking. “If you’re willing to raise little Sky, I promise I’ll never appear before you again.” Ethan looked at her with concern before turning to glare at me reproachfully. As if I was being unreasonable by not agreeing, as if I was committing some great sin. I found it laughable that even at this point, Ethan still thought we could get married. I clapped my hands together mockingly. “Ethan Guthrie, our engagement is over. Congratulations, we’re both free now.” His eyes widened in anger as he jabbed a finger at me. “Stella Moore, are you still a child? Don’t you realize canceling our engagement will have huge consequences for both our companies?” Of course Ethan didn’t believe I would actually call off the engagement. He still thought I was just throwing a tantrum, acting like a spoiled rich girl. He regretted not hiding Anna and the child better. At the very least, he should have waited until after the wedding to bring little Sky home. I regarded him coldly. “Consequences? Did you think about the consequences when you were fooling around with her?” Anna listened from the side, a smug smile playing on her lips. Ethan remained dismissive. “So what? Which man in our circles doesn’t have a mistress on the side?” At those words, both sets of parents’ expressions changed. Especially Mrs. Guthrie’s. Mr. Guthrie had quite the reputation as a womanizer in his younger days, even fathering several illegitimate children. Though the situations had been handled, Mrs. Guthrie was still sensitive about the topic. Remembering this, her gaze toward Anna turned hostile. This woman was no different from those vixens who had seduced her husband. Just then, a few paparazzi started snapping photos. They whispered amongst themselves: “Big news! The Guthrie heir and Moore heiress are finished.” “Mistress crashes wedding with love child – what juicy upper-class drama!” Hearing this, Mrs. Guthrie’s expression darkened further. “What are you standing around for? Take your son and go home. Stop embarrassing us here!” she snapped at Ethan. With a final glare at Anna, Mrs. Guthrie stormed off. Mr. Guthrie, knowing the situation well, followed without comment. Anna was taken aback by Mrs. Guthrie’s sudden change in attitude. She huddled closer to Ethan, looking pitiful. Ethan glared at me one last time before leaving with little Sky in his arms. I watched their retreating figures, lost in thought. On the surface, the Guthrie family seemed just as prestigious as the Moores. But in reality, their business had been declining in recent years.

Six months ago, Guthrie Cosmetics was exposed for using carcinogenic ingredients in their skincare products. The scandal had dealt a heavy blow to the family. That’s why they were in such a rush to have me marry Ethan. But I hadn’t known any of this before. It wasn’t until I discovered Anna was pregnant, and Ethan still stubbornly insisted on marrying me instead of giving her proper status, that I realized something was off. I did some digging and found out the Guthries were facing a major cash flow problem. But by then it was too late. We had already set the wedding date. My parents probably knew about the Guthries’ issues long ago. But for my sake, they gritted their teeth and continued working with them. I felt so unfilial. I finally broke down in tears. “I’m sorry. I’ve made you lose face,” I choked out. Mom hugged me tightly. “Stella, honey, you did nothing wrong. There’s no shame in loving someone.” Dad rushed to comfort me as well. “That’s right. It’s all the Guthries’ fault for being such scum.” Their words gradually lifted my mood. That evening, I received a message from Ethan: “I’ll let today’s incident slide. You’ve vented enough, so we’re even now.” I had to do a double-take, shocked by his thick skin. Even after all that drama, he still thought there was hope for our relationship. As I was pondering this, more messages came through: “I’ve thought it over. Since you can’t accept Sky, I’ll send him away after we’re married.” “But I still need to set aside some shares for him. He is my son after all.” “Don’t worry, only the children you bear will be the true Guthrie heirs.” I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly fell out of my head. Inherit what? The Guthrie family’s debts? I didn’t bother replying, just muted his messages. That night, I locked myself in my room. I knew the Guthries were clinging to me desperately just to save their crumbling empire. Recently, the Guthries had been working on a project with Jason Corp. I decided to contact the CEO of Jason Corp directly. “Mr. Jason, I have a business proposition for you,” I said. “Miss Moore, what do you mean…?” I smiled sweetly. Then I sent a file to Mr. Jason’s email. “This is an alternative partnership proposal I’ve prepared for you. Moore Industries has more capital and resources to ensure the project’s success.” The man on the other end went quiet for a moment. I assumed he was reviewing the file I sent. “Miss Moore, your offer is very appealing,” he finally said. “But I’ve already agreed to work with Guthrie Corp. We’re about to sign the contract. Backing out now would make me seem untrustworthy.” But I wasn’t worried. I had anticipated this response. Mr. Jason’s greatest strength was his integrity. “Of course, I understand your position,” I said calmly. “But I hope you’ll consider it carefully. Once Moore Industries officially ends our partnership with the Guthries, their problems may affect you as well…” After a long pause, he let out a heavy sigh. “Alright.” Two days later, Ethan showed up at my door. My parents happened to be out. He strode in with his usual arrogant air, looking impatient. “Alright, you’ve had your little tantrum for days now. It’s time we go get our marriage license,” he said. I rubbed my temples, giving him a cold look. I’d miscalculated. I should have told the staff not to let anyone from the Guthrie family in. “Ethan Guthrie, where do you get the confidence to think I’d still marry you?” I asked incredulously. Ethan walked over, his tone uncharacteristically placating. “Stop being childish. I admit I was wrong before. I went too far,” he said. “But I promise after we’re married, I’ll cut ties with everyone else and be devoted only to you.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Those were the same words Mr. Guthrie had said to his wife years ago. Yet to this day, Mr. Guthrie still hadn’t cut ties with his mistresses. Who knows, a few more illegitimate children might pop up in the coming years. “Your own mother wouldn’t believe that,” I scoffed. Ethan was taken aback. He clearly remembered his father’s philandering ways too. As a child, he had vowed to me that he would never become like his father. But the older he got, the more he seemed to follow in Mr. Guthrie’s footsteps. The thought irritated him further. “Didn’t I say I’d take care of the child situation? Why are you being so stubborn about this?” he snapped. “Ethan Guthrie, wake up and face reality,” I retorted. With that, I ignored him and told the butler to throw him out. Then I put up a sign outside – “No dogs or Ethan Guthrie allowed.” He clearly saw it. His face turned black with rage. But there was nothing he could do. He could only fume outside. To celebrate my escape from that scumbag, my best friend took me to a bar to check out some male models. In her words, since I’d taken a fall with one man, I needed to make up for it with other hot guys. So there I was, surrounded by a parade of male models for me to choose from. They sweetly called out, “Miss, miss…” as they passed by. I was having the time of my life. I suddenly realized what a dull existence I’d been living before. My friend had her arms around one of the models. She caught my eye from across the room and gave me a knowing look. I was thoroughly enjoying myself when I spotted a familiar figure. It looked like Anna Shirley. I quickly followed her. Weaving through the crowd, I trailed Anna as she made her way to a secluded corner. A roguish-looking man was waiting there. When he turned, I got a clear view of his face. He bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Guthrie. I had a feeling something big was about to go down. I hid behind some bushes and started recording with my phone. Anna threw herself at the man with a coy expression. “Did you wait long?” The man stood still, letting her embrace him. His eyes held nothing but cynicism and mockery. “Miss me that much? I guess Ethan isn’t satisfying you?” he drawled. Anna’s face flushed red. Then, as if no one else existed, they began kissing passionately. Anna’s eyes were clouded with desire. Her legs went weak. But the man remained detached. Though he kissed her fervently, his eyes stayed cold and clear. When they finally broke apart, Anna collapsed in his arms. The man stroked her head. “You’ve done well.” Anna nodded obediently. “Ethan must be blind to fall for your act,” the man chuckled lowly. Anna let out a contemptuous laugh. “Hah, he says he loves me. Says that Miss Moore is just an old-fashioned prude, boring in bed too.” The man’s tone turned lecherous. “Is that so? I wouldn’t mind sampling the prude’s flavor myself.” Ugh. I nearly threw up. How dare they bring me into their dirty flirting? I was so disgusted my hands shook. I almost dropped my phone. But what I heard next was truly shocking.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295855”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance

I opened my eyes to find myself in a stark white hospital room. As I sat up, I felt as if something had been cleared from my mind, leaving me with an unusually calm feeling. While I was staring out the window, lost in thought, someone entered the room. “Zoe, I’m so glad you’re awake. I had no idea that little stray cat would be so naughty. Once you’re out of the hospital, I’ll buy you a much more expensive one to make up for it,” said a teary-eyed woman. “And about the baby… I want to apologize. Please don’t be angry with Jack because of me. Don’t let this affect your relationship of many years,” she continued, her eyes red from crying and her demeanor suggesting she had been greatly wronged. I remained silent, which only made the woman cry harder, her tears falling like water from a faucet. “It seems Zoe won’t forgive me. It’s all my fault. I should just go and die now, to make amends for Zoe’s baby,” she said, rushing towards the door. The man beside her quickly grabbed her, locking her in his embrace. “What are you talking about? This isn’t your fault. Don’t say such things!” he said, holding her tightly. Then he turned to me, his face dark with displeasure. “Rachel has apologized to you. What more do you want? You know she’s not in good health. Can’t you stop bullying her?” he said sternly. I frowned, “Who are you people? Do I know you? If you’re sick, go get treatment. Don’t come here acting crazy!” The man paused for a moment, then furrowed his brow, looking at my face suspiciously as if trying to determine whether I was lying. “Zoe Sanders, what do you mean by that?” he asked. I didn’t answer him. Instead, I tilted my head, seriously trying to recall who these two annoying people were. But even after long consideration, I couldn’t retrieve any information about them from my memory. “I don’t know you. Get out of my hospital room, or I’m calling the police,” I said firmly. The man’s face gradually darkened. He gripped my shoulders, his tone serious, “Zoe, this amnesia act isn’t funny. If you’re trying to get my attention, I advise you to stop now. It only makes me more annoyed.” I narrowed my eyes, then raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. The woman screamed and rushed over, cradling the man’s face and checking for injuries. Unfazed, I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed 91

“Miss Sanders has no brain damage. According to the test results, it appears she has experienced some kind of shock, causing her body’s defense mechanism to choose to avoid the pain. As a result, her memory has regressed to when she was 18,” the doctor explained to the police. After the police and doctor left, I stood with my arms crossed, staring expressionlessly at the two people in front of me. According to the police officer, the man before me was my fiancé, and the woman beside him was his childhood friend. After hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. What kind of fiancé would be hugging and comforting his childhood friend while leaving his own fiancée out in the cold? Moreover, judging from their words and actions before the police arrived, these two people seemed to have an unclear relationship and apparently didn’t treat me well. Jack’s face was pale as he sat on the edge of the hospital bed, trying to hold my hand. I immediately pulled away and raised my hand again, “I don’t mind giving you another slap.” Jack’s eyes flashed with hurt. He pressed his lips together, “Zoe, have you really forgotten me? You used to love me so much…” I smiled, “But it seems you don’t love me very much.” Jack followed my gaze to Rachel. He hurriedly tried to explain, “I’ve told you countless times, Rachel is just like a sister to me. She’s not in good health, what’s wrong with me taking care of her?” “Right, right,” I said sarcastically. “Using your wife and child’s lives to take care of a ‘sister’ with no blood relation. Even Buddha would have to step aside for you.” “Jack Roberts, you know very well what you’re thinking. If you want to have an affair, just have one. Why use the excuse of her being your ‘sister’? Honestly, men like you are not only disgusting but also cowardly. I don’t know what I was thinking to fall for someone like you.” Jack’s face turned ashen, his facial muscles tense. Rachel stood beside Jack, supporting his shoulder and putting on an understanding act. “How can you speak so rudely? Jack and I grew up together, we’re family. What’s wrong with him taking care of me a little more?” I smiled slightly, straightened up, and beckoned her closer. She approached uncertainly. I grabbed her collar and slapped her hard, sending her sprawling to the floor. “Don’t you have parents of your own? Why are you out here trying to steal someone else’s husband to be your ‘family’? If you need so much care, pack your bags and go lie down in a nursing home!” Rachel held her face, biting her pink lips. Her tear-filled eyes looked towards Jack. Jack wanted to say something, but when he met my gaze, he swallowed his words. He simply helped Rachel up silently. “Rachel, you should go home now,” he said quietly. Rachel looked at him in disbelief. “Jack…” “Go home!” he repeated more firmly. Rachel glared at me with hatred and reluctance before turning and leaving the hospital room. “Your little lover has left. Why are you still here?” I asked coldly. Jack didn’t refute my words. He pressed his lips together and said, “Zoe, once you’re discharged, let’s go get our marriage license.” I looked at him incredulously. “Are you sick? Who wants to marry you?” He panicked immediately, his eyes trembling. “Didn’t you always want to marry me?” “I did? Well, I don’t want to anymore. Is that okay? Looking at you makes me sick.” Jack looked deeply hurt. But I was telling the truth. Just a few exchanges had made me despise him so much. I don’t know how my former self had endured it. After Jack left, I opened the voice memo app on my phone. I’ve always had the habit of keeping an audio diary, and I wondered if I had continued this habit as I grew older. Upon checking, I found that the latest recording was from last night. Before playing it, I felt an inexplicable sense of dread, as if a huge stone was weighing down my heart. But after what had just happened, I desperately wanted to know everything. It was a twenty-minute recording. I wiped my face and found it wet with tears. How had 28-year-old Zoe Sanders ended up living like this? Humbled in love, framed, humiliated, handed over by her beloved to be tortured by a psychopath… Her child, her kitten, along with her dignity, all stripped away… It’s okay. It won’t happen again. 18-year-old Zoe Sanders doesn’t love Jack Roberts. Without love, there won’t be humiliation, and there won’t be even a shred of softness in my heart.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295871”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance

While I was changing clothes, my neighbor, Linda, crossed a line I never expected. When I found out I was pregnant, my husband immediately assumed I had cheated on him. He rushed home that very night to confront me. Through tears, I told him the horrific truth. Furious, he stormed off to confront Linda, but he too fell victim to her cruelty. Realizing her secret was about to be exposed, Linda made a chilling decision—she poisoned all three of us. Now, in this second chance at life, I swear I will drag every filthy secret of hers into the light for the world to see. “Janie, change into something dry. Look at you, you’re soaking wet,” Linda said as she rummaged through the closet for clothes. I froze, my hand trembling over the buttons of my shirt, staring at Linda’s back with a mixture of disbelief and fear. This isn’t happening… right? Linda turned around with a confused look. “What’s wrong, Janie? Aren’t you going to change?” Forcing a weak smile, I stammered, “I-I’m fine… I just need to use the bathroom first.” Without waiting for her response, I stumbled into the bathroom and locked the door tightly behind me. The strength drained from my body as I slid down against the door, trembling uncontrollably. I stared at my pale, shaking hands—hands that were still untainted, unmarred—and tears began to stream silently down my face. I clamped my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs. It was today. It was this rainy day. It was in this house. This was the day Linda destroyed me. Linda wasn’t just my neighbor; she was practically family. She was incredibly close to my father-in-law, so much so that she lived in his house while renting out her own to make extra income. My husband and I had even joked about when they were finally going to get married. But whenever the topic came up, Linda and my father-in-law would exchange awkward glances and quickly change the subject. Eventually, my husband and I stopped asking. My mother-in-law had passed away years ago, and Linda had stepped in to care for my husband and his father ever since. She was even there the first time I met my husband’s family, helping to “vet” me. When she found out I was an orphan, her eyes filled with an almost overwhelming pity. In the two years I’d been married, she’d treated me with kindness and care, always looking out for me. But after what happened, I had no idea how to cope. I could only cry in despair. Linda knelt before me, sobbing and begging for forgiveness. She swore she’d make it up to me, that she’d never tell anyone about what she’d done. But I was too shaken to accept her apology. I shook my head and tried to run for the door. That’s when the always-gentle Linda transformed into a monster. She sprang to her feet, grabbed me, and held me back with a terrifying strength. I screamed for help, my cries directed at my father-in-law, who was standing nearby. He hesitated for a moment, looking conflicted. But then, he pulled out a bundle of rope. And just like that, I was tied up and locked in a room—for an entire month. No one suspected a thing. My father-in-law went to my workplace and told my boss I needed some time off to deal with a “family emergency.” Meanwhile, Linda used my phone to reply to my husband’s texts, keeping him in the dark. Trapped in that room, I screamed until my voice was hoarse. But no one came to help me. Linda would bring me meals every day, trying to convince me to “let it go” and pretend nothing had ever happened. “We can still be family,” she’d say. Bound hand and foot, I wriggled helplessly on the bed like a caterpillar. At first, I spat in her face and hurled the vilest insults I could think of. But as time went on, I grew weaker. Reason told me I needed to conserve my strength if I ever wanted to escape. One day, I drank every last drop of the porridge Linda brought me. Her eyes lit up at the sight, and she spoke to me in a gentler tone, trying once again to persuade me. I closed my eyes, unwilling to even look at her or my father-in-law.

The turning point came a month later. After finishing a bowl of porridge, I suddenly vomited it all back up. My stomach churned violently, and I was pale as a ghost, struggling to suppress the urge to throw up again. Panic flashed across Linda’s face as she rushed to call my father-in-law. The two of them decided to force-feed me some medication for my stomach. But the vomiting didn’t stop. For a week straight, everything I ate came right back up. Linda sat helplessly on the edge of the bed while I lay there, utterly drained. Then, as if struck by inspiration, she clapped her hands together and hurried out of the room. Exhausted, I drifted off to sleep. When I woke up, Linda and my father-in-law were standing over me, their faces pale and stricken, as if something even worse had happened. Linda dropped to her knees with a thud and stammered, “Janie… you… I…” My voice was hoarse as I croaked, “What? Are you finally going to let me go?” Linda squeezed her eyes shut and muttered, “You… you’re pregnant.” I froze, my eyes widening in disbelief. My husband had been working out of town for four months. I already knew who the father was.

Knock, knock, knock! The sound of rhythmic knocking echoed from the door behind me. Linda’s voice, tinged with worry, called out, “Janie, are you okay in there?” I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to sound calm. “I’m fine. Just… stomach trouble.” Steeling myself, I resolved not to let today unfold the same way it had in my previous life. Flushing the toilet, I stepped out of the bathroom. Linda was sitting casually on the living room couch, her expression seemingly innocent. I couldn’t bear to look at her any longer. Grasping for an excuse, I decided to get rid of her. “Linda, I’m really craving ribs today. Could you make me some corn and rib soup?” “Well, there aren’t any ribs left in the house,” she replied with a smile. “I’ll head out and grab some.” I nodded and watched as she got up, slipped on her coat, and left through the front door. As she walked out, I returned to my bedroom, closing the door behind me. I knew she wouldn’t try anything immediately. In my past life, when our three bodies began to decompose, the stench prompted Linda to file a complaint with the property management. When the property staff opened the door and found our corpses, they quickly called the police. Footage from the building’s security cameras revealed that Linda had been returning to the apartment every four days. The authorities set a trap, and she was eventually arrested. During her interrogation, Linda confessed everything, breaking down in tears and saying she regretted it all. She claimed she didn’t know what came over her when she first attacked me. When my husband, Zane, confronted her, she panicked and made one mistake after another, spiraling out of control until her mental state completely crumbled. When the investigators asked why she had also killed my father-in-law, Linda’s expression turned grim. She insisted that he bore responsibility for everything that happened. “If it weren’t for his… peculiar habits all these years, I wouldn’t have gotten used to this… this way of life,” she muttered. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out her final words: “This was his punishment, his atonement. And I… I was the one who started it all…” But she couldn’t finish her sentence. Her voice cracked, and she fell silent, shaking her head as if the weight of her guilt had rendered her speechless.

The sound of the door clicking shut snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly pulled out my phone, my hand trembling as I dialed my husband’s number. “Zane, you have to come home today. I have something important to tell you,” I said, my voice shaking. Hearing the panic in my tone, he tried to reassure me. “Calm down, Janie. What’s going on? Take your time—I’m here.” I clenched my fist, digging my nails into my palm to keep myself steady. “It’s not something I can explain right now. Please, just come home today.” Zane hesitated. He’d only recently started his new position in another city, and taking leave so soon would be difficult to justify. The silence on the other end of the line was deafening. Taking a deep breath, I hardened my voice and said, “Zane, if you don’t come home today, we’re done. I’ll file for divorce.” Before he could respond, I hung up. My heart raced as I stumbled to my closet, digging out clean clothes. My hands shook so badly that it took me several tries to get dressed properly. Grabbing my car keys from the entryway, I bolted out of the house and drove straight to my office. When I arrived, my coworkers who were working late greeted me warmly. “Good evening, Manager Monroe!” “Didn’t you already leave for the day? What brings you back?” “Manager Monroe, want to grab dinner with us?” I forced a smile and responded to each of them politely. “Good evening! Just came back to handle a work issue. You all enjoy dinner—I’ll head upstairs now. Keep up the good work!” Once I reached my office, I sank into my chair, burying my face in my hands as I let out a long, shaky breath. The rain had stopped, and the sky outside was bright and clear. Sunlight poured through the windows, and a faint rainbow arched across the horizon. For the first time in what felt like forever, the weather was beautiful.

I pulled out a sheet of paper and began jotting down everything I could remember from my previous life. This time, I’d stay far away from the people and events that had once made my life a living hell. No one who committed such heinous acts would escape the consequences this time. I was deep in thought when the sound of my phone ringing startled me. Frowning, I glanced at the screen. Seeing Linda’s name pop up, my expression turned ice-cold. “Janie, where are you? I bought the ribs—should I start cooking them now?” Suppressing a bitter laugh, I replied flatly, “I’m at the office. Won’t be coming home tonight. Bye.” Without waiting for a response, I hung up, then stood and fed the paper I’d written into the shredder. I watched as the memories of my past life were reduced to tiny scraps. There was no way I’d leave something that incriminating lying around. The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur. My mind was too preoccupied to focus on work—I could only think about my next move. It wasn’t until a timid knock on my office door pulled me back to the present. One of the interns peeked in and said softly, “Manager Monroe, Mr. Lee wants to see you in his office.” When I entered Mr. Lee’s office, he greeted me with a warm smile, his chubby hands folded on his desk like a friendly mascot. “Take a seat, Janie,” he said. I nodded politely. “Mr. Lee, is there something you need?” After sipping his tea, he got straight to the point. “Janie, there’s no need for small talk. You’ve been with the company for three years now, and your abilities speak for themselves. The board is planning to open a branch in Seabridge, and I’d like you to lead it. What do you think?” The news hit me like a bolt of lightning. It felt like a gift from the heavens. In my previous life, I’d been locked away during this exact time and had never even heard about this opportunity. This was a rare chance. If I accepted the position, a couple of years of hard work at the new branch would pave the way for a promotion when I returned. I was thrilled, but I kept my expression carefully measured—just enough to show interest without appearing overly eager. Mr. Lee seemed pleased with my reaction. But instead of giving him an answer right away, I asked, “When would I need to move?” Waving his hand, he replied, “No rush. Anytime within the next month.” I thanked him and promised to think it over before leaving the office.

The sky gradually darkened, the soft pink hues of dusk fading into deep shadows. Only the faint glow of streetlights illuminated the paths of late-night wanderers. My phone lit up with the familiar ringtone. After an entire afternoon of waiting, the key player had finally arrived. Zane’s usually clear voice was now slightly hoarse, the exhaustion from his long journey evident. I simply told him to come to my office and refused to discuss anything further. When I saw Zane’s tall, clean-cut figure appear, my chest tightened, and I couldn’t hold back anymore. I threw myself into his arms and began to sob uncontrollably. I cried with all the helplessness and sorrow I had bottled up—the endless nightmare of my previous life, Linda’s twisted facade, my father-in-law’s disgusting complicity, and the way Zane and I had been dragged into such unimaginable horror. Zane’s face, initially filled with traces of anger and fatigue, softened with pure concern as I cried. He wrapped his arms around my waist, his other hand gently stroking my hair like he was calming a child. “What’s wrong, Janie? What happened? Tell me, okay?” I choked on my words, wanting to explain but finding it impossible to speak. Noticing my struggle, Zane gently reassured me, “Take your time. I’m here. Just breathe.” After a few moments, I pulled myself out of his embrace and began hesitantly sharing bits and pieces of what had happened. Who would believe something so outrageous if it wasn’t ripped from the plot of a soap opera or a novel? Even if they believed it, how could I ever say it out loud? Exposing my deepest vulnerabilities would strip me bare—turning me into a defenseless target, like a declawed tiger or a fish laid out on the chopping block. So, I chose my words carefully. I only told Zane that Linda was intersex and had been in a long-term, inappropriate relationship with my father-in-law. Today, she had crossed a line and tried to harm me. The concern on Zane’s face was quickly replaced by shock and disbelief. His expression hardened as he said, “That’s a serious accusation, Janie. You can’t just say things like that.” I had anticipated his doubt, so I calmly laid out my plan, which I had carefully prepared in advance. To my dismay, Zane immediately rejected it. He adamantly insisted that Linda would never do something like that. “You’ve noticed something was off for a while now, haven’t you?” I asked, my voice sharp like an arrow piercing through his defenses. Zane’s face stiffened, his features twisting slightly. After a brief pause, he let out a heavy sigh and took my hand, trying to reason with me. “You shouldn’t jump to conclusions, Janie. Please, let’s be respectful.” I stared at our clasped hands, my tone turning cold. “Respect? Understanding? Those don’t justify what she’s thinking about doing to me.” Zane’s face shifted through a range of emotions before he finally nodded, his expression conflicted.

I drove home, placing my phone on the vase stand in the living room before heading to my bedroom to change clothes. I slipped into a dark red dress adorned with subtle, elegant embellishments. Delicate lace cutouts at the hem and intricate patterns on the fabric added a touch of sophistication. I draped a unique shawl over my shoulders, breaking through the dark tones with a striking contrast. The look was bold yet refined, exuding an air of cold elegance and undeniable confidence. Leaning casually against the kitchen doorframe, I smiled and asked, “Linda, how do I look in this?” Linda, who was chopping vegetables, froze for a moment. Her eyes flickered with something dark—greed and desire. She wiped her hands on her apron and glanced toward the living room. I smirked internally. At this hour, my father-in-law would still be at the park playing chess. It was just the two of us at home. The perfect opportunity. Linda licked her dry lips, her eyes fixating on my waist. “Janie, you look beautiful. There’s just a loose thread on your dress. Let me cut it for you.” Feigning trust, I turned and walked toward the living room. The moment I reached the couch, a sudden force slammed into my back, pinning me down. Linda, with her farm-hardened strength, easily overpowered me. I screamed and struggled, but she grabbed a towel from nearby and stuffed it into my mouth to muffle my cries. “Mmff!” I yelled, my voice muffled by the towel. Bang! The front door flew open. Zane stood in the doorway, his face dark with fury. His jaw clenched as his eyes burned with rage. Through gritted teeth, he growled, “What the hell is going on here?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295888”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #校园School #重生Reborn